Chapter 189: Whether Ling’Er Stays or Goes

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Whether Ling’Er Stays or Goes

The clash between the two painted the entire sky above the Seven Kills Star Hall a fiery red. Fortunately, the Black Robe Hall Master acted in time, blocking all the aftershocks of their battle from a distance. Otherwise, the Seven Kills Star Hall itself would have suffered.

Hearing the commotion, the disciples all turned their gazes to the sky.

"Look! That giant flame palm—I remember it’s one of Yi Xiaoyao’s Spiritual Skills!"

"And that woman can walk on air! She must be in the Nascent Soul Realm!"

"What? Yi Xiaoyao actually defeated someone from the Nascent Soul Realm? That’s insane!"

All the disciples were filled with shock and awe.

But the one even more horrified than the disciples was undoubtedly Yun Shang, who was about to be crushed by the giant flame palm.

At that moment, Yun Shang stared at the roaring flame palm hurtling toward her, her face instantly turning deathly pale.

’This... What kind of Flame is this! How can a backwater place like the Great Shang Dynasty possibly possess a Spiritual Skill that surpasses the Earth Tier?’ ℴ

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Even more, she couldn’t believe that she, a dignified Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, was being completely overpowered by a mere Golden Core Sixth Layer punk, and was even on the verge of being killed.

Yi Xiaoyao’s gaze was icy as he uttered a single, cold word: "Die!"

The giant flame palm thundered towards Yun Shang, poised to clench her within its all-incinerating blaze.

"Stop!"

Just then, Yun Mengling suddenly cried out, "Xiaoyao, don’t kill her!"

VMMM!

The instant it was about to close around Yun Shang, the giant flame palm froze.

In the past, Yi Xiaoyao would have been completely unable to stop the Heaven-Shattering Demon Flame Palm once it was launched. But now, possessing the Heaven and Earth Fire Essence, he could control flames at will.

"Ling’Er, why?"

Yi Xiaoyao asked, his brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Yun Mengling.

Yun Mengling’s face was full of conflict. With a pleading look in her eyes, she said, "Yun Shang is my cousin... she’s family. She only came here to take me home."

"But she was just trying to kill me. If I weren’t stronger than her, I’d be the one dead right now."

Yi Xiaoyao was deeply displeased. It was his principle to kill anyone who tried to kill him.

Yun Mengling’s delicate brows knitted together. "I would never let my cousin kill you. If she had really managed to kill you, I would have died with you."

Just a moment ago, when she saw Yun Shang unleash that Spiritual Skill surpassing the Earth Tier, Yun Mengling had already decided to shield Yi Xiaoyao with her own body. She knew Yun Shang would never strike her.

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression softened. He understood what was going through Yun Mengling’s heart.

On one side was her family; on the other, the man she loved. Naturally, she couldn’t bear for either of them to die.

Moreover, the death of either one would cause her unbearable pain.

"Alright, I promise you."

Yi Xiaoyao sighed. He was going against his own principles to spare Yun Shang, all because he couldn’t bear to see the woman he loved in such pain.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the giant flame palm that had scorched Yun Shang to the brink of unconsciousness instantly dissipated.

Yun Mengling gave Yi Xiaoyao a sweet, grateful smile. Having spent so much time with him, she knew he lived by a single oath: "I will kill any who try to kill me."

And now, he had broken that oath for her. She could feel the profound depth of his devotion in that act.

’For this love and this devotion, I swear I will never be untrue to you in this life,’ Yun Mengling silently vowed in her heart.

Yi Xiaoyao walked over to Yun Mengling, affectionately ruffling her hair. "I told you," he said with a smile, "no one can take you away without my permission."

Meanwhile, Yun Shang landed unsteadily on the ground, her gaze fixed on Yi Xiaoyao with deep apprehension.

Yun Shang had originally thought that with her Nascent Soul Realm Cultivation, almost no one in the Great Shang Dynasty could touch her. To be defeated by a mere Golden Core Realm cultivator was both humiliating and unbelievable.

Having just had her life spared, she no longer dared to show Yi Xiaoyao any of her previous arrogance.

Yi Xiaoyao shot her a cold look and said indifferently, "Take your people and get lost!"

"Cousin, you should go back," Yun Mengling urged softly.

Yun Shang frowned. "Cousin, do you really think Grandfather will let this slide? Even if you don’t return with me, he’ll just send someone else. And the outcome will be very different next time."

Hearing this, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Yun Mengling’s eyes. Yun Shang was right.

She knew her grandfather’s personality. The entire family considered her extremely important. If she refused to return with Yun Shang this time, her grandfather might very well come for her personally.

And if her grandfather were to act against Yi Xiaoyao, no one in the entire Great Shang Dynasty could save him.

Seeing the look on Ling’Er’s face, Yi Xiaoyao’s expression turned frigid. "How dare you try to sway her!" he snapped at Yun Shang.

"I am merely stating the facts."

Yun Shang had lost her earlier defiance. She frowned at Yi Xiaoyao and said, "Do you really think keeping Meng Ling here is what’s best for her? You’re actually hurting her!"

"Oh? I’d love to hear how I’m hurting Ling’Er," Yi Xiaoyao sneered. "If you can’t give me a good explanation, I’ll make you pay!"

Anger flashed across Yun Shang’s face, but knowing she was no match for Yi Xiaoyao, she could only swallow her rage.

"Do you have any idea that staying here is a complete waste of her Cultivation? If she had remained with our family, she would probably be in the Nascent Soul Realm by now!"

With a sneer, Yun Shang continued, "Of course, it’s only natural you wouldn’t understand. The Cultivation Resources our family can provide are something you could never find even if you scoured the entire Great Shang Dynasty! In a remote backwater like this, what is she doing if not wasting her potential?"

Hearing this, Yi Xiaoyao was stunned. ’So, Ling’Er has paid such a high price just to be with me?’

’In that case, what Yun Shang said wasn’t wrong. He really had been too selfish in keeping Yun Mengling by his side.’

"Ling’Er, what do you want to do?" Yi Xiaoyao asked, turning to Yun Mengling.

Yun Mengling’s expression was conflicted. At last, she sighed. "Xiaoyao, the gap between our strength is growing wider and wider. I’m afraid that one day, you’ll shine so brightly that I won’t be able to keep up. So... please let me go back."

In truth, that was only a small part of her concern. Her real fear was that if she didn’t go back, the next person her family sent would not be so easy to deal with, and Yi Xiaoyao would inevitably get caught in the crossfire because of her.

So, despite her reluctance, Yun Mengling made her decision.

Hearing her words, Yi Xiaoyao gently stroked her hair, his gaze drifting to the horizon. His own heart was just as conflicted; he wanted her to have a brilliant future, yet he couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving.

He didn’t make a decision right away. Instead, he turned to Yun Shang with a frown. "Come back in seven days. At that time, I will decide if you can take Ling’Er with you. For the next seven days, stay out of my sight."

With that said, without waiting for Yun Shang’s reaction, Yi Xiaoyao led Yun Mengling away from the ruined courtyard.

...