Chapter 82: Did the Gods Fall?

At around 8 a.m., a luxury coupe slowly entered the Yuxiang Jiayuan residential complex.

Along the way, the vehicle was repeatedly stopped and inspected by patrol squads of Wangyue personnel.

Honestly, it would’ve been easier to walk home.

“Sis, come in and have a drink of water?” Lu Ran sat in the passenger seat, not moving to get out.

“I still need to report back—I have another mission.” Deng Yuxiang shook her head.

Lu Ran said, “Since dawn, our squad has circled those two blocks over and over—there are no demons left.”

Deng Yuxiang smiled: “Go home, take a hot shower, and get a good night’s sleep.

We’ll report your performance on the night of the fifteenth truthfully.”

Seeing Deng Yuxiang was determined to leave, Lu Ran said nothing further—he was merely a candidate, while she was a warrior.

“Say goodbye to sister.” Lu Ran patted the large towel wrapped in his arms.

Inside the towel, something wriggled, then a fuzzy little head peeked out.

Its eyes, like beautiful glass beads, shimmered with clarity.

“Meow~” The tabby cat poked its head forward, nuzzling Lu Ran’s palm, ignoring Deng Yuxiang entirely.

Lu Ran had not activated the Divine Art·Sound of Compassion.

Clearly, the tabby cat was highly sentient—it knew who had saved its life.

“Get out. I still have duties.” Deng Yuxiang urged.

Lu Ran: “.”

Woman,

Your name is Wuqing.

Last night, we braved the storm together, inseparable—how many demons did we destroy together?

Now that dawn has come and the demons have fled, you turn your back on me?

Do you even care about my “meow” all night long?

“Goodbye!” Lu Ran wrapped the tabby cat snugly to keep it dry from the rain.

He picked up the Radiant Blade, opened the door, stepped out, and turned back: “This raincoat—”

“It’s yours.” Deng Yuxiang waved dismissively, stomped the accelerator, and drove off.

Lu Ran watched the car recede into the distance, then finally walked home.

“Here’s your new home.”

After opening the door, Lu Ran lifted one corner of the towel slightly.

“Meow~” The little tabby let out a soft cry and darted out.

Its vitality and healthy condition were naturally thanks to the attending physician—Sun Zhengfang.

The Biwu believers truly are remarkable.

They heal not just the body, but also soothe spiritual wounds.

Lu Ran headed straight for the bathroom, stripped off his soaked clothes, and took a long, satisfying hot shower.

But as he washed, sudden meowing came from outside the door, accompanied by persistent scratching.

Should a stray cat really be this clingy?

Lu Ran hurried his pace.

By the time he dried off and opened the bathroom door, the meowing had stopped.

To his surprise, the little tabby hadn’t left.

It sat quietly in front of the bathroom door, head tilted up, tail swaying gently—as if waiting for him to emerge.

“So sentient?” Lu Ran was stunned.

He bent down to pick it up, but the tabby darted away in a flash.

Lu Ran: ???

Damn, are you teasing me?

If you don’t want me to hold you, why did you scratch the door?

Lu Ran’s expression turned odd as he approached the altar and bowed respectfully: “Lord Xiang Xianyang, your disciple has returned.”

He didn’t say much—just a brief greeting—then headed straight for the small bed.

No need for words: three characters—Dreams await!

Lu Ran knew well—this next sleep would not be peaceful.

After all, last night he had slain many demons and captured numerous souls.

This time, Lu Ran had learned a lesson: before sleeping, he first called his sister and squad members to confirm their safety, then lay down on his side.

“Meow?”

Seeing Lu Ran asleep, the tabby cat approached.

It leapt onto the small bed, circled once, then fixed its gaze on Lu Ran’s hand.

The little tabby pressed its fuzzy head against his palm and settled down comfortably.

The little one slept soundly and contentedly, while Lu Ran—

As expected, he once again arrived at the Demon Sculpture Garden.

This time, Lu Ran stood before the sculpture of the Demon·Soul-Splitter.

“Whoa~!”

Lu Ran gasped, gazing up at the massive black sculpture.

This statue was clearly much larger than the others.

As Lu Ran studied it closely, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He said sternly: “Lord Xiang Xianyang.”

“Your performance is acceptable.” Above and behind him, a massive black-fire ram’s head materialized silently.

Lu Ran sighed: “Lord Xiang Xianyang, in the squad I can only play support—sound alarms, draw aggro, that sort of thing.

I have no offensive capabilities.”

Actually, saying this felt a bit dishonest.

What realm was Lu Ran in? Mist Realm·Stage Four!

What realm were the Wangyue personnel? River Realm·Stage Four to Five!

And what level were the demons invading the world?

Considering all factors, Lu Ran being useful as support was already impressive—did he really expect to be a primary DPS?

