Chapter 426: The God-Stealer!

Three days later, at the beach where the Furious Sea Flame Jiao and the Xiao Xiao Mo Li had perished together.

In the forest, two figures wearing conical hats and cloaked in rain capes waited silently.

Dark clouds filled the sky, pouring down rain.

A wild wind raged, billowing the two's wide rain capes and throwing Xun Xun Yifei's heart into chaos.

"Steady yourself," Xiang Xiang Luoying said softly, seeing her husband looking distracted.

Xun Xun Yifei let out a deep sigh.

Steady?

How can one be steady?

That excessively handsome and incredibly powerful protector of the Burning Gate had shamelessly declared:

His Sect Master was a god.

His Sect Master was also the only god within this Spirit Saint Mountain Realm that people could invite.

He could grant children the qualification to cultivate divine power!

Qualification! Qualification...

In the human world, powerful experts and villains were constantly sent by various gods to Spirit Saint Mountain.

People plotted against each other and killed one another.

In such a filthy and cruel world, even if you were a Jiang Jing expert, you might still be reduced to a servant, suffering oppression and torment until death brought release.

Let alone two fragile ordinary people!

More importantly, if this mysterious Sect Master of the Burning Gate possessed such powerful means, then...

Could he return to the human world?

Gazing at the dark clouds in the sky, Xun Xun Yifei harbored a slight, unrealistic fantasy in his heart.

Even if he and his wife could not return, could the Sect Master of the Burning Gate send the children back to the human world?

The children were innocent and merely ordinary people; leaving this purgatory should not incur the wrath of any god!

The ones guilty of heinous crimes, deserving to suffer punishment, were us, the two selfish and irresponsible parents...

"Xun Yifei, calm down." Xiang Xiang Luoying extended her slender hand and gently caressed her husband's face.

Xun Xun Yifei held his wife's palm, closed his eyes, and silently felt her tenderness.

Xun Xun Yifei considered himself lucky.

In the early days after first entering this realm, when he was still ignorant and confused, he had met her, who was equally bewildered.

If, when they first met, both had deeply understood the true face of Spirit Saint Mountain, they likely would never have become husband and wife, supporting each other through thick and thin.

Yet it was precisely this luck that brought about a disaster.

And those who truly bore the evil consequences were not the couple, but their innocent and naive descendants...

Every day, Xun Xun Yifei spent in a complex state of mind.

Guilt, regret, self-reproach.

Yet every time he saw the innocent and radiant smiles of his children, he felt warmth and happiness.

"Someone is coming!" Xiang Xiang Luoying suddenly spoke, pulling her hand away.

Xun Xun Yifei immediately turned to look; several figures emerged from the dense forest.

Two women walked in front, one on the left and one on the right, clearly scouting the surroundings.

The young woman on the front left radiated heroic spirit and was brilliantly beautiful, fitting her aura as a powerful expert.

The tall woman on the front right, however, displayed no such brilliance.

Xiang Xiang Luoying frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly.

She had seen far too many people of the tall woman's type.

To grind down the spirit and will of a Jiang Jing great expert was absolutely not something achievable overnight!

In other words, this woman must have experienced a long period of oppression and enslavement before her spirit could be trampled, crushed, and completely erased into mediocrity.

After observing for a moment, Xiang Xiang Luoying shifted her gaze.

The handsome man she had seen before was now slightly behind, walking to the side and rear of the young man.

And the young man...

He was excessively young.

Xiang Xiang Luoying locked her beautiful eyes on Lu Ran, examining him closely.

Could he be twenty years old?

At such an age, he should still be in school; should he really be appearing in Spirit Saint Mountain?

"Lady Luo need not be troubled," the young man suddenly spoke, gesturing toward Jing Hong's direction. "She is someone we rescued."

Our side is not as murky and chaotic as other factions."

Jing Hong's heart tightened!

This couple were two Hai Jing great experts whom the Sect Master wished to recruit; if things went sour because of her, it would be a monstrous sin.

She opened her mouth to explain something, but heard Lu Ran say again, "It's fine, go keep watch."

Feeling apologetic, Jing Hong bowed her head slightly to Lu Ran. "Yes, Sect Master."

Xiang Xiang Luoying looked deeply at Lu Ran.

She realized that her subtle expressions had been noticed by the other party, and her mental activities had been deduced.

This young leader was indeed intelligent and perceptive.

