Chapter 781: You Like Watching Blades, Do You?

"Two fellow cultivators, you're quite unfamiliar to us."

Among the six, the white-robed woman perched on a tree branch, looking down at Lu Ran and the other.

Lu Ran: "."

Do all of you from Tian Tu Mountain open with the same line?

By the way, the woman didn't recognize Lu Ran, but Lu Ran recognized her!

From the corpses of Lady Luo and the Nuo Sha believer, Lu Ran and Deng Yu had gathered plenty of intelligence.

The woman on the branch asking questions was around forty-something.

Though past her prime, she still carried grace.

Her long hair was coiled high, her posture dignified, and with her especially powerful aura and the right to wear a white robe, her identity was obvious.

Lady Kong!

One of Luo Tian Tu's wives, the principal one.

The Luo Lady Lu Ran had killed was the lesser one.

Although Lady Luo was the first to join Luo Tian Tu, Lady Kong was shrewd and skilled in managing her husband, rising from concubine to principal wife.

The original principal wife, Lady Luo, dared not speak out in anger, only bowed low and smiled in submission.

It was said Lady Luo even had to pay regular respects to Lady Kong.

When Lu Ran first heard this, he was stunned.

This was 2020... well, fine, this was Sheng Ling Mountain, isolated from the world.

No laws existed here—only strength ruled.

Ancestral return? Let it be.

Though humiliated, Lady Luo dared not leave Tian Tu Mountain, for she needed protection and a patron.

Besides, even as a concubine, she was still the chieftain's wife!

Within the stronghold, her status was high; she naturally wouldn't give up this power.

The root cause of the concubine's rise was Lady Kong's immense strength—she had reached the Sea Realm!

Sea Realm!

Within Tian Tu Mountain stronghold, only two Sea Realm experts existed: Luo Tian Tu, and this Lady Kong.

"You two!" A young woman sneered, pointing at Lu Ran and Deng Yu.

Her tone was hostile: "Our chieftain's wife is speaking to you—can't you hear?"

Lu Ran looked up and saw a plain-looking woman standing on a branch behind Lady Kong.

Was this the sharp-tongued maid, Mei Ling'er?

When mentioning her, Lady Luo had gnashed her teeth, calling her "a mere River Realm little tramp" and "a dog that barks on others' authority."

Now, Lu Ran had finally put a name to the face.

"No matter," Lady Kong waved her sleeve casually.

Mei Ling'er fell silent at once, still glaring coldly at Lu Ran and Deng Yu.

Lady Kong looked down at Deng Yu: "Have either of you seen the Nijing Demon Clan nearby?"

Deng Yu remained silent outwardly, but whispered in thought: 【Two Sea Realm experts—cannot fight them head-on.】

Lu Ran called out loudly: "We haven't seen the Nijing Demon Clan."

Even as he spoke, he thought: 【Indeed, neither of us could break through Luo Chieftain or Lady Kong's defenses.】

The suppression of cultivation realms was terrifying!

A River Realm believer's divine art struggled to pierce a River Realm adept's defense.

Likewise, a River Realm cultivator could barely harm a Sea Realm expert.

The human common technique—Water Flow Armor—almost eliminated the possibility of killing across realms!

That's precisely why the Lie Tian sect stood out so distinctly.

Notably, when humans ascend to the Sea Realm, Water Flow Armor undergoes a qualitative transformation.

Sea-grade Water Flow Armor isn't just pure defense!

While defending, it converts a portion of the enemy's output into divine energy to repair itself.

True to its name—it holds the might of oceans embracing all rivers!

For a River Realm cultivator to shatter such "endless, self-renewing" armor was truly as hard as climbing to heaven.

"Which deity's disciple are you?" The main figure finally spoke.

Luo Tian Tu hovered in midair, his gaze encompassing the two.

His white robe fluttered, his long hair disheveled, his face cold, his eyes icy.

A crushing pressure swept down, enough to make all beings tremble in fear!

The might of the Sea Realm was terrifying indeed!

