Becoming the Young Master of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan!

None of them had expected the Ancient Void Dragon Clan to possess such formidable figures! After all, in this era where no Dou Emperor had emerged, the Grand Elder represented heaven and earth! He represented everything!

The Eighth Elder had anticipated their shock, but he continued with the introductions.

"This is the Third Elder, Zhu Zhen, a Peak Eight-Star Dou Saint. This is the Fourth Elder, Zhu Li, also a Peak Eight-Star Dou Saint. This is the Fifth Elder, Zhu Dui, likewise a Peak Eight-Star Dou Saint. This is the Sixth Elder, Zhu Xun, an intermediate Eight-Star Dou Saint. This is the Seventh Elder, Zhu Gen, an early Eight-Star Dou Saint. And I am the Eighth Elder, Zhu Kan, an intermediate Eight-Star Dou Saint!

"Your previous Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun, was our second brother, the Second Elder! Unfortunately, our second brother has now gone missing."

At this point, the elders could not help but show some emotional fluctuation. They had been brothers for countless years; there were feelings between them after all.

"We pay our respects to the elders!" North Dragon King and the others said politely. After all, any one of these men could easily crush all of them.

"No need for such formalities. As for the one beside me, he is the final hope of our Ancient Void Dragon Clan—Ao Qing, who possesses True Dragon Bloodline! From this day forth, he shall be the Young Master of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan!"

The Grand Elder spoke calmly, yet his authority was naturally imposing.

Yet no one dared entertain any thought of opposition. Who would dare?

"We pay our respects to the Young Master!"

The Dragon Kings all bowed to Ao Qing.

"There is no need for such formalities, Dragon Kings. Just call me Ao Qing. There is no need for everyone to be so restrained. Relax a little."

Seeing the dragons looking so nervous, Ao Qing had not expected it, though it was perfectly normal. It was much like ordinary people becoming more reserved upon meeting a national leader.

"Young Master, if there is ever anything you need us to do, simply command us! We will serve until death and never shrink from a thousand deaths!"

Ao Qing's expression grew somewhat complicated as he watched the Dragon Kings and East Dragon Island's elders declare their loyalty. It was not that he looked down on them.

In his previous life, Ao Qing had been cursed with a solitary fate. In his daily life, no one had ever spoken to him with warmth. Yet after arriving in this world, whether it was the seven elders or the Dragon Kings before him, they all spoke to him kindly.

Even if some had no choice and others did it for their own interests, it still brought a trace of warmth to Ao Qing's cold heart.

"That will not be necessary. Just cultivate diligently. As for my own affairs, I can handle them myself!"

Ao Qing did not take advantage of their offer, because he had never been someone who liked troubling others. Whenever something happened, he had always dealt with it alone.

In short, he was used to it...

"Grand Elder, I have been born for six years now. Even ordinary Two-Star Dou Saints are no match for me. I wish to travel the continent alone."

Ao Qing took the opportunity to voice his thoughts. He knew the elders would not harm him, but as someone who had been lonely for so long, time spent alone was instead all the more precious. Ao Qing wanted to see this dazzling world! He wanted to experience it properly.

The elders had not expected Ao Qing to have such an idea. They had originally thought he would continue cultivating within the Ancient Dragon World until he became a Dou Emperor, but they had never imagined that he would want to travel the continent.

In truth, Ao Qing himself knew that he could choose to remain within the Ancient Dragon World and cultivate until becoming a Dou Emperor. But the time required was not something he could control. How long would it take to go from a One-Star Dou Saint to a Dou Emperor? Even at the shortest, it would require decades of arduous cultivation.

Yet no one knew how far Xiao Yan had progressed by now. If the plot had already begun, then it would not be long before he became a Dou Emperor. By then, if Ao Qing had not yet broken through, he feared he would be unable to escape disaster.

Therefore, Ao Qing wanted to use this opportunity to both travel the continent and see how far the plot had developed, so he could make plans and buy himself some time. Moreover, those Heavenly Flames were extremely useful to Ao Qing. He would not simply hand them over to others!

