Chapter 414: A Servant of the Dragon

After the rumbling in the sky faded, Deng Deng Yuxiang asked, "Mr. Yu, what exactly is your cultivation realm?"

Such an inquiry was somewhat impolite and could easily provoke the other party's resentment.

But since Yu Fish Changsheng had already decided to join the team, Deng Deng Yuxiang believed it necessary to understand her teammate.

Not wanting Lu Ran to play the bad guy, she asked herself.

Unexpectedly, Yu Fish Changsheng replied crisply, "Sea Realm, Fourth Stage."

Lu Ran was startled in his heart: "Sea Realm, Fourth Stage?"

He had assumed Yu Fish Changsheng was at the early stage of the Sea Realm, never expecting him to be at the high stage.

Wasn't that a full major realm higher than Deng Deng Yuxiang?

Seeing the light shining in Lu Ran's eyes, Yu Fish Changsheng smiled and asked, "What is it?"

Lu Ran praised sincerely, "I am merely marveling that Mr. Yu has achieved so much at such a young age."

Lu Ran was truly happy!

Having picked up a great treasure, how could he not be happy?

Yu Fish Changsheng couldn't help but laugh: "I have already wasted thirty-two years of my life... or perhaps thirty-three?"

Yu Fish Changsheng paused noticeably, then let out a soft sigh: "I've forgotten; it's probably around that age."

Having stayed in the Holy Lingshan Realm for too long, he had forgotten what year or month it was in the mortal world.

He had forgotten his own age.

"At thirty, one stands firm; it is precisely the age to build a career and stand tall!" Lu Ran winked at Yu Fish Changsheng.

Lu Ran had always thought Yu Fish Changsheng was twenty-eight or twenty-nine.

Come to think of it, these human experts capable of destroying heaven and earth all possessed outstanding elegance, so appearing significantly younger was quite normal.

"In that case, Young Friend Lu established himself rather early," Yu Fish Changsheng said teasingly, naturally aware of Lu Ran's covetous intentions, "Are you twenty yet this year?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Yu Fish Changsheng's smile grew deeper: "Hmm?"

Lu Ran held it in for a long while before suddenly blurting out, "I'm not twenty, but I have a fiancée!"

Yu Fish Changsheng: "..."

You little rascal, your words are quite hurtful.

He gave Lu Ran a speechless glance, then looked at Deng Deng Yuxiang and said, "Then I congratulate you both."

Lu Ran hurriedly explained, "Not this one, I have another... No! I only have one, it's the other one!"

Leaning against a large tree with her arms crossed before her, Deng Deng Yuxiang watched the flustered Lu Ran with an ambiguous smile.

Yu Fish Changsheng remarked, "Young Friend, you are truly blessed."

Lu Ran lowered his head in embarrassment and played with the water.

Changing the subject, Yu Fish Changsheng asked, "Did you also help your fiancée infiltrate a certain demonic cult?"

"No." Lu Ran shook his head, muttering in his heart: I will take her straight to confront a god!

Pondering, Yu Fish Changsheng asked, "This special path of yours isn't suitable for everyone?"

Lu Ran shook his head and replied, "That's not it; I can only say the time is not yet ripe."

Yu Fish Changsheng pressed further, "Then what conditions must be met for the time to be considered ripe?"

Lu Ran thought for a moment before answering, "When a person sees through the true faces of gods and demons and recognizes the true nature of the world."

"When that person's body and mind are both prepared."

Yu Fish Changsheng nodded slightly.

Lu Ran continued, "Mr. Yu is a believer of the Dragon Carp and has signed a master-servant contract with the god.

Although this realm is vast and distant, preventing believers from communicating with their god, if Mr. Yu infiltrates another sect, I still worry that the god Dragon Carp might detect it."

Yu Fish Changsheng understood clearly in his heart.

Lu Ran and the other were believers of the Immortal Sheep, and the god Immortal Sheep was the initiator of this entire plan.

That was why Lu Ran and Deng Deng Yuxiang could act so recklessly and possess multiple identities.

Lu Ran went on, "Mr. Yu, I am very willing to arrange a path for you, but we must still proceed cautiously.

