Lu Ran did not let Bai Rao stay outside for too long.

Not safe.

After absorbing a whole mass of Holy Spirit Energy, he turned his head again to look at Bai Rao. Confirming that she had already devoured the Divine Soul, Lu Ran then flickered over and collected her into the Gourd.

At this moment, this Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd was immensely valuable!

Jiang Ruyi, Yu Changsheng, Wu Xiao, Ash, and a group of Fake Gods were all within it, ascending to their Divine Positions with great momentum.

Additionally, stone sculptures like Sky Phoenix, Paper Simurgh, and Melted Bear had also devoured Divine Souls, striving for the God Realm within it.

They must be well preserved.

Lu Ran sighed secretly, carefully stowing the Treasure Gourd at his waist. Remembering something, he reached into his pocket, grabbing a few Rebirth Money.

[Lord Immortal Sheep, are you there?] Moments later, Lu Ran tried offering a prayer to the God.

[Is it important?] A raspy voice echoed in his ear, the tone unfriendly.

Lu Ran's heart tensed!

On regular days, Lord Immortal Sheep would either ignore or just coldly hum a sound.

Such an unusual response made Lu Ran realize that Lord Immortal Sheep was very displeased!

[I just seized the forces of Martial Artist and the Jade-faced Snake.]

[Hmm, not bad.] Though the God's response was brief, the tone evidently improved somewhat.

Lu Ran added: [Martial Artist invited a First-class God, Fire Goddess, from India; I also took her down and secured her Divine Soul.]

[Fire Goddess?] Immortal Sheep expressed slight surprise.

[Yeah~] Lu Ran smirked, [She was extremely fierce and brought a Madness Magic Pearl that broke my Domain of Silence.]

[You took down the Fire Goddess.]

[Yes! And would I indulge her? Daring to behave tyrannically in our Da Xia, she must be tired of living!]

[Hehehe...] Immortal Sheep chuckled lightly.

"Cough, cough." Lu Ran gave an awkward cough, realizing he'd inadvertently spoken too bluntly.

He quickly reined himself in, transmitting a question: [Disciple wishes to inquire how to handle this Divine Soul? It seems a waste to devour it outright, yet there is no Fire Goddess statue in our Sculpture Garden.]

With anticipation, Lu Ran waited earnestly.

This is a First-class God, undoubtedly powerful!

If it could be utilized by Ran Sect, that would be wonderful...

In the early 1980s, when all Gods were vying for territory, Da Xia and India were the two most populous regions in the world.

At that time, Da Xia had roughly a billion people, and India about seven hundred million.

This clearly shows the value of a First-class God from India!

[Creating a stone sculpture is relatively difficult.]

[It can really be created?] Lu Ran felt a joy in his heart.

[Yes, unlike borrowing the original stone sculpture to bring a soul back, creating a stone sculpture consumes considerable energy and also requires a relatively long time.]

[How long will it take?] Lu Ran hurriedly asked.

Immortal Sheep pondered for a moment, then replied: [Store the Divine Soul well, it's a good foundation. Given the strength of the Divine Soul, keeping it in a Magic Artifact for three years or so shouldn't be a problem.

In the future, you may personally create a Fire Goddess statue.]

Lu Ran's expression was momentarily dazed, and his voice stammered: [Disciple... personally create the Fire Goddess? Lord Immortal Sheep, you...]

[No need, don't disturb me again.]

Lu Ran's mind was in a turmoil.

How would he personally create it?

He must ascend to that position to possess such terrifying means, so the intention of Lord Immortal Sheep was already quite clear.

Coupled with what Immortal Sheep had just said, that the Divine Soul could exist for three years or so...

The more Lu Ran thought about it, the more upset he became, finally unable to resist asking: [Lord Immortal Sheep! Reviving my father, will this hasten your demise?

The cost of reviving my father... after reviving him, will you still be alive?]

Cold words etched into his mind: [Alive. But if you keep arguing, your father is going to be annihilated soon.]

Lu Ran: "..."

He was burning with embarrassment and dared not make another sound.

After a while, he looked left and right, ordering Deng Yuxiang to lead the team to guard Yan Paper God Mountain, then immediately headed for Pear Garden God Mountain.

There, Lu Ran met the old forces of Cloud Sea guarding the God Mountain and the remnants of the Martial Artist's forces—the Ninth-level God, Corpse Suppressing Official.

He looked like a middle-aged man, clad in a large robe, with thick and full facial hair.

He had an imperial mustache on his upper lip and a goatee on his chin, with sideburns on the sides of his face.

Truly distinctive.

While other Gods naturally had an aura of authority, the Corpse Suppressing Official's was evident on his face.

Though his attitude was respectful, his facial expression was constantly frowning and glaring.

With a demeanor that looked ready to devour someone...

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!" Upon seeing Lu Ran's arrival, several warriors saluted with respect.

Even the Corpse Suppressing Official followed suit by kneeling.

Evidently, the internal hierarchy among the Gods was strictly enforced, and when the Gods of Ran Sect acted in such ways, the Corpse Suppressing Official had no choice but to follow.

"Is this the only one?" Lu Ran flew to the mountaintop and approached Qiao Wanjun.

Qiao Wanjun nodded slightly: "The weak Gods guarding the Divine Mountain were killed seven or eight times over by the Faceless Jade Venerable with hardly any ability to resist."

She sighed lightly: "We also didn't receive the Divine Souls. The moment God Demon was trampled, the Jade Venerable lackeys swarmed up, dividing the Divine Souls."

Lu Ran looked up at the respectful, head-lowered Corpse Suppressing Official.

