On Green Lotus Island.

Lu Ran politely thanked the Thousand Boat Alliance members who came to see him off, and then expressed his desire to undergo secluded cultivation, asking them not to disturb him.

The group understood why Lu Ran was eager to return to the island and promptly took their leave.

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

Unexpectedly, there were two men in black waiting silently within the courtyard, which startled Lu Ran. He asked in surprise, "And you are?"

"Master Lu!"

"Master Lu," the two immediately paid respects and replied, "City Lord He sent us here to follow your orders."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly.

He Qifeng really was an interesting character.

From beginning to end, she hadn't said a word, yet her actions had made her stance clear.

Lu Ran mused silently and then turned to the members of the Ran Sect, saying, "All of you can go back and rest now."

"Yes!" Gao Yunyan was the first to respond, taking Xue Fengchen with her as they left the courtyard.

Within the jungle, there were three houses arranged in a triangular shape, each separated by no more than a dozen meters.

After seeing the Phoenix and Swallow Generals head home, Lu Ran finally turned his attention to the two men in black. "How should I address you two?"

"My code name is Big Black, and he is Fourth Black."

Lu Ran's mind stirred. "How many Blacks are there in total among you?"

"Currently, only four."

Lu Ran nodded lightly. Witch Crow Believers truly were rare creatures.

He looked at the two and smiled, saying, "Well then, I'll trouble you both to continue gathering intelligence near Mist Rain Lake. If you discover enemies, report back immediately.

The principle remains the same: observe from afar and prioritize your own safety above all."

"Understood!"

"Understood!" Big Black and Fourth Black instantly transformed into black crows, their wingbeats echoing as their figures disappeared without a trace.

Lu Ran listened to the fading sound of flapping wings and felt rather envious. "It would be great if Ran Sect had some scouts like that."

Yu Changsheng idly twirled a paper fan in his hand and remarked, "Master, since you're close with Hall Master He, you only need to ask, and I imagine she'd grant it to you."

"Stop slandering me! Who said I was close with her?" Lu Ran placed an arm around his fiancée's shoulder and whispered, "I'm not, okay? Don't believe what Mr. Conglong says."

Yu Changsheng: "..."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Lu Ran turned to look at Yu Changsheng. "Hey? Why hasn't Mr. Conglong gone to rest yet?"

Yu Changsheng remained silent, gazing eerily at Lu Ran.

It wasn't just me who hadn't left—there's also the Nightmare Guardian!

Why don't you drive her away... Okay, fine.

You and your Big Nightmare truly share the closest bond!

I must be unaware of my place...

While Yu Changsheng was lamenting in melancholic silence, Jiang Ruyi softly suggested, "Let's discuss this together."

"Sure, sure." Lu Ran seized the chance to change topics, awkwardly averting his gaze.

Yu Changsheng's exceedingly handsome face, combined with such desolate, forlorn expressions...

No wonder He Yingcai couldn't resist!

Even Lu Ran found it hard to endure~

The group entered the room and closed the door behind them.

Since the four were planning to interrogate Hall Master Hu Xu, Lu Ran specifically cautioned the Evil Shadow Guardian to remain vigilant and alert.

At the first sign of someone approaching, she was to notify them immediately.

That said, both Lu Ran and Deng Yuxiang were adept at perception, so excessive worry was unnecessary.

Inside the hall, Lu Ran summoned a black haze, working alongside Deng Yuxiang to interrogate the prisoner.

Hall Master Hu Xu, having tasted the cruelty Lu Ran could unleash, was now utterly obedient.

Even his words were soft-spoken...

The group listened closely as Hu Xu divulged a stream of intelligence, whereas in a wooden house some fifty meters away, Xue Fengchen sat silently in the hall, lost in thought.

On the table before him lay over ten Divine Power bead chains, while a pile of long and short spears was stacked at the door.

These were all Ran Sect's spoils of war, but given the current circumstances, Lu Ran had not yet presided over their distribution.

Gao Yunyan quietly sat at the table, keeping Xue Fengchen company.

