Even upon entering Dragon Island, Ming Xie was still in a state of confusion.
He'd assumed Chen Guan held a high position there, but he'd never considered it that way.
To this day, he still remembered the Dragon Emperor's doting on the princess. Even before Zi Yan transformed, the old Dragon Emperor kept her by his side at all times.
In the old Dragon Emperor's heart, his daughter was perhaps above all else. She was the moon soaring high in the sky, while everyone else, himself included, were merely the surrounding stars, none worthy of her.
How could such an extreme old Dragon Emperor now change his mind and accept Chen Guan as his son-in-law?
Was that a lie?
Ming Xie found the whole situation utterly unbelievable.
He didn't believe there weren't a hundred twists and turns.
The familiar scent of Dragon Island broke Ming Xie's reverie, and he snapped back to his senses, gazing down at his homeland below. The Third Elder paused in the sky, breathing deeply and greedily.
He's back, truly back!
He wanted to shout loudly, but he was a little hesitant about his status. He finally burst into laughter high in the sky, a roar like thunder that echoed across Dragon Island, venting centuries of frustration.
The struggle to cross, the struggle to cross, startled a flock of gulls and herons.
One by one, the Ancient Dragons soared high into the sky. Once they sensed each other's bloodline, their vigilance vanished, and they exchanged glances, their eyes filled with the same question. Who was
this person?
Elsewhere, Chen Guan concentrated all his mental energy within his body, his tightly closed eyes slowly opening.
There was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, but more of joy.
Over seventy days of hard work had finally paid off!
This was truly worthy of everyone's expectations.
He also believed that with the first, there would be a second, and that he would be able to retrieve even more powerful Ancient Dragons using the same method in the future.
"Sensing it? Let's go and greet them."
With a wave of his hand, he gathered all the debris from the stone platform, then Chen Guan pulled Zi Yan along and disappeared together.
The Third Elder had made such a commotion that even the ordinary Ancient Dragons would notice, and Zi Yan was no exception.
If she hadn't been worried about Chen Guan, she would have gone to check on him immediately.
High in the sky,
Ming Xie took a long time to calm down. He glanced at the tribesmen around him, smiling what he considered his most friendly and kind smile.
Every one of them was his descendant!
However, Ming Xie quickly realized that these younger generations seemed rather ordinary in strength, with the two leading them barely two-star Dou Shengs.
In just a few hundred years, with the old Dragon Emperor in charge, how could Dragon Island have declined to this point?
Sensing the change in his elder's mood, Grand Commander Xuan Mo felt an inexplicable pressure. Just as he was about to bite the bullet and approach to greet and question him, he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Chen Guan and Zi Yan hand in hand.
"Senior Ming Xie," Chen Guan spoke first, his mental energy surging slightly, revealing his identity.
"You were the one who led me back to the island just now." Ming Xie suddenly realized, and a smile spread across his face.
His gaze rested on Chen Guan for a moment before he was drawn in by Zi Yan.
The next moment, Ming Xie's smile faded, and he bowed solemnly.
"Ming Xie, greetings, Princess!"
Strength wasn't the key; loyalty was the only thing.
Those who, like him, journeyed to the Void Turbulence in search of the old Dragon Emperor were, without exception, loyal and devoted, and would never look down on Zi Yan simply for her youth or inferior strength.
Had they not been away for centuries, they might have, like the old Dragon Emperor, doted on Zi Yan to the heavens, vying for the title of her closest uncle.
"Uncle Ming Xie, please rise."
Zi Yan stepped forward and lifted Ming Xie's hands, her face filled with genuine joy.
Over the past two years, she had compiled a list of all the elders who had journeyed to the Void Turbulence and learned about their deeds.
Therefore, upon hearing Chen Guan's address, Zi Yan quickly confirmed Ming Xie's identity.
During Zhu Kun's reign, Dragon Island boasted five elders working together. The Greatest Elder was the most powerful, possessing the terrifying strength of an early-stage eight-star Dou Sheng!
Following him was the Second Elder, a mid-stage seven-star Dou Sheng.
The Third Elder, Ming Xie, was a late-stage six-
star Dou Sheng. The Fourth Elder, a mid-stage six-star Dou Sheng.
The Fifth Elder, an early-stage six-star Dou Sheng!
