Chapter 965: The Hundred Island Immortal Realm

In the morning, the entire Ruan Sect gathered in the Yishitang , and Lu Ran stated the mission objective ahead.

For this southern journey, Lu Ran planned to travel light.

After all, the goal was merely to explore the map and return within a month.

“Luo Ying,” Lu Ran said, looking at his young mother from his seat, “you’ve accompanied me through south and north for so long—this time, rest at home.”

Upon hearing this, Xun Yifei sighed with relief.

When the sect master named his wife, Xun Yifei kept his face neutral, but inside he was groaning.

He recalled the terror of being dominated by the children—the son crying all day, the daughter causing trouble at night, both wailing and begging for their mother.

Thank goodness, thank goodness!

The sect master had given him a lifeline.

But then Luo Ying spoke: “Master, I’ve rested at home for over a month—I can accompany you on this mission.”

Xun Yifei: “...”

No, Mom!

Dad can’t take it!

“No need,” Lu Ran smiled, turning to the Feng-Yan Duo Jiang, “we must give the new divine generals a chance to prove themselves.”

Gao Yunyan immediately nodded.

Xue Fengchen also wanted to nod, but he was still at Jiang Jing Stage Five—unworthy of being called a “divine general.”

“Phew,” Xun Yifei exhaled deeply upon hearing Lu Ran’s words.

His emotions had ridden a rollercoaster.

As a Hai Jing cultivator, Xun Yifei’s emotions naturally affected the surrounding atmosphere.

He had concealed them well until now, but perhaps because he truly relaxed, he let his feelings slip.

Lu Ran immediately turned his head, watching the Divine General with a half-smile.

The others in the Yishitang held varied expressions, most struggling to control their faces—after all, the Divine General was a Hai Jing powerhouse, not someone to be teased lightly.

Only Luo Ying turned her head and glared at her husband.

Xun Yifei felt awkward and immediately volunteered: “Master, let me accompany you on this mission.”

Lu Ran smiled: “No need. Balance your family and duties—while I’m away, lead everyone in protecting Yunhai Cliff.”

“Yes!”

“Yes,” both replied at once.

Lu Ran turned to Yu Changsheng: “Cong Long, come with me.”

Yu Changsheng: “...”

Luo Ying accompanies you on every southern and northern journey—never misses one.

But every mission, even I, the humble one, deserve to be named!

Lu Ran smiled: “With Cong Long by my side, I feel at ease.”

Yu Changsheng instantly felt comforted, smiled, and nodded with clear satisfaction: “An honor indeed.”

At that moment, Lu Ran sensed a sharp gaze sweep over him.

Lu Ran’s heart jolted!

No need to guess—it must be Deng Yuxiang’s gaze!

In front of outsiders, Deng Yuxiang always upheld the sect master’s dignity, but that didn’t stop her from idly glancing at Lu Ran.

Beside the main seat, Jiang Ruyi suddenly spoke: “The Dream Nightmare Protector should accompany us south as well.”

Deng Yuxiang looked at the sect master’s wife and bowed respectfully: “Yes.”

“Alright, that’s settled!” Lu Ran announced the meeting’s end.

Si Xianxian pouted, her face full of displeasure.

That morning, Lu and Jiang had already rejected Si Xianxian’s request—she was only Jiang Jing Stage Two; though her output was explosive and she could even kill Hai Jing cultivators, they still wanted her to focus on cultivation.

As the Ruan Sect members rose to leave, the Evil Shadow Protector suddenly appeared, kneeling beside a chair and blocking Lu Ran’s path.

The Evil Shadow said nothing.

Yet the air brimmed with stubbornness.

One Dream Nightmare, one Evil Shadow—truly a perfect pair of besties~

Lu Ran sighed helplessly: “Aren’t you always following me?”

Yan Shuangzi didn’t refute him—she merely looked up at him, then vanished in a flash.

Lu Ran felt awkward.

He only just realized that during his last trip to the northwestern desert, he hadn’t taken Yan Shuangzi along.

Jiang Ruyi wore a faint smile, clearly pleased by this scene.

She hoped every soldier who followed Lu Ran would be as fiercely loyal as Yan Shuangzi.

“What are you thinking about? You look so happy,” Lu Ran asked curiously.

“Let’s go prepare,” Jiang Ruyi said, placing a hand on Lu Ran’s collar and smoothing his robe. “Wear the white robe on this journey.”

Lu Ran shrugged indifferently.

Jiang Ruyi clearly loved seeing Lu Ran draped in a wide white robe.

Her arrival had also become a turning point, bringing changes to Lu Ran.

The greatest change: she brought followers. Seizing this opportunity, Lu Ran established the Feixian Hall and built the Feixian Palace, fully opening the path to recruiting believers.

Smaller changes: Lu Ran now had a second Sacred Mountain skin.

He was no longer the mysterious figure in conical hat and straw cloak, no longer a wandering swordsman.

Like the statue standing majestically inside the Feixian Palace, Lu Ran now wore a wide white robe.

His posture proud, his bearing noble.

Near noon, Lu and Jiang, accompanied by the Dream Nightmare, Cong Long, and Evil Shadow Protectors, along with the Feng-Yan Duo Jiang, set out on their southern journey.

