In the sea, Lu Ran was having a great time.

Rather than swimming, it was more like he was "suspended" in the sea.

A light and thin black gauze formed a spiral pattern, encircling Lu Ran's body, creating a domain.

A domain that belonged solely to Lu Ran.

While within it, he could traverse the heavens and seas with agility, and the black gauze provided him perfect protection, meeting his combat requirements.

Underwater, he didn't need to breathe nor felt any sensation of suffocation.

The Evil Technique·Dance of the Mo Li, truly formidable!

Just as Lu Ran was marveling at the wonder of the Evil Technique, he suddenly felt someone was calling him.

Lu Ran immediately connected mentally with the Night Charm Evil Sculpture.

[Nightmare?]

[Someone's coming.] Deng Yuxiang's serious voice echoed in his mind.

[I'll return immediately.]

Meanwhile, by the coast.

"Woooo~~~"

Jing Hong sounded the Echo Horn; the low horn sound swept across the forest.

Finally, from behind a large tree, a figure flashed and appeared.

Actually, the War Horn Divine Technique·Echo Horn can't precisely detect targets, but if there were too many people hiding in the woods, Jing Hong always sensed something.

Unexpectedly, there was only one?

Judging by the figure, it seemed to be a man.

He wore a bamboo hat woven from leaves, head lowered, the brim almost covering his entire face.

He was dressed in a loose raincoat and wore straw shoes.

Perhaps, this person had been in the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm for a long time, and the clothes brought from the Human World could no longer be worn, being locally sourced instead.

"I apologize for disturbing, I mean no harm, will leave at once."

From afar came the deep voice of a middle-aged man, a sense of ancientness pervaded.

Deng Yuxiang's breath hitched slightly.

She felt a hint of invisible oppression!

Is this a Great Power from the Sea Realm?

Deng Yuxiang observed carefully, but the dimness of the sky, heavy rain obscuring vision, and the opponent's low hat brim...

The man in the forest already turned around, paused briefly before stepping forward.

Jing Hong immediately tensed up, as if facing a great enemy.

Unexpectedly, the man in the forest turned his head slightly and said, "Thank you for ridding the populace of evil."

Deng Yuxiang remained expressionless, though a scornful laugh echoed within.

Ridding the populace of evil?

In this Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, are there any innocents to protect?

At best, it is "ridding evil with evil."

"Daoist, please wait." Suddenly, a gentle voice passed through layers of rain, reaching everyone's ears.

Yu Changsheng drifted in, landing on the beach.

Lu Ran, holding a Divine Weapon, landed beside Deng Yuxiang.

Before drawing the butcher's knife, Lu Ran was more than willing to put on a facade.

In the forest, the mysterious raincoat-clad man frowned slightly, clearly sensing the formidable presence approaching from behind, likely of extremely high power and realm.

He hesitated for a moment, and repeated, "I mean no harm, will leave at once."

Yu Changsheng smiled lightly, "We naturally see you mean no harm, otherwise, you'd have already engaged my companions."

The raincoat-clad man also smiled, "You managed to kill two demons from the Sea Realm, how could I dare to act rashly?"

"You jest, Daoist," Yu Changsheng looked at the other's back, "May I ask Daoist's esteemed name?"

The raincoat-clad man's expression darkened, he turned around and slowly raised his head.

Beneath the brim of the bamboo hat were penetrating black eyes, "So, now you're not letting me leave?"

Just one sentence, and this seemingly world-weary man turned into a sharp blade.

A terrifying pressure overwhelmed.

This was undeniably a warning!

Yu Changsheng continued to smile, calm and collected, "We also mean no harm, merely wish to understand the situation here."

The raincoat-clad man swept his gaze over everyone, unexpectedly landing on Lu Ran.

A few seconds later, he slowly spoke, "Good knife."

Lu Ran scrutinized him carefully, nodded in acknowledgment, "Your knife is sharp as well."

This man seemed in his thirties or forties, with sharp eyes.

But between his brows, there seemed to linger an unshakable sense of melancholy.

To carry such an ancient aura at the prime of life, he too must have been tortured by the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm.

Deng Yuxiang naturally knew they weren't appraising each other's weapon, especially since the raincoat-clad man wasn't carrying any.

They were appraising each other as individuals.

The raincoat-clad man turned to Yu Changsheng, eyes cold and sharp, "Answer my question, and I'll be allowed to leave?"

Yu Changsheng adjusted his paper fan and bowed amicably, "Is there any presence nearby?"

"There once was."

"There once was?"

The raincoat man slightly raised his head, indicating towards the sea, "It's said there's an Immortal Island overseas with an abundance of Holy Spirit Energy to be gathered.

To win favor from the divine, to return to the Human World early, two nearby factions contended and merged, then set out to sea seeking the Immortal Island."

"Immortal Island?" Yu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

The raincoat man gently nodded, "With power as formidable as yours, able to slay demons from the Sea Realm, you could seek it."

Lu Ran suddenly chimed in, "Uncle, you're fooling us?"

The raincoat man visibly froze.

The sudden address caught him off guard.

Lu Ran, full of disbelief, "You too are a Great Power of the Sea Realm, why don't you go?

Don't you want to return home?"

The raincoat man: "..."

Everyone knows how dangerous the sea is.

Even in coastal areas, there are terrifying demons like the Flame Flood Dragon and the Ink Fish, let alone further out.

Venture out to sea?

It's certain to be a life-or-death situation!

The raincoat man turned and left, calling back from afar, "Believe it or not, that's up to you."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Yu Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sect Leader, he's certainly a Sea Realm Great Power. Since he means no harm and insists on leaving, we shouldn't push him too hard.

