Summit of the Old Gods

Leaving Holy Spirit Mountain at dusk, returning home late at night.

Hunzi Ran, with a keen eye for detail, immediately released the crowd of God and Demon Residue to cultivate outside the garden upon returning to Tianya Residence, while he himself went directly to the study.

The lavishly decorated bedroom, the soft big bed... all left to the Evil God girlfriend and the Mad Immortal protector.

Truly understanding.

Lu Ran once again sat behind the low table, sprawled over it, a few words suddenly popping into his mind:

"The Incompetent Husband"

"The Resigned Wife"

"The Male-Bully-Female-Wicked Maid"

"Uh." Lu Ran was lost in thought, and the punishment of happiness arrived as expected.

With the sharing of resources among the stone sculptures in the garden, the stone sculptures of Wu Xiao and Yan Chou began to tremble one after another, in addition to the already buzzing Leng Tianyue stone sculpture, Lu Ran completely lost the ability to think.

His eyes gradually turned vacant, his expression dazed.

Mentally incapacitated.

Meanwhile, in the hall, on the Taishi chair at the top, Jiang Ruyi slowly opened her eyes.

The God Demon Sculpture Garden was Lu Ran's backyard, and as the mistress, Jiang Ruyi managed everything for him before shifting her focus to the physical body inside Tianya Residence.

Her right hand landed on her left wrist, fingers gently brushing the cool Magic Bracelet.

Below, the muttering of a certain maid could be heard: "So satisfying! Ah..."

Jiang Ruyi smiled lightly.

Xian'er was clearly still savoring that recent battle.

Indeed, the soldiers fought very joyfully! Hard to imagine, the once lofty Evil God before the Ran Sect, was like a weak little lamb.

Mourning pitifully, at the mercy of others.

Then, Leng Tianyue claimed the Divine Position, striding to the top of the Divine Altar, while the two warriors Wu Xiao and Yan Chou advanced towards the Third Level of the Heavenly Realm!

When everyone left Holy Spirit Mountain, it was just evening, fully calculated, how long has it been?

Somewhat reminiscent of "warming wine and beheading Hua Xiong".

Jiang Ruyi gently let out a breath, unknowingly, Ran Sect had grown so powerful.

Where did the qualitative change begin?

Of course, it was from hunting the Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon!

Lu Ran's adventurous yet stubborn decision brought an opportunity for Ran Sect to soar, with subsequent battles going smoothly one after another.

And Ran Sect's next target, Evil Dog, was also a result of Lu Ran standing firmly against all dissent!

Presumably, it will further elevate Ran Sect to new heights.

"Ruyi, Ruyi," Si Xianxian got up and approached, whispering, "The night is not over yet, let's go to sleep~"

Jiang Ruyi played with the Ice Heart Bracelet on her wrist, casually replying, "In your current state, can you really sleep?"

"Mm." Si Xianxian sat sideways in front of the Taishi chair, hugging Jiang Ruyi's calves, her face resting on her knees, "The opportunity is rare, I want to stick with you a little longer."

Jiang Ruyi was unmoved, speaking calmly, "You are strong."

Si Xianxian was stunned for a moment, her high spirits were dampened quite a bit, cautiously saying, "I seem... to be a little strong?"

Jiang Ruyi gently nodded, "Yes, I am stating a fact."

Si Xianxian: ?

So you're praising me?

Scared the living daylights out of me! It sounds like a reprimand...

Jiang Ruyi then said, "But your power has reached its limit, have you realized this?"

Si Xianxian opened her mouth, but couldn't find words to say for a while.

She had only just advanced to the God Realm, having just seized the position of the Evil God, coupled with her extremely explosive output, she was immersing herself in the present joy, unstoppable all the way.

Who would have thought of such a thing?

"Now that the two of us are absorbing energy, there can only be a change in quantity." Jiang Ruyi's delicate hand fell, gently sorting Si Xianxian's hair.

"Mm." Si Xianxian calmed down.

The path of cultivation has always been like rowing a boat against the current.

But the problem is, the God Realm seems to be the highest level, the limit that all beings can reach.

Jiang Ruyi sighed lightly, "From the perspective of slaying gods and demons, we should indeed be grateful that the path of cultivation has an end."

"Why?" Si Xianxian was somewhat puzzled.

"If the climb was never-ending, how could we possibly kill gods and demons?" Jiang Ruyi shook her head, "How long have the stone sculptures been in existence? And we, how many years have we been cultivating?"

"That's true..."

Jiang Ruyi continued, "In this world, there are tens of billions of believers who constantly offer faith to the gods, providing the Power of Faith. On the fifteenth of every month, the Evil Demons feast on the negative emotions of living beings in the Human World."

Si Xianxian completely understood.

Indeed! If there were no limit in cultivation, how could the Human Clan ever have a day to turn over their fortune?

This is from the perspective of breaking the old order and overthrowing the rule of gods and demons.

And from the perspective of personal growth, beings like Xian Mo and Mad Immortal, Evil Gods, are already standing at the pinnacle of the world; there's no possibility of taking another step up.

"Lu Ran once said that after we shattered the dual-natured gods, the Divine Position became complete, and our strength could increase once more; that might be the last step up." Jiang Ruyi spoke softly.

"Don't be so pessimistic, we can find other ways to enhance ourselves!" Si Xianxian shook Jiang Ruyi's calf, comforting her.

"So after becoming a god, you should focus on your Divine Weapon," Jiang Ruyi gently advised.

"Mad Hammer?"

"Yes, you just killed an Evil God, and your spirit is high; you should seize the opportunity to cultivate your Divine War Hammer, instead of clinging here with me."

Si Xianxian: "..."

