In the God Demon Sculpture Garden, Lu Ran stood in the palm of the Nightmare Stone Sculpture, looking up at the face of the goddess statue.

All around, huge stone sculptures stood in the same manner.

They were all soldiers of the Ran Sect, who had, under Lu Ran's orders, donated the Holy Spirit Energy to the Nightmare Stone Sculpture, ensuring they didn't lose rank.

The garden was silent at this moment, a group of Fake Gods waiting for a result.

Yet, there was no reaction from the Nightmare Stone Sculpture.

"Sigh..." A sigh was heard as the Nightmare Stone Sculpture opened its eyes, looking apologetically at Lu Ran.

It seemed things hadn't gone as hoped, and she couldn't open the door to the Heavenly Realm Third Level.

"The Origin Energy is still insufficient," Lu Ran murmured.

"No matter." Another huge stone hand reached over, its long fingers touching the palm of the Nightmare.

There aren't many in the Ran Sect who dare to touch Deng Yuxiang's hand, not to mention "snatching" someone.

Yan Shuangzi could reluctantly be counted as one, and Jiang Ruyi definitely as another.

Lu Ran understood, flying to Jiang Ruyi's fingers and letting her bring him before her face.

"A million Holy Spirit Energy, sounds impressive, but it's just equivalent to ten thousand God Demon underlings," Jiang Ruyi slowly turned her finger, the pad facing up.

Lu Ran: "..."

Just equivalent to ten thousand?

You little Ruyi, you really don't take the enemy seriously...

But Lu Ran couldn't say much, after all, Immortal Jiang was the captain and commander of the first team of the Ran Sect, having fought in the Heavenly Realm Battlefield for over a month.

No casualties and quite good results.

Immortal Jiang's calculations had no issues at all: One Heavenly Realm Dead Soul equals about one hundred River Realm Dead Souls, equating to one hundred wisps of Holy Spirit Energy.

To cultivate from Heavenly Realm Second Level to Third Level indeed requires ten thousand Heavenly Realm Dead Souls.

Ten thousand cuts?!

On this path to Becoming a God, it's indeed littered with bones and a sea of blood.

"Everyone, return," Jiang Ruyi glanced around, offering encouragement, "Next time we battle in the Heavenly Realm, make sure to strive harder."

"Yes!"

"Yes," the Fake Gods agreed and left one by one.

Deng Yuxiang mumbled, "Reaching the Heavenly Realm Third Level means we can challenge the Divine Demon physically, right?"

"Not quite sure." Lu Ran shook his head, "Perhaps it's simply having the capacity to pose a threat.

To truly confront Divine Demons, we need a sufficient number of Heavenly Realm Third Level Fake Gods."

Jiang Ruyi agreed with Lu Ran's assessment, admonishing Deng Yuxiang with words: "We indeed need to make comprehensive preparations, better an excess of power than a lack of it.

Once the bowstring is drawn, there's no turning back.

If we fail the challenge, it will be the end for us."

Deng Yuxiang respectfully answered, "Yes, Lady."

This was hardly a private setting, with Deng Yuxiang standing in the second row of the Divine Camp, surrounded by Ran Sect soldiers.

Lu Ran tapped Immortal Jiang's fingertip, as a greeting, before his figure disappeared.

At Tianya Residence, inside the hall.

Lu Ran opened his eyes, scanning the few people in the room, "Rest and recover, I'll take Yin Yan and Feng Yan to merge with the stone sculptures."

Everyone took their leave, Lu Ran then turned to look at Immortal Jiang beside him, "Wait for me at home?"

"I'll go with you, easier to bring you back." Jiang Ruyi smiled softly, "Merging with three stone sculptures simultaneously, you'll turn into a fool, right?"

"Watch your words!" Lu Ran rolled his eyes, telepathically commanding several people to come over.

"Hehe~" Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but laugh.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran suddenly blurted, "When you bring me back, don't even think about a princess carry!"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Lu Ran muttered, "Aren't I a young man in my twenties, with some dignity."

Jiang Ruyi's expression was odd, "Then should I use the Enchantment Array to pull your soul, getting you to come back with me?"

