The rich power of laws washed over Zi Lingling, making her feel indescribably comfortable.
She closed her eyes contentedly, her mind a complete blank.
The law of life nourished her body, the law of the five elements controlled a certain balance within her, and the laws of light and darkness continuously demonstrated the rules of their mutual transformation. The law of judgment stood out from the rest, seemingly merged with the Heavenly Dao.
At this moment, Zi Lingling was in a state of profound enlightenment, her aura rapidly ascending.
Xuanyuan Xun's eyes widened in shock.
The enlightenment that others yearned for their entire lives, Zi Lingling had entered so easily.
After absorbing some of the law's power, Xuanyuan Zhe's cultivation also improved slightly.
But when he saw Zi Lingling's cultivation surging at a visible rate, a wry smile appeared on his face.
Did he truly deserve someone with such talent?
A feeling of inferiority instantly blossomed in his mind and continued to amplify.
Half an hour later, Zi Lingling finally opened her eyes, and her cultivation was only a step away from the late stage of the Small God Realm.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
She looked at Xuanyuan Zhe and Xuanyuan Xun, who seemed to want to dissect her and study her, with a look of surprise.
Xuanyuan Zhe's gaze was sharp. "Speak! What kind of monstrous being are you?"
Zi Lingling blinked, then retorted indignantly, "You know very well where I came from!"
Xuanyuan Zhe gave a wry smile. "I now seriously suspect that you are not from the Tianyuan Continent at all! Because such a barren land like the Tianyuan Continent could not possibly produce a monster like you!"
Zi Lingling frowned. "What exactly do you mean?"
Xuanyuan Zhe lamented, "Just keep pretending! You're really not a good person, even deceiving me!"
Zi Lingling was bewildered. "Xuanyuan Zhe, what madness are you talking about? When did I ever deceive you?"
"You still say you didn't deceive me? Look at your cultivation!"
Xuanyuan Zhe said, feeling wronged.
When he met Zi Lingling in Linxian Town, she was clearly still at the peak of the Saint King Realm.
But after only a few days, Zi Lingling's cultivation had reached the middle stage of the Small God Realm, just a step away from breaking through to the late stage.
It was demoralizing! This was absolutely demoralizing!
Zi Lingling, reminded by Xuanyuan Zhe, quickly checked her own cultivation.
Middle stage of the Small God Realm? Just one step away from the late stage?
"How could this be? Why did I break through?" Zi Lingling exclaimed in shock.
She finally understood why Xuanyuan Zhe and Xuanyuan Xun were looking at her like she was a monster.
Xuanyuan Zhe said resentfully, "Alright, alright! You were feigning ignorance earlier, and now you're acting innocent after gaining benefits!"
Xuanyuan Xun seized the opportunity to explain, "Miss Zi, you entered a state of enlightenment just now, which is why you broke through!"
"Ah?"
Zi Lingling was stunned for a moment, then sheepishly touched her nose. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't expect to enter a state of enlightenment, and I apologize for making you wait for so long!"
"Waiting? Not at all, just about half an hour!" Xuanyuan Zhe's tone was so sour it could ferment a barrel of vinegar.
"Half an hour? But I felt like only a moment had passed?" Zi Lingling asked curiously.
Xuanyuan Xun explained, "Miss Zi, you don't need to worry. In your enlightened state, you merged with time and space, which is why you didn't feel the passage of time."
Zi Lingling suddenly realized. "So that's how it is. Thank you, Ninth Prince, for clarifying!"
Xuanyuan Zhe was about to speak but was glared at by Xuanyuan Xun.
The mouth he had just opened immediately closed.
Xuanyuan Xun took the opportunity to say, "Miss Zi, the entrance is not a place to talk. Let's go inside and chat!"
Zi Lingling nodded and gave a soft hum.
The three of them followed the main path, turned two bends, and arrived at a delicate pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, there was a stone table, already laden with food and wine.
The three of them approached and sat around the table.
Xuanyuan Xun poured a cup of wine for Zi Lingling and himself, then reached to pour for Xuanyuan Zhe.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Zhe quickly took the wine pot. He dared not let Xuanyuan Xun pour wine for him.
Xuanyuan Xun was his elder, and in the Xuanyuan Imperial Palace, etiquette was of utmost importance.
"Miss Zi, although at our level, we no longer need to consume mortal food, I, this King, greatly miss the taste of the mortal world. Therefore, I have prepared this mortal feast to entertain you. I hope you will not find it wanting!" Xuanyuan Xun said with a smile.
Zi Lingling smiled. "Ninth Prince, your hospitality is overwhelming! In this regard, we actually have something in common."
"Ninth Prince, we are of the same kind. Those who like mortal things cherish emotions, are more nostalgic, and better understand the meaning of protection, do we not?"
Xuanyuan Xun nodded with a smile. "Miss Zi truly understands my intentions. Indeed, we cultivators are, in a way, going against heaven. Our lives are long. But if there were no emotions in this long life, we would be mere walking corpses."
"Therefore, whether it is kinship, friendship, or love, they all allow us to feel the pulse of life, and they are our motivation to continuously become stronger. Because we want to protect these emotions, even if we face mountains of corpses and seas of blood, even if we kill like butchers, as long as our original intention remains unchanged, it is enough!"
Zi Lingling nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Mortal things are more conducive to enlightenment. The reason why humans can become the masters of all spirits is precisely because we know how to love, how to give, how to be grateful, and how to protect. And these are precisely why we do not give up on our path of cultivation."
"Therefore, the mortal world is the Dao! Love is the Dao! Giving is the Dao! Gratitude is the Dao! Protection is the Dao! Emotion is also the Dao! The so-called Three Thousand Great Daos, and indeed, all things are the Dao!"
Xuanyuan Xun clapped his hands in approval. "A superb exposition on the Dao! A magnificent statement, 'all things are the Dao'! Miss Zi, though young, possesses such insight. Your future achievements will be limitless!"
Zi Lingling smiled. "Ninth Prince, you flatter me! Today, I offer a humble gift. I will borrow Ninth Prince's wine to toast you!"
She finished speaking, picked up her wine cup, and drank it in one go.
"Good wine!" she praised.