Let's find a place to rest for now?"

Lu Ran looked at the receding figure of the raincoat man, nodding lightly.

At this moment, his head was still buzzing, and he certainly did not wish to quarrel with such a power.

Yu Changsheng, cautious as ever, suggested again, "Let's keep our distance."

One may know a person's face but not their heart!

If that person gathers reinforcements and comes back for an ambush, that could be disastrous.

To survive in this Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, even one misstep leads to an irreparable end.

Lu Ran picked up the Blazing Phoenix-patterned gourd, "I'll absorb the corpses of the Mo Li on the surface, then we'll leave."

"Okay."

"Understood!"

...

The heavy rains had ceased, and night fell.

Dozens of kilometers away, near the top of a steep sea cliff, a small hole was chiseled on the rocky face.

Though called a hole, it was just big enough for one person to sidle through and quite hidden.

Waves continually crashed against the cliff, rumbling loudly.

Lu Ran stood at the entrance, juggling the Blazing Phoenix-patterned gourd in hand, watching the waves below, deep in thought.

"Not taking a break?" a gentle voice came from behind.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran turned his head to see Deng Yuxiang's concerned eyes.

"Let Jing Hong keep watch," Deng Yuxiang suggested softly.

Lu Ran pointed to his temple, transmitting weakly, [The Mo Li Evil Sculpture is still leveling up, my head's been buzzed all day, I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to!]

"Hehe~" Deng Yuxiang couldn't help but chuckle gently.

She continued transmitting, [It's a good thing, if it buzzes for three days and nights, it'd be better if it buzzed straight to the Sea Realm.]

Lu Ran grimaced, [It shouldn't take that long, it's already at the Jiang Realm·Fourth Rank now.]

Deng Yuxiang's eyes lit up, [Fourth Rank?]

The leveling of the evil sculpture far outpaced that of the Human Clan.

Previously, when Deng Yuxiang ascended to Jiang Realm·Fourth Rank, it took her a full three days.

While the Night Charm Evil Sculpture within the Jiang Realm ascended in a matter of hours.

Nevertheless, as fast as the evil sculpture levels up, Lu Ran's head had been buzzing from morning till night.

The man was on the brink of collapse...

Lu Ran rubbed his temples thoroughly, quite troubled, [The Sea Realm Mo Li had stored so much Holy Spirit Energy, perhaps it can really propel the evil sculpture to the Sea Realm.]

Deng Yuxiang, looking at Lu Ran's pitiful expression, hesitated a moment, then moved his hand aside, her slender fingers settling on either side of his head.

She was more patient, her actions gentler, helping massage his temples.

Lu Ran: "..."

It actually seemed to help a bit?

Was it a placebo effect?

On the side, Jing Hong was secretly observing them.

The usually cold and harsh Lord Guardian was unexpectedly so gentle.

It felt surreal.

Unintentionally, Jing Hong became engrossed in watching.

Who knows how long had passed before Lu Ran spoke softly, "Do you think there really is an Immortal Island on the sea?"

Deng Yuxiang continued her gentle movements, casually saying, "It's likely a trick to send us to our deaths."

In this realm, every living being encountered is naturally a competitor.

She continued, "The fact that they didn't strike may be due to fearing our strength."

"Pop~"

Lu Ran suddenly raised a hand, a tiny Mo Li appeared in his palm.

Its fish mouth opened and closed as it danced with beautiful black gauze, flying toward Deng Yuxiang.

The Mo Li Evil Technique·Resurrection Carp!

"Poof~"

As the tiny Mo Li touched Deng Yuxiang's hand, it shattered into dense energy, flowing into her.

Deng Yuxiang's eyes widened slightly!

A surge of vibrant life force flooded within, and more tangibly, a recovery of physical and mental strength.

In the domain of Divine and Evil Techniques, the meaning of life force encompasses a wide range.

Lu Ran had previously used the Black Lamp Evil Technique·Cage Fire (Bath) to heal Deng Yuxiang, but the healing methods of the Black Lamp Clan were considered gradual.

Whereas the Mo Li Clan's Resurrection Carp truly had a rebirth significance.

Though the Resurrection Carp was small, the divine power consumed by Lu Ran when performing this skill was astonishingly large!

"A reward." Lu Ran smiled.

Whether he acknowledged her answer or appreciated her continuous patient and gentle gesture, it was unclear.

Deng Yuxiang looked at Lu Ran with amused irritation, wanting to tap him on the back of his head, but remembered others were in the cave.

Hence, she refrained, giving the Sect Leader some face.

Unbeknownst to Lu Ran, he had unwittingly dodged a bullet, "I'm quite certain that when we were absorbing demon corpses on the beach, he wasn't in the forest.

He probably came afterward, attracted by the commotion.

But it's hard to say how much of my secrets he witnessed, or how many Evil Techniques I demonstrated."

Deng Yuxiang: "Once your condition stabilizes, should we go find him?"

Lu Ran displayed a trace of worry, "He is, after all, a Sea Realm power; it won't be easy... Me? Lights out!"

He immediately sidestepped back, pulling Deng Yuxiang aside to hide.

"Sect Leader?" Yu Changsheng swiftly obeyed the order, dispersing the golden little Dragon Carp.

"Shh!" Lu Ran peeked out, secretly watching.

In the pitch-black night, a man wearing a bamboo hat and a raincoat was rushing over the waves toward the shore.

Isn't that the Sea Realm Great Power from earlier?

In his hand...

A sack of Mo Li?

Do Sea Realm big shots still need to eat?

...

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.