Chapter 456: Gorging on Food and Drink

For the next period of time, Lu Ran continuously carried out missions with He He Qi Feng.

At first, he was quite happy about it.

After all, with free laborers toiling diligently, he could just stay behind, reap the rewards, and eat his fill.

But as time passed, He He Qi Feng's bad habits were fully exposed.

He had to compete in everything!

This gave Lu Ran a massive headache.

He He Qi Feng was extremely paranoid, having become so competitive that he insisted on determining who was superior to Lu Ran in every single thing!

Lu Ran suffered unspeakably, yet he silently endured it all.

After all, the dead souls tasted quite delicious.

This group of Wu Seng believers possessed explosively powerful output!

A single kick could unleash a giant golden dragon, and a raised hand could summon a colossal golden palm descending from the heavens.

With an unstoppable force, they frantically destroyed the Withered Wood Forest.

The Reach Sea Realm great demons stationed within the forest naturally would not tolerate such presumption from the human race, occasionally emerging to do battle.

The Great Da Da Feng Tang stood fearless and majestic!

The race of evil spirits possessed no concept of water-flow armor, which gave the human race the possibility of killing across realms.

Even though the Evil Spirit·Tree-Face Demon race had decent defensive power, the output of the Wusengyi Sect was simply too explosive to withstand!

Do not be misled by the fact that He He Qi Feng brought only five subordinates, of whom only three were Wu Seng believers.

Their momentum was astonishing!

Shouting the slogan "Great Wind! Great Wind!", they made Lu Ran's blood boil with excitement.

The members of the Great Da Da Feng Tang were even more impassioned and surging; under He He Qi Feng's leadership, they engaged the Reach Sea Realm great demons in fierce clashes.

When necessary, Lu Ran and Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng would also join the battle.

There was no helping it; the strength of the Reach Sea Realm·Tree-Face Demons was truly somewhat beyond the standard!

Meanwhile, Lu Ran and his Xia Guang Dao became an existence akin to a needle stabilizing the sea.

Regardless of what techniques the Reach Sea Realm great demons employed, whether whipping and stabbing with branches or layering branches to construct a defensive system, all techniques of the Tree-Face Demons were fundamentally built upon withered branches!

Lu Ran's Xia Guang Dao domain·Auspicious Clouds of Colorful Light perfectly countered the withered branches!

The dazzling colorful light needed only to lightly touch a Tree-Face Demon for the withered branches to turn into flying ash.

Of course, everyone did not act too recklessly.

He He Qi Feng was brave and formidable, but not a fool.

If they encountered more than two Reach Sea Realm great demons, she would decisively order everyone to retreat quickly.

In these days of fighting together and fleeing together, the relationship between the Ran Sect and the Great Da Da Feng Tang rapidly warmed up.

Lu Ran also ate until he was completely stuffed.

He was very certain that once he activated the Yemo Yemo Xiesu·Tree-Face Demon, this evil statue would inevitably upgrade fiercely, directly smashing its way to the Reach Sea Realm!

Having tasted the benefits, Lu Ran was reluctant to leave.

He He Qi Feng was equally reluctant to let Lu Ran depart!

She fully displayed her leadership qualities and commanding talents, also gaining inner satisfaction from each comparison with Lu Ran.

Thus, led by these two geniuses, they continued killing for over half a month.

They had already circled the perimeter of the "Five Hundred Li Withered Wood Forest" several times.

Until one night in mid-May, while both groups were resting inside a cave, Lu Ran felt someone calling out to him from the void.

Without thinking, he knew it was naturally Deng Deng Yuxiang!

Lu Ran had kept the Xie Fa·Evil Consciousness active all along, which meant he was mentally connected to the Evil Dog Yemo Yemo Xiesu at all times.

In other words, Yan Yan Shuangzi and Lu Ran had always been "on the mic" together.

Whereas for Deng Deng Yuxiang to communicate with Lu Ran, she had to initiate a video call or start a voice chat.

【What's wrong?】 Lu Ran remained outwardly calm, but his voice transmission was extremely urgent.

Don't tell me something has gone wrong?

Indeed, this mission outing had lasted a bit too long.

【Xun Xun Yifei just found me and said he might advance soon,】 Deng Deng Yuxiang replied.

【Oh?】 Lu Ran was overjoyed!

Among the three Reach Sea Realm experts of the Ran Sect, Xun Xun Yifei's strength and realm were the lowest, currently at Reach Sea Realm·Stage Two.

Both Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng and Xiang Xiang Luoying were at Reach Sea Realm·Stage Four.

