Gods of the Nation: You worship the God of Longevity, I worship the King of Hell!

Chapter 235 The Next Player! — *Snap!*

Inside the Nine Dragons Palace, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, yet it couldn't mask the deep frown etched on the brows of the several immortal lords.

"Plague Lord, what exactly did you discuss when you entered the cave just now?"

Because there weren't enough divine positions available, the God of Wealth and the Kitchen God were unable to participate in the grotto heaven's discussions. At this moment, they finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked questions.

"Let me tell you."

Water Deity Lord spoke, succinctly recounting the contents of the meeting within the cave.

The God of Wealth and the Kitchen God became increasingly alarmed as they listened.

"What a coincidence!!" the Kitchen God exclaimed in a low voice.

He had long known that Lu Chen possessed the Four Rivers Dragon Seed, but he never expected that this dragon seed would be the key to breaking through the first barrier, the Three Thousand Weak Water Realm.

The Plague King turned to look at the Emperor of Fengdu, who was sitting quietly to the side, and asked with his hands clasped, "I wonder what insightful opinion Your Majesty has?"

- Swish!

All eyes were focused on the Emperor of Fengdu.

The Emperor of Fengdu lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then chuckled softly: "You are all celestial immortals of the Heavenly Court, and you must already have your own conclusions. I do not wish to presume to interfere with heavenly secrets, lest I be drawn into immense karmic consequences. So I will only say one thing: In this heaven and on earth, have you ever seen a mortal who can master such heaven-defying secret techniques and freely refine celestial gold and underworld currency? You should know that celestial gold and underworld currency are both transformed from merit. Thus, it is not difficult to guess this person's background."

Having said that, He smiled, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

--hiss!

At that moment, a chill seemed to sweep through the hall.

In fact, the four immortals had long harbored this thought, but after the Supreme Being of the Underworld personally pointed it out, they still felt an invisible tremor in their hearts.

Water Deity Star Lord nodded and sighed, "Indeed. On that day, young friend Lu used a secret method to bless the Dragon King at the bottom of the well, and the 100,000 incense sticks instantly turned into vast merit. Such a method is something I have never heard of or seen before."

The Kitchen God chimed in, "And the matter of rekindling my incense book is equally mysterious and bizarre, far beyond the realm of common sense."

He paused, then lowered his voice slightly: "There is another matter that I find strange."

"What is it?" the immortals asked in unison.

"That day, young friend Lu wanted to worship the Deaf and Mute of Heaven, but could only worship the Wenchang Emperor through the road. I thought he was very intelligent and must have a deep connection with the Emperor, but he said that his connection with the Emperor's attendants was only 0.5%."

"Yet his speech was clearly eloquent and fluent. Logically, his skill should not be so low. I suspected then that those beautiful words might have come from elsewhere, and he himself admitted it. But the key lies in..."

The Kitchen God's gaze swept over the assembled immortals: "If even I can make such a guess, how could the all-powerful Emperor Wenchang, with his discerning eyes, not see through it?"

"However, as you all know, the result was as follows: the bell tolled twice!"
The first sound came before the Emperor descended to the mortal realm.

The second sound came after the Emperor himself arrived!

Ultimately, the amount of good fortune that Lu Xiaoyou received was astonishing.

What exactly did he say that made the Emperor bestow such a great favor?
Gentlemen...don't you think this matter has a profound meaning?

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall instantly froze.

Even the Great Emperor of Fengdu frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "Secret techniques, merits, ceremonial regalia, and such knowledge... Hiss, it seems that the variables surrounding this boy are truly like looking at flowers through the fog, difficult to fathom."

"And the robes he wore when he performed the ceremonial rites."

Water Deity slowly added, "His aura and demeanor seem to be somewhat inherited from that... person."

——Buzz!!!

A subtle, indescribable ripple stirred within the hearts of several immortal lords.

A vague guess seemed to be emerging, yet I dared not delve into it.

The Plague God's pupils suddenly contracted, and he said in a deep voice, "Everyone, let's leave it at that. Let's not discuss it any further. Everything has its own destiny. Let's just observe how things unfold!"

The four immortals nodded in unison, tacitly stopping the conversation.

The Emperor of Fengdu suddenly stood up, his smile growing even deeper: "Alright, it's time for me to return to the Underworld!"

Before he finished speaking, a chilling aura rippled out, and his figure vanished without a trace.

"Plague Lord, I shall also take my leave." Water Deity Star Lord then stood up.

"Brother Shui De, please take care."

The God of Wealth and the Kitchen God exchanged a glance and then bowed in farewell.

In the blink of an eye, only the Plague God remained standing alone inside the majestic Nine Dragons Palace.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the misty sea of ​​clouds outside the palace. After a long while, he murmured to himself:
"The Ministry of Water, the Ministry of Plague, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of War, the Underworld... Heh, I wonder who will be the next to enter the game..."

……

Nanshan Residential Area, Jiangdu City.

The sky is still the same, the wind is still the same.

However, a lingering sense of loneliness and desolation has permeated the once bustling buildings.

Inside the residential area, there wasn't a soul in sight.

Inside the Lu family's house at this moment.

"Squeak-"

The door was gently pushed open, and Lu Jianming walked in carrying a bowl of steaming hot medicine. Behind him, Lu Wan stood timidly at the door, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes, her eyes red, but she dared not step into the room.

