Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 376 The Night of Hidden Clouds

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Chen Anran turned around to face the crowd. His face remained expressionless, but wherever his gaze swept, everyone subconsciously straightened their backs.

"You all saw it." Chen Anran's voice was calm. "This is the law of this world. The strong prey on the weak; there is no reason to believe it. They retreated today because I am invincible here. But if we leave this area..." He paused, "all of us are no different from ants in the eyes of true high-level cultivators."

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of the group who had just been excited about "easily defeating the enemy."

The excitement on the faces of Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, and Sun Wei, who followed behind, faded, replaced by pallor and lingering fear. They finally realized that time travel was not a game; this was a real world where people could die, and death could come easily and cruelly.

"So," Chen Anran continued, "settle down, cultivate, and become stronger. Don't take risks easily before you have enough power to protect yourself, and don't leave the protected area." He looked at Fatty Li, "Continue with the division of areas. Senior Feng, Senior Jiang, explore the surrounding territory as quickly as possible, but be careful to avoid conflicts with the locals."

Feng Wenzheng and Jiang Yan solemnly agreed.

Chen Anran then looked at Qi Lan: "Are you injured?"

Qi Lan pursed her lips and flexed her wrist: "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

Qi Lan said "It's nothing," but Chen Anran could still sense the slight stagnation in her spiritual energy. The pressure exerted by the five Golden Core cultivators was an invisible shock, even though they didn't attack directly. This pressure was especially sensitive to demon cultivators.

Chen Anran nodded: "Go and rest first."

The crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone began to get busy with their own thoughts.

Chen Anran stood alone, gazing at the vast, desolate mountains and forests in the distance.

He closed his eyes slightly, his mind sinking into his body, sensing the absolute domain with a radius of thirty kilometers, centered on the blood pool array eye.

Within his domain, every single flow of spiritual energy was under his control. Just now, stripping those five Golden Core cultivators of their spiritual power was merely a matter of a thought.

But this power ultimately has its limits.

The wind blew from the depths of the mountains and forests, carrying the unfamiliar scents of grass and trees and the faint howls of animals.

Chen Anran opened his eyes. The five fleeing lights had long since disappeared behind the distant mountains, but the residual spiritual energy fluctuations and fear in the air were like ink drops into water, slowly spreading.

He knew the news would spread quickly.

A "dojo" that appeared out of nowhere, a group of strangely aura-filled cultivators, and a mysterious being who can instantly strip a Golden Core cultivator of their spiritual power—such a combination is destined to attract countless eyes in the chaotic southeastern border of the Great Qian Dynasty.

There will be covetousness, probing, and real danger.

Huiming had appeared beside him unnoticed, his monk's robes fluttering slightly in the wind. "Those five people left terrified, and they probably won't dare to come back anytime soon. But the forces behind them will likely not let this go so easily."

"I know."

Huiming looked up at him.

"We need someone to spread the name of the Cloud Hidden Sect." Chen Anran looked eastward, towards the "Tiannan Prefecture" that Lei Xiaozi had mentioned. "The wider the word spreads, the more trouble we'll avoid. At least it will teach some insignificant flies to go around us."

His tone was calm, but his words carried an almost domineering confidence. Within these thirty kilometers, he was the rule.

"What I'm worried about is attracting the attention of truly high-level cultivators, or... the Immortal Alliance they've mentioned," Huiming said in a low voice.

Chen Anran remained silent for a moment.

"We'll meet force with force," he said. "But before that, we need to hold our ground."

Huiming remained silent for a moment, then clasped his hands together and softly chanted a Buddhist prayer: "This humble monk understands. Now that we have come this far, I shall naturally share the karma with the True Man."

Chen Anran's gaze returned to the resort at the foot of the mountain.

In the distance, Fatty Li was waving his hand, directing the Feng and Jiang family members to move materials and divide the area, while the sounds of bustling people could be faintly heard. In this completely unfamiliar world, that touch of human warmth seemed especially precious.

"Let's go," Chen Anran turned and walked up the mountain. "We should go see how they've settled in."

Huiming accompanied them. The two slowly ascended the stone steps. The trees on both sides of the mountain path appeared exceptionally lush under the nourishment of rich spiritual energy. Occasionally, the figures of spiritual birds would flash among the branches and leaves, their calls clear and melodious, completely different from the mountain forests of the Dharma-ending Age in their memories.

Reaching the viewing platform halfway up the mountain, Chen Anran stopped. From here, one could overlook the entire resort.

