Summit of the Old Gods

July 23rd, late at night.

Outside Anji City in Qiantang River Province, in a dense mountain forest, a Landing Mirror opened and dispersed.

Lu Ran concealed his figure, flickering quietly in the vast night, unbeknownst to anyone.

About eight or nine kilometers away from the Demon Cave·Bamboo Sea, Lu Ran hovered in the night sky, gazing at a tranquil military camp and seeing the Divine·Lantern Stone Sculpture standing there.

She was once the Divine Technique his sister worshipped, but now, Little Yuanxi had become the Evil God·Black Lantern.

The two had become bitter enemies.

"Truly, circumstances are unpredictable..." Lu Ran muttered to himself, his figure flashing again.

In the next moment, he was standing right above the fiercely fluctuating energy of the Demon Cave Gate!

Most Demon Cave Gates in the world are like a flat "Starry Sky Curtain."

The gate to Demon Cave·Bamboo Sea was like a clear lake, with a faint white mist circling its surface, full of Immortal Qi.

Lu Ran, always invisible, free fell, plunging into it.

Suddenly, the sky brightened!

Bamboo Sea was indeed a healing haven, always portraying a scene of sunshine and gentle breeze.

Lu Ran did not pause, his figure flickering continuously, rushing towards the ominous ghostly mansion hidden within the vast Bamboo Sea.

"Youhuang Ferry."

Lu Ran stood before the ghostly atmosphere-laden mansion, gazing at the plaque above the door.

Li Little Chef,

Your husband is in my hands!

I give you three days to present ten thousand Copper Coins to redeem him, otherwise... hmph hmph!

Lu Ran mentally wrote the script, meticulously surveying the surroundings of Youhuang Ferry, and after confirming the military soldiers were guarding the perimeter, he flashed into the courtyard.

Once again, Lu Ran stood in the center of the courtyard, beside the clustered evil bamboo, looking up at the second-floor window.

His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Last time he came here, Lu Ran was preparing for a challenge in the Divine Ruins, full of expectations for the world beyond the Divine Ruins.

Now returning, reflecting on his past self...

Expect the unexpected!

Lu Ran slowly floated up, arriving at the second-floor window, just catching sight of a woman sitting quietly at the table by the window.

Her skin was still terrifyingly pale.

Not the cool pallor of Bai Manni, but a nearly pathological pallor.

She was still slender, like a fragile willow swaying in the wind, her hollow eyes devoid of focus, making one's heart shiver.

The elegant long black dress enhanced her noble demeanor, yet her forlorn solitary sitting resembled a thousand gold girl kept in the deep confines of a grand courtyard.

Forever trapped here, unable to see the bustling world outside the doors.

"Whew~"

A gentle breeze blew, bringing the rustling sound of bamboo leaves, also causing Li Rouyin's hair to dance lightly.

She raised her fair jade hand, tidying her hair, but her delicate body suddenly stiffened!

Unintentionally, she seemed to have "seen" something remarkable.

Li Rouyin slowly turned her head, her hollow eyes looking towards the window.

Lu Ran was a bit baffled.

No!

What are you looking at?

I have Divine Technique·Wolf Concealment on all the time, don't mess with me... wait, what?

The girl slightly leaned forward, reaching out to the window, softly and incredulously whispered: "Lu Ran?"

Lu Ran: ?

Her trembling hand eventually touched Lu Ran's head.

Lu Ran was only invisible, not voidified, and certainly had a physical body.

"Crash..."

The bamboo table by the window was flipped by the girl who rose excitedly.

Lu Ran was thoroughly bewildered, his chin resting on the window sill, stunned on the spot.

Until Li Rouyin placed a hand on Lu Ran's head, her slender jade fingers reaching for his eyes...

"Uh." Lu Ran hurriedly retreated, annoyed, "Good grief, you little blind one, still scheming!

Meeting me just to gouge my eyes?"

Li Rouyin's movements paused for a moment, her mood turning increasingly happy.