"The child's mother has taken her medicine." Lu Jianming's voice was terribly hoarse.

Lu's mother lay motionless on the bed.

In just two short months, she, who was once radiant, seemed to have lost all her vitality. Her temples were covered with silver hair, and wrinkles piled up at the corners of her eyes. She looked more than twenty years older.

"You can leave it there for now."

Mother Lu turned to her side, tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking a small patch of the pillow. "Sigh," Lu Jianming sighed, placing the medicine on the bedside table and sitting down beside the bed to offer words of comfort.

"Things have already come to this. Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about Wanwan. Are you going to lie here like this forever?"

Upon hearing this, Lu's mother slowly turned her head to look at her youngest daughter at the door, a pang of pain shooting through her heart: "Alright, I'll drink it."

She struggled to sit up and reached for the herbal medicine, but her gaze inadvertently swept over the black-and-white photo of Lu Chen next to the television.

The son's smile in the photo frame has been frozen in time.

With just one glance, Lu's mother burst into tears once again.

"Father, I don't believe it... I don't believe Xiao Chen is just gone like that! Even the Underworld said they couldn't find his name in the Book of Life and Death, his soul isn't even down there!"

Lu Jianming also looked more than ten years older, his head drooping as he said, "I am his father. Even if I die, I don't want anything to happen to my son. But the facts are right in front of us. The secret realm has completely collapsed. From ancient times to the present, no one has ever been heard of surviving after the collapse of a secret realm. The Underworld also said that it is highly likely that Xiao Chen's soul is trapped in the ruins of the secret realm, which is why he cannot enter the Underworld."

He raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corner of his eyes and continued, "Wife, I know you're heartbroken, but I'm in even more pain than you. But we can't stay trapped in grief forever; we have to move forward. For Wanwan's sake, we both have to pull ourselves together."

“Wow…Wow—”

Lu Wan, who had been standing at the door, finally couldn't hold back anymore and ran in crying, "Dad, Mom, Wanwan doesn't believe my brother is dead! My brother will definitely come back, Wanwan believes he will come back!!!"

"Wanwan, come here." Lu Jianming reached out and pulled his daughter into his arms.

Lu Wan cried even harder in her father's arms, repeatedly emphasizing, "My brother won't die, he won't!"

Seeing their daughter's heartbreaking state, Lu Jianming and his wife could no longer hold back.

The family of three burst into tears.

……

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Nanshan Residential Area.

Two streaks of light landed, revealing Lu Chen and Lan'er's figures.

"Is this your home?" Lan'er asked, looking around the neighborhood.

Lu Chen nodded, his voice tinged with urgency: "Let's go in!"

The two stepped into the residential area side by side, but the once bustling neighborhood was eerily quiet, with not a single person in sight.

"So quiet?" Lu Chen glanced at his watch.

It was exactly noon.

"I guess everyone's taking a nap." Without thinking much, he grabbed Lan'er's hand, and in a flash, he became two afterimages, heading straight for Building No. 3.

Just then, an older woman from the next building came downstairs to take out the trash. She suddenly felt a blur before her eyes, as if something had swept past. She rubbed her eyes and muttered, "Huh? Am I seeing things?"

Third floor, in front of the house.

Lu Chen took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, took out the key, and inserted it into the lock.

"Click."

……

Inside the house, Lu Jianming and the other two were still immersed in grief, their sobs continuing.

The sound of the door lock turning could be heard clearly.

"What's that sound?" Lu Jianming suddenly looked up.

"It sounds like... a door opening?" Mrs. Lu was also taken aback.

Just then, a voice so familiar it was etched into one's bones came from outside the door:

"Dad, Mom! I'm home!!!"

——Buzz!!!

Lu Jianming and his mother felt their minds go blank.

"elder brother!!!!!!!!!"

Lu Wan was the first to react. The little one sprang from her father's arms like a small cannonball, crying and rushing towards the door.

A hearty laugh, tinged with emotion, immediately came from outside the door: "Oh, my little sister, I've missed you so much!"

Immediately following was Lu Wan's excited cry: "Brother! I knew you weren't dead! I knew you would come back!"

Lu Chen scooped his sister up in his arms, spun her around 360 degrees, and his eyes reddened slightly: "How could your brother die? Where are Mom and Dad?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Mr. and Mrs. Lu standing shakily at the bedroom door. They were thin, with graying temples, and all their former energy and spirit had vanished. Their aged appearance made his heart clench.

Lu Chen's smile froze instantly, and he called out in a hoarse voice, "Dad, Mom..."

Lu's mother broke down in tears again.

She pushed away her husband's support and rushed to Lu Chen in a few steps.

—"Smack!!!"

A resounding slap landed squarely on Lu Chen's face.

"So you finally know how to come back?! Where the hell have you been?!"

Lu's mother roared, her voice hoarse and broken, and then suddenly lunged forward, hugging Lu Chen tightly.

She was afraid that if she let go, her son would disappear again.

Lu Chen felt a burning pain on his face, but his heart was filled with warmth and guilt.

He gently patted his mother's back and chuckled:
"Mom, it's alright. I'm back."

　It was a little late; I wrote it secretly at work. It was really exciting!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)