Chapter 425: Life Gate

At the sea cliff, inside a hidden cave.

Lu Ran sat leaning against the cave entrance, gazing at the vast night while recounting what he had seen and heard.

The story of a family of four left everyone's hearts in a complex state.

Deng Deng Yuxiang leaned against the bar, speaking softly: "No wonder that man thanked us for eliminating a harm to the people; it turns out he has family in this world."

"Eliminating a harm to the people..." Lu Ran's words stopped, and he covered his head with one hand.

The Xiao Xiao Mo Li Yemo Yemo Xiesu had finally advanced!

Jiang Jing, Fifth Stage!

What surprised Lu Ran was that the Yemo Yemo Xiesu showed no sign of stopping its vibration; it seemed it wanted to advance further?

Was it heading straight for the One Sea Realm?

Lu Ran grinned, his heart overflowing with joy!

Who would have thought, who would have thought, that the first One Sea Realm Yemo Yemo Xiesu in his life would be the Xiao Xiao Mo Li?

This great demon of the One Sea Realm must have been causing chaos in this world for a very, very long time, gathering much Holy Spirit Qi.

In the end, all of it became a wedding gown for Lu Ran!

So comfortable~

"Before you and Cong Long returned to the beach, that person expressed gratitude to us," Deng Deng Yuxiang explained. Seeing Lu Ran's face constantly changing, she immediately took long strides.

After her gentle act last time, this time she did not hesitate; she knelt lightly behind Lu Ran, her movements very practiced.

Lu Ran closed his eyes, feeling the woman's cold fingertips at his temples.

She is really so gentle~

Is this still the Great Nightmare?

If Deng Yutang saw this, wouldn't his eyeballs pop out?

Yu Fish Changsheng watched this scene, waiting patiently.

Only when Lu Ran's brows gradually relaxed did he speak to ask: "Master, what is the cultivation realm of the other party's wife, and which deity's believer is she?"

Lu Ran: "I'm not sure; I estimate her strength is not weak, and she probably is not a disciple of Yan Qing."

After all, Lu Ran had seen the woman's true face.

The other party presumably did not possess the Divine Art: Clear Water Pupil, which is why she did not detect Lu Ran's presence.

Yu Fish Changsheng pondered for a moment and said: "Master, there is a slight possibility that this couple will first send you away, then move their family overnight, and not keep the appointment tomorrow."

Lu Ran asked: "What is the greater possibility?"

Yu Fish Changsheng thought and said: "Tomorrow they will keep the appointment. This matter, I fear, will be very difficult to resolve peacefully."

"How so?" Lu Ran turned to look at his own strategist.

"Don't move around," Deng Deng Yuxiang chided softly, then turned his head back.

Lu Ran: ".."

You, a technician, dare to get angry at a customer?

Hmm... well, I suppose I indeed haven't paid.

Yu Fish Changsheng's expression was serious: "The Master's existence threatens their very foundation!"

Silence fell within the cave.

Yu Fish Changsheng: "Even if the Master does not wish to harm the other party, you know their secrets.

For the vast majority of parents, their children are their weak point!

Every day you exist carries the risk of the news being exposed; once others learn of it, it is equivalent to holding this couple's life gate."

Lu Ran's face darkened.

He also wanted to think about some things, but his head felt as if an electric toothbrush had been placed inside.

It really disturbs one's thoughts!

Now, having been enlightened by Mr. Cong Long, Lu Ran naturally realized the problem.

Yu Fish Changsheng looked at Lu Ran: "In this Holy Lingshan World, human nature is the least trustworthy! Master, do you think this couple can allow you to live?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang gently massaged Lu Ran's temples; hearing these words, the force of her fingertips inevitably increased slightly.

Yu Fish Changsheng sighed: "The Master also said their child is already five or six years old.

Since the child has grown up safely to this day, this couple must be extremely cautious people, and certainly decisive and ruthless people!

When they meet tomorrow, they should do everything in their power to eliminate potential risks."

Lu Ran spat out a single word: "Me."

Yu Fish Changsheng: "The four of us."

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Mr. Cong Long, do you think we should keep the appointment tomorrow?"

Yu Fish Changsheng played with his paper fan, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

The child is indeed a very good entry point, capable of directly grasping the couple's life gate.

However, Lu Ran probably would not approve of such methods.

In Yu Fish Changsheng's eyes, Lu Ran is still young, a relatively upright person.

