Chapter 490: Moonlit Immortal Palace

The twenty-second day of the seventh month, inside the seclusion chamber.

Lu Ran looked completely foolish, lying blankly on the ground.

Suddenly, a trace of clarity returned to his eyes, and after a few more seconds, Lu Ran sat up abruptly.

"It stopped?" Lu Ran shook his head.

His brain no longer buzzed and trembled; he felt a surge of joy and immediately connected his consciousness to the Jade Talisman Divine Statue.

A moment later, Lu Ran's mouth hung open in an "O" shape.

Sea Realm, Third Stage!

Third Stage?

"Wow!" Lu Ran couldn't help but exclaim.

The Luo Kong couple were truly the ruling class!

For so many years, had the vast majority of the Holy Spirit Qi found by the Heaven Disciple Mountain been absorbed by the couple?

Could the villagers only sip a tiny bit even when drinking the soup?

One had to know, it took 100 wisps of Holy Spirit Qi for a River Estuary Realm statue to advance one minor stage.

A Sea Realm statue required a full 1,000 wisps of Holy Spirit Qi to advance one minor stage!

At this moment, Lu Ran's Jade Talisman Divine Statue had reached the Sea Realm, Third Stage.

This meant that the Luo Kong couple, these two Sea Realm powerhouses, had collected at least over two thousand wisps of Holy Spirit Qi in the past ten-plus years!

Perhaps even more!

Although the Jade Talisman Divine Statue hadn't advanced to the Sea Realm, Fourth Stage, Lu Ran didn't know the specific growth progress.

Perhaps it needed another eight hundred wisps of Holy Spirit Qi to reach the fourth stage.

Or perhaps, it only needed 1 wisp of Holy Spirit Qi to advance!

No one could say for sure.

"Luo Tiantu, oh Luo Tiantu, you really are a master at skimming off the top!" Lu Ran was pleasantly surprised. "Good, good, good, well skimmed!"

Truly worthy of being a good dog for the Jade Talisman!

Tsk tsk~

It's just a pity that your master didn't get to enjoy it, as I intercepted it all!

This time, I've truly been fed to the brim.

Lu Ran thought happily, and then he remembered someone else—Lady Luo!

Luo Tiantu's original wife, who later became a mistress.

But at least she had been the legal wife for a period of time!

Given the extent of Luo Tiantu's oppression of the villagers, how much Holy Spirit Qi was hidden within Lady Luo's soul?

It was a pity; Lady Luo was a follower of the Imprisoned Demon, and Lu Ran hadn't activated that divine statue yet, so there was no way to verify just how wealthy she was.

"Swish~"

Lu Ran's figure flashed, and he appeared quietly at the edge of the sea cliff.

In the dead of night, everything was silent.

Lu Ran listened to the sound of the sea breeze and also heard the sound of waves crashing against the shore far below.

It was very comfortable, very healing.

His head finally stopped buzzing; having suffered so much over the past few days, Lu Ran felt a sense of relief.

Lu Ran sat on the edge of the cliff, his calves dangling over the edge, swinging leisurely.

The sea surface shimmered, as if covered by a beautiful silver veil of moonlight.

Lu Ran's eyes were somewhat hazy; he slowly raised his head, looking at the bright moon, and murmured:

"So beautiful."

"So beautiful."

Inside the Luo Xian Pavilion, a woman in a white dress stood by the edge, looking at the Erhai Lake shimmering under the moonlight. She slowly raised her head, looking toward the bright moon in the night sky.

Jiang Ru Yi stood alone, the moonlight reflecting a faint luster in her eyes.

Moon rises, moon sets, night after night.

And you?

When will you return?

It had been half a year since Lu Ran challenged the Divine Ruins and left the human world.

Not a single word.

Jiang Ru Yi pursed her lips, a faint sadness flashing in her eyes.

She should have expected this day would come.

Since Lu Ran left, she had been burning incense and offering prayers to Lord Xiang Xianyang in the Jingxian Hall every day.

Praying only for Lu Ran's safety.

If he could return early, that would be even better.

And every day, when Jiang Ru Yi prayed, she did so with trepidation.

Fearing that at any moment, Lord Xiang Xianyang would manifest and tell her bad news.

Half a year had passed; she could only worship and worry like this, with no other way.

