Chapter 955: A Heart of Finality

At the foot of the wasteland mountain, beside the tunnel entrance.

A tall, burly bald man stood guard with two others.

Xiong Xiong, former leader of the Lie Shan Gang, now had only two underlings left.

One of them was especially despondent—Shi Yong, one of the newly joined husband-and-wife pair.

His wife, Wan Fangling, had died in the previous war.

This shattered Shi Yong; he was hollow-eyed and lost, and if things continued like this, this Jiang Jing believer would likely drop a rank.

Xiong Xiong had tried to comfort him.

But after such a devastating loss, how could Shi Yong recover in a short time?

“Sigh,” another Shan Wei disciple couldn’t help but let out a breath.

This man also bore the surname Shi, named Shi Biao, and was already in his mid-forties.

The preferences of the Divine Being Shan Wei were plain to see.

Xiong Xiong, Shi Biao, and Shi Yong were all nearly identical—broad-shouldered, muscular, and with fierce, menacing faces.

In comparison, both Shi Biao and Shi Yong had hair and were slightly more refined in appearance than Xiong Xiong.

But not by much.

“What the hell are you sighing for?” Xiong Xiong glared at Shi Biao and hissed.

The emotions of a Jiang Jing adept can alter the surrounding environment!

Shi Yong was already so broken; being on guard with him had already soured Xiong Xiong’s mood—now Shi Biao was sighing too?

“Boss,” Shi Biao grinned, looking as if he had a thousand words but couldn’t find one.

“What?” Xiong Xiong was clearly annoyed.

Shi Biao hesitated, then said: “Jiang Gezhu is like a fairy—cold and aloof, she doesn’t even bother to abuse us.”

She’d find it beneath her to hit us.

But this Lu Menzhu—”

“Shut up!” Xiong Xiong hissed, wanting to slap the back of Shi Biao’s head right then and there!

You idiot!

How many years have you been here at Shengling Mountain? Still not smart enough? Just surviving on dumb luck?

If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!

Lu Menzhu’s methods are beyond comprehension—he wields countless divine and demonic arts—who can fathom them?

You think no one’s around, but what if the Menzhu can hear you?

“Huh~”

Two slender figures drifted down slowly.

Xiong Xiong: !!!

Shi Biao jolted in fear, his fierce face twisted with terror as he dropped to his knees.

“Menzhu, Lady!” Xiong Xiong also knelt, head bowed, forcing his voice to remain steady.

Lu Ran’s gaze swept over the two, then landed on Shi Yong, sitting beside the cave entrance.

He slumped, motionless, waves of grief washing over them.

Lu Ran sighed.

Xiong Xiong and Shi Biao misread it entirely—they trembled, drenched in cold sweat.

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly; these two Shan Wei believers were utterly terrified.

She knew that earlier that morning, Lu Ran’s use of Soul Prison and Soul Fire to burn corpses had left an indelible psychological scar on everyone.

Perhaps, in their minds, Lu Ran was a tyrant.

At least, his methods were exceptionally cruel.

Jiang Ruyi took Lu Ran’s hand and gently squeezed his palm.

Lu Ran snapped back to himself, looked at the trembling pair, and said with quiet resignation: “From now on, kneel on one knee.”

Xiong Xiong and Shi Biao froze.

They’d expected punishment—instead—

A small change in posture meant a world of difference.

“Yes, Menzhu!” Xiong Xiong thought deeply but dared not delay—he immediately adjusted.

“Comfort your comrades,” Lu Ran said, holding Jiang Ruyi’s hand as he walked toward the tunnel entrance. “We’re all in the same trench—look out for each other.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!” Both replied in unison.

Lu and Jiang entered the narrow tunnel, walking deeper into the mountain.

Left behind were Shi Biao, trembling with fear, and Xiong Xiong, glaring at him angrily.

Moments later, Xiong Xiong stepped forward and slapped Shi Biao’s skull, whispering: “Watch what you say next time!”

Shi Biao: “Ah.”

Xiong Xiong grew angrier, and slapped him again—right on the back of the head!

The saying “Fools have luck” fit Shi Biao perfectly.

Earlier that morning, that Hai Jing follower from the Dry Sea had used Sand Thorns to snatch three Shan Wei believers and flung them toward Elder Peng.

Two of them were split apart in one stroke by Elder Peng’s axe!

Shattered cleanly, without mercy!

The third, Shi Biao, had been thrown on a trajectory that missed Elder Peng by several meters—he’d survived.

Inside the tunnel, Lu Ran walked on, silently shaking his head.

He’d heard everything.

Boss Xiong appeared crude, but he was sharp as a blade.

Whether Lu Ran was magnanimous or simply hadn’t heard, Xiong Xiong had done everything perfectly.

After all, if Lu Menzhu had heard their earlier conversation, he’d surely hear these slaps now too.

In this devouring Shengling Mountain,

It was too hard for the weak to survive.

After winding through the tunnel, Jiang Ruyi saw faint light ahead.

They hurried into the cave and saw a small pale-gold fish drifting slowly through the air.

A beautiful golden rain of light illuminated the cavern.

At that moment, Yu Changsheng sat in a circle with three Yu Fu disciples and two Xi Huang believers, discussing something intently.

Deng Yu and Jing Hong were not inside—they were on guard outside.

Luoying was also absent; she must have gone to rest.

Though this cave was hastily carved, they’d dug several private chambers.

