"I want to go out and explore!"
Lu Fan stated directly, "The Divine Dragon Hall is the culmination of your life's work, old man. I wouldn't dare steal your credit!"
"You brat, just say it if you don't like it, why beat around the bush!"
Chen Banxian waved his hand, "But it's true, at such a young age you've achieved this cultivation. How can the mere White Dragon Dynasty contain you!"
"Where do you plan to go?"
Liu Qianjiao asked in surprise, "With your current cultivation, you are no ordinary person!"
"I don't know either, I'll take it one step at a time!"
Lu Fan chuckled, "I haven't decided yet!"
"If you haven't decided, why not go to the Tongtian Academy!"
Chen Banxian smiled, "I have old friends there who are doing very well, much more powerful than me!"
"Tongtian Academy?"
Lu Fan asked in surprise, "The name is so imposing, it must be extraordinary!"
"Naturally, a place where Saints exist, how could it be ordinary!"
Chen Banxian said seriously, "With your high talent, you will surely enter Tongtian Academy and stand out!"
"So, like me, I would only be considered an ordinary student at Tongtian Academy?"
Lu Fan was a little confused and looked at the old man.
"You could say that!"
Chen Banxian nodded, "If you go, you'll definitely be able to advance your studies!"
"I remember, you seem to have graduated from Tongtian Academy!"
Liu Qianjiao looked at Chen Banxian, "Why didn't you stay at the academy back then?"
"Tongtian Academy has too many rules. To stay at the academy, you need at least the Saint level!"
Chen Banxian shook his head, "I failed the assessment and was kicked out!"
"Aren't you a Saint, old man?" Lu Fan was a little curious.
The aura Chen Banxian displayed that day was not something ordinary people could control.
Lu Fan had long ago concluded that Chen Banxian must be at the Saint level.
"Don't joke, kid. How could I possibly be a Saint!"
Chen Banxian shook his head, "You may not know yet, but the Saint realm is incredibly difficult. Even someone as powerful as me has not become a Saint!"
"But that day in the imperial city, you were able to kill Old Ancestor Jiutian!"
Lu Fan asked in confusion, "Although Old Ancestor Jiutian is a Half-Saint, with the power of national destiny, he should be comparable to a Saint!"
"You underestimate Saints too much, kid!"
Chen Banxian sneered, "Old Ancestor Jiutian was just holding on by a thread. If not for the boost from the national destiny, he probably couldn't even unleash his Half-Saint aura. The reason I could suppress and kill him is thanks to your Divine Emperor Cauldron. Otherwise, if we had truly fought, I might not have been able to defeat him!"
Lu Fan instantly understood, "So, you're not a Saint, but a Half-Saint!"
"Precisely!"
The old man nodded slightly, "Now you should know how difficult the Saint realm is!"
"No matter how difficult, I will become a Saint!"
Lu Fan's expression was firm. Only then could he protect the people he loved.
"Ambitious!"
Chen Banxian nodded, "In that case, you should go to Tongtian Academy and fulfill the dream I couldn't accomplish!"
"Don't worry, now that I've made my choice, I will move forward!"
Lu Fan nodded, "However, there's something I'd like you to help me with!"
"Is it about looking after that girl Linglong!"
Chen Banxian waved his hand, "Don't worry, she'll be fine with me here!"
"Thank you!"
Lu Fan cupped his fists slightly. With everything resolved, he felt a lot more at ease.
After bowing to Chen Banxian, Lu Fan left the sword furnace and embarked on his journey to Tongtian Academy.
As for the Saint realm mentioned by Chen Banxian, Lu Fan was determined to reach it with all his might.
Watching Lu Fan's departing back, Liu Qianjiao sighed, "Young people are still young people, just like we were back then!"
"Indeed!"
Chen Banxian sighed, "Young people have drive and grand goals!"
At this, Chen Banxian looked at Liu Qianjiao, "I abandoned you back then to enter Tongtian Academy, do you resent me!"
"To say I don't would be a lie!"
Liu Qianjiao rolled her eyes, "When you left me to enter Tongtian Academy, my heart turned to ashes. If it weren't for the guidance of the South Sea Divine Nun, I probably would have died long ago!"
"In that case, I should thank him. If he hadn't intervened, then I wouldn't be here now!" Chen Banxian mused.
"The South Sea Divine Nun's whereabouts are unpredictable. I searched for years and still haven't found him!"
Liu Qianjiao smiled wryly, "So, the life-saving kindness from back then can only be kept in my heart!"
With these words, Chen Banxian tightly held Liu Qianjiao, feeling even more guilty, never expecting that his own matters would cause Liu Qianjiao to pay such a heavy price.
At this moment, Chen Banxian secretly vowed to make up for all of this in the future.
The next day, before Liu Qianjiao had woken up, Chen Banxian saw dozens of figures outside the sword furnace.
"Why are you all here?"
Chen Banxian frowned, "Didn't I tell you not to bother me with matters of the Divine Dragon Hall?"
"Hall Master, we have no choice!"
The Grand Elder said helplessly, "The Divine Dragon Hall cannot be without a master for a day. We implore the Hall Master to reconsider!"
"We implore the Hall Master to reconsider!"
The other elders spoke in unison. They had not intended to disturb Chen Banxian, but with Lu Fan missing, they had no other choice.
"Grand Elder, from today onwards, you are the Hall Master of the Divine Dragon Hall!"
Chen Banxian said casually, "Don't bother me anymore in the future!"
The Grand Elder shook his head, "According to the rules of the Divine Dragon Hall, only a cultivator above the Earthly Venerable realm can hold the position of Hall Master!"
"That's easy to say then!"
Chen Banxian stated directly, "Young Lu has the strength of a Venerable. He will be the Hall Master of the Divine Dragon Hall from now on!"
"But Master Lu cannot be found!"
The Grand Elder shook his head, "Moreover, he is the Son-in-law and has important responsibilities in the future. How can he take on the position of Hall Master!"
"What, are you trying to defy my will?"
Chen Banxian said coldly, "Hall Master Lu has gone out to travel and will return. You don't need to say any more. The Divine Dragon Hall has a new master. If you want to change him, you must at least inform the Hall Master!"
The elders stood there in a daze, suddenly confused. What Chen Banxian said was not wrong.
But everyone felt something was amiss, yet they couldn't say it.
Meanwhile, within the royal family of the White Dragon Dynasty, Linglong ascended to the throne and became the Empress of the White Dragon Dynasty. The sound of distant bells echoed throughout the imperial city, causing a stir.
Within the White Dragon Dynasty, the people knelt in unison, looking towards the White Dragon Imperial City with great sincerity.
Now that the new Emperor of the White Dragon Dynasty had returned, all industries were awaiting revival, and the boundless wars had vanished.
This was the life that the common people desired, and what the new Emperor wished to see.
On the high walls of the palace, Princess Linglong, wearing dragon robes, gazed into the distance, her heart stirred.