Chapter 390: The Divine Ruins of the Immortal Sheep

In Jingcheng, winter dawn breaks very late.

When Lu Ran and the others rose early to catch their flight, the sky was cold and dark, a biting wind howled, and the streets were utterly empty.

This desolate scene matched the sorrowful mood of parting quite well.

Carrying this emotion with them, the group flew all the way to Cainan Province's Ye Ye Yucheng.

In the arrivals hall, the three of them met Deng Deng Yuxiang and the others who had come to pick them up.

"Brother Lu!"

"Class Monitor Jiang," Deng Yutang and Bai Bai Manni greeted in unison.

Yet it was clear that everyone's mood was off; they were all forcing themselves and putting on a facade.

"What's wrong, Deng Shao?" Lu Ran smiled at Deng Yutang. "Why are your eyes red?"

"No, no." Deng Yutang hurriedly shook his head, stepping forward to take Lu Ran's luggage.

"Mr. Deng, allow me," Wen Yang, a Xiang Xiang Xianyang believer standing nearby, quickly interjected, rushing ahead to do it first.

Suddenly, Lu Ran felt someone calling out to him from the void.

At the same time, he sensed the woman to his front-left fixing her beautiful eyes upon him.

【Is the blade repaired?】 Lu Ran, closely linked to Ye Mei Yemo Xiesu, sent a voice transmission.

【Mn, it's repaired.】 Deng Deng Yuxiang gave a slight nod, a movement so subtle it was nearly imperceptible.

【You've repaired yourself quite well too.】 Lu Ran looked at her beautiful face, brilliant and flamboyant.

"Let's go." Jiangjiang Ruyi took Lu Ran's arm.

【Is that so?】 The corner of Deng Deng Yuxiang's mouth lifted slightly as she turned and led the group outside.

Lu Ran nodded inwardly.

Yes, that was it—an air of proud confidence.

This was the Great Nightmare he remembered!

Jiangjiang Ruyi frowned slightly, noticing the subtle change in Lu Ran's expression.

Was he communicating with Deng Deng Yuxiang?

And with a special kind of tacit understanding?

Without needing any words at all, comprehending each other's meaning through merely a glance?

Was she overthinking it?

Uncertain, Jiangjiang Ruyi slowly lowered her jade-like hand and gently took Lu Ran's hand.

Fortunately, Lu Ran gave her ample response, interlacing his fingers with hers.

【When we return, shall I drag Deng Shao into the fold as well?】

Hearing the voice transmission in her mind, Deng Deng Yuxiang slowed her pace slightly and turned to look at Lu Ran.

She did not expect that the moment she turned, she would meet a pair of burning, beautiful eyes.

Jiangjiang Ruyi still held Lu Ran's hand; her eyes beneath the brim of her hat showed little emotion, merely gazing faintly at Deng Deng Yuxiang.

Deng Deng Yuxiang's gaze shifted slightly; she offered no reply and turned to continue walking.

"Sister Deng Yuxiang," Jiangjiang Ruyi suddenly spoke.

"Mn?" Deng Deng Yuxiang halted and looked toward Lady Luo Sister Xian.

Jiangjiang Ruyi said, "In a moment, you will ride in the same car as me."

Jiangjiang Xianzi's tone was flat, yet it carried the inflection of a command.

Lu Ran, confused, looked at his fiancée beside him. "Jiang Ruyi?"

"You will ride with Jiang Qiao Yuanxi," Jiangjiang Ruyi said, her voice softening slightly.

Even so, that noble and powerful aura truly manifested the dignity of Lady Luo Sister Xian.

Lu Ran: "."

For this airport pickup, Wen Yang and the others had prepared three vehicles; Jiangjiang Ruyi released Lu Ran's hand and strode toward the last car.

Deng Deng Yuxiang followed with keen interest.

Lu Ran, meanwhile, was dragged and pulled by the traitorous Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi toward the second car.

Soon, the vehicles set off.

Lu Ran endured it for quite a while before finally asking in his mind: 【What did she say to you?】

【For now, she hasn't spoken.】

Inside the last car, Deng Deng Yuxiang sat in the back seat and glanced at Jiangjiang Ruyi beside her.

Since boarding the vehicle, Jiangjiang Xianzi had not uttered a single word.

Yet this silence made Wen Yang, who was driving in front, feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

From her brother, Deng Deng Yuxiang had learned in detail about Jiangjiang Ruyi's past, knowing she had once been a gentle and quiet young girl.

However, times had changed, and Deng Yutang's information was long outdated.

