Summit of the Old Gods

Dusk falls.

Lu Ran removed the Black Gold Emperor Robe and changed into a simpler white robe, heading to the residence of Xun Luo and his wife inside the cliff—Xun Luo Residence.

He donned the beautiful sunset, tidied up his thoughts, restrained his aura as much as possible, and then activated a Transmission Mirror in the small courtyard.

Soon, Xun Luo and his wife emerged from the mirror.

The mother hugged the son, the father hugged the daughter, it was a picture of happiness!

What wasn't happy was...

The children suddenly burst into tears!

"Sweetie, shh~ it's okay, it's okay." Luo Ying cradled her six-year-old son, soothing him gently.

Xun Yifei similarly comforted the startled daughter: "Big brother is a good person..."

Lu Ran was at a loss, amidst the wailing, he dared not utter a word, his figure vanished directly.

Leaving behind a family of four in the yard.

Even so, the parents took quite a while to calm their daughters.

Children only six or seven years old clearly cannot withstand the pressure of a stranger, a Great Power from the Sea Realm.

Even though Lu Ran was very friendly, doing his utmost to restrain his aura, it was still futile.

His existence instinctively triggered fear in the weaker beings.

Xun Luo and his wife also demonstrated a fact through their actions: only parents' unconditional love for their children can oppose the rules of the world, breaking through the constraints of its laws.

"Will the Sect Master be angry?" Luo Ying lightly wiped the tears from her son's face, turning to her husband.

"No, he won't." Xun Yifei shook his head, comforting his wife.

Over all this time, everyone has observed Lu Ran's temperament and various behaviors.

Luo Ying hugged her son, gently swaying: "In a little while, I'll go to Cloud Sea Residence and apologize to him."

Suddenly, a gentle voice came: "There's no need."

Xun Luo's hearts tightened as they instinctively turned to look.

Over by the stone table and stone chairs in the courtyard corner, no one was there, but a young man's voice indeed came from there.

Lu Ran... hasn't left?

His figure vanished, not by Instant Teleportation, but by invisibility?

"Sect Master?" Luo Ying called softly.

Xun Yifei was filled with panic, having stayed at home with the children lately and not knowing when the Sect Master acquired such a skill.

Xun Yifei already mentally prepared for Lu Ran's strength, but at this moment, as Lu Ran existed in this form...

As a father, as a husband, his heart was pounding with intense unease!

"They've grown a bit taller since last time." Lu Ran said softly.

"Hmm?" The little boy looked over with tear-filled eyes, curious.

The little girl blinked her big eyes, also gazed at the empty stone table, then suddenly opened her clenched little mouth again:

"Waaa..."

Lu Ran: "..."

Sorry for the interruption.

I had better leave.

Lu Ran said goodbye, this time, he actually left.

When he reappeared, he was already sitting at the edge of the sea cliff, his small legs dangling off the cliff.

"Sigh..."

Who knows how long it was, Lu Ran let out a long sigh.

If ever he could return to Da Xia, how should he live then?

Human society could not withstand his existence, right?

Even if believers make up the majority of the population, most people there are River Realm and below.

Have Deng Yutang, Tian Tian, and Chang Ying, those little friends, advanced to Jiang Realm?

No matter if they have advanced or not, could they still face him like before?

He might just have to follow in his mother's footsteps, guarding a mountain long-term, saying goodbye to past life's years.

The days of casually petting a little tiger flower like during school, would become a luxury then...

"Whew~"

Sea breezes gently blew.

Lu Ran raised his hand to tidy his wind-tussled hair, lowered his head, and smiled slightly.

The future self can only be stronger, the aura more formidable.

So,

Even if he returns to the human world, he no longer belongs there.

Such a sorrowful reality.

"Master." A female voice came from behind.

Lu Ran turned slightly, in a listening posture.

"You are very depressed." Yan Shuangzi's voice was soft.

Lu Ran remained silent, didn't respond.

Yan Shuangzi pondered a moment, softly comforted: "They're just too young, it'll be fine once they're a bit older."

Lu Ran chuckled: "Guess, who's faster, their growing speed or my advancement speed?"

Yan Shuangzi: "..."

Lu Ran gazed towards the sea again: "Do you think, is there a Magic Artifact that can hide one's aura in the world?"

He doesn't necessarily have to make friends with the two little guys.

He just wants to return to Rain Alley City and live like before, feeling the hometown's smoky atmosphere once more.

But evidently, that path is already broken.

