When the members of the Ran Sect returned to the Cloud Sea Cliff, it was already dusk.

Throughout the journey, Si Xianxian had been in a daze.

In truth, ever since parting ways with the Big Wind Hall and when Lu Ran unleashed the Evil Mirror Technique·Mirror Flower Moon, Si Xianxian had been utterly bewildered.

Fortunately, Lu Ran had sent her a thoughtful "sister" to keep her company—Deng Yuxiang.

On the return trip, Deng Yuxiang told Si Xianxian many things.

So many that Si Xianxian couldn't fully process them.

So many that once she arrived at Cloud Sea Cliff, she ran alone to the edge of the cliff, gazing silently at the horizon where the sea met the sky.

The salty sea breeze tousled her messy shoulder-length hair, and the wind left her heart all in disarray.

Several dozen meters away, Lu Ran stood quietly beneath a large tree, gazing at the slender figure of the girl by the cliff.

Today, the sky over Holy Spirit Mountain was exceptionally clear.

The setting sun, as red as blood, cast an orange glow on the gaunt outline of Si Xianxian.

"Little Lu Ran."

"Hm?" Lu Ran, leaning against the tree, turned his head to the side.

Deng Yuxiang walked to the tree and looked at Si Xianxian's silhouette in the distance. "Cong Long and Jing Hong are already waiting at my residence. You can take Si Xianxian over anytime to help her sever the connection with the God."

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Unlike Xun Luo and his wife, Yu Changsheng, and others, the deity Si Xianxian worshipped was Divine·Lie Tian!

She was tormented every single day!

For Si Xianxian, tearing up the divine contract was something that could not be delayed any further.

Deng Yuxiang gently patted Lu Ran on the shoulder, urging him, "Go on, talk to her properly. Sooner or later, she has to take this step."

"Alright." Lu Ran began to walk forward.

The contract between a God and a Believer wasn't just an ordinary piece of paper; it couldn't be casually torn apart.

At that moment, Si Xianxian would endure extremely severe blows on both a physical and mental level.

In fact, it was the psychological hurdle that was the hardest to overcome.

After all, from the moment people gain awareness, they are inundated with teachings about what is "right."

Be it family, schools, society, or even the Gods themselves, all of them meticulously and forcibly molded devout Human Clan believers one after another.

Lu Ran carefully chose his words as he approached Si Xianxian from behind.

The girl, sensing something, turned her head to look at him.

"Still crying, are you?" Lu Ran no longer wore his heavy expression. Beaming, he teased her with a wide grin.

"You're the one who's crying!" Si Xianxian retorted softly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

At this moment, she no longer needed to live in constant fear, no longer fleeing in desperation while being pursued.

For this reason alone, she finally had the peace of mind and energy to think about certain things.

And Si Xianxian sadly realized...

She seemed unable to return home.

The Human World wasn't great, but there, she had her mother and a place called Luoxian Mountain.

But now... everything felt so distant, so unreachable.

She had been deceived by Divine·Lie Tian into a supposed pilgrimage; there had never been any challenge to the Holy Ruins.

Si Xianxian hadn't even been allowed to react; she had been directly transported here.

Before the teleportation, the deity had even left her with a parting word:

"Follow your heart."

"Ha." Si Xianxian closed her eyes, a bitter smile spreading across her lips.

Yet unlike those Fierce Heavenly believers, she didn't want to act recklessly, venting fury without restraint.

She didn't want to kill until the heavens turned dark and the roads led to nowhere.

Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi, the flowers and grasses of Luoxian Mountain, and the distant sunset—they all seemed to be trying to save her.

Trying to bring peace to her heart.

But for a lowly Believer, there was no room for resistance in front of the deity.

In the end, she still ended up at Holy Spirit Mountain, forcibly dragged into the mire of "kill or be killed."

Thankfully.

Si Xianxian opened her eyes and saw Lu Ran standing beside her.

His smile was somewhat infuriating, as though amused by her tear-streaked face, but the concern in his eyes was undeniable.

Thankfully, he was there.

"You..." Si Xianxian just opened her mouth to speak when her expression suddenly froze.

Because in Lu Ran's hand, he held a phantom War Hammer.

"What's there to be surprised about?" Lu Ran laughed as he swung the hammer lightly, flames igniting on its head.

"Lie Tian Hammer?" Si Xianxian exclaimed, staring at the all-too-familiar weapon.

"On the way back, wasn't Big Nightmare telling you all my secrets?" As he spoke, flames flared up around Lu Ran's body. "Didn't you see with your own eyes as I performed the Evil Mirror Technique?

What she said is true; I can infiltrate the ranks of the God Demons."

Fierce Heavenly Divine Skill·Fiery Fire Sky Leader!

"You've gone mad!" Si Xianxian exclaimed in alarm. "Even if this place is your stronghold, you can't just activate Fiery Fire Sky…"

Once again, her words abruptly halted.

Because the flames surrounding Lu Ran's body suddenly extinguished.

At the edge of the cliff stood only an energetic, smug figure.

Softly, Lu Ran said, "The Divine Sculpture of Lie Tian in my mind belongs to me. I can do whatever I like with it.

I am its master.

Someday, I'll be the master of this God."

Si Xianxian stared at Lu Ran in a daze.

His voice was soft, yet to her ears, it was like the rumble of thunder.

