Summit of the Old Gods

"Master Lu, shall we head back to the bamboo hut and sit down for a detailed discussion?" Qin Yanzhi softly proposed.

"Alright." Lu Yuan nodded.

Then Qin Yanzhi looked at Lu Ran and made a gesture of invitation: "Sect Master, please!"

"You accompany Senior Lu back first, I'll go get some tea leaves." Lu Ran smiled and nodded.

Lu Yuan didn't say anything, and with Qin Yanzhi's accompaniment, he walked into the depths of the bamboo forest.

Watching the master and disciple's retreating figures, Lu Ran let out a big sigh of relief.

Well then~

Is this the might of a Heavenly Realm Power?

Lu Ran had once seen the Heavenly Realm's Yun Qianzhou, and in comparison, this always squinting elder Lu was clearly more imposing!

Perhaps, this relates to a matter of personality?

After all, Yun Qianzhou is a disciple of the Sky Phoenix, merciful and healing.

Lu Ran mused quietly, and approached Shadow Three.

"Sect Master~" Zhong Ling raised her almond eyes, looking aggrievedly at Lu Ran, with noticeable tear streaks at the corners of her eyes.

A mature woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and a member of the Divine Escort of Blazing Blood City!

She got scared to tears?

Lu Ran bent down, gently rubbing her head.

Only then did Zhong Ling realize, the wise and mighty Sect Master also had trembling hands...

"It's alright, it's alright." Lu Ran's voice was gentle, "I'll give you a break, go back and rest well."

As he spoke, he reached to the side, summoning the Ancient Bronze Mirror.

Lu Ran had four Shadow Guards in total, managed under the Evil Shadow Guardian, sharing the same aura—silent and swift.

Only the third sister of the Zhong Family was livelier, more human-like rather than a machine.

"Sect Master, I'll guard you." Zhong Ling quickly got up.

"No need, go back and rest." Lu Ran extended his hand, transforming the Ancient Bronze Mirror into a Landing Mirror, as another woman attired in green cloak and hat stepped out.

Seeing Yan Shuangzi arrive, Zhong Ling immediately put away her aggrieved expression and assumed a meek demeanor: "Captain."

Yan Shuangzi paid no attention to her subordinate, carrying a bag of Smoke Rain Tea, her gaze swept past Lu Ran and towards the distant bamboo forest.

At the same time, the master and disciple deep within the bamboo forest had come to a stop at some point, turning their heads to look back here.

Lu Yuan's expression was solemn: "Disciple, is this person an Evil Mirror Demon believer?"

No wonder the youth bragged earlier about slaughtering dogs on Ten Thousand Blade Mountain.

Turns out he truly has such means!

Lu Yuan, however, never thought Lu Ran was a Dust Shadow disciple.

Because the aura didn't match.

The Dust Shadow Sect mostly comprised of carefree wanderers, who at most were invited with great hospitality into the world to assist troops.

They certainly wouldn't produce emperors!

"No, Sect Master Lu is not an Evil Demon Disciple." Qin Yanzhi hurriedly explained.

"Oh?" Lu Yuan's cloudy eyes gazed at the disciple.

Even with their close relationship, Qin Yanzhi shuddered inwardly: "Sect Master Lu is not an Evil Mirror believer, he is the Master of the Evil Mirror."

Lu Yuan habitually squinted his eyes, pondering over the disciple's words.

Qin Yanzhi whispered: "Actually, even that title isn't accurate, Sect Master Lu is not within our realm of understanding, he is different from each of us.

Sect Master Lu can steal the power of gods and demons for his own use.

He is truly a breaker of situations! Sect Master Lu has also been amassing power, attempting to replace the divine, and overthrow the rule of gods and demons."

Lu Yuan: !!!

The elder who loved to squint, opened his eyes wide for the first time!

Qin Yanzhi gasped.

He knew his master well, understanding his master's hatred for the divine, his powerlessness and indignation at the current situation.

However, to avoid any possible other thoughts from Master Lu, Qin Yanzhi quickly added a point: "Lu, Master, aren't you always longing for Lady Master? Missing your daughter.

Sect Master Lu has a very special status, if he returns to the human world, he won't be punished by the divine, he can help you see your wife and daughter.

