Chapter 228: Diagnosis: Fierce Sky?

In the afternoon, Lu Ran finally received a phone call.

The trio quickly gathered their gear and headed for the community gate.

Both Jiangjiang Ruyi and Lu Ran brought the gifts Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun had given them.

Jiangjiang Ruyi chose to hang her sword scabbard at her side, while Lu Ran slung two knife scabbards diagonally across his back, parallel to each other and both angled toward his right shoulder.

At the main entrance of Xianjing Garden, everyone spotted a black sedan.

Beside the car stood a tall figure.

"Sister Chen?" Lu Ran stepped forward.

The young woman before him perfectly matched the stereotypical impression the world held of Liangye Jian Yi's believers—a cold beauty.

Noble in bearing, cold as frost.

She looked very young, probably around twenty-four or twenty-five, wearing a white tracksuit that accentuated her slender figure.

Her skin was excessively Bai Xi, giving off a distinct impression of "glowing white."

This inevitably reminded Lu Ran of that believer of Lady Lady Wangquan far away in the Bamboo Sea Demon Lair by the Qiantang River.

He wondered how Li Li Rouyin had been doing lately, and whether she had strung together more copper coins.

Hmm... let her accumulate a few more wandering souls first.

I'll find an opportunity to go over there and beg for some food.

"Lu Xiao Lu Lu." Chen Chen Jingjing's icy features softened considerably, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

The trio felt as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Facts proved that believers of Liangye Jian Yi could also be amiable; it all depended on whether you were qualified enough.

"Troubling you, Sister Chen." Lu Ran nodded in thanks. "You even have to accompany us on this trip."

Given her status, he did not rashly extend his hand to shake hers.

The most ordinary handshake etiquette in the mortal world was completely inapplicable when dealing with a believer of Liangye Jian Yi.

Ever since Lu Ran learned he was the "son of the Peak Master," his mindset had shifted slightly.

He paid closer attention to his conduct, fearing he might bring shame upon his mother, my lord.

"Get in; we're heading to the airport." Chen Chen Jingjing's gaze swept over the two young girls behind Lu Ran, and she smiled with a nod.

Everyone placed their weapons in the trunk; Lu Ran took the front passenger seat, while Jiang Si and the other sat in the back.

"Sister Chen, I don't even know your full name yet?" As the car started moving, Lu Ran asked.

"Chen Chen Jingjing. The 'Jing' from Jingcheng." The woman smiled. "You can call me Sister Chen Jingjing too; 'Sister Chen' sounds a bit old."

Lu Ran: "..."

What happened to the cold and arrogant believers of Liangye Jian Yi we were promised?

Hmph, women.

As expected, they all care about their age.

In the back seat, Si Si Xianxian hugged Jiangjiang Ruyi's arm, leaned close to the girl's ear, and whispered softly:

"This chick is so pretty; you'd better keep a tight watch on Lu Ran."

Jiangjiang Ruyi: "..."

It wasn't just the one right in front of her!

Jiangjiang Ruyi trusted Lu Ran deeply, yet a trace of sorrow inevitably rose in her heart.

The entire sect of Liangye Jian Yi consisted of female disciples of this type.

Each one more outstanding than the last, each one more beautiful than the previous.

Today, Jiangjiang Ruyi had also learned that Lu Ran's mother held a high position and was a Peak Master.

Under Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun's command, who knew how many young and beautiful juniors there were...

In the front passenger seat, Lu Ran awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth.

Si Si Xianxian's voice was indeed very quiet, but he didn't know Chen Chen Jingjing's exact strength or whether she could hear it.

Lu Ran hurriedly started a new topic: "Is Sister Chen Jingjing very close with my mother?"

"Peak Master Jiang Qiao takes great care of me and often keeps me by her side," Chen Chen Jingjing replied softly.

Lu Ran turned his head to look out the window and let out a light sigh: "Peak Master..."

Chen Chen Jingjing had long suspected in her heart that this child, Lu Ran, did not know much about his mother's situation.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke: "Currently, Ms. Jiang Qiao is not quite a Peak Master yet."

