"Hmm..."

Lu Ran, lying on the bed, opened his sleepy eyes and stared blankly at the stone ceiling above.

It took him a while to remember where he was.

Lu Ran vaguely recalled that he had activated the "Idiot Mode" in the seclusion room. A month of continuous battles left him physically and mentally exhausted. As his mind stopped buzzing, he drifted off into sleep.

Now that he was awake, was he already in his bedroom?

Lu Ran couldn't help but pull a strange face.

It wasn't that he doubted Immortal Jiang's strength—after all, she was at the Sea Realm Peak, and carrying someone weighing around one hundred and fifty or sixty pounds should be a breeze for her.

The key was how she carried him.

Would she have carried him like a princess, like he often did to her?

Tsk~

Just the thought of it made him a bit embarrassed, huh?

Hmm... Or maybe she just used the Magic Artifact·Immortal Binding Whip to drag him up like a dead dog?

"Awake?" A gentle voice came from beside him.

"Ah?" Lu Ran was startled. Turning his head, he found Jiang Ruyi lying next to him.

Lu Ran felt a bit dazed.

Such a large living person had been beside him the whole time, and he hadn't noticed?!

Home, indeed, makes one let down their guard.

Or fundamentally, perhaps Sea Realm people seemed too insignificant to him, easily overlooked...

Arrogance!

Lu Ran slightly furrowed his brows.

After fighting the Faceless Jade Venerable for so long, he hadn't learned anything else, but he did pick up these bad habits.

"What is it?" Jiang Ruyi asked softly.

Lu Ran collected his thoughts, gazed at the stunning beauty close at hand, and grinned:

"Haven't seen you for a month, I heard you advanced to the Sea Realm Peak!"

Jiang Ruyi gently nodded, reporting the overall situation of the Ran Sect to him: "The Martial Emperor's advancement to the Heavenly Realm greatly supported the warriors.

The Wind Emperor, Feng Yan, and the Dragon God General also advanced to the Sea Realm Peak in succession."

"Good!" Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

With the Divine Seeking General and Divine General Qin, the number of warriors stuck at the 'half-step Heavenly Realm' was quite significant now.

Lu Ran sat up, placing a hand on her cold and beautiful cheek, and smiled:

"So, little Ruyi, when are you planning to advance to the Heavenly Realm?"

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ruyi closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his palm.

Since Lu Ran woke up, she felt significantly better.

Lu Ran was no longer an ordinary Heavenly Realm, subtly tormenting the weak life around him.

He had returned to being Lu Ran.

The unique emotional entanglements among the Human Clan silently resisted the God Demon System, resisted the Heaven and Earth Laws.

"Ruyi."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi kept her eyes closed.

Lu Ran asked softly, "Is there anything you need me to do?"

It was well known that believers at their peak needed a moment of enlightenment, a sudden inspiration!

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ruyi said, "Tell me about your experiences over the past month."

"Uh." Lu Ran pondered for a moment, and four words popped out of his mouth, "Killing, running away."

Jiang Ruyi opened her eyes, smiled, and glared at him, "Go on, tell me more."

"Tell you more." Lu Ran pouted, muttering, "Do you take me for your social media?"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

If Lu Ran hadn't said this, she would've almost forgotten she came from modern society.

The last time she used a phone, she couldn't even remember when it was.

To think back then, when she grew up and studied in the Human World, and lived in modern cities, those were truly memorable days.

It all seemed so ordinary at the time!

Humans, really are strange creatures.

When in the Human World, she wanted to see the Divine Ruins afterward.

After arriving at the Holy Spirit Mountain, she desperately wanted to return to the Human World.

Alas, there was no returning to the Human World, and she could only go from the heavens, but the Heavenly Realm wasn't the way home; it was just another lie of the God Demon.

It was merely another place of labor for the Human Clan, a place to bury the bones.

Jiang Ruyi listened intently to the young man returning from the Heavenly Realm Battlefield as he narrated everything about that place.

The Heavenly Realm was a true God Demon Battlefield.

Above, the Gods and Demons confronted external enemies.

Below, their lackeys fought over resources with the Faceless Jade Venerable.

In that world, the Human Clan believers were a minority, and they were hunted by external enemies and suppressed in alliance by the Gods and Demons.

Why did you Humans have the potential to create miracles and defy destiny?

Lu Ran narrated his sightings and experiences over the past month, also mentioning Deng Yuxiang's terrifying growth speed.

When Jiang Ruyi heard about his transformation into a Pseudo God Stone Sculpture and how it led to such barbaric growth and a powerful rise, she was overjoyed.

"The Big Nightmare has already reached Heavenly Realm·Second Rank, soon, I'll have her create a body!" Lu Ran couldn't hide his excitement.

Jiang Ruyi suddenly said, "The Divine Mountain is the passage for Dead Souls; all resources gather there. If you could settle near the Divine Mountain..."

Lu Ran couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

This was precisely the future development plan he had researched and devised with Mr. Conglong.

Unfortunately, in the past month, Lu Ran still hadn't seen the silhouette of the Divine Mountain.

After all, the trio of Lu Ran were not advancing recklessly, but secretly causing trouble, progressing in a roundabout way.

Jiang Ruyi pondered, calmly analyzing: "That way, you won't delay your own cultivation, and you can wait for the prey to walk right in."

"That's right, Mr. Cong Long's idea coincides with yours. Now, I'm looking for a Divine Mountain, the right one."

"The right one?"

