Chapter 66: The Evil Sculpture Project

The days of preparation passed one by one.

On a gloomy rainy day, Lu Ran and his Rain Alley City welcomed the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.

That day, at dawn.

Lu Ran sat before the shrine, receiving wisps of mist sent by the White Sheep jade carving.

A faint glow still shimmered around his neck—the Divine Power Pearl!

Whether within his body or within the Divine Power Pearl, Lu Ran was brimming with “ammunition.”

“On the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the Yin Gate opens; demons and malevolent spirits come of their own accord.”

Lu Ran murmured softly, clasping his hands together: “May Lord Xiangyang protect your disciple.”

“Tonight, I shall join the Moonwatchers on a mission and should be able to slay many demons, activating numerous demon sculptures.”

“Nourish.” The voice came suddenly.

“What?” Lu Ran looked up at the small shrine.

The White Sheep jade carving said: “You are weak in strength and deficient in spiritual power.”

“You may capture demon souls to nourish the demon sculptures, to be activated later.”

“If you insist on activating too many demon sculptures, it will harm you, not help—you may be consumed by them.”

Lu Ran’s heart leapt in shock!

The sudden news caught him off guard: “So… before I slay demons, I must first screen them?”

This isn’t a joke!

In my own squad, I can choose which demon lair to enter and which demons to kill.

But this fifteenth night, I’m with the Moonwatchers!

What demons I encounter, how many I kill—it’s all up to fate.

The Moonwatchers won’t spare demons just because of me!

“No need to worry. Collect demon souls to nourish all types of demon sculptures.”

The voice came again, full of authority: “I alone decide whether to activate the demon sculptures.”

“Understood.” Lu Ran felt slightly reassured.

With Lord Xiangyang covering his back, it couldn’t be better.

Lu Ran paused, then asked: “How many demon sculptures can I activate now?”

The White Sheep jade carving: “You are merely a Mist Realm cultivator. Activating one demon sculpture is your limit.”

“Do not be greedy or reckless.”

“Only when you ascend to a higher realm may you activate more demon sculptures and make them your own.”

Lu Ran: “.”

You should’ve told me sooner!

Only one slot—I must choose carefully!

After all, this determines what demonic arts I can wield.

Sensing Lu Ran’s inner turmoil, the usually domineering Lord Yang offered an unusual explanation:

“The Evil Dog clan is the ideal starting point.”

“Their demonic arts are relatively hidden—you may use them freely. Beyond enhancing your senses, later techniques can also grant swift agility.”

“Evil Dogs are relatively weak and easier for us to control.”

“Powerful demons, like the Crimson Paper Women you’ve encountered multiple times, are not easily tamed.”

“With your current spiritual strength, activating a Crimson Paper Woman sculpture first would likely overwhelm you—you might be manipulated by her instead.”

Lu Ran listened, chilled to the bone, and said solemnly: “Disciple understands.”

From this transmission, Lu Ran also gleaned another piece of information.

The Evil Dog clan, of course, has powerful cultivators at River and River-Flow realms.

The rare Crimson Paper Woman clan also has weak Mist Realm minions.

Yet Lord Xiangyang clearly ranked them: Crimson Paper Women are stronger than Evil Dogs.

That is, Lord Xiangyang’s reference to “demons” means the stone sculptures behind entire clans.

Think about it—the Divine Sequence has rankings.

So too must the Demon Sequence.

The White Sheep jade carving asked: “What do you understand?”

Lu Ran thought: “When I activate demon sculptures later, I should choose those of relatively low rank in the Demon Sequence.”

“Progress step by step. The absolute prerequisite is to avoid backlash.”

“No haste, no greed—as Lord Xiangyang taught me—steady growth.”

“Good.”

Rarely, Lord Xiangyang praised Lu Ran.

Lu Ran’s heart stirred: “Lord Xiangyang, do you have any recommended demon choices?”

“I am currently Mist Realm, Fourth Stage—close to reaching Stream Realm.”

On this fifteenth night, whatever demons Lu Ran encountered, whatever souls he captured, were matters of fate.

But after the fifteenth, Lu Ran could decide for himself—demon lairs were scattered throughout Great Xia, housing all kinds of demons.

It was like a buffet with a full room of sumptuous dishes—he could simply choose what to eat.

The White Sheep jade carving: “I observe you favor the Crimson Paper Women.”

“N-No I don’t!” Lu Ran’s face flushed awkwardly.

You can’t say that!

If others heard, they’d think I’m a traitor.

The White Sheep jade carving: “Demons are about quality, not quantity. So too are demonic arts.”

“At Stream Realm, you may activate two or three more demon sculptures.”

“But you may sacrifice quantity to pursue quality.”

“Oh?” Lu Ran’s eyes lit up.

You can do that?

Lord Xiangyang means I should, upon reaching Stream Realm, go straight for the Crimson Paper Woman sculpture?

