Lu Ran, burned out completely.

Since the end of the Winter Moon, the overly intense assignments left him physically and mentally exhausted.

The battles that drained him the most were undoubtedly against the Martial Monk and the one with the Blood Skull.

In these two critical battles, Lu Ran, wielding the Silent Night Blade, altered the rules of the world, and it took a long time, even with various healing and sustaining methods, it was difficult to alleviate his extreme exhaustion both in body and mind.

After descending three mountains in half a day, Lu Ran was in a daze, often feeling dizzy.

As if he might collapse at any moment.

He forced himself to handle as many affairs as possible, but eventually, he fell asleep.

However, in the Sculpture Garden, the Evil Sculpture of Blood Skull kept buzzing loudly! So it was not that Lu Ran fell asleep, but he passed out.

With the Master of Ran Sect down, the Lady of Ran Sect naturally took over the sect.

Fairy Jiang had formidable capability and methods, stationed within the Black Cloud Vortex above the Blood Dust Divine Mountain, she oversaw everything.

Days went by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the ninth of the twelfth lunar month.

Inside the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd, Lu Ran lay limply atop a huge Firefly Cage, and his body suddenly showed some reaction.

"Mm..." Lu Ran furrowed his brow, holding his forehead with one hand, his eyes wandering as he looked around.

"Brother, you're awake~" A playful voice came, then the lantern was lifted.

Just at that moment, an emerald green light point burst from the Firefly Cage, enveloping Lu Ran's small body, nourishing his spirit.

It truly made him feel entirely comfortable!

Lu Ran stifled a groan, got up: "What day is it... Ah! What date is it?"

"I don't know, there's no sunrise and sunset here." Qiao Yuansi lifted the lantern in front of her eyes, "How's dad?"

Lu Ran shook his head, the Evil Sculpture of Blood Skull was still buzzing, causing him endless trouble: "Everything seems normal, it should be going smoothly."

Qiao Yuansi whispered: "When... do we tell mom? When do we reunite with her?"

Lu Ran pondered: "Reuniting should be soon, but let's not mention the revival for now, wait until everything is settled."

He certainly trusted the Immortal Sheep, but no one could ensure that the defiant act of reviving a Dead Soul could continue smoothly.

Lu Ran thought it shouldn't be mentioned to his mother in advance.

Hope is something too cruel.

If something unfavorable happens, let the harm stop at the siblings.

Don't hurt mother anymore.

But speaking of which, weren't mom and dad already divorced?

Lu Ran's expression grew peculiar, his hand falling to his waist: "You didn't tell her, right?"

The energy of the Cloud Sea Sword Spirit surged, soaking into his palm: "You specifically instructed, I won't say a word."

"That's good." Lu Ran floated alone, looking at the mist below, discovering that the stone sculptures in the Divine Power Lake had disappeared.

The warriors all advanced successfully?

"Blazing Phoenix, where is outside?" After several inquiries, Lu Ran flew out of the gourd's mouth.

"Awake?" A cold voice drizzled from the night sky above.

Lu Ran looked up, seeing a distinctive splendid Milky Way, realizing this was the Demon Cave's Galaxy Bay.

He also saw a cold and charming stone face.

Visible to the naked eye was that the cold visage gradually warmed, the gaze softening: "Feeling better?"

"Argh!" A certain person's battle roar did disturb the atmosphere.

The Evil God looked helplessly at the tiny human in her palm, giving him a gentle roll of her eyes.

"What day is it today?"

"The ninth of the twelfth lunar month."

"Ninth?" Lu Ran looked shocked, "I... I slept for nearly a week?"

"It's alright, I am here." Fairy Jiang spoke softly, bringing great comfort to Lu Ran.

He half-knelt, placing a hand on her palm, gently stroking: "Mm."

Jiang Ruyi softly spoke: "During the days you were recuperating, the warriors successively devoured Divine Souls..."

As she briefly recounted, Lu Ran got the gist of it.

In the two or three days after Lu Ran passed out, the warriors of Ran Sect seized the corresponding Divine Positions one after another.

Yin Yan stepped onto the Mountain Lord's tiger head, striding into the God Demon Forest; Deng Yuxiang ascended over the corpses of North Wind and Night Charm.