To be honest, regarding whether Xun Xun Yifei could still grow, Lu Ran held a pessimistic attitude.

Since he was already at Reach Sea Realm·Stage Two, it was very likely his talent ceiling had reached this point, making it difficult for him to improve even a fraction more in his entire life.

To raise the ceiling of one's aptitude, Lu Ran knew of only two methods.

The first was the blessing of a god.

The second was for Lu Ran to sign a contract with the other party, transforming Xun Xun Yifei from a human into a Divine Statue or Yemo Yemo Xiesu.

Just like Deng Deng Yuxiang and Yan Yan Shuangzi!

The more they fused with their Yemo Yemo Xiesu, the higher their cultivation aptitude and talent ceiling would become.

It seemed now that he had underestimated General Xun Shen.

Come to think of it, how could anyone thrown into the Holy Lingshan be weak?

Every single one was chosen by the gods!

Mostly believers with great strength and extraordinary talent, those who might affect the balance of the mortal world, were the ones thrown into this slaughterhouse.

"Yes, Xun Xun Yifei asked me to inform you. Additionally, he suggested that you could undergo your breakthrough at Ink Sea Bay."

"Oh?"

"He said that nine Ink Carp guard the sea region, and with divine weapons protecting your body, there should be no problem; it would also prevent Cloud Sea Cliff from suffering an attack."

Lu Ran pondered for a moment before replying, "Tell him to first go to the closed-door cultivation room to practice and make preparations; we will discuss everything after I return."

"Yes!"

"What are you thinking?" A female voice came from beside the bonfire.

Immediately, a hand extended before Lu Ran's eyes, several small tree fruits resting in its palm.

They looked like blueberries on the outside, but tasted far worse than blueberries.

"You eat them; they're too sour." Lu Ran waved his hands repeatedly.

Just thinking of that sour and astringent flavor made Lu Ran's stomach churn.

"The dignified Master of the Ran Gate, the famously renowned number one genius of Great Xia, and you can't even handle a little sourness?" He Qi said with a smiling expression.

Right before Lu Ran's face, she stuffed the handful of small tree fruits from her palm into her mouth.

While chewing the sour and astringent tree fruits, He Qi watched Lu Ran with a smile.

Lu Ran: "."

Did they really have to compete over this?

"Hehe~" He Qi smiled even more brilliantly, sliding her slender five fingers into the hair above her forehead to smooth the strands.

Those unaware of the situation might think He Qi was arranging her hairstyle or releasing her charm.

But everyone inside the cave knew clearly that she was simply displaying an expression of contentment, ensuring Lu Ran got a good look at her face.

So proud~

Lu Ran rolled his eyes: "I am a man; you wouldn't understand."

He Qi asked in confusion, "Understand what?"

Lu Ran grinned: "I can endure any amount of bitterness, but I cannot taste even a bit of sourness."

"Haha!" He Qi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You nineteen-year-old brat, and you're acting like a man already."

"Mind your own business regarding my age; I'm just naturally unwilling to eat it!" Lu Ran turned his head to look aside, "Isn't that right, Yin Tianlong?"

Yin Yin Tianlong: "."

More than half a month had passed; watching the interaction between He Qi and Lu Ran again, although Yin Yin Tianlong still felt a pang of jealousy, his hostility toward Lu Ran was no longer so great.

This was because Lu Ran had sought him out for a private conversation once.

Lu Ran's exact words had been: "I have a fiancée, and I love her very much. Your Hall He Tangzhu is a career-oriented woman who scoffs at matters of love and affection."

"Rest assured, there is absolutely no possibility between her and me!"

At that time, after Lu Ran had spoken these words so openly and honestly, he had caused Yin Yin Tianlong's face to turn bright red.

In Yin Yin Tianlong's heart, besides the sourness, there was now bitterness as well.

He also knew that his hopes with Hall He Tangzhu were very slim.

He Qi simply had no mind for romance; every day upon opening her eyes, her sole focus was on her career.

"Hehe."

To the side, two Wu Seng believers in their forties also wore smiles on their faces.

Regarding this person Lu Ran, the impressions of the two were extremely good!

First, Lu Ran was tolerant, yielding, humble, and gentle, capable of enduring the paranoid and competitive Hall He Tangzhu.

He was simply a benchmark for Xiang Xiang Xianyang believers!

Second, Lu Ran possessed formidable strength, capable of providing a safety net for the team at critical moments.

Hmm... this point, however, was not very characteristic of a Xiang Xiang Xianyang believer.

In short, where else could one find such an excellent partner?

