Chapter 911: The Merman

Lu Ran carefully searched and captured the souls of sixteen Sea Shark people.

Among them, eleven were River Realm souls, and five were River-Flow Realm souls.

Lu Ran's mind buzzed as the demonic sculptures in the Sculpture Garden expanded in number.

Mist Realm, Creek Realm, River Realm!

River Realm, First Stage, Second Stage.

Before reaching River-Flow Realm, the sculptures upgraded rapidly, giving Lu Ran immediate feedback.

Finally, the Sea Shark demonic sculptures fell silent.

Lu Ran returned to the sea surface, silently marveling: These guys really had something—how did their souls absorb so much Sacred Spirit Qi?!

"River Realm, Third Stage," Lu Ran murmured, his heart stirring with excitement.

Aside from the Sea Shark clan's River-Flow Realm ultimate technique, he had equipped all six other techniques!

"Congratulations, Master?"

Yu Changsheng stood several meters away on the sea surface, speaking tentatively.

Xun Yifei remained submerged, keeping watch beneath their feet, occasionally glancing upward to observe Lu Ran's condition.

Just then, he saw Lu Ran smile and give a slight nod to Yu Changsheng beside him.

Xun Yifei's eyes suddenly narrowed!

Lu Ran reached sideways with one hand, and from the tips of his fingers, tiny droplets of water shot out continuously.

"Pili pala."

As the droplets struck the sea surface, they exploded one after another.

Sea Shark Demonic Art: Sea Shark Thousand Droplets!

"We can blast fish now," Lu Ran said, dismissing the technique and shaking his damp palms.

Instantly, a special water veil enveloped his body.

Sea Shark Demonic Art: Sea Shark Concealment!

This illusion allowed Lu Ran to merge with the ocean and vanish within it.

But now, he was on the sea surface.

So Lu Ran wasn't truly invisible—Yu Changsheng and Xun Yifei could still see his bodily outline with their naked eyes.

"Kinda cool, huh?" Lu Ran dismissed the Sea Shark Concealment, his face brimming with excitement.

Yu Changsheng agreed wholeheartedly, nodding with a smile.

"Let me show you something even more interesting!"

Lu Ran's divine power surged, and from his waist downward, a graceful fish tail rapidly grew.

Over two meters long!

The slender tail gleamed silver-white, like a magnificent flowing gown, shimmering with radiant light.

Demonic Art: Sea Shark Tail!

Yu Changsheng: "."

Xun Yifei: "."

Under the gaze of the two Sea Realm elders, Lu Ran had just transformed into this water-slicked form.

Whether it was beautiful or not was debatable.

But at least he was a merman!

This extravagantly ornate tail had truly remarkable effects!

After all, the Sea Shark people were not born with the ability to breathe underwater.

Before reaching Creek Realm, Third Stage, they had to surface periodically like dolphins or whales to breathe.

Once they reached Creek Realm, Third Stage and learned the Demonic Art: Sea Shark Tail, they could dive deep into the ocean.

This tail, woven from energy, perfectly fused with the Sea Shark person's own tail, granting them the ability to survive underwater and move with far greater agility and freedom in the sea.

Lu Ran had no tail.

Though his body structure didn't perfectly suit this technique, it didn't matter much.

Now, his legs were wrapped in the ornate fish tail; to the naked eye, his lower body was completely hidden.

"Plop."

Lu Ran dispelled the black gauze swirling around him and plunged into the sea.

"Gurgle gurgle~"

Lu Ran exhaled a stream of bubbles, his heart filled with delight.

He finally felt what swimming was like!

Previously, Lu Ran had always used the Ink Carp Demonic Art: Ink Carp Dance—whether ascending into the sky or diving into the sea, he felt as if he were in zero gravity.

In the air, he felt no gravity; in the water, no buoyancy.

But now—

Lu Ran tried moving his legs, and the long tail swayed up and down, propelling him forward.

"Wow!" he thought inwardly.

He swam on, glancing back at his beautiful fish tail.

Damn.

Who could resist this?!

Lu Ran played endlessly—the silver-white tail, like living skin, ensured he could keep playing underwater.

Yu Changsheng's expression grew peculiar as he watched Lu Ran below the surface, circling him in the water.

He suddenly realized: the mysterious, powerful Master was only nineteen years old.

Lu Ran's tail movements grew increasingly skilled, and he swam faster and faster!

"Puff!"

Lu Ran suddenly burst from the water, leaping high into the air, his tail flinging sparkling droplets.

He traced a beautiful arc through the air before plunging back into the sea.

Yu Changsheng watched this scene and couldn't help smiling inwardly.

Lu Ran's overall appearance was truly bizarre.

The green cape and blue hat clashed completely with the exquisite silver-white tail below.

But in the next instant, Yu Changsheng's eyes revealed a trace of awe.

As Lu Ran plunged into the sea, he activated the Demonic Art: Sea Shark Concealment.

He vanished like a single drop of water, merging silently with the ocean, disappearing entirely.

Two words: seamless~

In the sea, Xun Yifei, who had been quietly observing, wore a faintly paternal expression.

Perhaps Lu Ran's childlike behavior reminded this young father of many things.

Xun Yifei knew well that his children could obtain desired divine arts and demonic arts by offering reverence to Lu Ran.

If his own two children could possess such a beautiful fish tail—

Wouldn't they enjoy playing with it too?

Xun Yifei thought to himself, and when he came back to his senses, Lu Ran was nowhere to be seen.

