Chapter 528: Heaven Above, Human World Below

That night, Lu Ran spoke at length.

This nine-month-long perilous journey was truly magnificent, leaving He He Yingcai utterly stunned as she listened.

During the meal, Lu Ran also inquired about information regarding Cheng Xin and Qin Lady Yanzhi; neither island master had heard of them, but both agreed to ask around within the Yun Qianzhou Alliance.

Within the Yun Qianzhou Alliance, every sect boasted over a hundred believers, with the believers of the Fourth-Rank God·Sword Lotus even reaching more than two hundred.

It was quite possible that someone among them had heard relevant news.

Lu Ran also briefly inquired about information concerning the Yun Qianzhou Alliance Master·Yun Yun Qianzhou.

He He Yingcai stated: "Alliance Master Yun is a great expert of the River Realm, Fifth Stage!"

It was said that he had been stuck at this realm for over a decade, but half a year ago, Yun Yun Qianzhou seemed to have gained some realization and subsequently entered closed-door cultivation.

For nearly half a year, Yun Yun Qianzhou had turned a deaf ear to outside affairs, focusing solely on breaking through to the Heaven Realm.

Perhaps precisely because of this, the people of Mount Jingting Mountain dared to act so recklessly, constantly coming to harass and provoke the Yun Qianzhou Alliance.

They clearly intended to nibble away step by step!

The battle fought some days ago was the most intense conflict between the two sides in recent years!

Facing the relentless pressure from the crowd of Mount Jingting Mountain, the Sword Lotus sect could no longer endure it and finally took action.

Subsequently, the other three major sects of the Yun Qianzhou Alliance responded one after another, launching an earth-shattering great battle more than ten kilometers southwest of Misty Rain Lake.

Both sides suffered heavy losses!

On the Yun Qianzhou Alliance side, two River Realm island masters from the Green Lotus and Sword Lotus sects died, while on the Mount Jingting Mountain side, one River Realm elder perished.

In the end, this battle concluded with the Mount Jingting sect leaving behind harsh threats and departing in resentment.

Tragically, the Yun Qianzhou Alliance could only watch helplessly as the other party left; when the Most Dongting disciples were determined to retreat, it was truly difficult for anyone to stop them.

He He Yingcai spoke at length, while Lu Ran keenly caught a specific term.

Only after she finished speaking and silence fell all around did Lu Ran speak up:

"Heaven Realm?"

"Above the River Realm lies the Heaven Realm."

"Who named it? Is it universally recognized?" Lu Ran continued to ask.

"This realm's name originated from Alliance Master Yun's mouth." He He Yingcai turned her head to look at the gray-robed old man, "As for the specific origin..."

The Green Lotus Island Master said in a deep voice: "According to Alliance Master Yun, he once had a comrade-in-arms who was a believer of Sword One.

This Sword One disciple broke through the shackles of the River Realm and reached a higher level of power and realm.

Later, she flew into the sky and vanished amidst the sea of clouds, never to be heard from again."

The Green Lotus Island Master paused for a moment, then added: "The 'Heaven Realm' spoken of by Alliance Master Yun likely originated from this.

With the sea of clouds as the boundary, only by reaching the Heaven Realm can one break through the invisible cage between heaven and earth and live to escape this Holy Lingshan."

"Yes." He He Yingcai interjected, "Alliance Master Yun also refers to the world above the sea of clouds as the 'Heavenly Realm'."

"Impressive." Lu Ran praised inwardly without end.

The God·Sword One truly lived up to being the foremost god of Great Xia, number one in the heavens!

Even the disciples under her command perfectly matched the god's style, possessing strength that left one dumbfounded.

However, ascending to the heavens was not the only method.

Lu Ran thought silently to himself.

His own River Realm·Fifth Stage Evil Spear Emperor had secretly climbed up along that Wan Renshan that pierced the sky.

Of course, that Evil Spear Emperor had also vanished without a trace.

In fact, within that Wan Renshan, Lu Ran had subsequently summoned several Evil Spear Emperors to investigate, but all went and never returned.

According to the theory that only "people of the Heaven Realm" could withstand the bombardment of invisible energy and fly into the sky alive,

the world above the sea of clouds must possess a terrifyingly high degree of intensity!

A mere River Realm demon, even if it secretly slipped up there, would have no chance of survival whatsoever.

Jiangjiang Ruyi looked at the gray-robed elder and asked: "What was the name of that senior Sword One believer?"