"Every Divine Mountain and its surrounding area has different God Demon minion races guarding them," Lu Ran explained, "My place of seclusion must be carefully selected."

What is the right hideaway?

There probably isn't a clear answer, but by the process of elimination, you can remove some of the worst choices.

For instance, the Divine Mountain guarded by Greedy Wolf and Evil Dog minions, the one where Mountain Lord and Yinli Tiger minions reside, such existences are elusive, and importantly, extremely perceptive!

This would greatly increase the risk of Lu Ran's exposure.

The problem is: any Divine Mountain is, of course, heavily guarded, so which area's Divine Mountain lacks an excellent scout team?

That's why Lu Ran must carefully select, to find the relatively short one among the tall ones.

As soon as Lu Ran settles into seclusion, the grand endeavor can be expected!

In the planning conceived by Lu Ran and Yu Changsheng, Lu Ran himself would cultivate and appropriately intercept dead souls.

The soldiers of Ran Sect would form squads in other areas, collect Holy Spirit Energy, slay enemies, and devour dead souls.

Thus, the configuration of the squad becomes particularly important.

The first type is Armor-Piercers, like Deng Yuxiang and Si Xianxian.

Including powerful divine beings like Yan Chou and Wu Xiao, although small skills hardly harm the Faceless Jade Venerable, their ultimate moves can still make an impact.

Yan Chou's Sky-reaching Demon Spear, Wu Xiao's Double Hero Mask·Mighty Black Face, all respectable on the stage.

Then there are the scouts, such as Yan Shuangzi and Golden Sparrow.

Third are the team's early warning devices: fortune-telling shamans, those who glimpse heavenly secrets and foxes.

Such as Chang Ying, Bai Manni, Bai Yanhui, these people can always ensure that disaster is a step behind the team!

The fourth are those with strategic value, able to lead squads in rapid maneuvers—Lu Yuan and Qin Yanzhi, master and disciple!

On these four cornerstones, supplemented by soldiers skilled in defense, healing, control, Soul Binding, and so on, a powerful squad can be assembled.

Yu Changsheng believed that there could be 2-3 such squads of Ran Sect.

After all, more squads would dilute personnel strength, whereas fewer would make the target too large and resource distribution difficult.

Some days ago, when Yu Changsheng laid out this strategic plan to Lu Ran, Lu Ran nodded continuously!

Like a chicken pecking rice!

What does it mean to have a promising future?

"...That's it." Lu Ran briefly recounted the plan.

Jiang Ruyi nodded silently, and then said: "Chang Ying is currently still at the Second Rank of the Sea Realm, Elder Bai and Manni's strength and realm are also insufficient."

Lu Ran replied: "People like Chang the Shaman are not in the combat sequence, as long as the other squad members are well-configured, she can accompany the team on expeditions.

The energy in the Heavenly Realm Battlefield is rich, making cultivation faster than in the Mountain Realm."

Even so, Lu Ran added: "There's still time before the squad forms, no rush."

Lu Ran has just entered the Heavenly Realm, still in the initial stage.

Under his command are only Deng Yuxiang, Yan Chou, and Bai Rao available, even adding Lu Yuan, it is just enough to form a squad prototype.

Moving forward, he must still seek the Divine Mountain, try to seize dead souls, and quickly invite out the killing implements like Luo Ying and Wu Xiao.

Starting off is always the hardest!

Just like when Lu Ran first entered the Mountain Realm, as long as he gets through the hardest starting phase, everything will get better.

Additionally, if he can find the old subordinates from Mother's Cloud Sea along the way in choosing a Divine Mountain, the collective strength of Ran Sect would be greatly enhanced!

Yan Chou and Bai Rao are excellent examples.

Once fused with stone sculptures, they are no longer controlled or suppressed by God Demons, advancing boldly to the Second Layer of the Heavenly Realm!

"Ruyi." Lu Ran recovered his thoughts, gently called.

"Hmm?"

Lu Ran suddenly flipped over, his hands supporting on the bed beside her head, looking down into her beautiful eyes.

Jiang Ruyi's expression was somewhat unnatural, slightly turned her head, avoiding the gaze.

His action was aggressive, the terrifying pressure from the Heavenly Realm couldn't be fully erased by other factors.

"I've told you about the Heavenly Realm encounters and explained the next steps and future plans," Lu Ran spoke softly, "What else would you like me to do for you?"

Jiang Ruyi's eyelashes trembled lightly, as if hinting at her slightly trembling heart:

"Do you want... to let the Martial Emperor fuse with a stone sculpture, and throw him... into your, Sculpture Garden."

"Oh." Lu Ran seemed a bit disappointed, responded softly, "Then I'll go."

Jiang Ruyi's heart tightened: "You can..."

"Hmm?"

"You can rest... stay with me a little longer." She looked elsewhere, her voice soft and light.

Lu Ran chuckled: "Just a little while?"

Jiang Ruyi finally looked up, meeting Lu Ran's face.

Eye to eye, she saw in his eyes the familiar, teasing smile.

It should have been annoying, as it usually was.

But as she looked, she suddenly felt, as if something shattered within the void.

"Hoo!!"

Suddenly, a violent surge of Divine Power rippled out from within her.

Instantly, the smile in Lu Ran's eyes vanished, replaced by astonishment.

Then filled with delight!

Jiang Ruyi also smiled, gently raised her hand, her fingertips lightly brushing across his brow.

Indeed,

Just staying a little won't suffice.

...

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.