Summit of the Old Gods

In the distant mountains, the sunset was finally devoured.

Lu Ran discussed with Jiang Ruyi and left three Shadow Guards stationed at Qianhua Ridge, lying in wait.

Afterward, he activated the Transmission Mirror and led his team back to Cloud Sea Cliff.

Thus, the journey south of the Ran Sect was temporarily put on pause.

Lu Ran devoted himself to rigorous cultivation every day, never slacking.

The matter of "storming Sword Ridge Peak" was not only for avenging the Evil Shadow Guardian but also a long-standing wish of Lu Ran.

He had always harbored deep resentment towards Divine·Beifeng!

Between a man and a god, the feud started in Beifeng City. Lu Ran begged and pleaded until he finally brought out the Immortal Sheep, which rescued the Big Nightmare from Beifeng's grasp.

The truth that the weak will suffer predation is a time-honored principle.

Lu Ran could only endure humiliation, gather strength, and wait for the day when he could take his Big Nightmare and doorstep that bastard!

Now, within Holy Spirit Mountain, a disciple under Beifeng's command cruelly mistreated his Evil Shadow!

Their brutal actions didn't stop at cutting off Yan Shuangzi's arm and gouging out her eyes!

They even imprisoned her, torturing her day and night...

How could Lu Ran not be furious?

If not for considering Yan Shuangzi's path to becoming a god and facilitating her promotion to the Sea Realm, he would have stormed in with his team already.

Upon returning to the Ran Sect, Lu Ran often sat at the edge of the sea cliff.

Whether it was sunny or rainy, he would meditate for three to five days straight.

Now, it was Jiang Ruyi's turn to "fall for someone who never returns home"...

And there was always a Charm Shadow staying silently in the forest behind him, cultivating, no matter the weather, accompanying him silently.

Peaceful days continued for more than a month and a half.

During this time, there was a small interlude.

There were nearly one hundred seventy ordinary disciples in the Ran Sect, most of whom could never advance further, as their talent was not high enough, and they were severely injured when the contract was torn.

The path of cultivation was blocked.

But as always, exceptions existed among large numbers.

One disciple at the peak of the River Realm broke through in the Feixian Hall during the deity worship, returning once more to the Jiang Realm, causing two days of mist.

On the second day, the Sea Flame Flood Dragon, the sea overlord, was "drawn to the scent" and arrived again.

Lu Ran managed to get some exercise.

The poor Sea Flame Flood Dragon~

Indeed it possessed the power to cause great destruction, stirring storms and blood wherever it went.

But it just happened to encounter Master Lu stationed at Cloud Sea Cliff, becoming a small amuse-bouche during the Sect Master's days of cultivation...

Time rolled into the end of March.

Two unexpected visitors came to see Lu Ran.

It was a rare morning when Lu Ran had returned home to rest overnight. In the small courtyard, he was enjoying Smoke Rain Tea prepared by Miss Leng Xushuang.

"Master."

"Master!" Two strong and spirited voices called from outside the courtyard gate.

"Feng'er, Yan God General?" Lu Ran was quite surprised, looking at the two outside the picket fence, and immediately waved, "Come in, have some tea."

Xue Fengchen: "..."

Gao Yunyan: "..."

The two naturally knew how bitter Smoke Rain Tea was.

Lu Ran's face showed clearly how much he suffered from it.

"Come on!" Lu Ran urged again.

By the table, Leng Xushuang silently poured two cups of tea.

The Feng Yan generals walked in. Gao Yunyan inquired, "Lady, she..."

"Sleeping, young girls like to sleep... Anything you need from her?"

"No." Gao Yunyan shook her head, just a habitual check-in.

"Oh, taste it, very refreshing!" Lu Ran handed the cup over.

Gao Yunyan then understood why the Sect Master would drink something like this; she had heard that Lu Ran had been deeply immersed in cultivation on the cliff recently.

So, was the Sect Master using Smoke Rain Tea for "head hanging beam, awl stabbing thigh" inspiration?

