Chapter 428: Surprising News

Lu Ran was indeed very tempted!

Regarding the cultivation of the statues within the Sculpture Garden, Lu Ran currently had two methods.

The first was forceful seizure, cultivating the statues by slaying demonic minions and human believers.

However, this method was directional; various departed souls would autonomously throw themselves into the embrace of the corresponding statue.

The second was through the Qi of the Holy Spirit.

This method was more flexible; Lu Ran possessed absolute autonomy and could cultivate whichever statue he favored.

Having been in this realm for so long, Lu Ran had figured out many intricacies.

Each wisp of pure Qi of the Holy Spirit contained energy roughly equivalent to that of a Jiang Jing soul.

Currently, Lu Ran's Divine Lie Tian God Statue stood at Jiang Jing, Third Stage.

In other words, every ten wisps of pure Qi of the Holy Spirit could help a Jiang Jing God Statue advance one minor stage.

And once the Divine Lie Tian God Statue advanced to the Jiang Jing, it would require one hundred wisps of Qi of the Holy Spirit to advance a single minor stage.

The demand was far too great!

Up until now, Lu Ran had yet to encounter any believers of Lie Tian within the Holy Lingshan.

As for venturing out to sea to seek those islands that had accumulated vast amounts of Qi of the Holy Spirit, Lu Ran was naturally very tempted!

Leaning against the cave entrance and gazing at the surging waves, Lu Ran said, "Sister Luo, after you return, discuss it with Brother Xun and select someone to accompany us out to sea."

As for the one who remained behind, their task would naturally be to protect the children.

Moreover, ordinary people needed to eat, requiring someone to go out to sea to fish.

"Yes." Xiang Xiang Luoying nearly thought she had misheard.

Sister Luo? Brother Xun?

That wasn't incorrect; their ages were indeed right there for all to see.

It was just that this mysterious and powerful Sect Master would actually condescend to address her and her husband in such a manner?

Through their contact thus far, Xiang Xiang Luoying had gained some understanding of Lu Ran, feeling that this young Sect Master had a relatively gentle temperament and treated people very kindly.

With such a person as their leader, the Flame Gate indeed lacked the foul atmosphere prevalent in other factions.

Yet Jing Hong was terrified and trembling, while Deng Deng Yuxiang was strictly proper.

Even Yu Fish Changsheng treated this young man with utmost respect, serving him as his master.

Naturally, the lofty status and position of the Flame Gate's Sect Master had been established in the hearts of the couple.

Therefore, the titles Lu Ran casually uttered possessed considerable striking power!

"By the way, come up with codenames for yourselves," Lu Ran said, looking at Xiang Xiang Luoying. "If everything goes smoothly, I'll make you Divine Generals."

As he spoke, Lu Ran himself broke into a smile.

He hadn't expected that what he had once casually imagined—establishing something like the "Four Great Guardians" or "Eight Divine Generals" within the Flame Gate—was now gradually becoming reality?

Xiang Xiang Luoying,

a believer of Divine Divine Asha at Sea Realm, Fourth Stage!

Undoubtedly, this damn well was a world-destroying, heaven-shattering artillery platform!

Lu Ran lacked sufficient experience and had never witnessed such a supremely terrifying existence with his own eyes.

Consequently, Lu Ran found it difficult even to imagine just how astonishing Xiang Xiang Luoying's true combat power might be!

Regarding the sequence of the "Flame Gate's Eight Divine Generals," Xiang Xiang Luoying was absolutely qualified to enter.

Xun Xun Yifei was likewise a genuine Sea Realm expert, specializing in naval warfare; if all went well, he could be counted among those who joined during the Flame Gate's early development.

More importantly, he was Xiang Xiang Luoying's husband.

For Xun Xun Yifei to occupy a place among the Eight Divine Generals was naturally no problem.

"Yes." Xiang Xiang Luoying lowered her head slightly.

No matter how kind and friendly Lu Ran acted, she did not dare to overstep her bounds.

When one had requests, one stood a head lower.

Xiang Xiang Luoying simply felt fortunate that the leader she followed was not as cruel and cold-blooded as the heads of other factions.

"By the way, let me ask you about a few people," Lu Ran said, suddenly remembering something.

Immediately, he inquired about news concerning Cheng Xin, Qin Lady Yanzhi, and others.

Unfortunately, Xiang Xiang Luoying had neither heard nor seen them.

But what Lu Ran hadn't expected was that as he continued to press for details, he actually unearthed some major news!

"You're saying the Lord Bei Feng faction's base is in the north?" Lu Ran exclaimed with both shock and joy.

Whether it was the previously captured Lady Luo or the later Yu Fish Changsheng, neither had known where the Lord Bei Feng's base was located.

Xiang Xiang Luoying nodded and said, "Traveling north from here, one must go very, very far; after seeing the snow-capped mountains, one must venture even deeper into the north."

"In an area near a frozen great river, there stands an exceptionally towering mountain peak."

"Disciples of the Lord Bei Feng have been spotted there."

Hearing Xiang Xiang Luoying's words, Deng Deng Yuxiang was equally excited!

