Chapter 907

When the Ruan Sect members returned to Yunhai Cliff, it was already dusk.

Throughout the journey, Si Xianxian had been dazed and disoriented.

In fact, since the Ruan Sect parted ways with Da Feng Tang, Si Xianxian had been stunned the moment Lu Ran activated the Evil Mirror Technique: Mirror Flower, Moon Reflection.

Fortunately, Lu Ran assigned her a trusted older sister—Deng Yuxiang.

On the return trip, Deng Yuxiang told Si Xianxian many things.

So many that Si Xianxian couldn't possibly absorb them all.

So many that after arriving at Yunhai Cliff, she ran off alone to the cliff's edge, gazing at the horizon where sea met sky, lost in thought.

The salty sea breeze brushed through her messy shoulder-length hair, stirring her thoughts into chaos.

Just dozens of meters away, Lu Ran stood silently beneath a large tree, watching the slender silhouette of the girl at the cliff.

Today, the sky over Sacred Spirit Mountain was unusually clear.

The setting sun, crimson as blood, painted Si Xianxian's slender outline in orange-red hues.

"Little Lu Ran."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran leaned against the tree and turned his head sideways.

Deng Yuxiang stepped beside the tree, gazing at Si Xianxian's back: "Long He and Jing Hong are already waiting in my residence. You can take Si Xianxian back anytime to sever her bond with the deity."

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Unlike Xun Luo and his wife, Yu Changsheng, and others, Si Xianxian worshipped the Deity Lie Tian!

She suffers torment every single day!

Therefore, for Si Xianxian, tearing up the contract must be done sooner rather than later.

Deng Yuxiang gently patted Lu Ran's shoulder and urged, "Go on, talk to her properly. She must take this step eventually."

"Mm." Lu Ran walked forward.

The contract between a deity and a believer isn't an ordinary sheet of paper—it can't be torn up casually.

At that moment, Si Xianxian will suffer severe blows to both her spirit and body.

In truth, the hardest hurdle is psychological.

After all, since childhood, people have been indoctrinated with "correct" beliefs.

Whether from family, school, society, or even the deity itself, countless efforts have been made to forge devout human believers.

Lu Ran organized his words and arrived behind Si Xianxian.

The girl sensed him and turned her head.

"Still crying?" Lu Ran's solemn expression was gone; he grinned mischievously.

"You're the one crying!" Si Xianxian whispered back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Now, she no longer had to live in constant fear or flee desperately from pursuers.

Precisely because of this, she finally had the peace and energy to think.

Si Xianxian sadly realized

she could no longer go back.

The mortal world wasn't wonderful, but it held her mother and Luoshan Mountain.

Now, everything there felt impossibly distant.

She had been deceived by Deity Lie Tian into going on pilgrimage—there was never any challenge to the Sacred Ruins.

Before she could react, she was instantly transported here.

Before the teleportation, the deity had specifically added one instruction:

"Follow your heart."

"Hmph." Si Xianxian closed her eyes, her smile bitter.

But unlike those Lie Tian believers, she didn't want to act recklessly or vent in rage.

She didn't want to kill until the world turned dark and she reached a dead end.

Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi, the flowers and grass of Luoshan Mountain, the distant evening glow—all were trying to save her.

Trying to calm her soul.

Yet, a lowly believer has no room to resist before the deity.

In the end, she still came to Sacred Spirit Mountain, dragged into the mud of "kill or be killed."

Fortunately.

Si Xianxian opened her eyes and saw Lu Ran standing beside her.

His smile was annoying, as if mocking her tear-stained embarrassment, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable.

Fortunately, he was here.

"You—" Si Xianxian opened her mouth, then froze.

Because Lu Ran held up a phantom warhammer.

"What's so surprising?" Lu Ran chuckled, hefting the hammer, flames igniting on its head.

"Lie Tian Hammer?" Si Xianxian stared at the weapon she knew too well.

"Didn't the Great Nightmare already tell you about my secrets on the way back? Didn't you see with your own eyes me use the Evil Mirror Technique?" As he spoke, flames erupted over Lu Ran's body. "Everything she said was true—I can infiltrate the ranks of gods and demons."

Lie Tian Divine Art: Flame Heavenly Champion!

"You're insane!" Si Xianxian panicked. "Even if this is your stronghold, you can't just activate Flame Heavenly Champion—"

Again, Si Xianxian's words cut off abruptly.

Because the flames engulfing Lu Ran suddenly vanished.

On the cliff's edge stood only a man still brimming with energy, grinning annoyingly.

Lu Ran whispered: "The Lie Tian divine statue in my mind belongs to me—I can do as I please.

Lu Ran whispered, "The Lie Tian Divine Sculpture in my mind belongs to me; I can do as I please with it."

In the future, I will be the master of this deity."

Si Xianxian stared at Lu Ran, speechless.

His voice was soft, yet to her ears, it sounded like thunderclaps.

Lu Ran continued: "I've kept this Lie Tian divine statue ready for you all along."

Lu Ran continued, "This Lie Tian Divine Sculpture has always been prepared for you."

"I've always wanted to help you escape this suffering."

Seeing Lu Ran's sincerity, Si Xianxian's heart warmed.