The Green Lotus Island Master shook his head: "It is unclear; all of this happened before Alliance Master Yun founded the Yun Qianzhou Alliance.

Alliance Master Yun is unwilling to recount too much of the past, having only briefly mentioned it."

With these words, the Green Lotus Island Master let out a deep sigh, raised his head, and gazed at the sky: "Alliance Master Yun told us..."

Lu Ran did not urge him on, but listened attentively.

"The heavens above may very well be the human world."

Hearing this, Lu Ran and Jiangjiang Ruyi exchanged a glance.

The Green Lotus Island Master looked at the sky full of stars; tonight, there was no sea of clouds shrouding them:

"At the very least, the heavens are closer to the human world."

With these words, the bonfire banquet fell into silence, and everyone remained wordless.

Only the melodious sound of a flute drifted with its beautiful melody into the vast night.

After a long while, the Green Lotus Island Master finally withdrew his gaze, looked at Lu Ran, and said: "Sect Master Lu and your Lady possess extraordinary talent.

Someday in the future, you will surely break through the cage and go to the Heavenly Realm to take a look."

"Island Master Green Lotus must already be at a high stage of the River Realm, or perhaps at the River Realm peak?" Lu Ran picked up his teacup, gesturing toward the gray-robed elder, "I wish you an early entry into the Heaven Realm."

"Heh heh." The Green Lotus Island Master revealed a smile, wrinkles piling up on his face, betraying his advanced age.

The gray-robed elder was indeed smiling, yet it carried a faint sorrow.

Noble as he was, a vast ocean in his own right, and perhaps only one step away from the Heaven Realm, yet...

The old man seemed to have lost all hope, believing he could no longer make a breakthrough, nor feeling that he could live to walk out of Holy Lingshan.

One's spirit is worn away day by day.

Hope, too, after enduring endless years of ravage, gradually evolves into despair.

Perhaps for the Gray Lotus Island Lord, maintaining her state of mind and stabilizing her realm is already the limit.

"I borrow the young friend's auspicious words." The gray-clad old man drained the Misty Rain Tea in one gulp.

Lu Ran also finished the tea in his cup, having grown quite accustomed to this bitter taste.

The flute music drifted; the people seated at the table remained silent for a long while.

At a square table a few meters away, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng suddenly stood up.

Lu Ran followed his gaze and saw Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng holding a folding fan, bowing and clasping his fists toward him.

He asked in confusion, "Mr. Conglong?"

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng had been thoroughly influenced by Deng Deng Yuxiang.

Before outsiders, he was truly bringing immense face to his own sect master.

With Lu Ran's words, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng then stepped forward, standing behind and to the side of the sect master: "Just now, I heard about the current situation of the Yun Qianzhou Alliance."

Although Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng presented himself as Lu Ran's subordinate, he was a powerhouse of the Sea Realm, fourth stage!

The two island lords showed sufficient respect.

The Gray Lotus Island Lord asked, "What high opinion does this gentleman hold?"

He He Yingcai instructed an attendant nearby, "Go, fetch a chair for the gentleman."

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng said, "Recently, the Tingshanyi Sect has frequently targeted the Yun Qianzhou Alliance; I fear it is not merely because your alliance master is in secluded cultivation and the Yun Qianzhou Alliance is leaderless."

"What the Tingshanyi Sect fears even more should be that Alliance Master Yun has truly achieved a breakthrough."

The Gray Lotus Island Lord nodded inwardly.

The Yun Qianzhou Alliance had already analyzed these points.

In the Holy Lingshan Realm, everyone feels endangered.

With a powerhouse of the Heaven Realm standing here, even without ambitions of expansion or conquest, it is enough to make anyone wary.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng took the chair and sat down, asking, "Allow me to ask one question: did Alliance Master Yun appear during that last great battle?"

He He Yingcai poured a cup of tea and handed it over, openly sizing up the other party:

"He did not appear; the alliance master has been in secluded cultivation the whole time."

Previously, Lu Ran had told his story, requiring a full nine months of life-and-death experiences to leave He He Yingcai breathless with shock.

Yet at this moment, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng achieved the same effect with just his face.

"Hmm." Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng turned his gaze to Lu Ran.

Lu Ran understood the look in the other's eyes and gave a slight nod.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng gently waved his paper fan, pondering, "If Alliance Master Yun had not gone into secluded cultivation so openly, or if this news had not leaked out, everything would still be manageable."

"As it stands, the Tingshanyi Sect, using the pretext of 'borrowing people' to harass repeatedly, is merely probing."

