Lu Ran, who had only realized it afterward, suddenly understood:

The river he had just crossed was a Boundary River.

This Sculpture Garden seemed to be a chessboard.

The statues of both factions stood facing each other, separated by a river.

"I thought you were a deity," Lu Ran said softly.

The Black Fire Sheep Head floated silently, without making a sound.

Lu Ran slowly turned around and looked up at the Black Sheep Head:

"I can understand us snatching the energy source of the Evil Demons, after all, gods and demons cannot coexist.

But you also created these divine sculptures?"

By then, the point had been made clear.

Lu Ran didn't need to be overly explicit, directly asking Lord Immortal Goat:

Do You also wish to snatch the energy source of the deities and ultimately control and enslave all gods?

The Black Fire Sheep Head's words were ethereal, "Deities have countless believers, constantly drawing on the faith of the Human Clan to strengthen themselves.

This bit of energy source is nothing."

Lu Ran: "That's not what you said when we were extracting the energy source from the real body of the Evil Demons."

Black Fire Sheep Head: "How can deities be compared with Evil Demons?

Compared to Evil Demons, deities have a stable and vast source of energy.

What I mean is, the Power of Faith that your Human Clan contributes at all times."

Lu Ran listened silently, saying nothing.

After a while, the Black Fire Sheep Head said hoarsely, "Indeed, you aren't psychologically prepared to face these Divine Sculptures."

Lu Ran remained silent.

The Black Sheep Head suddenly asked, "What is a deity?"

Lu Ran pursed his lips, a string of memories surfacing in his mind.

Once, the Black Sheep Head had also asked: What is an Evil Demon?

Lu Ran remembered the answer vividly.

After a while, he said something quite heretical, "A pile of rocks?"

"Huh~" On the Black Sheep Head, the Black Fire flickered.

Lu Ran looked up at the Black Sheep Head, his heart trembling slightly.

That pair of Dead Sheep Eyes should have been dead and still.

For the first time, Lu Ran saw a hint of a smile in those horizontal pupils.

Was it a sort of appreciation?

Lu Ran: "Lord Immortal Goat is also a deity, are You not angry at such a description?"

He wasn't foolish; his words were all prompted by the guidance of the Black Sheep Head.

In other words, Lu Ran knew that the Black Sheep Head wanted to hear this answer.

The Black Sheep Head slowly rose, overlooking the God Demon Sculpture Garden, "Those words should indeed come from you."

Lu Ran's mind raced, testing, "Is it really okay for me to be so irreverent toward the deities?"

The Black Sheep Head snorted coldly, "Irreverent? Far more than that.

When have you ever believed in a god?"

"Ah?" Lu Ran was completely baffled.

Such words could not be spoken carelessly!

Lu Ran was born in an era where everybody worshipped deities, with a strong sense of the times' constraints.

The family education he received since childhood, the education in schools, and the entire society, all told him:

Worship God!

Only the deities can lead the Human Clan to resist Evil Demons.

Only the deities can ensure the survival of the Human Clan's spark of life.

Lu Ran himself did just that.

Since he was young, he had worshipped the Third-class God·Jade Talisman with his father.

But now...

Lord Immortal Goat was telling him: You have never believed in gods?

Wasn't that purely absurd?

If someone else said this, it would be tantamount to imposing a label on Lu Ran that would make him despised by the world.

And yet, these words came from Divine·Immortal Goat?

This...

Lu Ran immediately spoke up, "I consider myself to be very devout toward You."

Black Sheep Head: "Have you ever offered Me a few offerings, or half a stick of incense?"

Lu Ran was at a loss for words.

After a good while, Lu Ran said, "Aren't You sustained by faith?

Those worldly things, You don't need them, do You?"

"Hmm," the Black Sheep Head this time did not refute.

Everyone has their way of worshipping God; ultimately, what deities consume is the "faith" of the Human Clan.

From this angle, Lu Ran certainly believed in gods.

Just as Lu Ran was about to speak again, the Black Sheep Head said, "When you cultivated in front of the shrine, did you pray with sincerity?

Were you worshipping Me, or the desires in your own heart?"

Lu Ran: !!!

Black Sheep Head lightly said, "In the end, are you worshiping Me, or yourself?"

Lu Ran's words stumbled, "I... You... It shouldn't be.

I want to make You stronger more than anyone else, at least I'm no worse than other Immortal Sheep Believers!

Lord Immortal Goat, did you not receive my share of faith?"

Black Sheep Head suddenly changed the subject, "Whether you believe in gods or not, there's no need to struggle.

What does it matter if you believe or not?

Just a pile of rocks."

Lu Ran's mouth agape, "This..."

Black Sheep Head in a deep voice, "You believe in kindness and karma, and that is sufficient."

Lu Ran struggled to comprehend everything, unable to respond for a long time.

He understood what Lord Immortal Goat meant; he too had spoken of repaying kindness.

The heart can bear witness like the sun and the moon, no need to say more.

"Sufficient..."

Black Sheep Head surveyed the God Demon Sculpture Garden and continued, "You have your own path, your own convictions.

I won't force you to raise the slaughter against your kind, to bring the souls of Human Clan believers here.

However, if the souls of the Human Clan come here, they can leave peacefully.

In the future, should your comrades fall in battle, you can escort them on their final journey."

Lu Ran's brows furrowed, picking up on a word, "Peacefully?"

Black Sheep Head: "After the death of all creatures, the soul will eventually dissipate.

But as you know, there are many Evil Demon races that will harm the souls of the Human Clan.

Death does not signify the end of suffering, but rather the beginning of torment."

Hearing this, Lu Ran nodded vigorously.

