Summit of the Old Gods

At the stroke of midnight, Lu Ran and the soldiers gathered had devised their battle strategy, and he ventured alone toward the Heavenly Realm Battlefield.

Following the guidance of Huangfu Zhao, Lu Ran located the Lantern Mist Divine Mountain in the eastern region.

"Oh boy~"

Lu Ran gazed at the divine mountain shrouded in black mist and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Who would dare venture into that?

As soon as one gets tainted by the black mist, they would be perceived by the God Demon minions. Hopefully, the swirling dark clouds of the Third Heaven aren't shrouded by more mist.

In contemplation, through his Simurgh Eyes, Lu Ran saw a brave man weaving through the mist.

He bore a striking resemblance to a human clan man, with a tall and slender figure, a face chiseled like a carving, wielding a Cloud Mist Spear, battling with a Faceless Jade Venerable at the edge of the black mist.

Deity Minion·Skyspear!

Possessing a physical form with no significant changes in appearance, evidently, Sir Skyspear had executed the Evil God·Muddy Cloud Demon and devoured its Dead Soul.

Lu Ran squinted slightly, observing the Skyspear minion stepping on clouds, sprinting rapidly in the air, with long hair flowing sideways behind his head.

Such grace!

He wielded the spear against his foe, the spear tip occasionally jabbing out a sharp cloud mist spike, each strike on the Faceless Jade Venerable would fracture its body with numerous cracks.

That was the highly piercing Skyspear Divine Technique·Cloud Rift Pierce!

"Phew~"

The Skyspear minion suddenly began to spin, enveloped by a Cloud Dragon Roll, pushing against the Faceless Jade Venerable, forcing it to retreat continually.

This is the most renowned Skyspear skill·Cloud Dragon Break!

"Tsk tsk." Lu Ran praised silently, worthy of the name little Qiang Xiu indeed?

Though he couldn't Instant Teleport, with stepping on clouds and summoning Cloud Dragon Rolls to traverse back and forth, his mobility was quite remarkable.

Despite being within the mist, he could perceive everything inside the mist, making him fight as fish at home in water!

Moreover, a golden red Defense Shield encapsulated the Skyspear minion's body.

Flower Lantern Divine Skill·Bright Fire Cage!

It must be admitted, the Lantern Sect truly reigns as the kings of the Support Realm.

Under the protection of the Flower Lantern, not only does the Fourth-class deity minion Skyspear dare engage the Faceless Jade Venerable head-on, but even the Fifth-class deity minion Cloud Mace can also battle the Faceless Jade Venerable with back-and-forth exchanges.

On the ground battlefield, Lu Ran witnessed several mighty generals.

They donned seemingly lightweight yet extremely heavy Cloud Armor, wielding Double Maces, swinging them with fierce vigor.

Each time the double maces strike the enemy, the cloud cluster erupts with a formidable stance!

Occasionally, as they heavily smash the ground with double maces, a circle of cloud waves would ripple outward, attempting to overturn their foes.

Lu Ran observed for a moment, then shook his head.

Too cumbersome.

This also explains why the deity·Cloud Mace falls to the Fifth Rank; regardless of either defensive attire or the double maces in hand, they are far too heavy.

This is also unavoidable.

To have enough weight and defensive power in weapons and armor, the cloud mist must layer upon layer compress, and consolidate.

The Cloud Mace sect lacks a Skill for Power Amplification.

Therefore, it's especially difficult for the Human Clan believers to move.

"Ha!!" A sudden Battle Roar snapped Lu Ran back to attention.

He looked in the direction, seeing beneath the feet of the Cloud Mace minion, a giant cloud figurine rise up from the ground, with the Cloud Mace minion embedded in its forehead.

Like piloting a Gundam~

"Boom!!"

The giant cloud figurine had just appeared when it stomped down.

This War Trample was earth-shattering, and Lu Ran had covered his ears in advance.

Lu Ran's knowledge was proficient enough to know this humongous cloud figurine wasn't part of the Cloud Mace sect's Divine Technique.

Rather, it was the Evil Technique of their adversary, the Evil God·Miasma Cloud Demon: Giant Cloud Remains.

Evidently, God Demon has merged into one.

In this world, there's only deity·Cloud Mace.

