Chapter 769: A Pot of Wine Beneath the Clouds

A loud "plop!"

Gao Shanjun, clutching the woman, knelt before Lu Ran: "Forgive us, my lord, we were blind and foolish—please spare our lives."

We know things about this realm!

We beg to serve you, to be your feet and hands—please, please spare our lives."

Lu Ran frowned slightly.

He had lived nineteen years—where had he ever heard such words?

This man, at least a Jiangjing cultivator, had so utterly lost his dignity!

Though the man bowed in such a grand gesture, Lu Ran's inner fury did not lessen one bit.

I spare your lives?

When you ambushed me, when you surrounded me to kill me, did you ever think to spare me?

Lu Ran asked directly: "Where's that old man?"

Gao Shanjun bowed his head, face pale: "We split up and ran."

"Which direction?"

"That way." Gao Shanjun hesitated a moment, then pointed northeast.

The Nuoshai disciple stared at Gao Shanjun in disbelief, as if seeing him anew—utterly unable to understand why he would betray his companion.

But Lu Ran thought they were acting: "You want to die."

"It's true! I'm not lying! Not at all!" Gao Shanjun hurried to say, "I swear by the name of Nuoshai!"

Lu Ran felt contempt.

So this man's information was accurate?

And the woman's reaction was genuine?

Lu Ran ordered: "Activate the Divine Art—Nuoshai Dance."

"Huh?" Gao Shanjun's face twisted in shock as he looked up at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran had no patience for words: "Activate it—or die now."

Gao Shanjun's expression flickered wildly, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.

"My patience is limited," Lu Ran said coldly.

Gao Shanjun's heart jolted—he instinctively channeled his technique, summoning a massive Nuoshai phantom shadow.

Notably, this shadow did not move with its caster.

As a technique, the phantom only danced in place.

"Stay here kneeling until I return."

Lu Ran issued the command and vanished in a flash.

Searching for one person in such a vast forest was as hard as climbing to heaven.

But the name "Burn Dog" wasn't given for nothing!

Sniff~

Just as Lu Ran took on the role of a bloodhound, he suddenly heard a tremendous commotion from far behind.

He turned, eyes narrowing.

High in the sky, a colossal blade had appeared!

Was this the Jiangjing technique of the North Wind Sect—North Wind Divine Blade?

No!

This was the Jiangjing technique of the Yemo Clan—Yemo Evil Blade!

The hundred-meter-long blade slashed down with terrifying force, shaking the earth violently.

The monstrous windwave nearly flattened the surrounding forest.

【Sis, are you alright?】

【Remember to collect the soul.】 The woman's voice echoed in his mind.

Lu Ran's heart steadied—he continued chasing the old man while sending a message to relay instructions.

Deng Yuxiang did not act immediately; instead, she asked in her mind:

【Which direction? I'll help you chase.】

【No need—I found him!】 Lu Ran licked his lips, staring at the fleeing figure ahead, then flashed forward again.

"Ah!" The elderly Nuoshai follower's face turned ashen—he abruptly stopped.

Right ahead, that strange young man had appeared after all.

Lu Ran raised both hands, slowly drawing two blades from above his shoulders.

One was Eight Wastes Annihilation; the other, Cloud Sea Dust Clearing.

His face darkened, his fury surging: "Nuoshai taught you Divine Ghost Entanglement—to run away with?"

Divine Art: Divine Ghost Entanglement—identical in effect to the Evil Dog Technique: Evil Agility.

It was because of this technique that the Nuoshai Sect was famed for its speed.

On the battlefield, Nuoshai disciples outpaced other sects by a wide margin in movement and attack speed!

"Young friend!" The old man's face wrinkled as he forced a ghastly smile: "I was coerced by those demon-prisoners—I never meant to commit such a grave offense."

"Today, I've rudely offended you—I humbly beg your forgiveness."

Lu Ran snorted inwardly.

Coerced?

What a convenient lie—do you even believe it yourself?

Come to think of it, birds of a feather, as they say.

This old man's style is strikingly similar to that spineless youth before him.

Seeing Lu Ran didn't strike immediately, the old man hurried on: "I've lived in this realm for decades—I've seen much."

If you'll accept it, I'll reveal everything I know, then serve you faithfully, like a dog or horse."

I beg you, show mercy."

"Activate Nuoshai Dance," Lu Ran said suddenly.

The old man's face, just now relaxing, froze again.

Once activated, this technique would soon leave him weak, helpless—a lamb ready for slaughter!

It meant surrendering his life entirely into the other's hands!

Lu Ran stared straight at the old man: "You said you'd serve me like a dog or horse—begin now."

The old man's smile was strained: "Young friend, today's matter—"

"Three!" Lu Ran cut him off.

The old man's breath hitched!

"Two!" Lu Ran crouched slightly.

"Hum~" A figure suddenly appeared beside the old man—identical to him.

Nuoshai Divine Art: Shadow of Evil!

This clone had tangible form.

The clone stepped sideways, its body instantly turning insubstantial—then merged with the old man.

Nuoshai Divine Art: Shadow Follows!

Before Lu Ran's countdown ended, the old man had already abandoned all illusions—he prepared to fight!

Decisive, indeed.

Lu Ran flashed into view behind and to the side of the old man.

A sharp "ting!"

The old man didn't turn—but Lu Ran's descending blade was blocked by his phantom shadow.

The shadow wielded a pair of ethereal blades of evil, energy surging along the short blades, desperately resisting Lu Ran's assault.

