The eighteenth of the twelfth month, night.

A hazy moonlight shines upon an ice lake surrounded by a snow forest.

Beside the lake, a young man wrapped in a fox fur cloak sits quietly under a tree, gazing at the frozen surface of the lake where a woman with a long sword in hand stands.

She too is dressed in a white fox fur cloak and dances lightly in the moonlight.

Her immortal silhouette sways like drifting wind and returning snow, melding with the icy landscape.

Lu Ran gazes intently at Jiang Ruyi.

To be precise, at her physical body.

In the past few days, Jiang Ruyi successively shattered the Jade Talisman and the Ghost Talisman Doll stone sculpture, fused the Divine Sculpture and Evil Sculpture into one, transforming into a Pseudo God statue that now resides in Lu Ran's mind.

To commemorate this special day, Lu Ran brought her to one of the Seven Views of the Holy Spirit—Ice Heart Lake.

According to Lu Yuan and his disciple, the little snow here is enchanting enough to intoxicate the heart.

Before coming to Ice Heart Lake, Lu Ran had already visited five of the Seven Views, naturally not doubting Lu Yuan and his disciple's sense of beauty.

But this time, Lu Ran truly had something to say.

Compared to the Moonlit Frost Forest and the gentle snow over the ice lake, that stunning figure dancing in the center of the lake captivated him even more.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Suddenly, applause echoed softly from the tranquil lakeside.

"Once more, once more... uh." Lu Ran wanted to see the woman dance another piece but before he could finish his words, the moonlit fairy suddenly turned her gaze towards him.

The greedy words swallowed back, Lu Ran suppressed them.

Jiang Ruyi's eyes held a trace of reproach as she flew over gracefully: "It's late, we should go back to rest. We still need to set off for the Heavenly Realm battlefield tomorrow."

The next time Lu Ran rests, who knows when it will be.

"Oh," Lu Ran reluctantly replied.

Standing before Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi lifted her hand to straighten his collar: "Be good, next time when we return to the Holy Spirit Mountain, I'll accompany you to the last of the Seven Views."

"That won't do."

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi slightly raised her eyebrow.

Lu Ran, apologetically, said: "Little Yuanxi already booked the Moon Shadow Heavenly Pool early on, I can't break my promise."

Jiang Ruyi fully understood: "When do you plan to take her?"

"When Little Yuanxi ascends to the Heavenly Realm~" Lu Ran casually embraced the Immortal in his arms, gazing up at the snowflakes drifting in the wind.

At this mid point of the twelfth month, Little Yuanxi has already ascended to the Third Rank of the Sea Realm, the ascent to the Heavenly Realm is within reach.

Since his ascension, Lu Ran feels his journey of striving has newfound anticipation.

Once he could only bestow stone sculptures, assisting others in accelerating their cultivation advancement.

Now, it's different!

Lu Ran can personally train those closest and dearest, helping them ascend to the Second Level of the Heavenly Realm, or even the Third!

This sense of accomplishment in constructing gods by his own hands is something outsiders cannot easily experience.

The true Divine Development Plan!

Before him, Little Ruyi, the From Dragon Guardian returning from the deep sea, and the slaughtering Heavenly General returning from the Soul-locking Mountain, are Lu Ran's next major focus for cultivation.

These pseudo deities are Lu Ran's future capital in challenging gods and demons.

"What are you thinking about?" A clear and cold voice suddenly reached his ear.

Lu Ran didn't respond, only slightly lowered his head, kissing her cold thin lips.

In the moonlight, by the ice lake.

The small snowflakes drifted gently, falling on their shoulders.

Curiously, someone spoiled the mood, mumbling ambiguously, "If I kiss your physical body, will you get jealous?"

Jiang Ruyi: ???

This flesh and blood figure was molded by her own hands, while its soul was crafted by the remnants of her god and demon shadow.

From inside to out, body and soul, all belong to Jiang Ruyi.

It can be considered one form of Jiang Ruyi's existence in the world.

Jealous, of what exactly?

"Nonsense," Jiang Ruyi expressed dissatisfaction, gently bumping Lu Ran's forehead with her own, her body gradually stiffening.

