Chapter 652: Under the Starry Sky

Deep in the night, the sky was filled with stars.

In the small courtyard of Yunhai Ju, Lu Ran lay leisurely on a rocking chair.

He had come down from the battlefield at dusk and was now staring blankly at the beautiful starry sky.

Today was already the twelfth day of the seventh lunar month.

It had been more than twenty days since Senior Lu Yuan took up residence at Yunhai Cliff.

During this time, Senior Lu had been getting to know the Ran Gate and examining the gate master's state of mind.

Lu Ran had led teams on campaigns north and south, cultivating the Xie Fa.

The Lie Hun Mo at the second stage of Zhi Hai Jing, the Ghost General at the second stage of Zhi Hai Jing, the Manhuang Nu Ba at the third stage of Zhi Hai Jing.

Ever since Master Lu Yuan and his disciple joined the Ran Gate, Lu Ran had effectively possessed a map of the Holy Lingshan; finding the stronghold of any type of evil spirit was a matter of seconds.

Lu Ran chose to campaign north and south for another reason as well:

His heart was troubled.

Just thinking about returning to the human world, that feeling

was like the last class before winter break during school days.

Who could still focus on studying then!

Only going to the battlefield could immerse Lu Ran in slaughter and keep him focused. Lu Ran simply went to fill in the gaps, to complete and elevate the realms of the Xie Fa he had already activated.

While strengthening himself, he was also paving the way for his companions.

Take the evil spirit Black Lantern, for example.

Lu Ran had already elevated this Xie Fa to the third stage of Zhi Hai Jing, specifically for his little sister Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi!

Yet after days of campaigning, there were always times of fatigue. That evening at dusk, he led his team back to Yunhai Cliff, gathered everyone for a meeting to learn about recent developments within the cliff, and then went home to rest.

As for Senior Lu, Lu Ran did not rashly inquire.

However, he could not endure it much longer.

"Huff~"

The mountain breeze blew gently, bringing the unique scent of the sea.

An immortal figure floated down gracefully.

"You're back." Lu Ran lay back on the rocking chair and lazily turned his head.

He saw that Jiangjiang Xianzi's long hair was disheveled and not yet dry, obviously she had just bathed.

The believers' Water Armor did indeed possess a certain self-cleaning effect, yet upon returning from battle, Jiangjiang Ruyi still preferred to bathe in the Mo Hai Bay.

And she had to choose the night for it.

Lu Ran had no such scruples; after the meeting, he simply dove straight into the sea, since the Mo Hai Bay was quiet and empty anyway.

Besides, who would dare to peek at the Gate Master bathing?

Jiangjiang Ruyi floated down beside the rocking chair, looked down at the lazy young man, and asked with a smile, "Are you sleeping here tonight?"

Lu Ran pouted, "Woman."

"Hmm?"

"How cruel your heart is~"

"Hmph." Jiangjiang Ruyi couldn't help but laugh, then turned and walked toward the door.

Lu Ran rested one hand on the armrest of the rocking chair, and several thin red threads extended from his fingertips.

The threads silently pursued her, landing on Jiangjiang Ruyi's back. As Lu Ran's fingertips trembled slightly, the puppet slowly floated over and lay sideways, descending toward the rocking chair.

Finally, Lu Ran pulled her into his embrace: "Shall we watch the stars together?"

The puppet in his arms made no sound and did not move.

Only then did Lu Ran realize his mistake and cancel the Xie Fa: Thread Pulling.

Jiangjiang Ruyi complained, "My hair is still wet."

"The sea breeze will dry it." Lu Ran said indifferently, tightening his embrace around the slender body in his arms.

Jiangjiang Ruyi rested her head on Lu Ran's shoulder and sighed helplessly.

All of her behavioral principles, including her cold heart, would change again and again, yield again and again, whenever she faced him.

"After returning home, what do you want to do most?" Lu Ran's fingers threaded through her jet-black long hair, playing with it casually.

Jiangjiang Ruyi rubbed her cheek, found a more comfortable position, and whispered:

"I want to see Mom and Dad."

"Then you must prepare well; Uncle and Aunt are ordinary people and cannot withstand too much pressure."