Lu Yuan and Qin Yanzhi respectively devoured the Divine Souls of Evil Mirror Demon and Dust Shadow Flower.

"I didn't let Lu Yuan and his apprentice merge again, henceforth, they will exist in the world as individuals with separate Divine Positions." Speaking of these two, Jiang Ruyi explained her decision.

"Yes, that's how it should be." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

It's undeniable that the techniques of Dust Shadow Flower and Evil Mirror Demon are comprehensive, combining them would naturally enhance combat power.

But the issue is, Ran Sect does not lack 'War Gods'!

Protector, Heavenly Emperor, Divine General, Heavenly General...

Looking across the sect's various sequences, majestic, bloodthirsty gods and demons abound.

But there are only two Teleporters!

Lu Ran wished he could split the two into four, how could he unite a master and his apprentice into one?

He wholeheartedly agreed with the Lady of Ran Sect's decision.

Additionally, Xiang Zhuo... Jiang Ruyi suddenly switched to voice transmission.

The fate of brothers Xiang Wang and Xiang Zhuo was somewhat different.

Before Lu Ran passed out, he discussed with Jiang Ruyi, and ideally, with Spirit Elephant-Demon Elephant stone sculptures present in the Sculpture Garden, the brothers could become inheritors of these sculptures, merge into one, and swallow a Divine Position.

Yet, under Jiang Ruyi's suggestion, the younger brother Xiang Zhuo did not inherit the stone sculpture temporarily.

Xiang Zhuo wasn't a member of the former Cloud Sea.

Of course, with his elder brother Xiang Wang, Lu Jiang trusts this younger brother, but Jiang Ruyi still held Xiang Zhuo back.

Lu Jiang, these two leaders, explained to the brothers that they had another arrangement for Xiang Zhuo and held high hopes for him.

At present, the Ran Sect indeed requires manpower.

The stone sculptures in the Sculpture Garden lack autonomy, and only with the inheritance by the Human Clan can the maximum battle strength be unleashed on the battlefield!

Thus, the elder brother Xiang Wang alone inherited the Evil Sculpture·Demon Elephant.

Later, during Lu Ran's fainting, Jiang Ruyi dispatched soldiers to transfer a large amount of Origin Energy to Xiang Wang, helping him ascend to the Third Level of the Heavenly Realm, to then devour the Divine Soul of the Spirit Elephant.

The Divine Spirit Elephant had already a complete Divine Position, by this means, Xiang Wang also became a complete God.

The younger brother Xiang Zhuo, meanwhile, served by the Lady of the Ran Sect, ready for orders.

[Xiang Zhuo is not bad.] Jiang Ruyi transmitted, [More reserved than his elder brother, with a steady disposition and full of reverence, he could be of great use.]

Those who can ascend to the Heavenly Realm usually have superior combat skills.

Thus Jiang Ruyi did not mention this, another point she did not mention was whether this person was loyal and reliable, whether he was willing to follow his elder brother to jointly serve the Ran Sect.

Since Jiang Ruyi gave such an assessment, this most critical criterion, Xiang Zhuo naturally passed.

Lu Ran, of course, trusted his girlfriend's judgment.

Apart from her keen insight, the Third-rank Magical Artifact·Phoenix Dignity of Nine Heavens Robe alone was an entity that no beings below the Heavenly Realm could deceive.

Your thoughts, your fundamental character, including that elusive heart unique to the Human Clan...

The Lady of the Ran Sect just needed a few words, and everything would be clear.

[Ruyi, which stone sculpture do you think is best for him to inherit?] Lu Ran inquired about the lady's opinion.

At this time in the Sculpture Garden, some of the stone sculptures had already devoured divine souls and had become real Gods!

Jiang Ruyi pondered: [Let's wait until Xiang Zhuo returns and ask his opinion.]

[Where did he go?]

[I ordered the Evil Shadow Guardian to temporarily sign a Master-Servant Contract with Xiang Zhuo, for the past few days, Xiang Zhuo and Shadow Five have been observing the movements of the God Demon Camp.]

[Shadow Five?] Lu Ran then remembered the Peak Master of Sword Ridge Peak, Wang Hanchuan.

That's right, just when waking up in the gourd, he hadn't heard the miserable cries of Wang Hanchuan.

