Chapter 297: Luo Sister Xianshan, The Immortal Lu

Lu Ran stayed in the Demon Cave for a full month and a half.

When he emerged again, his Sin Mirror Demon Yemo Yemo Xiesu had reached the River Realm, Second Stage!

During this trial, Lu Ran only summoned one general and one charm on the first day; for the remaining days, he walked alone.

Inevitably, the efficiency of killing enemies declined somewhat.

But by handling everything personally, Lu Ran grew increasingly adept at wielding various Xie Fa techniques.

This included the blade art he had newly comprehended, which he had practiced to perfection!

Lu Ran gave the third form of the Ran Gate Blade Art a pleasant name—Shuo Xing.

"Shuo" was taken from the word "flicker."

"Xing" represented the local environment, drawn from the unique beauty found within Silver Hewan.

During his days in the Demon Cave, whenever Lu Ran lifted his head, he could see that brilliant Milky Way crossing the night sky.

Thus, the name "Shuo Xing" was settled.

When Lu Ran walked out of Silver Hewan, it was already the twenty-third day of the seventh lunar month.

Lu Ran had spent both fifteenth-day full moons inside the Demon Cave.

The difference between them was truly staggering.

On the fifteenth of the sixth month, Silver Hewan was relatively peaceful, and Lu Ran found few Sin Mirror Demons.

But as the date approached the fifteenth of the seventh month, the Sin Mirror Demon clan became unusually active, appearing in great swarms; even Lu Ran had to temporarily avoid their sharp edge.

The military garrisoned at Shitoucheng naturally stood ready in strict formation.

Lu Ran also joined the city defenders to clear out the evil spirits causing trouble within the city.

The reason his Sin Mirror Demon Yemo Yemo Xiesu could reach the River Realm, Second Stage, was largely due to the "Evil Spirit Rampage" around the fifteenth of the seventh month.

Fortunately, the Shitoucheng where Lu Ran was located did not suffer a large-scale, organized assault by the Sin Mirror Demon clan.

As for the condition of other Stone Cities and the front-line walls, Lu Ran had no way of knowing.

After returning to Luo Sister Xianshan, Lu Ran immediately reported to the Xianyangyi Sect, then returned to the Luo Sister Xian Residence and entered a state of secluded cultivation.

A full month and a half of slaughter had granted him many realizations and much accumulation.

Lu Ran vaguely sensed that he was about to touch the bottleneck of a minor stage!

In the past, this was something Lu Ran would not have dared to even imagine!

After all, he had only advanced to the River Realm, Fourth Stage, on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.

Now, on this twenty-third day of the seventh month, he actually felt he was about to touch the bottleneck again?

The blessing bestowed by Lord Xiang Xianyang, that so-called "Tempering the Body and Cleansing the Marrow," was truly extraordinary!

Thus, Lu Ran began his seclusion within the Luo Sister Xian Residence.

Time flew, and it arrived at the third day of the eighth lunar month.

This day was somewhat special.

Because this day was September 1st on the solar calendar, the day when major universities opened for the semester.

Similarly, it was also the day Lu Ran, after ten days of seclusion, finally achieved results!

It was at dusk, inside the Luo Sister Xian Pavilion.

"Heh."

Lu Ran, draped in a long white robe, sat cross-legged in the center of the pavilion, his sigh carrying a slight tremor.

Between heaven and earth, immortal mist continuously gathered toward the cool pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, the divine power within the person surged like a river, racing along the meridians in endless cycles.

Lu Ran frantically absorbed the surrounding immortal mist, condensing it into streams within his body to merge with the surging rivers inside him.

He constantly expanded his meridians, striking against the shackles again and again, attempting to break the body's fetters.

The setting sun descended, gradually sinking behind the mountain peaks.

The afterglow of the setting sun, set against the evening clouds on the horizon, made Ye Ye Yucheng as beautiful as a painted scroll.

"Whoosh!!"

Suddenly a wild wind rose, causing Lu Ran's white robe to flutter.

Outside the Luo Sister Xian Pavilion, flowers and grass bowed before the gale, and countless flower petals scattered in all directions.

River Realm, Fifth Stage!

Lu Ran did not rise immediately; he continued absorbing the surrounding immortal mist to consolidate his own cultivation realm.