Indeed, ever since the buzzing in Lu Ran's brain had ceased, his condition had recovered.

He could now observe in all directions and listen on all sides, and he could think normally again.

Xun Xun Yifei cupped his fists and bowed, declaring loudly, "My rash attack last time was due to my own failure to recognize Mount Tai; I offer my deepest apologies!"

Lu Ran likewise cupped his fists and bowed, saying apologetically, "It was I who tracked and followed you; Mr. Xun was naturally justified in attacking to protect his family."

Seeing Lu Ran's attitude, Xun Xun Yifei felt somewhat reassured in his heart.

Holy Lingshan was never a place where reason held sway.

Might made right.

And this was done without the slightest concealment.

Since the couple now sought something from Lu Ran, they were naturally inferior; no matter what attitude Lu Ran adopted or what excessive actions he took, both of them had to endure it.

Seeming somewhat impatient, Xun Xun Yifei, after offering his apologies, asked directly, "We heard from Mr. Long that your identity as Sect Master, my lord, is exalted, and that you can recruit human believers?"

Lu Ran nodded slightly. "That is indeed the case."

Suppressing the surging emotions within him, Xun Xun Yifei cupped his fists and bowed once more. "Sect Master, my lord, are you able to represent Lord Qiang Xiu and recruit believers on his behalf?"

Yu Fish Changsheng had not told Xun Xun Yifei this, yet Xun Xun Yifei asked anyway.

It stemmed from hope, and from perception.

Lu Ran shook his head. "I am not Qiang Xiu's disciple; the Shun Yi Zhi Fa you witnessed was not Qiang Xiu's divine art, 'Piercing Cloud Shadow'."

Xun Xun Yifei: "Oh?"

Lu Ran raised his hand toward the side, energy surging in his palm.

"Crunch!"

Suddenly, two rows of uneven canine teeth manifested in the empty space, snapping shut fiercely.

Xun Xun Yifei's pupils contracted slightly!

Xiang Xiang Luoying's beautiful eyes narrowed sharply!

This youth was a practitioner of the demonic path, a believer of the Vicious Dog!

The next moment, the couple's expressions froze.

For atop Lu Ran's head, a pair of thick ox horns had suddenly grown.

"This is..." Xun Xun Yifei hesitated for a moment before probing, "Lie Hun Mo Horns?"

Lu Ran did not respond, instead thrusting one hand forward.

Suddenly, a large swarm of black lanterns spread out!

Xun Xun Yifei:!!!

The Pai De Xie Fa of the Black Lantern sect mostly manifested in the form of black flames.

If Lu Ran had summoned only black fire, it would have been difficult for the other party to judge what kind of Xie Fa this was.

However, the Pei De Xie Fa suited for the Black Lantern clan at the third stage of the River Realm, the 'Yin Lantern Great Formation', involved summoning a multitude of black lanterns to collectively control enemies and slow the movement of target groups.

"Pop~"

Lu Ran waved his hand again, and the swarm of black lanterns quietly dispersed as a mysterious little black carp swam out.

"Gulp." Xun Xun Yifei swallowed, a tremendous upheaval rising in his heart.

This...?

This mysterious and powerful Sect Master of the Ran Sect was undoubtedly a disciple of a demonic god.

The real question was: exactly which sect or faction of demonic god believers did he belong to?

"I know what you are thinking, and I will tell you clearly: I am not a disciple of a demonic god." Lu Ran smiled as he looked at the stunned couple.

The great experts of the Sea Realm held a transcendent status; they were existences capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Yet to see such rich and vivid expressions on the couple's faces...

... was quite amusing~

"Whoosh~"

With a casual gesture, Lu Ran summoned and caught hold of an exquisite ancient bronze mirror.

Gazing at Deng Deng Yuxiang's beautiful face in the mirror, he said, "Whether god or demon, none would tolerate the existence of impious believers under their command who serve two masters."

Xiang Xiang Luoying, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke: "So, Sect Master, you are..."

Lu Ran grinned. "I am not a believer of demonic gods; I never place myself a rank below evil deities."

"You may understand me as..."

"... a person who steals the power of evil gods!"

Xiang Xiang Luoying's heart trembled. "Steal power?"

"Hum!"

Lu Ran's body shuddered, and suddenly two dark phantom figures rushed out from within him.

Black gauze fluttered, outlining a curvaceous figure.

