Summit of the Old Gods

On this night, Lu Ran slept deeply.

A month ago, after he was promoted to the Third Heaven of the Heavenly Realm, there were some unusual happenings in the Sculpture Garden, and the tremors of the Blood Skull Evil Sculpture were gradually decreasing.

Until mid-February, the Blood Skull Evil Sculpture completely fell into silence.

Lu Ran wanted to inquire with the Immortal Sheep or simply connect mentally with the Blood Skull Evil Sculpture, but after much thought, he restrained himself.

Afraid that the calm of the Evil Sculpture was just an illusion, afraid that this was the most critical moment.

If something went wrong because he couldn't hold back and disturbed the gods and his father, it would be irreparable.

Lu Ran chose to wait silently.

This was also one of the reasons why he often stayed alone in the octagonal pavilion in recent days.

In any case, the settled Evil Sculpture gave Lu Ran a glimmer of fantasy.

Perhaps on the third day of March, his father could be successfully resurrected? Could be by his side to witness this ultimate battle at the most important moment of his life.

Lu Ran patiently waited, even though time was running out.

From February 28th to March 3rd, the Blood Skull remained quiet, and there was no sound from the Immortal Sheep Lord and his father.

"Ha..."

In the bedroom, Lu Ran lay on his side on the bed, gazing at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, unable to help but let out a deep sigh.

Father, are you going to miss it again?

He had already missed so many moments over the past ten years, would he miss this one too?

"Awake so early?" Suddenly, an arm reached out from behind Lu Ran, embracing him, the voice soft and lazy from just waking up.

Jiang Ruyi, with her eyes closed, rested her forehead on his back, her slender hand on his chest, feeling the heart beating beneath.

Steady and strong.

Not as anxious and flustered as one might imagine.

Since the night at the end of February, when she volunteered to battle with the Spiritual Fortune, Lu Ran hadn't gone to the Heavenly Realm Battlefield but stayed at the mansion instead.

Thanks to this, Jiang Ruyi's Dao Heart was polished to a radiant brilliance.

She wasn't sure if he deliberately left time to accompany her.

After all, Lu Ran was going to face a duel against a First-class Evil God, risking everything.

Lu Ran was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.

Who could guarantee the outcome, life or death?

"Stayed up all night?" Jiang Ruyi's voice was soft, entirely different from her usual cold tone.

"Just woke up." Lu Ran placed a hand on his chest, gently holding that slender hand, and with a light laugh, said, "You also have a big fight today, yet you slept soundly?"

"The Spiritual Fortune is nothing but a dead bone in a grave, nothing to worry about." Jiang Ruyi said indifferently.

Just a few exchanges, and she shed the laziness from waking up, her words carrying the dignified aura unique to a deity.

At this point, Lu Ran's heartbeat inevitably quickened.

Jiang Ruyi naturally noticed and chuckled.

The Evil Spear Emperor couldn't disturb Lu Ran much, but instead... was she the real source of his anxiety?

"Want some breakfast? I'll have someone prepare it." Jiang Ruyi whispered.

"How about a fried dough stick and two tea eggs?" Lu Ran suddenly blurted out.

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Are you a school kid?

This kind of simple-minded way of trying to get lucky is truly plain and unadorned.

Lu Ran sat up against the bedhead, looking at his goddess girlfriend, lightly tidying her long hair with one hand: "You seem especially confident."

Jiang Ruyi, closing her eyes, felt his gentle touch and said, "After the Phoenix Dignity of Nine Heavens Robe advanced to the Fourth Rank, the previous three Phoenix Soul Imprints increased to nine.

Previously, I could only imprint deep into the spirits of beings in the Heavenly Realm, and now, it's possible in the God Realm as well.

After today, as we take over the northwestern forces, you can choose any god or demon to keep, and I will help you discipline them."

Disciplining gods and demons?

Such words... truly astonishing.

Especially when Fairy Jiang said them so nonchalantly, it made Lu Ran secretly anxious.

The Divine and Evil Sculptures in the Sculpture Garden rarely had self-awareness.

Even if they devoured the divine soul of corresponding gods and demons, they still remained foolish Stone Sculptures, with limited help to the Ran Sect.

The Lady of Ran Sect, having such extraordinary means, naturally meant an additional choice for the Ran Sect:

To spare the lives of the Northwestern Gods and Demons, let them retain their intellect and self-awareness while faithfully following the Master of Ran Sect.

Of course, the spellcasting conditions for the Phoenix Soul Imprints were quite stringent, the process relatively lengthy, leaving no room for error.

During intense combat, it's impossible to imprint.

This also means that if you want to discipline gods and demons, you not only need enough strength to defeat them, the requirement must be raised one more level:

You must have absolute strength to forcibly control the opponent, ensuring the gods and demons are powerless to resist.

Or make the gods and demons willingly submit, obediently stay in place, accepting a future of being ruled and enslaved.

And Jiang Ruyi's words made Lu Ran's suspicions come true, understanding why she was so confident.

She didn't respond directly but gave a hint - Phoenix Dignity of Nine Heavens Robe!

After the Phoenix Robe advanced to a top-level Magical Artifact, it was also equipped with the top-level Domain·Phoenix Dignity of Nine Heavens.

The name was chosen by Lu Jiang together, and Lu Ran truly felt that the Phoenix Robe's name itself was worthy of such a powerful Domain.

Under the cover of the Sky-covering Phoenix, wherever Jiang Ruyi's gaze reached, all living things would burst into fierce flames.

Even the Faceless Jade Venerable Clan couldn't withstand it!

Such fire, used to burn other living creatures, would be, as expected, effective.

