Chapter 533: Chapter 533: Your Sacrifice Will Not Be in Vain
Gu Xian’er focused her senses for a moment. "I sense it," she said. "Congratulations, cousin."
Gu Shouxian nodded, then looked at Ye Tianling. "Fellow Daoist," he said, "thank you for taking care of Fairy on the journey here."
Gu Xian’er frowned. "This is my Master, Ye Tianling, the Celestial Secret Divine Son."
"Yes, I know," Gu Shouxian said. "I’ve already heard Ru Yue’s report. However, you won’t be the Celestial Secret anymore, so naturally—"
"Cousin, don’t interfere with my decisions," Gu Xian’er said. "Otherwise, our bond will be broken."
Gu Shouxian flinched slightly. After a pensive glance at Ye Tianling, he said, "Fine. We can discuss this later. Come on, let’s go see Elder Changyi. She’s missed you terribly."
Gu Xian’er nodded and once again took the initiative to loop her arm through Ye Tianling’s, acting as close to him as ever.
Gu Shouxian’s pupils constricted slightly. He swept a cool glance over Gu Xian’er and Ye Tianling but didn’t say another word.
...
Hundreds of miles away, within an Ancient Array, a woman in a green gauze dress sat cross-legged in silence, continuously absorbing a strange power from between Heaven and Earth.
More than thirty male and female Cultivators sat cross-legged in silence around her.
"Netherworld Life and Death, the shift between True and Void, is a change in the Origin of the Soul Dao. The true Profound Meaning lies in the conversion process between the True and the Void..."
The woman in the green gauze dress explained softly as she engaged in her Cultivation.
The Energy around her shifted constantly, manifesting all sorts of complex Illusion Destruction transformations.
But suddenly, she stopped and stood up.
An incredibly excited look appeared in her beautiful, cold eyes.
Her emotional display shocked the thirty-some male and female Fox Race Cultivators present. ’Elder Changyi is this moved? What on earth could it be?’
"Fairy, you’re finally back!"
Gu Zhangyi’s eyes misted over, her voice thick with emotion.
But then, her gaze fell upon Ye Tianling, standing beside Gu Xian’er.
In an instant, she sensed the decaying life force emanating from him, and her heart trembled for no apparent reason.
’A tribulation? A change? The calamitous karma of the Fox Race, the Celestial Fox Race, and the Jade Fox Race? Why has it found its way to our doorstep?’
Her heart sank, but her expression remained unchanged.
"Elder Changyi, Fairy missed you so much."
A look of affection filled Gu Xian’er’s eyes, a clear sign of her family bond.
Ye Tianling felt a great sense of relief.
Although his Soul Talent sensed hostility from Gu Zhangyi, he didn’t mind.
’As long as Fairy is happy, that’s all that matters.’
"Yes, it’s good that you’re back. I’ve missed you so, so much. Unfortunately, our Sumeru Mountain has become entangled with the Energy of the Celestial Evil Race, making it impossible to teleport out. That’s why we couldn’t leave the mountain to retrieve you. But these obstacles will soon cease to be a problem."
Gu Zhangyi quickly explained.
Gu Xian’er nodded and the two embraced.
After a long moment, Gu Xian’er finally composed herself, though tear stains still glistened on her cheeks.
Gu Zhangyi glanced at Ye Tianling. "Young man," she said, "Ru Yue has already told me about your situation. Judging by your injuries... the journey must have been very difficult for you. But rest assured, we of Sumeru Mountain always repay our debts. Your efforts will not have been in vain."
"Elder Changyi, this is Fairy’s Master, Ye Tianling, the First Divine Child of the Celestial Secret Divine Hall."
Gu Xian’er quickly introduced him, instinctively grabbing his arm as she spoke.
A flash of displeasure crossed Gu Zhangyi’s eyes as she watched how close Gu Xian’er was to Ye Tianling. ’A jinx, a dead man walking, dares to associate himself with the Nine-tailed Jade Fox Divine Blood Goddess?’
But she was a master of concealing her feelings and knew that showing her displeasure now would only cause a scene with Gu Xian’er.
She nodded slightly, a faint smile touching her lips. "So you’re Fairy’s Master, a Divine Child from the Celestial Secret Divine Hall. Your skills must be extraordinary, then. Thank you for looking after Fairy on her journey, young man."
Ye Tianling’s Soul Talent seemed to have mutated somehow, allowing him to sense Gu Zhangyi’s emotional shifts with unnerving precision—it was like an innate suppression from his bloodline, as if he could control some unknown aspect of the Celestial Mandate.
However, only he experienced this sensation; Gu Zhangyi was clearly completely oblivious.
This, in turn, struck Ye Tianling as rather strange.
’It seems there are many unsolved mysteries surrounding me.’
"You’re too kind, Elder Changyi."
Ye Tianling wasn’t offended.
He wasn’t a Sacred Artifact; he couldn’t expect everyone to like him.
Besides, for Gu Xian’er’s sake, he wouldn’t hold a grudge against her family.
’If she doesn’t like me, so be it. I don’t plan on staying long on Sumeru Mountain anyway.’
"Elder Changyi, my Master is afflicted with the Venerable Soul Curse. I want to see the Divine Master and ask him to find a solution. Let’s not even talk about how Master has nurtured me and saved my life multiple times in the past. Just on this journey home, I was targeted by countless assassins. If it weren’t for Master, I never would have made it back at all."
Upon hearing this, a fierce killing intent flared in Gu Zhangyi’s eyes. "You were hunted on your way here? Who? Which clan dared to pursue you?"
As she spoke, she shot a suspicious glance at Ye Tianling. "A group of Void Realm Slaughterers?"
Ye Tianling didn’t answer.
"Saints," Gu Xian’er said. "Saints from the Jade Pool Divine Land, the Celestial Overpass Holy Land, and the Celestial Travel Sacred Land. In his fury, my Master—"
Ye Tianling suddenly cut her off. "It’s over now. Besides, they were targeting me, not you."
Gu Xian’er paused thoughtfully, then continued, "And before that, some Cultivators from the Celestial Evil Race tried to capture me. If it wasn’t for my Master..."
Gu Xian’er then recounted the incident with the Celestial Evil Race.
"I see..."
Although Gu Xian’er praised Ye Tianling to the high heavens, it was clear that powerful figures like Gu Zhangyi and Gu Shouxian didn’t believe he was all that impressive.
’After all, Ye Tianling’s Realm is even lower than Gu Xian’er’s. How can someone like that be a Master?’
’She’s probably just worried that this Celestial Secret Divine Son will embarrass himself, so she’s deliberately exaggerating.’
As for being hunted by Saints, not even Gu Zhangyi believed a word of it.
’If Saints were really hunting them, how could they possibly have escaped?’
’But Gu Zhangyi could understand. Today’s prodigies are all obsessed with their reputation, prone to exaggeration and flamboyant behavior. It’s best to just let them be.’
’This time, once Ye Tianling leaves, his path and Gu Xian’er’s will no longer cross.’
Thinking this, Gu Zhangyi said, "Very well. In this matter, Sumeru Mountain is indeed indebted to you, young man. I have already sent a message to the Divine Master. Allow me to take you to him now."
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