It was a clear and calm day in the land of the dragon people.
New life had been born, and about thirty women from many draconic clans had given birth in the last month alone.
Considering how low the fertility of the dragon people was, this was naturally a cause for celebration for everyone.
"Tianjin, old friend... You don’t look well." The voice of Tai’Ren, patriarch of the cat people, echoed through the throne room.
He was clearly tired, but not weak. Quite the contrary. His aura had completely changed, with his power reaching a level that even he himself had difficulty understanding.
His body was much more powerful than before, as was his cultivation, which had reached the Astral Body Realm.
All of this was thanks to the gift he had received from his son-in-law. But, obviously, he wouldn’t talk about it to anyone.
After all, an item capable of allowing an advancement to the Astral Body Realm was incomparable, capable of stirring the greed of any great expert.
"Uh... look who’s talking, hahaha." Tianjin laughed bitterly, settling himself on his throne. "How long has it been since you last slept?"
"A few months." Tai’Ren shook his head.
It wasn’t exactly a long time for him, but he had to deal with so many things that mental fatigue simply accumulated nonstop.
He felt as if he hadn’t slept for a thousand years, not just a few months.
"Ah... this is the path we have chosen."
Tianjin stood up, his golden horns shining slightly as he approached Tai’Ren. Exchanging a hug with his old friend, he motioned for him to follow him.
"Let’s have a drink. Have you heard any news about Long Qingyi?" Tianjin asked, waving his hands, a pot of liquor appearing in his grasp.
"A little. The Five Colors Pavilion branch in my lands was celebrating the recent marriage of Jin Meilin, daughter of the Gold King. Guess who the husband was?"
Tai’Ren’s lips curled upward.
A single glance was enough for Tianjin to understand. A long sigh escaped his lips as he poured drinks for himself and Tai’Ren.
"Womanizing bastard, as expected of..." Tianjin stopped himself, deciding it was best not to continue.
"Something is going to happen. Something big." After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"I know." Tai’Ren nodded, taking a sip of the liquor.
"The divination masters of my people have already told me this, as have those of the bear people, snake people, and even the goat people. They all have premonitions of disaster..."
"Ah..." Tianjin exhaled heavily.
He walked through the hall alongside Tai’Ren, finally arriving at the gates of the golden mansion. His eyes focused on the horizon, a slight touch of strangeness appearing on his face.
"That flying ship." He pointed, his enhanced vision able to see in detail even from miles away.
"Is that... the Five Colors Pavilion? What are they doing here?" Tai’Ren wondered, but soon realized something.
A familiar aura, yet too powerful to be that person’s. Much more powerful than anything Tai’Ren had ever felt before.
The patriarch of the cat people took a step forward, watching as the flying ship disappeared, leaving behind three figures.
One man and two women.
"Long Qingyi..." He whispered, shocked.
That seemed to be his son-in-law, Qingyi. The women beside him were clearly Linyue and Long Qianyao, but... why had Qingyi changed so much?
Had he completely transformed into a dragon?
Tai’Ren barely had time to reflect, being forced to raise his hands to receive a firm hug from his daughter.
"Dad! Linyue missed you so much! Nyan!" The cat girl exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. "Where’s Mom? Is she okay? Linyue wants to see her too!"
Tai’Ren needed a second to recover, finally remembering what it was like to have the excited silhouette of his beloved daughter around him.
He had missed her too.
"Your mother is here, on our flying ship. Do you want to see her right now?"
"Yes!"
Next to Linyue, Qianyao also approached her father, though she acted a little more discreetly. Her eyes were trembling and her hands were clasped tightly together.
"I missed you, Father..." she said, her voice almost a whisper.
"I missed you too, dear." Tianjin replied, placing loving hands on his daughter’s delicate shoulders, his eyes immediately focusing on Qingyi.
"Father-in-law Tianjin, Father-in-law Tai’Ren, your son-in-law greets you." Qingyi clasped his fists, bowing gently.
"You are stronger, son-in-law." Tai’Ren was the first to respond.
Linyue had already left him behind, flying toward the place where the cat people’s flying ship was docked.
He approached, looking Qingyi up and down.
Not only did he look like a complete dragon now, but even his cultivation had exploded, reaching the Ancestral Emperor Realm.
Such cultivation speed was simply unheard of in the entire Immortal Heaven.
"I haven’t neglected my cultivation, father-in-law, and I see you haven’t either." Qingyi laughed, sensing Tai’Ren’s cultivation.
Hearing that, the patriarch of the cat people laughed heartily, his powerful muscles flexing beneath his robes.
It had been so long since he had exchanged a few good punches with anyone.
Fortunately, his son-in-law was now here, and he could make up for this lack!
"Let’s train a little, son-in-law. Show your old man how much you’ve improved," Tai’Ren said.
Unfortunately, Qingyi couldn’t agree to that. Not at that moment.
"I have things to discuss with the patriarch of the dragon people first. We can train later."
Tai’Ren was not happy about that, but in the end, he did not insist. He was not a child.
After a few more minutes of conversation, he left Qingyi, Qianyao, and Tianjin alone, going after his wife and daughter.
"How is your body, father-in-law?" Qingyi asked, flashing a bitter smile at Tianjin.
Qianyao, standing beside them, shuddered but struggled to maintain her composure.
"I’ve been better." Tianjin flashed a bitter smile.
He was reaching his limit, he knew that well. But honestly, he didn’t care.
His daughter was in good hands, and he had a firm connection to his real body.
Even if his avatar collapsed, he would only need to wait until Qingyi broke through the Immortal Heavens for them to meet again.
"Come on in. Let’s talk more privately," Tianjin said, motioning for Qingyi and his daughter to follow him into a private office surrounded by sound suppression formations.