Chapter 809

Operating within the territory of the Night Mei Clan felt like trying to quiet a tree while the wind refused to cease.

Ever since Yu Changsheng slew a squad of Night Mei, endless pursuit followed in their wake.

The Night Mei Clan was astonishingly numerous!

Added to this, their extreme sensitivity to wind elements allowed them to always track Lu Ran and his companions.

Fortunately, Lu Ran possessed the teleportation technique: Mirror Flower, Moon.

He could relocate his teammates over vast distances, preventing them from being surrounded.

Thanks also to the arrival of the Sea Realm powerhouse Yu Changsheng, Lu Ran and Deng Yu had not been driven into panicked flight.

The Night Mei demonic statue within Lu Ran's garden was rapidly advancing through this endless slaughter.

In just ten days, the Night Mei demonic statue had already shaken for the second time!

It was charging toward Sea Realm, Fifth Stage!

"Hurry!" Lu Ran wrapped one arm around Deng Yu, who trembled violently, and swiftly cast a spell with the other.

Before his palm, a floor-length mirror rapidly formed.

"Understood!" Yu Changsheng released a terrifying school of fish, fighting as he retreated, stepping back into the mirror within a few strides.

Lu Ran immediately dispersed the mirror.

Instantly, the surroundings fell into silence—and utter darkness.

This was a cave hidden deep within the mountain, serving as the Ranyuan Sect's base.

"Pop~"

Yu Changsheng casually released a small fish; the pitch-black cave immediately lit up as golden silk rain gently descended.

Dragon Carp Divine Art: Praying Carp!

This technique, combining perception and purification, possessed a certain illumination effect due to its outward manifestation.

"F-Follow the Dragon," Deng Yu whispered tremulously.

"What's wrong?" Yu Changsheng's expression turned concerned as he released two more small fish.

"Pop~"

The pale golden dragon carps were exquisitely crafted, radiating an aura of luxury.

Their long, fin-like membranes, thin as gauze, drifted slowly through the air, dreamlike and ethereal.

The two small fish swam around Lu Ran and Deng Yu, emitting noble light as they worked to heal them.

Dragon Carp Divine Art: Long Life Carp!

Then, the two dragon carps dove into Lu Ran's arms, shattering into energy and merging into their bodies.

"My god." Lu Ran's breath caught, his gaze growing hazy.

An extreme surge of vitality flooded his body.

Lu Ran felt every inch of himself brimming with explosive energy, as if he might burst apart.

Is this the true value of a Sea Realm great physician?

In battle, they crush enemies like dry grass.

In healing, they revive the wounded to a state of fiery, roaring vigor!

Deng Yu whispered: "Cancel… Praying Carp."

Clearly, Yu Changsheng had misunderstood—Deng Yu was not injured; she simply did not want him to perceive her disheveled state.

The sight of her trembling like this was already humiliating enough for Lu Ran to witness.

She did not want anyone else to see it.

"Understood." Yu Changsheng immediately dispersed the Praying Carp.

The cave plunged back into darkness.

"Ugh." Lu Ran helped Deng Yu lean against the rock wall, then sat down heavily himself.

The Night Mei demonic statue's advancement had left his head throbbing.

Yet, thinking of the statue's imminent rise to Sea Realm, Fifth Stage, Lu Ran felt considerably more cheerful.

Just ten days!

From Sea Realm, Third Stage to Sea Realm, Fifth Stage!

What kind of concept is that?

Among all races in the world, who else could achieve such terrifying growth speed?

Through cultivation and advancement?

That would take ages.

Lu Ran's Night Mei demonic statue did not ascend through cultivation—it ascended through plunder!

This power was forcibly seized from the very hands of the demonic original!

It felt so good~

Notably, as the sworn enemies of the Second-Rank Deity North Wind, the Night Mei also possessed Sea Realm ultimate techniques.

Undoubtedly, of apocalyptic magnitude!

Yet for Deng Yu to unleash a Sea Realm ultimate technique, she herself must first ascend to the Sea Realm.

Thus, for Lu Ran to witness her magnificent prowess, he would have to wait patiently.

"Master."

In the darkness, Yu Changsheng's soft voice suddenly emerged.

"Mr. Follow the Dragon?"

Over the past ten days, Lu Ran had changed how he addressed Yu Changsheng repeatedly—from initially using his code name, to later adding "Mr." to show respect.

Yu Changsheng whispered: "We've thoroughly enraged the Night Mei Clan. Don't you think we should pause for now?"

Lu Ran pressed his lips together.

The Night Mei Clan had truly gone mad!

The intensity of their search revealed just how much they despised the three of them.

More terrifyingly, despite Lu Ran wreaking havoc across Night Mei territory, he still hadn't reached Night Mei Lake!

The farther north they went, the more Night Mei appeared.

They emerged endlessly from the snow-laden forests, as if impossible to eradicate.

Lu Ran had a premonition!

There was likely a demonic nest at Night Mei Lake, continuously producing and supplying Night Mei minions.

Yet Lu Ran's suspicion could not be confirmed.

The concept of "Night Mei Lake" had no known origin—it was known to many, yet none had ever seen it. Even Yu Changsheng, formidable as he was, had never dared probe the Night Mei Clan's stronghold.

Two days ago, as Lu Ran's group pushed deeper north, they even encountered a Sea Realm Night Mei squad.

Not one Sea Realm Night Mei —but a whole squad!

Lu Ran ran as fast as he could!

He immediately activated his teleportation mirror and fled southward for dozens of kilometers.

He dared not go north any further!