"Puff!"

After a long while, Lu Ran surfaced again, revealing his true form.

His upper body emerged above the water, his tail slowly swaying beneath: "Let's keep moving. Don't let any demonic beings we encounter escape!"

"Yes," Yu Changsheng immediately dove beneath the waves.

Lu Ran signaled to Xun Yifei, and the trio resumed their triangular formation, heading eastward.

They marched, they killed.

The sea was truly the domain of the Ink Carp and Sea Sharks.

The farther they moved from land, the more frequently Sea Shark clans appeared.

But with two Sea Realm elders as enforcers, Lu Ran's journey was peril-free—and he feasted with utter delight!

Unknowingly, the Sea Shark demonic sculpture reached River Realm, Fifth Stage.

At this level, the sculpture could no longer upgrade quickly; Lu Ran had no choice but to endure its constant vibrations.

"Ugh," Lu Ran rubbed his forehead, utterly exasperated.

In this state, his perception techniques were useless.

Once the demonic sculpture reached River-Flow Realm and he could create demonic minions, he could make some Sea Sharks to guard the team.

Wait!

Lu Ran's mind stirred.

Once he could create demonic minions, he wouldn't need to trudge on foot anymore!

He could ride a Sea Shark!

The Ink Carp moved slowly, but the Sea Sharks didn't—they wouldn't slow the group's pace.

Lu Ran thought this, and he did exactly that!

As soon as the Sea Shark demonic sculpture reached River-Flow Realm, Lu Ran halted their march and, under the protection of Yu and Xun, successfully created several River Realm, Fifth Stage Sea Sharks.

After brief instruction, Lu Ran ordered the Sea Sharks to scatter and surround the trio.

Thus, the squad's perception range expanded, and everyone became safer.

Lu Ran deliberately kept one sea-elf, but didn't ride on its back—instead, he let the sea-elf hold his hand and lead him forward.

It's definitely easier this way~

Besides, these bastards are seriously hot!

Bare-chested again, their elegant muscle contours were a pleasure to behold.

Luckily, Lu Ran is straight.

Even so, when Lu Ran removed the sea-elf's silver eye patch and saw a pair of flawless, beautiful silver eyes, he was momentarily dazed!

He quickly put the oddly shaped eye patch back on the sea-elf.

Damn!

Those eyes definitely need to be covered.

Purely a demon incarnate!

The sun set in the west; night descended.

As the Ran Sect squad traveled farther, the strength of the demonic clans they encountered surged!

Lu Ran's sea-elf guard force steadily dwindled, until only two remained.

In this deep-sea region, the River Realm demons were truly inadequate.

"Ah!" Lu Ran suddenly spoke, emitting a sonic wave.

Mist-grade demonic art: Song of the Sea-Elf!

Yu Xun and Er immediately reacted; under Lu Ran's signal, the three humans and two demons swiftly swam upward.

"Plop!"

Spray exploded in all directions.

Lu Ran dissolved his fish tail; a black cloud rose beneath his feet as he stood upon the sea's surface.

"Master?" Yu Changsheng was wrapped in a pale golden gauze that illuminated the surrounding night.

Lu Ran gazed up at the night sky and said, "Let's move through the air. The sea is dangerous, and we've been fighting all day. Hmm?"

Lu Ran fell silent, then suddenly rose on his cloud, gazing far into the distance.

Xun Yifei, with his clear-water pupils, followed Lu Ran's gaze and, through the vast darkness, faintly spotted an island.

"Master, I see the island!" Lu Ran exclaimed with surprise.

Yu Changsheng immediately replied, "Master, we must be cautious. Let's scout first before deciding whether to land."

"Hmm." Lu Ran pulled out the Crimson Phoenix-patterned gourd from his robe and drank deeply.

"Gulps… Ge ~"

Lu Ran wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and summoned an ancient bronze mirror with his other hand.

As the full-length mirror formed, a mirror appeared silently on the sea surface, hundreds of meters beyond the island.

The three humans and two demons entered one after another; Yu Changsheng dispersed his golden gauze, fearing detection by enemies.

Lu Ran rode his cloud through the pitch-black night, circling the island and observing closely.

The island was not large, but its trees were lush and dense.

Lu Ran searched for a long time but found no trace of Sacred Spirit energy. Just as he sighed inwardly in disappointment, his figure suddenly halted!

What was that?

Lu Ran's eyes widened slightly—beneath a large tree lay a beautiful woman, fast asleep?

Willow-leaf brows, cherry lips.

A slender gold bracelet adorned her wrist; golden pendants hung from her earlobes.

Her deep green low-cut gown revealed her sensual allure.

Isn't this the Golden Branch Jade Leaf—Evil Mirror Demon?

"Gulps." Lu Ran's Adam's apple bobbed.

Little demon, I've finally found you!

Lu Ran carefully drew out the Eight Wilderness Annihilation Blade, while internally roaring:

Please, Evil Mirror Demon!

I beg you, you've already drained the Sacred Spirit energy from dozens—even hundreds—of islands.

Please, after this strike, my River Realm, Second Stage Evil Mirror Demon statue will ascend straight to Sea Realm!

Come,

Take all the resources you've gathered in your lifetime, and throw yourself into the arms of the Demon Lord.

"Shhh!"

Lu Ran lunged forward with his blade, his body flashing instantly!

Ran Sect Sword Technique, Third Form: Shining Star!

(End of Chapter)