The old patriarch of the Cao family glared at Zi Linling, his killing intent burning, and said fiercely, "Ignorant brat, prepare to die!"
As he spoke, the hand seals he formed were struck upon the Cao family's protective great formation.
Instantly, the energy from the protective great formation was drained, bit by bit, and entered the body of the old patriarch of the Cao family.
The old patriarch of the Cao family said with a ferocious expression, "Stinky girl, if you hadn't sealed my soul, I wouldn't dare do this. You forced me to do this, so enjoy it!"
Zi Linling frowned, and a hint of solemnity appeared on her face.
She could clearly feel the protective great formation of the Cao family establishing a connection with the body of the old patriarch of the Cao family.
Once this connection was successfully established, the old patriarch of the Cao family could merge with the Cao family's protective great formation.
At that time, the old patriarch of the Cao family would *be* the Cao family's protective great formation, able to draw endless power from it.
This meant that what Zi Linling would have to contend with would be the power of the entire Cao family's protective great formation.
I can't let him continue!
Zi Linling thought to herself, closed her eyes, and began to communicate with the laws of judgment in heaven and earth.
Originally, she could have slowly worn down the old patriarch of the Cao family, but now it seemed she had to kill him in one strike.
The only power that could kill the old patriarch of the Cao family in one strike was the power of judgment, which ignored levels.
Soon, the pressure of the Heavenly Dao emanated from Zi Linling, and the terrifying aura made the Cao family members who had escaped death tremble.
Even the old patriarch of the Cao family, who was in the process of establishing a connection with the Cao family's protective great formation, felt a chill.
This is... the power of the Heavenly Dao!
Amidst his shock, the old patriarch of the Cao family felt an unprecedented sense of impending death.
He instinctively wanted to escape, but soon discovered that he had been locked onto by that dangerous aura.
"No!"
The old patriarch of the Cao family roared and frantically drew power from the Cao family's protective great formation.
However, as his power grew, so did the terrifying aura.
This meant that no matter how strong he became, that power was sufficient to annihilate him.
What to do?
What to do?
Just as the old patriarch of the Cao family was overcome with fear and lost his wits, Zi Linling suddenly opened her eyes.
She extended her right hand, and the weapon of judgment was in her grasp.
"Old man, die!"
Her clear voice echoed over the ruins of the Cao family, amplified by the rebound of the Cao family's protective great formation, becoming like rolling thunder.
The old patriarch of the Cao family looked at the strange weapon of judgment with fear in his eyes as it slowly descended towards his forehead.
"Dodge! Dodge!"
He kept reminding himself in his heart, but locked by the laws of judgment, he could do nothing but cry out internally.
The weapon of judgment, though seemingly slow, fell upon the old patriarch of the Cao family's head in the blink of an eye, and continued downwards, cleaving him in two.
The old patriarch of the Cao family felt no pain, but he could feel himself floating, then shattering and disappearing from heaven and earth.
The weapon of judgment had fulfilled its mission and turned into a stream of light, soaring into the sky.
The terrifying, suffocating Heavenly Dao power also quickly dissipated.
Zi Linling knelt on the ground, panting heavily.
The members of the Cao family who had escaped finally regained their senses, falling to their knees and kowtowing to Zi Linling.
They finally understood the terrifying nature of a chosen one. From now on, even if they were given a million chances, they would never dare to oppose Zi Linling again.
Zi Linling caught her breath and released Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, Shen Liuxing, and Cao Shaoqing from the Hall of the Goddess.
She said to Cao Shaoqing, "Cao Shaoqing, go and count the members of the Cao family!"
"Yes, Mistress!"
Cao Shaoqing responded and went to count.
"The four of you, protect me while I heal!"
Zi Linling's gaze swept over Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing as she said weakly.
The four nodded simultaneously.
Seeing this, Zi Linling closed her eyes and began to circulate the power of life within her body.
Now, although using the laws of judgment would not cause her to fall unconscious from backlash, it would place a great burden and damage upon her body.
After the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, Zi Linling's injuries were all healed.
Just as she was about to open her eyes, she felt the barrier between the peak of the Great God realm and the early stage of the God King realm showing signs of cracking.
In other words, the opportunity for her breakthrough had arrived.
Zi Linling was overjoyed and quickly focused her mind to begin her breakthrough.
The Human Emperor's Medicine Classic and the Scripture of Creation both surged from above her head, hovering in the sky on either side.
The surrounding spiritual energy and laws of power surged towards Zi Linling.
The Human Emperor's Medicine Classic blazed with golden light, and the Scripture of Creation shone with white brilliance, the gold and white intermingling, making Zi Linling appear incredibly divine.
The remaining members of the Cao family widened their eyes like bronze bells.
They simply could not reconcile the Zi Linling who had been filled with killing intent moments ago with the incredibly divine Zi Linling before them.
Everything they were witnessing felt like a dream.
Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing were shocked for a moment, then warily observed their surroundings.
Zi Linling's body was like a bottomless pit, instantly devouring all the surrounding spiritual energy and laws of power.
"Crack!"
With a slight sound, the already shattered protective great formation of the Cao family instantly collapsed, turning into spiritual energy and laws of power that entered Zi Linling's body.
Without the obstruction of the Cao family's protective great formation, the spiritual energy and laws of power from the outside world roared in, pouring into Zi Linling's body like giant dragons.
The people of Crimson Blood City were all shocked by this celestial phenomenon and rushed towards the location of the Cao family.
However, by the time they arrived at the Cao family's location, they found it had already turned into ruins.
And upon the ruins sat a woman of unparalleled beauty.
Around the woman, spiritual energy and laws of power had almost formed a massive black hole.
"Who is this woman? Is she breaking through?"
"It seems so, but the commotion for this breakthrough is too great! Is she trying to break through to the God Lord realm?"
"No, no! The aura on her body is clearly between the Great God realm and the God King realm, meaning she is breaking through to the God King realm."
"If breaking through to the God King realm causes such a scene, then if she were to break through to the God Lord realm, wouldn't it be enough to scare people to death?"
"Go, go! What do you know? This is what you call a monstrous talent!"
The onlookers chattered amongst themselves, while Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing wore solemn expressions.
The people of Crimson Blood City were all arrogant and willful, acting as they pleased. If they were to take advantage of this situation to attack Zi Linling, it would be troublesome.