Summit of the Old Gods

"Pop~"

The strange sound of bubbles blown by the fish suddenly echoed.

By the time Shen Xiaotang reacted, the pitch-black little carp had already crashed into her leg, shattering into a dense energy that was absorbed into her body.

The woman's scream came to an abrupt halt, and fresh flesh rapidly grew at the breaks in her legs.

Sea Grade·Resurrection Carp!

It cannot regenerate severed limbs but can stop bleeding and heal wounds, preventing victims from bleeding to death.

"You... you?" Shen Xiaotang turned her head sharply, looking at Lu Ran in the distance.

Her vision blurred for a moment, and Lu Ran appeared directly in front of her, the cold tip of his blade pressed against her chin, lifting her face.

Shen Xiaotang's body trembled, unable to process the recent events in such a short time.

Looking up at the cloaked young man before her, only instinctive fear filled her heart.

"Tear up the Divine Contract," the cloaked young man said coldly, an endless killing intent in his chilling eyes.

"Yes... I'll tear it..."

Only a few seconds later, Shen Xiaotang let out a painful scream, her blood-stained hands clutching her hair tightly.

"Whoosh~ Whoosh~"

In the high sky, several Wind Blades shot down, landing beside a few supervisors.

"You few, the same." The voice of the woman, full of magnetic appeal, should have been intoxicating but sounded like a death knell to the Star Official disciples.

"My lady!" a man mustered the courage to shout towards the sky.

"Hmm?" Deng Yuxiang raised her eyebrows slightly.

The man pointed to one of the female supervisors, using a loud voice to cover his trembling tone: "She... she has been good to us, always protecting us and speaking well on our behalf."

Deng Yuxiang glanced at the middle-aged man, then at the female supervisor. Her scrutinizing gaze made both of their hearts leap to their throats.

"You can stand down for now," Deng Yuxiang said.

The female supervisor was overjoyed at being spared, hastily expressing her gratitude, while the middle-aged man was equally elated.

He bet correctly!

Had he bet incorrectly, his life would have been forfeit...

"You are very brave," Lu Ran suddenly said, making the man's body tremble.

Then Lu Ran said, "You two, gather all the people from Starry Valley."

"Yes!" The two dared not delay, hurriedly leaving.

Lu Ran then summoned an Ancient Bronze Mirror, lifted Shen Xiaotang with one hand, and gestured for several supervisors to enter the mirror.

In his mind, Deng Yuxiang's voice echoed: [Since Chang Ying has arrived, Spiritual Talisman Stone Sculptures can be cultivated for her first.]

"Alright." Lu Ran nodded lightly, today being his first day leaving Longxiang Valley.

The key is that these remnants of Jingting who tormented and enslaved Chang Ying should become stepping stones for her growth!

Inside the Pear Garden Sect's Central Main Peak Hall.

Wu Xiao saw another Landing Mirror activate and immediately stepped forward, intending to take control of the prisoners.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran walked in, holding someone.

"Sect Leader!"

"Sect Leader." Led by Wu Xiao, the soldiers of the Pear Garden sect all paid respectful greetings.

"Hmm." Lu Ran nodded, casually throwing Shen Xiaotang to the ground, "I will return shortly."

In the God Demon Sculpture Garden, the Spiritual Talisman Stone Sculpture had not been activated, and naturally, no believers could be recruited.

But that's alright; the scattered Holy Spirit Energy around the Pear Garden Sect was securely controlled by the disciples.

Activating a Stone Sculpture requires two thousand Mist Realm souls.

As everyone knows: a thousand Mist equals a hundred Streams equals ten Rivers equals one River.

And a single strand of pure Holy Spirit Energy equals one River Realm Soul, so one Stone Sculpture requires only two strands of Holy Spirit Energy.

Soon, Lu Ran absorbed 12 strands of Holy Spirit Energy near the Pear Garden Sect and returned to the Central Hall with the Spiritual Talisman Stone Sculpture, which had reached the River Realm·First Rank.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, a vast phantom opened from within the young man!

This was a slender and tall white-haired elder, with a rather bushy beard.

He wore a slightly old gray long shirt, holding a bell in one hand and a cloth flag with strange symbols drawn on it in the other.

The elder's eyes were small, with a slightly hooked nose.

His wrinkled old face lacked the solemn holiness a god should have, instead wearing a smiling expression as he looked at the people below.

Divine·Spiritual Sign!

The faces of the crowd were horrified, staring dumbly at the divine phantom.

This... this this?

...

In the backyard of Cloud Sea Residence, under the Xian Mo tree.

A group of people sat silently, listening to Chang Ying recount her experiences over the past year.

None of their faces looked good, with Tian Tian especially having reddened eyes, finally understanding why Sister Ruyi insisted on bringing her to the Holy Spirit Mountain!

Following Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi, Tian Tian had not suffered any hardships or torment, being particularly well-protected.

But looking at Chang Ying!

Everything she went through, just hearing about it made Tian Tian feel suffocated.

Qiao Yuansi was similarly filled with unease, his eyes full of sympathy as he looked at Sister Chang Ying.

And beside him, Niu Zhengzheng...

His eyes blazed with fury as if he were about to explode!

All along, Niu Zhengzheng wasn't sure whether Chang Ying was in the mountains or secluding herself in cultivation under the gods' feet, in the Inner City.

Previously, when in the Human World Da Xia, Niu Zhengzheng, lacking information, always thought Chang Ying had coldly distanced herself from him after advancing to River Realm.

