Chapter 924: Found a Treasure

"Lord Lu."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran opened his eyes and turned his head.

Yu Changsheng led Bai Yanhui into the meeting hall.

Lu Ran's eyes lit up: "Old Bai can walk now."

Bai Yanhui had already bathed and changed clothes, his demeanor utterly transformed!

He was slender, draped in a white robe, his white hair and thick beard like snow, exuding an aura of immortal grace.

"Lord Lu," Bai Yanhui turned toward the voice, clasping his fists in salute, "this old man is deeply grateful!"

Lu Ran glanced at Yu Changsheng and smiled: "Master Yu, no wonder you're the Great Physician of the Sea Realm—truly miraculous hands restore life."

He clearly hadn't forgotten to praise someone often.

Otherwise, that someone might throw a tantrum!

"Shhh~"

Yu Changsheng elegantly unfurled his paper fan and nodded with a smile: "By your command, your subordinate will spare no effort."

Lu Ran: "..."

You're over thirty, and one compliment makes you this happy?

"Both of you, please sit." Lu Ran spoke.

Yu Changsheng brought two wooden chairs and guided Bai Yanhui to sit.

Bai Yanhui felt profound emotion, thinking how fickle fate could be.

Without the help of the Sea Realm physician, he would never have stood again.

How could he repay such a debt?

Not long ago, he had been a prisoner, locked daily in a cave cell.

Now, he had been freed and elevated to honored guest.

How could he repay such kindness?

"What is your cultivation realm, Old Bai?" Lu Ran asked.

"My lord, this old man is at the Fifth Stage of the River Realm." Bai Yanhui replied formally.

"Oh." Lu Ran nodded slightly, then asked, "How long have you been in this world?"

"I can't remember." Bai Yanhui paused. "I only recall entering Sacred Spirit Mountain in 97."

"97?" Lu Ran grinned, then leaned back, staring at Deng Yuxiang's upside-down face, "We weren't even born yet, were we?"

Deng Yuxiang was speechless. What kind of thing is that to say!

She applied slight pressure, forcibly straightening his head.

Indeed, Lu Ran was born in 2001, Deng Yuxiang in 1998.

Long before either was born, Old Bai had already suffered in Sacred Spirit Mountain.

"Over twenty years," Lu Ran sighed. "Now, the mortal world is already 2020."

"So long," Bai Yanhui murmured, falling silent.

Lu Ran asked again: "How old are you, Old Bai?"

With Lu Ran's reference point, Bai Yanhui replied: "Seventy-six."

Seventy-six years old.

The gods and demons had only descended forty years ago.

This man had lived through two eras.

"They say, 'An elder in the home is like a treasure.'" Lu Ran looked at the old man. "If Old Bai joins the Ranyan Sect, our base will finally have real security."

Bai Yanhui said solemnly: "This old man will give his all, never betraying Lord Lu's great grace."

Lu Ran asked: "You've been in this world so long—have you ever heard of Cheng Xin? He's a follower of Xianyang."

Bai Yanhui frowned slightly, straining to recall: "Cheng Xin... Cheng Xin, Xianyang follower..."

Lu Ran froze.

What does that mean?

Is there a lead?

Bai Yanhui suddenly said: "He wasn't tall, wore a white Daoist robe, tied his hair in a topknot, and wielded a long spear."

Lu Ran leapt to his feet—then couldn't stand.

Halfway up, Deng Yuxiang pushed him back down.

"Yes! Yes!" Lu Ran didn't care anymore, nodding frantically. "Where is he? Do you know anything about him?"

Bai Yanhui struggled to recall, slowly saying: "I once worked alongside Brother Cheng for a time, but he..."

Lu Ran rushed: "What?"

Bai Yanhui shook his head: "That was over a decade ago. My memory is hazy, but what I remember most is his gaze."

A determined gaze.

Brother Cheng was a Xianyang follower, but he was not like us—he had a goal, and refused to hide and flee just to survive."

