The man immediately shook his head and said, "The other side is dressed in a bamboo hat and bamboo clothes, carrying a variety of weapons. I saw sabers, swords, and axes, even a fan—but no halberds.

It shouldn't be those mangy dogs from Thunder Mountain!"

At these words, the Island Master surnamed He slightly relaxed her tense expression.

If it were that group of East Thunder disciples, a fierce battle would definitely be inevitable, along with heavy casualties.

The man, despite suppressing his growing unease and enduring the invisible pressure of the Island Master, spoke in a quivering voice: "Th-this squad consists of six people. I cannot rule out the possibility that there are others lurking in secret.

This small team must be formidable. They dare to approach the lakeside and even linger there for a long time, as if they're contemplating coming ashore.

Island Master, should we inform the nearby islands?"

Instead, the Island Master asked, "Since these six people are carrying different weapons, does their style and temperament also differ greatly?"

The man nodded immediately. "Yes! They each have unique styles. They're very likely from different sects."

The Island Master nodded lightly, but her brows were furrowed in growing seriousness.

Within this Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, disciples of all factions tended to band together for survival, and even disciples of the strong gods were no exception.

When a mixed group with few members appeared, there were generally three possibilities.

Either it consisted of weak god disciples clinging to life, banding together like tadpoles searching for their mother;

Or it could be a marauding figure of considerable strength, using their followers—each with specific roles—as slaves to collect Holy Spirit Energy.

The most terrifying of all is the third category: an elite squad with one overpowering leader and several highly capable members!

These squads are the ones you absolutely cannot provoke!

Such individuals don't rely on their sects but wander independently through the perilous Holy Spirit Mountain, killing and robbing, seizing Holy Spirit Energy.

These ruthless scoundrels are universally despised yet equally universally avoided.

After all, anyone bold enough to roam so freely undoubtedly possesses overwhelming strength!

"Let's go. Take me to see," the Island Master instructed softly, letting out a slight sigh in her heart.

Let's hope it's not the third kind of group.

The man in the coarse clothes led the way, as if knowing what the Island Master was thinking, and cautiously added, "Island Master He, this small squad seems peculiar. The leader appears particularly young."

"Oh?" The Island Master raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

The man hesitated but eventually shared his far-fetched assessment. "He looks about twenty or so."

The Island Master's brow arched slightly.

So young?

Anyone chosen by the gods to enter the Holy Spirit Mountain had to be extremely powerful, most of them from the ranks of the Vast River.

This naturally meant that human believers in this realm skewed older in age.

Someone like herself, who ascended to the Holy Spirit Mountain at the age of twenty-four, was already rare.

And now her subordinate firmly insisted that a young man, about twenty, had emerged.

And this young man was even the leader?

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely, Island Master!" The man in the coarse clothes quickly affirmed, "Among the squad, only two young individuals—one man in white robes and one woman in a white gown—stood out.

The rest of those dressed in bamboo clothes clearly saw these two as their superiors!

The young man was strikingly valiant, and the girl resembled an immortal, almost comparable to you, Island Master…"

The Island Master remained silent.

If these were two strong god disciples enslaving their fellow humans, the danger level of this squad would naturally plummet.

But it was perplexing—how could two strong god disciples so young possibly ascend the mountain… Da Xia's Heavenly Prides?

The Island Master's heart stirred.

This pair of young man and woman might very well be figures from the Heavenly Pride rankings!

As her thoughts raced, the Island Master quickened her pace, swiftly arriving at the island's northern side.

"Island Master!"

"Island Master He." In a dense thicket of trees and shrubs, several men and women lowered their voices and respectfully greeted her.

The Island Master moved with the grace of a lotus, drifting calmly forward.

Two subordinates gently parted the branches, allowing the Island Master to observe. A male among them whispered, "They're still there…"

Before the sentence was completed, everyone instinctively shifted their gazes to the Island Master.

To their surprise, the ever-composed Island Master's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her mood appearing somewhat unsettled.

Indeed, upon seeing the white-robed youth in the distance, the Island Master felt a faint ripple of excitement in her heart.

A Heavenly Pride?

More than that!

This was the preeminent genius of Da Xia!

"Lu..." She murmured the name under her breath, her gaze flickering to the young woman in the white gown standing beside him.

Jiang.

So, it's the two of you.

"Ha." The Island Master let out a soft, bemused laugh.

In the vast expanse of Da Xia, it truly was difficult to find another Heavenly Pride under the age of twenty.

The Island Master had initially thought her subordinates were mistaken—after all, even among Da Xia's Heavenly Prides, the average age was usually around twenty-three or twenty-four.

But now it seemed...

"Island Master, do you know them?" a man asked quietly, his tone carrying a mix of hopefulness and curiosity.

This mysterious group clearly wasn't one to trifle with!

If the Island Master happened to share a history with them in the Human World, a confrontation might be averted, reducing the risk of casualties.

The Island Master's gaze lingered on the white-robed youth, her voice filled with half nostalgia, half answer:

"Who in the world does not recognize him..."

"Huh?"

"What?" The listeners exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions marked by disbelief.

Wasn't that evaluation a tad… exaggerated?

With a calm demeanor, the Island Master explained faintly, "Anyone who entered the Holy Spirit Mountain after the year 19 couldn't possibly not know about him."

The others immediately realized!

In the Mist Rain Lake, where Thousand Boat Island lay, disciples of numerous sects occupied the surrounding islands.

