Chapter 110: A Tiger Entering a Sheep's Mouth

The group chatted for a long time inside the small house in the snowy alley, the atmosphere growing increasingly lively, dispelling yesterday's gloom.

The four members of the team reached a consensus: this month, they would not undertake trials but would focus solely on cultivation.

Once they reached Stream Realm·Stage Three, Deng Deng Tianchang and the other two would each be able to learn another Divine Art, thereby significantly boosting the team's combat power.

Most believers in the world can only learn four to six Divine Arts in their entire lives.

After all, those who can cultivate to the Jiang Jing are already exceptionally outstanding.

As for those whose cultivation reaches the Stream Realm, they are rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns!

It is worth noting that after reaching the Stream Realm, there are no longer two Divine Arts available to learn.

For most divine sects, only one Divine Art is available to learn at the Stream Realm.

Although the quantity is smaller, the quality is nonetheless remarkable!

Spells compatible with the Stream Realm are mostly of the earth-shattering variety.

There are also some deities who possess no Divine Arts compatible with the Stream Realm at all!

Unfortunately, Xiang Xiang Xianyang is one of them.

However, Lu Ran, this believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang, did not care about this in the least.

After all, he possessed a Sculpture Garden of Gods and Demons; whatever type of technique he desired, he could obtain.

Speaking solely from the aspect of techniques, Lu Ran was truly worthy of the title "Kaleidoscope."

And he was the only one in the world!

For the sake of this title, Lu Ran likewise had to cultivate diligently.

He was even more eager to equip himself with the Xie Fa that the Black Lamp Clan possessed, which was compatible at Jiang Jing·Stage One.

Xie Fa·Yin Fire Cage!

At that time, black fire would burn in Lu Ran's eyes; wherever his gaze fell, all enemies would be controlled and obediently frozen in place.

Wouldn't Lu Ran be thrilled to death?

After returning home, Lu Ran sat cross-legged before the shrine and immediately entered cultivation mode.

However, in the afternoon of the second day, Lu Ran, amidst his arduous cultivation, was disturbed.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

"Hmm?" Lu Ran opened his eyes, somewhat puzzled.

Were there visitors at home?

Oh, right!

Lu Ran remembered that while eating cold drinks yesterday, both Deng Yutang and Tian Tian had mentioned that Aunt Si was visiting their homes.

He immediately stood up and went to open the door.

As expected, a mother and daughter stood outside the door.

"Aunt Si." Lu Ran smiled at the two of them, also noticing the gifts carried in Ms. Si's hand.

"Good afternoon, Lu Xiao Lu Lu." Si Si Caiqin nodded with a smile. "Auntie came to see you; how is your condition?"

"Auntie is too polite; please come inside." Lu Ran stepped back two paces.

"Meow?" Little Li Hua approached Lu Ran's feet, lifting its head to curiously observe the guests.

"Is your family at home?" Si Si Caiqin asked.

"I am the only one in my family." Lu Ran took out two pairs of slippers and placed them on the floor.

"Meow~"

Lu Ran looked at the little Li Hua rubbing and nuzzling against his ankles and said with a smile: "There is also a cat."

Worried she had misunderstood, Si Si Caiqin probed: "Your family member?"

Lu Ran smiled: "My mother lives in Jingcheng; my father has passed away."

Si Si Xianxian had just put her left foot into a slipper when her movement paused slightly.

Lu Ran was quite perceptive and naturally noticed this detail.

Meanwhile, the other party was also observing Lu Ran.

When Si Si Xianxian saw that Lu Ran was smiling as he spoke these words, a trace of a smile actually appeared on her fair and exquisite face.

That smile seemed to carry a hint of self-mockery?

Not wanting the atmosphere to become awkward, Si Si Caiqin quickly said: "Is there a deity lord in the house?"

"Yes, in my room." Lu Ran led the mother and daughter to the small bedroom.

This world had its own rules.

Visitors, out of respect for the head of the household and reverence for the deity, must pay their respects immediately upon arrival.

Si Si Caiqin did not display any abnormality despite the other party being a Ninth-Rank God·Xiang Xiang Xianyang.

