Recognizing Relatives

Lin Ze'an asked in confusion, "What is the matter?"

Qian Daoliu took two quick steps forward, grabbed Lin Ze'an's wrist, and began to examine the ring with meticulous care.

"What is your... relationship to Jin Ling?"

Lin Ze'an was startled by this sudden movement. Just as he was about to pull away, he was stunned by Qian Daoliu's next words: "You know my mother?!"

How could this be? Given Qian Daoliu's age, he shouldn't have known his mother, should he?

Hearing Lin Ze'an's words, Qian Daoliu's expression shifted abruptly, a flash of shock crossing his eyes: "What did you just say?"

Lin Ze'an was caught off guard by this sudden reaction, but he still repeated earnestly, "Jin Ling is my mother. Do you know her?"

The next moment, under his bewildered gaze, Qian Daoliu unleashed his spiritual power, and an invisible ripple instantly permeated the Consecrated Hall.

The Second Elder, Golden Crocodile Douluo, who was in the midst of closed-door cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes and snapped out of his meditative state.

"This is... the Great Elder's summons?" Golden Crocodile stood up, his figure flickering as he sped toward the Consecrated Hall.

After only a moment, Golden Crocodile walked in, his gaze locking immediately onto Qian Daoliu in the center: "Great Elder, what has happened?"

Lin Ze'an turned at the sound, his eyes meeting Golden Crocodile's.

In an instant, both of them froze—Golden Crocodile stared in shock at the face he knew so well.

Qian Daoliu sighed and said to Golden Crocodile, "Look at the ring on his right hand."

Hearing this, Golden Crocodile looked toward Lin Ze'an's right hand with trembling eyes, his eye sockets turning red instantly.

He knew that ring all too well—it was the very gift he had personally given his granddaughter thirty years ago for her spirit awakening.

Lin Ze'an watched Golden Crocodile's expression shift, then looked at the face that bore a striking resemblance to his mother's.

His own eyes grew red, and his throat felt as if it were constricted by something.

Could it be...

Golden Crocodile suddenly grabbed Lin Ze'an by the shoulders: "Child, is your mother named Jin Ling?"

Lin Ze'an did not answer him; instead, with reddened eyes and suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he slowly extended his right hand.

A drop of blood, radiating a rich aura of life, seeped from his fingertip and hovered in mid-air.

Seeing this, Golden Crocodile also extended his right hand, and a drop of blood emitting a faint golden light slowly seeped from his fingertip.

The moment the two drops of blood met in the air, they seemed to be drawn together by an invisible force, slowly approaching each other until they finally merged into one.

Golden Crocodile could no longer control his emotions and pulled Lin Ze'an into a tight embrace.

His arms trembled slightly, and his voice choked with sobs: "Child, you have suffered... you have suffered so much..."

Lin Ze'an was taken aback by the sudden embrace, but he allowed Golden Crocodile to hold him, his small hand gently patting the old man's back.

"What is your name?" Golden Crocodile asked while holding him tightly.

Before Lin Ze'an could speak, Qian Daoliu sighed: "His name is Lin Ze'an... the one with innate full spirit power of level twenty."

As soon as these words were spoken, Golden Crocodile's heart turned cold.

His body stiffened noticeably, and he suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock: "What?! He... he..."

He had, of course, seen the files on the genius with innate level twenty spirit power.

But the background in those files stated that his mother had been killed by an evil spirit master, and he had been raised by his father alone...

His granddaughter... why did the heavens treat him this way?!

Was it not enough to take his son, that they had to take his granddaughter as well!

Golden Crocodile wept until his whole body shook, holding Lin Ze'an as tears streamed down his face: "I searched for her for so many years... Jin Ling... my granddaughter..."

Large tears fell onto Lin Ze'an's shoulders, soaking his clothes.

"Every time there was news from Spirit Hall, I would go to verify it myself... but every time... every time, it was only disappointment."

The contours of Lin Ze'an's face, the shape of his brows and eyes, all served as a reminder that this was the child of his most beloved granddaughter, Jin Ling.

He reached out with trembling hands and gently stroked Lin Ze'an's face: "These eyes... this nose... this mouth... they are all just like your mother's..."

Lin Ze'an finally recovered from his shock and pieced the situation together.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was... his mother's grandfather? His last remaining relative in this world...

He pulled away from Golden Crocodile's embrace, took the jade pendant from his ring, and handed it to him.

Then, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Golden Crocodile: "Lin Ze'an greets Great-Grandfather."

"Oh..." Golden Crocodile hurriedly helped the kneeling Lin Ze'an up: "Good child... come."

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, struggling to calm his surging emotions.

He carefully pulled Lin Ze'an to sit on a nearby chair and asked with concern: "Child, how have you lived all these years? Where is your father?"

It was not until late at night that Lin Ze'an slowly walked back to his small courtyard.

He did not go to find his master, nor did he see anyone else; he simply closed the courtyard gate quietly, shutting the entire world outside.

The cold moonlight spilled onto the bluestone slabs in the courtyard, gilding this small patch of heaven and earth with a layer of silver radiance.

Lin Ze'an sat down on the stone bench in the center of the courtyard, lowering his head to gaze at the jade pendant in his hand.

"Mother... I have met Great-Grandfather; he misses you very much."

I just never expected that Mother's background would turn out to be like this...

"If you are watching over me, please do not worry. I will cultivate diligently and reunite with you as soon as possible."

After a while, Lin Ze'an sighed softly and carefully tucked the jade pendant away.

Then, he took out the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red.

Even without being activated, this legendary immortal herb remained bewitchingly beautiful.

Its entire body was blood-red like fire, its petals as smooth as silk, and within its stamen, it seemed as if blood-red tears were flowing.

Lin Ze'an gently pricked his finger and let a drop of fresh blood fall onto the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red.

The next second, the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red was activated by the blood and bloomed completely.

The entire flower emitted an intense red light, illuminating the whole courtyard as if it were stained with blood.

Lin Ze'an raised his hand and gently brushed over the blooming flower: "Love-sickness and heartbreak—it is a pity that the story behind it was nothing more than a deception."

The moment his fingertips touched the petals, the entire immortal herb suddenly began to tremble violently.

"Hum—"

A humming sound resonated throughout the small courtyard, and the bewitching red light of the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red began to flicker rapidly.

The petals became transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye, transforming into pure energy that converged toward the palm of Lin Ze'an's hand.

The next moment, the life force radiating from Mo Ruier spread out, gently wrapping around Lin Ze'an's entire body.

Then, it slowly lifted him up, suspending him in mid-air.

Under the influence of this life force, Lin Ze'an was soon enveloped within a flower bud that was on the verge of blooming.