So, the Lord Bei Feng faction was located in the northeastern region of the Holy Lingshan Realm, stationed all the way over by the icy river?

"Swish~" Yu Fish Changsheng snapped his folding fan shut and gently tapped his forehead.

Lu Ran looked over curiously: "Mr. Conglong?"

Yu Fish Changsheng shook his head with a smile: "It is my own stupidity; I failed to realize this point."

"It seems now that the Lord Bei Feng disciples chose their location based on the region within the Da Xia Realm where the god Lord Bei Feng is stationed."

Lu Ran nodded.

The northeastern region within the Holy Lingshan Realm, bordering the river and nearing the sea, was indeed exactly like that, wasn't it?

Deng Deng Yuxiang looked at Lu Ran, words sticking in her throat.

Her close friend Yan Yan Shuangzi had been silent for so long; no one knew if she was alive or dead.

But Lu Ran, as Sect Master, had just enthusiastically set the mission objectives; she didn't want him to reverse his orders at dawn and change them by dusk, nor did she wish to disrupt his growth plan.

"We head north; first, accompany me to find someone!" Lu Ran issued the command without hesitation.

Deng Deng Yuxiang gazed at Lu Ran, warmth flooding her heart.

Lu Ran turned his gaze to Xiang Xiang Luoying: "You couple needn't choose either; since this is a land-based mission, you come with me!

Let your husband stay home and look after the children."

Xiang Xiang Luoying: "."

Such down-to-earth words left her utterly stunned.

"Go back, rest for a day; we depart tomorrow morning." Lu Ran waved his hand casually, conjuring a floor-to-ceiling mirror for Xiang Xiang Luoying.

Xiang Xiang Luoying hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "If the Sect Master does not disdain it, you may come to our home to rest."

Lu Ran couldn't help but silently admire her.

Xiang Xiang Luoying was undoubtedly cautious, yet she possessed sufficient resolve!

Once she had decided on something, she no longer hesitated or looked back.

By inviting Lu Ran to stay at her home now and interact with the children, wasn't this very much like an alternative pledge of loyalty?

"Sect Master?"

"No need." Lu Ran shook his head in refusal. "We are heading north on this journey; who knows how long it will take. Spend time with your family; I won't disturb you.

Tomorrow morning, at the same spot, I will open the Mirror Flower Moon."

Xiang Xiang Luoying bowed slightly: "Yes, Sect Master."

As she turned and departed, only four people remained inside the cave.

"Phew." Lu Ran let out a long sigh, feeling as though he were living in a dream.

A Jiang Jing expert is called the "Vast River."

A Sea Realm grand master is the "Boundless Sea," towering above great rivers and streams, accommodating a hundred tributaries!

As a result, he had suddenly gained two of them!

Tsk tsk~

Looking at it this way, life on Spirit Saint Mountain was actually quite wonderful!

If this were the mortal world, a Boundless Sea would likely not even deign to glance at him, right?

But here in this realm, these several peerless experts treated him with utmost respect.

Truly dreamlike~

"Congratulations, Sect Master, on gaining another capable subordinate." From behind, Yu Fish Changsheng smiled and offered his congratulations.

Lu Ran's unmasked emotions naturally influenced the atmosphere within the cave.

"Happy for us all," Lu Ran replied with a smile.

Indeed, getting started is always the hardest part!

Thinking back, when he and the Great Da Da Mengyan first arrived in this realm, they were hunted down and forced to flee everywhere; what a wretched state that had been.

Later, with Yu Fish Changsheng's addition, their situation improved considerably.

Lu Ran had recruited Jing Hong, who possessed extremely strong utility, and now he even had the Xun Luo couple following him.

Four big characters: Things are looking up!

"It's rare to see you this happy." Deng Deng Yuxiang walked to Lu Ran's side and slightly behind him, her gaze sweeping past his shoulder to gaze at the rain-swept sea in the distance.

Leaning against the cave entrance, Lu Ran said softly: "Once we find Yan Yan Shuangzi, we'll be even happier."

"Mm." Deng Deng Yuxiang responded in a low voice.

"She is the same kind of person as you," Lu Ran said abruptly.

Deng Deng Yuxiang looked at Lu Ran in puzzlement.

The two were very close friends; indeed, their natures were similar.

Lu Ran looked at the woman and comforted her gently: "What I mean is, you needn't worry too much; she is not the type to give up easily."

Deng Deng Yuxiang remained silent, nodding lightly.

To say she wasn't worried was impossible.

Lu Ran grinned: "She should be just like you; very hard to kill."

"Hehe." Deng Deng Yuxiang laughed as well.

Looking at the young man trying so hard to comfort her, she ultimately couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle his hair.

Lu Ran's head shook back and forth from the rubbing, yet his thoughts drifted far away.

If he could truly find the Great Da Da Mengyan's close friend and remove this burden from his heart, that would be excellent.

Life on Spirit Saint Mountain was becoming more and more hopeful!

My abilities are limited; I'm really trying hard to be punctual, nearly waking up at 6 AM... Better to push the schedule back a bit.

Here's a notice: the daily two-update schedule will now change to:

2 PM and 8 PM.

(End of Chapter)