Mortal: I really didn't want to be reborn as Zi Ling!

On the viewing platform, Zi Ling looked at her father's back with complicated emotions.

She tried to persuade her.

And not just once.

Everything that needed to be said has been said, and things that shouldn't have been said have been hinted at.

But he still stepped forward.

"Don't worry, Ning'er."

Zhou Yuan's voice rang in her ears, deliberately calm, but Zi Ling could detect the unease in it: "Your father has already sent a message to the Sixth Elder. He should be here in a quarter of an hour at most via the teleportation array. Whoever comes today, as soon as the Sixth Elder arrives—"

Thinking of the powerful demon who hadn't yet appeared, she paused, as if encouraging herself: "They all have to kneel down and beg for mercy."

Zi Ling remained silent for a moment.

Then he asked, "What if we can't make it in time?"

"How could we possibly make it in time—"

Zhou Yuan was interrupted by Zi Ling halfway through her sentence.

"Why is it impossible?"

Zi Ling turned her head, looked into her mother's eyes, and said, word by word, "The other party went to great lengths, obviously preparing for more than just a day or two. It's impossible that they didn't guard against this move."

Zhou Yuan's expression changed drastically.

She abruptly turned her head to look at the battlefield, the composure in her eyes finally fading, revealing deep worry.

Zi Ling also looked towards the arena.

Fortunately-

She breathed a sigh of relief.

With his own advance warning, my father's preparations over the years have certainly not been in vain.

He faced the combined attack of Wu Chou and Elder Gu, two Core Formation cultivators, alone. Although he was at a disadvantage, he was not in a sorry state.

He twirled the jade flute in his hand, each swing producing a sonic wave that deflected most of the opponent's attack.

The light beneath his feet moved as nimbly as a snake, weaving through the gaps between the two attackers.

More importantly, he now possessed several unusually conspicuous magical artifacts.

A cyan armor floated around his body, shimmering with spiritual light, blocking Wu Chou's black malevolent aura; a small shield swirled around him, specifically designed to intercept Elder Gu and Wu Chou's cunning bone spike anchor.

For a short time, they were not at a disadvantage.

Zi Ling saw all this and felt a mix of emotions.

I've worked hard for six years.

Although some things have changed, the overall trend remains the same!

"Ning'er."

Zhou Yuan's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a solemnity that Zi Ling had never heard before.

"I know you've been smart since you were little. But some things can't be backed down from just because we say so."

Her gaze fell on her husband, and her voice softened: "If your father doesn't take action today, and Elder Xinggong blames us, our whole family and the entire Miaoyin Sect will not escape punishment."

Zi Ling pursed her lips.

She understood the subtext in her mother's words.

But she didn't think so.

Every era has its limitations. Born into this era, some things have already become ingrained beliefs. You could say they have no choice in the matter, or you could say they can't let go of certain things. It's not something that can be resolved by her saying "run away."

Moreover—

She glanced at her father's figure.

The other party's stance wasn't solely for the sake of the Star Palace.

It's mostly for her.

For the sake of all the disciples of the Miaoyin Sect.

Zi Ling felt extremely frustrated, but had nowhere to vent her anger.

She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the still-stunned Star Palace Foundation Establishment cultivators on the viewing platform, and her voice suddenly rose:

"What are you still standing there for?!"

Her voice was childlike, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Didn't you see Elder Gu rebelling? And those scoundrels from Extreme Yin Island—kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

The dozen or so Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Star Palace looked at each other in bewilderment.

Some wanted to take action, but others hesitated.

Then, their eyes all turned to Zhou Yuan.

When Zi Ling saw this, she was so angry that her breasts were about to develop hyperplasia.

These people, even at the brink of life and death, are still hesitating and looking back. These insects, no wonder the Reverse Star Alliance dares to rub the tiger's whiskers of the Star Palace!

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly.

The cultivators from the Star Palace then unleashed their respective magical artifacts and rushed towards the disciples of the Extreme Yin Island in the arena.

"Okay, don't be angry!"

Zhou Yuan withdrew her gaze, reached out and touched the sulking Zi Ling, her tone as gentle as if she were coaxing a child.

"Ning'er. Just as your father said, this world is about natural selection, survival of the fittest."

She paused, her gaze falling on her daughter's face with a complex mix of pride.

"You are still young and your cultivation is insufficient, so you are naturally not enough to convince others. But I believe that with your talent and intelligence, your future will surely be bright."

Zi Ling did not respond.

She stared into her mother's eyes and suddenly asked, "Mother, are you also planning to abandon me like Father did?"

Zhou Yuan's hand, which was stroking Zi Ling's head, froze.

"You're a wonderful child... you're good at everything, except you're too smart."

She forced a smile, avoiding Zi Ling's gaze: "But remember, too much intelligence can be harmful."

Zi Ling didn't give her a chance to change the subject:

Have you thought about this?

"If you all die in battle—"

She looked into Zhou Yuan's eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"With my cultivation level, can I protect the vast legacy of the Wonderful Sound Sect?"

Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Ning'er, Elder Xinggong couldn't possibly—"

"hehe."

Zi Ling sneered, interrupting her mother.

"Elder Xinggong doesn't think much of it."

"That doesn't mean his subordinates look down on him."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Zhou Yuan's heart: "Could I possibly stop any Core Formation cultivator from the Star Palace?"

"You still think Senior Sister Fan and Senior Sister Zhuo can stop them!"

"in the end--"

She paused, her voice carrying a suppressed anger.

"Isn't it all just a wedding dress made for someone else?"

Zhou Yuan was speechless for a moment.

She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but found that every word her daughter said hit the nail on the head.

Without a Core Formation cultivator in charge, the female cultivators of the Wonderful Sound Sect who are proficient in music and skilled in singing and dancing are a huge piece of meat.

Anyone can come up and take a bite.

She remained silent for a long time.

The sounds of battle in the distance grew increasingly intense. As his magical power dwindled, Wang Heng was clearly at a disadvantage. Wu Chou's bone spike anchor became increasingly cunning, and Elder Gu continued to harass him. The sound waves from the jade flute were compressed into a narrower and narrower channel.

Zhou Yuan finally spoke, her voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"I believe in Ning'er's abilities; you will surely be able to save the day from collapse."

Just as Zi Ling was about to speak, Zhou Yuan turned her head and glanced at the battlefield.

Her eyes changed.

She was no longer the gentle mother from before, but the deputy sect leader of the Miaoyin Sect.

"but--"

Her voice was fast and urgent.

"I promise you. As long as there is even the slightest possibility, your father and I will do everything we can to survive."

She turned her head and looked into Zi Ling's eyes: "How about it? Is this alright now?"

Before Zi Ling could answer, she had already turned around, holding a small light purple shield and a pipa (a type of Chinese lute) in her hands.

"Hurry up! I have to go help your father, otherwise he really won't be able to hold on."

As Zi Ling watched her mother's retreating figure, she felt an increasing tightness in her chest.

Six years.

She worked hard for six years.

In the end, nothing changed.

"Since you've said that, what else can I say..."

Zi Ling's voice sounded a little muffled.

Zhou Yuan didn't turn around. She stuffed a storage bag into Zi Ling's arms and then jumped up.

A pale purple streak of light pierced the sky, and the pipa in her hand emitted a clear, melodious hum.

She charged directly at Elder Gu and Wu Chou, who were besieging Wang Heng.