Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 576 The difference between immortals and mortals
Xiao Jie, shirtless, slowly emerged from the billowing dust. His bronze skin still bore traces of sweat, and his muscles were smooth and powerful. The fiery red light emanating from his body had faded, but upon closer inspection, one could occasionally see a sharp, golden glint, like that of a golden crow, flashing deep within his pupils. But that glint was fleeting, disappearing completely before returning to the deep black eyes of a human.

Immediately afterwards, An Ran also stepped out from behind him.

Her expression was complex, a mixture of exhaustion, satisfaction, shyness, and a hint of bewilderment. Her clothes were badly scorched by the earlier out-of-control flames, revealing her fair skin underneath, making her look somewhat disheveled, yet also exuding a languid air as if after a storm.

Xiao Jie turned around and glanced at her, a smile naturally appearing on his lips, carrying a hint of apology, a touch of relief, and an indescribable sense of closeness.

An Ran immediately snorted coldly and turned her head away, seemingly not wanting to pay attention to him, but her ears turned slightly red.

"So what exactly is going on here?" Her voice sounded muffled, carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance and uncertainty.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Jie suddenly felt a mischievous urge and grinned, deliberately speaking in a lighthearted tone, "What else could it be? My good buddy's helping me learn a skill. What's wrong, do you want payment for it?"

Upon hearing this, An Ran reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She turned around abruptly, her eyes bloodshot: "You son of a bitch! Xiao Jie! You're not going to back out now, are you?! You have to explain yourself clearly today! What exactly is our relationship?!" With that, she swung her fist and punched Xiao Jie in the chest.

Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, a mixture of embarrassment and anger, Xiao Jie couldn't help but burst into laughter. It must be said, An Ran was exceptionally lively and adorable when she was angry, making him want to tease her.

He grabbed An Ran's wrist as she swung at him, and with a slight pull, he drew her into his arms. An Ran struggled fiercely, twisting her body, but how could she possibly be a match for Xiao Jie's strength?
Xiao Jie tightened his grip on her, pulling her close, and kissed her again. This time, however, the wildness and urgency of before were gone; instead, it was a gentle, delicate kiss, soothing yet meaningful, like a whisper between lovers.

Seemingly sensing the tenderness and earnestness contained in the kiss, An Ran's stiff body gradually softened, her struggles weakened, and she finally stopped resisting completely, even awkwardly beginning to respond. After a while, the two separated again. An Ran's face was flushed red, as if it were about to bleed, her eyes darting away, almost afraid to look at Xiao Jie, only leaning against him, breathing softly.

Xiao Jie lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Is this... enough to explain?"

"Hmph..." An Ran buried her face in his chest, uttering a muffled syllable as a response. After several seconds, she muttered softly, "You're good with words..."

Xiao Jie held An Ran close, feeling the softness and warmth of her body in his arms, and looked up into the distance. The setting sun had already sunk below the horizon, painting the clouds on the horizon into a magnificent, layered, and continuous panorama.

Deep red, crimson, golden orange, rose pink… countless warm hues flowed and blended freely on the canvas of the sky. Crimson Flame Peak seemed to still be burning under the setting sun, outlining a rugged and magnificent silhouette. A gentle evening breeze brought a rare coolness, stirring the hair and hems of their clothes, filling the world with a tranquil and romantic atmosphere.

"So beautiful..." An Ran nestled in Xiao Jie's arms, gazing at the incredibly magnificent sunset in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh softly, her tone filled with intoxication.

“Yes, it’s beautiful.” Xiao Jie absentmindedly agreed, his gaze fixed on the virtual interface that only he could see—where the detailed description of the newly acquired [Golden Crow Avatar] skill was displayed.

This trip to Crimson Flame Peak was definitely worthwhile!
He carefully examined the skill descriptions:
Golden Crow Incarnation (100% Completion)
He transformed into the Sun Bird and gained some of its great power.

Attribute bonuses: Constitution increased by 150%, Strength increased by 125%, Agility increased by 200%, Stamina increased by 200%, Faith increased by 500%, Spirituality increased by 300%.

