The young lady quickly spoke up.
Su Ping thought for a moment and shook his head:
"Letâs forget it, thereâs still a match this afternoon. Doing that would be disrespectful to the opponent. Please apologize to those few people for me, and maybe there will be an opportunity in the future."
"Okay."
The young lady quickly nodded and left.
Qin Xiaoxue, who had just arrived, asked in surprise:
"Whatâs going on? Is there something happening?"
Su Ping shook his head:
"Nothing much, Vice President Lu above invited me to sit in for a while and serve as a guest commentator this morning to discuss and critique the other contestants, but I refused."
Qin Xiaoxue raised an eyebrow:
"Whatâs Lu Guangming thinking? You have to fight two matches in the afternoon, whatâs the point in acting as a guest commentator now?"
Su Ping chuckled:
"Theyâre just asking; itâs fine to refuse."
Qin Xiaoxueâs brows furrowed slightly.
Miss Qin seemed straightforward, not very thoughtful about certain things, primarily due to her average life experiences. However, when things got complicated, having grown up in such a family, she did think quite a lot.
"This old guy wouldnât be intentionally trying to suppress you because you refused to give a lecture at Imperial Capital Academy last time, would he?"
Su Ping was slightly stunned, then shook his head:
"No."
Qin Xiaoxue glanced at the person who was still very naive a year ago, but now had an area marked by gentle curves paired with a touch of indescribable toughness. He possessed a sort of inexplicable confidence.
"So sure? Lu Guangming is still under fifty this year, as a Beastmaster at the Emperor Level Peak, his chances of advancing to Spirit Saint Level might even surpass my fatherâs!
Moreover, as the vice president of Imperial Capital Academy, itâs definitely set in stone that once Old Chen steps down, he will become the president. Itâs not an exaggeration to call him an esteemed authority figure.
Your current reputation mainly comes from the breeder world; in the realm of controlling beasts, youâre still a junior."
Su Ping smiled again:
"Donât worry, itâs simple really: if he knows my current status, he absolutely wonât dare try to suppress me, and if he doesnât know, it shows heâs not qualified to do so!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaoxue was slightly stunned, blinking her eyes without being able to utter any more words for a moment.
Su Pingâs confidence came from his contact with the Master of the Holy Dragon.
To put it bluntly, the circles heâs involved with now, if itâs merely Beastmasters at the Emperor Level, are really just that.
Finding no immediate response, he turned and looked at Qin Xiaoxue, discovering that Miss Qin seemed to be lost in thoughts.
Su Ping waved his hand to interrupt her daze, saying:
"What are you thinking about?"
Qin Xiaoxue snapped out of it, adjusted her posture a bit awkwardly, and then said:
"Whatâs Lu Guangming looking for you for?"
"Thereâs not much depth to it; maybe he simply wants to hear my commentary on other contestantsâ pet beasts from my perspective as a breeder."
Su Ping shrugged his shoulders.
These special family-born individuals just tend to overthink things.
However, itâs clear Su Ping somewhat underestimated the situation.
On the top floor of the Beast Arena.
In a huge office divided by a single-layer glass, several figures stood there, allowing a clear view of the entire venue through the glass.
Lu Guangming was standing there, but in front of him were some familiar and unfamiliar figures.
An old man with long gray hair tied up like an ancient monk, a gentle smiling woman whose looks were ordinary yet possessed a magnificence despite.
Alongside were Sang Sheng and Ghost Saint.
As the few chatted leisurely in the room, the office door opened, and Lu Guangmingâs assistant came over, whispering something quietly.
Lu Guangming nodded, barely opening his mouth before the white-browed elder by the window glanced over:
"The young fellow really doesnât give this old man face! Last time it was one thing, this time itâs another."
Leng Ye gave him a sideways glance:
"Donât pin labels on him randomly, Su Ping is just uninterested in being a commentator. Saint Yuan didnât personally invite him."
"Tsk, why donât young people like being in the spotlight nowadays? Back in my youth, the scene... I must say, I find the young fellow quite intriguing."
The white-browed elder shook his head in self-reflection, then added casually:
"Itâs just, in certain aspects, heâs a bit too arrogant."
"Su Ping has the capital to be arrogant."
It was Sang Sheng who spoke this time, her eyes curved as she seemingly imagined Su Ping chatting intimately with her elder granddaughter in the contestantsâ seating.
"Tsk, such capital is indeed not something the average person can claim."
The white-browed elder spoke again, his words carrying a deep meaning.
Sang Sheng remained indifferent, but Leng Ye sneered coldly:
"Only old guys like you still think that in todayâs Dragon Nation, without you, or even us, no one could rise up from among you.
The decay of family origins stems from this; the Chen Family, if unchanged, will become no different from the Wang Family once Old Chenâs time ends!
Hoping to produce another Azure Dragon for your grandchildren? Forget one, even three or five wonât be enough!"
The white-browed elder didnât seem to mind Leng Yeâs disdain, seemingly accustomed to this youthful and radical Ghost Saintâs foul mouth.
He merely smiled:
"Itâs all the same, whether dynasty or family, in the end, itâs all the same. Su Ping, Ah Sang, and others whoâve surfaced in recent years, when their descendants become numerous, the future will be the same.
In this world, apart from the great Dragon Ancestor herself and the current Divine Dragon, who can truly achieve that state?
So, the future of the Chen Family is a matter for the descendants; thinking too much is exhausting."
Clearly, Saint Yuan was open-minded about it. After giving it some thought, he turned to the main issue of that visit:
"Speaking of it, is the Divine Dragon seriously planning to let this yearâs top contender take on the task? Isnât it a bit rash?"
Upon hearing this, the three present frowned, but remained silent.
Having followed the orders from above all these years, theyâre accustomed to obedience.
Leng Ye shook his head:
"Itâs not something to be completed in a short time, merely an idea. Last time, Flame Venerableâs revival... the situation was rather special, and now with Water Venerableâs revival, certain unusual circumstances in the Endless Sea Domain indeed require close attention!
Therefore, this timeâs winner will undoubtedly be the strongest young Beastmaster, should particularly rare opportunities arise.
Of course, thereâll be others accompanying when the time comes."
The four fell into silence together, none of them speaking further.
On the contrary, Leng Ye looked back at Su Ping with a furrowed brow growing tighter:
He couldnât help but admit, he may not get along with Old Chen, yet the elder made a distinctly accurate point.
People are hypocritical and protective by nature.
If possible, Leng Ye naturally wouldnât want his kin to face any threats.
Thus, after pondering, he directly instructed the few standing behind him:
"Go, bring Su Ping over, say I asked for him. I have matters to discuss."
Lu Guangming was taken aback, cautiously eyeing his superior. Noticing no discernible change, he hurriedly nodded:
"Yes!"
This time, it was Vice President Lu himself who went.
Once he left, the white-browed elder chuckled without saying more, yet the intended meaning beneath his laughter was evident.
Leng Yeâs face turned more stern, although he added another remark:
"Considering Su Pingâs accomplishments in breeding, thereâs no need nor possibility for him to bear such a risk! Besides, he has proper tasks to fulfill!"
The white-browed elder promptly nodded with a smile:
"Right, I understand, I get it."
Leng Ye glanced over, struggling to resist throwing a punch at the old geezer, took a deep breath.
Meanwhile, Su Ping, still comfortably seated, preparing to watch the approaching match with Qin Xiaoxue, spotted the obviously determined Vice President Lu walking toward them.
Su Ping and Qin Xiaoxue exchanged an incredulous glance:
"Why would he come personally just for such a minor matter?"