Is My Father Really Alive?

"Zi Yan, if you don't want to be burdened with all these responsibilities and don't want to be the Dragon Emperor, there is actually a way. But..."

"But what?" 

Zi Yan became anxious when Gu Fei stopped halfway through his sentence. She grabbed his arm and shook it vigorously, "Tell me, what is the way? Don't keep me in suspense!"

"Zi Yan, do you really want to know?" Gu Fei smiled, his eyes locking onto Zi Yan's bright ones as he spoke seriously.

"Brother Gu Fei, if I don't become the Dragon Emperor, there's no one in the tribe who can command respect!" Zi Yan's tone became somber. She knew that without someone with royal blood to lead, the Dragon Tribe would eventually split apart again. Therefore, no matter how difficult it was, she had to continue as the Dragon Emperor.

"Maybe, there's someone who can command more respect than you! Someone even more suited to lead the Ancient Void Dragon Clan."

Gu Fei smiled.

"Who?"

Zi Yan knew Gu Fei wouldn't joke about something like this, so she became serious.

"Your father!"

"What? My father?" Zi Yan was stunned by his words.

Her memories of her father were almost nonexistent. From what she could remember, she had lived in the forest, leading a beast-like life. Until one day, she accidentally consumed a Transformation Herb and was taken to the Jia Nan Academy by the elder Su Qian. Over the years, she had held a grudge, always wondering why her parents abandoned her.

As for her father, she had only heard about him from the tribe elders, knowing he was the previous Dragon Emperor, but he had disappeared many years ago. From that point on, the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe began to decline, constantly plagued by internal strife.

"Brother Gu Fei, are you saying my father is still alive?" Zi Yan's eyes reddened as she asked urgently.

"He is indeed still alive! Do you want to see him?" Gu Fei nodded.

"…Yes…" Zi Yan hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.

"Alright, since you want to see him, I'll take you there!"

With that, Gu Fei took Zi Yan's hand and led her out of Ancient Dragon Island.

...

A few days later, when Gu Fei and Zi Yan reappeared, they had already arrived in the Black-Corner Region.

"This is the Black-Corner Region, isn't it? Why are we here?" Zi Yan asked in confusion, recognizing the familiar place.

"Don't you want to see the First Elder?" Gu Fei smiled.

"Yes, I haven't seen the First Elder in a long time!" Zi Yan nodded absentmindedly, still unsure what Gu Fei was planning.

"Let's head to the Inner Academy first!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Gu Fei wrapped both of them in spatial power, and in an instant, they appeared in a study deep within the Inner Academy.

"Who's there?"

Inside the study, the First Elder of the Inner Academy, Su Qian, sensed the sudden presence of two people and became alert.

"Young Master Gu Fei..." Su Qian recognized Gu Fei immediately but didn't recognize Zi Yan.

"Great Elder, it's me, Zi Yan! Don't you recognize me?" Zi Yan's gloomy expression gave way to a bright smile.

"Zi Yan? Is it really you..." Su Qian's face lit up with joy.

As they chatted, Zi Yan recounted some of her experiences over the years, which made Su Qian very happy. He had always hoped Zi Yan would find her tribe and uncover the mysteries of her origins.

"How long do you plan to stay at Jia Nan Academy this time?" Su Qian asked politely.

"I came here for something very important!" Zi Yan replied, glancing at Gu Fei.

"Heh, Elder Su Qian, I'll bring Zi Yan back to you after we take care of some business," Gu Fei said with a light laugh.

Then, he once again used his spatial power to envelop them both, and they disappeared. Moments later, they arrived at the bottom of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. The seals there were almost meaningless to them.

At the bottom of the tower, a young Fallen Heart Flame was particularly lively. However, when it saw Gu Fei, it seemed fearful and trembled.

Nowadays, the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower was even more effective than before. Unlike the mature Fallen Heart Flame that once refused to obey the Inner Academy's commands, this cultivated flame showed no resistance to their control.

"Is my father down here?" Zi Yan's face grew more puzzled.

She had spent a long time in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower before. If her father had always been at the bottom of the tower, it would indeed be a twist of fate. But the bottom of the tower was full of scorching magma. Could anyone even survive in such a place?

"He's down below. Follow me!"

Gu Fei took Zi Yan's small hand again, and a heavenly flame emerged, protecting them both.

Zi Yan savored the feeling of Gu Fei holding her hand, wishing it could last forever. Soon, they entered the scorching magma sea below.

The surrounding magma evaporated as soon as it approached within half a meter of them, clearly no match for Gu Fei's flame.

As they descended deeper, they encountered the fire lizard race that Gu Fei had faced before. The last time he was here, he had been somewhat cautious, but now, having reached the Three-Star Dou Saint level, he had no fear.

"These creatures are strange! Do they always live at the bottom of this magma? Why don't they go outside?" Zi Yan asked curiously, seeing these creatures for the first time.

"They have a duty to fulfill!"

"What duty?"

"Guarding something below!" Gu Fei explained with a smile.

With that, he stomped lightly, and a vast soul force erupted from his brow. Instantly, the surrounding magma exploded, and the strange figures hidden within screamed in agony.

"Hiss!"

As these screams echoed, the magma around them began to churn violently. Then, Gu Fei saw countless crimson figures surging towards them, surrounding them completely.

Outside the encirclement, two lizardmen with milky-white bodies appeared. They looked much older than the others and had reached the half-saint level!

"Humans, this is the Ancient God's Mansion. It is not a place you can enter!"

"Leave quickly, or if you awaken the guardian, you will be buried here forever!" One of the white lizardmen spoke, though its words were somewhat broken, its voice still reached Gu Fei and Zi Yan clearly.

"Ancient God's Mansion? What is that? And who is the guardian?" Zi Yan was full of confusion. But thinking about why Gu Fei brought her here, she couldn't help but wonder, could the guardian be her father?