Conversely, the Flower Lantern-Black Lantern hasn't fused, appearing as bait deliberately tossed by the Ran Sect?

Lu Ran furrowed his brows slightly.

Is it perhaps excessively arrogant?

The whole Lantern Mist Divine Mountain has merely three pairs of God Demons.

Under the aid of the Flower Lantern, the two generals Skyspear and Cloud Mace indeed possess imposing power, able to clash head-on with the Jade Venerable Clan without disadvantage.

But...

The Ran Sect's battle records are evident here.

Even Third-class gods like Star Officials and the Moon Spirit were wiped out, could the Flower Lantern along with two warriors fend off the Ran Sect's assault?

This is overly arrogant!

Lu Ran pursed his lips, ascending towards the upper cloud layers.

On the Second Heaven's divine mountain battlefield, the clashing was even fiercer indeed!

The Skyspear minion moved with spirited agility, becoming a Cloud Dragon Roll, shuttling endlessly across the battlefield;

The Cloud Mace frequently summoned giant cloud figurines, with "Gundam" War Trample, devastating the field...

Lu Ran observed attentively for a moment, then suddenly his eyes sharpened.

At the battlefield's edge, a Black Lantern burst forth from the black mist, upon it rose a silhouette of a woman.

The Flower Lantern wore a luxurious gown, adorned with intricate hairpieces, her face delicate as an ancient affluent lady, elegant and dignified.

In her hands, she held an exquisite Eight-sided Lantern, from which a dazzling beam enveloped a Faceless Jade Venerable.

"Whoosh~"

The robes of the Faceless Jade Venerable fluttered, fleeing frantically, with no intention of engaging in close combat.

Yet despite her swift response, she could not escape the clutches of the Flower Lantern minion.

The four-meter-tall Faceless Jade Venerable, under the sacred radiance, shrank continually, drifting slowly towards the lantern.

Soon, this Faceless Jade Venerable was sealed within the lantern.

With a graceful posture, the Flower Lantern held a faint smile, gently turning the Eight-sided Lantern.

The Faceless Jade Venerable inside, akin to a small figure, rushed wildly within the lantern, as the divine fire inside tormented it with continuous refinement.

The Lantern Sect's ultimate move·Divine Fire Demon Sealing Cage!

Lu Ran's expression finally turned slightly solemn; this move was exceptionally dominating.

The vast majority of living beings, once enveloped by the light, could not escape.

If it weren't for the fact that the Evil Shadow Guardian had already become a god and could transport people instantly, Lu Ran really wouldn't dare to lead the team to confront the Flower Lantern Lord.

As expected, the Divine Grade·Divine Fire Demon Refining Cage cast by the Flower Lantern's true self can absorb, imprison, and refine even gods and demons.

It's terrifyingly powerful!

To escape from it through conventional means, your strength must at least be able to break through the Flower Lantern Sect's defensive divine technique, Bright Fire Cage!

Lu Ran witnessed with his own eyes the Faceless Jade Venerable attempting to taint the Eight-sided Lantern and transform it into a white jade texture to dissolve this prison.

But the divine fire burning inside was far more intense than imagined.

The divine fire raged violently, hitting the Faceless Jade Venerable again and again, making it impossible for her to stay in one place.

Being refined seemed inevitable.

So, is this the arrogance of the Flower Lantern Lord?

Heh,

Then don't come crying later~

Speaking of which, after this battle, I must have a good chat with my sister to make sure she doesn't get mischievous.

Qiao Yuansi's true stone sculpture must eventually return to the Sculpture Garden.

The garden is full of divine and evil sculptures, depicting people of all ages and all manner of flora and fauna.

If she whimsically decides to refine one of those stone sculptures, I wouldn't be able to bear it...

Lu Ran slowly lifted his head, his gaze piercing through the fog and the gap in the sea of clouds, towards the Third Heaven.

Fortunately, there were no godly lackeys in the Third Heaven, so he immediately flickered towards it.

The world was silent.

Lu Ran strained his neck, looking up at the peak of the Divine Mountain, and found that there were truly only four vortices in the sky.

Come to think of it, the four spires reaching into the vortices were likely connected to the stone pillars under the feet of the Flower Lantern, Black Lantern, Skyspear, and Cloud Mace gods and demons.

Hmm?

As Lu Ran observed for a moment, he suddenly realized the problem.