"But she will be in the future, so everyone privately addresses her as such."

"Oh?" Lu Ran turned his head to look, considerable curiosity rising in his heart.

Chen Chen Jingjing said, "Jinghong Peak has not yet been enlightened by Lord God, so it does not count as a Lingshan and has not been incorporated into our sect's sphere of influence."

"Ms. Jiang Qiao's title of Peak Master is still missing the final step."

Lu Ran frowned slightly: "Lord Liangye Jian Yi's avatar statue hasn't been seated on Jinghong Peak yet?"

Chen Chen Jingjing shook her head gently.

Lu Ran asked, "Has some problem arisen in that step?"

Chen Chen Jingjing replied, "We are also working hard to investigate, praying day and night, awaiting the descent of Lord God."

Lu Ran did not respond again and turned his gaze back to the car window.

Given the characteristics of Liangye Jian Yi's disciples, Chen Chen Jingjing could not be a gossip.

Combining this with what she had said earlier on the phone: "Your mother has been in a bad mood lately; I haven't seen her that happy in a long time."

One could conclude that Chen Chen Jingjing was indeed someone close to Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun and truly cared about her.

Perhaps, in her mind, Lu Ran's comfort would be more useful than anyone else's, capable of easing the heart of Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun, who spent her days frowning with worry.

Lu Ran was no fool; he naturally realized the gravity of the situation.

During this audience with Mother, my lord, she appeared calm and indifferent, yet in truth, her heart must have been filled with deep sorrow.

The deity Sword One had clearly conveyed her decree, demanding that her disciples prepare a mountain.

Yet now, though Shanfeng had long been prepared, Lady Sword One still had not arrived.

Over such a long period, as the primary person responsible, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun would inevitably bear immense pressure and suffer severe criticism!

So... what exactly was the reason?

Chen Chen Jingjing revealed these words with the intention of having Lu Ran properly comfort his mother.

How could she know that Lu Ran was absolutely not an ordinary believer!

For normal believers, even if you lent them ten thousand times their courage, they would not dare to blame the deity.

People would only reflect on where they themselves had fallen short.

Was it insufficient piety, inadequate faith energy offered, or perhaps incense not flourishing enough—such actions that had displeased the deity, my lord?

In short, believers would seek the cause within themselves.

Lu Ran was completely different!

He dared to defy the whole world, considering the problem from multiple angles.

Why had Lady Sword One gone back on her word?

Since she had explicitly stated she would enlighten the ninth spiritual mountain, why did she now find it unworthy?

Was this a game between deities, or between a deity and Great Xia, or had something gone wrong with the deity herself?

Could it be that Mother had truly done something wrong somewhere?

Regarding the latter possibility, Lu Ran harbored deep suspicion.

After all, how utterly devoted Mother had been to the Sword One faction was visible to anyone.

The car fell into silence.

Lu Ran sank into deep thought, while the others remained silent as well.

It was not until the vehicle reached the airport that Chen Chen Jingjing broke the silence, calling for everyone to disembark.

Chen Chen Jingjing had already purchased plane tickets for the group; their destination was Xihai Province.

This province lay in the west of Great Xia, far from Jingcheng; traveling by car would take far too much effort.

The plane was fast; in merely two and a half hours, the group of four arrived at Qingtang City, the capital of Xihai Province.

Chen Chen Jingjing had arranged everything; after retrieving their checked weapons, the group had no sooner exited the airport than they boarded a business van that had been waiting for a long time, heading straight for the eastern suburbs of Qingtang City.

To be honest, guilt grew ever stronger in Lu Ran's heart.

The better Chen Chen Jingjing managed everything, the more Lu Ran could feel the care and attention coming from Mother, my lord.

Lu Ran looked back upon himself—

He seemed unable to share any of the burden for Mother, my lord.

Indeed, had Chen Chen Jingjing not revealed this information, Lu Ran would have remained entirely unaware of the anguish and pressure Mother was currently enduring.

