Summit of the Old Gods

April is fragrant, the spring mountains like dark green.

Lu Ran waited for Gao Yunyan's advancement amidst his day-to-day cultivation.

The advancement of a Great Power in the Sea Realm takes 5 to 10 days, during which the beings within the cliff can enjoy heavenly blessings.

This tremendous opportunity naturally comes with great risks!

However, the Ran Sect has ample experience in defense matters.

Under the organization of Chief Great Protector Deng Yuxiang, the soldiers and various halls of the Ran Sect operated orderly.

At this point, Cloud Sea Cliff could be called "impregnable."

During the first three days of Cloud Sea Cliff being shrouded in mist, Evil Shadow Guardian and Leng Xushuang entered their seclusion rooms successively to begin the breakthrough process.

Afterward, Lu Ran bid farewell to Jiang Ruyi.

He took the Cloud Sea Dust Cleansing Knife, which was the only non-Divine Weapon, and went to the number one seclusion room, and summoned back the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd from Gao Yunyan.

Poor little Blazing Phoenix~

It had just helped Gao Yunyan break through her cultivation bottleneck and enjoyed a few days of leisure, only to be summoned again for labor.

Well... it doesn't matter.

Anyway, clouds of mist surrounded Cloud Sea Cliff, and little Blazing Phoenix could feast wherever it wanted.

It just needed to give its master a hearty drink when Lu Ran sought help...

Actually, in such an environment saturated with Divine Power, Lu Ran and the others didn't really need the assistance of Magic Artifacts.

But who wouldn't want a higher chance of breakthrough?

Thus, Lu Ran sat cross-legged in the pitch-black seclusion room, the Cloud Sea Dust Cleansing Knife laid across his knees, the Treasure Gourd in his arms, cultivating with undistracted focus.

He absorbed the Divine Power from the world, forming it into streams, merging it into rivers, and pouring it into Yangyang Sea.

Every inch of his skin, every piece of flesh and bone soaked in Divine Power, richly nourished.

The orderly flow of Divine Power repeatedly washed through his body's meridians, widening his body container.

Lu Ran indulged in this, gradually pushing the limits of his body.

Until April 12th, Lu Ran tremblingly picked up the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd.

"Buzz~"

Little Blazing Phoenix happily swayed back and forth, its golden Phoenix Pattern flickering repeatedly.

Lu Ran had been silent for a long time, and at this sudden moment of taking the gourd, he was certainly ready to sprint forward!

"Guzzle, guzzle..."

Lu Ran tipped his head back and drank heartily.

Within the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd wasn't mist-like Divine Power but the surging, torrential "rivers," and extremely pure ones!

Rivers flowing into the sea, Lu Ran felt his flesh swell up to the brink of bursting...

Boom——

Lu Ran's body shuddered violently!

In the mystic void, the old shackles shattered, the body container expanded forcefully.

The mist in the sky churned, swirling madly toward Cloud Sea Cliff.

"Heh..."

Lu Ran's face showed pleasure, even his sigh carried a trembling note.

Little Blazing Phoenix continued its buzzing vibrations, cheering excitedly for its master.

"Shh." Lu Ran patted the beloved gourd, slowly lowered his head, resembling an old monk in meditation, motionless.

At the same time, in the study room of Cloud Sea Residence.

Jiang Ruyi kneeled at the desk, a slight smile on her face.

The mist attracted by Yan God General hadn't dispersed yet, from the outside, Cloud Sea Cliff's environment looked no different from before.

But being within it, Jiang Ruyi distinctly sensed a qualitative increase in the concentration of Divine Power inside the cliff.

Undoubtedly, Lu Ran had also broken through the bottleneck, roaring into advancement mode!

"Lady." A female voice suddenly came from across the desk.

"Hmm."

"Subordinate has completed advancement." Yan Shuangzi dared not disturb Lu Ran and upon leaving seclusion, immediately came to Jiang Ruyi.