"Click."

The sword at the woman's waist slowly left its scabbard.

The Liangye Sword seemed to sense its mistress's emotional fluctuations; it carefully reached down and landed by her hand.

The cold hilt gently touched its mistress's fingertips.

Seeing that she had no intention of refusing, the hilt then fell into its mistress's palm.

Perhaps Jiang Ru Yi had just come to her senses; her slender hand reacted, gently picking up the hilt.

"Do you miss him too?" Jiang Ru Yi said softly, her thin lips parting.

"Hum~"

The Liangye Sword trembled slightly.

Divine weapons follow their masters.

Moreover, the biggest hurdle the Liangye Sword had to overcome on its path to becoming a divine weapon was confirming its own and its master's feelings for a certain person.

"Sigh," Jiang Ru Yi let out a soft sigh, her eyelids drooping as she looked at the shimmering Erhai Lake.

Lu Ran had been gone for half a year.

Sister Xian'er had also been gone for two months, likewise with no news.

Jiang Ru Yi had specifically investigated; the Divine Lie Tian had not opened any Divine Ruins recently.

She wasn't sure if Sister Xian'er was really on a pilgrimage and cultivating in the city.

Even if she were in seclusion, she wouldn't go without making a single phone call or sending a single message.

Jiang Ru Yi tried every way to contact her, but couldn't find her at all.

Around the beginning of the seventh month, Si Xianxian's mother had specifically gone to the West Sea Province, but the ancient cities under the gods were all self-governed by sects.

As an external follower, Si Caiqin was not allowed to enter the inner city.

The result of the investigation was merely a perfunctory response from Lie Tian's disciples, saying that Si Xianxian was on a devout pilgrimage and no one was allowed to disturb her.

Si's mother's call eventually reached Jiang Ru Yi.

This was the most powerful person this helpless mother could reach and knew.

She didn't ask for much.

She just wanted to hear her daughter's voice and know she was safe.

She didn't even need to meet in person; a single phone call would suffice.

However, Jiang Ru Yi, this high-and-mighty Human Sect Mistress, this River Estuary Realm powerhouse revered by the world...

Was equally powerless.

She couldn't give any answer either.

Admittedly, Jiang Ru Yi was noble and possessed peerless strength; in front of her, most people were ants.

But in front of the gods, wasn't she also an ant?

What say did the humble human race have?

Sister Xian'er, where are you?

Jiang Ru Yi looked at the sea, her thoughts chaotic; the people close to her were leaving one after another...

And Lu Ran?

Are you... are you still alive?

"Hoo~"

The evening breeze blew gently, brushing through her waist-length hair.

Jiang Ru Yi slowly closed her beautiful eyes, feeling the breeze, as if it were his hand gently stroking her hair.

She stood alone, quietly feeling, silently missing.

But this tranquility was broken by a voice.

Jiang Ru Yi frowned slightly.

The sudden telepathic message made her almost think she was hallucinating.

Was that Lord Jade Talisman's message just now?

Ordering me to go on a pilgrimage?

Jiang Ru Yi opened her eyes; the Erhai Lake under the moon came into view, everything was very real.

That was certainly not a dream, let alone a hallucination.

When the god gives an order, a follower must obey unconditionally.

And had no right to resist.

The problem was, what virtue or ability did she have to be summoned by the god twice?

Moreover, she was currently at the River Estuary Realm, Fourth Stage.

If the god really wanted to show mercy and help a disciple, shouldn't he wait until she reached the River Estuary Realm, Fifth Stage, before summoning her for a pilgrimage?

Or perhaps, would she walk the path Lu Ran once walked?

Was Lord Jade Talisman going to open the Divine Ruins?

Jiang Ru Yi's expression shifted; after thinking carefully for a long time, eight white jade tablets diffused from her body.

With the help of the Divine Technique Jade Talisman Array, she slowly flew up and flew toward the village in the mountains.

Soon, she arrived at the Luo Xian Village - Jingxian Hall.

In the dead of night, the village was silent.

The gates of the Jingxian Hall were wide open; deep inside the hall, an old man knelt alone, kowtowing to the Xiang Xianyang stone statue.

Jiang Ru Yi stepped inside.

On the left and right walls of the hall, small divine statues with different expressions and lifelike appearances were placed.

