The number one seclusion room is located at the core area of the mountain body of Cloud Sea Cliff.

The stone room isn't large, about thirty to forty square meters, and it is completely empty except for a young man sitting cross-legged in the center.

"Is everyone present?"

Lu Ran toyed with the exquisite Blazing Phoenix Patterned Gourd, sending a message in his mind.

"Everything is ready," came the voice of Deng Yuxiang in his mind.

"Alright, I'll start then...won't you wish me success?"

"Focus on advancing." The voice of Big Nightmare was cold.

Lu Ran pouted, picked up the Magic Artifact Gourd, and said, "Little Blazing Phoenix, I'm counting on you."

"Buzz~" The Blazing Phoenix Patterned Gourd trembled slightly.

Immediately, the pitch-black stone room was illuminated, and a delicate small phoenix flew out.

It was woven from golden flame lines, dreamlike and illusory.

Lu Ran cupped the gourd in both hands, "Help me break through the bottleneck and assist me in opening the advancement mode! When the energy of heaven and earth surges, we'll devour it together."

"Whoosh~whoosh~" The small Blazing Phoenix flapped its wings joyfully.

It flew up and down happily, circling around Lu Ran constantly.

"Gulp, gulp..."

Lu Ran didn't hesitate anymore, lifted the gourd, and drank deeply.

In fact, he didn't need to drink, just needed to command the small Blazing Phoenix to release energy from the gourd and blend it into his body.

Just like the Divine Power Pearl on Lu Ran's neck, it could be directly absorbed without being in the mouth.

But...

Isn't chugging wine exhilarating?

Lu Ran drank heartily, feeling the rich energy pouring into his body, rushing and washing through his meridians.

Attempting to help him break the shackles.

"Open!"

Lu Ran shouted in his heart, and the orderly circulating Divine Power within him surged rapidly.

Not enough, still a bit short.

Lu Ran felt as if he was a balloon about to burst.

Just a bit more, just a bit more!

"Gulp! Gulp..." Lu Ran drank even more vigorously.

Open it for me!

"Buzz!!"

Lu Ran's body stiffened, even his breathing stopped, fearing that the slightest movement would cause his body to explode.

"Whoosh~whoosh~" The small Blazing Phoenix was overjoyed, flapping its beautifully hollow wings around Lu Ran in circles.

The surrounding mist grew thicker.

A slight smile appeared on Lu Ran's face as well.

True to being a powerful Magic Artifact, the small Blazing Phoenix was indeed formidable!

The bottleneck was broken through!

Next came several days of the advancement phase, a period where Lu Ran would reap rewards and be nourished.

He naturally needed to remain focused, leaving everything outside in the hands of the sect members of Ran Sect.

Since entering Holy Spirit Mountain, Lu Ran had traversed the south and north, recruiting talents, continually expanding his power.

Wasn't it all for moments like this?

Lu Ran slowly closed his eyes, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth.

Time passed little by little as he diligently improved.

One day, two days...

Perhaps because Lu Ran was too focused, or perhaps because room number one was deep within the mountain and isolated from the world,

In any case, having deactivated Evil Technique·Evil Recognition, he was not disturbed in the slightest.

Until the third day.

Just as Lu Ran was entering the final stage, feeling that success was imminent, the mountain body trembled suddenly.

"Boom!"

The earth shook and the mountain swayed, quite terrifying.

Lu Ran kept his eyes tightly shut, at this critical moment, he forced himself not to worry about anything outside.

Fortunately, Cloud Sea Cliff only shook for a moment before subsiding with no aftershocks.

Lu Ran maintained his inner composure, unperturbed, expanding his meridians little by little, nourishing his flesh and blood, constantly enhancing his body's strength.

The Blazing Phoenix Patterned Gourd had no disruptive thoughts.

This little glutton was always carefree, nestled in Lu Ran's arms, indulging in a feast as if enjoying supreme luxury.

The various blades Lu Ran carried also, benefiting from their master's fortune, were receiving the heavenly gift, nourished by the energy.

Divine Weapons could naturally profit from this.

The Eight Desolates Annihilation Blade and Cloud Sea Dust Cleansing Blade, though ordinary weapons, were greatly aided in this advancement environment, helping them open their intelligence.

If possible, Lu Ran would love to continue this indefinitely, to keep advancing...

"Whoosh!!"

In the afternoon, a blast of energy suddenly spread from within Lu Ran's body.

Lu Ran snapped open his eyes!

In his pitch-black pupils, a glimmer of light flowed.

Jiang Realm·Third Rank!

Lu Ran felt the surging Divine Power flowing inside him, overwhelming!

He clenched his fists, the sense of power within made him want to throw a punch, crushing the ground fiercely.

"Nightmare."

"Here!" Deng Yuxiang responded instantly.

"I've successfully advanced, what's the situation outside?"

"Congratulations." Deng Yuxiang's voice carried a hint of joy, and he continued, "This morning, a Sea Realm initial stage Flame Flood Dragon came searching for us.

Cong Long and Xun Luo's two generals fought against it, everything went smoothly, and the Flame Flood Dragon was shot dead by the Divine General Luo."

Lu Ran: "..."

Flame Flood Dragon?

No surprises there, it should've come from the sea.

Indeed, the sea area was blocked by nine giant fish, but the airspace above the sea was apparently not so tightly controlled by the Mo Li Clan.