Just in time to see his fiercely frowning, glaring face.

It startled Lu Ran!

Truly worthy of being the Corpse Suppressing Official!

Take a photo, put it on the burglar-proof door at home, and it's sure to drive away evil spirits...

Lu Ran, trembling, reached out, grabbing his mother's arm, and flew towards the distant cliff: "Mom, now that the time is ripe, I plan to lead Ran Sect to descend upon the world once Ruyi and the others become Gods."

Qiao Wanjun nodded thoughtfully: "With God's constant fall, mortals will surely be thrown into chaos."

"Indeed, our emergence can bring hope to the people."

"Hmm." Qiao Wanjun stood with her hands behind her back, quite in agreement.

"By the way, should you communicate with Lord Jian Yi? Now that the Martial Artist is dead, there's no longer anyone watching her day and night. Regarding your Divine Position, is it possible..."

Lu Ran spoke while observing his mother's face.

Unfortunately, only when she looks at him might she show a hint of warmth.

For most of the time, Qiao Wanjun resembled an ice sculpture, her indifferent gaze devoid of any human emotion.

Seeing his mother silent, Lu Ran continued, "Doing so not only allows you to have a Divine Position but also serves as an act of gratitude, potentially extending Lord Jian Yi's life."

"Do you think she still wishes to live longer?" Qiao Wanjun gazed at the distant sky.

"Huh?" Lu Ran was somewhat puzzled, "Lord Jian Yi went against god demons to protect you, isn't it because she carefully selected a fresh blood to share her Divine Position?"

Qiao Wanjun suddenly said, "The contract between me and Lord Jian Yi isn't an ordinary contract."

Lu Ran's gaze narrowed.

Not a Master-Servant Contract?

"An Inheritance Contract?" Lu Ran was somewhat startled, realizing only then that Jian Yi was not intending to extend her life but planned to completely erase herself.

Indeed, any living being has its limitations, including gods.

Previously, when Lu Ran burned the divine soul of the Jade Talisman, it persistently claimed Jian Yi wanted to extend her life through Qiao Wanjun.

With the Jade Talisman's perspective, of course, it would conclude that way.

However, the reality is...

Jian Yi was truly weary.

Qiao Wanjun softly said, "To this day, Lord Jian Yi finds it difficult to take interest in anything."

Lu Ran looked at his mother's profile, rarely seeing a touch of sorrow.

Qiao Wanjun murmured, "I previously said Lord Jian Yi likes tranquility, but actually there's more to it.

She wants to quietly feel the final moments, experiencing life slowly ebbing away, the Origin Energy gradually dissipating."

Lu Ran was slightly open-mouthed, frozen in place.

Qiao Wanjun: "In her long existence, she has never felt the slow approach of death; she hopes I...

hopes we can guard her until that moment, without anyone disturbing her, allowing her to savor it dearly.

In return, she will leave everything to me just before she completely disappears."

Lu Ran was still speechless, not knowing what to say.

Humans, whose lives are brief, always pursue longevity, even immortality.

Jian Yi, whose life is long, wants to taste a bit of "aging" and the flavor of death.

Suddenly, Lu Ran knows what he wants to say.

How long can Jian Yi still live?

Hopefully, after a hundred years, she's not still lingering...

But seeing his mother's sorrowful appearance, Lu Ran temporarily held back the comment, instead saying, "Mom, we can't follow Lord Jian Yi, you must stay with me and Little Yuanxi for a long time."

Qiao Wanjun lowered her head and smiled.

She never considered herself a good mother.

During her children's growing years, she rarely offered companionship.

Even after being sent to Holy Spirit Mountain, the one accompanying her young daughter in Beijing was merely a false mother created by a magic artifact.

Cold and silent, often absent.

Only after her husband died and she was forced to return to the human realm did she truly accompany her children for a few years.

Her son, who suffered an undeserved disaster, deeply missed his father, stayed with her for only three years before returning to Rain Alley City.

Qiao Wanjun let out a deep sigh.

Through her life, she owed far too many people.

Husband, children, comrades, disciples...

Living longer would be good.

Perhaps it would allow for more redemption.

"Mom?"

Qiao Wanjun turned to Lu Ran, with a gentle smile in her eyes: "Hmm, okay."

Lu Ran then reassuredly nodded.

His mother was someone whose word was her bond, one sentence was enough.

Because of this, inheriting Jian Yi's Divine Sculpture was probably not a matter to rush.

Qiao Wanjun suddenly said, "Wuya's divine soul is with you."

"Hmm, it is."

"What do you plan..." Qiao Wanjun's words were somewhat hesitant.

Not only her, but the old members of Cloud Sea were also concerned about this matter, just hadn't found the opportunity to ask the Young Master.

Or maybe they were afraid to ask, fearing a heart-wrenching answer.

Lu Ran turned around, gazed at the statues of gods, several eyes filled with anticipation, some hastily avoided his gaze.

"You all know my character." Lu Ran's gaze swept over each stone sculpture, speaking loudly, "I assure you, as long as I live, his divine soul will always exist.

I promised Wuya, one day, I would bring him back from the Netherworld."

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Young Master!" The old members of Cloud Sea, mostly in their forties or fifties, already become gods, yet couldn't remain calm at this moment, responding excitedly.

Qiao Wanjun lowered her voice: "Can dead souls be revived?"

Lu Ran's face revealed a smile, looking at her with deep meaning, gently nodding: "They probably can."

Unfortunately,

that exquisite blood crystal mask concealed his bright smile.

"Ranran."

"Hmm?"

"Do you have anything you're hiding from Mom?"

"...Probably not."

...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.