"Oh my god."

In the back seat of the business van, Without Si Si Xianxian stared in dumbfounded shock, murmuring in a low voice.

As the vehicle drove into the eastern suburbs, gradually approaching a military camp, a colossal stone statue came into everyone's view.

Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly, "Finally realized it?"

Without Si Si Xianxian looked utterly bewildered: "Huh?"

As a believer, Without Si Si Xianxian was not very qualified.

As soon as she had received her plane ticket and learned the group's destination, she should have realized that she was about to face the saint!

Including Qingtang City, certain regions of Xihai Province were the territory of the deity Divine Lie Tian!

Yet, with the car nearly driving right up to the deity, my lord's feet, Without Si Si Xianxian had only just realized it...

Hmm, she really deserved a beating.

"Lu Xiao Lu Lu," Chen Chen Jingjing called softly.

"Sister Chen Jingjing," Lu Ran replied, coming back to his senses.

Chen Chen Jingjing looked deeply at Lu Ran: "We are about to enter a devil's den; adjust your state of mind."

She felt she had been somewhat rash; she should have waited until after the trial ended before revealing this information to him.

She had not expected Lu Ran to carry such heavy worries; along the way, he had spoken little, his state completely different from when they first met.

Hmm... it was perhaps better that he took it seriously.

The state of Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun, and that of the several close Sword One disciples beside her, were all seen clearly by those around them, who grew increasingly anxious in their hearts.

If this continued, the Peak Master, my lord, might not even be able to maintain a stable state of mind.

This was a major taboo!

A truly powerful cultivator was unlike those lackeys in the Mist Realm or Stream Realm, who could simply rush upward with single-minded determination.

At Lu Ran's level of strength and realm, he had not yet come into contact with such matters.

But Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun had clearly embarked on a path to the pinnacle; her requirements for the mental and spiritual aspects were extremely, extremely high.

Not the slightest error could be tolerated!

"I hope Lu Ran can help Peak Master Jiang Qiao," Chen Chen Jingjing thought silently.

"Ma'am, we have arrived," the driver said, steering the vehicle into a parking space and bringing it to a gentle halt.

"Let's get out," Chen Chen Jingjing said, opening the car door and stepping out first.

She pressed her palms together and bowed slightly toward the deity's statue.

As a disciple of Sword One, such etiquette was already sufficient.

Si Si Xianxian, who had just gotten out of the car, knelt down directly, muttering words like "sin" and "blessing" under her breath.

Jiangjiang Ruyi likewise pressed her palms together, while Lu Ran tilted his head back, carefully admiring the majestic presence of the deity Divine Lie Tian.

Although this was merely a stone clone statue, it inflicted a tremendous visual impact and spiritual shock upon Lu Ran.

The deity Divine Lie Tian's attire and dress closely resembled that of a tribal chieftain from ancient times.

His features were rugged, his long beard thick, and his long hair tied up atop his head into a bun.

He was born powerful and muscular, gripping a massive war hammer in his right hand, solemn and dignified as he looked down upon all living beings.

An aura of ancient vicissitudes rushed toward him, pressing down until Lu Ran found it somewhat hard to breathe.

Deity Divine Lie Tian!

Lu Ran stared blankly upward, sighing again and again in his heart.

What a dignified and ancient statue, what a deity Divine Lie Tian!

The demon lair of the Rouge Paper Men indeed ought to be guarded by a deity of this caliber.

The only problem was,

judging from Divine Lie Tian's image and temperament, Lu Ran could not detect even a hint of violent fury in him.

Instead, he gave people a feeling of being exceptionally steady and exceptionally solemn.

Know the god's face but not his heart?

Or perhaps...

Is violence merely your lie?

Thanks to boss Gzc Ya for the 8,000 reward! Wish you longevity, ura~

Thanks to bosses Qi Qi Heji, Me4444da, and several others for their rewards! Thanks for the support, bosses, you are generous!

Heart fingers (`)

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(End of Chapter)