Summit of the Old Gods

New Year's Eve, at dusk.

On a high mountain located more than ten kilometers north of Mist Rain Lake, a woman in an elegant green dress quietly awaited.

She held a Black Ice long sword in her hand, her fingertip stroking the cold, transparent blade inch by inch.

Her eyes were bright and captivating, yet those beautiful eyes carried a hint of hidden resentment.

Cold Moon, oh Cold Moon,

Do you think his heart is made of stone?

A woman like me, why does he remain indifferent?

Your master appears gentle and refined, yet his heart is just like you, cold and icy.

Divine Weapon · Cold Moon Sword: "..."

During this period, the Cold Moon Sword, serving as a messenger, has experienced many emotional upheavals.

Regarding the increasing relinquishment of dignity by He Yingcai, the Island Master.

Regarding Cong Long Guardian's polite yet distant response...

Cold Moon Sword went through it all.

It is unlike the Cold Moon Blade, which has long acknowledged its master and has been renamed the Evil Moon Scimitar, even achieving infinite harmony between master and weapon, developing the Divine Weapon Domain.

But the Cold Moon Sword?

Although it followed Yu Changsheng, it barely connected spiritually with him, its loyalty remained low.

Ever since following its original master to the Holy Spirit Mountain, the Cold Moon Sword's fate has been troubled, having changed owners multiple times.

It has long seen through the true nature of Holy Spirit Mountain and is unwilling to give its heart to anyone anymore.

Every master is bound to die, isn't that so?

It's just a matter of sooner or later.

It will end up being held by someone else, becoming another person's lethal weapon.

So, why bother giving your heart?

In the end, isn't it just solitary mourning and solitary sorrow?

"Sigh..."

The beauty sighed softly, secretly distressed.

"Whew~"

An energy quietly emerged, covering the sword.

That was the Sword Spirit, but it did not separate from the sword.

"Why?"

"Hmm?" He Yingcai asked in confusion.

Cold Moon Sword Spirit: "The feelings you give will eventually become a blade that pierces yourself."

He Yingcai looked slightly surprised, not expecting the Cold Moon Sword would express such a statement.

A moment later, she chuckled softly: "Hehe~"

He Yingcai pinched her fingers lightly, flicked the Cold Moon Sword like a "forehead flick," her voice gentle: "You don't understand."

Cold Moon Sword Spirit: "I have gathered a complete Artifact Spirit, with emotions and thoughts."

He Yingcai continued to smile: "Even I don't understand matters between men and women, how could you possibly understand?"

Cold Moon Sword Spirit: "..."

He Yingcai looked into the distance, at the sunset-red dyed forests, her gaze becoming increasingly misty:

"Since ancient times, who can truly understand?"

Cold Moon Sword Spirit remained silent for a long time and said: "Perhaps, after experiencing so much life and death inside Holy Spirit Mountain, he's protecting himself."

"Is that so?" He Yingcai pondered thoughtfully.

Cold Moon Sword Spirit: "I once accompanied Yu Changsheng to Ten Thousand Blade Mountain and saw the moment when Master Lu reunited with the Sect Master's wife."

He Yingcai became curious, quietly waiting for more.

Cold Moon Sword Spirit: "Compared to the joy of reunion, Master Lu felt more anger towards the enemy.

Followed by fear, relief, and many other complex emotions.

The joy of reunion was ranked the last, least noteworthy."

He Yingcai was silent for a while, and softly said: "But the anger, worry, and relief are only temporary; the joy of reunion is the longest-lasting.

It persists even to this day, does it not?"

Cold Moon Sword Spirit: "..."

He Yingcai subtly smiled: "Da Xia has a saying, 'to stop eating after choking.' You can't refuse to start just because you're afraid of getting hurt.

You're now sealing yourself off, living in a daze, what's the difference from being dead?"

Cold Moon Sword Spirit remained silent.

He Yingcai softly said: "Maybe you should be like me, trying to pursue a new life, striving for something beautiful.

To truly live day by day."

Living... day by day?