“Menzhu!”

“Lady!” Seeing Lu and Jiang arrive, everyone rose.

“Sit,” Lu Ran gestured down, scanning the new faces.

Xue Fengchen wasn’t entirely new—he had some memory of him.

Feng’er!

Lu Ran knew well how netizens mocked Xue Fengchen.

Our Xi Huang’s great Feng, first to become a Jiang Jing adept, surpassed all peers in strength!

Yet scored the lowest, always ranked last.

Proof: The stronger you are, the weaker you are!

The woman always by Xue Fengchen’s side, Gao Yunyan, Lu Ran had already recognized.

One Feng, one Yan.

These two fine birds had escaped the cage of Tianhuang Mountain, flying wing to wing.

Of the remaining three Yu Fu disciples, Lu Ran had a general sense—Song Yu, the stern man, had earned Jiang Xianzi’s favor.

“Master Yu,” Lu Ran sat cross-legged on the ground, facing Yu Changsheng. “I plan to return to Yunhai Cliff as soon as possible—to settle down quickly.”

Yu Changsheng pondered a moment, then said slowly: “Menzhu, consider carefully—the northwest journey is long, and coming here isn’t easy.”

His words clearly carried hidden meaning.

Lu Ran nodded: “This afternoon, we extracted much information from Elder Peng and You Tianyao—we now know the distribution of the demonic clans.”

I intend to meet the Evil Dog Clan tomorrow.”

“Complete the mission in three days, return to Yunhai Cliff within seven.”

Yu Changsheng, hearing Lu Ran’s clear plan, immediately nodded.

Lu Ran looked at the others: “All of you from Luo Xian Pavilion, follow Lady Jiang and return with me to Yunhai Cliff.”

Everyone nodded without objection.

Among them, An Xian’s expression was odd.

Luo Xian Pavilion… Ru Men.

Don’t you two keep separate households?

Aren’t we all yours, both of you?

Lu Ran stood up, never letting go of Jiang Ruyi’s slender hand, as if afraid she might vanish: “Master Conglong, come with me.”

Yu Changsheng smiled and rose, bowing courteously to all present.

The Jiangjing elders were stunned and honored, promptly returning his greetings.

【Big Dream Nightmare, send Jing Hong to find me.】

【Understood.】

Lu Ran led Jiang Ruyi and Yu Changsheng into a private room.

“Pop~”

Yu Changsheng summoned a small Long Li, gazing at the young couple with deep confusion.

You two just reunited and poured out your hearts—why did you call me here?

“Ruyi intends to tear up her pact with the gods,” Lu Ran said to Yu Changsheng. “Since she’s made up her mind, the sooner the better!”

The sooner she severs the pact, the sooner Ruyi will recover—and the sooner she can fuse with the false god’s stone statue.

Yu Changsheng hesitated, pondering: “I heard the Lady of the Sect has already begun breaking through to the peak of Jiangjing. If she tears the pact now—”

Jiang Ruyi said coolly: “My Dao is here. I must sever it.”

Yu Changsheng raised an eyebrow slightly.

Jiang Ruyi’s single sentence silenced every argument he had prepared.

Suddenly, Yu Changsheng had an idea.

If so, why not first advance to Jiangjing peak, then sever the pact?

After all, she’ll drop a rank anyway!

Then the Lady might drop only to Jiangjing Stage Four, rather than sinking further from Four as she does now—no, wait.

Yu Changsheng reconsidered. That wasn’t how it worked.

The higher one climbs, the harder the fall.

So… should the Lady tear the pact now?

After much thought, Yu Changsheng finally sighed and urged: “Lady, think carefully!”

Jiang Ruyi: “My decision is final, Master—no more persuasion!”

As she spoke, she turned her head and looked at Lu Ran’s profile.

Looking back over her entire cultivation path, Jiang Ruyi had never felt her “Dao” so unwavering as today!

Regarding her faith in Lu Ran—

Jiang Ruyi was utterly resolute.

Physical wounds were inevitable after tearing the pact, but in her heart, she felt no turmoil.

On the contrary, after embracing Lu Ran, her inner state would grow even more stable!

Yu Changsheng: “...”

That look in the Lady’s eyes—she sees nothing but Lu Ran.

The Sect Master is truly blessed. Burp~

Full.

“Sect Master, you called for me?” Jing Hong hurried in.

“Mm.” Lu Ran gave a slight nod.

Minutes later, Jiang Ruyi sat cross-legged on the floor. Waves of energy surged around her, her snowy white robe spreading like tidal waves.

Amidst the pale golden rain, the girl’s long hair fluttered, breathtakingly beautiful.

But this beauty did not last long.

Vast energy gathered at her head—and exploded with a thunderous crash!

The humble human race tore at her pact with the gods through self-mutilation.

“Ugh.” Jiang Ruyi’s face twisted in agony, her eyes filled with pain.

“Wuuu~~~”

The Anhun Horn emitted a deep, echoing tone within the stone chamber.

“Pop~ pop~”

The Changsheng Li and Huisheng Li drifted slowly toward the woman’s forehead.

Lu Ran knelt beside Jiang Ruyi, heart aching, gripping her clenched hand as he poured thick black flames into her.

Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi turned her gaze to Lu Ran.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Ran’s heart tightened; he asked urgently.

In his sight, the girl’s pain slowly faded—what remained—

Was only resolve.

(End of Chapter)