"Sign a contract with my divine statue—it has many benefits," Lu Ran suddenly grinned. "You can activate and deactivate the divine art whenever you want, just like me.

You'll never again be tormented by the deity's emotions."

Si Xianxian stared in shock: "Huh?"

Lu Ran nodded firmly: "You won't be an emotional trash bin anymore. The contract I'm offering you isn't a master-servant bond—it's an inheritance contract.

One day, you'll completely replace this divine statue. Lie Tian will cease to exist."

Si Xianxian listened, dazed.

Since meeting Lu Ran, she'd been perpetually confused.

This dazed little expression? Kind of cute?

Watching her hair tousled by the sea breeze, Lu Ran raised his hand and gently smoothed it.

He suddenly blurted: "Also, if you go crazy, throw tantrums, or explode at the slightest provocation after believing in me, that's entirely your own problem!

He suddenly blurted out, "Also, once you believe in me, if you still go wild, lose your temper, or explode at the slightest provocation, that'll be on you!"

Si Xianxian: "..."

"Hah!" Lu Ran burst out laughing.

Instantly, Si Xianxian snapped out of her daze and glared at Lu Ran.

Slowly, Lu Ran's smile faded; his gaze turned serious: "Xian'er-jie."

Slowly, Lu Ran's smile faded, his gaze serious: "Sister Xian."

"Don't believe in gods. Believe in me."

Si Xianxian bit her lip, lifting her eyes to Lu Ran.

The sea lay to the east; the sun set in the west.

Lu Ran faced south, watching the girl before him.

The last rays of sunset painted half his face in gold, leaving the other half in shadow.

Si Xianxian forced herself to look away, muttering softly: "Arrogant jerk."

"Come with me, Xian'er-jie," Lu Ran smiled. "I've already paved the way for you. I've already named you Protector of the Ruan Sect.

The Great Nightmare told you too—gods and demons are cruel, treating all living beings as slaves."

"Mm." Si Xianxian suddenly replied, lifting her gaze to Lu Ran.

Actually, you didn't need to say so much.

Ever since I met you in the mortal world, I've already been following you.

Lu Ran paused, his smile brightening: "I heard that."

Si Xianxian's expression hardened: "Fine. Tell me what I need to do."

"What you must do now is tear up your contract with Deity Lie Tian." Lu Ran patted her shoulder and led her into the forest.

"What you need to do now is tear up your contract with the Divine Flame Tian," Lu Ran said, patting her shoulder and leading her into the hills and woods.

Dozens of meters away, Deng Yu leaned against a large tree, arms crossed over her chest, watching the two approach.

She tilted her head slightly and said softly, "The Gate Master has agreed. Later, you'll explain it all to her."

On the other side of the tree, Yan Shuangzi also leaned against the trunk, letting out a faint "Mm."

Regarding the act of voluntarily tearing up the contract, Yan Shuangzi had the most authority to speak.

Though she deeply disliked recalling that painful past, for Lu Ran's sake—to recruit a loyal subordinate—Yan Shuangzi had no objection to remembering.

As Lu Ran and the others returned, Yan Shuangzi stepped out immediately.

"Follow her. She has something to say to you," Deng Yu patted Si Xianxian's back, nodding toward Yan Shuangzi, who led the way ahead.

Si Xianxian gazed at the tall figure, her expression complex.

She certainly recognized Yan Shuangzi.

Back in Beifeng City, she and Lu Ran had watched Yan Shuangzi challenge the Divine Ruins, witnessing her unmatched display there.

Yet the once proud and spirited woman had become this shadow of herself.

Si Xianxian suddenly felt a pang of relief.

Relief that she had met Lu Ran so early.

Otherwise,

"The key link to the divine contract lies within your own mind, within your spiritual realm," Yan Shuangzi spoke calmly, walking step by step toward Mengyan Ju.

Si Xianxian listened in silence.

"You know where it is—every time you pray, the faith energy you offer flows along that path."

"You must gather enough divine power in your brain and unleash it all at once, forcibly destroying that pathway."

"We humans are lowly. To sever ties with the gods completely, we must resort to this self-mutilating method."

Ten minutes later, Deng Yu's residence.

A piercing scream rang out, unnervingly shrill.

On the bed in the bedroom, Si Xianxian clutched her head with both hands, sweat beading on her forehead, veins bulging, her face deathly pale!

"Uhh~~~"

Jing Hong immediately blew the horn, soothing the wounded soul.

War Horn Divine Art: Soul-Soother Horn.

"Pop~"

"Pop~" The small golden Long Li and the small black Mo Li swam forward and backward, colliding against Si Xianxian's forehead.

Powerful healing techniques repaired her damaged brain.

Yet her cries continued long after.

Watching Si Xianxian's agony, Lu Ran felt deep pain.

Keep in mind, this is even after everyone has been caring for her together, continuously healing her body and soothing her spirit!

It's unimaginable how Yan Shuangzi managed to endure being locked alone in prison and forcibly forced to tear up the contract.

Lu Ran silently turned to look out the window, watching the sky grow darker.

Tomorrow will be better.

Tomorrow, you will become a guardian of the Ran Sect, just like the Evil Shadow.

Become that mad immortal.

(End of Chapter)