The dragon road twisted and turned as Lin Lei flew at high speed.
"Before, because of that life-and-death battle, I angered the Patriarch. I followed him away, my heart pounding, thinking I was about to face some terrible punishment. But not only was there no punishment at all, in the blink of an eye, I became an elder of the family!" Lin Lei looked down at the cyan armor with golden patterns adorning his body and couldn't help but smile.
"How strange the turns of fate can be," Lin Lei sighed with feeling.
"Elder!" Numerous patrol warriors on the dragon road bowed respectfully as they saw Lin Lei's figure approaching.
Lin Lei glanced at the patrol warriors and nodded slightly.
Amid their respectful salutes, Lin Lei soared past.
Watching Lin Lei's departing figure, one patrol warrior frowned. "That elder... he looks like Lin Lei, the one who fought the life-and-death battle. Captain, you were there too. Was that just now really Lin Lei?"
"I didn't get a clear look, but it seemed to be Lin Lei," the patrol squad captain replied.
"It was definitely Lin Lei. I saw him crystal clear."
"What? That Lin Lei who fought in the life-and-death battle became an elder?" Many patrol warriors who hadn't witnessed the battle were bewildered.
"Is it so strange for him to become an elder? If the Patriarch hadn't arrived at the last moment, Elder Emanuel would have been killed. Lord Lin Lei absolutely has the strength of a Seven-Star Demon!"
After all, thousands of patrol warriors had witnessed the battle, and Lin Lei flying on the dragon road had been recognized by many. Soon, the news of Lin Lei becoming an elder spread rapidly among the patrol troops.
"I'm here." Lin Lei looked at the grand canyon ahead. His body traced an arc through the air as he dove straight down into its depths.
Lin Lei flew directly toward the Yulan branch's residence. From mid-air, he could already see a crowd gathered at the entrance to his own home. Baruch, Tarosha, Olivier, and dozens of others were assembled there.
"I just hope Lin Lei isn't in trouble," Hazad sighed softly. "It's rare for our Yulan branch to produce such a powerful figure. If he's... ah!" Unconsciously, the members of the Yulan branch had come to see Lin Lei as their 'banner'.
How could a banner fall?
"I wonder what punishment the Patriarch will give Lin Lei," Hase was also worried.
"From what I saw in the Valley of Death, the Patriarch is very strict," Olivier said with a frown.
"Don't worry, the Patriarch at least won't kill Lin Lei," Baruch said. He knew the Four Divine Beast Families were in crisis; the Patriarch wouldn't be willing to execute a powerful fighter right now.
Dilia simply kept her brows furrowed, waiting quietly all the while.
"The boss is here!" Bei Bei suddenly announced, looking up.
"Lin Lei is here?" The group immediately followed Bei Bei's gaze, all looking upward. Through the faint mist above, a swift figure descended directly from the sky. Baruch and the others could only make out the vague shimmer of various colored auras.
The figure landed. It was indeed Lin Lei!
Baruch, Tarosha, and the others stared at Lin Lei, utterly dumbfounded.
Lin Lei was clad entirely in cyan armor, its surface adorned with intricate golden patterns, giving it an aura of ancient nobility. Particularly striking was the cape fastened at his shoulders, its complex magical runes unfathomable, with faint, multicolored glows flowing within them.
He was wearing the full attire of an elder!
"Li... Lin Lei?" Baruch, Rein, Di Lin, and the others looked at him in astonishment.
"Patriarch," Lin Lei greeted them with a smile.
"Lin Lei, you've become an elder?" Hazad's eyes were wide with disbelief.
Within the Azure Dragon Clan, an elder was unquestionably part of the family's true upper echelon. Every elder was a Seven-Star Demon, enough for countless clan members to worship and look up to. They knew Lin Lei was strong, but to think...
Lin Lei had become an elder!
"Let's not stand outside, come inside and we'll talk," Lin Lei said with a smile.
"Yes, everyone into the hall." Baruch snapped out of his shock. "Lin Lei, when you left with the Patriarch and the elders... what exactly happened? You must explain everything later. I'm completely bewildered."
"Patriarch..." Lin Lei began.
"Just call me Baruch," Baruch said, looking at Lin Lei's elder attire. "Lin Lei, you are an elder now. The only one you should call 'Patriarch' is the one and only."
Lin Lei understood Baruch's reasoning and smiled. "Within this grand canyon, I'll still call you PatriThe request was rejected because it was considered high risk