Who is it?

The commotion at the palace gate finally alerted the people inside. The two people holding jewels were shocked to see the two who had appeared at the gate.

"Princess? You're actually here?"

However, as soon as they finished speaking, their heads were separated from their bodies.

Xu Fan gently sheathed the blood-stained sword and smiled at Sophia:

"Sophia, it's alright now."

Sofia nodded vigorously, looking at the palace decorations with a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

But just as Sophia reached a side hall, Xu Fan suddenly spoke:

"Sophia, wait."

Sophia paused, and Xu Fan gently opened the door with his sword, speaking in a deep voice to those inside;

"come out."

The sound of dripping blood mixed with coughing came from inside the hall, and a figure covered in blood stumbled out of the hall.

His once-neat suit was now stained with blood and dust, making it look worn and faded. But when he saw Sophia, Shelby walked slowly and resolutely to her side.

"Princess, you're finally back."

Sophia looked up at Xu Fan, who gave her an encouraging smile.

After hesitating for a moment, Sofia finally spoke:

"Where is Father?"

When the Dragon Emperor was mentioned, Shelby lowered his head, which had been held high.

"His Majesty the Dragon Emperor has fallen."

As he spoke, he raised his head and looked firmly at Sophia: "Princess, the future of the dragon race rests entirely on your shoulders."

Sophia hid behind Xu Fan like a frightened fawn.

Shelby raised his head and glared at Xu Fan: "Human, get out of my way."

After learning the identity of the person following Xu Fan, Xu Fan's aura could no longer be hidden from Shelby.

Xu Fan said coldly:

"No one can force Sofia to do this unless she wants to."

Shelby glared at Xu Fan: "But she is the Dragon Emperor's only descendant."

Xu Fan said calmly, "I never care about the Dragon Emperor or anything like that. I only know that she is my sister."

Shelby glared at Xu Fan: "You..."

The two men were on the verge of attacking each other, seemingly about to clash at any moment.

Sophia timidly peeked her head out from behind Xu Fan:

“Shelby, I have never been able to cultivate since I was a child.”

One sentence completely shattered Shelby's composure, which had initially maintained some semblance of rationality.

He seemed frozen in place, unable to accept the news.

A moment later, Shelby suddenly stood up and charged at Sofia like a madman:

What did you just say?

Sophia was startled and shrank back behind Xu Fan.

“Enough,” Xu Fan reached out and stopped Shelby, whose face was contorted with madness. “I think you’ve heard Sophia’s words very clearly.”

Shelby roared, "I don't know!"

Shelby felt incredibly desolate at this moment. Who could have imagined that the dragon girl, who was regarded as the future hope of the dragon race, would be unable to cultivate!

Thinking of the Dragon Emperor's last words, Shelby felt an overwhelming pang of sorrow. The Dragon Emperor had no intention of sending him to find the princess and restore the royal family!

It was clearly a request for him to come and protect the princess who couldn't cultivate, ensuring that she could survive the ancient dragon's pursuit despite having no cultivation!

But without the Dragon Emperor's lineage, what good would it do to protect the princess?

Shelby slumped to the ground in utter despair.

Xu Fan ignored Shelby and instead turned to look at Sophia with some concern.

Sophia lowered her head and spoke slowly after a long while, but her voice was so soft that even Xu Fan, who was standing next to her, could not hear her clearly.

"Sophia, what did you just say?"

Seeing Xu Fan squatting in front of her, even shorter than herself, Sophia felt a little more at ease.

"The Dragon Emperor Clan is not fixed. As long as one can introduce the Dragon Emperor Flame into their body, anyone can become a member of the Dragon Emperor Clan."

Xu Fan glanced coldly at Shelby;

Did you hear that?

Shelby hesitated for a moment, then knelt down before Sofia without hesitation:

"Please, Your Highness, draw the Dragon Emperor's Flame into your body to revive my dragon race!"

Sofia was surprised that Shelby would make such a request at this moment, and she took two steps back in astonishment.

She seemed to recall some horrifying scene, and shook her head firmly:

"I...I can't do it."

"My father made me try it long ago, but I can't do it."

Shelby, unwilling to give up, knelt down before Sofia with all his might.

"Please, Dragon Maiden, give it a try for the sake of the Dragon Clan!"

Xu Fan stood coldly in front of Shelby, like a human wall, forcibly separating Sophia and Shelby.

"Sophia has already made it very clear that she doesn't want to, so don't force her!"

Shelby said coldly;

"But now it is her father who has died, and she is a dragon princess revered by the entire dragon clan. Who else but her can shoulder this responsibility?"

Xu Fan glanced at Sophia, then turned to look at Shelby, the warmth in his eyes replaced by indifference:

"Your dragon clan's affairs have nothing to do with me. The only person I care about is Sophia."

"If anyone tries to force Sophia, they'll have to ask the sword in my hand if it agrees first."

As Xu Fan spoke, he had already gripped the Demon-Slaying Sword in his hand.

Shelby retorted sharply, "You want to give it a try?"

Just as the two were about to draw their swords, Sofia suddenly spoke up:

"Shelby, all your skills were passed down to you by my father, why don't you give them a try?"

"I?"

Shelby, holding the Western longsword in his hand, was momentarily stunned. He couldn't quite comprehend when this had happened to him.

Sophia nodded seriously and said, "When Father Emperor personally taught you martial arts, he said that if the Dragon Clan were ever in trouble, perhaps Shelby could give it a try."

Shelby fell silent.

In terms of status, his status was extremely low.

As the son of Alexander, who had defected from the dragon race, he himself did not know how to win over the people.

But as the Dragon Emperor's disciple, the Dragon Palace's chief guard, and the only dragon the princess trusts, if he doesn't shoulder this responsibility, who else can?

Thinking of the old Dragon King who used his last Dragon King Flame to clear a path for him before his death, Shelby closed his eyes in anguish. After a long silence, he finally spoke:

"As you wish, my princess."

Xu Fan looked at Sophia. Sophia's eyes were clear, without the slightest resentment towards giving the Dragon Emperor's inheritance to Shelby. Instead, there was a small flame of joy in her eyes.