Fortunately, the scare was short-lived, and Zi Lingling successfully broke through to the early stage of the God King realm.
However, her God King realm status put immense pressure on others who were also in the God King realm.
They all felt that Zi Lingling, at the early stage of the God King realm, could absolutely kill any God King present with a single blow.
Cao Shaoqing stepped forward and said respectfully, "Master, the remaining members of the Cao family have been counted. How would you like to deal with them?"
Zi Lingling raised an eyebrow and looked at the Cao family members like a monarch. She said coldly, "I despise traitors most in my life. You have pledged allegiance to me, yet you openly opposed me after your old patriarch returned. Tell me, should I kill you one by one, or should I kill you one by one?"
As she finished speaking, a chilling killing intent emanated from her body, instantly solidifying and pressing down on the Cao family members.
The biting killing intent made the Cao family members tremble with fear, and they all knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Cao Shaoqing felt a pang of sympathy and knelt down, saying, "Master, they opposed you probably under pressure from the old patriarch. I implore you to show leniency and spare their lives!"
Zi Lingling did not speak, her killing intent still sharp as she stared at the Cao family members.
The Cao family members were covered in cold sweat, kowtowing even more frantically, each muttering, "Miss Zi, spare us! We had no choice, please spare us!"
They dared not use their spiritual power to protect their foreheads, so soon, each of them was kowtowing until their heads bled.
Xuanyuan Xun frowned and stepped forward, saying, "Miss Zi, I shouldn't be begging for them. However, a great calamity is approaching for the Azure Star. The remaining members of the Cao family are numerous and possess decent cultivation. Why not keep them and let them serve as vanguards for the world-ending catastrophe, contributing to the Azure Star and atoning for their sins?"
Shangguan Yulin also stepped forward, saying, "Miss Zi, Ninth Imperial Uncle speaks wisely. Their cultivation to their current level from being ordinary people must have consumed countless resources of the Azure Star. Would it not be a waste of these resources to kill them?"
Rong Guang also stepped forward, saying, "Indeed, President! Moreover, they either have soul imprints planted by you, or they have consumed the Hundred Days Heartbreak Pill. Killing them would be a waste of our considerable effort and time, wouldn't it?"
Zi Lingling looked at Shen Liuxing and asked meaningfully, "What do you think?"
Shen Liuxing smiled and said, "Sister Zi must have already made up her mind. I believe your killing intent just now was merely to intimidate them, right?"
Zi Lingling nodded, her gaze sweeping over Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing. A smile curved her lips.
She was pleased that the four understood her intentions and played along with her charade.
Then, she swept her cold gaze across the Cao family members and said, "You surrendered to me, yet you opposed me. True to my nature, I really wanted to kill you all, leaving none alive."
"Now, since Ninth Imperial Uncle and the others have interceded for you, I will reluctantly spare your lives. But this is a one-time exception, and it will not happen again!"
"As you've heard, a great calamity is approaching the Azure Star, and a major battle is inevitable. At that time, if anyone dares to shirk their responsibilities or flee from battle, do not blame me for annihilating your souls and denying you reincarnation!"
"Yes!" the Cao family members responded in unison, their voices trembling.
Zi Lingling nodded and said to Cao Shaoqing, "You will manage the Cao family for now and prepare to face the great calamity of the Azure Star at any time!"
"Yes, Master!"
Cao Shaoqing quickly responded and asked, "Master, this great calamity of the Azure Star..."
Zi Lingling raised her hand, stopping his next words, and said, "Look towards the eastern horizon!"
Upon hearing this, not only the Cao family members but also the other inhabitants of Scarlet Blood City flew into the air, avoiding the city's structures, and gazed towards the east.
Indeed, on the eastern horizon, they saw a black "fishing net" the size of a millstone.
Immediately, the crowd erupted in a frenzy.
"What is that? When did it appear?"
"Yes, why didn't I notice it at all?"
"How can such a black 'fishing net' appear in the sky?"
"This thing just seemed to appear out of nowhere, with no warning!"
"Could that be the world-ending catastrophe this lady spoke of?"
"..."
Zi Lingling said coldly, "There are ancient powers on the Divine Remnant Continent, and there must be ancient texts that record the world-ending catastrophe. You can go and consult them!"
"Let's go and check quickly!"
"Right! Let's go and check quickly!"
"Hurry, hurry!"
"..."
Many left in a panic, their hearts filled with trepidation. In just a moment, only the Cao family members remained.
Zi Lingling said to Cao Shaoqing again, "I have important matters and must leave this place. You must not only manage the Cao family well but also try to win over the other people in Scarlet Blood City to prepare for the arrival of the world-ending catastrophe."
Then, she took out two porcelain bottles from her Nine Spirit Ring and handed them to Cao Shaoqing, saying, "These two bottles are the antidotes for the Hundred Days Heartbreak Pill, with my seals left on them."
"After one hundred days, the seal on one of the bottles will be automatically lifted. At that time, you can distribute it to the Cao family members. Another hundred days later, the seal on the second bottle will also be automatically unsealed. As for the third dose, either I will send someone with it, or I will return personally."
"Before that, I remind you, it is best not to tamper with the seals on these two bottles of antidotes. Otherwise, the antidotes will be immediately destroyed, and if you then die from the poison, do not blame me!"
Cao Shaoqing quickly took the two porcelain bottles and replied, "Master, rest assured, I will definitely wait for the seals to be automatically lifted before distributing the antidotes to them."
"Mm!"
Zi Lingling nodded and said, "We are leaving. We hope to see a different Scarlet Blood City when we return."
With that, she turned and left with Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing.
After leaving two doses of the antidote for the Gou family, they quickly headed towards the depths of the Chaotic Domain.
Along the way, they passed through many cities. Where there were teleportation arrays, they used them. Where there were no teleportation arrays, they flew through the air.
Thus, a month later, they arrived at the core city of the Chaotic Domain - the City of Chaos.
The City of Chaos was more than twice the size of Scarlet Blood City and even more prosperous, though also more chaotic.
The various factions were intricate, and the conflicts were even more intense.
As soon as Zi Lingling and her four companions entered the City of Chaos, they received a piece of news.
The largest auction in the Chaotic Domain would be held in the City of Chaos in three days.