Summit of the Old Gods

The long night shows no sign of ending.

In the backyard of the grand residence at the East Peak of the Pear Garden Sect.

Lu Ran sat in front of a stone table, holding a black mist in his hand.

Returning to the mansion, he not only brought back many Divine Weapons but also the dead soul of Feng Zhihuan, the Island Master of Jingxian Island.

Inside the black mist, Feng Zhihuan's face was fearful, devoid of her previous noble and dignified demeanor.

"Golden Law Bow." Lu Ran placed a hand on the stone table, patting the golden Hunting Bow, "Soul Fire, is the last thing I can do."

Compared to consoling the victims' families to mourn...

The punishment and suffering of the perpetrator should be more soothing to the human heart.

Lu Ran never believed in nonsense like forgiving enemies, letting go of oneself, finding inner peace, or complete liberation!

He believed in enmity and revenge.

Believed in cause and effect!

"Hoo~"

The Soul Fire ignited.

Feng Zhihuan's already fearful expression twisted into one of agony: "No, no... Ah! Ahhh..."

A piercing scream ripped through the night sky.

The unmoving Golden Law Bow finally showed some reaction.

Both inside and outside the pavilion, Jiang Ruyi, Yu Changsheng, and Qin Yanzhi silently watched this scene.

Qin Yanzhi held a Connection Mirror with the Sea Realm Hall Master, whom Lu Ran had killed. When he saw the Island Master of Jingxian Island also killed and her soul captured, his face became ashen.

Jiang Ruyi was sitting on a long bench inside the pavilion, with a female Ash disciple kneeling at her feet.

However, this person was no longer an Ash believer, having torn apart the Divine Contract. She trembled in fear, daring not to have even a single other thought.

In her mind, the incredibly powerful Island Master Feng had met her end just like this.

Her dead soul was now being subjected to torture.

The ways of heaven are clear, and retribution is unfailing.

All that the Island Master Feng suffered is perhaps the best interpretation of these eight words...

For many people, this night was unbelievably long.

For Lu Ran, the entire day was long!

From attacking the Pear Garden Sect in the morning to killing everyone on Jingxian Island at night, Lu Ran was really exhausted.

It was mostly due to the grief and sorrow following the bad news, causing mental fatigue.

But Lu Ran still accomplished what he had to do.

Burning souls, interrogation.

When the sky began to lighten, the interrogation finally ended.

Lu Ran absorbed the dead souls of Feng Zhihuan and another Sea Realm Hall Master into his eyes, then walked out of the backyard to rest in the main house.

This elegantly styled mansion once belonged to the Martial Emperor.

However, Wu Xiao had already ascended to the position of Sect Master of the Pear Garden Sect and was going to oversee the central main peak. Thus, Lu Ran completely took possession of this mansion.

When he reached the main house, the Shadow Guard Team had already, under Lady Ran's orders, tidied up the bedroom and made the soft bed.

The rather tired Lu Ran collapsed directly onto the bed.

He stayed lying there, not getting up again.

It's not that he fell into a deep sleep, but rather after he woke up, he activated two stone sculptures again.

Fake God Sculpture·Martial Artist!

Fake God Sculpture·Ash!

What heights these two stone sculptures will ultimately reach, he was very much looking forward to.

Lu Ran willingly played the idiot, emptying his mind as much as possible, letting his brain buzz loudly...

...

Day and night alternated, stars and moon shifted.

In the blink of an eye, it was September 3rd.

In the dead of night, inside the master bedroom of the main house, the young man lying motionless on the bed slightly moved his fingers.

"Mm..." Lu Ran rubbed his head with one hand, making a vague nasal sound.

He opened his eyes in a confused state.

Cool moonlight poured down, filtering through a beautifully carved wooden window, spreading on the ground inside the room.

It was full of atmosphere, also carrying a touch of coolness.

Lu Ran still seemed unable to shake off the "idiot mode," staring blankly at the wooden window with a dazed expression.

