Summit of the Old Gods

[Back up! Further back... diagonal rear.] Lu Ran commanded.

One has to admit, the Jade-faced Snake clan is truly ferocious!

Generally, no matter how powerful the Divine Technique or Evil Technique is, it cannot affect anything within the dimensional limits of the dead soul.

But the Jade-faced Snake Evil Technique — Immortal Python Devouring Heaven, can even consume dead souls!

"Whew~"

Jiang Ruyi's phoenix robe fluttered as she flew through the dense mist following Lu Ran's guidance.

This was all pure Holy Spirit Energy!

It is the Origin Energy that forms the essence of the God Demon Stone Sculpture!

For any Fake God, it is the best of supplements.

However, precisely because of the restraint of the "Fake God" status, when Jiang Ruyi reached the Third Heaven of the Heavenly Realm, she had already reached the pinnacle, with no further progress possible.

This coveted Origin Energy could only compensate for Xian Mo Stone Sculpture's loss.

Yet, in the next moment, an existence appeared that allowed her to "further progress after reaching the pinnacle."

"Hmm?"

Jiang Ruyi stopped her flying figure, detecting an even more intense energy body within the already pure Source Energy mist!

"Wooo~"

"Waaa..." The Ghost Talisman Doll kept crying and was sucked diagonally upwards by the enormous snake mouth but was intercepted halfway and absorbed into the stone body of a goddess statue clad in a fluttering phoenix robe.

"Buzz!" The Xian Mo Stone Sculpture suddenly trembled.

Jiang Ruyi's stone eyes widened, her body trembling intensely.

As she completely devoured the two Divine Souls, an indescribable feeling surged in her heart.

It was very mystical.

Vaguely, it felt as though something had fallen upon her.

Sometimes heavy, sometimes light.

When heavy, it was like Mount Tai pressing down, about to crush her stone body, utterly destroying it.

When light, it was like a feather, lifting her up, as if she were about to become immortal.

"Crack! Crack..."

Lu Ran was startled, hearing the sound of stone sculpture fracturing, and even witnessing crackling fractures on Xian Mo Stone Sculpture's body.

What...?

What's happening?

Could it be that little Ruyi couldn't bear the two Divine Souls and was about to be backlashed, exploding to death?

[Ruyi?] Lu Ran's heart was in his throat.

[Come.]

[Huh?]

[Come... come over.] Jiang Ruyi's voice was stuttering, very labored.

Lu Ran instantly dashed in.

Being a Human Clan member, he couldn't smoothly cultivate Holy Spirit Energy, so he always restrained himself, unwilling to touch the mist, allowing the Fake God Stone Sculptures to devour the precious resource.

Now that little Ruyi spoke, Lu Ran had no choice but to rush into the mist.

As soon as he entered, he couldn't catch his breath, coughing hard.

Damn it!

Could the energy be this dense?

"Crack!!"

The Xian Mo Stone Sculpture exploded.

Lu Ran instinctively raised his hand to shield his face.

The terrifying energy swept past his arm, streamed through his fingers, and surged towards his eyes.

Lu Ran: !!!

Within the God Demon Sculpture Garden, thick mist fell heavily.

A pair of stone feet gently pieced together, but as soon as the lower legs emerged, they broke apart again, transforming into a Pure Energy Body.

The stone robe had just patched the sleeves together when cracks appeared again, breaking once more.

This scene was most eerie.

The Xian Mo Stone Sculpture kept shattering and reassembling, then shattering and reassembling again.

Something seemed to be hindering Jiang Ruyi from forming completely.

"Snap!"

In the Demon Cave, Deng Yuxiang stood in front of the bloodthirsty mouth of the Immortal Python, grasping the tiny human clan with a massive stone hand.

"Ugh." Lu Ran wore an unpleasant expression, his brain buzzing loudly.

The thick Holy Spirit Energy gushed over his body like a torrent, some of it being absorbed by Deng Yuxiang, while some slipped through her fingers, continuing towards Bai Rao's snake mouth.

Only then did Lu Ran realize that his flesh and blood body was receiving unprecedented nourishment!

