Chapter 84: Immortal Eye?

Two small teams bid a reluctant farewell at the high-speed rail station.

One returned to Jingcheng, the other to Rain Alley.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi and the others had barely arrived at the station before buying tickets and leaving, while Lu Ran and his group waited an eternity before finally catching a train passing through Rain Alley City.

By the time Lu Ran reached Rain Alley, it was already dusk.

A light rain drifted down from the sky, pattering softly.

"Home," Lu Ran murmured, standing at the exit gate.

Returning to this city of incessant gloomy rain, he truly felt as though he had crossed through time.

The saying goes that the tenth month is golden autumn, but Lu Ran had genuinely seen no trace of it.

All he saw was night falling amidst autumn rain, and all he felt was a biting chill.

"Go back and rest well, cultivate well," Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly, her gaze sweeping over her three teammates.

"Mm-hmm," Tian Tian nodded repeatedly, looking utterly obedient.

Ever since parting ways with Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, Tian Tian had seized another chance to link arms with Jiangjiang Ruyi again.

"The next time we meet will be on the nineteenth day of the lunar month," Deng Yutang remarked with a sigh.

Month after month, counting off the days, time passed far too quickly.

Come to think of it, these believers at least still had something to look forward to.

They could still, just as Jiangjiang Ruyi had suggested, set a goal for themselves each month and conduct a phased summary.

As for ordinary people... well.

"Young Master Deng, why so melancholy?" Lu Ran teased with a smile.

Deng Yutang shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.

The fifteenth day of the lunar month occurs only once a month, yet the city would be locked down for a full five days, specifically the day before and the three days after the fifteenth.

This was merely a disruption to the rhythm of life.

What truly caused worry was that sometime after a fifteenth day, certain people you knew, or names you had heard, might simply never be seen again.

Last month's fifteenth, when ghosts roamed the night, had claimed two students from Class 9.

"Cheer up and cultivate hard," Lu Ran said, patting Deng Yutang on the shoulder. "Who knows? Perhaps we can change all of this?"

"Change?" Deng Yutang turned his head to look at Lu Ran.

"Yes." This time it was Lu Ran's turn to shrug. "Why should the fifteenth always be so dangerous, forcing people to live in constant fear?

Why must the city be locked down, separating people for so many days?"

Lu Ran's words left Deng Yutang dumbfounded.

Were these two "whys" even meant to be questions?

Since the moment they were born, since they could first remember, the world had always been this way, had it not?

"Because of the evil spirits," Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly.

Lu Ran replied, "The books say the world wasn't always like this."

Gods and demons had existed in this world for far, far too long; since the early eighties of the last century, nearly forty years had passed.

Even the generation of Lu Ran's parents had been born in the era when gods and demons first descended.

Thus, Lu Ran could only speak of "the books say" or "the internet says."

"Brother Lu, your ambitions are quite grand!" Deng Yutang laughed.

Lu Ran's expression turned serious. "They do not belong to this world.

Since they can come, then they can also be driven out, correct?"

"Haha!"

Deng Yutang's spirits clearly lifted, and he suddenly declared, "2018, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, night."

Lu Ran was baffled; why suddenly announce the date?

Deng Yutang nodded heavily. "I'll down this bowl of chicken blood!"

Lu Ran curled his lip. "Fine, chicken blood is better than chicken soup anyway."

Jiangjiang Ruyi watched the two in silence; she never believed dreams deserved mockery.

If one does not dream at seventeen, must one wait until thirty-seven or fifty-seven to dream?

By that time, most people's dreams would have nothing to do with changing the world.

Most likely, their dreams would contain nothing but wine, beauty, wealth, and power.

"The car has arrived," Tian Tian whispered.

"Get in!" Deng Yutang called out to everyone, and they ran through the night rain to his business van.

The four of them boarded one by one; first, the two girls were dropped off at their homes, and then it was Lu Ran's turn.

As the vehicle entered the Rain Alley Home residential compound and stopped before Lu Ran's house, Deng Yutang immediately got out to help Lu Ran retrieve his weapons.

"No need, it's raining; I can carry them myself," Lu Ran said, striding quickly to the trunk.

"Rest assured, Brother Lu; once I get home, I'll sit in meditation and cultivate immediately!" Deng Yutang handed the blades and sword to Lu Ran.

It was clear the momentum from the "chicken blood" had not yet faded.

"Hurry back," Lu Ran said with a smile, quite pleased to see the Red Scarf believers so high-spirited.

Cradling two sabers and one sword, he ran to the entrance of his apartment building, then watched as the vehicle slowly drove away.

Whether it was chicken blood or not did not matter.

What mattered was that after draining this bowl of chicken blood—

Go overturn this world!

"Hum~"

Very abruptly, the weapon in his arms actually trembled slightly.

Lu Ran's expression froze.

He wasn't sure which weapon had given a slight response.

Only after examining them carefully did he discover it was his mother's Cold Night Sword.

Clearly, his mother's strength was immensely powerful, and her personal sword was even closer to birthing a weapon spirit.

"Do you think so too?" Lu Ran looked at the golden sword hilt and whispered.

The Cold Night Sword fell silent again.

No matter how he called out, the Cold Night Sword made no further sound.

Lu Ran stood still for a long time before finally turning his head and walking into the apartment building entrance.

Upon returning home, he did not search for Little Li Hua but went straight to the bathroom.

Taking advantage of his bath, he thoroughly washed the two blades and one sword several times.

Afterwards, Lu Ran changed into clean clothes and, following My Lord Mother's instructions, brought the Rosy Glow Blade and the Cold Night Sword together to the master bedroom.

Cold Night, Rosy Glow.