Gao Yunyan couldn't refuse, took the stone cup, closed her eyes, and gulped the tea down.

"Uh." The Yan God General momentarily gave up on facial control, grimacing.

Smoke Rain Tea didn't have any sweetness at the end but got more bitter.

Bitter enough that she stomped her feet.

Yet it was really invigorating~

Lu Ran chuckled, "What brings you here?"

"Master, I came to report my cultivation progress." Gao Yunyan placed the cup on the stone table and picked up another cup, handing it to Xue Fengchen beside her.

Xue Fengchen: ?

Are we even on the same team?

Gao Yunyan's mouth was still bitter but seeing Xue Fengchen's silent look, she felt quite sweet inside:

"Take it, a gift from the Master."

Xue Fengchen silently accepted the cup, gulped it down.

The Mighty Feng of West Desolation certainly held a divine general's air!

He calmly returned the empty cup to the table, "Thank the Master for the gift."

"Oh?" Lu Ran was skeptical, "Quick, Xushuang! My great Feng likes tea, pour a few more cups!"

Xue Fengchen: ???

"Pfft... Haha~" Gao Yunyan couldn't hold back and burst into a hearty laugh.

She suddenly remembered that the Lady was still resting and hurriedly covered her mouth.

"You rascal, don't trouble people."

From the finely carved wooden window of the distant bedroom came a mildly reproving voice.

"Oh." Lu Ran pouted and turned to Gao Yunyan, "What was the matter?"

Gao Yunyan: "I am about to hit a cultivation bottleneck."

"Oh?" Lu Ran's eyes lit up.

This was excellent news!

He immediately asked, "When was your last breakthrough to the Sea Realm?"

"I broke through the bottleneck at the end of last August, completing the advancement on September seventh."

"Mm." Lu Ran nodded.

Now it was the end of March, which, upon calculation, was 7 months.

With ideal conditions, if in half a month Gao Yunyan successfully advances...

Seven and a half months!

From the First Rank of the Sea Realm to the Second Rank, that's quite fast.

Of course, it's no match for the Big Nightmare.

Lu Ran clearly remembered that Deng Yuxiang advanced to the First Rank of the Sea Realm at the end of June last year, and then advanced to the Second Rank of the Sea Realm in early December.

All in all, it was only five and a half months.

The difference in whether the Ran Sect soldiers bind with the Stone Sculpture or not had already become apparent.

Lu Ran also believed that as Deng Yuxiang's integration with the Stone Sculpture deepened, the time required for her cultivation and advancement should become shorter.

"Good!" Lu Ran casually gestured.

"Whoosh~" An exquisite Treasure Gourd flew out from inside the house.

Gao Yunyan's heart warmed, and she immediately knelt down on one knee, gratefully saying, "Thank you, Sect Leader."

She had come here to borrow a Magic Artifact.

Everything was just as she had hoped!

She didn't even need to open her mouth to request; Lu Ran would proactively help her without any hesitation.

Advancing in the vast Yangyang Sea, of course, requires the utmost caution!

With the strong support of the Second-rank Magical Artifact·Blazing Phoenix Patterned Gourd, her success rate in breaking through the bottleneck would greatly increase!

"There's no need to be so formal." Lu Ran handed over the small Blazing Phoenix, "If you break the shackles, the little Blazing Phoenix can feast, it would be delighted."

Gao Yunyan thanked him again before cautiously holding the Treasure Gourd.

Lu Ran looked toward the tall, silent figure: "Feng'er, when are you going to advance?"

Xue Fengchen: "..."

Lu Ran's face showed an encouraging look.

Xue Fengchen was silent for a moment before speaking, "Soon, soon."

"Hmm!" Lu Ran nodded in satisfaction.

Ah~

Comfortable!

Brother Deng, I found a substitute at Holy Spirit Mountain.

Without my urging, you can't slack off in the human world...

"Sect Leader, I will go into a closed-door cultivation now." Gao Yunyan said.

"Go ahead!" Lu Ran nodded immediately, feeling quite expectant.

