"No matter how difficult it is, I will find a way to gather those ancient jade pieces and bring you out of here, Father!" Zi Yan stubbornly declared.
She had finally found her father, discovered he was still alive. How could she just stand by and watch him suffer in this dark, desolate place?
"Zi Yan, I believe that day will come too!" Gu Fei, holding her small hand, softly reassured her.
'Sigh...' The Old Dragon Emperor let out a deep sigh.
In the current Dou Qi continent, the path to becoming a God was severed. If someone could reach the Dou God level, they could naturally break the seal left by the Ancient God, Tuo She. But without that power, it was nearly impossible to overpower the eight ancient clans and seize the ancient god's jade. Even at its peak, the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe couldn't have managed it.
"Zi Yan, how is the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe doing now?" Zhu Kun suddenly asked about another matter that deeply concerned him.
After all, the strength of the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe would be crucial if Zi Yan intended to gather the ancient god's jade.
"After you disappeared, Father, our clan fell apart. Internal conflicts were endless, with Zhu Bei, Zhu Xi, and Zhu Nan proclaiming themselves the three Dragon Kings and ruling over different regions. Only East Dragon Island continued to support the royal lineage, while the other three islands were embroiled in constant wars, weakening the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe over the years," Zi Yan explained, recounting the clan's history.
"What? How could they dare to do that..." Zhukun felt deep sorrow hearing about these events. He hadn't imagined that his disappearance would lead to such chaos within the clan.
"And now?" the Old Dragon Emperor pressed on.
"Now, I've suppressed the rebels within the clan. The four islands' people have been reunited, and I've become the new Dragon Emperor!" Zi Yan replied.
"Good, good! As expected of my daughter!" Hearing that Zi Yan had become the Dragon Emperor and restored order, Zhukun was filled with pride and satisfaction.
"Father, to be honest, ten years ago, I was only at the fifth rank. Since meeting Brother Gu Fei, I've consumed countless rare pills. Later, Brother Gu Fei even found the legendary Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit for me. He helped me refine it, allowing me to break through to the four-star Dou Saint level! If not for Brother Gu Fei's help, I wouldn't have been able to deal with the clan's rebellion so easily!" Zi Yan shared how Gu Fei had helped her over the years.
"From the fifth rank to the ninth rank in just ten years!" Zhu Kun was amazed. When he heard about the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, a look of realization crossed his face. When Zhukun was young, he had witnessed a top-tier expert from the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe rise to power after consuming the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit. At that time, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan also had a top expert with the Ancient Dragon Phoenix bloodline. However, both of those peak existences perished in a great battle.
"Gu Fei, my friend, thank you for taking care of Zi Yan all these years," he thanked Gu Fei, no longer concerned about why Gu Fei knew about his situation. Everyone had their own secrets, as long as their intentions were right. Zhu Kun could also see that Zi Yan was very attached to Gu Fei, relying on him beyond the bounds of mere friendship. Since he had little hope of escaping, seeing his daughter find a good partner was now his greatest wish.
"Senior, you're too kind. Zi Yan and I are friends; it's nothing really," Gu Fei replied humbly. Based on the feedback from the emotional fluctuations earlier, he knew that Zhu Kun had already accepted him.
"Heh, young man, when do you plan to marry Zi Yan? When the time comes, you must let this old man witness it in person!" Zhu Kun chuckled.
"Marry?" Gu Fei was stunned by his words. Beside him, Zi Yan's cheeks turned rosy. "Father, what are you saying..."
"Hehe, getting shy now, are we? You two have been holding hands since you got here, always so close. That's hardly how ordinary friends behave. Marriage is only a matter of time!" Zhukun teased.
"It's not like that... Father, Brother Gu Fei... he already has a wife..." Zi Yan explained shyly.
"Hmm?" Hearing this, Zhukun's expression shifted slightly, his smile stiffening. He hadn't expected Gu Fei to already be married. However, he didn't get angry. Judging by Zi Yan's behavior, Zhukun could tell that his daughter was deeply fond of Gu Fei. In Zi Yan's heart, Gu Fei might even hold a higher place than her own father.
"Senior, Zi Yan and I..." Gu Fei started to explain, but Zhukun cut him off sternly.
"Young man, since you've won my daughter's heart, you must take responsibility for it! No matter what happens, you must never let Zi Yan be hurt. Otherwise..." The Old Dragon Emperor's tone was commanding as he imposed a massive pressure on Gu Fei. Even with his current three-star Dou Saint strength, Gu Fei couldn't resist this pressure at all.
"What are you doing!" Seeing this, Zi Yan immediately jumped in front of Gu Fei, glaring angrily at Zhu Kun.
Under Zi Yan's glare, Zhu Kun quickly retracted the pressure. "Gu Fei, perhaps I was a bit hasty just now... But you should understand, what father doesn't want his child to be happy?"
"I understand, Senior," Gu Fei responded calmly, not holding any resentment. He could understand Zhukun's actions. Moreover, his words made Gu Fei start to seriously consider his own feelings. Did he really see Zi Yan as just a friend? If one day, Zi Yan were to marry another man, could he truly accept it?
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[Author's Note]: I noticed a reader has commented a few times with the same content, suggesting that the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe was very powerful in ancient times, unlike the current situation where there's a power gap without top-tier experts between four and eight stars. They mentioned that most were traveling in the void and could be brought back to make the clan strong again, like the Hun Clan or the Gu Clan. I'm a bit confused about this. Could that reader share where they got this information, maybe with screenshots or references? I'm also asking here so other readers can weigh in and confirm if such settings exist.
[Translator's Note]: Kept the Author's note since it explains why the author didn't include the reclusive Dragon Tribe experts spread across the empty realm in the unification fight- he simply didn't know about them. Otherwise Zi Yan wouldn't have to delay as much as she did here in this fic- those old experts are extremely loyal to the royal bloodline and only left the Tribe to look for the Old Dragon Emperor.)