The Roc Rises with the Wind One Day, Soaring Ninety Thousand Miles into the Sky

"Grandpa."

Gu Linyuan slowly descended from midair.

The strange phenomena around him had already subsided, and the Ancient Tree of Life and Scepter of Destruction had returned to his body.

But his temperament had completely changed.

It was a confidence and sharpness that radiated from his very bones, like a dust-covered treasured sword finally revealing its edge.

He walked before Gu Rong and dropped to one knee.

"Thank you for raising me all these years, Grandpa."

Gu Rong froze for a moment, then hurriedly reached out to help him up.

"Get up, quickly. Linyuan, you are a God Child. How can you kneel before a mere mortal like me?"

Gu Rong said hurriedly.

Perhaps he had still harbored some doubts before.

But after what he had witnessed today, he was now completely certain of Gu Linyuan's identity as a God Child.

"No."

Gu Linyuan did not rise. He lifted his head, his gaze firm and sincere.

"Before you, I am not some God Child. I am only that child you picked up from the rainstorm."

"You gave me a second life. You protected me for twelve years."

"Linyuan will never forget this kindness for all eternity."

Gu Rong's hand stiffened in midair, and two streams of cloudy tears finally slid down from his aged eyes.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to find that his throat seemed blocked by something.

In the end, he merely reached out and gently patted Gu Linyuan's shoulder.

That withered hand was steady, as though it were bearing the weight of an entire era.

After a long while, Gu Rong composed himself.

"Linyuan, although your cultivation has broken through, this matter cannot be publicized yet."

"Otherwise, it will bring you a great deal of trouble. You are a God Child and should not be overly disturbed by worldly fame and profit."

Gu Rong had concealed Gu Linyuan's identity all these years because he hoped he would not be bound by moral obligations.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had shown him kindness, so Gu Rong was willing to guard the sect for a lifetime.

But Gu Linyuan did not have to do the same. He could have a broader sky and choose his own way of life. Once Ning Fengzhi learned of his identity, Gu Linyuan would be forced to live amid schemes.

Ning Fengzhi was the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As an auxiliary sect, it could only maintain its development through careful calculations; that was the Ning Clan's way of survival. Gu Rong had a good relationship with Ning Fengzhi, but he did not want Gu Linyuan, whom he had watched grow up, to be plotted against.

Though Gu Linyuan called him Grandpa, Gu Rong had never dared to lord that status over him.

Two deities stood behind Gu Linyuan, and they were likely even more powerful than the Angel God.

He had merely been lucky enough to pick him up in the Star Dou Great Forest and raise him.

"I understand."

Gu Linyuan nodded.

He knew that once his identity was exposed, not only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but even Spirit Hall would have to grovel before him.

The Angel God worshipped by Spirit Hall was only a First-Class God in the God Realm. How could she possibly be mentioned in the same breath as the God of Destruction and Goddess of Life?

Compared to the Goddess of Life, the Angel God was like Chrysanthemum Douluo compared to Bibi Dong. The gap in their status was immense.

"Actually, I have been waiting for this day all these years."

Gu Rong looked at the high-spirited youth in midair, his voice trembling slightly.

Twelve years.

More than four thousand days and nights.

He had watched that child grow up day by day. He had watched him draw everyone's attention when he awakened his Twin Martial Souls, watched him suffer scorn and cold treatment when his cultivation stagnated, and watched his silent back when Ning Rongrong abandoned him.

Every time, he had wanted to step forward.

He had wanted to tell everyone that this child was not worthless.

He had wanted to tell Ning Fengzhi that the child he had abandoned was nobler than anyone he had ever seen.

But he had not.

Because he knew that some things had to be proven by Gu Linyuan himself. That would also be the process through which he completed his transformation.

Only by breaking free of its shell could a young eagle soar through the nine heavens.

Gu Rong looked at the youth before him and suddenly smiled.

There was relief in that smile, pride, and a faint trace of heartache.

This child clearly possessed a God-level Martial Soul and potential surpassing all else, yet at the age when he should have been most high-spirited, he had been forced to learn restraint, disguise, and how to lie low in the darkness.

