Chapter 984: Another Divine General?!

On Qinghedao.

Lu Ran politely thanked the Qianzhou Alliance members who had come to see him off, and stated he intended to enter deep seclusion, asking not to be disturbed.

The others understood why Lu Ran was eager to return to the island, and immediately took their leave.

Afterwards, Lu Ran led his team back to the secluded courtyard deep in the jungle.

Unexpectedly, two black-clad men were quietly waiting inside the courtyard; Lu Ran was quite surprised and asked, “What is this?”

“Lord Lu!”

“Lord Lu.” The two immediately bowed, “Master He sent us here to serve at your command.”

Lu Ran slightly raised an eyebrow.

This He Qi Feng is indeed interesting.

From start to finish, she said nothing—but acted decisively to show her stance.

Lu Ran thought to himself, then turned to the members of Ran Men and said, “All of you, go rest.”

“Yes!” Gao Yunyan responded immediately, leading Xue Fengchen out of the courtyard.

Within this jungle stood three buildings, arranged in a triangular formation, spaced no more than a few dozen meters apart.

After watching the two generals return home, Lu Ran turned to the two black-clad men: “What are your names?”

“Your servant’s codename is Dahei; he is Sihai.”

Lu Ran’s mind stirred: “How many of you ‘Heis’ are there total?”

“Currently only four.”

Lu Ran nodded—Wu Ya believers truly were rare.

He looked at the two and smiled: “Then I’ll rely on you two to continue gathering intelligence near Yanyu Lake. If you spot any enemies, return immediately to report.”

The rule remains unchanged: observe from afar—your own safety is paramount.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!” Dahei and Sihai instantly transformed into black crows, flapping their wings as their figures vanished.

Lu Ran listened as the sound of wings faded into the distance, feeling envious: “If Ran Men had even a few scouts, it would be ideal.”

Yu Changsheng fiddled with his paper fan: “Lord, since you’re on good terms with Lady He, just ask her—you’re sure she’d give you some.”

“Don’t slander me! Who’s on good terms with her?” Lu Ran slung an arm around his fiancée’s shoulder and whispered, “I’m not! Don’t believe what Long Mr. says.”

Yu Changsheng: “.”

Jiang Ruyi: “.”

Lu Ran turned to Yu Changsheng: “Hey? Why hasn’t Master Long left to rest yet?”

Yu Changsheng stared silently at Lu Ran, his gaze haunting.

I’m not the only one who didn’t leave—there’s also the Nightmare Guardian!

Why don’t you send her away, hmm?

You and your Great Nightmare are the real ones on good terms!

It seems I’ve been oblivious all along.

Just as Yu Changsheng sank into melancholy, Jiang Ruyi softly said, “Let’s talk together.”

“Mm-hmm.” Lu Ran readily took the opening, awkwardly averting his gaze.

Yu Changsheng’s excessively handsome face, paired with such a forlorn look…

No wonder He Yingcai couldn’t hold out!

Even Lu Ran himself was starting to feel overwhelmed~

The group entered the room and closed the door.

Since the four of them were to interrogate the Tiger Whisker Sect Master, Lu Ran specifically instructed the Evil Shadow Guardian to remain vigilant.

If anyone approached, they must notify them immediately.

Then again, both Lu Ran and Deng Yu were skilled in perception—there was little need to worry excessively.

In the hall, Lu Ran summoned a black mist cluster, assisting Deng Yu in interrogating the prisoner.

The Tiger Whisker Sect Master had already experienced Lu Ran’s cruel methods and was now utterly submissive.

Even his voice was barely a whisper.

Here, the group listened as the Tiger Whisker Sect Master poured out information, while in a wooden house dozens of meters away, Xue Fengchen sat quietly in the hall, lost in thought.

On the table lay over a dozen strings of Divine Power beads; by the door piled a stack of long and short halberds.

These were all spoils of Ran Men, but due to the current unusual circumstances, Lu Ran had not yet overseen their distribution.

Gao Yunyan sat quietly at the table, keeping her boyfriend company.

Though they called each other boyfriend and girlfriend, they had never formally confessed.

Such romantic gestures felt out of place in this filthy Holy Spirit Mountain.

The most romantic thing between them had been when Gao Yunyan kissed Xue Fengchen before her sacrificial death.

For Gao Yunyan at that stage, throwing herself into Jiang Ruyi’s arms and escaping the Tianhuang Mountain faction was an extremely risky decision.

She had stepped onto an unknown path—likely a dead end.

No matter how dazzling Jiang Ruyi’s promises sounded, Gao Yunyan had always been pessimistic about finding Lu Ran.

She wasn’t even sure she could break through the boundless Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.

Then came the events that left Gao Yunyan stunned.

She had truly met the First Prodigy of Great Xia!

And under Lord Lu’s leadership, she had escaped the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain that had imprisoned her for so long.

Even crossed the entire continent—from the barren northwest to the azure skies of Yunhai Cliff.

Her fate had been utterly transformed; under Lu Ran’s guidance, she became the boundless sea that all beings desperately sought but could never attain.

Loyalty—

was the only thing Gao Yunyan could offer Lu Ran in return.

She also believed Xue Fengchen would follow closely behind, becoming a Sea Realm powerhouse.

Because Xue Fengchen shared her same experience, her identical psychology.

But reality was not so.

Xue Fengchen lived in stifled suppression.

The various Guardians and Divine Generals of Ran Men crushed Xue Fengchen under their weight.

Including Gao Yunyan herself!

She didn’t need to do anything—her very existence was enough to oppress Xue Fengchen.

This was detrimental to Xue Fengchen’s growth!

Could anyone who entered the Western Wilderness faction truly be a “good person”?

Don’t forget—the Western Wilderness faction’s sworn enemy is the Wildland Nüba clan!

