Chapter 967: Thousand Boats in Mist and Rain

“You’re also from Yuxiang No. 1 High School?” Lu Ran asked, puzzled.

Had he run into a fellow townsman?

“I and Young Master Lu are alumni from the same university,” Island Master He smiled and explained.

Lu Ran grinned: “Who are you trying to fool? I never went to college. Oh, right—I am a college student.”

Mid-sentence, Lu Ran suddenly remembered: he was the national college entrance exam top scorer, with unmatched prestige, who later “married down” to Wu Lie River University.

The Eight Directions Annihilation Blade was obtained from Wu Lie River University.

Stunned silence.

Lu Ran scratched his head, inadvertently revealing the demeanor of a typical 19-year-old.

Honestly, this wasn’t really Lu Ran’s fault.

He had indeed been admitted to Wu Lie River University, but never attended a single class—let alone felt any sense of belonging.

Since the college entrance exam until today, Lu Ran had only stepped onto the university campus once.

He got into a fight, then took himself a vacation.

“Hehe~” Island Master He watched the slightly awkward Lu Ran with amusement; this “innocent college student” look was unexpectedly endearing.

At least it was more reassuring than his usual solemn expression.

Island Master He looked at the junior students with a warm smile: “Last semester, I personally witnessed Young Master Lu’s rage over a woman.”

Lu Ran: “.”

Jiang Ruyi also recalled the memory, but felt little embarrassment—only a gentle smile: “What’s your senior’s surname?”

“No need for formalities—I’m He, He Yingcai,” Island Master He clasped her hands together and bowed slightly.

He Yingcai was undoubtedly a Sea Realm powerhouse!

Yet before Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi, she was humble and courteous, leaving an excellent impression.

Jiang Ruyi also clasped her hands: “Senior He, so young and already at the Sea Realm—truly admirable.”

He Yingcai smiled modestly and shook her head lightly.

On the Thousand Boats Archipelago, He Yingcai had every reason to be lofty.

But before Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi?

He Yingcai’s prized talents meant nothing at all.

Lu Ran asked: “So, is this lake district the headquarters of the Bihe Sect?”

He Yingcai turned slightly, gazing across the islands: “Not just my Bihe Sect—there’s also the Tianluan Sect, the Chēnghuā Sect, and the Jianlian Sect.”

“Oh?” Lu Ran was genuinely surprised.

Second-Rank Deity: Tianluan!

Third-Rank Deity: Bihe!

Third-Rank Deity: Chēnghuā!

Fourth-Rank Deity: Jianlian!

With so many deity sects clustered together, wouldn’t they just fight each other to the death?

The Tianluan Sect is a support sect, excelling in defense, control, and healing.

The Chēnghuā Sect and Bihe Sect are similar—both balanced in offense and defense.

Such believers are extremely rare in the small town of Yuxiang.

During Lu Ran’s tenure guarding Yuxiang Town, he had only encountered one Chēnghuā believer.

That night, the fifteenth of the month, coincided with an invasion by the Evil Spear Emperor clan—so he remembered vividly.

He recalled seizing the beautiful oiled-paper umbrella from a Chēnghuā disciple and using it as a tiny boat gliding across the rainy night sky.

Leveraged its power, assassinated a monarch.

As for the Fourth-Rank Deity Jianlian Sect, Lu Ran knew it well—his teammate Tian Tian was a Jianlian believer.

Who would’ve thought these four sects had gathered together?

Hmm… now that he thought about it, it made sense.

This lake was vast as an ocean, dotted with countless islands—no single sect could reasonably monopolize territory alone.

“This lake is called Yanyu Lake,” He Yingcai explained. “The islands scattered across it are known as the Thousand Boats Archipelago.

Over a decade ago, under Tianluan Sect’s initiative, the four sects jointly established the Thousand Boats Alliance here.”

He Yingcai paused, then continued: “For years, the Bihe Sect has held the northern region, occupying seven islands, collectively called Bihe Seven Islands.

