Chapter 102: Where Do You Think You’re Running, Little Xun’er?

Inside the secret chamber.

Lin Ran's tightly shut eyes suddenly flew open, a flash of joy flickering across them. In the next moment, his hands swiftly formed a strange seal, and a low, slightly eerie chant spilled from his mouth.

As the sound echoed, the corpse of the Hall of Souls emissary in front of him trembled violently. Wisps of thick, black mist oozed out from the body, and a pair of sinister eyes—like ghostly flames—suddenly snapped open.

At the same time, a vast, emotionless aura slowly surged from within the corpse.

This pressure was so overwhelming it even exceeded Lin Ran's by a fraction. The space around them rippled violently under the terrifying Dou Qi, and even the protective barrier Lin Ran had placed around the chamber shuddered intensely.

Dou Ancestor!

"Good, good, good! A one-star Dou Ancestor—this level of power was worth every bit of my effort!"

Feeling that majestic pressure, Lin Ran burst into delighted laughter.

A Dou Ancestor was far beyond a Dou Zong. At this stage, one truly grasped the power of space—every gesture could manipulate the surrounding world, restricting or even fatally attacking an opponent.

In a typical fight, even ten peak nine-star Dou Zong experts couldn't defeat a single one-star Dou Ancestor. The gap between their strength was simply too vast.

Of course, monsters like Lin Ran—or someone like Xiao Yan, with multiple Heavenly Flames—were exceptions.

In most powerful factions, there would always be at least one Dou Ancestor seated in authority. Only those who had mastered space could truly hold and defend a territory.

With this Dou Ancestor-level corpse puppet, even if Lin Ran was away, the Holy Rain Sect would now have a solid foundation of protection.

"Time to see how things are going outside."

Casually withdrawing the surrounding Dou Qi barrier, Lin Ran pushed open the chamber door. Before he could step outside, the sound of rushing wind approached rapidly. Several figures flickered into place beside him.

"Young Master! You're finally out of seclusion?"

"Young Master, I missed you so much~"

Qing Lin's face lit up with joy, while Xiao Yixian flung herself into Lin Ran's arms, rubbing her little head into his chest affectionately.

They had been longing for Lin Ran, especially Xiao Yixian.

Qing Lin had already received the top-tier reward, but Xiao Yixian hadn't yet seen any sign of hers. And now, with Lin Ran going into cultivation, she had completely lost her chance.

Now that he was finally out, her thoughts were full of him.

"You two little minxes…"

Lin Ran chuckled, gently ruffling Xiao Yixian's soft hair, then turned to the green-robed woman arriving last. "Looks like the sect has been developing nicely?"

Green-robed Elder Green gave a faint smile and nodded slightly, though her brows showed clear signs of fatigue.

It was obvious she had been quite exhausted these past days.

"The entire Black-Corner Region has submitted to our Holy Sect. Those that refused have already disbanded themselves. However, the distribution of the sect tokens still needs you to finalize."

"Based on current stats, seventy-five sects have joined. Thirty-two of their leaders are at the Dou Spirit level, thirty-five at Dou King, and eight are Dou Huang experts. As for the tokens—"

"They'll all get silver tokens."

Lin Ran said flatly, "Power isn't the only standard. I am."

"I know what worries you, Elder Green. People of different strengths holding the same authority will definitely create inner imbalance, possibly leading to fierce competition, conflict… even internal chaos."

"But isn't that a good thing?"

Lin Ran gave a faint smile. "Only through intense competition can new blood rise and thrive. That's exactly what the Holy Rain Sect needs."

"And besides, only by letting the sect tokens circulate will they increase in value, don't you think?"

He was planning to transform the sect token from a mere ID badge into something with real currency value!

Such ambition was… a little terrifying.

Elder Green shook her head helplessly, secretly impressed. But suddenly, she noticed the black-robed figure behind Lin Ran.

"Sect Leader, this is…?"

"A Holy Sect Puppet."

