Summit of the Old Gods

"Both she and I underestimated your strength."

"She?"

"Lord Jian Yi." The Cloud Sea Sword Spirit conveyed its master's words in Qiao Wanjun's tone.

"Hehe~" Even the thick-skinned Lu Ran couldn't help but scratch his head sheepishly at this moment.

Receiving maternal approval is, of course, something to be proud of.

"Hehe~" The Cloud Sea Sword Spirit let out a gentle laugh.

It's uncertain whether the Sword Spirit was amused by Lu Ran's expression or was repeating Qiao Wanjun's laughter.

It's most likely the former.

Lu Ran didn't think that the Cloud Sea Sword Spirit would imitate his laughter for Qiao Wanjun to hear.

After all, from a certain perspective, the Sword Spirit is also like a mother, equally reserved, so how could it possibly do such a thing...

"The stone sculptures of North Wind Divine Mountain stand tall, specifically recruiting strong allies to resist the Ran Sect, yet you still easily took this mountain." Qiao Wanjun said softly.

"Hmm, the Ran Sect indeed has some power now." Lu Ran mumbled quietly, almost unable to hide his smile.

Don't stop, keep praising!

I love hearing it~

"Lord Jian Yi looks forward to your future performance."

"Alright! I'm going to conquer Blood Dust Divine Mountain this time. Once I behead the Evil Demon Leader, our bargaining power with the God Demon Camp will be even stronger. Then I'll come to get you!" Lu Ran said solemnly.

On the divine mountain, Qiao Wanjun, wearing a veil, couldn't help but furrow her brow upon hearing this: [You're going to confront Blood Skull?]

Cloud Sea Sword Spirit: [Don't worry, Mom! I have Immortal Sheep backing me up, don't forget the trump card of the Immortal Sheep Sect!

If truly cornered, the domineering Sheep General can exchange hits with anyone.]

Qiao Wanjun's fingers paused slightly while pinching her veil.

Domineering... Sheep General?

This title?

Even in such a grave challenge, hearing it from her son's mouth is truly amusing.

Ranran must have done it on purpose.

Qiao Wanjun resumed her normal demeanor, putting on the veil, and speculated that he intended to use this way to lighten the atmosphere.

Or perhaps he simply wanted to make her smile?

[Do you have any disciples who can teleport?] Qiao Wanjun steadied her mind and transmitted another message.

[Yes, both the Dust Shadow Flower sect and the Evil Mirror Demon clan do.]

Qiao Wanjun nodded silently: [The situation has changed now, and I've explained it to Lord Jian Yi. Your battle at North Wind Divine Mountain demonstrated a lot.

From now on, I'll stay at Sword One Divine Mountain to continue understanding the Divine Weapon Domain.

Keep a teleport-capable disciple by my side, and remember to have them leave a spatial imprint on you.]

[What about those gods and demons monitoring you?]

[They dare not disturb Lord Jian Yi. Besides, you've accomplished so much, everything is about to be resolved.]

"That's right!" Lu Ran nodded heavily, far in the sky.

Lord Jian Yi is very aloof and has not mentioned the issue of allying with the Ran Sect.

But the reality is right here: during the recent overthrow of North Wind Divine Mountain, Lord Jian Yi did not lift a finger!

Moreover, Lu Ran is very sure that his mother is not one to exaggerate, so if she said Lord Jian Yi expects the Ran Sect's performance, then it indicates a certain attitude.

Support is mutual!

By leaving a soldier of the Ran Sect here, they can also keep an eye on the situation at the Sword One Divine Mountain.

Lu Ran suddenly realized that he was quite an inadequate son.

He knows that his mother is at the third level of the Heavenly Realm, not a God, but subconsciously, he always thought of her as an unparalleled being.

So he never had the concept of "protection."

If he replaced his mother with Little Yuanxi, Lu Ran would have deployed heavy guards long ago.

[Evil Shadow, come out for a moment, remember to stay invisible.] Lu Ran immediately transmitted and ordered.

[Yes.]

