"Your sister..." Lu Ran murmured.

As Hua Qingying spoke, Lu Ran also understood why she was unwilling to leave the Chenghua Sect.

The God had informed Hua Qingying that He wanted to take her sister as a believer.

Clearly, it was to better control Hua Qingying.

So Hua Qingying could not have the slightest thought of rebellion; she had to willingly continue being enslaved, continuously offering resources to the God to ensure her sister's normal life.

At least she would not be targeted by the Chenghua Lord.

Lu Ran couldn't help but ponder.

Back then on the God Worship Platform, why was it Lord Immortal Sheep who came to save the day?

As the son of Qiao Wanjun, if he was taken under Sword One's door, wouldn't it better control Qiao Wanjun?

Sword One wouldn't even need to use force!

Thinking back, Qiao Wanjun had taken her two children to pilgrimage to Jiantianque City for three consecutive years, willing to send her children under Sword One.

But Sword One didn't want them!

Was it because Sword One's nature was aloof and disdainful of doing such lowly things?

But if she didn't, there were others... uh, there were gods who would!

Among all the gods and demons, what kind of nature wouldn't they have?

Could it be that Immortal Sheep and the Flower Lantern were specifically chosen to take Qiao Family's children as disciples and use the siblings as hostages?

"Hmm..." Lu Ran pondered, feeling something was not quite right.

There was a story in this!

The last time Lu Ran returned to the human world, he spoke at length with his mother and clearly remembered that she defended Sword One.

"Senior?" Hua Qingying called softly.

Since she explained the reason, the mysterious person had been silent, the quiet pressing her down until she almost couldn't breathe.

For she harbored a slightly unrealistic fantasy from the bottom of her heart.

After all, the mysterious senior was so strong that it surpassed her understanding; maybe he could really change something?

Heavenly Realm, Mountain Realm, Human World.

On every inch of land under gods and demons, "hope" was something extremely cruel.

A person who has completely adapted to darkness, their logic and actions have long achieved self-consistency through years of suffering.

Such a person cannot see a glimmer of light.

Once they do...

They cannot survive.

"You've been enslaved for too long; it's time to try stepping out and reassessing the situation," Lu Ran said.

"Step out?"

"The old you didn't have the qualification. You wanted to live, and you loved your family, and there was no way."

Lu Ran sighed softly and continued, "Now it's different. I have given you a way out. Everything Chenghua gave you, I can give as well."

Hua Qingying habitually bit her lower lip.

Her originally blooming lips gradually lost their color.

"Your death would instead make your sister no longer receive special attention from Chenghua." Lu Ran said solemnly, "If the story has no beginning, then it has no continuation."

"But, but..." Hua Qingying's expression was complex.

"Didn't you just say your sister is to ascend the God Worship Platform next year?" Lu Ran suddenly interrupted.

"Yes."

"Alright." Lu Ran suddenly laughed, "When the time comes, you go."

"I go?"

"Yes, replace Chenghua, appear above the God Worship Platform, and have your sister worship you."

Hua Qingying opened her mouth in surprise.

The color of her lips gradually warmed.

This was the most rebellious thing she had ever heard in her life!

The most arrogant!

And the most heart-stirring!

The young man's deep voice entered her ears once more, "You dying in the God War is reasonable and not at your will; this is a heaven-sent opportunity."

Hua Qingying realized that the young man was approaching step by step, causing her body to tense involuntarily.

"I have here a Chenghua Stone Sculpture for you, allowing you to possess everything of Chenghua, until one day you surpass the gods and completely replace the gods."

Listening, Hua Qingying felt a hand landing on her forehead.

"In the future, follow me."

"Senior, what... what do I have to give?"

"Prepare your resentment, hatred, and anger towards Chenghua, and when you face her in the future, return it a hundredfold."

"This doesn't sound like a price?"

Lu Ran smiled and ruffled her hair, "There are not only Chenghua as gods."

Hua Qingying, of course, understood Lu Ran's meaning and, suppressing her turbulent emotions, couldn't help but ask, "Who exactly are you?"

"Me... I am someone who is not willing to accept things."

...

Ten minutes later.

Holy Spirit Mountain Realm · Tianya Haijiao.

A landing mirror tore through space-time, appearing at Heaven's Edge.

A woman holding an oiled paper umbrella cautiously came out.

Blue skies, white clouds, and clear sea waves.

The sudden beauty made Hua Qingying stop in her tracks.

"Whew~" The landing mirror behind her disappeared with the wind.

A tall silhouette appeared quietly in front of her.

Hua Qingying came back to her senses, realizing that she was finally going to see the true form of the "God."

In the past few minutes, her fate had undergone a significant transformation!

She had become the inheritor of the Pseudo God · Chenghua Stone Sculpture, completely freeing herself from the control of the God · Chenghua.

As planned, she fell on the front line, "dying" in the God War.

And all of this was orchestrated by the mysterious person in front of her.

"Previously, when Chenghua stomped you down until you vomited blood, it was because you asked the God to allow you to advance to the Heavenly Realm · Third Level?"

Lu Ran turned around, looking at the woman.

Hua Qingying's eyes widened slightly.

This was the first time she truly saw the mysterious figure's face.

The faces of those white-bearded old men in her mind were relentlessly dispelled by her, even the youthful faces she had imagined were driven away one by one.