Lu Ran continued, "This Lie Tian Divine Sculpture—I've been saving it for you."

"For me?"

"I've always hoped that someday, it could help you escape your suffering."

Looking at Lu Ran's earnest expression, Si Xianxian's heart involuntarily warmed.

"Sign a contract with my Divine Sculpture; you'll gain so much from it~" Lu Ran suddenly grinned. "You'll be able to do what I do—turn the Divine Technique on and off at will.

You won't be poisoned by the God's mood swings anymore."

Si Xianxian's face went blank. "Huh?"

Lu Ran nodded. "You won't be the emotional trash can anymore. The contract I give you isn't a master-servant one but an inheritance contract.

One day, you'll completely replace this Divine Sculpture, and Lie Tian will cease to exist."

Si Xianxian listened in a daze.

Ever since meeting Lu Ran, she'd been in a constant state of confusion.

Her dazed expression... was kind of cute?

Looking at her wind-blown hair, Lu Ran raised a hand and gently smoothed it out.

Out of the blue, he quipped, "Also, once you believe in me, if you ever go crazy and lose your temper, just know—it's entirely your own fault!

It's simply because you have a bad temper!"

Si Xianxian: "..."

"Hahaha!" Lu Ran burst out laughing.

This time, Si Xianxian snapped out of her daze and glared directly at Lu Ran.

Gradually, Lu Ran's laughter died down, and a seriousness returned to his gaze. "Sister Xian'er."

"Yes?"

"Stop believing in Gods. Believe in me instead."

Si Xianxian pressed her lips together, lifting her eyes to look at Lu Ran.

The sea lay to the east, the setting sun to the west.

Lu Ran stood facing south, looking at the girl before him.

The sunlight cast one half of his face aglow in gold, while the other half sank into shadow.

Suppressing the anxious pounding of her heart, Si Xianxian averted her eyes and muttered softly, "Narcissistic."

"Come with me, Sister Xian'er." Lu Ran smiled. "I've already paved your path and set your position as a protector of the Ran Sect.

Big Nightmare explained it clearly: Gods and demons are merciless; they see all beings as their slaves..."

"Alright." Si Xianxian suddenly replied, looking up at Lu Ran.

Actually, you don't have to say so much.

Back in the Human World, long, long ago, I was already following you...

Lu Ran paused, his smile broadening. "I heard that."

Si Xianxian's expression grew resolute. "Tell me what I need to do."

"What you need to do now is tear up your contract with Divine·Lie Tian." Lu Ran patted her shoulder as they made their way toward the forest.

Several dozen meters away, Deng Yuxiang leaned on a tree, her arms crossed, watching the pair approach.

She tilted her head slightly and said softly, "The Sect Leader convinced her. Soon, you should explain things to her carefully."

Just past the tree, Yan Shuangzi, also leaning against it, murmured faintly in response, "Alright."

When it came to voluntarily tearing up contracts, Yan Shuangzi was the most authoritative figure.

Though she hated reliving that painful part of her past, Yan Shuangzi didn't mind recalling it if it helped Lu Ran recruit a loyal follower.

As Lu Ran and Si Xianxian returned, Yan Shuangzi immediately stepped forward.

"Follow her; she has things to discuss with you," Deng Yuxiang said, patting Si Xianxian on the back and motioning toward Yan Shuangzi leading the way.

Si Xianxian looked at the tall figure ahead, her expression conflicted.

Of course, she recognized Yan Shuangzi.

Previously in Beifeng City, alongside Lu Ran, she had watched as Yan Shuangzi challenged the Divine Ruins, witnessing her unparalleled moment of glory in the city.

However, the once high-spirited woman had now become like this.

Si Xianxian suddenly felt fortunate.

Fortunate that she'd met Lu Ran early on.

Otherwise...

"The key connection between you and the God lies in your own mind, in your spiritual world," Yan Shuangzi spoke calmly, striding toward Nightmare Residence.

Si Xianxian listened silently.

"You know where it is. Every time you pray, the Power of Faith you offer travels along that path."

"You need to gather enough Divine Power in your brain, release it in a single burst, and forcibly destroy that pathway."

"As Human Clan members, our lowly status means the only way to sever ties with a God is through this self-destructive method."

...

Several minutes later, at Deng Yuxiang's residence.

A piercing scream rang out from within, sharp and harrowing.

On the bed in the bedroom, Si Xianxian clutched her head with both hands. Her forehead was drenched with cold sweat, veins bulging, her face deathly pale!

"Mmmm~~~"

Jing Hong immediately blew a horn, soothing the injured person's psyche.

War Horn Divine Technique·Soothing Horn.

"Pop~"

"Pop~" A faint golden Dragon Carp and a pitch-black Mo Li swam, one after the other, colliding with Si Xianxian's forehead.

The powerful healing technique repaired Si Xianxian's wounded mind.

Her agonized cries, however, continued unabated.

Watching Si Xianxian's torment, Lu Ran felt heartbroken.

Even with everyone present, constantly tending to her, healing her body and calming her mind!

It was hard to imagine how Yan Shuangzi had survived when she was locked up alone in a prison, forced to tear up her own contract...

"Sigh." Lu Ran let out a deep breath, turning to look out the window at the deepening twilight.

Tomorrow will be better.

Tomorrow, you'll be like Shadow One—a protector of the Ran Sect.

You'll become that Mad Immortal.

...

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