Yan Shuangzi flew out from the mouth of the gourd, took over the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd, brought the little one along, turned invisible, and then Lu Ran entered again.

Lu Ran, through some maneuver, had Elder Lu create a Heavenly Realm body, and then flew out of the Treasure Gourd alone.

[Elder Lu, you are currently in the service of the Evil Shadow Guardian, still possessing invisibility and instant teleportation. If our venture to Blood Dust Divine Mountain goes smoothly, you and Yanzi will both attain a Divine Position.]

Inside the gourd, Lu Yuan remained silent, listening intently.

Lu Ran continued to instruct: [After becoming a God, your master-servant contract with the Evil Shadow Guardian will automatically dissolve, and then you will reveal your true form.

So once you enter Sword One Divine Mountain, communicate with my mother promptly and quickly find a hiding place in the mountain.]

[Rest assured, Sect Leader.] Elder Lu responded in a deep voice.

[Hm, wait for my command.] Lu Ran blinked away, heading straight for the misty Sword One Divine Mountain.

It wasn't long before he was standing slightly behind Qiao Wanjun, gazing at that unrivaled figure.

The Cloud Sea Dust Clearing Sword naturally conveyed a heart thought to inform its master that their side has arrived.

Lu Ran was supposed to directly summon Elder Lu, but he couldn't hold back and quietly flew forward.

He carefully held her fingers, which were icy to the touch, slender jade fingers cold to the bone, as if there was no blood flowing within.

Qiao Wanjun's naturally drooping left hand trembled slightly.

Immediately, her palm was held but not lifted sideways.

Of course, Lu Ran couldn't lift her hand, so he crouched by her leg, closing his eyes, attempting to press her hand against his cheek...

But he didn't succeed.

An inconsiderate fellow intercepted him.

Blood Crystal Mask: "..."

Lu Ran: "..."

You're really getting in the way!

Didn't I already tell you to be more perceptive?

Lu Ran rolled his eyes, stopped being wanton, and had the little Blazing Phoenix spit out the stealthy Elder Lu, then blinked away.

This endeavor undoubtedly bolstered his confidence.

His mother could arrive by his side at any moment, and she might even be able to summon Lord Jian Yi!

Although Lu Ran was reluctant to see this scenario, as it would mean the Ran Sect was in dire straits, having an extra trump card was ultimately beneficial.

Clearly, his mother was also using this approach to support him in seizing the Blood Skull.

Lu Ran was a very determined person, secretly setting a goal for himself: to successfully take Blood Dust Divine Mountain without needing her support.

The future would be the same!

"Next time we meet, I promise to appear before you openly and honorably," Lu Ran gripped the hilt of his sword.

[Mm.] At the summit of the Divine Mountain, Qiao Wanjun glanced down with a soft smile.

She naturally knew that Lu Ran could reveal himself now, but there were other invisible presences around the Divine Mountain constantly monitoring the place.

If Lu Ran appeared, it would only bring some unnecessary trouble for her.

At this juncture, there was no need to make things more complicated.

Lu Ran had the Cloud Sea Sword Spirit convey information about Elder Lu to his mother, while he withdrew the Evil Shadow Guardian and hurriedly headed to the Southwest Front.

There was a small episode along the way.

Lu Ran lightly slapped himself.

"Pa~"

Just now, her hand could barely touch his face.

At this moment, his own slap naturally didn't reach his face but hit the exquisite mask instead.

"Got off easy again!" Lu Ran muttered discontentedly.

Blood Crystal Mask: "..."

"Just now, the one who touched you with the back of their hand was the foremost person in the Three Realms, a presence standing at the pinnacle of the Human Clan! It's an unsurpassed honor, with such a great opportunity, shouldn't you advance?"

Unexpectedly, the eternally silent Blood Crystal Mask transmitted a heart thought: [Desire to advance.]

Lu Ran adjusted the beautiful blood-colored mask, speaking in a muffled tone, "You've accompanied me in so many God-Demon Wars now, often nourished by the dense energy, and should have sufficient requirements for advancement.

Your starting height is also one that other Divine Weapons cannot match.

