Zi Lingling smiled calmly and transmitted her voice to the four of them, Xuan Yuanxun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing: "Quick! Find a place to hide!"
"I'll help you!"
"I'll help you!"
"I'll help you!"
"I'll help you!"
Xuan Yuanxun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing all transmitted their voices to Zi Lingling.
Furthermore, they had already acted, positioning themselves behind Zi Lingling.
A warm current flowed through Zi Lingling's heart, but she said with some helplessness:
While she was confident she could face the nine God Kings of the Cao family alone, she lacked the strength to protect the four of them.
Initially, if she had sent the four of them away, she could have unleashed her full power without reservation.
But the moment the four stood behind her, she knew they would never allow her to face the nine God Kings of the Cao family alone.
"Very well, then form the Four Directions Grand Array and act as my support!"
"Alright!"
The four of them, Xuan Yuanxun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing, responded and quickly formed the grand array!
Zi Lingling smiled brilliantly and said, "The Four Directions evolve the Five Elements, the Three Talents of Yin and Yang return to a single Qi!"
As her voice fell, the multi-colored sphere in her hand was thrown out.
Her hands moved continuously, channeling the power of the Four Directions Grand Array into the multi-colored sphere.
The multi-colored sphere flared with intense light and directly met the colossal sword formed by the nine God Kings of the Cao family.
The expressions of the nine God Kings of the Cao family flickered, and they shouted in unison: "Slash!"
Zi Lingling's lips curled, and she softly uttered: "Explode!"
The immense sword of law collided with the minuscule multi-colored sphere.
A silent explosion, yet it contained colossal energy.
The shops lining the street, those without protective formations or with insufficiently powerful ones, were directly reduced to ruins.
Only Bai Xiang Ju, due to its powerful protective formation and the presence of a half-step Divine Lord, was spared.
"Bang bang bang..."
The nine God King realm powerhouses of the Cao family were all sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, spewing blood.
Zi Lingling was not unscathed either. Her face was pale, and she coughed up three large mouthfuls of blood.
Fortunately, Xuan Yuanxun and the other three were quick-witted and swiftly pulled her into the Four Directions Grand Array, thus shielding her from the explosive energy.
However, this momentary lapse caused a corner of the Four Directions Grand Array to fracture.
Xuan Yuanxun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing, who were presiding over the Four Directions Grand Array, were also shaken, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Fortunately, the four possessed rich combat experience and perfect tacit understanding. Within a mere instant, the energy flow of the Four Directions Grand Array had been restored to normal.
Zi Lingling, disregarding her injuries, urgently shouted, "Open your mouths!" and sent four Nine Revolutions Great Return Pills into their mouths.
The Nine Revolutions Great Return Pills melted instantly upon entering their mouths, immediately smoothing the blocked Qi and blood within the four.
The Four Directions Grand Array was finally stabilized temporarily.
Seeing this, Zi Lingling quickly took a Nine Revolutions Great Return Pill herself, alleviating the injuries within her body.
However, she could not afford to tend to her wounds and quickly formed seals.
Colorful hand seals flew into the Four Directions Grand Array, thoroughly solidifying it.
The energy from the external explosion finally dissipated.
Zi Lingling immediately leaped out and dispersed her divine sense, searching for the nine God King realm powerhouses of the Cao family.
Soon, she found them amidst a pile of rubble.
Among the nine, the six initial-stage God Kings were barely breathing, their souls heavily wounded.
However, they were only heavily wounded, not yet scattered.
The two mid-stage God King realm powerhouses were slightly better off; their souls were wounded, but not severely.
As for the late-stage God King realm powerhouse, his body had become a leaky sack.
However, he was the strongest among the nine, so his injuries were only physical, and his soul had only suffered a minor tremor.
With a few leaps, Zi Lingling arrived before the nine and said faintly, "You have lost!"
Her voice held no joy of victory, merely stating a fact.
The late-stage God King realm powerhouse of the Cao family opened his mouth, coughed up two more mouthfuls of blood, and then gave a bitter smile, saying weakly, "Lost, we have lost!"
Zi Lingling remained silent, standing still.
After a moment, the late-stage God King realm powerhouse of the Cao family seemed to finally regain his senses. He stared at Zi Lingling and said, "The victor is king, the vanquished is outlaw! If you wish to kill us, then do so!"
Zi Lingling looked up at the sky and said, "Kill you? Why would I kill you?"
The late-stage God King realm powerhouse of the Cao family was stunned and asked, "Didn't you just say we were enemies? If we are enemies, then why wouldn't you kill us?"
Zi Lingling smiled coldly and said, "Killing you would be too easy a fate."
"I will give you two choices now: either I cripple your cultivation, and let you taste the humiliation of being bullied, or you will pledge allegiance to me, have my soul imprint planted within you, and not only will you survive, but I can also heal your injuries. Choose one!"
Zi Lingling finished speaking and calmly awaited their answer.
It was not that she was soft-hearted, but with the impending world-ending tribulation, she did not wish to deplete the fighting strength of Azure Star through internal conflict.
After all, each God King realm powerhouse was built up with countless resources.
Although the Cao family was to be eradicated, these God King realm powerhouses were the main force in confronting the world-ending tribulation.
As long as they were controlled and prevented from acting recklessly, it would buy Azure Star a sliver more hope.
Unbeknownst to Zi Lingling, her state of mind had undergone a significant transformation.
A moment later, Xuan Yuanxun and the other three withdrew the Four Directions Grand Array and approached Zi Lingling.
"Miss Zi, you have become mature!" Xuan Yuanxun said softly.
He remembered that when he first met Zi Lingling, although she possessed a heart to save the world, the aura of slaughter could not be concealed.
But the current Zi Lingling, after experiencing many things, while still decisive and ruthless, now possessed more human warmth.
"Mature?"
Zi Lingling smiled thoughtfully and said, "You are mistaken. I just miss my family and want to go home soon!"
As she spoke, she unconsciously touched the cherished pet lying behind her, on which Ye Lingyuan was resting, and thought to herself, "Ye Lingyuan, I will definitely take you home and help you find the Tears of Kinship!"
"Home?"
Shen Liuxing quickly asked, "Sister Zi, are you missing Tianyuan Continent?"
Zi Lingling shook her head and said, "The Zi family is not my belonging."
"What do you mean?" Shen Liuxing asked, somewhat confused.
Zi Lingling smiled and said, "Home is where one's parents and family are. The Zi family is merely a clan, because there is no..."
"There is no what?"
Shangguan Yulin asked curiously.
Zi Lingling looked up at the sky, her gaze seeming to pierce through the void and return to Aqua Blue Star.
After a long while, she said softly, "There, there is no root! No root of my own!"