263: The Way of Cause and Effect

Though Yu'er didn't understand, she dared not disobey. She timidly extended her hands, covered in tiny cracks, and gently touched the jade stone.

Buzz—

The spirit testing stone trembled slightly, immediately emitting a five-colored interwoven glow. Though not blinding, it was clearly visible.

Seeing this, the woman frowned even deeper: “Five Elements Spiritual Root...”

A Spiritual Root of this kind has chaotic attributes and leads to slow Cultivation. The resources required are more than ten times that of an ordinary Cultivator. In the eyes of major powers, it is practically the same as a Useless Spiritual Root.

“It seems I misjudged.” The woman's tone held a hint of disappointment as she slowly straightened up.

The female attendant suddenly spoke, “Young Miss, we have lost quite a few people recently. Although she cannot reach Foundation Establishment, she can still serve as an informant.”

Although the female attendant's voice was extremely low, you clearly caught it.

Hearing this, the richly dressed woman's gaze swept over Yu'er's small face—dirty, yet undeniably delicate—and after a pause, she finally spoke:

“Forget it. You will follow me from now on.”

Yu'er stared blankly at her, seemingly not having fully grasped this sudden “turn of fate.”

You took all of this in, yet did not take any action.

You knew the background of the woman who took in Yu'er—her name was Han Xue, the legitimate daughter of the current Prime Minister Han Family. She was considered a capable Noblewoman in the Imperial Capital.

As for Han Xue's true purpose in taking in Yu'er, you were also aware.

She secretly ran a clandestine Assassin Organization. These “tools” were mostly orphans she had “picked up” or “bought,” raised from a young age, stripped of their pasts, and eventually turned into Deathsworn who only served her.

Your thoughts turned, and after weighing the options for a moment, you ultimately chose to wait and see.

Firstly, Yu'er genuinely needed a path to survival right now. Even if that path meant becoming a blade, it was better than freezing to death on the street.

Secondly, with you watching secretly, everything Han Xue did, even behind the curtain she thought was hidden, was as clear as reading lines on your palm.

Most importantly, Yu'er would absolutely not go with you—because right now, in her eyes, you were her enemy.

The fourteenth year,

That year, besides invitations from Jiang Hao, Prince Ji Kang, and others to go to Duyan Tower, you also frequently received invitations from Prince Ji Heng.

These social engagements added some excitement to your otherwise uneventful life.

Of course, it wasn't just excitement; you also heard a lot of useful news.

As for the Red Rock Village Massacre, Prince Ji Heng had long since “gone to great lengths” to find the real culprit—a Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator.

This Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator was naturally Prince Ji Heng's person—only you knew this fact.

To call him a Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator was merely because he Cultivated a Demonic Path Cultivation Technique.

Naturally, this entire incident was intentionally arranged by Prince Ji Heng, whose goal was to make you owe him a favor.

You couldn't help but shake your head speechlessly. Truly, while a person sits at home, Karma arrives from the heavens.

What made you most helpless was that the Evil Karma brought about by this incident actually affected you slightly—something you sensed subconsciously while Cultivating and gaining insights.

Although those people were not killed by you, they died because of you.

Traced back to the root—it was your unknown identity and background that attracted Prince Ji Heng's attention and attempts to win you over.

This was the Cause.

Where there is a Cause, there is an Effect.

Although Prince Ji Heng bore the majority of the Karma, you had already foreseen his end—which was ultimately being slain by you.

Since he dared to scheme against you, he had already embarked on the Path to Death.

It was just that you had no intention of killing him right now.

At the same time, you gained many insights from this incident.

You had a feeling about your past experiences that was half-clear, half-hazy—as if it could be pierced by just a thin layer of paper.

In your contemplation, you increasingly sensed that the operation of all things has its inherent, unbreakable internal Laws.

If one forcibly distorts or even destroys this invisible balance, it is like throwing a massive stone into a tranquil lake—the resulting ripples will eventually wash back upon oneself, leading to unpredictable consequences.

Karma is the most just and also the most ruthless Law between heaven and earth.

It is not an illusory sermon, but permeates every choice and action, for example—

The Cause of borrowing a name, leading to the Effect of surveillance:

You once borrowed the title of Venerable Yuqing to solve a temporary difficulty.

This seemingly minor “Cause” was like casting a spark into the dark night, attracting the attention of that mysterious Mahayana Cultivator, laying the foundation for the “Effect” of a Life-or-death Crisis in the future.

Another example—

The “Cause” of your momentary arrogance and teasing of Liu Caiping led to the bloody “Effect” of Ji Bin massacring your entire Qin Clan.

In that Simulation, you might have only regarded it as an insignificant test, a game of destiny's possibilities. Yet, you didn't realize that a butterfly's flap can also stir up a storm.

That small seed of frivolous Evil Cause you planted was amplified and fermented within the intricate web of Karma, ultimately leading to the most tragic outcome—

The entire Qin Family suffered a Catastrophic Disaster due to the actions of you alone.

This bloody lesson was etched into your memory: the weight of Karma sometimes far exceeds imagination.

A seemingly minor choice can potentially affect the life, death, misfortune, and fortune of others, or even countless people.

Furthermore—

The “Cause” of your youthful success and premature entry into the Heavenly Human Realm led to Golden Phoenix's covetousness and Ru Yan's Slave Contract calamity.

If your “strength” hadn't been so dazzling, reaching a Realm unattainable by ordinary people in a lifetime at such a young age, how would you have attracted the attention of people like Liu Ruyan and Golden Phoenix, been seen as a “precious resource” that must be controlled, and thus planted the evil Effect of being tracked, schemed against, and nearly reduced to a Puppet?

Also—

The “Cause” of your sharp talent and overwhelming dominance over your generation led to the Effect of envy and siege by Three Thousand Prodigies.

The tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

Your rise was too rapid, and your brilliance too dazzling, inadvertently becoming an “obstacle” and a “Heart Demon” in the minds of countless peer Cultivators.

This collective resentment and hostility converged into a surging flood of Karma, not only trapping you in Killing Tribulations and schemes but also implicating your Senior Sister and Revered Master, who originally cultivated apart from the world, forcing them to get involved in disputes and taint themselves with Karma they shouldn't have incurred for your sake.

For instance—

The Cause of slaughter, creating the Effect of Undergoing Tribulation:

Even if your cultivation base reaches the heavens, if you recklessly slaughter, the resentment of every deceased soul will not dissipate.

They will return at your most critical moment of Undergoing Tribulation, merging into the illusion of the Heart Demon Tribulation and amplifying the power of the Heavenly Lightning, turning the already difficult Immortal Path into a truly desperate, nine-deaths-one-life situation.