Retreat to advance? If you want to retreat, then really retreat!

Zhao Linger returned to the Zhao family and met her aunt, Zhao Caiyi.

The joy of returning home made Zhao Linger beam with happiness.

During her childhood, although Xin Xi and Yu Yue had always doted on her and treated her as their own.

However, when she saw other fellow disciples being doted on by their parents, the young Zhao Linger inevitably felt a sense of loss.

She often lamented that she was an orphan, homeless.

Now, she finally had relatives.

Zhao Caiyi was also full of love for Zhao Linger; she was her sister's only flesh and blood.

The two chatted for a long time, Zhao Caiyi listening to Zhao Linger's life story, wanting to know how she had been doing all these years.

Zhao Linger answered every question, telling Zhao Caiyi about her life over the years.

She was adopted by her two Revered Masters, treated as their own, diligently cultivated, and even appointed as the Goddess of Yaochi; she had lived very well and had not suffered any grievances.

Hearing this, Zhao Caiyi's hanging heart finally settled; it was good that she hadn't suffered.

"By the way, the Yaochi Immortal Palace you mentioned, is it the Immortal Palace in the Eternal Immortal Domain?" Zhao Caiyi asked.

"Yes, my two Revered Masters are very kind," Zhao Linger said with a smile.

"At a previous Myriad Immortals Assembly, I did have a brief encounter with them," Zhao Caiyi said.

"Aunt, have you met my Revered Masters?" Zhao Linger asked.

"Yes, but it was just a brief encounter; I didn't have any communication with them."

"I'll find an opportunity to visit them and express my gratitude, thanking them for raising you," Zhao Caiyi said, lovingly stroking her little head.

Zhao Linger was very pleased, linking arms with Zhao Caiyi and leaning on her shoulder.

This feeling of being valued by a relative was something she experienced for the first time in her life.

The two chatted for a long time, and finally, Zhao Linger asked that question.

Zhao Linger hesitated slightly as she asked, "Aunt, where are my parents? They..."

Zhao Linger's eyes were filled with anticipation, her gaze fixed on Zhao Caiyi.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Caiyi's Phoenix eyes dimmed slightly, and she couldn't help but sigh.

Although Zhao Linger had a guess in her heart, the thought that something had happened to them still made her feel sad.

"Are they gone?" Zhao Linger's voice trembled slightly as she asked this question.

Zhao Caiyi embraced Zhao Linger, gently stroking her beautiful hair, and sighed, "They can't come back."

Zhao Linger sobbed silently, burying her head in Zhao Caiyi's arms and crying.

After a long time, Zhao Linger, with red eyes, said, "Can you tell me what happened?"

Zhao Caiyi did not conceal anything and told her the truth.

"When you were just born, our Zhao family obtained a Heavenly Tome. Your mother was very knowledgeable and skilled at deciphering strange texts in various ancient books and inscriptions on artifacts."

"The clan then gave the Heavenly Tome to your mother for research. She did not disappoint, gaining profound insights from the Heavenly Tome and successfully greatly increasing the strength of our Zhao family."

"But as her deciphering deepened, she read a shocking secret from the Heavenly Tome: the opportunity to become a Saint!"

"When this matter was known by the Old Ancestors of the clan, our two Hunyuan Old Ancestors of the Zhao family turned against each other to contend for the opportunity to become a Saint, even resorting to fighting."

"These two Old Ancestors were also the founding ancestors of our Zhao family, starting from humble beginnings and being as close as brothers, but because neither wanted to lose this opportunity, they both became enraged."

"At that time, because your mother controlled the Heavenly Tome and had deciphered the opportunity to become a Saint, she was naturally the focus of everyone's struggle. This was also the source of misfortune; the party who couldn't obtain it wanted to destroy her, so that no one else could have it."

"It's truly disheartening; such a large Zhao family fell apart because of this matter."

"And your mother, to protect you, used a secret technique to send you away, so no one could trace you. I heard that recently they found a way and want to look for you."

"Most likely, they think you have the method for becoming a Saint left by your mother."

Zhao Linger remained silent, her heart aching faintly.

Zhao Caiyi said, "It's strange to say, but not long after the internal conflict, that Heavenly Tome never appeared again; it vanished."

Heavenly Tome, internal conflict...

Zhao Linger gradually understood the truth of the past.

But what did it matter? Her mother could not come back.

"Aunt, are you saying that the people from the other two branches are the murderers who forced my mother to her death?" Zhao Linger asked in a deep voice, her eyes shining with determination.

Zhao Caiyi said, "Don't think about revenge; you can't defeat them. I don't want you to fall into danger."

Zhao Linger didn't speak; how could grievances be put aside with just a few words?

Just then, a sound came from outside the hall.

