Chapter 6: Mmm~

Lu Ran sprang to his feet with a thump and turned to run for the door.

But the moment he grasped the doorknob, his body froze.

A jumble of thoughts flooded his mind, instantly overloading his brain and paralyzing his thoughts and movements.

Only after several seconds did Lu Ran gradually regain his senses, feeling as if thorns pricked his back.

Suddenly, a low voice echoed in his mind, brimming with authority:

“If I were a malevolent spirit, you would not be conscious now.”

“Huh?” Lu Ran’s expression startled, then a flicker of hope rose in his heart.

The words were blunt and crude, yet highly effective.

Lu Ran had already joined the other’s sect; one could say a pact had been forged between them.

Under this premise, the demonic race could freely manipulate weak humans, plunging them into self-loss and eternal servitude.

Thinking of this, Lu Ran turned to gaze at the shrine: “Are you Lord Xiang Xianyang?”

The black sheep head remained silent, offering no reply.

Lu Ran calmed his breathing and stared at the pitch-black sheep head inside the shrine: “Forgive me, Lord Xiang Xianyang. I thought you were a gentle, kind deity.

No one in the world knew you had such a terrifying—ah, formidable—side.”

The low voice surged into his mind again: “You crave proof of yourself. You crave to repay your debt.”

Lu Ran slowly nodded: “Yes.”

The situation was too strong for him to refuse.

Moreover, Lu Ran genuinely wished to repay the debt.

Had Lord Xiang Xianyang not come this time, Lu Ran’s only outcome would have been rejection.

Countless examples lay before him: the success rate of reoffering worship the next year, and every subsequent year, approached zero.

It’s the same as chasing a girl:

About her not loving you—

You really don’t need to keep confirming it.

If rejected, Lu Ran’s entire life would be that of a fragile, powerless ordinary person, living in fear in this dangerous world.

To say Lord Xiang Xianyang had given Lu Ran a rebirth is no exaggeration!

The black sheep head: “Good.”

This was the third and final sentence the black sheep head spoke.

Lu Ran waited a long time but received no further instruction from the divine.

“Buzzzz.”

His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket, jolting Lu Ran from his silent contemplation.

He cautiously glanced at the shrine, hesitated a moment, then pulled out his phone.

Seeing it was his mother calling, Lu Ran answered immediately: “Mom.”

Lu Ran grew up in a single-parent household.

After his parents divorced, his five-year-old self lived with his father, while his mother left the city with his younger sister to return to her family home.

When Lu Ran was thirteen, his father Lu Xing died in the line of duty, and he was taken in by his mother.

Until he turned sixteen, Lu Ran, believing he could care for himself, returned alone to his hometown and moved into his father’s old house.

His mother’s gentle voice soothed Lu Ran’s spirit: “How have you been lately?”

“Fine,” Lu Ran replied, his expression awkward as he glanced at the shrine.

“Have you been training properly?” his mother Qiao Wanjun asked further.

Lu Ran instinctively turned his head toward a wooden sword leaning against the wall.

Its blade was straight and slender, clearly modeled after the Tang cross-sword style.

Since childhood, Lu Ran had trained in swordplay under his father Lu Xing’s guidance, showing considerable talent.

Back then, young Lu Ran had even dreamed of one day earning the recognition of the deity Yu Fu, fighting shoulder to shoulder with his father.

But now,

The things remain, the people are gone—all is ended.

“I’ve trained.”

“Mm.” Qiao Wanjun’s voice was soft; after this simple greeting, she moved to the point: “I heard what happened at your school.

Ranran, you must adjust your mindset. Being favored by a deity is already our greatest fortune.”

His mother mentioned nothing of the demonic, only the deity Xiang Xianyang.

Lu Ran looked again at the shrine, his heart stirred.

His mother was immensely powerful and well-traveled—perhaps she knew something about the black sheep head?

Even if she didn’t, she could at least offer advice.

Yet the moment Lu Ran opened his mouth to ask, he was frozen in place!

A jumble of thoughts surged in, instantly blanking his mind and leaving him speechless.

Five full seconds passed before Lu Ran slowly regained his senses, gazing at the shrine in terror.

No wonder no one in the world knew the deity Xiang Xianyang had such a side!

Did it forbid its followers from revealing its existence?

In a daze, Lu Ran caught his mother’s next few words: “. The divine arts of Xiang Xianyang’s sect are unique; when used well, their effects are extraordinary.”

Misinterpreting Lu Ran’s silence, Qiao Wanjun assumed her son was depressed.

After all, Lu Ran had high aspirations, trained relentlessly for years, and had only secured the very last spot in the ninth row—Xiang Xianyang.

Such a blow was not insignificant.

Moreover, before Xiang Xianyang arrived, his son had summoned a demonic deity!

This further suggested Lu Ran’s exceptional talent, deserving of fierce competition from deities in the front rows.

As for what exactly went wrong, Qiao Wanjun did not know.

Qiao Wanjun said gently: “When you brought the deity statue home, the school gave you a small booklet.”

“Yes, yes,” Lu Ran stammered.

On his desk lay a booklet titled *Xiang Xianyang Sect Rules*, filled mostly with warnings.

It instructed followers to pray devoutly daily, to be kind to others, and to foster unity and friendship.

The booklet also recorded a unique divine art of the Xiang Xianyang sect—Voice of Compassion.

The name sounded impressive indeed!

In truth, it was simply begging for mercy.

Xiang Xianyang’s followers could use their voice to stir pity in others.

