Chapter 680 Heavenly Dao Oath

Upon hearing his father's words, a ray of light illuminated Shangguan Yulin's somber eyes.

He looked at Zi Lingling and said with firm resolve, "Miss Zi, although they have disappointed me greatly, I still cannot endanger the entire Shangguan family for my own selfish desires! I apologize, Miss Zi, for failing your kind intentions!"

His emotions were incredibly complex at that moment.

Although he still chose to abandon the opportunity for the sake of the Shangguan family, his disappointment was genuine.

He couldn't understand what human nature truly was, nor the vast differences between people.

Regardless, he no longer harbored any illusions about the opportunity and even closed his eyes in pain.

But just then, clear applause echoed.

Zi Lingling's voice, as gentle as the spring breeze in March, swept away his despondency.

"Congratulations, Shangguan Yulin, your answer to the first question has greatly satisfied me!"

Shangguan Yulin stammered, "Satisfied? Why? Shouldn't you be disappointed?"

Zi Lingling smiled, "Why should I be disappointed? Your magnanimity is something I cannot achieve, yet only someone like you is fit to be a guardian, because your heart adheres to the principle of great love."

Her words, like a clear spring, flowed into Shangguan Yulin's heart, bringing a trace of relief to him, who had doubted human nature due to disappointment.

That's right!

Guardianship only requires giving, where is the need for reward?

Shangguan Yulin's heart suddenly became clear, and his cultivation bottleneck also showed signs of loosening at that very moment.

"Thank you, Miss Zi, for your guidance! Please, Miss Zi, ask your second question!"

Zi Lingling nodded and said, "My previous words were not alarmist. The second question is: if the entire Tianci Continent must be sacrificed to save the entire Shangguan family, what would you do?"

Shangguan Yulin laughed, "Miss Zi, do I even need to answer this question? Without the Tianci Continent, how could there be a Shangguan family? If such a day truly comes, then I guarantee, as long as Shangguan Yulin has one breath left, not a single person in the Shangguan family will retreat! For those who retreat, I will unhesitatingly cut them down with my sword!"

Zi Lingling clapped her hands, "Excellent! I am very satisfied with this answer. However, words are not enough. I want all members of the Shangguan family to take a Heavenly Dao oath!"

It wasn't that she was being aggressive, but that the family of a guardian was destined to be a guardian family.

And the mission of a guardian family and guardian was singular: to stand at the forefront and protect everyone behind them who needed to be protected!

"Very well! I, Shangguan Lincang, swear by the spirits of my ancestors that if the entire Shangguan family must be sacrificed to save the Tianci Continent, then I, Shangguan Lincang, will not take a single step back, nor will I allow my clansmen to retreat. Otherwise, I will surely slay them to appease the world!"

"I, Shangguan Yulin, swear by the spirits of my ancestors that if the Shangguan family must be sacrificed for the Tianci Continent, then I, Shangguan Yulin, will not retreat half a step, nor will I allow the Shangguan clansmen to retreat. Otherwise, I will personally slay them to avoid shaming our ancestors!"

"I, Shangguan Yulong, swear that if that moment truly arrives, I will never retreat, or I wish to be struck down by the Heavenly Sword and never be reborn!"

After the three took their oaths, Zi Lingling's gaze fell upon the other members of the Shangguan family, waiting for them to swear.

But these people clearly hesitated, their gazes evasive, unwilling to take the oath.

Shangguan Yulin's expression immediately turned grim.

He could overlook their previous unwillingness to save Shangguan Yulong, but in the face of great righteousness and moral imperative, he couldn't let them muddle the waters.

Just as he was about to speak and persuade them, he heard Shangguan Lincang say, "Anyone who does not swear today will be expelled from the Shangguan family. Our Shangguan family does not harbor cowards!"

Zi Lingling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged a glance, their eyes showing a hint of admiration.

With Shangguan Lincang's declaration, the Shangguan family members immediately became agitated.

"Patriarch, this is just speculation. Why should we have to swear?"

"Indeed, Patriarch! If they truly wanted to give that opportunity to Yulin, they wouldn't be making things so difficult!"

"Precisely! Their intentions are malicious, aiming to sow discord within the Shangguan family to achieve their ulterior motives!"

"Patriarch! Young Patriarch! Do not be blinded by these two and do something that gladdens your enemies and pains your loved ones!"

"..."

Zi Lingling and Ye Lingyuan didn't even bat an eyelid, letting the others spew their venom.

One person opposing is called opposition, but when everyone opposes, it is called public outrage.

Shangguan Yulin, being young, was furious.

These people wanted to obtain the opportunity without giving anything in return, yet they didn't consider why the others would give it to the Shangguan family?

But Shangguan Lincang was different.

He roared, "All of you, shut up!"

Seeing their Patriarch's fury, those people immediately fell silent.

Shangguan Lincang's face was stern, "As the tomb keepers of the Heavenly Venerable's Tomb, we have bathed in the Heavenly Venerable's grace day and night. When have we ever been cowards?"

"Speculation? Since it is mere speculation, what is there to fear about taking an oath?"

"Malicious intentions? If their intentions were malicious, they could have simply denied that they brought anything out of the Heavenly Venerable's Tomb and wouldn't be arguing with us here?"

"Furthermore, let me tell you, if they wanted to leave, no one present could stop them, including myself! And if they wanted to kill, no one present could escape, including myself!"

"So, what malicious intentions do they have? I think the truly malicious ones are you! You don't want to bear any risks, or rather, you are afraid! You fear that if you take the oath, when that time truly comes, you will have no way out!"

"Before, I was disappointed when you refused to save Yulong, but I wasn't angry. After all, everyone's life is precious, and Yulong's life is no more valuable than anyone else's!"

"But look at the Heavenly Venerable's Tomb before you, and think about what the Heavenly Venerable did in the past! Others may not know, but we, the tomb-keeping clan, are very clear about it! If it weren't for his desperate protection and that of the other eight venerables, how could our ancestors have survived, and how could we exist?"

"So, are Miss Zi and Prince Ye truly speculating? Will history truly not repeat itself? In the end, you are all cowards, afraid of death!"

"But when has our Shangguan family ever been a coward? Therefore, those who do not swear today, I will definitely expel from the family, with no mercy! Make your choices!"

The members of the Shangguan family immediately fell silent, and many showed expressions of shame.

Shangguan Yulin seized the opportunity to say, "Esteemed uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters, we were born between heaven and earth and should stand tall! Today, even without any opportunity, I will still take this oath, because... I am a man!"