Only when the sun had completely vanished behind the mountain ranges did Lu Ran slowly open his eyes.

In his pupils, light still circulated, brilliant as stars.

At this moment, Lu Ran, surrounded by the swirling immortal mist, gave people a feeling of being ethereal and immortal.

One did not know

whether he had been influenced by the environment of Luo Sister Xianshan, or whether it was because he had undergone Tempering the Body and Cleansing the Marrow.

In any case, Lu Ran's temperament had changed somewhat.

Wearing the white long robe of the Xianyangyi Sect, his sword-like brows and starry eyes remained unchanged, yet he appeared even more heroic.

Although this was a moment worthy of cheering and celebration, his expression was calm and his heart peaceful, subtly conveying a sense of transcending the mundane.

Such bearing and temperament made him appear especially well-matched with this ancient and rhyming Luo Sister Xian Pavilion.

"Hoo."

Lu Ran slowly exhaled and stood up.

Turning to look westward, the setting sun had fallen, leaving only the evening clouds behind.

"River Realm, Fifth Stage." Lu Ran gazed at the horizon, his eyes slightly blurred.

This breakthrough was certainly joyous, but more than anything, it was the result of steady progress, step by step, until everything fell naturally into place.

Setting sun, setting clouds, Lady Luo Sister Xianshan.

All that quiet and beautiful scenery had indeed, unknowingly, calmed Lu Ran's state of mind.

Lu Ran gazed for a long time until the sky darkened, then finally took a step and walked toward the Lady Luo Sister Xian Residence.

The moment he stepped into the small courtyard of the residence, he saw a bamboo basket resting on the small wooden table.

Lu Ran broke into a smile, reminded again of the treasure mom with her hair tied in a bun.

Coming every day to deliver meals—truly, she had worked hard.

He stepped forward, lifted the cloth cover, and saw his favorite dish: stir-fried wild mushrooms.

Ever since Lu Ran had expressed his liking for this dish, the elderly men and women had gone into the mountains daily to pick them.

"Sigh," Lu Ran exhaled softly.

Since arriving at Lady Luo Sister Xianshan, he had been meticulously cared for.

This had allowed him to cultivate without distraction and break through smoothly.

Truly, they were a group of kind and enthusiastic people.

"Only comprehension remains." Suddenly, a low voice imprint entered his mind.

"Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang?" Lu Ran paused mid-meal.

"Your body is ready. Breaking through to the Jiang Jing realm concerns no further physical cultivation, only inner comprehension."

Hearing this, Lu Ran nodded slightly.

Xiang Xiang Xianyang said indifferently, "For the comprehension required to break through to Jiang Jing, this Lady Luo Sister Xianshan, at present, is afraid it cannot provide it for you."

Lu Ran frowned slightly, sharply seizing upon a single word.

"At present" Lady Luo Sister Xianshan?

Did that mean that in the future, this very Lady Luo Sister Xianshan could offer him a different kind of comprehension?

Lu Ran pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, should I return to Rain Alley City?"

Xiang Xiang Xianyang replied, "Stay or go as you wish; follow your own heart.

On the day you reach Jiang Jing, before entering the inner hall, simply offer one stick of incense."

Lu Ran's heart stirred!

It seemed Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang intended to send him off to roam another world at that time.

He put down his chopsticks, nodded, and said, "This disciple understands!"

"Mm." A single word dropped via voice transmission, followed by silence.

Lu Ran waited a moment, then picked up his chopsticks again and silently continued his meal.

After sweeping the dishes clean, Lu Ran tidied the plates, picked up the bamboo basket, and carried it into the mountain dwelling.

Upon entering, the bedroom lay to the left, while the room on the right was a bathroom.

Although the decor within was equally classical, the sink and showerhead inside were modern.

Lu Ran washed the bowls, chopsticks, and plates, placed them back into the bamboo basket one by one, and carried them out to the wooden table in the courtyard.

Eating and drinking for free every day, Lu Ran already felt more than embarrassed enough.

To let others wash his dishes and scrub his plates would truly be improper~

After setting down the bamboo basket, Lu Ran returned to the master bedroom and picked up his mobile phone.

No one disturbed him; even the five-person group chat had seen no messages for a very, very long time.

