"No!!!"

The mournful roar was Luo Tiantu's final attachment to this world.

Unwillingness, disbelief, terror, regret...

His gaze was wrought with complexity.

The Night Charm Evil Blade mercilessly shattered the Golden Jade Talisman. Its speed was as swift as lightning, yet in Luo Tiantu's eyes, it seemed to move in slow motion.

The evil blade descended inch by inch.

Inch by inch, it pressed down towards the crown of his head.

Luo Tiantu's Water Flow Armor crumbled with a deafening crash, not only because of the falling blade but also because of the golden-red radiance.

Countless Water Flow Arrows and small Canglongs became utterly useless, burned away by the indiscriminate radiance.

The Night Charm Evil Blade, overwhelmingly powerful, sliced through Luo Tiantu's bones and continued cutting into the churning Flowing Sand River below.

"Boom!!!"

The evil blade fell, and the Sand Sea roiled.

Amidst the roaring gale, Deng Yuxiang stubbornly kept her eyes wide open, staring intently at the deep chasm carved into the landscape below.

"Hoo!!"

The Night Charm Evil Blade entered its second-stage output, sending terrifying waves of wind sweeping to either side.

The uneven terrain was instantly razed to level ground...

For a long while, the wind and waves gradually subsided.

The world fell into complete silence.

[Big Nightmare.]

[Hmm?]

[Cooled off now?] Lu Ran sheathed his blade, standing in the night sky as he gazed at the woman from afar.

He dared not get too close.

Those beautiful but terrifying eyes of hers were still piercingly sharp!

Lu Ran feared that if he teleported over recklessly, she might take him out with a single swipe of her blade...

[Yes.] Deng Yuxiang responded softly, descending alone.

Under such a caliber of attack, Luo Tiantu's remains were undoubtedly obliterated.

What a pity for the Divine Weapon·Blood-weeping Saber, now sharing the same fate as the Jade Pin and the Earth Trace Sword.

Though he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, Lu Ran had no good solutions.

In the vastness of the Yangyang Sea, how terrifying was its power?

Against such enemies, Ran Sect's members had no choice but to give it their all!

No matter how Lu Ran tried to strategize, he only dared to snatch an Earth Trace Sword from Yu Lenghe but wouldn't dare teleport to the side of a Sea Realm Great Power to forcibly seize treasure.

That would be pure suicide!

[Well done, everyone.] Lu Ran transmitted his thoughts through his mind, [The enemy general has been beheaded, clean up the battlefield.]

[Understood!]

[Understood.]

Lu Ran's figure flickered, standing midair behind Deng Yuxiang.

Cold killing intent radiated from the woman, making Lu Ran inwardly click his tongue.

This fierce lass...

You've already reduced Luo Tiantu to dust, and you're still not appeased?

Lu Ran opened his slit pupils, searching briefly. In another dimension, he located the madly howling dead soul.

"Whew~"

Lu Ran lifted a bundle of black mist in his hand, stepping on a cloud as he flew forward.

Soon, Luo Tiantu's face appeared within the black mist.

Lu Ran stared at the dead soul and began, "Chief Luo, my, aren't we forgetful."

Luo Tiantu's face froze, staring at the visage below Lu Ran's brimmed hat. "You! It's...you..."

"You recognize me now?" Lu Ran let out a mocking laugh, as ghostly Soul Fire ignited in his palm.

"Ahhh! Ahhh! Aghhh..."

Luo Tiantu's expression instantly twisted, releasing a piercing scream.

"Buzz!!"

Suddenly, an intense wave of Divine Power emanated nearby.

Startled, Lu Ran promptly turned to look.

There, Deng Yuxiang was staring at the tormented soul within the Soul Prison.

The killing intent on her body had significantly diminished, replaced by the satisfaction of vengeance fulfilled!

That energy fluctuation came from the broken blade in her hand.

The Night-slaying Great Saber,

was it on the verge of ascending to the rank of a Divine Weapon?

Lu Ran observed for a moment, his heart filling with joy. Just as Mr. Cong Long had said, the Big Nightmare had truly found mental clarity!

Ever since the Night-slaying Great Saber broke, it had been merely a Divine Weapon Seed.

In the moment when Deng Yuxiang washed away her disgrace and achieved her revenge, the saber, guided by its master's Mental Realm, was rising once more to claim its place as a Divine Weapon!

