The six of them stood up. Zi Linling cupped her fist towards Xi Ning and smiled, "Patriarch Xi, you are too kind. We came uninvited and have disturbed your peace!"
Xi He chuckled, "Peace, peace, Miss, you jest. It is our honor that distinguished guests have traveled from afar to our Tianzun City!"
He walked to the front and gestured, "Please, esteemed guests, be seated!"
With that, he sat down in the main seat.
Zi Linling and the others did not stand on ceremony and followed suit, saying, "Thank you, Patriarch Xi Ning."
Xi Ning smiled warmly and asked, "May I know how to address everyone?"
"This humble one is Zi Linling, from Tianci Continent!"
"I am Xuanyuan Xun, also from Tianci Continent!"
"Shangguan Yulin, from Tianci Continent!"
"Rong Guang, Tianci Continent!"
"Shen Liuxing, Tianci Continent!"
"Du Zihao, from the Du family of the Chaos Domain!"
Xi Ning's gaze swept over the six of them one by one.
When he looked at Shangguan Yulin, his eyes clearly lit up. A flicker of excitement crossed his eyes.
Xi Ning wanted to directly question Shangguan Yulin, but felt it would be too abrupt. Therefore, he had to suppress his excitement, sit up straight, and said, "I heard from my son that you are here to pay respects to the ancestors?"
Zi Linling nodded, "The nine Venerables protected the Azure Star, their merits are eternal. Since we are in Tianzun City, if we do not pay respects to the old man Tianzun, would we not be ungrateful, forgetful, and unrighteous individuals?"
How could Xi He not be pleased to hear his ancestors praised?
He smiled warmly and said, "Miss Zi is beautiful and speaks beautifully. These few words have gone straight to my heart. It's a pity that not everyone is as grateful as Miss Zi!"
Zi Linling smiled and said, "What people fear most is forgetting their roots. If they forget their roots, what difference is there between them and beasts?"
"Well said!"
Xi Ning laughed heartily, "I have already asked Jingran to make arrangements for the memorial rites. He will come to invite you all once he is done."
"Thank you, Patriarch Xi, for your trouble!" Zi Linling cupped her fist again, smiling.
Xi Ning waved his hand, "Miss Zi is always so polite, it makes me feel a little embarrassed. Why don't we drop the formalities and speak as if we were old friends, say whatever comes to mind, alright?"
Zi Linling smiled and nodded, "That would be excellent!"
Xi Ning laughed, "That's more like it!"
After speaking, he looked at Shangguan Yulin and said, "Young Master Shangguan, is it?"
Shangguan Yulin was taken aback for a moment, but then, remembering Zi Linling's words, he quickly calmed down and said, "Patriarch Xi can just call me Shangguan."
Xi Ning smiled and nodded, "Indeed, a hero comes from youth! You are already a Divine King realm expert at such a young age. Congratulations, congratulations!"
Shangguan Yulin scratched his head, unusually humble, "Patriarch Xi flatters me. My achievements today are all thanks to Boss Zi. If she hadn't helped me, I might still be a mere fledgling at the Minor Divine realm!"
Xi Ning said with a faint smile, "Oh? The Boss Zi you're referring to isn't Miss Zi, is it?"
Shangguan Yulin nodded, "Of course it's her! Patriarch Xi, you don't know, our Boss Zi is amazing! She can do anything, nothing can stump her!"
"Is that so?"
Xi Ning looked at Zi Linling as if asking for confirmation.
Zi Linling smiled, "Patriarch Xi, don't listen to Shangguan's boasting. With the Three Thousand Great Daos, how could I possibly know everything?"
Xi Ning smiled without commenting, instead continuing to address Shangguan Yulin, "Young Master Shangguan, there is something I would like to ask presumptuously!"
Shangguan Yulin understood immediately. He knew that Xi Ning was going to ask about his relationship with the Heavenly Venerable Xi Zhihe.
He looked at Zi Linling, asking with his eyes if he could speak frankly.
Zi Linling nodded.
Shangguan Yulin understood and said, "Patriarch Xi, please speak your mind directly!"
"Good! I like straightforward people!"
Xi Ning laughed heartily, "To be honest with all of you, I sense the aura of my ancestor on Young Master Shangguan. I ask Young Master Shangguan to resolve my doubts."
Shangguan Yulin smiled, "To be frank, I am not only a reincarnation of a wisp of the Heavenly Venerable's true spirit, but I have also merged with his remains. Furthermore, I have also integrated the memories within the remains."
"However, I am now only Shangguan Yulin. Of course, I will still fulfill the wishes of the Heavenly Venerable."
Although Xi Ning had prepared himself mentally, when Shangguan Yulin revealed the truth, he was still profoundly shocked.
His heart felt bitter. He didn't know how to address the young man before him.
Should he call Shangguan Yulin ancestor? Shangguan Yulin was merely a wisp of the ancestor's true spirit, and he had explicitly stated that he was only Shangguan Yulin.
But to call him by his name? He was also a wisp of the ancestor's true spirit, which seemed quite disrespectful.
This left Xi Ning in a dilemma.
Zi Linling saw his inner turmoil clearly and smiled, "Patriarch Xi, I have something to say, I don't know if I should."
Xi Ning was stunned for a moment, "Miss, if you have something to say, please speak frankly!"
Zi Linling nodded, "In fact, Patriarch Xi does not need to be so conflicted. Although Shangguan is the reincarnation of Lord Heavenly Venerable, he is merely the reincarnation."
"You could say that Lord Heavenly Venerable is Lord Heavenly Venerable, and Shangguan Yulin is Shangguan Yulin. Therefore, if Patriarch Xi considers him a friend, there is no need to be conflicted about his identity; you can just call him by his name."
Shangguan Yulin quickly nodded, "Patriarch Xi, you should still call me Shangguan!"
Xi Ning was stunned for a moment, and finally broke free from his rigid thinking, saying with a bitter smile, "You are both right. It was I who was being stubborn. We are friends, there is indeed nothing to be conflicted about."
Just then, Xi Jingran walked in. He respectfully bowed to Xi Ning and called him Father, then cupped his fists towards Zi Linling and the other five, "Distinguished guests, the ancestral hall is ready. Please accompany me."
Zi Linling smiled, "Thank you, Young Master Xi."
Then, he looked at Xi Ning.
Xi Ning understood and said, "Since everything is ready, esteemed guests, please go and pay respects to your ancestors first! After you are done, please return here. There are some things I must give to Young Master Shangguan."
"Alright!"
Zi Linling and the other five responded in unison.
Xi Jingran respectfully said, "Father, then I will escort the six distinguished guests."
Xi Ning nodded, "I still need to go to the treasury to get some things. You all go with my son first. I will await your arrival here shortly."
Zi Linling nodded and said to Xi Jingran, "Thank you, Young Master Xi."
Xi Jingran respectfully replied, "Distinguished guests, there is no need for politeness. Please follow me!"