Summit of the Old Gods

From the moment Yan Shuangzi advanced, Lu Ran counted the days like years.

The constant feeling of anxiety was simply unbearable!

However, there was some good news.

On the second day of May, the Mad Immortal protector broke through the bottleneck in cultivation and started the advancement mode.

She advanced from Jiang Realm·Third Rank to Jiang Realm·Fourth Rank.

The advancement took only two or three days, and the mist she attracted was completely overshadowed by the mist Yan Shuangzi summoned, barely making a splash.

When Si Xianxian successfully advanced, Yan Shuangzi was still in the process of advancing!

The scenery showed no change, everything was as usual.

Poor Xian'er sister, she completed the advancement so quietly.

It was quite unceremonious~

Lu Ran's days of anxiety continued.

Fortunately, the location they were in was far north, a place rarely visited by the Human Clan.

For several days, the members of Ran Sect did not encounter any fellow humans.

Instead, they saw quite a few Ice Burial people and the Ice Plum Demon Queen.

These Evil Demons naturally posed no threat to Lu Ran and even became a diversion for his life.

Killing Evil Demons and devouring Dead Souls served as a way to ease his inner anxiety.

Until the afternoon of the seventh of May, Lu Ran finally found relief!

An underground cave burst with a terrifying gale.

Yan Shuangzi, kneeling on the ground, slowly opened her eyes.

Sea Realm·First Rank!

"Congratulations." A magnetic female voice came from behind.

A short phrase, soft and charming.

Yan Shuangzi did not turn her head, speaking softly, "No need to force gentleness; it doesn't suit you."

"Hmm?" Deng Yuxiang raised an eyebrow, a playful glance in her eyes, "Reaching the Sea Realm, have your wings hardened?"

Yan Shuangzi slightly lowered her head, a smile appearing on her face.

Deng Yuxiang stepped forward several paces, reaching the girl from behind.

She bent down, gently gathering Yan Shuangzi's loose hair, teasing, "What, planning a rebellion?"

Yan Shuangzi lowered her eyelids, pouted but said nothing in the end.

Yet she soon remembered something, immediately sending a mental message: [Master, I've advanced to the Sea Realm.]

"Swoosh~"

Lu Ran instantly appeared inside the underground cave.

As the mist dissipated, Lu Ran crouched down, closely observing the kneeling girl.

Despite wearing a simple cloak, she appeared dazzlingly radiant.

A pair of shining eyes, divinity in full display!

"Great! Advancing is great~" Lu Ran was overjoyed.

The Great Evil Shadow of the Sea Realm, of course, had a qualitative leap in power!

Deng Yuxiang gathered her long hair for her close friend, holding it with one hand, while pulling a few blades of grass from the cloak with the other: "Xiao Lu Ran."

Lu Ran looked up.

"Your Great Evil Shadow just advanced and already has opinions about me." Deng Yuxiang meticulously tied her friend's hair, speaking casually.

Lu Ran: "..."

Do you think I believe that?

Is there anyone in the Ran Sect who dares to cause trouble in front of you?

I wouldn't dare!

Deng Yuxiang casually said, "Pretending not to hear?"

Lu Ran quickly responded, "I'll go inform the others, let's return to Cloud Sea Cliff quickly, and not stay in this place any longer."

With that said, Lu Ran flickered away.

Deng Yuxiang huffed, picked up the bamboo hat from the side, and gently put it on Yan Shuangzi: "Let's go, Sea Realm Great Power?"

Yan Shuangzi slowly stood up, turning to look at her intimate friend.

Deng Yuxiang with a smile on her face, also looked at her attentively.

She hadn't seen her friend's tragic fall.

Within this Holy Spirit Mountain, when she saw Yan Shuangzi, the latter had already fallen into the abyss, shattered and broken.

Yet Deng Yuxiang witnessed Yan Shuangzi "come alive" little by little.

Struggling to get up.

Until now, Yan Shuangzi's eyes sparkled, reclaiming her former charm, transforming into a vast sea.

At this moment, Yan Shuangzi was only 23 years old.

Whether in the Human World Da Xia or throughout the Holy Spirit Mountain, Yan Shuangzi was a leader-like presence.

"Hmm." Deng Yuxiang's body suddenly stiffened.

Because Yan Shuangzi suddenly reached out, gently embracing Deng Yuxiang.

Deng Yuxiang's smile faltered slightly, and after a moment of silence, she spoke softly:

"Welcome back."

"Hmm." Yan Shuangzi replied softly, her figure flickering and disappearing.

Deng Yuxiang: ?

She had just raised her hands, intending to give her friend some reciprocation, only to find she was holding empty air.

"Ha." Deng Yuxiang let out a breathy chuckle.

Just when the warm and touching moment was being savored, and then the other party vanished?

As for where she went... is there a need to guess?

She definitely went to find someone!

When Deng Yuxiang flew out from the cave, she indeed saw Yan Shuangzi standing behind Lu Ran.

All the soldiers of Ran Sect gathered around, offering congratulations.

Yan Shuangzi merely nodded silently.

This distinction actually eased Deng Yuxiang's mind a bit, at least she got a hug.

"Let's go, let's go!" Lu Ran called out to everyone, activating the Evil Mirror Magic with one hand.

One moment it was an icy land.

With one step, it turned into a sunny ocean sky.

Lu Ran stood outside the small courtyard of Cloud Sea Residence, inhaling the unique scent of the sea breeze, feeling exceptionally relaxed in body and mind.

"Ah~" Lu Ran sighed.

Home at last!

From the perilous, bitterly cold lands, returning to the serene Cloud Sea Cliff.

This peace, priceless beyond measure.

Lu Ran truly did not expect that one day, within Holy Spirit Mountain, he would genuinely consider a place as "home" from the bottom of his heart.

