Because I'm Your Master—In My Heart, You're My Child!

As Long Xiaoyao's fifth Spirit Ring lit up, his aura surged once more. The previously even clash of attacks began to tilt in Long Xiaoyao's favor with his enhancement.

"Roar!"

Xiong Jun let out a thunderous roar. He had intended to follow up with another Heaven-Rending Claw, but Myriad Demon King stopped him. Vine after vine wrapped around Xiong Jun's limbs, binding him tightly.

Just as Long Xiaoyao's Annihilating Dragon Emperor Wave was about to strike Xiong Jun, a black dragon claw glimmering with faint multicolored light blocked the fierce attack.

"Master, come down quickly. Stop fighting—it's a misunderstanding."

After Di Tian set him down, Xu Tianchen shouted toward the Dark Holy Dragon circling in the sky.

When Long Xiaoyao saw that his precious disciple was standing there safe and sound, he hurriedly returned to human form and landed beside Xu Tianchen. His meticulously combed hair was now somewhat disheveled, his formerly intact black robe was damaged, and blood could even be seen seeping through it.

Long Xiaoyao immediately ran his hands over Xu Tianchen from head to toe, as though checking whether he was injured. Xu Tianchen quickly waved his hands and said:

"Master, I'm fine. I'm perfectly all right."

But before Xu Tianchen could finish, he saw the bloodstains on Long Xiaoyao's body. Looking at his torn wounds and messy hair, Xu Tianchen's heart was suddenly filled with complicated emotions.

"Master, your injuries..."

Long Xiaoyao surely knew that even as an Ultimate Douluo, charging headlong into the core region of the Star Dou Forest would still leave him with only a slim chance of survival. Setting everything else aside, Di Tian alone was enough to keep Long Xiaoyao in the Land of Great Terror forever.

Yet even so, he had charged in without hesitation, all for his disciple.

In Long Xiaoyao's heart, Xu Tianchen had never merely been his only disciple.

He was a refuge for Long Xiaoyao's soul!

A kindred spirit who could enjoy good food with him!

A child he would protect even at the cost of his life!

In Long Xiaoyao's heart, Xu Tianchen's life had long become more important than his own.

You could call him foolish or infatuated, but you could not deny that he was someone who valued love and loyalty!

Long Xiaoyao pulled Xu Tianchen into an embrace, gently stroking his back as he said in a low voice:

"It's fine. They're only minor injuries. Xiong Jun is more seriously hurt than I am."

"You could have waited for Mistress and the others to come with you. Why did you charge in directly like this?"

"Because I'm your master. In my heart, you're my child!"

Long Xiaoyao's words entered Xu Tianchen's ears, and Xu Tianchen suddenly felt his nose sting for no reason. He hugged Long Xiaoyao even tighter.

On the other side, Di Tian watched Xiong Jun, covered in wounds yet still trying to charge forward, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Didn't I tell you that you only needed to stop him? How did it end up like this?"

Myriad Demon King also stepped beside Di Tian and shook his head helplessly.

"That was how it started, but Xiong Jun got carried away later. On top of that, Long Xiaoyao became anxious and used his Martial Soul Avatar. I could only stay there and protect them, doing my best to keep either side from suffering serious injuries."

"Roar~~!"

Xiong Jun roared at Long Xiaoyao, who stood not far away.

Hearing Xiong Jun's angry roar, Long Xiaoyao immediately rose to his feet and shielded Xu Tianchen behind him.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Myriad Demon King silently retreated several steps, placing Xiong Jun and Di Tian in front of him.

Seeing that Xiong Jun was still acting like an idiot, Di Tian directly transformed his right hand into a dragon claw and slapped Xiong Jun across the head, instantly making Xiong Jun's eyes look a little clearer.

"Idiot, have you forgotten what I told you to do?"

Xiong Jun blinked his pitifully small eyes a few times and muttered softly:

"It's not my fault. That guy hit too hard."

Di Tian could not be bothered with this fellow who was so easily ruled by his emotions. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Long Xiaoyao, who was shielding Xu Tianchen behind him and staring at them vigilantly.

"Don't be nervous. This is a misunderstanding. We are... we are..."

"It's because of the dragon egg. Senior Di Tian sensed the dragon egg's aura on me and came to investigate."

Seeing Di Tian hesitate, Xu Tianchen hurriedly spoke up and explained to Long Xiaoyao first.

The matter of becoming a god was too shocking, and cooperating with soul beasts did not fit the mindset of people on the Douluo Continent. Besides, Bi Ji was still by his side, so Xu Tianchen chose not to reveal it to Long Xiaoyao, lest it increase his risks. Long Xiaoyao knew about the dragon egg, and this was not a lie—it simply was not the main reason.

As everyone knew, Di Tian was a true dragon and would naturally be extremely sensitive to those of his kind, so it was not impossible for him to sense it.

Moreover, they had rushed over in a hurry to stop the battle, and Di Tian had not yet given him the items. Since Di Tian was going to give them to him anyway, and Long Xiaoyao would need an explanation once he saw them, it was better to say it directly.

"Yes, that's right. I sensed the aura of a dragon egg on him, so I invited him here as a guest."

Hearing Xu Tianchen say this, Di Tian quickly understood and immediately affirmed it.

Long Xiaoyao nodded. He believed that his disciple would not lie to him, and Di Tian, as the Beast God, still possessed that much credibility. However, his vigilance did not completely fade. He merely relaxed slightly, while his gaze remained fixed on the three great ferocious beasts before him.

"Then you can let my disciple and me leave now, right?"

"Of course."

"Wait, Senior Di Tian. You still haven't given me the materials needed to hatch the dragon egg."

Di Tian was willing, but Xu Tianchen disagreed. You said you would provide them. How could you let us leave before giving me the items?

"Right. Then will you wait here, or go to the Lake of Life?"

"No need. Thank you for the Beast God's kindness, but we'll wait for you at the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest."

Long Xiaoyao stated his decision. He did not dare go to the Lake of Life; it was their nest. If they changed their minds, he was not confident that he could take Xu Tianchen out of the Star Dou Forest.

But it was different in the outer region. Shrek City was not far away, and Di Tian would not dare act recklessly there.

"Fine. I'll gather the materials now."

Seeing that Di Tian had agreed, Long Xiaoyao immediately took Xu Tianchen and sprinted toward the outskirts, afraid that Di Tian would change his mind and keep the master and disciple there.

Before long, Long Xiaoyao brought Xu Tianchen racing to the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, near the exit.

After setting Xu Tianchen down, Long Xiaoyao leaned against a large tree. This had been the most dangerous day he had experienced in all these years. Not only had he exchanged blows with Xiong Jun and Myriad Demon King, he had even traded a move with Di Tian.

As for his young disciple, he had certainly not told him everything about why Di Tian had sought him out. But that was all right—he surely had his reasons for not saying it, and Long Xiaoyao did not want to force him. He knew that one day, Xu Tianchen would tell him.

Seeing that blood was still seeping from Long Xiaoyao's wounds, Xu Tianchen took out some hemostatic medicine and walked toward him.

"Master, let me treat your wounds first."

Long Xiaoyao said nothing, merely nodding. From then on, he left it to Xu Tianchen.