Summit of the Old Gods

"Sigh..."

Gazing at the retreating figure of Yan Shuangzi leading people away, Lu Ran sighed.

In his mind, Deng Yuxiang's words resurfaced, "You really don't understand her."

Indeed.

He didn't understand her well enough.

Lu Ran originally believed that after piecing the shattered Yan Shuangzi back together, granting her rebirth, guiding her revenge, and supporting her ascension to the Sea Realm, she would regain her former glory.

No longer belittling herself.

The Great Evil Shadow did indeed shine once more, yet she still refused to change how she addressed him.

In truth, the address was merely superficial; the key was her sense of self...

"Swish~"

Lu Ran's figure flickered, disappearing from sight.

Oh, whatever, women are just troublesome!

Let it be.

I've done my best...

[Where did you go?] Suddenly, Yan Shuangzi's voice echoed in his mind.

[Huh?] Lu Ran was momentarily stunned.

How dare she question me?

This is absurd!

Yan Shuangzi seemed to sense the issue and her tone softened: [Master, where have you gone? I'm teaching Shadow Four how to protect you.]

Lu Ran sat on the village chief's seat in the Council Hall, snorted:

[I'm in the Council Hall. Call Mr. Conglong here.]

[Yes.]

Lu Ran changed his target and transmitted a message: [Nightmare, come to the Council Hall.]

[Mhm.]

A faint nasal sound made Lu Ran shiver.

Well then~

The Big Nightmare, the Great Evil Shadow.

The two big ladies, both with the background of North Wind Disciples... there's no nice person, is there?

Lu Ran propped his elbow on the desk, resting his face in his palm, waiting silently.

Deng Yuxiang arrived first. Seeing Lu Ran's bored look of "waiting for class," a smile tugged at her lips.

This is the time to say, "Class starts now."

Would he stand up and say, "Good day, teacher"?

"Sit." Lu Ran said casually.

"So idle today?" Deng Yuxiang strode over with her long legs and plopped into the first seat on the left.

She was like a great general!

This demeanor, this aura, far better suited for the village chief's seat than Lu Ran.

"I was originally devoted to cultivation but was disturbed by your Great Evil Shadow." Lu Ran pouted.

Deng Yuxiang leaned back, relaxing against the chair back.

She tilted her head to look at the young man behind the desk and couldn't help but say, "Teachers don't like tattletales."

Lu Ran: ?

It truly proves that power can change a person.

The Sea Realm·Third Rank Big Nightmare was so dazzling.

The more Lu Ran looked, the more he liked it.

Alright~

In respect of this sect leader's appreciation, let it be.

"Sect Leader." A refined gentleman entered the hall, holding a paper fan, and saluted Lu Ran with a cupped fist.

"Sir, please take a seat." Lu Ran nodded with a smile, casting a glance at Deng Yuxiang.

Look at him!

A Sea Realm Fourth Rank Great Power, when did he float by?

Yu Changsheng approached the right row of seats, gracing the first seat with elegance.

Seeing that both guardians had arrived, Lu Ran spoke, "Since I returned to the cliff, Phoenix General and Nightmare Guardian have successively advanced. There is one matter I haven't shared with you."

Both of them regarded the young sect leader behind the lavish desk with some curiosity.

"I have recruited another Divine General." Lu Ran announced.

He then briefly recounted capturing Dust Shadow Disciple·Qin Yanzhi at Qianhua Ridge.

"Congratulations, Sect Leader!" Yu Changsheng immediately offered his felicitations.

"Congratulations all around." Lu Ran responded habitually.

Yu Changsheng wondered, "Why hasn't Qin Divine General returned to the cliff?"

With Xue Fengchen and Deng Yuxiang, the two Sea Realm Great Powers, advancing, wouldn't Qin Divine General be interested in such a great cultivation environment?

"Qin Divine General has gone out to search for his master."

"Master?" Deng Yuxiang raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lu Ran glanced over them: "Heavenly Realm·Dust Shadow Believer."

Yu Changsheng's breath caught slightly.

"Crack!"

Deng Yuxiang didn't control her strength, crushing the armrest.

"Oh dear, my Big Nightmare, go easy!" Lu Ran felt a pang of heartache.

The furniture from Langhua Village and Wolf Bone Village, with such exquisite craftsmanship, was unmatched by other factional organizations.

Deng Yuxiang looked at the young emperor on the throne, her voice trembling: "C-could we return home early?"

Who among those in the mountains doesn't want to go home?

Deng Yuxiang had parents and a wayward younger brother.

Blood ties are a wonderful thing.

Even someone like the Big Nightmare would occasionally think of family far away in the human world during quiet nights.

"Finding Senior Lu Yuan should make it possible." Lu Ran nodded.

Yu Changsheng stood up: "Are you certain, Heavenly Grade·Other Shore Flower can take us home?"

"Certainly."

"Why so sure?" Yu Changsheng was quite surprised.

Lu Ran smiled: "Because Senior Lu Yuan has returned there before."

Deng Yuxiang's eyes lit up!

Yu Changsheng also paused for quite a while.

"Hehe~"

Lu Ran laughed inwardly, watching the shocked expressions of the two greats of Yangyang Sea, finding it quite amusing.

Yet, he feigned a pained expression: "Nightmare Guardian, Dragon Guardian! You two are giants of Yangyang Sea, how can you lack composure?

What decorum is there!"

Yu Changsheng's eyes looked deeply at Lu Ran.

Deng Yuxiang merely laughed, "Heh."

She simply didn't believe that when Lu Ran first heard this information, he could remain as steady as a mountain!

She and Lu Ran had nearly identical growth paths.