Evil Demon·Soul-splitting Demon was a prime example.

It could imprison and torture the souls of the Human Clan to satisfy its cruel nature.

Besides the Soul-splitting Demon, there were many other types of Evil Demons with such cruel methods.

Lu Ran suddenly thought of something, "Captain Lin died on the field, not far from the school building!

Has Divine·Bi Wu noticed our presence?"

It must be known that in the classrooms inside the school building, there were many small Biwu Divine Sculptures!

Black Sheep Head: "I have often been by your side, causing you to misunderstand the deities."

Lu Ran reacted, responding in a low voice, "Oh."

How difficult is it for the people of this world to communicate with deities?

Thousandfold devotion and countless pleadings might still not earn the compassion of a deity even once.

On the fifteenth night, there were many battlefields in Da Xia, and many Biwu believers, weren't there?

Lu Ran realized he was mistaken.

Regarding Captain Lin's death, it wasn't that the small Divine Sculpture inside the shrine didn't care.

A more likely possibility was that Divine·Bi Wu simply didn't pay attention to this side...

The night of the fifteenth was special.

If believers asked for a spell or something, deities would probably agree all at once, unable to deal with it.

"Go back," the voice of the Black Sheep Head was low, "You can't recuperate here; you need to sleep."

Lu Ran suddenly asked, "Can I save my fallen comrades?"

Since the souls of Human Clan believers could be brought here, could there be a next step?

Black Sheep Head: "That Human Clan member has left completely; you are powerless."

Lu Ran hurriedly said, "In the future, if another comrade dies?

Can I do anything for my comrades?"

Black Sheep Head: "A small Stream Realm, and your aspirations are as high as the sky."

Lu Ran: "..."

Lord Immortal Goat's tone was very intriguing.

Lu Ran couldn't tell if the other party was being sarcastic or approving.

Perhaps there was a bit of both.

...

When night set in, in the office on the fourth floor of the school building,

Lu Ran woke up slowly, looking around.

The office was brightly lit; students were either sitting or standing, and some classmates were sleeping peacefully.

"Awake?" Deng Yutang was sitting by Lu Ran's bed and immediately noticed the movement.

"Is it evening?" Lu Ran looked out at the night sky.

Having just stayed up all night, he should not have slept so long.

It seemed, as Lord Immortal Goat said, he could not get real rest in the... well, in the God Demon Sculpture Garden.

Luckily, he had already reported safety to his family in the morning.

Otherwise, his mother and sister would be very worried.

"Nothing happened today, be at ease," Deng Yutang said softly, "Eat something?"

"Thank you, but I'm not very hungry," Lu Ran quietly thanked him and got out of bed gently.

Still, many students turned to look this way.

Since there were people sleeping in the office, most students nodded in greeting, staying silent.

"I'm going to the restroom," Lu Ran whispered, patted Deng Yutang's shoulder, and left the office.

Up above, Jiang Ruyi slowly got up, watching Lu Ran leave.

Lu Ran stepped into the restroom inside, washed his face vigorously, and felt much more awake.

He braced himself against the washbasin, turned his head slightly, and saw the moonlight pouring onto the windowsill.

Then, as if possessed, Lu Ran walked over.

Using Evil Technique·Evil Recognition, he saw much.

The previously chaotic sports field had been cleaned up.

But traces of Human Clan blood were still faintly visible.

Lu Ran's mind was filled with images of the previous battle.

Looking over, in the southeast corner of the field, one of the swing boards was broken, with only two chains swaying back and forth with the broken planks.

Lu Ran gazed for a while and then walked out.

It went smoothly along the way; the Moon Gazers did not stop Lu Ran from leaving, as the night of the fifteenth was over.

The Moon Gazers only gave Lu Ran a few reminders to not leave the school gate and not to step outside the range of the military station.

"Hoo..."

Lu Ran stood at the entrance of the school building, breathing deeply.

Looking up,

The moon of the sixteenth is really fuller than that of the fifteenth.

He walked through the battlefield of the previous night, his mind filled with myriad thoughts.

Eventually, Lu Ran arrived at the southeast corner and stood in front of the broken swing.

"Creak, creak..."

The swing board was broken, so Lu Ran removed the broken wooden board from the chains and tied the two chains together.

Could it still be used to sit?

Lu Ran looked it over and gently took a seat.

Hmm, aside from a bit of a cold backside, no major issues.

"Yutang said you're not hungry," a gentle female voice came out of nowhere.

Actually, it wasn't abrupt; with the aid of Evil Technique·Evil Recognition, Lu Ran had long noticed someone approaching.

Jiang Ruyi held a small bread, offering it, "Want a taste?"

"Thank you," Lu Ran didn't refuse and unwrapped the bread.

Taking a bite, his mouth was filled with a milky flavor.

Lu Ran thought Jiang Ruyi would say something.

But he thought too much.

The girl just sat on another swing, gently swaying back and forth.

Just like the previous night at the window of the school building, she just quietly accompanied him looking at the moon, silent.

Jiang Ruyi was gentle and strong.

After such a terrible experience the previous night, she still tried to maintain her composure.

Of course, she hadn't witnessed the death of a comrade or the horrific manner of death like Lu Ran.

The impact of that was indescribable.

Nor was she like Lu Ran, who witnessed the comrade's soul completely dissipate before himself again in the spiritual world.

"After the seal is lifted, shall we go to the north of Jinmen to kill the Soul-splitting Demon?" Lu Ran spoke softly, breaking the silence.

Jiang Ruyi turned to look.

Under the beautiful moonlight, her eyes smiled warmly, "Sure."

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