Chapter 497: The Name of the Lady

"Team Leader Jiang, keeping this person is only asking for trouble," Song Yu said as he walked back.

Jiangjiang Ruyi spoke softly: "We are all disciples under Master Yu Fu, come here to collect the Qi of the Holy Spirit."

"Let him go; even if he can collect just one wisp of the Holy Spirit's Qi for Master Yu Fu, it counts as us disciples having done our duty."

Though she spoke these words, how could she not know in her heart that the hidden danger ought to be eliminated?

It was merely that Song Yu could say such a thing, but Jiangjiang Ruyi, one who aspired to be a leader, absolutely could not.

What Jiangjiang Ruyi was sparing was not Meng Lang Zhixuan's life, but rather securing the peace of mind and loyal following of those including Song Yu, Zhang Zhang Zhenghu, Zhu Yuan, and An Sister Xian.

Everyone present had once been strangers with no connection whatsoever; the only bond tying them together was their identity as believers of Yu Fu.

This identification with their status was the sharp weapon Jiangjiang Ruyi believed she held in her hand.

And it was a double-edged sword at that!

It must be utilized with extreme caution.

Looking at it from another angle, if Jiangjiang Ruyi were to kill a fellow senior brother in a struggle for power and position, she believed cracks would inevitably appear in the hearts of the several people beside her.

At the very beginning of building a faction, everything was unstable.

In days past, Han Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, to demonstrate the bearing of a leader and stabilize people's hearts, could grit his teeth and let go of Yong Chi, a rebel general from his hometown; she too must be able to let go of a fellow senior brother.

"Team Leader Jiang, what do we do next?" An Sister Xian asked in a small voice.

"First, we walk out of this desert," Jiangjiang Ruyi said, gazing toward the east.

As she spoke, she wrapped herself in the Great Formation of Yu Fu and slowly rose into the air.

The others immediately followed.

Jiangjiang Ruyi issued timely commands: "Senior Brother Song and Senior Brother Zhang, take the front left and right; Senior Sister Zhu and Little Sister Xian, cover the rear."

"I will remain in the center to command and provide support to all sides."

"Yes!"

"Yes," Zhang Zhang Zhenghu and Zhu Yuan echoed in unison, led by Song Yu and An Sister Xian.

Song Yu was at the third stage of Jiang Jing, Zhang Zhang Zhenghu and Zhu Yuan were both at the second stage of Jiang Jing, and An Sister Xian was at the first stage of Jiang Jing.

Added to Jiangjiang Ruyi, the leader at the fourth stage of Jiang Jing, the strength of this small team was quite respectable.

While flying, Jiangjiang Ruyi opened her mouth to ask: "Do any of you know Lu Ran?"

"Of course!" An Sister Xian, looking at Jiangjiang Ruyi's back, spoke straight from her heart and fast with her mouth: "Who doesn't know the great name of Heavenly Pride Lu!"

"The number one Heavenly Pride of Great Xia, his name strikes like thunder."

Listening to everyone's responses, Jiangjiang Ruyi nodded and said: "He is also in this world."

"Oh?" Zhang Zhang Zhenghu, who was clearing the path at the front right, turned his head to look at his junior sister: "Does Jiang Jiang Shimei know where Heavenly Pride Lu is located?"

Everyone immediately pricked up their ears.

This news was undoubtedly extremely inspiring!

The strength of Lu Ran was something everyone in the world could see with their own eyes!

The array of divine weapon artifacts by his side was enough to leave anyone dumbfounded.

Furthermore, because of "Heavenly Pride," Lu Ran's image was quite positive; one could even say that Lu Ran had the endorsement of Great Xia!

For any person of Great Xia, Lu Ran could be your backing!

Not to mention that Jiangjiang Ruyi was present within the team.

Lu Ran was the mortal Sect Master of the Xianyangyi Sect and the Mountain Lord of Luo Sister Xian.

Jiangjiang Ruyi was his childhood sweetheart, his fiancée, and moreover, the Lady Luo Sister Xian known to all the world!

Whether for the sake of better executing the mission or simply for survival, the small team ought to reunite with Lu Ran.

"The specifics are unclear," Jiangjiang Ruyi sighed lightly.

Hearing this, disappointment inevitably arose in everyone's hearts.

