Xuan Yuan Xun and Zi Lin Ling exchanged a look and smiled.
Xuan Yuan Zhe grew anxious and urged, "You aren't explaining anything to me, why are you smiling?"
Zi Lin Ling put down her wine cup and said, "Explaining what? Didn't you understand? The Dao is the Dao!"
"Ah?" Xuan Yuan Zhe was stunned.
Seeing this, Xuan Yuan Xun also put down his wine cup and patted Xuan Yuan Zhe's head, saying, "Zhe'er, ignorance is also a Dao!" Su Dan Fiction Network.
Xuan Yuan Zhe became even more confused.
Zi Lin Ling and Xuan Yuan Xun smiled at each other and said no more.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses,
Xuan Yuan Xun finally asked, "May I ask what Miss Zi wishes to discuss with this King?"
Zi Lin Ling's expression instantly became solemn. "Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince, the Xuan Yuan Divine Clan has a long history. Are there any records concerning the Cataclysm of World Annihilation?"
"Cataclysm of World Annihilation? What is that?" Xuan Yuan Zhe asked curiously.
Although he was a candidate for future clan leader, his experience was still shallow, and he had not yet been privy to such secrets.
"Cataclysm of World Annihilation?"
Upon hearing these four words, Xuan Yuan Xun's expression changed dramatically. "May I ask why Miss Zi suddenly asks about this?"
Although he did not answer directly, Zi Lin Ling had already received her answer.
She smiled bitterly, "It is not I who wished to bring it up, but it is happening!"
Xuan Yuan Zhe was bewildered, but Xuan Yuan Xun's face had already changed drastically.
"Does Miss Zi know that such words cannot be spoken lightly?"
Zi Lin Ling nodded and recounted the matter of the apocalyptic phenomena appearing on the Tian Yuan Continent.
"This is impossible!" Xuan Yuan Xun exclaimed, standing up in shock.
However, he quickly realized his reaction had been too intense.
Thus, he smiled apologetically and sat back down, saying, "This matter is of great importance. Once it is leaked, it will inevitably cause panic. I hope Miss Zi understands my meaning."
Zi Lin Ling smiled faintly, "Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince, please rest assured. The number of people who know about this matter does not exceed a handful."
Xuan Yuan Xun nodded. "That is good! Miss Zi, this King believes you are not one to speak recklessly, but this concerns the safety of the entire Azure Star, so we must be cautious."
"After this King returns, I will immediately go to the Tian Yuan Continent to verify. Once confirmed, we can make further plans, how about it?"
Zi Lin Ling nodded. "That is only right! However, I still wish to ask Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince, if it is confirmed to be the Cataclysm of World Annihilation, how will Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince conduct himself?"
Xuan Yuan Xun replied without hesitation, "Under a collapsed nest, how can any egg remain whole? This King is not one to fear death. I shall fight for the common people with my last drop of blood, dedicating myself to the task until death!"
"Good! Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince, you have great spirit!" Zi Lin Ling stood up and said sincerely, "With your words, I am reassured. I have other important matters to attend to, so I will not chat further. Farewell!"
After speaking, she bowed and prepared to leave.
"Miss Zi, please wait!"
Xuan Yuan Xun's reaction was slow, and Zi Lin Ling had already walked five or six steps away.
Zi Lin Ling turned back, puzzled, "Does Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince still have something to say?"
Xuan Yuan Xun hesitated several times.
Zi Lin Ling smiled, "Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince, please speak your mind directly!"
Xuan Yuan Xun tentatively asked, "Does Miss Zi have a solution?"
"A solution?"
Zi Lin Ling smiled, "What does Your Royal Highness Ninth Prince think?"
After saying this, she no longer lingered and strode out of the Plum Pavilion. To be precise, she left the Misty Rain Tower.
Xuan Yuan Xun watched Zi Lin Ling walk away and smiled.
He murmured to himself, "This King thinks... you do! Although pinning hope on a child of fourteen or fifteen is a bit unscrupulous, but since you can speak of all this so calmly, it means you have a plan."
"Ninth Royal Uncle, what exactly is the Cataclysm of World Annihilation?"
Xuan Yuan Zhe looked at the departing figure and asked.
Xuan Yuan Xun glanced at him. "When you return to the clan, read all the ancient texts on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, and you will naturally understand!"
"Ah?!"
Xuan Yuan Zhe was flustered.
The Scripture Pavilion Xuan Yuan Xun mentioned was not the imperial palace's library, but the Xuan Yuan Divine Clan's Scripture Pavilion.
If the Xuan Yuan Imperial Palace's Scripture Pavilion was a mountain, then the Xuan Yuan Divine Clan's Scripture Pavilion was a mountain range.
Reading all the ancient texts on the third floor of the Xuan Yuan Divine Clan's Scripture Pavilion would take Xuan Yuan Zhe at least a year.
Xuan Yuan Xun looked at Xuan Yuan Zhe again and reprimanded, "What 'Ah'? As a candidate for clan leader, this is one of the tasks you must complete. Even without today's events, you would have received this task in three years!"
"Alright, this King has important matters to attend to. As for you, you should hurry back to the clan's training grounds and improve your cultivation! Otherwise, before long, you won't even be able to see her back!"
After speaking, Xuan Yuan Xun left the Plum Pavilion.
"Remember, not a single word about the Cataclysm of World Annihilation is to be leaked, or this King will throw you directly into the Soul Refining Tower!"
His voice drifted into Xuan Yuan Zhe's ears from afar, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
The Soul Refining Tower was no joke. The first level alone could leave the current Xuan Yuan Zhe half-dead.
"Ninth Royal Uncle, where are you going? What should I tell Imperial Uncle if he asks?" Xuan Yuan Zhe shouted.
"No need to say anything more. When this King returns, he will explain to his elder brother!"
Xuan Yuan Xun's voice echoed through the air again.
However, at this moment, he was already standing outside Xuan Yuan City.
He ascended the peak of the highest mountain outside the city and gazed eastward.
A black dot appeared on the eastern horizon.
"As expected, this King knew it. If it can be seen on the Tian Yuan Continent, it's impossible for the Tian Ci Continent not to see it."
"However, the situation on the Tian Ci Continent is slightly better than on the Tian Yuan Continent. Forget it, this King will personally go to the Tian Yuan Continent!"
Xuan Yuan Xun muttered to himself and then vanished from his spot.
Meanwhile, Zi Lin Ling returned to her inn. She set up several concealment arrays around her room, and then laid two layers of barriers within the arrays. Only then did she pour out the more than ten original stones from her Nine Spirits Ring.
"We're rich, we're rich!" Zi Lin Ling exclaimed with excitement, dancing around.
Then, she summoned Long'er and began to cut the stones.
An hour later, in front of Zi Lin Ling lay three medicinal herbs, two maps, three unknown fragments, and two top-grade spirit stones, one purple crystal, and one blue crystal.
The three medicinal herbs were all of a higher grade than the Ghost King Vine she obtained from the Happy Union Sect's mountain array. They were all Heavenly Grade top-tier medicinal materials.
The three unknown fragments gave her a familiar feeling, but she couldn't recall it for a moment.
Later, it was Elder Du who reminded her that the fluctuations on these fragments were almost identical to the fluctuation on the fragment she had auctioned at the Immortal-Banqueting Wine Tower. Only then did she place the four fragments together.