The divine and demon shadow separated from the physical body, the Divine Weapon·Cold Night Sword in her hand also turned into a pure energy body, merging with the divine and demon shadow, returning to the Sculpture Garden together.

"Hey? Don't go!" Lu Ran looked at the beautiful yet dull doll in his arms, knowing she returned to the Sculpture Garden.

"Poof~"

Indeed, the beauty in his embrace dissipated into specks of energy, with the wind.

The physical body, without a soul, also lost the necessary conditions to exist in the world.

Lu Ran's embrace was empty, leaving only a fox fur cloak behind.

Jiang Ruyi's stone sculpture image is adorned with the prestigious Magic Artifact·Phoenix Robe of Nine Heavens.

The demonic minions she summoned, naturally dressed in the Phoenix Robe image (energy transformation), the reason a cloak remained in Lu Ran's arms is that it was a genuine piece of clothing.

Specially pulled from the closet for this snow viewing, draped over her body by Jiang Ruyi.

"Tsk," Lu Ran clucked his tongue, holding onto the cloak.

His lady girlfriend isn't happy~

[Go home, sleep.] In his mind, Jiang Ruyi's voice sounded.

[I'll admire the snow a while longer... eh? Don't stomp your foot, no no no...] Lu Ran, covering his head with one hand, [I'm going home now.]

[Hmph~] Jiang Ruyi snorted, yet a smile appeared on her face.

After so many years, she finally found an effective way to straighten out Lu Ran.

No grand gestures required, just a gentle stomp of her foot.

With the lady girlfriend calming down, Lu Ran mumbled to himself: "A gentle confusion doesn't hurt the brain, the strength is just right~"

If possible, he wished the Immortal wouldn't tread on his mind, but rather directly upon his physical body... ahem.

Lu Ran shook his head to clear away the chaotic thoughts and quickly spread open his palm.

"Whew~"

A large, jet-black mystical flower blossomed in the center of his hand.

Dust Shadow Divine Skill·Other Shore Flower!

The blooming flower took on a shadowy form, enveloping Lu Ran within and rapidly closing its petals.

By the lakeside, the young man's silhouette vanished along with the flower bud.

Energy stirred up waves of wind, leaving only a few flakes of frost and snow dancing in the air.

The teleportation skills of a god and a demon each had their pros and cons.

Evil Mirror Demon Technique·Mirror Flower Moon, clearly required an additional step, first summoning a basic Ancient Bronze Mirror, then altering its properties to become a Landing Mirror.

Although the procedure was cumbersome, the Evil Mirror Clan opened a teleportation gate that could persist continuously.

In contrast, the Dust Shadow Sect's technique was a one-off deal, simple and swift but highly conspicuous.

After all, in Lu Ran's hand, it was a flower that bloomed, but for the teleportation destination, it unfolded into a sizeable teleportation array!

Meanwhile, in the mountain forest outside the Tianya Residence, a map resembling a dreamscape unfurled on the body of a woman.

Yan Shuangzi suddenly looked up and witnessed an awe-inspiring scene.

Ripples of energy flowed like sand slowly streaming, weaving together endless mountain ranges and ceaseless rivers.

In the midst of the magnificent scene, a figure appeared out of thin air, landing firmly.

"Master." Yan Shuangzi softly called as she looked at the elegantly dressed young man.

Clearly, Lu Ran's teleportation target wasn't a specific location, but rather a person!

He had long since left a spatial mark on Yan Shuangzi, and the exact location of teleportation depended on her whereabouts.

"No one is home, yet you're still on guard duty?" Lu Ran asked.

Yan Shuangzi slightly lowered her head, not saying a word.

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Ran said softly, "You're close to advancing to the peak, aren't you?"

Yan Shuangzi replied in a low voice, "I advanced to Sea Realm Fourth Rank on the seventh of August, still... still lacking a bit."

"It's been over three months, you're almost there." Lu Ran patted the woman's shoulder comfortingly, "Now, several soldiers of the Ran Sect are stuck at the peak. Who knows, maybe someone's enlightenment will help send you on your way."