But then Jiangjiang Ruyi spoke again: "He might be in a place with an ocean."

"Ocean?" Zhu Yuan's heart sank to the bottom of a valley.

Looking around, all they saw was desolation.

They were probably hundreds of thousands of miles away from any ocean!

Jiangjiang Ruyi continued: "Everyone, let us complete the task assigned by Master Yu Fu while searching for Lu Ran."

"If we can reunite with him and execute the mission together, everyone's safety will have an extra layer of guarantee."

"Correct, exactly so!"

"Good!" Several people echoed in agreement.

Although nothing was settled yet, merely hearing that Lu Ran existed in this world was enough to lift a trace of gloom from everyone's hearts and give them a bit more hope.

The group of five proceeded eastward.

They had originally intended to find a stable place to rest, but unexpectedly, after more than half an hour had passed, they once again saw a familiar sight.

"No way, don't tell me!" An Sister Xian's voice carried a hint of terror.

In the distant east, had the terrain of the Shi Zhu Forest appeared again?

Those stone pillars, piercing straight into the clouds, had clearly become a nightmare for everyone.

Jiangjiang Ruyi immediately commanded: "We will go around and avoid the Shi Zhu Forest."

"Yes, Lady," Song Yu replied.

Lady?

This title truly left everyone somewhat stunned.

Even Jiangjiang Ruyi raised her eyebrows slightly.

This Song Yu, a man of few words but ruthless action, was indeed quite interesting.

He did not dwell in past glories, nor did he linger in the state of being revered by ten thousand people while in the mortal world.

Undoubtedly, Song Yu's perception of his own environment was exceedingly clear!

At a time when some still could not distinguish the situation and put on airs, addressing Jiangjiang Ruyi as "Jiang Jiang Shimei."

Song Yu gave everyone a reminder.

And at the very beginning, when Jiangjiang Ruyi intended to take control of this small team, it was also Song Yu who first submitted a pledge of loyalty.

He paid no heed to how his fellow sect brothers and sisters viewed him; grabbing his blade, he went straight for Meng Lang Zhixuan!

Moreover, upon returning, he specifically said to Jiangjiang Ruyi, ensuring everyone heard the words: "Keeping this person is a disaster waiting to happen!"

From the very start, with Song Yu peacefully handing over the captaincy and command authority, to his various actions at this moment, it undoubtedly showed that he recognized and acknowledged Jiangjiang Ruyi.

"Hoo~"

Flying to the front left, Song Yu signaled Zhang Zhang Zhenghu on his right to shift direction, then casually glanced back at An Sister Xian.

An Sister Xian, not understanding the intent, silently turned and flew along.

It was Zhu Yuan on the other side who spoke up: "Sister Jiang is Lu Lu Tianjiao's wife, the Lady Luo Sister Xian known to all in Great Xia; such a form of address is very appropriate."

Only then did An Sister Xian realize, hurriedly echoing: "Right, right, right!"

To survive in a place like this, one naturally needs someone to rely upon.

Jiangjiang Ruyi was the team's current reliance, while Lu Ran was their future reliance.

Earlier, when Jiangjiang Ruyi flipped the table on Meng Lang Zhixuan, she had already forcefully expressed her stance.

She had stated her battle merits and made it clear she was no subordinate.

She even directly declared: "Now, you may offer your thanks."

What Jiangjiang Ruyi wanted, and what kind of person she was, everyone could see.

And the title "Lady" was evidently more respectful.

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi responded with a sound, her gaze lingering on Song Yu for a moment.

Although it was only a small change in address, it was greatly beneficial for her to establish authority.

Jiangjiang Ruyi accepted this gesture of goodwill from Song Yu.

"Madam Master," Zhang Zhang Zhenghu stumbled slightly over the words but ultimately changed his address, then said, "It seems there are people over there!"

"Oh?" Jiangjiang Ruyi gazed into the distance.

After observing carefully for a moment, she indeed saw moving human figures at the edge of the Shi Zhu forest.

"They seem to be a group of Another Shanwei believers!" Zhang Zhang Zhenghu's tiger-like eyes brightened, "They appear to be fighting with the Fanged-Face Men!"

The deity Another Shanwei ranked fourth in the Great Xia pantheon.

Its image was quite peculiar, humanoid in form yet composed entirely of mountain rock.

