Summit of the Old Gods

Nine days later, Cloud Sea Cliff.

In the middle of the night, outside the small courtyard of Cloud Sea Residence, a landing mirror quietly opened.

"Tap, tap..."

The hooves of the majestic Black Fire Colt stepped on flames, pacing slowly outwards.

Lu Ran's expression was unpleasant, and as he dismounted, his figure even wobbled slightly.

"Go back and rest." Lu Ran held his forehead with one hand, in a weary manner, as he walked toward the house.

The two generals from Luo Yan knew the Sect Master's condition and did not disturb him. They handed over over two hundred exquisite fox pelts to the Shadow Guard Team and dispatched Wu Huan to lead the Black Fire Colt to the stables before leaving.

For nine whole days, just how many Ghost Moon Fox Clan members have the squad hunted?

Yet the squad was very selective, only bringing back the most intact fox pelts.

One must admit, the Ghost Moon Fox Clan is truly hard to find, and even harder to chase once found.

They can predict fortune and calamity and are naturally swift and agile! If it were any other clan, with Lu Ran's Stone Sculpture trained to Sea Realm·Third Rank, would it take nine days?

Inside the bedroom.

Lu Ran had just rounded the screen, and his entire being halted.

His head continued buzzing, already not too clear. Seeing two people sleeping on the bed, he was genuinely flabbergasted...

Why are there two people on the bed?

Is this right?

Hmm... very right! Of course, there should be two people on the bed.

One's Jiang Fairy, and the other is myself... eh?

Lu Ran blinked hard, looking carefully, he finally realized that the other person was Little Yuanxi.

So it's you, this little girl... but still wrong!

I'm not on the bed, so where am I?

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi suddenly opened her eyes wide, looking toward the side of the screen, and by the beautiful moonlight, could faintly discern the unsavory person's figure.

Her cold gaze seemed to melt like frost, she whispered softly, "You're back."

"Uh." Lu Ran held his forehead with one hand, rubbing his temples.

The nine days and nights of the journey were a tremendous test of physical and mental endurance, and coupled with Lu Ran's buzzing brain, he truly was quite troubled.

Jiang Ruyi wanted to call Lu Ran over, but then realized there was a little rascal beside her pillow.

Feeling somewhat helpless, she looked at Qiao Yuansi, sleeping soundly, and just as she was about to wake the little one, a voice transmission imprinted in her mind: "Let her sleep, you both rest well."

Jiang Ruyi turned her head and saw Lu Ran smile, then turn away.

His originally stumbling steps lightened considerably as he came to the study, sitting behind the low desk.

A matured Divine General will handle matters independently once the Sect Master leaves.

A matured Divine Weapon will also, with its scabbard, automatically fly to its place on the wall rack.

Lu Ran lay sprawled upon the desk, his eyes growing increasingly vacant, gradually emptying his mind, attempting to become a simpleton.

Yet, the faint scent of jasmine stubbornly lingered around his nose.

Awakening his spirit.

"Uh?" Lu Ran's face was full of confusion, gradually sensing the light touch of fingers on the side of his forehead.

Unbeknownst to him, he was no longer lying on the table, but resting in a warm embrace.

The moonlight, like water, flowed through the carved wooden windows, spilling into the study.

Falling upon the young man and woman's figures.

"So fragrant." The somewhat muddled individual spoke from the heart, expressing his genuine feelings.

Jiang Ruyi wore a gentle smile, her jade fingers moving gently, responding softly, "Mm."

Suddenly, Lu Ran turned his head to look at Jiang Fairy: "Shall I bring you to live again?"

As he spoke, his eyes transformed into a pair of ice-blue fox eyes.

Beautiful and enchanting.

Even more peculiarly, what should have been the round pupils of the Human Clan became crescent moons, glowing with a silvery white lunar gleam.

Mesmerizing and captivating at the same time.

Jiang Ruyi looked gently at these beautiful eyes: "When you are in better shape..."

The Ice Heart Bracelet Magic Artifact was still with Gao Yunyan.

Yan God General did not forget to return it, but such a precious item needed to be returned in person.

At this time late at night, as the Sect Master had left in a rush, Gao Yunyan temporarily took the artifact bracelet home. Because of this, Jiang Ruyi lost her Spirit Defense ability.

And fell under the "Ghost Moon Ran's" spell.

Her expression gradually became blank, originally still amidst the harshness of Holy Spirit Mountain, now she suddenly found herself back in Rain Alley City.

Back in the classroom where they first met.

Scenes of the past played repeatedly, in his pair of Moon Chasing Eyes, she was reborn.

Lu Ran grew increasingly bewildered.

The Evil Technique·Moon Chasing Eyes has a very unique activation method, creating an Illusion Technique world woven together by the caster and the affected person.

Lu Ran, as the caster, was merely the catalyst.

The foundation of the Illusion Realm was provided by Jiang Ruyi, and Lu Ran only needed to subtly interfere in her world to achieve his own purposes.

And in her world...

Lu Ran, this Immortal Sheep Believer, is a "pure-blooded" Immortal Sheep Believer.

Weak, timid.

With low capability, disliked and ridiculed by others.

Yet she still accepted him, taking him as a team member, keeping him by her side, sheltering him again and again from the world's malice.

Gentle and steadfast.

Until high school graduation, she helped him obtain his diploma, securing a means to survive in society.

The two... did not end up together.

Lu Ran stayed in a corner of Rain Alley City, living quietly, striving to survive.

