Chapter 966

The man immediately shook his head: “The opponent wore a conical hat and straw cloak, carried various weapons—I saw swords, daggers, great axes, and even someone with a fan, but no one with a halberd.”

“It’s certainly not those dogs from Jingting Mountain!”

Upon hearing this, the He clan island master’s expression softened slightly.

If it were those Dongting disciples, a fierce battle would be unavoidable, and heavy casualties would surely follow.

The man gritted his teeth, enduring the island master’s invisible pressure, and stammered: “This team has six members, though there’s a possibility others lurk unseen.”

This small group must be formidable—they dared approach the lake’s edge and linger for long periods, as if planning to set foot on the island.”

“Master, should we alert the nearby islands?”

But the He island master asked: “These six carry different weapons—do their styles and demeanors differ as well?”

The man nodded immediately: “Yes! Their styles are wildly different—they likely come from multiple sects.”

The He island master nodded lightly, a shadow of concern returning to his brow.

Within the Sacred Spirit Mountains, followers of all sects cluster together for mutual protection—even the Strong God disciples.

Any small group that is mixed and disparate usually falls into one of three categories.

Either they’re Weak God disciples clinging to life, searching desperately for their masters like tadpoles seeking their mother;

Or they’re led by a powerful villain who roams collecting Sacred Spirit energy, with a few slaves serving specialized roles;

Or—most terrifying of all—a top-tier elite squad: one supreme, many strong.

Such squads are the most dangerous to provoke.

These people owe no allegiance to their own sects; they wander alone through the perilous Sacred Spirit Mountains, killing, looting, and seizing Sacred Spirit energy daily.

Though all would gladly slay them, none dare approach them.

After all, such a team dares roam the world precisely because they possess absolute, unrivaled power!

“Come, take me to see them,” the He island master murmured, sighing softly within.

I hope it’s not the third kind.

The straw-cloaked man led the way, sensing his master’s thoughts, and said: “Master He, this team is strange—their leader seems unusually young.”

“Oh?” The He island master was taken aback.

The straw-cloaked man hesitated, then voiced an implausible judgment: “Around twenty years old.”

The He island master raised an eyebrow slightly.

So young?

Those sent into the Sacred Spirit Mountains by the gods are all exceptionally powerful—most are Great Rivers.

This has made the human followers here generally older.

Even someone like me, sent in at just twenty-four, is already rare.

Yet his subordinate swore with certainty: a young man around twenty has appeared.

And he’s the leader?

“Are you certain?”

“I am certain!” the straw-cloaked man replied hastily. “Among the team, only two young people wear white robes and white dresses.”

The others in straw cloaks clearly treat these two as their superiors!”

The young man is heroic and imposing; the girl resembles a celestial immortal—equal in grace to you, Master He.”

The He island master remained silent.

If two Strong God disciples were enslaving their own kind, the team’s threat level would drop sharply.

But how could two Strong God disciples be this young?... A Heavenly Prodigy of Great Xia?

The He island master’s heart stirred.

These two young people are likely names on the Heavenly Prodigy List!

As he pondered silently, the He island master quickened his pace, arriving swiftly at the island’s northern side.

“Master!”

“Master He,” came hushed greetings from several men and women hidden within the dense shrubbery.

The He island master glided forward with light, elegant steps.

Two subordinates parted the branches slightly, allowing the master to observe. One whispered: “They’re still there.”

Before he finished speaking, all eyes turned to the He island master.

They saw the usually composed He island master, her beautiful eyes half-lidded, her composure visibly shaken?

Indeed, when the He island master saw the white-robed young man, she was genuinely stirred.

Heavenly Prodigy?

Far more than that!

He is the foremost Heavenly Prodigy of Great Xia!

“Lu Xuedi,” the He island master murmured inwardly, her gaze shifting to the white-dressed woman beside him.

Jiang Xuemei.

So it’s you two.

“Hah.” The He island master let out a quiet, wry laugh.

In all of Great Xia, it was nearly impossible to find another Heavenly Prodigy under twenty.

She had assumed her subordinate had misjudged—after all, even Great Xia’s Heavenly Prodigies were typically twenty-three or twenty-four.

But now it seemed—

“Master He, do you know them?” a man asked eagerly, voice low.

These mysterious figures clearly weren’t to be trifled with!

If Master He had prior ties with them from the mortal world, perhaps conflict could be avoided—and many lives saved.

The He island master gazed at the white-robed young man, half-musing, half-answering:

“Who in the world doesn’t know you?”

“Huh?”

“What?” Several men and women exchanged bewildered glances.

Was this praise excessive?

The He island master said coolly: “Anyone who entered the Sacred Spirit Mountains after 1919 knows him.”

Everyone instantly understood!

The Thousand Isles of Misty Rain Lake held countless followers.

Naturally, some had entered the Sacred Spirit Mountains within the past one or two years, and rumors had spread.

The most astonishing of these was Great Xia’s grand spectacle, offered to all humanity—the “Heavenly Prodigies”!