Hundreds of pairs of sheep eyes seemed to be watching this young woman visiting in the middle of the night.

"Mistress?"

Cheng Yi heard the footsteps and immediately turned his head to look, his expression filled with surprise.

"Grandpa Cheng." Jiang Ru Yi nodded slightly and instructed, "Light a stick of incense for me."

"Very well." Cheng Yi was puzzled, but still went to the incense burner in front of the stone statue, picked up three sticks of incense, and lit them on the candle nearby.

Jiang Ru Yi looked up at the stone statue and stepped forward.

A moment later, she took the three lit sticks of incense and bowed respectfully three times to the Xiang Xianyang stone statue.

"Lord Xiang Xianyang, Ru Yi just received a telepathic message from Lord Jade Talisman, summoning me for a pilgrimage." Jiang Ru Yi murmured to herself, inserting the three sticks of incense into the small incense burner one by one.

Cheng Yi, who was waiting nearby, couldn't help but frown slightly.

Jiang Ru Yi took two steps back, knelt on the prayer mat, and pressed her palms together: "Ru Yi doesn't know how long I will be gone; Ru Yi cannot guard Luo Xian Mountain on the fifteenth of every month.

Nor can I worship and pray before you every day."

Nearby, Cheng Yi suddenly spoke: "Mistress."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ru Yi was quite surprised.

When a follower is worshiping a god, others absolutely must not disturb them.

This was not just a matter of politeness, but also disrespect to the god!

Grandpa Cheng Yi disturbing her at this time must have a valid reason.

Sure enough, Cheng Yi said: "Lord Xiang Xianyang just sent down a telepathic message."

"Oh?" Jiang Ru Yi's beautiful eyes brightened.

Cheng Yi: "Lord Xiang Xianyang said that your trip to Yumen Pass, Mistress, is very likely to challenge the Divine Ruins."

Jiang Ru Yi turned toward the Xiang Xianyang stone statue and asked: "Lord Xiang Xianyang, how is Lu Ran? Is he safe?"

At such a juncture, she actually didn't ask about her own affairs, but instead took the opportunity to ask directly about Lu Ran.

Such a scene made Cheng Yi feel deeply moved.

The Mistress's feelings for the Mountain Master are truly beyond words.

While thinking, Cheng Yi saw Jiang Ru Yi's expectant eyes.

Cheng Yi was silent for a moment, his face showing an apologetic look, and continued: "Lord Xiang Xianyang indicated that the world beyond the Divine Ruins is extremely dangerous!

If you don't want to go, Mistress, Lord Xiang Xianyang can tear up the contract between you and the god."

Jiang Ru Yi: "..."

In front of the gods, the human race truly has no say.

Not even the qualification to ask.

Any telepathic message from a god is either a one-sided notification or an order.

Even the most gentle and friendly Lord Xiang Xianyang is like this.

Not everyone can communicate smoothly with the gods like Lu Ran.

"The world beyond the Divine Ruins, the place where Lu Ran is..." Jiang Ru Yi murmured in her heart.

After a long time, she looked at the divine statue, looking at Xiang Xianyang's kind smiling face: "What if Ru Yi wants to go?

What if Ru Yi wants to find... to see him?"

Inside the Jingxian Hall, a silence fell.

Jiang Ru Yi looked up at the divine statue, waiting patiently.

She wasn't sure if she could get a response from the god again.

Just now, Xiang Xianyang specifically sent down a telepathic message, which was already a great fortune for both Jiang Ru Yi and Cheng Yi, the messenger.

"Sea."

Cheng Yi suddenly said one word.

"Sea?" Jiang Ru Yi raised her eyebrows slightly.

Cheng Yi confirmed: "If you want to go, Mistress, Lord Xiang Xianyang gave you one word—Sea."

Jiang Ru Yi was thoughtful.

Sea Realm?

Does her strength need to reach the Sea Realm to see Lu Ran?

Or is this a place name, the sea of the ocean?

Is Lu Ran located in a place with a sea?

Jiang Ru Yi thought for a long time, pressed her palms together, bowed her head: "Thank you, Lord Xiang Xianyang, for the guidance; Ru Yi will keep it in her heart."

She lowered her eyelids, her expression firm.

In those pitch-black eyes was a longing so deep it could not be dissolved.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 491 =====