Summit of the Old Gods

A divine statue of a goddess slowly descended within the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd.

Wang Hanchuan forced himself to suppress his jitters, wanting to bow and greet, but found he couldn't move at all.

Even though he was in the Heavenly Realm, within the Fourth-tier Magical Artifact, he was not only physically restrained, but even his Divine Power was thrown into chaos.

Not to mention that the North Wind is already dead; even if a god remained, Wang Hanchuan couldn't cast any Divine Technique.

"M... Master," Wang Hanchuan stammered with a trembling voice.

Fortunately, the control of this top-level magical artifact hasn't reached the point of prohibiting speech, allowing him to verbally express respect and submission, giving him a sliver of survival chance.

"Sigh~~~"

The phoenix robe floated, lightly dancing.

Jiang Ruyi descended slowly, wearing a stone robe, which emitted a faint golden glow.

With the aid of the magical artifact, all beings below the Heavenly Realm will have their lies detected by Jiang Ruyi.

"What did the North Wind tell you?"

"Master! North Wind instructed me to immediately report to All Gods, mentioning two human women who killed him... some information about them."

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly: "Did he say anything else?"

"That's it, North Wind told me to report immediately, to find Lord Jian Yi, Lord Qiang Xiu..."

Jiang Ruyi pondered: "In the Heavenly Realm, how many North Wind disciples like you are there?"

"Reporting, Master, there were originally three. Since North Wind Divine Mountain faced a fierce attack from the Faceless Jade Venerable, now there's only me left."

Jiang Ruyi gently nodded, then said: "From now on, you will be my servant."

"As you wish!" Wang Hanchuan replied crisply and swiftly.

He reported the matter, hoping to secure a chance at survival.

Wang Hanchuan had long heard of mysterious humans slaughtering divine demons, and now he had witnessed the deaths of All Gods and listened to North Wind's dying words.

Concerning this group, he dared not harbor any rebellious thoughts.

Wang Hanchuan even harbored a faint hope, as he was also of the Human Clan, they were all fellow Da Xia compatriots, all oppressed by divine demons! Might there be a chance...

"Caw~~~"

Suddenly, a melodious phoenix cry resounded.

A golden phoenix illusion flew out from the phoenix robe, directly striking Wang Hanchuan's brow.

Wang Hanchuan's body trembled, then his expression contorted, and he couldn't help but wail: "Uh... M-Master, what is this?"

"This phoenix soul imprint will monitor you every second you live. Even after your death, it will deliver your soul into my hand," the goddess statue's voice was cold, filling the realm.

Wang Hanchuan: !!!

Jiang Ruyi looked at the former Peak Master of Sword Ridge Peak: "If you dare harbor any disloyal or unlawful thoughts, even a trace of rebellion, you will receive proper punishment."

Wang Hanchuan hurriedly said: "Master, I swear to follow you to the death, not the slightest disloyalty!"

"Heh." Jiang Ruyi sneered, slowly closing her eyes and linked spiritually with Lu Ran.

Wang Hanchuan's expression was filled with agony, yet he dared not utter a word.

Powerless to struggle, he was confined while the so-called phoenix soul imprint was etched deep in his soul.

The sensation was terrible.

Jiang Ruyi continued communicating with Lu Ran, during which violently trembling stone sculptures repeatedly fell from above, then into the "Divine Power Lake" below.

Evidently, Lu Ran was collecting the stone sculptures after devouring their divine souls.

Thanks to the small Blazing Phoenix's ascension to Fourth Rank!

If not for this, storing the stone sculptures in the God Demon Sculpture Garden would have rendered Lu Ran idiotic on the spot.

Ran Sect recently acquired a magical artifact, the Hundred Treasures Bag.

But that exquisite little money pouch was just a pitiful First Rank, with only storage capability.

Throwing stone sculptures that were advancing into it wasn't reliable; whether the Hundred Treasures Bag could withstand the fierce divine power fluctuations from many stone sculptures was uncertain.