The young man before her was far younger than she had imagined.

More ethereal and otherworldly.

His white robe fluttered without wind, and his sash danced lightly, like an exiled immortal.

And when he disengaged his invisibility, his aura burst forth! Though his tone was calm, it carried an undeniable authority.

Each word seemed to be infused with the unparalleled Heavenly Dao Laws.

"Qingying?"

"Ah! My former... benefactor." Hua Qingying snapped back to her senses, looking dazed.

"Former benefactor?" Lu Ran had an odd expression; had his position been demoted so quickly?

Hua Qingying was slightly embarrassed, but in the face of this excessively youthful fellow, it was hard to address him as a senior.

"You will break through to the Heavenly Realm, Third Level here." Lu Ran did not dwell on it, stamping his foot lightly, "There is a cavern below; go into seclusion."

"Where is this place?"

"Holy Spirit Mountain."

"Holy Spirit Mountain?" Hua Qingying tightly clutched the oilpaper umbrella.

She had never thought she would return to this place of sin in her lifetime.

"Yes." Lu Ran turned around, looking into the distant horizon where the sea and sky met, "In a while, I'll gather some Holy Spirit Energy to cultivate the Chenghua Stone Sculpture. When it levels up, your body will also tremble.

Don't be alarmed; that's the process of you merging with the Pseudo God Stone."

Just now, Lu Ran communicated with the Conlong Stone Sculpture, requesting Lord Strategist to transfer a wisp of Holy Spirit Energy to the Chenghua Stone Sculpture.

The Chenghua Stone Sculpture had only been activated; it could form a contract but its realm was extremely low.

It still needs further cultivation.

Many doubts lingered in Hua Qingying's heart, but she finally suppressed them and asked the most important question: "May I ask benefactor's name?"

"Lu Ran, Lu as in 'land,' Ran as in 'burning.'" Lu Ran smiled and shook his head, "To be fair, your divine penalty is somewhat related to me."

"Why?"

Lu Ran sighed deeply: "Your path to promotion was blocked by my mother."

Hua Qingying reacted for a moment, then her expression turned shocked: "Are you... are you from Qiao Sect Master's family?"

"It seems you have heard of my mother." Lu Ran nodded slightly.

Heard of?

Who in the Heavenly Realm does not know the Cloud Sea Sect?

Who does not know of Qiao Sect Master's illustrious reputation?

Hua Qingying stood frozen in place.

Suddenly, it seemed everything made sense.

If he was that person's child, nothing about his astounding qualities would be surprising...

"Go into seclusion; I'll inform the guards so no one will disturb you." Lu Ran instructed.

"Lu... Lu..."

"Just call me Sect Leader." Lu Ran looked at the girl he had brought along.

Hua Qingying had a natural naivety about her, vastly different from the composed elegance she had when Lu Ran first met her.

She seemed as if she was cluelessly led into his hands by someone...

This gave Lu Ran an inexplicable sense of guilt.

"Sect Leader, is there...is there anything else I should do?" Hua Qingying asked softly, clutching the oilpaper umbrella.

Lu Ran sighed heavily.

People who have been enslaved for so long indeed have issues in their hearts.

A sense of inadequacy.

"No eating, no drinking, cultivate to death, quickly advance to the Third Level of the Heavenly Realm." Lu Ran commanded.

Hua Qingying bit her lower lip again.

Lu Ran thought of something and switched his tone: "In a few days, Ran Sect plans to slay a god; we're thinking of dealing with an Evil God first for practice."

Hua Qingying: "Wh, what?"

Lu Ran shrugged: "So you need to quickly advance to the Third Level of the Heavenly Realm, come help me sooner."

"I... I..."

Lu Ran contemplated: "Come to think of it, the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon has an Evil Technique, 'Raise Fire to the Sky,' which poses a significant threat to us."

'Raise Fire to the Sky' is a rather special skill.

The Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon must first shoot fireballs into the sky, disperse layers of fire clouds, and only then can it scorch all things.

After reaching the River Grade, flames continue to fall from the fire clouds, like a rain of fire from the heavens, covering a large area with astonishing killing power!

"Sect Leader, 'Raise Fire to the Sky' is an output skill. My 'Smoky Rain in the Human World' might not be able to block it; I can only restrict it..."

"Some restriction is better than none, and you can certainly block other things." Lu Ran continued, "Wind, sand, rain, snow—during our god-slaying venture, you'll be the stabilizing needle of our team.

Keep the battlefield environment tightly controlled for me!

Don't give those filthy creatures any chance."

"Yes!" Hua Qingying understood her value, immediately achieving self-assurance.

Commands from a superior made her no longer lost, her beautiful eyes brightened.

"Bo~"

Lu Ran nodded gently, and promptly sent out a Resurrection Carp.

The small, dark Mo Li struck the girl's forehead, breaking into a flood of life force, surging into her body.

Hua Qingying only saw a flash before her eyes.

The immortal disappeared without a trace.

She finally had the chance to gaze upon the long-lost blue sea and sky.

Yet, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

This was a path she had never envisioned.

In her long years of dying struggle, in places unseen by others...

A young human, unwilling to accept his fate, continued on a unique path.

He declared,

He would slay a god.

...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.