Family Reunion!

After flying for most of the night, the sky gradually brightened.

Dugu Bo stopped above a stretch of mountains and forest, pointing down below.

"Here we are."

Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er looked down to see a dense forest beneath them.

At the heart of the forest lay a valley surrounded by towering ancient trees.

The valley entrance was well hidden. If their father had not pointed it out, they would never have noticed there was an entrance there at all.

"This is Sunset Forest?"

Dugu Xin asked.

"Yes." Dugu Bo nodded. "The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes are in the valley. Yan Yan is cultivating inside."

He paused and turned to look at his son and daughter-in-law.

"Yan Yan doesn't know I went to bring you back."

"She thinks I went out to handle some business and won't return for three months."

"So, you need to prepare yourselves."

"She'll be shocked."

Dugu Xin took a deep breath and nodded.

"Father, we're ready."

Dugu Bo gave a quiet hum and descended toward the valley entrance first.

Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er followed close behind.

After passing through the narrow passage, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes appeared before them.

Crimson-red and snow-white spring water met together, giving off swirling mist.

Around the spring, Immortal Herbs and lingzhi grew densely, radiating rich spiritual energy.

And on a bluestone beside the spring, Dugu Yan sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, cultivating.

Her long emerald-green hair drifted softly in the mist. The Jade Scale Dragon Martial Soul appeared behind her, a phantom of a true dragon covered entirely in jade-green scales, noble and agile.

Dugu Xin recognized his daughter at a glance.

Though they had not seen each other for ten years, though his daughter had grown from a seven-year-old child into a seventeen-year-old girl, the bond of blood allowed him to recognize her instantly.

He stood at the valley entrance, looking at his daughter cultivating atop the bluestone, yet he could not make himself take a step forward.

Lin Wan'er was the same.

She covered her mouth, tears welling in her Deep Purple Eyes.

Ten years.

She had finally seen her daughter again.

Her daughter had grown up, grown taller, and become more beautiful.

And she looked well.

Her complexion was rosy, her Soul Power abundant, and her Martial Soul powerful.

She was ten thousand times better than Lin Wan'er had imagined.

Dugu Bo did not urge them.

He stood quietly to one side, giving his son and daughter-in-law time.

Dugu Yan seemed to sense something and slowly opened her eyes.

Three figures were reflected in her emerald-green Dragon Eyes.

Grandfather.

And...

Two strangers.

No, they were not strangers.

That man looked so familiar.

That face, those features, those Deep Purple Eyes...

Dugu Yan's pupils suddenly contracted.

She abruptly rose to her feet. The cultivation manual in her hand fell to the ground, but she did not notice.

"Father...?"

Her voice trembled.

"Mother...?"

Dugu Xin's eyes finally reddened.

"Yan Yan."

His voice was hoarse and shaking.

"It's Father."

"Father is back."

Dugu Yan stood rooted to the spot as tears burst from her eyes.

She wanted to rush over, wanted to throw herself into her parents' arms, but her legs felt filled with lead. She could not move them at all.

"You weren't... you weren't..."

"You had already..."

Dugu Bo walked over and gently patted his granddaughter's shoulder.

"Yan Yan, Grandfather called them back from death."

"They are now... undead."

"Not living people, but not dead people either."

"They have consciousness, memories, and emotions."

"They... are still your parents."

Dugu Yan could no longer hold back.

She rushed forward and buried herself in Dugu Xin's arms.

"Father!!"

"Mother!!"

"You're finally back!!"

Dugu Xin held his daughter as tears silently slid down his face.

Lin Wan'er wrapped her arms around her daughter from behind, and the family of three embraced tightly.

Dugu Bo stood to one side, watching the scene. A trace of moisture flashed through his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes as well.

Ten years.

This family was finally whole again.

Though the method had been somewhat unusual.

Though his son and daughter-in-law were no longer living people.

They were undead.

They had consciousness, memories, and emotions.

They could speak, move, and fight.

That was enough.

Dugu Bo turned around and walked toward the other side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.

He left the time to the family of three.

There were words they needed to say in private.

There were tears they needed to shed in private.

And he only needed to stand at a distance and silently protect them.

That was enough.

No one knew how much time passed before the crying gradually subsided.

Dugu Xin released his daughter, cupped her face in both hands, and studied her carefully.

Her emerald-green Dragon Eyes were clear and bright, without the slightest trace of lingering poison.

Her complexion was rosy, her vitality vigorous, and her Soul Power abundant.

She was ten thousand times better than even the best condition he had imagined.

"Yan Yan, you've grown up."

Dugu Xin's voice was still somewhat hoarse, but his eyes were full of gratification.

"When Father left, you were only this tall."

He gestured to the height of his waist.

"Now you've reached Father's shoulder."

Dugu Yan broke into a smile through her tears and raised a hand to wipe her face.

"Father, why do you still look the same? You haven't changed at all."

Dugu Xin froze for a moment, then smiled as well.

That was right, he had not changed at all.

His appearance had remained at that age.

Though he now had an Undead Body, he looked exactly as he had ten years ago.

"Your mother hasn't changed either."

Dugu Xin stepped aside, letting his daughter look at Lin Wan'er.

Lin Wan'er had been a renowned beauty ten years ago, and she was still as gentle and graceful as ever.

Only her eyes had changed from black in life to deep purple.

That was a characteristic of the undead.

Dugu Yan threw herself into her mother's arms and held her for quite a while before finally letting go.

"Mother, I missed you both so much."

"Mother missed you too."

Lin Wan'er stroked her daughter's long hair, her eyes filled with love.

"Every moment of every day."

Dugu Yan raised her head, looked at her parents, then looked at her grandfather standing beside the spring in the distance.

"Grandfather brought you back?"

"Yes." Dugu Xin nodded. "Father's Martial Soul evolved, changing from the Jade Python Snake Emperor into the Nine Nether Divine Dragon. The Nine Nether Divine Dragon commands Netherworld Power and can awaken the dead."

"Your father and mother are now... undead."

Dugu Yan bit her lip.

Undead.

The word sounded somewhat frightening.

But looking at her parents before her, so lifelike.

No, not truly alive, but at least conscious and emotional, she did not find them frightening in the slightest.

"Father, Mother, will you... disappear again someday?"

Dugu Xin looked toward Dugu Bo in the distance.

He did not know the answer to that question either.

Dugu Bo seemed to sense their gaze and walked over.

"No."

His answer was brief and certain.

"As long as Grandfather's Netherworld Power does not disperse, you will not disappear."

"And as long as Grandfather remains alive, the Netherworld Power will not disperse."

"As for how long Grandfather can live..."

The corners of Dugu Bo's lips lifted slightly, and pride flashed through his Dark Golden Dragon Eyes.

"The Nine Nether Divine Dragon is a god-tier Martial Soul. Living for a thousand years or more will not be a problem for Grandfather."

A thousand years or more.

Dugu Yan's eyes widened round.

Dugu Xin and Lin Wan'er were stunned as well.

A thousand years or more?

Could they really live that long?

"Of course, a thousand years or more is only a conservative estimate."

Dugu Bo spoke calmly.

"If Grandfather can break through to a higher level, his lifespan will become even longer."

What he did not say was that once the Nine Nether Divine Dragon Art was cultivated to its peak, one could become a god.

And after becoming a god came eternal life.

But it was still too early to say such things now.

"So, you don't need to worry about losing them again."

Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter, his tone serious.

"They will remain by your side for a very, very long time."