Chapter 285: Pilgrimage

Chapter 285: Pilgrimage

In the Cloudy Southern Region, Yujuye City.

As Lu Ran stepped onto this land, he felt the sky was so pure.

Fluffy white clouds floated gently in the blue sky, giving Lu Ran an urge to fly up and pinch them.

"Cangshan, Erhai, Yujuye Ancient City."

Lu Ran stood outside Fengyi Airport, gazing at the distant mountains.

There were many beautiful sceneries here, but unfortunately, Lu Ran had come alone.

Just as a cloud on the horizon seemed to take the form of a girl, Lu Ran associated it with Jiang Ruyi.

Lu Ran shook his head vigorously, secretly mocking himself:

You're in trouble~

You've fallen in love.

Lu Ran took out his phone, aimed it at the clouds above the mountains, and took a picture before lowering his head to join the queue for the bus.

The physical statue of the Deity Immortal Sheep was not located within the city.

Unlike the statues of most other deities, the Immortal Sheep Deity stood far from the bustling city, in a deep forest on a mountain north of Yujuye City.

Lu Ran boarded a taxi and said, "Immortal Sheep Mountain," before lowering his head to play with his phone.

He had just taken a photo of "Cloud Girl" and sent it to Jiang Ruyi.

He added a sentence: "Does it look like you?" After sending the message, Lu Ran quietly waited for her reply.

None.

The journey took about half an hour, but Jiang Ruyi still didn't respond.

"Little Ruyi, you're so ruthless," Lu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly.

The last person Lu Ran had described this way was the Vermilion Paper Person.

Before I advance, you're not going to talk to me anymore?

Lu Ran turned his head to look out the window, and as the vehicle approached Immortal Sheep Mountain, he finally saw the true form of the Deity.

Under the blue sky, among the towering mountains.

The tall stone statue of the Immortal Sheep stood quietly, still in the same pose of holding a fist and bowing, with a gentle smile on its face.

In the sunlight, the broad white jade robe it wore shimmered with a crystal-like luster.

Strange, dazzling, and mesmerizing.

"Sir, we've arrived." The vehicle slowly came to a stop at the foot of the mountain.

"Thank you." Lu Ran scanned the code and got off the car, gazing up at the towering mountains.

As the saying goes, a mountain is not high if it lacks a deity.

It was said that the name Immortal Sheep Mountain was chosen by the Immortal Sheep Deity himself.

Lu Ran followed the path and quickly headed into the mountain.

Unexpectedly, he encountered very few people on his way up the mountain.

It was well known that Yujuye City was a tourist city with a massive influx of visitors! In this world where you live and earn for one day, there were plenty of people with the same consumption concept as the Deng siblings.

Even with this premise, Immortal Sheep Mountain still had few visitors.

This was enough to show how unwelcome the Immortal Sheep Deity was.

It made sense, as the Immortal Sheep Sect didn't participate in battles.

You couldn't expect them to help or save anyone.

Instead, the Immortal Sheep Sect needed the protection of others!

Despite being believers of the Deity, they competed with ordinary people for protected spots,

which was quite shameless.

Additionally, with the true form of the Deity Immortal Sheep standing here, the relatively intense energy fluctuations would attract a large number of demons and bring greater threats to the city.

When all these factors were combined, it was no wonder that the Immortal Sheep Sect was disliked.

Even with Lu Ran's sudden rise, he couldn't change people's views of the Immortal Sheep Sect.

After all, people's opinions were not biased; they were based on solid facts.

Since the broadcast of 'Heavenly Pride', a concept had spread wildly online and gained the approval of most people:

"The one who deserves respect is Lu Ran, not the followers of the Immortal Sheep."

Since Lu Ran's rise to prominence, the mainstream media had also been reporting extensively, with every word and sentence urging people to stay clear-headed.

Lu Ran, this little lamb, was a unique existence.

Others should not get carried away and join the Immortal Sheep Sect.

