The Silent Night Blade and the Dawn Blade were satiated.

As Lu Ran continually collected pieces of the Divine Ruins, the vibrations of the pair of Tang swords grew more intense.

Especially the Dawn Blade!

After all, it was his father's sidearm, and in terms of growth, it had a head start over the Silent Night Blade.

When the grand blessing ceremony ended, the Dawn Blade buzzed as if it might slip from Lu Ran's grasp if he wasn't careful.

Lu Ran was ecstatic!

He even had the illusion that at this moment, the Dawn Blade was as responsive as the Night-slaying Great Saber that Deng Yuxiang wielded to slay the Yin flower dan that night!

On the path to developing an Artifact Spirit, the Dawn Blade was making great strides.

This domain exclusively of the "North Wind Blade" sect had truly benefited the Dawn Blade!

Like Lu Ran, the Dawn Blade also needed an opportunity to advance to a Divine Weapon.

The difference was, Lu Ran didn't know where his opportunity for advancement lay.

But he was very clear about the Dawn Blade's opportunity:

It must be on a day after the 15th of the lunar month, at dawn when the rosy clouds meet the morning sky...

Then its name would be established, and its achievement completed!

Lu Ran was really happy, this journey to Beifeng City was totally worth it!

But soon, he became a bit worried.

Because Yan Shuangzi had disappeared!

A living person had vanished along with the broken Divine Ruins, disappearing from this world.

Could it be that she also exploded?

Lu Ran couldn't help but speculate in his mind whether the remains of bricks and tiles he absorbed contained Yan Shuangzi's bones.

Hmm... Probably not.

Would the gods make such a spectacle of mobilizing armies to create these once-in-a-decade Divine Ruins, only to sacrifice the only disciple who successfully broke in?

After the ceremony, Lu Ran asked some North Wind Believers, but nobody knew where that radiant sister had gone.

Lu Ran even called Deng Yuxiang to tell her everything that happened in the city.

The response from Big Nightmare finally put him at ease.

She said that Yan Shuangzi was really lucky.

Even though Deng Yuxiang didn't know where her close friend went, Yan Shuangzi must have received her reward.

At the very least, she would have gotten an opportunity for a trial!

Lu Ran understood in his heart, so, was Yan Shuangzi transported by the gods to an otherworldly space?

Lord Beifeng, what a trick!

Deng Yuxiang's convincing words greatly relieved Lu Ran.

Because he really worried that Divine·North Wind had torn Yan Shuangzi to pieces and gifted her remains to heroes inside and outside the city...

Normal people wouldn't think the way Lu Ran did!

But Lu Ran was all too aware of the true colors of the gods' lineage, so he always carried a heavy heart of caution.

After another week of waiting in the city with Si Xianxian without Yan Shuangzi's return, Lu Ran dragged the wildly playful Si Xianxian and set off for home.

On the 8th day of the twelfth lunar month, Lu Ran first sent Si Xianxian back to Jinchuan City, and at the station, handed her personally to Aunt Si.

Amid Aunt Si's repeated thanks and Si Xianxian's reluctant goodbyes, Lu Ran boarded the train and began his journey home.

By the time he returned to Rain Alley City, it was nearly evening.

"Phew..."

Outside the exit of the station, Lu Ran took a deep breath, looking at the deserted train station.

In this small station at Rain Alley City, only a dozen people disembarked.

The cold wind blew mixed with bits of frost and snow, smacking against his face.

Lu Ran felt even more desolate.

In the morning, he was beneath the feet of the gods, in Beifeng City.

The bustling and lively scene, contrasted with the desolation before him, created a great sense of disparity in Lu Ran's heart.

He stood silently for a while before heading to a nearby supermarket.

After buying milk and bread, Lu Ran took a taxi to the banks of the Wu Lie River.

Once again, Lu Ran climbed up to the rooftop of the abandoned apartment building.

"Dad, it's been a long time since I last visited."

Lu Ran spoke softly, coming to a corner of the rooftop, placing the milk and bread he bought on the stone railing.

"I'm at the Stream Realm Fifth Rank now, almost at the same major realm as you."

Lu Ran took a few steps back, holding the twin blades in his left hand, and drew the Dawn Blade with his right.

"Your old comrade is about to become a Divine Weapon."

For some reason, Lu Ran's expression turned a bit peculiar.

"Do you think, once the Dawn Blade develops an Artifact Spirit, I should call it 'uncle'?"

"Hmm... I suppose I could keep to my own titles."

"I'll call it 'uncle,' and it will call me 'master.'"

The young man in black looked like a lunatic,

Standing alone on the frigid rooftop in the cold December, talking to the air.

After a while, Lu Ran turned to look southward, gazing at the rolling waters of the Wu Lie River.

In this vast white world, everything was silent, the land frozen over.

Only the Wu Lie River flowed stubbornly.

Mists rose above the river as if the waters were seething hot.

No matter how cold the earth, I still surge tumultuously.

"Crunch, crunch..."

Lu Ran's footsteps on the snow made an odd sound as he approached the stone railing.

His gaze became blurry, as if entering a trance.

The setting sun cast its glow,

Leaving a dark golden outline on the black-clad young man, incredibly beautiful.

As dusk approached,

The beautiful outline faded, and frost and snow had already accumulated on the young man's head.

Yet he continued to gaze, mesmerized at the river.

It seemed,

All that tried to hinder its flow were swept into the roaring currents.

