Lu Ming returned with a large bag of snacks and looked at the group not far away. "Tanjiro, come here and help me hand these out."
Hearing the shout, Tanjiro snapped back from the comfort of the hot spring. "Lord God, what are those things you're holding?"
Lu Ming glanced at him, took out a bag of potato chips from the bag in his hand, tore open the packaging, and shoved it into Tanjiro's hand. "This is food. Also, don't just throw that bag in your hand anywhere."
Hearing this, Tanjiro carefully took out a golden potato chip as thin as a cicada's wing from the bag.
Tanjiro put the chip in his mouth and chewed a few times, a crisp "crunching" sound coming from his cheeks.
Lu Ming watched blankly as Tanjiro closed his eyes, feeling the potato chip explode within his deprived stomach.
Tanjiro swallowed after a few bites and couldn't wait to take out another chip and shove it into his mouth. Seeing that he was about to make that same exaggerated expression again, Lu Ming hurriedly called out to stop him.
"Alright, Tanjiro! Stop savoring it like that; I still have plenty more here!"
"There's definitely enough for everyone. For now, hurry up and help me distribute the snacks! I can already hear Aunt Kie and the others next door starting to eat!"
Tanjiro snapped out of it at Lu Ming's shout. He looked at Lu Ming awkwardly and hurriedly set the potato chips in his hand aside.
Tanjiro called Takeo, Shigeru, and Rokuta over. When they arrived, they all looked at Tanjiro and Lu Ming in confusion.
"Did you call us for something, Big Brother?" Takeo glanced at his brother and then looked at Lu Ming.
Tanjiro said nothing and simply handed the opened bag of potato chips to his younger brothers.
Takeo reached out and took the cumin-flavored chips from Tanjiro. "Just try it and you'll see! This stuff is delicious."
Takeo took a bite of the chip and made the exact same expression as Tanjiro.
Seeing Takeo's expression of pure bliss, Shigeru and Rokuta couldn't wait to take some for themselves.
Lu Ming looked at the children, who were all stunned by the flavor of the potato chips.
Lu Ming coughed, bringing the group back from their culinary trance. "Alright, I have plenty more! Let's eat while we soak in the hot spring."
Once the children came over, the snacks were quickly distributed. Even Urokodaki Sakonji took some, though the old man wasn't quite used to the snacks of the younger generation.
Lu Ming had no choice but to return to the snack hut to get him some tea cakes and biscuits, and even brewed a pot of tea for him in the pavilion.
Urokodaki Sakonji watched Lu Ming busy himself on his behalf. "I didn't expect the Lord God to go to such lengths for an old man like me."
Lu Ming looked speechlessly at the old man who was moved by his own sentimentality and gave him a massive eye-roll.
Lu Ming and the Kamado children soaked comfortably in the hot spring, holding various iced drinks in their hands.
After eating and drinking their fill and soaking in the hot spring for a long time, everyone stepped out.
Lu Ming led them to the cloud cottages next to the hot spring and pointed at the row of houses. "Pick one for yourselves. We'll be staying here tonight."
"Lord God, can we really stay here tonight?" Hanako looked at Lu Ming timidly.
Lu Ming reached out and patted Hanako's head. "Of course! But the most important thing right now is to hurry and pick a cloud cottage you like, otherwise, someone else might take it."
The Kamado children rushed toward the cloud cottages they had their eyes on.
After finding their favorite little houses, they couldn't wait to go inside and check out the decor.
Although they were made of clouds, they looked no different from ordinary houses.
After picking his house, Tanjiro took his wooden sword and walked toward the flower field at the edge.
As Tanjiro walked, he saw Master Urokodaki practicing his swordplay by the flower field.
Seeing this, Tanjiro stood to the side, quietly watching Master Urokodaki's Water Breathing.
As he watched, Tanjiro unconsciously began practicing alongside Urokodaki Sakonji. The two practiced for a long time before finally stopping.
Urokodaki Sakonji looked at the boy beside him. "Tanjiro, won't you rest a bit longer? This is a rare chance to relax."
Tanjiro shook his head. "I've already rested for a long time today with the Lord God! So I cannot neglect my training in the way of the sword."
Urokodaki Sakonji looked at the boy with pride. "Good lad, Tanjiro! I believe you will definitely become an excellent Hashira in the future."
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Shiro led Lu Ming to the flower field at the edge of the clouds, looking at him hesitantly.
Lu Ming looked at the nervous girl and said gently, "Shiro, why did you bring me here? Is something the matter?"
Uzumaki Shiro was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "I want to become stronger! I want to take control of my own destiny."
"Shiro, I can help you with that, but the price is to serve me forever and become my loyal subordinate," Lu Ming said seriously.
Uzumaki Shiro's eyes lit up. "Can I really stay with the Lord God forever? If that's true, I'll accept anything."
Satisfied with the answer, Lu Ming separated a tiny cell from his body. "Are you ready, Shiro?" Lu Ming asked the girl seriously.
Uzumaki Shiro nodded vigorously. Seeing this, Lu Ming released the ultimate cells, which instantly tunneled into Uzumaki Shiro's body.
As the ultimate cells entered Uzumaki Shiro's body, she felt her whole body grow warm, and her body filled with powerful strength.
Once the ultimate cells entered Uzumaki Shiro's body, they began to rapidly assimilate the various cells within her.
As the final assimilation was completed, another powerful Blood Demon Art appeared in Lu Ming's mind.
By now, Lu Ming's body already contained many different Blood Demon Arts, all thanks to the efforts of his Illusory Dream clones.
"Shiro, how do you feel?" Lu Ming asked Uzumaki Shiro.
Hearing Lu Ming's voice, Uzumaki Shiro snapped back to reality. "Master, I feel that I've become very strong, and I've also awakened a very powerful Blood Demon Art."
Uzumaki Shiro opened her palm in front of Lu Ming. As she activated her Blood Demon Art, a pitch-black hole instantly split open in her palm.
"Master, the Blood Demon Art I awakened is called Devouring Assimilation. It can devour anything into my body and assimilate it!"
Looking at the swirling black void in Uzumaki Shiro's palm, Lu Ming remarked, "Hmm, it's a very good skill! The rest will depend on your own gradual development!"
However, hearing Uzumaki Shiro's form of address, Lu Ming said seriously, "Shiro! From now on, you can only call me 'Master' in private."
"Yes, Master. I'll be careful in the future!"
Having gained power, Uzumaki Shiro enjoyed following behind Lu Ming even more.
Soon it was night, and the sky was filled with stars. Lu Ming took out a barbecue grill and various seasonings from his four-dimensional space.
Under the starlit sky, Lu Ming and the others chatted happily about various topics while eating the barbecue Lu Ming had personally prepared for them.
"Lord God! What are those twinkling points of light in the sky?" Rokuta waited expectantly for Lu Ming's answer.
Upon hearing this, the others also wanted to know what the shimmering lights in the sky were.
Lu Ming looked into their eyes, which were shimmering like starlight, and said softly, "Do you all want to know as well?"
Everyone nodded, and seeing this, Lu Ming said, "Those are stars!"