Chapter 524

In the morning, the generals of the Ran Sect gathered in the council hall, and Lu Ran also stated the objectives for the upcoming mission.

For this journey south, Lu Ran intended to travel light with a small retinue.

After all, the goal this time was merely to explore the map, and he would return within a month.

"General Luo." From the main seat, Lu Ran looked at the young mother, "You have accompanied me through thick and thin for such a long time; this time, just stay home and rest."

Upon hearing this, Xun Yifei felt a weight lift from his heart.

When the Sect Master named his wife, Xun Yifei remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, he was crying out in misery.

He recalled the terror of being dominated by the children, remembering the image of his son crying during the day, his daughter making a scene at night, and both of them wailing together while looking for their mother.

Thank goodness!

The Sect Master had given him a way out.

Yet unexpectedly, Xiang Luoying spoke up: "Sect Master, I have been resting at home for over a month; I can accompany you on the mission."

Xun Yifei: "..."

Don't, Mother!

Father can't take it!

"No need." Lu Ran smiled and looked at the two generals, Feng and Yan, "We must give the newly arrived Divine Generals some opportunities to prove themselves."

Gao Yunyan nodded immediately.

Xue Fengchen also wanted to nod, but unfortunately, he was still at River Estuary Realm, Fifth Stage, and did not qualify as a "Divine General."

"Phew." Hearing Lu Ran's words, Xun Yifei let out a huge sigh of relief.

His mood was like riding a roller coaster~

As a Sea Realm powerhouse, Xun Yifei's emotions could naturally influence the surrounding atmosphere.

All along, Xun Yifei had hidden it quite well, but perhaps because he truly felt relieved, he let his guard down and accidentally let his emotions leak out.

Lu Ran immediately turned his head, looking at Divine General Xun with a half-smile.

The others in the council hall had varying mindsets, most trying hard to manage their expressions; after all, Divine General Xun was a Sea Realm powerhouse, and not just anyone dared to tease him.

Only Xiang Luoying turned her head and glared at her husband.

Xun Yifei felt a bit awkward and immediately volunteered: "Sect Master, let your subordinate accompany you on the mission."

Lu Ran laughed: "No need. You two balance family and career well; while I am away, lead everyone to protect Cloud Sea Cliff."

"Yes!"

"Yes." The two immediately agreed.

Lu Ran turned his head to look at Yu Fish Changsheng: "Mr. Cong Long, come with me."

Yu Fish Changsheng: "..."

Xiang Luoying accompanies you through thick and thin, never missing a beat.

But for every mission, I, your grandfather, am also involved!

Lu Ran revealed a smile: "With Mr. Cong Long by my side, I am at ease."

Yu Fish Changsheng felt comforted instantly, a smile appeared on his face, and he nodded quite appreciatively: "It is my greatest honor."

Just at this moment, Lu Ran sensed a sharp gaze sweep over him.

Lu Ran's heart twitched!

No need to guess, it was definitely the gaze of the Great Da Da Mengyan!

In front of outsiders, Deng Yuxiang always upheld the dignity of the Sect Master, but that did not prevent her from glancing at Lu Ran nonchalantly.

Beside the main seat, Jiang Ruyi suddenly spoke: "Let Protector Da Da Mengyan also accompany us south."

Deng Yuxiang looked at the Sect Master's wife and nodded respectfully: "Yes."

"Alright, that's it!" Lu Ran announced the end of the meeting.

Si Xianxian pouted, her face full of unhappiness.

In the morning, Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi had rejected Si Xianxian's proposal; Sister Xian was only at River Estuary Realm, Second Stage, and although her output was explosive and she could even kill Sea Realm experts, the two still hoped she would focus on cultivation.

As the members of the Ran Sect stood up and left, Protector Evil Shadow appeared abruptly, kneeling halfway beside a chair, blocking Lu Ran's path.

Evil Shadow did not speak,

but the air was filled with an aura of stubbornness.

One Da Da Mengyan, one Evil Shadow, they really are a pair of good best friends~

Lu Ran said helplessly: "Aren't you always following me?"

Yan Shuangzi did not refute, but simply looked up at Lu Ran before flashing away.

Lu Ran felt a bit awkward.

He only just realized that last time when he went to the Northwest Desert, he hadn't brought Miss Yan Shuangzi along.

Jiang Ruyi had a faint smile on her face, very happy to see this scene.

She naturally hoped that every soldier following Lu Ran could be as loyal as Yan Shuangzi.

"What are you thinking about, so happy?" Lu Ran asked in confusion.

"Let's go, go back and prepare." Jiang Ruyi placed a hand on Lu Ran's collar, straightening his clothes, "For this trip, wear the white robe."

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

Jiang Ruyi seemed to like Lu Ran draped in a wide white robe.

Her arrival was also like a node, bringing some changes to Lu Ran.

The most significant change was that she brought manpower; under this opportunity, Lu Ran established the Flying Immortal Hall, built the Flying Immortal Palace, and completely opened the path to recruiting believers.

The minor change was that Lu Ran possessed a second Holy Lingshan skin.

He was no longer the mysterious man in a bamboo hat and straw cape, no longer a wandering martial artist.

Just like the statue standing tall in the Flying Immortal Palace, Lu Ran draped himself in a wide white robe.

His posture was proud, his spirit high.

Near noon, Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi, accompanied by the three protectors—Da Da Mengyan, Cong Long, and Evil Shadow—as well as the two generals, Feng and Yan, embarked on their journey south.

Four River Estuary and three Sea Realm experts; such an elite squad should be able to properly complete this mission.