The elders pondered for a moment, looking at one another before speaking in unison.

"Young Master, we agree that you should travel the continent, but we have two conditions."

"Please speak, elders."

Ao Qing knew the elders would not let him venture across the continent so easily, so he had already anticipated this.

"Then we shall be direct. First, one of us must accompany you and protect you along the way. However, the Young Master has a cool temperament, and we suspect you would not wish to have one of us constantly by your side.

"Second, we will provide you with some means of preserving your life, and the Young Master must report his safety to us at regular intervals."

After speaking, the elders watched Ao Qing somewhat nervously, waiting to see what he would choose. It was not that they deliberately wanted to prevent him from traveling; they knew that shut-in cultivation was not very effective. However, Ao Qing was simply too important to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and to them elders. No one wished to see Ao Qing place himself in danger. Thus, there were some things they had no choice but to say.

Ao Qing looked at the elders and smiled faintly. His rosy, lustrous lips parted as he said, "The second condition you mentioned will be enough. Please rest assured, elders, Ao Qing is not some reckless brute. I will not act on impulse. As long as I do not provoke those Emperor Clans, my safety should be guaranteed."

"Since the Young Master has said so, we shall follow your arrangements. If there is ever a need for us, Young Master, please do not hesitate to command us. We are not afraid of trouble!"

"Then thank you, elders."

As North Dragon King and the others watched Ao Qing converse with the elders in such a manner, expressions of just as expected appeared on their faces.

From the very beginning, they had guessed that Ao Qing's status was extraordinary, but they truly had not expected these seniors to value him so highly.

Among these seniors was even a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint! Even the weaker ones were Eight-Star Dou Saints, yet they valued Ao Qing so much. This planted a huge question in the hearts of North Dragon King and the others.

Though they did not know the reason, they resolved to treat Ao Qing with even greater respect in the future.

Moreover, setting aside his identity and status, Ao Qing's strength could not be underestimated. Dou Saints stood among the foremost beings on the Dou Qi Continent. Aside from the major Emperor Clans of the human race and the three great Magical Beast Forces, forces possessing Dou Saints could be counted on one's fingers.

Such formidable strength was enough for North Dragon King and the others to regard him differently.

"Young Master, where do you intend to go first on your travels across the continent?"

Although they had already agreed to let Ao Qing travel the continent, the elders still wanted to know his first destination.

Hearing the elders' words, Ao Qing did not show any displeasure. Instead, he said seriously, "I intend to visit the Northwest Continent first!"

The elders sighed in relief upon hearing this. There were no powerful experts in a place like the Northwest Continent. Even Dou Zuns were extremely difficult to find. As for Dou Saints, they all had matters of their own to attend to and were generally in seclusion. Even if there were Dou Saints traveling about, no one would go to the Northwest Continent.

Ao Qing also knew that this would temporarily ease the elders' taut nerves. Moreover, his most important purpose in going to the Northwest Continent was the Ancient Jade of the Xiao Clan. Before too many people noticed it, he would strike first and claim it for himself. Then the initiative in the future would fall into his hands.

In addition, there were many Heavenly Flames in the Northwest Continent. Most were ownerless, or their owners were weak, making them ideal opportunities to seize.

"Let us leave it at that for today. After the Young Master departs, we will remain stationed here. You juniors are not to disturb us without cause. If there is truly anything that requires us to act, simply inform us. Also, do not stir up trouble on your own!"

The Eighth Elder said this to North Dragon King and the others because he did not wish to be disturbed too often.

North Dragon King and the others understood as well. Unless absolutely necessary, they would not ask the clan elders to come forward.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the day arrived for Ao Qing to leave the Ancient Dragon World.

"Young Master, please take great care on this journey!"

The elders continued giving him instructions.

After replying a few times, Ao Qing extended his long fingers and casually slashed through the air. A spatial tunnel appeared. Then, with a flash of his figure, he vanished from the dragons' sight.