At the crucial moment when stone sculptures advanced to becoming gods, the world trembles!

The Hundred Treasures Bag might be shattered!

"Ah! Ah ah ah..." A shrill scream suddenly rang out.

Jiang Ruyi opened her eyes, looking downward.

Clearly, the imprint was completed.

Wang Hanchuan shook in pain, looking extremely unpleasant, blue veins protruded on his forehead, his eyes bulging, as if they might pop out of their sockets.

For the words of loyalty he just uttered, Jiang Ruyi seemed to have seen through them and was not surprised by the scene.

She coldly spoke: "It appears you aren't as loyal as you claimed."

"Master! I'll worship you in the future, please! Ah ah... Please spare, spare me..." Wang Hanchuan cried out painfully.

It was an indescribable pain, one he had never experienced in his life.

His soul seemed to be burned by some peculiar flame.

It was more agonizing than a sharp knife piercing the heart.

More painful than a thousand ants gnawing at bones!

"Master, Master I beg you... for all my life... I dare not..."

The dignified Peak Master of Sword Ridge, even a majestic Heavenly Realm, currently with tears and a runny nose, couldn't articulate his words.

The Cold Fairy remained unmoved, expressionless, flying upwards.

Of course, Jiang Ruyi could erase the phoenix soul imprint, but she wouldn't do that; Wang Hanchuan could only rescue himself from this extreme torment.

How to rescue oneself?

Jiang Ruyi had already told him.

No trace of disloyalty or unlawful thoughts is permitted.

Even the slightest thought of rebellion was not allowed.

Once Wang Hanchuan realized this or completely submitted, he naturally wouldn't face punishment.

Jiang Ruyi flew out of the gourd, the storm outside subsided a bit but still hadn't ceased, mist swirling throughout the heavens.

Lu Ran held the Treasure Gourd, a flash of light, it landed on her fingertip: [Did you imprint it?]

[Let him stay inside the gourd for now, and once he's tamed, let the little Blazing Phoenix tell you.] Jiang Ruyi transmitted back, and added, [Looks like we need to speed up.]

[Hmm...]

[This place is very close to the North Wind Divine Mountain, and North Wind might have transmitted to the believers in the Human World.]

[No problem, since we are going to descend upon the Human World openly anyway.] Lu Ran gazed at Deng Yuxiang, who was advancing with Divine Weapon in hand, [The Nightmare may take some time.]

Jiang Ruyi suggested: [You give the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd and the Hundred Treasures Bag to Evil Shadow and Huangfu Tianjiang separately. If Heaven's Demons attack during the Night-cutting Blade's advancement, we'll engage directly.

If not, once the Night-cutting Blade advances, you and Evil Shadow, Huangfu Tianjiang should quickly gather all the soldiers, and we leave promptly.]

[Alright.] Lu Ran complied smoothly, his figure flickering.

But instead of leaving, he landed beside Jiang Ruyi's hand and kissed her fingertips heavily.

Then the small Human Clan people vanished in the wind.

Jiang Ruyi chuckled softly.

What is this?

A reward?

Indeed, she had been working hard to assist Lu Ran, overseeing the battlefield and strategizing for him, patching up any holes in the plan.

This battle against the God Demons, fought till today, he indeed lived up to expectations, about to lead the Ran Sect to descend upon the Human World.

Descending upon the Human World...

Lu Ran had mentioned this matter multiple times.

And each time, accompanied by words like "openly".

I think Lu Ran truly looks forward to this day, doesn't he?

Breaking into the Holy Spirit Mountain from the Human World.

Ascending to the Heavenly Realm Battlefield from the Mountain Realm.

Then returning to the Human World from the Heavenly Realm!

When The Pride of Da Xia leads the Ran Sect gods, appearing in the world's view once again...

The very thought of that scene indeed makes one's heart race.

Unlike the hypocritical savior gods from forty years ago, Lu Ran and the Ran Sect warriors genuinely aim to change this world.

