Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

’Could it be because of our last fight?’ Ling Fei thought, stunned. But on second thought, that couldn’t be right.

’After all, Lian Shuang won that battle. What reason would she have to still be hostile toward Shangguan Wan’Er?’

"Wan’Er, there’s no need to sell yourself short. With your talent, you’ll surely surpass me in less than three years. It’s just that..." Lian Shuang smiled. After their last spar, she had come to understand Shangguan Wan’Er’s talent. There was an ultimate will within the latter’s Sword Dao.

Only someone truly dedicated to the sword, who pushed it to its very limits, could possess such Sword Intent.

If this Shangguan Wan’Er’s Sword Heart remained unchanged, her future would be limitless.

’But does she have time?’

Lian Shuang said no more, falling into a brief silence.

"Less than three years?" Shangguan Wan’Er smiled, but her expression was more bitter than anything.

’Do I even have a future?’

"When it comes to the prodigies of the Southern Wilderness, there are only Senior Sister Lian Shuang and Wan’Er," Ling Fei also said with a smile. These two women were truly stunningly talented.

Lian Shuang’s skill went without saying; her Swordsmanship was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

As for Shangguan Wan’Er, although she still had some shortcomings...

But for Shangguan Wan’Er to have reached this level after joining the Beiming Sword Sect just over a year ago was truly remarkable.

If not for Lian Shuang, she would be the most dazzling Female Sword Cultivator in the Southern Wilderness.

At Ling Fei’s words, Lian Shuang gave a faint smile.

Shangguan Wan’Er, however, sighed softly. She was indeed close to her goal now.

’But now I have to stop here.’

"If you two want to spar, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future," Ling Fei said with a smile.

He glanced at Shangguan Wan’Er, in high spirits.

"Opportunities in the future?" Shangguan Wan’Er was taken aback.

"Mhm," Ling Fei said. "Let me explain everything in detail."

"An Ancient Crocodile was just killed here. The air is thick with Blood Qi, which will likely attract more Demon Beasts. We should find a safe place first," said Lian Shuang.

"Alright!" Upon hearing this, Ling Fei took out his Flying Boat, and it carried Shangguan Wan’Er and Lian Shuang toward the mountains ahead.

The three of them stood on the Flying Boat, with Lian Shuang and Shangguan Wan’Er on either side of Ling Fei.

"Wan’Er, I came looking for you this time because I want you to join the Lingyun Sect with me." Aboard the Flying Boat, Ling Fei’s gaze shifted as he spoke to Shangguan Wan’Er.

He had been holding these words in for a long time. Now, he couldn’t keep them in any longer.

"Join the Lingyun Sect?" Hearing this, Shangguan Wan’Er’s face filled with bitterness.

Beside them, Lian Shuang was full of surprise.

However, after her initial surprise, she felt a sense of melancholy. It was only normal for Ling Fei to have such plans.

"What’s wrong, you don’t want to?" Seeing Shangguan Wan’Er’s bitter expression, Ling Fei quickly asked.

"I want to be with you too, but if I betray the Beiming Sword Sect, not only will they not let me go, but I’m afraid my family will also be implicated," Shangguan Wan’Er said helplessly. In fact, it was precisely because she feared her affairs would involve her family that she had long ago asked Shangguan Qingmu to find a way to leave.

But that still wasn’t enough.

The Beiming Sword Sect was incredibly powerful. If they were truly angered, even the Shangguan Clan of the Great Tang Empire would be implicated.

Lian Shuang stood to the side, her gaze flickering as she looked at Ling Fei, seeming to want to see how he would handle this matter.

"I’ve already arranged for all of that," Ling Fei said. "I’ve had someone notify the Great Tang Emperor and ask him to protect the Shangguan Clan. With the Great Tang Emperor’s protection, even if the Sect Leader of the Beiming Sword Sect went to the Great Tang personally, I’m afraid he wouldn’t be able to harm Uncle Shangguan and the others in the slightest."