Now, I am the master of one of those islands.”

“No way~” Lu Ran couldn’t help exclaiming, “Just your Bihe Sect alone—do you have six other Sea Realm island masters like you?”

He Yingcai smiled and nodded.

Whether or not Lu Ran had been tainted by Shengling Mountain, showing off his strength early would spare him many troubles.

She truly didn’t want to clash blades with Lu Ran.

Lu Ran asked: “What about the other three sects? Do they each control seven islands, with seven or more Sea Realm masters?”

He Yingcai spoke freely: “The Chēnghuā Sect guards the southwest seven islands, the Jianlian Sect guards the southeast seven islands, and the Tianluan Sect holds the center, controlling the three central islands.

All island masters are Sea Realm.

Because the four sects are united, the Thousand Boats Alliance has endured here.”

“Three sevens are twenty-one, plus three is twenty-four,” Lu Ran muttered, stunned.

The Thousand Boats Archipelago had at least twenty-four Sea Realm powerhouses!

Note: at least!

Consider that elite sects like Xi Huang or Bei Feng had only about twenty Sea Realm masters in their main bases.

And yet the Thousand Boats Alliance…

The four sects uniting was indeed wise—together, they formed a top-tier faction with sufficient strength to dominate the Immortal Realm.

If they fought separately, all four would sink to mid-tier organizations.

Jiang Ruyi sighed: “To unite four sects into one front—the Thousand Boats Alliance’s leader must be extraordinary.”

He Yingcai nodded in agreement: “The alliance leader, Yun Qianzhou, is a disciple of the Tianluan Sect—you know, Tianluan disciples are mostly compassionate healers.

Lord Yun possesses extraordinary cultivation, immense benevolence, and immense prestige within the alliance.”

Jiang Ruyi nodded inwardly.

Only the Tianluan Sect could possibly unite the Bihe, Chēnghuā, and Jianlian sects.

Lu Ran felt a flood of emotion: “Senior He, with such a towering tree to lean on, you can rest easy.”

But He Yingcai shook her head with a wry smile.

“What?” Lu Ran, noticing her reaction, asked curiously, “Is the Thousand Boats Alliance not very united?”

He Yingcai: “The alliance remains stable—besides, we have enemies circling us.”

“Huh?” Lu Ran was even more surprised. “A behemoth like the Thousand Boats Alliance—someone dares to provoke it?”

He Yingcai sighed softly: “Not long ago, those people from Jingting Mountain came here to borrow troops.”

She sneered: “They called it ‘borrowing,’ but if we truly lent them our members, they’d never return—forever enslaved.”

“Jingting Mountain.” Lu Ran frowned, recalling the two Dongting disciple bodyguards he’d eliminated during the raid on Tian Tu Mountain.

“From the name alone, you can deduce it’s the base of the Dongting Sect.”

“Your Thousand Boats Alliance has twenty to thirty Sea Realm masters—how can they bully you?”

He Yingcai whispered: “Jingting Mountain’s strength is not to be underestimated. I became an island master precisely because my predecessor died in the last battle.”

Lu Ran: ??

A Sea Realm powerhouse died in battle?

And yet Tianluan Sect—the top-tier healers—were right there?!

He Yingcai nodded lightly: “Jingting Mountain is tyrannical, and the Dongting divine arts are exceptionally aggressive—very hard to counter.”

Lu Ran recalled the Dongting Sect’s divine arts list and had to admit: those “lightning men” were terrifyingly strong!

Their disciples weren’t just fast and devastating in output—they also had defense and control!

“Enough about that,” He Yingcai turned to Lu Ran, her face softening again. “When did you enter the mountains? You seem to be doing well?”

As she spoke, He Yingcai’s gaze swept over several figures in straw capes.

Since the sect master and island master began speaking, the members of Ran Gate had been on guard, offering only their backs or profiles to He Yingcai.

Deng Yu, Yu Changsheng, Gao Yunyan

The aura radiating from these three figures was unmistakably that of Sea Realm powerhouses!