Bai Yanhui paused, then continued: "He eventually left us, struck out alone, and vanished without a trace."

The small flame of hope in Lu Ran's heart was extinguished.

Bai Yanhui asked: "Lord Lu, do you know Cheng Xin?"

"Ah, he's a senior of my sect," Lu Ran said helplessly.

Bai Yanhui seemed to have heard something unbelievable. His face remained calm, but he asked: "Lord Lu, are you also a Xianyang disciple?"

Lu Ran, still lost in disappointment, gave a soft "Mm."

Bai Yanhui:?

Ninth-rank deity—follower of Xianyang?

Bai Yanhui still didn't know Ranyan Sect's true strength, but the fact that they had slaughtered through Heaven Disciple Mountain proved they were immensely powerful!

Just within this room, there were two mighty Sea Realm cultivators!

This confirmed it.

Though Bai Yanhui had no eyes, he could clearly sense the pressure of powerful cultivators.

And these two Sea Realm masters treated the young Lord Lu with deep respect—Bai Yanhui naturally assumed Lu Ran was a First-rank deity's follower.

Of course, even if Lu Ran were a First-rank deity's follower, convincing Sea Realm masters to serve willingly was nearly impossible.

So Bai Yanhui privately speculated: Lu Ran must possess extraordinary leadership, charisma, and more.

He never imagined!

Lu Ran was indeed a follower of a First-rank deity.

The lowest-ranked one!

Bai Yanhui couldn't help thinking of Cheng Xin—the Xianyang disciple who stood apart, powerful and unique.

This Xianyang sect...

What kind of nonsense is this?

"Whoa!" Si Xianxian burst in, pointing at Bai Yanhui seated there, "Curse Master?"

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

Without Si Xianxian's remark, he hadn't even considered it!

The image of the deity—Curse Master—was precisely that of a slender old man, white-haired and bearded, draped in a wide white robe, radiating immortal grace!

Bai Yanhui and the deity Curse Master did bear some resemblance.

But Old Bai's eyes had been cruelly gouged out, his eye sockets sunken.

And the real Curse Master always held a white talisman, inscribed with chaotic black runes like demonic scribbles.

Supposedly, it was a magical artifact.

Whether true or not, no one knew.

"Young friend, you jest," Bai Yanhui, unaware of her identity, gently cautioned. "Don't speak lightly of deities."

"Pfft~" Si Xianxian rolled her eyes, clearly showing no reverence for deities.

Bai Yanhui remained expressionless, but his mind was already calculating.

One glimpse reveals the whole picture.

This new woman showed such disrespect toward deities, yet no one rebuked or stopped her—this suggested Ranyan Sect members weren't blind followers, but rather, quite rational?

Si Xianxian turned to Lu Ran—and gasped.

Lu Ran sat like a lord, enjoying himself, while the terrifying Great Nightmare gently massaged his head.

This...?

Deng Yuxiang's actions weren't inappropriate.

Si Xianxian thought she was overthinking—everyone knew the relationship between Lu and Deng.

Besides, they'd entered this world together and spent so much time alone—if they'd wanted to do anything, they'd have already consummated it.

Someone like Lu Ran could do anything he wanted; no outsider could stop him.

Si Xianxian now knew Lu Ran owned a sculpture garden, and she knew exactly what kind of champions served under him.

What was a Threaded Shadow? What was a Sin-Mirror Demon?

One more seductive than the next, one more alluring than the last!

Si Xianxian asked herself: even she, a peerless beauty, would have to yield to the beauty of the Vermilion Paper Folk.

From this perspective, Lu Ran could have a chastity archway erected in his honor.

He shouldn't have joined Xiang Xianyang's sect—he should've become a Wu Seng devotee; he'd surely reach the top of this path!

Other Wu Seng devotees, no matter how hard they train, can at best become a "Monk."

But Lu Ran.

A hundred Ren make a true Buddha, huh~

As Si Xianxian was lost in thought, she suddenly heard Deng Yu's teasing voice: "Your maid's here—want her to take over?"