Finally, she actually laughed softly: "Rude! I told you before to use the word 'pluck'."

Lu Ran snorted: "Out of the way, I want to come in."

Li Rouyin stood unmoved at the window, hands behind her back: "Bold intruder, daring to trespass Youhuang Ferry, are you aware of your crime?"

"I've been aware of my crime for a long time." Lu Ran climbed through the window.

Li Rouyin hastily retreated, in her annoyance, her pale face turned slightly crimson, making her look much healthier:

"You! You are rude!"

"You're no less rude, overturning tables and plucking eyes." Lu Ran looked at the overturned bamboo table and chairs, resignedly picking them up one by one.

Though Li Rouyin couldn't see, she could sense what Lu Ran was doing.

"Hmph." She slightly raised her chin, her temper somewhat eased.

"How did you discover me?" Lu Ran asked as he set the table and chairs upright, "This Magic Artifact is amazing, it doesn't only make me invisible, but also hides my aura."

Lu Ran exaggerated, attributing the Greedy Wolf Divine Technique to a Magic Artifact.

"Not exactly seeing, just a feeling."

"Feeling?"

Li Rouyin gently nodded: "A sinister feeling.

My ghostly energy is already quite heavy, in this world, the only thing that can make me feel sinister is probably you."

Lu Ran: "..."

Is she insulting me?

Hmm... probably.

Lu Ran saw the mirth appearing at the corners of Li Rouyin's mouth, then she extended her right hand.

"What for?" Lu Ran said irritably.

"Help me be seated." The girl still held her chin slightly raised, the air of command made Lu Ran want to give her a slap!

But thinking of her immense wealth, Lu Ran restrained himself.

Before soft rice enters the mouth,

Let's not argue with the little rich lady!

"I'm really at your mercy." Lu Ran grumbled, holding her arm, guiding her to sit by the bamboo table.

"You returned from the Divine Ruins?" Li Rouyin asked eagerly as soon as she sat down.

"So you're back."

"Back?"

"Not fully." Lu Ran sat across the table, still hidden, "There's more to do."

"Hmm." Li Rouyin pressed her lips together. She had many questions about Lu Ran's words, but at that moment, one question lingered in her mind, suppressing all others.

The girl's voice was small and light: "Did you see my... childhood friend..."

She felt very anxious inside.

Lu Ran chuckled: "Now, we can discuss the bride price."

"Bride price?" Li Rouyin looked puzzled.

"Yes, your childhood friend is now one of my soldiers." Lu Ran smiled at the beautiful girl, "I can make sure he gets married gloriously into Youhuangdu.

Since we're going to do it grandly, the bride price shouldn't be lacking... oh man!"

Lu Ran quickly pressed his hands on the bamboo table.

After a moment of being stunned, Li Rouyin stood up excitedly: "You found him! You found... found Yanzhi?"

"Yep! It wore me out~" Lu Ran boasted, "I searched high and low, all over for a year and a half!"

"He's okay? He...he's not dead?" Li Rouyin became more and more excited, lost in her own world.

Seeing her like this, Lu Ran stopped joking around.

He got more serious, confirming: "Qin Yanzhi is doing well."

"Good, good! That's wonderful...sob..." Li Rouyin covered her eyes with her hands and sat heavily back onto the bamboo chair.

The usually graceful believer of Wang Quan seemed a little out of control.

It seems her relationship with Qin Yanzhi was really good.

Lu Ran didn't joke around, letting her vent her inner turmoil.

No one should laugh at anyone.

Thinking back, when he saw Little Ruyi on Ten Thousand Blade Mountain, he wasn't much better off.

After a while, the girl's trembling shoulders finally calmed down.

A gentle voice reached Lu Ran's ears: "I was rude."

"It's fine." Lu Ran gazed at the Bamboo Sea outside the window, "Not only is he alive, but he's also physically intact, mentally sound, and his strength has reached Sea Realm Second Rank."