If Mr. Yu wishes to walk this path, I'm afraid we must trouble you to first withdraw from the Dragon Carp sect."

Yu Fish Changsheng asked with great interest, "What path do you intend to arrange for me, Young Friend?"

Lu Ran instead asked, "Does Mr. Yu have any preferred sects?"

A slight ripple moved through Yu Fish Changsheng's heart as he probed, "Any choice?"

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders.

This simple little gesture revealed a shocking message, enough to leave anyone dumbfounded.

This young man had dealt Yu Fish Changsheng far too great a shock.

Composing himself, Yu Fish Changsheng spoke softly: "The Dragon Carp sect."

Lu Ran asked in confusion, "But Mr. Yu is already a believer of the Dragon Carp sect?"

Yu Fish Changsheng slowly shook his head: "No, I wish to walk the Dragon Carp path that you arrange for me."

Lu Ran was stunned in his heart!

He opened his mouth, clearly unprepared to receive such sudden words.

Staring directly at Lu Ran and examining him closely, Yu Fish Changsheng suddenly said, "You kid, you really can do it!"

Lu Ran: "..."

Gripping his folding fan tightly, Yu Fish Changsheng said, "So, you can absorb the energy of the Night Phantom true form by slaughtering the Night Phantom race.

Can you also absorb the energy of the god Dragon Carp by slaughtering the Dragon Carp... or Dragon Carp believers?"

Lu Ran's face twisted into a bitter bun.

"Is this for real? This actually works?"

"No! You...?"

Not far away, Deng Deng Yuxiang spoke up to break the deadlock: "We did indeed hold something back, after all, this matter is too shocking to hear.

However, we never intended to hide it forever; we merely planned to reveal it gradually to Mr. Yu."

Lu Ran then shifted the topic, apologizing: "The path of the Dragon Carp is truly difficult to arrange."

Believers of the Dragon Carp were already scarce; those coming to the Spirit Lingshan Realm would be even rarer!

Moreover, Dragon Carp believers possess a healer's benevolent heart; most are kind-hearted.

If they did not raise their slaughtering blades against Lu Ran, how could he possibly slaughter his own kin without cause?

The Spirit Qi descending from the heavens could indeed cultivate the Dragon Carp divine statues within the garden, but Lu Ran still needed to cultivate the Divine Lie Tian divine statue!

He absolutely could not interfere with the growth plan; Lu Ran urgently needed the qualification for "killing across realms."

So...

Lu Ran looked at Yu Fish Changsheng and asked, "Mr. Yu, what do you think of the Xiao Xiao Mo Li clan?"

The demonic Xiao Xiao Mo Li were the sworn enemies of the divine Dragon Carp.

The technique lists of both sides shared some similarities.

Yu Fish Changsheng's expression softened considerably: "What, you can't bear to kill Dragon Carp believers?"

Lu Ran shrugged again.

The implication was obvious.

"Heh." Yu Fish Changsheng chuckled, saying nothing more.

A person who dared to slay demons and was ultimately destined to slaughter gods, yet could not bear to move against Dragon Carp believers.

It seemed this was not someone who would resort to any means for the sake of so-called greater righteousness.

Just as Yu Fish Changsheng was internally sighing with emotion and getting to know his future leader, he heard Lu Ran say, "By the way! Does the Spirit Lingshan Realm have an Xiao Xiao Mo Li clan?"

In the mortal world, the Xiao Xiao Mo Li clan mainly appeared in coastal regions.

As for rivers, lakes, and other such terrains, this clan seemed to look down on them?

Although they possessed the ability to fly, they almost never appeared inland, let alone in the mountains.

"Yes, this realm has a sea." Yu Fish Changsheng nodded. "I have never traveled too far west, but if one travels east, one will eventually see the ocean."

"The Spirit Lingshan Realm has a sea?" Lu Ran was quite surprised, then immediately perked up. "In that case, would Mr. Yu be willing to endure some hardship and infiltrate the Xiao Xiao Mo Li clan?"

Yu Fish Changsheng: "The price is that I must sever my contract with the divine Dragon Carp and abandon everything related to the Dragon Carp?"

