Chapter 912: My Moon

"Hm?"

The beautiful woman sleeping beneath the tree faintly sensed something and opened her drowsy eyes.

Instantly, her delicate body trembled slightly.

In those beautiful eyes, the lingering sleepiness vanished, replaced entirely by stunned shock.

The intruder was mysterious, clad in a wide green rain cape and blue bamboo hat, obscuring the starry sky above.

The mysterious figure knelt on her soft body, a Tang blade in hand, already piercing her brow.

"Sss!"

Even stranger, several strands of black mist clung to the blade, seeping through her beautiful skin and into her body, blocking her energy flow.

The Nijing demon instinctively raised her slender hand and gripped the intruder's sleeve tightly.

Her cherry lips parted, as if to cry out.

The intruder moved swiftly, one hand clamping over her mouth: "Shh, it's fine, it's fine, it'll be over soon."

The light in her eyes faded rapidly.

In barely two seconds, her hand went limp and fell to the ground.

Lu Ran slowly withdrew the blade, his hand resting on her tiny, lovely face as he closed her beautiful eyes.

For Lu Ran, destroying beauty was second nature.

Long ago, in the demonic den known as Silver Bay, he had slain countless girls—ah, charming little demons.

As he moved, Lu Ran scanned left and right, alert for any possible enemies.

The surroundings were utterly silent.

It seemed only this seductive little demon had been resting here.

"Puff~"

Lu Ran sank to his knees, pressing down onto the ground.

For beneath his knees, the woman's body shattered into energy, dissolving into thick mist.

Lu Ran inwardly whistled.

Damn.

This concentration, this volume of mist—this Nijing demon must have been at the peak of the River Realm!

If she'd fought back properly, with real weapons and real force, it would've taken serious effort!

Ambushes really are the most comfortable way~

Lu Ran pulled out the Chi Feng-patterned gourd from his robe and let it absorb the energy.

Meanwhile, in another dimension, the Nijing demon's soul was drawn inward, merging into Lu Ran's eyes.

"Hum!!"

Inside the Sculpture Garden of Gods and Demons, the Nijing demon's demonic statue trembled violently.

Lu Ran's face lit up with joy.

Yes! Perfect!

Keep shaking! Don't stop!

Lu Ran gripped the Chi Feng-patterned gourd and rose slowly; beneath his feet, a black cloud formed as he continued searching through the dense forest.

With the statues in the garden advancing in rank, Lu Ran could no longer clearly hear the sounds within.

But he still had his eyes, and his nose.

After careful inspection, Lu Ran felt a touch of disappointment—the island held only this one Nijing demon.

Lu Ran searched again, confirmed no other life remained, then returned to the sea and brought the others onto the island.

After assigning two Sea Jiaoren to patrol the island's perimeter, he told Yu Xun and the other: "Rest well tonight."

Yu Xunfei: "Master, I'll keep watch—you go rest."

"No," Lu Ran cut in. "We've traveled all day, and you two have fought all day—you need rest."

Along this journey, Lu Ran's Sea Jiaoren demonic statue had already reached River Realm, Stage Two!

Yu Xun and the other were undoubtedly the reason!

Lu Ran added: "Besides, with my current state, I couldn't sleep even if I tried—I'll take watch."

Before they could reply, he waved them off.

Seeing their master so determined, they said nothing more, finding a sheltered spot in the woods to sit and cultivate.

Lu Ran climbed to the island's highest point, hiding among the trees, watching all directions.

The lone island under nightfall was peaceful.

The waves rolled in rhythmically; when the sea breeze blew, leaves rustled softly.

Unfortunately, Lu Ran had no peace to enjoy this beauty.

In his spiritual realm, the demonic statues expanded steadily, humming and vibrating, keeping him restless.

Night deepened.

Lu Ran gazed at the bright moon over the sea, watching the beautiful white light spread across the water.

Though troubled, he found himself lost in thought.

Why did the Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm have sun, moon, and stars?

This place clearly wasn't Earth—why did it resemble humanity's homeland so closely?

Was this an alien planet nearly identical to Earth?

Or was this realm jointly created by gods and demons?

Everything he saw was false.

The lush, vibrant forests held no birds or beasts.

The seemingly vast, open sky held invisible energies that watched, ready to strike down anyone who dared fly upward, shattering their souls.

The Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm was undoubtedly a cage.

Like humanity trapped on Earth, everyone here lived within a great lie.

But the lie here was more naked.

The gods and demons didn't even bother pretending.

Lu Ran nodded inwardly.

To maintain long-term rule and preserve the human world's order, it was plausible the gods and demons built a human slaughterhouse.

So…

Lu Ran pushed aside thick branches, silently gazing at the moon over the sea.

After a long while, he murmured:

"Moon, moon, you're not my moon, are you?"

You shine on the Sacred Spirit Mountain, but not on the mortal world.

You shine on me, but not on her.

"Hmm." Lu Ran shook his head sharply, refusing to think further.

Afraid of overwhelming longing, afraid it would spiral out of control.

Since entering the mountains, Lu Ran had first let down his hardened shell at the edge of the Cloud Sea Cliff.

At that time, he had missed Jiang Ruyi terribly.

He had carelessly asked Yu Changsheng: "Do you think we can ever return to the mortal world?"

Long Mr.'s reply had been intriguing: "People's hearts are already dead—they no longer believe they can go home. But they all believe in you."

Since then, Lu Ran had sealed his heart, cutting ties with the mortal world.