Though their relationship had been good before, it's possible that becoming a great power in the River Realm could vastly change one's mindset.

The breakup of a romantic relationship, of course, was possible.

Seeing that Chang Ying consistently ignored him, Niu Zhengzheng accepted it.

Even though he was heartbroken, he no longer lingered.

Never would he have thought! Chang Ying wasn't ignoring him; she was tricked by Divine·Spiritual Sign into a pilgrimage and was directly thrown into Holy Spirit Mountain!

Niu Zhengzheng wished he could slap himself twice!

While he was lamenting his girlfriend's heartlessness, Chang Ying was suffering in the mountain, enslaved by others.

And when Niu Zhengzheng heard that Chang Ying often lay under the stars, imagining the stars as every person...

Niu Zhengzheng's eyes completely reddened.

"Ah..." Jiang Ruyi sighed silently to herself.

It turned out to be Jingting remnants who had taken over Starry Valley...

Lu Ran must be feeling particularly guilty and remorseful.

Jiang Ruyi wanted to show some concern for Lu Ran, but knew he was on a mission and couldn't be disturbed.

"Whew~"

Right at this moment, a Landing Mirror opened in the backyard.

Everyone looked over and saw a young man in a straw cloak emerge.

"Lu Ran!"

"Sect Leader." Immediately, the crowd stood up one after another.

Lu Ran nodded to everyone and then lifted his head, looking at the tall black-skinned girl.

Her wounds had long been healed, the bloodstains on her face cleaned off, and she was wearing a wide black robe, matching her tall stature, giving her quite the presence.

Seeing Lu Ran arrive, Chang Ying's nose suddenly turned sour, and she whispered, "Ranbao..."

Lu Ran suddenly froze in place.

Ranbao?

The last time he was called that, he couldn't remember when it was.

"Are you alright?" Jiang Ruyi came to Lu Ran's side, gently placed a hand on his back, and softly showed concern.

"I'm fine." Lu Ran came back to his senses and shook his head.

He slowly floated up, came before Chang Ying, and placed a hand on her head, "From now on, you will be my Spiritual Sign."

"What?" Chang Ying looked up, through Lu Ran's fingers, into his eyes.

"From now on, I'll take you to overthrow the Spiritual Sign, seize the Divine Position, and smash that statue." Lu Ran gently rubbed her head, "Spiritual Sign, you be it."

That bastard should be torn to pieces!

The image of the Spiritual Sign statue should be Chang Ying's likeness!

"Um... okay." Chang Ying was in tears, confused in her heart and feeling a bit at a loss.

But as long as it was Lu Ran's words, she was willing to listen.

"Whew!!"

A large phantom appeared, smiling as it looked below.

Chang Ying was even more bewildered.

Under Lu Ran's guidance, she signed the Inheritance Contract, binding herself with this Fake God Stone Sculpture, and then tore up the original Servant Contract.

"Uh." Chang Ying's face contorted in pain, her hands hugged her head, pressing Lu Ran's hand within them.

Clearly intentional.

The bewildered Chang Ying didn't know what had happened, reverting to the girl she was in the dungeon, afraid Lu Ran would leave.

"Whew~" A Cage Fire ignited in Lu Ran's hand, and he passed the black flames into her body, calming her spirit.

"Thank you, Sect Leader!" Beside them, Niu Zhengzheng was overflowing with gratitude.

Lu Ran slightly turned his head, seeing the trembling form of the burly man.

Not because he was scared, but because he was burning with anger!

Such an attitude had already revealed much, and if Chang Ying was willing, the bond between the two could probably be renewed.

Gradually, the tall girl burning with black fire stabilized.

She finally released Lu Ran's hand.

Lu Ran didn't withdraw his hand but instead gently tidied her messy short hair, with a touch of affection in his eyes:

"I've prepared some gifts for you."

"Gifts?" Chang Ying's eyes were clouded, still dazed, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Lu Ran.

It had been a long time since they last met.

Lu Ran had changed so much that if he hadn't treated her the same as always, Chang Ying might not have dared to recognize him.

This Holy Spirit Mountain had taught Chang Ying many things.

The words "respect and status" were deeply engraved in her survival creed.

"Yes, gifts." Lu Ran slowly descended, and the blade of the Eight Desolate Blade automatically drew out from his waist, with the hilt placed into Chang Ying's palm.

Chang Ying held onto the blade.

In front of her was a Transmission Mirror opened by Lu Ran.

"Come." Lu Ran took the lead, stepping into the mirror.

Chang Ying immediately followed, and as she stepped into Pear Garden Sect's Central Hall, she froze.

It was only Jiang Ruyi, who followed from behind, who pushed her forward a couple of steps.

"Ran... Ranbao." Chang Ying tightened her grip on the hilt, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Looking around, there were familiar faces all around.

These figures, waiting for judgment, collectively wove the dark years of humiliation and suffering she endured.

The former high and mighty Jingting disciples were now controlled by numerous Martial Artist disciples, unable to move.

"No need to force yourself." Lu Ran said, "If you don't want to act personally, let Niu... hmm."

Lu Ran paused his speech because Chang Ying, grip tight on the blade, strode forward to kill!

Without the slightest hesitation.

In Lu Ran's eyes, they were Jingting remnants; in Chang Ying's eyes, demons.

Evil demons dressed in human skin.

...

Only three days left for the monthly ticket draw, sincerely request everyone's full support!