Among them were those who had entered the Holy Spirit Mountain within the past year or two, bringing with them various accounts.

The most sensational of these tales centered around Da Xia's nationwide effort to present the world with a grand spectacle—"Heavenly Pride!"

Some claimed that this was Da Xia's attempt at creating gods, providing spiritual sustenance and an anchor of hope for its people.

But to those in the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, there was an alternative perspective.

The question lingered in their hearts: could this be Da Xia's defiance against the gods? Could the lowly and despised Human Clan be striving to overturn the existing order?

After all, as time passed, this group of profoundly influential and supremely talented individuals would inevitably step foot into the Holy Spirit Mountain...

When that time came, would the rules of the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm experience even a tiny shift?

"Island Master, should we offer some hospitality to these Heavenly Prides?" a young woman tentatively asked.

The question was calculated.

On one hand, it sought confirmation from the Island Master: could the Heavenly Prides, officially backed by Da Xia, truly be trusted? On the other, it indirectly sought clarification of the visitors' identities.

The Island Master pondered, her hands clasped behind her back, her delicate fingers turning pale as she pondered deeply.

Lu Ran… could he be trusted?

Had his heart already been tainted by this vile mountain?

Those wearing bamboo clothes—were they his teammates or merely his slaves?

Quietly, the Island Master recalled her first encounter with Lu Ran.

Her schoolmate's methods were cruel, his temperament domineering!

He was the complete opposite of typical disciples from the Immortal Sheep Sect.

Yet, he bore the title of Heavenly Pride, a heroic figure pushed forth by Da Xia! If he could lend some assistance to Thousand Boat Island to counter the scoundrels from Thunder Mountain...

"Hmm?" Suddenly, the Island Master's eyes turned sharp.

In her line of sight, the white-robed youth stood by the lake, gazing distantly in their direction.

Though they hid amongst the dense shrubs, concealed by flourishing leaves, the Island Master was certain that Lu Ran had already locked onto their position.

Well then, no need to consider anymore.

"Go, notify the six other Bi He Islands. Inform them that we have an esteemed guest." The Island Master gave her orders.

"Yes!"

"Understood." Several disciples quickly dispersed.

The Island Master, meanwhile, took her time, gracefully smoothing her long gown.

At the same time, on the northern side of Mist Rain Lake—

Jiang Ruyi approached Lu Ran and asked, "There's someone over there?"

Lu Ran nodded. "Yes, and their eyes are beautiful."

Jiang Ruyi: ???

"Ah, no!" Lu Ran quickly caught himself and clarified nervously, "Not as beautiful as yours."

Jiang Ruyi glanced at Lu Ran with an unimpressed look. Before she could respond, a woman in a green gown suddenly flew out from the island.

She stepped on a lotus leaf, slowly gliding through the air.

Her jet-black hair flowed behind her, and her simple yet elegant long gown fluttered gently, exuding an aura of calm refinement.

Just as Lu Ran had mentioned, the woman indeed possessed a pair of stunning eyes, clear as a mountain spring.

As the woman drew closer, both Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi began to feel a faint sense of pressure!

It wasn't related to combat strength, nor was it a sign of fear—it was the raw, undeniable divide of strength in realms that spoke for itself.

The vast Yangyang Sea was enough to make those within the River Realm feel a heavy sense of oppression!

"A Believer of Bi He."

Lu Ran's gaze swept over the verdant lotus leaf beneath her feet.

Glistening dewdrops adorned its surface, complementing the woman's delicate figure.

Under the golden hues of the setting sun, it was hard to discern whether the glistening drops or the woman's radiant complexion were more captivating… cough, cough.

Lu Ran quickly averted his gaze.

Bi He Demoness!

You can't distract my Dao Heart!

My Jiang Fairy is the most beautiful of all~

That said, the Third-class God Bi He was undeniably fearsome and all-encompassing!

The Bi He Sect excelled in defense and control while also possessing the capacity for healing.

Before the River Realm, they mainly played support roles.

After reaching the River Realm… well, for the most part, they were still supporting others.

Yet, their River Realm ultimate skill was catastrophically destructive and not easily unleashed.

The River Realm Divine Technique, *Ten Thousand Pure Lotuses,* could summon countless blossoms to bloom, rapidly expanding outward and unleashing endless petals and lotus leaves to annihilate all life!

Its very existence seemed to harbor an intent to cleanse the universe!

Exactly how terrifying was this sect?

One need only consider their nemesis: the Evil Demon *Tangled Silk Shadow!*

People often said: "Rather face the King Yan's Palace than brush against the Tangled Silk Threads."

This phrase stemmed from a human perspective, but from the perspective of the Evil Demons, one should also avoid encountering Bi He's *Lotus Silk Connection!

The Bi He Sect could control you to the point of death!

The question remained: With such overwhelming power, why was the deity Bi He categorized as a Third-class God?

Surely the title of "Tangled Silk Shadow's nemesis" alone was worthy of elevating her status to the second rank?

The reason she remained in the third rank likely had to do with her temperament.

Her followers, like their god, tended to be elegant and indifferent, showing little interest in vying for supremacy.

*Huff~*

The woman hovered gracefully down onto the lake's surface, placed her hands together in a gesture of respect, and greeted with a polite smile:

"Junior Lu, greetings."

"Ah??" Lu Ran was utterly flabbergasted by the peculiar manner of address.

Who are you to call me "Junior"?

Wait… were you also from Rain Alley High?

...

[Dear readers, the author isn't feeling well and will make up for the missing chapters tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding.]

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