'No… I can't accept it if that day ever comes…'
'And besides, Ziyan's feelings for me didn't just start recently. I already understood her intentions when she asked Xian Yue to call her 'Auntie' back then…'
Gu Fei was lost in thought, recalling the journey he had shared with Ziyan. They had been through so much together, helping each other along the way. He had already seen Ziyan's body completely. As a man, how could he let the woman take the initiative to break the silence?
Gu Fei's gaze became firm. The next moment, he turned to Ziyan, naturally took her fair hand, and seriously asked, "Ziyan, would you be willing to be my woman?"
"Ah…"
Ziyan was stunned when Gu Fei's words fell. It seemed like she didn't immediately grasp what had just happened. How many times had she tried to muster the courage to say these words to Gu Fei herself? She never expected that Gu Fei would be the one to say it first.
In an instant, immense joy surged within Ziyan's heart. "I… I am willing!"
Ziyan nodded excitedly, unable to hide the joy on her face. She then threw herself into Gu Fei's arms, resting her head on his chest. Gu Fei also opened his arms and held her tightly.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Zhu Kun, watching the scene, felt both happy for his daughter's newfound happiness and a sense of helplessness, like watching his cherished daughter being taken away. Hearing Zhu Kun's cough, Ziyan awkwardly pulled away from Gu Fei.
"Senior, I, Gu Fei, will never let Ziyan down in this life…" Gu Fei solemnly promised Zhukong.
"You're still calling me 'Senior'?"
Zhu Kun said with some displeasure.
"Father-in-law!"
Gu Fei smiled and corrected himself.
"Haha, in my lifetime, being able to see my daughter again and find her a good husband, even if I die in this cursed place, I have no regrets…"
Zhu Kun sighed with emotion. Hearing this, Ziyan felt a pang of sadness, though she knew there was nothing she could do about it at the moment.
"Ziyan, Father-in-law, don't worry. This Ancient God's Mansion won't remain sealed for long!" Gu Fei said while stroking Ziyan's cheek. He didn't say this to comfort them- he was confident. With his current rate of progress, it wouldn't be too difficult for him to gather the ancient jade pieces or even directly break through to the Dou God realm.
"Gu Fei, your talent is remarkable, even among the most outstanding geniuses I've known. But with God's path severed, no matter how strong you are, you can only reach the nine-star Dou Saint level. And in this world, there are quite a few nine-star Dou Saints…"
Zhu Kun was trying to persuade the young couple not to be too obsessed with this matter.
"Father-in-law, the three people you mentioned earlier- the Ancient Xiao Clan leader, the Burning Flame Valley master, and the Demon Saint Huang Quan- are all top experts who have already passed away. Now, there are only two peak nine-star Dou Saints left in the Dou Qi Continent: my clan leader Gu Yuan, and the Hun Clan leader Hun Tiandi…" Gu Fei explained. "As for the other clans, even an eight-star Dou Saint has become a rarity. Many ancient clans have seen their bloodlines weaken, with the strongest among them only reaching the seven-star Dou Saint level…"
"Are some of the ancient clans really this weak now?"
Zhu Kun was a bit surprised by what Gu Fei said, exclaiming, "So, the Hun Clan and your Gu Clan are the strongest now? Back in the day, they weren't considered top-tier, yet things have changed so much!"
"Overall, the Hun Clan is still stronger because they have the Nihility Devouring Flame which has a power comparable to a nine-star Dou Saint," Gu Fei said, shaking his head.
"Two nine-star Dou Saints… It seems the Soul Clan is the strongest force in the world today!"
"However, I am confident that within ten years, I will reach that level!"
Gu Fei's words were full of confidence, even making Zhukong feel a bit shaken. Reaching the nine-star Dou Saint level within ten years from a three-star Dou Saint- no one had ever achieved such a rapid advancement before.
"If you have that much confidence, then go ahead and do it. Maybe you'll break the Dou Qi Continent's ten-thousand-year drought of Dou God-level experts…" Zhu Kun nodded in approval.
In the following time, Zhu Kun learned more about the happenings in the continent from Gu Fei and Ziyan, while Ziyan also received some of her royal bloodline's inheritance from her father.
"Brother Gu Fei, I need to enter seclusion for a while. Perhaps you should return to the Gu Realm first," Ziyan suggested, although she was reluctant to part from Gu Fei. She knew she couldn't be selfish. Gu Fei had other family members who needed his presence as well.
"Seclusion?"
"Yes, this seclusion may bring a significant improvement to my strength. Afterward, I'll come to the Gu Realm to find you!" Ziyan smiled.
"Alright, take this spatial jade slip with you!" Gu Fei nodded silently, handing her a spatial jade slip he had crafted.
Before leaving, Gu Fei also prepared over a hundred bottles of candy pills for her.
"So many! Brother Gu Fei, you're the best!" Ziyan said joyfully, unable to resist planting a kiss on Gu Fei's cheek, leaving a red lip mark.
"Did this kid win Ziyan over with just a few candy pills?" Zhu Kun thought to himself, smiling as he watched the harmonious interaction between the two.
"I'm off!"
"Father-in-law, we'll wait for you to come out and personally host our wedding…" Gu Fei said, bidding farewell to Ziyan and Zhu Kun as he left the quiet Ancient God's space alone. (TL/n: More like he doesn't want to be the Dragon Queen. xD)
…
In the Eastern Region, all the sects and forces revered the Gu Clan as the supreme authority. But recently, things have become quite turbulent. Many sects had been massacred without a trace, not even a single survivor. Even some of the Gu Clan experts who went to investigate had mysteriously disappeared.
This incident caught the attention of several Gu Clan elders. Not long after returning to the Gu Realm, Gu Fei also heard of the situation.
"Gu Fei, are you saying that the Hun Clan is behind these events?"
On the mountain peak where Gu Fei resided, the powerful figures from the older generation, including Gu Xiong and Gu Nanhai, were drinking tea with him in a pavilion while discussing the matter.
"Most likely. The Hun Clan lost face in the Gu Realm last time, so this could be their way of retaliating." Gu Fei nodded.
"One of the sects targeted had a sect leader with a peak Dou Venerate level, yet there were no signs of resistance. The person who attacked must have been at least at a Dou Saint, making the Hun Clan the prime suspect!"
"How dare they cause trouble in the Eastern Region? I'll make sure they never return!" Gu Xiong roared in anger, eager to find and tear the culprits from the Hun Clan to pieces.