Chapter 223: The Solution to Ten Thousand Worries

In the early morning, Lu Ran dragged his exhausted body and opened the door to his room.

A petite figure darted over, seemingly wanting to welcome its master or perhaps seek comfort.

However, Little Li Hua suddenly stopped; after observing Lu Ran for a moment, it scampered away again, hiding far off.

Lu Ran silently changed his slippers, not making things difficult for the little fellow.

He knew very well that his entire body radiated hostility, his killing intent too heavy.

Even though it was already dawn, his heart still had not settled down.

"My lord Sister Xian Yang."

Lu Ran went to the small bedroom, stood before the shrine, and politely offered his greetings.

"Disciple killed many Thread-Puppet Shadows last night and also sent off the souls of many human believers."

"Not bad." A deep voice resonated within Lu Ran's mind.

It was clear that My Lord Sister Xian Yang was quite satisfied with Lu Ran's performance last night.

Lu Ran immediately asked, "My Lord Sister Xian Yang!

Do you think this disciple should activate the Yemo Yemo Xiesu of the Thread-Puppet Shadow clan?"

The white jade carving of Bai Yang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This clan's abilities are not insignificant; they are indeed excellent servants.

In the future, having Thread-Puppet Shadows by your side can also protect you to some extent."

Lu Ran nodded inwardly; as expected, My Lord Sister Xian Yang thought much the same as he did.

The white jade carving of Bai Yang changed the subject: "However, while you are in the River Realm, you can only open five Yemo Yemo Xiesu.

Now that you have already mastered the Night Demon Yemo Yemo Xiesu, you can still open four more Yemo Yemo Xiesu.

Walk your own path; choose carefully."

"Yes!" Lu Ran pressed his palms together, bowed, and then headed to the bathroom.

He turned on the shower and bathed, his mind racing with thoughts.

Although it was said there were four slots, in reality, one slot was already reserved.

The sculpture of the Demon · Lady Lady Yanzhi Man was something Lu Ran absolutely had to activate!

When Lu Ran reaches the third stage of the River Realm, he can learn the Xianyangyi Sect Divine Art · Scapegoat Body.

My Lord Sister Xian Yang had explicitly stated that this core divine art might produce a chemical reaction with the Lady Lady Yanzhi Man's Xie Fa · Paper Effigy.

This meant that Lu Ran only had three activation slots remaining.

A few days ago, Lu Ran had also taken a liking to the Lao Tian Mo clan, fascinated by their several Lao Tian Hands.

Meanwhile, within the Demon Sculpture Garden, the sculptures of the Barbarian Female Drought clan and the Straw Demon clan were both in a pending activation state.

Moreover, once activated, these two Yemo Yemo Xiesu could, just like the Thread-Puppet Shadow Yemo Yemo Xiesu, advance to the initial stage of the River Realm.

It was a bit of a dilemma~

"Thread-Puppet Shadows."

Lu Ran murmured the words as he washed his body.

From the perspective of servants, the combat power of the Thread-Puppet Shadows and the Barbarian Female Droughts naturally far exceeded that of the Straw Demon clan.

From the perspective of Xie Fa, the techniques of these two clans were more dominant and could help Lu Ran even more.

Especially the Thread-Puppet Shadow clan; their Xie Fa configuration was simply unparalleled!

The Xie Fa · Thread-Control Line that manipulates human bodies, the Xie Fa · Thread-Gaze Eye that tortures the mind and spirit, and the Xie Fa · Thread-Chaos that disrupts the energy within an enemy's body.

All of these were very suitable for Lu Ran.

There was also the Xie Fa · Thread-Garment, which could help Lu Ran fight enemies or save his life at critical moments.

Of course, this garment was too heavy; Lu Ran would never wear it during conventional combat.

Could Lu Ran don that bright red long skirt at the very moment he was near death?

Hmm, it probably wouldn't come to that.

After all, once Lu Ran advanced another level, he would be able to learn the Shun Yi Zhi Fa.

If he truly encountered danger, Lu Ran would definitely teleport away, so he likely wouldn't need the Thread-Garment.

Looking at it this way, shouldn't the Xie Fa · Thread-Garment be treated more as a technique for 'clearing the field'?

Lu Ran would plunge straight into a pile of enemies, instantly activate the Thread-Garment, and unleash thousands of red threads simultaneously, blasting countless foes away in an instant!

