Chapter 887: The Great Wind of Ran

"So fickle!" Lu Ran murmured, "Just moments ago you told me to call you Qifeng, and now you're calling yourself 'sister'?"

He Qifeng smiled brightly: "If you won't follow me, I've got to tower over you."

Lu Ran exerted slight pressure and finally freed his hand from her grip: "How many people are in your hall now?"

"Currently, my Da Feng Tang has twelve elite warriors."

"Da Feng Tang?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly.

"The great wind rises, clouds soar!" He Qifeng stood with hands behind her back, proud and haughty, "Da Feng Tang."

Lu Ran picked up the line: "Victory extends across the seas, I return to my homeland?"

"Homeland," He Qifeng whispered to herself, gazing up at the vast, churning sea of clouds above.

Lu Ran fell silent too.

Homeland—perhaps it's only a beautiful dream.

After a long while, Lu Ran spoke: "What realms are your twelve underlings at?"

He Qifeng replied: "Don't pry into things you don't understand! You just need to know my Da Feng Tang's members are all elite warriors!"

"Enough to protect you."

Hearing this, Lu Ran laughed.

Such a tough little mouth~

Lu Ran tilted his head slightly, grinning at He Qifeng's ruggedly handsome face: "Oh?!"

"Does your big sister He Qifeng's Da Feng Tang not even have a Sea Realm member?"

He Qifeng's face darkened instantly.

She wanted to say she had one Sea Realm elder on standby—but if she said that, compared to Lu Ran's sect, it would sound pitiful?

He Qifeng gritted her teeth, glaring at the smug face before her: "I really want to crush you."

Lu Ran burst out laughing: "Then we'd better figure out a way to communicate in real time. If you're in trouble, I can lend a hand right away."

"Hah." He Qifeng laughed bitterly, grabbing the front of Lu Ran's robe by the collar, "You just said—how many Sea Realm members does your Ran Men have?"

"Mm-hmm." Lu Ran nodded decisively.

"What sects? What realms?" He Qifeng forced the words out through clenched teeth.

Tsk~

Such competitiveness.

Lu Ran leaned back as far as he could: "Asha disciples, Yan Qing disciples, Long Li disciples—all mid-to-high Sea Realm. Just good enough, I guess."

He Qifeng nearly ground her teeth to dust!

Just good enough?

Second-rank deity—Asha's disciple: the ultimate damage-dealing artillery!

Third-rank deity—Yan Qing's disciple: absolute king of naval combat!

Third-rank deity—Long Li's disciple: rare, precious healing support!

GOOD ENOUGH?!

No wonder this brat could reclaim the Wind Barrier Jewel.

Three full Sea Realm masters, with a perfectly balanced team—offense, defense, no weaknesses!

"Hand, hand, hand," Lu Ran said, prying open her fingers clutching his collar.

When Lu Ran looked up again, he met Wu Seng's incredibly complex gaze.

He Qifeng: "They come from different sects, each with unique personalities, yet all are Sea Realm masters—why would they accept you as their sect master?"

Her face screamed one question: How did you even manage this?

Lu Ran copied her earlier posture, hands behind his back, proud and haughty: "Personality? Who can explain it?

Maybe I've just got a bit of it."

He Qifeng:???

Lu Ran finally felt comfortable~

All this time, He Qifeng had monopolized the conversation—this lord was suffocating!

A little display of strength is necessary.

No matter how He Qifeng defined herself, in Lu Ran's mind, she would one day become a member of Ran Men.

He truly needed to show his exceptional qualities.

As Lu Ran pondered inwardly, he suddenly felt an intensely hot gaze.

He recognized this look—yearning.

Extreme yearning!

He'd seen it often among Yan Zhi people.

Though He Qifeng and Yan Zhi people sought different things from Lu Ran, their emotions were identical.

Lu Ran: "."

He'd been thinking of recruiting He Qifeng—but now, this "lord" of hers was even more desperate to recruit him?

"Seriously, we need a way to establish contact," Lu Ran said quickly.

"Master," came Yu Changsheng's voice from behind.

"Master Feng?"

"I can leave my Smoke Rain Fan with He Tianjiao," Yu Changsheng picked up his folding fan.

He Qifeng immediately realized this paper fan was a divine weapon!

And this Sea Realm master willingly offered his divine weapon to ease Lu Ran's burdens.

He Qifeng's emotions reached an extreme complexity.

Awe, mixed with quiet sighs.

Lu Ran already had a powerful core team, and his subordinates were utterly loyal.

With his ability, wouldn't he grow even stronger in the future?

Her hope of recruiting Lu Ran grew ever fainter.

The two, one male, one female, each harbored private thoughts.

"No, Master," Lu Ran raised his hand, and the Jingye Dao, still in its scabbard, flew out.

This was a perfect chance to win hearts!

Since he wanted to recruit He Qifeng, the act of entrusting a divine weapon should come from him—the sect master.

Every time He Qifeng used this blade in the future, she'd remember the master of Ran Men!

"Here!" Lu Ran shoved the Jingye Dao into He Qifeng's arms, "Take it. From now on, we help each other, communicate in real time."

Yu Changsheng nodded silently—his master had some insight.

Quick to understand.