Ye Mei Xie Fa: 'Night Phantom Shadow'!

No longer looking at the woman in the mirror, Lu Ran turned his gaze to Deng Deng Yuxiang nearby. "I can use this stolen power to strengthen myself and develop my own faction."

He tilted his head slightly in indication; Deng Deng Yuxiang understood immediately, and her delicate body likewise shuddered.

"Hum!"

Two Night Phantoms darted out from within her.

Lu Ran said, "Xiang Xiang Xianyang, tell them your true identity as a believer."

Having learned from the previous experience, Lu Ran no longer made Deng Deng Yuxiang shamefully bleat.

Deng Deng Yuxiang obeyed without hesitation; a pair of thick, coiled sheep horns grew on both sides of her forehead.

Sister Xian Yang Shen Fa: 'Immortal Horns'!

Xiang Xiang Luoying's eyes widened slightly.

Deng Deng Yuxiang could be a believer of the Night Phantom.

But she cannot be a believer of the Divine Camp's Xiang Xiang Xianyang and simultaneously a believer of the Demonic Camp's Night Phantom!

This... this is impossible!

Even though all of this was happening right before Xiang Xiang Luoying's eyes, she could not accept it.

From childhood to adulthood, the education she had received and the profound understanding of the world she thought she possessed collapsed entirely in this moment!

Lu Ran dispersed the Xie Fa: "Therefore, you need not question whether I can recruit your descendants as believers."

Xun Xun Yifei and Xiang Xiang Luoying exchanged a glance, seeing the same emotion in each other's eyes.

"With me, your children have many choices, and there will be even more." Lu Ran casually clenched his hand.

Suddenly, a tiny paper effigy appeared, gripped in his palm.

At this, it was not just the couple who were dumbfounded; even Yu Fish Changsheng was slightly stunned.

The Rouge Paper Clan?

Xie Fa·Paper Effigy?

Xiang Xiang Luoying's face turned iron-green, and an uncontrollable surge of killing intent welled up in her eyes!

If Lu Ran only knew how to teleport, at least with the couple guarding beside their children, they could still resist to some degree.

But the moment Lu Ran produced the small paper effigy...

Xiang Xiang Luoying knew she was powerless.

If Lu Ran wished, he could easily crush the children's bodies.

Was what Lu Ran held in his hand merely a paper effigy?

No, those were vibrant human lives!

It was the fate of the weak, unable to resist.

Lu Ran did not need to approach the target at all, nor did he need to reveal himself; everything could proceed silently and invisibly.

"Ms. Luo," Deng Deng Yuxiang said with an unpleasant expression, speaking in a deep voice.

Xiang Xiang Luoying immediately came to her senses and retracted all her killing intent.

The great expert of Tang Tang Hai Jing, Fourth Stage, actually bowed with clasped fists to Lu Ran, a mere Wei Jiang Jing, and apologized:

"I apologize, I..."

"It is of no consequence." Lu Ran cut her off. "You are a mother."

Once again, Lu Ran deduced Xiang Xiang Luoying's mental activities.

Xiang Xiang Luoying lowered her eyelids, her heart trembling slightly.

Lu Ran continued: "Here with me, there is no distinction between gods and demons; your children learning Xie Fa does not mean they have fallen into the demonic path."

"Because what they follow is not an evil god, but me."

Xun Xun Yifei kept his eyes fixed tightly on Lu Ran.

No matter how hard he tried to conceal it, that blazing gaze had already betrayed his inner thoughts.

Lu Ran changed the subject: "Of course, the reputation of the demonic beings is not very good; I understand your inner resistance."

"With me, your children can also walk the path of what the world considers a prestigious orthodox sect."

"A prestigious orthodox sect?" Xiang Xiang Luoying lifted her head.

Lu Ran casually grabbed, seizing a war hammer bearing cracked patterns.

Lie Tian Shen Fa·Divine Lie Tian Hammer!

By this moment, the couple absolutely did not believe that Lu Ran was a believer of Divine Lie Tian.

As expected!

In the next instant, another circle of jade tokens diffused from within Lu Ran's body.

Yu Fu Shen Fa·Master Yu Fu Great Formation!

"Whether god or demon, whichever one you wish your children to worship..."

Lu Ran looked at the couple, word by word:

"I am that one."

Asking for some monthly votes.

(End of Chapter)