Chapter 285: Zhukun

Chapter 285: Zhukun

The enormous pair of eyes fixed on Zi Yan, murmuring, "Child... you look so much like your mother..."

"You knew my mother?" Zi Yan's expression changed immediately, looking at the creature in disbelief. As their eyes met, she felt a strange sensation deep within her heart.

A strong light emanated from the colossal being, and its massive body quickly shrank. In an instant, it transformed into a middle-aged man with long purple-gold hair. He looked at Zi Yan with soft golden eyes full of authority and said gently, "Of course I knew your mother, because I am your father, child..."

He grabbed Zi Yan's hand, and as their hands touched, brilliant purple-gold light radiated from both of them, perfectly merging where their hands met.

"You..." Zi Yan stared at the perfectly fused light, her eyes filled with intense emotion. But soon, she quickly pulled back her hand and said coldly, "I am an orphan, with no parents."

Her voice was cold, and her words carried a trace of bitterness.

"Child..." The man with purple-gold hair looked at Zi Yan's cold expression, at a loss for words.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have coveted the Ancient Emperor's cave. It was that damned Tuoshe Ancient Emperor who trapped me!" The man kept apologizing, and when he saw tears in Zi Yan's eyes, he frantically approached her. "Child, don't cry, don't cry. It's all my fault. From now on, whatever you ask of me, I will do. Is that okay?"

At this moment, Xiao Tian held Zi Yan in his arms and said, "Senior, this is too sudden for Zi Yan to accept."

The middle-aged man was first stunned, but then his expression turned hostile as he said, "Who are you, and why are you holding my daughter?"

"Don't you dare be mean to him!" Zi Yan glared at her father.

The middle-aged man forced a smile and quickly assured her, "Alright, alright. I won't be mean to him."

Xiao Tian explained, "I am Zi Yan's husband. I brought her here."

Hearing this, Zhukun's face lit up with a friendly smile. "Since you and Zi Yan are together, call me father-in-law."

Xiao Tian immediately bowed, "Xiao Tian greets father-in-law!"

Zhukun nodded happily. Glancing at Zi Yan and seeing her somewhat softened expression, he finally relaxed a bit. Then, a thought occurred to him, and he asked, "Son-in-law, how did you know I was here?"

Xiao Tian replied slowly, "I guessed. Previously, while refining an exotic flame in this magma sea, I saved a Dou Zun. During that time, something down below kept connecting with the ancient jade from my Xiao clan's inheritance. I suspected the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave might be down here. Given that the elders of the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan mentioned you were a Nine-Star Dou Saint at the peak, and considering Zi Yan was found nearby, I guessed you might be trapped in the Ancient Emperor's cave. Only someone of the Dou Di's level could trap a Nine-Star Dou Saint."

"You guessed correctly," Zhukun nodded. "When the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor disappeared, it was rumored that he had already fallen. It's said that he refined an embryonic Dou Di pill before his death, so I wanted to enter the Ancient Emperor's cave to retrieve it and break through to the Dou Di realm. But even though the Dou Di is gone, his leftover means still trapped me here."

"We're here to help you get out today," Xiao Tian said.

Zhukun shook his head with a bitter smile, "I've tried countless times over the years. It's impossible."

Xiao Tian summoned the Space Gate with a thought.

"Hmm? How did you do that?" Zhukun was amazed at the sight of the Space Gate appearing out of thin air. Even he couldn't tear open this space filled with the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's power.

"Father-in-law, try it. See if you can leave through this gate," Xiao Tian invited.

Zhukun stepped into the Space Gate and disappeared. Xiao Tian then took Zi Yan's hand and followed him through.

"Follow us!"

When they emerged, they were in the Star Realm.

"You really did it!" Zhukun's expression was one of amazement as he felt the outside air. After a moment, he regained his composure and looked at Zi Yan with mixed emotions. "Child, how have you been all these years?"

Zi Yan's face turned cold again at the mention of this. Xiao Tian explained, "Since her birth, Zi Yan has had no parents' companionship or care. She had to fend for herself, often fighting with magical beasts for food, narrowly escaping being eaten many times. She transformed into a human after swallowing a transformation herb and was then taken in by the Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy, where I met her. Later, in Central Plains, Zi Yan obtained the Dragon Phoenix Source Fruit, which boosted her strength. But then she was found by the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan. They wanted her to return as their Dragon Emperor, but at that time, the clan was divided. I was worried about her safety, so I had her cultivate to the Dou Saint level before she returned. I helped her quell the rebellion..."

"It's all my fault! I shouldn't have left you. I deserve to die!" Zhukun lamented.

"Ha! My daughter managed to obtain the Dragon Phoenix Source Fruit and achieved the Dragon Phoenix body!"

"What? Those three bastards dared to rebel and wanted to devour my child?"

Zhukun's emotions fluctuated wildly as he listened to Xiao Tian's story—grief, joy, anger, and finally cold sweat. It was his mess that caused all this. If he hadn't been trapped, Zi Yan wouldn't have been bullied by magical beasts, and the Taixu Ancient Dragon clan wouldn't have had a rebellion that endangered her. Thankfully, Xiao Tian was there to help her, allowing their father and daughter to reunite.

This made Zhukun completely accept Xiao Tian as his son-in-law. Sighing, Zhukun said, "These years, thanks to you for taking care of Zi Yan."

"It's my duty to take care of Zi Yan since we're so close," Xiao Tian smiled.

He cherished Zi Yan, who was both cute and regal. Especially since she had the Dragon Phoenix body and a Nine-Star Dou Saint peak-level father, it made him like her even more.

With Zhukun joining the Heavenly Court, their top-tier combat power would become the strongest on the Dou Qi Continent. Moreover, with Zhukun guarding them, he wouldn't have to worry about the Soul Clan invading while he was away.

(End of Chapter)