Lu Ran has ambition, and he has ability.

Willing to sacrifice himself for great deeds; if fortune favors him, he could become a hero of a region.

But he lacks the bearing of a warlord.

"Swish~"

Yu Fish Changsheng unfolded his fan and shook it gently: "The child is a very good entry point."

Lu Ran remained silent, waiting for what came next.

Yu Fish Changsheng spoke slowly: "This couple can protect their child for a time, but ultimately they cannot protect them for a lifetime.

The Holy Lingshan Realm is also isolated from the world.

Children born within this realm will never be able to revere the gods!"

Lu Ran understood immediately upon hearing this, having already grasped Yu Fish Changsheng's strategy.

Indeed, these two children could only remain ordinary people their entire lives; in this dangerous and harsh world, their fragile lives could end at any moment!

Yu Fish Changsheng looked straight at Lu Ran: "Within this Holy Lingshan Realm,

the Sect Master is the only god!"

Lu Ran nodded: "Yes, I can sign contracts with the children, granting them the qualification to cultivate divine power and providing them with corresponding techniques.

For the sake of their children's growth and survival, the couple will not only refrain from harming me but will instead risk their lives to protect me."

Yu Fish Changsheng gently waved his paper fan, displaying the demeanor of one who devises strategies from within a command tent: "Precisely!

Sect Master, allow me to go alone tomorrow to negotiate!

If they are unwilling, then let it be; we shall never meet again like mountains and rivers apart.

If they are willing, we must still carefully examine the character and mindset of these two individuals."

Lu Ran looked at his strategist, expressing heartfelt gratitude: "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Yu; I apologize for the trouble."

Regarding Yu Fish Changsheng's voluntary offer, Lu Ran did not refuse.

The Dragon Carp faction was not only skilled in healing but also experts at slipping away unnoticed!

By leaving just one small Dragon Carp inside the cave, Yu Fish Changsheng could shift his position and teleport back at any time.

Unfortunately, the Dragon Carp faction's sworn enemy, the Xiao Xiao Mo Li clan, did not possess this life-saving technique.

"It is my duty; the Sect Master is too polite," Yu Fish Changsheng said with a smile and a nod.

Lu Ran closed his eyes, feeling that meeting Yu Fish Changsheng was truly a stroke of immense luck.

However, he did not know that Deng Deng Yuxiang, Yu Fish Changsheng, and Jing Hong all shared the exact same feelings toward Lu Ran.

To have met Lu Ran...

was a fortune of three lifetimes!

Waves crashed against the shore as day and night cycled.

When the sky began to brighten at dawn, a smile finally appeared on Lu Ran's face.

It was a smile of joy, and also one of relief.

The Xiao Xiao Mo Li Yemo Yemo Xiesu had successfully advanced!

Reach Sea Realm, Stage One!

Lu Ran could now create Xiao Xiao Mo Li minions at the Jiang Jing level!

However, these sea demons possessed astonishingly large bodies.

If Lu Ran remembered correctly, a Jiang Jing-level Xiao Xiao Mo Li measured around 300 meters, but upon reaching the Sea Realm, their size would skyrocket to 800 meters!

Of course, the larger the body, the more conspicuous it became, and the wider the surface area exposed to attack.

For ordinary civilians and human cities, sea demons were undoubtedly nightmarish existences.

But Lu Ran's opponents were demons!

He dared not imagine what the consequences would be if he took a Jiang Jing-level Xiao Xiao Mo Li to farm in Night Spirit Lake.

The Xiao Xiao Mo Li would surely be sliced into ten thousand pieces in seconds, wouldn't it?

However, perhaps he could rely on the Xiao Xiao Mo Li's massive size to attract enemy forces and lure the tiger from the mountain?

Lu Ran turned his head to look aside; Deng Deng Yuxiang was leaning against the stone wall, resting with her eyes closed.

She was not sleeping deeply; as Lu Ran looked over, she opened her eyes.

"Finally, I can sleep soundly," Lu Ran said with a smile.

"Mm, go quickly," Deng Deng Yuxiang replied immediately.

Inside the cave, Jing Hong also woke up; she immediately walked toward the entrance, preparing to take over guard duty.

Neither Lu nor Deng refused.

Lu Ran walked into the cave entrance and, lacking any semblance of a master's dignity, collapsed straight onto the ground.

