Night Zhan's face lit up with excitement upon hearing this. "What exactly is it?" he asked.
"Three drops of tears!" Zi Linling replied calmly.
"Three drops of tears?" The Night family members present collectively exclaimed.
Zi Linling nodded. "That's right. One drop of familial love, one drop of friendship, and one drop of romantic love!"
"Is that all?" Ye Zhan asked incredulously.
Zi Linling said with a bitter smile, "Is it that simple?"
Ye Zhan looked surprised. "Isn't it?"
Zi Linling gave a knowing smile. "Since Patriarch Ye thinks it's simple, please give me a drop of familial love."
"What difficulty is there in that?"
With that, Ye Zhan reached out to stroke Ye Lingyuan's face, while simultaneously trying his best to conjure up a sense of unfamiliar paternal affection.
However, men's emotions are not as delicate as women's. Even though Ye Zhan looked at his son, whom he had never met, and his heart softened, he could not force tears to fall.
Seeing this, Zi Linling felt a flicker of disappointment. While she understood men's stoicism, she couldn't awaken Ye Lingyuan without the tear of familial love.
"Patriarch Ye, there's no rush. Take your time!" Zi Linling consoled him.
Ye Zhan felt somewhat awkward. "Child, as a man and the head of the Ye family, there are some things I cannot do in public."
Zi Linling smiled. "I understand!"
"Good!"
Ye Zhan said gratefully, "Child, please stay with the Ye family for now."
Zi Linling hesitated. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it? Your husband is my son, he is one of us. You are his wife, so you are also one of us. If someone from the Ye family lives in the Ye family, who dares to say anything?" Ye Zhan's gaze swept over the elders of the Ye family, his authoritative presence as the patriarch subtly emanating.
How could the elders of the Ye family not understand Ye Zhan's intentions? They exchanged glances, all of them wearing friendly expressions.
"Since she is one of us, she should naturally stay with the Ye family!"
"Exactly! We must prepare a banquet tonight to welcome the young master and young madam."
"Let alone Miss Zi being our young madam, even just for her identity as the Nine Saint Goddess, we should host her with the highest honors!"
"..."
Ye Zhan was pleased with the elders' reaction. He subtly withdrew his patriarch's aura and said kindly to Zi Linling, "Child, don't refuse. Stay here!"
Zi Linling smiled faintly. "Since that is the case, I will not refuse."
Ye Zhan was overjoyed when she agreed and immediately instructed the servants to prepare rooms for Zi Linling and her party.
In the evening, the Ye family prepared a grand banquet to welcome Zi Linling and her companions. At the same time, the news of Zi Linling being the Ye family's young madam spread throughout the clan. Many people were curious about Ye Lingyuan and Zi Linling and wanted to probe them, but their attempts were halted by an order from Ye Zhan.
"No one is allowed to disturb the young patriarch, the young madam, or their friends. Anyone who disobeys will be punished with three years of confinement at Reflection Cliff!"
With this decree, Zi Linling, Xuanyuan Xun, Shen Liuxing, Shangguan Yulin, Rong Guang, Elder Du, Dan Qianqiu, Xi Jingran, and Du Zihao enjoyed a period of peace.
After the banquet, the nine of them gathered at Zi Linling's residence.
Shangguan Yulin asked, "Boss, you called us here. Do you have any instructions?"
Although the others didn't ask, they all looked at Zi Linling with confusion, awaiting her explanation.
Zi Linling waved her hand and set up a barrier. "I want to return to the Chaotic Domain!"
"Ah?"
Everyone looked astonished and bewildered.
Xuanyuan Xun frowned. "You intend to go through the Jing family's passage to the Ghost Realm, don't you?" He had hit the nail on the head, resolving everyone's doubts.
Elder Du said, "Girl, you're going to find out Jing Yulan's whereabouts, aren't you?"
At his words, everyone's gaze fell on Zi Linling.
Zi Linling nodded. "If Patriarch Ye Zhan is telling the truth, then Jing Yulan is my husband's mother. To save my husband, Jing Yulan would be more suitable than Ye Zhan."
"But..." Shen Liuxing was about to speak when Zi Linling stopped him with a gesture.
Zi Linling's expression was resolute. "I know what you want to say. I will be careful. Besides finding Jing Yulan, I also need to find a way to obtain the Ghost Gate Pass. That's something I promised the Chi Mei Wang Liang three tribes."
Seeing her determination, the others knew that dissuasion would be futile.
Shen Liuxing stood up. "Sister Zi, if that's the case, let me go with you. That way, we can look out for each other!"
Shangguan Yulin also stood up. "I'm going too!"
"I'm going too!"
"I'm going too!"
"I'm going too!" Elder Du, Dan Qianqiu, and Rong Guang stood up, unwilling to be outdone.
Xuanyuan Xun remained silent, but he also stood up. His intention was clear: he was going too.
Xi Jingran also stood up. "Master, we are one. You can't leave me behind!"
Du Zihao also stood up. "If you all go, what reason do I have to stay? We go together, we go to the same place!"
Zi Linling's heart warmed, but she feigned displeasure. "What are you all doing? You're not allowed to go! None of you are going! I can go alone!"
"No!" everyone chorused.
Zi Linling sighed. "The journey to the Ghost Realm is extremely dangerous. You all heard it; that Ghost Emperor is a peak God Lord realm expert. So, more people won't help. I have many trump cards, and even if I can't defeat him, I can retreat safely."
"Besides, the Great Tribulation of Azure Star is imminent. You must stay behind and unite all available forces, ready to march to the battlefield at any time. If I return late, you can hold them off for a while, but what if the tribulation arrives early and you all go with me?"
Everyone fell silent. Zi Linling was right. When the Great Tribulation of Azure Star arrived, someone had to lead and resist it.
"But, Sister Zi, if you go alone and something happens, Azure Star will have no hope!" Shen Liuxing said worriedly.
"That's right!" others echoed.
The atmosphere became quiet for a moment. After a pause, Xuanyuan Xun broke the silence. "How about this: Elder Du, Brother Shen, and Miss Zi go together. I and the others will stay and continue what we haven't finished!"
"I think that's acceptable!" Shen Liuxing said first.
"It's decided then!" Elder Du nodded.
Zi Linling, however, stopped them. "No! This will weaken our strategic defensive force. I'll go alone."