"Yi'er."
A familiar voice rang out. It belonged to Shi Yi's "father," Shi Ziteng-or, more precisely, a figure created by the power of karma.
He stood a short distance away, calling to Shi Yi, his face filled with boundless pride and relief. Both his appearance and his bearing were indistinguishable from the real man's.
"Shi Yi."
Another voice rang out, equally familiar. It was Bai Zhimiao, the Double Pupils Woman who shared a profound karmic bond with Shi Yi.
She was kneeling on the ground, imprisoned within a Dark Cage. She was terribly weak, her bloodstained gray Daoist Robe dull and lusterless. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Shi Yi, and she choked on her tears, unable to speak.
Before, this scene might have stirred Shi Yi's heart. Now, however, he had already prepared himself. Besides, this was a scene manifested by the power of karma. Whether it was real remained another question entirely.
"Shi Yi..."
Another voice came. It was the Demoness. Smiling, she watched Shi Yi rise step by step, all the way to the heavens.
"Shi Yi!"
A figure strode toward him. It was none other than his archrival, Shi Hao. He moved with the stride of a dragon and the bearing of a tiger, every strand of his hair gleaming with crystalline light. His strength was immeasurable, his Unique Cave Heaven blazing brilliantly, impervious to all arts and suppressing all things in the world.
Shi Yi did not attack immediately. He keenly sensed that these figures differed from those before them. If he simply killed them as he had the others, there might be unforeseen consequences.
Perhaps the karmic bonds between him and these beings would be greatly weakened.
That was a terrifying prospect. As cultivators evolved and entered entirely new realms, they drew closer to the