Li Rouyin's focus was not on strength.

But on the eight words Lu Ran uttered: physically intact, mentally sound.

Being as wise as she was, she could comprehend how dangerous and cruel the world after the Divine Ruins was.

Otherwise, Lu Ran wouldn't have emphasized the physical and mental states.

"Now that he's reunited with me, Yanzhi is even less likely to be in trouble." Lu Ran reassured the girl, "While he's with me, rest assured, no one will bully him."

"Yes, yes." Li Rouyin nodded repeatedly, wanting to say something but hesitated, "Then he..."

"He misses you a lot too."

"Hmph." The noble and elegant girl pouted her lips.

It was unclear whether she was throwing a small tantrum or questioning Lu Ran's words.

Lu Ran explained for his subordinate: "He can't come back for now; it involves many issues. You can ask Lord Wang Quan; I won't say more."

Hearing this, Li Rouyin fell into silence.

After a long while, her vacant eyes looked at Lu Ran, her expression incredibly sincere: "Lu Ran, thank you."

Her earnest gratitude made Lu Ran feel embarrassed to speak.

Hmm... no, no.

One must be thick-skinned to get enough!

Lu Ran muttered softly: "Is it just verbal thanks?"

"Hehe~" Li Rouyin finally showcased a hint of a smile, slowly getting up, "You little glutton, do you want to devour my soul again?"

Lu Ran scratched his head awkwardly.

Unlike before, this time Li Rouyin spoke with a smile, not showing much sorrow: "Let's go, sister will treat you to a meal."

The attitude changed, and so did the title.

Not only did Lu Ran gain a Qin Divine General, but he also grew closer to this believer of Wang Quan.

Strictly speaking, their relationship wasn't very good before.

After all, every time Lu Ran visited, he would eat heartily, making Li Rouyin's heart ache.

If it weren't for Lord Wang Quan insisting that the disciple make friends with Lu Ran, Li Rouyin would have likely picked up her blind stick and driven Lu Ran out of Youhuangdu long ago...

"Go, glutton, get sister's blind stick." Li Rouyin issued another command.

Earlier, the blind stick had always been by her side.

Since flipping the table, no one knew where it had rolled off to.

Lu Ran searched while saying: "I won't eat the Dead Souls, after all, they are what you've painstakingly collected.

A gentleman doesn't take away others' favorites!"

Li Rouyin almost laughed from exasperation.

How could such words come out of your mouth?

And from Li Rouyin's reaction, Lu Ran could tell she knew little about Holy Spirit Mountain.

Lu Ran finally found the blind stick and handed it over: "I mentioned making Qin Yanzhi the in-law, so you should give some bride price..."

The word "price," Lu Ran particularly stressed.

Li Rouyin was even more puzzled: "Price? What do you need that for?"

Lu Ran: "..."

How outrageous!

Can't I take the money to buy some kebabs...? No, I got sidetracked.

Lu Ran thickened his skin, whispering: "I saw the Rebirth Hall in the backyard, with quite a few Ancient Copper Coins there, eh?"

Li Rouyin lightly opened her mouth, finally realizing what Lu Ran was after.

She originally thought this glutton Lu Ran had come to his senses and wouldn't rob her of the Dead Souls she had painfully collected.

Didn't expect he'd be more audacious, setting his sight on the Magic Artifact·Rebirth Coin?!

"I can make decisions about the Dead Souls, but the Rebirth Money all belongs to Lord Wang Quan..." Li Rouyin gritted her teeth, stopped mid-sentence suddenly.

Lu Ran was puzzled.

It seemed Li Rouyin had an epiphany, her attitude taking a 180-degree turn: "I'll go into the hall now and ask Lord Wang Quan for you."

Lu Ran was shocked!

Is this still the stingy Li Rouyin?

Lu Ran didn't doubt Li Rouyin and Qin Yanzhi's relationship.

But her attitude shifting again and again.

Could there be some trick in this?

...