Due to her teammate holding her back, she did not get into Wulie River University, but went to an institution in the South.

Since then, they were separated by great distances.

However, each year when she returned home, she would quietly inquire about his news.

Go to his workplace, secretly, and from a distance, take a look at him.

Seeing that he's doing well, without too many societal hardships, she also smiles...

Several years passed in the blink of an eye, after graduating from university, she returned to Rain Alley City and stood before him once more.

"Long time no see, Lu Ran."

"Mm." The young man no longer had the youthful exuberance he once did.

After he became an Immortal Sheep Believer, amidst endless criticism and blows, and under the influence of Lord God day and night, he had already shut himself off, becoming silent and reticent.

"I plan to come back home to apply for a position at the Divine People Bureau, to work as a Moon Gazer."

"Mm."

"After all, we're old classmates meeting again, so cold?"

"Isn't it better outside? Why come back to a small place like Rain Alley?" The young man finally lowered his head and said something.

"I... my parents are in Rain Alley."

"Oh."

Lu Ran's mind was indeed not very clear!

He realized afterwards that he had been too uninvolved, and suddenly realized that this lifestyle and outcome were something Jiang Ruyi had prepared for mentally long ago.

When Lu Ran became a believer of Nine-class God·Immortal Sheep, when she agreed to team up with him, she had prepared for everything.

At the moment she made her decision, she didn't yet know Lu Ran's mother was not only alive but loved her son dearly.

All she knew was that Lu Ran's family had sacrificed, leaving him to live alone in solitude...

"Uh." Lu Ran shook his head vigorously, placing both hands on the desk.

Jiang Ruyi lowered her head in silence, her eyes drooped, lashes trembling slightly.

The woman's unfocused gaze gradually found some focus.

When she saw the youth in Emperor Robe bent over under the moonlight, Jiang Ruyi's spirit seemed somewhat dazed.

The returning part of her from another world gradually remembered everything from the real world, remembered all the real experiences of the two, the real fate, and the person she truly possessed.

The lingering sadness in her heart, the immense joy and relief, and the bouts of suffocating fear...

All these mixed emotions made her unable to control herself, covering her eyes with one hand.

"Wuu…" she whimpered.

In those small, light whimpers, tears overflowed from the gaps between her fingers, continuously flowing.

...

The next morning.

Lu Ran sat silently at the stone table in the courtyard, savoring his tea.

The Evil Sculpture·Ghost Moon Fox in his mind had stopped vibrating, remaining at Sea Realm·Third Rank.

Although filled with drowsiness, Lu Ran couldn't fall asleep.

Beside him, Liu Huo Guard quietly served, occasionally cautiously glancing at the Sect Leader.

Having known him for so long, she had never seen Sect Master like this.

He could be a sunny and gentle young man, a decisive young emperor, and even a solemn and sacred Lord God.

But he was never in a dark tone.

Today, with clouds covering the sky, it felt stifling.

The atmosphere inside and outside Cloud Sea Residence felt even more oppressive.

"Brother!"

Lu Ran turned to look, seeing Qiao Yuansi wearing a black dress, dignified like a graceful black swan.

His eyes showed a hint of affection: "Up so early?"

Qiao Yuansi also appeared cautious, asking softly: "Did you fight with Sister Ruyi?"

Lu Ran laughed silently: "How could that be."

"Hm." Qiao Yuansi sat at the stone table, taking a cup of tea from Liu Huo, "Then why aren't both of you happy?"

Lu Ran paused and said, "It's my first time being the Ghost Moon Fox Master, not quite used to it."

Qiao Yuansi: "Did you cast Ghost Moon Evil Technique·Chasing Moon Eyes on Sister Ruyi?"

Lu Ran shrugged.

Qiao Yuansi understood: "Seems like that life wasn't very good."

Lu Ran quietly drank his tea.

Qiao Yuansi: "Do you want to write it down?"

"Huh?"

Qiao Yuansi naturally said: "Many authors of rebirth novels gather inspiration from Demon Cave·Ghost Moon Mountain, their creativity bursts upon returning..."

"Stop!" Lu Ran felt a headache, "Where would I find time to write novels."

While in the Human World, Lu Ran's spiritual nourishment was music and comic cross-talk.

Qiao Yuansi enjoyed reading novels. When naming the Eight Desolate Blade, she had offered a bunch of blade names, leaving Lu Ran dumbfounded.

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi giggled with her hand over her mouth.

Lu Ran said irritably: "I brought back a lot of white fox skins, you can go to the backyard and pick one, I'll find someone to make them into a fox fur robe for you."

"Great!" Qiao Yuansi's eyes sparkled, she immediately stood up and ran toward the door.

But when she reached the door, she paused, turned back to look at Lu Ran: "Cheer up! None of that is real, both you and Sister Ruyi can live another thousand years!"

Lu Ran was overwhelmed.

Really didn't know what kind of heart-wrenching drama his quirky sister had conjured up in her mind.

The black-dressed girl happily turned to leave, seemingly taking away some of his worries.

[Master!] Just as Lu Ran was staring blankly at his sister's departure, a voice suddenly came through his mind.

[Xiaguang?]

[Mr. Cong‐long asked if he intends to start something in three days, do you permit it?]

Lu Ran's expression became serious, he picked up the Pu'er tea, silently taking a sip:

[Okay!]

...

Today's post, a brief announcement to everyone.

It's about to enter the Pear Garden Sect storyline, allowing Yu to properly organize thoughts, trying to write this part fuller and more passionate.