Seeing the complex emotions that surged in Zi Yan's eyes in an instant—a moment of confusion, a hint of hidden longing, but more so a stubbornness born of injury and an unyielding resentment— Lin Ming sighed softly in his heart.
Having the Original Work Memory, he naturally knew Zi Yan's background and her complex and unspeakable feelings towards her father, Zhu Kun.
At this moment, seeing Zi Yan's emotional breakdown, Lin Ming stepped forward. Although his Soul Body was illusory, he still made a gentle stroking motion, placing his palm lightly on the top of Zi Yan's head, conveying silent comfort and support.
"Zi Yan!" Lin Ming's voice was unusually gentle, filled with understanding and tolerance.
"I know you feel resentful and unwilling to accept it, and you feel that he abandoned you. These emotions are normal. If I were in his shoes, I might feel the same way, or even worse."
Lin Ming's words seemed to strike a chord with Zi Yan, causing her nose to tingle and her eyes to instantly redden. However, she stubbornly held back her tears, biting her lip defiantly.
Lin Ming continued patiently, steer the conversation back to the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit: "However, we now face a real problem. The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit contains the life essence of two supreme Magical Beasts at the Dou Sheng level: your ancestors and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. Its immense energy and domineering nature far exceed your imagination."
"Zi Yan, with your current strength and bloodline concentration, if you rashly consume it, the chance of success is extremely slim. The greater possibility is... that you will be overwhelmed by that terrifying energy, or that it will trigger a conflict between the two supreme bloodlines, with unimaginable consequences."
After speaking, Lin Ming paused, allowing Zi Yan to process this harsh reality, before revealing the core solution. "After much thought, and considering all the people and forces I know, I believe the only person with absolute certainty is able to protect you, guide you to perfectly absorb the power of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, and even help you achieve your ultimate evolution..."
"Only your father, the current Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan — Zhu Kun —could accomplish these things!"
Upon hearing the name "Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun," Zi Yan's delicate body trembled slightly. This was the source of her bloodline, the supreme ruler of her clan, and also her father, whom she had never met and whom she both loved and hated.
I know it's difficult for you to accept him right away.
Lin Ming looked at Zi Yan with understanding, then slowly said, "But Zi Yan, believe me, I would never risk your safety."
"Finding your father is not just about getting him to help you absorb the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, but also about unraveling the mystery of your origins. What happened back then may not be as simple as you imagine. As the Dragon Emperor, he must have had unspeakable reasons for abandoning you."
Looking into Zi Yan's tear-filled eyes, which were filled with struggle and confusion, Lin Ming's tone became more firm and warm, giving the most important promise, "I will not force you to acknowledge him immediately, nor will I let him force you to do anything."
"This time, I'll go with you to find him. I'll always stand by your side. With me here, no one can hurt you, and no one can force you to do anything you don't want to do. Let's face it together and find out the truth together, okay?"
Lin Ming's words, like warm sunshine, gradually dispelled the chill and unease in Zi Yan's heart. His sincere and concerned gaze was filled with an undeniable protectiveness and determination to stay by her side. He not only offered the most reasonable solution but also considered her feelings, promising to stand by her through everything.
Feeling this profound trust and protection, the Solid Ice in Zi Yan's heart began to melt.
That subconscious longing for fatherly love, the curiosity about the truth of her origins, and most importantly, the unreserved trust in Lin Ming, ultimately overwhelmed years of resentment and fear.
At this moment, Zi Yan's red and moist eyes were fixed on Lin Ming, as if she wanted to draw enough strength from his eyes.
After a long silence, Zi Yan finally took a deep breath, as if using all her strength. Her tightly clenched lips slowly loosened, and she nodded slowly, yet with unwavering determination, to Lin Ming. A soft, nasal sound escaped from her throat:
"Hmm... Lin Ming, I believe you. I'll go with you."
Seeing this, Lin Ming smiled with relief once again. He had finally convinced Zi Yan and gained her trust and consent. This also eliminated Lin Ming's biggest concern.
However, this matter is of great importance and must not be leaked in the slightest, otherwise it will not only cause complications, but may also lead to huge trouble.
Therefore, even with Zi Yan's consent, there are still many issues to resolve. Among these, the first to be addressed is the potential tracking risks that Zi Yan herself might pose.
The Ancient Void Dragon Clan is extremely sensitive to spatial perception, and as a member of the royal bloodline, Zi Yan must have a unique Dragon Seal implanted on her body. This Dragon Seal is both a symbol of her identity and a location beacon. If the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, especially Elder Zhu Li, senses Zi Yan's location, they will definitely come to retrieve the royal bloodline immediately.
At that time, not only will Lin Ming's plan be completely disrupted, but the information about the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit will also be exposed, causing shock throughout the entire Ancient Void Dragon Clan and even attracting the covetousness of the other Three Great Dragon Islands within the clan. The consequences would be unimaginable.
Therefore, Lin Ming immediately decided to let Zi Yan stay in his Inner World.
Here, he is the absolute Sovereign, able to easily conceal, distort, or even completely cut off any external senses, spying, or tracking.