To some extent, you can regard Western Wilderness followers as Ba Huang wearing human skins.

The difference lies in that Western Wilderness disciples possess higher intellect and rationality, and can be bound by rules and morality.

Yet the barbaric ferocity within most Western Wilderness disciples objectively exists.

Look at what Xue Fengchen has become now?

A true Great Xia prodigy, a peak River Realm youth, reduced to an insignificant nobody.

No presence, no voice.

“Sigh.” Gao Yunyan sighed inwardly, watching the unnaturally silent Xue Fengchen.

If he cannot explode in silence, he will slowly die within it.

“Lord Lu’s demeanor just now felt more like that of a Western Wilderness disciple.” Xue Fengchen suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

Gao Yunyan did not respond rashly.

Xue Fengchen stared at the strings of Divine Power beads on the table and whispered: “Cut off the enemy’s head, imprison the enemy’s soul.”

As fellow Western Wilderness disciples, Gao Yunyan easily synced with Xue Fengchen’s frequency and ventured tentatively:

“Trample. Conquer.”

Xue Fengchen nodded heavily.

He had seen Lu Ran torment the souls of enemies.

Back in Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, when Lu Ran carried two Soul Prisons and arrived before Jiang Ruyi with Peng Lao from Tianhuang Mountain and Hai Jing from Hanhai Gang, Xue Fengchen had felt something stir within him.

But at that time, the two groups had just met—there were too many other things to notice.

Like Deng Yu, Yu Changsheng, and Luo Ying—the three boundless seas—no one could even deliberately ignore them.

Later, when Lu Ran imprisoned the souls of Lingfeng Sect members, it hadn’t deeply affected Xue Fengchen.

Those were merely River Realm sect members—they knew how to face the strong.

But today’s battle had stirred Xue Fengchen’s memory of that first encounter.

The Tiger Whisker Sect Master—an absolute powerhouse of Jingting Mountain, a Sea Realm adept!

He had been lying carefree on the lake surface, just over ten kilometers from the Qianzhou Alliance.

Arrogance born of absolute power.

The Tiger Whisker Sect Master indeed had grounds for his audacity—yet Lu Ran had utterly destroyed it.

Crushed with overwhelming force!

Even after death, the arrogant Tiger Whisker Sect Master still cursed and screamed accusations.

And when all those sounds turned into wails and pleas for mercy,

It wasn’t just the Great Nightmare who felt satisfaction.

In that moment, Xue Fengchen saw on Lu Ran the true face of the Western Wastes.

He saw the very form he himself should become!

Face the enemy—powerful enemies.

Crush them. Trample them.

Conquer!

“Huh~”

Suddenly, a surge of energy rippled outward from Xue Fengchen’s body.

Gao Yunyan first froze, then broke into a delighted smile.

The energy fluctuations grew more violent; the mist in heaven and earth thickened.

In the solitary courtyard dozens of meters away, Lu Ran and the others sensed something amiss.

Lu Ran’s heart leapt: “Is Feng’er really about to ascend?”

He just didn’t know how Feng’er had suddenly gained insight—or what exactly she had felt.

Well, it didn’t matter anymore!

This battle was truly worth it!

Hehe~

We eliminated one Sea Realm cultivator from Jingting Mountain—and now we have another Sea Realm cultivator?!

So here’s the question: should we still grant Feng’er the title of “Divine General”?

“Hmm,” Lu Ran mused.

Had he been spoiling Feng’er too much?

It had been decided from the start: whoever among Feng and Yan ascended to the Sea Realm first would become the Divine General.

After Gao Yunyan’s ascent, Lu Ran had given Feng’er an extra month’s grace—but Xue Fengchen still failed to seize the opportunity.

Now, should he still grant Xue Fengchen the position of Divine General?

Force it upon her.

What if we make Feng and Yan a pair?

They’re a couple, after all!

Both are disciples of the Western Wastes, their statuses overlapping—why not share the title?

Eight Divine Generals with nine people? That’s perfectly normal!

Hmm, yes!

The Four Protectors should also have five members.

“Congratulations, Lord Master,” Yu Changsheng gently fanned his paper fan, smiling. “Our plan appears to be succeeding ahead of schedule.”

“Oh?” Lu Ran turned to his chief strategist.

Yu Changsheng confirmed: “Xue Fengchen’s breakthrough to a major realm has generated extraordinary disturbances—mist tornadoes will surely descend from the heavens.”

“Can Jingting Mountain tell whether this is someone else’s ascension—or Yun’s?”

“That makes sense!” Lu Ran nodded vigorously.

Yu Changsheng continued: “Moreover, ascending from River Realm peak to Sea Realm takes five to ten days—Jingting Mountain has ample time to react.”

“Looks like we must prepare for battle,” Lu Ran murmured.

In the Soul Prison, Hu Xu, the Hall Master, was terrified.

He now fully understood what kind of ally Qianzhou Alliance had brought.

Jingting Mountain was powerful—even by the standards of Sacred Spirit Mountain, it was top-tier.

Yet these mysterious people showed not the slightest fear.

Quite the opposite!

They were determined to annihilate Jingting Mountain?!

“Someone’s coming,” Deng Yuxiang suddenly said.

Moments later, Lu Ran’s mind received a telepathic message: [Master, someone has arrived.]

[Hmm.] Lu Ran, still holding the Soul Prison, reached for Deng Yuxiang’s wrist and dispersed the black mist.

Deng Yuxiang summoned the Afterlife Coin and once again imprisoned the prisoner, awaiting the next interrogation.

“Knock knock knock~”

A knock at the door, accompanied by a woman’s apologetic voice: “Young Master Lu? I’m sorry to disturb you.”

“Come in!”

(End of Chapter)