Chapter 679: Father and Daughter Reunite, The Exotic Flame Plaza
Zhu Kun's gaze remained fixed on the golden dragon that had wrapped itself around Mo Yu. From within that dragon, he sensed a deeply familiar bloodline, one that was uniquely connected to his own.
That bloodline could only belong to one person—the child he had lost all those years ago.
"Child…"
Zhu Kun's once fierce and authoritative golden eyes instantly softened. His gaze remained locked on Zi Yan, and he murmured softly, overwhelmed by emotions.
At that moment, the golden dragon rapidly shrank, transforming into a graceful woman with long purple hair. Her beautiful eyes flashed with anger as she glanced at Zhu Kun, then she turned to Mo Yu and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you arriving just in time," Mo Yu replied, shaking his head. Then he glanced at Zhu Kun in the distance and said to Zi Yan, "If I'm not mistaken, that man is your father. He has the same Dragon Emperor bloodline as you. However, because he's been sealed in the Ancient Emperor's Mansion for thousands of years, he doesn't know much about the outside world. He seems to think I harmed you, so it's best if you explain things to him."
Zi Yan's expression didn't show much excitement. She gazed at the golden-robed figure standing far away, and there was a deep sense of estrangement in her eyes. After all, she had never met her father since the day she was born, so the typical father-daughter bond felt entirely foreign to her.
"Child…" Zhu Kun muttered, his face filled with confusion. The once mighty and fierce Dragon Emperor seemed at a loss. He nervously wrung his hands, staring helplessly at Zi Yan, completely unsure of what to say or how to approach her.
"I'm an orphan. I don't have parents." Zi Yan's voice was cold, but it carried a tinge of sadness that was hard to miss.
Mo Yu shook his head, recalling Zi Yan's early days. She had lived alone in the deep mountains of the Black-Corner Region. Though she was exceptionally talented, life had not been easy for her at such a young age. It was only after she accidentally ate an unripe Transformation Herb that Elder Su Qian had brought her back to the Inner Academy. Even then, she was always alone—until she met Mo Yu and Xiao Yan, who became her friends.
Thinking back, Mo Yu couldn't help but feel a bit of sorrow for the little girl who had once been mischievous and gluttonous, hiding the pain of her solitude.
Zi Yan stood stubbornly, tears welling in her eyes. Despite her strong words, her emotions were betraying her. Deep down, she had longed for this moment—the day she would meet her father.
"It's my fault, all my fault! I shouldn't have been greedy for the Ancient Emperor's Mansion. It was that wretched Tuo She Ancient Emperor who tricked me and trapped me for so many years!" Zhu Kun hurried forward in a panic when he saw the tears in Zi Yan's eyes. The once mighty Dragon Emperor was now fumbling, completely out of his depth.
"Please, don't cry, my child. It's all my fault! From now on, I'll do whatever you want. If you don't believe me, I'll swear on it!" Zhu Kun pleaded desperately.
Everyone around them fell silent, unsure of what to make of the scene unfolding before them. The elders of the Ancient Dragon Clan who had followed Zi Yan were completely stunned. A shocking thought began to take root in their minds.
Zi Yan sniffled, her slightly reddened eyes staring at the once-mighty, now awkward middle-aged man in front of her. She extended her finger, pointing at Hun Tiandi in the distance, and asked, "Can you kill him for me?"
"Yes!" Zhu Kun was stunned for a moment, but then his eyes instantly filled with a fierce killing intent.
At that moment, the allied forces were left dumbfounded, while the Soul Clan members, who had been smug moments earlier, suddenly looked grim.
"Your Majesty, Old Dragon Emperor, is it really you?" one of the dragon elders, Elder Zhu Huo, finally snapped out of his daze, his voice trembling with emotion.
Hearing the elder's voice, Zhu Kun let out a hearty laugh. "Heh, I thought you had completely forgotten about me, boy."
"How could I ever dare to forget?" Elder Zhu Huo quickly shook his head. Though he appeared older now, he still vividly remembered the time when Zhu Kun ruled the Ancient Dragon Clan. Back then, Zhu Huo had merely been a young boy.
The other dragon elders exchanged looks, excitement welling in their eyes. None of them had expected the legendary Old Dragon Emperor, long thought to be lost, to still be alive. This realization meant the Ancient Dragon Clan's strength was set to skyrocket once again. After all, Zhu Kun had been one of the most powerful beings on the continent.
"Your Majesty, Mo Yu is a great benefactor of the Ancient Dragon Clan. He saved us from danger many times, and without him, Zi Yan would never have returned safely to our clan," Elder Zhu Huo explained respectfully to Zhu Kun.
Hearing this, Zhu Kun was momentarily taken aback. His expression darkened as he asked, "Danger? What happened to the Ancient Dragon Clan while I was gone?"
Elder Zhu Huo hesitated for a moment before giving Zhu Kun a brief explanation of the events that had transpired during his absence.
When Zhu Kun heard that the Ancient Dragon Clan had splintered into factions, fury flashed in his eyes. He had never imagined that those who once revered him would dare to act this way after his disappearance. However, upon learning that Mo Yu had helped Zi Yan reunite the Ancient Dragon Clan, he couldn't help but break out in cold sweat.
"It seems I've been foolish this time, but fortunately, no serious harm was done. Still, Mo Yu's abilities are truly impressive. Even if I had gone all out, capturing him wouldn't have been easy," Zhu Kun admitted, his anger fading as he praised Mo Yu's strength.
Zhu Kun then turned to Mo Yu with a friendly smile, completely shedding the fierce demeanor he had shown earlier. From what Elder Zhu Huo had said, and judging by Zi Yan's fondness for Mo Yu, Zhu Kun realized there was more to their relationship than met the eye.
