Chapter 899: S. Xianxian?

The advancement of divine weapons far outpaces the cultivation progress of humans.

After all, awakening a divine weapon's domain hinges on insight.

Soon, Lu Ran received a voice transmission from Yan Shuangzi: 【Master.】

【Congratulations!】 Lu Ran immediately offered his congratulations and asked, 【What's the domain's effect?】

【Crescent Moon.】

【Explain?】 Lu Ran was both eager and puzzled.

【I can slash out a crescent-shaped cut, which can remain suspended in the air at my will—or vanish instantly.】

Lu Ran: "."

Is this a divine weapon's domain?

Sounds like a minor technique, doesn't it?

Look at the Radiant Light Blade's domain—Radiant Clouds and Auspicious Mists—that's something capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Recall what Liao Wushuang's divine weapon unleashed in Beifeng City—it summoned countless wind blades within a certain range!

Dense, overlapping, crisscrossing.

The scene was spectacular, as if ready to slice the enemy into a thousand pieces!

Yet this Evil Moon Crescent's domain…

【Are you dissatisfied, Master?】

【Satisfied? Of course I'm satisfied! This is a divine weapon's domain!】 Lu Ran lied quickly.

He feared Yan Shuangzi might do something extreme.

Lu Ran continued transmitting: 【I assume the cut you make has devastating power… Wait! You said the crescent is suspended, not thrown?】

【It's suspended. Anything that touches the crescent has its flesh torn and wounds fester.】

Lu Ran's mouth dropped open into an "O"!

Flesh torn, wounds festering?

Of course!

How bad could a divine weapon's domain possibly be?

Think of it another way—this "minor trick" has its own advantages.

For example, the Radiant Light domain, once activated, creates a huge disturbance; enemies will inevitably sense it.

But with the Evil Moon Crescent, a sudden crescent slashes out—how could anyone react in time?

Lu Ran felt reassured and transmitted: 【Come to the cave at the cliff base.】

【Yes!】 Inside the meditation chamber, Yan Shuangzi gripped the Evil Moon Crescent, and her figure vanished in a flash.

Lu Ran, meanwhile, found the corpse inside the mountain's interior—the very one who had first landed and dug the tunnel.

When he left the tunnel earlier, Lu Ran had only taken the divine power bead; the corpse had been left behind.

Moments later, a full-length mirror quietly activated in the cliff-base cave.

Lu Ran stepped out carrying the corpse, tossed the "Hard Man" onto the ground, and turned to Yan Shuangzi:

"Go ahead—show me."

Yan Shuangzi clenched the black ice crescent and slashed horizontally with a sudden strike.

A crescent appeared—pitch black as ink.

This black arc hung suspended in midair, blending seamlessly into the dark surroundings.

"Damn," Lu Ran grinned.

So sneaky?

The cave Lu Ran stood in faced the sea, nestled at the bottom of Cloud Sea Cliff, with thin mist swirling inside.

Without the mist as a backdrop, Lu Ran might not have spotted the black crescent with his naked eyes.

Yan Shuangzi traced the corpse's location guided by the Evil Moon Crescent.

"Sss!"

The black crescent hung horizontally in midair; the corpse was tossed vertically toward it.

Instantly, the body was severed at the waist!

Two halves fell to the ground, their cross-sections stained with a layer of black energy.

Like ink!

The flesh soaked in ink was visibly decaying.

"Huh?" Lu Ran widened his eyes in genuine shock.

Yan Shuangzi silently sheathed the blade and stood still.

After a long while, Lu Ran looked at Yan Shuangzi, filled with awe: "How did you ever awaken such a unique domain?"

Lu Ran asked himself—if he were in her place, he'd never conceive of, let alone unlock, this domain in a lifetime.

Yan Shuangzi replied honestly: "I traced the outline of the Evil Moon Crescent with my finger, as usual, and unconsciously shaped a crescent moon in my mind.

After that, the Evil Moon Crescent guided me—it's been a divine weapon for over a decade and has accumulated its own insights."

Lu Ran marveled: "The effect of making wounds fester is so unique—it's all thanks to the Evil Moon Crescent's guidance…"

Yan Shuangzi whispered: "In this, the Evil Moon is grateful to me."

"Huh?" Lu Ran was surprised. "This direction of insight wasn't provided by the Evil Moon—it came from you?"

Yan Shuangzi shook her head: "I didn't consciously think of it. It just happened naturally."

Hearing this, Lu Ran was even more astonished: "This…"

If someone else were astonished, Yan Shuangzi would likely fall silent.

But facing Lu Ran, she answered honestly, softly: "Maybe… I've always longed to tear their flesh and crush their bones."

Lu Ran stared at Yan Shuangzi, frozen.

He knew exactly who "they" were.

Blade Ridge had inflicted upon her an indelible wound—a dual blow to body and spirit.

Since Lu Ran rescued her, she had always seen herself as a stray dog, a vicious hound.

Even when Lu Ran asked her to choose a codename, she immediately insisted on "Vicious Hound."

Only because Lu Ran couldn't bear her self-degradation did he forcibly change "Hound" to "Shadow."

