Chapter 827: The Lifeline

At the sea cliff, inside a hidden cave.

Lu Ran sat leaning against the cave entrance, gazing at the vast night while recounting everything he had seen and heard.

The story of the family of four left everyone with complex emotions.

Deng Yu Xiang, leaning back against the wall, spoke softly: "No wonder that man thanked us for ridding the people of harm—he had family here in this realm."

"Ridding the people of"—Lu Ran's words halted as he pressed a hand to his head.

Mo Li Xiesu has finally advanced!

Jiang Realm·Stage Five!

To Lu Ran's astonishment, the Xiesu showed no sign of stopping its tremors—it seemed ready to advance further?

Is it aiming for the Hai Realm?

Lu Ran grinned, his heart overflowing with joy!

Who would've thought—his very first Hai Realm Xiesu would be Mo Li?

This Hai Realm great demon must have been wreaking havoc in this realm for a very, very long time, gathering immense Holy Spirit energy.

And now, all of it became Lu Ran's gain!

So satisfying~

"Before you and Cong Long returned to the beach, that man expressed his gratitude to us," Deng Yu Xiang explained. Seeing Lu Ran's expression shift constantly, she immediately stepped forward.

After her previous gentle gesture, she hesitated no longer—she knelt softly behind Lu Ran, her movements practiced and smooth.

Lu Ran closed his eyes, feeling the woman's cool fingertips against his temples.

She's truly so gentle~

Is this still the Great Nightmare?

If Deng Yu Tang saw this, wouldn't his eyes pop out?

Yu Changsheng watched this scene, patiently waiting.

Only when Lu Ran's brow gradually relaxed did he speak: "Lord, what realm is the woman's strength? And which deity does she worship?"

Lu Ran: "I don't know, but her strength is likely not weak, and she's certainly not a disciple of Yan Qing."

After all, Lu Ran had seen the woman's face.

She clearly lacked the Divine Art·Pure Water Eyes, which is why she never sensed Lu Ran's presence.

Yu Changsheng pondered a moment, then said: "Lord, there's a slight chance they deliberately distracted you, then fled with their family overnight and won't show up tomorrow."

Lu Ran asked: "What's the greater likelihood?"

Yu Changsheng mused: "They'll show up tomorrow. This matter is unlikely to end peacefully."

"Why?" Lu Ran turned to his strategist.

"Don't move," Deng Yu Xiang scolded softly, then gently turned his head back.

Lu Ran: "."

You're just a technician—how dare you yell at a customer?

Hmm… well, we haven't paid yet.

Yu Changsheng's expression turned grave: "Your existence threatens their very foundation!"

The cave fell silent.

Yu Changsheng: "Even if you have no intention of harming them, you know their secret."

For most parents, their children are their weakest point!

Every day you live carries the risk of exposure—if others learn of this, they'll hold the very lifeline of this couple."

Lu Ran's face darkened.

He wanted to think deeply, but his head felt like a vibrating electric toothbrush inside.

It was utterly disruptive!

Now, thanks to Cong Long's insight, Lu Ran naturally understood the danger.

Yu Changsheng looked at Lu Ran: "In this Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, human nature is the least trustworthy! Do you think this couple will let you live?"

Deng Yu Xiang gently massaged Lu Ran's temples; upon hearing this, her fingers pressed slightly harder.

Yu Changsheng sighed: "You yourself said their child is already five or six years old."

If the child has grown safely this long, this couple must be extremely cautious—and utterly ruthless!"

Tomorrow, when they meet, they'll spare no effort to eliminate this potential threat."

Lu Ran uttered one word: "I."

Yu Changsheng: "We four."

Lu Ran paused, then asked: "What does Master Cong Long think—should we meet them tomorrow?"

Yu Changsheng toyed with his paper fan, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

The child is indeed an excellent entry point—it directly grasps the couple's lifeline.

But Lu Ran likely wouldn't approve of such a tactic.

In Yu Changsheng's eyes, Lu Ran was still young, relatively upright.

He had ambition, and he had ability.

He would risk everything for great deeds—if fortune favored him, he might become a regional hero.

But he lacked the nature of a warlord.

"Shhh~"

Yu Changsheng unfurled his fan and gave it a light shake: "The child is an excellent entry point."

Lu Ran remained silent, waiting.

Yu Changsheng spoke slowly: "This couple can protect their child for a time, but not forever."

The Holy Spirit Mountain Realm is isolated from the outside world."

Children born here cannot worship any deity!"

Lu Ran instantly understood Yu Changsheng's plan.

Indeed, these children will remain ordinary their entire lives—in this dangerous, cruel world, their fragile lives could end at any moment!

Yu Changsheng stared straight at Lu Ran: "In this Holy Spirit Mountain Realm—"

"Lord, you are the only god!"

Lu Ran nodded: "Yes. I can form contracts with the children, granting them the right to cultivate Divine Power and teaching them corresponding techniques."

"To ensure their children's growth and survival, the couple won't harm me—they'll fight to protect me."

Yu Changsheng gently fanned himself, exuding the air of a master strategist: "Exactly!

Lord, let me go alone to negotiate tomorrow!"

If they refuse, we let it go—no further contact."

If they agree, we must carefully assess their character."

Lu Ran looked at his strategist and sincerely thanked him: "Thank you, Master, for your guidance—and for your trouble."

Lu Ran did not refuse Yu Changsheng's offer.

The Long Li sect excels not only in healing, but also in quick escapes!

As long as a small Long Li remains in the cave, Yu Changsheng can instantly teleport back.

Unfortunately, the Long Li sect's archenemy—the Mo Li clan—lacks this survival technique.

"It's my duty, Lord. You're too kind," Yu Changsheng smiled and bowed slightly.

