Chapter 953: The Master

“Yes! Yes! It’s him!” The wraith in the mirror grew agitated.

Anyone who saw the one who killed them would find it impossible to remain calm.

Wang Xuyang’s emotions surged wildly, his face filled with rage and resentment: “This man was being hunted—he deliberately diverted the danger toward us!”

He shoved us onto the shoulders of the Western Desert believers—I was the one who was—was—”

Wang Xuyang couldn’t continue; he remembered being buried alive by the desert sand.

That suffocating sensation, that deep despair, still clung to his heart.

Strictly speaking, Wang Xuyang had never seen the true face of the Desert Believer, You Tianyao.

Yet among those present, only one was a Sea Realm Desert Believer—so the true killer was obvious.

“Hmm.” Lu Ran released the Soul-Stealing Mirror.

The ancient bronze mirror floated beside Lu Ran, facing the battlefield, allowing Wang Xuyang to witness everything clearly.

“No! No!!!”

A piercing scream shattered the heavens.

You Tianyao was blown skyward by the gales—this time, it was his turn to despair!

Like the Western Desert faction, the Desert faction was also a terrestrial sovereign; once such a person was thrown into the air, they were utterly at the mercy of their enemies.

Just now, Deng Yuxiang unleashed her ultimate technique—Night Phantom Blade—not to kill, but to carve a path!

The Nightmare and Dragon two guardians raced downward, using the raging winds and terrifying schools of fish to forcibly block the enemy’s escape route.

They also trapped and forced the burrowing rat out from underground.

“Aah! Aaaah!!!”

The agonized screams of the Desert Sea believers filled Wang Xuyang with exhilaration—his heart soared with pure delight!

Dozens of sharp Night Phantom Blades darted back and forth, determined to slice the enemy into a thousand pieces.

Countless Little Cang Dragons surged wildly, attacking the enemy from every direction.

The battlefield was chaos.

You Tianyao flew wildly amid the dragon swarm and wind blades, shrieking in agony, battered relentlessly.

To prevent You Tianyao from landing again, Yu Changsheng controlled the battle and summoned a Dragon Carp Sky Boat.

“Pop~”

A pale golden fish shimmered brilliantly, drifting through the torrential rain.

Somehow, it looked harmonious?

The 800-meter Dragon Carp Sky Boat propelled countless Cang Dragons and wind blades—along with the enemy—straight into the sky.

“Crack! Crack!”

Cracks spread across the Dragon Carp Sky Boat, yet it fulfilled its purpose.

Meanwhile, the two sets of armor on You Tianyao were already shattered and ruined.

Besides the Water Armor, the Desert Sea faction possessed a defensive technique—Floating Dust Robe!

This “sand-fine robe” had formidable defensive power—but You Tianyao had encountered three Sea Realm assassins.

“Crack!!”

You Tianyao’s defensive armor shattered before the Dragon Carp Sky Boat did.

Wind blades slashed through the air,

carving bloody lines across the enemy’s body.

Cang Dragons surged back and forth,

piercing the enemy with countless bloody holes.

Wang Xuyang’s eyes widened, fixed unblinkingly on the scene.

The Desert Sea believer wasn’t just Wang Xuyang’s enemy—he was a Sea Realm powerhouse!

What did Sea Realm mean on Sacred Spirit Mountain?

It meant you stood above all beings, wielding absolute power over life and death!

Just like earlier on the battlefield, when You Tianyao casually flung others toward Elder Peng, or raised sandflows to force them into him.

What did the lives of ants matter?

And now, this Sea Realm powerhouse who ruled over others’ fates—

Was being slaughtered mercilessly!

From torn clothing to lacerated flesh.

From riddled with holes to shredded into fragments.

Wang Xuyang witnessed it all; his phantom eyes seemed ready to burst with blood.

Vengeance was fulfilled!

But that cathartic feeling didn’t last long.

What remained was endless grief.

Wang Xuyang’s expression grew darker.

If only I hadn’t been crushed to death by those two Sea Realm masters…

If only I had survived until Lu Ran arrived—would my future have been better?

It should have been.

No—it definitely would have been!

Fuck! Why did I have to die here?! Fuck!!

Wang Xuyang realized now—he was a wraith, trapped inside the Sin Mirror’s Soul-Stealing Mirror.

The fate of a wraith within the mirror was one and only one—gradual dissolution.

“Enough.” Lu Ran flew forward.

The Cang Dragons and wind blades vanished; Lu Ran picked up a black mist cluster and sealed You Tianyao’s wraith inside.

“Clean up. Hmm, let’s return.” Lu Ran turned and flew eastward.

He had intended to have others collect the spoils—but under this level of devastation, what spoils remained?

Deng Yuxiang and the others followed swiftly.

As they flew across the battlefield, Lu Ran collected every wraith along the way into his eyes.

“Master!” On the battlefield, Jing Hong had already gathered the spoils.

From Lu Ran’s straw cloak floated a treasure gourd; he said, “Accompany Little Chifeng and absorb the corpse of the evil dog—hurry back.”

“Yes!” Jing Hong departed on orders.

Lu Ran and the others continued eastward, flying beyond Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.

Jiang Ruyi had already landed, standing with arms crossed, waiting quietly.

Behind her stood eight surviving members of the Fallen Immortal Pavilion.

The Fallen Immortal Pavilion originally had nineteen members; after the clash between the two Sea Realm masters, most of them had perished.

“You! You how—ahhh!”

As Lu Ran lifted another black mist cluster, Elder Peng’s stunned, wrinkled face appeared upon it.

Elder Peng, shocked and furious, had barely opened his mouth to protest when soulfire engulfed his entire body.