This deity possessed no facial features; between the jagged rocks forming its body, streams of divine power flowed, winding around its form like water.

Whether one should call it a humanoid deity or an object-type deity had never been settled by the world.

The Shanweiyi Sect was considered an auxiliary sect, excelling in defense and control but severely lacking in offensive capabilities.

Most believers of this sect were strong-willed by nature and renowned for their loyalty and reliability, making them excellent choices for battle companions!

That was why Zhang Zhang Zhenghu's eyes had brightened.

"Lady, shall we go take a look?" Zhang Zhang Zhenghu turned to look at Jiangjiang Ruyi, the title rolling off his tongue more smoothly now, "This sect's offensive capability is somewhat inferior.

If we help them, we can also take the opportunity to forge a connection."

In the Shen Mo Shi Immortal Jie, you could completely trust in stereotypes!

When you encountered a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang, you could directly conclude that the other party was weak and bullyable.

There was a 99% chance you would not be wrong!

Similarly, when you encountered a Another Shanwei believer, you could directly treat the other party as a loyal and reliable human companion!

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi nodded gently, "Let's go take a look."

Since they had encountered fellow humans fighting evil spirits, naturally they ought to lend assistance.

If they could use this opportunity to gather intelligence and gain a deeper understanding of Holy Lingshan, that would be even better.

Concepts from Great Xia in the mortal world prompted Jiangjiang Ruyi to make this decision, and all team members strongly agreed with this strategy.

Clearly, having just arrived in this world and having only engaged the evil spirit camp so far, they had yet to encounter the human faction.

The group did not clearly understand just how cruel Holy Lingshan truly was.

Nor how deformed it was.

"Boom-rumble!"

At the edge of the Shi Zhu forest, it was truly an earth-shaking event.

When enemies met, their eyes turned red with extra fury!

The Shanweiyi Sect and the Fanged-Face Men clan were deadly rivals.

At this moment, six Another Shanwei disciples and eight Fanged-Face Men were locked in an inseparable, fierce battle.

"Trap him, trap him!" a middle-aged man shouted harshly, slowly raising both hands.

"Hum!!"

The earth trembled, and stone and soil suddenly bulged upward.

A dome composed of crushed rock and sand instantly enveloped one of the Fanged-Face Men.

Shan Wei Shen Fa · Stone-Soil Prison!

"Wu! Wu-wu!!" Inside the stone-soil prison, the Fanged-Face Man roared in anger.

Wielding a spiked club cobbled together from energy, the Fanged-Face Man fiercely smashed against the inner walls of the stone-soil prison, causing bursts of green energy to continuously explode.

Xie Fa · Shattered Rock Split!

Yet the stone-earth prison merely rumbled, showing no sign of shattering, proving just how sturdy it was!

"Dayong, heed my command!"

"I'm ready!" The man named Dayong assumed a sprinter's stance, facing the stone-earth prison.

Draped over his body was a suit of armor composed entirely of stone.

Armor?

Those stone blocks were quite large, expanding the human figure by several sizes; it could practically be called a "mini mecha"!

Shan Wei Shen Fa: Mountain Stone Armor!

The advantages and disadvantages of this technique were equally obvious: while its defensive power was extremely high, it was abnormally heavy.

So heavy that it even hindered bodily movement.

"Three, two, one!" Following the countdown, Dayong's feet exploded with force as he surged forward fiercely.

Just like a cannonball!

Indeed, donning this Mountain Stone Armor made the Another Another Shanwei disciples exceedingly clumsy.

But at this very moment, Dayong didn't need agility; he only needed to charge forward and bombard the enemy!

"Whoosh~" The stone-earth prison suddenly vanished.

"Huh?" The fanged-masked man swung his spiked club, striking nothing; before he could react, he felt a terrifying pressure from the side crushing down upon him.

The fanged-masked man whipped his head around, only to find the heavily-built "stone man" already smashing toward him!

Fanged-masked man:!!!

With a dull thud, the fanged-masked man was heavily knocked flying.

It had to be said, the offensive methods of the Another Another Shanwei believers were truly scarce.

Just how scarce were they?

Poor Another Another Shanwei disciples were forced to activate defensive techniques and actively ram into their enemies.

Three updates today at 14:00, 20:00, and 24:00.

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(End of Chapter)