Summit of the Old Gods

Outside the Cloud Sea Residence.

An ancient bronze mirror quietly opened, and several figures filed out.

In the tranquil night, Lu Ran said nothing, released the crow from his arm, and nodded gently to the two protectors.

The team silently dispersed, even Qiao Yuansi tactfully left, not disturbing the reunion of brother and sister-in-law.

Lu Ran tiptoed into the house, standing beside the screen, he saw the fairy sleeping soundly on the bed.

It wasn't until this moment that he seemed to smell the fragrance of jasmine.

Although the immortal jasmine tree outside the window had always existed, constantly wafting its faint fragrance.

The keen senses of a Sea Realm Great Power were, of course, not for show, the cold fairy quietly opened her beautiful eyes and saw the tall figure standing by the screen.

"You're back." Jiang Ruyi got out of bed, her toes lightly touched the ground, stepping onto the soft fox fur carpet.

"Mm." Lu Ran, without even discerning which was fairer, instinctively opened his arms, embracing the warm fragrance and soft jade fully in his arms.

Jiang Fairy's nature was very cold, rarely taking the initiative.

Suddenly Lu Ran felt somewhat grateful for this month's separation, he whispered, "Did you miss me?"

"Hmph." Jiang Ruyi leaned forward slightly, pressing her forehead against Lu Ran's stubbornly.

Lu Ran smiled, taking the opportunity to put the Magic Artifact·Ice Heart Bracelet on her wrist: "I missed you too."

Jiang Ruyi left someone's embrace, helping him remove his coat, and walked to the wardrobe:

"Everything went smoothly?"

"The Jade Talisman Stone Sculpture has all advanced to the Heavenly Realm, so of course it went smoothly." Lu Ran followed closely, embracing the fairy from behind, burying his face in her neck, greedily inhaling the faint fragrance.

Jiang Ruyi hung up the coat, her cheeks gradually reddening: "Where did you go?"

"The Nine Heavens Cliff, the Galaxy Waterfall."

"Why didn't you ask me to go take a look?" Jiang Ruyi said discontentedly.

Lu Ran nibbled her delicate earlobe, mumbling: "Now? You want to go, anytime."

Jiang Ruyi's cheeks turned redder, slowly closing her beautiful eyes: "In... the future."

"Okay." Lu Ran picked up the Lady Fairy, walking towards the big bed.

A light evening breeze,

gently swayed the immortal jasmine flowers outside the window.

In the tranquil night, the soft rustling of flower leaves could be heard from time to time.

Having battled for nearly a month, Lu Ran was immersed in the intoxicating fragrant air, drifting into a deep sleep.

Slept until daylight.

Not too bright though, as the Cloud Sea Cliff on the 29th day of the last lunar month was shrouded in dark clouds again.

The half-awake Lu Ran was awakened by the sound of rain.

He opened his sleepy eyes, reached out to the side, finding no warmth left under the covers, she must have left a while ago.

Lu Ran lazily looked out the window, showing no intention of getting out of bed.

The end-of-year rain looked chilling... Yeah, just like little Ruyi.

Lu Ran zoned out silently until he heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching.

He turned to see a red figure standing by the screen, a noble phoenix robe making the woman appear like an empress surveying all, her gaze made Lu Ran's scalp tingle.

What's going on...?

Jiang Ruyi spoke lightly: "I just visited Senior Lu, he said the Blood Pool is just beyond Nine Heavens Cliff to the west."

Lu Ran's heart tightened.

So she's here to hold me accountable!

Jiang Ruyi stepped to the bed, watching Lu Ran gently: "Did you not plan on telling me?"

"I intended to, if Yuanxi hadn't come to me, I would have told you today." Lu Ran hurriedly said.

The phoenix robe empress silently watched Lu Ran for a moment, her slender hand slowly reaching down, caressing Lu Ran's face: "This Phoenix Robe of Nine Heavens is what you gave me."

Lu Ran nodded naturally.

She softly said: "You gave me the ability to distinguish truth from lies."

"Uh..." Lu Ran's face was awkward, what did they call lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot?

Wait!

Lu Ran suddenly realized, his soul wasn't trembling, meaning the Phoenix Robe of Nine Heavens didn't actually cast any spell.

Ah, she tricked me!

Lu Ran's face fell, looking like a steamed bun.

Jiang Ruyi chided: "I wouldn't stop you, just wanted you to inform me."

"Mm-hmm, got it, next time for sure."

As Lu Ran spoke, he straightforwardly pulled the phoenix robe empress into his arms: "Oh, stop scolding me, outside Sister Yuxiang scolds me, at home you scold me, I really am..."

"Haha~" Jiang Ruyi finally broke her composure.

Speaking so pitifully, who would dare truly scold you?

Lu Ran continued: "How's it been inside the cliff lately? Last night was too busy, didn't have time to ask..."

"You!" Jiang Ruyi's face turned bright red, she lightly tapped his shoulder.

"So how's it inside the cliff?" Lu Ran's thick skin shifted topics rapidly.

"Fairly peaceful, two Sea Merfolk sneaked in, and an Angry Sea Flame Flood Dragon came by, we've dealt with them all, the souls are in Shadow One's Rebirth Money, waiting for you to absorb them."

Lu Ran frowned slightly: "Mm, I'll head to the sea later, check on the Ink Carp Squad and the Sea Shark Team."

"Okay." Jiang Ruyi continued, "The nine disciples I've selected are almost through their trials, they can transition into Evil Mirror believers."

Lu Ran nodded immediately.

He had absolute trust in Jiang Fairy's personal abilities, especially with the assistance of the phoenix robe.