The once gentle and lovely girl was now the Lu Zongzhu's Lady, unreachable and lofty.

She possessed formidable strength matching that status, as well as immense influence!

Ever since Jiangjiang Ruyi took up residence at Luo Sister Xian Mountain, during the recent nights of the fifteenth, Lady Luo Sister Xian's prestige had soared!

The dense divine power permeating Xianshan would attract hordes of evil demons to invade.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, in her capacity as the Lu Zongzhu's Lady, would represent Lu Zongzhu Lu Ran to go out and fight.

From the military guarding the mountain, to the Moon-Watchers guarding the city, to the Xiang Xiang Xianyang believers within the mountain—

People's respect stemmed not only from the title "Lu Zongzhu's Lady," but even more from her deeds.

Lu Ran had given her everything, and Jiangjiang Ruyi was striving to protect and consolidate all that belonged to him.

Her brilliant light illuminated the endless long night, sheltering the people of this world, while she was upheld and pushed onto a divine altar by them.

A divine altar, high above all.

As for her gentle side, perhaps, it was reserved for Lu Ran alone.

"You two have great tacit understanding." Halfway through the journey, Jiangjiang Ruyi's voice suddenly broke the silence inside the car.

"We've faced life and death together for a long time," Deng Deng Yuxiang replied casually, gazing out the window.

Jiangjiang Ruyi turned her head to look at Deng Deng Yuxiang.

Instantly, Deng Deng Yuxiang felt the pressure surge sharply, causing her to frown slightly.

However, by the time Deng Deng Yuxiang turned to look back, her expression had already returned to normal.

Two pairs of beautiful eyes met once more, burning with intensity.

Jiangjiang Ruyi parted her thin lips slightly: "Use this tacit understanding to take good care of him."

Deng Deng Yuxiang suddenly smiled: "Of course."

Jiangjiang Ruyi, however, remained expressionless and said indifferently: "You owe him."

Deng Deng Yuxiang's smile gradually faded, and she nodded in silence.

Jiangjiang Ruyi turned to gaze out the window and spoke no more.

Experts of the Jiang Jing realm have extremely high requirements for one's state of mind; this single reminder was sufficient.

During the second half of the drive, the car fell into silence once again.

It was not until the convoy reached the foot of the mountain and the vehicles had just come to a halt that someone opened the door for Jiangjiang Ruyi.

Seeing the person standing outside the car, Jiangjiang Ruyi's gaze softened, losing its previous coldness.

"What did you talk about?" Lu Ran supported her hand as she exited the vehicle, unable to suppress his curiosity.

Jiangjiang Ruyi lifted her eyelids, looking at Lu Ran with an expression that was neither quite a smile nor quite serious.

To say it without exaggeration, this was the first time Lu Ran had ever seen such an expression on Jiangjiang Xianzi's face.

Little Jiang Ruyi... she seems so different today.

Is it because our parting is imminent?

Perhaps.

Jiangjiang Ruyi took Lu Ran's hand proactively: "Don't tell me you're worried I bullied her."

Lu Ran: "."

If this had happened before, Lu Ran would have surely scoffed at such words.

But now...

"Lady Luo Sister Xian instructed me to take good care of you," a female voice called out.

On the other side of the vehicle, Deng Deng Yuxiang leaned her elbow on the open door, watching this celestial couple.

Lu Ran looked toward the driver's seat where Wen Yang was getting out of the car.

Wen Yang looked as timid as a cicada in winter, keeping his head bowed very low as he hurried to the trunk to retrieve the luggage.

"Let's go, up the mountain; don't delay the time," Jiangjiang Ruyi gently tugged Lu Ran's hand.

"Mm, let's go."

Today, Lady Luo Sister Xian Mountain was not receiving any pilgrims.

During the climb, there was only their small group, and everyone remained silent.

Upon reaching the summit, the group arrived at Lady Luo Sister Xian Temple, where they saw many Xianyangyi Sect disciples dressed in white practice uniforms.

Led by the two Grandfather Chengs, the entire contingent of the Xianyangyi Sect disciples bowed respectfully to Lu Ran and Jiangjiang Ruyi.

The titles "Mountain Master" and "Lady" were shouted with unprecedented loudness and uniformity.

Lu Ran immediately returned the bow.

Jiangjiang Ruyi, however, stood half a step behind Lu Ran, quietly positioned at his back.

"Mountain Master," Cheng Yi stepped forward, holding a stick of incense that was both thick and long, and handed it to Lu Ran.

"Thank you, Grandfather Cheng." Lu Ran reached out to take it, then went to a nearby furnace to light the large incense stick.

