After arriving at Emperor Village, Lu Ran and Qiao Yuansi hailed a cab and returned to their home, also located in the north of the city.

The residential community had a pleasant name—Immortal Scenic Garden.

Inside the community, it was indeed serene and tastefully quiet, but the so-called "immortal scenery" didn't refer to these mundane landscapes.

Rather, while residing here, you really could behold the divine presence of Divine·Sword One!

Like Divine·Beifeng, beneath Lord Sword One's feet, there was also an ancient city brimming with antique charm.

The city had a rather domineering name: Jiantianque City.

Jiantianque City was situated on the eastern side of the Immortal Scenic Garden community.

It is worth mentioning that most of the residents in the Immortal Scenic Garden were Sword One Sect's disciples or the families of Sword One's believers.

So, every morning, figures would appear on the balconies of various households throughout the community.

People would gaze towards the east and toward that towering figure beneath the rising sun, and would kneel in sincere worship.

Hmm... It's sort of a unique landscape born from special geographical conditions.

In his earlier days, Lu Ran too, under his mother's insistence, would gaze towards Jiantianque City along with her and pray in worship.

Even though the Sword One sect didn't accept male disciples, this didn't stop his mother from fantasizing...

"Ah~"

Inside room 1501 in a residential building in the southeast part of the community, Qiao Yuansi let out an odd intonation.

She stretched fiercely and with a relaxed body declared, "Finally home at last!"

Lu Ran surveyed the room's decor, which hadn't changed much from his memory.

Compared to his father, his mother's living conditions were much better.

In Rain Alley City, he and his father lived in an old, shabby house that was both small and run-down.

Then look at his mother's place!

A 160-square meter flat, with four rooms, one living room, double balconies, clear from north to south, with excellent lighting, and with the presence of divinity just on the balcony.

It was simply too good!

Clearly, ever since his parents divorced and his mother returned to Beijing, her standard of living had skyrocketed.

Little Yuanxi once mentioned that when she and her mother first returned to Beijing, life was not so affluent.

But, after years of struggle and with increasing contributions to the Sword One sect, she got everything she deserved.

Eventually, she moved into this special, upscale community with Little Yuanxi.

This also showed from another angle just how nostalgic Lu Ran was and how strong-willed he was.

Keep in mind, after their father's death, Lu Ran was taken in by his mother, and they lived together for three years.

During these three years, Lu Ran certainly enjoyed everything here.

As the saying goes: It's hard to transition from luxury to frugality.

Yet, Lu Ran stubbornly left, leaving such a favorable living environment behind.

He returned alone to his rainy hometown and moved into the childhood "old shabby small."

Thinking of this, Lu Ran's expression turned somewhat odd.

When he left, although his mother was powerful, she didn't seem to occupy any particularly important position within the sect.

Yet, this time returning, and by chance, Lu Ran had the fortune of visiting Jinghong Peak.

From the reactions of the many Sword One disciples, his mother's status seemed rather high?

Did this mean that in the years he had been gone, his mother had risen high in the ranks, becoming powerful and influential?

"Dammit."

Lu Ran slapped his forehead.

Am I being a burden?

No, it's not just me!

Lu Ran thought of his deceased father.

Weren't we both burdens?

After all, before their parents divorced, his mother always followed his father, living together in the "old shabby small"...

"What's wrong?" Qiao Yuansi curiously looked at her brother.

"Nothing." Lu Ran waved his hand dismissively.

Hopefully, it was just a case of accumulated effort finally paying off for his mother.

If her career had been stagnant because she was caring for him...

Then Lu Ran would indeed feel quite guilty.

Hmm... but that's probably not the case.

After all, while Lu Ran was living here, his mother was also very busy.

With this thought, Lu Ran relaxed slightly.

"Brother! Brother?" Qiao Yuansi reached out with her little hand and waved it in front of Lu Ran's face, "Why are you always in a daze?"

