Invincible Dad-Chapter 567 - 467_1

"It’s not surprising." Xu Lai shook his head.

In his one hundred thousand years, he had seen countless people. Some swore to become a brilliant sun, illuminating mountains and rivers for thousands of miles and becoming a unique existence. Others wanted to be just one of the countless stars in the sky, not needing to be too bright or conspicuous, only requiring that they had once existed. That was enough for them.

Then there were the Saint Heirs and Goddesses from the Tao Lineages and Holy Lands, which had passed down their traditions for tens of epochs. They possessed extraordinary talents and lofty positions, were enveloped in innumerable halos, and were the targets of pursuit for the younger generation in the Immortal Domain. But no one knew the truth. This group, destined for soaring success, bore tremendous pressure. Many of them were tired of the deceit and schemes of the Cultivation World. Yet, because they shouldered the countless lives of their Sect Gate, they could only press forward on the path of Cultivation, a road with no retreat.

Most of them would merely become part of the background, for while there are thousands upon thousands of prodigies in the Immortal Domain, only one can become emperor. These chosen ones did not live according to their own will but were like puppets on a string, controlled by their Sect or their Master. However, once they rose to positions of great power and authority, they would no longer be the puppets but the puppeteers.

If they could choose, at least a third of these Saint Heirs and Goddesses, who were so dazzling in the eyes of ordinary Cultivators, would wish to be ordinary people, to find someone they loved and live an unremarkable life.

Therefore, while Xu Lai felt a pang of regret that Ruan Tang was unwilling to cultivate, he would respect his wife’s decision.

...

Hearing Xu Lai’s response, Ruan Tang smiled gently. "I’ve always liked peace and quiet, even as a child. Ruan Lan, on the other hand, always dreamed of being a chivalrous and respected heroine, which is why she learned Taekwondo."

"Being a heroine sounds exhausting." Xu Lai sat down beside Ruan Tang. "There’s nothing wrong with being an ordinary person."

Ruan Tang leaned against him and whispered, "But I also know that it’s impossible for me not to cultivate at all. I want to spend more time with Yiyi, and with you."

"Let’s just wait a few more years and live a simple life for a while longer, then I’ll start cultivating. How does that sound?" Ruan Tang’s voice was very soft and gentle.

"It’s up to you." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Inside the storage ring Xu Lai had given Ruan Tang, besides the Emperor Artifact Qingfeng Sword, were various Elixirs, Formations, and spiritual treasures. Among them was a Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill. Consuming it would instantly elevate a person to the Immortal Venerable Realm, granting them a lifespan of 100,000 years.

This was the only one Xu Lai possessed, and it couldn’t be more perfect for Ruan Tang, especially when combined with the other life-extending Elixirs and Spirit Plants. For the next 150,000 years, as long as Xu Lai was not dead, Ruan Tang could live her life exactly as she wished.

Of course, Xu Lai didn’t mention any of this. He didn’t want to give Ruan Tang too much pressure. It was enough that he alone knew these things.

"Honey," Ruan Tang suddenly called out.

"Hmm?"

"Honey~"

"...Why are you suddenly being so sweet?" Xu Lai shivered.

The first "Honey" had sounded normal enough, but the second one was so coquettish it sent a pleasant shiver to his very bones.

"I’ve been having the strangest dreams recently," Ruan Tang paused, her gaze fixed on Xu Lai. "I dream that you’re leaving me. I chase and chase, but I can never catch up to you."

"You silly woman," Xu Lai said earnestly. "I will never abandon you and Yiyi in this life. Unless, of course, you two don’t want me anymore."

"And what if I don’t want you anymore? What will you do then?"

"I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth and bring you back," Xu Lai declared with absolute dominance. "You are my wife, Xu Lai’s wife! You are in this life, and you will be in the next. I won’t allow you to leave me!"

"Fine, it’s a deal then." Ruan Tang reached out and pinched his nose, her lips curving into a smile. "You’d better not lose me, mister."

"Woman, you’re making me hungry."

"If you’re hungry, then go eat."

"I don’t want to eat food. I want to eat strawberries."

"..."

Ruan Tang understood his hidden meaning. She blushed and chided him softly, "No way. I’m hungry, and I want to eat a real meal."

"Then let’s hold a meeting to discuss what we should eat."