Lin Ran beckoned, and the corpse puppet obediently stepped forward.

"The sect is still young and lacks strong enough protectors, so I created a few of these."

"This one has Dou Ancestor strength. I'll place it somewhere in the Black-Corner Region. You can control it using jade command tokens for handling troublesome affairs."

"Right now, we have one Dou Zong and one Dou Ancestor puppet. More will follow soon. You'll be able to sense and command them with your jade tokens."

"D-Dou Ancestor?!"

The three women were stunned. They understood what puppets were, but a Dou Ancestor-level puppet? That was something else entirely.

Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin were still just at the Da Dou Shi stage. In their eyes, a Dou Ancestor was like a divine being.

And now, that divine power could be wielded by them at will.

This was…

"After all, I won't be staying in the Black-Corner Region long. These puppets give me some peace of mind," Lin Ran said with a smile.

There were still many strong individuals in the northwest continent. Not as many as in Central Plains, perhaps, but plenty of Dou Ancestors.

Sects like the Heavenly Snake Mansion and Lion Nether Sect, where Elder Green had come from, all had Dou Ancestor protectors.

The Black-Corner Region might be remote now, but future conflict was inevitable. A Dou Ancestor puppet would be a major advantage.

"I'll be heading to the Jia Ma Empire soon. The sect will need you to take care of things for a while, Elder Green."

"Sect Leader…" Elder Green looked exasperated. She had basically managed the sect single-handedly from the start. Lin Ran was the very definition of a hands-off boss.

But she had no choice. She was already on this ship—where else could she go?

"By the way, Sect Leader, Han Feng said he has some of the herbs you need. Also… there's a little girl who insists on seeing you."

Her voice softened slightly at the last part. "She said she came from Jia Nan Academy and called you… big brother?"

"Where is she?"

Lin Ran's mouth twitched. A familiar face immediately popped into his mind—Zi Yan.

"She's in the main hall. I arranged for—"

"I'm here!"

Before Elder Green could finish, a small figure poked her head in from outside. A white-robed little girl with sparkling black eyes gazed at Lin Ran with greedy expectation.

The three women's expressions changed slightly, especially Elder Green's.

This was Lin Ran's secluded cultivation chamber, protected by powerful Dou Qi seals to prevent interruptions or energy leakage.

Only those with much greater strength than Lin Ran—or with his permission—could enter.

Yet this little girl had just… walked right in?

As the three women tensed, Lin Ran let out a helpless laugh.

"You really just run wherever you please, huh?"

"My pills ran out days ago. I've been starving!" Zi Yan stepped into the room, her hands behind her back, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

Lin Ran looked pained.

The pills he'd given her were no ordinary pills—they were fourth and fifth-grade. Any Dou Spirit or Dou King could've used them to cultivate for months.

Zi Yan, on the other hand, had devoured them like candy in barely a week. And now she wanted more.

"Clack, clack—"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Zi Yan casually fiddled with the ring on her finger and dumped a massive pile of rare herbs onto the ground.

"I dug all these up myself."

She looked at Lin Ran expectantly. "Big brother, you said I could come to you if I ran out of pills. Please refine some for me, I'm starving!"

"So many rare herbs!"

Xiao Yixian gasped. As a doctor, she immediately recognized the preciousness of those herbs—most were rarely found even in the Holy Rain Sect's storerooms.

Where had this little girl come from? And how had she gathered so many?

"Hehe, they're nice, right? I found them all myself!"

Zi Yan proudly puffed her chest.

"Found… yourself?!"

The three women were stunned.

"She has an innate ability to sense treasures. No need to be so shocked," Lin Ran explained as he waved his hand and collected the herbs. Then he tossed her a handful of pills from his ring.

"You're just in time. I'm heading to Jia Nan Academy soon. You can come along."

"Huh? You're going to the Academy?"

Zi Yan immediately started stuffing the pills into her mouth. Crunch, crunch. Like candy.

