Summit of the Old Gods

Inside the Rebirth Hall.

The girl in the black dress knelt persistently in front of the Divine Sculpture.

Dense red silk threads hung down like rain, gently swaying within the hall.

At the end of each red thread was an ancient copper coin, occasionally clinking together to produce a pleasant sound.

Lu Ran stood quietly at the entrance of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the beautiful red rain, looking at the slender figure deep within the hall.

He didn't know what Li Rouyin and Lord Wang Quan had talked about; she had been kneeling for a long time.

Did Lord Wang Quan disagree?

"Sigh..." Lu Ran sighed and, out of boredom, opened his cold, horizontal pupils.

In an instant, the scene in his eyes changed.

The silky red rain swaying in the wind turned into strings of eerie coins.

Each illusory copper coin exuded a deathly aura, paired with the jubilant red, making the Rebirth Hall appear even more terrifying.

"Lu Ran."

"Yes!" Lu Ran immediately responded.

"Come here." Li Rouyin slightly turned her head, her hollow eyes looking backward, "Thank you, Lord Wang Quan."

Lu Ran quickly stepped forward, walking alone through the rain of red silk.

"Ding-ling~ Ding-ling-ling~"

The crisp sound continuously rang out, causing the corners of Li Rouyin's mouth to lift slightly.

She didn't need to look to know where Lu Ran had walked; just like every time before, he never managed to avoid this "endless red rain."

"Thank you for Lord Wang Quan's gift." Lu Ran clasped his hands together, bowing respectfully.

"It seems my perspective wasn't broad enough." Li Rouyin stood up, "Did Lord Wang Quan say you no longer lack dead souls?"

"Actually, I do." Lu Ran chuckled, "I just don't see the need to harm you anymore."

"Nonsense!" Li Rouyin's pretty face turned stern, gripping the blind cane tightly.

If not for the Divine above, she would have hit him with the cane.

Lu Ran pursed his lips, remaining silent.

"It's good if you no longer need dead souls. I'd be at a loss when the Lantern Sect sends someone next month... Hmm!" Just as she spoke, Li Rouyin's body trembled.

She had just stood up, but now hastily knelt again, bowing her head: "The Lord's anger, this disciple spoke improperly..."

Lu Ran frowned deeply.

The Lantern Sect is sending someone?

To report?

Divine·Lantern also needs dead souls... Well, all these Divines require dead souls, don't they?

Lu Ran's expression grew darker.

The Divine guarding the Demon Cave in Bamboo Sea is none other than Lord Lantern!

So, is it that Divine·Forget Spring survives in the Bamboo Sea by making deals with Divine·Lantern?

Or has she made deals with multiple Divines?

Must Li Rouyin continue to offer tributes?

"Lu Ran, let's go." Li Rouyin said softly, her face even paler, as she rose and retreated step by step.

Lu Ran clasped his hands again, bowing to Lord Wang Quan.

The two exited the Rebirth Hall, with Li Rouyin silent, her bamboo staff constantly tapping on the ground, as they returned to the residence.

Following behind her, Lu Ran asked quietly, "Do you still have to pay protection fees to the Lantern Sect?"

"Don't speak of it." Li Rouyin warned, her expression grim.

If Divine·Lantern's appetite hadn't grown, burdening her with mounting pressure and worries, she wouldn't have carelessly spoken of it.

For Li Rouyin, Lu Ran consuming fewer copper coins today really would give her a bit more breathing space.

It's not easy for Divine·Forget Spring to still survive in this world.

It requires a cost!

The two walked in silence back to the second floor of the residence.

Li Rouyin took down a small string of copper coins from the corner of a screen, and pulled out one: "Here."

"Thank you." Lu Ran reached out to take it, unable to help but ask, "Since Lord Wang Quan knows about the world beyond the Divine Ruins, why stay here and suffer..."

"Lu Ran!" Li Rouyin, grasping her blind cane, struck the ground heavily.

Lu Ran closed his mouth.

Indeed, he was still indignant.

The thought of the Lantern Believers kicking down the door of the secluded Bamboo Crossing and bossing around Li Rouyin ignited a fire within Lu Ran.

Lu Ran and Li Rouyin could be considered friends, and moreover, she was the wife of Ran Sect's Qin Divine General.

But ultimately, it was because Lu Ran deeply hated the hypocritical All Gods!

And Lu Ran said this with another intention: to indirectly inquire about Lord Wang Quan's situation with the other gods.

Unfortunately, Li Rouyin was unwilling to speak further.

For a Divine, paying tributes to other Divines to secure a single night of peace is indeed a deeply humiliating thing.

Lord Wang Quan must have her hardships for not leaving this place.

Indeed, she can't leave.

Divine·Forget Spring seems to be living comfortably, but in truth, this is a cage, and any slight move she dares to make would lead to her being destroyed by the other Divines...

"Sorry, I've been rude again." A soft voice whispered into his ear.

"It's okay, I spoke out of turn."

"Lu Ran, there is something." Li Rouyin raised her vacant eyes, looking into Lu Ran's eyes.

"What is it?"

"Do you still remember my brother Hao Tian?"

"Of course, how is he now? How is his cultivation level?" Lu Ran followed up.

Li Rouyin spoke softly: "He also went on a pilgrimage, it's been a long time with no news, he likely went to the Divine Ruins after that."

Lu Ran: "..."

Again?

Are you an NPC?

Every time I'm beside you, you give me a quest!

Wait!

