"I want to go out and make a name for myself!"
Lu Fan stated directly, "The Divine Dragon Hall is the culmination of your life's work, old man. I wouldn't dare claim your credit!"
"You brat, just say it if you don't like it, no need to beat around the bush!"
Chen Banxian waved his hand, "But it's true, with such cultivation at such a young age, 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!"
"Since 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 exclaimed, "The name is so imposing, it must be extraordinary!"
"Naturally, a place where saints exist, how could it be an ordinary place!"
Chen Banxian said seriously, "With your immense talent, you will surely be able to enter Tongtian Academy and stand out!"
"So, someone like me would only be considered an ordinary student at Tongtian Academy?"
Lu Fan asked with some confusion, looking at the old man.
"You could say that!"
Chen Banxian nodded, "If you go there, you will surely receive advanced training!"
"I remember you came from Tongtian Academy, didn't you!"
Liu Qianjiao looked at Chen Banxian, "Why didn't you stay at the academy then?"
"Tongtian Academy has many rules. To stay at the academy, you need at least Saint-level cultivation!"
Chen Banxian shook his head, "I failed the assessment and was kicked out!"
"Aren't you a Saint, old man?" Lu Fan asked curiously.
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 a Saint.
"Don't joke, how could I possibly be a Saint!"
Chen Banxian shook his head, "You might not know, but the Saint realm is incredibly difficult to attain. Even someone as powerful as me has not become a Saint!"
"But that day in the imperial city, you could kill the Nine Heavens Old Ancestor!"
Lu Fan asked, confused, "Although the Nine Heavens Old Ancestor was a Half-Saint, with the power of national destiny, he should have been comparable to a Saint!"
"You underestimate Saints too much!"
Chen Banxian sneered, "The Nine Heavens Old Ancestor was merely hanging on by a thread. Without the blessing of national destiny, he probably couldn't even unleash his Half-Saint aura. The reason I could suppress and kill him is all 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 are 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 it is, I will become a Saint!"
Lu Fan's expression was resolute. Only by doing so could he protect the people he loved.
"Ambitious!"
Chen Banxian nodded, "Since that's the case, then you should go to Tongtian Academy and fulfill the dream I couldn't complete!"
"Don't worry, since I've made a choice, I will definitely go forward!"
Lu Fan nodded, "But there's something I'd like to ask you to help with!"
"Is it to look after that girl Linglong!"
Chen Banxian waved his hand, "Don't worry, with me around, she'll be fine!"
"Thank you!"
Lu Fan cupped his fists slightly. With all matters settled, he felt much more at ease.
After bowing to Chen Banxian, Lu Fan left the Sword Furnace and embarked on his journey to Tongtian Academy.
According to Chen Banxian's description of the Saint realm, Lu Fan was determined to reach it with all his might.
Watching Lu Fan's departing back, Liu Qianjiao sighed, "Young people are indeed young people, just like we were back then!"
"Yes!"
Chen Banxian echoed, "Young people have drive and lofty goals!"
At this point, 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 ash. If it weren't for the guidance of the South Sea Divine Nun, I 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 said with a wry smile, "So, I can only cherish the life-saving grace in my heart!"
With these words, Chen Banxian held Liu Qianjiao tightly, feeling even more guilt. He never imagined that his own affairs would have caused Liu Qianjiao so much suffering.
At this moment, Chen Banxian secretly vowed to make amends for everything 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 here?"
Chen Banxian frowned, "Didn't I tell you not to ask me about Divine Dragon Hall matters?"
"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 chimed in. They hadn't 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 again from now on!"
The Grand Elder shook his head, "According to the rules of the Divine Dragon Hall, only a cultivator above the Earth Venerable realm can hold the position of Hall Master!"
"That makes things easier!"
Chen Banxian stated directly, "Young Lu has the strength of a Venerable. From now on, he is the Hall Master of the Divine Dragon Hall!"
"But Master Lu cannot be found!"
The Grand Elder shook his head, "Moreover, he is the Imperial Son-in-law and will have important responsibilities in the future. How can he shoulder 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 in the future. 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 stunned, suddenly confused. What Chen Banxian said made sense.
But everyone felt that something was not quite right, yet they couldn't say much.
Meanwhile, within the White Dragon Dynasty's imperial family, Linglong ascended the throne, becoming the Empress of the White Dragon Dynasty. The entire imperial city echoed with the distant chime of bells, causing a stir.
Within the White Dragon Dynasty, everyone knelt down, their gazes directed towards the White Dragon Imperial City with great sincerity.
Now that the new emperor of the White Dragon Dynasty had returned, all affairs were in disarray. As for the endless wars, they had all vanished.
This was the life that the common people desired, and it was also what the new emperor wished to see.
On the high walls of the imperial palace, Princess Linglong, clad in dragon robes, gazed into the distance, her heart stirred.