The four individuals commanding the Small Four Directions Array had faces ashen, their shock and anxiety impossible to conceal.
They had initially believed that by deploying the Small Four Directions Array, their trump card, they could at least capture Zi Linling, if not kill her.
Yet now, the Small Four Directions Array's power had been pushed to its absolute limit, and it was still unable to do anything to Zi Linling's two beast companions.
This had utterly shattered their inflated confidence.
But at this point, they had no turning back.
The moment they had fallen out with Zi Linling, their conflict had become a fight to the death.
"Long'er, Xiao Hu, stop playing around! After we're done with this, we should pay their old den a visit too!"
Zi Linling's cool, clear voice echoed across the boundless desert.
Her nonchalant ease and unbelievably arrogant words sent shivers down the spines of the four great families.
"Yes! Master!"
The two divine beasts responded to Zi Linling, then roared again.
Long'er's draconic body grew once more. With a flick of its tail, two of the four divine beast phantoms in the sky were instantly shattered.
The Wind-Winged Phantom Tiger was not to be outdone. Its tiger body enlarged, and with a pounce and a swipe, the remaining two phantoms also broke apart.
With the shattering of the four divine beast phantoms, the Small Four Directions Array was instantly broken. The Saint King realm experts of the four great families all spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zi Linling sneered, "The Four Directions Array? Nothing more than this!"
"You!"
Zi Dong'an was so enraged he coughed up blood, but could only grit his teeth and glare at Zi Linling, daring not to attack.
After all, their combined assault by so many Saint King realm experts had failed. If he attacked now, he would either be cannon fodder or a laughingstock.
Shen Wenqing looked at Zi Linling, who stood there with an air of supreme confidence, and a trace of bitterness welled up in his heart.
If he had known Zi Linling was this powerful, how could he have harbored any greedy intentions?
If he hadn't been greedy, wouldn't the Shen family have flourished under Zi Linling's protection?
However, it was too late for regrets. The moment he harbored greed, the relationship between the Shen family and Zi Linling had no room for repair.
Qin Mingyue shook her head with a wry smile.
She had always known Zi Linling was powerful, but she had never imagined she would be this powerful!
Originally, her cooperation with Zi Linling could have continued.
But who could blame her for not being able to withstand the pressure from her family?
One wrong step led to a cascade of errors; one wrong move, and the whole game was lost!
Given Zi Linling's temperament, this was a fight to the death with no other path.
Qin Mingfei had not made a move or spoken from beginning to end. He simply stood there, stunned.
His days with the King's Mercenary Group were the happiest, most heroic days of his life.
He regretted it! He regretted coming back!
If he hadn't returned, he wouldn't have had to stand against Zi Linling under family pressure.
If there was anyone present besides Zi Linling who could still smile, it was Dongfang Feihong.
"Patriarch Zi, we merely wished to test your strength after your advancement. How about we stop here?"
Truly worthy of being royalty, he could weave lies with effortless grace at any time.
"Test? Heh heh!" Zi Linling gave a cold laugh. "Not suitable."
Dongfang Feihong's expression flickered slightly as he said, "Patriarch Zi, it's best to leave some room for future encounters. Why must you be so aggressive?"
Zi Linling was amused to the point of anger.
Shameless!
Truly, utterly shameless!
They had clearly coveted the secrets she possessed and intended to capture her to interrogate her.
Now, seeing her immense power and realizing they were outmatched, they sought peace.
Peace talks were fine! But they had to concoct such a shameless excuse.
Even if the excuse was shameless, it was still a blatant distortion of facts, turning her, the one being attacked, into the aggressor.
Damn it!
Zi Linling considered herself to have seen shameless people, but never anyone this shameless.
Not only Zi Linling, but even the members of the four great families were stunned by Dongfang Feihong's shamelessness!
Damn!
What was shamelessness? What was a higher realm?
This was the pinnacle of shamelessness!
The rogue cultivators watching from afar looked upon Dongfang Feihong with utter disdain.
To what realm of shamelessness must one attain to be so invincible in the world!
"Hmph! Crown Prince Dongfang has truly opened my eyes! So the cultivation techniques of your Dongfang royal family are called 'Shameless Techniques'! When a person is shameless, they are invincible! No wonder your Dongfang royal family has ruled the Azure Dragon Empire for a thousand years!"
Zi Linling's remark, both a jab and a counter-attack, made Dongfang Feihong's face turn green.
"Ignorant fool!" Dongfang Feihong cursed inwardly.
If they were in Dongfang City, he could have captured Zi Linling with the might of the royal family alone.
Because he could leverage Dongfang City's protective array to suppress anyone below the Emperor Realm.
But the current predicament was precisely that this was not Dongfang City, so Dongfang Feihong could only resort to the Small Four Directions Array.
However, he had not anticipated Zi Linling possessing such terrifying beast companions, forcing him to deign to negotiate.
And in order to control the flow of negotiations, he had to find a way for both sides to save face.
But it was infuriating that Zi Linling, unappreciative of his efforts, had even begun to mock the Dongfang royal family, which angered him greatly.
Yet, Zi Linling held the upper hand, so he could only endure.
"Patriarch Zi, our Tianyuan Continent has not seen a lightning tribulation for a thousand years. Therefore, when we saw you undergoing tribulation, we were indeed impulsive.
But we merely wished to understand the secret of your tribulation and had no intention of making an enemy of you. Furthermore, which cultivator on the Tianyuan Continent wouldn't want to know such a secret?
Thus, while we were impulsive, it was a natural human reaction. Why must you hold onto our momentary impulsiveness?"
Dongfang Feihong spoke eloquently, using the name of all cultivators on the Tianyuan Continent to pressure Zi Linling, blaming her for not sharing her secrets, which had led to everything that had just transpired.
He placed himself on a moral high ground, absolving himself completely, while painting Zi Linling as petty and lacking the awareness to contribute her secrets.
Zi Linling sarcastically replied, "Crown Prince Dongfang truly has mastered the Shameless Divine Technique to its extreme! I am truly in awe of your mastery!
But have you forgotten that I am the one who attracted the lightning tribulation and underwent it? Therefore, the secret of the tribulation is my own secret. What does it have to do with someone like you who cultivates the Shameless Technique?
Moreover, you yourself said it is a secret. Since it is a secret, why should I tell you? And what does the tribulation or non-tribulation of the people of Tianyuan Continent have to do with me?
Dongfang Feihong, if it were you, would you announce it?
Also, even if you were impulsive and attacked me, if my strength had been inferior and you had captured me, would you not have been aggressive then?
Now, you cannot defeat me, so you turn around and seek peace. Fine, peace talks are acceptable, but can you have some dignity? If I don't give you a chance for peace talks, then I am being aggressive?"