‘There he is… He looks busy…’

As Zhang Dong observed the gathering, his gaze settled on a particular individual who bore an uncanny resemblance to himself, both in terms of facial features and height. The man was dressed in attire nearly identical to his own. It was none other than his son, who had now ascended to the role of the new Golden Emperor and Patriarch of the United Element Sect.

A profound sense of pride and accomplishment welled up within Zhang Dong as he watched his son assume the mantle of leadership. The legacy he had worked so diligently to establish had been passed on to the next generation, and he had every confidence that his son would carry it forward with wisdom and dedication.

While looking at his son, he found comfort in the knowledge that he could indeed move on, secure in the future of his family and the sect he had built. Yet, leaving his son behind was far from easy. In his mind, he still saw him not just as a full-grown adult and leader but also as the scared and curious five-year-old boy he had once crafted toys for.

Time had worked its magic, and now Zhang Jun had his own family, with three children of his own and even more grandchildren on the horizon. There were multiple generations, stretching back to the very roots of the family tree he had planted, and new babies were soon to be born, further extending its branches. The legacy he had established had flourished and grown, evolving into something more extensive and profound than he could have ever imagined.

His legacy extended beyond the empire he had united; it lived on in the flourishing family he had nurtured, with generations poised to carry forward the carefully cultivated heritage. In order for them to thrive and prosper even more, he had to depart. Acknowledging the possibility that he might not return, he felt compelled to bid his farewells and his son was the first person on his list.

‘Hm… he is really busy, should I come later?’

To his dismay, the new Emperor found himself swamped with an immense workload, and he was someone who was deeply involved in every aspect of the empire. Despite the fact that the Empire had been unified, smaller pockets of adversaries continued to emerge from time to time. These challenges included demonic cultivators, wild beasts, and environmental disasters. While it wasn't strictly necessary, Jun appeared determined to personally engage in protecting the empire that had been entrusted to him by his father.

“... That will be all, report if there are any changes with this issue.”

“As you wish, Emperor, we shall take our leave.”

While for some people, waiting for half an hour in a corner might seem tedious and unproductive, for Zhang Dong, it held a special significance. His plans and responsibilities could be temporarily set aside, and simply watching his son, Zhang Jun, act like a capable adult was a refreshing and meaningful experience.

As he observed his son, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride and admiration. Zhang Jun had not only taken on the role of the new Golden Emperor and Patriarch but also proven himself to be a natural leader. Zhang Jun's leadership qualities were evident, and his strength was comparable to that of the previous Azure Emperor, a figure that also went down as a legend just for the wrong reasons. As a father, it was heartening for Zhang Dong to witness his son's growth and success in carrying on the legacy he had worked so hard to establish.

“Dear, you must take a break.”

“I must take care of this issue, a new cult is growing and I will snuff it out before it takes any more lives.”

“Hah…”

The only individual who stayed behind was the current Empress, a woman who had compelled the sect and the elderly cultivators to adapt their traditions. To them, she was nothing extraordinary, merely someone his son had rescued approximately two hundred years ago.

Their love story was one of gradual evolution and transformation, an intriguing narrative in itself. The Empress had not started as a figure of great significance, but through the years, her connection with Zhang Jun had grown, leading to the development of their unique and powerful bond.

Naturally, many of the senior elders had initially been opposed to the idea of mingling with individuals who were not part of the main sect or the original clans. These distinctions had been significant to them. However, Zhang Dong's more modern approach was instrumental in bridging those gaps and fostering understanding, allowing his son and the Empress to find love and acceptance within the sect.

As this event unfolded, a growing number of people began to examine the traditional methods of forming families. There was a genuine movement to move away from bonds solely based on connections and instead focus on love and chemistry. Although this shift was gradual and still in progress, he held out hope that it would ultimately usher in some significant changes. It was evident that when parents lacked genuine love for each other, the ones who primarily suffered were their children.

“Why don’t you take a break? It’s just the two of us here so…”

“You mean?”

“Yes~”

‘Oh no…’

Zhang Dong remained in the meeting room, which was now empty except for his son and his wife. Their relationship mirrored his own with Liena, often filled with playful banter even in their later years. His concealment technique was beyond anyone's comprehension in this world, and an awkward scene was beginning to play out before him. The two of them were on the verge of embracing, and he could anticipate what was about to transpire. Thus, before he could witness whether his son was skilled in lovemaking, he decided to reveal his presence.

