Chapter 401: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Path

At dusk, on the cliff directly above the canyon.

Lu Ran and Deng Deng Yuxiang stood quietly, gazing at the horizon, awaiting the descent of the Saint Spirit Qi.

As for the captured wandering souls, Lu Ran had long since confined them within the Divine Demon Sculpture Garden.

Throughout this entire day, Lu Ran and Deng Deng Yuxiang had been interrogating and digesting all manner of intelligence and information.

Even now, they had not finished digesting it all.

"Sect Master," Deng Deng Yuxiang, standing slightly behind and to the side of Lu Ran, suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

"Are you alright?" Deng Deng Yuxiang asked, looking at his back.

Judging by her own feelings, Deng Deng Yuxiang worried that the shock Lu Ran had suffered was too great, causing his state of mind to become unstable.

Previously, no matter how high above mortals the gods stood or how they viewed human lives as those of servants, at least the gods maintained the image of saviors and guardians.

Just that single point was enough to make people worship them with devout reverence and prostrate themselves in adoration.

But now, the gods had suddenly become entities colluding with evil demons, transforming into a crushing mountain pressing down upon the human race.

Who could withstand such a transformation?

"Do you know the name of this blade?" Lu Ran raised his hand and gripped the hilt of the sword on his shoulder.

Among the four blades Lu Ran carried on his back, only this one lacked any inscribed characters on its scabbard.

"Cloud Sea Dust Cleared," Lu Ran asked and answered himself. "This name was bestowed by my mother."

Deng Deng Yuxiang remained silent; naturally, she knew exactly who Lu Ran's mother was.

Searching for the Saint Spirit Qi, Lu Ran continued, "She explicitly told me that the 'Cloud Sea' she spoke of refers to the gods."

Deng Deng Yuxiang's heart trembled!

So, Senior Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Wanjun had already laid the groundwork for Lu Ran?

Did this not also indirectly confirm that the deductions made by the two of them were correct?

Gazing at the cloud sea in the sky, Lu Ran said, "Mother said that the Cloud Sea is inevitable; what matters is clearing the dust."

Deng Deng Yuxiang speculated, "Does Senior Jiang Qiao hope that you will use this blade to sweep away the dust within the Cloud Sea?"

"Mm, she also gifted me six characters."

"What are they?"

"Do not lose yourself."

"Do not lose yourself," Deng Deng Yuxiang murmured in her heart.

This admonition from a mother to her son benefited Deng Yu Xun greatly.

Indeed, no matter how the gods and demons across the heavens caused chaos, one only needed to remain firm in one's goal.

To become a Night Phantom, to surpass the Night Phantom, to qualify oneself to walk beside him, and to clear away thorns and brambles for him.

As for who the enemy was—

Deng Deng Yuxiang's eyes grew increasingly cold.

Anyone standing in the path ahead was the enemy!

Changing the subject, Lu Ran said, "My mother does not know my secrets; in fact, whether or not she gave me this admonition, I would not lose myself."

Hearing his resolute words and looking at his back, Deng Deng Yuxiang listened.

Back in Lord Bei Feng City, she had already noticed that he had grown taller than her.

He had also shed the greenness of his youth.

He appeared increasingly heroic and towering, possessing an extraordinary aura, capable of bringing an unparalleled sense of security to those beside him.

"Our goal is to sweep away the calamities plaguing the human world."

"Therefore, we have embarked upon a path of slaughtering demons."

"But if there is more than just demons on this path..." Lu Ran shrugged, his meaning obvious.

"Hehe." Deng Deng Yuxiang let out a light laugh.

His meaning coincided perfectly with the thoughts she had just formed.

"Saint Spirit Qi," Lu Ran suddenly said.

Deng Deng Yuxiang looked up, but alas, her five senses were not as sharp as Lu Ran's, and she failed to locate it immediately.

Lu Ran reached to his side, first summoning an ancient bronze mirror, then transforming it into a full-length mirror.

Sinful Mirror Demon's Xie Fa: Mirror Flower Moon!

Suddenly, another full-length mirror appeared horizontally high in the sky.

The Saint Spirit Qi fell into it and drifted out from the full-length mirror beside Lu Ran.

Lu Ran's eyes transformed into horizontal pupils as he inhaled this wisp of white mist.

"Hoo~"

Between heaven and earth, the two full-length mirrors vanished without a trace.

Lu Ran still stood by the cliff edge, quietly gazing at the sky.

Seeing this scene, Deng Deng Yuxiang couldn't help but frown slightly: "Sect Master, next time, wait for the Saint Spirit Qi to fall for a while longer before you collect it."