He had already locked onto the Demon Cave where the Evil God·Black Lantern was located, but the black lantern lackeys falling from the vortex were all shrouded in wisps of mist.

The inside of the vortex likely had black mist everywhere?

Once he entered it, even if he concealed his form, the black mist would outline his silhouette.

He would be detected!

The Demon Cave and the Third Heaven are two worlds, and Lu Ran's naked eyes cannot penetrate the vortex to see the interior environment.

He couldn't be sure if the gods and demons were ambushing in the lower Demon Cave or would be in the upper Demon Cave.

To take a step back, even if Lu Ran safely entered the lower Demon Cave, facing the gate to the upper Demon Cave, would he dare to venture inside recklessly?

A Starry Sky Curtain separates him from the place where the true Evil God stands.

If Black Lantern continues to emit black mist, it would immediately sense an intruder at the first moment.

Lu Ran furrowed his brow tightly.

Should I also turn into mist and fight mist with mist?

Hmm... not feasible.

As long as I move within the mist, I'll be detected.

[Ruyi, I have a problem.]

[What is it?]

[Over at the Lantern and Mist Divine Mountain, the bait left by the gods and demons is the Black Lantern...] Lu Ran explained the situation on the Divine Mountain and shared his worries.

Jiang Ruyi pondered for a moment and suggested: [Why don't you approach from the Human World?]

Entering the Demon Cave from the Flower Lantern Ancient City in the Human World?

If he goes that way, through the Demon Cave Gate, he would enter the stone ancient city built by the Human Clan.

Being in the upper Demon Cave, Lu Ran only needs to instantly teleport all the way to the depths of the Demon Cave, where he would naturally meet the true Evil God.

It is crucial to figure out how many ambushes there are before the battle.

Lu Ran wished that the Flower Lantern Lord was arrogant and only set up an ambush with two warriors, but honestly, he felt uneasy.

Just recalling the elegant smile at the corner of the Flower Lantern lackey's mouth...

This girl... ahem, this god is undoubtedly full of wisdom.

[Alright, let's do that.] Lu Ran decided decisively, without acting rashly.

The reason he has come this far, from the Human World to the Mountain Realm, to the Heavenly Realm Battlefield, and finally to the Demon Cave's God Demon Battlefield, still able to maintain the situation where the enemy is clear while he is hidden, is because of one core belief:

Be cautious!

Hone strength, build influence.

Only then can a shining sky over the Three Realms be forged through caution!

Yes, it's not cowardice on my part. It's all for the multitude, for the everlasting endeavor of the Human Clan!

"Swoosh~"

The dark cloud vortex was near, and Lu Ran instantly teleported away without hesitation.

Arriving at a secluded, uninhabited place, he summoned a landing mirror to return to the Da Xia's Luoxian Mountain in the Human World.

"Uh." Lu Ran stepped into the Luoxian Residence, quickly dispelling the landing mirror behind him.

A deep voice suddenly imprinted on his mind: [Why have you returned?]

It was clear, even from his tone, the Immortal Sheep Lord seemed a bit displeased.

Lu Ran hurriedly explained, "Disciple intends... uh, plans to kill the Flower Lantern by entering the Demon Cave, which is difficult from the Third Heaven, so I intend to approach from the Human side."

[Hmm.] The Immortal Sheep responded lightly.

"Disciple shall depart immediately."

[The double mace in Cloud Mace's hands is a pair of Fourth Rank Divine Weapons. Make good use of your newly acquired Curved Moon Hook.]

Lu Ran paused in his actions: "Does Skyspear not have a Divine Weapon?"

[There was once, but it was borrowed a long time ago by Qiang Xiu and never returned.]

Lu Ran: "..."

Can't I report this?

Have Qiang Xiu return the Divine Weapon quickly, my servant Chou Nu doesn't even have a handy spear... wait a minute!

Lu Ran asked, "If I go to slay Skyspear, will Skyspear, being connected in heart with the Divine Weapon, inform Qiang Xiu?"

The Immortal Sheep let out a snort: [Qiang Xiu claimed it was borrowed, did you really think it was a loan?]

Lu Ran, indignant and dissatisfied, said: "Doesn't anyone manage this? It's utterly lawless!"

The Immortal Sheep: "..."

.....