Basic combat skills: Extraordinary Flight, Dive Attack, Flaming Claw, Flaming Breath, Flaming Wing Strike, Radiant Sun Strike...

Innate Divine Abilities: [Sunfire Heavenly Flame: Sunfire Breath], [Sunfire Heavenly Flame: Divine Fire Descent], [Sunfire Heavenly Flame: Blazing Aura], [Sunfire Heavenly Flame: Fiery Feather Meteor]...

Mythological traits: [Yang God Sensation], [Solar Affinity], [Evil-Burning], [Sun-Radiant Body]...

Transformation Description: The Golden Crow is the essence of the sun, born from the purest yang energy. With a flap of its wings, it can traverse ten thousand miles of sky; with a breath, it can scorch mountains and boil seas. Its form resembles a magnificent bird, its entire body flowing with gold, its eyes containing true fire, and its feet treading on flaming wheels. It is a primordial divine beast, wielding the power of light and fire.

"So powerful!" Xiao Jie thought to himself. The strength of this Golden Crow incarnation was definitely comparable to the True Dragon incarnation he had obtained before, and it might even be superior in terms of pure offensive power and restraint against evil spirits!
Without hesitation, he directly chose to upgrade the [Golden Crow Transformation] to an even more powerful Dharma form!
[System Notification: Your Transformation skill [Golden Crow Transformation] has been upgraded to [Golden Crow Dharma Form]. You have obtained the Golden Crow Dharma Form's exclusive divine power [Crown of the Blazing Sun].]

Effect: When you transform into the Golden Crow Dharma Form, you are assumed to be the embodiment and representative of the sun, and a dazzling halo like a miniature solar corona naturally arises around you.

It exerts continuous suppression on all Yin-attribute, undead, and evil units in the vicinity, weakening all their attributes (up to 50% depending on the target's strength).

It grants a buff to all nearby units of the Yang, Fire, and Light attributes, increasing their spell power and effects (up to 30%).

You can unlock more Dharma Aspect skills and enhance this aura effect by increasing your incense level.

Powerful! This aura effect is practically the bane of underworld monsters! It will undoubtedly be a huge boost for the upcoming battle!
Now that he had obtained the skills he wanted, Xiao Jie decided not to stay on Crimson Flame Peak any longer.

Xiao Jie rode on auspicious clouds and quietly returned to Ginkgo Village with An Ran.

Auspicious clouds slowly descended at the village entrance, bringing with them a familiar atmosphere of peace and tranquility, a stark contrast to the scorching heat of Crimson Flame Peak. Looking at the familiar thatched cottages, fences, and wisps of smoke rising in the distance, An Ran seemed somewhat dazed, as if she had just awakened from a bizarre dream. She turned her head slightly, glancing shyly at Xiao Jie beside her. The setting sun cast its glow on his sharply defined profile, making him appear even more handsome, and a surge of indescribable peace and excitement welled up within her.

Xiao Jie smiled and looked at her, his gaze gentle.

"It's getting late, let me take you back to your place," he said softly.

The two walked into the village side by side. The scent of earth and grass mingled with the aroma of dinner, creating a lively atmosphere. In the distance, they could see a bonfire lit in the small square in the center of the village. Several people were roasting wild game they had hunted from somewhere, while others held drinks they had bought from the village tavern and chatted loudly.

Wentian Wuji was intently roasting a pheasant, occasionally brushing it with wild honey. Xia Yi Wushuang was drinking heartily from a wine jar, loudly discussing cultivation insights with Wo Yu Fengtian. Jiu Jianxian leaned against a pile of hay, sipping his wine with half-closed eyes, looking relaxed. Hao Mie was devouring a roasted rabbit leg, and when he was thoroughly enjoying himself, he even uttered a few words to the moon. The group sat around the campfire, the atmosphere relaxed and carefree, not at all like a group of resurrected individuals, but more like a group of good friends enjoying a rural getaway.

"Hey, you guys really know how to enjoy life," Xiao Jie said with a smile as he walked up to greet them.