Once a few of them become Evil Mirror believers, they can be deployed to the Forbidden City, Tiangang City, Jingxian Mountain... Should we place an Evil Mirror disciple in Soul-locking Mountain too?

It seems a bit dangerous...

But from another perspective, sending an Evil Mirror disciple to the Dragon God General, can also increase the survival chances of the Dragon Knight Eight?

Jiang Ruyi quietly watched Lu Ran ponder, her gaze gradually softening.

Until Lu Ran asked, "By the way, how is Chang Ying doing?"

Speaking of Chang Ying, Jiang Ruyi was full of praise: "Very good, she's a qualified leader, bringing the disciples of Starry Sky Hall into Ran Sect, often going to Feixian Hall for pilgrimage, and she keeps the hall members well restrained."

Lu Ran couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

After the Nightmare Guardian, Chang Ying received the praise of Lady Ran.

This girl who was carefree and dark-skinned in the past, how exceptional is she?

Jiang Ruyi continued, "She's living in our Cloud Sea Residence, outside in the backyard, at Niu Zhengzheng's place."

"Have they reconciled?"

"They never really broke up; their fate was forcibly severed by the Spiritual Fortune." Jiang Ruyi laughed, "Didn't you reconnect them again?"

"That's right!" Lu Ran was very satisfied.

As the saying goes: Rather destroy ten temples than ruin one marriage.

We're also accumulating virtue and doing good ~

Lu Ran sat up, "Let's go, let's first arrange the job changes for those nine disciples."

"You notify Xuan Shuang to bring them to the Council Hall."

"Alright." Lu Ran got up to change clothes, put on a large white robe, and then opened up a Landing Mirror, together with Jiang Ruyi headed to the Council Hall to wait.

In no time, Leng Xushuang brought along 9 disciples of Ran Sect, arriving in the huge hall.

Five men and four women, mostly in their thirties and forties; just from appearance alone, they seemed very loyal and reliable.

"Sect Master!"

"Sect Master." The Xuan Shuang guard led them to the center below the hall, respectfully saluting the Sect Master behind the desk.

After Jiang Ruyi encouraged them a bit, she indicated to Lu Ran to start.

These people were already believers of Lu Ran's sect, and this time, breaking the contract, Lu Ran could solve the issue from a divine perspective, letting the Divine Sculpture unilaterally break the contract.

It wouldn't cause any trauma to them.

Soon, nine new Evil Mirror disciples were born.

What Lu Ran didn't expect was that Jiang Ruyi had already arranged all their placements.

She kept one female disciple herself, lest she'd later need to go to various places and have to ask Senior Lu Yuan and Qin Divine General for help.

The remaining eight disciples were grouped in pairs, stationed at Cloud Sea Cliff, going to Forbidden City, Pear Garden Sect, and Jingxian Mountain.

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said, "I need someone to be stationed in a dangerous area, mainly to collect Holy Spirit Energy, and also to cooperate with Ran Sect's Dragon God General in executing tasks."

"Disciple volunteers!"

"Disciple will go!" Among the nine people, six or seven spoke at the same time, and the rest hurriedly responded.

Dragon God General?

Jiang Ruyi realized he probably meant Wang Longxiang.

She paused, then looked at a burly, crew-cut man: "Mirror Five, you go."

"Yes!" The man designated as Mirror Five immediately accepted the order.

Mirror, taken from Evil Technique·Mirror Flower Moon's mirror.

Jiang Ruyi looked at Lu Ran and said, "Mirror Five was originally a Red Cloth Disciple; he's more suitable."

"Alright." Lu Ran naturally had no objection, "I'll also give you a Ghost Moon Fox, to help you foresee crises, heal wounds, and treat illnesses."

Lu Ran summoned the Ghost Moon Fox on the spot, then jokingly said, "You cannot fall in love with it!"

Mirror Five: "..."

Then, Lu Jiang and their team went to various places in the Mountain Realm, while also visiting Ran Sect's various stationed Divine Generals.

This journey made Lu Ran feel a great sense of achievement!

It really felt like conquering half the realm!

And over at Jingxian Mountain, Lu Ran also received good news: Ran Sect's Number One Killing God, Luo Divine General, is about to reach a cultivation bottleneck.

About to advance to Sea Realm Peak!

Year-end truly brings one good event after another.

After Lu Jiang finished all arrangements, returning to Cloud Sea Cliff, it was already afternoon, and Lu Ran, continuing non-stop, headed to sea to restructure the Ink Carp and Sea Shark Teams.

Unexpectedly, in the midst of his busy work, Yu Changsheng, who had been in seclusion in the cliff, sent a sound transmission.

[Mr. Conglong?] Lu Ran asked in confusion, [Mo Li Evil Sculpture hasn't leveled up either?]

[Sect Master, the Divine Color General contacted me through the Divine Weapon, saying the Alliance Leader Yun has emerged from seclusion!]

[What?] Lu Ran's heart skipped a beat.

Yun Qianzhou has come out of seclusion?

The Alliance Leader Yun advanced to the Heavenly Realm in mid-winter last year, and now it's late December, counting it up, he's been in seclusion for a full year.

[Sect Master, the Divine Color General says... Alliance Leader Yun is ascending to the Heavenly Realm! Everyone couldn't stop him.]

Lu Ran's face turned serious, immediately summoning the Ancient Bronze Mirror.

With one step, he had already arrived in the forest ten kilometers north of Mist Rain Lake.

This realm was also shrouded in dark clouds.

Lu Ran looked up and saw a peculiar scene, with many figures flying in the sky, obviously the Island Masters from the Qianzhou Islands.

And high above in the sky, there was a man with a pair of pristine Luan wings.

His messy long hair fluttered in the wind, expressionless, eyes closed, ignoring the pleas of those around him.

Continually ascending.

...