Summit of the Old Gods

Inside Thousand Flower Inn, by the window in the main room.

Lu Ran sat by the window, where one could see the murmuring stream not far away, and the vibrant sea of flowers stretching to the horizon.

Besides, there were two young ladies, Xuan Shuang and Liu Huo, attending to him.

How cozy.

But Qin Yanzhi was not feeling cozy.

After Lu Ran casually revealed some secrets, Qin Yanzhi was completely baffled.

His understanding was greatly shaken, and he couldn't process it quickly.

"Slurp...'' Lu Ran silently picked up the tea cup, took a shallow sip, and grimaced.

Damn it,

miscalculated!

He intended to mess with Qin Yanzhi, but ended up suffering himself.

The intensely bitter Smoke Rain Tea had excellent alertness effects!

But it was not enjoyable.

Lu Ran looked at the deep-in-thought Qin Yanzhi, the more he looked, the more annoyed he became.

"Brother Qin, don't just stand there." Lu Ran picked up his tea cup and gestured to Qin Yanzhi across the table, "After going through so many hardships, we've finally met, a blessing in life!

But our conditions are tough, so we can only use tea as wine.

Come! You down yours, I'll sip mine!"

Qin Yanzhi: "..."

Tough conditions?

Qin Yanzhi looked at Jiang Ruyi seated by Lu Ran, then at Leng Xushuang attending to them.

His gaze shifted outside the window, to Liu Huo brewing tea in the courtyard...

Are you having a tough time?

You're living the life!

Of course, Qin Yanzhi dared not say these words. The strength of the young man in the emperor robe was so overwhelming, it made one feel despair.

Thankfully, he was a friend!

Otherwise, Qin Yanzhi couldn't imagine what fate awaited him.

"Ding~"

The stone tea cups gently clinked together, and Qin Yanzhi followed the other's idea of "using tea as wine," attempting to drink the Smoke Rain Tea in one gulp.

"Hmm."

The moment the tea entered his mouth, Qin Yanzhi's expression changed.

He slowly put down the tea cup, looked at the clear tea, and then at the young man opposite.

Lu Ran smiled with pursed lips.

That image was classic, like an emoji.

Unexpectedly, Qin Yanzhi sipped again and tasted over and over.

"Brother Qin likes it?" Lu Ran asked curiously.

Qin Yanzhi nodded lightly: "Within Mountain Realm, such flavorful things are rare."

After speaking, he drank the tea completely.

"That's a novel perspective." Lu Ran smirked.

Earlier, he said, "You down yours, I'll sip mine," but now, Lu Ran also drank the bitter tea entirely.

Jiang Ruyi spoke softly: "Now it's Mr. Qin's turn, tell us about yourself."

"Me?"

"Being a Dust Shadow disciple, you must have visited many places and seen many things." Jiang Ruyi elegantly crossed her legs, looking gently at him.

Qin Yanzhi subconsciously averted his gaze.

Both being from Yangyang Sea, he ranked slightly higher than the woman before him, but...

This woman's aura was too strong!

There were distinctions between sects.

Disciples of auxiliary sects couldn't compare in presence to aggressive offence sect believers.

But more importantly, there was a difference in identity and status.

Because Qin Yanzhi had visited many places and seen many people, he was even more certain that this young woman was a high-ranking figure.

The kind who controlled life and death.

She was so young, if in the human world, she might be a student.

A well-behaved daughter under her parents' knees.

Yet, this Holy Spirit Mountain... devours humans.

And consumes hearts.

Sometimes, you don't even need to deliberately do anything.

When your prowess is reached, those around you will push you onto the throne, draping you in a dragon robe.

"Mr. Qin?" Jiang Ruyi called softly.

"Indeed, I've been to many places." Qin Yanzhi looked at the tea on the table, "Icy glaciers, Great Desert wastelands, sandy beaches and islands... many places."

"Now, Lu Ran wanting to find any evil demon will be easier." Jiang Ruyi glanced aside.

Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, silently praising Li Rouyin.

Am I finding friends here?

This is like giving me a map of Holy Spirit Mountain!

Jiang Ruyi propped her elbow on the table, one hand supporting her cheek, watched Qin Yanzhi with interest:

"You must have also seen many wonderful landscapes."

Qin Yanzhi's eyes showed a touch of reminiscence: "The flower sea and sunrise at Qianhua Ridge, the wind and sand and sunset at Mo Gu Peak.

The stars and moon at Moon Shadow Heavenly Pool."

Jiang Ruyi was a bit moved.

Since these locations were worthy of the same name as Qianhua Ridge, they must be breathtaking!

If... she could see them with Lu Ran.

It would surely be a wonderful experience.

Qin Yanzhi continued describing: "The light snow at Ice Heart Lake, the morning fog at Hidden Thousand Mountains;

The misty fine rain at Mist Rain Lake, the Galaxy Waterfall at Nine Heavens Cliff..."

Lu Ran suddenly said: "Brother Qin, you've been to Mist Rain Lake?"

"I have been."

"Never tried Smoke Rain Tea?"

"Never had the chance." Qin Yanzhi gently shook his head.

Lu Ran's expression turned odd, gesturing at the tea cup on the table: "What you're drinking now is."

Qin Yanzhi looked down at the tea, then chuckled in surprise: "I only saw the scenery, dared not interact with people.

The name Mist Rain Lake was something I heard by chance."

Jiang Ruyi patted Lu Ran's shoulder, teasing: "He hasn't finished talking yet."

Lu Ran laughed: "What, you want to visit each one?"

Jiang Ruyi picked up the tea cup, casually said: "You want to."

"I... uh, yes! I want to." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

I really want to!

"Continue." Jiang Ruyi slightly raised the corners of her mouth, sipping tea gracefully.

However, Qin Yanzhi did not continue, but instead said, "A place you can go whenever you want lacks something."

The teacup in Jiang Ruyi's hand just reached her lips and paused.

She lifted her gaze, looking across the table.

Qin Yanzhi felt a slight tremor within.

Yes, this is the gaze a person from the Mountain Realm should have.

Her constant gentle smile was merely a courtesy towards acquaintances; the coldness deep in her eyes came from her true self.

The Jade Talisman Sect was mostly composed of cool and stern individuals.

Equal to the North Wind Sect, they considered human lives as trivial.

If Qin Yanzhi encountered a Jade Talisman Disciple during his travels, he definitely wouldn't dare to approach.

"So, is the place you can't go to the most beautiful?" Jiang Ruyi set down the teacup, speaking blandly.

Qin Yanzhi felt his scalp tingle.

The icy and elegant Immortal continued, "Like up in the heavens?"

Qin Yanzhi shook his head, "The human world."

Jiang Ruyi quietly looked at the young man, and after a few seconds, her gaze softened slightly.

Realizing she might have misunderstood him.

All along, Jiang Ruyi was not only filled with awe but also hostility towards the Heavenly Realm!

She did not want her Lu Ran to be swayed by this Dust Shadow Believer, tempted to ascend prematurely when unprepared.

In fact, if it were another believer, she might not have misunderstood.

Yet, sitting opposite is a Dust Shadow Believer!

Looking at Qin Yanzhi's history, you could tell a little.

If given the chance to ascend, Jiang Ruyi believed this Dust Shadow disciple would surely relish the Heavenly Realm.

"To return home, one must pass through the Heavenly Realm." Jiang Ruyi sighed softly, "Whether it's a return to the human world or a death in the underworld, it's uncertain."

As she spoke, she signaled Xuan Shuang beside her to serve tea to the young man.

"There's actually a shortcut." Qin Yanzhi glanced over at Lu Ran.

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

Qin Yanzhi organized his thoughts: "Since Brother Lu can steal power from Evil Demons and use Evil Mirror Magic,

once Brother Lu reaches beyond the Sea Realm and uses the higher than Sea Grade Mirror Flower Moon, he should be able to cross dimensions and return to the human world."