He hung the blade and sword together on the wall, his fingertips brushing over the blade and sword bodies, feeling the icy coldness of the black ice material.

In the pitch-black room, a strange luster flickered in Lu Ran's eyes as he gazed toward the space above the head of the bed.

"Even more romantic."

Lu Ran looked at his parents' wedding photo, stepped backward out of the master bedroom, and closed the door properly.

After returning to the small bedroom, Lu Ran picked up ten Stream Artifacts: Lie Hun Mo Crystals and approached the shrine.

Just like making an offering, Lu Ran placed the ten demon crystals inside the shrine, putting them together with the previous Stream Artifact: Vicious Dog Demon Crystal.

Lu Ran took a step back and bowed respectfully:

"My Lord Sister Xian Xiang Xianyang, your disciple has returned from training and feels close to advancing to the third stage of the Stream Realm."

The Bai Yang jade carving remained quiet and silent.

Full of anticipation, Lu Ran continued, "By then, I will be able to cultivate the Xin Shen Fa: Immortal Pupil."

Once this method is activated, the pupils of the Xianyangyi Sect believers will transform into a pair of horizontal pupils.

To put it nicely, these eyes are quite eerie and demonic.

To put it bluntly, this pair of dead sheep eyes is simply dull and stagnant.

Hmm... they look like someone who isn't very bright in the head.

The Shen Fa: Immortal Pupil can expand the fear within a target's heart, causing them to feel apprehensive and retreat, thereby allowing Xianyangyi Sect believers to avoid combat and escape harm.

Therefore, this Shen Fa makes it difficult for you to extricate yourself from a predicament or turn the tables against the wind.

Because if you want to expand the fear within the opponent's heart, the prerequisite is that the opponent already harbors fear.

Here comes the problem!

Anyone can see clearly that Xianyangyi Sect believers avoid battle at all costs; just how weak and cowardly are they?

Facing the bluffing of a Xianyangyi Sect believer, would an opponent be afraid?

The opponent might even face you with an attitude of mockery and ridicule; in that case, what use is your Shen Fa: Immortal Pupil?

Only when you hold the upper hand might this method prove effective and scare the enemy away.

But the issue is, if you've already won, why would you activate the Shen Fa: Immortal Pupil?

Purely for fun?

This clearly does not fit the style of the Xianyangyi Sect.

Setting aside the aspect of combat, this method could be applied to later-stage torture and interrogation.

Of course, this applies to other Xianyangyi Sect believers.

If this method falls into Lu Ran's hands, its utility is naturally immense.

Lu Ran is not a Xianyangyi Sect believer dedicated solely to avoiding battle!

Every time he enters a demon cave, doesn't he fight from start to finish?

He is willing to fight and can violate the existential philosophy of the Xianyangyi Sect believers, displaying immense aggressiveness!

In this way, during the course of battle, enemies will always be panicked and terrified.

Previously in the Black Soul Wood forest, those two River Realm: Lie Hun Mo who were scared out of their wits were the best examples.

One must know that real combat is never a comparison of paper statistics.

The spiritual will of all living beings is the key element supporting their physical bodies in battle.

Spiritual will is like a "great dam"; once even a slight crack appears, Lu Ran can exploit the weakness and strike!

His pair of Immortal Pupils can transform into a surging torrent, smashing this great dam to pieces!

Lu Ran is certainly no soft character; he differs fundamentally from Xianyangyi Sect believers!

At the very least, he is quite willing to see his enemies scared until they wet their pants, or kneel on the ground crying and begging for mercy, losing all face before the world.

"By the way, My Lord Sister Xian Xiang Xianyang." Lu Ran raised his eyes to gaze at the divine statue, "You said, can the Lie Hun Mo horns change their form?"

Lu Ran organized his words to report the situation: "I have already utilized the Lie Hun Mo hooves.

This Xie Fa can be perfectly concealed within our sect's Pai Shen Fa: Immortal Hooves.

But regarding the Lie Hun Mo horns...

That pair of ox horns differs in form from our Immortal Horns; I cannot use them in front of others."

After these words fell, the Bai Yang jade carving remained completely silent.

Lu Ran waited bitterly for a long time but received no divine transmission from the god.

"So it's impossible, then." Lu Ran sighed slightly in his heart as a surge of divine power churned within his body.

Immediately, a pair of thick ox horns composed of mist appeared on either side of Lu Ran's forehead.

Their shape closely resembled bull horns, curving slightly as they grew diagonally upward.

Lu Ran raised one hand and carefully stroked the Lie Hun Mo horns.

Having spent so much time with the deity Xiang Xiang Xianyang, he had gradually figured out the other's temperament and nature.

Since Xiang Xiang Xianyang offered no response, transforming the demon horns was most likely impossible.

What a pity for such a pair of sharp ox horns; Lu Ran had witnessed their destructive power with his own eyes.

Those thick, hard Black Soul Wood logs could be snapped in just a few charges by the Lie Hun Mo clan!

However, he could only use them secretly, in the shadows.

Lu Ran silently dispelled the Xie Fa: Lie Hun Mo Horns, then sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Baa~"

Inside the pitch-black room, a faint bleating sound rang out.

In no time, a small, furry head quietly poked out from the doorway.

"Baa."

With call after call, Little Li Hua leaped into his embrace.

Lu Ran moved gently, softly stroking the furry little Li Hua as he slowly entered cultivation mode.

A faint mist began to fill the small bedroom.

"Meow~" Little Li Hua looked up curiously at his master, who sat with eyes quietly closed.

Feeling his master's caresses, Little Li Hua nuzzled and rubbed against Lu Ran in his arms, finally finding a comfortable position and lazily falling asleep.

(End of Chapter)