The Evil Technique Enchantment Array, is a skill of the Ghost Talisman Doll clan.

Those ensnared would experience "Ghost Hitting the Wall," roaming aimlessly in the Illusion Realm like headless flies.

In reality, those ensnared would move within an array formed by black talismans.

Like a donkey turning a mill, unable to escape the small circle.

The caster can also control the black talismans (Enchantment Array) to move, enabling manipulation of the ensnared person's movements.

This technique is rather advanced.

The Ghost Talisman Dolls are tender children, aged three to four, with very low intellect; even in the Sea Realm, the Ghost Talisman Dolls rarely use this skill.

Evidently, when the God Demon divided, that rascal Jade Talisman didn't spare the Ghost Talisman Dolls from harm.

"Is your heart made of ice?" Lu Ran looked unsatisfied.

The stone sculpture trembled in his mind, and he was already tormented enough. Did Immortal Jiang have to enchant him too?

Jiang Ruyi smiled, "It's very effective. Many of the God Demon minions were caught in the Enchantment Array on the Heavenly Realm Battlefield, awaiting slaughter... I mean, waiting for me to send them home."

Lu Ran shivered, "Forget it, I won't need you to do it, I'll let Shuangzi handle it..."

Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly, "Hmm?"

"Ahem." Lu Ran coughed awkwardly, just as Qin Yanzhi entered the hall, Lu Ran quickly stood up to greet him, "General Qin is here, long time no see!"

Qin Yanzhi: ?

I live in your mind... and we just met in the Sculpture Garden, didn't we?

The sudden enthusiasm left Qin Yanzhi bewildered, unsure where to place his hands.

Behind, Jiang Ruyi looked silently at someone's back.

Her slender hand fell, touching the Magic Artifact at her waist, the Immortal Binding Whip...

With the arrival of Yin Yan and Feng Yan, Lu Ran led the team to Mo Gu Peak, expertly guiding them to merge with the Fake God Stone Sculptures.

This time General Qin accompanied them, naturally sparing Lu Ran from having to hold it all together.

After the task was completed, he decisively played the fool, acting as a carefree boss.

When Lu Ran regained consciousness, it was already two days later, during dusk. He lay on the large bed in the bedroom of Tianya Residence, with a figure sleeping soundly beside him.

"Uh." Lu Ran rubbed his temples and groggily sent a mental message, [Evil Shadow?]

[Master.]

Yan Shuangzi originally thought Lu Ran would ask how many days it had been, but to her surprise, he asked:

[How did I get back?]

Yan Shuangzi stifled a laugh and softly said, [Lady used the Immortal Binding Whip to tie you up and brought you back.]

Lu Ran: "..."

Little Ruyi, quite interesting... uh, quite a move?

Won't let me hug, won't let me use the Enchantment Array, so she tied me up with a whip to bring me back?

Lu Ran turned his head to look at the beautiful woman sleeping sweetly in her dreams.

After merging with the stone sculptures, even the fake gods no longer needed sleep, but this body was still in human form, so a nap or two wasn't a problem.

Lu Ran's gaze dropped down to her soft lips.

He didn't hesitate long before he pressed his lips on them.

"Mmm..." Immortal Jiang suddenly opened her eyes. Moments later, her cold eyes softened with a hint of reproach, then slowly closed again.

Only, she suddenly thought of something and slightly turned her head: "Evil Shadow is still... still there, right?"

Lu Ran propped his hands on either side of her body, looking down at her flushed face with a somewhat strange expression: "Things are different now. She's an Evil Dog-Greedy Wolf hybrid now.

Even if she said she left, intentionally hiding without going, we wouldn't know, right?"

"You!" Jiang Ruyi curled her fingers, annoyed and amused, knocking on his forehead.

So you just gave up?

Lu Ran slightly lifted his head and said, "Why don't you go rest?"

[Yes.]

"Alright, she's gone." Lu Ran looked down at the immortal beneath him, then added, "Maybe."

