Towards what Zhui Yun had just said, Long Hua remarks—
"I see. So that's what you meant by it being special…"
"You want the full details of the ruins now, or later?"
"Later. Who knows what would happen tomorrow or the day after?"
Saying this, Long Hua looks off in the direction of the flattened forest.
Through his main body, Long Hua can sense that to be the area—where the spatial instability is at its worst.
Which is also to say, that it will most likely be the place where the Ling Yuan family's practitioners will emerge from.
As for when they'll conduct their invasion, Long Hua expects them to appear later tomorrow, or the day after.
Simultaneously, all eyes turn in the direction that Long Hua is staring towards.
Momentarily, Zhui Yun asks—
"Hey, Hua, just what is a god to an Immortal?"
"The Moon Guard with the damaged mask, she asked me the same question."
Heaving a sigh, Long Hua lazily continues to say—
"Basically, so long as an existence continues to maintain a mortal root, they cannot ever be considered a genuine god."
Towards these words, Qing Yue replies—
"You seem to have much more to say."
"Does it matter? In the end, a false god isn't anything special. A true god on the other hand…- Well, who knows?"
"…"
Paying no heed to the conversation, Xun Yu glances at Zhui Yun. For whatever reason, this individual seems awfully similar to her commander—not in appearance, but in the air that emanates from them.
"Runt?"
"…?"
Glaring at Xun Yu—who had randomly called her this, Zhui Yun raises a frown.
"Xun Yu, do you just go and give offensive nicknames to everyone now?"
"…"
Towards Hong Xuan's question, Xun Yu answers—
"She feels similar to the pipsqueak."
"…"
Gritting her teeth beneath the mask, Qing Yue mutters—
"No manners as usual, you dog…"
"Manners are reserved for those deserving of them."
Towards Xun Yu's reply, both Qing Yue and Hong Xuan can't help but direct odd eyes at the former.
As far as they're concerned, this individual shows no manners to anyone—not even Nian Tao Tao.
"I really don't understand why, you feel so respectful towards that deity."
"…?"
Hearing this from Qing Yue, Hong Xuan raises an eye.
"…"
Blinking her pale blue eyes, Xun Yu states—
"They…- At least, the one… I seem to know, they were worthy of my respects. I won't ask this one of anything—just that, they do not heed too much attention to their devotees' prayers and wishes."
"…"
In response to these words, Long Hua narrows his eyes, whereas the others tilt their heads in confusion.
(The one she knows?)
"What's the purpose of a god—if they don't help out the ones who pray to them?"
"…"
Shaking her head in response to Zhui Yun's question, Xun Yu answers—
"A deity should be freer. They shouldn't be a tool that can be exploited by the masses."
Hearing these words, Long Hua laughs aloud, causing the others to turn to him, as he remarks—
"A deity should be freer? Indeed, a selfish deity that acts on a whim—is much better than one who is forced to act."
Smiling faintly beneath her mask, Xun Yu nods subtly.
Blinking her eyes within the dreamscape, the Tai Xuan Emperor remarks—
(This girl, she must've had quite a connection to a Lord Tian She Zi during her life as a practitioner.)
"…"
Turning himself away from the Moon Guards, Long Hua begins to leave.
"…"
Staring at Long Hua's retreating back, Qing Yue ultimately finds it difficult to raise the question of what it was that caused the former to confront the Immortals.
At the same time—
(…Is he that deity?)
Subconsciously, Qing Yue refuses to accept Long Hua to be the deity—for acceptance meant the destruction of a faint hope.
...…
"…"
As a part of his preparations for the upcoming battle, Long Hua takes a walk around the village—after parting ways with the Moon Guards.
Gathered at the giant crater, which was blasted open by his sword Qi were—
"Drink, drink, drink! Who knows if we'll still be alive tomorrow! Drink till you drop!"
"Hahaha! Cheers!"
Holding large pitchers of beer in hand are the villagers, and among them are Ye Chen and Li Xue, along with the members of the Ashen River Hall.
Being a voice of reason, Li Zi Xiang says to Shao Tianming and Chen Lan—
"Try not to get a hangover…"
Unfazed by the beverage, Shao Tianming answers—
"I'll be fine."
Turning towards Hui'er's direction, Chen Lan shouts—
"Hui'er, save me some meds—in case I get a hangover tomorrow!"
Judging by how red his face is, Chen Lan is probably already drunk; and towards his words, Hui'er can only heave a sigh.
"…"
Sipping from his pitcher, Zhang Yong, who is standing beside Hui'er says—
"Ignore him. He'll be back up and running after taking one dirt nap anyways."
"Pills must still be made though…"
Walking over, Wang Yongning turns to Hui'er with an apologetic look, and says—
"Don't stress yourself too much. With how many people there are, it's impossible for you to supply everyone with a pill."
Pausing for a brief instance, Wang Yongning adds—
"…Prioritize the ones incapable of Partial-Apotheosis. They're going to need it more anyways."
"Got it."
...…
Off to the side—
"C'mon, Colonel Ye, drink up! This time, I won't bother to ask you anything!"
"I got it already, settle down…"
Teng Hao pushes for Ye Chen to continue drinking, whereas—
"Uh… How do you drink this stuff?"
Ling Yi can't help but frown at the taste of beer, to which, Gui Lian and Li Xue replies—
"You get used to it the more you drink it."
"Maybe fruit wine suits your tastes better?"
Sipping on a pitcher of beer herself, Shen Le remarks—
"Hmm, not a fan of this taste either. Do you think wine would make me seem more city lord-like?"
Downing a pitcher with ease, Chang Ye replies—
"Downing a pitcher makes a person seem more domineering, so there's that going for it."
"Oh? Quite true now that you've brought it up."
...…
Closer to the gathering's center, and taking in the festive air, Xu Tian Kun remarks—
"Ai, I truly do miss having a physical body at a time like this."
Towards this remark, Hui Sang says—
"Cheer up, Ancestor Xu."
Raising a subtle smile, Xu Tian Kun replies—
"Guess I'll just have to settle for the mood."
Raising his pitcher into the air, Zhu Xu shouts—
"Our deity is by our side; victory shall be ours!"
"To our victory!"
Raising their pitchers—with Yang Hai being the second to follow, the villagers chant in union.
Seeing this—
"…"
"…"
Both Xu Tian Kun and Hui Sang can't help but avert their eyes—seemingly embarrassed.
...…
"…"
Towards all of this, Long Hua frowns, while shaking his head, as he watches from a distance.
Parting his lips, Long Hua thought—
(To drink and to get drunk, it's the pleasure of mortals. Still, if a practitioner is able to get drunk with the right wine, I guess it's the pleasure of mortal realm lifeforms in general? In that case… What place does a god have among them?)
Imagining what would happen if he chose to become a genuine divinity, one that is able to act selfishly, without having to heed to the wills of others, Long Hua blinks his eyes, and—
(If that were to happen, I would simply standby, and watch slowly, as the world beneath my feet turns foreign. Behind me… There probably won't be anyone, or anything…)
Heaving a sigh, Long Hua drops a tiny ball of metal from his hand, and upon landing, the object quietly burrows itself into the earth.