Summit of the Old Gods

Lu Ran felt particularly fortunate to have chosen such an excellent place to settle down!

Both he and Deng Yuxiang had successfully advanced, and for nearly twenty days, Cloud Sea Cliff was enveloped in dense mist, with the Fog Dragon Roll connecting heaven and earth.

During this time, there were really few disturbances from creatures!

Every morning, Lu Ran would go to the Council Hall to consult with the elder Bai Yanhui.

It was just like opening a blind box~

Every day, Lu Ran would obtain the information he desired.

And on the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Lu Ran opened up something extraordinary.

Elder Bai Yanhui clearly stated, "Today, a good event might occur."

A good event, indeed?

Lu Ran was secretly delighted!

Could it be that Jiang Ruyi, who was in seclusion cultivating, was about to catch the tailwind of the Big Nightmare?

As expected!

On the seventh day, at noon, Lu Ran noticed the mist between heaven and earth thickened a bit more!

Lu Ran was overwhelmingly happy; he couldn't help but steal glances and laugh joyfully while meditating by the sea cliff.

Such good spirits lasted for another two days.

Until the morning of the ninth day, the dense mist between heaven and earth finally dissipated.

Did both the Big Nightmare and little Ruyi successfully advance?

"Ha!" Lu Ran looked at the now clear surroundings but suddenly stopped laughing.

A problem arose!

With both of them coming out of seclusion simultaneously, whom should he greet first?

Uh... better greet young Ruyi first; after all, she's his fiancée.

The Big Nightmare sister is so considerate~

Shouldn't be angry, right?

Lu Ran immediately flashed to the door of seclusion room number one, patiently waiting.

But no matter how long he waited, he still didn't see young Ruyi emerge.

Unable to resist, Lu Ran sent a transmission: [Ruyi?]

[Hmm?]

[Did you successfully advance?]

[What advance?] Jiang Ruyi seemed puzzled.

Lu Ran: ???

[Have you made me hallucinate about your advancement? The mist dissipated because Yuxiang advanced successfully.]

Jiang Ruyi laughed and continued transmitting: [Could you please go congratulate her for me? I feel like I'm about to touch my cultivation bottleneck, need to retreat a bit more.]

Hearing this, Lu Ran was even more confused.

The one who thickened Cloud Sea Cliff's mist wasn't Jiang Ruyi?

Then who was it?

"Whoosh~"

Lu Ran flashed again, arriving at the entrance of seclusion room number two, in the north side woodland of the Nightmare residence.

"Sect Master!"

"The Sect Master is here." At that moment, many warriors had already gathered to congratulate Ran Sect's chief protector on her successful advancement.

"Good, good." Lu Ran nodded in response, his gaze landing on Deng Yuxiang.

Seeing her again, he no longer felt flustered.

Everyone is of the Sea Realm, the aura is at the same level; who can suppress whom?

The Big Nightmare is just one rank higher than me!

If I let the Magic Artifact·Jet Black Tiger Talisman exert its power, the Big Nightmare would fear me!

"Whoosh~"

The Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd sensed its owner arrived, hurriedly twisted its chubby body, freeing itself from the woman's hands.

"Oh." Lu Ran was bumped by the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and stepped back, hugging the poor little thing.

What's going on?

Lu Ran could sense its longing for him, and also a hint of grievance?

He looked up at Deng Yuxiang: "This?"

Deng Yuxiang narrowed her eyes, looking at the spoiled Magic Artifact in Lu Ran's arms: "Sect Master should be just a bit more stern at times.

Some moments require more strictness with subordinates."

Instantly, those who came to congratulate fell silent.

Who could she mean?

With Deng Yuxiang's status and formidable strength, she indeed had the right to admonish Ran Sect's members.

The issue was, everyone highly regards the Sect Master; who would dare act out?

And then Deng Yuxiang's next statement left everyone stunned:

"The Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd has advanced to a second-rank Magical Artifact."

"Ah?" Lu Ran immediately looked down.

To his surprise, the little Phoenix rapidly burrowed into his robes, circled halfway around, and pressed firmly against his waist.

As if it used Lu Ran as a human shield, blocking Deng Yuxiang's sharp gaze.

"Second-rank Magical Artifact?" Lu Ran blinked his eyes, "It's... successful?"

So, it wasn't Jiang Ruyi advancing, but the little Phoenix upgrading its grade!

Deng Yuxiang looked at the bewildered expression of Lu Ran, her eyes softened a bit, with a hint of a smile.

Lu Ran reached behind his waist and took out the hiding Treasure Gourd: "I entreated the little Phoenix for so long, indulging it every day, still it didn't succeed..."

Since entering the mountain, Ran Sect members have frequently advanced, including He Qifeng's advancement and Yun Qianzhou's.

Whenever a blessing descended from above, didn't Lu Ran seize it with the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and feast?

And each time, the little Phoenix was so satisfyingly filled!

But this time, Deng Yuxiang hosted the little Phoenix for eight or nine days, and it was successful?

Deng Yuxiang nodded with a smile: "Perhaps it accumulated enough experience earlier on, and just happened to complete its transformation with me.

However, the Sect Master should genuinely consider being appropriately stern."

"Buzz~"

The Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd trembled slightly, and Lu Ran unintentionally, it retreated into his robes again, hiding behind his waist.

Goodness~

Look how the little Phoenix got frightened!

It's merely a child! Hmm... let's definitely not overdo it!

[What, feeling distressed?] Deng Yuxiang switched to transmission, unwilling to let outsiders hear her speaking to Lu Ran in such a manner.

