When the old patriarch of the Cao family came to his senses, Zi Linling's palms had already landed on him.
Then, he felt his strength sealed within his bones, and his soul power sealed in his Sea of Consciousness.
He exclaimed in terror, "What exactly have you done to me?"
Zi Linling smiled faintly and said, "Nothing much, I've just left a few seals within your body!"
"Seals?"
The old patriarch of the Cao family's expression changed dramatically. "Why? Why would you do this to me?"
Zi Linling sneered, "These seals have two purposes: one is to ensure you obey me obediently, and the other is to ensure you contribute your strength and effort during the great tribulation of world destruction!"
The old patriarch of the Cao family's face turned extremely grim upon hearing this. "Miss Zi, I've already agreed to have the entire Cao family follow you. Why did you still plot against me?"
Zi Linling said indifferently, "Why? Because you, sir, have truly exemplified the meaning of shamelessness. To put it another way, as long as the profit is sufficient, even a sow could become your mother!"
"Therefore, to prevent you from betraying the beings of Zhanlan Star in the future, and to not waste your combat power, I can only temporarily seal your strength and soul power, and then consider how to deal with you!"
Hearing Zi Linling's words, the old patriarch of the Cao family was instantly enraged.
"I have tolerated you greatly out of consideration for you being the chosen one, yet you treat me like this! Fine, since you are unrighteous, don't blame me for being ungrateful! I'll fight you to the death!"
He said this and charged towards Zi Linling.
However, all his strength and soul power were sealed, rendering him almost as helpless as an ordinary person.
Therefore, before he could even reach Zi Linling, he was kicked flying by her.
Pitiable was a once powerful Divine Lord realm expert, who fell heavily to the ground like an ordinary person, tasting dirt.
Zi Linling said coldly, "Originally, for someone like you, I should have scattered your soul directly, making you vanish without a trace. Now, sparing your life is already the greatest favor to you. If you continue to be ungrateful, don't blame me for leaving Zhanlan Star without a Divine Lord realm expert!"
Zi Linling's words carried a heavy threat, and her killing intent was undisguised.
"Kill me if you have the guts!" the old patriarch of the Cao family roared hysterically.
Zi Linling's killing intent instantly solidified. She said sternly, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you? If it weren't for the fact that you spent a lot of Zhanlan Star's resources to cultivate from an ordinary person to the Divine King realm, why would I have spared your life?"
"Now you want to die? It's not that easy! Once you've repaid what you owe Zhanlan Star, I'll make sure you leave no trace behind!"
After speaking, Zi Linling handed the old patriarch of the Cao family over to Cao Shaoqing and instructed, "Watch him carefully. If he escapes, I'll turn all of you Cao family members into puppets. If he dies, your Cao family members will be the first to face the extraterrestrial invaders!"
Cao Shaoqing shivered at her chilling words and quickly replied, "Master, don't worry, I will definitely watch him carefully. There will be absolutely no mistakes!"
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Wait here for my return!"
"Master, where are you going?" Cao Shaoqing quickly asked.
Zi Linling raised an eyebrow, slightly displeased. "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"
After saying that, she stepped on the Youlong step and ran forward.
In this Mirror Flower Secret Realm, since spiritual power and law power could not be used, Zi Linling could only use the Youlong step, not the Phantom Youlong step.
This way, her speed was significantly reduced.
Half an hour later, Zi Linling stood in a deep ravine.
Before her were two connected lakes.
There was no barrier between these two lakes, so the water of both lakes was connected.
However, strangely, the water of these two lakes was one emerald green and the other black.
Where the emerald green and black met, the boundary was distinct, with a clear dividing line.
On this dividing line, there was a peculiar flower, half red and half white.
The flower was not rooted in the lake water but hovered above the dividing line, looking very strange.
"Rebirth Flower! It's indeed the Rebirth Flower!"
Elder Du excitedly jumped out of the Nine Spirits Ring, his entire soul trembling in the air.
It was fortunate that the Mirror Flower Secret Realm did not restrict soul power and even nourished it; otherwise, how could Elder Du have the fortune to witness the Rebirth Flower with his own eyes?
"Elder Du, are you sure this is the Rebirth Flower?"
Zi Linling looked at the strange flower on the boundary of the two lakes, her eyes sparkling.
"That's right! This is the Rebirth Flower. Only the Rebirth Flower grows on the boundary of life and death!"
Elder Du was so excited that he wished he could fly directly to the Rebirth Flower and pick it himself.
However, he couldn't.
He was currently only a soul, neither a living being nor a dead one, and could not linger on the boundary of life and death.
"Since it's confirmed to be the Rebirth Flower, I'll go and pick it!"
Zi Linling said and was about to rush towards the Rebirth Flower.
"Don't!" Elder Du quickly stopped her.
Zi Linling looked at Elder Du in confusion and asked, "Why?"
Elder Du explained, "Girl, the place where the Rebirth Flower grows is where the powers of life and death are in balance. Neither the power of life nor the power of death can be too much or too little."
"If you go directly, you will disrupt the balance between life and death, and the Rebirth Flower will instantly wither and lose its effect."
Zi Linling said with difficulty, "Then what should we do? We finally found a Rebirth Flower, we can't just stand here and stare at it, can we?"
Elder Du shook his head and said, "Of course not! We must pick it!"
"Then tell me what to do?" Zi Linling asked with a frown.
Elder Du calmed himself and said, "To pick the Rebirth Flower, the power of life and death must be kept in balance, without the slightest fluctuation!"
"Therefore, before that, you must fully comprehend the laws of life and death, and integrate them with your body, half for life and half for death."
"Only then can you survive on the boundary of life and death without being backlashed by the power of life and death. And only then can you pick the Rebirth Flower."
"After picking the Rebirth Flower, you must still nourish it with the power of life and death balance, otherwise, it will wither."
Zi Linling was extremely helpless upon hearing this.
Originally, she was very happy when Elder Du told her that there was a Rebirth Flower here.
But now, she couldn't be happy anymore.
According to Elder Du, to pick the Rebirth Flower, one must comprehend the laws of life and death. However, so far, she had only comprehended the law of life, and she had no clue about the law of death.