With such strength, if nothing had happened and they had steadily developed for a thousand years, they would have been even more powerful than the ancient clans of today!
Unfortunately…
after the disappearance of the old Dragon Emperor, all five elders had departed for the Void Turbulence for three hundred years, and only Ming Xie has returned.
Zi Yan is no longer the brute force king she was during her time at Canaan Academy. She is now more mature and admires these elders who bravely journeyed into the Void Turbulence, yet she also feels a sense of indebtedness.
The debtor must pay, and it's all the fault of that old man beneath Canaan Academy!
"Your Highness, the Dragon Emperor..."
"Senior Mingxie, Ziyan, let's return to the Dragon Palace and discuss this in detail,"
Chen Guan interrupted. Since the old Dragon Emperor was involved, they couldn't discuss it in public.
They both nodded, and Mingxie silently wondered, "So, the Princess's name is Ziyan?"
Soon, the three of them took their seats within the bright and magnificent Dragon Palace. Even the Grand Commander, Xuanmo, was absent.
The throne was empty. Chen Guan and Ziyan sat side by side on the right, while Mingxie took the first seat opposite.
Ziyan figured this was just a casual reminiscence, no need for formality.
Mingxie, unaware of Ziyan's succession to the Dragon Emperor, saw no problem with this seating arrangement.
"Your Highness, is the Dragon Emperor not on Dragon Island right now?"
Mingxie was filled with questions, but he decided to ask the one he cared about most first.
He glanced at Chen Guan as he'd told him upon entering the Dragon Palace that the old Dragon Emperor was well.
Zi Yan couldn't help but curl her lips at the mention of Zhu Kun.
Although her resentment had mostly subsided, she still didn't want to talk about the old Dragon Emperor.
Chen Guan understood her thoughts well and took the initiative with a smile.
"Senior Ming Xie, please be patient and listen to me slowly."
"Over a thousand years ago, the old Dragon Emperor took Zi Yan on an adventure, but due to carelessness, they were trapped and unable to escape. This is why there has been no news of the old Dragon Emperor since then."
"My Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan is blessed with advantages in space. You must be lying to me. Where can we find the place that can trap Lord Dragon Emperor, who is already a Nine-Star Douluo?"
Ming Xie suddenly interrupted, finding it hard to believe this fact.
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They all had absolute faith in Zhu Kun's strength, which was why, upon his disappearance, they had focused their attention on the chaotic void.
Now, Chen Guan told him that the old Dragon Emperor had been trapped within the Dou Qi Continent, a claim he found unbelievable.
"Senior Ming Xie, do you remember Tuoshe Ancient Emperor?" Chen Guan understood his thoughts, unperturbed by the questioning, and smiled as he introduced a new topic.
Hearing the name Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, Ming Xie suddenly realized.
Indeed, the only person capable of trapping the Nine-Star Dou Sheng old Dragon Emperor was a true Dou Emperor!
Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was the last known Dou Emperor!
"You mean the Lord Dragon Emperor..."
"Yes, the old Dragon Emperor is currently trapped in Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave abode. Zi Yan and I went there by chance, and that's how we were able to meet him."
This was the first time Chen Guan had mentioned Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave abode to anyone, and the reason was simple.
On the one hand, his growing strength had intensified his confidence.
He also possessed a Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, guaranteeing his invincibility. Unless he was prepared, no one could enter the Ancient Emperor's cave.
Furthermore, he trusted the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan.
Unlike the Eight Ancient Clans, who often resorted to detours, these were truly his own people.
"Back then, when the old Dragon Emperor sensed the danger, he sent young Zi Yan away. I only met Zi Yan a few years ago, and later came to Zhongzhou together. It was then that Zi Yan was sensed by Dragon Island, and through a series of trivial events, she became the Dragon Emperor she is today."
Chen Guan's explanation was brief, but it was enough to clear up many of Ming Xie's doubts.
"I see, I see! I knew that with the Lord Dragon Emperor's strength, nothing could possibly happen. We've always believed in this. Now it seems our persistence was right, but we were just looking in the wrong direction."
Ming Xie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
In fact, before today, although they were reluctant to admit it, they had felt a certain level of trepidation.
Now, they were finally completely at ease.
This was the satisfaction of having faith unshaken!