"Rebirth Money!" Lu Ran looked at Deng Yuxiang. "First, seal Luo Tiantu's soul into the copper coin."

Deng Yuxiang followed the command without hesitation, raising her left hand.

Lu Ran brought the black mist closer to the Magic Artifact Fragment·Rebirth Money and then dispersed the Soul Prison.

Stepping back a few paces, he summoned the Ancient Bronze Mirror: "Your enemy has been slain, and his soul is now imprisoned within the coin."

"So?" Deng Yuxiang raised her eyes toward Lu Ran.

"No matter what your intentions are in facilitating the Night-slaying Great Saber's advancement," Lu Ran gestured toward the ancient coin strapped to her wrist, "keep it steady!"

Deng Yuxiang pursed her lips, understanding Lu Ran's point.

"Head back to Tiantu Mountain first; we'll handle cleaning the battlefield." Lu Ran pointed toward the Transmission Mirror.

"Understood." Deng Yuxiang strode into the ground-length mirror.

Lu Ran watched her leave, reaching into his raincoat to pat the hilt of the Eight Desolates Annihilation Blade. "When will you level up?"

His tone carried a distinct air of "look at how well other people are doing."

"Buzz~" The Eight Desolate Blade trembled slightly.

It was hard to tell if it was showing support or expressing discontent.

"Heh..." Lu Ran drew a deep breath.

Looking toward the night sky, he was greeted by the sight of numerous spirits floating upward.

Lu Ran's figure flickered as he inhaled deeply!

One, two, three...

All were disciples of the Jade Talisman Sect!

Before long, Lu Ran's mind began buzzing again as the Jade Talisman Sculptures within the Sculpture Garden expanded their ranks once more.

Excellent, leveling up!

Lu Ran was deeply content.

In the process of continuously binding souls, he inevitably encountered Lady Kong.

Unlike the other dead souls who either roared in anger or wailed in fear, this Sea Realm Great Power stared at him with a dazed expression.

Lu Ran did not bind Lady Kong into his pupils but once again summoned the Soul Prison, imprisoning her there.

"Long time no see, Lady Kong," Lu Ran said offhandedly as he continued his search for souls.

Lady Kong, who had been silent all this time, finally stirred.

Under the hauntingly beautiful moonlight, she saw the youth's face clearly.

Her gaze gradually transformed.

Hatred surged endlessly!

If looks could kill, Lu Ran would've died a dozen times over by now.

Yet Lu Ran didn't even glance at her, casually remarking, "How does it feel to get hunted by your prey?"

Lady Kong finally spoke for the first time!

Always poised and elegant, she squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "Bastard child!"

"Heh." Lu Ran let out a cold laugh.

As he toyed with the Soul Prison in his hand, black Soul Fire flared up on its surface.

Lady Kong: !!!

Her once dignified face contorted agonizingly under the assault of the flame.

"Oh?" Lu Ran arched an eyebrow, turning to address the now-silent Lady Kong. "Still tough, huh?"

Enraged, Lady Kong spat out: "You... ahhh!!!"

Before she could finish, Lu Ran nonchalantly added more Soul Fire.

Lu Ran weighed the black mist bundle in his hand. "Think carefully about your words; you're going to tell me every piece of information you know.

You're also going to guide me to everything you've looted over the years..."

Lady Kong wailed pitifully, clearly too preoccupied with pain to listen to him.

Lu Ran, sensing her uncooperativeness, wisely fell silent, continuing to bind souls.

He absorbed all the dead souls of the remaining eight disciples of the Jade Talisman Sect, except Luo Tiantu and Lady Kong, before soaring over the woods and binding the souls of two Dongting Sect believers into his eyes.

These two carried significant traces of Holy Spirit Energy within their souls!

For half a year, every time the Tiantu Mountain operated, Luo Tiantu ensured these two ate first.

Lu Ran had always coveted the Dongting Sect's skills.

The East Thunder Divine Technique·Rapid Light Flash was even faster than Immortal Hoof.

The East Thunder Divine Technique·Thunder Shock could leave enemies in a stunned state!

Just those two techniques alone were enough to allow Lu Ran to activate Divine Sculpture·Dongting.

The problem was, Lu Ran currently only had one activation slot remaining, and until he advanced to the Sea Realm, no more could be added.

He intended to save that slot for any unforeseen needs.

Holy Spirit Mountain was vast, and talents abounded like schools of fish swimming upstream!

