Astral Pet Store (WN)
chapter-527

Chapter 527 Father and Son

There were other, less advanced dragon worlds.

The Realm of Flame Dragons (middle-level cultivation site)

The Realm of Eight-winged Sea Dragons (middle-level cultivation site)

The Realm of Purple-blood Dragons (middle-level cultivation site)

Su Ping browsed through the list. The diversity of those realms confused him. He asked the system, “There are so many of them. Which one should I choose to find the proper dragon origin?”

To that, the system replied, “Each dragon realm has its own type of dragon origin. Dragons have too many branches and they are ancient creatures. The number of major branches goes as high as 4829. Your Inferno Dragon is not from one of the major branches, it’s an offshoot of the major branches, so it doesn’t have a realm of its own. The Inferno Dragons are mainly found in the Realm of Purple-blood Dragons, the middle-level cultivation site.” Su Ping had seen that name a moment before.

“So, if I can find the dragon origin in that Realm of Purple-blood Dragons, I can bring the Inferno Dragon back to life?”

“That is correct.”

Su Ping immediately pulled up the information about the Realm of Purple-blood Dragons.

It said in the introduction that the most powerful creatures found there were at the Star Rank!

Most of the dragons thriving in that environment were at the legendary rank, the Void State and the Fate State.

That gave him great pressure. Su Ping didn’t find it surprising, though. In the Demigod Burial, an advanced cultivation site, those at the Star Rank were everywhere and there were even gods of a tier above the Star Rank.

Su Ping decided to go at once.

“I suggest you get one million energy points before you go,” the system warned him.

Su Ping had just remembered that he would have to spend energy points to get to a cultivation site. He was in too much of a hurry to keep a clear mind; he pulled up the interface, which quickly stunned him speechless.

He had spent many energy points to breed beast kings, back when he was preparing to deal with the Otherworld Heavenly King. His remaining energy points were merely a few hundreds of thousands. That was more than enough for the admission to the cultivation sites but he would need much more for revival chances.

“How long can the soul last with the Soul Nurturer?” Su Ping asked.

“Thirty days.”

Su Ping was a bit relieved. That was ample time. He would be able to take a break and get ready. After all, he would have to face immense dangers in the dragon realms, especially when Joanna was unable to go with him. He closed the list and left the pet room.

Tang Ruyan was the only one left in the store. She was surprised to see him coming out already. “I thought you said you had things to do.”

To that question, Su Ping was unable to offer an explanation. “Where is Zhong Lingtong?” he asked instead.

“She went to tell your parents about your return.”

“Oh. Get ready. We’re going to open for business later,” Su Ping said.

Tang Ruyan gazed at him. The fact that he was still in the mood to open the door for business relieved her mind. It seemed that Su Ping’s mood was recovering.

She nodded. “I will go and get ready. But you should know that the business is not very good these days. You know, many families are dealing with… funeral arrangements after the strike…” she stole a glance at Su Ping.

Su Ping nodded silently in a grave mood.

He left the store and headed home to meet the father he had never seen before.

Once he reached the house, he happened to run into Zhong Lingtong by the door, as she was exiting the house. She, too, was surprised to see Su Ping who had just told them he would be occupied and would not have time to meet his parents. Why is he back so soon?

“Sir?”

“It’s okay. Go and play.”

“Sure… what?”

Su Ping stepped inside, leaving behind a completely baffled Zhong Lingtong.

He had already noticed the unfamiliar presence in the house. People were talking in the living room; he slowly went over. By the table sat a middle-aged man with thick whiskers. He had a withered and wrinkled visage; the tan on his face indicated that he worked under the sun quite a bit.

Su Ping’s mother had said that his father made a living as a seaman. Su Ping could even perceive the smell of the sea on him. In that day and age, being a seaman was a fatal career. “Oh my, you’re back.” Li Qingru—who was facing away from the door

— turned around and happened to see Su Ping, which filled her with a pleasant surprise. However, the blood on Su Ping’s shirt rendered her pale with fright. She left the dough she was making, dashing over at the speed of lighting, and said while feeling quite upset, “How, how? Are you okay? I, I, I, I will go and, and get you a healer.”

She was so worried that her mind was not functioning correctly, making her stutter.

The middle-aged man who was sitting by the table turned around, alerted by his wife’s panic. He also ran to check Su Ping after a momentary pause.

“Ping, are you okay?” He placed his hands on Su Ping’s shoulders. What a pair of warm and strong hands.

Soon, he noticed something that relieved him. “Come over and sit down. Take your shirt off. How did you end up like this?” Su Ping didn’t struggle as his father dragged him to the couch. Su Ping had pictured many times how he and his father would meet, but he had never pictured an encounter like that.

His father was nervous and worried. The familiar bond instantly brought them close together.

“I’m okay.” Su Ping just let his father help him take off his shirt, so that his mom and dad could see that there was no wound. It would alleviate their worries.

Li Qingru was evidently surprised when she failed to find a single injury on Su Ping. “What’s with the blood? Is it not yours?”

Su Ping wanted to say that the blood was his but the injury was not external.

But he couldn’t have said so; there were things in the world that could not be explained.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” Su Ping said. He looked at the flour dough and thought of a way to shift his mom’s attention. “Are we having flour dough for dinner tonight?”.

“Who has flour dough for a meal? Your dad is baking, so we’re having dumplings.”

“That’s nice. What’s the filling? Leek and pork?

“Of course.”

Su Ping smiled gladly.

Good, the topic was changed. But his father was still staring at him.

He stared at Su Ping closely. That was a complicated look that said he missed him, that he admired and was proud of his son for being brave, and felt sorry for his absence in the family.

He had so many mixed feelings.

“I’ve heard about what you did from your mom.” Su Yuanshan took a deep breath. “I didn’t expect that so many things would have gone down while I was away. You’re my good son… Atta boy!”

Su Ping smiled. “You said you were going to be away for a while. So, I have to step up as the only man in the house.”

Su Yuanshan patted Su Ping’s hand but said nothing else.

Some things didn’t have to be explicitly expressed.

“Let’s go upstairs and have a talk when your mom prepares the flour dough for us.” Su Yuanshan said.

Li Qingru rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to speak behind me? Is there anything you can’t let me know?”

“We’re having a conversation, man to man. You’re not a man yet,” Su Yuanshan answered.

Li Qingru rolled her eyes again. “Don’t think you can shirk the responsibility of chopping the pork responsibility. That is your job.”

“Of course,” Su Yuanshan answered with certainty and went upstairs with Su Ping.

They went to Su Ping’s room. Su Yuanshan looked around his son’s bedroom and saw a poster with a very curvy and well-developed lady on it. Su Yuanshan cleared his throat. “Listen, I understand you’re in the prime of your youth. But don’t stare at such posters for too long. It’s not good for you.”

Su Ping was speechless. Prime of my youth. I haven’t recovered from my fight against the Otherworld when I got into a fight with the Tower again; I am far from being at the prime of anything, He said to himself. “I didn’t know that the last time I was home was almost the last time I would get to see the Longjiang Base City.” Su Yuanshan heaved a sigh. He gazed at Su Ping and said, “I heard that you’re at the legendary rank and the Longjiang Base City survived, thanks to a large part, you defeated that beast king. You are a hero now.”

“Someone has to stand up in the face of danger. I didn’t have much of a choice.” Su Ping sat down on his bed, sighing.

Su Yuanshan gazed at his son for a while which ended in a chuckle. “When I get back to work, I can tell my buddies in the sea that my son is a hero that saved the Longjiang Base City. Believe me when I say that they’re not going to be convinced…”