"Senior Long Xiaoyao, the way you're putting it... 'Drink today's wine today; worry about tomorrow tomorrow.' I can't let something that hasn't even happened yet spoil my mood, can I? Besides, even if I were to die later, wouldn't it be all the more reason to enjoy life while I still can?"
"There's some sense in that," Long Xiaoyao chuckled. His nature was a mix of righteousness and wickedness, and Qian Ran's attitude resonated with him.
This young rascal, Qian Ran, had experienced pleasures in his short life that ordinary people couldn't attain in hundreds of lifetimes. Even if he died, it might still be worth it.
Frankly, Long Xiaoyao dared not imagine that if Ye Xishui ever treated him as tenderly as she treated others, he might truly die with a smile on his face.
Alas, such a thing was impossible in this lifetime.
Ye Xishui's personality was far too strong. She could never be as gentle as those other women.
"Why don't the two of you seniors find us a high-end restaurant first? It's too crowded and chaotic here, and you don't seem like the type to let me go quickly," Qian Ran suggested. At first, encountering these two Ultimate Douluo had unnerved him, but now he felt quite at ease.
Unless Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao struck him down on the spot, he could easily slip away.
"You've got some nerve, don't you? You're really willing to follow us?" Long Xiaoyao's admiration for Qian Ran grew. What a pity. If this kid could be drawn into the Holy Spirit Cult, he might have been an excellent addition.
After all, this kid's martial soul was quite sinister.
"Do I have any other choice?" Qian Ran shrugged helplessly.
"You're smart. Don't worry, we won't harm you," Long Xiaoyao reassured him, patting his shoulder before grabbing hold of him. In an instant, the three of them vanished from the spot.
About ten seconds later, the trio appeared in an upscale restaurant.
During the brief journey, Long Xiaoyao had secretly examined Qian Ran's body, and what he discovered surprised him. Qian Ran's foundation was extraordinary. He appeared to be at the Soul King level, but his actual soul power likely surpassed most Soul Sages. Furthermore, his physical fitness was almost freakish. Most astonishing of all, Qian Ran radiated an overwhelming vitality—something Long Xiaoyao himself deeply lacked.
Long Xiaoyao was old. His body was like decaying wood. After all, he was from the same generation as Mu En.
Seeing the vitality brimming within Qian Ran made him envious.
Even when he was young, Long Xiaoyao's body wasn't as robust as Qian Ran's. No wonder this young man couldn't stay away from women. With such a potent, masculine physique, he likely needed regular release. Even if Qian Ran wanted to live a chaste life, it would be difficult. One woman might not even be able to handle his energy.
"What kind of miracle elixir did you consume, boy?" Long Xiaoyao asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice. His gaze flitted to Ye Xishui's face. Despite her well-maintained appearance, faint traces of aging still showed.
This was because Ye Xishui was forcibly sustaining her bodily functions with her strength. If she ever stopped, her body might wither overnight.
Aging, sickness, and death were unavoidable for mortals, and Ultimate Douluo were no exception. Only by becoming a god could one truly escape the cycle of life and death.
Ye Xishui, like Long Xiaoyao, had discreetly examined Qian Ran's body and was equally shocked. Aging was a constant drain on life force, and for people like her and Long Xiaoyao—approaching their twilight years—Qian Ran's youthful vigor felt like an impossible luxury.
"It's something called the Golden Essence of Life. There's only one in the entire continent, and I've already absorbed it. It's gone now," Qian Ran replied plainly.
"You lucky little devil!" Long Xiaoyao immediately understood what the item was just from the name. He now looked at Qian Ran with thinly veiled resentment. This kid had talent, romantic luck, and extraordinary opportunities. Was he some kind of illegitimate child of heaven?
"Oh, it's not bad." Qian Ran found a place to sit, completely unfazed by the presence of two Ultimate Douluo.
"Well, seniors, if you have questions, just ask. I'll answer what I can."
"You…"
"Does the Spirit Hall still exist? Is your Spirit Sect just the Spirit Hall?" Ye Xishui hesitated before asking. She and Long Xiaoyao, as powerful individuals, were not strangers to the legends of ten thousand years ago.
At their level, they had access to details about that ancient war most people could never know.
Godhood was a realm every Ultimate Douluo dreamed of.
"You could say that. The Spirit Sect is indeed the Spirit Hall, though it's far from its former glory," Qian Ran said knowingly. He was well aware of the Holy Spirit Cult's strength.
There was no need to mention Ye Xishui, the Supreme Leader, or Long Xiaoyao, the Chief Worshipper. The Holy Spirit Cult's leader, Zhongli Wu, and vice leader, Feng Ling, were both immensely powerful Super Douluo. In addition, the cult had numerous elders and worshippers. With over a dozen titled Douluo, their strength was terrifying.
This formidable alliance with the Sun Moon Empire was what gave Xu Tianran the audacity to wage war.
"I can't believe it's true."
"So Mu En died at your hands?" Ye Xishui suddenly asked coldly.
"Uh, that had nothing to do with me. He was the one who tried to kill me. He didn't have many years left to live, and after one final battle, he was done for," Qian Ran explained carefully. He knew how close Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui had been to Mu En, especially Ye Xishui, whose relationship with him was unusually close. Thus, Qian Ran tried to shift the blame onto Mu En.
"I had a grudge against his descendant, Bei Bei. Mu En was worried I'd target Bei Bei after he was gone, so he tried to eliminate me first," Qian Ran continued.
"I see." Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui exchanged glances, tacitly accepting Qian Ran's explanation. They knew that Mu En had been gravely injured during the battle with the Body Sect's Poison. Given that Qian Ran was connected to the Spirit Hall, even a weakened version of it could still produce Ultimate Douluo.
The two of them felt a deep sadness in their hearts. Once, they had all been close, but fate had driven them apart.
Ye Xishui, in particular, was acutely aware that the misunderstandings between Long Xiaoyao and Mu En had been orchestrated by the previous cult leader—her design.
Still, they didn't hold Qian Ran responsible. They understood that Mu En would have been safe if he had stayed in the Sea God Pavilion. If something had happened, it was as Qian Ran said. After so many years, they had grown detached.
"Does your Spirit Sect still possess the Angelic God's inheritance?" Ye Xishui shifted the conversation to a topic she truly cared about.
The secret of godhood.
The path to godhood had been severed since the days of old. In the later years, those who became gods were all related to the Tang family. Descendants of Tang San descended to the mortal realm, and Tang San distributed divine opportunities to his family's allies, building his faction.
Anyone else dreaming of ascension? Forget it.
Ye Xishui wasn't concerned about the Spirit Hall itself. That was a force from ten thousand years ago; even if it had retained its strength, the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire were formidable enough to contend with any power.
What truly interested her was the possibility of a divine inheritance.
At their level, immortality was a universal desire.
(Chapter End)