Some said it was Great Xia creating gods, providing spiritual nourishment and ideological support.

But those within the Sacred Spirit Mountains considered it differently.

They secretly hoped: was this Great Xia’s rebellion against the gods? A humble, oppressed human race daring to shatter the existing order?

After all, as time passed, these extraordinary individuals with terrifying potential would inevitably enter the Sacred Spirit Mountains.

Would their arrival bring even a whisper of change to the rules of this realm?

“Master He, should we welcome the Heavenly Prodigies?” a woman asked softly.

It was a carefully worded question.

On one hand, she sought confirmation: could Heavenly Prodigies, officially endorsed by Great Xia, truly be trusted? On the other, she wished to verify her own judgment of their identity.

The He island master pondered, her fingers gently pressing her own pale fingertips behind her back.

Could Lu Ran be trusted?

Had his heart been tainted by this filthy mountain?

Were those straw-cloaked men his teammates—or his slaves?

The He island master fell silent, recalling her first encounter with Lu Ran.

This junior’s methods were brutally cruel; his temperament, especially domineering.

He stood in stark contrast to the typical disciples of Immortal Sheep Sect.

But he bore the title of Heavenly Prodigy—the hero promoted by Great Xia! If he could lend even a little aid to Qianzhou Island against those devils from Jingting Mountain—

“Hmm?” The He island master’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

In her line of sight, the white-robed young man stood by the lake’s edge, gazing toward them.

Though they were hidden deep within the thick shrubbery, the He island master was certain: Lu Ran had already locked onto their position.

Well then—no need to deliberate further.

“Go, notify the other six Bihe Isles: we have distinguished guests arriving.”

“Yes!”

“Yes.” Several departed swiftly.

The He island master, unhurried and graceful, smoothed her long skirt.

Meanwhile, on the northern shore of Misty Rain Lake,

Jiang Ruyi approached Lu Ran and asked: “Over there, are there people?”

Lu Ran nodded: “Yes. Their eyes are beautiful.”

Jiang Ruyi: ??

“Ah, no!” Lu Ran immediately corrected himself, hastening to add, “Not as beautiful as yours.”

The Demoness?

Jiang Ruyi gave Lu Ran a light, reproachful glance, about to speak, when suddenly a woman in a green dress flew out from the island.

She stepped upon a lotus leaf, floating slowly toward them.

Her jet-black hair and simple, elegant gown drifted gently in the breeze, exuding a tranquil, refined aura.

As Lu Ran had said, the woman indeed had beautiful eyes—clear as a spring.

As the woman drew nearer, Lu and Jiang both felt a faint pressure.

It had nothing to do with combat ability, nor was Lu Ran or Jiang Ruyi timid—it was simply the undeniable indicator of a higher cultivation realm.

The vast sea could overwhelm those of the River Realm with crushing pressure!

“A follower of Bihe.”

Lu Ran’s gaze flickered over the emerald lotus leaves, dripping with dew.

The dewdrops clung to the woman’s slender, delicate feet.

Beneath the setting sun’s glow, it was nearly impossible to tell whether the glistening dewdrops or the woman’s moist, fair skin—ahem—was more beautiful.

Lu Ran immediately averted his eyes.

Bihe demoness!

Don’t you dare disrupt my Dao heart!

My Jiang Immortal is far more beautiful!

By the way, the Third-Rank Deity Bihe is terrifyingly well-rounded.

The Bihe Sect excels in defense and control, and also possesses a healing technique.

Before the River Realm, they’re purely support.

After reaching the River Realm? Well, they’re still mostly support.

Because their River Realm ultimate ability is devastatingly overpowered and cannot be activated lightly.

River Realm Divine Art: Ten Thousand Zhang of Pure Lotus—summons countless blooming lotuses that rapidly spread outward, releasing endless petals and leaves to slaughter all things!

It carries the intent to cleanse the entire universe!

Just how terrifying is this sect?

You can verify it objectively: their sworn enemy is the Evil Demon Qiansi Ying!

As the saying goes: Better to storm the Gates of Hell than to touch a Qiansi thread.

That saying is from a human perspective—but from the demon’s side, you mustn’t touch Bihe’s Divine Art: Lotus Thread Connection either!

The Bihe Sect can control you to death!

The question arises: if they’re this powerful, why is Deity Bihe only a Third-Rank Deity?

Doesn’t the title “Sworn Enemy of Qiansi Ying” alone warrant her a seat in the second row?

She’s ranked third largely due to her temperament.

Her followers, like their deity, are refined and detached, disdaining competition.

“Huh~”

The woman stepped lightly onto the lake’s surface atop her lotus leaf, clasped her hands, and smiled gracefully:

“Young Master Lu, greetings.”

“Huh??”

This unusual address left Lu Ran utterly stunned.

Who are you, calling me “Young Master”?

Are you also from Yuxiang No. 1 High?

Brothers, my body hasn’t recovered yet; I’ll make up the missing chapters tomorrow. Please bear with me.

(End of Chapter)