"Ha, of course!" Hao Mie swallowed the meat in his mouth and laughed heartily. "I finally got resurrected and was given a second chance at life. I've been cultivating like crazy during the day, so of course I have to enjoy myself to the fullest at night! It's a pity I was resurrected in a game. Sigh, I really miss iced cola and iced beer in real life!" As he spoke, he tilted his head back and took a big gulp of coarse rice wine, wincing from the spiciness. "But, this stuff is strong, so it's not bad!" As he spoke, his gaze suddenly fell on An Ran, especially noticing that she had changed into a brand new, significantly more refined women's outfit.

"Hey, Anran? Where did you get this new outfit? It looks great. I've never seen you wear it before," he asked casually.

An Ran realized that her clothes had been burned to tatters during the "accident" at Crimson Flame Peak, making them unwearable.

An Ran blushed slightly and mumbled, "Um... the previous outfit broke, so I changed into another one."

Xiao Jie changed the subject at the right moment and said to An Ran, "Go and have dinner with them. I'm going to the Underworld to participate in the battle early tomorrow morning, and I may be away for a few days."

“Okay,” An Ran nodded calmly, but her gaze towards Xiao Jie involuntarily revealed a hint of reluctance. “Go ahead. Be careful, I… I’ll wait for you to come back.” The last few words were spoken almost inaudibly, yet exceptionally clearly.

Watching Xiao Jie transform into a streak of azure light and soar into the sky, disappearing into the night, Hao Mie approached An Ran, hesitant to speak.

“Anran, you and him… you wouldn’t have already…” Hao Mie lowered his voice and winked.

"What's wrong?" An Ran asked, feigning composure, as she picked up a branch and poked at the campfire.

"It's nothing," Hao Mie smiled, picking up his wine bowl in a gesture of respect. "Congratulations. But..." his tone became slightly more serious, "You'd better seize this opportunity. He's now an immortal, while we are still mortals. The saying 'there's a difference between immortals and mortals' isn't just a casual remark."

In the real world, a large class gap makes it difficult to be together, and this world is probably the same. Immortals are immortal and possess boundless magical power; if they wish, almost no worldly rules can restrain them. Of course, Sui Feng is a good brother, his character is impeccable, and he values ​​loyalty and righteousness. But… there are some things you should be mentally prepared for beforehand.” As an old friend of An Ran from Canglin Prefecture, he felt it necessary to remind him.

An Ran was silent for a moment, then nodded, her eyes unusually firm: "I understand what you mean. But as long as I can also strive to become an immortal, I naturally won't have to worry about these things, right?"

Hao Mie paused for a moment, then slapped his thigh hard: "That's right! Damn it, let's all work hard to become immortals! Then you and your immortal partner can cultivate together and live a carefree life, and we brothers can also enjoy life to the fullest. Maybe we can even return to reality. Wouldn't that be great! Come on, let's drink!"

He handed her a bottle of wine, which An Ran accepted without hesitation. She picked it up and started drinking, downing the whole bottle in one go. Looking in the direction Xiao Jie had flown away, her eyes were filled with determination.

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Xiao Jie left Ginkgo Village, not fleeing far, but flying directly higher into the night sky. An Ran couldn't detect him, but as immortals, their senses were crystal clear. With a quick scan of his spiritual sense, he sensed the location of the three—they weren't in the village, but rather in the clouds above it.

By now, it was completely dark. Xiao Jie flashed and flew into the clouds. Under the cool moonlight, a small and exquisite white jade boat floated quietly above the sea of ​​clouds. This was clearly some kind of celestial treasure. The boat was only three meters long, carved entirely from warm white jade, and its surface was engraved with complex cloud patterns and runes, emitting a faint spiritual light. Under the moonlight, it appeared exceptionally exquisite and mysterious.

The white jade boat floats in the sea of ​​clouds, resembling a wooden boat drifting on the rivers and lakes, a scene of idyllic beauty.

The three were sitting leisurely at the bow of the boat, with a jade chessboard in the middle and a small stove next to them, warming a pot of fine tea. They seemed to be playing chess while sipping tea and discussing philosophy, enjoying themselves immensely.