Jiang Ruyi rolled her eyes gently at Lu Ran, pushing him away with one hand: "If you're not sure, then forget it."

"Uh?" Lu Ran's face stiffened, really wanting to slap himself.

This damned mouth of mine~

Lu Ran quickly said, "No! Sister Shuangzi must have left; she's very obedient!"

Seeing his frantic appearance, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but chuckle softly, as she got up and leaned against the bedhead: "Let's talk later; it's almost dark."

Lu Ran: "..."

You better have something to say to me!

The fact is, Lu Ran did understand Jiang Ruyi well. With more soldiers from the Ran Sect ascending to the Heavenly Realm, she also began planning the formation of the third squadron.

Now the Ran Sect has decided to concentrate power on nurturing a few stone sculptures, elevating them to the third level of the Heavenly Realm.

If three squadrons could seize resources in the Heavenly Realm, the speed of cultivating fake gods would naturally be faster!

"Let's wait for Mr. Huangfu's news." Lu Ran also leaned on the bedhead, thoughtfully analyzing, "As long as the Huangfu siblings and the Leng siblings join the team, the third squad's DPS will be sufficient."

More than sufficient?

It would be top-tier!

Jiang Ruyi naturally trusted the abilities of the Cloud Sea veterans.

She even thought that the second stone sculpture, to be completely focused on by the Ran Sect, should be Mr. Huangfu!

Huangfu Zhao has battled in the Heavenly Realm for so many years; how abundant is his combat experience?

As the future inheritor of the Dong Ting-Purple Thunder Demon Roc, Huangfu Zhao has enough DPS, powerful control, and the top speed in the world.

Such a person is undoubtedly the Ran Sect's best choice for opening a situation and their first strike against the God Demon!

Jiang Ruyi expressed her thoughts, earning Lu Ran's continual nodding in agreement.

She then continued, "In the third squadron, Evil Shadow can serve as a scout and advance warning... uh, are you planning on putting Manni in the squad?"

Lu Ran nodded readily, "Manni is also in the Sea Realm; the squad's strength is strong enough to protect her, but as for the teleporter..."

In the Da Xia God Demon system, only the Dust Shadow Flower-Evil Mirror Demon has the teleportation skill.

Looks like, we'll need to pull another disciple from the Ran Sect into the formation.

And this person can only become a believer of Dust Shadow or Evil Mirror Demon, with no inheritor qualifications.

As Lu Ran thought about it, he suddenly said, "Ruyi, later I want to return to the human world."

"Return?"

"Yes, I want to seek some advice from my mother on cultivation issues. In this world, perhaps only she can enlighten me."

Having said that, the smile on Lu Ran's face gradually faded, and he sighed softly, "Moreover, her old units from the Cloud Sea are all gathered..."

Jiang Ruyi naturally sensed the bitterness in his heart.

She nestled next to Lu Ran, slightly tilting her head to rest on his shoulder: "Tell her after the old units have joined the Ran Sect, there are still a few who haven't rejoined."

Lu Ran was silent for a long time before nodding, "Alright."

This shouldn't count as evasion, right?

Little Ruyi made sense; a few haven't returned yet. If Lu Ran spoke to his mother prematurely, if any mishaps occurred, it would hurt her a second time.

It's unnecessary.

Jiang Ruyi changed the topic, "Should we take this opportunity to bring the two grandfathers from the Cheng Family into the Ran Sect?"

Cheng Yi and Cheng Li are both first-generation battle sheep, both in the Sea Realm. Ever since a few years ago, the two old men benefited from the blessing of the gods, thanks to Lu Jiang, and their strength steadily increased.

Cheng Yi should be at the second rank of the Sea Realm, while Cheng Li is even more formidable, having reached the fourth rank of the Sea Realm!

Lu Ran pondered, "We don't need to bring them to the Holy Spirit Mountain. We can provide the two elders with a stone sculpture, preparing for the future. Let them continue under Lord Immortal Sheep's protection for mountain guarding and cultivation."

Jiang Ruyi thought aloud, "Then, what type of stone sculpture do you plan to let them inherit?"

That's a good question!

So, what to choose?

...

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