224: Chapter 224 I am a member of the same clan

Ye Lingling held a crystal-clear purple-veined spirit fruit in her hands that emitted a rich fragrance. As she crunched on it, she couldn't help but turn to look at Shi Jin, who stood calmly beside her.

She asked curiously, "Hey, your buddies from Shuibo have all run away, why aren't you slipping away with them?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Jin raised an eyebrow as if it were a matter of course. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked at the dust in the distance with a face full of disdain. "Run? Why would I run? That bunch of sycophantic, fickle cowards—I, Shi Jin, have always disdained to associate with them."

"As the saying goes, the length of an acquaintance doesn't matter; it's the compatibility of spirit that counts. I only teamed up with Chieftain Song He and the others to make a living, but my friendship with Senior Yuan Chen is like that of Guan and Bao. I will always stand on your side. I didn't participate in any of the fighting, so why would I run? We're on the same side!"

Hearing this high-sounding nonsense, Ye Lingling's mouth twitched violently. She rolled her eyes at Shi Jin without mercy. "Give it a rest. 'Friendship of Guan and Bao'? You've only known us for a few days."

Just then, Little Pebble, who was perched on Shi Jin's head, drooled and stared longingly at Ye Lingling, crying out unashamedly, "Big Sister Ye Lingling, what delicious thing do you have in your hand? Is it tasty?"

Ye Lingling glanced at him, then stuffed one into the hands of each of her three children. "It's not tasty."

Little Pebble: "..."

Shi Jin rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Eat? A broken rock like you can eat spirit fruit? Go on, go play in the mud somewhere."

"I'm craving it too!"

Little Pebble pouted in dissatisfaction and explained solemnly, "Who said I'm a broken rock! I am a natural Stone Spirit. As long as it's a treasure of heaven and earth, I can absorb and refine it just like a Cultivator, turning it into my own cultivation! Dad, if you don't understand, don't just talk nonsense!"

Shi Jin was choked up. Is that important?

He touched his empty Storage Pouch. He was broke and couldn't even pull out a decent Spirit Stone, let alone any treasures of heaven and earth.

The point is that I don't have any money. Don't you feel awkward asking like that?

Shi Jin felt too embarrassed to ask Ye Lingling for one, so he had to pretend he didn't hear Little Pebble's clamoring. He reached out, grabbed Little Pebble, and stuffed him straight into his crotch.

Just then, a sharp, murderous sound of air being torn apart suddenly came from the distance. Crown Prince Zhao Heng appeared with a ferocious expression, followed by a group of experts from the Imperial Dynasty, all filled with Killing Intent, rushing toward them.

"Attack! Capture her, and that Devil Head Yuan Chen will be nothing to fear!"

Crown Prince Zhao Heng roared hysterically as he sprinted.

Shi Jin looked closely and saw that Crown Prince Zhao Heng was followed by five experts of the Loose Immortal rank.

Although they were mostly First-Tribulation Loose Immortals, it was still terrifying.

A great opportunity!

Shi Jin was overjoyed. A brilliant light flashed in his eyes, and instead of retreating, he stepped forward.

"An opportunity! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to prove myself!" Shi Jin thought to himself.

He had always been at odds with those snakes from the Dragon Clan, and Yuan Chen had even drawn a line between himself and the Dragon Clan.

If he could protect Ye Lingling and her children now, wouldn't that be equivalent to latching onto Yuan Chen's massive, heaven-reaching thigh?

What is Shuibo? Can you eat it? Never heard of it!

Brothers? Just stepping stones for progress!

Having made up his mind, Shi Jin took a sudden step forward, blocking in front of Ye Lingling and her children. Assuming a righteous, death-defying posture, he shouted, "Madam, do not fear! With me, Shi Jin, here, I will never let these rebels harm you or your children in the slightest! Senior Yuan Chen is not only a man of high virtue and prestige, but he is also of my own clan. As fellow members of the Dragon Clan, I will certainly ensure your safety!"

Ye Lingling looked at Shi Jin, who was standing in front of her. His back looked a bit thin, yet exceptionally firm. She couldn't help but shrug.

She didn't pay him any mind. Unhurriedly, she raised her jade-like hand and opened her storage ring.

"Hum—"

A brilliant treasure light instantly shot into the sky. Ye Lingling waved her fair hand, and the first Magic Treasure flew out, transforming into a shimmering, colorful shield that hovered above the heads of the mother and children.

The 'Nine Heavens Profound Water Shield', refined from the essence of profound water beneath ten thousand fathoms of ice in the North, could neutralize ninety percent of fire-based and physical attacks in the world.

Swish, swish—several more brilliant rays of light flashed by.

The 'Great Luo Golden Bell Cover', an ancient relic, possessed a defensive power that could be called invincible among the same rank.

She then took out four Formation Flags and planted them in the four cardinal directions: east, west, south, and north.

