Lu Ran used Instant Teleportation to return to the small Luoxian Residence courtyard, gazing up at the towering Divine Sculpture, and finally asked the question lingering in his heart: "So-called gods, do they also age and die?"

There was no transmitted response in his mind.

Only the gentle breeze brushed through the mountain forest, bringing the rustling sound of leaves.

Risking reprimand, Lu Ran carefully asked: "Immortal Sheep, sir?"

[What is lifespan?] A deep voice suddenly descended.

Lu Ran opened his mouth, momentarily struck speechless.

[For Stone Sculptures, lifespan is the gathering and dispersing of Source Energy.]

The gathering and dispersing of Origin Energy?

The Immortal Sheep casually remarked: [Even God Demons cannot escape the trajectory of birth, growth, peak, and decline. When a Stone Sculpture exists long enough, energy absorption becomes challenging.]

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully.

[Your subordinates who have just begun as God Demons can hardly feel this bitterness.]

Bitterness?

It's hard to imagine such words being used to describe the prideful God Demons.

[If a wisp of Holy Spirit Energy descends, the Stone Sculpture under your command can absorb it fully.]

[The same wisp of Holy Spirit Energy, falling into the hands of a God Demon, might only allow them to extract two or three-tenths of the energy, the majority being wasted.]

[With time's passage, the proportion of energy God Demons can absorb decreases ever more, until one moment, they cannot obtain energy anymore, signaling their countdown to extinction.]

Immortal Sheep's rare lengthy discourse concluded with a cold laugh and additional remark:

[By then, the amount of stored energy within God Demons decides how long they linger.]

"Gulp." Lu Ran's Adam's apple bobbed.

So that's how it is!

So, despite God Demons reaching their peak, they still frantically vie for Holy Spirit Energy.

In contemplation, Lu Ran suddenly thought of the Immortal Sheep.

The Sheep General had said several years ago that it would ultimately dissipate!

With everything it had just mentioned...

"Then, Immortal Sheep sir... um, if the God Demons stubbornly conserve the energy stored within them, using none of it, wouldn't they persist indefinitely?" Lu Ran's words bore a trace of hope.

[Decline and death are irreversible; regardless of usage, the energy within will gradually dissipate.]

Lu Ran silently lowered his head.

So, death is unavoidable.

Yet, for the Human Clan, whose lifespan is brief, even God Demons' "lingering moments" are far longer than human lives.

Lu Ran was inwardly melancholic but then received another mental transmission:

[The Power of Faith provided by superior species and those extreme emotions can smoothly flow into Stone Sculptures, relatively easier for God Demons to absorb.]

"Superior species?"

[In this realm, the Human Clan is the superior species.]

Lu Ran raised his head, staring blankly at the Immortal Sheep God Sculpture.

Day and night, the Human Clan reveres the gods; the Power of Faith they provide, along with fears and despair offered to Evil Demons during the fifteenth night, are surprisingly special?

All energy absorbed through cultivation or plunder by God Demons could only extract limited nutrients.

Yet all that is provided by the Human Clan can flow unobstructed into the God Demon bodies, easier to digest and absorb?

[The Faceless Jade Venerable once told you, God Demons are but a pack of stray dogs.]

"So?"

[So, why do God Demons, fleeing in panic, exiled within one galaxy after another, ultimately choose to settle here?]

Lu Ran frowned, pondering: "Because the Human Clan is a superior species, the faith and emotions they provide can better sustain the God Demons' fighting strength and prolong their life?"

[You can be taught.] The Immortal Sheep rarely praised.

Lu Ran's emotions surged.

To think, lowly servants are so crucial to God Demons, yet why do they treat the Human Clan in this way?

Perhaps, they have been high and mighty for so long that they cannot descend?

There might be some reason in that.

Certain beings are indeed unreasonable; during the previous battle, the deity Moon Spirit was pushed to such an extent yet still sternly reprimanded Lu Ran, ordering him to bow and apologize.

But at a deeper level, possibly the Human Clan's sheer numbers mean they need not treasure them much?

Just imagine, the Human Clan's fertility is undeniable.

Before the deities descend, Evil Demons could be sent to rampantly slaughter the Human World, followed by a few decades of population explosion.

Da Xia fares better, with the legal marriage age set at eighteen.

In some countries, when a couple has a child, they themselves are still children...

[Don't linger too long in the Human World; while you rest, the Faceless Jade Venerable is seeking opportunities.] The Immortal Sheep's tone returned to normal, much colder.

"Understood!" Lu Ran nodded firmly.

From this perspective, the Faceless Jade Venerable is Lu Ran's competitor; the fall of the Sixth-rank God Demon Yao Qin-Demon Zither, Immortal Zither-Demon Zither is the best example.

According to the Immortal Sheep, self-cultivation and holding a Divine Position would take an exceedingly long time.

Why not seize it directly for swiftness?

Lu Ran instantly thought of little Yuanxi.

Other God Demons, like North Wind and Jade Talisman, have commendable fighting strength.

The Flower Lantern-Black Lantern duo of God Demons is a solid support faction, akin to Yao Qin and Immortal Zither.

Mmm... Better hurry to secure a Divine Position for his younger sister.

Lu Ran silently contemplated, turning to look behind him.

While he communed with the deity, the Cloud Sea Dust Clearing Sword had already manifested its Sword Spirit, standing behind him, waiting.

"Mom," Lu Ran said softly.

The ethereal Qiao Wanjun, with a faint smile on her face, scrutinized the handsome young man, observing the heroic spirit in her child's brows: "Are you hurt?"