He paused, then added, "But there is one thing I want to ask you."

"Go ahead."

Gu Rong's gaze deepened as he looked toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the distance, toward that brightly lit main hall.

"What do you plan to do about that girl Ning Rongrong?"

Gu Linyuan fell silent for a moment.

Moonlight fell across his face, making those pitch-black eyes appear especially bright.

"The path she chose is her own freedom. I will not resent her for leaving, nor will I hold a grudge because she gave me up."

He raised his head to look at the bright moon overhead, the corners of his lips curling upward slightly.

There was no need to dwell too much on feelings and their breakups and reunions.

But once a man decided to let go of a relationship, he would never turn back.

"However."

"One day, I will let her know exactly what she gave up."

Looking at the expression on the young man's face, Gu Rong suddenly remembered his younger self.

That refusal to admit defeat, that stubbornness to press onward despite knowing the road ahead was perilous, that pride of still believing in himself even after being abandoned by the entire world.

Those were things unique to the young.

Things time could never wear away.

"Good." Gu Rong smiled, smiling freely.

"Then Grandpa will wait and see."

"Huh? Grandpa, I thought you were going to try to reconcile us."

Gu Linyuan was taken aback.

Gu Rong had always treated Ning Rongrong like his own granddaughter.

"Anyone who makes a mistake must bear the consequences. Rongrong made many mistakes in the past, but we were always there to clean them up for her. That was why she never learned this lesson from the very beginning. Sigh..."

"Besides, Linyuan, with your temperament, once you have made up your mind, you will never turn back."

The night wind swept past, rustling the leaves on the back mountain.

One old man and one young man stood beneath the moonlight. One was in his twilight years, while the other was in the prime of youth.

But they both knew.

Gu Linyuan's era had only just begun.

"Grandpa, I want to travel the continent and gain experience for a while."

"With my current strength, obtaining Soul Rings for myself should not be too difficult."

"Good. This is my token. As for your first Soul Ring, I suggest that you first take a look at the Soul Hunting Forest..."

Gu Rong took out his identity token and handed it to Gu Linyuan.

Gu Linyuan accepted the token. After nodding, his entire body swiftly disappeared into the shadows.

Not long after Gu Linyuan left, Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, and Sword Douluo arrived.

"Old Bones, where is Linyuan? What happened here just now?"

Chen Xin sensed the lingering aura around them and asked with a frown.

"He has already left. He left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Gu Rong sighed. He was not regretful over Linyuan's departure, but rather felt regret for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"He left? That child may appear indifferent to competition, but there is a trace of pride in his heart."

Though Gu Rong was still here, he could faintly see a hint of distance in the other party's eyes.

"He cannot endure even a little grievance. He will ultimately never amount to much."

Chen Xin shook his head.

"Hmph. Never amount to much? You simply do not understand."

Gu Rong snorted coldly.

"Hey, Old Bones, don't tell me you are angry. We were wrong about this matter, but Linyuan truly is no longer worthy of Rongrong now. We are all old enough to be buried. Only by letting Rongrong choose a genius husband can we preserve the future strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If Rongrong were an ordinary person, we would naturally approve of them being together. It is just that..."

"Besides, Linyuan is not even your biological grandson. Haven't you always disliked him calling you Grandpa?"

Chen Xin patted his old partner on the shoulder.

"I am not angry over this matter. I merely find it somewhat regrettable. As for why I never allowed Linyuan to call me Grandpa, it was only because I was not worthy of it."

Gu Rong said quietly.

He had not expected that his refusal to let Gu Linyuan call him Grandpa would instead make Chen Xin and the others misunderstand, thinking they were not close.

He had merely felt that Linyuan's parents were deities. If he became Linyuan's grandfather, would he not be taking advantage of them?

"Bone Grandpa, what do you mean?"

Ning Rongrong listened to Gu Rong's words with a dazed expression, panic rising in her heart.

"The roc rises with the wind one day, soaring ninety thousand miles into the sky."

Gu Rong muttered. He suddenly recalled that ancient poem.

But the distance between the God Realm and Douluo Continent was likely far more than ninety thousand miles.