Inside the vast Lady Luo Sister Xian Temple, it was packed with people, yet utterly silent.

Everyone watched as the Mountain Master of Lady Luo Sister Xian Mountain lit the incense, approached the censer, and closed his eyes in reverence.

"Great One Xiang Xiang Xianyang, your disciple has returned to fulfill the appointment."

"This disciple believes he is prepared to go to another world and face the challenge."

"I humbly request Great One Xiang Xiang Xianyang to open our sect's Divine Ruins."

Silently reciting these words in his heart, Lu Ran bowed toward the main hall of the temple directly ahead, then inserted the large incense stick into the censer.

"Hum~"

The peaceful Lady Luo Sister Xian Mountain suddenly trembled slightly.

At the same time, a low voice echoed directly into Lu Ran's mind: "Here to die?"

Lu Ran: "."

The deity's voice carried a hint of teasing: "Have you settled all your final affairs?"

Lu Ran remained silent for quite a while before saying in a low voice: "Those two Peace Beads are the entirety of the final affairs I needed to settle.

This disciple thanks Great One Xiang Xiang Xianyang for your protection."

"Mm, go wait at the back mountain," the voice transmission grew fainter.

At 10:20, inside the Jiang family compound at the eastern end of Lady Luo Sister Xian Village.

Lu Ran wore a suit of pitch-black combat gear and stepped into black combat boots, carrying a full four slender Tang Dao swords on his back.

This time, the blades were arranged in an "X" shape.

Left one and left two are respectively Xia Guang and Ba Huang Ju Mie.

Right one and right two are respectively Ji Ye and Yun Hai Chen Qing.

Hanging at Lu Ran's waist was also an exquisite gourd adorned with a blazing phoenix pattern.

Truly, fully armed!

Jiangjiang Ruyi and Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi accompanied Lu Ran; little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's eyes were still red, constantly giving instructions.

Nearby, Deng Deng Yuxiang was similarly dressed in a pitch-black combat suit and pitch-black combat boots.

On her back, she carried a broken blade.

The "repair" Deng Deng Yuxiang spoke of was not restoring the Zhan Ye blade to a length of 2.8 meters.

She merely repaired the cracked patterns on the broken blade.

At this moment, the Zhan Ye blade had a handle over 20 centimeters long and a blade approximately 1.1 meters long.

Both the handle and the blade had been slashed diagonally, retaining the appearance of when they shattered.

Deng Yutang and Bai Bai Manni silently accompanied their elder sister, saying not a word.

"Voom!!"

In the world, a violent surge of energy suddenly erupted.

Several people turned their gaze toward the east simultaneously.

They saw a magnificent palace rise from the ground within the deep, ancient forest!

It was composed of pure energy, resembling an ancient palace where every brick and tile exuded an aura of solemnity.

A thick sense of oppression spread across the sky and covered the earth, pressing the living beings on the mountain to the brink of suffocation!

"Gulp." Deng Yutang swallowed, looking up at the imposing palace.

The tightly closed palace gates alone were enough to be described as magnificent.

So, Brother Lu and Elder Sister, will you smash the gates and break in later?

What difference is there between that and an ant shaking a tree?

Last year in Lord Bei Feng City, Lord Lord Bei Feng had descended a Divine Ruin.

To smash the Divine Ruin gates, Lord Bei Feng disciples fell one after another, spitting fresh blood and suffering severe injuries that left them unconscious.

"Go!" Lu Ran strode out of the small courtyard.

At the village entrance dozens of meters away, two Grandpas Cheng clasped their fists and bowed, watching the arriving group:

"Those who do not belong to the Xianyangyi Sect, stop here."

Cheng Yi specifically clasped his fists and bowed to Jiangjiang Ruyi, with utmost respect, bowing his head slightly: "Lady of the Mountain Master, please stop here."

"Let's go." Lu Ran's gaze swept over the group; he smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. "See you later."

His demeanor was as light as clouds and wind, extremely carefree.

Deng Deng Yuxiang did not stop her steps; she brushed past Cheng Li and never once turned her head.

Deng Yutang watched his elder sister's retreating figure; she was always so beautiful and valiant.

Yet his heart was incredibly heavy.

"Go for it, Brother! You must return safely!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's eyes were swollen and red, clenching her small fists.

Jiangjiang Ruyi embraced little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, pressing that crying little face against her chest.

She looked directly into Lu Ran's eyes and said softly:

"Come back early; I will wait for you."

"Mm, okay."

"Sss—"

Immortal mist churned as Lu Ran flew backward away from them.

(End of this chapter)