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"Talk?" Wei Yang slowly stood up, his expression calm as he looked at Zhu Kun. "What does Senior wish to discuss?"
"Hmph, boy, I must say, your courage isn't bad at all. Of course, neither is your talent."
With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhu Kun's gaze was sharp as fire as he stared straight at Wei Yang.
"To be able to stay so composed in front of me—though part of it may be because of Zi Yan—it's still quite impressive. At the very least, you've managed to suppress your instinctive fear."
"I just don't want to make a fool of myself. Besides, fear would be useless. If Senior truly wanted to kill me, you'd only need a single thought," Wei Yang replied lightly. "But, before that—could you tell me what's happening to Zi Yan right now?"
"You seem quite concerned for my daughter." Zhu Kun's tone softened slightly, and he gave a faint nod.
"I don't have many friends, and even fewer that I recognize as such," Wei Yang said, a proud smile tugging at his lips.
"Zi Yan is one of them. After all, I've been cultivating for just over twenty years. Along this path, most people can't even catch sight of my shadow, let alone keep up with me or walk beside me."
"Geniuses are often lonely and solitary," Zhu Kun nodded, clearly understanding. The dragon does not dwell among snakes.
He could relate—because he had once been the same. His growth had left all his peers far behind; none could catch up, let alone accompany him. However, the part about Wei Yang cultivating for just over twenty years truly surprised him.
"So, you see, I've always had high standards and a picky eye," Wei Yang continued with a calm smile. "There aren't many who can earn my acknowledgment. Even fewer who can walk alongside me. So, the friends who do, I cherish deeply."
"After all, climbing to the summit alone is far too boring, don't you agree, Senior?"
"Haha! So that's how it is—mutual admiration between geniuses!" Zhu Kun laughed heartily, pride gleaming on his face. "My daughter is also a peerless talent, no worse than anyone. You've got a good eye, boy."
His gaze toward Wei Yang carried clear approval now.
Wei Yang smiled faintly.
Perfect.Language truly was an art.
"Senior, about Zi Yan…" Wei Yang's eyes turned toward her again, steering the topic back.
Zhu Kun looked at Zi Yan lovingly, a faint smile on his lips. Then, from his body, an overwhelming, boundless pressure began to emanate—domineering and natural. Facing that power, Wei Yang felt a wave of déjà vu.
It was as though he had returned to his earliest days in this world—alone, weak, curled up in the corner, secretly observing everything from the shadows. That same feeling of helplessness, of having no Dou Qi, no strength, was pressing down on him once more.
"Don't worry," Zhu Kun said calmly, "How could I ever harm my daughter? She's my only blood relative in this world."
"Within the Dragon Seal lies the heart's blood that I've refined over countless years."
"That blood shares the same origin as Zi Yan's. It's currently merging with her bloodline, tempering and purifying it. But since she's still too weak, she fell into a coma to absorb it safely."
"I see." Wei Yang raised his brows slightly and nodded.
Using his soul perception, he examined her carefully—indeed, Zi Yan's aura was gradually strengthening.
The heart's blood of a Nine-Star Dou Sheng Dragon Emperor, and from the same bloodline at that—its value far exceeded any heavenly treasure. But absorbing a Rank 9 blood essence with a Rank 7 body, even with shared bloodline, was still pushing her limits.
That was why she had fallen unconscious—to trigger her body's natural self-protection.
"Enough staring, boy," Zhu Kun said with a glance. "With me watching over her, it's not your place to worry. Now tell me—what has my daughter been through all these years?"
He clearly wanted to know how much hardship Zi Yan had faced while living alone outside the clan. But Wei Yang shook his head gravely. "Now's probably not the time for that."
"What do you—" Zhu Kun frowned, displeased, but suddenly froze mid-sentence.
"Hm?"
In a blur, he flashed to Zi Yan's side, crouching beside her, his gaze fixed on her hand.There, a faint purple-golden light was starting to glow. A terrifyingly pure and vast energy surged within, so immense that even Zhu Kun felt shocked. It was like a dormant volcano about to erupt.
"This aura… Wei boy, is that—?" Zhu Kun's voice trembled, his face full of disbelief and excitement as he turned to Wei Yang.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit," Wei Yang said calmly, nodding once.