"Mm." Jiangjiang Ruyi pressed her lips together.

A very serious question stood before them: Even if she returned to her home in the Shui Zhi Yi Fang community of Yu Xiang City, she did not belong there.

For every second she stayed longer, her parents would have to endure another second of suffering.

She should, like other great experts of Zhi Hai Jing, hide from the world and stay away from those she longed for.

Fortunately, on this path of cultivation, Lu Ran had always walked beside her.

She was not left alone.

Had Lu Ran's strength been even slightly weaker, like Si Si Xianxian, the two of them would not be so harmonious as they are now.

In the past, the clingy Sister Sister Xian'er had not been clingy for a long time.

Undoubtedly, Si Si Xianxian must also miss the days when she used to rely on Jiangjiang Ruyi's side.

"What about you?" Jiangjiang Ruyi asked, "What do you want to do?"

"See Mother and little Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, have a good chat with Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang, and sweep up Deng Yutang, Tian Tian, Chang Ying, and others in one net! When the Ran God attains the Dao, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."

Jiangjiang Ruyi smiled.

In these recent days, Lu Ran slaughtered the Ghost General clan and the Black Lotus clan specifically to prepare for his companions.

The Red Scarf Believer, Deng Yutang, and the Sword Lotus Believer, Tian Tian, could both defect to Lu Ran's sect, transforming into the mortal enemies of their respective gods.

Only the Spirit Tally faction was difficult to handle.

That dog thing, the god Spirit Tally, was quite unique; it simply had no arch-enemy!

No suitable substitute could be found.

Here in Sacred Lingshan, Lu Ran had yet to see many Spirit Tally disciples.

Since the god Spirit Tally ranked in the fourth row among the gods, its disciples within the mountain likely occupied the servant class.

For believers of this sect, Lu Ran found it hard to find an opportunity to unleash a massacre.

Lu Ran truly wished he could rush right up to the god Spirit Tally, chop that dog thing into mince, and directly use the energy of Spirit Tally's true form to cultivate his own false god stone statue.

Hmm... for the current stage, it was better to cultivate using Sacred Spirit Qi.

To be honest, Lu Ran also very much wanted to summon a tally tube and, with nothing else to do, cast a divination for himself.

The only problem was: before the false god Spirit Tally had seized a divine position, would its divinations even be accurate?

Lu Ran suddenly thought of something: "Eh? Say, could I bring Little Li Hua along?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi:?

Are you speaking human language?

Jiangjiang Ruyi patted Lu Ran's chest and chided softly, "Don't bring disaster upon Li Hua."

Lu Ran, however, said, "Say, could I activate the Evil God·Yinli Tiger stone statue and bind it to Little Li Hua?"

Jiangjiang Ruyi: "."

"Why aren't you speaking?"

"I don't want to talk to you." Jiangjiang Ruyi closed her eyes, looking as though out of sight meant out of mind.

"What if it works? Little Li Hua would instantly transform into a second-rank Evil God! Capable of destroying heaven and earth, hmm?" Lu Ran suddenly murmured in doubt.

【Master.】

【Rosy Clouds?】 Lu Ran tentatively said.

【Do you have time now? Mr. Cong Long has finished his idle matters and wishes to speak with you.】

【Good; whatever he says, just repeat it directly.】 Lu Ran twirled Jiangjiang Ruyi's long hair with his fingers, gazing at the star-filled sky.

【Sect Master, tomorrow morning, Wu Xiao will challenge the He Tangzhu of the Heavenly Gang Hall, preparing to seize the position of He Tangzhu.】

【You chose the Heavenly Gang Hall?】

【Yes! This hall boasts twenty-eight members, ranking among the top in comprehensive strength within the eighteen halls of the Pear Garden Sect! Moreover, the current He Tangzhu is violent and tyrannical, debauched and licentious; he is not someone we can win over. Once our Ran Sect raises the banner of revolt, he will definitely be among the first to be executed.】

【Good.】 Lu Ran responded in a deep voice.

As for Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng's judgment, Lu Ran naturally trusted it completely.

As for letting Wu Xiao seize the position of He Tangzhu, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng had already discussed this with Lu Ran more than ten days ago.