"Princess... Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor, Chen Guan, could you please take me to see the old Dragon Emperor?"
Ming Xie requested after a pause.
This was probably the thing he wanted most right now.
Whether the Dragon Emperor was Zhu Kun or Zi Yan, it made no difference to them, as long as he was legitimate.
Upon hearing this, Zi Yan looked at Chen Guan.
The two had previously kept the old Dragon Emperor secret from the rest of the Ancient Dragon Clan, not out of distrust, but simply to avoid any unnecessary incidents.
After all, the Ancient Dragon Clan was unstable before, beset by the three islands within and watched by enemies like the Celestial Demon Phoenix Clan. Frequent departures from Dragon Island would likely attract attention.
But things were different now. Dragon Island had been unified, the Celestial Demon Phoenix Clan had also made their own escape, and even the Eight Ancient Clans had more important matters to attend to. Across Zhongzhou, it was a situation of fighting each other.
At this moment, the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan felt isolated.
"Zi Yan, please take Senior Ming Xie with you. The Old Dragon Emperor and Senior Ming Xie haven't seen each other in hundreds of years, so there's no reason for him to object."
"Senior Ming Xie, I have important matters to attend to and need to return to Danta as soon as possible. I won't be going with you this time. After you meet the Old Dragon Queen, you can spend some time chatting up old times there. Have Zi Yan rejoin me at Danta."
Having agreed to take Zi Yan back to confess to Queen Medusa, there was no time to waste; it would be best if matters were resolved all at once.
Ming Xie still had many questions to ask, such as Chen Guan's identity and the current situation on the Dou Qi Continent, but with the meeting with the Old Dragon Emperor, all that could be put on hold.
Since he was already back, he could figure out the rest of the details later.
"Alright, go ahead and do your work. Don't worry about me. Lord Dragon Emperor, please lead the way," Ming Xie nodded.
"It's a small matter. Uncle Ming Xie, just call me Zi Yan from now on."
Having finalized the plan, the three of them immediately made their move.
Zi Yan first summoned Xuan Mo and the others, revealed Ming Xie's identity, and announced the good news.
Then, regardless of the heated discussions among the tribesmen, the three of them split into two groups and quietly left Dragon Island.
Chen Guan was traveling alone and was not very fast.
While waiting for Zi Yan, he was constantly simulating in his mind what to do and what to say when facing Medusa...
On the other side.
Zi Yan and Ming Xie were both extremely powerful beings, and they were also Taixu Ancient Dragons. They were anxious to meet the old Dragon Emperor, so their speed was naturally pushed to the limit.
This was because Chen Guan did not accompany them. If he really wanted to follow, he would have been a bit of a hindrance.
Faster than Chen Guan expected, Zi Yan caught up with him in just over a day.
"Uncle Ming Xie stayed there."
"As expected."
Chen Guan was not surprised at all.
"Uncle Mingxie and I talked a lot on the way. Over a hundred years ago, he encountered the body of a member of our clan in the Void Turbulence. It belonged to the Fifth Elder. So, this time, we've welcomed back two of our clansmen."
Chen Guan and Zi Yan both understood that with so many Ancient Dragons entering the Void Turbulence, it was impossible for all of them to be safe and sound.
But when they finally confirmed it, they couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness.
Moreover, this was a Six-Star Dou Sheng!
His death, so unclear and unexplained, was truly unfortunate.
"After this busy period is over, we'll try to search again. We're sure we'll be able to recover more of our clansmen." Chen Guan put his arm around Zi Yan's shoulders in comfort, then suddenly asked, "What's Senior Mingxie's current strength? Has he reached the Seven-Star Dou Sheng level?"
"No, even an Ancient Dragon can't afford to be careless in the Void Turbulence. Uncle Mingxie's escape was already impressive; he wouldn't have had time to cultivate."
Indeed, Chen Guan agreed.
A late-stage Six-Star Dou Sheng was a tremendous achievement; one shouldn't be greedy.
With Ming Xie back, the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan is now able to mobilize its strength, rivaling even the last few of the Eight Ancient Clans. This is a tremendous help to Chen Guan!
As they chatted, Shengdan City loomed in the distance.
Coincidentally, they both stopped.
Glancing at each other, Chen Guan let out a laugh.
"There's no need to hesitate. Let's go home and show you what family status means!"