Chapter 963: The Second Time Being a God

On the ninth day of the ninth month, in Closed Chamber No. 1 of Yunhai Cliff.

Inside a pitch-black stone chamber, a woman in a white robe knelt seated on the floor, her long black hair swaying gently with the hem of her dress.

“Huuu!!”

Suddenly, a violent surge of wind erupted from Jiang Ruyi’s body.

The Crimson Phoenix Pattern Gourd was startled!

It hid within its mistress’s arms; had she not held it firmly, it would have been flung against the stone wall.

“Mmm.”

Jiang Ruyi emitted a low nasal sound, thoroughly enjoying it.

The divine power surging within her resembled a raging river, scouring her broad meridians.

River Realm · Stage Four!

Jiang Ruyi slowly opened her beautiful eyes, light swirling within her pupils.

“Wum~” The little Crimson Phoenix stirred gently.

Jiang Ruyi released her grip, and the precious gourd floated upward, hovering before her face.

The exquisite phoenix patterns shimmered, contrasting with her mistress’s delicate, fair complexion.

“Hehe~” Jiang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh softly.

The Crimson Phoenix Pattern Gourd swayed back and forth, looking delighted and exuberant.

She curled her fingers and tapped the gourd lightly: “Full?”

“Wum~” The little Crimson Phoenix, highly sentient, nodded once forward and back.

As if in agreement.

Jiang Ruyi couldn’t help but smile, her voice unusually gentle: “Did you listen well to your mistress’s orders? Did you study how to consume living people?”

The Crimson Phoenix Pattern Gourd froze midair.

Jiang Ruyi’s smile vanished.

Having just ascended, her divine nature had not yet faded—she radiated solemn, sacred authority.

She opened her palm, her slender jade hand cradling the plump gourd: “Your mistress loves you deeply. In all this time, I’ve probably never scolded you once, have I?

He never forces you to do anything, but you must try harder, alright? Crimson Phoenix?”

“Wum~” The little Crimson Phoenix felt as if granted a great pardon.

It bobbed back and forth rapidly, nodding incessantly.

Jiang Ruyi said no more, using the golden phoenix patterns on the gourd’s glow to survey her surroundings.

The exit of Closed Chamber No. 1 at Yunhai Cliff lies within the forest north of Yunhai Manor.

At this moment, a crowd had already gathered before the hidden exit.

Out of respect for the sect lord’s lady, nearly everyone had come.

When Jiang Ruyi stepped out and saw so many people, she was slightly surprised; facing the congratulations of the Lu Sect members, she immediately smiled and nodded in response.

Only after repeated persuasion did the crowd finally disperse.

Only Si Xianxian refused to leave.

With no one around, Xian’er’s true nature emerged—she gripped her Crazy Hammer in one hand and hugged Jiang Xianzi tightly: “Ruyi, Ruyi, I’ve missed you so much.”

As Si Xianxian mumbled, she buried her face against Jiang Ruyi’s neck, rubbing her cheeks back and forth.

Jiang Ruyi: “.”

Altogether, they had only been apart for ten days.

Who could have imagined that the once-hot-tempered, confrontational lunatic had become this clingy?

Even more clingy than when they were in the human realm’s Great Xia·Luoxian Mountain.

“Hey!” A young man’s voice came from behind: “What are you doing?”

Si Xianxian ignored Lu Ran, burying her face in Jiang Xianzi’s neck and inhaling deeply as if savoring it.

Lu Ran: ???

What the—

Then what am I?

Also, are you Crazy Xian’er, or Little Yuanxi?

Lu Ran froze in place.

Within Sacred Spirit Mountain, Lu Ran avoided “deep thinking” about many things—not just regarding Jiang Ruyi.

Also about his sister, and his mother.

Now, Lu Ran had more concerns than ever.

His mother was manageable—her power was boundless, no need to worry too much.

But his little sister, Yuanxi—

Don’t come!

Lu Ran’s mind held only one thought:

Whatever you do, do NOT come to Sacred Spirit Mountain!

“Xian’er-jie?” Jiang Ruyi noticed Lu Ran’s odd expression, assuming he was upset, and gently pushed Si Xianxian away.