"Peak of River Realm." Jiang Ruyi muttered.

When people reach Fifth Rank in a Great Realm, they no longer need physical cultivation.

What remains is to clarify and deepen inner understanding.

Seeking an epiphany.

"Yes." Yan Shuangzi responded softly, "If you have no other instructions, I'll go guard the seclusion room entrance."

Jiang Ruyi smiled: "I actually want you to go home and prepare for advancing to the Sea Realm.

But being closer to him might be more suitable for honing your Dao Heart?"

Yan Shuangzi pressed her lips slightly, gently "Hmm"-ing.

Since last time at the sea cliff, when Lu Ran clearly told her she was an enchanting woman and hoped she wouldn't say misleading words...

Yan Shuangzi always had a trace of worry facing Jiang Ruyi.

Worried her presence or some action might displease Jiang Ruyi.

Strictly speaking, Yan Shuangzi wasn't concerned about Jiang Ruyi.

The problem is, Lu Ran cares.

"Go, in the next ten days half a month, sort out your emotions." Jiang Ruyi said with a smile looking at the dense mist in front, "That Sword Ridge Peak is Lu Ran's congratulatory gift for your advancement to Sea Realm."

"Yes." Yan Shuangzi relaxed internally, quietly flickered away.

Since Yan Shuangzi had been guarding Lu Ran so long, naturally she had noticed, the Lady occasionally showed subtle jealousy.

But upon careful reflection, whenever her issues were involved, Jiang Ruyi always seemed very generous?

Yan Shuangzi pondered inwardly as she arrived at the tunnel entrance to the number one seclusion room.

Why?

Sympathize with her? Impossible.

Or perhaps due to her worldly status?

Yan Shuangzi's expression was blank as she walked silently into the tunnel, until the light was completely dark, then she stopped.

She stood quietly for a long time, then leaned against the stone wall and slowly slid to sit on the ground.

"Buzz~"

The Evil Moon Scimitar lightly trembled, sensing its master's low spirits.

Yan Shuangzi didn't pay attention to the Evil Moon Scimitar but instead drew the Evil Moon Short Blade from the side of her calf, her fingertips softly stroking the blade.

"Is there an enemy of yours in that mountain?" The Evil Moon Short Blade uncharacteristically initiated conversation, a thread of energy belonging to the Sword Spirit flowed within the hilt.

As the Divine Weapon of the Wolf Flower Lady, beneath this short blade countless Dead Souls lay.

Killing,

is the inherent nature of this Black Ice Short Blade.

Since its old master fell and it was given to Yan Shuangzi by Lu Ran, it hadn't seen blood for a long time.

"Yes, a lot," Yan Shuangzi said offhandedly.

"I can feel the hatred in your heart," the voice of the Evil Moon Short Blade carried a trace of laughter, "Tsk tsk~ such deep hatred."

Yan Shuangzi suddenly said, "You don't want to live anymore."

Her core, after all, was a North Wind believer.

That cold and cruel heart could only be slightly gentle before a select few.

Yet, the Evil Moon Short Blade had an air of complete confidence: "I was gifted to you by your master. Dare you harm me?"

"Heh," Yan Shuangzi replied with a cold laugh, "You can try, go ahead and say one more word."

Evil Moon Short Blade: "..."

Yan Shuangzi pinched the cool, thin blade body with two fingers, gently stroking it.

The Evil Moon Short Blade spoke again, this time with a more serious tone: "My old master was fierce, a standout of the Greedy Wolf faction, cruel in his ways of torturing the enemy.

After being with the old master for so long, I know well how to make enemies suffer unbearably.

If you need it after you conquer that mountain, this Sword Spirit is willing to assist."

Yan Shuangzi listened silently.

The words of the Evil Moon Short Blade seemed to be too much.

This was not normal.

Whenever something is abnormal, it's usually because there's something desired or requested.

