Returning to Flowing Frost City

At Moria Academy.

In the Picture Gallery.

Doge lay on the ground, his clothes soaked with blood.

Lian Qiu?

The Giant Dragon was here to find Lian Qiu?

How was that possible?

Wasn't she a little girl from the Little Bird Clan?

How could she possibly know someone powerful enough to command a Sacred Beast of the Saint Domain?

Aiken, standing by the window, was equally dumbfounded.

She stared blankly at the figure in the sky.

Though they were somewhat far apart.

Though the other party's appearance had undergone earth-shaking changes.

But that face...

That familiar feeling...

Lian Qiu's eyes instantly reddened.

"Brother—!!!"

Lian Qiu violently pushed open the window, ignoring the biting cold wind outside as she shouted with all her strength.

Her voice trembled, carrying an indescribable surprise.

In midair.

Lei Wen heard that familiar cry.

A gentle smile gradually appeared on his face, which was as cold as ice.

"Xiao Bai, descend."

The Icefrost Giant Dragon obediently let out a low roar and folded its wings.

Its enormous body descended lightly onto the lawn outside the Picture Gallery, like a falling leaf.

Boom.

The ground shook slightly.

Lei Wen leaped down from the dragon's back and landed steadily.

He tidied his wind-worn clothes and strode toward the girl rushing out of the Picture Gallery's main entrance.

"Aiken, long time no see."

Lei Wen reached out and rubbed his little sister's head, just as he had when she was young.

Lian Qiu could no longer hold back. She threw herself into Lei Wen's arms, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

"You still know to come back!"

"It's been five years! Where the hell did you go?!"

"Father and Mother were worried sick!"

Lei Wen let his sister pound his chest without complaint, merely smiling as he comforted her.

"Didn't I come back?"

"And I even brought you a gift."

As he spoke.

Lei Wen swept his gaze around.

Those students who had been watching the commotion nearby immediately shrank their necks, wishing they could turn invisible.

Especially Moen, who had been pestering Lian Qiu earlier.

He was sprawled on the grass now, his robe stained over a large area, covered in a foul stench.

Lei Wen narrowed his eyes slightly.

While in the sky, his mental power had already enveloped the entire academy.

He had seen every last thing that had happened in the Picture Gallery clearly.

"Was it this brat again?"

Lei Wen pointed at Doge, his tone so calm that no anger could be heard in it.

He remembered that he had warned the other party five years ago.

That bastard actually dared to pester Lian Qiu?

"How does one handle someone who offends a family member?"

Lian Qiu raised her head from her brother's arms.

She wiped her tears, looked at the miserable Doge, and a trace of disdain flashed through her eyes.

"Then kill him?"

Lei Wen casually said, as though he were discussing stepping on an ant.

As a Saint Domain Expert, he had the right to pass judgment on Doge's life.

Upon hearing that.

Moen rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot.

"Forget it. Break his arms."

"Someone like him isn't worth Brother getting his hands dirty over."

Lian Qiu shook her head.

Though she despised Moen, she did not want him dead.

"Fine, I'll listen to you."

Lei Wen shrugged.

Since Lian Qiu had said so, he naturally had no objection.

"I am Lian Qiu's brother, Lei Wen Barte Lei."

"Today, I'm taking her home for a while. Any objections?"

Silence.

Lei Wen turned and looked toward the academy director, who was trembling like a sieve nearby.

"None at all!"

"Absolutely none at all!"

"Lord Lei Wen's little sister can go home whenever she wants!"

"It doesn't matter if she doesn't want to attend classes!"

"If you have any objections, I will personally escort you out!"

The director babbled frantically, shaking his head like a rattledrum.

What kind of joke was this?

Argue with a Saint Domain Expert?

Was he tired of living?

"Let's go home."

Lei Wen nodded in satisfaction.

He held Aiken by the shoulders, leaped, and landed on the Giant Dragon's broad back.

"Roar!"

Xiao Bai let out a joyful roar, beat its wings, and soared into the sky once more.