Si Xianxian turned to Lu Ran, annoyed: “Fine, be jealous! I’m about to break through—I need to close off too.

Who knows how many days until we meet again? Can’t I even hug you?”

Lu Ran suppressed his turbulent emotions and pretended nothing was wrong: “Then go quickly. Among the Four Guardians, you’re the weakest!

Take the little Crimson Phoenix with you… Oh, and don’t you dare drink directly from the mouth when you break through!”

Si Xianxian was already angry; seeing Lu Ran’s disgusted look, she immediately raised her eyebrows: “You think I’m dirty, right?

I’ll kiss, I’ll kiss, I’ll kiss!”

Lu Ran: “.”

“I just—uh.” Si Xianxian suddenly shivered.

She turned her head and saw Jiang Ruyi’s half-smiling, knowing expression.

Si Xianxian quickly apologized with a forced laugh: “No kissing, no kissing—I was just teasing him.”

Jiang Ruyi gave Si Xianxian a reproachful glance, then picked up the Crimson Phoenix Pattern Gourd: “Don’t forget what I just told you.”

“Wum~”

The Crimson Phoenix Pattern Gourd trembled slightly.

“Here.” Jiang Ruyi handed the gourd to Si Xianxian, instructing: “Focus on your breakthrough. Come find me once you’ve succeeded.”

“Mm!” Si Xianxian nodded firmly, gripping her Crazy Hammer in one hand and the little Crimson Phoenix in the other, then turned and left.

Jiang Ruyi asked, puzzled: “Where are you going?”

Isn’t the entrance right here?

But Si Xianxian replied: “Respected Lady! This is the entrance to Closed Chamber No. 1—within Yunhai Cliff, only Young Master and you may enter.”

Jiang Ruyi looked at Si Xianxian, both annoyed and amused, and glared at her: “Go.”

Si Xianxian giggled, her eyes playful as she glanced at Lu Ran: “Young Master! Does a lowly maid like me have the privilege to enter?”

Lu Ran nearly rolled his eyes into the sky.

“Hahahaha~” Si Xianxian burst into laughter and stepped into the tunnel entrance.

Lu Ran grunted, watching Crazy Xian’er depart, then turned to Jiang Ruyi: “Would you like to close off for a few days to consolidate your realm?”

Jiang Ruyi shook her head lightly: “Staying in the stone chamber is boring. Let’s return to Yunhai Manor.”

“Fine.” Lu Ran studied Jiang Xianzi, growing more delighted with each glance; then he suddenly remembered something: “What did you just say to the Crimson Phoenix?”

Jiang Ruyi did not answer, but smiled warmly at Lu Ran: “I’ve returned to River Realm Stage Four. You’d better work harder.”

Lu Ran: “.”

He had ascended to River Realm · Stage Four on the third day of the eighth lunar month.

Today is only the ninth day of the ninth month!

Reaching the peak of River Realm will still take a while.

Lu Ran quickly changed the subject: “By the way, while you were in seclusion, I’ve developed a method to control devotees.”

“Control?” Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Life and death.” Lu Ran nodded.

Two simple words—enough to send chills down the spine!

“Come, let’s test it.” Lu Ran stepped forward and took her soft jade hand, then habitually squeezed her palm.

Jiang Ruyi let him lead her forward.

In a daze, she felt as if she had returned to her high school classroom.

That day, he had first secretly taken her finger; seeing she didn’t resist, he boldly took her entire hand.

That moment, Jiang Ruyi would never forget.

Nor would she forget the corridor he had pulled her through.

“Ruyi?”

“Hmm?” Jiang Ruyi snapped out of her memory, feeling as if she had crossed an entire lifetime.

It was as if—

He had held her hand, walking from the corridor outside the classroom, straight into Sacred Spirit Mountain.

The once weak youths have now become revered great masters of the world.

They have become the sect master and the sect master’s lady.

“What are you thinking about, so absorbed?”

Lu Ran arrived before a dwelling in the western part of the cliff and regarded the woman behind him with curiosity.

Jiang Ruyi looked up at Lu Ran and smiled without speaking.

“So mysterious,” Lu Ran muttered.

