Human World Da Xia·Luoxian Mountain.

Under the moonlight, the Erhai Lake shimmered beautifully, intoxicatingly.

Within the Luoxian Pavilion, a young man in a broad white robe leaned against a pavilion post, gazing distantly at the long-unseen beauty, lost in thought.

Behind him, a phantom of a woman stood, speaking softly:

"Ranran, is there something you'd like to say to your mother?"

"How have you been lately?" Lu Ran asked softly, without turning around.

Indeed, the ethereal Qiao Wanjun was merely the Cloud Sea Sword Spirit. She had always been by Lu Ran's side, aware of what he was hiding, yet Lu Ran still hesitated to look at her.

"Not bad," the woman replied softly.

"Has your Jinghong Peak become a Spirit Mountain?" Lu Ran asked about his mother's circumstances.

The implication was to inquire whether the avatar of Divine·Sword One had descended upon Jinghong Peak. He naturally remembered his mother's long-standing wish to lead a Spirit Mountain.

"No," Qiao Wanjun shook her head, "Sword One never came."

Lu Ran frowned slightly, "I've always had a question: since the God Demon did this to you, why do you still revere Sword One so much? Insisting on becoming the Peak Master of Jinghong Peak?"

Qiao Wanjun had been harmed by the God Demon; shouldn't she hate the God Demon intensely?

Apart from her personally, just her heart's creation, the Cloud Sea Sect, had been ravaged by the God Demon to such an extent that she should be irreconcilable with the God Demon!

But Lu Ran remembered that during the three years living in Beijing, every New Year's Day, his mother would take him and Little Yuanxi to worship and offer incense at Sword Heaven City where Lord Jian Yi resided.

Lu Ran could understand this as a mere formal gesture, his mother compromising for the sake of her children.

But he also remembered his mother repeatedly requesting, hoping Lord Jian Yi would take her children as disciples.

The then Lu Ran understood nothing, thought it was a mother humbling herself, earnestly pleading for her children's future prospects.

And now Lu Ran knew much more, so Qiao Wanjun's behavior...

Is this right?

"Sword One is not quite as you imagine," Qiao Wanjun said softly.

"Not quite?" Lu Ran frowned deeper.

"The affairs of this world are not simply black or white," Qiao Wanjun stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ran, gazing at the moonlit Erhai Lake.

"Sword One she..." Lu Ran's face was astonished as he turned to look at the woman's profile.

"She certainly confined me to Beijing," Qiao Wanjun stood with her hands behind her back, speaking lightly, "but from another perspective, this was also to protect me."

Lu Ran slightly opened his mouth, nearly thinking he misheard.

Qiao Wanjun smiled, "Do you think, the simple term 'God Demon' can encompass an entire group?"

Lu Ran very much wanted to say yes.

But rationality, stopped his words.

"Every stone sculpture is an independent entity; they have thoughts, personalities, and naturally make some of their own choices."

"Then... why would Lord Jian Yi protect you?"

"Perhaps her majesty is unassailable, her servants are not others' to meddle with? Or perhaps, I still have some use."

Qiao Wanjun turned her head, her beautiful eyes looking straight at Lu Ran, jokingly said, "Could it be because she also couldn't tolerate certain things?"

Lu Ran wasn't sure if his mother was really joking.

He also didn't know what exactly had transpired over the twenty-odd years between his mother and Sword One, the nature of their relationship.

From the perspective of Lu Ran, this "outsider," he leaned more towards Qiao Wanjun still having some use.

It's not that Lu Ran had a dirty mind, but he had seen too many lies and deceptions.

And also seen too much filth and ugliness.

Qiao Wanjun still has value, can be used!

This should be the correct explanation.

Qiao Wanjun raised her hand, gently tidying Lu Ran's hair, regretfully, her phantom fingers passed through his strands: "According to most God Demons' ideals, I shouldn't be alive."

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Qiao Wanjun suddenly said, "You found the Cloud Sea disciple."

Lu Ran: "..."

Before returning, he had asked the Cloud Sea Sword to conceal this matter, but the Sword Spirit did not explicitly agree.

At that time, the Sword Spirit did exactly the same motion, phantom hand arranging Lu Ran's hair.

"Ranran?"

"I... I found Huangfu, Wuya, heard news of the Leng Family siblings, still investigating," Lu Ran organized his words, unwilling to deceive his mother, yet not wanting to speak too bluntly.

He wasn't sure if the Sword Spirit had told his mother.

After all, Qiao Wanjun was the true master of the Cloud Sea Sword.

"Huangfu, Wuya..." Qiao Wanjun sighed softly, seemingly recalling something.

In the Luoxian Pavilion, silence prevailed, Lu Ran did not disturb her recollection.

After a long while, Qiao Wanjun spoke, "Tianyue has a nice Magic Artifact, the Smoke and Mist Silk, if it's still there, let her gift it to you."

"Huh?" Lu Ran was a bit dumbfounded.

So domineering?

Qiao Wanjun faced Lu Ran, phantom fingers tracing his broad white robe, "The Smoke and Mist Silk is a ribbon, very beautiful smoke and mist color.

It matches well with your Dawn Blade and attire style."

"I especially changed into this white robe to see you," Lu Ran hurriedly said, "In the Heavenly Realm Battlefield, I always dressed in bamboo hat and bamboo clothes, a vagabond knightly style."

Qiao Wanjun indeed was not one to change her mind, unmoved.

She directly said, "You found them, and also gifted Cloud Sea remnants stone sculptures, they should show some gratitude."