Only after the Giant Dragon's figure had completely vanished into the clouds did the people of Moria Academy seem to come back to life.

They collapsed to the ground one after another, greedily gulping down fresh air.

That had been terrifying.

Was that the might of a Saint Domain Expert?

Immediately afterward.

The entire academy erupted.

"Oh my God!"

"Lian Qiu's brother is actually a Saint Domain Expert!"

"The Barte Lei Family is going to rise to prominence!"

"Who would dare provoke Lian Qiu in the future?"

"That fool Doge really kicked an iron plate this time—no, he kicked a mountain!"

Flowing Frost City.

The Bart Residence.

In the rear garden.

Doge Bart was holding a heavy sword, practicing his battle techniques with the old steward who had accompanied him for most of his life.

As a Ninth Rank Warrior.

Doge was already nearly sixty years old.

Yet he showed no sign of old age. His muscles were still strong and powerful, and his eyes were sharp.

Not far away.

Xue sat on a stone bench with a letter in her hands, one that Lian Qiu had sent back.

"Doge."

"Lian Qiu said she's already broken through to the fifth level of the apprentice stage."

"That child truly has extraordinary talent."

Xue put down the letter, a gratified smile on her face.

"Of course. Don't you see whose daughter she is?"

"Still, what use is magical talent alone?"

"In this world, one must also look at strength."

"If only that brat Lei Wen were still here..."

Doge sighed and said no more.

At the mention of Lei Wen.

The atmosphere in the garden suddenly fell silent.

"Sigh."

"I wonder where that child is now."

"Demon Flag Mountain is such a dangerous place. He was only sixteen back then, yet he dared to run off there alone..."

"It's been five years, and there hasn't been a single word from him."

"Do you think... could he already be..."

The smile on Xue's face vanished as well, and a trace of worry appeared in her eyes.

"Nonsense!"

Doge abruptly stopped what he was doing and drove the heavy sword hard into the ground.

"That brat's life is tough!"

"He's probably cultivating somewhere in some corner, waiting to come back one day and give us a fright."

Though he said that.

The hand gripping the hilt had gone pale from excessive force.

A father understood his son best.

Demon Flag Mountain was a place where nine out of ten people died.

Even a Ninth Rank Warrior would not dare claim he could retreat unscathed.

Let alone Lei Wen, who had only been an eighth-rank warrior five years ago.

Just as the old couple sank into their thoughts.

Rumble—

A sound like muffled thunder suddenly came from the sky.

The ground of the entire Flowing Frost City trembled slightly.

Doge abruptly raised his head, his expression instantly becoming incomparably grave.

"What a powerful aura!"

As a Ninth Rank Warrior, his perception of danger far exceeded that of ordinary people.

That aura...

Was more terrifying than any powerful expert he had encountered in his entire life!

It was even...

Perhaps not even the Imperial National Preceptor of those days, that Saint Domain Expert, had possessed such an oppressive presence!

"Who is it?!"

Doge snatched up his heavy sword.

His aura erupted fiercely, shattering the fallen leaves around him into powder.

"Xue!"

"Get inside! Hurry to the cellar!"

"No matter what happens, don't come out!"

Xue was sent stumbling by the sudden command.

But having weathered great storms in her life, she immediately seized her staff and prepared to rush inside to help her husband.

Just as Luo Ye...

A huge shadow enveloped the entire Barte Lei residence.

A chilling aura bore down on them.

The flowers in the garden instantly withered and froze.

A hideous Icefrost Giant Dragon slowly descended, hovering less than a hundred meters in front of them.

Barte Lei's heart sank halfway.

A Sacred Beast!

An Icefrost Giant Dragon!

How could a peak dragon magical beast like this have come to such a tiny place as Flowing Cloud City?

Luo Ye had no way to resist at all!

Yet Barte Lei still gritted his teeth and stood in front of Zhenru, his entire body blazing with Spirit Qi flames.

Even if he died...

He would still knock a tooth out of that beast!

Suddenly.

A familiar voice drifted down from the dragon's back, carrying a hint of teasing amusement.

"Father."

"Are you trying to rebel?"