Chapter 607: Closer to the Divine

Twilight.

Lu Ran shed his black-gold imperial robe, changed into a simpler white one, and headed for the residence of the Xun-Luo couple located within the cliff—the Xun-Luo Abode.

Draped in the beautiful sunset glow, he tidied his thoughts, suppressed his aura as much as possible, and then activated a teleportation mirror inside the small courtyard.

Soon, the Xun-Luo couple walked out from the mirror.

The mother held their son, the father held their daughter; it was a picture of perfect happiness!

What wasn't perfect was...

The children suddenly burst into loud wails!

"My precious, shh~ it's okay, it's okay." Xiang Luoying held her six-year-old son, her tone gentle as she hurriedly coaxed him.

Xun Yifei was similarly coaxing his daughter, who had been frightened to tears: "The big brother is a good person..."

Lu Ran was at a loss; amidst the waves of crying, he didn't even dare to speak, and his figure vanished instantly.

Leaving the family of four in the courtyard.

Even so, it took the father and mother quite a while of soothing to calm their two children down.

Children only six or seven years old were clearly unable to withstand the pressure of a strange, Sea Realm powerhouse.

Even though Lu Ran was friendly and tried his best to suppress his aura, it was still useless.

His very existence would cause weak creatures to feel instinctive fear.

The Xun-Luo couple also proved a fact with their actions: only the unconditional love of parents for their children could resist the unseen rules and break through the constraints of the laws of the God-Demon World.

"The Sect Master won't be angry, will he?" Xiang Luoying wiped the tear tracks from her son's face, her heart aching, and turned to look at her husband.

"He won't." Xun Yifei shook his head, comforting his wife.

It had been a long time; everyone had seen Lu Ran's temperament and various actions with their own eyes.

Xiang Luoying held her son, gently rocking him: "I'll go to the Cloud Sea Abode in a while to apologize to him."

Suddenly, a gentle voice came from nearby: "That won't be necessary."

The Xun-Luo pair felt their hearts tighten, and they subconsciously turned to look.

The stone table and stools in the corner of the small courtyard were empty, yet the young man's voice had come clearly from there.

Lu Ran hadn't left?

His figure disappearing—it wasn't teleporting away, but turning invisible?

"Sect Master?" Xiang Luoying called out softly.

Xun Yifei was horrified; he had been at home taking care of the children recently and didn't know when the Sect Master had acquired such a technique.

Xun Yifei had long been mentally prepared for Lu Ran's strength, but at this moment, seeing Lu Ran exist in such a form...

As a father and a husband, his heart beat violently with unease!

"They've grown a bit taller since the last time I saw them," Lu Ran said in a low voice.

"Mm?" The little boy, eyes filled with tears, looked over curiously.

The little girl opened her large eyes and looked toward the empty stone table as well, and immediately, her tightly pursed lips opened once more:

"Waa..."

Lu Ran: "..."

Sorry to bother you.

I'd better go.

Lu Ran bid farewell and, this time, he truly left.

When he appeared again, he was already sitting on the edge of the sea cliff, his lower legs dangling over the side.

"Sigh."

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Ran let out a long sigh.

If one day he could truly return to Da Xia, how would he survive?

Human society probably couldn't withstand his existence.

Even if believers made up the majority of the population, the people living there were mostly Jiang Jing and below.

Had his friends like Deng Yutang, Tian Tian, and Chang Ying advanced to the River Estuary Realm?

Regardless of whether they had advanced, could they still face him as they did before?

He would only be able to follow in his mother's footsteps, guarding a mountain year-round, and bid a final farewell to his past life.

To imagine petting Little Li Hua like he did in high school—that was probably just a luxury now...

"Hoo~"

The sea breeze blew gently.

Lu Ran raised his hand, smoothed his hair ruffled by the wind, and smiled to himself.

His future self would only be stronger, his presence even more overwhelming.

Therefore,

Even if he returned to the human world, he would no longer belong to it.

Truly a sad reality.

"Master." A female voice came from behind.

Lu Ran turned his head slightly, listening.

"You are very dejected," Yan Shuangzi said softly.

Lu Ran remained silent, not responding.

Yan Shuangzi pondered for a moment and comforted him softly: "They are just too young; they will be fine when they grow up a bit."

Lu Ran laughed: "Guess which is faster—them growing up, or me advancing?"

Yan Shuangzi: "..."

Lu Ran looked out at the sea again: "Do you think there is an artifact in this world that can hide one's own aura?"

It wasn't that he had to be friends with the two little ones.

He just wanted to return to Rain Alley City and live as he once did, to feel the human warmth of his hometown again.

