Chapter 925

Yu Changsheng and Bai Yanhui continuously studied battle plans, occasionally seeking guidance from Lu Ran.

Time slipped away second by second.

Lu Ran suddenly brightened, giving his head a slight shake.

Deng Yuxiang immediately paused her motion, leaning forward slightly, her voice soft: "Done?"

"Mm-hmm!" Lu Ran nodded vigorously, immediately closing his eyes and linking his spirit with the Jade Talisman Sculpture.

"Shh." Yu Changsheng cut off instantly, signaling Bai Yanhui to fall silent.

The council chamber fell utterly still; everyone feared disturbing Lu Ran.

Minutes later, Lu Ran slowly raised his hand, tracing something in midair.

A strange lightning rune took shape—a twisted little serpent of lightning—while a phantom white jade tablet floated up, cradling the rune.

Jade Talisman Art: Lightning Bind Rune!

After advancing to Jiang rank, the white jade tablets Lu Ran summoned no longer flew straight and direct, hitting wherever thrown.

The Lightning Bind Rune moved at his will, slowly rotating around his palm under his control.

Beside him, Si Xianxian's eyes sparkled.

She knew clearly: this Jade Talisman Sculpture was made for Jiang Ruyi!

"Huh~"

From within Lu Ran's body, eight white jade tablets suddenly spread out.

When casting the River Rank·Jade Talisman Array, Jade Talisman disciples had four white jade tablets wrapped around their waists, granting them flight.

The Jiang Rank·Jade Talisman Array added four more jade tablets.

It enhanced the disciples' output, defense, and other abilities in every way.

"Ha!" Lu Ran was overjoyed, his wish fulfilled.

With the Jiang Rank·Jade Talisman Array, he could now absorb the Lightning Bind Runes, Explosion Flame Runes, Flowing Sand Runes, and Frost Runes cast by other Jiang-rank Jade Talisman believers!

All taught by the same master—can't break the technique, huh~

Lu Ran's mind was buzzing with ideas.

You fools cannot harm me!

Yet I possess countless techniques to slaughter you all!

Alas, pity—I and the Jade Talisman Sculpture are neither Hai-rank, unable to cast the Hai Rank·Jade Talisman Array.

Otherwise, Lu Ran would dare step right onto Luo Tiantu and Lady Kong's faces and slaughter them!

Notably, as a third-rank deity, the sect possesses a Jiang-rank grand technique: Thunderstorm Inferno Array!

This art summons thick dark clouds, summoning torrents of falling lightning, shaking the earth and spewing forth massive columns of fire.

Precisely because of this technique, Jade Talisman disciples are called "late-game contenders."

Divine Art·Thunderstorm Inferno Array is practically synonymous with "world-ending destruction!"

Once Jade Talisman disciples activate this technique, all living beings within its range

Are to be killed on sight!

Its flaws are obvious: it has a lengthy casting prep time and is easily disrupted; moreover, this wide-area output does not distinguish friend from foe.

Thus, you rarely see Jade Talisman believers casting their Jiang-rank grand technique within human cities.

"Congratulations, Lord, your power has advanced further," Yu Changsheng timely offered his praise.

"Hehe~" Lu Ran smiled.

Si Xianxian was thrilled, her clever little mind whirring: "Can you first activate the Thunderstorm Inferno Array, get everything ready, then use Evil Shadow Flash to teleport straight into the enemy ranks?"

Lu Ran:???

Bai Yanhui:???

Why does the Thunderstorm Inferno Array have a casting prep time? To prepare for "heavenly thunder and earthly fire."

You've just established a connection with this realm, preparing to strike—then you teleport away, hoping to summon heavenly thunder and earthly fire somewhere else?

Carving marks on a boat to find a lost sword?

Lu Ran was stunned because Si Xianxian's idea was wildly absurd.

Bai Yanhui was stunned because he had no eyes, and the Spellmaster sect had no perception techniques—he didn't know what had happened.

Si Xianxian's remark was an explosion of information!

Casting the Jade Talisman Sect's Thunderstorm Inferno Array, combined with the Evil Dog Clan's Evil Shadow Flash?