Not to mention that the opponent was a Sea Realm Great Demon.

Speaking of which, Luo Shen is the key!

Such a terrifying turret, truly at the level of world destruction.

Thinking about it, it was probably due to Luo Shen's excessive power, threatening to disrupt the balance of the human world, that he was thrown into Holy Spirit Mountain by the gods.

As a puppet, Luo Ying would become a butcher in this realm, assisting the gods in cleansing particularly powerful humans.

And eventually, Luo Ying would be slain by other butchers.

Ending his life as a slave.

"I have encased the Flame Flood Dragon's Dead Soul in a coin, await your retrieval," Deng Yuxiang messaged again.

"No humans have caused us trouble these days?"

"None."

"Hmm, let Mr. Cong Long arrange the rest, I'll stay in the seclusion room a bit longer."

"Yes."

Lu Ran didn't slack in the slightest, reentering the cultivation state, consolidating his power realm while steadying his Mental Realm.

When he exited seclusion, it was already deep into the night.

The sky was shrouded in a sea of clouds, making the night as black as can be.

Lu Ran didn't disturb the people inside the cliff, returning to Cloud Sea Residence alone, yet as soon as he flickered there, he sensed someone hidden in the dark!

He didn't see or smell it.

Rather, Lu Ran sensed a faintly violent, vicious aura in the darkness!

"Evil Shadow?" Lu Ran suppressed a shiver, whispering.

"Master." A shadow quietly appeared, kneeling down.

The sudden address stunned Lu Ran.

He quickly corrected, "Sect Leader!"

Yan Shuangzi softly said, "Sect Leader."

Lu Ran helped the woman up, a thought struck him, and an idea sprang up: "You're my sister's good friend, I'll give you a special privilege! When no one is around, you can call me little Lu Ran."

Yan Shuangzi's lips twitched slightly, yet in the end, she said nothing.

Lu Ran naturally noticed this scene, and seeing there was hope, he couldn't help but feel a secret joy.

He wasn't in a rush and changed the subject, "You've been waiting here all this time? Looking for me for something?"

Yan Shuangzi presented the Silent Night Blade, "I have established a connection with the Divine Weapon gifted by the sect leader, now returning the eyes to the sect leader."

Lu Ran was quite surprised, taking the Silent Night Blade, "So fast? You've already communicated with the Cold Moon Blade? What date is it today?"

"April nineteenth," Yan Shuangzi responded softly, adding, "This blade is now called Evil Moon."

April nineteenth it is.

Lu Ran walked to the side, "Come, let's talk while sitting."

In the southeast corner of the courtyard was a stone table and several plump stone stools that looked like big drums.

"Teacher Yan can really do it?" Lu Ran opened with a smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere, "How did you do it?"

Yan Shuangzi sat properly on the stone stool, "The blade has been in a dormant state, and I have been trying to communicate with it.

Until a few days ago, it finally budged a little, questioning why I had such a mindset."

Lu Ran quietly listened, looking at the hollow-eyed woman.

Yan Shuangzi placed the Evil Moon Blade on the stone table, "I told it about my past experiences."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran sighed heavily in his heart.

Opening old wounds, reliving those dark days, must have been extremely painful.

Yan Shuangzi must have been unwilling with all her heart!

Yet she received orders to subdue and wield this Divine Weapon...

Thinking of this, Lu Ran felt somewhat troubled in his heart.

Yan Shuangzi extended two slender fingers, gently stroking the elegantly curved blade like a crescent moon:

"Evil Moon said that someone like me is worthy of it."

"You are worthy of everything." Lu Ran said solemnly with seriousness.

It was not about her power level, nor about whether she was someone who wielded swords.

Yan Shuangzi possessed a resilient heart and an immensely strong soul.

Yan Shuangzi lifted her head slightly, her hollow eyes facing Lu Ran, "Can I stay by the sect leader's side?"

Lu Ran: "Huh?"

The protectors of Ran Sect all had their unique small courtyards, all surrounding Cloud Sea Residence.

He thought for a moment, then slowly said, "You've just returned to Jiang Realm, your primary task is to steady your Mental Realm and cultivate for improvement."

Yan Shuangzi lowered her head, "The sect leader should know how I returned to Jiang Realm, and what path I've embarked on."

Lu Ran: "..."

He already understood what she wanted to say.

"I earnestly request the sect leader to let me stay by your side."

"You...alright." Lu Ran ultimately nodded.

"Thank you, sect leader, for fulfilling my request!"

With that, the courtyard fell into silence.

The night breeze blew, carrying the salty and wet scent unique to the sea breeze.

After a long while, Lu Ran reminded, "You're now in Jiang Realm, your emotions will affect the surrounding environment. The hostility in your heart is too strong, you must restrain it.

When you act as a scout or carry out assassination missions in the future, only then can you hide it properly."

Yan Shuangzi immediately complied.

Lu Ran whispered softly, "You better change!

Your wishes are fulfilled, but I haven't had a good night's sleep..."

In this dark night, with a menacing figure hiding in the shadows, observing.

Who can withstand this?

Yan Shuangzi's lips moved again, and after a moment, she lowered her head even more.

"Alright, I'm going to rest." Lu Ran got up and walked to his residence, "You...make yourself at home."

"Yes!"

...

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