"It's been too long since I last came back," Lu Ran replied offhandedly.

"I've already cleaned up your room for you!" Qiao Yuansi looked at Lu Ran with beaming eyes, with an air of 'please praise me.'

"Thank you." Lu Ran patted Little Yuanxi on the head and, knowing the way, headed to the southeast bedroom.

"Oh, right, brother!" Qiao Yuansi reminded him, "Don't forget to pay respects to the divine."

"Okay." Lu Ran nodded.

He first went to his mother's bedroom, then Little Yuanxi's bedroom, and paid respects to both Divine·Sword One and Divine·Lantern.

He thought back to last New Year's Eve when, not yet a believer, Lu Ran had been brought by his mother to kneel before Divine·Sword One's Divine Sculpture.

The Lu Ran of today, however, stood firm.

He didn't stay long in their bedrooms, and after saying "Excuse me," he left.

When he returned to his own small bedroom, Lu Ran saw the toy placed on the bed.

It was a cartoon toy in the shape of a hamburger.

Obviously, Little Yuanxi had put it there, as if deliberately reminding him of something...

"Heh." Lu Ran couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

...

In the following days, Lu Ran took Little Yuanxi out for burgers every noon.

Truthfully, Lu Ran was about to tire of them, but Little Yuanxi seemed happier day by day.

According to her theory, she wasn't eating food, but memories.

The warmth of that night, when she had been punished by their mother to kneel and was hungry in the middle of the night, and her brother had secretly brought her comfort.

Wow~

Little Yuanxi, not even 17 years old, already started reminiscing.

However, Lu Ran had no place to judge his sister, as he too was someone often lost in memories.

During these days at home, Lu Ran accompanied Little Yuanxi in catching up on TV dramas, often went shopping, and bought various New Year goods.

Well... really just a bunch of snacks.

Life seemed to go back to how it was before, something Qiao Yuansi had long dreamt of.

The only difference was that even when watching TV dramas, there was always mist swirling around Lu Ran's body.

Not to mention that just on the east side of Immortal Scenic Garden, there was Jiantianque City, and right in their home, there were two Divine Sculptures.

The cultivation environment, of course, was very good.

This also elicited complaints from Little Yuanxi, who said her brother had changed and was no longer focused on keeping her company.

After all, when you're engrossed in a TV show, and suddenly a wisp of fog floats past your face, it's really quite annoying...

Soon, the time came to New Year's Eve.

That morning, Lu Ran woke up early, preparing to tidy up the house again to welcome their mother home.

Just as he was cleaning the coffee table in the living room, he felt a surge of energy fluctuation.

"Hm?" Lu Ran turned his head toward the northwest direction; it was his sister's bedroom.

Lu Ran's heart leaped with joy!

Was Little Yuanxi about to ascend in rank? She was at Stream Realm·Fifth Rank, poised for a breakthrough at any moment.

Or was it... Divine·Lantern in a good mood, blessing the disciples?

"Yoohoo~!" A cheer came from inside the room.

Immediately after, the door was flung open.

There Little Yuanxi appeared wearing a pink nightgown, barefoot, her face beaming with joy as she ran out: "Brother!"

Lu Ran, watching his sister adorned with Immortal Fog, immediately asked, "About to ascend?"

"Haha!" Little Yuanxi, brimming with joy, skipped towards Lu Ran, ready to hurl herself into his arms.

Lu Ran quickly got to his feet to catch the human cannonball, to avoid being knocked to the ground.

"Today is New Year's Eve!" Little Yuanxi was ecstatic, her cheeks rosy, "Just now, when I was paying respects to Lord Lantern, I made a special wish.

I wished that mom, you, and I would always be together...

Then I started to ascend!"

Lu Ran was utterly stunned.

On one hand, he felt a warm heart, grateful for having such a cute and family-loving sister.

On the other hand...

Is that how you treat an ascension?