[Evil Shadow, don't move.] Lu Ran flickered into Yan Shuangzi's palm, embedding the small Treasure Gourd in her shallow palm lines, [After the Night-cutting Blade advances, immediately capture the Nightmare in the gourd.]

[Yes.] Yan Shuangzi replied at once.

[Quickly tame the Night Charm Blade; its Divine Weapon Domain is domineering and very useful to us.] Lu Ran further instructed.

Yan Shuangzi was clutching the Fourth-tier Divine Weapon Blade seized from the Evil God Night Charm.

Lu Ran directly named it "Night Charm Blade," clearly indicating it as a gift for her.

This blade has only one Divine Weapon Domain, similar to the Night Charm Clan's ultimate skill, "Night Shadow Thousand Marks."

When the Master of Divine Weapon swings the blade, it summons wild gales, with countless sword traces tearing through the wind, densely spreading forward.

Yan Shuangzi indeed has two Divine Weapons, the Evil Moon Scimitar, and the Owlblade.

But both are Second-rank Divine Weapons, with no sign of advancement despite her battles thus far.

Considering the intensity of the battles Yan Shuangzi participated in and her grand ambitions, Lu Ran certainly doesn't think her Divine Weapons should remain at the second rank.

The only possibility is that with her current tactical position in the Ran Sect, she genuinely doesn't focus on Divine Weapons.

After all, Yan Shuangzi swallowed the divine soul of Greedy Wolf-Evil Dog, her claws extremely sharp, making her more suited to close combat.

She also carries a top-level magical artifact, the Demon Prison Lock, often binding enemies during battle, leaving little chance to train her Divine Weapons.

Given this, simply directly equipping her with a top-level Divine Weapon, the Night Charm Blade!

For unexpected necessities.

Yan Shuangzi holds a high tactical position within Ran Sect, she cannot be allowed to fall into danger, providing her numerous Divine Weapons and magical artifacts as protection is more than justified.

[Yes.] Yan Shuangzi tightened her grip on the Night Charm Blade, long ceased struggling.

Lu Ran flickered away, teasingly transmitting: [Should I give the Beifeng Blade to the Nightmare? You two good friends can pair up again.]

Yan Shuangzi replied: [Yuxiang holding the Beifeng Blade would be very happy, right.]

[Indeed...] Lu Ran sighed.

Personally vanquishing the enemy, subduing the Divine Weapon originally belonging to North Wind, changing its master, then wielding this blade to slaughter North Wind's other associates, killing gods and demons!

Revenge and grievance, just like that.

Lu Ran pondered secretly, smiling and shaking his head.

Big Nightmare, oh Big Nightmare,

in this lifetime, encountering me, is truly a blessing earned over eight lifetimes!

After handing over the Hundred Treasures Bag to Huangfu Tianjiang, Lu Ran carefully instructed again.

Among Ran Sect's soldiers, few can see through the mist, Huangfu Zhao with the Evil Technique Demon Peng pupil counts as one.

In the Da Xia Divine Demon System, the eyes of avian divinities are indeed more functional than the pupil skills of other deities and demons.

Huangfu Zhao also possesses absolute speed, making him the most suitable to carry the Hundred Treasures Bag to gather and summon the soldiers.

Having completed all this, Lu Ran then prayed to the deity:

[Lord Immortal Sheep.]

[Hmm?]

[Disciple successfully captured the North Wind Divine Mountain; North Wind is dead.]

[Good!] Lord Immortal Sheep's tone rose a bit, seemingly quite pleased.

Cold sheep turned into a happy sheep?

Lu Ran said solemnly: [Disciple needs to stay at the North Wind Divine Mountain a moment longer; barring unforeseen circumstances, I will soon go to the Divine Mountain where you are.

I will return all the Origin Energy shattered from North Wind to you.]

[Come when you are ready, I have prepared a gift for you as well.]

[A gift?] Lu Ran was somewhat puzzled.

[Hehe...] The Immortal Sheep's laughter was somewhat hoarse, mixed with a peculiar chill, [You will know once you arrive.]

...