Chapter 919: Worthless

Deng Yu hated Tian Tu Mountain with every fiber of her being!

When she and Lu Ran first arrived, the entire Tian Tu Mountain faction, led by Lady Luo, gave them a harsh lesson.

If not for their formidable strength, they would have been brutally killed in the mountains on the very second day after entering Sheng Ling Mountain!

Deng Yu's hatred for Tian Tu Mountain went far beyond that.

After that ambush, they encountered the people of Tian Tu Mountain again—this time led by the chieftain Luo Tiantu and a gang of villains.

Unlike last time, Luo Tiantu and Lady Kong were both Hai Jing cultivators and had no interest in playing pretend.

The haughty, towering Hai Jing masters ordered Lu Ran and Deng Yu to hand over their divine weapons and artifacts—and demanded their lives.

Deng Yu would never forget the faces of those people.

She remembered that helplessness all too well.

On the battlefield, she was the first to flee.

Though Deng Yu had obeyed Lu Ran's orders, it was a humiliation she could never forget.

She wanted to protect Lu Ran, but

she became a burden.

For a cultivator as fiercely proud as her, this humiliation had become a psychological wound.

Lu Ran had once promised her that once she reached Hai Jing, they would return to confront Tian Tu Mountain.

Now, the time had come!

"Return to your meditation chamber first and stabilize your realm," Lu Ran said softly.

Deng Yu suddenly raised her hand—Lu Ran's body tensed instantly!

There was no helping it; her every gesture, now that she had just reached Hai Jing, radiated overwhelming pressure.

Deng Yu placed one hand gently on Lu Ran's chest, smoothing his disheveled straw cloak, her voice equally soft:

"Then, we go to Tian Tu Mountain?"

Lu Ran looked at the woman; her gaze met his without flinching, steady and unwavering.

In front of others, Deng Yu always treated Lu Ran with utmost respect.

As the First Guardian of Ruan Men, she led by example, showing everyone how to properly address the Lord of the Sect.

But now—

Deng Yu wasn't being reckless, but such intimacy was usually reserved for their private moments.

In a way, it was a kind of favoritism-driven boldness, subtly urging him.

"I thought being impatient was always my specialty," Lu Ran said with a smile.

Deng Yu's fingers, resting on Lu Ran's collar, paused slightly.

She lifted her eyelids and gave him a look—half-reproachful, half-playful.

That fleeting glance sent a shiver through Lu Ran's bones!

What a terrifying Hai Jing master!

Utterly imposing!

Yet her gaze wasn't angry—not even a true glare.

Lu Ran was paralyzed.

He steadied his breath and whispered, "Not yet. These past few days since your breakthrough, everyone is exhausted. They need rest."

"Besides, use this time to solidify your realm and practice the Hai Jing technique of the Yè Mèi clan."

Deng Yu, still possessing some conscience, averted her gaze to spare Lu Ran embarrassment.

"Go back to your meditation chamber," Lu Ran said softly.

"Mm." Deng Yu nodded gently, smoothed the fabric over Lu Ran's chest, and turned to leave.

Lu Ran watched her back, exhaling slowly in relief.

Clearly, a cultivator's realm had a profound effect on their mindset.

But among humans, the transition from River to Sea was not the most drastic transformation.

The true metamorphosis came when one crossed from Stream to River!

They stopped treating people like people at all.

【By the way, during your breakthrough, Evil Shadow also advanced to River Jing Stage Two.】

【Oh?】 Deng Yu halted mid-step and turned to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran nodded slightly and suggested, 【If you have time, go congratulate her.】

【Mm, okay.】

"Thank you all," Lu Ran bowed to the group, his hands clasped. "Rest well over the next few days. Our next mission will be discussed after the seventh of the month."

"Yes!"

"Yes!" The others responded in unison and dispersed.

Yu Changsheng and Si Xianxian stayed behind.

