Half a day later, the three people and one beast finally stood at the edge of the dark abyss.
As for the Dark Gale Leopard, it had long been collected by Zi Lingling into the Divine Woman's Palace.
Feeling the familiar spiritual fluctuations, everyone’s faces showed a hint of relief.
"Ling’er, there's something I've been thinking about for a long time and can't figure out. Can you help me understand?"
Zi Guochang looked at the bottomless dark abyss beside him, clicked his tongue, and a look of conflict appeared on his face.
"Father, you want to ask why it was impossible to climb up before, but now it is possible, right?" Zi Lingling asked with a shallow smile.
Zi Guochang nodded and said doubtfully, "Yes, yes, yes! For twelve years, I have tried to climb it more than once, but I have never succeeded."
Zi Lingling looked at Ye Lingyuan, smiled mysteriously, and said, "Perhaps Heaven has suddenly opened its eyes, or perhaps my and Ye Lingyuan's faces are big enough!"
Some trump cards, if they can be hidden, should absolutely not be revealed, especially treasures as heaven-defying as the black space.
Ye Lingyuan smiled and subtly shook his head at Zi Guochang.
Zi Guochang was a smart person. After asking the question, he immediately realized he had spoken out of turn.
Why it was suddenly possible was as clear as a louse on a monk's head.
It had been the same for so long, and after Zi Lingling woke up, things suddenly changed. If it had nothing to do with Zi Lingling, who would believe it?
Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, knew that Zi Lingling was just making excuses.
But he was also a smart person and had no intention of prying further.
In this cruel world of cultivation, who didn't have secrets and trump cards?
So, he changed the subject and said playfully, "Miss Zi, are you really not considering taking a mount?"
As soon as Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, finished speaking, the smile on Ye Lingyuan's face instantly vanished.
The surrounding temperature dropped sharply, as if summer had suddenly turned into late autumn.
Seeing that the jealous king was about to erupt, Zi Guochang quickly retreated three zhang.
Zi Lingling, while realizing the bad situation, quickly refused, "Ao Xiang… brother is joking. As my Prince said, Ling’er is already content with having Dragon as a companion."
The words "my Prince" immediately pleased Ye Lingyuan, and the gloom on his body quickly dissipated.
A dark, unclear light flashed in the eyes of Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon. He said with a faint smile, "Miss Zi is indeed easily contented!"
Zi Lingling smiled enchantingly, "One cannot be too greedy. Contentment brings happiness, doesn't it?"
Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, nodded and said, "Indeed! But the words 'contentment brings happiness' are easy to say, but hard to do…"
He chuckled noncommittally, then continued, "Moreover, in this cruel cultivation world, it's not as simple as wanting to be content and happy.
Without enough strength, you might not even be able to have a peaceful life. Aren't Xi Xi and I examples of this?"
A trace of determination flickered in Zi Lingling's eyes. She said with a shallow smile, "I know the road ahead is full of dangers, and I don't even know where the danger is hidden or when it will come. But so what? I can't be overly anxious just because of this. Besides…"
She paused here, looked at Ye Lingyuan, and said with certainty, "Besides, I believe Ye Lingyuan can protect me under any circumstances!"
"Of course! This King will definitely protect Ling'er! Anytime! Anywhere! Under any circumstances!"
Ye Lingyuan looked at Zi Lingling dotingly, his gaze extremely firm.
Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, said enviously, "Since that's the case, then I wish you both a lifelong union, never to be separated!"
"Thank you!" Zi Lingling smiled charmingly.
"I should be leaving now. I've been separated from Xi Xi for a thousand years, and it's time for me to accompany her. I owe you a favor for this matter. If you need my help in the future, you can contact me anytime!"
Ao Xiang said, handing Zi Lingling a sound transmission stone. Then he added, "It contains my contact information. Keep it safe!"
Zi Lingling accepted the sound transmission stone and said, "Whether it's a favor or not doesn't matter. We are still very willing to be friends with you!"
She said "we" instead of "I" to avoid making the jealous king upset again.
Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, laughed heartily, "Good, good, good! I am still very willing to go through fire and water for Master Zi!"
Zi Lingling nodded and said, "It's quite fortunate for me to have a peak Grandmaster realm expert willing to go through fire and water for me."
"Hehe! It's getting late, and I should leave. We'll meet again!" Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, said with a smile and cupped his fists.
"Mm! We'll meet again!" Zi Lingling replied with a shallow smile and returned the gesture.
"Take care!" Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, said, then leaped into the air. He immediately transformed into his golden dragon form, and with a flick of his tail, his dragon body was already a hundred li away.
"Miss Zi, when I finish my business, I will repay your great kindness today!"
He muttered to himself, and his dragon body disappeared into the sky.
"This golden mudfish is a man of character. Ling'er, he will be a great help to you in the future!"
Zi Guochang looked at the place where Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, had disappeared and said with deep eyes.
"Does Father-in-law not approve of this King as a helper?"
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a hint of threat.
Hehe!
Threatening his future father-in-law, perhaps only Ye Lingyuan dared to do such a thing.
The image of Ao Xiang, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, confronting Ye Lingyuan with fists previously flashed before Zi Guochang's eyes. He couldn't help but shiver and said obsequiously, "How could that be? You are the son-in-law that I, Zi Guochang, have chosen. How could I not be satisfied!"
"Since that's the case, then let's return to Dongfang City now. This King will host a welcome banquet for Father-in-law!"
Ye Lingyuan was very satisfied with Zi Guochang's answer and said with a smile.
"Dongfang City?"
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Zi Guochang's eyes. "Let's go! I can go and meet some old friends!"
Zi Lingling naturally understood the implied meaning of Zi Guochang's words.
Back then, if it hadn't been for the Zi family of the empire, Zi Guochang would not have been trapped in the dark abyss for twelve years, and Yue Wumei would not have lost contact.
Therefore, Zi Guochang's so-called "meeting old friends" should be to seek revenge!
Zi Lingling touched her nose and said sheepishly, "Father! I have some unfortunate news to tell you."
Zi Guochang asked in surprise, "Unfortunate news? What do you mean?"
"Ling'er means that this trip to Dongfang City, you can only eat, but other matters may be difficult to handle!" Ye Lingyuan said with a smile.
Based on his understanding of Zi Lingling, the current situation of the Zi family was probably extremely dire.
"What do you mean?" Zi Guochang looked at Zi Lingling and asked in confusion.
Zi Lingling said with an awkward smile, "It doesn't mean anything, just that I accidentally brought down the Zi family!"