"They are actually from the Imperial Zi family? But why are they so disheveled?"
"Looking at them, they seem to have been imprisoned. But who would be so bold?"
"Heh heh… didn't Miss Zi San say this was a gift she was giving to Second Master Zi?"
"Interesting! Interesting! There's a lot more to this than meets the eye!"
"Alas, Miss Zi San is truly a fearless newborn calf! The Imperial Zi family, that's a colossal power. Capturing these four people, isn't that like pulling a tiger's whiskers?"
"Alas, if this gets back to the Imperial Zi family, the Tianqi Zi family will be utterly finished."
...
Among the onlookers, some were astonished, naturally, some shook their heads in regret, and of course, some were eager to watch the drama unfold.
On the arena, Zi Jitian was beyond reproach, after all, he was present when Zi Donglai and the other four were captured.
Moreover, at this moment, he had transformed into a doting grandfather.
In his eyes, since Zi Linling dared to do this, she naturally had her reasons.
However, the four elders, Shang Chun, Zhong Qiu, Bei, and Qiu, were different.
Beyond their astonishment, there was more dread in their eyes.
"Zi Linling, are you trying to lead the Tianqi Zi family to its doom by doing this?"
Zi Yangshang was so enraged his nose was practically crooked.
The reason he agreed to Zi Wenchang succeeding as the patriarch was precisely to appease the Imperial Zi family.
Now, with Zi Linling acting like this, weren't all his previous forbearance and efforts in vain?
Zi Yangchun also gave a wry smile and sighed, "Third girl, you acted without much consideration."
Zi Yangbei also nodded and sternly questioned, "Miss San, can you bear the wrath of the Imperial Zi family?"
Zi Yangqiu remained silent, but he did not conceal the dissatisfaction in his eyes.
"Oh?"
Zi Linling lazily raised her gaze and asked with a smile, "Do the four elders feel that my actions are inappropriate?"
Shang Chun, Zhong Qiu, Bei, and Qiu looked at her as if she were beyond hope, but remained silent.
Zi Linling let out a cold laugh, "May I ask the four elders why people from the Imperial Zi family have traveled thousands of miles to Tianqi, and even pressured the four elders into agreeing to let my second uncle, this... idiot, become the Zi family patriarch?"
Idiot?
Zi Wenchang wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
Being called an idiot by his own niece in front of so many people, how could he still have any face?
Yet, he could not refute her, nor could he do anything to Zi Linling.
"This..."
The four elders, Shang Chun, Zhong Qiu, Bei, and Qiu, were clearly taken aback, as they genuinely couldn't fathom where the problem lay.
Zi Linling continued with a cold laugh, "So the four elders are unaware! Then I can tell you, the people from the Imperial Zi family came here for the Tianqi Zi family's Patriarch Token!"
The complexions of the four elders, Shang Chun, Zhong Qiu, Bei, and Qiu, changed dramatically.
Others might not know what the Tianqi Zi family's Patriarch Token represented, but they certainly did.
This was because it was a shared responsibility of the Tianqi Zi family elders to guard the secrets of the Patriarch Token and the spatial artifact.
Zi Linling looked at their expressions, her smile growing colder.
"The four elders probably don't know yet that the reason they wanted my second uncle to succeed as patriarch was because my dear second uncle promised to help them obtain the Zi family's Patriarch Token!"
Shang Chun, Zhong Qiu, Bei, and Qiu looked at Zi Wenchang with fury, wishing they could beat him up again.
After all, Zi Wenchang's actions were tantamount to betraying the clan, a truly heinous act.
Zi Jitian was so enraged that one Buddha emerged and another ascended to heaven; he instantly aged more than ten years.
He truly hadn't expected that his son not only betrayed him but was also prepared to betray the entire Zi family.
Zi Jitian staggered to Zi Wenchang's side, grabbed his neck, and forced him to meet his gaze.
"Second brother, I ask you, is what Lin'er said true?"
Although his voice was sharp, it could not hide the disappointment in his heart.
Zi Wenchang's gaze darted away, unwilling to meet his father's eyes.
"I... this..."
He stammered, unable to deny it.
Having lived a lifetime of prominence, how could Zi Jitian not understand what this signified?
The sliver of hope he held onto completely turned to dust.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
Zi Jitian spat out three mouthfuls of blood, his legs went weak, and he knelt on the arena, heading towards the ancestral hall.
He looked up at the sky and cried out in grief, "I have raised such a rebellious son, I have failed my ancestors!"
"Thump!"
Zi Jitian's head struck the ground heavily, tears streaming down his face.
Throughout his life, he had lived uprightly. If he had any regrets, it was only for Zi Linling. Now, with his son betraying his father and clan, it had finally broken him completely.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
The sound of kowtowing continued, the mournful cries becoming mere accompaniment.
In the training grounds, many people looked on with sympathy.
Zi Linling frowned. While she couldn't accept Zi Jitian, she had no intention of humiliating him.
Now, seeing the frail old man on the arena, she felt an inexplicable restlessness in her heart.
Ye Lingyuan quietly took her hand, remaining silent.
Ultimately, everything that was happening was an internal matter for the Zi family. Even as the Underworld King of Tianqi, it was not convenient for him to interfere.
Therefore, he could only silently provide Zi Linling with strength and stand behind her in support.
Finally, Zi Yangchun couldn't bear it any longer.
He walked behind Zi Jitian and said sorrowfully, "Fifth brother, this has nothing to do with you. Get up!"
Zi Jitian stopped kowtowing and said with self-mockery, "It is the father's fault if the child is not taught well! He is my son, and his committing such a heinous act is due to my poor upbringing!"
After saying that, he was about to continue kowtowing when he heard Zi Linling's slightly mocking voice.
"You indeed taught him poorly! You want to confess to the ancestors and kowtow to them, go to the ancestral hall, don't disgrace the Zi family here!"
Although her words were harsh, this was the most effective way to resolve the current farce.
As expected, Zi Jitian no longer insisted on kowtowing.
He staggered to his feet and said, "Lin'er is right! I was foolish. I should indeed take my rebellious son to atone for my sins, but before that, I have one more thing to do."
Zi Linling was surprised.
The four elders, Shang Chun, Zhong Qiu, Bei, and Qiu, were surprised.
The onlookers were surprised.
Only Ye Lingyuan remained unfazed, and a hint of a smile even flashed in his eyes.
Zi Jitian did not keep them guessing for long. He composed himself and said, "As things stand, Zi Wenchang is no longer suitable to take over as patriarch. However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and a family cannot be without a head."
Then, with a look of satisfaction, he turned his gaze to Zi Linling and declared, "As the seventh-generation patriarch of the Zi family, I nominate Zi Linling to be the ninth-generation patriarch!"
As his words fell, the surroundings fell silent.
Although some had already guessed this outcome, guessing was one thing, and hearing it with their own ears was another.
Zi Yangshang sighed and stepped forward, saying, "As the Grand Elder of the Zi family, I agree to Zi Linling becoming the ninth-generation patriarch of the Zi family!"
Zi Yangchun followed closely behind, stepping out and speaking impassionedly, "As the Second Elder of the Zi family, I agree to Zi Linling becoming the ninth-generation patriarch!"