Experiment more, strive for insight on the path you deem right, and let me know your thoughts. We'll look for the breakthrough together."

[Okay.] A solitary worded heart thought imprinted itself in Lu Ran's mind.

The Blood Crystal Mask fell silent again.

Inside the Third Heaven, the sky was gloomy and dark.

Lu Ran pressed forward, noticing that the further southwest he went, the more tranquil the world became.

After all, it had only been two or three days since Thunder God Mountain was breached; it would naturally take time for the Faceless Jade Venerable army to spread across the Third Heaven.

Relying on the Evil Shadow Technique, Lu Ran reached his destination safely.

Concealing his presence, he stopped tens of kilometers outside Blood Dust Divine Mountain, standing aloft in the air.

Amazingly, there was a change in the situation on the Southwest Front!

It must be known that the Evil Mirror Demon can copy the Faceless Jade Venerable and summon puppet Jade Venerables to fight through the Evil Technique · Mirror Puppet Shadow.

The Immortal Sheep lackeys also donned white jade robes to battle against external enemies.

In Lu Ran's impression, the Southwest Front was a vast whiteness, no matter friend or foe, all were exceedingly crystalline and smooth.

But now, this part of the world was burning intensely red!

The sea of flames swayed, exploding fireballs rose everywhere, and the barking of wolves formed a continuous chorus.

Lu Ran saw huge, black-furred wolf dogs brazenly unleashing flames.

Their pupils were blood-red, and their inky fur bore lines of blood-red patterns, eerie and horrifying.

Level eight Evil Demon · Blood Disaster Dog?

The Blood Disaster Dogs alone couldn't cause massive destruction; crucially, this race was paired with a special propellant—Straw Demon!

As level nine Evil Demons, the scarecrows' power was also limited, but when they fought alongside the Blood Disaster Dogs, the two created a peculiar chemical reaction.

One after another, tightly-bound Straw Demons ignited in the fierce flames, suddenly puffed up, and exploded spectacularly!

Waves of explosive light continued to hit external enemies as tumultuous waves of air surged forth.

Under such a high frequency of impact, the Faceless Jade Venerables accrued fracture lines one after another.

"I'm called Magnetic Stick~"

In Lu Ran's mind, a classic line from an old game suddenly popped up.

The Straw Demon lackeys charged ahead fearlessly, flinging themselves at the Faceless Jade Venerables.

The Blood Disaster Dogs' means were terrifyingly varied—spraying fire pillars at the Straw Demons, spitting fireballs, creating fiery whirlwinds, flinging fire whips, and then...

BOOM!

Back then, when Lu Ran guarded Rain Alley, he endured the Straw Demon tribe's Night of Ghosts; that night, he was as busy as a flying arrow!

He feared that a Blood Disaster Dog might descend and ignite the Straw Demons prematurely, causing massive destruction to the city.

Today, the suffering tasted by the mortals was tasted by the Faceless Jade Venerables as well.

"Oh?" Lu Ran's eyes suddenly trembled, recognizing a familiar deity... Ah, a familiar god.

Wasn't this the esteemed Jade Talisman I respect?

The deity was clad in a mantle, surrounded by densely packed White Jade Stones, looking formidable!

He soared to the west of the Divine Mountain, occasionally flinging out a Jade Token glinting with sparks, targeting the front line, igniting numerous Straw Demon lackeys, causing earth-shattering explosions.

[Immortal Sheep Lord, I've arrived.]

[Mm, have you seen the gift I prepared for you?]

[Are you referring to... the Jade Talisman?] Lu Ran speculated.

[You won't accept his surrender.]

[Of course!] Lu Ran's response was crisp and decisive.

[I specially invited the Jade Talisman you always care about to come over, to help guard the Divine Mountain and resist you, the little human villain, hehe...]

In the laugh of the Immortal Sheep, there was a hint of playfulness: [You should enjoy it thoroughly, savor it carefully.]

Lu Ran's eyes turned icy, focusing on the Jade Talisman, and he couldn't help licking his lips.

...