Chen Banxian showed no hesitation, seemingly holding no good impression of the royal family.
"The rise and fall of the nation rests upon every man!"
Lu Fan said solemnly, "Moreover, many of my friends are within!"
"No matter what you say, the Divine Dragon Hall will not intervene!"
Chen Banxian waved his hand. He knew all too well that once the Divine Dragon Hall became entangled with the dynasty, it would be difficult to extricate themselves later.
"Since he is unwilling, why force him!"
Liu Qianjiao said coldly, "Let's go!"
At these words, Chen Banxian trembled slightly. This statement pierced his heart like a sharp sword.
"In that case, let's pretend I said nothing!"
Lu Fan sighed helplessly and made to leave.
Chen Banxian became anxious for a moment: "Xiao Jiao, we've finally met, and you're leaving already?"
Liu Qianjiao remained silent, seemingly angered by the situation.
"This might be our last meeting!"
Lu Fan shook his head. "Farewell, old man!"
Chen Banxian was stunned, his expression instantly changing. While he did not wish to participate in the dynastic struggle, he could not bear to see Liu Qianjiao harmed.
"Alright!"
Chen Banxian said helplessly, "Since you are so persistent, I will lend you a hand!"
Lu Fan stopped instantly, his face lighting up with joy. With the Divine Dragon Hall's intervention, their cause was sure to succeed.
"This is the Divine Dragon Token!"
Chen Banxian held out the token. "With this token, you can command the many experts of the Divine Dragon Hall!"
"Thank you!"
Lu Fan snatched it, fearing the man might change his mind. After all, this Divine Dragon Token was no ordinary item; it could summon the strongest individuals of the Divine Dragon Hall.
"You're not going?" Liu Qianjiao asked, surprised.
"I will not be going,"
Chen Banxian shook his head. "The Divine Dragon Hall has a hundred Venerables. With them acting, the White Dragon Dynasty will surely be preserved!"
"A hundred Venerables?"
Lu Fan shuddered, inwardly astonished. He had initially thought the Divine Dragon Hall had only a dozen or so Venerables, which he believed would have been sufficient. He never imagined there were a hundred.
"Remember, be careful!"
Chen Banxian said earnestly, "If anything happens to Xiao Jiao, I will not forgive you, boy!"
"Don't worry, nothing will happen!"
Lu Fan nodded, his expression solemn. With a hundred Venerables, such formidable power would surely be insurmountable for the Nine Heavens Dynasty.
After leaving the Sword Furnace, Lu Fan and Liu Qianjiao headed towards the Divine Dragon Hall. However, Liu Qianjiao glanced at Lu Fan with a knowing look, saying, "You actually schemed against me!"
"Senior jokes too much; how would I dare to scheme against you!"
Lu Fan chuckled sheepishly, "Unless it was a matter of utmost necessity!"
Liu Qianjiao was somewhat displeased but said nothing further. As long as she could rally the experts, even being tricked was acceptable.
He recalled that from a young age, his parents had taught him that the rise and fall of the nation rested upon every man, a saying deeply etched in his mind.
Several days later, they arrived at the outer perimeter of the Divine Dragon Hall. Within the hall, flying swords danced in the air, and numerous disciples practiced their swordplay in the training grounds, each exuding a heroic aura.
Those who could enter the Divine Dragon Hall were undoubtedly exceptionally talented individuals.
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into the Divine Dragon Hall!"
A man soared into the sky, appearing before Lu Fan and his companions, his expression guarded.
"I wish to see the Grand Elder of the Divine Dragon Hall!"
Lu Fan stated directly, without any pretense.
"The Grand Elder of the Divine Dragon Hall is not someone you can simply demand to see!"
The man's expression was cold, and he held a hostile gaze towards Lu Fan. Lu Fan's immediate request to see an elder was, in his eyes, a blatant disrespect towards the Divine Dragon Hall.
"This is the Divine Dragon Token!"
Lu Fan declared, "To see the token is to see the Hall Master!"
Before Lu Fan could react, the young man's long sword suddenly struck out, imbued with formidable power.
Lu Fan retreated slightly, frowning. He had not expected the youth before him to be so direct.
*Bang!*
The sword, before it could reach Lu Fan, was sent flying by a palm strike from Liu Qianjiao. The young man also reeled backward violently, a trickle of blood seeping from his lips.
"With the Divine Dragon Token in hand, why do you still attack?"
Lu Fan frowned, looking at the man before him with great bewilderment.
"The Hall Master has not appeared for many years. The Divine Dragon Token in your possession must be a forgery!"
The youth stated coldly, "How dare you act so presumptuously in the Divine Dragon Hall! Do you think you can run rampant here!"
"Young brother, you should look closely!"
Liu Qianjiao said sternly, "This is a genuine Divine Dragon Token!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
The young man was unconvinced. The Divine Dragon Hall Master had gone on a journey and had not returned for years. How could Lu Fan possibly possess the Divine Dragon Token?
"If you don't recognize the Divine Dragon Token, your elders will, naturally!"
Lu Fan stated directly, "Have a Divine Dragon Hall elder come forth, and they will be able to discern it!"
"What is happening?"
Just then, over ten figures arrived, led by a man of exceptional bearing and presence.
"Senior Disciple Brother, they are attempting to storm the mountain!"
The young man reported, "And they are impersonating our Hall's sacred artifact!"
"This Divine Dragon Token of mine is genuine!"
Lu Fan held up the token with a hint of annoyance. To have his token, which he held with pride, dismissed as fake was something anyone would find hard to accept.
"The Divine Dragon Token?"
The Senior Disciple Brother glanced at it, but his expression remained dismissive. "As everyone knows, the Divine Dragon Token is our Hall's sacred artifact. How could it be in your hands!"
Before the Senior Disciple Brother could finish speaking, Lu Fan shot into the sky, a formidable aura radiating from him. "Where are the elders of the Divine Dragon Hall? Come forth quickly!"
His voice echoed, spreading throughout the entire valley.
The Senior Disciple Brother and the others were greatly alarmed. The aura Lu Fan displayed was clearly not that of an ordinary person, and for a moment, they dared not act rashly.
"May I ask who you are, young friend, and why you have come to our Divine Dragon Hall?"
A white-haired elder appeared, exuding a powerful aura.
"Disciple greets the Ninth Elder!"
The Senior Disciple Brother and the others bowed respectfully, a hint of schadenfreude in their expressions. Now that an elder had been alerted, Lu Fan was unlikely to fare well.
"The Divine Dragon Token is here!"
Lu Fan held out the token without any reservation.
Upon seeing the token, the Ninth Elder's body trembled violently. How could he not recognize that the Divine Dragon Token was genuine?
"May I inquire who you are?"
The Ninth Elder asked, "And why you possess the sacred artifact of the Divine Dragon Hall!"
The disciples present were astonished, having never imagined the token to be real.
"The Divine Dragon Token was given to me by your Hall Master!"
Lu Fan stated directly, "We require the assistance of the Divine Dragon Hall's experts for the decisive battle in the White Dragon Dynasty!"
Before long, many elders emerged. Upon seeing the Divine Dragon Token, they were deeply moved.
They knew very well that if the Hall Master himself had not given it to Lu Fan, his current strength would never have allowed him to obtain it.
"May we know the Hall Master's current whereabouts?" The Great Elder clasped his hands, his voice tinged with excitement. For so many years without the Hall Master's return, he had harbored worries.
"That old man is doing quite well!"
Lu Fan waved his hand. "However, you might all have to work hard this time!"