I was just thinking..."

"Gulp." Lu Yuan's Adam's apple moved.

The usually calm and collected Heavenly Realm's Dust Shadow disciple finally broke.

His heart was in tumult!

"Master Lu, you know my childhood friend in the human world is a disciple of a reclusive god." Qin Yanzhi thought for a moment, once again opening his mouth to add leverage.

Lu Yuan grunted, trying to calm his mind.

"The god she serves is an old friend of Sect Master Lu's god, and my childhood friend also has a good private relationship with Sect Master Lu, which is why she entrusted Sect Master Lu to look for and protect her disciple in the Mountain Realm..."

Lu Yuan interrupted: "This child, who exactly is he worshipping?"

"Immortal Sheep."

"Immortal Sheep?" Lu Yuan's expression bewildered.

He had just managed his facial expression, and now it changed again.

"Yes, that's the Immortal Sheep who ranks at the bottom." Qin Yanzhi quickly said.

Lu Yuan was filled with incredulity, turning to look at the robe-clad young man.

In the Dust Shadow Sect, emperors do not arise.

Did an emperor arise from the Immortal Sheep Sect?

The disciple had mentioned that as Da Xia's situation stabilized, the styles of all the divine sects changed, among them, the Immortal Sheep Sect became a gathering place for the weak and timid.

Not to mention emperors, it was hard to even produce a decent warrior.

That reclusive Divine·Forget Spring was actually on good terms with Divine·Immortal Goat?

Heh,

Interesting, truly interesting.

Lu Yuan watched as the robe-clad young man strode forward, inadvertently scrutinizing him.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, senior." Lu Ran politely said, cupping his hands, "I brought some Smoke Rain Tea for Senior Lu to taste."

Lu Yuan looked meaningfully at Lu Ran, nodding slightly: "Alright."

The Evil Shadow Guardian had already disappeared without a trace.

The trio of old and young proceeded in silence.

Along the way, Lu Ran wanted to say something several times, but seeing Lu Yuan in deep thought, he remained silent.

When they returned to the bamboo hut, Yan Shuangzi had already fetched water from the stream and started boiling tea in the courtyard.

Smoke Rain Tea was indeed bitter, but also truly fragrant!

Lu Yuan seemed interested, pointing to a stone table in the courtyard, on which a carved chess board lay, with mismatched black and white bamboo chess pieces scattered about: "Does Sect Master Lu play chess?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Do I know how to play this thing!

I can play a few hands of Gomoku... but that hardly counts!

Lu Ran shook his head and responded truthfully, "I don't understand chess skills."

"No problem!" Lu Yuan settled in front of the stone table, "Discuss a little, and you'll understand."

Lu Ran felt a bit uneasy.

This elder is quite domineering, huh?

Faced with the invitation from a Heavenly Realm Power, Lu Ran couldn't refuse and had to reluctantly sit down.

Suddenly, a thought struck Lu Ran's mind!

I don't know how to play chess, but among my disciples, there must be someone who does, right?

The next moment, all the disciples of the Ran Sect received a divine message: [Who among you knows how to play Go?]

Inside the Feixian Hall, the disciples who were respectfully kneeling couldn't help but exchange glances.

This was the first time Lord God manifested.

And the question was who knows how to play chess?

"Why the noise?" Bai Yanhui's voice from the depths of the hall was unfriendly.

"Elder Bai." Hall Master Song Yu immediately stepped forward, explaining the situation to Elder Bai.

"Go?" Bai Yanhui was a little surprised, stroking his long beard, pondering silently.

[Nearly two hundred disciples, and not one knows how to play Go?] Lord God spoke again, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

The disciples were trembling with fear.

Of course, there are those who know, but their skill level...

Since Lord God specifically sent a message to inquire, who with poor chess skills would dare to respond?

Song Yu heard the Sect Master's displeasure and worriedly said, "No one dares to respond, the Sect Master seems a bit unhappy... Elder Bai, do you know how to play Go?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Yu regretted it, realizing he barked up the wrong tree.

Elder Bai was blind, even if he could play, he couldn't utilize his true skills.