In the darkness, Yu Changsheng could not see Lu Ran's expression, but Lu Ran's silence spoke volumes.

Yu Changsheng urged: "Master, don't rush. Cultivating a Nightmare Guardian to godhood cannot be achieved overnight.

We'll remain in the Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm for a very, very long time."

"Mr. Follow the Dragon is right," Lu Ran said, pressing his palm to his forehead and rubbing his temples.

Yu Changsheng exhaled in relief.

After days of interaction, he had come to understand: Lu Ran appeared humble and courteous, but was in fact stubborn.

He was decisive, and his opinions were hard to change.

Deng Yu's loyalty to Lu Ran was absolute.

She centered her entire being on him; in all matters related to their mission, she obeyed his words without question.

Yu Changsheng even suspected that if Lu Ran ordered Deng Yu to walk into death, she would do it.

This, in turn, encouraged Lu Ran's autocratic tendencies.

Recall that when they first encountered the Sea Realm Night Mei squad, Yu Changsheng had already advised retreat.

The appearance of such a level of demonic entity was an unmistakable signal of extreme danger!

Yet Lu Ran had a clear objective and chose not to withdraw immediately.

Of course, he did have the means to act so recklessly.

Deng Yu's current "abnormal state" was the best proof.

Yu Changsheng had witnessed this state once before.

It had been several days ago, when Lu Ran's Night Mei demonic statue advanced from Sea Realm, Third Stage to Fourth Stage.

After that night, Yu Changsheng clearly noticed Deng Yu's transformation!

In terms of "sound-based detection," Deng Yu had improved dramatically!

She had become like a living radar, judging enemy numbers, positions, and distances with increasing precision.

And now, after this further growth, who knew how much her abilities would amplify?

Yu Changsheng clearly did not realize that Deng Yu was undergoing fusion.

Yu Changsheng clearly did not know that Deng Yuxiang was in the process of integration.

After she bonded with Yemo Xiesu, every day of her existence deepened her fusion with the Xiesu.

Each time Xiesu advanced, it was Deng Yu's bountiful harvest.

At this special juncture, the harmony between human and Xiesu would intensify dramatically!

"When she returns to normal, let's leave," Lu Ran whispered.

He had intended to elevate Yemo Xiesu to the Sea Realm, triggering another astonishing transformation of the Great Nightmare, then proceed to the next mission.

But

the outside world is too dangerous; the mission is temporarily shelved.

Yu Changsheng asked: "What are your plans, Master?"

Though Yu Changsheng was a Sea Realm cultivator, after joining Ran Men, he positioned himself as a Guardian, showing deep respect to the Master of Ran Men.

Lu Ran, in turn, held great respect for Yu Changsheng, and their bond grew steadily deeper.

"Let's rest for a few days," Lu Ran mused. "Does Master Long object to my clashing with human sects?"

Yu Changsheng remained expressionless: "Does the Master intend to slay human devotees?"

"I intend to seek revenge."

"Revenge?" Yu Changsheng connected the dots. "Are you planning to trouble Jian Shan Feng?"

"No," Lu Ran rubbed his temples. "When I first arrived in this world, the people of Tian Tu Mountain gave me a harsh lesson. That band of murderers and robbers are better off dead."

Yu Changsheng frowned slightly: "Tian Tu Mountain isn't a major sect, but it has two Sea Realm experts holding its ground."

Given your rapid growth, why rush revenge?"

Lu Ran said gravely: "I'm not that arrogant—I don't plan to directly kill Luo Tiantu or Lady Kong."

"I want to cause trouble for Tian Tu Mountain before we head east to seek the Sea, to weaken their strength."

Yu Changsheng held a different view: "In my humble opinion, the Master's revenge should be a single lethal strike, not mere weakening."

Lu Ran looked at the handsome man: "Hmm?"

Yu Changsheng continued: "The Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm differs from other regions. If we cannot annihilate our enemy outright, we'll only make Tian Tu Mountain's Zhaizhu more wary."

He'll likely recruit soldiers, gather slaves, forge alliances, even join other factions."

By the time we return, the enemy will be far harder to crush."

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully.

The problem was: killing Yu Fu devotees and harvesting souls was precisely to prepare for killing Luo Tiantu.

The Yu Fu Divine Art · Yu Fu Array might absorb the damage output from Yu Fu devotees!

And the Sacred Spirit Qi falling from the sky? Lu Ran needed it to cultivate Wu Ji Shensu.

Yu Changsheng gently but earnestly advised: "Master, your talent is extraordinary, your combat power grows astonishingly fast—don't risk yourself over momentary anger."

Moreover, the Nightmare Guardian has already reached River Realm Stage Four; Sea Realm is within reach."

Once her power makes a qualitative leap, she'll better handle Sea Realm foes and aid Ran Men in wiping out that den of thieves."

Lu Ran fell silent for a long while, then finally said: "Alright."

Yu Changsheng nodded inwardly, yet felt puzzled—why was the Master so easily persuaded?

Had he misjudged him?

Or did the Master truly care for Deng Yu, and that's why he yielded?

Lu Ran decided: "We'll rest for a few days, then head east to seek the Sea—to find the Mo Li clan."

"Agreed," Yu Changsheng lowered his eyes.

He knew well: Lu Ran's decision to head east was largely for his sake.

"Thank you, Master Long, for your counsel," Lu Ran leaned against the stone wall, murmuring.

Was this a buy-one-get-one-free deal?

Not only did I recruit a physician, but I got a strategist thrown in.

Yu Changsheng spoke gently, respectfully:

"Master, you're too kind—it's my duty."

(End of Chapter)