After scattering the enemy formation, Lu Ran could cancel the Xie Fa · Thread-Garment and continue fighting normally.

"Correct." Lu Ran nodded inwardly.

The more he thought about it, the more he agreed.

Lu Ran's combat system was already determined and absolutely could not be changed lightly.

His current technique configuration was already quite good; all that remained were minor adjustments.

Nowadays, the focus of Lu Ran's sculpture activation should be placed on the future perspective of 'servants' and 'helpers'.

The Thread-Puppet Shadow clan was undoubtedly an excellent helper, capable of becoming a tactical core!

"In that case, the priority of the Thread-Puppet Shadows is higher than that of the Barbarian Female Droughts."

Lu Ran turned off the shower and wiped his wet face.

After sorting out his thoughts, Lu Ran was not in a hurry to activate the Thread-Puppet Shadow Yemo Yemo Xiesu.

After all, only by cultivating the Yemo Yemo Xiesu to the Jiang Jing could Lu Ran create demon minions.

Furthermore, judging from Lu Ran's current strength and realm, the battlefields he participated in offered no space to summon demons.

Camera after camera was practically shoved right into Lu Ran's face to film him.

If he were to summon a Thread-Puppet Shadow,

wouldn't he be arrested on the spot?

"Heh." Thinking it over, Lu Ran couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

However, he really ought to prepare for a rainy day.

Tomorrow, he would contact little Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi and ask the young masters and daughters of Jingcheng if they could locate a Puppet-String Shadow Demon Cave so he could enjoy a good slaughter.

He should make preparations in advance, first cultivating the Puppet-String Shadow Yemo Yemo Xiesu to the River Realm. Wait a moment!

The Puppet-String Shadow must be moved down the priority list!

The highest priority should be the Demonic Evil·Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll clan!

Should he go to the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll Demon Cave to lay the foundation for his imminent arrival at the third stage of the River Realm?

Alas, there were simply too many things to do.

Truly a happy trouble.

Lu Ran pondered silently, wiped his body clean, changed into dry clothes, and returned to his bedroom.

Just as he was about to climb into bed to rest, he suddenly thought of something else.

Lu Ran paused in his steps, then approached the shrine once more:

"Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, you previously said that once I mastered the Shun Yi Zhi Fa, I would be qualified to venture into certain places.

This disciple wishes to ask, exactly what places are those?"

After these words fell, Lu Ran waited bitterly for a long time, yet received no response from the deity.

He did not know whether there was some hidden complication preventing Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang from revealing it early, or if the deity simply did not wish to waste its breath.

Lu Ran felt somewhat helpless: "This disciple merely wishes to know whether, in that region, I can freely Shi Zhan Xie Fa and summon demonic servants to fight.

Or whether I must still act cautiously to avoid inviting a calamity that costs me my life."

Suddenly, a low, hoarse voice printed itself into Lu Ran's mind:

"Whether you can go to that place depends on your performance."

"Ah?" Lu Ran was somewhat stunned.

Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang had never spoken such words to Lu Ran before.

Ever since he began worshipping Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, Lu Ran had been the favored one.

In every word Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang spoke, the deity treated him as a successor to be cultivated.

Yet now, Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang suddenly said it depended on Lu Ran's specific performance?

Lu Ran was thoroughly confused.

Was my performance not good enough?

If one must point out a deficiency...

Had he never offered incense or presented sacrifices to Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang?

However, Lu Ran had overthought it; Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang clearly had no use for such mortal objects.

Only then did the deity speak in a deep voice: "The Shun Yi Zhi Fa merely grants you the preliminary qualification to venture forth.

Whether you can wield it properly and how much your combat power will increase still requires further verification.

Before you possess a certain degree of self-preservation ability, I will not let you go off to seek death."

Lu Ran: "..."

Was that place so perilous?

Even with Shun Yi, one could not guarantee survival?

Lu Ran refused to believe it and asked: "Once I activate the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll's Yemo Yemo Xiesu and master your Divine Art·Scapegoat Body, will that still not be enough?"

Lu Ran was dying of curiosity, yet no matter how he asked, Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang simply refused to say more.

Helpless, Lu Ran could only change his approach: "Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, what can this disciple gain by going there?"

"What you need most."

"What I need most?" Lu Ran scratched his head.

What did he need most?

Divine weapons? Magical artifacts?