With a soft "whoosh," Yu Changsheng unfurled his fan and gently fanned himself, smiling at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran felt a chill crawl up his spine.

"Master Yu, why are you smiling?" Lu Ran finally couldn't hold back and asked.

"The Lord of the Sect was clearly terrified by the Nightmare Guardian," Yu Changsheng replied with a smile.

Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

"Hah!" Yu Changsheng laughed heartily. "Once the momentum of the Nightmare Guardian's breakthrough fades in a few days, things will settle down."

"I hope so," Lu Ran replied noncommittally.

Yu Changsheng, Xun Yifei, and Luo Ying were all Hai Jing cultivators—and all ranked higher than Deng Yu.

If Lu Ran could adapt to those three Hai Jing masters, he could adapt to Deng Yu too.

But Lu Ran knew deep down: Deng Yu was different. She was a prodigy among prodigies!

A blade of razor-sharp edge!

Among the original three Hai Jing of Ruan Men, Yu Changsheng was elegant and free-spirited, Xun Yifei was weathered and reserved, and Luo Ying was a gentle mother.

These three could surpass Deng Yu in realm, but in aura—

Deng Yu's piercing sharpness was something none of them could match.

Sigh.

I hope my life gets a little easier from now on, Lu Ran thought silently.

"Lord Lu, tell me about Tian Tu Mountain," Yu Changsheng said softly.

"Oh." Lu Ran nodded gently and began to explain.

Si Xianxian listened quietly beside him, her fists clenching the Fēngfēng Hammer (Black Obsidian Mallet) as fury built within her.

The name had an amusing origin.

Si Xianxian had always lived under her mother's strict control—this forbidden, that prohibited.

Her mother had also demanded her daughter remain calm, never lose her temper.

As a result, the Black Obsidian Mallet was named "Mount Tai Mallet," as Si Caiqin hoped her daughter would stand as steady as Mount Tai.

Si Xianxian hated the name and rebelled inwardly, secretly calling it "Fēng Hammer."

Once, she accidentally let it slip—and her mother heard. Naturally, she was scolded.

Si Xianxian stamped her foot in rage and decided to go all out.

"You don't want me to? Then I will!"

"You're going to scold me, are you?"

Fine! It's not Fēng Hammer anymore—from today, it's Fēngfēng Hammer!

"Still going to scold me?"

Then it'll be Fēngfēngfēng Hammer!

Lu Ran still remembered the expression on his face the first time he heard this story.

"These bastards! They've bullied us too much! They deserve to die!" Si Xianxian, unable to contain herself as Lu Ran spoke, spat out the curse with blazing eyes.

"These bastards! This is too much! Damn it!" Xi Xianxian, frowning angrily as she listened to Lu Ran's account, couldn't hold back her fury and cursed loudly.

Lu Ran looked at Si Xianxian with extreme gentleness. "Control yourself. I'm talking with Master Yu."

"Oh." Si Xianxian pouted, turned her head to the Fēngfēng Hammer, and traced the patterns on its handle with her fingertip.

Yu Changsheng gently fanned his paper fan: "No wonder the Nightmare Guardian harbors such hatred. If that's the case, we must remove this thorn from our flesh as soon as possible."

"Quick revenge will let the Nightmare Guardian's mind clear, aiding her growth."

Obsessions and past hatreds can fuel a person's growth.

Some obsessions cannot yet be fulfilled—like toppling the North Wind. Attempting it now would be sheer madness.

But when you have the qualification to achieve a goal, you must strive to accomplish it without hesitation!

"Mm." Lu Ran nodded in agreement and went on to describe Tian Tu Mountain's general strength.

But this information was from half a year ago—possibly outdated, useful only as a reference.

After finishing, Lu Ran added, "Master Yu, return to rest. Also, draft a revenge plan for me. In two days, we'll discuss it in the Council Hall."

"Yes!" Yu Changsheng replied softly and turned to leave.

Lu Ran turned to the side: "Sister Xian, did you need something?"