Though referred to as boyfriend and girlfriend, the two had never formally confessed their feelings.

Romantic gestures seemed incongruous with the grime and discord of Holy Spirit Mountain.

The most romantic thing between them had been the moment when Gao Yunyan kissed Xue Fengchen just before her brave sacrifice.

For Gao Yunyan at that juncture, fleeing from Tianhuang Mountain Sect to Jiang Ruyi's side was an exceptionally daring choice.

She had stepped onto an uncertain path—one that was likely to lead to death.

No matter how convincingly Jiang Ruyi spoke, Gao Yunyan had always harbored a pessimistic view of finding Lu Ran.

She wasn't even sure she could escape the boundless Ten Thousand Blade Mountain.

The events that followed caught Gao Yunyan completely off guard.

She really did encounter Da Xia's Pride!

And under the leadership of Master Lu, she escaped the mountain that had held her captive for so long.

They even crossed the entire continent, journeying from the wild Northwest to the azure skies and seas of Cloud Sea Cliff.

Her fate had shifted entirely—under Lu Ran's guidance, she became the Yangyang Sea, something sought after desperately by countless beings.

Loyalty,

was the only recompense Gao Yunyan could offer Lu Ran.

She also believed Xue Fengchen would follow her lead and transform into a Sea Realm stronghold.

After all, Xue Fengchen shared her experiences and had identical psychological scars.

Yet reality turned out differently.

Xue Fengchen lived under great repression.

The guardians and Divine Generals of Ran Sect weighed him down so much he couldn't hold his head high.

This included Gao Yunyan!

She didn't even need to do anything; her mere presence was enough to put pressure on Xue Fengchen.

This wasn't beneficial to Xue Fengchen's development!

Could anyone who joined the West Desolation Sect be considered "good at heart"?

Let's not forget—the West Desolation Sect's sworn enemies were none other than the Barbaric Woman clan!

In some sense, you could genuinely consider the West Desolation Believers as humans cloaked in the guise of Barbaric Female Demons.

The difference was that West Desolation disciples were more intelligent and rational, capable of being constrained by rules and morals.

But the wild brutality ingrained in most West Desolation disciples undeniably existed.

Looking at Xue Fengchen now... How much had he been suppressed?

Once an esteemed genius of Da Xia, a River Realm Peak expert in his youth, he had been reduced to an insignificant figure.

He had no presence, nor did he possess a voice of his own.

"Sigh..." Gao Yunyan inwardly sighed, glancing at the unusually silent Xue Fengchen.

If he couldn't erupt from this silence, he would gradually perish within it.

"Master Lu's recent demeanor resembles that of a West Desolation disciple," Xue Fengchen suddenly remarked, breaking the silence.

Gao Yunyan did not respond immediately.

Xue Fengchen stared at the bead chains on the table and uttered softly, "Beheading the enemy, imprisoning their soul."

As a fellow West Desolation disciple, Gao Yunyan quickly aligned with Xue Fengchen and tentatively replied:

"Trample them, conquer them."

Xue Fengchen nodded emphatically.

He had witnessed Lu Ran tormented the souls of his enemies.

Back during Ten Thousand Blade Mountain, when Lu Ran carried two Soul Prisons and brought Tianhuang Mountain's Elder Peng, along with the Hanhai Gang's Sea Realm Believers, before Jiang Ruyi, Xue Fengchen had felt an unsettling stir in his heart.

But at that time, the two teams had just met, and there were too many points of interest to notice.

For instance, Deng Yuxiang, Yu Changsheng, and Luo Ying—these three Yangyang Seas—were impossible to ignore.

As for the subsequent events, Lu Ran's imprisonment of Lingfeng Hall disciples' souls didn't evoke much emotion for Xue Fengchen.

Those were merely River Realm disciples who knew how to deal with a strong opponent.

However, the battle today brought back the sentiments Xue Fengchen felt during their first encounter.

Hall Master Hu Xu, an absolute powerhouse from Thunder Mountain Sect, a Sea Realm Great Power!

