"Or are the rules of Dongfang City made by your Zi family, so your Zi family can frame whoever they want and kill whoever they want?"
"Moreover, if you want to kill someone, that person cannot fight back and must willingly extend their neck for you to kill?"
"And regarding the Soul Nurturing Wood tree, your Zi family lost your Soul Nurturing Wood tree, so why blame me? Why are you so sure that the Soul Nurturing Wood was stolen by me?"
"Could it be that the laws of the Azure Dragon Empire were also made by your Zi family, allowing you to frame anyone you wish? If someone has a personal vendetta against your Zi family, can they be arbitrarily accused of a baseless crime?"
Zi Lingling's words were righteous and stern, leaving Zi Tianchang speechless.
Qin Youcheng looked at Zi Lingling with admiration, a strange light flickering in his cloudy eyes.
Shen Wenqing nodded repeatedly.
Having spent the past few days with Zi Lingling, he believed he understood her well.
But seeing her today, he realized that what he had seen of Zi Lingling was merely the tip of the iceberg.
A sharp glint flashed in Zi Tianchang's eyes as he said with a dark expression, "Brat, you can save those words for the Zi family's Elder Pavilion. My mission today is to take you back!"
Zi Lingling retorted sarcastically, "I'm not a member of your imperial Zi family, so why should I care about your Elder Pavilion? Take me back? Do you think you're worthy? It's not that I look down on you, I truly do. If you can make me move to the Zi family today, I'll hand over what you want with both hands!"
After she spoke, both Qin Youcheng and Shen Wenqing wore expressions of confusion.
What the Zi family wanted?
What item was it?
Zi Lingling offered no further explanation, instead looking coldly at Zi Tianchang, a fierce glare in her eyes.
"You may not have a choice!"
A voice echoed from outside the door.
Zi Wentian, leading more than ten people, barged in.
Qin Youcheng and Shen Wenqing's expressions changed drastically.
This was because Zi Wentian had brought with him the pillars of the Zi family—members of the Elder Pavilion.
A cold smirk played on Zi Lingling's lips, "You've really gone to such great lengths! What? Are you planning to 'invite' me back by force?"
Although Zi Wentian was at the peak of the Saint King realm, and the more than ten people behind him were all in the middle or late Saint King realm, it made no difference to Zi Lingling.
The idea of ants biting an elephant to death was nonexistent for Zi Lingling.
Has a tiger ever been killed by a flock of sheep?
Zi Wentian's eyes were filled with a chilling light, and he said grimly, "Patriarch Zi, I've sent people to invite you on several occasions, and you've always refused. So, I had to come myself!"
Qin Youcheng snorted, "Zi Wentian, was that an invitation? There was not the slightest respect or courtesy. How dare you call it an invitation? I'm ashamed for you, an old man like me!"
Zi Wentian walked up to Qin Youcheng and gave a perfunctory bow, saying, "It was my oversight, I didn't see the distinguished presence of Elder Qin. Please forgive me, Elder Qin!"
Qin Youcheng said with a grim face, "It's not too late to see me now. If you know what's good for you, take your people and leave immediately, or you'll regret it!"
Zi Wentian sneered, "Elder Qin, why aren't you recuperating properly at the Qin family, but wandering around here? You're old now, stop worrying about things and enjoy your twilight years, won't you? Why get involved in this mess!"
A threat!
A naked threat!
Qin Youcheng was amused by the audacity.
He hadn't been active for years, and his formidable reputation seemed to have been forgotten!
It seemed he had been dormant for too long, for even a junior could threaten him.
Qin Youcheng rebuked, "Hmph! Even that old geezer Zi Bachuan wouldn't dare speak to me like that. Who do you think you are?"
Zi Wentian's gaze turned colder, "Elder Qin, do you still think my father is like you, sitting around waiting to die? To tell you the truth, he has already touched that barrier."
Qin Youcheng was greatly shocked, "You mean... Zi Ba Tian has reached the Half-step Emperor realm?"
Zi Wentian said proudly, "It was a fortunate breakthrough! Therefore, I'll advise Elder Qin again: enjoy your retirement, don't always rush out!"
"Hmph! Is Half-step Emperor realm so impressive?"
Zi Lingling's clear and cold voice rang out, the sarcasm in her words like a slap to Zi Wentian's face.
Zi Wentian disdainfully replied, "Whether it's impressive or not is not for a mere peak Hua Yuan realm cultivator like you to judge!"
Zi Lingling sneered, "Judge? He's not worthy!"
What a joke, even Ye Ling Yuan wasn't this arrogant when he broke through to the Small Divine realm!
She herself could fight against Emperor realm cultivators and still wasn't this ignorant of her own limitations.
What was so great about a mere Half-step Emperor realm to brag about!
Zi Wentian angrily declared, "Very good! Once I capture you, I'll hand you over to him for some proper 'tutelage'!"
As he spoke, he was about to make his move.
This was precisely why he had brought so many people.
The Zi family's elites had come out in full force, and the other three families would have to weigh their options carefully before intervening.
Shen Wenqing frowned, then resolutely stood in front of Zi Lingling, shielding her behind him.
After all, the Shen family was now bound to Zi Lingling, so he had no reason not to act.
"Zi Wentian, let me see if you've improved in recent years!"
Zi Wentian sneered, "You? Hahaha! Shen Wenqing, don't think that just because you hold the position of Shen family patriarch, you can match me. Today, I'll show you why the flowers are so red!"
As he spoke, the spiritual energy he had gathered in his hand flew towards Shen Wenqing.
Shen Wenqing's expression was solemn. He could feel Zi Wentian's power and knew he had to give it his all.
But just as he was about to meet the attack, Zi Lingling's voice rang out again.
"Patriarch Shen, let me handle this!"
As the words fell, a scalpel appeared in Zi Lingling's hand.
The scalpel pulsed with light, and it cleaved towards Zi Wentian.
"Bang!"
The two energies collided, instantly reducing the items in the Yue Lai Inn to powder.
A few roof tiles fell, shattering with a sound.
Zi Wentian stumbled back three steps, his body hitting the pillar that Zi Dong'an had previously crashed into, using the pillar's strength to stabilize himself.
A腥甜 (fishy sweetness) surged in his throat, but he managed to swallow it back down.
"Not good! Underestimated her!"
Zi Wentian thought to himself, and quickly circulated his spiritual energy to heal the internal injuries.
In contrast, Zi Lingling stood leisurely.
Apart from the slight sway of her clothes, she hadn't moved at all.
"Very good! You could actually withstand my attack and still stand here unharmed. As expected of the number one genius in the Three Kingdoms!" Zi Wentian said, wiping a nonexistent trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.
Zi Lingling sneered, "You're not bad either. You clearly spat blood but managed to swallow it. You're truly irredeemably stupid!"