The Mist Rain Lake bustled with activity, people teeming across the islands.

Above the islands, numerous Sea Realm experts soared into the sky, their faces somber as they gazed southeastward in the distance.

The battle between Ran Sect and Hu Xu Hall was a mere ten kilometers away from Mist Rain Lake in a straight line.

Anyone could see the billowing sand and dust that filled the heavens.

Not to mention the sudden emergence of a kilometer-long Thundering Divine Halberd in the high skies!

Where did a Second-class God·West Desert disciple come from?

And why were they fighting against a Second-class God·East Ting disciple?

"Island Master Tianya!"

Above Tianya Island, several Sky Phoenix disciples unfurled their pristine phoenix wings and rushed to Island Master Tianya's side.

"That halberd, the Thundering Divine Halberd, was at least a kilometer long!" said one Sky Phoenix disciple, his face pale with shock. "The other party must at least be a Sea Realm disciple from East Ting!"

"Yes, Island Master!"

"Should we send people to investigate?"

Even Island Master Tianya's expression grew solemn.

However, since the Thundering Divine Halberd had appeared and disappeared again, did it signify that the West Desert disciple had gained the upper hand?

If they managed to eliminate a Sea Realm Great Power from Thunder Mountain, it would be good news for the Thousand Boat Alliance.

But the worry was—what if the West Desert disciple also harbored ulterior motives?

East Ting, West Desert...

Both Second-class Gods, each one's disciples more arrogant and domineering than the next!

The issue was, West Desert disciples appeared extremely rarely in the Jiangnan Islands... Hmm?

Ran Sect?!

The thought crossed Island Master Tianya's mind, stirring a litany of speculation.

Meanwhile, on Mingyue Island, inside an expansive private courtyard.

He Qifeng's hair was slightly disheveled, and she casually wore a long robe—an unkempt, homey appearance that sharply contrasted her usual air of authority.

It was evident she'd just been startled awake.

He Qifeng gazed southeastward and spoke softly: "You're saying this intelligence was provided to Lu Ran by you?"

Two black-clad men knelt prudently behind her and replied, "Yes, City Lord!"

"Last night, Master Lu asked us to gather intelligence near Mist Rain Lake. Around midnight, we discovered a squad arriving in the area, so..."

"Hmm." He Qifeng responded perfunctorily, and the two Witch Crow Believers immediately fell silent.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she stared at the dust clouds rising high in the southeastern sky. A faint smile curled her lips:

"You sly Ran dog, you really are overbearing, aren't you?"

He Qifeng mulled it over briefly, effortlessly piecing together the truth of the matter.

Lu Ran was clearing out lurking vermin while simultaneously provoking Thunder Mountain into launching a full-scale invasion!

Hmm... Not bad!

He Qifeng clasped her hands behind her back, her thoughts consumed by Lu Ran's increasingly courageous visage.

Pathetic Thousand Boat Alliance, still dreaming of Alliance Leader Yun's return—a figure who could crush all with absolute authority and bring justice to the masses.

Ha, delusional fantasies!

Would Thunder Mountain grant you such a chance?

Alas, with Big Wind Hall's stance in play, He Qifeng could say little and do even less.

Nonetheless,

What she could not do, Lu Ran had done!

What Hall Master He, inheritor of a prestigious orthodox sect, could not bear, Lu Ran had borne!

"Who permitted your return?" He Qifeng suddenly asked.

"Lu... Master Lu ordered us to return after we finished reporting this morning..."

"Did I permit your return?" He Qifeng turned slightly, her expression seemingly cheerful as she smiled at the two men.

The two Witch Crow Believers were momentarily dumbfounded, but soon understood:

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

They immediately transformed into crows, their figures vanishing as they flew toward Green Lotus Island.

"Island Master Green Lotus!" Grey Lotus Island Master flew swiftly on her lotus leaf and approached He Yingcai.

"Island Master Grey Lotus." He Yingcai also stood atop a lotus leaf, hovering in mid-air.

"Where's Master Lu?" Grey Lotus Island Master asked urgently.

He Yingcai shook her head: "As soon as we detected something unusual, I went straight away to summon Lu Ran. But there was no one inside the residence."

Grey Lotus Island Master froze for a moment, quickly realizing something as she turned to look southeastward:

"This... He..."

"I'm not sure; it might be Lu Ran and his people," He Yingcai said softly.

On one of the islands belonging to the Sword Lotus Sect, a man clad in a bright red robe watched the billowing dust in the distance, noticeably excited.