As for Yu Fish Changsheng, ever since the plan was settled last night, he had already left the cave, heading ahead to the meeting place to hide within the sea,

so as to avoid an ambush.

Lu Ran slept so deeply that heaven and earth seemed to darken around him.

It was not until the afternoon that he slowly woke up.

By then, Yu Fish Changsheng had already returned to the cave and was sitting cross-legged in meditation nearby.

"Awake?" Deng Deng Yuxiang's voice came from the side.

"Ah." Lu Ran sat up.

Deng Deng Yuxiang shook her wrist, indicating the ancient bronze coin: "Want to eat grilled fish? I killed three."

This Reincarnation Coin was merely a fragment of a dharma tool, capable of holding at most three departed souls.

Deng Deng Yuxiang's words were relatively subtle, serving also as a reminder for Lu Ran to absorb the departed souls.

"Sure, thanks!" Lu Ran smiled at Deng Deng Yuxiang.

Deng Deng Yuxiang similarly smiled back at Lu Ran, her mind stirring as energy surged around her wrist.

In a dimension invisible to her, the Reincarnation Coin released the three departed Xiao Xiao Mo Li souls one by one.

Lu Ran looked toward Yu Fish Changsheng beside him; the other man had clearly been waiting for quite some time.

"Mr. Cong Long?"

Yu Fish Changsheng immediately replied: "Both of them are very interested and greatly hope to make the acquaintance of the Sect Master."

"Oh." Lu Ran responded, not at all surprised by this result. "Tell me about their situation."

Yu Fish Changsheng reported: "The man is named Xun Xun Yifei, 31 years old, Stage Two of the Sea Realm, a believer of Yan Qing.

His wife is named Xiang Xiang Luoying, 29 years old, Stage Four of the Sea Realm, a believer of Divine Divine Asha."

"Good heavens~" Lu Ran grinned.

Two great experts of the Sea Realm?

That gentle-tempered woman is actually a believer of the Second-Rank God, Divine Divine Asha?

The South Sea Bow among the Four Military Heroes?

Lu Ran couldn't help but think of his high school classmate, also his brief teammate—Class Monitor Wu Wu Shanshan.

In a daze, Lu Ran felt as if an entire lifetime had passed.

He had graduated in the summer of 2019; by now, the season in the mortal world should be spring of 2020.

It hadn't even been a full year since high school graduation!

Yet why did it feel like Wu Wu Shanshan, Kou Kou Yingquan, and even that Ma Ma Tianchuan from his high school days were figures from the distant past?

Hmph... this life is just too damn exciting!

One year feels like ten.

Lu Ran steadied his mind and asked, "Mr. Conglong, what do you think of the two of them? Are they suitable to join our Ran Sect?"

These were two great experts of the Sea Realm!

Moreover, they specialized in water combat, capable of filling a massive gap in the Ran Sect!

To say Lu Ran wasn't tempted would absolutely be a lie.

Yu Fish Changsheng said softly, "It was only one meeting, so we couldn't learn too much, but their love for their child is no fake.

Additionally, our proposal was too shocking; the couple hopes we can provide corresponding proof."

Lu Ran said, "I can just casually display some Xie Fa in front of them."

Yu Fish Changsheng shook his head. "No, the other party proposed hoping to sign a contract with you."

"Huh?" Lu Ran asked, puzzled. "Their child is so young; their body can't withstand it. We can't sign anything right now!"

Yu Fish Changsheng sighed with deep emotion: "Xun Xun Yifei intends to actively sever his contract with the God, Yan Qing.

From now on, he will worship you."

Lu Ran's mouth hung slightly open: "Use this method to verify it? Xun Xun Yifei is a servant of the gods, the weaker party!

If he actively tears up the contract, he will suffer severe backlash!"

Yu Fish Changsheng nodded in confirmation: "This is the couple's only request."

Lu Ran opened his mouth, and after a long while, finally said, "If I truly am a swindler, wouldn't Xun Xun Yifei be crippled for life?"

Yu Fish Changsheng replied, "The couple are by no means reckless individuals. The Sect Master must still demonstrate corresponding ability; only then will he sever the contract to conduct the final verification."

Lu Ran fell silent.

It was clear now; this couple's love for their child was indeed not feigned.

No, I must persuade them properly!

You are a great expert of the Sea Realm; the moment you join my Ran Sect, you drop back down to the River Realm...

Wouldn't I be losing out terribly?

(End of Chapter)