He Qifeng: "I—"

Lu Ran cut her off firmly: "Don't refuse yet. If I'm in trouble, I'll call on you through the Jingye Dao."

He Qifeng fell silent, slowly drawing the blade from its scabbard.

She recognized the Jingye Dao.

She'd studied the recordings of Lu Ran's "Tianjiao" countless times.

She never imagined one day this divine weapon—Jingye Dao—would be in her own hands.

"Agreed?" Lu Ran asked.

He Qifeng extended two fingers, gently tracing the blade's surface, reluctant to let go.

Though Wu Seng sect appeared to favor staves, they were in truth weapon masters, proficient in many arms.

Because their sect possessed a technique—Three Bodies in Wrathful Gaze!

Meaning, Wu Seng disciples began preparing for three heads and six arms from the moment they entered.

Earlier, in the "Tianjiao" recordings, when He Qifeng activated her three heads and six arms, one of her bodies wielded a sword and a blade.

"Snap!"

He Qifeng sheathed the blade, looked at Lu Ran: "When I forge my own divine weapon, I'll leave it with you too!"

"Good! Spoken like a true warrior!" Lu Ran nodded immediately.

He Qifeng hugged the Jingye Dao close, openly showing her affection and reverence for the blade, sighing: "Too bad I lost my staff—it was nearly a divine weapon."

Lu Ran blinked: "That golden staff… was yours?"

He Qifeng froze: "The Nine-Ring Golden Staff… is also with you?"

Lu Ran: "."

Poor Wu Seng girl—you were basically farmed as a boss by the Shi siblings?

And you even dropped a big haul?!

Dropped the Divine Artifact—Wind Barrier Jewel—and the divine weapon embryo—Nine-Ring Golden Staff!

Lu Ran frowned: "Didn't you use twin blades, a staff, and a spear in the 'Tianjiao' recordings?"

That's why Lu Ran had assumed the staff belonged to Wu Lie's disciple—he hadn't questioned the prisoner closely.

He Qifeng: "That staff was given to me by my family elders before I went on pilgrimage to Songshan and challenged the Divine Ruins."

"Ah, then it's settled," Lu Ran nodded immediately, "I'll return it to you soon."

"Mm." He Qifeng lowered her head slightly—her cheeks flushed red!

She had always longed to recruit Lu Ran, but since they met, she was the one being cared for.

When you owe someone a debt, you can't muster up any defiance.

It's utterly humiliating.

Lu Ran watched her expression and could easily guess her mental state—he was naturally pleased to see this.

Yes! Absolutely right!

He Qi Feng, my future Divine General of the Burn Sect, go ahead and rack up more debts to me.

There'll be a day you repay me!

Hehe~

【Jiye, I'm counting on you.】Lu Ran linked his spirit with Jiye Blade, 【She is my future Divine General, destined to serve me—please act as the bridge.】

A divine weapon recognizes its master and remains utterly loyal—it naturally serves its sovereign.

Jiye Blade had heard every word and knew that if its master were in danger, it could summon aid through itself.

It raised no objection, merely replied: 【Tell her I prefer silence.】

【Got it.】Lu Ran responded in his mind, then gave He Qi Feng detailed instructions.

As he finished his arrangements, Yu Changsheng offered his congratulations: "Congratulations, Sect Master. We're no longer alone."

From now on, when we roam the Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm, we'll have a reliable ally."

He Qi Feng didn't just have the Great Wind Hall—she was backed by Wu Jifeng!

"Mm." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

He Qi Feng finally regained some face!

She pressed on, reminding him: "Lu Ran, building your influence is important, but don't neglect your own cultivation."

Lu Ran: "."

Shouldn't I be the one saying that to you?

How did you beat me to it again?

He Qi Feng stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ran: "We build up our strength, and our ultimate goal is always to ascend to Heaven!"

Lu Ran said: "Master Yu calls it 'Ascension.'"

"Ascend to Heaven, Ascension—it doesn't matter what you call it." He Qi Feng's expression turned serious. "Every step higher brings us closer to the gods."

Lu Ran nodded firmly.

He Qi Feng shifted tone, confident: "You took first place on The Heavenly Prodigies, but here, I won't let you lead. I'll gather elite troops and be the first to Ascend!"

Lu Ran suddenly said: "You're planning to take my Jiye Blade and run?"

Lu Ran suddenly blurted out: "Are you running off with my Silent Night Blade?"

"We must act together." Lu Ran said seriously. "Remember—our goal is the same."

He Qi Feng immediately seized the opening: "Then why don't you join the Great Wind Hall? Let's join forces and build our grand cause!"

Lu Ran nodded lightly: "Why don't you join the Burn Sect? Let's grow strong together and create glory?"

Lu Ran nodded lightly: "Why don't you join the Rans Gate, He Qi? Let's grow big and strong together and build something glorious."

Lu Ran: "."

The two stared at each other for several seconds before bursting into laughter simultaneously.

He Qi Feng dropped the old topic and changed the subject: "I plan to clear out the Deadwood Forest. These Tree-Face Demons keep spreading northward, getting closer to Wu Jifeng."

"Great, I'll come with you." Lu Ran's eyes lit up. "Let's kill plenty!"

Isn't this free labor?

You guys go wild slashing—I'll just gobble up the spoils!

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)