"Master?" Beside the bed, a charm shadow quietly appeared.

A beautiful, captivating face replaced the windowsill under the moonlight, this sudden scene made Lu Ran even more bewildered.

Yan Shuangzi half-kneeled at the bedside, a trace of worry on her face, her voice gentle:

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, Sister Shuangzi..." Lu Ran's unfocused gaze finally gained some clarity, recognizing the woman before him.

Yan Shuangzi breathed a sigh of relief and softly said, "You've been unconscious for six days and five nights."

"Oh." Lu Ran grinned, sat up, held his forehead with one hand, and rubbed his temples.

Yan Shuangzi hesitated for a moment before getting up to sit on the bed, reaching out her hands, her cool fingertips pressing gently on Lu Ran's temples:

"Lady is in the backyard, having a meeting with the Divine Generals, should I go call her?"

Lu Ran did not respond, seemingly not hearing.

Because he had already entered the Spiritual World, standing before a giant sculpture.

"Wow!" Lu Ran looked up, gazing at the enormous statue.

Due to the perpetual mist within the Sculpture Garden, Lu Ran could only see the lower legs of the Fake God·Martial Artist stone sculpture.

How magnificent must the sculpture concealed in the mist be?

Heavenly Realm?!

Closely connected with the Martial Artist God Sculpture, Lu Ran carefully perceived for a long time, his heart could not help but rejoice!

Heavenly Realm·Lower Segment!

Good, good, good!

It's not in vain that I played the idiot for six days and five nights... Huh?

What is this?

Standing at the feet of Fake God·Martial Artist, Lu Ran found himself at a loss.

Is this... New Divine Skill?

The Wusheng Sect actually has a Heavenly Realm Technique?

"What the?!" Lu Ran was utterly shocked.

Before the Martial Student Divine Sculpture, Lu Ran already possessed a Heavenly Realm·Divine Sculpture—Dong Ting!

Lu Ran was very sure that the Dongting Sect didn't have a Heavenly Realm Technique, but how come there was an additional Divine Technique at the Wusheng Sect?

"Ah!" Lu Ran suddenly understood.

Everything follows a pattern.

Third-class Gods generally possess River Realm Techniques.

Second-class Gods not only have River Realm Techniques but also possess Sea Realm Techniques.

When it comes to First-class Gods, do they have River, Sea, and Heavenly Realm Techniques?!

"Goodness~" Lu Ran scratched his head.

This should be the pattern, right?

Unfortunately, the Martial Emperor is currently at the Sea Realm Peak, unable to use the Divine Technique suited for the Heavenly Realm.

"Hmm..." Lu Ran pondered for a moment.

There's no need to rush; the Martial Emperor will eventually have enough qualification to wield the powerful techniques of the Heavenly Realm.

Lu Ran thought of something else and immediately moved past First-class God·Martial Artist's feet, heading to the second row.

The second row of Divines had a total of six sculptures!

They were the Four Directions' Warrior Heroes and the top two of the Eight Heavenly Demon Sequence—Sky Phoenix and Mountain Lord.

Neither the North Wind, Sky Phoenix, nor the Mountain Lord Stone Sculpture had been activated by Lu Ran.

The specifications of all three were not worth mentioning.

However, when Lu Ran saw the Dongting Divine Sculpture, it was as if he witnessed a magnificent mountain. The Heavenly Realm·Lower Segment Dongting Divine Sculpture was truly earth-shaking!

Lu Ran could only reach the shin of Dongting Lord.

Next to the Dongting Divine Sculpture was the River Realm·Fourth Rank West Wilderness Divine Sculpture.

Lord West Wilderness looked like a feeble little minion, barely reaching the knees of others...

"Haha!" Lu Ran accidentally laughed out loud.

Who would have thought that the towering Second-class God·West Wilderness would have fallen to such a state.

As Lu Ran continued to move horizontally and observe, his mouth formed an O shape!