The wind atop the mountain peak was somewhat boisterous, causing the tent, which should have been incredibly sturdy, to sway back and forth. Carried on the wind was the sweet, plaintive cry of an oriole, a beautiful and moving sound.

...

「On the other side, at Sea Temple Island.」

At eight o’clock in the evening, the waters around the island were filled with ships, all carrying Martial Artists. A sea of heads bobbed as everyone craned their necks to look toward the island.

However, aside from a few Ninth Grade Great Martial Sects and the five Divine Gate Realm powerhouses, the other Martial Artists’ Divine Sense was not powerful enough to see the legendary swordsman at the island’s center. Naturally, they also couldn’t see the Demon Sword that was triggering the heavenly tribulation! All they could see were the tribulation clouds flashing overhead, with bolt after bolt of Heavenly Thunder crashing down.

Just then, Xu Wandao finally arrived.

He didn’t stop on a boat like the other Martial Artists but walked across the surface of the sea to the island. Many of the buildings at the island’s core had already been blasted into ruins by the Heavenly Thunder.

From a hundred meters away, his eyes burning with fury, Xu Wandao roared, "Deng Xiaoyao, what is the meaning of bringing the Demon Sword here today?!"

Deng Xiaoyao, who had kept his eyes closed this entire time, finally opened them. He said in a hoarse voice, "I’ve come to kill someone."

"Your grandson Deng Shu’s death had nothing to do with Senior Xu Lai!"

"I know. It was Xu Lai’s daughter who killed my grandson, and I also know that my grandson brought it all upon himself."

Deng Xiaoyao said, his back hunched, "The Cultivation World is just that cruel. If you set out to kill, you must be prepared to die. I don’t blame Xu Lai or his daughter."

"Then why are you here today!" Xu Wandao demanded.

"I know what happened, but that doesn’t mean I won’t avenge my grandson. The two are separate matters."

Deng Xiaoyao spoke calmly, "Xu Wandao, I am only humoring you with this conversation out of respect for your ancestor, Senior Xu Yanyang. Don’t try to persuade me any further, or you will find my sword to be merciless."

"..."

Xu Wandao clenched his teeth, seething with frustration. He was about to say more when several Divine Gate Realm powerhouses called him back from off the island.

"Young Xu, come back, come back."

A white-haired old woman stood hovering in the void. Her name was Wang Fang, a very common name, yet her hands were stained with the blood of countless members of the Moon Clan.

Although Wang Fang was not one of the Watchmen, her strength was terrifyingly immense. She had a prominent reputation in Chang’an, but few in the Martial Dao World knew of her. She was a hidden guardian of Hua Country.

"Greetings, Seniors."

Seething with frustration, Xu Wandao flew before the five Divine Gate Realm powerhouses and performed a Martial Dao salute.

A teenage girl with freckles on her face smiled amiably at him from the sky. "Hello, Uncle Xu."

Xu Wandao replied seriously, "In the Martial Dao, the accomplished are the teachers. Senior Zhang, you can simply call me Young Xu."

Zhang Suzi felt helpless. A young girl like her was supposed to call a man in his fifties or sixties ’Young Xu’? Xu Wandao might not mind the age gap, but she certainly minded sounding so old.

"It’s fine," Zhang Suzi said seriously. "We can just stick to our own forms of address. You call me Senior, and I’ll call you Uncle. There’s no conflict."

Xu Wandao: "..."

"Suzi, stop fooling around," a blind old man said in a deep voice.

Zhang Suzi stuck out her tongue and fell silent.

This grandfather-granddaughter duo was none other than Zhang Henshui of the Noon Hour and Zhang Suzi of the Afternoon Hour. They were also the young cashier and the storyteller from the teahouse in the corner of Yuhua Alley.

"Seniors, if we join forces, do we have a chance of containing Deng Xiaoyao?" Xu Wandao asked.

"Difficult," Wang Fang, the Divine Gate Realm expert, said, shaking her head.

"Deng Xiaoyao has re-emerged after seventy years. I’m afraid he has long since crossed the threshold of the Divine Gate Realm. We are no match for him."

Zhang Henshui also sounded regretful. Though he was blind, his dark, empty sockets suddenly turned toward Xu Wandao. "Young Xu, will Xu Lai... come to answer the challenge?"