Giving him the Holy Spirit Energy was indeed somewhat wasteful.

But...

This felt just too great!

If he experienced more moments like this, wouldn't he quickly advance to the Third Heaven of the Heavenly Realm?

"Hiss!"

The massive python suddenly let out a hiss, its gigantic body trembling.

Had the Feng Rao Stone Sculpture advanced?

Was it surging from the Second Heaven towards the Third Heaven?

Lu Ran suddenly felt clarity as the energy from the shattered Ghost Talisman Girl was entirely absorbed.

In the distance, several Fake God Stone Sculptures remained in the mist, fervently absorbing the energy from the shattered Ghost Talisman Boy.

From here, one could see the rate at which everyone devoured it.

[Don't stop, Aunt Bai! Keep going!] Lu Ran quickly commanded and urged Deng Yuxiang to rush to where the Ghost Talisman Boy had fallen.

"Hiss..."

The giant python only had to slightly adjust, turning its head back to gorge on the Holy Spirit Energy.

Even at such a critical moment of advancing, it could still greedily devour energy!

What do you call a gluttonous snake?

[Sect Leader, quickly summon back the Evil Shadow Guardian, we need to leave.] Yu Changsheng recommended as he noticed that most of the energy had been consumed.

This place was no longer safe to linger!

[Everyone, return.] Lu Ran immediately ordered, then inhaled sharply.

Oh my...

It wasn't much trouble when the Nightmare, Cong Long, Mad Immortal, Xuan Shuang, and others who divided the energy returned.

But when the Feng Rao Stone Sculpture entered the garden, Lu Ran's brain was about to explode!

In the Divine Camp within the garden, Xian Mo was constantly assembling and reassembling.

Now from the Evil Demon Camp, a crazily trembling gluttonous snake had come back...

"Swoosh~"

Lu Ran's figure flickered back to his previous hiding spot.

Supporting his buzzing brain, he looked up and saw the Evil Shadow Guardian in a large "X" stance, each hand touching a large Stone Talisman, its figure flickering constantly.

Under her continuous teleportation, the Stone Talisman had no chance of escape.

Control one to control two!

Even if the Stone Talisman somehow managed to fly away, Yan Shuangzi could teleport and bring it back.

Poor Fourth Rank magic artifact, encountering an unreasonable Evil Dog.

Speaking of which, back when Lu Ran stripped Peak Master's shoes, he was just as unreasonable...

"Boom!"

Lu Ran swung a Hammer Shadow over, intentionally lowering the skill to River Grade, and did not activate the Fiery Fire Heavenly Leader.

After all, he did not want to really smash the magic artifact.

"The Evil God Ghost Talisman is dead, from now on you two must follow the new master, the new Evil God! Dare to be dishonest again, and you both will die!"

Lu Ran's words were exceptionally blunt, and dripping with cold malice.

Under such threat, the two Stone Talismans were indeed much more obedient.

Taking advantage, Lu Ran pulled out the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and commanded, "Stop flickering, Evil Shadow, if they dare fly around, cut them down directly!"

"Yes!" Yan Shuangzi responded as the two massive Stone Talismans continually shrunk, being sucked into the gourd with her.

"Uh." Lu Ran supported himself on a tree trunk beside him, shaking his head vigorously.

Usually, when the two Divine Demon sculptures in his mind trembled, he could barely maintain it.

This time was different.

Xian Mo's stone sculpture was simply life-threatening for him.

Little Ruyi,

you become a god, why should I suffer for it?

No, I must settle this matter in the future...

Lu Ran exhaled deeply and extended a hand, summoning an Ancient Bronze Mirror.

"Hmm?" He frowned tightly, as if someone was speaking to him, but he couldn't hear clearly.

Lu Ran held the Evil Mirror and cautiously observed his surroundings, his eyes suddenly sharp.

The next moment, his figure vanished.

From the Starry Sky Curtain far away, a gigantic head emerged.

Is that... a remnant of a god?

As the remnant continued to ascend, Lu Ran clenched his fist.

It was the image of a middle-aged man, cloaked in snowy white, with a stern countenance and an imposing aura.

