“No need, among the Zi family’s top ranks, not everyone will agree. As long as I oppose, Great-Grandfather won’t agree either!” Zi Ling shook her head and said.
Zi Jian quietly sighed in relief. If Zi Ling truly considered running away, he wouldn’t let Lin Xiao off easily.
After speaking, Zi Ling sent a mental message to Lin Xiao, “Also, don’t get any ideas about me. I won’t fall for a flirtatious young master like you!”
“Uh…” Lin Xiao was instantly speechless, feeling like he’d been unfairly targeted.
When had he ever become a flirtatious young master?
However, for such inexplicable matters, he couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Besides, he didn’t want to stir up anything with Zi Ling. His ambiguous relationships with several women were already giving him a headache.
“However, if things go wrong later, I might need your help to shield me from trouble,” Zi Ling sent another mental message.
“I…” Lin Xiao felt utterly speechless.
“Do a good deed to the end. For the sake of my master, for the sake of us both being part of Shengyuan Academy, for the sake of our familiarity, if things really spiral out of control, you won’t refuse to help me, right?” Zi Ling said cunningly through the mental link.
“Can I say I won’t help?” Lin Xiao replied.
“Then I’ll take that as you agreeing,” Zi Ling responded cleverly.
Lin Xiao shook his head helplessly. It seemed this trip to the Zi family headquarters would make him famous again, and not in a small way.
“Sigh, women, such trouble,” Lin Xiao sighed inwardly.
…
The Yutian Boat was incredibly fast. In one night and half a day, it had flown countless miles without anyone intercepting them.
Firstly, the Yutian Boat’s speed was simply too great. Unless someone pinpointed its direction and timed an ambush perfectly or deployed another Yutian Boat to pursue, there was no chance of stopping it.
Secondly, their Yutian Boat carried five experts with Ninth-Tier Martial Lord strength, plus two Eighth-Tier Martial Lords. Such formidable power would make even the Jin family hesitant to provoke them.
Travelling on the Yutian Boat was indeed much safer.
When the sun hung high, a magnificent cluster of buildings appeared in Lin Xiao’s view.
In front of the buildings stood a city wall several metres tall, with a massive stone gate at the centre.
On the stone gate were the two flamboyant characters “Zi Family.”
The characters shimmered with purple light, vivid and lifelike, as if about to leap off the gate.
They carried an immense pressure, as if any disrespect would bring that pressure crashing down.
The city walls were heavily guarded, with strong cultivators patrolling everywhere, many exuding the aura of Martial Lords.
The Yutian Boat stopped before the stone gate. Zi Jian stored it in his storage ring, and Lin Xiao and the others disembarked, heading toward the gate.
“That writing, it faintly carries a pressure?” Lin Xiao asked Zi Ling, glancing at the characters.
“Those two characters were personally carved by Great-Grandfather and infused with a Martial Emperor War Seal for intimidation,” Zi Ling replied.
Lin Xiao was astonished. To think the writing was infused with a Martial Emperor War Seal, the cost must have been immense.
Truly worthy of a Martial Emperor force, so extravagant. If this gate plaque were released, it would likely spark a frenzy to seize such a treasure.
Activating the Martial Emperor War Seal could kill a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord, enough to deter countless experts.
No wonder, whether the Purple Emperor was in the city or not, just this War Seal ensured no one dared cause trouble.
“Worthy of the Zi family headquarters!” Ling Hu, standing nearby, couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Welcome, Elders!” As they approached, two gate guards saluted, clearly recognizing Zi Jinchen and the others.
Zi Jinchen nodded to them and led Lin Xiao and the group into the city.
To be precise, this wasn’t a full city but merely the Zi family’s vast compound, with no unrelated individuals.
However, the cluster of buildings was so expansive it resembled a city.
“Third Elder, Elder Zi Jian, fellow Elders!” At that moment, a middle-aged man strode toward them, saluting. “The Grand Elder, other Elders, and two distinguished guests are awaiting in the great hall!”
“Zi Ling, let’s head directly to the great hall. Steward Zi Jun, these are Zi Ling’s friends who contributed greatly to our Zi family in the arena. Please treat them well,” Zi Jian said.
The middle-aged man named Zi Jun nodded.
“No, they must come with me to the great hall,” Zi Ling insisted.
Zi Jian frowned. “Zi Ling, you know this doesn’t align with our Zi family’s rules.”
“Zi Ling, with all the Elders present, bringing them along would indeed be inconvenient,” Zi Jinchen added.
“Fine, I won’t bring them all, but Lin Xiao must come with me, or I won’t go,” Zi Ling said stubbornly.
Zi Jinchen paused, then said to Zi Jian, “Elder Zi Jian, Lin Xiao has great potential and is Zi Ling’s comrade from Shengyuan Academy, someone we plan to recommend to the Purple Emperor. Letting him witness this and see Lingjian Sect’s genius could be beneficial, as this isn’t an Elders’ meeting.”
Zi Jian frowned. Was the Third Elder planning something, perhaps siding with Zi Ling?
“If the other Elders take issue, I’ll take responsibility,” Zi Jinchen added.
“Since the Third Elder says so, I have no objections,” Zi Jian replied.
His status was lower than the Third Elder’s, so he had no authority to oppose.
Besides, a mere outsider youth wouldn’t cause much trouble.
Lin Xiao reluctantly parted with Xiao Mao, Mei Tianmo, and Ling Hu, then followed Zi Ling to the Zi family great hall.
One couldn’t act recklessly in a Martial Emperor force. Apart from the Emperor, there were numerous Martial Lords. Falling out with the Zi family would likely lead to no good outcome.
Lin Xiao and the group headed straight to the great hall. After some time, the majestic Zi family great hall came into view.
The hall’s grand purple doors stood open, flanked by two Martial Lords on guard. Seeing Lin Xiao and Zi Ling approach, they hesitated, intending to stop them.
But seeing Zi Jinchen, Zi Jian, and others present, they ultimately refrained.
“Elders, please enter!” they gestured.
Zi Jinchen nodded and led Lin Xiao and Zi Ling inside.
The hall was spacious and magnificent, resplendent in purple and jade, exuding grandeur.
Dozens of people sat in two rows, mostly elders, with only one handsome youth in white standing behind the foremost elder on the left.
As Lin Xiao, Zi Ling, and the others entered, all eyes turned toward them, expressions varied. Lin Xiao’s gaze fell on the youth, about seventeen, with starry brows and sharp eyes, a face like a silver plate, strikingly handsome. His eyes gleamed like cold stars, exuding an extraordinary aura, faintly revealing the strength of an Eighth-Tier Martial Venerable.