The other party had been lounging arrogantly on the lake mere kilometers from Thousand Boat Alliance.

Such arrogance stemmed from undeniable strength.

Indeed, Hu Xu had every reason to be audacious, yet Lu Ran utterly crushed him.

Destroyed with overwhelming force!

Even after death, Hu Xu—the indomitable Hall Master—continued to curse furiously and demand answers.

But when all those sounds gradually turned into cries of agony and pleas for mercy...

It wasn't just the Big Nightmare who felt pleasure deep in her heart.

At that moment, Xue Fengchen saw the true essence of the West Desolation Sect in Lu Ran.

He glimpsed what he was meant to become!

Facing the enemy, no matter how powerful.

Destroy them, trample them...

Conquer them!

"Whew~"

Suddenly, an energy wave surged from Xue Fengchen's body.

Gao Yunyan was momentarily stunned but then broke into a delighted smile.

The energy ripple grew increasingly intense as the mist between heaven and earth thickened.

In the secluded courtyard fifty meters away, Lu Ran and the others also sensed the unusual changes.

Lu Ran was secretly overjoyed. "Is Feng really about to ascend?"

He wondered what had triggered this epiphany and what specific realizations Xue Fengchen had...

Well, it no longer mattered!

This fight had truly been worthwhile!

Heh-heh~

Eliminating a Sea Realm powerhouse from Thunder Mountain Sect and gaining one ourselves?!

Now the question arises—should Feng be granted the title of "Divine General"?

"Hmm..." Lu Ran pondered to himself.

Would this be spoiling Feng too much?

Initially, it was established that out of Phoenix and Swallow, whoever broke through to the Sea Realm first would be designated as a Divine General.

After Gao Yunyan advanced, Lu Ran afforded Feng an additional month of leniency, yet Xue Fengchen had still failed to seize it.

And now, should the Divine General position still be given to Xue Fengchen?

Could it be forced through...

How about Phoenix and Swallow sharing the title as a unit?

After all, they're a couple!

The duo being disciples of the West Desolation wouldn't create any conflict—they could naturally share the honor.

Eighth Divine Generals expanding to nine members, that's perfectly normal, right?

Yes, exactly!

And four Great Protectors should include five...

"Congratulations, Master," Yu Changsheng said with a soft grin as he leisurely fanned himself. "Our plans seem to be on track for an early success."

"Oh?" Lu Ran looked at his tactician.

Yu Changsheng confirmed, "Xue Fengchen's breakthrough is crossing into a Great Realm, and the resonance level of the phenomenon is exceptionally high, triggering unmistakable signals such as Fog Dragon Rolls descending from the sky.

The Thunder Mountain Sect, do you think they'll differentiate whether this breakthrough comes from someone else or Alliance Leader Yun?"

"That makes sense!" Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

Yu Changsheng continued, "Besides, advancing from River Realm Peak to Sea Realm requires five to ten days, giving Thunder Mountain enough time to respond."

"Looks like we need to prepare for battle." Lu Ran murmured.

Inside the Soul Prison, Hall Master Hu Xu was filled with unbridled fear!

He had fully realized the caliber of allies the Thousand Boat Alliance had enlisted.

Despite Thunder Mountain Sect being immensely powerful, even ranking as one of the top forces across Holy Spirit Mountain...

These mysterious individuals displayed no fear whatsoever!

Quite the opposite!

They were set on utterly annihilating Thunder Mountain Sect?!

"Someone's coming," Deng Yuxiang suddenly remarked.

Soon after, Lu Ran's mind was filled with a transmitted voice: [Master, someone is approaching.]

[Hmm.] With the Soul Prison in hand, Lu Ran reached for Deng Yuxiang's wrist and dispersed the black mist.

Deng Yuxiang summoned Rebirth Money and once again detained the prisoner, awaiting the next interrogation session.

"Knock-knock-knock~"

The sound of knocking accompanied a woman's apologetic voice through the door: "Lu? Am I disturbing you?"

"Come in!"

...

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