The black-fire ram’s head ignored him and continued: “Twenty-three River Realm souls, twenty-seven Stream Realm souls, thirty-one Mist Realm souls.

Your harvest tonight was excellent.”

Lu Ran: “It’s the fifteenth of July—demons are stronger and more numerous.”

If calculated by time, from 7 p.m. on the fifteenth to 3 a.m. the next morning—eight hours total.

On average, the squad had to kill one demon every six minutes.

Clearly, the intensity of the fifteenth of July was immense!

Moreover, in the two blocks under Lu Ran’s jurisdiction, the number of River Realm demons was nearly equal to that of Mist and Stream Realm demons.

In any other month, this would be unimaginable.

Lu Ran thought for a moment and asked: “Lord Xiang Xianyang, is there any demon sculpture that meets the activation condition?”

“No.” One word—Lu Ran grimaced.

The black-fire ram’s head: “Activating a demon sculpture requires substantial materials—roughly two thousand Mist Realm souls.”

Lu Ran nodded.

That’s why the Hellhound clan’s statue was activated after he completed his summer mission.

The black-fire ram’s head: “Each subsequent minor advancement of a demon sculpture requires one hundred souls of the same realm.

Breaking through a major realm requires even more.”

“Understood!” Lu Ran turned to face the black-fire ram’s head. “Lord Xiang Xianyang, you previously said the Yanzhi clan is powerful and hard to control.

Why not let me wait a bit longer—activate her when I reach River Realm?

For now, in Stream Realm, let me activate the Soul-Splitter sculpture—what do you think?”

The black-fire ram’s head remained silent, offering no reply.

Lu Ran continued: “The Soul-Splitter’s demonic arts can enhance my physical attributes.

The demonic art·Soul-Splitter Horn resembles my sect’s divine art·Immortal Horn.

Could the demonic art·Soul-Splitter Hoof be concealed within my sect’s divine art·Immortal Hoof?”

The former is irrelevant for now—that’s a technique I can only equip in Stream Realm.

Let’s focus on the latter:

Lu Ran’s Immortal Hoof lets him move swiftly, like wind.

The demonic art·Soul-Splitter Hoof causes the ground to tremble and flings nearby opponents away.

This made Lu Ran’s mind race!

Since I’ve already set the precedent—making everyone aware that my Divine Art·Sound of Compassion has a unique variant with special effects—

why not exploit this?

I’ll claim my Divine Art·Immortal Hoof also has special effects!

He stomped his foot, and mist spread everywhere.

But I don’t use it to teleport—I use it to cast “War Trample”!

Externally, it’s claimed to be a special casting method of the Divine Law: Immortal Hoof, but in reality,

what I cast isn’t a Divine Law at all—it’s the Heretical Law: Soul-Shattering Demon Hoof!

Isn’t that wonderful?

Blackfire Sheep Head: “You want offensive techniques.”

“Mm.” Lu Ran nodded, too embarrassed to say much more.

The Immortal Sheep Sect’s offensive methods are far too scarce.

Or rather, the Divine Laws of the Immortal Sheep Sect are all meant for begging for mercy, survival, and fleeing combat.

Blackfire Sheep Head: “Strengthening offensive techniques will plunge you into danger.”

“Huh?” This logic left Lu Ran deeply confused. “My disciples are already engaged in battle—they haven’t retreated from the battlefield!”

Blackfire Sheep Head: “Powerful offensive techniques will change your combat mindset and fighting style.

With that confidence, you’ll act accordingly.

For instance, before you had the Heretical Law: Soul-Shattering Demon Hoof, you wouldn’t charge into enemy ranks.

But once you possess the Demon Hoof—”

Lu Ran opened his mouth, but for a long while, he couldn’t speak.

Blackfire Sheep Head: “That’s all I’ll say. You must consider carefully.

If you insist on activating the Soul-Shattering Demon Sculpture, I won’t stop you.”

Lu Ran: “The Immortal Sheep Lord won’t stop me?”

That’s not something a god should say.

Every god in the world, without exception, holds absolute authority when communicating with followers.

What the god says, the follower must obey.

What? You’re talking about human rights?

Brother, he’s not your friend, not your master, not your superior—he’s your god!

The god who grants you Divine Laws, helps you survive, and demands your daily, nightly devotion!

Blackfire Sheep Head: “I won’t stop you. You must forge your own path.

One day, I will dissipate.

You must walk your own way.”

Lu Ran: “Huh???”

Lu Ran was utterly stunned.

Are you kidding me?

A full-fledged god—dissipating?

“Silence!” A commanding voice shook Lu Ran’s skull, making it ring.

“Immortal Sheep Lord…”

“Don’t worry. Grow in peace. That day is still far off.”

(End of Chapter)