Yet Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi were clearly River Realm.

Within the Shengling Mountain realm, it was pure survival of the fittest—strength ruled absolutely.

Lu Ran commanding multiple Sea Realm masters to follow him loyally as subordinates was truly astonishing to He Yingcai.

Lu Ran smiled and gestured to them: “I entered the mountains in late January and founded a small organization called Ran Gate.

These are my kindred spirits.”

As Lu Ran introduced them, Yu Changsheng turned his head, smiling and nodding.

He Yingcai stared at the man for a moment, her gaze lingering.

This man was excessively handsome.

Of course, as a Sea Realm powerhouse, He Yingcai had her own dignity.

She merely gazed at Yu Changsheng a few seconds longer, then turned to examine the others—then suddenly laughed: “There’s another one hidden here.”

What are you hiding?

Of course, the prodigies!

Xue Fengchen turned slightly, holding his Great Mountain Splitting Axe, and bowed to the Lord of Haijing Island.

He Yingcai exclaimed, “Lu Ran, you truly have remarkable ability—in just half a year, you’ve built such a team.”

Surely what I see today is only the tip of the iceberg of your Ruan Sect’s strength?”

“Not at all, not at all,” Lu Ran chuckled.

On Yunhai Cliff, two more Haijing cultivators still lie discarded—both of mid-to-high rank.

He Yingcai hesitated a moment, then asked, “Lu Ran, what brings your team here?”

Lu Ran: “You’ve misunderstood. I didn’t come here on purpose—I just happened to wander here.”

He Yingcai tilted her head slightly: ?

Wander?

Wandered here?

Let’s speak Chinese!

“Phew~”

Lu Ran nodded in confirmation: “I originally planned to travel south, stroll around, explore the map of Shengling Mountain, and broaden my horizons.”

He Yingcai stared at Lu Ran in stunned silence.

Had this not come from Lu Ran’s mouth, she would have ordered the lowly Jiangjing thug before her to kneel and rephrase his words properly.

“You don’t believe me?” Lu Ran smiled and pointed to Yu Changsheng. “Master Fish, I pulled out from a highland lake in the snowy forests north of Shengling Mountain.”

Yu Changsheng: ??

Lu Ran pointed to two tall, imposing disciples from the Western Wastes: “Generals Feng and Yan, I found them in the western desert, among Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.”

He then pointed to Deng Yu: “Nightmare Guardian.”

Deng Yu turned her head slightly, her gaze flicking toward Lu Ran, one eyebrow lifting.

Lu Ran paused, then said: “Uh… this one came with me straight from the factory.”

Deng Yu: “.”

Jiang Ruyi couldn’t help but smile, watching Lu Ran’s smug expression.

Showing off again?

He was like this in high school—never lost his old habits.

He Yingcai was utterly bewildered.

Most people in Shengling Mountain barely cling to life; if they find a powerful patron, they’d gladly spend the rest of their days there.

If they can’t find any organization, they must flee day and night, constantly on the run.

And Lu Ran…

Is just… wandering?

First the snowy north, then the western desert, and now he’s heading south?

Are we even in the same Shengling Mountain?

He Yingcai stared blankly at Lu Ran, unable to speak for a long while.

Lu Ran added: “This time, the Ruan Sect’s southern journey isn’t just about mapping—it’s also to find like-minded companions.”

Meeting you, He Xuejie, is truly a pleasant surprise.”

“But you’re the lord of an entire island—hardly likely to take interest in my little mountain temple, huh~”

Lu Ran was genuinely tempted by this Haijing island lord.

Of course, it was only temptation—he’d still thoroughly evaluate her if she showed interest.

Besides, He Yingcai held a high position and was backed by the Thousand Boats Alliance; why would she easily abandon all she had?

“Heh.”

He Yingcai steadied her composure and smiled faintly.

She gazed lightly at Lu Ran, her eyes shimmering slightly.

The words,

couldn’t be said so absolutely.

(End of Chapter)