Yan Shuangzi nodded silently.

Lu Ran turned towards the cave entrance, "The Heavenly Grade Evil Dog Evil Skill·Evil Shadow, is not as strong as we imagined. Our consciousness can indeed enter the avatar, no longer needing to control it from a third-person perspective, but..."

With that, Lu Ran sighed helplessly, "If the main body is a bit far from the avatar, it loses contact."

Trying to separate the realms, having the avatar live in the Human World or explore the Heavenly Realm Battlefield, was out of the question!

"Mm." Yan Shuangzi responded softly.

The Evil Dog Evil Skill·Evil Shadow, is essentially a decoy-type skill, just that Lu Yan and the others were of too high a power level, forcing the enemy-luring technique into a doppelganger art.

However potent a decoy may be, it couldn't escape the essence of the skill.

Nevertheless, Yan Shuangzi didn't feel too disappointed.

Unlike Lu Ran, she had never thought of having her avatar venture out alone; she wanted to perform missions together with it, protecting Lu Ran's side.

More perspectives meant more operational leverage, naturally.

"Silent Night prefers peace. After I leave tomorrow, don't let anyone disturb it." Lu Ran said standing at the bedroom door, turning slightly to speak.

"Yes." Yan Shuangzi replied softly.

The Divine Weapon that suppressed the Silent Night Blade is most likely in the hands of the Divine Demon, to avoid any mishaps. Lu Ran had to temporarily keep the Silent Night Blade at home in the study.

Not another word was said through the night, and dawn broke the next morning.

Lu Ran donned a green rain cape and a blue reed hat, transforming himself into a river wanderer.

He then put on a Blood Crystal Mask covering the lower half of his face, changing the classical martial arts style into an Eastern fantasy style, and headed towards Heaven's Edge.

A squad with power to annihilate awaited him for some time.

"Whoa~" Lu Ran glanced over the uniformly dressed crowd, feeling even more accomplished.

Ran Sect warriors with unified attire, all wearing green rain capes, blue reed hats, and a Tianchen Steel mask showing only their eyes.

The Nightmare Guardian as the squad leader, along with Martial Emperor, Luoshen General, Yan General, and Bai General, making a total of five output units.

Lu Yuan was the team's transporter, Bai Yanhui served as the team's early warning machine, and Wei Yun was the scout.

Among them, the latter three were their true bodies, not mere decoy bodies.

Bai Yanhui and Wei Yun, though inheritors of the Caster and Witch Crow, respectively, were both Second Rank Sea Realm, not yet possessing the conditions to fuse with Stone Sculptures.

Lu Yuan was a Heavenly Realm Great Power, but after Lu Ran signed a contract with him and the Divine Sculpture·Dust Shadow Flower, he didn't let the elder merge with the Stone Sculpture.

As the Stone Sculpture inheritor on the side of the Gods, Lu Yuan couldn't summon minions with flesh and blood.

Fortunately, Qin Yanzhi had reached the Sea Realm Peak, as the inheritor of the Evil Mirror Demon Sculpture, once he ascended to the Heavenly Realm, he could cooperate with Lu Yuan.

"Are you all ready?" Lu Ran asked with a smile, confident in this combination.

Headed by the Big Nightmare, everyone nodded in acknowledgment.

"There are quite a few people, so get into the gourd first." Lu Ran sent the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd out with one hand and summoned the Ancient Bronze Mirror with the other.

Since they were acting covertly, he naturally wouldn't open the Other Shore Flower.

Moments later, Lu Ran grasped the Treasure Gourd that flew back and took a step into the Landing Mirror.

Heavenly Realm, here I come... huh?

Lu Ran's expression froze.

In the Sculpture Garden, Jiang Ruyi slightly furrowed her brows as a giant stone hand descended to grip the stone-formed Divine Weapon·Cold Night Sword at her waist.

"Buzz!!"

The Cold Night Sword vibrated so intensely it caused Jiang Ruyi to hum along with it.

A voice full of surprise imprinted itself into Jiang Ruyi's mind:

[Master! I... I sensed that Divine Weapon!]

...

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