Maybe both he and the Evil Shadow, with the momentum brought by Yan God General, could break through their cultivation constraints together!

As the two left, a celestial figure appeared at the doorway of the house.

It was evident that Jiang Ruyi truly regarded Leng Xushuang as her personal guard.

She didn't dress as gracefully in a white dress as usual, but wore Lu Ran's large white robe, lazily ruffling her hair, and sat at the stone table.

"Awake?" Lu Ran immediately handed over a teacup, "Here, have some tea to refresh yourself."

Jiang Ruyi wrinkled her nose, giving Lu Ran a dissatisfied look.

Her slightly coquettish appearance was without a hint of cold elegance.

She took the teacup and casually asked, "How's Xushuang's cultivation progressing?"

Leng Xushuang replied, "With this breakthrough of Yan God General, I should be able to use it to return to the Jiang Realm·Fourth Rank."

"Hmm." Jiang Ruyi took a light sip of tea.

Like Feng God General, she showed no change in expression.

Jiang Ruyi was even a cut above, because she wasn't drinking, but savoring.

Unable to stop himself, Lu Ran grinned widely.

Jiang Ruyi smiled at Lu Ran, "Should we bring Mr. Cong Long back to take part in this celestial blessing together?"

"Oh!" Lu Ran slapped his forehead, "Right, Cong Long is still at Mist Rain Lake!"

Jiang Ruyi chided, "This guy! Once he starts cultivating, he forgets everything.

Don't say such things in front of Mr. Cong Long, it'll hurt his feelings."

"Yes, yes." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, but his mind was filled with doubts.

I haven't even gone home,

how could I have thought of other men?

Actually... it can't be said that I forgot, I was creating a world for two for Mr. Cong Long and Senior Sister He!

Yes, that's exactly it~

Lu Ran comforted himself secretly, looking up at the sky: "Later, I'll bring the Divine General back as well, and by the way, ask Qifeng.

This excellent cultivation environment should not go to waste."

Jiang Ruyi suddenly said, "Three days ago, Liu Huo came to visit."

"Oh?"

"She wants to switch to your sect."

"Jade Talisman? Or Lie Tian?" Lu Ran frowned slightly.

Liu Huo is someone with very distinct characteristics, truly fitting for the Blazing Blood faction.

Jiang Ruyi softly said, "She wants to become stronger, to improve her cultivation talent."

Improving cultivation talent means binding with the Stone Sculpture.

Lu Ran frowned even more: "Who told her? Wu Xiao?"

Though the matter of the generals binding with the Stone Sculpture is no secret, it was only known to the higher echelons of the Ran Sect.

Even though the Feixian Hall has statues of the protectors and generals, the disciples of the Ran Sect are not explicitly aware of who these Fake Gods truly are.

The disciples only have a vague understanding: Lu Ran is a rising new god.

Omnipotent.

Lu Ran did tell Wu Xiao explicitly that he would let him replace the Martial Artist Stone Sculpture.

Liu Huo's only contact would have been Wu Xiao.

But there's still something suspicious here.

Wu Xiao is not just someone who would blab, he is indifferent to everything.

Jiang Ruyi put down her teacup, her delicate hand gently resting on the back of Lu Ran's hand, softly saying, "I've already chastised Sister Xian'er, and she won't mention it again in the future."

Lu Ran: "..."

So it was Mad Xian'er?

Jiang Ruyi softly said, "Wu Xiao lives near Mad Xian'er, and after Xushuang moved in, Sister Xian'er and Liu Huo became friends.

Liu Huo finally had someone to talk to.

Her life is too bitter, after hearing many stories, Sister Xian'er just..."

Jiang Ruyi paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, Sister Xian'er didn't specify, she just told Liu Huo that she could come to you for help, to respect you."

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Sister Xian'er's mouth may be filthy, but her heart is kind.

He picked up the teacup, sipped the bitter tea, imitating Jiang Ruyi, savoring the bitter taste within:

"What do you think?"

...