"Whether I go or not is none of your concern. Stop bothering me."
Zi Ling looked at Xiao Chitai and said coldly.
"Ling'er, I cannot bear to lose another loved one. That place is too dangerous. For now, stay in the Yellow Hall."
As Xiao Chitai spoke, his fingertips released a faint glow, and suddenly a force of imprisonment appeared, confining Zi Ling.
"What are you doing? Let me go, you coward!"
Seeing Xiao Chitai's power binding her, Zi Ling angrily rebuked him loudly.
"I've already lost your mother; I can't let you risk yourself."
Xiao Chitai looked at Zi Ling and spoke heavily.
"Don't mention my mother. You coward, you're unworthy of mentioning her. Have you really ever thought of a way to save my mother over these years? What have you done besides drowning yourself in alcohol?"
"If you won't save my mother, I'll find a way to save her myself."
Zi Ling looked at Xiao Chitai, her voice filled with anger as she rebuked him.
Hearing Zi Ling's words, Xiao Chitai trembled all over, his body shaking slightly, looking at Zi Ling, his face full of disbelief.
"You... you have a way to save your mother?"
"You've found the Water of Life?"
For years, Xiao Chitai had been searching for a way to save Zi Tianyi, and he was certain that only the Water of Life could save his wife.
However, obtaining such Heaven and Earth Divine Water was no easy task. He had searched for decades without any news.
Now, upon hearing his daughter claim to have a way to save Zi Tianyi, Xiao Chitai immediately became excited.
"Yes, I have news of the Water of Life. It's in these Ancient Ruins. As long as I obtain the Water of Life, I can awaken mother, bringing her back from her slumber."
Zi Ling clenched her fists and declared resolutely.
"The Water of Life, in these Ancient Ruins? Where did you get this information?"
Xiao Chitai looked at Zi Ling, asking calmly.
Year after year had passed, and Xiao Chitai had longed for any news of the Water of Life.
Receiving this news now, he couldn't believe it.
After a brief moment of excitement, he quickly calmed down.
These Ancient Ruins only allowed martial artists below the Creation Realm to enter, meaning he couldn't go.
However, the ruins were too dangerous. Having already lost his wife, he couldn't let his daughter face such peril.
So, after a moment of thought, Xiao Chitai decided not to let his daughter go.
"No, you cannot go."
Xiao Chitai looked at Zi Ling and stated calmly.
This expedition to the Ancient Ruins would inevitably attract Heavenly Pride from both the Cloud Dragon Kingdom and the Dark Dynasty. It was too dangerous; you cannot go. Let the others retrieve the Water of Life; we can offer a high price to buy it."
Xiao Chitai looked at Zi Ling, his expression grim as he spoke.
This was the only way he could think of to keep his daughter safe while still obtaining the Water of Life.
He absolutely did not want Zi Ling's safety to be compromised. Over the years, Zi Ling had encountered many troubles, and Xiao Chitai had always resolved them from the shadows.
Therefore, throughout her life, Zi Ling had never faced any major setbacks.
Even at the Yunlong Heavenly Palace, with Xiao Chitai's strength, no one could stop him if he wanted to kill someone, and no one dared to obstruct him.
Of course, those in the Yunlong Heavenly Palace knew of Xiao Chitai's power and would never let things escalate to such a point; almost no one could threaten Zi Ling.
Moreover, Xiao Chitai was not a person who sought to kill indiscriminately. If the descendants or juniors of those troublemakers involved Zi Ling, those individuals would be immediately dealt with, as everyone knew the matters concerning Xiao Chitai's wife and daughter, and no one dared to provoke misfortune.
"Xiao Chitai, you're useless, don't think of me as being like you."
"Now I have the strength to protect myself. This time, I must go to the Ancient Ruins. Do you realize how precious the Water of Life is, and who would sell it once obtained?"
"If the Water of Life had a price, why haven't we heard any news of it until now?"
"Let me go, or else I'll hate you for life and never speak to you again."
Zi Ling looked at Xiao Chitai, her face flushed, eyes wide open and bloodshot as she shouted.
Seeing Zi Ling in a frenzy, Xiao Chitai ultimately could only compromise and release Zi Ling, for she was right—the Water of Life was too valuable; who would sell it after acquiring it?
Such a treasure could restore life as long as the physical body remained intact and the Divine Soul had not dissipated.
Moreover, the Water of Life could not only awaken vitality but also increase the longevity, something countless sages on the brink of demise desperately sought to obtain.
Therefore, Xiao Chitai realized that buying the Water of Life from others was not feasible.
After some thought, he ultimately conceded to release Zi Ling from her bonds, allowing her to seek the Water of Life in the Ancient Ruins, as it might be the only way to save her mother.
Feeling the power of confinement vanish from her, Zi Ling snorted softly and immediately turned to leave the room.
With the journey to the Ancient Ruins impending, she no longer wished to see Xiao Chitai, too troubled in her heart.
Watching Zi Ling's departing figure, Xiao Chitai could only smile wryly, knowing full well that Zi Ling might have come to resent him.
With a helpless shake of his head, Xiao Chitai also left the room, walking towards a secret chamber.
This place was extremely hidden within the Yellow Hall, surrounded by many formations, making it inaccessible to ordinary people.
Even Xiao Chitai needed to take out a Jade Token and deactivate the formation before entering the secret chamber.
Upon entering, he saw countless powerful formations within the chamber.
The chamber was also filled with an incredibly formidable and chilling aura, so potent that even a Half-step to Creation Realm expert might have their body frozen if exposed to it.
However, as Xiao Chitai entered the chamber, not even using spiritual power for protection, he remained unaffected by the chill.
Inside, there was a giant icy jade bed upon which lay a woman dressed in white.
The woman was enveloped in thick death qi, extending all the way to her head, with only her brain not yet covered by the gray mist.