In the dead of night, the clouds retreated, and the rain ceased.

The vast sky was adorned with twinkling stars, and the bright moon hung high.

A desolate beauty emanated from the silver moonlight, spreading across the vast barren desert and falling upon the peak of a lonely mountain, illuminating two figures.

Seated on the ground, the woman in the white dress leaned slightly, resting in the arms of the person beside her, her beautiful eyes closed in serenity as she quietly listened to his narration.

Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi lifted her head from Lu Ran's embrace and softly asked, "The Sculpture Garden? In your spiritual realm?"

Lu Ran gave a gentle nod.

Deep shock churned within Jiang Ruyi's heart. The statues of all gods, all demons in this world—Lu Ran possessed a set of them in his mind?

Lu Ran could steal the powers of all gods and demons?

As Jiang Ruyi absorbed this astonishing revelation, she was silent for a long, long time before softly asking, "Immortal Sheep Lord... when did he give it to you?"

Lu Ran wore an apologetic expression: "The day I became an Immortal Sheep Believer."

Jiang Ruyi's gaze grew increasingly complicated.

And to think, in the past, she worried so much about him!

She had resolved, no matter if he dragged her down, to team up with him, to take him on missions, at least ensuring he could graduate smoothly—to survive in this brutal world.

But in the end...

From the moment Lu Ran became an Immortal Sheep Believer, he was already a god.

A dormant and quietly rising Fake God.

A new god, lying in wait to seize the positions of all gods and all demons!

"Don't be angry..." Lu Ran whispered, feeling uneasy under Jiang Fairy's gaze. He hurriedly added, "It was Immortal Sheep Lord who prohibited me from saying it!"

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Lu Ran explained further: "I tell you, Immortal Sheep Lord is so domineering!

If he tells me to shut up, I have to shut up. If he tells me to sleep, I have to sleep. He treats me like the perfect girlfriend... cough, cough."

Jiang Ruyi shot him a playful, reproachful glance.

She knew in her heart that everything Lu Ran said must be true.

As weak as he was, how could he have the power to defy a god?

Moreover, to accomplish such a "rebellious and blasphemous" grand ambition, caution was certainly mandatory!

"You've hidden this for so long, why reveal it now?" Jiang Ruyi asked softly.

"The situation is urgent; I can't afford to hold back anymore." Lu Ran smoothed her jet-black hair, pulling her once again into his embrace.

Jiang Ruyi's gaze softened, letting herself be held by him.

Lu Ran added, "The Holy Spirit Mountain Realm is a remote and desolate place, the reach of the gods barely touches here.

The believers here cannot communicate with the gods; they can't snitch."

Jiang Ruyi quietly nodded, favoring this answer from Lu Ran.

He was someone entrusted with high expectations by Immortal Sheep Lord, a man with ambitions to alter the order of the world, and who had the qualifications and potential to match that dream.

Anything Lu Ran did should not be driven merely by selfish motives; it was imperative to consider more.

"Today, everyone who witnessed your use of advanced skills must be properly dealt with." From his embrace, Jiang Fairy's signature icy voice emerged.

"Furthermore, the people of the Mountain Realm are different from the devout believers of the human world." Lu Ran spoke with a deep voice. "Everything here is enough to make the believers confront the true face of the gods.

Ruyi, do you see it clearly?"

Jiang Ruyi lowered her eyelids and whispered, "We are livestock kept by gods and demons, generations upon generations of servants."

Indeed, as brilliant and perceptive as she was, how could she not deduce this?

Lu Ran lowered his head and kissed her hair lightly.

Perhaps it was comfort.

Having confirmed it further, Jiang Ruyi closed her eyes in pain, silent and wordless, leaning against his chest.

The tragic beauty of moonlight added a delicate radiance to the two silhouettes atop the desolate mountain.

Jiang Ruyi's thoughts seemed to influence the atmosphere around them, as if the whole world was steeped in melancholy.

Lu Ran's hand gently cupped her face, lifting the profile of the Immortal in his arms, then leaned down and kissed her lips.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Slowly, Jiang Ruyi's mood shifted, her lips faintly responding to his.

The atmosphere around them also swayed with their hearts.

After a long while, Lu Ran finally let her go.

Jiang Ruyi's gaze looked slightly hazy, she panted lightly, her face reddened and buried herself in his arms.

Through the surrounding aura, Lu Ran could distinctly perceive that the Jade Person in his embrace was no longer as sorrowful as she had been before.

"Tell me the story of your journey into the mountains." Lu Ran whispered.

"You go first." A muffled voice emerged from his embrace.

"You go first." Lu Ran stroked her jet-black hair, though unfortunately, it lacked the familiar fragrance of jasmine.

But that was fine; Lu Ran could picture it vividly in his mind.

Just like seeing an eraser—Lu Ran didn't need to possess an actual eraser to "smell" its unique scent; a picture sufficed.

"You go first." Jiang Fairy repeated.

"I'll kiss you again if you don't start!" Lu Ran laughed, greedily inhaling the jasmine-like scent in her presence.

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Is that your method of threatening me?

Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi raised her head, her pitch-black eyes directly meeting Lu Ran's gaze.

"Alright, alright, I'll start!" Lu Ran muttered, "Why so fierce?"

Jiang Ruyi looked at Lu Ran with a mix of irritation and amusement.

"I landed with the Big Nightmare in the eastern-central area of Holy Spirit Mountain..." Lu Ran began recounting his journey.

Jiang Ruyi's heart followed the ups and downs of his tale, intertwined with his adventure.

Facing attacks from Tiantu Mountain, fishing Dragon Carp in alpine lakes.

Repeated hunts at Sword Mountain Peak, surviving one danger after another.

