This was why, for twelve years, no matter how much the Wang family bullied Zi Linling, Zi Jitian never appeared.
The only time he showed himself was during the great fire when Zi Linling was six years old, because that fire endangered her life.
He had originally thought that the less he showed he cared, the more Zi Linling could live safely until she was twelve.
In fact, it was precisely because of this that the Wang family felt Zi Linling was not a threat and did not exterminate her.
But now, the young master of the Imperial Zi family was so cruel as to want to take Zi Linling's life. This had touched Zi Jitian's bottom line.
Therefore, to protect his granddaughter, to protect the only bloodline of his son, Zi Jitian decided to fight with all his might.
"Old man, you don't know what's good for you! Since that's the case, I'll deal with you first, and then I'll personally capture that good-for-nothing!"
As Zi Donglai's voice fell, a sword also appeared in his hand.
And this sword of his was not conjured by spiritual energy, but a true weapon of slaughter—a real sword.
Moreover, the grade of his sword was not low; it had already entered the category of spiritual artifacts. Su Dan Novel Network
As Zi Jitian's spiritual energy sword approached Zi Donglai, it was blocked by Zi Donglai's spiritual sword and stopped at Zi Donglai's shoulder.
Zi Jitian snorted coldly, and his spiritual energy sword slid down Zi Donglai's spiritual sword, slashing towards Zi Donglai's neck.
Zi Donglai sidestepped, retreated two steps, and managed to avoid Zi Jitian's attack.
But before he could steady himself, Zi Jitian's spiritual energy sword swiftly rose, slashing towards his neck again.
Zi Donglai leaned back, avoiding the tip of the attacking sword once more.
Thus, Zi Jitian pressed forward step by step, and Zi Donglai narrowly evaded. In just a moment, they had exchanged over a hundred blows.
This place was located underground in the Zi Yun Pavilion, and the energy overflow from their fight quickly shook the ground, causing dust to fall.
"Old man, this place isn't suitable for fighting, let's go up and continue!"
Zi Donglai blocked another move and quickly retreated, widening the distance between himself and Zi Jitian.
He seized the opportunity to yell at Zi Yun, Zi Yi, and Zi Zhu, "Hurry up and go!"
Zi Jitian coldly sneered, "Go? Can you go?"
As his voice fell, he once again became entangled with Zi Donglai.
His goal was to sacrifice his own life and perish with these four people, buying Zi Linling enough time to grow.
Seeing the dust falling faster and faster, Zi Donglai exclaimed in anger, "Madman! He's a true old madman!"
This place was merely a temporary hiding spot that had been dug out. Besides setting up a concealment formation, it had not been properly processed.
Now, under the aftershocks of the fight between him and Zi Jitian, it was about to collapse.
This was why he cursed.
Zi Jitian remained silent, but his attacks became fiercer. This made Zi Donglai, whose cultivation was already inferior to his, feel somewhat constrained.
Zi Donglai was struggling and became even more exasperated, "Zi Zhu, why aren't you coming to help!"
Zi Zhu had already disliked Zi Donglai's cold and heartless demeanor. So when Zi Donglai asked for his help, he was extremely reluctant.
"Young Master, this place is completely unsuitable for fighting. If I join in, it will collapse immediately."
After he finished speaking, he not only did not step forward but also took two steps back.
Zi Donglai wanted to curse his mother.
Although he could not accept Zi Zhu's failure at a critical moment, Zi Zhu's reasoning was sound.
Even if he wanted to scold him, he had no valid reason.
Moreover, Zi Jitian's attacks were becoming even more ferocious, a fight that clearly disregarded his own life.
But it was precisely this suicidal fighting style of Zi Jitian that gave Zi Donglai a major headache.
He dodged another move and said coldly, "Zi Jitian, do you really intend to perish with me?"
Zi Jitian's hand movements constantly changed, but a cold smile appeared on his face. He said, "Perish together? You're not worthy!"
"You!"
Zi Donglai felt a pain in his chest from being choked, but he dared not divert his attention.
Although he could fight opponents of a higher level, the difference between the early and middle stages of the Saint King realm, despite being only one minor realm apart, was like a chasm.
"I have always treated you with courtesy, yet you intend to kill my granddaughter. This is truly unbearable!"
Zi Jitian said, and his offensive became even more fierce.
"Good, good, good! Since that's the case, let's go up and fight!"
Zi Donglai said, evading another attack, and stated fiercely.
Then, he turned and ran towards the exit.
Since this place was bound to be exposed, why should he still be holding back?
Zi Jitian snorted coldly, "Afraid of you?"
As he spoke, the tip of his sword once again rose, like a leech's venom, and slashed towards Zi Donglai's neck.
Zi Donglai dodged again and was about to slip through the exit and out of the ground.
The two were locked in a fierce struggle, at a stalemate.
Zi Yi and Zi Yun were about to step forward to help, but Zi Zhu grabbed them by the arms, one on each side, and threw them away.
Zi Linling's spiritual consciousness saw the underground space about to collapse and quickly withdrew.
She opened her eyes, leaped out of the Zi Xin Pavilion, and with the Zi Yun Pavilion in her sights, she sped off.
No matter how indifferent her supposed grandfather had been to her in the past, the current Zi Jitian was fighting to protect her.
Therefore, for both reason and sentiment, she could not stand by and do nothing.
Moreover, since Zi Donglai wanted to kill her, she should kill Zi Donglai first, shouldn't she?
Ye Lingyuan, who was hidden among the treetops, looked at the murderous Zi Linling and smiled.
Then, with a thought, he appeared in the Zi Yun Pavilion.
As for the flare-up of the Moon-colored Glazed Body, with Zi Linling by his side, it could be suppressed for a while.
"Oh, quite lively!"
Zi Linling looked at the scalpel in her hand and said coldly.
As her voice fell, Zi Jitian and Zi Donglai immediately stopped.
"Lin'er, why are you here? Go back to Zi Xin Pavilion quickly!"
Zi Jitian said anxiously.
He knew about the formation in Zi Xin Pavilion.
As long as Zi Linling stayed in Zi Xin Pavilion and did not come out, Zi Donglai and his group would be helpless.
In complete contrast to Zi Jitian's reaction was Zi Donglai.
He smiled sinisterly, "I was really racking my brains trying to find you, and now you've appeared right before me! I was just wondering how to lure you out if this old man didn't cooperate, but I didn't expect you to deliver yourself."
Zi Linling rolled her eyes at him and said, "It's not certain who's delivering themselves!"
Then, her gaze fell upon Zi Jitian, and she said, "For risking your life for me, I'll give you a chance to explain. But not now, let me deal with this thing first."
She said, looking at Zi Donglai, her killing intent beginning to surge.