Or perhaps there was some treasure there capable of helping one drastically raise their cultivation realm?

"Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang." Lu Ran put on a pitiful expression, looking at the small shrine, "Please tell me, Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang."

Perhaps annoyed by Lu Ran's pestering, or perhaps because Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang found Lu Ran's performance along the way somewhat acceptable,

the deity finally revealed a little: "Source Qi."

Hearing this, Lu Ran's heart jumped in shock!

The sole resource for cultivating statues to advance—Source Qi?

Lu Ran thought it over and over, then asked in confusion: "What is the difference between this and tempering oneself in a demon cave?

If I capture demonic souls, I can likewise obtain the demons' Source Qi, can I not?"

Lu Ran's eyes narrowed; on the face of the Bai Yang jade carving, the smile had become somewhat eerie.

A low, hoarse voice printed itself into Lu Ran's mind:

"Who told you it was the demons' Source Qi?"

Lu Ran:!!!

At this moment, he finally understood why Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang had been so secretive.

Just like back then, inside the Statue Garden, when Lu Ran sensed something on the other side of the river.

At that time, the Black Fire Sheep Head had warned Lu Ran that he was not yet mentally prepared.

Facts proved that Lu Ran indeed had not been prepared!

When he discovered that the Statue Garden was filled with standing divine statues, Lu Ran was completely dumbfounded.

Now, Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang told Lu Ran that there was an extremely perilous region where one could steal the source qi of the gods.

Lu Ran froze in place, unable to speak for a long while.

Where exactly was Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang sending him?

It couldn't be to the gods' old nest, sending him to dig up the roots of the god statues!

The white jade ram carving spoke in a deep voice: "Under normal circumstances, that is a region only Jiang Jing believers can crudely set foot in."

Hearing this, Lu Ran's heart stirred: "Do you mean that believers from other sects will also go there to train?"

"A few chosen ones."

"Oh." After receiving this affirmative answer, Lu Ran breathed a huge sigh of relief.

With words ending here, Lu Ran couldn't help but recall the scene that had occurred previously in North Wind City.

After Yan Yan Shuangzi broke into the Divine Ruins, she was teleported away.

Could it be that she too had gone to this place?

A low voice sounded once more within Lu Ran's mind: "Cultivate, grow, and master all the techniques of your body."

"Let me see your strength."

Lu Ran's expression turned solemn, and his reply rang out firm and forceful: "Yes!"

He bowed, then walked over to the bed and threw himself face-down onto the small cot.

"Baa~"

A few seconds later, a furry little head poked in through the doorway.

"Come, sleep with me for a while." Lu Ran waved his hand, pulling the scampering Little Li Hua into his embrace.

He closed his eyes, gently stroking the tabby cat while thoughts churned wildly in his mind.

Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang was truly the Domineering Ram!

If it did not wish to speak, no matter how much he wheedled or pressured, it would not open its mouth, and might even descend punishment.

Since Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang had revealed a sliver of information...

Did this mean that at this point in time, it wanted him to venture forth and activate the god statues?

At the very least, Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang was reminding him to make the corresponding mental preparations.

The source qi of the god race was used to cultivate the god statues within the Statue Garden.

As he thought, the tragic scene of last night's battlefield floated up in Lu Ran's mind.

A tattered spiritual lot floated back and forth like an annoying fly above the corpse of a spiritual lot believer.

"Spiritual lot."

Lu Ran gently pinched Little Li Hua's cat ear.

In the memory unfolding before him, that unfamiliar Moon-Gazer had transformed into Chang Ying, whose corpse lay exposed in the streets.

She stared at the sky with a pair of hollow eyes, a disgusting, rotten lot still floating upon her corpse.

"Strength, strength..."

"Meow!"

"Sorry." Lu Ran had accidentally pinched the cat ear too hard; he lowered his head slightly and kissed Little Li Hua's forehead.

Tragically, this worrying scene would continue to plague Lu Ran for a long time.

Strength!

He must cultivate with doubled diligence, grow faster, even faster...

Only strength could resolve all worries!

Asking for some monthly tickets.

Thanks to the boss 'Clown in a Madman's Eyes' for the donation! Thanks to boss Qi Qi Heji for the donation!

Bosses, you are generous; thank you for the support!

I wish you immortality and daily riches! Hooray~ (`)

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(End of Chapter)