Lu Ran called out loudly: "If I say I'm a disciple of Master Yu Fu, will you spare our lives?"

Even as he spoke, he whispered in thought:

【Four divine weapon auras—both the couple and the twins carry them.】

【They must be the Blood-Crying Waist Knife, Jade Flower Hairpin, Heaven Trace Sword, and Earth Trace Sword Lady Luo mentioned.】

【Do these guys really raid like this?】

Divine weapons and artifacts were extremely rare and precious.

Yet these six were acting like wholesale merchants?

Clearly, the Tian Tu Mountain group had long plundered countless treasures from fellow humans within the Sheng Ling Mountain realm.

Luo Tian Tu remained expressionless, staring coldly at Lu Ran.

The lofty Sea Realm expert clearly disliked Lu Ran's tone.

The atmosphere grew heavier still.

"Heh," Lady Kong smiled faintly, "I see you two are young—surely new to this realm. Yet you understand the rules well."

Below in the forest, three black-robed men moved.

They formed a semi-circle, surrounding Lu Ran and Deng Yu at the cliff's edge.

Two of the black-robed men had similarly cold demeanors and nearly identical faces.

Lu Ran glanced at them and understood at once.

These two must be the Yu Lengshan and Yu Lenghe brothers.

Rumor had it they were Luo Tian Tu's right-hand men, both at the peak of River Realm, their combat power not to be underestimated.

The only long-haired man among the six whose name Lu Ran couldn't place was slowly approaching the cliff.

His gaze swept over the hilts of several blades on Lu Ran's shoulder, and he smirked:

"Since you understand the rules, why not hand over your blades one by one, so our chieftain can take a look?"

"If you please him, perhaps you'll keep your corpse whole."

"Heh," Lu Ran laughed too.

Sheng Ling Mountain had some fine rules indeed!

No kindness toward others, not even pretense.

If you weren't from the same sect, you were a rival—meet, and it was kill or be killed!

Believers, to fulfill their deity's orders, to secure more resources for their master...

They were all willing to be dog servants!

"Huu!"

A shocking aura suddenly surged from the long-haired man ahead.

His eyes were cruel as he hissed: "Boy, you like to laugh?"

Lady Kong's beautiful eyes also fixed on Lu Ran and Deng Yu, looking down with amusement: "He can laugh? He must have some skill."

Yuan Ying, these two have at least four divine weapons, possibly five."

"Be careful, heh~"

The man called Yuan Ying froze, his expression startled.

But then his eyes gleamed faintly as he struggled to suppress his excitement.

Two brats, carrying four divine weapons?

Possibly five?

Today was his lucky day!

Accompanying the chieftain and his wife on campaign, how could his subordinates ever gain Sheng Ling Qi?

Who would've thought they'd stumble upon two youths carrying so many treasures?

He must perform well now!

Perhaps the master, moved by his years of loyal service, would reward him with one—his combat power could leap higher!

Divine weapons!

These were what countless people dreamed of!

Clearly, Yuan Ying had sunk into a beautiful fantasy.

As for defeat, injury, or death—

What nonsense!

Two sea-level experts held the flanks—no matter what sect these two young men and women belonged to, they couldn't possibly escape!

Kneeling to beg for mercy or being executed—these were their only possible fates.

"You want to take a look?" Lu Ran regarded them with a half-smile, his hand closing around the hilt of the blade on his shoulder.

At the same time, he sent a mental command: 【Run!】

"Sssss—"

Deng Yu didn't hesitate; immortal mist surged beneath her feet as she shot straight backward.

Though behind her lay a cliff, the momentum of her Immortal Hooves was more than enough to carry her across the gorge and land on the opposite cliffside.

"Immortal?" Yuan Ying's cruel eyes widened in disbelief. "An Immortal Sheep disciple?"

How dare you, a mere lamb, come to Sacred Spirit Mountain?

Do you want to die?

Immortal Sheep disciples are universally weak; their divine arts are mediocre at best—no one takes them seriously.

But when it comes to speed, not even these Yu Fu disciples could catch up to the Immortal Sheep pupils!