The way she ate left the three women dumbfounded. They wanted to say something but had no idea where to begin.

Was this… was this really how one ate pills?

"That's right. Your academy's Fallen Heart Flame is useful to me. I plan to check it out."

Lin Ran smiled. "Speaking of which, I'm still a guest elder at your academy. That technically makes you my student. Shouldn't you greet your teacher properly?"

"Will you give me more pills if I do?" Zi Yan blinked innocently.

Her cute response made Lin Ran burst into laughter, and even the three women couldn't help smiling at the gluttonous little imp.

"Alright, you two will come with me as well."

He turned to Qing Lin and Xiao Yixian. "The Fallen Heart Flame's Heart Flame will be good for tempering your Dou Qi."

"Mhm!"

"We'll follow Young Master's lead."

"No time to waste. Let's go."

Lin Ran beckoned to Elder Green, picked up Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin, and, under Zi Yan's wide-eyed stare, grabbed the collar of the glutton and vanished into a spatial rift.

Only Elder Green was left behind, staring at the motionless Dou Ancestor puppet with a sigh.

"Sect Leader really is… sigh."

...

Black Seal City was far from Jia Nan Academy, but for Lin Ran, it was a trivial matter.

As a peak Dou Zong, already touching the threshold of Dou Ancestor, this kind of spatial travel was effortless.

In an instant, a rift tore open in the sky above Jia Nan Academy.

"So this is Jia Nan Academy."

From high above, Lin Ran and his group looked down. Calling it an academy didn't do it justice—it was more like a city.

The entire academy was based in Jia Nan City, teeming with people and lively streets. Even the major cities of the Jia Ma Empire couldn't compare.

It was as bustling as some cities in Central Plains.

"This is Jia Nan City. The academy is at the center," Zi Yan mumbled through a mouthful of pills.

"But this is just the Outer Academy. The Inner Academy is in those mountains. The Heavenly Flame Refining Tower you're looking for is in there."

"Not just anyone can get in though. Without permission from the old guys, outsiders aren't allowed."

She popped another pill and pointed at herself proudly. "But don't worry, Big Brother. With me here, you can go wherever you want!"

She was clearly used to doing whatever she pleased with her special abilities.

Lin Ran shook his head and patted her.

"Your talent is strong, and you can sense fortune and danger. But if you rely on that alone, you'll suffer sooner or later."

"The ones who drown are the ones who know how to swim. You're naturally attuned to space, but that doesn't mean you're invincible."

"Okaaaay…" Zi Yan pouted, clearly not taking his words to heart.

Lin Ran didn't press it. He landed with the three girls.

"No rush to the Inner Academy. Let's look around the Outer Academy first."

"Yes, Young Master."

The four of them wandered the streets.

Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin curiously admired the surroundings, amazed that such a powerful academy existed within the Black-Corner Region.

Zi Yan munched on pills as she walked, cheeks puffed like a hamster.

Lin Ran's gaze drifted to a corner—two aged figures stood hidden in the shadows. Their auras were faint but unmistakable.

The two ancient Dou Ancestors from the Gu Clan.

Lin Ran offered them a faint smile and continued strolling with his group.

"What's he doing here in the Outer Academy? Isn't the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower in the Inner Academy?"

"No idea. But look at those two girls."

"The Calamity Poison Body and the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils… As expected of the Pure Yang Body!"

"Yeah. The records say the Pure Yang Ancient Emperor was blessed with endless fortune, countless beauties, and a life full of love—but never had a child. I wonder what this boy's fate will be."

The two elders whispered in awe.

Both of those rare constitutions were once-in-a-century phenomena, and they were now gathered around Lin Ran. The power of the Pure Yang Body truly lived up to its name.

But… why had he come to the Outer Academy? Wait—could it be?

A sudden realization struck them, and their expressions changed dramatically. Without hesitation, they tore open space and vanished.

At the same time, Lin Ran appeared beside the very girl they would give their lives to protect.

"Miss!"