"Hmph." The Cold Moon Sword Spirit let out a cold snort.

Then, the energy flowing on the sword was absorbed into the blade.

He Yingcai silently caressed the sword, neither her nor the sword spoke again.

Who knows how much time passed, an energy emerged.

He Yingcai turned her head and saw under a large tree more than ten meters away, an ancient and elegant standing mirror rapidly formed.

From inside, a handsome young man appeared.

Behind the youth were four women dressed in green coats and blue hats, but their figures vanished upon emerging from the Ancient Bronze Mirror.

"Long time no see, Master Lu?" He Yingcai scrutinized the newcomer.

"Uh." Lu Ran's mind blanked.

Bi He's disciple, gentle as a lotus.

But today's Green Lotus Island Master, why does she seem slightly melancholy?

Who has upset her?

But that can't be right! This kind of calm person, who would have the ability to hurt her... oh, right!

Cong Long!

"Senior, things have been good lately, right?" Lu Ran stepped forward, his attitude attentive.

No clue why!

Clearly Cong Long Guardian upset the beauty, yet Lu Ran felt uneasy.

"How could things not be good?" Speaking of this, He Yingcai was quite reflective, "I am indeed Master Lu's senior, now all the island masters of Thousand Boat Alliance treat me with utmost respect."

"That's good." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, hastily changing the subject, "By the way, the Mud Pig Forest is in that direction, right?"

He Yingcai laughed, her lively eyes seemed to see through Lu Ran's mind.

"The sun is setting, soon there'll be a bonfire feast at Cloud Sea Cliff, we must hurry to transport the pigs back..." Lu Ran's voice grew smaller.

This is really absurd!

Facing He Yingcai's gaze, I don't know where I went wrong.

Anyway, it's just wrong!

"East, slightly south, around a hundred kilometers." He Yingcai smiled and nodded.

"Let's go!" Lu Ran immediately summoned an Ancient Bronze Mirror, then altered its nature, transforming it into a standing mirror.

He Yingcai quietly observed this scene.

Although Lu Ran had already showcased the Evil Mirror Demon Evil Technique, when he cast the spell again, He Yingcai still felt a silent trepidation.

The stronger Lu Ran was, the more fortunate He Yingcai felt.

Grateful to be able to communicate with him easily, grateful that Lu Ran's kindness is genuine.

If it were another person with Lu Ran's abilities...

One wonders, what kind of brutal rule would the entire Holy Spirit Mountain face.

"Whoosh~" The Shadow Guard Team (Note ①) appeared instantly, entering the mirror with Lu Ran.

A mere hundred kilometers or so, Lu Ran could reach in one go.

But for a map that hasn't been "illuminated," Lu Ran can only open the mirror with his naked eyes.

He repeatedly activated the Transmission Mirror, leading the team to the edge of the Mud Pig Forest.

The terrain of Mud Pig Forest is quite special, being a swamp forest, and it was Lu Ran's first time seeing it.

Looking around, it was a mess!

Mud was everywhere in the forest, along with murky ponds, exuding a strange odor.

Broken trees could be seen everywhere, soaking in the water, likely overturned by Mud Mountain Pigs...

"Whoa~" Lu Ran hovered in mid-air, his scrutinizing gaze slightly paused.

What a huge pig!

And it looks a bit festive?

In the muddy ground ahead on the left, a gigantic figure suddenly appeared.

Completely pitch black, resembling a wild boar, with two fangs on its snout and scarlet eyes, incredibly fierce!

Strangely enough, its snout and body were adorned with festive red ribbons.

Had it been tied up before?

It's as if... it was considered a gift or new year's goods?

But now, everything that bound it had been broken free, only the tattered red cloth remaining on its body bore witness to its past.

Evil Demon · Mud Mountain Pig Clan!

This clan's list of Evil Techniques is fairly complete.

With attack, defense, and control, though the effects are mediocre.

"Loo!!"

The Mud Mountain Pig noticed the visitors, suddenly getting excited.

