Chapter 915: Jiang and Sea, Immortal and Nightmare

Mid-June, Lu Ran led his squad back in haste to Cloud Sea Cliff.

Because the Great Nightmare sent a voice warning, she finally received that spark of "sudden enlightenment" and activated her advancement mode.

Goal: Sea Realm!

It was less a spark of sudden enlightenment and more that she had long prepared profound insights and always possessed the absolute intellectual height required.

She was merely waiting patiently for the right opportunity.

And that opportunity arrived this very morning, the moment her fingers brushed the broken blade.

Every experience she had endured in North Wind City surfaced in her mind.

Especially the memory of Lu Ran vividly describing how the Divine Being—North Wind—casually waved his hand, ready to claim her life and seize her soul.

Deng Yu clenched the broken hilt, her beautiful eyes blazing with fierce determination, her divine power surging within!

And thus, she shattered her bottleneck!

Once a humble, insignificant human, she now ascends step by step, climbing fiercely toward the heavens.

When Lu Ran and the others reached dozens of kilometers from Cloud Sea Cliff, they saw the base shrouded in mist.

Dozens of mist tornadoes stretched between the sea cliff and the horizon.

The scene was breathtakingly magnificent!

"Master Yu." Lu Ran hovered in midair, summoning the ancient bronze mirror, "After returning to the cliff, patrol the entire area, arrange guard posts for all units, and check for any blind spots."

"Yes!" Yu Changsheng immediately obeyed.

"I'm heading to Ink Sea Bay to craft Sea Jiao people at the peak of River Realm." As he spoke, Lu Ran's technique was already taking shape.

Upon the cliff, a full-length mirror materialized, and three men clad in green capes and blue bamboo hats stepped out.

"Lord." Yan Shuangzi had been waiting here for some time.

"Hmm." The mist was too thick; Lu Ran stepped forward to see her face clearly, "Any fools come near?"

"So far, all is calm."

"Good." Lu Ran patted her shoulder, his expression grave, "Stand guard. Send a voice alert if anything happens."

"Yes!"

Instantly, Lu Ran's figure flickered and appeared at the rocks below the cliff.

He first drew the Radiant Light Blade, letting it patrol around the cliff, then extended one hand, focusing intently on crafting Sea Jiao people.

This voyage at sea brought Lu Ran great gains!

And he was utterly swamped!

Unfortunately, during this journey, Lu Ran found only one Immortal Island and failed to push the Lietianshensu into the Sea Realm.

But he located traces of the Nijing Clan, led his team to slay numerous minor demons, and successfully cultivated the Nijing demonic constructs to Sea Realm—Stage One!

Afterwards, with Yu Changsheng's help, Lu Ran selected and seized seven isolated islands.

He named them after the Big Dipper's seven stars.

Each island was remote, uninhabited, and cut off from the world.

Lu Ran assigned to each island one peak River Realm Nijing demon, one peak River Realm Sea Jiao, and one peak River Realm Black Lantern.

The Nijing demons' task was naturally to collect Sacred Spirit Qi.

The Sea Jiao's task was to guard the islands, preventing possible special demons like Fishermen from accidentally landing.

As for sea demons, Lu Ran explicitly ordered: if the enemy is weak, ambush them!

If the enemy is strong or numerous, the Sea Jiao must remain hidden at all times, staying concealed.

The demon Black Lantern serves as a healer; if any minor mishap occurs, Little Black Lantern can heal both companions.

Simply teaching these demons took Lu Ran tremendous effort!

Especially the Black Lantern clan!

These object-type demons were utterly idiotic.

Fortunately, humanoid demons like Nijing and Sea Jiao possessed considerable intellect.

And since Nijing demons themselves were Qiju users (bronze mirrors), she became an excellent teacher—the demon and the lantern coexisted peacefully, a harmonious scene.

But occupying an island doesn't mean it's yours just because you set foot on it.

Lu Ran and his team had to survey the surrounding seas.

Fortunately, Yu Xun's two Sea Realm experts proved highly capable, completing this extraordinarily difficult task.

Just how difficult?

During the selection and occupation of the isolated islands, Lu Ran's Sea Jiao demonic constructs even advanced to Sea Realm—Stage Two!

Imagine the series of brutal battles the Lu Gate trio endured!

Before setting sail, Lu Ran was merely a landlubber; even with the Ink Carp clan's demonic arts, he was nothing but a showy amateur with almost no naval combat experience.

Now, returned, Lu Ran had undergone a complete transformation!

He'd become a full-fledged naval elite.

Lu Ran placed great hopes on the seven islands he had fought so hard to seize.

He hoped that, after some time, when he returned to reclaim the Nijing demons, he could absorb a soul and vast amounts of Sacred Spirit Qi!

"Huh." Lu Ran exhaled deeply, energy churning before his palm.

"Divine power shapes the body; primordial qi builds the soul."

One after another, beautiful Sea Jiao took form beneath his hands.

Within the sculpture garden, the Sea Jiao demonic constructs had reached Sea Realm—Stage Two; on top of the original ten, Lu Ran could now craft two more River Realm Stage Five Sea Jiao.