Or they turned into mists upon the surface of the river, eventually vanishing without a trace.

"Buzz!!"

Powerful energies surged from within Lu Ran.

Yet he seemed unaware, still lost in his inebriation, enchanted by the river amidst ice and snow.

The passing of seasons, the transition of years.

None of it affected its relentless surge forward.

The river's name was Wu Lie.

Fierce, defiant, perhaps with a hint of heroism.

"Whoo!!"

The roiling energies stirred up winds that lifted snow from the rooftop.

Amid the spreading frost and snow, the drunken-eyed person's expression gradually changed, his gaze growing more intense.

How many times had he advanced atop this rooftop?

"Heh..."

Lu Ran took a deep breath, slowly closing his eyes.

About the sense of belonging,

This Wu Lie River, this Rain Alley City, didn't need to give Lu Ran more.

He knew he belonged here.

Yet this land still looked after him, time and again,

As if fearful of his departure.

Lu Ran suddenly thought of Deng Yuxiang; her experiences must be similar to his.

That's why she gave up staying in Beifeng City, gave up an express path to the heavens, to return alone to Rain Alley.

If Big Nightmare stayed under the gods' feet, would her old friend outclass her?

Would she be the one to enter the Divine Ruins?

At least there was a chance.

In the eyes of others, Rain Alley City, shrouded in perpetual haze, resembled Demon Cave purgatory.

But to Lu Ran and Deng Yuxiang, the wavering sound of wind and rain seemed more like the soft weeping of home.

"Whoo!!"

In the fading light, a formidable energy unfurled atop the dilapidated rooftop.

The young man in black finally opened his eyes.

Within them, brilliance swirled, resplendent as if divine.

River Realm·First Rank!

"Dad, it's done."

Lu Ran turned to look at a corner of the rooftop.

The milk and bread on the railing had long been blown away.

Hmm... No big deal.

He had been advancing for so long, his late father must have already partaken.

Low muttering suddenly echoed in his mind, "You don't seem very happy."

Lu Ran jumped in surprise!

He thought his dad had spoken.

After a moment, he said, "Lord Immortal Goat."

Immortal Goat: "I thought you'd be jumping for joy."

"I'm quite happy," Lu Ran grinned, "I can finally don armor made of water streams, activate a new Divine Sculpture.

And I can even learn a new Divine Technique from our Immortal Goat sect."

As he spoke, Lu Ran actually became happier, his voice rising, "Can I turn my enemies into sheep now?"

Immortal Goat: "Of course, but after casting the spell, you will be no different from a lamb.

Extremely weak and vulnerable."

Lu Ran nodded, "I still need to learn it!"

Divine Technique·Sheep was indeed quite special.

To cast this technique, Lu Ran would have to pay a price in almost every way!

Not just with a weakened body and depleted Divine Power, it would also leave his spirit extremely fatigued.

Another aspect, the trickiest of all!

Each time the technique was used, the caster's own soul would also suffer a certain degree of damage!

Until the number of times the caster used it was sufficient, and the soul became increasingly fragmented, the person would eventually become an empty shell.

That's why believers in the world were not eager to follow the Immortal Sheep sect.

Divine Power can be absorbed, Qi can be replenished, and the spirit can rest, but the soul...

How do you mend it?

Such a BUG-level Divine Technique, ruthless to the point of not recognizing kin, killing even the user!

This is also why believers of the Immortal Sheep sect rarely use this technique.

The moment you deploy the Divine Technique·Sheep, you are committing suicide!

But for Lu Ran, the soul-level difficulty could actually be solved!

The Black Fire Sheep Head was an expert at soul manipulation; if it could nourish so many Evil Sculptures in the garden, would it hold back from its owner, Lu Ran?

Moreover, Lu Ran still had a piece of Rebirth Money.

Perhaps, that's also why Lord Wang Quan gave Lu Ran the Magic Artifact?

In any case, the stronger Lu Ran's enemies were, the more he would have to give.

Until the enemy was strong enough that no matter how much Lu Ran paid, the technique would not work.

Lu Ran had studied this technique in detail; with his current River Realm·First Rank, as long as the opponent was River Realm·Fifth Rank or below, the technique would work!

Which means, if Lu Ran wished, he could turn Big Nightmare into a little lamb right now.

Hmm... it does sound tempting?

If the enemy was of the River Realm level, Lu Ran's Divine Technique would fail.

Then, no matter how much Lu Ran gave, he might only suffer backlash, and the enemy would not become a lamb ready for slaughter.

Even if Lu Ran was River Realm·Fifth Rank, it would be difficult to overcome the level gap to turn a River Realm believer into a sheep.

The gap between the major realms is like a chasm!

Not something "tricks and cleverness" can overcome.

But once Lu Ran enters the River Realm...

Whether you're River Realm Fourth Rank or River Realm Fifth Rank, facing Ran Shen, you all have to bleat for me!

A bit of "unrivaled within the same realm"?

Hmm... it's hard to say.

After all, Lu Ran would be almost useless after casting the spell.

He could only rely on teammates.

In the future, Lu Ran could actually manipulate Evil Demons, essentially bringing his own teammates.

Lu Ran was silent for a long time before saying, "Lord Immortal Goat, can we activate the Night Charm Evil Sculpture here?"

"You want to..."

"I wish to start the Evil Technique·Night Dance."

As he spoke, Lu Ran placed a hand on the railing, looking down from the building,

"I want to stand in midair, I want to step down from this high place!"

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