"Yang Xiao, look, even Yun'Er agrees. Are you still going to say no?"
Nangong Tianling was quite satisfied.
But Yun'Er blushed.
At this, Yang Xiao could only sigh to himself.
'This is impossible to refuse.'
Refusing was out of the question, but merging their auras was also impossible. It looked like his only option was to stall for time. His gaze immediately turned sincere. 'In a situation like this, I have no choice but to be sincere.'
Full of deep emotion, he said, "Yun'Er, I understand what you mean, but please, hear me out first."
"And you, Nangong Tianling. There are some things I've wanted to say for a long time."
Yang Xiao glanced at Nangong Tianling again, his expression grave.
Now, both women's attention was fixed on him.
They wanted to hear what Yang Xiao had to say.
"I know what you're worried about. But don't you think what you're doing is an insult to both me and Yun'Er?"
"Ifâand I'm just saying ifâone day in the future, Yun'Er has a change of heart and falls in love with another man, won't she hate me for branding her?"
"Won't she hate you?"
"By then, she'll be my Dao companion. She could kill me with the slightest trick. Have you ever considered that?"
"And another thing! You've always thought my aptitude was poor and my cultivation was low. You thought I had no future. You even wanted to kill me earlier. But have you ever considered how I feel?"
"Am I destined to live a lowly life, to rely on a woman to get ahead? You're underestimating me, Yang Xiao, far too much!"
"If that's how it is, I want to make a deal with you. Three years. In three years, we'll have a battle. If I'm still not your equal by then, I'll do whatever you say. But... if I defeat you in three years with my own strength, you will have to obey my every command. Do you dare?"
Yang Xiao's face was a mask of defiance.
This woman had truly wounded his pride.
'Sure, from her perspective, everything she's doing is for my own good.'
'But I'm a man.'
'How can I spend my entire life relying on a woman?'
'Be a kept man?'
'Yang Xiao couldn't accept that. Besides, he wanted to teach this woman a harsh lesson and make her understand who was the master and who was the servant.'
'She has no right to decide the course of another person's life.'
'She isn't worthy.'
"Three years?"
Nangong Tianling was somewhat surprised.
She couldn't understand. What she proposed was clearly a massive benefit to Yang Xiao, so why was his reaction so extreme?
'And now he's making a three-year pact with me?'
'Is he joking?'
'Even someone with an Ultimate Grade Tao Body becoming a True God in three years is nonsense, right?'
'Let alone Yang Xiao, with his mere Mid-grade Spirit Body?'
"Young Master, I believe in you."
Yun'Er spoke up.
She looked at Yang Xiao, her expression earnest.
Although she had been so forward this time, her Young Master still hadn't explicitly agreed, which left her feeling a little disappointed.
However, she felt that Yang Xiao was right.
More importantly, Yun'Er had never considered herself stronger than her Young Master. She only ever wanted to keep up with his pace and not become a burden to him.
Even taking Nangong Tianling as her master was just a means to that end.
Because Yun'Er felt that if she didn't work this hard, she might not even be qualified to stand by Yang Xiao's side. Others might not know...
...but she knew all too well...
...just how exceptional her Young Master was.
Of course, even in the unlikely event that her Young Master fell behind her...
...Yun'Er would never abandon him.
She remembered with perfect clarity that everything she had today was because of her Young Master.
'If that day ever truly comes, then let me become my Young Master's guardian. No oneânot my Master, not even someone stronger than my Masterâwill ever harm him in my presence!'
Yun'Er silently vowed.
Her expression was resolute.
Looking at the two of them...
Nangong Tianling seemed lost in thought.
Finally, she nodded. "Fine. Three years. In three years, I'd like to see what skills you've acquired to dare challenge me. If you can actually defeat me then, I'll do anything you say. You can have your way with anything. But if you lose, you must do what you failed to do today. Understand?"
"Fine."
Although the woman's tone infuriated him, he was relieved that she had finally relented.
Yang Xiao let out a sigh of relief.
"Since you've made your decision, this matter is settled. In a moment, I will take Yun'Er and leave for the Star God Academy. By the way, this Token is for you. Once you break through to the True Intent Stageâoh, what you people here call the Martial Saint Realmâyou can use this Token to enter the Star God Continent directly. I hope you still have some of today's arrogance left when you get there, and that the people there don't crush your spirit."
Nangong Tianling gave a faint smile.
Without another word, she took out a Token and handed it to Yang Xiao. She had originally intended to bring him to the Star God Academy on this trip, but she never expected that not only was his cultivation weak, but his aptitude was also exceptionally poor.
Taking him there now would do him more harm than good.
Therefore, Nangong Tianling decided to take only Yun'Er with her.
At the same time, she produced a Jade Scroll and handed it to him.
"This contains an Emperor Skill called the All Heavens Starry Fist, though it only includes the first Four Layers. Take it and practice it. If you can master this Emperor Skill, you'll be able to shock the world in the future even with a lower cultivation. I hope you won't disappoint me."
She handled the Jade Scroll with great reverence. Even for someone like Nangong Tianling, it was an extremely precious item. If Yang Xiao weren't her lady's son, she would never have parted with it.
Hearing this, Yang Xiao's eyes lit up.
He thought of the Starburst Skill.
He took it from her.
His True Greater Yang Fire was an amalgamation of four Secret Patterns: Greater Yang, Nine Yang, Star, and Fire Essence. He had a source for three of them, but not for the Star Secret Pattern.
Since this Emperor Skill was named the All Heavens Starry Fist, it obviously contained the Star Secret Pattern. It might even be a direct legacy from the Star Emperor himself.
Even though it was only the first Four Layers, it was exactly what Yang Xiao desperately needed.
Naturally, he wasn't going to refuse.
"Alright, our business here is done. I'll be taking Yun'Er with me now. Right, one more thing I should remind you of. This continent you're on is the homeland of the Ancient Xuanyang Emperor, hence its name, the Profound Sun Continent. Except for your little corner of it, the rest of the Profound Sun Continent is occupied by Immortal Cultivators. And from what I know, the Profound Sun Continent's Vast Heaven Immortal Lord has already reached the Void Immortal Peak. He's just half a step away from breaking through to the True Immortal Realm."
"When that happens, his power will be comparable to a True God's, and he will undoubtedly exterminate all the Martial Artists here to meet the requirements for ascension to the Immortal Realm. You must remember not to stay here for too long. Not three yearsâyou must get to the Star God Continent within one year. Otherwise, you will die here. Well then, we're off."
After speaking, Nangong Tianling vanished, taking a reluctant Yun'Er with her.
Only Yang Xiao remained on the mountaintop.
His face was grim.
It was because of Nangong Tianling's final words.
In one year, the Immortal Dao invasion...