These were the base of the 'Four Symbols Spirit-Extinguishing Array'. Once activated, it could withstand the full-force bombardment of a Twelfth-Tribulation Loose Immortal expert for half an hour without breaking.

As each Magic Treasure fell into place, Ye Lingling and her children were instantly enveloped in layers upon layers of treasure light.

Clothing, boots—everything shimmered with brilliant colors and radiated thousands of auspicious auras.

Shi Jin was completely stunned. His mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg, and his eyeballs nearly popped out.

He gritted his teeth tightly, trying not to let tears fall. Rich brat, what a rich brat!

He pointed a trembling finger at the Magic Treasures and stammered in shock, "Holy crap... these, these are all Immortal Artifacts?"

Shi Jin began to doubt his life. Since when did Immortal Artifacts become as common as street trash!

Before Shi Jin could recover from his shock, Crown Prince Zhao Heng had already arrived with his men to attack.

"Bitch! Come here!"

Crown Prince Zhao Heng's eyes were bloodshot. Not giving Ye Lingling any chance to react, he clawed out with his right hand.

The few Loose Immortal experts behind him also attacked in unison, targeting the three children behind Ye Lingling.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A deafening explosion rang out, and terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations swept in all directions.

However, when the dust settled, the crowd was shocked to find that Ye Lingling and her children were completely unharmed! Those attacks, which were enough to level a mountain, had struck the layers of defensive Magic Treasures without even causing a single ripple.

"This... how is this possible?!" Crown Prince Zhao Heng's eyes widened in terror, his face full of disbelief.

The four of them stood lazily in place, still crunching on their spirit fruits, as if they had just been annoyed by a mosquito.

"Impossible!" "Impossible!"

Seeing the arrogant demeanor of Ye Lingling and the others, Crown Prince Zhao Heng attacked even more frantically.

Yuan Guo, Yuan Luo, and the other children pressed against the inner wall of the shimmering defensive barrier. Like they were watching a circus performance, they pointed their little fingers at the furious Crown Prince Zhao Heng and the others outside, laughing and mocking them.

Yuan Guo spread his hands and shouted, "Is that it? Is that all? And you have the nerve to be a Crown Prince!"

Yuan Luo also nodded seriously from the side. "Your strength is indeed quite poor; you're more than a notch worse than those of the same rank in the Dragon Clan!"

Ye Lingling couldn't help but chuckle. Instead of stopping them, she smiled and chimed in, "Crown Prince Zhao, gentlemen, if you're tired, take a rest. Don't ruin your weapons; that would be a waste!"

These words, accompanied by the children's mockery, were like the loudest slap across the faces of Crown Prince Zhao Heng and his men.

"You—!!" Crown Prince Zhao Heng was trembling with rage. His face turned from white to green, then from green to purple. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were so bloodshot they looked like they were about to bleed.

A dignified Crown Prince, actually being toyed with and humiliated like this—this was simply the greatest shame of his life!

"Attack! Hit them until they die! I don't believe I can't break this damn shell!"

Crown Prince Zhao Heng roared hysterically, his reason completely swallowed by shame and anger.

Meanwhile, Shi Jin went directly to meet the rest of the experts.

"Do not be arrogant! With me, Shi Jin, here, don't even think about harming the Madam's kin in the slightest!"

Knowing he couldn't win, he directly unleashed his innate Divine Ability.

"Hum—"

Shi Jin's body instantly transformed into a strange creature with a pitch-black body and transparent wings.

This thing looked a bit like a Dragon, but its mouthparts were as sharp as divine iron, and its body was surrounded by faint, blood-colored Evil Qi. It looked truly bizarre.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"

Shi Jin flapped his wings and soared high, relying on the Blood Mosquito Dragon's innate speed advantage to weave back and forth among the several Loose Immortal experts.

However, the ideal was plump, but reality was skeletal.

"Where did this stinking bug come from! Get lost!"

A Loose Immortal expert impatiently slapped out, and the terrifying palm wind sent Shi Jin flying.

"Ouch!"

Before Shi Jin could steady himself, another expert kicked him, sending him straight into a pile of ruins.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

For a time, Shi Jin was like a ball, being kicked back and forth by the several Loose Immortal experts.

Although he had thick skin and flesh, and his Blood Mosquito body was extremely difficult to kill completely, the pain of every punch landing on his flesh and every kick piercing his heart was real.

"Oh, holy crap!"

Shi Jin scrambled away with his head in his hands, letting out pig-like screams.

While being beaten, he took a moment to glance to the side.

He saw Ye Lingling sitting leisurely inside the circle of layered Immortal Artifact protections, quietly watching the show.

Looking at the relaxed Ye Lingling and her children, and then at himself, beaten black and blue,

Shi Jin felt a wave of deep depression surge in his heart.

"Can I still latch onto this thigh? I hope I didn't just get beaten for nothing."