Putting aside the longing for family, the emotions both held for their hometown Rain Alley City and for the Wu Lie River were extremely strong!

"Sit down and listen carefully as I tell you..." Lu Ran transformed into a storyteller, recounting every detail of those few days.

The experiences of Senior Lu Yuan were heard, leaving Yu Changsheng sighing internally.

Comparatively, Deng Yuxiang was more focused on herself and Lu Ran: "So, in at most three months, we can expect Senior Lu's return to Cloud Bamboo Stream?"

The information provided by Qin Yanzhi was rather vague, saying that every three to five months, the master would return to his residence for a few days.

It was now early June, and Senior Lu Yuan had been away for two months.

"Probably." Lu Ran nodded.

Yu Changsheng sighed deeply.

"Mr. Conglong?"

Yu Changsheng smiled and shook his head: "Given Senior Lu Yuan's experiences, I am unable to return.

If I don't ascend, directly reaching the Human World...

I'm afraid that Divine·Dragon Carp would immediately deprive me of my life and devour my soul."

Lu Ran remained silent for a moment, then spoke solemnly: "If there's a chance to return to the Human World, I will seek guidance from Lord Immortal Sheep, find a way to nullify the contract for you without harm."

Yu Changsheng cupped his hands: "Thank you, Sect Leader."

Deng Yuxiang looked at Yu Changsheng, and with her keen perception, she noticed a hint of sorrow in this usually elegant gentleman's eyes.

Clearly, with the Human World so close, Yu Changsheng still couldn't return.

It truly was cruel.

Undoubtedly, what made Yu Changsheng more anxious was whether his friends and family in the Human World were still alive, after all these years.

"Sect Leader." Yu Changsheng stood up again, "Does anyone else know about this?"

"The Shadow Guard Team, and two of the lady's personal guards."

"The Sect Leader must strictly control this information, and not let anyone else know." Yu Changsheng's tone was particularly serious.

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Now, with Ran Sect disciples living tranquilly within the cliff, hearing such news unexpectedly might cause unforeseen chaos.

Yu Changsheng continued: "If there's a chance to return to the Human World, there shouldn't be too many people involved. The key is for Sect Leader to communicate with Lord Immortal Sheep!

Sect Leader must be aware that what you are about to do is akin to dancing on the edge of a blade; any slight mistake could lead to eternal damnation!"

"I understand." Lu Ran nodded heavily.

Yu Changsheng, still a bit uneasy, advised further: "The Sect Leader's identity is extremely special, well-known in the Human World; it's best not to expose yourself in public to avoid drawing too much attention.

The so-called glorious return must not happen now."

Lu Ran looked at the strategist, waiting for further words.

Yu Changsheng said solemnly: "A glorious return should be the day when The Pride of Da Xia overturns the existing order, topples the divine tyranny, imposes their force over the seas, and brings blessings to all...

The day they ascend the throne!"

Lu Ran pressed a hand on the bookcase.

Dammit,

It ignited him!

Yu Changsheng raised his eyes, looking at Lu Ran on the throne: "What does the Sect Leader think?"

Lu Ran calmed his thoughts and sighed: "Mr. Conglong, you still love using idioms so much."

Yu Changsheng: "..."

Lu Ran chuckled, then said: "Thanks for the guidance, sir. I will act discreetly. But there's something I wish to discuss with you."

"Please speak, Sect Leader."

"In the Human World, I have a few sworn siblings." Lu Ran said, glancing at Deng Yuxiang.

Deng Yuxiang was naturally aware that among those Lu Ran spoke of, her own brother was included.

Lu Ran continued: "These people are not exceptionally gifted; all are Fourth or Fifth-class God disciples, at most a Third-class God disciple, who is my own sister.

Instead of waiting for the divine to throw them into the mountains... somewhere unknown, possibly captured by villains, suffering slavery and a tragic death,

why not I take them in directly!"

At this moment, Lu Ran's mindset had greatly shifted.

With the Ran Sect now strong and getting stronger, they truly had the ability to protect the siblings.

Yu Changsheng pondered for a moment then nodded: "It's indeed feasible and can also relieve the Sect Leader of future worries."

The root of overthrowing the God Demon tyranny lay in Lu Ran himself.

Whether those people were willing to join the mountains, whether they were willing to embark on this perilous path to ascension...

Was not of consequence!

As long as it benefitted Lu Ran, even if it only brought a shred of peace of mind to the Sect Leader, it was enough.

This was also all Yu Changsheng needed to consider.

However, such thoughts could not be expressed by Yu Changsheng.

He covertly glanced at Deng Yuxiang across from him.

It seemed that he would have to talk to her privately.

If those people were willing to accept the Sect Leader's invitation, all would be well.

If they were unwilling to accept...

She could make them accept.

Yu Changsheng reached a conclusion in his mind and suggested: "This time, when the Sect Leader returns to the Human World, you might as well ask Lord Immortal Sheep to help those few tear up the contract without harm.

From the Sect Leader's words, their innate talent is not outstanding.

Bringing them into the mountains, binding them to the Sect Leader's Stone Sculpture early on, can enhance their cultivation talent sooner."

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

He was truly worried that one day, Divine·Lantern would suddenly act and throw Little Yuanxi into Holy Spirit Mountain.

The Sea Realm Third Rank Lantern disciple, Shangguan Hongfu, still had to become someone's son in order to barely survive.

What could Little Yuanxi have to survive?

Just thinking about it made Lu Ran shiver in fear.

If he could return to the Human World, Lu Ran would definitely bring Little Yuanxi out!

Hell with believing in Divine·Lantern?

Believe in me!

Believe in Evil God·Black Light!

...