July 22nd, within the seclusion room.

Lu Ran lay on the ground, his face blank and dumbfounded.

Suddenly, a spark of vitality appeared in his eyes. A few seconds later, Lu Ran abruptly sat up.

"It's over?" Lu Ran shook his head.

His brain no longer throbbed with that incessant buzzing. Overjoyed, he immediately connected his spirit with the Divine Sculpture of the Jade Talisman.

A moment later, Lu Ran's mouth formed an "O" shape.

Sea Realm·Third Rank!

Third Rank?

"Wow!" Lu Ran couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

Luo Tiantu and Lady Luo truly deserved to be the ruling class!

All these years, had most of the Holy Spirit Energy that Tiantu Mountain harvested been absorbed by the couple?

The villagers could only sip from the dregs like drinking a tiny spoonful of soup?

To think—every 100 strands of Holy Spirit Energy were required just to advance a River Realm sculpture by one minor rank.

And for a Sea Realm sculpture, a full 1,000 strands of Holy Spirit Energy were needed for each minor rank advancement!

At this point, Lu Ran's Divine Sculpture of the Jade Talisman had already reached Sea Realm·Third Rank.

Which meant that these two Sea Realm Great Powers, Luo Tiantu and Lady Luo, had collected at least 2,000 strands of Holy Spirit Energy in the past decade or so!

Perhaps even more than that!

Although the Divine Sculpture of the Jade Talisman hadn't yet ascended to Sea Realm·Fourth Rank, Lu Ran had no way of knowing its precise progress.

Maybe it still required 800 strands of Holy Spirit Energy to advance to Fourth Rank.

Or perhaps just a single strand would suffice for the breakthrough!

No one could say for certain.

"Luo Tiantu, oh Luo Tiantu, you're freaking incredible at hoarding resources!" Lu Ran exclaimed, his glee uncontained. "Good, good, splendid work ah!"

Truly a loyal dog to the Jade Talisman indeed!

Tsk tsk~

But, your master can't enjoy it, because I've snatched it all away!

This time, I've truly feasted to my heart's content…

Lu Ran thought with relish, only for his mind to drift toward someone else—Lady Luo!

Luo Tiantu's first wife, later reduced to a mere mistress.

But still, she had once been a legitimate wife for a time!

Given how ruthless Luo Tiantu was toward the villagers, just how much Holy Spirit Energy was hidden within Lady Luo's soul?

What a pity—Lady Luo was a Prisoner Demon believer. For now, Lu Ran had yet to awaken this Divine Sculpture, leaving him no way to verify her wealth.

"Swoosh~"

Lu Ran's figure flickered, silently appearing by the edge of the sea cliff.

In the still of the deep night, all was silent.

Lu Ran listened to the sound of the sea wind, and faintly below, the waves crashing against the shore.

It was soothing—healing, even.

With his buzzing head finally cleared, these past few agonizing days left Lu Ran feeling a sense of liberation.

He sat at the edge of the cliff, letting his legs dangle leisurely outside, swinging them back and forth with ease.

Moonlight danced upon the shimmering sea surface, as though a layer of silver gauze had been spread beautifully across the water.

Lu Ran's gaze grew a bit unfocused as he slowly looked up, staring at the radiant full moon, murmuring:

"How beautiful."

"How beautiful."

Inside Luoxian Pavilion, a woman dressed in white stood by the edge of the pavilion, gazing at the glittering Erhai under the moonlight. She gently lifted her eyes to the bright night moon.

Jiang Ruyi stood silently, moonlight reflecting a faint glow in her eyes.

The moon rose, the moon set, night after night.

And you?

When will you return…

It had been half a year since Lu Ran challenged the Divine Ruins and left the Human World.

No news. No word.

Jiang Ruyi pressed her lips together, a faint sadness flickering in her eyes.

She should've long expected this day to come.

Since Lu Ran's departure, she'd spent every day in the Immortal Worship Hall, burning incense and offering prayers with devout hope to the Immortal Sheep Lord.

She asked only for his safety.

And if he could return soon, that would be even better.

Every day as she prayed, Jiang Ruyi's heart hung in constant worry.

Afraid that in a moment of divinity, the Immortal Sheep Lord might appear and deliver bad news.

Half a year, spent in devotion—and in helplessness.

"Ka."