Once an opponent felt sympathy or pity, they might avoid conflict—or spare you.

As for actual combat effectiveness—

This was merely the most basic divine art of the Xiang Xianyang sect, and its effect was truly poor.

Not even against cruel demonic races, let alone resolute, unyielding individuals, would your cries for mercy make them spare you.

Qiao Wanjun: “Study the basic divine art. Understand it thoroughly.”

Lu Ran: “When Teacher Li dropped me off, he tutored me and explained it.”

“I see.” Qiao Wanjun nodded slightly. “When you became a follower, Lord Xiang Xianyang granted you a bit of divine power.”

“Mm.” Lu Ran replied absently—he had received a wisp of divine mist from Xiang Xianyang’s apparition on the offering altar.

That divine mist was the so-called divine power; it had also reshaped Lu Ran’s physique, enabling him to absorb and cultivate divine power in the future.

Qiao Wanjun said: “Feel the divine power within you. Mobilize this force to envelop your vocal cords.”

Hearing this, Lu Ran already guessed what his mother intended.

She was trying to distract him, using a divine technique to lift his spirits.

Lu Ran’s heart leapt!

Every follower, when performing a divine art, must go through a ritual—praying to their own deity.

Only with their deity’s approval and aid could followers wield their sect’s unique techniques.

That meant Lu Ran could attempt to perform the sect’s unique divine art—Voice of Compassion—to test whether the black sheep head truly was Xiang Xianyang himself!

“Alright.” Lu Ran decided instantly and, under his mother’s careful guidance, completed the preparations properly.

Qiao Wanjun spoke softly: “Look toward Lord Xiang Xianyang. Pray for his aid.”

Lu Ran gazed at the shrine and softly murmured, “Mm.”

Qiao Wanjun: “Say it.”

Lu Ran: “.”

What kind of thing is that to say!

It sounded so embarrassing.

Qiao Wanjun waited patiently for a long while, but her son still did not perform the divine art.

She comforted him: “It’s fine. Beginners always struggle to adapt. We’ll practice more times.”

Lu Ran immediately explained: “Mmm~ No, Mom!”

Qiao Wanjun: “.”

Lu Ran: “.”

Stunned!

Lu Ran stood frozen, spinning in place, tugging at his hair.

What the hell kind of divine art is this!

Why am I bleating like a goat?

So! Embarrassing! Ah!

Even more speechless was the soft laugh that came from the other end of the call—Jiang Wanjun.

Clearly, she did it on purpose!

As a powerful believer, how could she not know the embarrassment a new follower might face when first using the divine art?

“I’m hanging up,” Lu Ran said irritably.

“Ranran.”

“Hm?”

“Practice your divine power well, train hard,” Jiang Wanjun said gently.

“Got it,” Lu Ran hung up, plopped onto the chair, and felt utterly defeated.

At seventeen, one’s self-respect is at its peak.

Bleating like a goat in front of his mother left Lu Ran deeply ashamed.

Aaaah!

I really want to just bash my head against the wall.

As Lu Ran’s thoughts churned, he suddenly shivered.

He suddenly realized—another deity was watching him!

Lu Ran slowly turned his head toward the shrine.

The jade statue’s body remained luminous white, but its goat head was now pitch black.

Lu Ran had confirmed the deity was the Immortal Goat, yet new doubts rose in his heart.

After a long hesitation, he whispered: “Why do you forbid me from asking others about your existence?”

“Do you have some secret you can’t reveal?”

The black goat head remained silent, then gradually faded, returning to its luminous white hue.

“Hey, don’t go!” Lu Ran cried out—he still had too many questions.

At that very moment, Lu Ran’s head went blank again!

A flood of thoughts surged in, silencing him, leaving him dazed, his body collapsing to the floor as he slipped into unconsciousness.

The deity seemed annoyed and didn’t want this person peppering him with endless questions.

In the silent little room, mist drifted from the shrine, enveloping the sleeping Lu Ran, nurturing his fragile human body.

Lu Ran slept all the way until evening.

Only when the lanterns of Rain Alley City flickered to life did he slowly open his eyes, still half-asleep, lying on the floor.

After a moment, he finally remembered what had happened!

“Does it have to be this tyrannical?” Lu Ran gazed out at the night outside the window, his expression pained.

You tell me to shut up, I shut up? You tell me to sleep, I sleep?

Am I some ideal girlfriend?

All this precious cultivation time, wasted… Huh?

Lu Ran frowned—he sensed something was off.

Why was his body brimming with thick divine power?

He had only become a believer this morning, and his body had held just a faint wisp of divine power granted by the Immortal Goat—thin as mist.

Now, that thin mist had grown vastly denser!

He also felt stronger, as if his body had been nourished and transformed by divine power.

So…

Lu Ran lifted his head, gazing at the wooden shrine.

Did the deity knock me out… and then bless me?

“Whoa,” Lu Ran clenched his fists, feeling the abundant divine power and waves of strength.

Couldn’t feel better!

The Immortal Goat is flawless!

A true deity being a bit tyrannical—so what?

I like tyrannical ones!

Ah~

Awesome!

Thanks to all my brothers for showing up—I’ll post a special chapter later to thank you.

After writing for so many years, having such loyal, unwavering readers means the world to me—I’m truly grateful and honored.

Today’s extra update is my respect to all my brothers!

As for the extra updates from patron donations, I’ll make them all after the novel goes live.

In short,

Today’s three updates: 12, 17, 20.

(End of Chapter)