But clearly, that path was already severed.

Yan Shuangzi thought for a moment and replied: "Since there are artifacts like the Ink Jade Tiger Talisman that increase presence, there should be artifacts that hide aura."

"That makes sense!" Lu Ran nodded lightly.

Holy Lingshan was so vast, and there were many divine weapons and artifacts; who knew if he might stumble upon one?

Lu Ran thought to himself and slowly stood up: "I'm heading back. We set off south tomorrow morning; you return to the Evil Shadow Abode tonight and get some good rest."

Yan Shuangzi didn't say a word.

Lu Ran ignored her silent protest and vanished in a flicker.

The next second, he felt a hint of chill.

Clear frost permeated the air, mixed with specks of falling plum blossoms, drifting with a faint, secluded fragrance.

Lu Ran stood before the wardrobe in the bedroom, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The scent of plum blossoms.

He enjoyed it for a moment, his mood improving significantly, then walked around the screen to the bedroom window and looked out.

He saw two tall figures in the courtyard, each more elegant and graceful than the other.

Fairy Jiang was practicing sword dancing.

As a sword master, her fundamentals were impeccable, and she learned very smoothly.

Leng Xuanshuang taught very earnestly, her body dusted with frost and plum blossoms, her dance movements graceful yet sorrowful.

"No peeking!" Jiang Ruyi discovered the figure behind the window and stopped her movements immediately.

Lu Ran: "..."

Jiang Ruyi simply sheathed her sword: "That's it for today, go back."

"Yes, My Lady." Leng Xuanshuang responded respectfully, bowed to Lu Ran behind the window, and turned to leave.

She didn't have her own residence yet and was currently living with Si Xianxian.

"Don't!" Lu Ran said, dissatisfied.

Jiang Ruyi walked toward the door, completely cutting off Lu Ran's hopes.

She entered the bedroom, saw Lu Ran's unhappy expression, and couldn't help but curl her lips, asking directly:

"Did you pick up the children?"

"Mm."

"How was it?"

"I overestimated myself," Lu Ran shrugged helplessly.

Jiang Ruyi's smile softened; she came to Lu Ran's side, her tone very gentle: "This is not your fault."

She could understand why Lu Ran was struggling and feeling sorrowful.

The higher a person stands, the less they can hear the suffering of the masses below.

The closer to the divine, the further from humanity.

Yet Lu Ran was special.

From the moment he advanced to the River Estuary Realm, he had "skipped class" and hadn't undergone a massive shift in mentality.

His humanity remained intact.

To this day,

he is far closer to being a god than anyone else, yet he is also closer to being human than the great River and Sea experts of this world.

This point is undoubtedly a great fortune for the human race!

After all, Lu Ran is the existence who will overthrow the rule of gods and demons and become the brand-new "Cloud Sea."

"Don't think about those things anymore." Jiang Ruyi said, linking her arm with his and changing the subject, "I just had a chat with Leng Xuanshuang."

"Chat about what?" Lu Ran said casually.

"Her path of cultivation has reached its end; her talent is not enough to allow her to go any further." Jiang Ruyi stated a cruel fact.

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Leng Xuanshuang is, after all, a disciple of a Fifth-Grade God; being able to reach the Fourth Stage of the Jiang Jing is already quite good.

If she hadn't met Lu Ran, she would likely have been stuck at this rank for a lifetime.

Lu Ran naturally possesses the method to defy the heavens and change fate.

He can have her bind with a stone sculpture, thereby improving her cultivation aptitude.

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said, "After I take the Eight Desolations Blade and defeat our opponent, we will find time to make a trip to the north."

The lair of the Demon Ice Plum Queen is in the northern part of the Holy Lingshan.

It is in the snow-covered mountain forest.

Jiang Ruyi asked, "It's been three or four days; where has the other party reached?"

Lu Ran pondered, "According to the location information provided by Eight Desolations, I have a premonition."

"What is it?"

"We and the other party will meet at Thousand Flower Ridge."

A few words:

1. Ever since the day Lu Ran set out, the Eight Desolations Blade has never returned to Cloud Sea Cliff.

Lu Ran returned home twice, very cautiously; once he had Eight Desolations stay at Wolf Bone Stronghold, and once he had Eight Desolations stay at Wolf Flower Stronghold.

2. The issue of the Thousand Bone Body twisting bones and pulling skin and flesh is described very clearly in the divine technique: on the basis of special bones, it provides protection to the skin, flesh, and internal organs.

Stop talking about exposing information, stop obsessing over the skin and flesh issue; everything is explained very clearly in the text. (Scratches head)

(End of chapter)