At her waist, her sword slowly came unsheathed.

The Cold Night Sword, sensing its master's turbulent emotions, cautiously tilted toward her and hovered near her hand.

The icy hilt lightly touched the tips of her fingers.

Seeing that she didn't reject it, the hilt gently settled into her palm.

Perhaps it was only then that Jiang Ruyi came to her senses, her delicate hand slowly moving to grasp the hilt lightly.

"You miss him too?" Jiang Ruyi's lips parted slightly as she murmured faintly.

"Buzz~"

The Cold Night Sword trembled softly.

A Divine Weapon is always attuned to its master.

What's more, on the path to becoming a Divine Weapon, the greatest hurdle requires confirmation of shared sentiments between the weapon and its master—for someone specific.

"Sigh..." Jiang Ruyi breathed a soft sigh, her gaze lowering to the glimmering waters of Erhai below.

Lu Ran had been gone for half a year.

Sister Xian'er had also departed two months ago and was similarly without news.

Jiang Ruyi had investigated and confirmed that recently under Divine·Lie Tian's rule, there had been no opening of the Divine Ruin.

She wasn't certain if Sister Xian'er was truly engaged in pilgrimage and secluded cultivation within the city.

Even in retreat, there should've been at least a call—or even just a single message.

Jiang Ruyi exhausted all means of reaching her but could find no trace.

Earlier in July, even Si Xianxian's mother had gone specially to West Sea Province, only to find that under the governance of sects within the ancient city beneath the divine Lie Tian's realm, outsiders such as herself were forbidden entry into the Inner City.

The result of her inquiries was nothing more than perfunctory responses from Lie Tian's disciples, claiming that Si Xianxian was engaged in devout pilgrimage and could not be disturbed.

In the end, Si's mother's calls reached Jiang Ruyi.

As the most skilled and influential figure the desperate mother knew, Jiang Ruyi became her last refuge for hope.

She sought nothing more than to hear her daughter's voice, a mere assurance of safety.

Not even in person—a single phone call would be enough.

Yet Jiang Ruyi—a noble Human World Sect Leader's Wife, a venerated River Realm Great Power...

...was just as powerless.

She could offer no answer.

Indeed, Jiang Ruyi's illustrious status and overwhelming strength, before most, made her seem untouchable. To them, she was like a goddess.

But in the presence of gods, what was she herself but an ant?

Humble Human Clan—what right did they have to speak?

Sister Xian'er, just where are you?

Jiang Ruyi stared out over the water, her thoughts scattered. Those closest to her had gradually disappeared one by one...

And Lu Ran?

Are you… Are you still alive?

"Whoosh~"

The evening wind blew gently, brushing past her waist-length hair.

Jiang Ruyi slowly closed her beautiful eyes, feeling the breeze as though it were his hand softly touching her hair.

She stood there in solitude, quietly feeling, silently yearning.

Until that stillness was broken by a voice.

Jiang Ruyi frowned lightly.

The sudden transmission almost made her think she was hallucinating.

Was that just now the voice of Lord Jade Talisman?

Summoning me to pilgrimage?

Jiang Ruyi opened her eyes. Under the moonlight, Erhai unfolded before her, everything vivid and real.

So this wasn't a dream, nor her imagination.

A command from the god must be followed without question by any Believer.

Resistance was not an option.

Yet she wondered—why her? How did she, of all people, earn the god's audience twice?

Moreover, she was currently at Jiang Realm·Fourth Rank.

Wouldn't it make more sense for the god to wait for her to reach Jiang Realm·Fifth Rank before summoning her to pilgrimage?

Or perhaps she would tread the path Lu Ran once took?

Did Lord Jade Talisman plan to open the Divine Ruin?

Jiang Ruyi's expression shifted, her mind turning over these thoughts in silence for a long while. Then, her body emitted eight white jade tokens.

With the aid of the Divine Technique·Jade Talisman Formation, she steadily rose off the ground, flying toward the village in the mountains.

Soon, she arrived at Luoxian Village's Immortal Worship Hall.

At this late hour, the village was deathly still.

The great doors of the Immortal Worship Hall were wide open. Deep inside the hall, an elderly man knelt alone, bowing devoutly to the Immortal Sheep Stone Sculpture.

Jiang Ruyi stepped inside.

