"Here! To the left, the left..."

In the basement of Tianya Residence, Lu Ran sat cross-legged, muttering to himself.

The mist brought about by Huangfu Zhao's advancement, whether in the scope of coverage or the terrifying Divine Power contained within, was something the members of the Ran Sect had neither heard of nor seen before.

In such an extremely unique environment, a cultivator progresses by leaps and bounds!

After more than ten days of rigorous cultivation, Lu Ran's results were quite gratifying, but he was always a fraction short.

The heart area!

Lu Ran noticed this issue early during the first two rounds of nourishing and transforming his body, where the pure Holy Spirit Energy extracted from his vast internal Divine Power was difficult to materialize on the left side of his chest.

The Holy Spirit Energy was uncontrollable!

Once it appeared, whether it stayed in place or wandered aimlessly depended entirely on fate.

"Tsk~" Lu Ran smacked his lips in discomfort.

He wanted the Holy Spirit Energy to fill his heart, but it appeared on the right side of his chest and then headed towards his right shoulder...

It's purely a mischievous child.

"Hoo~"

The Smoke and Mist Silk lightly brushed against Lu Ran's cheek, as if consoling him.

"Buzz~"

The small Blazing Phoenix in his arms gently trembled, expressing both solace and a willingness to assist.

Lu Ran held up the Treasure Gourd with both hands and poured it into his mouth.

"Gulp, gulp..."

In such a richly Divine Power-infused environment, Lu Ran drank deeply, giving an impression of extravagance.

Finally, another wisp of Holy Spirit Energy was purified out.

Lu Ran was invigorated, even though this wisp didn't manifest on the left side of his chest but appeared above his chest, at the Xuanji Acupoint.

What excited him more was that the Holy Spirit Energy seemed to be drifting downward!

Promising!

Promis... your grandpa!

Lu Ran's face stiffened as he sensed the gradually descending Holy Spirit Energy suddenly slam to a halt, then make a sharp U-turn, heading towards his neck.

What the heck?!

This can happen?

Lu Ran was dumbfounded for a moment; the Holy Spirit Energy stopped at his Adam's apple, nourished it for a moment, and then disappeared without a trace.

"Ha." Lu Ran laughed in exasperation and lay back directly.

However, lying flat was not an option.

The Smoke and Mist Silk cradled Lu Ran steadily and helped him sit back up.

Lu Ran: "..."

[The path of cultivation always gets harder.] The gentle voice entered Lu Ran's mind.

That was the voice of the Smoke and Mist Silk.

As silky as silk, it fluttered lightly through his mind, making even the air ripple gently.

The Artifact Spirit of the Smoke and Mist Silk wasn't in the form of a Human Clan member.

The Artifact Spirit was like light smoke and thin mist, mysterious and ethereal, completely identical to the material of the band itself. This counted as an object-type Artifact Spirit, filling a gap in Lu Ran's collection.

Lu Ran's Divine Weapon Blade Spirits all took Human Clan forms, even resembling Lu Ran himself.

This objectively demonstrated the close bond between the Divine Weapon and its wielder.

The Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and the Black Jade Tiger Talisman were both Magic Artifacts with beast-shaped Artifact Spirits, respectively a small phoenix woven from golden fire lines, and a small black-as-ink tiger.

Since acquiring the Smoke and Mist Silk, Lu Ran also had an item-type Artifact Spirit.

[The step before reaching the peak is the hardest.] The soft female voice came again.

"Mm." Lu Ran reached to the side, his fingertips brushing over the flowing, smooth band.

When he first entered the Heavenly Realm, cultivation was indeed relatively easy.

Being of the Human Clan's flesh and blood, every part needed transformation, and Lu Ran was like trailblazing, exploring unknown areas wherever the Holy Spirit Energy roamed.

Now, Lu Ran was only short of the heart area, so naturally, the difficulty spiked.

Looking at it from a higher perspective, the wayward Holy Spirit Energy hadn't gone to waste either. After all, when he ascends to the Second Heaven in the Heavenly Realm, he still has to reach the Third Heaven.

Really, it's like preparing in advance for the next phase.