No wonder they say he, Lu Ran, is the number one genius of Great Xia!

Such breadth of mind, such magnanimity...

Over the course of more than half a month, the two Wu Seng believers had become quite convinced and impressed.

Lu Ran maintained a very good relationship with these two Wei Jiang Jing experts at stage five.

How could they know that Lu Ran, following behind them, had eaten until his little belly was round and bulging!

If only the departed souls weren't so delicious, Lu Ran would have long been unable to hold back and would have clashed with He Qi...

"By the way, what were you thinking about just now?" He Qi looked at Lu Ran again.

"Thinking that I've been out for too long, and I should return." Lu Ran held a branch and poked the bonfire in front of him.

"Return?" He Qi reacted strongly, her pitch rising considerably.

Lu Ran feigned helplessness: "You are here completing a mission, while over on my side, I still have a family enterprise left unattended."

Actually, he had just considered one matter: whether or not to bring Xun Xun Yifei over and let him undergo his breakthrough within Wuji Peak?

Yet no one with eyes dared to cause trouble within the headquarters of the Wusengyi Sect.

But after thinking it over from every angle, Lu Ran decided against being so rash.

He Qi indeed held a certain degree of influence within Wuji Peak, but after all, she was still in the early stages of development, and variables might arise.

"If you ask me, you should just move the Ran Gate over here." He Qi shifted her buttocks and sat down beside Lu Ran.

She bumped her shoulder against Lu Ran's shoulder: "I'll pick a mountain for you right next to Wuji Peak; how about that?"

Once again, Lu Ran detected that familiar gaze, a look identical to that of the Rouge Paper Man.

Intense, full of longing.

To tell the truth, it was no wonder Yin Yin Tianlong had misunderstood.

Lu Ran glanced at He Qi with considerable disdain: "You, as you are now? You still want to protect me?"

He had finally figured out He Qi's temperament and knew exactly how to spark her fighting spirit.

Expecting He Qi to retort, he was surprised when she merely pressed her lips together and looked at Lu Ran in silence.

After a moment, she still said nothing, clenching her fists tightly before turning her head to gaze at the bonfire.

Lu Ran first froze, then immediately thought, *This is bad. *

*Oh no! *

*Did I speak too harshly and hurt her pride? *

Lu Ran softened his tone slightly: "I just habitually snap at you; you're actually doing quite well."

He Qi watched the dancing flames, her pitch-black eyes reflecting a strange luster in the flickering firelight: "I will have the ability to shelter you."

"One day, I will give you enough sense of security."

Lu Ran: "."

*Do you even hear what you're saying? *

*Is this right? *

He Qi suddenly turned her head, staring straight at Lu Ran: "I will make you willingly come to pledge allegiance to me."

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then still advised: "Haste makes waste! If you want to broadly recruit human believers, you must screen them carefully; there aren't many good people within Spirit Saint Mountain."

He Qi casually picked up a branch and poked at the bonfire: "Then come assist me and help me do the screening."

Lu Ran stood up directly.

He Qi looked up at Lu Ran, bewildered.

Lu Ran said: "I'm going back."

"Stop fooling around." He Qi's expression darkened. "If you don't like hearing those words, I won't say them, but it's the middle of the night; it's too dangerous."

"It's fine." Lu Ran stepped directly over the small bonfire. "Taking advantage of the dark night is the perfect time to travel!"

He Qi:???

"Cong Long, let's go."

Under the surprised gazes of everyone, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng immediately stood up without the slightest hint of doubt.

He Qi cursed herself inwardly for lacking composure and letting impatience ruin matters, then apologized: "Lu Ran, I won't say it anymore; please stop acting up."

"I'm not acting up; with a moonless sky and strong wind, it's the perfect time to travel!"

He Qi fumed inwardly: "Are you even speaking human language?"

Lu Ran smiled mysteriously and walked backward out of the cave entrance: "A ghost, of course, must speak ghost language~"

All along, he had hidden his secrets very well, and everyone had always believed that Lu Ran was a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang with "pure bloodline."

Little did they know, Lu Ran's composition was very complex.

Neither fully human nor fully ghost.

Sometimes a god, sometimes a demon.

"Lu Ran?" He Qi reached the cave entrance in just a few steps.

"In a few days, I'll bring the Zen staff to you." Lu Ran didn't even turn his head, waving his hand casually.

That tall, slender figure gradually merged into the pitch-black night.

"He really has style." Yin Yin Tianlong stared longingly outside the cave, muttering inwardly with a sour heart.

(End of Chapter)