Back then at the Immortal Mo Divine Mountain, when the two experimented with this Domain, regarding the Phoenix Golden Flame's inability to entirely burn up the soul, Lu Ran had given a corresponding evaluation:

Pretty good, if it could really burn up the divine soul, we'd actually be restrained.

After all, if we accidentally burned up the Spiritual Fortune's divine soul, wouldn't that be a total giveaway to that damned thing?

At that moment, Lu Ran never thought that from that point on...

The wheel of destiny had begun to turn!

"You're not only confident in yourself but in me as well." Lu Ran brushed aside her dark hair, revealing a stunningly attractive profile, "The battle hasn't even started, and you're already thinking of taking over the northwestern forces."

Jiang Ruyi still kept her eyes closed and didn't respond.

Regarding this, throughout the years of growth and battles, she had proven it time and time again with her actions.

No need for further words.

"I am leaving," Lu Ran leaned down and softly imprinted a kiss on her fair cheek, "to pick you up, to pick up the soldiers from each Divine Mountain."

The original Divine Sculpture of Xian Mo naturally stood on the Divine Mountain of the Third Heaven.

"Wait," Jiang Ruyi softly spoke.

"Hmm?"

"The perfect score you wanted will be delivered soon," Jiang Ruyi's lips curled into a slight smile.

Lu Ran: "..."

Though it was said to be a perfect score, breakfast couldn't be just that.

Lu Ran's good results were hidden in quite a sumptuous meal.

He hadn't eaten in a very long time, and suddenly seeing such a large table of delicacies, it felt somewhat like... hmm, a last meal?

Lu Ran didn't dare to say it out loud.

Afraid of angering his divine girlfriend, and end up thinking over in a corner facing the wall...

He just ate quietly.

Eating well is essential for a good journey~

Meanwhile, on the Heavenly Realm Battlefield.

Dense clouds shrouded the northwest part of the battlefield above Spear Saint Divine Mountain.

The oppressive and heavy atmosphere was even more terrifying than the dark clouds in the sky, enveloping the entire Divine Mountain.

What added fuel to this atmosphere was the Faceless Jade Venerable Clan.

With several Divine Mountains of the northwestern forces mobilizing their troops, this clan was clearly aware that something significant was likely to occur today.

The Jade Venerable Clan was unusually quiet, surrounding the Divine Mountain from afar, waiting silently and watching everything.

"Woo~~~"

Suddenly, at the peak of Spear Saint Divine Mountain, a lingering fox's cry echoed unexpectedly.

The sound should have been beautiful and melodious, but at this moment, it carried a tinge of sorrow and melancholy.

It was enough to make listeners sad and move observers to tears.

It's hard to imagine such a mournful sound appearing on the eve of a great war!

No leader would probably tolerate their soldiers losing their morale and undermining their authority.

The Evil Spear Emperor can tolerate it!

At the peak of the Divine Mountain, wearing a distinguished Emperor Robe, the king was casually reclining against a giant rock.

Beside his leg lay a charmingly beautiful Stone Fox.

Though the Stone Fox was a dark stone sculpture, its figure was exceptionally graceful, with seven long fox tails spread out at the edge of the cliff, looking like waterfalls cascading down the cliff.

The exquisite fox head rested on the young emperor's shin.

Such a beautiful scene was tinged with a touch of melancholy because of the thin layer of sorrow in those crescent moon-like fox eyes.

"So, have you foreseen your fate?" The Evil Spear Emperor reached out to the side.

"Ying~" The Ghost Moon Fox quickly presented its fox head, looking pitiful, gently rubbing against the emperor's palm.

"Hmm?" Although it was just a soft nasal sound, it carried an irrefutable authority.

The Ghost Moon Fox shook its head repeatedly, murmuring softly.

The Ghost Moon Fox clan possesses the ability to sense crises, but this ability is only for themselves.

Just now, under the foresight of the Evil Technique·Bright Moon Fox Heart, it went from a state of calm to gradually becoming restless.

Since it hadn't reached a level of panic and helplessness, the Ghost Moon Fox dared not rashly claim it had determined its fate.

But isn't this a sign?

The past events were clearly laid out before its eyes, the ferocious Human Clan rising with unparalleled ferocity! So far, they had smashed through Divine Mountains and crushed one God Demon after another.

Wherever the Human Clan gods waged war, there were few God Demons who could survive.

Today was the day of the showdown between the God Demon Emperor and Human Clan Emperor.

If the Evil Spear Emperor were to lose...

The Ghost Moon Fox really dared not think about what its fate might be.

Its fox eyes lit up once more with a beautiful crescent moon shape, trying again to predict good fortune or disaster.

Its mind was unsettled.

Fortunately, it wished it could continue like this.

The Ghost Moon Fox secretly thought while cautiously rubbing the Evil Spear Emperor's large hand.

"Hmm." The majestic emperor's actions were unexpectedly gentle, softly stroking the fox's head.

With the war imminent, it was inevitable for the Ghost Moon Fox to be restless, but as long as it didn't wail in despair, it indicated that there might be a path possible to tread.

An implicit banquet.

No matter who wins or loses, the only one surviving...

"Caw~ Caw~~~"

High in the sky, suddenly resounded a cry of crows.

The Evil Spear Emperor didn't lift his eyes but turned his gaze eastward.

In the dim light of the world and the thick clouds, appeared the figures of two Human Clan individuals.

They were small, yet impossible for all beings to ignore.

That was a mother and child.

They were the very existence standing atop the peak of the Human Clan.

Also, in the eyes of the Evil Spear Emperor, two different era's Human Clan emperors.

"Little fox, are you afraid?"

"Ying~" The Ghost Moon Fox leaned closer, burying its fox head into the wide sleeve robe, nestling under his palm.

...