Hiss—
Zhu Kun sucked in a sharp breath, his entire being shaking with astonishment. As the Dragon Emperor, he needed no explanation. He knew exactly what the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit was. But still—
The surprise came so suddenly that even he could barely believe it.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit!"
Zhu Kun carefully lifted Zi Yan's glowing little hand, his expression solemn as he extended his senses. After a brief moment, certainty flashed in his eyes.
"Indeed… no mistake about it—this is the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit! Hahaha, my daughter has encountered a great fortune!"
Such a miraculous treasure—throughout the long, ancient history of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan—had only been recorded a handful of times. Its appearance was rarer than the rise of a new dragon emperor.
With this fruit, Zi Yan's growth would skyrocket. To reach the Saint realm would merely be the beginning.
"Boy Wei, where did this come from?" Zhu Kun asked, joy gleaming on his face.
"From the ruins of an ancient Dou Sheng," Wei Yang replied simply. Then he added, "I feared the commotion it would cause, and the greed it might draw.
So, I sealed it within Zi Yan's body—and I dared not let her return to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan to refine it, lest I stir up the nerves of those three overly sensitive 'Dragon Kings.'"
"Dragon Kings?" Zhu Kun's face darkened, and he snorted coldly. "Arrogant pretenders, daring to call themselves kings before me?"
Wei Yang shot him a helpless look. "Senior, could you not interrupt for once?"
"Hmph." Zhu Kun harrumphed but fell silent.
Wei Yang continued, "These past years, I've been searching for a way to help Zi Yan refine and absorb the fruit's energy safely. And well, one thing led to another… and I eventually found my way here—to you."
At that, Zhu Kun gave Wei Yang a long, meaningful look but said nothing. He suspected the boy must have known more than he let on—otherwise, how could such a coincidence occur?
Still, it didn't matter. Some things need not be questioned too deeply.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit contains an unimaginably vast energy," Wei Yang said after a pause.
"Once inside Zi Yan, it began to resonate with her bloodline, making it nearly impossible for me to suppress. In truth, I was already losing control before this. The fruit wanted to merge with her, and I couldn't stop it."
"Now that your heart's blood essence has stimulated her body, I completely lost the ability to restrain it."
"You've already done remarkably well," Zhu Kun nodded gravely. After understanding the full story, his expression softened, and his tone grew solemn. "This favor… the old me will remember."
A treasure like the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit could drive any dragon mad with greed. Yet this youth had shown no desire for it, only concern for Zi Yan's safety.
Such sincerity—spoke louder than any vow.
"Wei boy," Zhu Kun said gently, "Leave the rest to me. My heart's blood surpasses any divine medicine. It will help her refine the fruit's energy to the fullest."
Wei Yang smiled faintly and stepped back.
Zhu Kun sat cross-legged, gently holding his daughter's hand. His essence power flowed out slowly, carefully guiding and stabilizing the energy within her body. Then his gaze turned toward the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit itself.
Facing that vast, restless energy, Zhu Kun first reinforced the outer seal, layering it with immense power. Then, with a thought—
Pop!
Wei Yang's previous seal shattered effortlessly, revealing the blazing fruit within—a radiant sphere like a miniature sun. An overwhelming tide of energy surged outward. Yet when it met Zhu Kun's seal, it could not break through.
Zhu Kun smiled faintly. "Blocking it is pointless. Better to guide it properly."
With that, he took a deep breath. A single thought—and the seal before him split open by a narrow gap. In an instant, a torrent of pure, majestic energy poured through the rift, streaming directly into Zi Yan's body.
Zhu Kun carefully guided the flow, channeling the energy into her bloodline, ensuring none was wasted. Immediately, Zi Yan's aura began to rise—sharply, fiercely—her strength soaring at a pace beyond belief. Wei Yang stood aside, watching with awe.
The condensed heart's blood essence of a Dragon Emperor spanning countless eras… combined with the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit… and refined under the protection of a peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng.
Such a configuration—such a blessing—would make even a pig ascend to the heavens. How much more so for a pure-blooded ancient dragon like Zi Yan?
Wei Yang couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
This little girl… she's truly taking off.
Soaring to the heavens, in one bound.
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