However, Bai Yanhui handed the Divine Weapon·Earth Trace Sword to Song Yu, "Draw the chessboard, you convey the messages."

Song Yu was momentarily stunned, quickly taking the Divine Weapon Sword, "Yes!"

At the same time, in the small courtyard of the cloud bamboo ravine.

Qin Yanzhi stood beside Lu Ran, quietly explaining the rules to the Sect Master.

Initially, Lu Ran was a diligent student, listening quietly, but before long, he held a dark brown piece and directly looked at the upper right corner of the chessboard.

"34..." Lu Ran murmured in his heart, counting the lines, and placed a piece.

Opposite the table, Lu Yuan remained expressionless, holding a light brown piece, placing it in the lower left.

Lu Ran continued to count the lines, placing a piece in the upper left corner of the board.

With the second piece placed, Qin Yanzhi immediately stopped speaking.

You... aren't you able to play?

At least you've dabbled a bit, right?

"Master Lu, it doesn't seem that you're unfamiliar with chess skills." Lu Yuan smiled at Lu Ran, occupying the lower right of the board.

Lu Ran also smiled, picking up another piece, "Senior Lu, you already know about it, the identity of this junior as the Master of Gods and Demons."

Such rebellious words were spoken so lightly by Lu Ran.

Lu Yuan slightly raised his eyes, looking at Lu Ran.

Back at the bamboo forest, the distance between them was not close!

This young one, did he hear that conversation?

Or did he purely guess, seeing through Qin Yanzhi, knowing that the disciple would be eager to share the information?

Lu Ran said softly, "So, what the divine can do, I can almost do as well."

Lu Yuan watched Lu Ran with interest, waiting for a further explanation.

Lu Ran placed a piece in the lower left of the chessboard, "For example, recruiting believers."

Lu Yuan's expression slightly froze.

Qin Yanzhi then realized!

In the world, believers can communicate with the worshipped Lord God, can transmit messages!

Crap?!

Qin Yanzhi looked at the calm and composed Lu Ran, four big words appearing in his mind:

He has opened up!

Indeed, Lu Ran has opened up.

You might say he's uninterested in this or blame his youthful impatience, but in any case, Lu Ran was unwilling to quietly play chess here.

Lu Ran only wanted to quickly steer the conversation to the main topic!

He just wanted to go home!

"Haha." Lu Yuan chuckled involuntarily, considering that aspect, "So the person playing with Lu is not the Sect Master Lu."

Lu Ran feigned contemplation, "Hmm... Why wouldn't it be?"

Lu Yuan appreciated Lu Ran's honesty.

However, Lu Ran's words were indeed rather shameless.

Lu Yuan picked up a piece, "Since it's someone else playing against me, what does it have to do with Sect Master Lu?"

Lu Ran chuckled, "But he is my believer, everything of his belongs to me."

Lu Yuan furrowed his brows slightly.

"His life, his will, his dignity, his life... including his soul after death." Lu Ran's words were light, but each word seemed like a hammer blow.

Lu Ran toyed with the piece in his hand, whispering, "All of his everything, doesn't it belong to me?"

Lu Yuan's face turned serious.

Qin Yanzhi also fell into deeper silence.

The "he" in Lu Ran's mouth was actually referring to Lu Yuan, referring to Qin Yanzhi.

Referring to the vast masses under the rule of all gods.

"His chess skills are also mine, aren't they?" Lu Ran looked at the piece held between his fingers.

After a while, Lu Yuan placed a piece, slowly saying, "Sect Master Lu's power is overwhelming, people who wish to escape your control don't know the cost they'll have to pay."

The "he" Lu Ran mentioned referred to the masses.

The "Sect Master Lu" described as overbearing by Dust Shadow Believer·Lu Yuan, naturally did not refer to Lu Ran himself.

At least Lu Ran did not think so.

What he did, his conscience was clear.

It can't be denied, Lu Ran has become the cloud sea enveloping a part of the world.

But he is dust-free!

"No matter!" Lu Ran repeated what Lu Yuan said earlier.

"No matter?"

"Man is bound to die." Lu Ran raised his head, gazing towards the sky's cloud sea, "To be enslaved like this for generations..."

How bitter.

...