With his hands behind his back, Lu Ran stood proudly: "Are you teaching me how to do my job... Eh?"

Has my sister Sister Xian'er also come to Saint Lingshan?

Rubbing the back of his head with one hand, Lu Ran said dissatisfiedly, "Am I not your Sect Master?"

Damn!

I let my guard down around you, yet you slap the back of my head?

Deng Deng Yuxiang withdrew her palm and stepped back two paces: "My lord Sect Master, have you remembered now?"

Lu Ran: "."

What a traitorous minister and rebellious son!

But then again, this matter is indeed quite serious.

Lady Luo provided intelligence: the high sky is a forbidden zone for the human race.

Extremely perilous!

Even if the sky is cloudless for ten thousand li and seems to hold nothing, if humans rashly fly up there, they may be punished by an invisible energy!

Lady Luo said she once witnessed with her own eyes someone fleeing upward constantly to escape pursuit.

Because this mysterious energy does not exist at every moment, the fugitive, driven by luck, flew upward with all their might!

As a result, at that time, the pursuers did not need to lift a finger.

That invisible mysterious energy suddenly appeared and instantly blasted the fugitive into four pieces and five fragments!

Limbs and flesh rained down everywhere with a clatter!

It was terribly gruesome.

This so-called Holy Lingshan Realm, seemingly high in the sky and vast in clouds, is actually a cage.

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then explained: "The Sea of Clouds is less than a thousand meters from this peak; the high sky Lady Luo mentioned is even higher."

Deng Deng Yuxiang interrupted Lu Ran's words: "Hmm?"

Lu Ran hesitated, then said: "Alright, I was rash. Hmm. How about this!

Lord Protector, you kneel first, and I will apologize to you."

Deng Deng Yuxiang was speechless and ignored Lu Ran.

Lu Ran also ignored the traitorous minister and instead focused his attention on the spiritual world.

"Vroom~"

Within the Demon God Sculpture Garden, the Divine Lie Tian Statue finally began to vibrate.

It seems the energy is sufficient!

Lu Ran felt reassured; even without Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, he could actively activate the Divine Statue or the Evil Statue himself.

In his mind, he quickly sorted through Pai De Shen Fa of the Lietianyi Sect.

Behind him, Deng Deng Yuxiang's eyes narrowed!

She saw Lu Ran casually clench his fist, grasping a phantom great hammer covered in cracks.

Deng Deng Yuxiang, usually steady and calm, was somewhat dazed: "This, this is?"

Lu Ran finally regained some face for the Sect Master and retorted: "What is it?"

In an instant, Deng Deng Yuxiang realized the severity of the problem!

"Is this Lie Tian Shen Fa · Lie Tian Hammer?"

"Hmm." Lu Ran casually dispersed the Lie Tian Hammer. "Lie Tian Hammer."

Deng Deng Yuxiang forcibly suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her thoughts racing: "Within your Evil Demon Sculpture Garden, there are also statues of the Divine Camp?"

Lu Ran finally turned around and looked at Deng Deng Yuxiang: "So I will not lose my way.

Because my goal has never been only the Evil Demons."

Deng Deng Yuxiang raised her eyelids, gazing directly into Lu Ran's lifeless horizontal pupils.

After a long while, she suddenly lowered her head and laughed: "Heh."

Deng Deng Yuxiang had thought she knew Lu Ran very well.

Not long after Lu Ran became a believer, she met him, then led him on missions, accompanying him all the way to the present.

However, reality gave Deng Deng Yuxiang slap after slap.

After the Battle of Lord Bei Feng City, she was stunned to discover that the human youth who had accompanied her through life and death was actually the Lord of Evil Demons.

And today, she received another massive shock.

Lu Ran is not only the Lord of Evil Demons.

He should be addressed as... Lord of Gods and Demons?

"You..." Deng Deng Yuxiang's expression was complex. "How many more secrets do you have that I do not know?"

"Only these." Lu Ran said awkwardly. "Sorry for hiding this from you for so long."

Only?

Only these?

Is that not a lot?!

You have a Sculpture Garden where Evil Statues and Divine Statues coexist!

You can replace all the gods and demons in this world...

Deng Deng Yuxiang was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say.

Regarding the deception, she was indeed displeased in her heart.

She believed Lu Ran could trust her!

But Deng Deng Yuxiang also understood that this secret was too shocking; only when she discarded her awe and illusions regarding the gods could Lu Ran speak of this.

More accurately, only when he was completely certain she would not leave him would he say it.