A disciple approached him: "Island Master Pei, that dust seems to be..."

Unlike other Alliance Members, Island Master Pei and his followers had been rescued by Ran Sect before—they were quite familiar with Ran Sect's combat strategies.

Moreover, in the southeastern region of Holy Spirit Mountain, the West Desert disciples were exceedingly rare!

It was natural for Island Master Pei and his people to associate the scene with Ran Sect's Phoenix and Swallow Generals.

"It must be Master Lu," Island Master Pei sighed, his mind flashing back to countless mysterious figures under bamboo hats and rain cloaks.

The piercing gaze of the Daughter of Broken Blade.

The overwhelming aura of the Battle Axe General.

The aloof Immortal standing high above in the skies, surveying the world.

And the seemingly affable yet decisively ruthless, resourceful young Sect Leader...

"Ran Sect—they're not like us in the Thousand Boat Alliance..." Island Master Pei sighed deeply.

"Good thing they are our allies." A Sword Lotus disciple muttered softly.

"That's Da Xia's genius! Even if they weren't allies, they'd never..."

"Ah! The dust is thinning; has the battle concluded?"

All across the Thousand Boat Islands, everyone anxiously observed the unfolding situation.

Meanwhile, Chenghua Sect stationed on the southeastern front had already amassed a large number of Believers and headed toward the forefront islands.

Island Masters from various other sects also brought their disciples to the scene.

At the same time, one piece of news began to circulate:

According to Bi He Sect, the Ran Sect stationed on Green Lotus Island had long since set out to collect Holy Spirit Energy. As such...

Ten kilometers away, on the lakeside battlefield.

The lakewater that was previously present had now been buried beneath layers of soil and debris.

Lu Ran stood tall, his ominous eyes glowering as he absorbed dead souls one by one, counting: "One, two... thirteen!"

Five managed to escape?

"Clear the battlefield," Lu Ran ordered, darting toward a frozen, towering wave of dirt nearby.

Given the proximity to Mist Rain Lake, deploying the Soul Prison Team required caution.

Not far away, a furious soul attracted by his sinister gaze stormed toward him.

Lu Ran had deliberately saved the enemy's leader for last!

He should've instructed Deng Yuxiang to use Rebirth Money to first imprison the soul and interrogate it later in secrecy.

Yet Lu Ran was genuinely enraged!

"Huff~" Lu Ran summoned a cloud of black mist and imprisoned the man within the Soul Prison.

Previously, only Lu Ran could hear the curses, but now everyone could.

"You little bastard! Do you even know who I am? Huh?" The man's contorted face was filled with rage.

Deng Yuxiang's expression grew colder.

She abruptly turned to look at Lu Ran, only to find him smiling.

Deng Yuxiang: ?

Someone insulted Lu Ran—she was so angry her hands were trembling. Yet the man himself seemed amused?

"Ha! You're the last person who should talk!" Lu Ran really did laugh. "I was just about to ask you—who the hell are you?"

"I'm... Ah!!" The soul screamed in agony before he could finish his sentence.

Lu Ran lowered his head, watching the tormented soul writhe in his palm.

Meanwhile, his soldiers quietly cleaned up the battlefield. Over time, they came to realize that their Sect Master was truly furious.

Typically, Lu Ran would punish souls by burning them for ten or twenty seconds at most.

Yet this time, the ghostly flames had burned for over a minute!

Hu Xu Hall Master endured agony unlike anything he'd experienced before.

The torturous mutilation of the soul was worse than being pierced to the heart or gnawed by a thousand serpents.

Each second stretched into an eternity with no end in sight.

Deng Yuxiang's pent-up rage finally began to dissipate somewhat.

It wasn't until the soldiers had finished clearing the battlefield that Lu Ran extinguished the Soul Fire and asked, "Speak. Who are you?"

"Thi... Thunder Mountain, Hu Xu Hall Master."

"Now I know who you are. And then?" Lu Ran pressed.

"No-nothing. I am sorry. I apologize, My Lord! I apologize!!"

Lu Ran snorted coldly.

Jiang Ruyi descended gracefully and softly advised, "This isn't the place for interrogation."

"I'll talk! I'll say everything!" Hu Xu Hall Master blurted frantically.

Nearby, Xue Fengchen clutched a pile of battle axes, gazing intently at Lu Ran's silhouette.