The White Sheep jade carving: “The Crimson Paper Woman’s demonic arts offer formidable defense—they can truly protect you.”

Lu Ran: “.”

He finally understood: Lord Xiangyang’s logic for activating demon sculptures was to help Lu Ran survive better.

But he couldn’t deny—he was tempted!

Who wouldn’t want Sister Crimson Paper?

And Lu Ran’s ultimate goal wasn’t just the Crimson Paper Woman’s demonic arts—it was her, the demon herself, one day.

To have such a powerful being guarding him—

Would he not slay gods who stood in his way, and demons who dared oppose him?

Lu Ran considered: “But the Crimson Paper Woman’s demonic arts aren’t hidden.”

No one is blind.

If I suddenly wear a bright red bridal veil, who won’t see it?

Also—isn’t this cross-dressing?

Though the red bridal veil grants strong defense and can summon tidal waves, it still feels…

Embarrassing~

The White Sheep jade carving suddenly said: “The Crimson Paper Woman’s demonic arts, when fused with our divine arts, hold infinite subtlety.”

“Huh?” Lu Ran blinked. “Can divine arts and demonic arts be combined?”

Of course—Lord Xiangyang wouldn’t activate the Crimson Paper Woman sculpture just because Lu Ran liked her.

Lord Xiangyang had his own reasons!

The voice came again: “What is our Divine Sheep Sect’s most famous divine art?”

“Sheep… and the Substitute Body!” Lu Ran named two signature divine arts.

Regarding the divine art of Sheep, Lu Ran had already pondered it deeply during his entrapment on the rooftop.

And the divine art of Substitute Body was even more weighty!

The folk called this art—the Scapegoat.

Its effect resembles immunity to attacks.

When facing a fatal strike, a Divine Sheep follower may pray to Lord Xiangyang for protection, escaping death.

Of course, while the follower avoids the fatal wound, Lord Xiangyang suffers instead!

For Lord Xiangyang is the one who bears the substitution…

This is the strongest protection Lord Xiangyang offers his disciples.

Special reminder: Never, never imagine Lord Xiangyang will manifest!

You should even mentally prepare yourself as if you never learned this divine art.

Lord Xiangyang is your god!

He is the being you must defend with your life!

Not your slaves or livestock, summoned at will to die in your place.

In your lifetime, being granted one chance to activate the Divine Art: Scapegoat is already a sign of the god’s special favor.

After an immensely long span of years, your loyalty and devout offerings have earned you one chance at “life.”

But more often than not, no matter how much you call, it is useless.

The Divine Sheep has no wish to involve itself in conflicts—yet you dare imagine summoning it to the battlefield, even to take a blade for you?

Are you even a follower of the Divine Sheep?

How does the Divine Sheep usually instruct you in daily life?

You might as well just die.

The white sheep carving asked again: “What is the most feared dark art of the Crimson Paper Sect?”

Lu Ran answered without hesitation: “Paper Dolls.”

Last month, on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, Lu Ran had watched with his own eyes as a Crimson Paper Sect disciple summoned a tiny paper doll, clenching it in his palm.

A Moonwatcher pursuer was suddenly gripped by an invisible hand, crushed into a ball of flesh.

“What do you think of combining Paper Dolls with the Scapegoat Vessel?” The low voice carried a hint of darkness.

Lu Ran’s eyes widened slightly!

The more he thought, the more his heart trembled.

After a long while, he stammered: “Are you saying, Divine Sheep, that you can transfer the harm you suffer onto the Paper Doll?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“The Paper Doll is in your hand. The Scapegoat is upon your body. The link lies in you.”

“Gulps.” Lu Ran’s Adam’s apple moved; his head buzzed.

The Dark Art: Paper Dolls was never a defensive technique. A tiny paper figure, no bigger than a palm, could not shield Lu Ran’s vital points.

But if the Dark Art: Paper Dolls and the Divine Art: Scapegoat Vessel could be skillfully combined—

For Lu Ran, damage immunity became damage transfer.

For the Divine Sheep, it no longer needed to bear the blame—it only needed to assist Lu Ran’s casting. The rest? Let the enemy suffer.

“Drip~ drip~”

Outside the window, a car horn suddenly blared.

In this quiet neighborhood, it was jarringly out of place.

Lu Ran stared blankly at the white sheep carving, feeling its gentle, friendly smile grow increasingly sinister.

“Beep! Beep!”

The horn finally jolted Lu Ran awake.

“Thank you, Divine Sheep, for your guidance. Allow your disciple time to consider!” With that, Lu Ran bowed deeply.

He quickly rose and walked to the window.

There, in the steady drizzle, a luxury sports car stood parked on the sidewalk.

Inside, a radiant woman in a yellow raincoat waved at him: “Let’s go.”

“Wait a moment—I’ll get my blade.”

(End of Chapter)