Zi Linling stood before the two men. Though she made no move, her imposing aura, even without intentionally emanating pressure, sent shivers through Cao Shaoqing’s heart.
"You... you... what do you want to do?"
A flicker of fear crossed Cao Shaoqing's eyes.
Yet, he swallowed hard, ignoring the injury to his arm, and scrambled to his feet, shielding Cao Shaochen.
Zi Linling’s performance was too astonishing, so much so that it shattered his perception of reality.
But the instinct to protect his brother sustained him, allowing him to face this extremely threatening young girl.
Zi Linling’s sharp gaze fell upon the now unconscious Cao Shaochen, her killing intent burning as she said, "I said, I am going to kill him today!"
"No! Absolutely not! I won't allow it!"
Cao Shaoqing's eyes were filled with unwavering resolve.
Cao Shaochen was his only kin; he would not allow anyone to harm him.
Zi Linling was greatly surprised. She had not expected these two, who had perfected the art of shamelessness, to possess such deep affection.
But this was not a reason for her to spare Cao Shaochen.
As a sword cultivator practicing wicked arts, his crime was punishable by death!
Zi Linling coldly stated, "You won't allow it? Can you stop me?"
Cao Shaoqing glanced at the unconscious Cao Shaochen, his gaze becoming even firmer.
"Even if I can't stop you, I must try. Who else is he to me but my brother, my only family in this world!"
Zi Linling scoffed, "He is your only family? What about those whose souls he devoured? Are their families not families?"
"..."
A trace of guilt flickered in Cao Shaoqing's eyes, but it passed quickly.
Then, he smiled cruelly and said, "I don't care! Whoever dares to hurt Shaochen, I will fight them to the death!"
Zi Linling's eyes grew cold. "Move aside!"
"No!" Cao Shaoqing refused resolutely.
Zi Linling chuckled and nodded, then kicked out at Cao Shaoqing.
Cao Shaoqing was shocked. He had been on guard against Zi Linling attacking, but her speed was too great.
By the time he reacted, he was already sent flying.
"No..."
Cao Shaoqing cried out in anguish. He pushed past the worsening of his injuries to forcibly stop his momentum.
A sweet, metallic taste surged into his throat, but he ignored it, diving onto Cao Shaochen and shielding him.
For Zi Linling’s jade foot was about to land on Cao Shaochen. Since he could not block it, he would take the blow for his brother.
"Move aside!"
Zi Linling's descending jade foot halted mere inches away, and she spoke with a cold command.
"No!"
Cao Shaoqing squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
"You court death!"
Zi Linling snorted, quickly retracting her jade foot and then slamming it onto Cao Shaoqing's hip bone.
Of course, she did not strike to kill, as the one who deserved to die was Cao Shaochen, not Cao Shaoqing.
"Ah~"
Cao Shaoqing let out a piercing cry, his face turning deathly pale.
The intense pain made his lips tremble.
Zi Linling again asked coldly, "Will you move aside or not?"
"No! I won't move!" Cao Shaoqing gasped for breath, stubbornly replying, "If you have the ability, kill me too!"
Zi Linling's killing intent surged, and she roared, "Do you truly believe I dare not kill you?"
The piercing killing intent finally brought a sliver of clarity to Cao Shaoqing's stubborn mind.
How could he have forgotten that in the world of cultivators, killing was as common as eating and drinking?
Was he foolish or mad to threaten Zi Linling with his own life to spare his brother? Wasn't that just giving Zi Linling a reason to kill him?
Moreover, even if Zi Linling killed him, it would be a death without merit, and there would be no reason to appeal in the underworld.
After all, when cultivators embarked on the path of cultivation, they were destined to contend against heaven and man; thus, killing and life and death were long accustomed to.
With this thought, Cao Shaoqing broke out in a cold sweat. He rolled over and, forcing himself, knelt on the ground.
A man’s knees are made of gold; he would not bow to a woman.
Yet, Cao Shaoqing knelt. He pleaded, "Miss Zi, we were in the wrong before. We were blinded and sought to seize your luck and opportunities."
"Now, we know our mistake! We are willing to let you plant a soul imprint, willing to contribute our strength in the great tribulation of the Azure Star! We only beg you to spare Shaochen, to give us brothers a chance to atone! I kowtow to you!"
As he spoke, Cao Shaoqing began to kowtow repeatedly.
His kneeling alone had already surprised Zi Linling, and now, with continuous kowtowing, she was deeply shaken.
Zi Linling's killing intent slowly receded.
Finally, she sighed and said, "In my life, I have never let emotions influence my actions, but today, I will make an exception for you!"
"Cao Shaochen is indeed deserving of death, but looking at your kowtowing on your knees, I will temporarily keep his head attached to his neck."
"However, while the death sentence may be waived, the punishment for lesser crimes will still stand! As you said, the great tribulation of the Azure Star is approaching, so you will both remain to contribute to the Azure Star!"
"Now, release your divine sense. Do not resist in any way, or you will lose your chance forever, and he will be completely erased by me!"
Cao Shaoqing was stunned, then overjoyed. "Thank you, Miss Zi, for sparing my life! Thank you, Miss Zi, for giving us a chance to atone!"
After speaking, he calmly released his divine sense.
This time, he played no tricks.
If Zi Linling could fight two against one and break their combined attack, she could naturally take their lives.
Though Cao Shaoqing was thick-skinned, he knew what was important when facing death.
Zi Linling nodded and condensed two soul imprints, one branded onto Cao Shaoqing’s soul and the other naturally imprinted onto Cao Shaochen’s soul.
"Master!"
Cao Shaoqing respectfully called out.
Zi Linling nodded and gave him two healing pills. Though not the Nine Revolutions Great Restoration Pill, anything produced by the Ghost Hand Poison Doctor was undoubtedly a masterpiece.
"Thank you, Master!" Cao Shaoqing said with immense gratitude.
He administered one pill to Cao Shaochen and, seeing his brother's aura gradually stabilize, took the other pill himself. Sudan Novel Network
Zi Linling did not rush him. She patiently waited for Cao Shaoqing to finish healing before asking, "I have a question, and you must answer it truthfully!"
Cao Shaoqing nodded. "Master, please ask. If I know, I will not hide anything!"
"Hmm!"
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Where is the Divine Lord realm expert of your Cao family hidden?"
Cao Shaoqing was greatly astonished and instinctively asked, "How did Master know that the Cao family has a Divine Lord level expert?"