Xiao Jie landed lightly on the white jade boat, without the boat even swaying. "The three of you have such refined tastes. Why don't you go to the village and enjoy the festivities with the people? It's quite lively down there."

Lin Xuance, holding a chess piece, gently placed it down upon hearing this, and sighed, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but rather that it's inconvenient. The difference between immortals and mortals is like the difference between clouds and mud. If we immortals stay with mortals for a long time, they will inevitably develop obsessions. They might seek immortality, relief from suffering, or wealth... If we grant their requests, it will disrupt the natural order and increase karma; if we refuse, it will seem heartless, hurt their feelings, and may even incite resentment. It's better to keep our distance, out of sight, out of mind. This is more appropriate for both them and for us."

"We are detached from worldly affairs and should not get too involved in mundane matters. Maintaining distance is the best choice for both sides. Only by being neither too close nor too distant can things last."

His words, seemingly an explanation, also contained a hidden admonition. Xiao Jie understood perfectly and nodded slightly; Lin Xuance's words indeed contained a philosophy of life. The life form and power level of immortals are completely different; forcibly integrating them might bring unexpected trouble.

"Fellow Daoist Lin is quite knowledgeable about the philosophy of life. I have learned a lot from him."

Miaofa Yuanjun Su Zhiqing put down her teacup, her gaze shifting as it landed on Xiao Jie, her eyes filled with understanding, amusement, and a hint of inquiry. "It seems that Fellow Daoist Suifeng's trip to Crimson Flame Peak has not only brought you some progress in your cultivation, but also... a rather good mood?" Her tone was subtle and pointed.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Su, you truly have discerning eyes." Xiao Jie chuckled and continued, "Indeed, I have successfully visualized the Golden Crow taking form and elevated it to a Dharma Aspect. In tomorrow's Underworld War, this new method of mine will surely be of great effect and lend you all a helping hand." He tried to steer the conversation toward serious matters.

“You—” Su Zhiqing drawled, her voice laced with a half-smile, “I’m not just talking about that. I observe that your aura is gentle and refined, yet there’s a hint of spring in your eyes, and you’re also tinged with a very faint, non-feminine aura… Could it be that you and that Miss An Ran have made some kind of breakthrough?”

Xiao Jie's smile froze slightly. This Yuanjun's senses are too sharp! How could he see that?
"Fellow Daoist Su, please don't tease me. This is a private matter." Xiao Jie waved his hand, indicating that he did not wish to discuss it further.

He naturally had a good impression of An Ran. She was straightforward, good-looking, and a partner who had gone through life and death together; being with her was easy and pleasant. But to say that it was love to the point of life and death, or that he couldn't live without her, was completely untrue. It was more of a feeling of cherishing and protecting a close companion, as well as an instinctive fondness and possessiveness towards a beautiful woman—a mixture of feelings.

In his youth, he may have harbored romantic and unrealistic dreams and reverence for love, but after years of navigating the complexities of society and witnessing too much of reality, he had long since lost those pure, idealistic notions. As for where the two would ultimately end up, Xiao Jie wasn't in a hurry to define or force anything. He would let nature take its course, letting things unfold naturally. As a dignified immortal with endless lifespan and extraordinary power, why would he needlessly trouble himself with such trivial matters as romantic love?

"Let's talk about tomorrow's great battle." Xiao Jie's expression turned serious as he steered the conversation back on track. "Whether the [Cataclysm of Reincarnation] mission can be completed, whether the situation in the Underworld can be stabilized, and even the subsequent salvation plan all depend on this battle. The three seniors must already have a clear plan in mind, right?"

When the topic turned to the salvation plan and the war in the underworld, the three of them immediately perked up and began to explain the key points of the battle.

Xiao Jie also listened attentively.

In the night sky, a white jade boat carrying four immortals slowly drifted into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds, their voices gradually fading into inaudibility. Only the clear moonlight shone across the land, illuminating the distant underworld where a great battle was about to take place.

(End of this chapter)