This…?

Isn't Lord Lu a Xiang Xianyang believer?

How did he pick up so many different techniques?

Bai Yanhui's face remained calm as still water, but inside, a storm raged.

Just now, he had indeed heard faint crackles of electricity.

Could it be… Lord Lu…

"You really dare to imagine that," Lu Ran muttered, and eight golden jade talismans spread from within him.

River Rank·Golden Jade Eight Talismans could only act autonomously against enemies; the caster could not intervene.

After Jiang rank, the caster could freely control the golden jade talismans.

Back then, when Lu Ran secretly returned to Luoxian Mountain to ambush Jiang Xianzi, she had pinned him down with a swarm of golden jade talismans and humiliated him by pinning him in midair.

Jiang Rank·Golden Jade Talismans could even change size—from palm-sized to one-meter-wide golden jade shields.

Their defensive power was formidable!

"Here." Lu Ran flicked his fingers, and a beautiful golden jade tablet flew to Si Xianxian's face. "Go play."

Si Xianxian tilted her head, utterly baffled.

Damn it! You're rejecting me again!

I'm gonna… &…%￥!!

Lu Ran gently waved his fingers, continuously manipulating the jade tablets as they danced up and down, increasing his technique proficiency: "From Long Mr. and Bai Lao, continue."

Si Xianxian was about to explode, but hearing Lu Ran was about to discuss serious matters, she forced herself to suppress her anger.

"Hmph!" She gripped the golden jade tablet tightly, as if to say: You want me to play, huh?

Fine, I'll play!

A sharp CRACK echoed!

Lu Ran jolted in surprise.

Si Xianxian had crushed the golden jade tablet in her palm, grinding it fiercely as if to turn it to powder.

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

Thank goodness I didn't let her press it to my head—my skull, no matter how hard, couldn't match the hardness of golden jade talismans!

Divine Art·Heavenly Might—no joke at all…

Starting from the third day of the seventh lunar month, the members of Ran Sect took over Tian Tu Mountain and settled there.

For this mission, Lu Ran brought his four chief guards and one Luoshen General.

With Yu Changsheng and Bai Yanhui devising strategies, Lu Ran quickly finalized the ambush plan, assigning each person their task.

In just two days, Lu Ran became thoroughly familiar with the surroundings of Tian Tu Mountain and carefully selected multiple ambush sites.

They couldn't ambush on the mountain itself—after all, guards should be stationed at the mountain's base.

If Luo Tiantu approached the base area and saw no guards coming to greet him, the ambushers would be exposed.

What they hadn't expected was that they waited over ten days.

As the saying goes: On the fifteenth day of the lunar month, the gates of yin open, and demons and evil spirits come of their own accord!

Within the Sacred Spirit Mountain region, there's no tradition of demonic invasions every fifteenth day—but for Luo Tiantu and his group,

The "demons and evil spirits" led by Lu Ran had indeed come uninvited!

That night, the bright moon hung high.

Lu Ran stood atop Tian Tu Mountain, silently cultivating while surveying the night.

"Should be here soon? It's already night." Lu Ran murmured.

Today, he was especially diligent on watch.

Because earlier that morning, the Spellmaster believer Bai Yanhui had clearly told Lu Ran that something might happen today.

What could happen?

Luo Tiantu must be returning with his team!

Honestly, having a Spellmaster believer in the team was just too OP!

Bai Lao couldn't predict the future, but he could sound the alarm!

Lu Ran had specifically asked Bai Lao: What's the outcome of this Ran Sect ambush on Luo Tiantu?

Bai Yanhui merely smiled without answering, saying four words: "It depends on human effort."

Hearing this, Lu Ran nearly broke.

You, a believer in fate, a practitioner of mysticism, are talking to me about subjective initiative?

Regardless, Lu Ran remained vigilant, his dark eyes piercing the vast night, taking in everything within dozens of kilometers.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Lu Ran's eyes sharpened!

In the distant western forest, atop the treetops, a shadow was flying.