"Yoohoo~" Little Yuanxi celebrated, popping champagne like mad.

Perhaps because she might ascend to the River Realm, she was too excited. She leaned close to Lu Ran's cheek and planted a hard kiss:

"Mua~"

"You..." Lu Ran looked at the girl, feeling both amused and annoyed.

Where most would grasp a sudden "flash of inspiration" tightly and make the most of the chance,

You on the other hand, didn't even stay in front of the Divine Sculpture to ascend, but came out celebrating?

"Stop celebrating and concentrate on ascending!" Lu Ran said sternly, his face serious, "If you miss this chance, who knows how long you'll have to wait!"

"I'm sharing the joy with you!" Little Yuanxi rebuffed, then giggled and darted back to her room.

She seemed to transform into a football player, even performing a goal celebration slide on her knees.

With a "plop,"

Little Yuanxi hadn't even entered her room before she knelt down, sliding towards the Divine Sculpture.

While sliding, her hands together in prayer, her figure halted steadily in front of the Divine Sculpture, and she instantly entered a state of bowed head and prayer.

It was oh so smooth~

Watching this, Lu Ran was utterly dumbfounded!

Truthfully, it's no wonder Little Yuanxi was often scolded by their mother, with that kind of action...

Lu Ran helplessly shook his head and tiptoed to the front of his sister's room, gently closing the door.

"Click~"

Just as he closed that door, the security door on the other side opened.

Lu Ran quickly walked over and saw the figure of their mother.

"Mom, Little Yuanxi is ascending," Lu Ran said in a low voice, stooping down to fetch her slippers.

"Oh?" Qiao Wanjun glanced down at Lu Ran, allowing her son to help her with her shoes, and teased, "Seems like you should come back more often."

Lu Ran paused for a moment.

It seemed that Little Yuanxi's sudden insight indeed unfolded with the wish that "the three of us will always be together."

Seeing that her son didn't speak, Qiao Wanjun asked, "Has she been mischievous these past few days?"

"No, Little Yuanxi has been good," Lu Ran finally responded.

"Hmm." Qiao Wanjun softly replied, stepping into the house, "I'll go freshen up.

Later, will you accompany me to Jiantianque?"

"Mom, I..." Lu Ran hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Qiao Wanjun stopped and turned to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran: "I'd rather stay home with Little Yuanxi."

Qiao Wanjun: "What she needs is quietness, not company."

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then said, "I am now an Immortal Sheep Believer; it wouldn't be right for me to go to another divine being's main city."

Due to his experience in Beifeng City last time, Lu Ran didn't want to cause any trouble for his mother.

For the sake of family, Lu Ran could of course bring his palms together, bow his head in reverence.

But the current Lu Ran, influenced by Lord Immortal Goat, had developed a hint of different feelings towards the divine beings. If he could avoid meeting the deity in person, it was best to do so.

Qiao Wanjun stared intently into Lu Ran's eyes, her voice gentle, "Is that so?"

Those eyes, as if they could see through Lu Ran's soul.

Lu Ran kept silent, avoiding her gaze.

Qiao Wanjun stepped forward and, with a gentle hand, lifted Lu Ran's face to meet her eyes,

"Tomorrow is the first day of the new year, and there will be a festival in the city. Don't you want to join me like in the previous years?"

Lu Ran: "..."

After a while, Qiao Wanjun sighed softly, "It seems you've realized the issue.

That's why, at the God Worship Platform that time, you attracted the Evil Demon Yan Zhi."

Lu Ran's heart tightened.

Since this June, mother and son had never discussed this matter face-to-face.

Following the God Worship event, his mother hadn't mentioned the Evil Demon when calling him, only gently soothing Lu Ran.

"So..." Qiao Wanjun's palm remained gentle, her thumb caressing Lu Ran's cheek, "this is why you can only attract one deity, Immortal Sheep."

"Mom, I..."

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