He knew he was others' last hope—he had to be resolute, focused.

Until recently, when he met Si Xianxian, his inner seal had begun to crack.

Now, gazing at the moon, watching the mournful moonlight spread across the sea, his thoughts wandered.

It wasn't the moon of the mortal world.

Not the one that had accompanied him since childhood.

Not the one that had shone on their journey together on the fifteenth night.

"Boom!"

A thunderous roar suddenly echoed from high above.

Lu Ran's expression darkened.

He looked up at the starry night sky—but saw no source of the noise.

Suddenly, his mind also "thundered."

He pressed his hand to his forehead, rubbing his temples—the Nijing demon's demonic statue had advanced to River Realm, Stage Three!

And the statue didn't stop—it continued expanding.

Lu Ran adjusted his breathing, forcing himself to calm down.

"Boom!"

The violent sound came again, as if deliberately taunting him, refusing to let him rest.

"Huh~"

Black Caged Fire ignited along Lu Ran's body, soothing his turbulent emotions.

He felt that if this kept up, he might become a kind of heretical follower of Lie Tian.

He had been suffering from a pounding head, ringing ears, and restless anxiety, forced to endure the earth-shattering noises that beings far above him occasionally unleashed right atop his skull.

Frustrated and suffocated, his nerves were nearly collapsing!

Who wouldn't go mad, under these circumstances?

"Yaa!!" Another scream came from the side—clearly, the merfolk's "beautiful" voice.

Lu Ran's eyes widened, his temples throbbed violently!

Fuck! Did they all show up at once?

This world really wants to drive me insane!

Lu Ran whirled his head, shoved aside the tree branches, and gazed into the distance.

Though deeply irritated, he found himself facing a scene of unexpected serenity.

Beyond the island, on the still relatively calm sea, a dilapidated fishing boat drifted.

Standing upon it was a slightly hunched figure.

He wore a bamboo hat, a straw raincoat, and held a rusted fish spear in his hand.

From afar, he looked exactly like an old fisherman.

Demon Clan: Fisherman Old Man!

At that moment, Fisherman Old Man stood with one foot on the bow, gripping his spear, and thrust it fiercely into the sea.

"Yaa!!" The merfolk dodged nimbly while desperately casting spells; their piercing shrieks pierced the night, carrying far, far away.

Fisherman Old Man suddenly stepped back, and with a sudden grasp of his hands in midair—

A net woven entirely from flowing water materialized before him!

Simultaneously, the fishing boat beneath his feet shot backward at high speed, needing no human rowing—it moved as if guided by his will.

"Yoo~~~"

Fisherman Old Man sang out loudly.

Demon Art: Fisherman's Song!

Invisible sound waves spread outward, helping Fisherman Old Man locate his enemies in the sea. As the boat retreated swiftly, he flung his net toward the upper right.

"Yoo~~~"

From beyond the night, several more piercing songs echoed.

Lu Ran turned his head—he had shut off his demonic perception, but under the moonlight, he faintly saw six or seven small fishing boats speeding toward him.

On the bow of each boat stood an old fisherman.

"Hmph." Lu Ran sneered, drawing the Eight Wastes Annihilation Blade.

Fine, you've come at the perfect time!

I've been itching to vent all this rage.

"Boom!!"

Lu Ran's face froze.

The beings above the heavens truly seemed to be conspiring against Lu Ran, tormenting and punishing the puny human race.

Lu Ran, of course, refused to believe in fate!

Then I won't use demonic perception!

"Shhh~"

His figure flashed, appearing directly on the bow—right before Fisherman Old Man.

"Ah?" Fisherman Old Man was startled.

He had just cast his net and summoned a fish spear when a sudden human figure appeared before him.

Lu Ran didn't hesitate—he opened his mouth at once!

It was a high-pitched scream capable of destroying worlds.

"Yaa!!!"

Demon Art: Merfolk's Song!

Face-to-face kill?

Sort of—but before killing, it should be called a face-to-face sing.

Invisible sound waves, shaped like a megaphone, erupted from Lu Ran's mouth, engulfing the target ahead.

"Ah!" Fisherman Old Man's body shuddered violently.

Beneath the brim of his hat, his aged face was creased with pain, his fish spear slipping from his grasp.

His head felt ready to split, his mind in utter panic!

Lu Ran didn't care what you felt!

He belted out the Merfolk's Song while driving the Eight Wastes Annihilation Blade straight into Fisherman Old Man's skull.

"Ssssh!"

The blade pierced the skull!

Lu Ran stood firm, marching forward while impaling the demon—Fisherman Old Man.

Under the mournful moonlight, two figures—one tall, one short, both clad in bamboo hats and straw raincoats—walked from bow to stern, then tumbled together into the sea.

"Plop~"

As Lu Ran hit the water, a beautiful silver-white fish tail grew from his waist downward, like a flowing gown.

The long tail swayed back and forth.

Lu Ran kept his eyes tightly shut, moving nimbly through the sea.

Demonic perception could be punished.

But what about the Merfolk's perception-based demon art—Heart of the Sea?

Can you punish that too?

I don't have acute hearing or sharp sight!

I simply know the ocean's environment intimately and sense even the slightest shifts in water currents.

"Huu~"

Lu Ran swam with his graceful tail, following the ripples from the fishing boats, heading straight for the group of Fisherman Old Men!

Please, some moon tickets.

(End of Chapter)