Before they could enter the house, several people inside stepped out.

“Master!”

“Lady,” the three of Feixian Hall bowed respectfully and greeted them.

When Gao Yunyan and Jiang Ruyi advanced in realm, everyone on the cliff was assigned duties.

Only the trio of Feixian Hall were not involved in the cliff defense.

This was Deng Yu’s wish: Feixian Hall needed only to focus on worshipping the divine and praying all day.

“Now that the mist has cleared, the Feixian Hall can resume construction.” Lu Ran spoke.

“Yes!” Song Yu responded immediately, “Then shall I—?”

The term was accurate—Song Yu had clearly come to see himself as a devotee.

“Not yet. I’m testing a hypothesis. The subject may suffer some harm. Who will volunteer?” Lu Ran looked at the three.

“I will!” Song Yu spoke without hesitation, the first to answer.

“Hmm.” Lu Ran nodded, linking his spirit with the jade amulet statue.

How could a god, at the level of a covenant, control a devotee’s life and death?

After careful consideration, Lu Ran devised a plan.

Under his control, the false god—the jade amulet statue—poured forth a terrifying energy, surging along invisible covenant threads into Song Yu’s body!

Lu Ran’s action was grounded in precedent.

When he first became a Xiang Xianyang devotee, the tyrannical ram had grown annoyed by his noise and directly unleashed energy to knock Lu Ran unconscious.

Now, Lu Ran was imitating the Immortal Ram’s methods, step by step, becoming a new god!

About how to be a god—

The Immortal Ram,

had already taught Lu Ran.

“Ugh.” Song Yu groaned, his body trembling violently.

Vast energy flooded his body, far exceeding safe limits—not nurturing his flesh, but ravaging it.

It was destroying him!

Song Yu’s face flushed crimson, his blood boiling as if he might vomit at any moment.

His body convulsed uncontrollably; the violent divine power tore through his meridians, as if seeking to shatter his flesh entirely.

Lu Ran abruptly stopped!

“Heh…” Song Yu gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face as he collapsed trembling to the ground.

Zhang Zhenghu’s face turned rigid; An Xian’s body trembled involuntarily.

They had no idea what had just happened.

Yet Song Yu, the mighty river realm cultivator, had offered no resistance before Lu Ran?!

“Pop~”

Lu Ran summoned a Soul-Returning Carp, which swam toward the fallen Song Yu.

It really worked!

Lu Ran nodded inwardly.

But it consumed considerable divine power.

As the statue’s realm advanced, shouldn’t it become easier to destroy a devotee’s body?

Also, Song Yu was River Realm Stage Two—his body could hold far more divine power than a River Realm cultivator.

If the test subject had been An Xian of River Realm, would Lu Ran have found it easier to take her life?

An Xian’s voice trembled as she blurted: “M-Master! I—I pray devoutly day and night, never slackening!”

“Be quiet,” Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly.

An Xian fell silent at once, daring not to speak again.

Yet Lu Ran, lost in thought, had still been disturbed.

He came back to himself, speaking gently: “I said, I’m merely testing a hypothesis. I’m not punishing any of you.”

Lu Ran stepped forward, helped Song Yu up, and offered him another Soul-Returning Carp: “You’ve suffered.”

Song Yu was terrified, wanting to speak, but words stuck in his throat—he felt as if he had just walked through the gates of death!

Even after Lu Ran withdrew his power, Song Yu’s body remained in chaos.

His meridians felt as if they might burst!

Recovery would require days of rest.

“Pop~”

Lu Ran offered another Soul-Returning Carp and transmitted Caged Fire into Song Yu.

With such control over a devotee’s life, he could indeed gather vast numbers of followers and accept massive offerings!

Moreover, this served as a warning to Lu Ran.

If he could do this, why couldn’t other gods?

If one day they truly returned to the mortal world, they must find the Immortal Ram at once and have it sever the master-slave covenants for all of Ran Sect’s warriors!

Perhaps it should be done more cautiously.

Lu Ran must return to the mortal world first!

After properly communicating with the Immortal Ram, he would send the soldiers back directly to the Immortal Ram’s divine statue!

(End of Chapter)