Jiang Ruyi instructed, "Go, let your physical body return to the seclusion room to cultivate, focus back on the Sculpture Garden, and let your true stone sculpture cultivate the War Hammer well."

"Alright." Si Xianxian responded helplessly, reluctantly standing up and leaving.

Jiang Ruyi continued to sit on the Taishi Chair, her right hand resting on her left wrist, gently turning the Magic Artifact, the Ice Heart Bracelet.

Unlike Si Xianxian, when the residue of Xian Mo appeared, it brought several Divine Weapons along, which now took their original form, accompanying Xian Mo's physical body.

The Ice Heart Bracelet constructs a spiritual defense system for its owner, with exceptional effects.

However, it is merely a Second-rank Magical Artifact, comparable to Sea Grade.

It can indeed defend against higher levels, obstructing Heavenly Grade Spiritual Output Skills for its owner, but to block Divine Grade Spiritual Skills, the Ice Heart Bracelet needs at least to advance to Third Rank.

Jiang Ruyi stirred her heart thought.

The Magic Artifact, Immortal Binding Whip, hung at her waist, parted the phoenix-patterned robe, and extended outward.

The red whip seemed to infinitely extend, exploring into the study, gently binding the young man behind the desk, lifting him up, and taking him to the bedroom.

Jiang Ruyi silently sat in the hall, slowly closing her eyes.

Since the Realm level cannot progress further, the focus must be on Divine Weapons and Magic Artifacts.

Speaking of which, the growth path of Divine Weapons is traceable; the Human Clan can forge various weapons themselves and strive to cultivate them to gather Artifact Spirits.

The birth of Magic Artifacts, however, is entirely without a trace.

Each Magic Artifact when initially crafted is just an ordinary mundane object.

At most, they have finer appearances or are more costly.

Under the Divine Demon System, Divine Power permeates all corners of the Three Realms.

In such a world setting, it's possible any ordinary object could gain sentience at any moment.

Thus strictly speaking, you cannot truly autonomously create a Magic Artifact.

You can only wait.

Wait for the myriad things in the world, over long years, to gather Divine Power between heaven and earth, autonomously gather Artifact Spirits to form.

Compared to Divine Weapons, Magic Artifacts are undoubtedly rarer existences!

Just mentioning the area of the Ran Sect, often covered in fog, how rich is the Divine Power? Over the years, there hasn't been any mundane object that has gained sentience.

For the populace, the main way to obtain Magic Artifacts is through... plunder.

Jiang Ruyi currently possesses four Magic Artifacts: the Second-rank Ice Heart Bracelet, Immortal Binding Whip, Third-rank Phoenix Dignity of Nine Heavens Robe, and two Fourth-rank Ghost Talismans.

Without exception, all were acquired by the Ran Sect.

Lu Ran also has four Magic Artifacts: the Second-rank Ink Jade Tiger Talisman (left and right halves), Third-rank Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd, Smoke and Mist Silk, and several Magic Artifact Fragments: Rebirth Money.

Although not obtained through plunder, they were all gifts from others.

Lu Ran has never personally cultivated even a single Magic Artifact, as there was simply no pathway!

However, the Ran Sect is already quite wealthy; based on the existing Magic Artifacts, if they could be cultivated to Fourth Rank, it would undoubtedly significantly enhance one's combat strength.

Jiang Ruyi pondered secretly, picking up the Immortal Binding Whip: "To bind the God Demon, you still need to ascend two more times."

[Master, I'm afraid I can't advance further.]

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi slightly frowned.

The Artifact Spirit of the Immortal Binding Whip confessed in fear: [Master, please forgive, I... understand myself, I have nearly no potential left to exploit.]

Jiang Ruyi remained silent for a long time, putting down the red whip. Her fingers tapped the Magic Bracelet on her wrist: "How about you? Since you followed me, these years you only advanced one level, and then there was no movement.

Is it also because you reached the growth limit?"

The Ice Heart Bracelet's voice was very small: [Master, I...]

Three days passed in a blur.

On the nineteenth day of the lunar calendar, Lu Ran, with his mind restored to clarity, came out of the bedroom: "Ruyi?"

"You're awake."

Lu Ran stood at the bedroom door, looking through the mist at the dignified seated lady of the Ran Sect on the Taishi Chair: "Why did I run... ah!!

Why did I sleep in the bedroom?"

"Heh." Jiang Ruyi amusedly said, "Isn't this your home, isn't that your bed?"

"Oh." Lu Ran awkwardly scratched his head, "I thought Sister Xian'er..."

"Sent off to cultivate Divine Weapons by me, the Mad Hammer is still at First Rank." Jiang Ruyi spoke somewhat dissatisfiedly.

"Right, right, it truly isn't acceptable." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Ruyi spoke: "In the past few days, I've discussed with Cong Long Nightmare and want to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

Jiang Ruyi did not immediately explain, but said: "After ascending to the God Realm, the soldiers no longer have a path for growth."

Lu Ran nodded silently.

For those who have struggled all the way, this brings inevitable great discomfort.

After all, the Ran Sect soldiers are influenced by Da Xia's culture, constantly holding a series of ingrained beliefs like "learning never ends," "no progress means regression," etc.

Yet the Divine Demon System clearly presents the limit.

Don't push it, friend!

You have reached the max level!

"I want to leave a few soldiers in the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm to gather some Divine Weapons and Magic Artifacts," Jiang Ruyi finally revealed her plan.

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

After reaching the maximum level, focusing on equipment?

Indeed, it's a way to continue growing stronger.

Jiang Ruyi continued: "We will not engage in activities harming heaven and earth, before the soldiers act, they will thoroughly understand the opponent's conduct.

If that person is truly evil, then they will move to execute."

Lu Ran considered for a while and said: "Let's kill the dogs first! Exterminate the Evil Dog, and then talk!"

...