On both walls of the hall, rows of small divine sculptures stood, lifelike and varied in expression.

Hundreds—thousands—of sheep-like eyes seemed to gaze at this young woman visiting in the dead of night.

"Lady?"

Grandpa Cheng turned his head at the sound of footsteps, his face awash with surprise.

"Grandpa Cheng." Jiang Ruyi gave a small nod, issuing an instruction. "Please prepare some incense for me."

"Understood." Though puzzled, Grandpa Cheng approached the incense burner in front of the stone sculpture, taking up three sticks of incense and lighting them on a nearby candle.

Jiang Ruyi gazed up at the stone sculpture while stepping closer.

Soon, she accepted the now-lit incense, bowing respectfully three times before the Immortal Sheep Stone Sculpture.

"Immortal Sheep Lord, I recently received a transmission from Lord Jade Talisman, summoning me to pilgrimage," Jiang Ruyi murmured as she inserted the three incense sticks into the small burner.

Grandpa Cheng, standing off to the side, furrowed his brows slightly.

Jiang Ruyi stepped back two paces and knelt on the prayer mat, pressing her palms together. "I don't know how long I'll be gone, Immortal Sheep Lord, nor will I be able to guard Luoxian Mountain on the fifteenth of each month.

Nor can I pray and worship here daily."

From the side, Grandpa Cheng suddenly spoke up: "Lady."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi was slightly taken aback.

It was an unspoken rule that no one ever interrupted another while they prayed to a god.

This was not merely about etiquette—it was a matter of respect for divinity!

For someone as experienced as Grandpa Cheng to interrupt at such a moment, he must have a valid reason.

Indeed, Grandpa Cheng spoke: "The Immortal Sheep Lord just delivered a transmission."

"Oh?" Jiang Ruyi's bright eyes lit up.

Grandpa Cheng continued: "The Immortal Sheep Lord said that this pilgrimage to Yumen Pass will likely involve a challenge to the Divine Ruin."

Jiang Ruyi turned toward the Immortal Sheep Stone Sculpture, asking directly, "Immortal Sheep Lord, how is Lu Ran? Is he safe?"

At such a turning point, she didn't even ask about herself but seized the chance to inquire about Lu Ran.

Such a scene made Grandpa Cheng deeply moved.

The lady's feelings for the Mountain Master were truly beyond question.

As his thoughts wandered, Grandpa Cheng noticed the glimmer of anticipation in Jiang Ruyi's gaze.

After a brief silence, his expression turned apologetic as he said, "The Immortal Sheep Lord indicated that the world beyond the Divine Ruin is extraordinarily perilous!

If the lady does not wish to go, the Immortal Sheep Lord can annul your contract with the gods."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

In the eyes of the divine, the Human Clan truly held no place.

They didn't even have the right to ask questions.

When the gods communicated, it was always one-sided—either information imparted or commands issued.

Even the kindest and gentlest Immortal Sheep Lord was no exception.

Not just anyone could communicate freely with the gods as Lu Ran did.

"The world beyond the Divine Ruin—where Lu Ran is..." Jiang Ruyi murmured to herself.

After some time, she raised her eyes to the divine sculpture, gazing at the Immortal Sheep's benevolent expression. "But what if I wish to go?

What if I wish to find him…to see him?"

The Immortal Worship Hall fell into profound silence.

Jiang Ruyi kept her eyes on the divine sculpture, waiting with patience.

She wasn't certain whether she would receive another response from the divine presence.

For the Immortal Sheep to deliver a transmission just now—whether to her or even to Grandpa Cheng as a mere intermediary—was already an extraordinary blessing.

"Sea."

Grandpa Cheng abruptly uttered a single word.

"Sea?" Jiang Ruyi arched her delicate brows slightly.

Grandpa Cheng affirmed, "The Immortal Sheep Lord left you a single word—sea."

Jiang Ruyi's thoughts raced.

Sea Realm?

Did her strength need to reach the Sea Realm to see Lu Ran?

Or was it a place—a reference to the ocean?

Was Lu Ran in a place by the sea?

Jiang Ruyi pondered for a long time. Slowly, she pressed her palms together and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Immortal Sheep Lord, for your guidance. I shall remember it well."

Her eyelids lowered as her face became resolute.

Within those jet-black eyes was an unyielding longing that could not be dissolved.

...

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