Gao Yunyan noticed his fixation and turned to look at Xue Fengchen.

Yan God General, with her luminous phoenix-like eyes, wasn't someone adept at concealing her presence.

Normally, Xue Fengchen would have sensed Gao Yunyan's gaze instantly—but this time, he kept his unwavering attention on Lu Ran.

He didn't even blink!

Gao Yunyan felt perplexed. She didn't believe Xue Fengchen knew the Hu Xu Hall Master, nor did she think he might be softhearted to see a prisoner enduring torture.

She realized Xue Fengchen had been enveloped in some form of introspection.

"Nightmare, collect the soul," Lu Ran said, beckoning with his hand.

Deng Yuxiang stepped forward and summoned the Rebirth Money.

Finally, Xue Fengchen closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.

Gao Yunyan rushed over, concerned: "Fengchen, are you alright?"

Xue Fengchen was silent for a moment before whispering, "I feel moved."

Gao Yunyan's phoenix eyes lit up!

She was about to speak but stopped upon seeing Xue Fengchen turn away, his gaze fixed on the hazy rain enveloping the horizon.

Gao Yunyan wisely chose not to disturb him and quickly approached Lu Ran, lowering her tone: "Master!"

"What's wrong with Fengchen?" Although Lu Ran didn't turn around, he sensed her intense gaze.

Gao Yunyan: "He says he feels moved. He might..."

Lu Ran's heart lifted with joy and instantly asked, "How can I cooperate? Is it related to me?

Should I remain standing here? Should I bring the Hu Xu Hall Master back out?"

Everyone turned their eyes toward Xue Fengchen, who appeared contemplative, still gazing at the distant mountains without looking at Lu Ran.

Jiang Ruyi proposed, "We should head back and give Fengchen a peaceful environment to think quietly."

"Hmm... Right! Let's go!" Lu Ran agreed decisively.

On the way back, their path crossed Mist Rain Lake, where several figures hovered high in the sky.

Once the Ran Sect members emerged from the forest and approached the lakeshore, they were greeted by an astonishing sight.

Countless people stood in the sky!

Some sprouted pristine wings, others stepped on lotus leaves, others on lotus petals, and some held oil-paper umbrellas.

The islands, too, were crowded with people.

Especially near the southeastern Chenghua Island—the density was overwhelming.

The tense Thousand Boat Alliance members, spotting Ran Sect's warriors in the distance, broke into a stir.

Yu Changsheng shook his head silently.

The battlefield lay so close to Thousand Boat Island, yet their members didn't send anyone to investigate, merely stood hovering in the sky and watching from afar?

The Thousand Boat Alliance was truly "terminally ill," determined to adhere to their unyielding principles.

"Master Lu!"

"Master Lu." Island Master Tianya's expression was conflicted as he and his troops descended upon the lakeshore. "What happened here?"

He Qifeng was among them, carefully scrutinizing the triumphant Ran Sect warriors.

"Ah, don't mention it!" Lu Ran waved dismissively. "We set out to collect Holy Spirit Energy, and then we stumbled upon a bunch of fools.

I believe they were from Thunder Mountain's Hu Xu Hall."

Upon hearing this, He Qifeng raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into an ambiguous smile as she looked at Lu Ran.

Island Master Tianya glanced at the pile of battle axes captured by Ran Sect: "Master Lu, your sect annihilated the enemy unit?"

"Not entirely; a few managed to escape."

Five escaped?

The crowd revealed varied expressions, inwardly lamenting.

Indeed, the East Ting disciples' speed was notoriously swift, making it nearly impossible to annihilate such squads completely!

Lu Ran snorted: "However, the ones who escaped were merely hall members.

As of now, Thunder Mountain's Sea Realm presence has been reduced to seventeen."

The crowd: !!!

Island Master Tianya felt a subtle shudder in his heart.

First Lingfeng Hall Master, now Hu Xu Hall Master?

Earlier, Lu Ran had said some had escaped, so naturally, people assumed the strongest Sea Realm·Hu Xu Hall Master must've gotten away.

Yet Lu Ran...

If this trend continued, Ran Sect would dismantle every single hall under Thunder Mountain?

No, wait!

Island Master Tianya furrowed his brows, sinking into deep thought.

Lu Ran spoke: "Everyone, we've urgent matters, and are rushing back to our island. We can discuss this further later."

Island Master Tianya snapped back to attention: "Ah... Alright! Bi He disciples, escort Master Lu back to his island!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

...

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