Jiang Ruyi slightly lowered her eyes, signaling below.

Lu Ran flickered to the edge of her palm, peeking down.

It was only his excellent eyesight that allowed him to see the tiny Human Clan kneeling by the foot of the God from two to three hundred meters above.

"He figured it out." Jiang Ruyi looked at her feet, as her gaze moved away from Lu Ran, she returned to her expressionless state.

And as the gaze of the Lord God enveloped down, the former Peak Master of Sword Ridge Peak lowered his head even more.

The Phoenix Soul Brand only took a few days to discipline this Heavenly Realm mighty into a faithful servant.

Wang Hanchuan certainly still had his thoughts and consciousness, but he no longer possessed his own will.

Dare not have the slightest thought of resistance or act of defiance.

Not even the idea of suicide or liberation could exist, just thinking about it was truly despairing.

Regarding this, the Lady of the Ran Sect was very satisfied.

The essential character of Wang Hanchuan and Xiang Zhuo was worlds apart; without the control of the Phoenix Robe, she wouldn't have let Wang Hanchuan live on, let alone talk about joining the Ran Sect.

There wasn't a need to add potential threats unnecessarily.

But she possessed this powerful Phoenix Robe, and naturally had to make the best use of it.

Jiang Ruyi continued, "He is now Shadow Five, and the Evil Shadow Guardian has also signed a Master-Servant Contract with him.

In recent days, he has performed well, bringing back much valuable information."

"What response does the God Demon Camp have?" Lu Ran said in a low voice.

"Most of their strongholds are deserted now, and the Gods and Demons are gathering forces, forming two groups."

"Oh?"

"Led by the Jade-faced Snake at the Gold Jade Divine Mountain, and the Martial Artist at the Pear Garden Divine Mountain, there are many Gods and Demons, and both factions are quite strong, relying on each other, forming a power group."

Lu Ran pursed his lips and nodded silently.

The Gold Jade Divine Mountain is located at the very center of the Heavenly Realm Battlefield, while the Pear Garden Divine Mountain is towards the Central South, considered adjacent.

In Lu Ran's mind, he quickly went over the approximate strong Gods present at the two Divine Mountains:

First-class God Demon Jade-faced Snake, Martial Artist, Yin Flower Dan; Second-class God Demon Ash (Fisherman), Sky Phoenix, Paper Simurgh; Third-class God Demon Dragon Carp, Mo Li, Poison Bee (Poison Flower), Melted Bear (Ash Destruction Demon)...

These are just the strong Gods.

In addition, there are other Gods and Demons with lower ranks but strong functionality—indeed an unignorable force.

"The other power group is the Northwest clique led by Qiang Xiu and the Evil Spear Emperor." Jiang Ruyi said softly, "The Northwest has many soldiers and generals, and their strength is more formidable."

Lu Ran nodded in acknowledgment, aware of the terror of the Northwest Gods and Demons.

First-class God Demon Qiang Xiu, Evil Spear Emperor; Second-class God Demon West Desolation, Barbaric Female Demon; Third-class God Demon Huang Que, Nine Nether Bird, Qian Gu (White Bone Staff), Dry Sea (Sand River Doll).

From the number of strong Gods, it is about equivalent to the Gold Jade Divine Mountain + Pear Garden Divine Mountain.

But the Northwest power also has many powerful Gods and Demons not in the forefront.

For example, the number one output of the God Demon Camp—Lie Tian!

And also that deeply hidden old fox—Spiritual Fortune!

Who would categorize these two as Weak Gods?

"West Desolation has already abandoned the western front and retreated to the Northwest, the entire Northwest power is contracting."

"Contraction...Have neither of the two forces come to the Blood Dust Divine Mountain these past few days?" Lu Ran suddenly said.

"They should know everything, kept sending lackeys to probe, but did not launch a strong attack."

Upon mentioning this, Jiang Ruyi's expression turned increasingly cold: "It seems the death of the Martial Monk, especially the death of the Blood Skull, woke them up completely, now they act very cautiously.

You could contact Aunt Qiao; at times like this, Sword One should be a key target for both sides, maybe you can find out some movements behind the Gods and Demons.

They might be plotting something!"

Lu Ran's expression was grave, lightly gripping the sword handle: "Hmm."

...

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