With the main street as the axis, the buildings on both sides are arranged in a staggered manner. The Feng family chose Baicaoge and several connected antique-style courtyards near the foot of the mountain, while the Jiang family chose a relatively open area on the east side of the main street. It was originally a visitor center and a small commercial area, with spacious space suitable for housing the "mechanical belongings" brought by Jiang Yan.

There weren't many people from Maoshan and the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, so they chose a few quiet detached villas on the west side. Zhang Laoshi and his apprentice, along with Yin Xiaohao and others, were arranged in an area near the hot spring hotel, which was both close to the core area and relatively independent.

"Not bad efficiency," Huiming commented after observing for a moment.

Chen Anran smiled slightly, "Let them do what they want."

………………

The next morning, as dawn broke and the mountains were still shrouded in damp, cold mist.

Chen Anran spent the night in the quiet room behind the main hall, restoring his mental state, which had been slightly disturbed by the use of his domain power the previous day.

A very soft thud came from outside the window, followed by a familiar, impatient knocking.

"Chen Anran, are you up yet?"

It's Qi Lan.

Chen Anran opened his eyes, his gaze restrained. He got up and pushed open the wooden window, only to see Qi Lan leaning against the pillar outside the window, still wearing that slightly worn hoodie. Her complexion was better than yesterday, but there was still a hint of restlessness in her eyes, as if she hadn't slept enough.

"So early?" Chen Anran asked. "And, is your injury healed?"

"I already said it's a minor injury," Qi Lan said. "I want to go and visit the village of those villagers from yesterday."

Chen Anran looked at her silently, then slowly shook his head after a moment: "Now is not the time."

"Why is it so untimely?" Qi Lan's tail swept impatiently behind her. "You saw how terrified those villagers were. Their fear of 'cultivators' is ingrained in their very bones. What does that mean? It means that in this godforsaken place, cultivators don't treat mortals like human beings at all. Now that we're here, we have to do something."

Chen Anran turned around and looked at a simple landscape painting hanging in the quiet room—it was a casual painting by her senior sister Su Wan in her early years. The brushstrokes were elegant, yet it had a vigorous and powerful feel to it.

"Our primary task is to increase our strength," Chen Anran said calmly. "You saw how dangerous the outside world is yesterday. Five Golden Core cultivators dared to decide life and death at will. What if Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation cultivators came? I can protect everyone within this 30-kilometer radius, but once we leave..."

"I didn't say I was leaving your 'territory'," Qi Lan interrupted him. "I just want to find those villagers within this area and see if they need help. Does that really hinder your efforts to improve your strength?"

Chen Anran turned around, her gaze falling on Qi Lan's face. Her expression was unusually serious.

"Qi Lan," Chen Anran said, "we can't even guarantee our own safety right now. Do you know what those five people will attract after they go back yesterday? More tests, more covetousness. The Feng family, the Jiang family, and your Maoshan sect—they all need time to adapt to the spiritual energy of this world and to start cultivating again. At this time, to be distracted by matters concerning mortal villages..."

"So you're just going to do nothing?" Qi Lan's voice turned cold. "Chen Anran, I know you only care about your senior sisters. But now that we've come to this era, we can't really treat mortals like those bastard cultivators, treating them like dirt, can we?"

The quiet room fell silent for a moment.

Chen Anran walked to the window and looked towards the village shrouded in mist below the mountain. He knew Qi Lan was right, but—

"I need time," he finally spoke, his voice low. "A month, at least a month. Let me..." He paused, "let me break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Qi Lan narrowed her eyes: "So you're not indifferent, you just feel now isn't the right time?"

"I care about everyone's lives," Chen Anran turned to look at her, "including those villagers. But if we make contact rashly now, the trouble it brings could kill them, and kill us too."

The two stared at each other, a silent struggle filling the air.

Finally, Qi Lan snorted and turned her face away: "Fine, you have a point. But I have conditions."

"you say."

Qi Lan said, "After you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, you need to see for yourself how ordinary people live in this era. Chen Anran, if you want to change the fate of your senior sisters and fight against the rules of this era, you need to know what you are fighting against."

These words were like a fine needle, gently piercing a corner of Chen Anran's heart that he had always deliberately ignored. He recalled the "utterly rotten world" that Lu Kong had described, and the resolute despair buried deep within his senior sister's eyes for three thousand years.

