Chapter 44: The Demon Statue Garden?

The room was utterly silent.

Only the night rain outside pattered softly.

After a long while, Lu Ran suppressed his churning emotions and approached the altar:

“Lord Xiang Xianyang.”

“My dreams aren’t just ordinary nightmares, are they?”

“Those demonic statues, that other realm of demonic souls—did you create them?”

Lu Ran gazed at the altar; the jade carving of Xiang Xianyang remained still, offering no reply.

After waiting a long time, Lu Ran spoke in a low voice:

“In that realm, I encountered a goat’s head burning with black fire. Do you know what manner of being it is?”

In truth, Lu Ran very much wanted to ask whether that black-fire goat’s head was Xiang Xianyang’s original form.

But he wasn’t so reckless.

Suddenly, a low, hoarse voice echoed into Lu Ran’s mind:

“You intend to go to Dog Village and slaughter the evil dogs.”

Finally!

Lord Xiang Xianyang had finally sent a message.

Lu Ran straightened up, his hand instinctively falling to his neck, fingers pinching the Divine Power Pearl: “Yes.

As long as I collect enough Mist Crystals, I can exchange them for higher-grade Divine Power Pearls.”

The white goat statue: “Go. Leave none alive.”

Lu Ran couldn’t help but be inwardly startled.

Such heavy bloodlust!

For gods and demons are sworn enemies; such thoughts are normal.

The only issue is, this came from the god—Xiang Xianyang—whom the world sees as gentle and kind.

Lu Ran pressed his lips together and continued: “After I slew the evil dogs, I saw their soul-forms in that dim realm.

I also saw those souls being absorbed into the demonic statues.

Lord Xiang Xianyang, please enlighten your disciple—what does this scene truly mean?”

The white goat statue: “What is a demon?”

Lu Ran froze. How was he supposed to answer that?

After much thought, he replied: “I do not know the essence of demons, nor their origin.

I only know demons are malevolent spirits that bring chaos to the mortal world, enemies of both human and divine races.”

The white goat statue: “Essence? Just a pile of stones.”

Lu Ran: “.”

He truly didn’t dare to respond.

If that’s true, then aren’t the gods themselves just piles of stones?

Only, the gods’ statues stand openly upon the earth, on display.

The statues of the demon race, it is said, lie hidden deep within demonic caves.

Why use the word “it is said”?

Because someone like Lu Ran, a lowly follower, can only access superficial information—from books and the internet.

He currently lacks the qualification to uncover higher-level secrets.

The white goat statue: “Those stones can summon and control demons, bringing chaos to the world.

My stones are no different!”

Lu Ran: !!!

What… what exactly are you planning?

In the low, commanding voice of Xiang Xianyang: “Kill, humans.

One day, countless demons shall serve us.”

“Gulping,” Lu Ran’s throat convulsed.

Does Xiang Xianyang mean that if enough demons are slaughtered and enough souls are absorbed into the statues, one can control demons?

If so—

Lu Ran’s mind stirred: “If Lord Xiang Xianyang possesses such power, we could request aid from the Great Xia authorities.

If you can control demons for the benefit of both human and divine races, I believe Great Xia would spare no effort to assist us in slaughtering demons!”

“Lu Ran.”

The sudden voice made Lu Ran straighten his spine.

If he remembered correctly, this was the first time since becoming Xiang Xianyang’s follower that the god had spoken his name!

Xiang Xianyang’s voice echoed, heavy with authority:

“Watch your words. Guard your actions. Grow steadily.”

Lu Ran fell silent.

The god’s words were a refusal of his proposal.

They also plainly told Lu Ran not to speak further.

In fact, ever since he brought the small statue home, this god—whose face turned black—had forbidden him from revealing any information to outsiders.

The low voice echoed again into Lu Ran’s mind: “Remember what you told me.

You vowed to repay your debt.”

Lu Ran clasped his hands together, face solemn: “Lu Ran is willing to repay the debt—and ought to repay it!

