Chapter 829: The God Thief!

Three days later, at the beach where the Furious Sea Flame Jiao and the Ink Carp perished together.

In the forest, two figures, wearing conical hats and straw capes, waited in silence.

The sky was thick with dark clouds, pouring down rain.

Wild winds raged, whipping their wide capes and churning Xun Yifei's heart.

"Stay calm," Luo Ying said softly, watching her husband's distracted state.

Xun Yifei let out a deep sigh.

Calm?

How can one be calm?

That impossibly handsome, immensely powerful Guardian of the Ran Sect had the audacity to say:

His sect master is a god.

His sect master is the only god the people of this Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm can worship.

He can grant children the qualification to cultivate divine power!

Qualification! Qualification!

In the mortal world, powerful beings and villains are constantly sent to Sacred Spirit Mountain by various gods.

People scheme against each other, kill each other.

In this filthy, cruel world, even a River Realm powerhouse might become a slave, enduring oppression and torment until death brings release.

How much more so two fragile ordinary humans!

More importantly, if this mysterious Ran Sect master possesses such power, then…

Can he return to the mortal world?

Xun Yifei gazed at the stormy sky, harboring an unrealistic fantasy.

Even if he and his wife could not return, could the Ran Sect master send their children back to the mortal world?

The children are innocent, merely ordinary people—leaving this hell should not anger any god!

The truly wicked, the ones who deserve suffering and punishment, are us—two selfish, irresponsible parents.

"Yifei, calm down," Luo Ying extended her slender hand and gently touched her husband's face.

Xun Yifei clasped his wife's palm, closed his eyes, and silently felt her tenderness.

Xun Yifei believed himself fortunate.

In those early, confused days after entering this realm, he met her—equally confused.

Had both of them fully understood the true nature of Sacred Spirit Mountain upon their first meeting, they would never have married and endured life together.

Yet it was precisely this fortune that brought disaster.

And those who truly bore the consequences were not the couple, but their innocent, naive offspring.

Every day, Xun Yifei lived through complex emotions.

Guilt, regret, self-reproach.

Yet each time he saw his children's innocent, radiant smiles, he felt warmth, felt happiness.

"Someone's coming!" Luo Ying suddenly spoke, pulling her hand away.

Xun Yifei immediately turned his gaze—several figures emerged from the dense forest.

Two women walked ahead, one on each side, clearly scouting the surroundings.

The young woman on the left exuded martial vigor and striking beauty, perfectly matching her powerhouse aura.

The tall woman on the right had no such charm.

Luo Ying faintly furrowed her brow—almost imperceptibly.

She had seen too many women like this tall one.

To crush the spirit, essence, and vitality of a River Realm powerhouse is no task accomplished in a day!

In other words, this woman must have endured prolonged oppression and enslavement, until she was trampled, broken, and utterly erased.

After observing for a moment, Luo Ying shifted her gaze.

The handsome man she had seen before now walked slightly behind, positioned beside and slightly behind the youth.

And the youth…

He was too young.

Luo Ying's beautiful eyes locked onto Lu Ran, studying him closely.

Could he even be twenty?

At this age, he should still be in school—why is he here in Sacred Spirit Mountain?

"Lady Luo, don't be troubled," the youth suddenly spoke, gesturing toward Jing Hong. "She is one we rescued.

Our side is not as corrupt as other factions."

Jing Hong's heart tightened!

These two were River Realm powerhouses—the very ones the sect master wished to recruit. If she ruined this chance, it would be an unforgivable sin.

She opened her mouth to explain, but Lu Ran added: "It's fine. Go on alert."

Jing Hong bowed slightly, filled with guilt: "Yes, Sect Master."

Luo Ying stared deeply at Lu Ran.

She realized her subtle expressions had been noticed, her inner thoughts deduced.

This young leader was sharp and perceptive.

Indeed, since Lu Ran's mind stopped buzzing, his state had fully recovered.

He could observe all directions, hear all sounds, think clearly.

Xun Yifei clasped his fists and bowed deeply: "Last time, I acted rashly—I failed to recognize your greatness. My apologies!"

Lu Ran returned the bow, apologetic: "I was the one tailing you. Master Xun, defending your family was entirely justified."

Seeing Lu Ran's attitude, Xun Yifei felt slightly reassured.

Sacred Spirit Mountain was no place for reason.

Power was truth.

And it showed no disguise.

Now that the couple needed Lu Ran's help, they were inherently inferior. No matter his attitude or actions, they had to endure it.

Xun Yifei, seemingly impatient, immediately asked after his apology: "We heard from Master Long that your sect master holds exalted status and can accept human disciples?"

Lu Ran nodded slightly: "That is true."

Xun Yifei suppressed his turbulent emotions and bowed again: "Can your sect master, then, represent Master Qiangxiu and accept disciples on his behalf?"

Yu Changsheng had not told him this—but Xun Yifei asked anyway.

Out of hope. Out of belief.

Lu Ran shook his head: "I am not Qiangxiu's disciple. The teleportation technique you saw is not Qiangxiu's Divine Art: Cloud Piercer."

Xun Yifei: "Oh?"

Lu Ran raised his hand toward the side, energy surging in his palm.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, two rows of uneven canine teeth appeared in midair and snapped shut.

Xun Yifei's pupils shrank slightly!

Luo Ying's eyes narrowed!

This youth is a demon cultivator—an Evil Hound disciple!

The next moment, the couple froze.