"Patriarch, Young Revered Master Zhao Qingxiong requests an audience."

Zhao Caiyi wondered why he had come.

Although she was puzzled, she still said, "Let him in."

"Yes."

Zhao Linger, seeing that someone was coming, wanted to withdraw from the palace to let Zhao Caiyi handle the affairs.

Zhao Caiyi kept her there, sitting not far from her. Zhao Linger obediently sat by her side, not saying much.

Soon, a young man with a weak aura and a haggard complexion that even makeup couldn't conceal walked in.

"This one, Qingxiong, greets the Patriarch."

As soon as the person entered, he bowed and saluted Zhao Caiyi.

Behind him were more than a dozen clan Elders, led by his father: Zhao Yan.

This large group of people entering together made Zhao Caiyi feel a sense of unease.

"No need for formalities, rise."

"Yes," Zhao Qingxiong said.

He looked up and saw a clear and graceful woman beside Zhao Caiyi, who bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Zhao Caiyi.

Just one glance was enough to make one feel amazed.

His heart burned, but he did not show it.

"What do you need me for?" Zhao Caiyi asked.

"Patriarch, I heard that a missing sister of our family has returned, so I came to meet her and welcome her home."

Zhao Qingxiong said, "Presumably, that's the one next to you. Welcome home."

"As an older brother, I don't have much of a gift, just this small token. Please don't mind it, sister."

He took out a Storage Pouch containing various rare treasures and presented it to Zhao Linger.

Zhao Linger looked at Zhao Caiyi, and only after seeing her nod did she accept it, though she didn't examine it closely.

"Ling'er thanks the Young Revered Master," Zhao Linger said politely.

"Is that all? If there's nothing else, you can all go back to your own business," Zhao Caiyi said.

Zhao Yan said, "Patriarch, my son is not capable of taking on great responsibilities. Choosing him as the Young Revered Master was originally because you had no sons, and he happened to be suitable, which is why he became the Young Revered Master."

"Now that Ling'er has returned home, my son's position as Young Revered Master can pretty much come to an end," Zhao Yan said sincerely and very seriously.

Before Zhao Caiyi could speak, the more than ten clan Elders behind Zhao Yan immediately refused, "Zhao Elder, what are you saying?"

"Qingxiong is exceptionally capable and highly talented. The Rank and hierarchy of our Zhao family are based on strength, not on blood relation."

"Exactly, if you let Qingxiong step down, isn't that breaking the rules of our Zhao family?"

"Of course, I'm not saying Ling'er is bad; we're just following the rules. You don't have to do this."

Everyone spoke one after another, not giving Zhao Qingxiong a chance to resign.

Zhao Caiyi could not fail to understand.

These people were worried that she would be biased due to her affection, wanting to compensate Ling'er and always yielding to her, even cultivating Ling'er to be the next Patriarch.

To prevent this from happening, they deliberately stepped forward to offer resignation, using retreat as a means to advance. What a clever scheme.

Not to mention that she didn't have this idea, even if she did, it wasn't something that you people could influence with a few words.

Moreover, Ling'er is the Goddess of Yaochi Immortal Palace; her status is far higher than that of a Zhao family successor. It's uncertain whether Ling'er would even be willing to take it.

"Zhao Elder, are you serious?" Zhao Caiyi said indifferently.

"Absolutely no falsehood," Zhao Yan affirmed.

"Qingxiong, is that what you think too?"

"Patriarch, this one indeed thinks so."

At this moment, the various clan Elders stepped forward again, continuing to exert pressure, and they offered a compromise solution.

"Zhao Elder, that's not appropriate."

"High positions are for the capable. If you give it up for no reason, isn't that nepotism?"

"If this really happens, it will damage the Patriarch's prestige if it gets out."

"Exactly!"

"I do have a compromise method that can be tried."

"..."

Zhao Caiyi then said in a deep voice, "Enough. Is the Zhao family decided by you, or by me?"

A chilling aura instantly erupted, intimidating everyone present; no one dared to speak.

Even the compromise solution they had prepared didn't get a chance to be spoken.

Zhao Caiyi understood that these people were forcing her to solidify Zhao Qingxiong's position, but she disliked being forced by others the most.

"Qingxiong, I'm very pleased that you have this thought."

"Zhao Elder, you understand the importance of the overall situation and the bigger picture; you are truly a pillar of our Zhao family."

Zhao Yan smiled, saying nothing.

But Zhao Caiyi's next sentence made him unable to smile anymore.

"I think you are right; Ling'er might be more suitable to be the successor of our Zhao family than Qingxiong."

"Qingxiong, I am very pleased that you voluntarily stepped down and yielded to the worthy."

"Granted!"

Zhao Yan was silent, Zhao Qingxiong was astonished.

Why doesn't this woman play by the rules?!