“Uh…”

“Who?”

“What?”

The two lovebirds swiftly separated, their fists raised in the direction of the sound. Being high-level cultivators, they instantly detected the surge in spiritual energy when Zhang Dong revealed himself. Zhang Dong, with a grin on his face, slowly stepped out of the shadows.

"I didn't mean to interrupt anything. It's heartwarming to see that the flame of love still burns brightly in your hearts after all these years, you’re just like me and your mother!"

Zhang Jun, his face turning slightly red, laughed nervously.

"Father, you certainly have a way of timing your appearances…"

Equally embarrassed, the Empress distanced herself from her husband. While Jun nonchalantly brushed it off, she respectfully bowed before the man who had once been known as the original Golden Emperor. Although Zhang Dong preferred a more informal approach when it came to family matters, it was challenging to alter the deeply ingrained personality of this woman.

"It's always a surprise when you drop by unannounced, great Lord Ancestor.”

“Again with that ancestor stuff, just call me father.”

“I must not!”

Zhang Dong chuckled, his eyes filled with warmth as he looked at the woman who had become an integral part of their family.

"Well, I've seen enough to know you're doing a fantastic job as Empress. And, if I may say, Jun, your mother and I are immensely proud of you. You've grown into a remarkable leader."

The Empress nodded in agreement but didn’t voice her own feelings about the issue. She still held onto some of the old ways and when an old ancestral elder who was once the emperor was present, she was not allowed to speak out.

“I’m glad that you think so father, but why did you come here? Is there something wrong? Could demonic cultists have appeared? Did the remnants of the Long Clan finally make their move!”

“Haha, you do have an active imagination my boy, nothing as drastic.”

Zhang Dong couldn't help but laugh at his son, who had become an elder just like him. His adventurous and kindhearted nature had played a significant role in ensuring the empire's control and the formation of the sect alliance went so smoothly. Many times, his father had simply needed to watch as everything fell neatly into place.

“...but, it is something that we need to discuss as a family.”

Zhang Dong's tone turned more serious, and a sense of gravity settled over the room. Zhang Jun and the Empress exchanged concerned glances, their curiosity piqued.

“I haven’t been very active lately, which you probably have already noticed.”

“Yes Father, a lot of the old elders hoped for you to lead the empire for a couple hundred years more...”

Zhang Jun responded with a touch of concern in his voice. Zhang Dong was well aware that some individuals didn't welcome the transition of leadership. In their view, Jun wasn't truly the leader while his father remained stronger and at full power. They believed it would have been better for Zhang Dong to retain his position as the leader, and only then pass it on to someone younger. His son was conscious of this dynamic, and it was likely one of the reasons he continued to strive for more, to demonstrate to everyone that he was indeed worthy.

“Don’t listen to those old farts, you are more than worthy of your position and far better at it than I ever was!”

Zhang Dong gave his son a pat on the back while laughing. His wife that was standing not far off just nodded in agreement.

“But this is not why I’m here, I need your help to gather everyone, I have an announcement to make and I want you to help me set up the venue.”

“An announcement?”

“Mhm, we will only invite our closest family members, I have something to discuss with all of you…”

“I see… I think that arranging it won’t be that hard just…”

“Is there a problem?”

“Well, I’m not sure where Xiu is, finding her might be troublesome…”

“Your sister? Don’t worry about that, I’ll go get her and drag her back here if I have to… She really didn’t take that loss well, did she?”

“Yeah…”

Zhang Jun chuckled weakly, acknowledging that his relationship with his older sister hadn't been the warmest lately. His father, on the other hand, simply smiled and activated his system window. No one within his faction could hide from him, and locating his children was a simple task. In an instant, a teleportation gate materialized out of nowhere, and he reached through it.

“There we go…”

“GAH! Who dares!”

“I dare!”

A bewildered woman rubbed her head that was bonked by a fatherly fist. Soon after more people were sucked in through the portal to end up on top of her in surprise.

“F-father?”

The woman asked in bewilderment only to get a pat on the head that had previously been smacked gently.

“Well, I’ll leave the rest up to you Jun, get everyone together. Also, participation is mandatory!”

Soon he vanished from this room where a bunch of people were forced into. Jun could do nothing more but sigh at what his father got him into. His older sister and him had a little feud with each other many years ago and now they were stuck together…