The so-called Dragon Seal, isolated by the rules of this realm, will be like a stone sinking into the sea, without any further reaction.
"Zi Yan, stay here until we find your father," Lin Ming explained to Zi Yan, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The Dragon Seal on you is a problem. Only here can you completely avoid being sensed by your clansmen."
Zi Yan nodded obediently in response.
Although she was lively and active, she could also distinguish between what was important and what was urgent. Moreover, although this was a private space, she was not lonely because Lin Ming's Soul Body was with her.
More importantly, Lin Ming still had a large stock of those delicious "Sugar Pill" that he had previously prepared for her, made from concentrated Medicinal Material Essence. She could enjoy them to her heart's content here, which was like heaven for this little foodie.
Therefore, she had no objection to this arrangement; on the contrary, she was quite delighted.
"Great! Perfect, I can try all these Sugar Pills! You can't back out now, you have to have as many as you want!" Zi Yan waved her little fist, looking like she thought, "You've hit the jackpot."
Seeing this, Lin Ming couldn't help but smile, his heavy heart easing somewhat. He smiled and solemnly promised, "Don't worry, there's plenty. You can cultivate here in peace. If you feel unwell or want to talk to me, just a thought is enough for me to sense it."
Having made arrangements for Zi Yan, Lin Ming quickly withdrew his mind from his Inner World and returned to his physical body.
At this moment, he stood atop the solitary peak, the mountain wind still biting. He looked down at his palm, where he saw the Elder Dragon Seal from Elder Zhu Li.
This Dragon Seal serves as both an identification and a means of communication and location tracking. Since the goal is to completely conceal one's whereabouts, this Dragon Seal must also be left behind.
Immediately, with a slight thought, the World Power quietly circulated, like the most precise scalpel, enveloping the invisible Dragon Seal in his palm.
Then, the World Power trembled slightly, forming a tiny spatial isolation layer that completely severed all connections between the Dragon Seal and the outside world. It then slowly peeled it from the palm of the hand and transferred it to a corner of the Inner World, where it was completely concealed, just like the Dragon Seal on Zi Yan's body.
After doing all this, Lin Ming felt a sense of lightness throughout his body, as if an invisible shackle had been removed.
Now, all communication and connection between Zi Yan and himself and the Ancient Void Dragon Clan has been unilaterally severed by Lin Ming.
After finishing this, Lin Ming slowly raised his head and cast his gaze toward the distant northwest, where the Black Corner Region, Jia Nan Academy, and the hidden place of the Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion were located.
This journey is extremely long, spanning countless miles. Even with the help of Space Wormhole, it would take ordinary people several months to complete.
However, the movement of people through Space Wormhole is complex and makes it easy to expose their whereabouts, which is something he absolutely must avoid.
"I can only rely on myself now."
Lin Ming's eyes narrowed, and he no longer hesitated. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and his powerful Dou Qi surged out, slashing fiercely at the space in front of him!
"Sizzle--!"
A clear tearing sound rang out, and a pitch-black Spatial Rift appeared in response. Silver Space Power flickered and leaped like lightning at the edge, emanating a chaotic and dangerous aura.
Lin Ming's figure flickered, and without hesitation, he stepped into the Dark and Deep Spatial Rift, his figure instantly swallowed up by the Violent Spatial Turbulence.
For absolute secrecy, he chose the most strenuous and energy-consuming Dou Qi, but also the most difficult to track—relying entirely on his own strength to constantly Space-Tearing and traverse extremely long distances Void Crossing!
This is a dual test of will and strength.
The Void Space is not a smooth path; it is filled with chaotic Spatial Storm, hidden Spatial Fragment, and a complete loss of direction. Even ordinary Dou Venerate need to be extremely careful when traversing it, determining their coordinates. A slight misstep could lead to being swept into an unknown Spatial Vortex or torn to pieces by the violent Space Power.
But Lin Ming is different.
His Soul Power reached the Heavenly Realm, making him incredibly strong. His senses were sharp, allowing him to avoid most spatial traps in advance.
More importantly, the World Power within him granted him Space Manipulation that even the Ancient Void Dragon could not match!
This World Power, originating from the Inner World, has a remarkable effect on stabilizing space and calming turbulent currents. Wherever he goes, the raging Space Power are tamed to a certain extent, making his movement much easier and safer than others.
However, this does not mean it will be easy. Constantly Space-Tearing, maintaining high-speed travel, and resisting the Spatial Turbulence Erosion that is occasionally unavoidable consumes a massive amount of his Dou Qi.
Fortunately, he now possessed the Dou Qi cultivation of Four-Star Dou Venerate. Furthermore, after reaching the Fifth Floor of the <Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art>, it was comparable to ordinary mid- Heavenly Grade Intermediate Cultivation Method, making his Dou Qi far more powerful than others of the same rank. This was another source of confidence for Lin Ming to traverse the void on his own.
And so, Lin Ming completely vanished from the face of the earth.
After each traversal, he would carefully mobilize the World Power within his body, like the most patient craftsman, to completely erase and smooth out all traces of the space he had passed through— the Residual Spatial Fluctuations, his own aura, and even all the subtle changes caused by his traversal.