Summit of the Old Gods

The stars and moon shifted, night and day alternated.

A beautiful dawn emerged on the horizon, a red sun gradually appeared above the eastern sea horizon.

Inside the Cloud Sea Residence, all was quiet.

In the courtyard, on a rocking chair, a young man covered with a wide white robe was still sound asleep.

"Whoosh~"

The sea breeze blew, gently rocking the chair.

"Mm..." Lu Ran opened his sleepy eyes, finding his embrace empty and the beauty gone.

He mulled it over for a while and asked softly, "Where is she?"

[The Lady is in the backyard, practicing swords with two guards.] A voice imprinted in his mind.

"Oh." Lu Ran sniffed the air, indeed catching a faint scent of plum blossoms wafting from the backyard to the front courtyard through the hall.

Little Ruyi is so diligent!

Getting up so early to practice sword, I wonder, who is she preparing a dance for?

Oh... it turns out it's me!

Then it's all good~

Lu Ran smiled contentedly, looking lazy as he snugged the wide robe tighter around himself.

Letting the rocking chair gently sway him.

He slowly closed his eyes, seeming to be dozing off again.

Just as he was drifting, another voice imprinted in his mind: [Master, Elder Lu requests an audience.]

"Hmm, Elder Lu requests... huh?" Lu Ran suddenly opened his eyes, instantly wide awake, "Where?"

[In the woods outside the courtyard, Shadow Two stopped him.]

"Quickly invite him in!" Lu Ran immediately got up, looking out beyond the fence wall, indeed spotting an old man in a gray robe with white hair amidst the lush forest.

Lu Ran was overjoyed!

Was that the old man?

No, it was a flower!

A flower that would send him back to the human world!

"Let the Lady know." Lu Ran tidied his clothes and went out to greet, "Elder Lu, good morning!"

Nowadays, Lu Yuan held a nominal position as well.

Senior Lu's request was simple, having been accustomed to leisure, he didn't want to be disturbed too much.

Lu Ran gave him the position of Elder in the Ran Sect, holding a high status within the sect, without any duties, living leisurely.

"Hope I'm not disturbing the Sect Leader's rest?" Lu Yuan wore a smile.

"Not at all, not at all! I was just awake early. We martial artists value rising with the sun!" Lu Ran boasted shamelessly, guiding Lu Yuan into the fenced courtyard.

Lu Yuan continued to smile, not exposing the truth.

The two of them arrived at a corner of the courtyard, seated by the stone table.

"Elder Lu has arrived." A cold voice sounded, a fairy in a white dress drifted over.

"Lady." Lu Yuan responded immediately, only realizing by the lady's demeanor who the person dancing was.

"Liu Huo, serve the tea." Jiang Ruyi gently instructed, sitting at the table.

Lu Ran had somewhat matured, a bit more patient, and showed concern by asking, "Elder Lu, you have been staying at the Cloud Sea Cliff for a while, are you accustomed to it?"

"Very much so." Lu Yuan smiled and nodded, "I have roamed the Mountain Realm for over thirty years, the Sect Leader is the first to dare settle by the sea."

Lu Ran laughed, "With the Mo Li Clan and the Sea Merfolk Clan, we securely control this sea area. Rest assured staying here, elder.

At most, an Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon occasionally flies over, and Luo Divine General will shoot it down with a few arrows."

Lu Yuan did not continue that topic but sighed, speaking with a literary flair, "The 800-meter sea cliff stands tall like a screen separating land and sea; the waves crashing below sound like thunder.

Such grand and magnificent land can indeed only be commanded by someone like the Sect Leader."

Lu Ran was speechless.

The world seen through the eyes of the Dust Shadow disciple was indeed unique.

"Don't praise him too much, or he'll become arrogant," Jiang Ruyi said with a smile.

Despite these words, in Lu Yuan's eyes, the woman was speaking contrary to her feelings.

Upon hearing Lu Ran praised, she seemed to have a sweet indulgence, even prouder than Lu Ran?

"I don't deserve it," Lu Ran hurriedly showed modesty.

"The Sect Leader is deserving!" Lu Yuan expressed a look of emotion, "Before arriving at the Cloud Sea Cliff, this old one never imagined the Sect Leader could achieve such feats."

In the Mountain Realm, all manner of ugly faces could be seen everywhere.

But people with a benevolent heart, who care for the world, are extremely rare.

Lu Yuan still remembered at Cloud Bamboo Canyon, after Lu Ran praised the righteous ethos of the Ran Sect, he asked, "Like Wuji Peak or the Forbidden City?"

At that time, Lu Ran inexplicably smiled.

Now Lu Yuan completely understood why Lu Ran smiled.

Because that Forbidden City belonged to Lu Ran!

The renowned Forbidden City Master is rightfully under the Ran Sect.

He Qifeng's grand Stone Sculpture stands within Feixian Hall, worshipped daily by Ran Sect disciples.

"Don't really praise him." Despite his usual thick skin, Lu Ran showed rare humility, "I might really get carried away."

"Alright, alright." Lu Yuan grew slightly solemn, "Today is the thirteenth of July, Sect Leader thinks, how about returning to the human world on the night of July fifteenth?"

"The fifteenth of July?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Night." Lu Yuan emphasized a word.

Every fifteenth night is when the Evils feast, extravagantly in the human world.

Among the whole year, the night of July fifteenth is the most unique, a night of the fiercest Evil invasion.

"I'm fine with anything, but why did Elder Lu specifically choose this night?" Lu Ran asked in curiosity.

Lu Yuan explained, "The Heavenly Grade Other Shore Flower causes a major disturbance, with extremely intense Divine Power fluctuations. If this old one sends the Sect Leader back during human world peace, it might attract the notice of the Dust Shadows."