Lu Ran also smiled.

Others would only focus on his achievements, watching him progress rapidly.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Lu Ran said, looking at the woman's approaching hand, his smile softened.

He wished this hand truly existed.

Unfortunately, it was just a phantom Sword Spirit.

It seemed that what he had done was still not enough, the losses on the God Demon camp were not significant enough to release this foremost disciple of Sword One across the Three Realms.

Qiao Wanjun suddenly said, "You've achieved such results, why do you feel melancholy?"

Ever since the gods fell one after another, the apocalyptic atmosphere spread in the human world, those kept in the dark cried and mourned as if they had lost their parents.

Qiao Wanjun, however, stood alone atop Jinghong Peak, gazing at the high skies and distant clouds, pondering over the youth's determined face.

Others were completely unaware that the list of gods who died by the end of October held deep significance.

Qiao Wanjun was truly someone who had been to the Heavenly Realm Battlefield!

She could tell from the fallen configuration of the gods that her son had... slaughtered an entire mountain!

"I..." Faced with his mother's inquiry, Lu Ran hesitated to speak.

"Hmm?" Qiao Wanjun slightly raised an eyebrow.

"I want to battle alongside you," Lu Ran said solemnly.

"Hehe~" Qiao Wanjun chuckled softly, finger gently tapping Lu Ran's brow, though the illusory fingers couldn't truly touch his forehead.

Lu Ran stared into the woman's eyes: "It seems I need to slaughter a few more Divine Mountains."

A hint of emotion appeared in Qiao Wanjun's eyes.

At this moment, the phrase "youthful spirit" seemed to have its best interpretation.

"By the way." Lu Ran took out the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd from his waist, presenting it to his mother, "Yuanxi has already merged with the Flower Lantern - Black Lantern Stone Sculpture and is now advancing towards the Third Level of the Heavenly Realm."

Qiao Wanjun lowered her gaze to the radiant Treasure Gourd.

It's hard to imagine that the girl who used to be so playful would be associated with terms like "Third Level of the Heavenly Realm."

Yet under her son's protection, the little one was about to reach the peak of the Human Clan.

"I will soon secure a Divine Position for little Yuanxi, allowing her to become a god," Lu Ran patted the plump Treasure Gourd.

"Flower Lantern, along with Skyspear, and Cloud Mace, share the same Divine Mountain; they cooperate well, be careful," Qiao Wanjun finally spoke.

Fourth-class God·Skyspear.

Fifth-class God·Cloud Mace.

Both God's combat power was quite impressive, especially the fourth-ranked Skyspear, which was noteworthy.

This was a handsome, courageous male Divine Sculpture, skilled in wielding a long spear, with unrivaled martial arts.

If Cold Plum was honored as the little Sword One.

Then Skyspear might be called "Little Qiang Xiu."

Just from this nickname alone, one could discern the combat prowess of this Divine Sculpture, definitely not a flashy spearhead with no substance.

"I'll pay attention," Lu Ran nodded, then bade goodbye, "Mom, I need to go back."

"Go on," Qiao Wanjun stood with her hands behind her back, a trace of encouragement in her eyes.

Lu Ran summoned the Ancient Bronze Mirror, suddenly turning to look at the Divine Sculpture: "Immortal Sheep Master, disciple will continue executing tasks, you… is there anything disciple should pay attention to?"

The god remained silent.

Lu Ran set his heart! Since there were no special reminders, he would proceed as usual.

"Huh!!"

The Landing Mirror tore through space-time, the Sword Spirit merged into the Cloud Sea Sword.

Lu Ran bowed respectfully to the Divine Sculpture, striding into the mirror.

Returning to Heaven's Edge, he slowly raised his head, gazing at the sky filled with dark clouds, feeling a trace of oppression.

Part of the Ran Sect soldiers led by Qiao Yuansi were still advancing within the Treasure Gourd, today first research battle plans.....

[Master.]

[Huh?] Lu Ran responded instinctively.

Within the Ran Sect, Yan Shuangzi was almost the only one able to directly communicate with Lu Ran without needing prayers or pleas.

After all, the Ran Dog would anytime utilize Greedy Wolf, Evil Dog skills, always closely linked to the Great Evil Shadow.

[The Shadow Guard Team just brought news, the uncle-nephew of the Wang Family appeared at Qianhua Ridge.]

[Oh?] Lu Ran's mind stirred.

The uncle-nephew duo had been traveling for almost a month; they finally arrived?

[We were just in the human world, the Shadow Guard couldn't reach us, temporarily housing the two in the River Valley dwelling.]

[Alright, I'll take a look.] Lu Ran summoned the Ancient Bronze Mirror in his hand, suddenly recalling something.

He searched through the garden, connecting with the two Stone Sculptures—Sky Phoenix and Soul Splitting Bull (Demon): [Yiren, Bull Head, could you both come to Heaven's Edge.]

The sudden transmission interrupted the two's diligent cultivation.

[Yes.] Guan Yiren's voice was very commanding and pleasant.

[Alright, Brother Ran, I'm on my way!] Niu Zhengzheng's transmission sounded no different from his hoarse real speaking voice.

And that one call of Brother Ran really amused Lu Ran.

The unchanged form of address, of course, was something he strictly demanded.

He just hoped that upon meeting, Niu Zhengzheng could maintain his rugged, boisterous style and not turn into a timid little lamb.

...

Brothers, today one update. Tomorrow 3 updates, will make up for the missing chapter.

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.