Yan Shuangzi thought for a moment and responded, "Since there's a Magic Artifact like the Ink Jade Tiger Talisman to increase power, there should also be artifacts that hide one's presence."

"Makes sense!" Lu Ran nodded lightly.

Spirit Mountain is so vast, with plenty of Divine Weapons and Magic Artifacts; who knows, maybe he'll come across one?

Lu Ran thought to himself as he slowly stood up, "Let's head back. We set off southward tomorrow morning. Tonight, return to Evil Shadow Residence and rest well."

Yan Shuangzi didn't utter a word.

Lu Ran paid no mind to her silent protest, his figure flickered and disappeared.

In the next moment, he felt a slight chill.

A clear frost pervaded the air, interspersed with falling plum blossoms, emitting a faint aroma.

Lu Ran stood before the wardrobe in the bedroom, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply.

The scent of plum blossoms.

He savored the moment, his mood greatly improved, stepped around the screen, and stood by the bedroom window, gazing outside.

In the courtyard were two tall figures, each more gracefully elegant than the other.

Fairy Jiang was practicing sword dance.

As a sword mastery expert, her fundamentals were solid, and she learned smoothly.

Leng Xushuang taught seriously, her entire being imbued with frost and plum blossoms, her dance graceful yet melancholy.

"No peeking!" Jiang Ruyi noticed the figure behind the window and immediately stopped.

Lu Ran: "..."

Jiang Ruyi simply sheathed her sword, "That's enough for today, let's head back."

"Yes, Lady." Leng Xushuang respectfully responded, then bowed to Lu Ran behind the window before turning to leave.

She didn't have her own place yet and was currently living with Si Xianxian.

"Oh, come on!" Lu Ran complained.

Jiang Ruyi stepped toward the door, completely dashing Lu Ran's hopes.

She entered the bedroom, noticing Lu Ran's unhappy expression, resulting in a slight upward curl of her lips, and directly asked:

"Did you bring the children back?"

"Yeah."

"How is it?"

"I overestimated myself." Lu Ran shrugged helplessly.

Jiang Ruyi's smile faded slightly as she moved to Lu Ran's side, speaking gently, "It's not your fault."

She understood why Lu Ran felt some struggles, some frustrations.

The higher one stands, the less they hear the plight of the masses beneath them.

The closer one is to the gods, the further away they are from humans.

But Lu Ran is quite special.

Since advancing to the River Realm, he skipped lessons, having not undergone a massive mindset shift.

Humanity remains untarnished.

To this day,

he is much closer to gods than anyone else, yet also closer to humans than the world's mighty figures of Jianghai.

This is undoubtedly a great fortune for the Human Clan!

After all, Lu Ran is destined to overthrow the God Demon rule and become a new "Cloud Sea" existence.

"Stop thinking about those things." Jiang Ruyi linked his arm, changing the subject, "I just had a chat with Xuan Shuang."

"About what?" Lu Ran said casually.

"Her cultivation path has already ended; her talent isn't sufficient to go further." Jiang Ruyi revealed a harsh truth.

Lu Ran nodded quietly.

After all, Leng Xushuang, being the disciple of a Fifth-class God, reaching the Jiang Realm·Fourth Rank, is already quite impressive.

If she hadn't met Lu Ran, she might have been stuck at this rank for a lifetime.

Lu Ran naturally has ways to defy fate.

He can have her bind with a Stone Sculpture, thus enhancing her Cultivation Talent.

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said, "After I wield the Eight Desolate Blade and defeat the adversary, we'll find time to make a trip to the north."

The lair of the Ice Plum Demon Queen, Evil Demon, is in the northern part of Spirit Mountain.

Amidst the snow-covered forests.

Jiang Ruyi inquired, "Where has the opponent reached after three or four days?"

Lu Ran mused, "Based on the location information from the Eight Desolates, I have a premonition."

"What is it?"

"We and the opponent will meet in Qianhua Ridge."

...

Say a few words:

1. Ever since Lu Ran set out that day, the Eight Desolate Blade hasn't returned to Cloud Sea Cliff.

Lu Ran has been very cautious on two return trips, once letting the Eight Desolates stay in Wolf Bone Village, and once in Langhua Village.

2. The concept of Thousand Bone Body involving the contortion of bones and the pulling of flesh is clearly described in the Divine Technique, providing protection to flesh and organs on a foundation of special bones.

Stop talking about exposing information, stop getting tangled with the flesh issue, it's all clearly explained in the text. (Reaching head)