"Haha, I think so too." Despite smiling, Lu Ran sighed inwardly.

Right now, I'm just at Sea Realm·Second Rank!

Reaching higher than the Sea Realm still requires a year or two of cultivation.

And that's only assuming everything goes smoothly.

He looked at Qin Yanzhi, "Qin brother is also at Sea Realm Second Rank, maybe you'll ascend to the Heavenly Realm sooner than I."

Such words were full of politeness.

Yet Qin Yanzhi asked, "Where did Brother Lu hear the words 'Heavenly Realm'?"

"Mist Rain Lake·Thousand Boat Island..." Lu Ran explained briefly.

Since Lu Ran wanted to recruit Qin Yanzhi, he also recounted that remarkable battle.

Truly captivating!

This made Qin Yanzhi's emotions surge.

Listening to this, could it be that the Ran Sect created by Lu Ran has a very upright character?

Jiang Ruyi observed the black-clothed youth deep in thought and suddenly spoke:

"Where did Mr. Qin hear the words 'Heavenly Realm' from?"

Qin Yanzhi's heart tightened.

That woman...

He calmed his mind, explaining, "I rarely interact with people; it's a name I randomly came up with myself, associating it with the sky, and didn't expect it to match Leader Yun's view."

Jiang Ruyi looked gently at Qin Yanzhi.

Noticing his slightly nervous act of drinking tea, she spoke again: "Mr. Qin, how do you know that the Heavenly Grade·Mirror Flower Moon can definitely connect to the human world?"

Qin Yanzhi set down his teacup, forcing a smile, "It's my personal speculation, based on the effects of different grades of Mirror Flower Moon.

To be precise, it's more of a beautiful wish."

Lu Ran glanced at Jiang Ruyi, feeling somewhat uneasy.

In essence, Jiang Ruyi is not a "cute" person.

She once was.

But from the moment she ascended to the River Realm, she was no longer the gentle Ru Yi who treated the world softly.

Except, towards Lu Ran, she never changed.

Showed slight preferential treatment to a few close friends by her side.

So Lu Ran was a bit unsure of her attitude at this moment...

"Hehe." Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi laughed, "Lu Ran and Li Rouyin are friends; Lu Ran once told me they even met the Divine.

We showed courtesy to Mr. Qin and even shared some secrets.

We trust Mr. Qin like this, and is this how you treat us?"

Qin Yanzhi fell silent.

Jiang Ruyi continued, "Mr. Qin should know, from the moment you saw the Silk Thread, you were already a warrior of my Ran Sect."

Lu Ran is willing to treat an old acquaintance's childhood friend with courtesy, and Jiang Ruyi certainly has no objection.

Yet Lu Ran's safety always takes the utmost priority for Jiang Ruyi.

Whether Qin Yanzhi is willing to join the Ran Sect,

even Qin Yanzhi's every wish and personal will are entirely irrelevant.

Opening one's heart and walking side by side is good for everyone.

If there's a divergence in mind, then there's no choice.

Qin Yanzhi suddenly picked up the teacup, apologizing, "I was being petty, I apologize to the Sect Leader and the Lady."

Finishing his words, Qin Yanzhi stood up and drank the tea in one gulp.

Lu Ran raised his head to look at the young man, curiously asking, "Qin brother, what secret do you have? Always hiding it?"

Qin Yanzhi didn't sit back down, and said solemnly, "I have a master; he is a Dust Shadow believer.

A Heavenly Realm·Dust Shadow Believer!"

"Crack!"

Lu Ran couldn't control his strength, and the teacup in his hand was directly crushed.

Outwardly composed, Jian Ruyi experienced equally intense emotional turmoil; she took Lu Ran's hand and cleared the shattered stones from his palm.

Lu Ran trembled, "Then your master is still... still..."

"Still in the Mountain Realm!" Qin Yanzhi nodded heavily.

Lu Ran: !!!

...

Asking for some monthly tickets.