"Immortal Sheep Temple."

After climbing for a long time, Lu Ran saw a mountain gate through the trees and shadows.

He stepped on the stone steps and quickened his pace.

Lu Ran had passed through three such mountain gates before finally arriving at the real Immortal Sheep Temple.

"Wow."

Lu Ran stood outside the gate, looking at the vast grounds.

In the center of the courtyard was a large incense burner, and the incense inside was still quite prosperous.

There were very few worshippers around, and it seemed that those incense sticks were all offered by the followers of the Immortal Sheep.

Wherever his eyes fell, whether it was the grounds or the buildings, they all showed a simple and crude style, and there were even signs of dilapidation.

Before coming, Lu Ran had naturally done his homework, but when he saw the Immortal Sheep Temple with his own eyes, he was still surprised.

Was this really the place where the Deity resided?

Thinking of the Boreas City of the Boreas Elder and the Sword Heaven Pavilion of Sword One,

every one of them was located in a bustling city, where land was worth its weight in gold.

Those ancient cities were filled with bustling crowds, and visitors came and went in an endless stream.

The buildings in the city were magnificent and exquisite, with commercial streets, martial arts arenas, and other facilities available.

Now, look at the Immortal Sheep Temple!

Here, there was... well, a dilapidated courtyard wall, several buildings with an ancient style, and a hall with a jade statue of the Immortal Sheep.

There was also a large courtyard with a large incense burner.

And that was it.

People might not believe it if they were told.

This environment directly made Lu Ran laugh~

The fact is that when people are at a loss for words, they will inexplicably smile.

"Immortal Sheep Deity, you're quite minimalist, aren't you?" He looked up at the stone statue of the Immortal Sheep, which soared into the clouds.

It was located deeper in the mountains, and perhaps the temple had a different world inside.

Lu Ran walked into the courtyard, looking around, and it was immediately clear who was a follower of the Immortal Sheep and who was a tourist.

The followers of the Immortal Sheep wore the same uniform, all in white practice clothes.

Moreover, they were all of an older age, resembling the grandpas and grandmas practicing Tai Chi in the morning park.

Not a single young person?

Lu Ran searched high and low but couldn't find any young Immortal Sheep followers!

No wonder the Immortal Sheep Sect was in decline.

As far as the eye could see, all he saw were the most beautiful golden years.

"Young friend, would you like to offer incense?" a hoarse voice called out.

Lu Ran turned around and saw an elderly man with graying hair.

He clasped his fists and bowed, clearly imitating the posture of the Immortal Sheep Sage.

His face was kind, and wrinkles covered his face, making him look to be in his sixties or seventies.

"Okay." Lu Ran hesitated for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"Young friend, please follow me." Upon hearing this, the old man's smile became even more amiable.

He led Lu Ran to the large hall on the left side of the courtyard, where there was a long rectangular table piled high with various types of incense.

Several elderly men and women, also dressed in Tai Chi uniforms, were greeting the few incense worshippers.

One of the old ladies was holding a payment code in her hand.

"Are these incenses priced differently?" Lu Ran stood in front of the long table, carefully selecting one.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Lu Ran had offered incense to the Immortal Sheep Sage since he started worshipping the deity.

So, he intended to choose a good one.

The old lady smiled and said, "Young friend, the incense is free."

"Huh?" Lu Ran looked up at her.

The old lady's smile was kind, and she nodded, "The incense is provided free of charge by the temple. It's all up to you, see for yourself."

As she spoke, the old lady held the payment code and waved it towards Lu Ran.

Lu Ran: "."

"If you're in a difficult financial situation, don't force yourself," said the old man who had led Lu Ran here, smiling, "Sincerity is all that matters."

Lu Ran silently took out his phone and scanned the payment code.

He paid 41 yuan and then chose the three sticks of incense that he liked the most.

Why pay 41 yuan?

The number 4 represents the fourth level of strength among the believers: River Realm.

1 represents a lower rank: First Rank.