Lu Ran nodded, a hint of longing rising in his eyes again.

Yu Fish Changsheng suddenly smiled: "I was just asking, to understand more; let's discuss these matters later."

Lu Ran: "..."

For a human to actively tear up a contract required not only courage but might also trigger a backlash!

Lu Ran realized he was still a bit too impatient.

Acting as if he hadn't heard Yu Fish Changsheng's words, he said, "Mr. Yu can indeed wait a while.

Once we return to the mortal world, I will beg My Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang to solve the problem from a higher dimension and help you sever the master-servant contract.

That way, you can ensure your strength and realm remain stable, without suffering severe injury."

"Oh?" Yu Fish Changsheng showed slight surprise.

There were many factors making him hesitate, and the backlash was quite an important one among them.

Lu Ran gestured toward the woman not far away: "She went through exactly that; her condition is stable, her realm is solid, and she hasn't dropped a single rank."

Yu Fish Changsheng looked at Deng Deng Yuxiang: "What believer were you formerly?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "Lord Bei Feng."

Yu Fish Changsheng's heart stirred.

Lord Bei Feng, the sworn enemy of the Night Phantom clan.

So was her switch to the Night Phantom clan merely a coincidence?

Including Lu Ran's suggestion just now, which was also for him to switch to the Xiao Xiao Mo Li clan.

Was it simply because their techniques were similar and easy to pick up?

Or was it because...

Yu Fish Changsheng vaguely sensed something, but he wasn't entirely sure.

Just as he was silently pondering, Deng Deng Yuxiang spoke: "Sect Master."

"Hmm?"

"When do we depart?"

"No rush; you just successfully advanced, so stabilize your realm first."

"Yes," Deng Deng Yuxiang replied.

Yu Fish Changsheng, his eyes holding deep meaning, swept a glance over Deng Deng Yuxiang, then looked at Lu Ran: "Sect Master?"

Lu Ran grinned broadly, no longer impatient this time: "I have established the Ran Sect, intending to seek more like-minded individuals such as Mr. Yu.

I await the day Mr. Yu acknowledges us!

By then, I'll let you serve as a Guardian."

Once again, Yu Fish Changsheng saw Lu Ran's vibrant, energetic smile.

This young man who had suddenly burst into his life made no attempt to hide his appreciation for talent or his desire to recruit.

He was also stubbornly attempting to lead him onto a brand new path.

It was just the young man's smiling face, yet it seemed excessively bright.

Like a brilliant beam of light, it pierced through the thick black clouds shrouding heaven and earth, falling upon this deathly stagnant Spirit Saint Mountain Realm.

It illuminated his rotting bones.

For that one instant, Yu Fish Changsheng no longer wished to remain reserved, no longer wished to deliberate.

What else was there left to lose?

Life?

But before meeting him, hadn't he already rotted away?

"Which 'ran' character?" Yu Fish Changsheng suddenly asked.

"The 'ran' of 'burning'." Lu Ran leaned back, attempting to lie upon the lake's surface, "Named after me; my name is Lu Ran."

"Burning Gate sounds quite fervent." Yu Fish Changsheng toyed with the folding fan in his hand, affecting an air of nonchalance, "Then grant me the position of Guardian."

Splash.

Lu Ran paddled with both hands and stood up.

He looked at the Great Physician of the Fourth Stage of the Sea Realm, both startled and delighted: "Has Mr. decided to join the group?"

This was not merely joining a small team, but genuinely joining the Burning Gate!

But hadn't Yu Fish Changsheng just rejected the invitation, saying let's discuss it later?

Had he suddenly changed his mind?

Yu Fish Changsheng couldn't help but laugh, saying jokingly, "Who could resist the temptation of becoming a god?"

Lu Ran chuckled: "That's true enough."

"Barring any accidents, the Burning Gate doesn't have many people?"

"Uh, indeed. Currently, there are just the three of us."

Yu Fish Changsheng didn't mind at all, elegantly twirling his paper fan.

After all, what man could resist the temptation of having a dedicated page opened for himself in the family genealogy?

If one day he truly achieved his heart's desire...

He would count himself among the ministers who followed the dragon.

(End of Chapter)