Lu Ran strained his vision and saw the figure surrounded by jade talismans.

Followers of Yu Fu!

Lu Ran licked his lips; as expected, these were likely the scouts sent ahead.

Lu Ran immediately sent a mental message: 【Luo Tiantu is approaching from the west—everyone, gather in the meeting hall!】

【Understood!】

【Understood.】 Dozens of mental messages flooded his mind; Lu Ran vanished in a flash.

The Ran Sect members sprang into action; Lu Ran repeatedly cast the Dark Art: Mirror Flower, Moon Reflection. In barely a few dozen seconds, all had arrived at the ambush site, lying in wait.

【Mengyan, rein in your killing intent!】 Lu Ran hid atop a massive tree, frowning slightly as he gazed at a nearby giant log.

Deng Yu Xiang exhaled slowly, striving to steady her composure.

But thinking of past humiliations and the vengeance about to be exacted, her killing intent surged uncontrollably!

"Huh～"

Hundreds of meters away, the scouts galloped past.

【Don't move!】 Lu Ran's gaze slipped through the gaps between branches, patiently waiting.

Indeed, the main force followed closely behind!

【Ready!】 Lu Ran sent a mental command, his body taut.

Luo Tiantu rode with great pomp, flying side by side with his lady, while the rest of the bandits surrounded him in a protective circle.

Lu Ran squinted, spotting two men and women on the ground, each wielding a Fangtian Huaji.

These must be the bodyguards Luo Tiantu had summoned from Jingting Mountain.

Disciples of Dongting—specializing in killing dogs?

Hmph.

Lu Ran let out a cold sneer in his heart; flames erupted along his body, and with a casual grab, he seized a flame-wreathed war hammer.

Divine Art: Blazing Heaven Hammer!

Divine Art: Blazing Heaven Titan!

【Attack!!】 Lu Ran barked the order, summoning all his strength, swinging the heavy hammer with all his might toward the front!

At the same moment, his figure flickered violently.

Target—directly above Luo Tiantu's head!

Among the mountains and woods, beside the giant tree.

Luo Tiantu was chatting merrily with Lady Kong when suddenly a wave of searing heat engulfed his head.

"What—" Luo Tiantu had no time to react; instinctively, he summoned the white jade tablets swirling around him to block upward.

"Crack!!"

A blazing flame war hammer crashed down, slamming hard onto a white jade tablet wrapped in frost and snow.

The jade tablet shattered; thick frost spread outward.

"Blow up, you piece of shit!" Lu Ran roared inwardly.

"Boom!!"

The flame war hammer thundered, amplified by Blazing Heaven Titan, exploding into a miniature mushroom cloud!

Instantly, the squad was thrown into chaos, flung backward in all directions.

"Ambush! Ambush!!"

"Watch out—"

A heavy thud!

"Damn it!" Luo Tiantu's face turned ashen as the blast wave slammed him to the ground.

He was utterly humiliated.

Throughout it all, he never saw who launched the attack!

The assailant appeared from nowhere, dropped a single hammer blow from above, then vanished instantly?

A Blazing Heaven follower?

But how could a Blazing Heaven follower vanish like that?

Luo Tiantu was baffled, and before he could react further, his body suddenly stiffened!

His temples throbbed violently—he felt two terrifyingly powerful energies surge simultaneously from both sides.

"Roar!!"

A great dragon roared, transforming into countless tiny mosasaurs and charging wildly forward.

A Sha's Great Sea Art: Ten Thousand Dragons Subdue the Sea Arrow!

"Sss! Sss! Sss!"

A chilling whistling sound stretched across the air, racing toward their position.

Countless long blade scars materialized out of thin air, dense and overlapping, as if ready to tear apart all things in the world!

The Night Mei Clan's Great Sea Art: Thousand Night Shadows!

Luo Tiantu's pupils shrank violently!

More than anger, fear gripped his heart.

Two… two Great Sea Realm masters?

And how did dark arts get mixed in? Are humans allied with demons?

How is this possible?!

What had he ever done to provoke such a powerful organization?

…

(End of Chapter)