Lu Ran turned his head to the side: "Sister Xian, did you need something?"

Si Xianxian looked up at Lu Ran: "Aren't we going to have a proper chat about how you rejected me last time?"

"No no no!" Lu Ran waved his hands hastily. "I never rejected you—that was just a tactic to push you to train harder."

Si Xianxian didn't press it, but snapped, "Then you're taking me on this mission. I'm going to blow those bastards to pieces!"

Lu Ran's expression turned strange. "You've gotten angrier lately."

"Hmph." Si Xianxian sneered. "This promotion finally made it clear to me!"

"If you want to advance fast, you've got to just let loose!"

Lu Ran: "."

Si Xianxian spoke with confidence: "I'm no longer Lie Tian's slave. I'm no longer under the gods' control!"

"No matter how angry I get, no outside force can interfere—I'm fully in charge of myself now."

Lu Ran stayed silent, making no judgment.

"What? You don't believe me?" Si Xianxian raised an eyebrow slightly.

"If you're confident, that's best," Lu Ran patted the girl on the shoulder. "But don't attack indiscriminately. Treat your own people better."

June weather, Si Xianxian's face.

Just moments ago she'd been glaring—now she smiled sweetly. "Young Master~ I'm not heartless. Of course I'll treat you well!"

Lu Ran: "."

"So it's settled—you're taking me on this mission!"

"We'll see how you perform," Lu Ran replied offhandedly, a few figures flashing through his mind.

Luo Tiantu, Lady Kong.

Deng Yu's hatred ran deep—wasn't Lu Ran's just as fierce?

Through the captives from the Tian Tu Mountain bandits, Lu Ran knew clearly: Tian Tu Mountain was a nest of ruthless monsters.

They deserved to die!

Just do it!

Until now, Lu Ran had only fought individuals or small squads within organizations.

This time, it was his first full-scale war between factions since entering the mountains!

Lu Ran licked his lips, his gaze growing colder.

Meanwhile, in the eastern-central region of the Sacred Spirit Mountain Continent, within a forest.

Two figures in elegant white robes, surrounded by jade tablets, flew through the trees.

Around them, ten men and women in dark clothing followed closely, like attendants.

Another pair did not fly—they sprinted swiftly through the forest.

These two had no jade tablets surrounding them; their weapons were, of all things, halberds?

"Lord Luo, we've detected a wisp of Sacred Spirit energy!" one of the dark-clad men reported.

"Hmm." Luo Tiantu floated gently to the ground.

"Lord Luo!" A sharp, resonant voice rang out—it came from the woman wielding the halberd.

Luo Tiantu looked over, expressionless.

Vast as the ocean, majestic as heaven!

Yet the halberd-wielding pair showed no fear—not even on the surface.

"You've already taken several wisps of Sacred Spirit energy!"

From behind Lady Kong, a furious female voice spoke up.

The halberd-wielding woman glanced dismissively at the servant girl, said nothing, and turned back to Luo Tiantu.

Such contempt enraged the young woman!

"Ladies and gentlemen, please proceed," Luo Tiantu nodded slightly.

They bowed in thanks; the man's body crackled with lightning as he raced toward the Sacred Spirit energy.

Behind Lady Kong, the young woman was seething.

She stepped forward, whispering bitterly: "My Lady, these two from Jiang Jing have no sense of propriety…"

Lady Kong looked at her new maid: "These two from Jingting Mountain were specially invited. Since we agreed to the rules, we must abide by them."

The maid pouted silently, daring not to speak aloud, but cursed inwardly:

One ambush and you lost your nerve!

A Sea Realm powerhouse? You're a disgrace!

Every time we come out to gather resources, we have to give some to the Dongting believers first—I'm sick of it! Are we just your running dogs?

When was the last time you two were attacked?

Almost half a year ago, right?

That guy's probably dead somewhere by now! Yet you still tiptoe around like rats!

How did I end up serving such a coward?

(End of Chapter)