Chapter 254: The Substitute Lamb

Chapter 254: The Substitute Lamb

Over the next few days, Lu Ran spent his time cultivating at home, preparing for his breakthrough.

Jiang Ruyi didn't visit either, probably not wanting to disturb Lu Ran.

Their text exchanges were frequent, and they would chat every night before bed.

Jiang Ruyi on the phone was as aloof as ever.

She seemed to have a talent for making him feel like he was wasting his time.

It was so annoying that there were moments when Lu Ran felt like getting dressed and going to the Waterside Community to drag her out of her house and find out what was going on!

In the end, Lu Ran concluded that the problem was a lack of physical intimacy.

Little Ruyi, just you wait!

Wait until the 15th!

Lu Ran's devious plan didn't succeed because, on the 14th day of the lunar month, Jiang Ruyi unexpectedly paid him a visit.

It was early in the morning when Lu Ran heard a knock on the door, and he was a bit puzzled.

After all, it was the 14th of the lunar month, and the entire city was under martial law, so not just anyone could leave their homes.

He stepped out of his bedroom and hurried to open the door, and as he did, a beautiful figure appeared before him.

"Ruyi?" Lu Ran's face froze in surprise.

Jiang Ruyi was wearing a black raincoat, and beneath the hood, her fair and beautiful face carried a hint of a smile.

Seeing Lu Ran's dumbfounded expression, she couldn't help but chuckle softly,

"We've only been apart for a few days, and you don't recognize me?"

Her cute and charming appearance was a stark contrast to the person he knew from the phone.

The next moment, the teasing in Jiang Ruyi's eyes disappeared as Lu Ran suddenly took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"My clothes are wet," Jiang Ruyi said softly, averting her gaze.

It was drizzling outside, and her raincoat was indeed damp.

But Lu Ran didn't care; he leaned forward and kissed her luscious lips.

"Mmm," Jiang Ruyi's cheeks flushed, and she instinctively pushed Lu Ran's shoulder.

In a moment, she closed her beautiful eyes, gave up struggling, and let him have his way.

After a while, Lu Ran finally let her go.

This time, it was his turn to tease: "You're so aloof on the phone."

Jiang Ruyi lowered her eyelashes and said softly, "Every time you chat with me, it's too late.

I want you to sleep early and be well-rested for your advancement."

Lu Ran understood and smiled, "So that's why you always reply with just a 'hmm'?"

Jiang Ruyi whispered, "Oh, then I won't reply next time."

Lu Ran: ???

Little Ruyi, you've gone rogue!

"You said last night that you planned to advance this morning?" Jiang Ruyi suddenly changed the subject, bringing up the main topic.

"Yes," Lu Ran nodded.

"Here." Jiang Ruyi raised her right hand.

Lu Ran then noticed that she was holding a bag with a thermos inside.

"What's this?"

"You haven't had breakfast, have you?" Jiang Ruyi asked, but her tone was more of a statement, as if she knew Lu Ran well.

Lu Ran: '.'

"Advancing is different from regular cultivation; you need to maintain your focus, and it's physically demanding. How can you do it on an empty stomach?" As she spoke, Jiang Ruyi handed the bag to Lu Ran.

Lu Ran's heart warmed, and he had planned to have a simple lunch of canned meat and a glass of milk.

He hadn't expected a homemade breakfast.

Hehe, this is great!

It's worth being trapped by you in the illusion and taking a break in the Ghost Moon Mountain.

Jiang Ruyi took a step back and said softly, "After you finish eating, focus on your advancement, and I'll head back."

"No!" Lu Ran pulled her over to the shoe rack, knelt down, and started changing her shoes.

Jiang Ruyi hesitated for a long time, but eventually, Lu Ran finished changing her shoes, took off her raincoat, and led her into the house.

When facing Lu Ran, she always struggled to refuse.

What happened in the small bedroom made Jiang Ruyi want to laugh.

On the floor, scattered around, were the demon crystals of the Moonlit Fox, just like the last time Lu Ran advanced.

A small calico cat was playing with one of the crystals, carefree and content.

Once again, Jiang Ruyi gracefully tiptoed across the empty spaces and made her way to the small shrine.

"Great Sheep Immortal, Ruyi is disturbing you," she said, bowing politely with her hands clasped together.

Unlike the previous time, Jiang Ruyi was now familiar with the shrine and its deity.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she had become familiar with this home.

The only room she had never entered was the master bedroom.

"I'll advance, and you can cultivate beside me," Lu Ran suggested, "It'll be a great opportunity for you to consolidate your realm."

When believers advance, the divine power in the surrounding area becomes especially dense.

"Let's eat first," Jiang Ruyi said softly.

"Meow~ Meow~" The calico cat, seeing its owner return, immediately rushed over and started rubbing against her leg.

Its pitiful appearance made it seem like Lu Ran had mistreated it.

The breakfast Jiang Ruyi brought was plentiful: boiled eggs, white porridge, fried potato pancakes, cold marinated okra, and stir-fried vegetables with mushrooms.

Lu Ran enjoyed the meal immensely!

It would be a shame to waste such a delicious meal if he failed to advance.

After they finished eating, Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi returned to the small bedroom and sat down in front of the shrine.

"Huala~"

Lu Ran casually picked up a handful of demon crystals, calmed his mind, and then inhaled deeply!

By midday, most of the Moonlit Fox demon crystals in the room had been absorbed, and Lu Ran finally entered his advancement mode.

The mist in the heavens and earth gathered and converged towards the small bedroom.

"Shh," Jiang Ruyi soothed the restless cat, feeling the increasingly dense divine power in the room, and a hint of joy flashed in her eyes.