Yan Shuangzi picked up the hilt, a cold smile spreading across her lips: "Is it you who likes it?"

Evil Moon Short Blade: "..."

Yan Shuangzi's voice was icy: "Recognize me as your master, and I'll give you a chance to act wild."

As of now, the Evil Moon Short Blade had yet to recognize a master.

Thus it was unable to directly communicate thoughts, only able, when touched by Deng Yuxiang's palm, to surface as a Sword Spirit to communicate with her.

Yan Shuangzi continued, "All means you can think of, I can carry you to inflict a hundredfold, thousandfold upon Elder Xing."

The Evil Moon Short Blade remained silent for a long time before it suddenly laughed and asked, "What on earth did that mountain do to you?"

Yan Shuangzi spoke no more and picked up the short blade, sliding it back into the sheath strapped to the side of her calf.

"Whoosh~"

A surge of energy unfurled, spreading from Yan Shuangzi's slender calf to envelop her entire body.

Yan Shuangzi leaned the back of her head against the rock wall and slowly closed her eyes.

Soon after, a voice clearly imprinted itself in her mind: [Don't forget our agreement.]

[Mm.]

[The name Evil Moon doesn't suit me. Call me Owl Execution Blade—Owl, as in decapitation; Execution, as in slow slicing.]

[Is this your Divine Weapon Domain direction?]

[Perhaps.]

[When he gifted you to me, he said there's already an Evil Moon Scimitar, so go with a short blade.] Yan Shuangzi replied softly.

Owl Execution Blade: "..."

Indeed!

I'm the one who was given, I was present too!

He never instructed you to call me 'Evil Moon Short Blade'!

...

On April 21st, at noon.

Everyone inside Cloud Sea Cliff noticed that the dense fog between heaven and earth seemed to be gradually dispersing.

In the study room, Jiang Ruyi, who was meditating, quietly opened her eyes.

After a full ten days, had Lu Ran finally succeeded in advancing?

Jiang Ruyi rose slowly, and through the exquisitely carved wooden window, she caught a faint glimpse of the figures of Xuan Shuang and Liu Huo at the stone table in the courtyard.

The two guards also noticed the unusual situation and were preparing to report inside when, through the swirling fog, a silhouette was faintly seen walking out.

"My lady."

"My lady, the fog is about to clear." Compared to the reticent Leng Xushuang, Liu Huo had much more to say.

These two were not only contrasting in name and character, one cold, the other warm.

Even their true identities were the Ice Plum Demon Queen and the Black Fire Colt.

Truly, they were cold and fiery from the inside out.

"Mm, I'll go meet him." Jiang Ruyi, enveloped by the Jade Talisman Formation, flew toward the woodland behind the house.

Xuan Shuang, as a guard, immediately dispersed like plum blossoms, flying lightly.

Liu Huo, as a guard, trod upon flowers of flame, ascending to the sky.

Meanwhile, in seclusion room number one.

"Ugh~" Lu Ran lay on the ground, limp.

Finally!

Sea Realm·Second Rank!

This feeling of power surging through his body made Lu Ran hesitant to move recklessly, fearful of accidentally smashing the ground with a slap.

No wonder it's the Sea Realm!

Even a minor rank advancement significantly improved the body's strength.

"Whoosh~" The little Blazing Phoenix hovered before Lu Ran's face, flying left and right.

The plump Treasure Gourd ceaselessly celebrated, swinging side to side.

Adorably cute~

Lu Ran suddenly reached out, initially intent on stopping the bothersome Treasure Gourd.

Unexpectedly, the little Blazing Phoenix abruptly halted and then nestled up to him, lovingly nuzzling his palm.

"Hehe." Lu Ran smiled gently, carefully cradling the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd to his chest, then softly sighed.

Closer to the Heavenly Realm,

again a step closer...

Yes, also closer to Sword Ridge Peak, almost at the door.

...

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