People accustomed to walking under immense pressure and resistance will stumble forward under inertia once that pressure and resistance are suddenly removed.
Situ Yunfeng and the other three were in this situation.
Just as the four were about to crash face-first into the ground, a figure appeared.
That noble black brocade robe, paired with that peerless countenance, was breathtakingly beautiful.
Who else could this eye-catching figure be but the peerless Pluto?
As Ye Lingyuan appeared, he waved four streams of spiritual energy.
The four streams of spiritual energy appeared before Situ Zuofeng and the others, timely lifting them before they could make intimate contact with the ground.
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"
"A Yuan!"
"Pluto!"
In their dazed state, the four saw a familiar figure. Their spirits relaxed, and they finally lost consciousness.
From the moment he appeared, Ye Lingyuan's gaze was fixed on the figure enveloped in golden light.
In his eyes, there was worry, heartache, helplessness, and anger; it was indescribable, unclear.
In fact, Ye Lingyuan had been there all along.
Just as Zi Linling thought, that stone was intentionally thrown out by him to reveal Mo Qingcheng's whereabouts.
The moment Mo Qingcheng transformed into a demon, he had wanted to rush out.
However, he was stopped by two people.
These two people were the old man with the gray beard and the old woman carrying a flower basket that Zi Linling had discovered.
The old man with the gray beard called himself Mr. Zhi Jue, meaning "foreknowledge."
And the old woman carrying the flower basket called herself Granny Huahua, meaning "flower protector."
The first words they spoke were: "We are the protectors of that child."
The child, of course, referred to Zi Linling.
Ye Lingyuan, with his vast knowledge, naturally understood the meaning of a "protector."
Of course, he also understood that anyone who had a protector must have an extraordinary identity.
But Zi Linling was just the daughter of Zi Guochang, the former patriarch of the Zi family? Did she have another identity?
If that were the case, why had no one ever mentioned it?
In an instant, Ye Lingyuan's mind raced.
Of course, he was skeptical of their words.
However, the two did not seem inclined to explain Zi Linling's identity further, directly blocking his inquiry with a phrase, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."
Ye Lingyuan frowned. Without any explanation, why should he believe them?
Mr. Zhi Jue perceived his displeasure and said, "Your Highness Pluto need not be suspicious. All your doubts will be revealed when the time is right; I will tell you everything without reservation."
Granny Huahua also said, "Now is not the time to discuss these matters. Time is of the essence, so I will get straight to the point." Soudan Novel Network
She looked in Zi Linling's direction and continued, "That child is on the verge of a breakthrough, and a breakthrough requires a catalyst."
"A catalyst? What is it?"
Although Ye Lingyuan was skeptical of the two, he had to inquire cautiously regarding Zi Linling's cultivation.
"The heavenly might brought about by the emergence of the Demon God is the catalyst for her breakthrough!" Granny Huahua answered without hesitation.
"The emergence of the Demon God? Are you sure?"
Ye Lingyuan was secretly astonished.
He had read many ancient texts and naturally knew the consequences of the Demon God's emergence.
Mr. Zhi Jue nodded solemnly, "This is the special ability of our Prophet clan; we can predict certain events in advance."
The Prophet clan?
Ye Lingyuan was even more surprised.
The Prophet clan had been in seclusion for nearly a hundred thousand years, and now they had suddenly emerged.
The emergence of the prophets signified that a major event was about to occur, be it a great disaster or a great calamity!
Yet, at this moment, people from the Prophet clan were here, and they had become the protectors of his Lin'er, the implications were self-evident.
The Prophet clan had always possessed foresight; they would not speak lightly without confidence.
Therefore, since Mr. Zhi Jue said this was a breakthrough catalyst for his Lin'er, there was absolutely no mistake.
But Ye Lingyuan hesitated.
He understood Zi Linling.
Zi Linling was the kind of person who would rather suffer hardships than burden others.
In other words, his Lin'er only believed in her own strength.
This was why, even with him as a powerful backer, Zi Linling was unwilling to rely on him.
Precisely because he understood, Ye Lingyuan knew what the breakthrough meant to Zi Linling.
But could he stand by and watch the woman he loved fight alone in a bloody battle?
If he could, he would not be Ye Lingyuan, the Heavenly Revelation Pluto.
Therefore, after a moment of hesitation, he still decided to rush out.
He was willing to use his tall, seven-foot frame to clear the path for his Zi Linling.
However, what Mr. Zhi Jue and Granny Huahua said next completely halted Ye Lingyuan's steps.
Granny Huahua said, "Your Highness Pluto, this old woman knows you are a genius of unparalleled talent, and she knows your feelings for her, but the path she must walk is destined to be extraordinary. Can you protect her side at all times?"
Mr. Zhi Jue continued, "Granny Huahua is right. Her enemies are too powerful, and her responsibilities are something even you cannot replace."
"To tell you the truth, a great calamity is approaching the mortal realm. Only if she becomes powerful enough can she avert this calamity. If she is not powerful enough, she will have to pay with her life. Are you willing for her to achieve enlightenment through the Dao, or for her to merge with the Dao?"
Ye Lingyuan fell silent.
To achieve enlightenment through the Dao meant to break through with one's absolute power.
To merge with the Dao meant to fill the void with one's life.
Compared to these two, anyone who cared about Zi Linling would choose the former.
Ye Lingyuan was no exception.
His love for Zi Linling was profound.
He could give his life, but he would not tolerate any harm to Zi Linling's life.
Therefore, he compromised.
Since he could not replace Zi Linling's mission, he would do his best to protect her growth and strength.
Under the "company" of Granny Huahua and the old prophet, he watched Zi Linling grow at the cost of her blood.
Every step Zi Linling took, every drop of blood she shed, tore at Ye Lingyuan's heart.
He wanted to step forward more than once to block the immense heavenly might for Zi Linling, but he was stopped by Mr. Zhi Jue and Granny Huahua.
As protectors, they had their own bottom line for handling matters.
As long as Zi Linling's life was not threatened, they would not intervene.
And their reason for stopping Ye Lingyuan was only one—the time was not yet right!
Each step was a footprint, each footprint stained with blood.
Ye Lingyuan's heart was like a knife twisting.
He clenched his fists tightly, then helplessly loosened them.
Only he knew the feeling of his heart bleeding as he watched the woman he loved suffer.
Seeing Zi Linling sit down in meditation, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He knew that the time for the breakthrough had arrived.
After Zi Linling's breakthrough was complete, he could no longer restrain himself and quickly walked out.
His gaze never left that stubborn and beautiful figure, even as he casually caught Situ Yunfeng and the other three.