The flickering firelight cast Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng's pitch-black eyes in shifting shades of light and dark.

He He Yingcai looked at that unparalleled handsome face: "Does the gentleman mean..."

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng closed his folding fan and said in a heavy voice, "The scale of the previous battle was huge, with heavy losses on both sides."

"Yet Alliance Master Yun still did not appear; presumably, the Tingshanyi Sect has already obtained the answer they sought."

"Next, the Tingshanyi Sect will likely launch a massive offensive against the Yun Qianzhou Alliance."

The Gray Lotus Island Lord's expression darkened.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng added, "Both the Tingshanyi Sect and the Yun Qianzhou Alliance have lost powerhouses of the Sea Realm; the hatred runs deep, and the conflict can hardly be reconciled."

"The Tingshanyi Sect cannot allow the Yun Qianzhou Alliance to produce a powerhouse of the Heaven Realm; they will most likely strike first to gain the upper hand."

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng's calm words made everyone present feel extremely grim in their hearts.

He He Yingcai looked at Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng, a bitter smile rising on her face: "The gentleman's insight is sharp; the alliance has also discussed this matter, but we lack the power to change the current situation."

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng fell silent, burying his remaining words deep in his heart.

Jiangjiang Ruyi's cold voice suddenly came: "I thought Island Lord He was open and upright; it seems now that your invitation for us to come to the island also had other intentions."

He He Yingcai's face showed regret: "My original intent was to reminisce, though I did indeed have a small ulterior motive, wishing to ask my junior schoolmates if they could help us."

"If you two are unwilling to wade into these muddy waters, I will absolutely not force you to stay."

"Please rest well on the island tonight; tomorrow morning, I will send you off the island."

Lu Ran remained silent, his mind racing with thoughts!

This was an opportunity to build goodwill with the Yun Qianzhou Alliance, and also an opportunity to build goodwill with a potential powerhouse of the Heaven Realm, Yun Yun Qianzhou!

Likewise, this was a good chance to eliminate a harmful force.

The conduct of the Tingshanyi Sect is plain to see; some people's thinking is deeply ingrained, innate in nature, and they are Zui Nie Shen Zhong.

Purging them is the best strategy!

He Qi and her Forbidden City, along with the Wuji Peak she relies upon, are striving to change the living environment of the Holy Lingshan Realm.

Only then can those who enter the mountain later be directly influenced by this atmosphere, allowing this realm to truly achieve change.

"Otherwise, disciples of the Most Dongting Sect, like Generals Feng and Yan, will have no choice but to attach themselves to their own sects after entering the mountain, thus sinking deep into the quagmire and colluding with evil, which is truly lamentable."

The Yun Qianzhou Alliance has many powerhouses of the Sea Realm; their strength is not poor!

They certainly have the power to fight!

Furthermore, speaking from the perspective of realistic gains, if we can seize this opportunity to inflict heavy damage on the Tingshanyi Sect, or even completely annihilate this mountain...

"Hu~" Lu Ran lifted his teacup and gently blew on it.

Then, within this mission, to what realm could he cultivate the False God · Most Dongting Statue?

Could he reach the Heaven Realm directly?!

"Is my junior schoolmate tired?" He He Yingcai looked at the unusually silent Lu Ran and sighed in her heart.

Yet she maintained a smile on her face, preserving an air of elegance: "Let us end tonight's banquet here. Shall I escort you all to rest?"

Lu Ran suddenly spoke up: "Senior Sister, do you not intend to strive a bit harder to win me over?"

"Oh?" He He Yingcai's beautiful eyes brightened as she looked at Lu Ran.

The Gray Lotus Island Master likewise suppressed the excitement in his heart and looked at Lu Ran.

Although Sect Master Lu was merely at the Jiang Jing realm, his contingent was robust and well-equipped, boasting no fewer than three great experts from different sects at the Pai De Hai Jing realm!

The Gray Lotus Island Master also had reason to believe that within the Ran Sect, there were other great experts!

If He He Yingcai truly possessed such influence that she could invite Sect Master Lu as reinforcements, it would undoubtedly add a crucial bargaining chip to the survival of the Yun Qianzhou Alliance!

"Lu Xuedi Brother... are you willing to help our Yun Qianzhou Alliance?" He He Yingcai asked, a trace of expectation in her voice, which grew ever softer.

Lu Ran wore a smile: "I have a friend who also bears the surname He."

(End of Chapter)