He screamed, filled with regret.

His mission today was to annex the Hanhai Gang and bring the Desert Sea followers back to Tianhuang Mountain.

Instead, he had encountered this demon!

Lu Ran stepped over Elder Peng’s corpse; seconds later, he extinguished the soulfire—the man dared not utter another sound.

“Gulps.”

Xiong Xiong swallowed hard, his heart growing more frantic.

He had thought Lu Zongzhu’s methods were already extreme—but the exquisite bronze mirror floating beside him…

Was that a demonic technique of the Sin Mirror clan?

And the two black mist clusters Lu Zongzhu toyed with in his palm—those were clearly demonic techniques of the Soul-Shatter Demon clan!

Could Lu Zongzhu torment human souls like the Soul-Shatter Demons?

As several hooded, cloaked figures approached, the Fallen Immortal Pavilion members trembled with dread!

Just one Sea Realm powerhouse advancing was enough to strike terror into the heart.

How much more so with three?

Deng Yuxiang, Yu Changsheng, and Luo Ying had just finished a brutal battle—their aura was still fierce.

Especially Deng Yuxiang—her killing intent was terrifyingly dense!

【Calm down. Ruyi and I are still at the River Realm.】Lu Ran transmitted mentally.

Lu Ran wasn’t much better off than Jiang Ruyi.

His only advantage was that Deng Yuxiang often stayed by his side, so he’d grown slightly accustomed to it.

【Understood.】Deng Yuxiang replied softly, forcing herself to suppress her aura.

“This woman in the white dress—is she the Master’s Lady?” Yu Changsheng asked Deng Yuxiang, glancing at her quietly.

“Mm.” Deng Yuxiang gave a slight nod.

Yu Changsheng smiled, studying the girl, murmuring in awe: “Truly a celestial beauty.

No wonder the Master is utterly devoted to her.”

Lu Ran: “.”

You’ve learned idioms now?

In the heavy rain, both teams finally met up.

Yu Changsheng gripped his folding fan, bowed slightly toward Jiang Ruyi, and clasped his hands: “Guardian of the Flame Sect, Conglong, greets the Sect Master’s Lady.”

“Lady.”

“Lady.” Deng Yu and Xiang Luoying both bowed their heads.

Three vast seas bowed respectfully in greeting.

The scene fell into complete silence!

Yet their inner thoughts were anything but silent.

Everyone had exploded inside!!

The members of Luoxian Pavilion could clearly see that Lu Ran and the three Sea Realm experts belonged to the same organization.

A few had entertained a faint suspicion—that such a mysterious and powerful figure as Lu Ran might hold a higher position within the group.

After all, the methods Lu Ran had displayed were utterly shocking!

Even if Lu Ran was currently only at the River Realm, his potential was undeniable.

But no one had expected this—from the tone of these Sea Realm experts,

Lu Ran,

is the leader of this organization?

Flame Sect? Sect Master?

“Hello.” Jiang Ruyi’s gaze swept over them, her eyes complex.

She had worked hard to assemble this team to better search for Lu Ran, hoping to aid him, so they could both survive better in the Sacred Spirit Mountain.

Now, looking again,

Lu Ran, just by acting, summoned three Sea Realm experts?

Deng Yu has also advanced to the Sea Realm—so fast.

Finally, Jiang Ruyi’s gaze settled on Lu Ran’s face.

Memories flooded her mind.

Since the moment they became believers, Lu Ran had always been the one leading and protecting her.

Though she had always tried hard, always wanted to help him,

later, he became the supreme prodigy of Daya, and she was called Lu the Prodigy’s fiancée.

Later, he became the human sect master, known as the Lord of Luoxian Mountain, and she was called the Lord’s Lady.

Then came this Sacred Spirit Mountain.

He is the Flame Sect’s Sect Master; now she too would be called the Sect Master’s Lady.

Beneath her veil, Jiang Ruyi’s face revealed a faint smile.

Of course,

every time, you make me worry over you for nothing.

Bad man.

Whispering silently in her heart, Jiang Ruyi’s gaze grew even softer.

“This is the Dry Sea believer who brought the battlefield here,” Lu Ran raised his left hand. “He killed many of you.”

Within the black mist, You Tianyao trembled in terror, daring not utter a sound.

On the way back, he had already been burned once.

“This is the elder—the one who just chased you.” Lu Ran raised his right hand; another face was etched into the black mist.

Jiang Ruyi looked at the two black mist orbs, then lifted her eyelids, gazing gently at Lu Ran.

“Huh~”

Within the black mist, faint soul flames ignited.

“Ah! Aaaah!”

“Ssshh—no! Don’t! Don’t burn me! Spare me, please… Aaaah!”

The piercing screams carried far, far away.

Some felt satisfaction; others shuddered in dread!

The rain still fell.

It could not extinguish the faint soul flames, nor quench Lu Ran’s rage.

He merely concealed it outwardly; his inner shock and fury were no less intense.

This much, the Eight-Wild Annihilation Blade could attest.

Lu Ran appeared calm and composed, but his true state was utterly off—he was immersed in a specific emotion.

How much did he desire his weapon to ascend?

Yet from start to finish, he had ignored the buzzing, trembling blade.

Lu Ran knew well—even if he hadn’t come, Jiang Ruyi likely could have escaped.

But,

how could he not be afraid?

The wailing continued, so heart-wrenching it sent chills down even the listeners’ spines.

Lu Ran lowered his head, silently watching the souls in his palm, their faces twisted in excruciating agony.

After a long while, Lu Ran glanced again at the Soul-Stealing Mirror.

He could do so little.

He hoped, perhaps, they might find a sliver of solace, as he had.

(End of Chapter)