Lu Ran: "..."

How should they express gratitude?

Look at Yan Chou, then look at Huangfu Zhao!

Truly, one more loyal than the other, nearly etching "exhaust oneself unto death" on their foreheads.

Lu Ran has every reason to believe that Wuya and the Leng siblings, who joined the team later, also won't be lacking.

"Let's talk business, what do you want to ask?"

"I... How long did it take you to cultivate from the First Level of Heaven Realm to the Second Heaven? How exactly did you cultivate?"

"How do you cultivate?" Qiao Wanjun countered.

"I can't control the Holy Spirit Energy, so I have to start from the source, letting the Holy Spirit Energy appear where I want to use it to transform my physical body."

Qiao Wanjun nodded. This method of cultivation growth was something Lu Ran should have realized when he advanced from the Sea Realm Peak to the Heavenly Realm.

Whether through self-understanding or divine guidance, only in this way can the believers of the Human Clan advance to the Heavenly Realm.

"Three times," Qiao Wanjun said.

"What?"

Qiao Wanjun softly replied, "After you use the purified Holy Spirit Energy to strengthen every inch of your skin, every piece of muscle and bone three times, you should be able to reach the bottleneck."

"Three rounds, huh?" Lu Ran's eyes sparkled.

"Something like that. The Cloud Sea Sect also had some disciples at the Second Heaven, and their situations were quite similar," Qiao Wanjun said gently, then asked, "What's your progress?"

"Nearly two rounds already." Lu Ran clenched his fists.

Qiao Wanjun raised an eyebrow slightly, "Did you advance to the Heavenly Realm last autumn?"

"Yes, I broke through the bottleneck at the beginning of August last year and successfully advanced at the beginning of September!" Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

In comparison, the month he broke through and advanced actually transformed Lu Ran's body even more deeply.

"Not bad, your cultivation speed is very fast."

"How about compared to you?"

Qiao Wanjun smiled, "What, are you also competing with your mother?"

Lu Ran shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, I hope you cultivate faster. In my heart... um."

Qiao Wanjun's eyes softened even more.

She naturally knows the way her child has always looked at her.

Admiration, reverence.

With a touch of fear.

But unexpectedly, Lu Ran murmured, "If you're not better than me, then truly no one above me will be holding me down, and I might float away."

Qiao Wanjun's face was momentarily stunned, then she laughed softly, "Haha~"

Strength, indeed, is the cure for everything.

The sensitive and self-abased young man from back then is gradually fading away.

If given another chance, holding a hot cup of milk to the study, he probably wouldn't hesitate at the door anymore.

Qiao Wanjun has always wanted such a parent-child relationship, feeling that she owes it, yet he is always cautious, while the daughter is more mischievous and knows how to tantrum better.

Qiao Wanjun turned her head, seemingly gazing at the distant mountains under the stars and moon, and softly asked, "How is Yuanxi?"

"Little Yuanxi is already at the Third Rank of the Sea Realm, in seclusion focusing on cultivation, rushing toward the Fourth Rank of the Sea Realm." Mentioning Qiao Yuansi, Lu Ran's face also showed a gentle smile.

Seclusion, focus, cultivation.

These words seem not meant to describe their daughter.

Sigh...

The children have all grown up.

Twenty-one years old, at the Third Rank of the Sea Realm, absolutely unimaginable in the Human World.

This Sculpture Garden bestowed by Lord Immortal Sheep has achieved many people, but the future...

Thinking of this, the smile on Qiao Wanjun's face gradually faded.

"When Little Yuanxi ascends to the Heavenly Realm, I'll bring her back to see you," Lu Ran added.

"Anything else?" Qiao Wanjun asked softly.

"Mother is tired?" Lu Ran carefully inquired.

A sentence brought Qiao Wanjun back to those years, she noticed her child's attitude and gently shook her head, "No, it's just that you rarely come back, you can ask more if you have inquiries."

Lu Ran thought for a moment and asked, "What is the Second Heaven like?"

"It's similar to the environment of the First Layer of Heaven, except that more Holy Spirit Energy falls there, and the battles between the minions of God Demon and external enemies are more intense.

Also, the Cloud Sea near the Divine Mountain is thinner."

The last sentence made Lu Ran's heart jolt.

He reacted, unable to help feeling excited, "If the Cloud Sea is thinner, does that mean I can see above..."

The Cloud Sea enveloping the heavens is fundamentally different from ordinary fog.

To say it's Cloud Sea is not as accurate as saying it's a tangible rule.

Lu Ran, possessing the Paper Simurgh Evil Technique·Simurgh's Eyes, in the First Layer of Heaven, couldn't see through the sky and the ground, unable to see the Second Heaven above him or the Holy Spirit Mountain beneath.

Qiao Wanjun nodded gently, "Yes, you can see many gods and many evil demons."

Lu Ran clenched his fists.

He felt a step-by-step ascension, finally about to witness the Highest Heaven.

"So when I ascend to the Second Heaven, how do I reach it? Should I fly up along the mountainside of the Divine Mountain?"

"Anywhere is fine, the rules will allow you to see a broader world through the thick Cloud Sea."

"Good." Lu Ran nodded, already eager to ascend to the Second Heaven, stand outside the Divine Mountain, gaze at the sky, and observe the Third Heaven.

To glimpse the true forms of All Gods and various demons!

Yes, I need to hurry back and cultivate.

If I transform my body again with Holy Spirit Energy, I should be able to touch the bottleneck of the Heavenly Realm·Second Level!

The Highest Heaven,

is getting closer...

...

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