Yan Shuangzi once said she lived like a dog.

In the mortal world, she was the foolish hound of the god—North Wind.

At Blade Ridge, she was a blind dog, slaughtered and tormented at will.

Since they wanted her to be a dog, she would fulfill their wish—tear their flesh, crush their bones.

Lu Ran suddenly realized something!

Yan Shuangzi didn't first sketch the black crescent arc and then gradually deepen her insight to unlock the domain.

She had the obsession—"tear and crush the enemy"—and only then could her mind conjure the black crescent.

The black crescent was merely the surface, the outward manifestation.

The true power of this divine weapon's domain was to make the enemy's flesh rot.

Yan Shuangzi's obsession resonated perfectly with the domain's core.

That's why she could lead the Evil Moon Crescent to the correct path of insight.

"Shadow," Lu Ran sighed heavily.

Yan Shuangzi bowed her head, silent.

Lu Ran stepped forward, carefully avoiding the still-hanging black crescent, and reached her.

His expression complex, he placed a hand on her shoulder: "I swear to you—we will return to Blade Ridge!

I will make sure you get justice!"

Yan Shuangzi knelt on one knee, head bowed low.

Lu Ran opened his mouth, hesitated, then finally said: "Dispose of the corpse, return to the cliff top, resume your guard duty."

"Yes!" Yan Shuangzi replied firmly.

Lu Ran patted her shoulder once more, then vanished in a flash.

Soon, the Evil Moon Crescent joined the patrol.

Alongside the Radiant Light Blade, the Colorful Bow, and the One River Mist Fan, it flew around Cloud Sea Cliff, searching for any hidden enemies.

As for Yu Changsheng's other divine weapon—the Cold Moon Sword—it did not join the patrol.

This sword had never been claimed; even before a godlike figure like Yu Changsheng, it remained unmoved.

You want me to open my heart to you?

Forget it.

Use me if you want—I won't run—but don't expect me to perform well.

My motto: no initiative, no refusal, no responsibility.

Like a damn asshole.

Yu Changsheng still has a long road ahead if he wants to truly possess this divine weapon.

In the following days, Lu Ran remained on edge.

He absorbed the dense divine power of heaven and earth, nurturing himself while vigilantly guarding Cloud Sea Cliff.

Fortunately, the days remained peaceful.

Until the afternoon of the twenty-ninth day of the fifth lunar month, the mist in the heavens and earth gradually thinned.

Lu Ran received the news at once.

Because the Fiery Phoenix Pattern Gourd had remained inside the meditation chamber, placed directly on the ground before Xun Yifei.

A ripple of wind emanating from Xun Yifei's body blew the Fiery Phoenix Pattern Gourd several meters away!

Had Little Fiery Phoenix not reacted swiftly and stabilized itself midair, it might have been embedded in the wall.

"Success?" Lu Ran rejoiced, sensing Little Fiery Phoenix's thoughts.

The spirit of this artifact was intriguing—it rarely spoke, and whenever Lu Ran connected with its master's mind, what he felt were mostly Little Fiery Phoenix's emotional fluctuations.

Lu Ran immediately went to the back of the council hall.

Inside the body of Yunhai Cliff, there were seven meditation chambers, each with a different entrance.

Lu Ran waited a moment, and the Fiery Phoenix Pattern Gourd flew out from the grove.

"Huh~"

The gourd circled Lu Ran, its intricate golden phoenix patterns shimmering with brilliant light.

"Did you eat well?" Lu Ran couldn't help but smile.

The Fiery Phoenix Pattern Gourd flew in a wavy line, clearly in high spirits.

"Master!" Xun Yifei also stepped out of the dense woods, hurrying forward to bow to Lu Ran.

"Good, good, good!" Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, scanning his top general from head to toe.

Xun Yifei had just successfully advanced, and traces of divine essence still clung to him.

Especially those eyes, once filled with age and weariness, now glowed brilliantly—filling Lu Ran with joy.

"Thank you, Master, for your protection. Thank you, fellow officers," Xun Yifei said in gratitude.

Behind Lu Ran, the Ranyi Sect's officers gathered.

They too had sensed the mist thinning and rushed over, now offering their congratulations to Xun Yifei.

After several days of heavy atmosphere, Yunhai Cliff finally showed signs of relief and cheer.

Lu Ran smiled: "Xun, you'd best stay inside the meditation chamber a few more days to solidify your realm."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Ran's expression changed—he immediately sent a mental message: 【What's wrong, Xiaguang? Enemy?】

Xiaguang Dao: 【No enemy detected. It wasn't me calling you.】

Lu Ran froze. Hadn't it been Xiaguang Dao who called him?

Then—

【Master!】

【Jiye? What's wrong?】Lu Ran's heart tightened instantly.

Jiye Dao was always perfectly silent. What could be so grave that it would speak up on its own?

Jiye Dao: 【Your friend.】

Lu Ran's face darkened. "He Qi Feng? Did you suffer an attack?"

Jiye Dao replied: 【No. It's your other friend—the maid of the mistress.】

Lu Ran felt his mind explode.

Si. Si Xianxian?!

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(End of Chapter)