Despite how natural it all seemed, Jiang Ruyi still felt incredibly relieved.

After Lu Ran advanced to the Third Stage of the River Realm, he would be able to learn the Divine Technique of the Substitute Body.

From then on, Lu Ran's safety would be greatly guaranteed!

Whenever he faced a critical moment, he could summon the Great Sheep Immortal to descend and block a fatal strike for him!

For an ordinary Divine Ram Follower, it would likely be impossible to receive a single blessing from the Great Sheep Immortal in their entire life.

But Lu Ran...

Given the level of adoration the Celestial Ram Deity had for Lu Ran, it was almost certain that it would manifest at least once to save Lu Ran's life.

Jiang Ruyi secretly rejoiced and silently blessed Lu Ran.

She waited until the evening for this moment.

By then, Little Hua had already snuck out of the small bedroom, leaving only the girl by Lu Ran's side, anticipating the upcoming scene.

"Huff!"

A gust of wind suddenly rose, and the air surged! Jiang Ruyi covered her face with one hand, and her long black hair danced wildly.

Immediately, the divine mist swirling within the room was visibly absorbed by Lu Ran, compressed and solidified into streams of water, slowly flowing within his body.

"Heh."

Lu Ran exhaled and leaned back, lying flat on the ground.

Not a trace of a master's demeanor.

Jiang Ruyi smoothed her messy long hair and looked at Lu Ran, sprawled out, and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

In this world, no devotee would dare to be as reckless as him.

Regarding the extent of the Great Sheep Immortal's adoration for Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi truly couldn't judge.

"Success!" Lu Ran turned his head to look at the girl beside him.

"Mhm." Jiang Ruyi smiled at him, "How about practicing the Divine Art?"

Lu Ran: "."

Not even a celebration, and he's going straight to practicing the Divine Art?

In your eyes, how fragile do you think I am?

"Alright." Lu Ran adjusted his clothing and stood before the shrine, hands clasped together, "Thank you, Great Sheep Immortal, for your blessings!"

Inside the shrine, the white jade sheep sculpture sat quietly, surrounded by faint white mist.

Lu Ran continued, "Great Sheep Immortal, may I test the Divine Technique of the Substitute Body?"

Jiang Ruyi stood quietly to the side, listening to Lu Ran's excessive request.

She was also a bit greedy and eager for Lu Ran to successfully cast the spell, practicing this life-saving divine technique in advance.

"Huff~"

The next moment, Lu Ran's divine power surged, becoming even more intense.

Over the past few days, Lu Ran had already learned the method to cast the Divine Technique of the Substitute Body, but whether he could successfully cast it still depended on whether the Great Sheep Immortal would manifest.

Jiang Ruyi quickly retreated, her eyes fixed on Lu Ran.

Lu Ran released his divine power, enveloping his entire body.

This technique was similar to the casting method of the Water Stream Armor, but it was a one-time deal and would consume a significant amount of divine power.

"Huff!!"

Divine mist rose, and Lu Ran's short, choppy hair danced lightly.

His eyes shone with dazzling brilliance, and his pupils overflowed with radiant light! The streams of water swirling around Lu Ran seemed to be boiling, creating a particularly stunning sight.

Divine Technique of the Substitute Body!

"Disciple Lu Ran, I humbly beseech the divine for blessings!"

Lu Ran murmured, hands clasped, and slightly bowed towards the shrine.

"Omm!"

An enormous ethereal shadow descended from above, enveloping Lu Ran within it.

Although it was in a sitting posture, the sheep horns on its head almost touched the ceiling!

It wore a wide, white jade robe, surrounded by divine mist, exuding an air of transcendence.

The robe was as translucent as mutton fat jade, shimmering with an unusual luster, and it undulated like waves, slowly rising and falling.

Not only was it breathtakingly beautiful, but it also exuded a powerful aura! Jiang Ruyi's mouth hung slightly open as she looked up at the massive divine shadow.

The Great Sheep Immortal had indeed manifested.

After a moment of reaction, she quickly knelt on the ground, hands clasped, and whispered in her heart:

"Thank you, Great Sheep Immortal, for blessing Lu Ran. I am eternally grateful."

The divine shadow seemed to sense something and slightly turned its head to look at the devout human girl kneeling beside it.

Its originally kind eyes quietly changed.

It seemed to be somewhat appreciative, but more so, it was relieved.

"Huff~"

The divine shadow of the Great Sheep Immortal disappeared without a trace, taking away Lu Ran's boiling divine power.

Only a faint divine mist remained, and within it, Lu Ran's face was filled with discomfort.

He had just advanced, and his divine power was incredibly abundant!

However, a single casting of the technique had taken away more than half of Lu Ran's divine power!

This was too costly in terms of 'mana'.

But on second thought, compared to saving his life, it was worth it.

"In the future, I can be a bit more reckless." Lu Ran licked his lips.

Suddenly, a low, hoarse voice resonated in Lu Ran's mind:

"How dare you!"

"I dare not, I dare not." Lu Ran quickly shook his head.

The voice continued, "It's fine if you consume some divine power.

But if I sustain injuries in this state, it will deplete my energy core."

Lu Ran's heart trembled as he understood the importance of the energy core. He immediately said, "Disciple understands!

I will only use this technique when my life is at stake."

White Jade Sheep Sculpture: "Mhm, this technique is only useful in the human realm.

Now that you've reached the Third Stage of the River Realm, various dark arts are sufficient to protect you. Focus on your studies, especially the teleportation technique of the Evil Dog Clan.

Additionally, you must learn the paper doll technique of the Crimson Paper Sect.

Another world awaits you."

The divine being rarely spoke at length, and Lu Ran's heart stirred as he listened! He nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end