"Huh? Where is this?"
The sudden change left Yun'Er a little dazed. She took a closer look.
The scene before her had completely changed. They appeared to be on a mountain peak; looking up, she could see the white clouds at the edge of the sky.
In the distance, an endless chain of mountains stretched out before them.
It was a truly magnificent sight.
Even her mood seemed to improve.
"This should be the highest point in the entire Celestial Cloud Mountain Range, and also the center of the Celestial Cloud Region. From here, you can see the Northern Wilderness Forest to the north, the Burial God Celestial Abyss to the east, the Mystical Ancient Desert to the west, and the Nine Nether Earth Rift to the south!"
Yang Xiao said calmly after glancing around.
"Master, why did you bring us here?"
Yun'Er first glanced at her Young Master with an admiring expression, then turned to Nangong Tianling with a questioning look.
"Of course, it's to have you do something that others cannot know about."
Nangong Tianling said with a faint smile.
"Something that others can't know about?"
Now, even Yang Xiao was a little curious.
'What in the world does this guy want them to do?'
"Yun'Er, as your master, I ask you: are you fond of your Young Master?"
Just then, Nangong Tianling asked bluntly.
At his question,
Yun'Er's face instantly flushed red.
"Judging by your reaction, I don't even need an answer. You obviously are. That makes things simple. I brought you here so you two can become cultivation partners, swear a Heavenly Dao oath, and support one another. Furthermore, I will have Yang Xiao place a Spiritual Brand upon your Heart Spirit. Are you willing?"
Nangong Tianling said with a wide grin.
"M-Master, you want... you want me to become cultivation partners with the Young Master?"
Although Yun'Er was naive, she still understood what being cultivation partners meant. For a moment...
"That's right. Or are you saying you don't want to become cultivation partners with your Young Master?"
Nangong Tianling seemed somewhat displeased.
"No, that's not it, I..."
Yun'Er grew anxious. Of course she wanted to; it was just that...
"As long as you're not refusing, that's all that matters. You should know, only if you become cultivation partners with your Young Master will I focus on nurturing you. Otherwise, so what if you have a Holy Spirit Body?"
His words were heartless, but they were the truth.
However, they also instantly eased Yun'Er's anxious heart.
Yang Xiao, however,
furrowed his brow.
This was clearly not a development he wanted to see.
'Although Nangong Tianling is doing this for my own good, and has even gone to great lengths...'
'Not only is he making Yun'Er become my cultivation partner and swear a Heavenly Dao oath, but even more outrageously, he wants me to place my Spiritual Brand within Yun'Er's Heart Spirit.'
'If that happens,'
'the aura of Yun'Er's Heart Spirit will only accept the aura of my own. Even if she has a change of heart in the future, she would likely be unable to become cultivation partners with anyone else.'
'It's an incredibly vicious move.'
'And he offered absolutely no explanation.'
'How is this anything like genuinely becoming cultivation partners?'
'He's clearly just treating this girl as my Furnace Cauldron!'
Even if it was for his own good,
Yang Xiao found it hard to accept.
"No! I refuse! This is unfair to Yun'Er!"
Yang Xiao declared loudly.
To him,
even if he truly wanted Yun'Er,
she could only become his Inner Cultivator.
Not a Furnace Cauldron disguised as a cultivation partner.
However, as soon as he said this, before Nangong Tianling could even respond,
Yun'Er misunderstood.
"Young Master, do you... do you despise Yun'Er that much?"
Yun'Er's eyes immediately reddened.
"No, that's not what I mean."
Seeing Yun'Er like this,
Yang Xiao knew she had definitely misunderstood.
But he...
'That's really not what I meant!'
Moreover,
'Once I become cultivation partners with Yun'Er, we would inevitably have to conduct our first session of partnered cultivation under Nangong Tianling's watch. Otherwise, I would have no way to place the Spiritual Brand into Yun'Er's Heart Spirit. And if I don't object, Nangong Tianling will absolutely force me to do it.'
For that,
Yang Xiao was not yet prepared.
And he certainly didn't want to be forced.
"No matter the reason, I will not agree."
His heart was resolute.
Yang Xiao's attitude became very firm.
Just as he was about to refuse in stronger terms,
Nangong Tianling looked over. "Young Master, your aptitude is too low. If you don't become cultivation partners with Yun'Er, how will your aptitude ever improve?"
As soon as he said this,
Yun'Er was stunned at first.
But then, she nodded earnestly. "Young Master, you don't need to worry about anything. Yun'Er is doing this willingly. I can see that Master is doing this for your own good. So, I'm begging you, please become cultivation partners with me!"
After speaking,
the girl wore a pleading expression.
Instantly,
Yang Xiao was in a bind.
He knew that if he refused again, he would probably break this little girl's heart.
But...
'Should I really agree?'