For this reason, Zhu Kun chose to turn a blind eye to their connection. After all, Mo Yu's talent and strength were undeniable. If his daughter were to marry someone like Mo Yu, Zhu Kun could rest easy, knowing his daughter was in capable hands.
"Mo Yu, I must apologize for earlier. I was too rash," Zhu Kun said kindly, his expression warm.
Seeing the friendly face in front of him, Mo Yu shook his head and replied, "It was all a misunderstanding. There's no need for apologies, senior."
"Calling me 'senior' sounds far too formal. Since you're close with Zi Yan, why not just call me 'Uncle' instead?" Zhu Kun suggested with a smile.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Mo Yu nodded and greeted him, "Uncle Zhu Kun."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Kun beamed and gave a satisfied nod. His eyes flickered over to Zi Yan, and when he noticed that her expression had softened slightly, a hint of joy flashed across his face.
"Hehe, since I promised my daughter, I'll take care of that guy's life now…" Zhu Kun turned his attention to Hun Tiandi in the distance, a smile on his face.
Gu Yuan couldn't help but smile as well, especially seeing the sour expression on Hun Tiandi's face, which gave him a sense of satisfaction.
"It's been a long time since I've fought, but it's good to encounter such a great battle on my return," Zhu Kun remarked, slowly floating into the air. As his fists clenched, a purple-gold radiance spread from his body. He fixed his gaze on Hun Tiandi and grinned.
"Hmph!"
Seeing the sudden turn of events, Hun Tiandi's expression darkened, and he snorted coldly. The ancient jade in his hand flared with a blinding light that shot toward the ancient stone gate. After channeling its power for so long, Hun Tiandi had finally pushed the ancient jade to its limit.
"Boom!"
With the beam of light striking the gate, the massive stone doors, sealed for millennia, began to move. Cracks formed across its surface as it slowly creaked open.
"The Ancient Emperor's Mansion is opening…" Gu Yuan muttered, his gaze fixed intently on the slowly opening stone doors. Sweat covered his palms as tension filled the air.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
As the ancient gates opened, the surrounding energy grew increasingly intense. Soon, only the most powerful figures were able to remain suspended in the sky. The rest had been forcefully pushed away by the sheer pressure.
"Bang!"
As the ancient gates fully opened, a primordial energy surged outward. The magma sea below erupted in towering waves, the ground trembled, and massive chasms split open across the land.
Protected by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, Xiao Yan resisted the overwhelming pressure. Within a hundred-mile radius of the ancient stone gate, only the strongest individuals remained standing; everyone else had been forced back by the immense force.
"Buzz!"
A strange ripple appeared on the ancient stone gate as the space around it twisted. Slowly, a translucent passage formed within the massive gates.
"Go!"
As soon as the passage took shape, both Gu Yuan and Zhu Kun shot forward. Hun Tiandi and the Void Devouring Flame transformed into streaks of light, racing into the passage at lightning speed.
"We're going in too!"
Seeing this, Mo Yu and Xiao Yan gave a low shout and, pushing against the thick pressure, rushed into the passage as well. Behind them, both sides' top experts followed closely behind.
With everyone now inside, the once-crowded sky grew eerily quiet, leaving only the massive ancient stone gate, standing silently above the magma sea.
Inside the Ancient Emperor's Mansion.
A soft mist hung over the strange space, giving it a dreamlike quality. The entire place seemed bathed in an ethereal glow, silent and still, as if untouched for millennia.
In the midst of this seemingly endless space floated a landmass. It hovered there, unsupported, like a palace suspended in the sky.
"Whoosh!"
The timeless tranquility of this space was suddenly broken. A huge spatial passage appeared, twisting the very air, and soon figures began shooting out from within, landing one by one on the floating land.
"So, this is the Ancient Emperor's Mansion?"
Mo Yu and Xiao Yan quickly surveyed their surroundings as they landed. However, they soon realized that their spiritual senses were significantly suppressed in this place, limiting how far they could see.
Cai Lin and Lei Fei'er appeared beside Mo Yu, their eyes filled with caution as they took in the strange environment.
As more figures emerged, the experts from both sides quickly separated, keeping a wary eye on each other to prevent any surprise attacks.
"Don't delay—move out!"
Void Devouring Flame shot a glance at Gu Yuan and his group, then shifted his gaze to the vast space ahead. There was a strange glint in his eyes as he muttered something before dashing forward.
Behind him, Hun Tiandi and the other Soul Clan experts followed closely.
"That Void Devouring Flame knows the way?" Gu Yuan frowned in surprise. Even he was finding it difficult to detect the location of the Emperor's Pill within this space, yet Void Devouring Flame seemed to know where he was going.
"It's not surprising that he knows the way," Zhu Kun mused as he nodded. "Follow them!"
Hearing this, Mo Yu's eyes flickered with understanding. He recalled that the Void Devouring Flame had once escaped from the Ancient Emperor's Mansion.
Without further explanation, Zhu Kun took the lead, chasing after the Soul Clan. Gu Yuan and the others hesitated briefly before quickly following.
The two groups raced across the vast expanse, streaking through the sky like meteors. They continued at this breakneck pace for nearly ten minutes before the figures at the front—Hun Tiandi and Void Devouring Flame—finally began to slow down.
When the others caught up, they found themselves staring at an ancient stone hall on a wide, open plain. Everyone's eyes gleamed with excitement as they gazed at the ancient structure.
The stone hall stood silently in the middle of the endless plain, exuding an aura of age and mystery. The vast plaza before it was lined with towering stone pillars, each thousands of feet tall, giving off a sense of grandeur and majesty.
Mo Yu felt a faint, wild flame aura emanating from the pillars, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"This must be the famous Exotic Flame Plaza..."
(End of Chapter)
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