"Ah??"

Lord West Wilderness was sandwiched between two giants!

He wasn't even as tall as the Dongting Stone Sculpture's knee and was equally short compared to the Ash Stone Sculpture!

The Ash God Sculpture also advanced to the Heavenly Realm?

Lu Ran had only consumed the Dead Souls of 9 Ash followers, how could the Ash God Sculpture advance to the Heavenly Realm?

Even if all 9 were from the Yangyang Sea, it shouldn't... hmm.

Lu Ran looked up at the Ash God Sculpture's shin and thought of a name—Feng Zhihuan!

To what extent is this person greedy?

The entire Jingxian Island sect, from top to bottom, all the treasures were in her hands.

From this, her character is evident, absolutely unwilling to share a bit with anyone!

So in the ten years Feng Zhihuan roamed the Mountain Realm, including her years controlling Jingxian Island and the surrounding islands, was every wisp of Holy Spirit Energy that descended from the heavens hers?

Even if the Holy Spirit Energy landed on the ground, others dared not touch it, only leaving it for the Island Master, waiting for Feng Zhihuan to personally collect it?

Lu Ran had reason to believe so!

Because the realm of the Ash God Sculpture was evident, this Stone Sculpture was indeed of the Heavenly Realm·Lower Segment!

"I thought Luo Tiantu and Lady Kong were already quite resourceful..." Lu Ran muttered.

Unexpectedly, there's an even greater master!

Great, well-done!

At the same time, Lu Ran also realized a problem. On this side of the Pear Garden Sect, he could also employ this strategy!

The Pear Garden Sect disciples absorbing Holy Spirit Energy would naturally be of no use.

If left to the Master of Ran Sect, it could cultivate Stone Sculptures.

Now that their strength was great, they could also expand their territory over there at Cloud Sea Cliff, without needing the Demon Control Hall's Evil Demon forces to collect the Holy Spirit Energy.

Just let the Holy Spirit Energy land, and have the Demon Control Hall, or Ran Sect disciples strictly guard it!

Wait for the Sect Leader to come and absorb it.

Yes, that's the plan!

Lu Ran silently made this decision and then exited the Spiritual World.

He was overjoyed in his heart for having obtained two Heavenly Realm Stone Sculptures and immediately shared his joy: "Shuangzi sister, do you know... uh?"

Lu Ran's face froze.

Why did Yan Shuangzi change her look?

His gaze was a bit confused: "Shuangzi sister, why do you look so much like Little Ruyi?"

Jiang Ruyi: ???

She held Lu Ran's head, gently massaging his temples, and spoke softly: "Is it possible that I am Jiang Ruyi?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Jiang Ruyi lowered her head, her beautiful eyes softly gazed at the person in her arms.

Lu Ran felt a tingling sensation on his scalp!

He awkwardly said: "Weren't you having a meeting in the back garden?"

Jiang Fairy seemed both amused and intrigued, raising an eyebrow slightly: "What's this, you didn't want me to come back? Want your Evil Shadow Guardian to give you... mmm."

Lu Ran suddenly sat up, pressing his lips gently against hers, murmuring, "Martial Student and... Ash God Sculpture... both advanced to the Heavenly Realm umm..."

Jiang Ruyi's delicate face flushed red, even her exquisite earlobes had a faint pink hue.

She cupped his face with her hands and pressed him back into her arms.

Naughty thing!

Did you have to say it at this moment?

However, Jiang Ruyi could feel the joy in his heart; she hummed and played along: "Both advanced to the Heavenly Realm?"

"Yes, yes!" Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, "Hey! Did you know that First-class God Sculptures have Heavenly Realm Divine Techniques? Martial Student disciples can learn Heavenly Realm Techniques!"

"Oh?" Jiang Ruyi was also quite surprised.

"Yes, the effect is incredible! Just a brief glimpse, that stage, those residual images, those masks... it's like gods and ghosts dancing wildly, an ambush on all sides!"

...