Lu Ran nodded in understanding, "Got it."

In troubled waters, it is easier to fish!

Lu Yuan added, "This old one will send the Sect Leader to Tianmen Mountain's south in Da Xia Xiangnan Province, how about that?"

"Good!" Lu Ran nodded again.

As long as he returns to the human world, for Lu Ran, traveling anywhere is just a step away.

"Lady." Liu Huo approached with a bamboo tea tray, calling softly.

Since Lu Ran illuminated the map of Cloud Bamboo Gully, many household items had been replaced with bamboo artifacts.

Jiang Ruyi dismissed the guards and personally poured a cup of tea for Lu Yuan, handing it over: "I heard that Elder Lu was forced into the mountain, leaving behind a wife and daughter in the human world.

Should we let Lu Ran take a look and offer some care?"

"I can't thank you enough!" Lady Ran took the initiative to mention it, and Lu Yuan immediately stood up, clasping his hands in salute.

"Please sit down, Senior Lu, no need for this." Lu Ran quickly gestured for him to sit, only asking about his wife and daughter once the elder was seated.

"My wife's name is Wen Lanxin, the 'Lanxin' of refined elegance." Lu Yuan's expression softened slightly when mentioning his wife.

Gentle as jade, refined and elegant.

What a beautiful name.

Lu Ran thought to himself, recalling a delicate bamboo sculpture inside the bamboo house in Cloud Bamboo Gully.

The woman's gentle smile still vivid in memory.

"She is the same age as me. If she is still alive, she would be seventy-four." Lu Yuan's tone was noticeably somber.

Lu Jiang remained silent.

In the face of the passage of time, all words of comfort seem pale and powerless.

Even in peaceful times, no one dares to guarantee that a seventy-four-year-old elder is still alive.

Let alone in the human world, where battles occur monthly.

Subsequently, Lu Yuan described his wife's appearance in detail, but the impression remained from more than thirty years ago.

What would Mrs. Wen Lanxin look like after more than thirty years of hardships?

No one knows.

The atmosphere in the courtyard grew heavy.

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, he fell into silence.

After a long while, Jiang Ruyi personally refilled the elder's tea, her voice slightly softer: "What about Senior Lu's daughter?"

Lu Yuan's expression darkened: "I... do not know my daughter's name."

Jiang Ruyi silently replenished the tea, not speaking further.

Lu Yuan gazed at the lush mountain forest beyond the fence, speaking slowly: "When I entered the mountain, my daughter had just been born. My wife and I hadn't decided on her formal name."

Lu Ran caught onto a word and asked, "Does she have a nickname?"

"Her nickname is Huang'er, the 'Huang' of Phoenix."

Lu Huang'er?

Lu Ran nodded discreetly. Just from the nickname, one could feel the parents' full expectations for their child.

Lu Yuan reminisced about those tender years: "The word 'Huang' is quite grand. My wife and I always debated whether to use this name.

So, we decided to make it her nickname first."

Lu Ran quite agreed.

The word 'Huang' indeed is grand, with a very good meaning.

The king of all birds, also a symbol of auspice.

"If Huang'er is still alive, she would be thirty-seven now." Lu Yuan watched the swaying leaves in the wind, "I wonder if she got married.

If she has her own family and children..."

Lu Ran asked, "Where does Senior Lu live? Also, do you have any relatives or friends, comrades from back then? The more detailed the information, the better, so I can find them."

Lu Yuan was silent for a long time and then spoke: "The last time I returned to the human world, I was directly transported to my doorstep, but it had completely changed.

Just as I wanted to search again, the Divine Power had already found me..."

Lu Ran felt a heaviness in his heart.

Indeed, over thirty years had passed, and the city's buildings, streets, and so on had all changed.

Jiang Ruyi said, "Elder Lu, please describe it in detail."

Lu Yuan recalled everything from more than thirty years ago, much of which had already blurred: "My wife and I are from Xiangnan, once lived in Yueyang City..."

Until the sun hung high, Lu Yuan and Lu Ran agreed to meet again on the fifteenth night, and then he left.

Watching the elder's desolate back, Lu Ran's heart felt a bit uneasy.

Jiang Ruyi softly said: "On this return to the human world, should we bring two Shadow Guards? It will help us find people."

Upon hearing this, the Zhong Family sisters, who were secretly guarding, couldn't help but have their hearts race.

If possible, who wouldn't want to return to the human world for a look?

"Hmm..." Lu Ran pondered briefly.

Shadow Three and Shadow Four could not be brought.

He wasn't doubting their loyalty, but the younger Zhong was rather lively, and Shadow Four had just joined.

Shadow One and Shadow Two, however, were completely fine.

Eldest and second Zhong sister were both calm and composed individuals.

Jiang Ruyi added, "The Shadow Guard Team is only at the River Realm, with a lower Realm, better for communication with ordinary people."

Lu Ran couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

Only at the River Realm?

Only?

Though it doesn't quite sound right, it's indeed quite reasonable.

"Alright then." Lu Ran finally nodded.

Also bring along the Nightmare and Evil Shadow as dual protectors, just in case.

All set!

[Master! Master, do you have time?] Suddenly, a mental voice echoed, sounding exactly like Lu Ran.

[Dawn Blade?] Lu Ran's heart stirred, wondering if the challenge issue at the Pear Garden Sect had been resolved?

[Master, come quickly!]

Lu Ran's heart immediately filled with anxiety, quickly asking: [What happened?]

Dawn Blade's Sword Spirit: [The Martial Emperor won! Beheaded the Hall Master of Tiangang Hall! Mr. Cong Long wants you over immediately, to swallow the Dead Soul.]

Lu Ran: "..."

Do you want to scare me to death!

...