Zi Linling smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over the other members of the Shangguan family. "First question, if this heaven-defying opportunity requires you to exchange your entire Shangguan family for it, would you do it?"
She was not being alarmist.
If the day of world-ending calamity truly arrived, she hoped every guardian could lead their families to stand on the front lines.
Shangguan Yulin's face turned cold. "What do you mean by that, Miss Zi?"
Zi Linling chuckled. "Exactly what I said!"
Shangguan Yulin replied without hesitation, "Impossible! I, Shangguan Yulin, am not the kind of person who would betray his family for an opportunity!"
Zi Linling's smile vanished instantly, and she said coldly, "Indeed, you have ambition! But if you cannot obtain this opportunity, the Shangguan family will surely not survive. And if you do obtain it, the Shangguan family will have a slim chance of survival. Would you trade or not?"
A hint of anger flickered across Shangguan Yulin's face. "There's no need to say more! I, Shangguan Yulin, stand tall, and the sons of the Shangguan family will never abandon their family!"
"Opportunities are indeed tempting, but if I were to sell out the entire Shangguan family for my own opportunity, I, Shangguan Yulin, would rather give up this heaven-defying opportunity!"
"Of course, if I am unable to protect the entire Shangguan family due to not obtaining the opportunity, then I would rather perish along with the entire Shangguan family!"
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Zi Linling couldn't help but applaud Shangguan Yulin's words.
"What a bold statement! What a fine son of the Shangguan family! But what about them! Are they willing to sacrifice for you?"
Zi Linling's gaze swept over the members of the Shangguan family one by one, finally landing on a trembling young boy. "What is your name?"
The boy's eyes were filled with fear, and he stammered, "I... I am called... I am called Shangguan... Shangguan Yulong!"
Zi Linling praised, "Shangguan Yulong? A good name!"
Then, she pointed at Shangguan Yulin playfully and asked, "He is your elder brother, right?"
Shangguan Yulong nodded, timidly saying, "Yes... yes!"
"Hmm! Is that so..."
Zi Linling suddenly said sharply, "Your brother has angered me. I am going to kill him now. Are you willing to watch him die?"
Shangguan Yulong glanced at Shangguan Yulin and shook his head firmly. "No! I am not willing to watch my brother die!"
Perhaps this sentence had used up all his courage, as he didn't stutter this time.
But after speaking, he seemed to sense fear and instinctively took a step back.
Then, he suddenly took a step forward, gathering his courage. "Big sister, you are so beautiful, you must be a good person. How about this, I will apologize to you on behalf of my brother. Will you spare him?"
Shangguan Yulong's eyes, filled with hope, darted away due to fear.
Zi Linling sneered and shook her head. "Mistakes must be paid for. A mere apology cannot erase them, unless..."
She deliberately lengthened her tone.
"Unless what?"
Shangguan Yulong's slowly dimming eyes suddenly brightened, and he eagerly asked.
Zi Linling gave a cold smile and suddenly grabbed his neck.
This sudden turn of events caught the Shangguan family off guard, and Shangguan Yulin's face turned pale with fright.
"Let him go!"
The members of the Shangguan family were all indignant and shouted in unison.
Shangguan Lincang and Shangguan Yulin simultaneously attacked Zi Linling.
"Hmph!"
Ye Lingyuan's aura of a Half-step Divine King instantly erupted.
Shangguan Yulin was immediately forced to stop in his tracks, his eyes red.
Shangguan Lincang, also a Half-step Divine King, was also affected by Ye Lingyuan's pressure, his speed instantly halved.
Because of this, Zi Linling was able to hold Shangguan Yulong hostage and return to Ye Lingyuan's side. She then addressed the Shangguan family, "Anyone who dares to move, he dies!"
Of course, this statement was directed at Shangguan Lincang and Shangguan Yulin, as the other members of the Shangguan family, though angry, had no intention of acting.
"I offended you. Kill me, but spare my brother!" Shangguan Yulin gritted his teeth.
Shangguan Lincang suppressed his anger. "Miss Zi, King Ye, my Shangguan family has not offended the two of you in any significant way. Isn't this going too far?"
Ye Lingyuan glanced at him, too lazy to speak, and did not retract his Half-step Divine King aura.
Zi Linling completely ignored them and spoke to Shangguan Yulong, "Unless you are willing to exchange your life for your brother's life, but are you willing?"
Shangguan Yulong trembled with fear, his mind going blank for a moment.
But after a moment, he stubbornly nodded. "I am willing!"
"Very good!"
Zi Linling praised him with a look and increased the pressure in her grip.
Then, her gaze swept over the other members of the Shangguan family and she said coldly, "Except for those two, if any of the others are willing to exchange their lives for Shangguan Yulong's life, I will let Shangguan Yulong go. How about that?"
The two excluded were naturally Shangguan Lincang and Shangguan Yulin.
The members of the Shangguan family who had been indignant and furious moments ago all lowered their heads in unison, let alone stepping forward.
Zi Linling couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. She sneered, "Aren't you all fine sons of the Shangguan family? What's wrong? Not as good as a child? I'll give you another chance. I'll count to three. If anyone steps forward to exchange their life for Shangguan Yulong, I will not only release Shangguan Yulong, but I will also give Shangguan Yulin's share of the opportunity to him!"
"Alright, I'm going to start counting. Get ready!"
"One!"
No one moved!
"Two!"
Still no one moved!
"Three!"
As the three counts ended, Shangguan Lincang and Shangguan Yulin closed their eyes in pain, and even Shangguan Yulong's eyes were filled with despair.
This was because none of the other members of the Shangguan family were willing to step forward.
Zi Linling said sarcastically, "You truly are fine sons of the Shangguan family!"
She looked at Shangguan Yulin. "Look, these are the fine sons of the Shangguan family you were willing to give up heaven-defying opportunities for!"
She released Shangguan Yulong's neck and sent him into Shangguan Lincang's arms with a gentle palm strike. Then she said, "Shangguan Yulin, tell me your answer now!"
Shangguan Yulin remained silent.
Shangguan Lincang held Shangguan Yulong in his arms, his gaze sweeping over the other members of the Shangguan family with disappointment. He then said to Shangguan Yulin, "Yulin, man lives for himself, or he will be destroyed by heaven and earth! Although no one was willing to exchange their life for Yulong's, they did nothing wrong!"
"After all, everyone only has one life. Their actions are understandable. A true man knows what to do and what not to do. We just need to do what we ought to do, and leave the rest to fate!"