Lin Lei flew along the Dragon Path and soon reached the outer periphery of the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, spotting Olivia hovering just outside the mountains.
Beside the spot where Olivia hovered stood a flourishing Iron Trunk Tree, its silver-white, blade-like leaves gleaming coldly under the blood-red sun. Olivia's black-and-white hair was disheveled, his complexion ashen, giving him an air of dejection. By his side stood a black-haired youth.
"What's wrong with Olivia?" Lin Lei frowned instinctively upon seeing him. "He looks completely listless."
In Lin Lei's heart, Olivia was a powerhouse who pursued the absolute peak, never content with stagnation. Even in the most desperate circumstances, Olivia shouldn't have given up or become dispirited. This sight, however, left Lin Lei puzzled.
"Elder Lin Lei, that is the one who claims to be your friend, 'Olivia'," the clan warrior reported respectfully.
"He is indeed my friend," Lin Lei smiled and nodded, then flew towards Olivia.
At that moment, Olivia had also noticed Lin Lei approaching. He managed to force a faint smile in Lin Lei's direction. Meeting a fellow countryman in the abyss, especially given their similar age, was a stroke of fate.
"Lin Lei," Olivia said with a strained smile.
"Ha ha, Olivia... it's been over a thousand years since we last parted, hasn't it?" Lin Lei laughed heartily, then glanced at the youth beside Olivia. "Oh, Olivia, who is this young man with you?" Lin Lei noticed that the youth's features seemed tinged with a lethal aura, making him appear very aloof.
Olivia held the youth's hand and turned his head slightly. "This is my son, 'Daya'."
"Son?" Lin Lei was momentarily taken aback.
Olivia was married? He, who had always devoted himself to cultivating towards the peak, had never had a wife before.
"Uncle Lin Lei," the aloof youth, Daya, greeted with a slight bow.
"Good," Lin Lei smiled and nodded, then turned to Olivia and said quickly, "Olivia, don't stand here. Come, we'll go to my residence and talk properly. Haha, it's been so many years since I've seen you. You even have a son... and you've reached the Highgod Realm. That's quite impressive."
Still chatting, Lin Lei led Olivia as they flew together towards his mansion.
Moments later, they arrived at Lin Lei's mansion.
"Elder!" The guards at the mansion gate saluted respectfully, a hint of reverence in their eyes. Being assigned as a guard for Lin Lei's mansion was something many warriors in the clan aspired to. It was a point of pride to serve as a guard for a Pinnacle Highgod.
"Daya, come in," Lin Lei said warmly to the aloof youth.
Seeing Daya's demeanor, Lin Lei sighed inwardly: "Olivia was always cold in the past. I never expected his son to be even more so, with such a heavy murderous air, as if he's ready to kill." However, Lin Lei understood it wasn't disrespect. Daya had likely been this way since birth and thus had naturally developed this aloof demeanor.
After entering the mansion.
"Oh? Olivia?" Inside the mansion's spacious grassy courtyard, Bei Bei, who was engaged in lively conversation with a large group, caught sight of Olivia and cried out in surprise.
"Olivia. Long time no see." Rein also smiled and walked over to greet him.
"Olivia." Wotton and others who had acquaintances with Olivia also approached. Years ago, Olivia had stayed at the Dragon Blood Castle for a long period and was familiar with many people there. "You're all here?" Olivia was also surprised, managing only a faint smile to acknowledge everyone.
Suddenly, a crowd surrounded Olivia and Daya.
Lin Lei observed coldly from the side, feeling puzzled: "Olivia seems off."
Surrounded by everyone, Olivia could barely manage the situation.
"Father." Daya tugged slightly at Olivia's hand; he was evidently not accustomed to being surrounded by such a crowd.
"Alright, everyone, let's disperse. There will be plenty of chances to see Olivia in the future. He just arrived, let him rest," Lin Lei said with a smile. Immediately, the crowd began to break off in small groups. Lin Lei walked up to Olivia and asked in a low, puzzled voice, "Olivia, is something troubling you?"
Olivia glanced at Lin Lei and shook his head. "It's nothing."
Olivia clearly didn't want to talk about it.
Seeing the other man's reluctance, Lin Lei didn't press further and simply said with a smile, "Then just stay here with me. There are plenty of people here... it's lively when everyone is together."
"Mm." Olivia smiled and nodded.
Lin Lei then walked away.
In the mansion's spacious courtyard, Daya sat by a stone table in a corner. On the table were some fruits and food, and Daya silently gnawed on a fruit, not interacting with anyone else.
Wotton, Rein, and Olivia sat together.
"Daya is just like this; he doesn't like crowds," Olivia explained.
"Then you must have some issues with his upbringing," Wotton chuckled.
Olivia forced a smile but didn't say much. Suddenly looking around, he asked in a puzzled tone, "Wotton, Rein... when I came to this Four Divine Beast Clan before, weren't Lin Lei and the others still living in the Great Canyon? This time I come, and I find Lin Lei's mansion is actually the most luxurious and sprawling one in the area. It's so conspicuous. How did this happen?"
One's residence corresponded to one's status.
Within this Four Divine Beast Clan, having the largest residence was indeed something that made Olivia curious.
"You and Old Third haven't met for over a thousand years, but these past thousand years have been when Old Third progressed the fastest," Rein laughed.