Lu Ran sat upright, focused his mind, and concentrated again on purifying Holy Spirit Energy.

Purified, let it run loose.

Success, failure, success again, failure again...

It was as if fate were joking with Lu Ran, until at some point, he truly started to believe in bad luck.

[Ruyi.]

[Mm?] In his mind, the voice of Immortal Jiang came through.

Early on the first day of Huangfu's advancement, Lu Ran had contacted the three squads on the Heavenly Realm Battlefield, calling everyone back to the Sect.

Why not cultivate and temporarily leave the battlefield to rest comfortably?

The first and third squads heeded the call, merging their forces, and were brought back by Jiang Ruyi.

Deng Yuxiang's second squad did not return, as she had just led her team to the battlefield and it was not yet time for a "break."

[Could you... come to the seclusion room for a bit?] Lu Ran requested.

In the study, Immortal Jiang, who was sitting on the ground, silently voidified, slowly sinking into the ground.

Her phantom-like form penetrated the earth and passed through the solid walls to arrive in the seclusion room, standing before Lu Ran: "Tired?"

"No, come here." Lu Ran raised his hand, gripping her wrist.

Jiang Ruyi, not understanding, followed his force, kneeling before him.

Lu Ran toyed with the delicate jade hand of the Immortal Lady, picking out an index finger and pointing it at his heart.

Feeling the strong heartbeat beneath her fingertip, Jiang Ruyi asked in confusion, "What is this?"

Lu Ran closed his eyes, muttering, "This move is called Immortal's Guidance~"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Clearly, Lu Ran's mindset was still quite good, and Jiang Ruyi was willing to humor him, maintaining her posture throughout.

After a long while, another wisp of Holy Spirit Energy was purified out.

"Ruyi, Ruyi, follow my heart..." Lu Ran froze completely.

He never dared to dream so boldly!

He initially just wanted to borrow some of the Immortal Lady's fortune, hoping to generate Holy Spirit Energy around his heart, praying that it would drift into the heart region.

Unexpectedly, the Holy Spirit Energy directly manifested at the destination?!

The left side of the chest.

The heart area!

"...will." Lu Ran hesitated for a moment, then uttered the final word.

"Hoo!!"

A fierce wave of Divine Power rippled out.

Jiang Ruyi's long hair fluttered, and on that stunning face, a subtle smile appeared.

There's no such thing as luck or no luck.

It's always those who have a will that achieve their goals.

Jiang Ruyi quietly retreated, her figure voidifying, merging into the stone wall.

It felt like the saying "Once done, depart gracefully, and hide one's achievements and fame."

Lu Ran couldn't bother with all that!

His body shivered uncontrollably, and a low, hoarse voice echoed in his mind: [Close.]

Lord Immortal Sheep?

From the distant Holy Spirit Mountain, Lu Ran heard Lord Immortal Sheep's voice once again.

Very familiar, yet it left Lu Ran bewildered.

What was close?

Getting closer to challenging the God Demon?

Or...

He couldn't help but think about the relationship between a human and a god.

With each step Lu Ran took towards the Highest Heaven, he drew nearer to the Immortal Sheep God Sculpture.

As an Inheritor, his every approach signified the approaching end of the Immortal Sheep.

[Lord Immortal Sheep...]

[How have you been polishing the blade in your hand?] The Sheep span was still domineering, directly interrupting Lu Ran's words.

Blade?

Lu Ran first thought of the Divine Weapon, but then guessed that Lord Immortal Sheep wouldn't specifically refer to the Divine Weapon, so it must be...

Ran Sect!

Pseudo God Stone Sculpture!

Lu Ran responded: [Currently among the disciples of Ran Sect, there are 19 Pseudo God Stone Sculptures of the Second Heaven in the Heavenly Realm, along with 1 Stone Sculpture of the Third Heaven and 1 Human Clan member of the Third Heaven.]

Nineteen counts as the head number of Ran Sect warriors.

If the Divine Sculpture and Evil Sculpture were split apart, the number would naturally exceed nineteen.