"Thank you all for your hard work." Jiang Ruyi saw how deeply enamored Lu Ran was and took the initiative to speak, "Everyone, go and rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll have a meeting in the Council Hall."

"Yes!"

"Yes." Everyone departed one after another.

But there were two who stood nervously in place, unsure of what to do.

They were the two servants from Sword Ridge Peak.

Ever since being rescued by the Phoenix and Swallow Generals, they followed the Ran Sect members, continuing to perceive the icy environment, protecting Yan Shuangzi.

Though it seemed muddled, it was indeed the only path.

At this time, Lu Ran also came back to his senses, looking at the two women: "I must trouble you during this period."

"No need, no need."

"To help the lord resolve difficulties is our honor." The two responded immediately, bowing in trepidation.

The years of servitude within Sword Ridge Peak had taught them well about "rules."

Lu Ran opened his mouth, ultimately comforted them saying, "It will get better... Evil Shadow, take them to Feixian Hall, have Hall Master Song receive them well.

Get all the preliminary work done, tomorrow, I will sign the contract with them."

"Yes." Yan Shuangzi swiftly appeared, taking the two Ice Butterfly female disciples away.

Lu Ran turned and walked towards Cloud Sea Residence, arriving at the study on the east side.

He placed the Divine Weapons one by one on the wall rack, also placing the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and Blood Drinking Curved Blade on the desk.

"What's wrong?" came the voice of Jiang Fairy from the doorway.

"Who should use this blade?" Lu Ran gently traced his fingers along the large curve of the blade.

Indeed, he used blades.

But this type of large curved blade, and the horizontal Tang blade that Lu Ran specialized in, had differences in usage.

Jiang Ruyi approached, knelt beside Lu Ran, looking at the eerie yet beautiful Blood Crystal Curved Blade: "Since it belonged to Elder Xing, just leave it to Evil Shadow."

In Lu Ran's mind, he pictured the Great Evil Shadow wielding two curved blades, creating arcs of black and blood moons.

Black Ice and Blood Crystal, indeed a perfect match.

Just whether Elder Xing's weapon, Evil Shadow would be willing to accept it?

Lu Ran looked at his fiancée: "Your personal guard doesn't have a Divine Weapon."

Jiang Ruyi leaned slightly against Lu Ran's shoulder: "Xuan Shuang and Liu Huo both use swords."

"Right." Lu Ran nodded.

This time, the clean-up of Sword Ridge Peak's remnants did not reap many spoils.

There were many Divine Power Pearls, but only one Divine Weapon, and not a single Magic Artifact.

The reason?

Lord of Sword Ridge Peak, Wang Hanchuan was too domineering, the effect of the Divine Technique was fierce, the Divine Weapon Domain even fiercer!

Dare to resist with a Magic Artifact? Shatter!

Dare to block with a Divine Weapon? Slash!

Even Elder Xing, the second-in-command of Sword Ridge Peak, had to pay the price of a Magic Artifact, and "sacrificed" many disciples, thus narrowly escaping the Peak Master's grasp.

Jiang Ruyi closed her beautiful eyes, murmuring, "No rush, in the future, we'll find two Divine Swords for them."

Even Great Power of the Sea Realm, diligently guarding for nearly ten days, was not without fatigue.

Lu Ran supported her back with one hand, gently laying her down, while with the other, he cradled her in a princess carry.

Jiang Ruyi slightly opened her eyes, looking at Lu Ran with meaningful intensity.

Feeling a little guilty, Lu Ran lowered his head to kiss her thin lips.

This diversion tactic indeed worked.

On Jiang Ruyi's fair cheeks, a charming blush spread, she murmured softly, "I'm sleepy."

"Mmm, I'm sleepy too." Lu Ran replied in a low voice.

He too was exhausted, only wishing to sleep soundly.

[Master, I've taken He Jing away.]

[He... Oh, alright.] Lu Ran took a moment to remember who it was.

[Without your command, Hall Master Song won't dare release her.]

[I'll tell him.] Lu Ran gently, carefully placed the Immortal down on the bed, [By the way, come to the study later and take the Blood Drinking Curved Blade.]

[Me?] Yan Shuangzi seemed a bit surprised.

She already owned two Divine Weapons, and both were Second Rank, all of which had the Divine Weapon Domain!

Aside from the Sect Leader, no one in Ran Sect was as wealthy as her.

[Ruyi said, since it's Elder Xing's item, naturally it's up to you to handle.]

Yan Shuangzi was silent for a while before responding: [Thank you, Lady.]

[Thank her yourself when she wakes up, I'm going to sleep.] Lu Ran lay on the bed, sending a message to Song Yu.

Only then did he learn, He Jing had been in the number seven seclusion room all along.

Cloud Sea Cliff had no facilities for imprisoning anyone.

Earlier, Lu Ran's words to "guard strictly" left Hall Master Song perplexed; after consulting the Divine Seeking General, he took the woman to the seclusion room, guarding day and night, fearing she might escape.

"A prison..." Lu Ran scratched his head.

Forget it, the Ran Sect should have no use for such things.

Yan Shuangzi kept a former senior sister, intending to put her to use.

Lu Ran drooped his eyelids, drowsily falling asleep.

Soon, a Charm Shadow appeared at the study's entrance, nodding slightly to the Divine Weapons on the wall before stepping into the study.

Her manner was just as polite as back when Lu Ran entered his lady mother's study.

She picked up the Blood Drinking Curved Blade, silently leaving, only to reappear at the courtyard entrance of Nightmare Residence.

On the bed inside the bedroom, Deng Yuxiang's ears moved and her eyes opened.

"Yuxiang."

"Hmm?"

"Do you... want to use a curved blade?"

...