Cao Youwei's face was so grim it could drip water.
The strongmen of the Cao family were all furious.
To severely injure their young master and then come to their door was blatant humiliation!
What made them even angrier was that Xuanyuan Xun demanded their entire family surrender, which was simply unbearable!
Cao Youwei laughed in rage and said, "Surrender your entire family? Is that your true purpose for coming to our Cao family today?"
Zi Linling smiled brilliantly and said frankly, "Indeed!"
She didn't try to evade, as evasion would be meaningless.
Cao Youcheng, the Great Elder of the Cao family, said angrily, "Your appetite is quite large! I just want to know who gave you the courage and confidence to dare to cause trouble at our Cao family!"
Zi Linling glanced at him dismissively and sneered, "To cause trouble for your Cao family, do we need others to give us courage and confidence?"
This one sentence of hers was more impactful than Xuanyuan Xun and the other four combined.
After all, Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing were merely arrogant, while Zi Linling's attitude was one of utter disdain.
"Good! Very good! Someone named Zi, you are not old, but you are quite adept at courting death! Since that is the case, then let me teach you a good lesson!" shouted the Great Elder of the Cao family, Cao Youwei, filled with rage.
After speaking, he stepped out of the Cao family's formation, intending to attack Zi Linling.
Zi Linling sneered and said, "You are old enough, but when it comes to fighting me, you... are not worthy!"
She didn't even bother to defend herself, standing there calmly.
"Old man, if you want to fight Miss Zi, defeat me first!"
Shangguan Yulin taunted, then held his Vermilion Bird Feather Fan and blocked in front of Zi Linling.
"Alas! Young Master Shangguan, let me do it!"
Zhuang Xing sighed and reluctantly stepped in front of Shangguan Yulin.
Although his cultivation was one minor realm lower than Cao Youcheng, the Great Elder of the Cao family, and he was extremely unwilling to fight Cao Youcheng, he had no choice but to stand up.
In this battle, Zhuang Xing might not necessarily win, but it represented an attitude – if one surrenders, one must be loyal without fail.
Cao Youcheng sneered, "Zhuang Xing, you took offerings from our Cao family and then betrayed us. What are you? I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, and you dare to step forward yourself. Good, let me kill you first, you traitor!"
Saying this, he struck Zhuang Xing with a palm.
Zhuang Xing sighed again and carefully dodged it.
"Great Elder, knowing when to quit is wisdom! My defection was a desperate measure. Given our past acquaintance, I will warn you, do not make an enemy of my master."
He meant it as good advice, for Zi Linling was the chosen one, the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, representing the will of the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, making an enemy of Zi Linling was making an enemy of the Heavenly Dao.
And those who made enemies of the Heavenly Dao had never met a good end.
However, to Cao Youcheng, Zhuang Xing's persuasion was the greatest mockery.
Thus, Cao Youcheng mocked, "What a faithless dog serving two masters! Even now, you dare to make such a demand of me? Watch me kill you!"
Saying this, he struck Zhuang Xing with another palm.
This palm strike held no reservation, gathering eighty percent of his combat power, determined to kill Zhuang Xing with a single blow.
Of course, this was because spirit cultivators could only gradually increase their combat power when attacking, not reach their peak instantly.
Generally, the first strike could only reach fifty percent of their combat power, the second strike eighty percent, and only the third strike could fully unleash their combat power, reaching ten percent.
Cao Youcheng's current strike was his second, so eighty percent of his combat power was his limit.
Zhuang Xing dared not be careless.
After all, his cultivation was one minor realm lower than Cao Youcheng's. Therefore, even though Cao Youcheng unleashed eighty percent of his combat power, he had to go all out, or he would face severe injury or even death.
The two exchanged blows back and forth, and in the blink of an eye, they had fought over a hundred rounds.
Of course, Zhuang Xing spent more time dodging and less time attacking.
As they fought, they moved further away, both of them tacitly avoiding the confrontation area.
Watching them fight their way further and further, another person stepped out from the Cao family's formation.
This person was a Divine King of the Cao family, already in the late stage of the Divine King realm.
His name was Cao Zhengben, and he seemed to carry a large pot on his back, so the Cao family members secretly called him Cao Luoguo (pot-bellied Cao).
Cao Zhengben sneered at Shangguan Yulin and beckoned him, "Brat, your mouth is too annoying, I must tear it off!"
Was Shangguan Yulin someone who would take insults without retorting?
He studied Cao Zhengben for a long time before retorting angrily, "You carry such a big pot on your back, why aren't you cooking? What are you doing here showing your face and making a fool of yourself?"
It is said that one should not hit someone's face, nor should one dig up old scars when scolding!
Shangguan Yulin's words undoubtedly touched Cao Zhengben's sore spot, directly enraging him.
After all, the Cao family members only dared to call him Cao Luoguo behind his back. How dare anyone expose his weakness to his face like Shangguan Yulin?
Cao Zhengben's face turned ashen and he said, "Brat, if I don't make you crawl on the ground and beg for mercy today, then my name isn't Cao Zhengben!"
Saying this, he threw a punch at Shangguan Yulin.
Shangguan Yulin's face changed drastically. There was a difference of a whole two minor realms between him and Cao Zhengben!
He nimbly dodged to the side, evading Cao Zhengben's powerful punch.
However, with his dodge, Zi Linling was exposed to Cao Zhengben's punch.
"Bad!"
Shangguan Yulin inwardly cursed and shouted, "Miss Zi, dodge!"
Zi Linling smiled coldly, slowly raised her delicate right hand, and unhurriedly reached out to grab Cao Zhengben's fist.
Just then, a figure stood between Zi Linling and Cao Zhengben.
"Cao Luoguo, I am your opponent!"
Li Bo threw a punch forward, his fist colliding with Cao Zhengben's.
"Bang!"
A wave of energy spread outwards from the two fists.
Cao Zhengben staggered back seven or eight steps, while Li Bo remained unmoved.
Although there was a minor realm difference between them, Li Bo firmly blocked Cao Zhengben's attack.
This did not mean Li Bo possessed the ability to challenge those above his level; rather, he had amplified his power once before his fist struck Cao Zhengben's.
In other words, Li Bo used eighty percent of his combat power to repel Cao Zhengben, who only had fifty percent.
Moreover, Li Bo had used Cao Zhengben's weakness to attract his animosity, thus freeing up Shangguan Yulin.
Li Bo's intention was the same as Zhuang Xing's – to express his loyalty through this opportunity.
Cao Zhengben's face looked grim and he said, "Li Bo, you are no match for me! Are you sure you want to be my enemy?"