Not to mention that among the "Four River Estuary," there was also a Lu Ran with unfathomable strength!

But not long after the squad set off, Yu Fish Changsheng called out: "Sect Master."

"Mr. Cong Long?" Lu Ran turned his head to look.

"If we keep traveling south along the coastline, I fear we will deviate from our main goal and find it difficult to collect enough intelligence," Yu Fish Changsheng reminded.

"Hmm, that makes sense." Lu Ran nodded.

The vast majority of god believers and demon tribes were land creatures, and almost none would voluntarily approach the dangerous sea.

Under Yu Fish Changsheng's suggestion, the squad gradually moved away from the coastline, traveling over mountains and ridges in a south-by-west direction.

From time to time, Lu Ran would also cast the evil technique "Mirror Flower Water Moon," leading everyone to step directly from one mountain peak to another.

The next day, at dusk, the group had already traveled over a thousand kilometers.

This was the result of Lu Ran deliberately traveling slowly, focusing on exploration.

If he cast the evil technique "Mirror Flower Water Moon" at a high frequency, even thousands of kilometers wouldn't stop him!

Along the way, there were many demons and evil spirits, but most were "individual operators," at most a large tribe; the group did not encounter the base camp of any specific type of demon.

Lu Ran could also clearly perceive that the further south they went, the lower the terrain became, and the more rivers and lakes there were.

"Whoa?"

On a mountain peak, Lu Ran had just stepped out of the landing mirror when he was stunned by the beautiful scenery under the sunset!

Where the hell did this bring me?

Is this still Holy Lingshan?

Lu Ran looked into the distance to the south, only to see the terrain change abruptly, and a massive lake came into view.

The scale of this lake was astonishing, with islands of various shapes and sizes scattered upon it.

Like stars in the sky.

The islands were lush with trees, and there were narrow paths connecting many of them, appearing like man-made passages, yet also like the uncanny workmanship of nature.

The lake surface rippled, and the light of the sunset fell upon the clear water, beautiful enough to dazzle the mind.

"I didn't expect that a thousand kilometers from our Cloud Sea Cliff, such a fairyland was hidden." Lu Ran's eyes became increasingly dazed, and the more he looked, the more he marveled.

Since entering the mountains, Lu Ran had captured many villains and interrogated them for much intelligence, but no one had ever mentioned this place.

It's a pity the weather is clear today.

If it were a rainy day, with misty rain shrouding the islands on the lake, how poetic would that be?

"Sect Master, do not be deceived by the beautiful scenery; this place must be extremely dangerous," Yu Fish Changsheng reminded softly.

Lu Ran turned his head with a smile, looking at the overly handsome Yu Fish Changsheng: "The more beautiful things are, the more dangerous they are, right?"

Yu Fish Changsheng's expression was a bit strange.

In the Ran Sect squad, there was no shortage of beauties.

Whether it was the cold Fairy Jiang or the bright Great Da Da Mengyan, both were top-tier existences in their respective lanes.

But the problem was, why did Yu Fish Changsheng feel that the Sect Master was talking about him...

"Mr. is right," Jiang Ruyi nodded gently, "If such a treasure land is not occupied by a demon faction, there should be a human force entrenched here."

"Let's go, let's go take a look!" Lu Ran gave the order directly, feeling quite high-spirited.

If it were before, seeing such a fairyland, Lu Ran would likely have turned around and left.

Not daring to touch it at all.

Now, it was different.

Four River Estuary and three Sea Realm experts; Lu Ran had the capital to explore it.

The two generals, Feng and Yan, wielded axes to clear the path, Da Da Mengyan and Cong Long brought up the rear, and Protector Evil Shadow was elusive, drifting outside the squad to collect intelligence, never once appearing.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi walked in the middle, slowly descending the mountain, walking out of the dense forest, and finally arriving at the lakeside.

"Sniff~"

Lu Ran twitched his nose.

Whether listening with his ears, sniffing with his nose, or looking with his eyes, he could not see a single living creature.

"Strange, is there no one?" Lu Ran squatted by the lake, looking at the crystal-clear water, and cupped a handful of lake water in his hands.

Or perhaps the demons/humans were all hiding on the islands far from the shore?

Lu Ran thought while "Ran Dog possessed him."

He stuck out the tip of his tongue to taste the lake water in his hand, confirming it was a freshwater lake, and it had a hint of sweetness.

Tsk~

Really not bad!

This forest, this lake, this island wonder; if there really are no other forces present, then can my Ran Sect utilize... hmm?

Lu Ran's eyes suddenly narrowed!

He saw that on an island very far from the shore, at the edge of the jungle, there seemed to be figures moving?

If it weren't for Lu Ran's excellent eyesight, he definitely wouldn't have discovered their existence.

"Swish~"

On the island, a cluster of lush bushes swayed gently.

A man wearing grass clothes and grass shoes, under the signal of several companions, quietly retreated back into the island.

The man in grass clothes ran all the way, along a secluded path, and broke into the deep jungle, until he arrived in front of an elegant small building:

"Island Master He! Island Master He?"

"What is it?" Through the fence courtyard wall, a young woman's voice came.

"A group of people has appeared on the north side, observing the islands from the lakeside!"

As the man spoke, a woman pushed open the fence courtyard gate.

She appeared to be twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a slender figure, wearing a green long dress with an ancient charm, her temperament elegant.

The green-dressed woman gave people the feeling of a lotus flower blooming in clear lake water, pleasing to the eye.

But at this moment, her delicate face was shrouded in frost, her eyes carrying a hint of anger:

"Is it the people from Mount Jingting again?"

(End of chapter)