She stood before the shrine, palms pressed together, extremely respectful, speaking words like "Sorry to disturb" and so on.

Si Si Xianxian also bowed; from the moment she entered until now, she behaved exactly like a normal person.

"Auntie, please sit first; I will get you some water." Lu Ran invited the two to the living room.

"No need, Lu Xiao Lu Lu, no need to cause such trouble." Si Si Caiqin sat on the sofa, watching Lu Ran's retreating figure.

Si Si Xianxian, however, curiously surveyed the house.

From the outside, this building looked somewhat old, with some of the wall plaster peeling off, yet inside the home it was extremely clean and tidy.

"Meow?" Little Li Hua jumped onto the sofa armrest, curiously looking at the beautiful young lady.

Si Si Xianxian extended a fair finger and gently tapped its nose tip.

It happened that Lu Ran came out holding water cups and witnessed this warm scene.

To be honest, he found it very difficult to equate this fair-skinned, beautiful, and quiet young girl before his eyes with the irritable and ferocious believer of Divine Lie Tian from the Demon Cave.

"Thank you!" Si Si Caiqin took the plain water. "Sit down quickly, Lu Xiao Lu Lu, don't busy yourself."

"I'm not busy." Lu Ran felt a bit embarrassed. "It's just a cup of boiled water; there's really nothing at home to offer guests, not even tea."

Si Si Caiqin shook her head with a smile, not minding in the least, yet she sighed faintly in her heart.

Look at this child from another family, self-reliant and independent, so young yet possessing such strength.

Then look at her own.

She didn't even dare let Si Si Xianxian leave her sight, otherwise, her daughter might cause a major disaster at any moment!

Lu Ran suddenly said, "Auntie, do you like canned food? We have some at home."

"Pfft-haha~" Si Si Xianxian first couldn't hold it back, then laughed wildly and unrestrainedly.

That arrogant and willful demeanor finally allowed Lu Ran to witness her shadow from within the Demon Cave.

"Act a bit more proper," Si Si Caiqin said in an unpleasant tone, looking at her daughter beside her.

Si Si Xianxian ignored her mother, simply turning her head to look at Little Li Hua, who had run off to the side to eat.

Lu Ran moved a small stool and sat opposite the coffee table: "Auntie is too polite, bringing so many things."

"Lu Xiao Lu Lu, Auntie has a question," Si Si Caiqin said softly.

"What is it?"

"Auntie has also met some believers of Xiang Xiang Xianyang; you seem quite different from them?"

Hearing this, Si Si Xianxian secretly pricked up her ears.

"Is Auntie talking about combat?" Lu Ran brought out his set of explanations. "I haven't even graduated from high school yet, so I'm considered to be in the novice phase."

"During this stage, Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang allows believers to train and grow."

Si Si Caiqin remained silent, neither affirming nor denying.

This explanation clearly could not convince her.

Even taking the most generous view, even if the deity Xiang Xiang Xianyang allowed new believers to train, improve, and master divine arts...

it would absolutely not be like how Lu Ran behaved, charging alone into the Lantern Great Formation to risk his life saving people.

Most believers of Xiang Xiang Xianyang are weak and cowardly individuals.

That such believers are despised by others is an indisputable fact.

Even if the school forcibly cobbled together a small team, a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang would still be a marginalized figure.

Yet back in the Demon Cave, Lu Ran was the absolute leader within the team, and an extremely dominant one at that!

The combat strength, command quality, and powerful warrior bearing that Lu Ran displayed...

had far exceeded the scope of qualities a high school student should possess!

Say what one will, Lu Ran simply did not look like a seventeen-year-old student, let alone a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang.

"Perhaps it is because I am more devout," Lu Ran suddenly spoke.

"Oh?" Si Si Caiqin looked at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders: "Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang favors me somewhat, is willing to indulge me, and allows me to engage in combat."

Si Si Caiqin's face showed astonishment, as if she had heard something inconceivable.

Si Si Xianxian suddenly spoke up: "He could even summon the evil spirit Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll; what else is impossible?"

"His aptitude is nearly explosive; isn't it normal for him to be favored by a deity?"

The small divine statue existing in the home had clearly limited the performance of Si Si Xianxian's little mouth.

