"Master, get out of here! Go back to the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion, quickly! This woman... she's about to Fall into Demon!"
The Thousand Mechanism Eye's warning was tense and urgent.
Yang Xiao's expression changed in an instant.
But he didn't leave right away.
Instead, he looked at Nangong Tianling. Seeing this woman, a trace of sorrow couldn't help but rise in Yang Xiao's heart.
From her behavior earlier, Yang Xiao could already tell that this beautiful True God, Nangong Tianling, had come specifically to find him.
The reason she was now on the verge of Falling into Demon...
...was probably...
'Is it because my aptitude is too poor? Is she so disappointed, so utterly hopeless, that it caused a crack in the state of mind she just broke through to, creating a Demon Barrier?'
As a former Supreme Divine King, Yang Xiao had seen this kind of situation many times before.
Naturally, he figured it out with ease.
And it was for this very reason...
...that he didn't listen to the Thousand Mechanism Eye and leave.
Never mind the fact that if he moved, he might cause Nangong Tianling to Fall into Demon completely and attack him.
Even if he did manage to get away and escape to the Northern Wilderness Sword Mansion...
...what about the people of the Carefree Sect?
What about Yun'Er, his father, Yang Ying, and the others?
What would happen to them?
How terrifying was a True God who had Fallen into Demon?
Yang Xiao knew perfectly well. If he really let this foolish woman Fall into Demon because of him, the entire Celestial Cloud Region would likely be reduced to scorched earth.
Every living being would die without a place for burial.
'Setting aside the vow I made before the remnant will of the Northern Wilderness Divine King, which I cannot break, I can't leave for Yun'Er and the others alone. Thousand Mechanism Eye, is there any way to make this foolish woman recover?'
Having made his decision, Yang Xiao asked directly in his mind.
Right now, the Thousand Mechanism Eye was the only one he could turn to for help.
But the Thousand Mechanism Eye...
...fell silent.
After all, it was just an artifact that could glimpse possible future events, not an omniscient, all-powerful Dominator.
Faced with the current situation...
...it had no idea what to do either.
'So, there's no way, huh? Then let me handle it.'
Yang Xiao sighed, staring at Nangong Tianling as he tried to think of a solution.
If he currently had the Spiritual Cultivation of the True God Realm—no, even if he had just reached the Divinity Communication Realm, Yang Xiao would have a way to awaken Nangong Tianling.
But now, the Spiritual Power he had once been proud of was only at the Void Observation Middle Stage.
It was far too far from the Divinity Communication Realm.
Even if he pushed himself to the brink of death and operated the Nine Revolutions Concentration Spirit Technique at full power, he could at most reach High-level Void Observation, not the Divinity Communication Realm. Therefore, using Spiritual Power was impossible.
What could he do? A few ideas flashed through Yang Xiao's mind, but he rejected them all.
Meanwhile, Nangong Tianling's condition was getting worse and worse.
Her heart was sinking into despair...
'Rather than live on so hopelessly, I'd rather die. But before that, what should I do with my Lady's child... Take care of him and let him live a mediocre life?
No, I can't! He is my Lady's child, how can he live a mediocre life? But with his aptitude, what else can he do? What can a mere Mid-grade Fire Spirit Body possibly achieve? He probably can't even reach the Demigod realm, can he? So what then... Kill... yes, kill him!
Rather than let him live a painful and mediocre life in this world, it would be better to kill him. That would also prevent him from bringing shame upon my Lady... My Lady, don't blame me. If you must blame someone, blame this child for being too weak, for having such poor aptitude!'
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a flicker of killing intent appeared in her eyes.
This killing intent wasn't just directed at Yang Xiao; it was also directed at herself.
She had lost all hope.
The Demon Barrier was reborn.
Not only did the will to die arise in her heart...
...but the more she looked at Yang Xiao, the more he became an eyesore.
It was as if a voice was screaming in her heart.
Yes, kill him!
With an aptitude like his, his very existence in this world is an insult to my Lady.
If people found out, there's no telling how they would mock my Lady.
The more she thought about it, the more she believed it.
Her recently advanced True Divine Realm state of mind instantly collapsed.
Nangong Tianling... had Fallen into Demon!
This proud and beautiful True God's eyes were now blood-red.
Black Demonic Qi swirled around her body.
When she looked at Yang Xiao again, there was only one thought in her mind.
Kill.
Kill this guy.
His existence was a blemish on the otherwise flawless reputation of her Lady.
Such an ordinary person was unworthy of possessing her Lady's bloodline!
"Die!"
Nangong Tianling gathered the Divine Power in her body, about to strike Yang Xiao dead with a single palm.
But at that very moment, Yang Xiao, who had been desperately trying to think of a solution, finally moved.
He did something completely unexpected.
His figure flashed.
He wasn't running away.
Instead, he closed the distance.
He lunged forward and tightly embraced the aloof Nangong Tianling, this incomparably cold and beautiful True God.
He was going to take this dangerous person away.
Then, a faint light flashed around his body.
Yang Xiao and Nangong Tianling...
...both vanished.
And it was precisely at this moment...
...that Yang Zhentian and the others happened to appear at the entrance of the Carefree Sect.
They saw everything.
Yun'Er's expression immediately became downcast.
"Young Master... where did the Young Master go? Why did he leave while holding that woman I don't know? Does... does he not want to see me?"
The little girl's face was filled with dismay.
Her imagination began to run wild.
Beside her, Yang Zhentian's face darkened as well.
'That little brat... forcing himself on that girl right in front of his old man. But, on closer inspection, that girl is quite a looker. My Xiao'Er really has good taste. It's just... why do her clothes look so familiar...?'
As Yang Zhentian's thoughts churned, an idea suddenly flashed in his mind.
His expression changed instantly.
'It's a Star Robe, a purple Star Robe at that! She once said that one day, she would send someone to come and take Xiao'Er away. Could... could it be now?'
Yang Zhentian's heart clenched.
This was a man who would bow his head and do anything for his son, yet would never show a trace of weakness.
At this moment, he suddenly burst into tears.
He was crying.
Sobbing uncontrollably.
Because...
...he truly couldn't bear to let him go.
The child he had raised for seventeen years was about to leave him.
Yang Zhentian...
...felt as if his world was collapsing.
Seeing him like this, Yun'Er instantly panicked.
'What's wrong with the Master?'
Yang Ying and the others were also at a complete loss.
They had never seen their adoptive father like this. Even in the most difficult of times, he had always stood before them like a great mountain.
A man who would shed blood, but never tears.
"Adoptive Father, what's wrong?"
Seeing his many adopted sons, and his only adopted daughter, Yun'Er, looking at him with concern...
...Yang Zhentian, despite his sorrow, couldn't help but feel his old face flush with embarrassment.
He wiped away his tears.
He shook his head but said nothing.
His gaze, however, remained fixed on the spot where Yang Xiao had disappeared.
Seeing this...
...even a fool could tell that Yang Zhentian's tears were related to Young Master Yang Xiao.
'Is he just emotional because the Young Master has grown up?'
This thought put everyone more at ease, especially a few of them with dirty minds.
They even looked envious.
In their eyes...
...to be with such a perfect woman was surely the dream of all men.
The only problem was, wasn't the Young Master being a bit too forceful?
Wasn't that a little inappropriate?
Still, the Young Master sure was assertive!
What they didn't know, however, was that Yang Xiao's "assertive" actions were all for the sake of saving them.
And this was the only solution Yang Xiao could think of at the moment.
A solution that also plunged him into endless danger.