Subtracting the seven Sea Jiao stationed at the Big Dipper Islands, Lu Ran filled his quota entirely, crafting five River Realm Stage Five Sea Jiao.

"Follow me!" Lu Ran gestured, leaping forward as a long, beautiful silver-white fish tail rapidly grew from his waist.

As he entered the water, Lu Ran transformed into a merman, leading his team far out into the sea.

After repeated training on the Seven-Star Islands, Lu Ran had developed small tricks for teaching the Sea Jiao.

He patiently instructed them, then brought the Sea Jiao squad to meet the Ink Carp team, adding two more peak River Realm Ink Carps.

More than an hour passed before Lu Ran finally returned to Cloud Sea Cliff.

"My god."

Lu Ran flickered into view, plopped down on the cliff's edge, then collapsed flat onto the ground.

Tired.

Exhausted!

Not just from rushing home and hard labor, but from the past half-month of relentless missions and constant mental strain.

Physically and mentally drained!

"Heh."

Lu Ran's chest rose and fell as he gasped for breath.

No!

He couldn't rest yet.

Seven peak River Realm Nijing demons remained on the Seven-Star Islands; he still had three summoning slots!

He needed to recall the River Realm Nijing demons inside Cloud Sea Cliff, then summon three higher-tier Nijing demons to guard the north, south, and west sides.

The Qianyuan Mirror's detection range extended five hundred meters in all directions!

The Nijing demons could continuously refresh the Qianyuan Mirror; once any living being approached, they'd report immediately!

Now, the eastern sea before Cloud Sea Cliff was adequately defended.

The other three sides needed enhanced defenses!

"Tired?" Lu Ran propped himself up, murmuring, "If you're this exhausted, just pretend you're asleep."

He pulled out the Flame Phoenix Gourd from his robe and drank deeply.

"Gulps gulps gulps… burp~"

"Shh!" As Lu Ran let out a burp, his figure flickered and vanished.

Long moments passed.

While Lu Ran was working inside a subterranean cave five hundred meters west of Cloud Sea Cliff, he suddenly sensed someone calling him.

Lu Ran immediately linked his spirit with several statues.

【Young Master? Are you… can you hear me?】 A familiar voice echoed in his mind.

Immortal Sister Xian, normally lawless and unrestrained, sounded timid.

It didn't feel like her.

【Immortal Sister Xian, what's wrong?】 Lu Ran asked with concern.

【You're back? Just now, Master Yu came to the meditation chamber and left me a Longlife Carp.】 Si Xianxi seemed hesitant, yet still asked, 【How was everything? Did it go well?】

【It went well enough.】 Lu Ran felt warmth in his chest, 【And you? Has your body recovered?】

He realized this voice call had nothing to do with missions—it was pure concern.

【I think I've recovered already? I feel I've fused very well with the Divine Construct.】 Si Xianxi's voice grew quieter, filled with shame, 【Thank you, Young Master.】

Lu Ran not only freed her from the torment of Divine Being Lie Tian, but also provided her with such dreamlike resources!

Yet half a month had passed, and she remained at River Realm Stage Five.

What made Si Xianxi even more ashamed was that Deng Yu had reached River Realm Stage Five!

Today, the top guardian of Lu Gate was advancing toward the Sea Realm!

Meanwhile, she hadn't moved an inch—couldn't even reach River Realm.

Lu Ran's voice was gentle: "You must strive to comprehend—just look at Sister Yu Xiang."

Si Xianxian's face burned like fire; she scratched her hair, embarrassed and furious.

She was already ashamed enough!

Then Lu Ran's words blew her right up!

Si Xianxian's eyebrows shot up in rage: "You're so good to me! Do you think I don't want to repay you?"

Lu Ran opened his mouth: "No, I—"

Si Xianxian: "Do you think I don't want to advance? How miserable do you think I am every single day, and yet you scold me?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Well then~

That speed, that intensity, that short temper!

After being brutally tormented by fate, Sister Xian's charm has finally returned.

Si Xianxian's fur was completely bristling, muttering nonstop: "This damn body just won't advance! Don't I want to smash Lie Tian's dog head? Don't I want to charge into battle for you... for you?"

Inside the meditation chamber, Si Xianxian, who had been frantically pouring out her energy, suddenly paused her telepathic outburst.

Her eyes widened slightly; she sensed something faintly.

"Whrrr!!"

A violent surge of energy erupted from within her.

"Huh?" Si Xianxian stared, dumbfounded.

What's going on?

It's... already a breakthrough?

This damn body... was it just waiting to be yelled at?

You should've said so sooner! I would've yelled... no, that's not it.

What truly matters is emotion—the ambition blazing beneath it—the desire to smash Lie Tian's dog head, to charge into battle for Lu Ran...

Si Xianxian quickly gathered her spirit, firmly reinforcing her inner resolve.

"Sorry, Sister Xian, I put too much pressure on you—please don't—"

"Shh! Don't speak—I'm advancing!"

Lu Ran:???

Wait, what?

Lu Ran stood frozen for a long moment, nearly laughing in exasperation.

What even is this? You yelled at me, and then you advanced?

You... hmm, well then, Sister Xian, yell more often from now on.

I like hearing it. Love it~

(End of Chapter)