Yet Lu Ran's stance was brutally forceful!

The Eight Wastes Annihilation blade kept pressing down, its tip tearing straight through the old man's water-armored defense.

Strength contest?

One phantom shadow was clearly insufficient.

Only if the phantom and the old man's body fought together might they stall Lu Ran for a moment.

"Huuu!!" A terrifying energy erupted from within the old man.

Instantly, countless ethereal blades of evil shot out from his body.

Lu Ran reacted instinctively, flashing backward over three hundred meters.

He stood beside a tree, gazing at the terrifying scene ahead, sighing inwardly.

Open with your ultimate right away?

Clearly, this was the Nuoshai Sect's Jiangjing technique—Thousand Blades of Evil!

"Old bastard, you're decisive indeed," Lu Ran muttered.

Countless ethereal short blades were ravaging everything around.

Trees were pierced through and through, their snapping and toppling sounds echoing continuously.

To be fair—the Nuoshai Sect shouldn't have any teammates.

Look at the Divine Law: Dance of Nuo Sha—it makes no distinction between friend or foe!

Anyone within a certain range must follow the lingering shadows of Nuo Sha and dance along.

Now look at Jiang Jing's ultimate technique: Thousand Blades of Sha.

Once activated, who cares about your allies' lives?

Hmm. This technique is perfect for clearing a crowd.

Lu Ran leaned sideways against the nearby tree, lost in thought.

One blink, and I plunge straight into the enemy's heartland, then unleash this ultimate technique.

A living helllord, that's what I'd be.

As Lu Ran pondered, the old man ceased his spell and cautiously scanned his surroundings.

Suddenly, a faint energy fluctuation arose behind him.

"Young friend!" The old man's heart leapt—he cried out in alarm, "Hold back! I admit my mistake!"

Lu Ran had seen enough.

You old bastard!

Trying to kill someone one moment, then begging for mercy the next?

"You're kinda cute!"

Lu Ran appeared instantly behind the old man's side and slashed down.

"Ding!"

Blade met short blade.

But this time, four thick strands of black mist shot off Lu Ran's blade.

The Evil Spear Emperor's Evil Art: Evil Clouds Entwine!

This technique is deeply sinister!

Once entangled by the black mist strands, the target becomes sluggish and immobilized.

Worse still, these strands can pierce through water-armored skin and seep into the target's body, disrupting their spellcasting!

"You—you what?" The old man immediately felt his body change, his face turning ghastly.

"Heh." Lu Ran grinned.

You pride yourself on speed and agility, don't you?

You call yourself "Divine and Demonic Entanglement," don't you?

Come on,

Let my Evil Clouds entangle you too!

"I surrender, young friend! I give up!" The old man cried out in terror, struggling desperately.

He even considered activating his ultimate technique again.

But those black mist strands, like venomous snakes, writhed wildly inside him, wreaking havoc.

They disrupted his divine energy, making it nearly impossible to summon!

"Too late," Lu Ran said coolly.

"You can't kill me—I know too much!" The old man shouted, terrified, "I know who's fighting in the sky!

I know even greater secrets! I'm worth more alive!

You can't kill me!!"

At the brink of death, his voice was shrill with despair.

Lu Ran remained unmoved, his horizontal pupils cold and icy:

"You think dead men can't speak?"

The old man's pupils shrank violently!

Since the battle began, this strange youth had unleashed one sinister technique after another!

He might very well possess methods to imprison and torment human souls!

Lu Ran's casual words shattered the old man's fragile nerves completely.

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

Blade clashed repeatedly against broken blade.

Lu Ran's assault was fierce; the old man's face turned ashen, his spirit broken, reduced to nothing but retreat.

"Ssshh!"

The Eight Wilderness Blade slashed horizontally—a head flew high into the air.

Lu Ran raised his hand, activated the Life-Transference Coin on his wrist, and temporarily sealed the old man's soul within the artifact.

"No! No!!"

The old man's soul screamed in utter terror, with no escape—only to be sucked into the ancient bronze coin.

Lu Ran didn't even glance at the old bastard.

He rotated his wrist, examining the Eight Wilderness Annihilation Blade repeatedly.

"Huh~"

Lu Ran swung downward, flicking the blood droplets from the blade onto the ground.

"Now, my path to growth is clear."

"'Eight Wilderness' refers to distant lands in all directions—but I named it thus specifically for the world beyond the Divine Ruins."

"We are now within that distant realm."

Lu Ran gripped the hilt, staring at the blade's gleaming, icy surface: "Next comes Annihilation."

The Eight Wilderness Annihilation Blade remained silent, unresponsive.

Lu Ran didn't mind—he had patience to spare.

He fell silent, letting out a quiet sigh.

Master Xiangyang always said this world is extraordinarily perilous.

I assumed it meant powerful demons, or cataclysmic natural disasters that made human survival impossible.

But in the end,

the true peril was humanity.

People with no grudge against me.

The mighty river, revered by all beings.

People who should have fought beside me against external enemies.

"Huh~"

A mountain wind suddenly swept through, tousling his short, choppy hair.

At his feet, the corpse bled endlessly, staining his boots and filling the air with a pungent stench of blood.

"Chaa!" Lu Ran sheathed his blade and picked up the Flame Phoenix-patterned gourd at his waist.

He gazed at the sky-obscuring sea of clouds, tilted his head, and drank deeply.

To the naive, innocent self I once was.

Farewell, forever.

(End of Chapter)