But Lord Xiang Xianyang, controlling demons is such a grave matter—”

“Go slaughter the evil dogs,” the voice cut him off. “As long as enough souls are harvested.

You may well use the evil dogs’ dark arts.

You may well control the evil dogs’ bodies and minds.”

These words shook Lu Ran’s mind to its core!

Lu Ran couldn’t hold back—he asked the question he’d long harbored: “Are you truly Lord Xiang Xianyang?”

Where in the world did the known Xiang Xianyang get such transcendent power?

To his surprise, the white goat statue gave a direct reply:

“Yes.”

Yet the goat’s head suddenly turned black, its once-kind smile now grotesque:

“No.”

Lu Ran: “.”

Isn’t this a yes-or-no question?

I asked you yes or no?

And you answered with “or”?

“My abilities extend beyond this,” came the next voice, jolting Lu Ran from his thoughts.

Did this mysterious Lord Xiang Xianyang possess even more shocking powers?

“You wish to avenge your father. You wish to exterminate all evil in the world.”

“You have suffered long in this chaotic age. You seek to cleanse the world of its plagues.”

As he spoke, the black goat’s head gradually faded back to pure white: “Remember: watch your words. Guard your actions. Grow steadily.”

“Yes,” Lu Ran exhaled deeply and bowed slowly.

Undeniably, Lu Ran had many questions—but his doubts were relatively few.

After all, since the day he brought the statue home, Xiang Xianyang had made his position clear:

“If I were a demon, could you still awaken?”

That single sentence was the ultimate kill-switch.

Reflecting carefully, since their meeting, Xiang Xianyang had always acted in Lu Ran’s favor.

From saving him on the Altar of Worship, to blessing him at home, to teaching him divine arts and permitting him to fight freely.

Xiang Xianyang had always shown benevolence.

Now, Xiang Xianyang had revealed terrifying power!

It had secretly created a “Demonic Statue Garden”?

“If I harvest enough demonic souls, I can use their dark arts?” Lu Ran murmured to himself.

To say he wasn’t eager would be a lie!

He just didn’t know how many evil dogs he’d need to kill before he could use their techniques.

A thousand enough?

For this summer assignment, Lu Ran must slay at least a thousand Mist-level evil dogs to exchange for River-grade Divine Power Pearls.

Not to mention the recent fifteen-day city defense mission—Team 98’s ranking was likely high, and the school would reward weapons.

To upgrade two pieces of equipment, a thousand Mist-level evil dogs clearly wouldn’t suffice.

Hmm… it’s time to unleash a bloodbath in Dog Village!

The more Lu Ran thought about it, the more excited he became, his whole body brimming with energy.

He rose and stepped sideways, standing before the window, gazing out at the vast rainy night.

The initial dark art of the Evil Dog clan greatly enhances the senses, especially the sense of smell, making it extremely sharp.

At that point, this little lamb of mine will have a dog’s nose~

Sniff out where the enemy is, anticipate their moves every time, and lock onto their position long before they act!

From now on,

Who the hell could ever ambush me again?

It’ll only be me ambushing others!

However, the Evil Dog clan’s dark art at the Third Stage of the Mist Realm is called Evil Fang.

It summons four canine fangs out of thin air to tear into the prey.

At that time, how should I explain to others that I, a devoted follower of a deity, can wield dark arts?

Hmm.

Forget it, first gather all the souls, then equip the technique.

Wait!

Lu Ran pressed one hand against the window and suddenly realized a problem.

According to Xiang Xianyang’s words, using the dark arts of the Demon Clan counts as low-level manipulation.

If I gather enough souls, could I summon and control demons?

That is to say, if I slaughter enough Red Paper People,

I could have my very own Red Paper sister?

“Well, well!”

The more he thought about it, the brighter Lu Ran’s eyes grew!

This… this this this?

Hehe~

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(End of Chapter)