Lu Ran's expression turned stunned.

His head was already buzzing, and hearing that made it ring even louder!

Deng Yu's lips curled slightly as she gazed at Si Xianxian's shifting face, as if she knew exactly what the other was thinking.

Si Xianxian felt uneasy under the gaze but couldn't lash out.

She decided to ignore Deng Yu entirely, her face filled with concern as she hurried forward:

"What's wrong?"

"My head hurts."

Si Xianxian's eyes lit up; she kept her composure and switched to mental transmission: 【Did your Divine Sculpture advance?】

Lu Ran gave a slight nod.

Si Xianxian glanced at Deng Yu's position, eager: "Then I—?"

"Don't you dare!" Lu Ran was startled and waved his hands frantically. "You never know your own strength—don't crush my skull again!"

Si Xianxian rolled her eyes.

Ungrateful bastard—who'd even want to take care of you!

"Sit down quickly," Lu Ran said casually, then turned to the opposite side. "White Old Man, have you ever heard of Qin Yan?"

He described the man, but this time, he received no answer he wanted.

Lu Ran sighed inwardly and changed the subject: "Let's plan our strategy. White Old Man, you've clashed with Tian Tu Mountain for years—any good ideas?"

Bai Yanhui spoke slowly: "Luo Tiantu's realm is extraordinarily high, his strength formidable—but he's a coward beneath a fierce exterior!"

We can exploit this weakness effectively."

"Oh?" Yu Changsheng, who had been silent until now, finally perked up.

Exploit his personality to break him?

Interesting.

Bai Yanhui nodded: "Luo Tiantu is narrow-minded and cowardly. If faced with a fierce assault that threatens his life, he'll almost certainly abandon his comrades and temporarily leave the group."

Yu Changsheng: "Why say that?"

Bai Yanhui said gravely: "Previously, Wuzui Valley managed to severely damage Tian Tu Mountain by setting a trap and startling Luo Tiantu with a thunderous strike."

Luo Tiantu's first reaction revealed his true nature."

He disregarded his allies' lives and activated the Lightning Shackles Talisman while fleeing, leaving his companions in peril."

Lu Ran and Yu Changsheng exchanged glances.

Bai Yanhui continued: "That's how Wuzui Valley managed to kill several elite fighters from Tian Tu Mountain."

Later, when Tian Tu Mountain finally captured us, Luo Tiantu could've enslaved more Weak God disciples to strengthen his sect—but he stubbornly insisted on executing us."

Yu Changsheng murmured: "Humiliated, he flew into a rage."

"Exactly!" Bai Yanhui, suppressing his grief, said solemnly. "When executing prisoners, his methods were exceptionally cruel!"

"Partly to vent his anger, partly to assert dominance before his followers—to try and restore the authority he'd lost."

Bai Yanhui turned to Lu Ran: "Lu Menzhu, our side is strong—we have several Sea Realm experts!"

"If we ambush Luo Tiantu on his return journey and launch a sudden, lethal strike…"

Yu Changsheng pondered: "Luo Tiantu might flee in panic, abandoning his team."

"Or even panic himself and help us dismantle his own squad?"

Bai Yanhui's voice was hoarse: "Character is hard to change! Luo Tiantu is middle-aged—his personality and combat habits are already fixed."

As long as we strike unexpectedly and with sufficient lethal force, his instinctive reaction won't change."

"White Old Man speaks wisely," Yu Changsheng agreed wholeheartedly.

Lu Ran watched the two converse, suddenly realizing he'd acquired another strategist!

This strategist had once been a leader himself!

Lu Ran didn't yet know what victories this leader had achieved over the past twenty years.

But at least he'd survived this long—that alone was incredibly rare!

His most recent achievement: Bai Yanhui led a group of Weak God disciples in constant maneuvering against Tian Tu Mountain's forces, and even in utter desperation, managed to kill several Strong God disciples in a last-ditch counterattack.

Lu Ran secretly rejoiced.

Ruan Men has struck gold!

(End of Chapter)