"...Okay." He heard himself say, "I'll go after I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Qi Lan seemed satisfied with the answer. She straightened up, stretched, and her joints cracked crisply. "Then it's settled. I'll go take a walk around now—don't worry, I'll just stroll around in your 'invincible territory'."

She turned to leave, then, as if remembering something, glanced back at Chen Anran:

"By the way, don't stay cooped up on the mountain all the time. Come down and explore the area more often."

As she spoke, a slight smile appeared on her lips: "Everyone is trying to adapt, trying to survive. Chen Anran, don't forget how to live either."

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure flickered and she flew out of the window like a wisp of smoke, disappearing into the misty mountains and forests in a few leaps.

Chen Anran stood still for a long time.

He closed his eyes, suppressing the surging emotions within him.

Qi Lan is right. He can't just focus on the distance and ignore what's under his feet.

Turning and leaving the meditation room, Chen Anran walked along the corridor towards the main hall. People were already busy inside; Huiming was sweeping the floor, and Lu Kong had quietly left the previous night, heading towards Tianjing. Everything was proceeding according to plan, yet something seemed to be subtly changing.

Chen Anran stood in the main hall for a while, watching Huiming sweep the last fallen leaf out of the hall.

"Your Majesty's complexion is somewhat better today." Huiming straightened up, leaned the broom aside, and clasped his hands together.

"It's only temporary." Chen Anran withdrew his gaze and looked at the hazy mountain scenery outside the hall. "I need to go into seclusion for a while."

Huiming nodded slightly: "Do you need my protection?"

"No need. You keep an eye on things outside. The Feng and Jiang families are new here, and some of them are bound to be restless." Chen Anran paused, "Especially Wang Rui and his two companions, have Mengmeng keep a close eye on them."

As he spoke, Chen Anran casually tossed the storage rings and bags of the cultivators he had seized the day before to Huiming.

"You should divide these things with them."

"Yes."

Chen Anran said no more and turned to go back into seclusion.

Regardless, all he wanted to do at that moment was to focus on his cultivation and get out of this mountain as soon as possible.

…………

As evening fell, the group, who had been busy all day, gathered at the Cloud Hidden Bar.

Yin Xiaohao adjusted the lighting in the Cloud Hidden Bar to be just right.

It wasn't too bright, just enough to see each other's faces clearly, and it had a hazy, warm yellow hue that made people relax involuntarily.

The air was filled with a faint aroma of wine and fruit, as well as the caramelized scent of freshly roasted nuts that Fatty Li had just brought out from the kitchen.

Yin Xiaohao stood behind the bar, his hands deftly manipulating several cocktail shakers with fluid, almost theatrical grace. The crisp clinking of ice cubes and the pattering of liquids being poured mingled with the soothing jazz music he had been playing in the background on a battery-powered speaker.

Several people were already seated on the bar stools in front of the bar. Master Tianbao unceremoniously occupied the central seat, with a glass of deep-colored single malt whisky in front of him—one of Yin Xiaohao's private collections, brought from the modern world. The old Taoist squinted, sipping the whisky slowly, his face full of enjoyment, as if savoring some kind of celestial elixir.

Qi Lan sat next to Daoist Tianbao, in front of her a glass of "Blue Moon," a deep blue color with a slice of lemon on the rim. She didn't drink much, just idly twirling the stem of the glass with her fingers, her amber vertical pupils lazily scanning the people who came in one after another.

Feng Wenzheng and Jiang Yan sat in a booth a little further apart, with tea set in front of them—the tea was the Evolution Spirit Tea given by Chen Anran, which Jiang Yan, the "tea master," was slowly brewing. The two talked in hushed tones, their conversation revolving around their experiences during the day and their worries about the future, but they seemed much more relaxed than during the day.

Fatty Li emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands, and cheerfully greeted, "Come on, come on, freshly roasted almonds and macadamia nuts, still warm! Perfect with drinks!" He placed several large porcelain plates on the low table between the bar and the booths, and the aroma of nuts immediately filled the air.

Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, and Sun Wei followed Zhao Mengmeng in. The three young people still had the pallor of the daytime terror on their faces, but their eyes were filled with more curiosity and excitement.

"It's exactly the same as before!" Zhang Hao sighed softly, unable to resist touching the smooth bar countertop.

Normally, Zhang Hao might not have felt this way, but this bar, set in an ancient environment, was filled with a unique atmosphere.

"Brother Hao, can we have some drinks too?" Sun Wei leaned over the bar, her eyes sparkling.

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