It stomped with strong hooves, opened its bloody mouth, drooling, charging towards Lu Ran.

"Puff!!"

A burst of energy-formed mud spewed from the black wild boar's mouth.

Evil Technique · Mud Splash!

This technique has no damaging effect, but it can obstruct vision.

Once it stains one's body, cleaning it is quite troublesome, causing endless annoyance.

Before Lu Ran could act, a lotus leaf had already transformed into a shield, shooting out.

He Yingcai stepped on the lotus leaf, flying to Lu Ran's side, her plain hand reaching forward, fingers slightly spread.

The lotus leaf shading diagonally below quickly enlarged.

"Puff!!"

A large amount of mud sprayed over the green lotus leaf, unable to shake it in the slightest.

"Whoosh~"

As the Mud Mountain Pig charged fiercely, a mass of mud gathered into a ball in front of its pig mouth.

That is the Mud Mountain Pig Clan's most proud offensive skill · Mud Mountain Cannon!

"Sizzle!"

The sudden sound of a blade slicing through flesh was heard.

The Evil Shadow appeared instantly on the left side of the Mud Mountain Pig, slashing at the connection between its head and body.

It clearly was a tough-skinned creature, yet the Evil Shadow Guardian's blade sliced through it like tofu!

The Mud Mountain Pig staggered, screeching as it lunged forward.

The Evil Shadow Guardian reappeared on the right side of the Mud Mountain Pig, and with another slash, a complete pig's head was severed.

Precise, ruthless!

He Yingcai stood side by side with Lu Ran, watching this Guardian from the Evil Dog Clan.

The Instant Teleportation Technique is truly hair-raising.

Fortunately, this is a colleague, a soldier under Lu Ran's command.

"Thud!"

The Mud Mountain Pig heavily lay on the ground, its massive body pushing its enormous pig head, sliding forward on the ground.

This clan is not very intelligent.

The greedy beast nature suppressed everything, charging at the sight of prey, forgetting any defense techniques.

It's known that the Mud Mountain Pig Clan's Evil Technique · Mud Armor, has quite decent defensive power.

"Tsk tsk~"

Lu Ran looked at the neatly sliced massive pig head and body.

How much meat will this yield?

"Loo! Loo!!"

"Loo..." Echoes of cries came from the forest swamp.

Accompanied by the sound of trees "crackling" as they broke, one Mud Mountain Pig after another rushed out.

Lu Ran casually grasped, and the Eight Desolate Blade at his waist flew out automatically, landing in his hand.

However, He Yingcai suddenly flew half a meter forward, blocking in front of Lu Ran.

A Divine General is here again, how could such a trivial matter trouble the Sect Master?

Eight Desolate Blade: "..."

Can I taste some blood?

Though pig's blood may not be as prestigious as dragon's blood, it's still blood...

"Whoosh~"

He Yingcai reached forward with one hand, her fair fingertips shooting out crystal-clear silk strings.

Bi He Divine Technique · Lotus Silk Connection!

The big black mountain boar charged forward without a care, as if it wanted to use its huge pig head to push away all obstacles ahead.

However...

"Loo! Loo!!" The Mud Mountain Pig roared frantically, but only its cries remained.

When the crystal-clear lotus silk landed on its body, the Mud Mountain Pig could no longer move.

An equally terrifying energy passed through the lotus silk, injected into the Mud Mountain Pig's body, causing its internal energy to go haywire, preventing it from using any Evil Techniques!

Divine Technique · Lotus Silk Chaos!

He Yingcai gently lifted her hand, and the huge and heavy Mud Mountain Pig was lifted into the air by the fine lotus silk.

Immovable, at the mercy of others.

Bi He Believer, a Tangled Silk Shadow on the side of the divine faction!

The colorful Divine General under Lu Ran's command, seemingly dressed in elegant simplicity, immaculate.

But her fingertips,

are also filled with poison!

...

Note ①: Upon readers' reminder, the name Shadow · Forbidden Guard might have some unpleasant phonetic correlations. The team is now officially renamed: Shadow Guard Team.