For on Lu Ran's head, thick ox horns suddenly sprouted.

"Is this…?" Xun Yifei hesitated, probing, "the Soul-Shattering Demon Horn?"

Lu Ran gave no reply. Instead, he thrust his hand forward.

Suddenly, a swarm of black lanterns spread out!

Xun Yifei:!!!

The dark lantern sect's demonic arts mostly manifest as black flames.

If Lu Ran summoned only black fire, they would struggle to identify the specific demonic technique.

But the Black Lantern Clan's demonic art at River Realm Stage Three—the Yin Lantern Array—summons countless black lanterns to control groups of enemies, slowing their movements.

"Pop~"

Lu Ran waved his hand again—the black lanterns vanished silently, and a mysterious small Ink Carp swam out.

"Gulp." Xun Yifei swallowed hard, his mind in turmoil.

This…?

This mysterious, powerful Ran Sect master is definitely a demonic disciple.

The real question: which demonic sect does he belong to?

"I know what you're thinking," Lu Ran smiled at the stunned couple. "And I'll tell you plainly—I am not a demonic disciple."

River Realm powerhouses hold exalted status—they are beings capable of destroying heaven and earth.

To see such rich, vivid expressions on their faces…

Is quite entertaining~

"Shhh~"

Lu Ran casually waved his hand and caught a finely crafted ancient bronze mirror.

He gazed at the beautiful face of Deng Yuxiang in the mirror: "Whether god or demon, none would tolerate followers who are disloyal, serving two masters."

The silent Luoying finally spoke: "So, Master, you are—"

Lu Ran grinned: "I am not a follower of evil spirits. I never bow lower than the evil gods."

You can think of me as

someone who steals the power of evil gods!"

Luoying's heart trembled: "Steals power?"

"Hum!"

Lu Ran's body shuddered, and two pitch-black spectral shadows burst from within him.

Black veils fluttered, revealing a curvaceous form.

Night Phantom Evil Art: Night Phantom Shadow!

Lu Ran no longer looked at the woman in the mirror, but turned his gaze to Deng Yuxiang nearby: "I can use this stolen power to strengthen myself and build my own influence."

He slightly lifted his head; Deng Yuxiang understood at once, her slender body trembling in response.

"Hum!"

Two Night Phantoms surged from her body.

Lu Ran said: "Xianyang, tell them your true identity as a believer."

Drawing from past experience, Lu Ran no longer forced Deng Yuxiang to bleat shamefully.

Deng Yuxiang obeyed without hesitation, and two thick, coiled ram horns sprouted from either side of her forehead.

Xianyang Divine Art: Xianyang Horns!

Luoying's eyes widened slightly.

Deng Yuxiang could be a Night Phantom believer.

But she could not be both a believer of the Divine Camp—Xianyang—and a believer of the Evil Camp—Night Phantom!

This… this was impossible!

Even as this unfolded before Luoying's eyes, she could not accept it.

From childhood to now, every lesson she had been taught, every deep belief she held about this world, collapsed in this moment!

Lu Ran dispersed the evil art: "So, you need not question whether I can recruit your children as believers."

Xun Yifei and Luoying exchanged glances, seeing the same emotion in each other's eyes.

"Under me, your children have many choices—and they will only grow more numerous." Lu Ran clenched his hand.

Suddenly, a tiny paper doll appeared, clenched in his palm.

This time, not just the couple, but even Yu Changsheng was stunned.

Yanzhi Clan?

Evil Art: Paper Doll?

Luoying's face turned ashen, and an unstoppable surge of killing intent flooded her eyes!

If Lu Ran could only teleport, at least the couple could guard their children and resist him somewhat.

But the moment Lu Ran produced the paper doll—

Luoying knew she was powerless.

If Lu Ran wished, he could crush her children's bodies with ease.

Was what Lu Ran held in his hand a paper doll?

No—it was a living soul.

The fate of the weak, unable to resist.

Lu Ran needed neither approach his target nor reveal himself; everything could unfold in utter silence.

"Ms. Luoying," Deng Yuxiang said coldly.

Luoying snapped back to herself, suppressing her killing intent.

The mighty Sea Realm, Fourth Stage cultivator bowed her head to Lu Ran, a Jiang Realm cultivator, and apologized:

"I'm sorry, I—"

"It's fine," Lu Ran interrupted. "You are a mother."

Once again, Lu Ran had guessed Luoying's inner thoughts.

Luoying lowered her eyelids, her heart trembling softly.

Lu Ran continued: "Here, there is no division between god and demon. Your children learning evil arts does not mean they fall into darkness.

Because they do not worship evil gods—they worship me."

Xun Yifei had been watching Lu Ran intently.

No matter how hard he tried to hide it, his burning gaze betrayed his inner desire.

Lu Ran shifted tone: "Of course, evil cults have a bad reputation. I understand your resistance.

Here, your children can also follow the path of the orthodox sects as the world sees them."

"Orthodox sects?" Luoying looked up.

Lu Ran casually reached out and seized a warhammer etched with crackling patterns.

Lietian Divine Art: Lietian Hammer!

At this point, the couple no longer believed Lu Ran was a Lietian believer.

As expected!

The next moment, a ring of jade tablets spread from within Lu Ran.

Yu Fu Divine Art: Yu Fu Array!

"Whether god or demon, whichever you wish your children to worship—"

Lu Ran looked at the couple, speaking slowly, each word deliberate:

"I am that one."

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(End of Chapter)