In her mind, a despised, lowest-rank deity probably couldn't recruit a single good disciple in a thousand or hundred years.

Then suddenly one day, Xiang Xiang Xianyang hit the jackpot, scooping up such a great treasure...

Of course, he would have to indulge him heavily!

Come to think of it, that group of front-row deities truly don't know what they are good for!

It's one thing if they didn't want me, Si Sister Xian, but how could they let go of a believer like Lu Ran too?

Just look at Lu Ran's current growth; having worshipped the lowest-rank deity, he has still become this formidable.

If he had worshipped any of the deities from the front rows instead, wouldn't he have flown straight up to the heavens?

Lu Ran was somewhat surprised: "You have heard my story?"

Si Si Caiqin: "When I visited your teammates' homes these past few days, I heard some of it."

Lu Ran smiled: "Back when I first saw the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll, it really scared me half to death."

Si Si Caiqin placed her water cup on the coffee table, her expression earnest: "Lu Xiao Lu Lu, Auntie wants to ask a favor of you."

Lu Ran: "Hmm?"

Si Si Caiqin: "This daughter of mine has been spoiled rotten; she gives me a terrible headache."

"When she was young, she still had two friends, but after growing up, no one wants anything to do with her anymore."

Si Si Xianxian pursed her lips, looking utterly disdainful.

Si Si Caiqin: "She is a believer of Divine Lie Tian; after entering university, no team would take her, so she has been training alone all along."

Si Si Xianxian couldn't care less: "Training alone is quite good; it's free and unfettered."

"It saves me from holding back my hammer swings and worrying about smashing my fragile teammates."

"Don't speak!" Si Si Caiqin scolded, looking as if she hated iron for not turning into steel.

But when Si Si Caiqin looked at Lu Ran again, her face immediately became gentle, carrying a hint of pleading:

"In all these years, this is the first time I've seen her willingly obey commands."

Saying this, Si Si Caiqin reached out with both hands and grasped Lu Ran's hands: "During combat, I always have to beg her and coax her."

"Auntie never expected that she would listen to you so obediently."

Lu Ran: "."

Si Si Xianxian: "."

This time, it was Si Si Xianxian's turn to look displeased.

Does this immortal not care about face?

She looked at her mother: "He saved my life; shouldn't I be a bit nicer?"

Mother Si Si Caiqin: "I gave birth to you and raised you for eighteen years, yet I've never seen you be nice to me!"

Si Si Xianxian was completely floored: "You and I... I..."

"Lu Xiao Lu Lu." Mother Si Si Caiqin looked at Lu Ran again and pleaded, "My daughter is very powerful; she's already at the second stage of the Jiang Jing, and you've seen her abilities yourself."

"In the future, when you go out to train, if you need some external help, could you take her along?"

"Auntie lacks talent; for this lifetime, the Stream Realm is my limit, and I no longer have the ability to accompany her further..."

From that earnest, begging expression, Lu Ran read a single sentence: "The hearts of parents everywhere are pitiable."

Lu Ran turned his gaze to Si Si Xianxian.

The explosive output of this Divine Lie Tian believer was something he had witnessed with his own eyes.

If controlled properly and made useful to him, wouldn't she be a sharp weapon?

What Lu Ran found even more interesting was that Si Si Xianxian listened to no one else, only to him.

Could this be considered a different kind of "loyalty"?

"What are you looking at?" Si Si Xianxian felt extremely uncomfortable under his stare.

Lu Ran, however, smiled: "So no one wants you, huh?"

Si Si Xianxian's eyebrows shot up: "Who said no one wants me? This immortal just finds others unworthy!"

Lu Ran nodded: "Your mouth is certainly tough."

Si Si Xianxian jumped up with a flutter: "What did you say?"

"I am your lifesaver, after all; be a bit nicer." Lu Ran pressed his hand down. "Don't get angry; sit."

Si Si Xianxian's heart trembled slightly!

She opened her mouth, looked at Lu Ran for a long while, but simply couldn't get any words out.

Mother Si Si Caiqin also stood with her mouth slightly open, looking at her daughter's state, equally unable to speak.

(End of Chapter)