This elite team—four Jiang, three Hai—should handle this mission easily.

Especially since among the “four Jiang” was Lu Ran himself, whose strength was utterly unfathomable!

But the team had barely set out when Yu Changsheng called out: “Master.”

“Cong Long?” Lu Ran turned.

“If we continue south along the coastline, we’ll stray from our purpose and struggle to gather sufficient intelligence,” Yu Changsheng warned.

“Hmm, you’re right,” Lu Ran nodded.

Most divine worshippers and demonic clans were land-dwellers, rarely venturing near the dangerous sea.

Following Yu Changsheng’s suggestion, the team gradually moved away from the coast, crossing mountains and valleys toward the southwest.

Occasionally, Lu Ran used the Evil Art: Mirror Flower and Moon, teleporting the group directly from one peak to another.

The next day, at dusk, they had traveled over a thousand kilometers.

This was still due to Lu Ran deliberately slowing down, prioritizing exploration.

If he had used the Evil Art: Mirror Flower and Moon frequently, thousands of kilometers wouldn’t have slowed him!

Along the way, demons and malevolent spirits were numerous, but mostly solitary or small clans—no major demonic strongholds encountered.

Lu Ran also clearly sensed that the further south they went, the lower the terrain became, and rivers and lakes multiplied.

“Huh?”

On a mountaintop, Lu Ran had just stepped out of the mirror—and was stunned by the sunset view!

Where the hell did we end up?

Is this even Sacred Mountain?

Lu Ran gazed southward and saw the terrain abruptly change—a vast lake came into view.

The lake was enormous, dotted with islands of all shapes and sizes.

Like stars scattered across the sky.

The islands were lush with green trees; slender paths connected many of them—either man-made or nature’s masterwork.

The lake’s surface rippled gently; sunlight reflected on its clear waters, breathtakingly beautiful.

“I never imagined that over a thousand kilometers from Yunhai Cliff, such a paradise still existed,” Lu Ran murmured, his gaze growing dreamy, each glance deeper in admiration.

Since entering the mountains, Lu Ran had captured many villains and interrogated them for intelligence—but no one had ever mentioned this place.

Too bad today was clear.

If it had been rainy, with mist veiling the islands, how poetic it would have been?

“Master, don’t be deceived by the beauty—this place is undoubtedly extremely dangerous,” Yu Changsheng whispered.

Lu Ran turned, smiling at the unnaturally handsome Yu Changsheng: “The more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it is, right?”

Yu Changsheng’s expression turned strange.

The Ruan Sect team had no shortage of beauties.

Whether the cold Jiang Xianzi or the radiant Dream Nightmare, both were top-tier in their own leagues.

But why did Yu Changsheng feel the sect master was referring to him?

“You’re right, sir,” Jiang Ruyi nodded gently. “Such a treasure land—if not claimed by a demonic faction—must be held by a human power.”

“Let’s go take a look!” Lu Ran ordered directly, radiating bold confidence.

In the past, Lu Ran would have turned back immediately upon seeing such a paradise.

Dared not touch a single leaf.

Now things are different.

With the Four Rivers and Three Seas, Lu Ran has the means to explore them.

Generals Feng and Yan wielded axes to clear the path, Nightmare Dragon brought up the rear, while shadowy demons guarded unpredictably, slipping in and out beyond the squad, gathering intelligence without ever showing themselves.

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi advanced slowly toward the center, descending the mountain, emerging from the dense forest, and finally reaching the lake’s edge.

“Sniff~”

Lu Ran lifted his nose.

Whether by ear, nose, or sight, not a single living thing could be seen.

“Strange—no one here?” Lu Ran crouched by the lake, staring into the crystal-clear water, cupping a handful in his palms.

Or perhaps the demons or humans are hiding on islands far from the shore?

As he pondered, Lu Ran “activated the Dog of Flame.”

He extended his tongue, lightly tasting the water in his hands—confirmed it was freshwater, with a faint sweetness.

Tsk~

Quite excellent!

This forest, this lake, these island wonders—if no other factions exist here, could my Flame Sect make use of them?

Lu Ran suddenly narrowed his eyes!

On an island far from the shore, near the forest’s edge, a shadow seemed to shift?

Only Lu Ran’s exceptional eyesight could have detected their presence.

“Splashing~”

On the island, a thick cluster of shrubs swayed gently.

A man clad in grass garments and straw sandals, at his companions’ signals, quietly retreated into the island’s interior.

The grass-clad man sprinted along a secluded path, vanishing into the deep forest until he reached a refined little pavilion:

“Master He! Master He?”

“What is it?” came a young woman’s voice from beyond the bamboo fence.

“A group has appeared to the north, observing the islands from the lake’s edge!”

As the man spoke, a woman pushed open the gate of the bamboo fence.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, slender and graceful, dressed in a long, ancient-style green gown, her demeanor serene and refined.

The woman in green seemed like a lotus blooming in clear lake water—pleasing to the eye.

Yet now, her delicate face was veiled in frost, her eyes tinged with irritation:

“Again, people from Thunder Peak?”

(End of Chapter)