[Third Heaven Stone Sculpture, Deng Yuxiang.] the low voice fell again.

This was the first time Lu Ran heard these three characters from Lord Immortal Sheep's mouth.

The Big Nightmare finally earned a name!

[Yes, it's the lady you helped save in Beifeng City back then! She inherited the North Wind-Night Charm Stone Sculpture.] Lu Ran promptly replied.

[Who is the other Third Heaven person?]

[His name is Huangfu Zhao, a disciple of my mother's Cloud Sea Sect, currently the inheritor of Dong Ting Divine Sculpture, but hasn't merged with the Stone Sculpture.]

No more transmission echoed in his mind, leaving Lu Ran to wonder what Lord Immortal Sheep was contemplating.

Lu Ran patiently waited a moment and sought: [With the current disciples' configurations, can they challenge the God Demon?]

This time, the God's response was straightforward: [Go to the Second Heaven, see for yourself, make your own decisions.]

[Lord Immortal Sheep.] Lu Ran was slightly frustrated, [I know you always want me to find my own path, but that doesn't stop you from giving some advice!

Just a bit, even a little would be nice!]

Lu Ran's mind fell silent once again.

Just as he thought Lord Immortal Sheep had departed, a hoarse voice descended: [It's worth a try.]

[Oh?] Lu Ran's eyes suddenly lit up.

[Pick the softest target.] The transmission coldly descended.

Lu Ran completely ignored the Sheep's disdainful tone, his heart filled entirely with "it's worth a try."

Finally!

Finally!!

He tried hard to calm his mood and continued: [Lord Immortal Sheep, the disciple plans to start with the Seventh Rank Evil God·Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon.]

Immortal Sheep: "..."

Do you think that by adding a prefix "Seventh Rank Evil God," the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon becomes a soft target?

[The disciple has discussed this with his subordinates; the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon has low intelligence, extreme volatility, lacks Spirit Defense, and has severe flaws...] Lu Ran quickly explained.

[Ha.] Immortal Sheep let out a cold laugh.

Lu Ran immediately stopped.

Although he expected to be ruthlessly ridiculed once more, he didn't anticipate a final statement in his mind: [Your courage is considerable.]

Lu Ran blinked, feeling like his mouth had tasted honey:

[That's necessary! Otherwise, how could I qualify as your disciple?]

Immortal Sheep let out a cold snort: [Even a Stone Sculpture of the Third Heaven, touched by the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon, would be crushed to pieces.]

[Beifeng Night Charm Deng Yuxiang, Dong Ting Demon Roc Huangfu Zhao, plus the elusive me.] Lu Ran sat upright, his expression resolute, [I bet the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon won't touch us!]

[Why take such a big risk when there are other Evil Gods with low intelligence?]

Lu Ran answered seriously: [Once the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon is shattered, and a Divine Position is seized, the Mad Immortal Guardian becomes a True God. And a True God, surpassing Fake Gods, can form a master-servant contract with the Stone Sculptures.]

This way, before Ran Sect's Pseudo Gods attain a real Divine Position, they'd all be able to ignite flames.

All possess the capability for level-defying slaughter!

Lu Ran's words were forceful, and a sinister laugh then echoed in his mind:

[Hehe~]

The sudden eerie laugh instantly made Lu Ran turn into a little tabby cat, raising his hackles in alarm!

[This is the path you choose, hehehe...]

Lu Ran shivered involuntarily once more.

In comparison, he still preferred the Sheep's cold and domineering manner.

[Almost.] The transmission suddenly descended.

[Ah?]

[A True God cannot be matched by mere two Fake Gods.] Immortal Sheep's tone did not soften, growing even colder.

[Then... How about including Si Xianxian, who inherited Lie Tian Stone Sculpture, and Jiang Ruyi with the Jade Talisman-Ghost Talisman?] Lu Ran tested.

Add one explosive output, and another powerful control!

Immortal Jiang's enchanted array against the low-intelligence, weak Spirit Defense Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon should have a miraculous effect, right?

[Almost.] The transmission echoed, with not a word missing.

Lu Ran: "..."

Are you a repeating machine?

...

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