Who knew if, in the future, a talented young man or woman might pledge themselves to him, requiring a suitable Divine Sculpture or Evil Sculpture?

Such things were always unpredictable.

As Lu Ran was lost in thought, he noticed the atmosphere growing thick with mist.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran looked up at the night sky.

The bright moon was now shrouded in heavy fog, which began spinning into a Fog Dragon Roll.

It appeared that the Big Nightmare was successfully leading the Night-slaying Great Saber into an upgrade!

"Hah!" Lu Ran's heart leaped with joy. He swiftly tidied up the battlefield, regrouped with his team, and with a single step, entered the Tiantu Mountain council hall through the Transmission Mirror.

Inside the room, Bai Yanhui rose upon hearing the commotion, clasped his hands, and declared,

"Congratulations to the Sect Leader for avenging past grievances and achieving a grand victory!"

"Avenging past grievances..." Lu Ran murmured, his eyes falling on the Soul Prison containing Lady Kong.

Tormented by the scorching Soul Fire, she dared not hurl insults anymore.

The once-proud and noble Sea Realm Great Power now remained compliant, quietly nestling in Lu Ran's grasp, submissive to the point of absurdity.

"Indeed, avenging past grievances!" Lu Ran's grin widened.

Now, Tiantu Mountain was entirely annihilated!

Its leaders, male and female, were slain, and their souls had been claimed by the Ran Sect. They were now under Lu Ran's control, awaiting his orders.

This was vengeance fulfilled, the way it should be!

"Mad Immortal," Lu Ran called out.

"Present," Si Xianxian immediately stepped forward.

Lu Ran gestured toward Bai Yanhui. "Hand the Divine Weapon·Earth Trace Sword to Elder Bai."

Before setting out to intercept the Dongting believers, Lu Ran had entrusted Si Xianxian with the safekeeping of the Earth Trace Sword.

"Huh?" Si Xianxian was startled. "Are you serious?!"

Lu Ran blinked. "What?"

Si Xianxian's eyes widened. "So, one compliment, and you're handing out Divine Weapons now?"

She stared incredulously, thinking, *Is he really that fond of flattery? One line, and he's floored? Truly an incompetent tyrant!*

The others: "..."

Bai Yanhui immediately interjected: "Sect Leader, this isn't appropriate. I have not done enough to deserve such reward!"

Lu Ran shot Si Xianxian a glare and said, "Elder Bai has indeed contributed. The plans and strategies you coordinated with Mr. Conglong have led to tonight's resounding victory.

However, this Divine Weapon isn't just about merit."

Pausing briefly, Lu Ran clarified, "The Ran Sect is still in its early stages of development. Our allocations are based on needs."

Lu Ran continued, explaining, "Elder Bai shall establish rapport with the Earth Trace Sword, making it your eyes."

"Sect Leader..." Bai Yanhui hesitated.

Lu Ran, not allowing further delay, simply commanded, "Obey."

Bai Yanhui hesitated for a moment before bowing and responding, "Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Lu Ran turned to Si Xianxian, who, realizing her misunderstanding, bowed her head and silently handed over the Earth Trace Sword.

Lu Ran let out a faint huff, his gaze sweeping across the room. "The Nightmare Guardian is leading the Divine Weapon upgrade. I'll have to trouble everyone to continue guarding the mountain."

"Understood!"

"Understood!" The Ran Sect members responded in unison.

The group left to carry out their tasks, leaving Lu Ran to collapse into a chair.

Rubbed his temples as his buzzing mind protested, he fiddled with the Soul Prison. "Go ahead, spill it. Over the years, what treasures have you plundered?"

Bai Yanhui, observing, grew puzzled. He couldn't discern who the Sect Leader was speaking to.

Lady Kong, ever the pragmatic one, replied obediently, "We at Tiantu Mountain..."

Even someone as outwardly composed as Bai Yanhui couldn't help but change expressions!

This voice—it was unmistakably Lady Kong's!

The Sect Leader had captured the Sea Realm Great Power, Lady Kong!? How did he dare? Such a force...

And yet, the overwhelming aura typical of the Yangyang Sea was nowhere to be felt in the chamber...

"Elder Bai."

"Sect Leader!" Bai Yanhui promptly answered.

"Sit down," Lu Ran said, smiling. "The sooner you bond with the Earth Trace Sword, the sooner it will reveal to you what's really going on."

"Yes!" Bai Yanhui complied, his turmoil hidden behind a polite facade.

...

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