Lu Ran suddenly realized something and asked, "When was your brother called to the pilgrimage?"

Although Li Rouyin was a bit puzzled, she still replied, "Mid-November last year."

Lu Ran's heart sank.

The Jingting Sect was wiped out last October, in an alliance of forces including the Ran Sect.

The Dong Ting disciple, Hao Tian, was summoned by the Lord God in November to pilgrimage...

The answer seems obvious, Hao Tian was brought in as a replacement!

Lu Ran suddenly had the feeling of "I did not kill Boren, but Boren died because of me."

However, he wouldn't excessively blame himself.

The main culprits behind all this suffering are the Gods and Demons!

Not Lu Ran!

Back by the Mist Rain Lake, Lu Ran couldn't just allow the Jingting Sect to invade the Thousand Boat Alliance because of his concerns about drawing Hao Tian in.

"Lu Ran, what's wrong with you?" Li Rouyin lifted her eyelids, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if revealing her inner thoughts.

"I will try my best to find Hao Tian." Lu Ran said in a deep voice.

"Really?" Li Rouyin's face was full of surprise.

Her fingers, resting on the small string of money, had already pinched the second copper coin.

She understood Lu Ran well.

Both greedy for food and money!

Of course, Li Rouyin knew what she should offer, but she didn't expect Lu Ran to agree so readily?

"Hmm, I already have your husband under my command, it won't hurt to have your brother too." Lu Ran played with the copper coin in his hand.

In his Sculpture Garden, there was no sculpture of the Divine·Forget Spring.

If he could grasp both Qin Yanzhi and Hao Tian, Lu Ran could naturally grasp Li Rouyin as well.

She was the only disciple of the Forget Spring Sect!

To some extent, she could represent Wang Quan himself, and perhaps the contract between god and human is also an Inheritance Contract.

This would mean Lu Ran would have one more god under his command!

"Thank you, Lu Ran." Li Rouyin said gratefully, taking out an ancient copper coin and handing it to Lu Ran, "Really, thank you..."

Lu Ran did not pretend to refuse.

After accepting another Rebirth Money, plus the one on Deng Yuxiang's wrist, he now had three Rebirth Money.

"Anything else you want to remind me of?"

"You... be careful, stay safe." Li Rouyin said softly.

"Hehe." Lu Ran laughed.

Knowing each other for so long and having met several times, this was the first time Li Rouyin showed concern for him.

"Isn't there anything you want me to say to Qin Yanzhi? I can pass on a message for you."

"He didn't ask you to pass on a message, so neither will I!" Li Rouyin suddenly tapped her blind staff and turned towards the bamboo table.

Lu Ran's expression was quirky.

Is she being tsundere?

"Who says there's nothing?" Lu Ran suddenly blurted out.

"Ah!" Li Rouyin gave a soft exclamation and stumbled forward in a flurry.

Lu Ran: "..."

The power of Qin Yanzhi is quite great.

Being able to make a Great Power at the initial stage of the Sea Realm trip flat on the ground?

Upon meeting, Lu Ran had roughly gauged Li Rouyin's background, indeed, being a sole disciple of the Divine, accompanying the Divine all the time, her cultivation speed was truly fast!

Li Rouyin propped herself with the blind staff to stabilize herself quickly: "What... what did he say?"

"He didn't say much." Lu Ran reached into his pocket.

Li Rouyin: ?

She suddenly turned her head, biting her lower lip, "staring" at Lu Ran in dissatisfaction.

Lu Ran then took out a small bamboo carving from his pocket.

It was only as big as a thumb, but the craftsmanship was extremely exquisite!

It's a pity that Li Rouyin couldn't appreciate it, and he didn't know if she could feel Qin Yanzhi's superb craftsmanship.

"After the Divine Ruins, he wasn't just wandering aimlessly; he also learned a skill." Lu Ran handed the small bamboo carving over, "He entrusted it to me to give to you."

"What?" Li Rouyin was a bit curious and reached out to take it, carefully feeling it.

Lu Ran looked at the small sculpture in her hand and smiled: "It's a carving of a girl, very beautiful.

I just don't know, who is this girl?"

Li Rouyin's pale cheeks quickly flushed red: "You... you should leave, quickly go to the Divine Ruins and take good care of him for me.

By the way, don't forget to look for Hao Tian for me."

"Hehe." Lu Ran chuckled softly.

Poor brother Hao~

He was listed in the "notes" section of his sister's task assignment...

"Alright then." Lu Ran clutched two copper coins in his hand, "Are you really sure there's nothing else you want to say? I'm really leaving now!"

Li Rouyin was still somewhat shy, then her expression suddenly turned stern, her whole body stiffening on the spot.

A few seconds later, she turned to face Lu Ran: "Lord Wang Quan said, he looks forward to your next visit."

Lu Ran was a bit surprised.

The high and mighty divine, looking forward to my visit again?

Lu Ran pondered for a moment and responded solemnly: "Yes!"

After taking his leave once again, Lu Ran concealed his form and quickly departed.

Li Rouyin sat back on the bamboo chair by the window, no longer looking as lost as before.

She held the small bamboo sculpture with one hand, and extended her finger, gently stroking the face of the bamboo carving again and again.

Again and again.

Just as a faint smile appeared on her face, her expression suddenly stiffened.

"Clatter!"

The tiny bamboo carving fell to the ground.

"Ah!" Li Rouyin clutched her forehead with both hands, her expression extremely pained, continuously apologizing, "Sorry, Lord Wang Quan... I'm sorry..."

...