Lu Ran closed his eyes, feeling truly fortunate to have met Yu Changsheng.

Yet he did not know that Deng Yu Xiang, Yu Changsheng, and Jing Hong all held the exact same thought about Lu Ran.

To have met Lu Ran…

A fortune of three lifetimes!

Waves crashed against the shore, day and night turned.

When the sky began to lighten, Lu Ran finally smiled.

It was a smile of joy—and of relief.

Mo Li Xiesu had successfully advanced!

Hai Realm·Stage One!

Lu Ran could now create Jiang Realm Mo Li minions!

But these sea demons were unusually massive.

If Lu Ran remembered correctly, Jiang Realm Mo Li were 300 meters long—after advancing to Hai Realm, their size surged to 800 meters!

Of course, the larger the body, the more conspicuous it became—and the wider the target area.

To ordinary civilians and human cities, the sea demons were undeniably nightmares.

But Lu Ran's enemies were demons themselves!

He couldn't imagine the consequences of bringing a Jiang Realm Mo Li to Night Phantom Lake.

Wouldn't Mo Li be shredded to pieces in seconds?

Still, perhaps he could use Mo Li's enormous size to draw enemy forces away—lure them out?

Lu Ran turned his head to the side. Deng Yu Xiang leaned against the rock wall, eyes closed, dozing lightly.

She wasn't deeply asleep—when Lu Ran looked over, she opened her eyes.

"Finally, I can sleep peacefully," Lu Ran said with a smile.

"Mm, go ahead." Deng Yuxiang spoke at once.

Inside the cave, Jing Hong had also woken up; she immediately walked to the cave entrance, ready to take over watch duty.

Lu Deng pair did not refuse.

Lu Ran stepped into the cave entrance and, with no hint of a master's dignity, collapsed onto the ground.

As for Yu Changsheng, he had left the cave immediately after the plan was set the previous night, heading ahead to the meeting spot to hide in the sea.

To avoid ambush.

Lu Ran slept soundly, utterly oblivious to time.

It wasn't until the afternoon that he slowly woke up.

At that time, Yu Changsheng had already returned to the cave and sat cross-legged nearby in meditation.

"Awake?" came Deng Yuxiang's voice from beside him.

"Ah." Lu Ran sat up.

Deng Yuxiang waved her wrist, gesturing to the ancient copper coin: "Feel like grilled fish? I killed three."

This Soul-Returning Coin was merely a fragment of a magical artifact, capable of holding at most three spirits.

Deng Yuxiang's words were subtly phrased, a reminder for Lu Ran to absorb the souls.

"Sure, thanks!" Lu Ran smiled at Deng Yuxiang.

Deng Yuxiang smiled back at Lu Ran, her mind stirring, energy surging at her wrist.

In a dimension she could not perceive, the Soul-Returning Coin released the three spirits of the black carp one by one.

Lu Ran glanced at Yu Changsheng beside him; the man had clearly been waiting a long time.

"Master Yu?"

Yu Changsheng replied at once: "They are very interested, and very eager to meet the Sect Master."

"Oh." Lu Ran responded, unsurprised by this outcome. "Tell me about them."

Yu Changsheng reported: "The man's name is Xun Yifei, thirty-one, Sea Realm Stage Two, follower of Yanqing."

"His wife is Luoying, twenty-nine, Sea Realm Stage Four, follower of Asha."

"Damn." Lu Ran grinned.

Two Sea Realm experts?

That gentle woman was a follower of the Second-Rank Deity—Asha?

The Southern Bow among the Four Military Tyrants?

Lu Ran couldn't help recalling his high school classmate—and brief teammate—Class Monitor Wu Shanshan.

In a daze, Lu Ran felt as if he had crossed an entire lifetime.

He had graduated in the summer of 2019; now, in the mortal world, it should be spring 2020.

It had been less than a year since high school graduation!

Yet why did Wu Shanshan, Kou Yingquan, and Ma Tianchuan—all his high school classmates—feel like distant memories?

Hmm. This life is damn amazing!

One year feels like ten.

Lu Ran steadied his thoughts and asked: "Master Yu, what do you think of them? Are they suitable to join our Ranyun Sect?"

These were two Sea Realm experts!

And both specialized in water combat—they could fill a massive gap in Ranyun Sect!

To say Lu Ran wasn't tempted would be a lie.

Yu Changsheng said softly: "It was only one meeting; we can't know much. But their love for their child is genuine."

"Also, our proposal is too shocking—they want us to provide proof."

Lu Ran: "I can just perform some dark arts right in front of them."

Yu Changsheng shook his head: "No. They propose signing a contract with you."

"Huh?" Lu Ran frowned. "Their child is too young—his body can't handle it. He can't sign yet!"

Yu Changsheng sighed, deeply moved: "Xun Yifei intends to sever his contract with the Deity Yanqing."

"From now on, he will worship you."

Lu Ran's mouth opened slightly: "Is this how they want to verify? Xun Yifei is a servant of a deity—a weakling!

If he breaks the contract voluntarily, he'll suffer severe backlash!"

Yu Changsheng nodded: "This is their only condition."

Lu Ran opened his mouth, then stayed silent for a long while before saying: "If I'm a fraud, won't Xun Yifei be permanently crippled?"

Yu Changsheng: "The couple are not reckless. The Sect Master must first demonstrate sufficient ability before he severs the contract and makes his final proof."

Lu Ran fell silent.

He could see now—their love for their child was unquestionably real.

No, he had to talk some sense into them!

You're a Sea Realm expert, just joined my Ranyun Sect, and you're going to drop back to River Realm?

Am I not going to bleed out?

(End of Chapter)