Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

Elder Ling waved his hand, and everyone took their seats in the living room.

"Thank you all for your trouble regarding my son, Ling Fei," Elder Ling said, sitting in the seat of honor. He clasped his hands in thanks toward the academy's Elders.

"You are too kind, Senior," Elder Dean Han said. "Since Ling Fei is a student of our Celestial River Academy, it is our duty to protect him. It is to our shame that we were powerless and ultimately failed to do so. If you had not arrived in time, I fear we would have been left with a lifetime of regret."

"Indeed!" the other Elders beside him nodded. "If you had not intervened, Senior, the dignity of our Celestial River Academy would have been trampled."

This matter not only concerned Ling Fei's life and death, but also the reputation of the Celestial River Academy.

An academy that can't even protect its own students would be a chilling disappointment to all.

Although it was Elder Ling who had to intervene, Ling Fei was ultimately saved, so it was a satisfactory conclusion.

"Haha, I'll have to ask you all to continue looking after my son in the future," Elder Ling said with a smile.

"Of course, of course," Han Beihai said with a laugh.

He originally thought Elder Ling would take Ling Fei away, but from the looks of it, Elder Ling clearly intended to let him remain at the Celestial River Academy.

These Elders couldn't be happier that the academy was gaining such a genius.

Elder Ling chatted with the academy's Elders, who were all very cautious and did not ask many questions.

Finally, everyone dispersed, leaving only Elder Ling and Ling Fei alone in an inner chamber.

"Adoptive Father, your injuries... are they really not serious?" Once they were alone in the chamber, Ling Fei asked, his face etched with worry.

Looking at him now, the wrinkles on his adoptive father's face seemed more numerous, and the light in his eyes was slightly dim, making Ling Fei feel a wave of guilt.

"Haha, it's an old problem. It's nothing serious. You, on the other hand, have suffered these past month or so!" Elder Ling smiled, extending a withered, wrinkled hand to gently stroke Ling Fei's head. His eyes filled with doting affection.

"I haven't suffered," Ling Fei said. "But I... I swore I would heal your injuries, Adoptive Father. Instead, I've become a burden to you. My heart is heavy." Seeing his adoptive father looking at him with such affection instead of blame, Ling Fei's heart ached with even greater self-reproach, and tears welled in his eyes.

Even though Ling Fei was iron-willed and ruthless when facing his enemies, in front of his adoptive father, he was still just a child.

Seeing how sensible Ling Fei was, Elder Ling nodded in gratification.

'He had always been worried that after revealing his own invincible power, Ling Fei would grow dependent and become a complacent, hedonistic brat.'

Now, Ling Fei's attitude had clearly dispelled this last wisp of concern in Elder Ling's heart.

Of course, seeing Elder Ling cough up blood had also spurred Ling Fei's resolve.

Seeing his adoptive father in this state, how could he dare to not strive for improvement?

As a son, how could he see his father critically ill and remain indifferent?

"We are father and son. There is no such thing as being a burden," Elder Ling said with a smile, before his expression turned solemn. "As long as you are not at fault, it matters not if these Dukes bully you. Even if the Celestial Emperor of the Great Tang Empire himself were to bully you, I would do everything in my power to slay him! As long as I am here, no one is allowed to bully you!"

At that moment, the light in Elder Ling's eyes was as sharp as a sword.

His voice was not loud, but it rang with power, carrying an aura that would slay gods and buddhas who dared stand in his way.

In Elder Ling's eyes, as long as Ling Fei was without fault, he would stand by his side unconditionally.

Ling Fei was incredibly moved by his words.

This was his adoptive father.

Even though he himself was severely injured, he was still willing to sacrifice everything for Ling Fei.

"Rest assured, I will always stand by your side," Elder Ling said, gently stroking Ling Fei's head.

"Yes," Ling Fei nodded. "Adoptive Father, rest assured. I will always follow your teachings: I will not attack unless I am attacked."

"I will never fall into the Evil Dao," Ling Fei promised.

"Good!" Elder Ling nodded in satisfaction. His gaze then shifted upward, as if piercing through the Void to stare at the distant heavens and earth. He murmured to himself, 'As long as Fei'Er doesn't fall into the Evil Dao, I suppose I'll have fulfilled my promise to you. As for the future... that will be up to fate.'

Thinking of the future, he could only sigh.

Even with his Heaven-Reaching abilities, he could not control the grand scheme of heaven and earth.

Otherwise, why would he have had to hide with Ling Fei in this Great Tang Empire?

"Adoptive Father, I possess a Dragon Bone. Did you know?" Suddenly, Ling Fei lifted his gaze to look at his adoptive father.

He hadn't wanted to ask about this, figuring that if his adoptive father hadn't mentioned it, he must have had his reasons.

But now that his adoptive father had displayed his world-shaking might, this was probably the best time to ask.

"That's right. I've long known that you possess a Dragon Bone," Elder Ling said. "I also know about you venturing into the Cold Pool when you were eight."

At the mention of this, Elder Ling's eyes couldn't help but mist over, his heart filled with guilt.

He was just an eight-year-old child, yet to become stronger, he actually dared to enter that Cold Pool.

It was partly the fearlessness of youth, but how much willpower must it have taken to actually force himself deeper and deeper into the Cold Pool?

Wu Dapang, who had gone with him, hadn't dared to continue!

"Oh!" Hearing this, Ling Fei's eyes lit up. Since his adoptive father knew about this, did he also know about the True Dragon Body Refining Technique?

'What is my origin? Am I a descendant of the Dragon Race?'

Ling Fei's heart was filled with anticipation.

"The Dragon Bone in your body is related to your origins. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to know these things too early," Elder Ling said. "Back then, I was severely injured, and you were also wounded by a great enemy, leaving you on the brink of death. I brought you to this remote Southern Wilderness to hide from our enemies so that you could grow up safely. Now, you have finally lived up to my expectations. You're a sensible child."

"However, you are still too weak right now, and my injuries have not recovered. Therefore, it is not suitable for you to know more," said Elder Ling.

"I understand," Ling Fei said with a nod.

He had already guessed a few things, so he didn't press the issue.

Now, after the incident with the Dukes, Ling Fei was even more aware of his own shortcomings.

Right now, he was simply too weak.

'Those enemies could severely injure even my adoptive father... What chance would I stand?'

'It's all because I'm too weak. I must get stronger. I must become an unparalleled expert like Adoptive Father, or even stronger than him! Then he won't have to work so hard and worry so much.' As his thoughts surged, Ling Fei clenched his fists, an overwhelming desire for power igniting within him.

After all he had been through, he knew that if he wasn't strong, he couldn't guarantee anything.

Protecting his family?

Getting revenge? It was all just a pipe dream without power.