Deng Deng Yuxiang smoothed her long hair, which had been blown into disarray by the wind, as if organizing her thoughts, and sighed softly: "In your Sculpture Garden, do you have all the gods?"

Lu Ran: "More or less."

Deng Deng Yuxiang tested him: "Do you plan to act against Divine Lie Tian first?"

In her mind, a supremely beautiful face appeared.

In the future, the maid beside Lady Luo Sister Xian will also become her colleague, I suppose.

Lu Ran shrugged: "The believers of Divine Lie Tian are neither human nor ghost, unable to integrate into society, and their casualties are far too many."

"Moreover, they are too dangerous; far too many people have died at their hands."

Deng Deng Yuxiang thought of something, her expression turning somewhat grim: "When your spirit connects with the Divine Lie Tian Divine Statue, do you become irritable?"

Lu Ran comforted her: "How could that be? I am often closely connected with the Evil Dog Yemo Yemo Xiesu!"

"I haven't become mentally deficient and bitten people randomly everywhere."

Deng Deng Yuxiang: "."

Lu Ran said: "Actually, compared to me, you have more say in this matter."

"You are already completely bound to the Ye Mei Yemo Xiesu; do you feel your personality has been influenced by the Ye Mei Yemo Xiesu?"

Only then did Deng Deng Yuxiang feel reassured, giving a precise answer: "I am just myself."

Lu Ran nodded: "Correct, you will not turn cruel, nor will you crave fresh blood and tender flesh."

"You are an inheritor; you receive Ye Mei's abilities, replace her identity, and seize her position."

"Everything you inherit is external."

"But your inner self, your heart, belongs forever to me! Holy Spirit Qi!"

Deng Deng Yuxiang: "."

Lu Ran hurriedly summoned the ancient bronze mirror.

Deng Deng Yuxiang immediately reminded him: "Distance."

Lu Ran's movements froze.

Fine, being cautious is never wrong.

Lu Ran waited patiently for a moment until the Holy Spirit Qi was dozens of meters away from the sea of clouds, only then did he transform the Basic Technique Ancient Bronze Mirror into a full-length mirror.

The Holy Spirit Qi drifted out of the mirror once more; Lu Ran opened his pair of cold, horizontal pupils, and the Holy Spirit Qi was inhaled into his eyes.

"Buzz!"

The Divine Lie Tian Divine Statue began to vibrate.

Mist Realm Stage Two, Stage Three, Stage Four, Stage Five—

Stream Realm · Stage One!

"Hiss!" Lu Ran gasped sharply, casually dispersing the full-length mirror with a wave of his hand.

Oh my god!

The previous two strands of Holy Spirit Qi successfully activated the statue.

Did this latest strand of Holy Spirit Qi push the Divine Lie Tian Divine Statue from Mist Realm Stage One straight to Stream Realm Stage One?

Roughly calculating, does one strand of Holy Spirit Qi equal one Jiang Jing soul?

No wonder it is energy splashed forth during the war between gods and demons.

It is actually so pure, so immensely nourishing!

Lu Ran had just equipped himself with the Divine Art · Lie Tian Hammer, and now, he had gained two additional techniques.

Divine Art · Lie Di Qian Yan: Smash the hammer onto the ground, sending a fierce surge of a sea of flames forward.

Divine Art · Lie Bao Tian Qiong: A long-range output technique; fling out a Xiong Xiong burning war hammer, which can be detonated to cause area-of-effect damage.

The ultimate output of the Lietianyi Sect is no joke!

As for Lu Ran, to kill above his level, he needs the Divine Art · Lie Huo Tian Kui, a technique suited for River Realm · Stage One.

"Mm," Lu Ran thought, full of anticipation and filled with motivation.

If he wants to speak loudly before the great experts of the Sea Realm, he must still work hard to cultivate his Divine Statue!

"Someone's there!" Lu Ran suddenly tilted his head, listening carefully.

Deng Deng Yuxiang immediately turned around, gazing toward the mountain forest.

A moment later, she looked up slightly and saw several men and women flying rapidly toward them, skimming just above the treetops.

There were six in total; two wore white robes, while the other four wore dark clothing.

Without exception, they were all surrounded by jade tokens.

Are these people believers of Master Yu Fu?

Deng Deng Yuxiang remained outwardly calm, but her heart sank!

She spotted a very distinctive long-haired man; on the right side of his face was an oval-shaped birthmark that looked like a fingerprint.

Is this Lady Luo's lover, the Shanzhai Master of Luo Tiantu, Luo Luo Tiantu?

Today there are three updates: at 12, 18, and 22.

(End of Chapter)