We're not being greedy; on this pilgrimage, reaching the River Realm is good enough.

"Young friend, did you come alone?" The old man's smile was kind, and he took responsibility for Lu Ran, leading him to offer the incense.

"Yeah, alone." Lu Ran nodded.

"Here for tourism?" The old man led Lu Ran to the incense burner.

Lu Ran held the incense and inserted it into the burner, lighting it while saying, "I came here on a pilgrimage."

"A pilgrimage?" The old man was taken aback.

Within the Immortal Sheep Temple, the word 'pilgrimage' was only used by the Immortal Sheep followers.

And Lu Ran was clearly a young man!

This was quite rare!

"Young friend, are you also a follower of the Immortal Sheep?" The old man was surprised and scrutinized the young man.

Unfortunately, Lu Ran was wearing a hat and a mask, making it hard to see his face, and only his eyes were visible.

"Yeah." Lu Ran nodded slightly, also being humble, "Senior, I am too."

The old man opened his mouth as if trying to find the right words, but after a long time, he couldn't say anything.

In the end, the old man just patted Lu Ran's shoulder and sighed, "Ahh."

Lu Ran: ???

What are you sighing about?

With fresh blood joining the Immortal Sheep Sect, you're not happy, but instead, you're lamenting here.

This old man, well, he's quite conscientious.

As a follower of the Immortal Sheep, the old man naturally wouldn't say anything excessive or try to persuade Lu Ran to leave the sect.

But as a person, seeing Lu Ran walking into a trap, he genuinely felt both pity and regret.

The fact that someone could join the Immortal Sheep Sect meant that the young man in front of him had a naturally soft temperament.

If he had followed another deity, perhaps he could have changed.

Following the Immortal Sheep Sage, you'll only become weaker.

In the long journey of life, you'll be labeled a coward and face countless cold-eyed ridicule.

Anyone who learns of your identity might bully you or take advantage of you.

After all, such behavior has no consequences.

Immortal Sheep followers should be tolerant and kind to others.

"I'm going to offer incense now." Lu Ran suddenly spoke, interrupting the old man's thoughts.

"Please." The old man couldn't hide the regret on his face and continued to lead Lu Ran to the incense burner.

In front of the large square incense burner, there were few worshippers.

Lu Ran found a suitable spot and stood still, and through the swaying incense smoke, he saw a stone statue of the Immortal Sheep in the main hall ahead.

But Lu Ran did not pay respects to it.

He looked up directly, gazing at the deity's main body in the mountain behind the temple:

"Immortal Sheep Sage, thank you for your rebirth and for your guidance and protection all this time.

I hope I won't disappoint your expectations and will soon gain your approval.

Immortal Sheep Sage, disciple Lu Ran, has come on a pilgrimage!"

As he spoke, he bowed three times.

Lu Ran took a step forward and inserted the three sticks of incense into the incense burner.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly, and the people in the temple looked astonished, their bodies swaying.

"An earthquake?"

"Get down, lie down on the ground. Ah?"

"This, what is this?"

Suddenly, a pillar of light descended from the sky, enveloping the incense burner in front of the hall.

To be precise, it covered the young man offering incense in front of the burner.

The source of the tremor was also found—the main body of the Immortal Sheep statue!

"This... a blessing?"

"A blessing from the deity?"

"My goodness, this is a true divine blessing! A once-in-a-decade occurrence!"

"That young man, is he one of our Immortal Sheep followers?"

In an instant, the uncles, aunts, grandpas, and grandmas in the courtyard, all dressed in Tai Chi uniforms, looked towards the young man in the pillar of light.

"Who is he? Why is he so favored by the Immortal Sheep Sage?"

"Oh my! Is he that, that..."

"Lu Ran? The one from the Great Summer Rankings?"

"Yes, yes, yes, look at the two swords on his back! Isn't that him?"

"Oh, divine one! It's Lu Ran, our little junior brother Lu Ran!!!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end