By today, Wu and Yu had been within the Pear Garden Sect for over a month.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng had figured out most of the intelligence regarding the Pear Garden Sect and, combining it with the actual situation, had formulated a route for Wu Xiao.

The style of the Pear Garden Sect aligned well with Sacred Lingshan—the strong are revered!

Since the sect had this system, allowing fair challenges and promotion based on ability, Wu and Yu naturally intended to make good use of it.

Lu Ran encouraged them: 【This battle is a great opportunity to display one's power and prestige; you must make a name for yourselves!】

The so-called overt and covert actions complement each other.

Once Wu Xiao displayed absolute, overwhelming strength before everyone, any subsequent covert infiltration would naturally achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Whether displaying strength or holding the position of He Tangzhu, both would greatly increase Wu Xiao's influence within the sect!

【This subordinate will convey the Sect Master's expectations to Emperor Wu.】

【Mm.】 Lu Ran tightened his embrace around the jade-like beauty in his arms, smoothing her long hair, 【We must trouble Mr. Cong Long to take extra care; absolutely nothing must go wrong.】

【Sect Master, rest assured; Emperor Wu has this nine times out of ten! The He Tangzhu of the Heavenly Gang Hall has long been accustomed to arrogance, extravagance, and debauchery; he fell from the peak of the Sea Realm down to Sea Realm·Stage Four, and though his lingering prestige remains, no one has dared to challenge him until now.】

Lu Ran: "."

【During this period, Emperor Wu has established good relations with one Elder and several Hall Masters within the sect; furthermore, with this subordinate providing backup, there will be no mistakes.】

【Mm mm.】 Lu Ran thought of something else and asked, 【What about that He Tangzhu Wen Cheng?】

【This person possesses extremely deep scheming; this lowly one finds it truly difficult to judge his true intentions; further observation and probing are still required.】

【No rush.】 Lu Ran instructed, 【As Mr. said before: advance steadily and strike hard, proceed gradually as Xu Xu advised.】

【Yes.】 After this word, there was no further response.

Lu Ran waited a moment, then resumed playing with Jiangjiang Xianzi's long hair.

"Are you transmitting sound to someone?" Jiangjiang Ruyi asked softly.

"Ah, Mr. Cong Long," Lu Ran replied, recounting the conversation that had just taken place.

Jiangjiang Ruyi nodded silently.

Ever since Senior Lu took up residence at Cloud Sea Cliff, the Ran Sect had gained an additional layer of confidence.

However, since the Pear Garden Sect possessed no Heaven Realm experts, there was no need to trouble Senior Lu Yuan to take action.

Jiangjiang Ruyi placed great trust in the abilities of Wu and Yu, looking forward to the day they reaped the fruits of their labor.

"It's late; shall we go back to sleep?" Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly.

"Let's just sleep here! Sleeping accompanied by stars, how wonderful is that?"

"Here?" Jiangjiang Ruyi hesitated slightly.

Sleep in the courtyard?

Facts proved that she still could not prevail against Lu Ran; she could only have the Shadow Guardian fetch a wide robe of Lu Ran's from inside the house to cover the two of them.

The evening breeze brushed gently, occasionally accompanied by the rustling sound of leaves.

The night at Cloud Sea Cliff was exceedingly gentle.

A man and a woman lay in a rocking chair, and under the companionship of scattered stars, they gradually drifted into dreamland.

At the same time, within a secluded mountain forest in the northeast region inside the cliff, inside a solitary courtyard.

An old man with white hair stood silently within the courtyard, gazing up at the brilliant starry sky.

Those turbid eyes connected points into lines upon this backdrop of stars, sketching out a beautiful scene.

A woman, gentle and loving, smiled as she looked at the infant in her embrace.

"It is time," Lu Yuan whispered softly.

Sect Master Lu has returned from his expedition.

Seawater cannot be measured by a dipper!

That young emperor, whose imposing manner surged to the heavens, ought to have been at an age of arrogance and vigor, yet he was such a benevolent and kind ruler.

Sect Master Lu.

Since you are willing to relieve the suffering of all living beings in this mountain realm,

then help this old one as well, and relieve the sorrow and bitterness in my heart.

(End of Chapter)