[Well done!] Lu Ran communicated telepathically while laughing out loud, pulling out the little Blazing Phoenix again.

Deng Yuxiang silently watched Lu Ran, her smile growing broader.

She liked seeing him happy.

Especially since, on the battlefield, Lu Ran often had a somber expression and a cold, piercing gaze.

In contrast, his joyful and laughing demeanor was like a bright spring day, quite healing to the heart.

At least, it healed her soul.

"You can eat people now?" Lu Ran received a message, his eyes widening slightly.

"Buzz~" The Treasure Gourd trembled again.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? You advanced without telling me..." Lu Ran was a bit displeased, suddenly realizing it might be because Deng Yuxiang was too strict?

Lu Ran couldn't be bothered anymore and immediately said, "Come on, let's try it!"

With that, he picked up the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and looked around at everyone.

Realizing Lu Ran was going to conduct an experiment, none of the Ran Sect members flinched.

Yu Changsheng even volunteered, "Sect Leader, let me try."

"Forget it, I'll do it myself." Lu Ran sent the gourd flying upwards with one hand.

With Lu Ran's thought, the golden, intricate phoenix pattern on the gourd lit up with dazzling light!

Energy surged intensely.

Lu Ran's feet slowly lifted off the ground, his entire body being sucked up, and his form becoming smaller until he was drawn into the gourd's mouth.

"Whoosh~"

The Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd completed its task as instructed and hurriedly flew away.

Everyone turned to see the Treasure Gourd flying behind a tree.

Yan Shuangzi: "..."

She leaned against the big tree, looking down at the gourd forcefully burrowing into her embrace, feeling perplexed.

The little Blazing Phoenix recognized this woman!

She was the master's most loyal subordinate, always by the master's side, and would surely protect it from that terrifying woman's persecution!

Meanwhile, inside the gourd.

"I... Ugh! Ugh..."

Lu Ran's vision blurred, his mouth filled with a terrifying amount of Divine Power.

Outside, the Divine Power which was in a mist form, had been compressed inside the gourd to its limit, becoming solidified water.

Lu Ran's body was too small, making him feel like he was drowning in a deep sea.

The pervasive Divine Power didn't nourish Lu Ran; instead, it invaded him, disrupting his body.

It was reminiscent of when Lu Ran infused a large amount of Divine Power into Song Yu, the Hall Master of Feixian Hall!

Lu Ran couldn't harness the Divine Power to perform techniques.

Not to mention casting spells, he couldn't even move, submerged in the extremely condensed sea of Divine Power!

"Get me out!" Lu Ran immediately conveyed his thought.

"Puff~"

In Yan Shuangzi's embrace, the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd suddenly turned its mouth and spat out the creature inside.

"Hah... Hah..."

Lu Ran's form rapidly expanded, stumbling as he moved forward, gasping heavily.

Yan Shuangzi, with swift reflexes, instantly teleported several meters and supported Lu Ran steadily.

"My goodness." Lu Ran's chest heaved dramatically.

Good thing I didn't let Mr. Cong Long test it!

If I hadn't given the command in time, something could have really gone wrong.

Even then, the little Blazing Phoenix hadn't even finished refining!

If it had unleashed its full power, Lu Ran's extremely unstable Water Flow Armor might have shattered instantly?

"Whoosh~"

The little Blazing Phoenix, seeing its master return, seemed like an aggrieved child, burrowing into Lu Ran's arms again.

Lu Ran: "..."

No!

You have this ability, and you're still letting Deng Yuxiang control you?

Why didn't you absorb her?

Thinking of this, Lu Ran couldn't help but feel a chill.

Thankfully, the little Blazing Phoenix wasn't too aggressive, like a child; otherwise, if it clashed with Deng Yuxiang, what would happen if she got hurt?

"Amazing, amazing, little Blazing Phoenix!" Lu Ran struggled to calm the tumultuous Divine Power within him, speaking haltingly.

Truly worthy of being a second-rank magical artifact!

It is unexpectedly strong in this way...

Lu Ran, with trembling hands, picked up the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd, looking as though he had just escaped a great danger.

"Are you alright?" Deng Yuxiang came over quickly, her face full of concern.

Lu Ran grinned and said, "An ordinary Sea Realm Great Power going in would absolutely be unable to move.

The amount of Divine Power stored in a second-rank magical artifact is just too much, overly concentrated!

It's like a torture chamber that can burst people apart..."

Seeing Lu Ran trembling slightly, Deng Yuxiang supported his other arm, and together with Yan Shuangzi, helped him up: "I just advanced, so there's naturally a lot of Divine Power in the gourd."

"Indeed." Lu Ran nodded.

Under normal circumstances, the interior of the gourd shouldn't be that terrifying."

Deng Yuxiang noted, "Nor would a Sea Realm Great Power stand there foolishly, allowing the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd to absorb them."

Lu Ran frowned.

That's crucial!

The Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd was naturally meant to refine Evil Demon corpses, not to devour the living.

Recalling carefully, just speaking of the gourd's suction power, Lu Ran was fairly certain he could easily break free.

If one insists on using this auxiliary magical artifact as a combat treasure, it must be aided by strong control methods!

Others might find this challenging, but Lu Ran would not!

He has the Tangled Silk Shadow Evil Technique·Silk Thread!

Putting aside battle, returning to the artifact's auxiliary role...

"If we just let the little Blazing Phoenix eat half-full, and stop refining, then the being inside the gourd should be able to stay safely on standby."

Lu Ran murmured, his eyes growing brighter.

That is to say,

from now on, I can carry an army on my person?

...