"The Great Tang Emperor?" Shangguan Wan’Er frowned. She had also thought of seeking the Great Tang Emperor’s protection, but would he become an enemy of the Beiming Sword Sect for her sake?

"Will he protect my Shangguan Clan?" Shangguan Wan’Er looked at Ling Fei and asked.

She really didn’t have much confidence.

After all, the Beiming Sword Sect was an overlord in the Southern Wilderness; they could not be offended lightly.

"I think he will," Ling Fei said with a tone of certainty.

Although he and the Great Tang Emperor had not known each other for long, from their past interactions, he could tell this was an extremely sagacious emperor.

Moreover, the Great Tang Emperor had once tried his best to persuade Ling Fei to stay in the Great Tang.

In the end, Ling Fei had promised that he would lend his aid if the Great Tang was ever in trouble.

Their friendship was complicated. It could be considered both shallow and yet extremely profound.

After all, the Great Tang Emperor had once wanted to pass the throne to Ling Fei!

"Really?" Seeing Ling Fei’s confident expression, Shangguan Wan’Er felt her blood begin to boil. Her lashes fluttered as she stared at Ling Fei and spoke.

"Mhm," Ling Fei said. "Not only that, but if the Sect Leader of the Beiming Sword Sect decides to make a move, the Great Sun Thunder Sound Temple and the Valley Master of the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers will also help me."

"This time, no one can stop you from joining the Lingyun Sect. Then, you and I will be in the same Sect, and no one will be able to bother us. Once we become strong, you can soar freely through this Southern Wilderness, with no one to control your destiny." The more he spoke, the more resolute Ling Fei’s gaze and tone became.

This represented Ling Fei’s determination.

It represented his heart’s true desire.

Hearing this, Shangguan Wan’Er’s heart trembled, and she was moved beyond words.

She gazed at the young man beside her, feeling an immense sense of sweetness and happiness.

"But if the Lingyun Sect and the Beiming Sword Sect go to war because of me, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Shangguan Wan’Er said.

She was still worried, afraid that something unexpected would happen.

"If you want freedom, if you want to control your own fate, how can you not fight for it?" Ling Fei said with a determined look. "If the Beiming Sword Sect really wants a war, then so be it! For your sake, what does it matter if I make an enemy of the whole world?" As he finished speaking, an imposing aura radiated from him, one of a man willing to challenge the world for his love.

’For Shangguan Wan’Er, why would he fear making an enemy of the Beiming Sword Sect?’

At this moment, Ling Fei showed absolutely no fear of going to war with the Beiming Sword Sect, because he now had enough power to back it up.

After demonstrating his talent for Alchemy, Ling Fei had become someone all the major sects were scrambling to curry favor with.

To the experts of the various sects, his existence was an opportunity.

As such, those people were naturally willing to fight for Ling Fei.

This was also why Ling Fei had gone all out in the recent Martial Arts competition, displaying his astonishing talent for Alchemy as well as his prowess in Martial Arts.

"You’re right. If I don’t fight for it, how can I ever control my own destiny!" Light swirled in Shangguan Wan’Er’s eyes, and the gleam within them grew increasingly resolute.

Then, she looked up, gazed at Ling Fei, and said, "I’m willing to join the Lingyun Sect with you. This time, no matter the outcome, I will have no regrets."

"Not fighting for it... perhaps that is what would truly become a regret!"

Originally, she had already been prepared to perish here in the North Spirit Ruins.

Because only by doing so could she prevent the Beiming Sword Sect from holding her family accountable.

’But now that Ling Fei has arranged everything, why wouldn’t I fight for it just this once?’

’If I fight, at least there’s hope!’

As she spoke, her hand instinctively tightened its grip on Ling Fei’s.

She held it very, very tightly.

It seemed that in this moment, she had truly made up her mind to be with Ling Fei forever, never to be separated again.