Lu Ran figured that Deng Yutang and the others had probably created a new group.

Perhaps they worried that chatting in the group would disturb his quiet cultivation?

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then sent a message to Jiangjiang Ruyi:

"School started today, right?"

He waited for a while, but received no response.

Lu Ran smiled helplessly and sent another message: "I've broken through."

He stared quietly at his phone; after a long time, there was still no response.

Lu Ran couldn't help but recall Jiangjiang Ruyi's elegant and aloof beauty.

On the phone, she had always been like this.

Only when standing before her would Lu Ran see her gentle side.

Even

even when accompanying her, whenever she fell silent and lost in thought, she gave off an intangible sense of distance.

Sometimes Lu Ran wondered: if this current Jiangjiang Ruyi were to pay respects to Lord Liangye Jian Yi, would she be accepted?

Growth of body and mind, tempering in the fires of war.

Indeed, she was no longer that green and ignorant young girl.

Lu Ran placed his phone on the bedside table and turned toward the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, having finished his bath, Lu Ran returned to the bedroom and glanced at his phone again.

He found that she still had not responded at all.

"Jiang Ruyi, what a cruel heart you have..."

Lu Ran murmured softly, lifted the bed curtains, and climbed into the large, square bed.

Days of bitter cultivation had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

Although dissatisfied in his heart, he still fell asleep quickly and slept soundly.

The night passed without incident; the next morning arrived.

Lu Ran blearily opened his eyes, picked up his phone to check the time, but instead saw a message.

It had been sent by Jiangjiang Ruyi in the early hours of the morning.

He immediately opened it; two simple words lay there quietly:

"Congratulations."

Lu Ran: "."

Yesterday, even when he advanced, he had maintained an air of casual indifference.

Because his heart had been relatively calm.

But now, upon seeing the brief two characters sent by Jiangjiang Ruyi, his heart was in turmoil!

Yes, I am in secluded cultivation, and you indeed should not disturb me excessively.

But on the day of my advancement, do you have nothing more than these two bland, polite words?

Goddess Jiang,

are you bestowing charity upon me?

Lu Ran directly opened the ticketing app and bought a flight ticket to Wu Lie River City.

Just as he was paying, he faintly heard the courtyard gate being pushed open.

Lu Ran quickly got out of bed, draped a long white robe over himself, and walked out.

On the small table within the courtyard sat a bamboo basket.

On the mountain path outside the courtyard was the retreating figure of Cheng Rou, departing silently.

"Deng Deng Shijie Cheng!" Lu Ran called out.

"Hmm?" Cheng Rou halted her steps and turned her head to look back.

Seeing Lu Ran's sleepy-eyed appearance, a gentle smile appeared on Cheng Rou's face:

"You're awake?"

As she spoke, Cheng Rou turned around, returned to the small courtyard, and pushed open the courtyard gate.

Lu Ran: "."

Although Cheng Rou was only twenty-seven years old, Lu Ran always felt that her words, actions, and demeanor were as if she were facing her own son.

"Little Junior Brother, what's wrong?" Cheng Rou asked with a concerned expression.

"Ah, Deng Deng Shijie, I'm going back; my flight is at noon today."

"Ah?" Cheng Rou showed slight surprise. "Leaving so soon?"

Lu Ran smiled and nodded: "I'll be back very quickly, after I advance to the Jiang Realm."

Cheng Rou was momentarily stunned, then a look of delighted surprise spread across her face: "You've already advanced to the fifth stage of the River Realm?"

Lu Ran nodded again.

"Wow!" Cheng Rou's eyes sparkled brightly, filled entirely with pride and admiration. "That's wonderful!"

Lu Ran was utterly speechless.

That tone, that expression!

Lu Ran strongly suspected that Cheng Rou was applying her methods of child education to him.

Helplessly, Lu Ran said, "Deng Deng Shijie, are there any local specialties here? I'd like to take some back."

Cheng Rou, however, said, "Do you want to buy a gift for your girlfriend?"

As a devoted viewer of "Prodigies," she naturally knew that a graceful figure had always been following beside her little junior brother.

Without waiting for Lu Ran to respond, Cheng Rou had already begun pondering, murmuring softly:

"For such a beautiful girl, we must pick out an exquisite gift, yes?"

(End of Chapter)