Venturing eastward to the sea, subduing Xun Luo's twin Divine Generals, taking root at Cloud Sea Cliff.

Heading north to Sword Ridge Peak, retrieving stranded allies from icy storms.

Journeying to Wuji Peak, slaughtering wolf packs to rescue the Immortal.

Reuniting with old friends, forming alliances at Big Wind Hall; crossing the sea to claim Seven Star Island...

Too much, far too much.

In a mere half-year, Lu Ran's experiences were outrageously thrilling.

A continuous effort to grow, to rise stronger and higher—he was either fighting or on his way to a fight.

Yet, when narrating, Lu Ran only shared the highlights.

Events like battling Night Charm, or cleansing the Withered Wood Forest, guarding Cloud Sea Cliff, confronting the Shi siblings, or repelling raids by sea clans were all left unmentioned.

Listening to this grand and robust saga, Jiang Ruyi's heart surged with waves of emotion.

She had countless questions, held them back repeatedly, but eventually couldn't resist interrupting to ask, "Sister Xian'er is with you?"

"Yep~" Lu Ran replied cheerfully.

Originally, he intended to surprise Jiang Ruyi with this news.

But upon reconsideration, it was unnecessary—Jiang Fairy knowing sooner would ease her worries sooner.

Lu Ran continued reassuring her, "She's at my lair, training diligently every day. There's even a Sea Realm Great Power stationed at Cloud Sea Cliff; it's relatively safe. You don't need to worry too much.

Oh, would you like to talk with her?"

"Oh?" Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow lightly.

Lu Ran pointed to his temple: "To liberate Sister Xian'er from Lie Tian's torment, I helped her sever the master-servant contract with the gods.

Now, Sister Xian'er is bound to the Divine Sculpture of Lie Tian in my Sculpture Garden. I can transmit messages to her at any time."

"No need; I don't want to risk distracting her during her cultivation. Let's speak when we return."

Though Jiang Ruyi spoke thusly, her thoughts were lively, her gaze subtly shifting.

"Alright!" Lu Ran smiled mischievously, "That's perfect—we can give Sister Xian'er a big surprise when we return!"

Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi spoke up: "Can I sever my contract with Jade Talisman and bind myself to one of the Divine Sculptures in your Sculpture Garden instead?"

Lu Ran deliberated for a moment, then said solemnly, "Ruyi, severing the contract comes with grave consequences! Sister Xian'er had no choice; Lie Tian's torment over her was worsening daily. We had to resort to this solution."

He then elaborated in detail on the dire aftermath of lowly Human Clan members severing their master-servant contracts.

Jiang Ruyi listened silently, absorbing his explanation.

After finishing, Lu Ran added, "When we return to the human world, we can ask Immortal Sheep Lord for assistance—he can resolve it from a higher dimension.

That way, you won't lose ranks! That's how the Big Nightmare overcame it."

Jiang Ruyi fixed her gaze on Lu Ran, her soft lips parting: "But I don't want to remain a believer of Jade Talisman.

I don't want to be a livestock kept as part of their herd, nor a servant any longer..."

As Lu Ran stared into the determined eyes of the woman before him, he opened his mouth but faltered, unable to speak.

It was clear that ever since Jiang Ruyi had realized the gods' true nature, she harbored intense resentment toward them.

She had been deceived far too long...

In the past, her faith in the gods had been boundless—now, her hatred was just as boundless.

Since entering Holy Spirit Mountain, coming to full awareness, Jiang Ruyi had been riddled with pain, burying her turmoil deep within.

For she had no recourse; in this perilous world, she could only use the tools provided by the gods to protect herself.

But now, everything was different!

She had Lu Ran!

A man possessing countless Pseudo-God Stone Sculptures, determined to steal the power of all gods and demons!

"Ruyi." Lu Ran pleaded gently, "Just this afternoon, you mentioned you could break through to Jiang Realm·Fifth Rank.

Once you reach the peak, you could step into the Sea Realm at any moment.

If you cut the contract now, chances are you'll lose ranks—this could seriously set you back..."

Before Jiang Ruyi could respond, Lu Ran pressed on: "You're different from Sister Xian'er—she was desperate! She was Lie Tian's emotional dumping ground; if she continued, she'd go insane.

But not you; Jade Talisman at most makes your demeanor colder—it doesn't significantly hinder your growth."

Jiang Ruyi said softly, "But my thoughts, my emotions—they'll become a barrier, perpetually disrupting my growth. Even if I lose ranks, I'm willing to accept it!"

Lu Ran furrowed his brows tightly.

Different people make different decisions based on their personalities. If these struggles weighed so heavily on her, it indeed called for early resolution.

On the other hand, binding Jiang Ruyi to a Pseudo-God Stone Sculpture sooner had its perks.

She could integrate with the Stone Sculpture earlier, raising her personal potential ceiling, accelerating cultivation progress!

Jiang Ruyi abruptly declared, "You mentioned you still need several months to advance to Jiang Realm·Fifth Rank; if I lose ranks, I'll consider it as waiting for you."

Lu Ran: ???

What kind of remark is that? It stings!

A fleeting smile crossed Jiang Ruyi's face, replaced by a serious expression as her beautiful eyes locked onto his: "I trust you."

Lu Ran's breath caught slightly.

Jiang Ruyi rose to her knees, her delicate hands cradling Lu Ran's face as their gazes met head-on.

Her eyes burned with unwavering resolve, and she repeated with absolute earnestness, her voice steady and clear:

"Lu Ran, I trust you."

"Hmm, okay."

Lu Ran gazed at the face so close to his, leaning in to capture her soft lips.

Of course, you can trust me.

The Pseudo-God Jade Talisman Stone Sculpture I prepared is for you.

You...

Were always meant to trust me.

....

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