For a moment, all their expressions darkened.

When it came to fleeing, the Immortal Sheep sect were absolute masters!

"Hmph." Lady Kong let out a cold snort, her gaze condescending.

Upon realizing Deng Yu was an Immortal Sheep disciple, Lady Kong looked down on her with genuine contempt.

Suddenly, a jade hairpin shot out from her high coiffure.

It appeared to be made of white jade, its tip carved with floral patterns—exquisitely crafted.

"Swoosh~"

The artifact—Jade Flower Hairpin—automatically locked onto its target and shot forward at blinding speed, piercing toward the fleeing Deng Yu.

At the same moment, Yuan Ying fixed his cruel gaze on Lu Ran and hurled a white jade tablet.

"Shhh~" Lu Ran suddenly leaned back, his figure vanishing into thin air.

Yuan Ying's eyes widened:???

Instant-movement technique?

Is this… the Gunxiu Divine Art—Cloud Piercing Shadow?

You're a Gunxiu disciple—why the hell are you wandering around with four swords?

Where's your spear?

No wonder these two young people were so unafraid.

One runs like the wind, the other can teleport instantly!

No wonder they managed to steal so many valuable items!

Come to think of it, how did a top-tier divine disciple end up associating with a ninth-tier disciple? Hmm, well…

That Immortal Sheep girl really is stunning!

She must've been forcibly bound to this Gunxiu disciple, tormented day and night?

Yuan Ying's thoughts shifted three times in a second; a lewd grin spread across his face.

"Ding!"

Lu Ran appeared above the gorge, blade in hand, slashing down hard onto the Jade Flower Hairpin.

At that moment, everyone finally realized—they'd stumbled upon a formidable opponent!

Even facing two sea-level experts, this young man hadn't fled in fear—he'd struck at one of their divine artifacts?

Undoubtedly, this young man… was an exceptionally aggressive one!

The Gunxiu sect's divine arts had given him absolute confidence!

"You bastard!" Mei Ling'er cried out in panic—not only was she fiercely loyal to her mistress, but she also cherished her master's treasures. She shrieked, "Stop! Do you want to die?"

Lady Kong's face flushed with fury; jade tablets circled her body as she shot forward at blinding speed.

One hand reached out to recall the Jade Flower Hairpin, the other slammed forward violently.

A white jade tablet wrapped in crackling lightning shot forward at terrifying speed.

"Crack!"

In an instant, Lu Ran slashed upward again.

His blade struck with pinpoint precision—both cuts landed on the exact same spot!

The razor-sharp Radiant Light Blade, combined with Lu Ran's terrifying strength, carved a deep notch into the middle of the artifact—Jade Flower Hairpin.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the entire hairpin.

"Zzzt~ Zzz~"

The white jade tablet shattered; endless lightning surged like countless serpents, writhing wildly in all directions.

The entire sky above the gorge was instantly engulfed in blue-purple electricity.

Its coverage was so vast, it was staggering!

"Sssss!"

Blade pierced flesh!

Mei Ling'er's eyes flew open—the cold blade had pierced through her skull from the back and emerged from her brow.

Don't teleport first, then strike.

Strike first—then teleport!

Lu Gate Sword Art, Third Form—Shining Star!

Almost simultaneously, Luo Tiantu whirled around.

But it was already too late.

Mei Ling'er, perched on the distant treetop, had been skewered through the skull!

The Jade Talisman Array wrapped around her body offered no defense.

Even the self-activating Golden Jade Eight Talismans failed to react in time!

With her master dead, the jade tablets shattered and vanished.

"Ling'er!!"

Above the gorge, amid the brilliant lightning, Lady Kong clutched the cracked Jade Flower Hairpin, her eyes locked onto Lu Ran with murderous intensity.

Her former elegance and poise had vanished—only boundless rage remained.

Yet Lu Ran acted as if he hadn't noticed the two sea-level experts staring at him.

He looked at Yuan Ying on the distant cliff and grinned: "She insisted on cutting in line."

"You said you liked watching blades, right?"

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(End of Chapter)