"Wait!"

Han Lao grabbed Lin Ran's arm, his brow furrowed. "Don't act rashly. If he really meant her harm, we'd be too late to stop it. Don't panic."

"But…"

Lin Lao clenched his fists, glaring at Lin Ran's smiling face with undisguised hostility.

By the willow pond, a girl in a light green dress stood elegantly, her long hair swaying in the breeze. Her quiet gaze met Lin Ran's calmly—like an untouched lotus.

"You're not a student of the academy, are you? Aren't you afraid of being punished for trespassing?"

After a long silence, she finally spoke. Her voice was ethereal and clear, like it could cleanse one's soul.

"I'm not from the academy? And how did you conclude that?"

Lin Ran looked amused.

"I can't sense your Dou Qi."

Her serene face grew serious. "Your strength, your completely restrained aura—none of it belongs to any student here. If someone from the Black-Corner Region entered uninvited, the elders wouldn't be pleased. Please watch yourself."

"You're quite sharp for an Outer Academy student. But how could someone like you determine my identity?"

Lin Ran smiled and flicked his sleeve. In Xun'er's astonished eyes, he revealed his guest elder token.

"I'm not only from this academy—I'm a guest elder. As a student, you should call me Elder."

"E-Elder?"

Xun'er's expression froze, then softened with understanding.

"So, Elder Lin Ran. Xun'er was indeed rude."

Lin Ran wasn't surprised she knew who he was. With the two Gu Clan elders here, Su Qian had surely reported everything to her.

But what intrigued him was her composure. She wasn't pretending—she was genuinely confident.

And Lin Ran could tell—that confidence didn't come from the two elders.

"So Old Gu Yuan left something in his daughter after all…"

His eyes narrowed as he looked her over. Then he smiled.

His gaze made Xun'er frown. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly let out a muffled groan. A tiny golden flame ignited in her eyes, and a crimson-gold Dou Qi flared around her.

"This is…"

Seeing the flame, Lin Ran's eyes widened.

The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame—ranked fourth among Heavenly Flames.

But before he could act, the golden flame surged toward him on its own.

"Miss!"

"Lin Ran! You dare harm the young lady?!"

Two figures appeared instantly, space warping around them. The Gu Clan Dou Ancestors stood between them, Dou Qi roaring.

Lin Ran's face darkened. "You old fools, open your eyes! I'm not attacking her—she's attacking me!"

The elders frowned.

They looked again—and realized the golden Dou Qi was flowing into Lin Ran, not the other way around.

"What's going on, Miss?!"

They were dumbfounded. Xun'er looked just as confused.

Then, green-gold Dou Qi emerged from Lin Ran and flowed back into her, fusing with her own energy.

She groaned softly.

"Lin Ran! What are you doing?!"

"You think I want this?! If I pull my Dou Qi back now, she'll go into backlash and cough blood!"

"Han Lao, Lin Lao, step back!" Xun'er commanded.

She could feel it.

As their Dou Qi merged, hers grew denser and stronger.

She tried to stop—but her Dou Qi refused. It was clinging to Lin Ran.

"This…"

The two elders looked at each other, stunned.

After a moment, Lin Lao gritted his teeth. "Han Lao, prepare a secret chamber. I'll search the records!"

This was no time for rules. As long as Xun'er wasn't harmed, they had to act.

If the elders or Gu Yuan found out… they might skin them alive.

"Got it!"

Han Lao nodded, locked down the space around Lin Ran and Xun'er, and transferred them into a hidden chamber.

Lin Lao vanished to search the ancient records.

Green-gold and crimson-gold Dou Qi blended and glowed, filling the chamber with golden light. The temperature rose sharply.

"Dou Qi fusion… refinement… It's the Heavenly Flame! It's the young lady's flame!"

Han Lao's pupils shrank.

But what he couldn't understand was…

Why would the Gu Clan's inherited flame react like this… to Lin Ran?

(End of Chapter)

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