The remnant was surrounded by four illusory White Jade Stones, each inscribed with strange runes, entwined by fine sand, frost snow, electric currents, and sparks.

Divine·Jade Talisman!

Lu Ran had seen the Jade Talisman's remnant with his own eyes.

That was the second year of high school, on the God Worship Platform, when Jiang Ruyi successively summoned the Third-class God·Jade Talisman and the Second-class God Sky Phoenix.

Back then, young Ruyi dreamed of becoming a disciple under the Sword One Sect, but alas, things went awry.

Under the gaze of Sky Phoenix and Jade Talisman, Jiang Ruyi made an exceedingly bold decision, shocking the entire school.

She actually gave up on the Second-class God and chose the Third-class God·Jade Talisman!

She chose the Divine Sect Lu Ran longed for.

However, possessing the aptitude of a Second-class God and demon disciple, Jiang Ruyi was eventually thrown mercilessly into the Holy Spirit Mountain by Lord Jade Talisman.

"Jade Talisman." Lu Ran, hidden in form, clenched his fist.

The god his father, Lu Xing, devoutly worshipped.

Was once the god Lu Ran himself worshipped day and night.

But now... it's all over.

"Buzz!!" The Demon Cave trembled.

Jade Talisman continuously surveyed around, his perpetually cold visage showing expressions of shock and anger.

The stone pillar connecting the Divine Mountain was still there, but the ghost talisman doll's Evil Sculpture was nowhere to be seen.

The ground was a mess, solidified into the shape of a whirlpool of flowing sand.

Thanks to numerous Divine Grade Earth Sinking Talismans, covering an area of three thousand meters in diameter, forcefully encompassing the battlefield's terrain. Otherwise, the Flowing Sand River and Flame Hammer Shadow would have definitely left marks on the ground.

In the distant mountain forests, the cries of children could also be heard.

The Evil Demon minions, once created, existed as independent entities that wouldn't dissipate unless they died.

However, Jade Talisman could sense that no new Evil Demon minions had appeared in the Demon Cave.

The lingering rich energy between heaven and earth, including the terrain, all indicated that a great battle had just taken place here.

And that empty stone pillar seemed to convey a brutal fact:

The Evil God, Ghost Talisman Doll, is dead.

Dead?!

No.

This is impossible!

Jade Talisman's remnant stood suspended in mid-air, observing the chaotic battlefield.

His cold visage shifted from shock to anger, and back to astonishment.

Ghost Talisman Doll couldn't just run off like that, especially on this fifteenth night when the Evil God should be creating minions to invade the Human World and enjoy a lavish feast.

Was Ghost Talisman Doll... attacked by an external enemy?

Is that why it fled?

"Phew~"

Jade Talisman's remnant flew towards the distant swirling Sand River territory, even with much evidence, he still refused to believe the Evil God's demise.

Divine Lord, high above, seemed more inclined to believe that Ghost Talisman Doll was attacked by an external enemy, lacking strength, and therefore fled from this place.

"Crack!!"

Jade Talisman's remnant abruptly halted, turning to look behind him.

The stone pillar where Evil Sculpture·Ghost Talisman Doll once stood was cracking.

Slowly fragmenting.

Until it shattered with a blast!

Jade Talisman stared intently at the area where the stone pillar shattered!

If the Evil God were still there, if the Divine Position still existed, this stone pillar connecting the Divine Mountain and Demon Cave, specifically belonging to Ghost Talisman Doll, wouldn't shatter.

In other words...

Jade Talisman's expression became extremely ugly.

No matter how much he didn't want to admit it, objective facts wouldn't change according to his will.

Even if Jade Talisman was a god!

Everything was truly happening.

Without the stone pillar linking the upper and lower levels of the Demon Cave, the Starry Sky Curtain unfurled beside it was continually shrinking.

Under Jade Talisman's watchful eyes, the Starry Sky Curtain lost all its energy and vanished completely.

At the same time, on the Third Heaven's Rune Sand Divine Mountain, one of the peaks extending into the whirlpool of dark clouds shattered.

The vortex gradually subsided...

The sky,

changed.

...