CHAPTER 1097: CHAPTER 1024: CICADAS SINGING ON A SUMMER AFTERNOON

"Eternal Night Rider."

"Oh?" Lu Ran was even more surprised, "Isn’t that a Second-class Evil God?"

"Yes." Jiang Ruyi slightly turned her head, using her peripheral vision to glance behind her.

The Evil Shadow Guardian understood the signal and immediately disappeared without a trace.

"A Second-class Strong God, wanting to defect to us?" Lu Ran blinked.

The gods and demons over in Europe, in terms of overall strength, are no match for the Great Xia Gods and Demons, whether in quality or quantity, they can’t compare.

Take First-class Gods and Demons for example: Great Xia has as many as 8!

And don’t forget, Sword One and Blood Skull both possess complete divine positions, if they wished, they could split off into 2 additional First-class Gods and Demons.

The quantity could reach double digits.

While in the European battle zone, the total number of First-class Gods and Demons is just 5!

If they were to merge, possessing complete divine positions, likely only 3...

What kind of concept is this?

If we liken Lu Ran’s endeavor against gods and demons to a game in the human world, then he was born directly into the highest nightmare difficulty level.

When he conquers Great Xia and looks back at other battle zones, he would feel as if looking at "low-level dungeons."

The number of First-class Gods and Demons in the European battle zone is low, and the same goes for Second-class ones, just 6 in total.

That’s three pairs.

The number of Third-class Gods and Demons is higher, over twenty, but still far inferior to Great Xia!

Do know that the number of Third-class Gods and Demons in Great Xia is nearly forty...

To be honest, because of the poor quality and low quantity of European battle zone gods and demons, the Second-class Evil God, Eternal Night Rider, stands at the top of the pyramid.

Such an Evil God, wanting to defect to the Ran Sect?

"Yes." Jiang Ruyi responded softly, in an environment void of people, she nestled in Lu Ran’s embrace, gently closing her beautiful eyes, listening to the cicadas’ chorus outside the window.

It felt utterly peaceful.

"Could it be some conspiracy?" Lu Ran was fully on guard.

"Even Qiang Xiu has to bow to me properly, what does a Second-class Evil God from a small European battle zone count as?" Jiang Ruyi said nonchalantly.

This was not a deliberate scorn or disdain, but a cold, harsh reality.

From the gentle words of the Empress, powerful flair was conveyed, which amazed Lu Ran.

Suddenly, Lu Ran’s breath halted, as if he thought of something.

"What’s wrong?"

"You... he..." Lu Ran opened his mouth, somewhat stuck.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi finally deigned to open her eyes, with a probing look.

Lu Ran murmured, "Could it be that the Eternal Night Rider couldn’t find a proper king or queen in Europe, and discovered a rising Empress in the East...

Is it because he admires you, that he wants to defect?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ruyi’s expression turned peculiar, and she noticed that the arm around her waist tightened a bit.

With rare playful intent, she softly teased, "Then you should hold tighter... um."

Without another word, Lu Ran scooped her up in a princess carry, striding towards the bed.

The suddenness of it brought a blush to Jiang Ruyi’s cheeks, making her shy, as she whispered:

"Previously, there was also an Evil Spear Emperor in Great Xia."

Lu Ran placed her on the bed, his hands supporting either side of her body, looking down at that coldly alluring face: "You are much more beautiful than the Evil Spear Emperor."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Soon, a gentle kiss fell upon her fair neck.

Jiang Ruyi closed her eyes once more, softly said, "I think the Eternal Night... Rider is dissatisfied with the status quo, foresaw the future’s outcome, and doesn’t want to be devoured by the Faceless Jade Venerable.

Our appearance represents new hope, um... let me finish speaking... Lu Ran!"

Lu Ran obediently stopped immediately.

Jiang Ruyi steadied her breath, softly said, "Or perhaps the rise of the Ran Sect is too rapid, unifying Great Xia, is entirely unstoppable, making the Outer Realm gods and demons feel threatened.

The death of the Fire God Woman was surely a formidable deterrent to them as well.

Thus, the Eternal Night Rider chose this path, defecting early offers a greater chance of survival."

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully.

The death of the First-class God from India, the Fire God Woman, was undoubtedly a huge deterrent, but in comparison, the fall of Great Xia’s top-tier Strong Gods was the truly terrifying thing!

A single war zone’s gods and demons wanting to meddle in Great Xia obviously lack the strength.

Look at those fallen Great Xia gods and demons!

Blood Skull, Martial Monk, Jade-faced Snake, Martial Artist, Yin Flower Dan, including the Evil Spear Emperor, who died in a duel.

Who would want to come courting death?

Besides, the gods and demons of the world are of the same ilk.

Even internally within the war zones, they can’t unite, each harboring vicious secrets, making a true alliance among the four war zones’ gods and demons almost impossible.

Objectively speaking, the continual day and night attacks of the Faceless Jade Venerable prevent the war zones with already low numbers and quality of gods and demons from having any leverage.

They can only send envoys repeatedly to probe intentions, discussing "reasons."

Frankly speaking: even ignoring the baseline and current state of the god-demon camp, removing all intrigues and obstacles, forcing them into sincere unity, the only one with the true capability to invade Great Xia might just be the Tianzhu Battle Zone.

Other zones might at most send some Second-class and Third-class gods to assist.

While Tianzhu...

The supreme Fire God Woman, remains forever in Great Xia!

How arrogant she was when departing to how miserable she was with the shattering of the Fire God Woman stone sculptures positioned throughout Tianzhu.

Like to meddle?

The new gods rising within the Great Xia Realm declare through their actions:

You dare to come, we dare to bury!

"What do you think?" Jiang Ruyi asked, noting Lu Ran’s thoughtful look, unable to resist raising her hand, her slender jade fingers gently pointing at his brow, lightly tracing.

"You still have many Phoenix Soul Brands left, right," Lu Ran suddenly said.

"Nine in total, and only five have been used so far."

Qiang Xiu, the merged Poison Flower Bee, Huang Que, Qian Gu, and Wang Hanchuan of the second level of the Heavenly Realm.

Uh, seems like something strange slipped in?

Lu Ran pondered briefly, then said: "Since they come to us willingly, of course, we should incorporate them, whether they are sincere or not, once the brand is imprinted, insincere becomes sincere!

This also provides us a path, allowing us to infiltrate the European God-Demon Camp.

Mr. Cong Long repeatedly told me, a smooth transition and power handover is the most ideal outcome."

The more Lu Ran spoke, the more determined he became: "The same goes for gods and demons from other war zones, for strong gods intending to defect to us, they can be accepted.

If the number of Phoenix Soul Brands is insufficient, then revoke the brand from those like Huang Que and Qian Gu.

Retaining only the brand from Qiang Xiu."

Though Third-class Gods and Demons are indeed among the strong, for the Ran Sect at present, they can’t stir up too much trouble.

Moreover, after these months of training, the few gods and demons would no longer face incineration, their positions have become properly aligned.

In the future if necessary, they might even be allowed to "graduate."

Jiang Ruyi gazed up at his serious face, listening to his decisions and arrangements, her fingertip rested on his brow.

Because Lu Ran lowered his head, softly asked: "Is this okay?"

"Listening to you." Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly, smiling softly.

On this gentle face, Lu Ran truly couldn’t find a trace of cold cruelty, only those pair of pitch-black eyes revealing the exclusive majesty of the divine.

Lu Ran maintained his gaze as long as he could, eventually closed his eyes and kissed down.

The summer afternoon, the cicadas continued to sing outside the window.

Wave after wave.

Very melodious, very peaceful.

...