Summit of the Old Gods

Three days later.

At the eastern part of the Central Island among the seven islands of the Ran Sect, atop a cliff facing the sea, a few figures stood silently, gazing down at the coast below.

The cliff here was steep, at least thirty to forty meters above the sea level.

A mere thirty-some meters high, it was hardly enough to catch the eyes of the crowd.

Consider the Cloud Sea Cliff, which is eight hundred meters high! One could reach the stars and moon with a raised hand, and see raging waves and crashing surf below by lowering their gaze.

By comparison, this place is nothing.

Yet, this small sea cliff has an extraordinary name—Heaven's Edge.

A name just chosen by Lu Ran.

As the saying goes, a mountain does not need to be high; once a dragon is present, it becomes divine.

In this sea area thousands of kilometers away from the mainland, there are stationed over two thousand five hundred disciples of the Ran Sect from various regions of the Holy Spirit Mountain.

They have many identities.

For example, exiled residents of ruined cities.

Rebellious followers who abandoned divine beliefs.

To the executioners of the Heavenly Realm, here lie the remnants of Da Xia's genius, stragglers deserving to be crushed underfoot.

Yet, to Lu Ran, the fire of the Ran Sect burns here.

This fire,

is one that neither executioners of the Heavenly Realm nor the God Demon can extinguish.

Every living inhabitant on this island is upholding the Dao Heart of Da Xia's genius.

These people, striving to live well, objectively support and urge the soldiers of the Ran Sect to ascend step by step.

Lu Ran believes that one day, in this distant corner forgotten by the heavens, tall flames will ignite.

Spreading across the sky!

And that day is not such a distant future.

At Heaven's Edge, Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi, and the Xuan Shuang Guard closely observed the shadow of Cong Long below, watching him continually create evil minions.

He Qifeng, who arrived early upon hearing the news, is also at the foot of the cliff, accompanying Yu Changsheng up close in creating a Great Demon of the Sea Realm.

She was surrounded by Yu Changsheng.

So many Yu Changshengs~

However, these beings had only beautiful shells but were expressionless.

He Yingcai's true love, on the other hand, had no physical body, merely a shadow...

The fusion of Divine Sculpture and Evil Sculpture has been successfully achieved.

It took Lu Ran and Yu Changsheng a full three days.

Thinking back on what he had been through these past days, Lu Ran could not help but wear a bitter expression.

When the two stone sculptures first merged, Lu Ran briefly fainted, illustrating the magnitude of the events in the Sculpture Garden!

In the following days, Lu Ran's mind buzzed incessantly, never finding peace.

He couldn't even enjoy Jiang Ruyi's lap pillow properly.

Fortunately, the result was good.

The weak Dragon Carp Divine Sculpture, under Lu Ran's command and guidance, willingly embraced its destiny with Yu Changsheng.

God and Demon share the same origin, two sides of the same coin.

They are essentially one whole, merely divided for various reasons.

Now, Yu Changsheng, uniting Dragon Carp and Mo Li, has finally become complete.

But the problem has also arisen!

After this fusion, both Yu Changsheng and Lu Ran remain uncertain if, should Feng Yan and the two generals become one, one of them would perish.

As someone directly involved, Yu Changsheng clearly states he feels whole.

The Dragon Carp Divine Sculpture is completely extinct, becoming a part of him.

Judging by the general situation, something seems amiss?

Lu Ran dares not act rashly and has resolved to wait until he advances to the Heavenly Realm, then consult with the Immortal Sheep before deciding.

As for the fusion of the Dragon Carp Divine Skill and the Mo Li Evil Technique, Yu Changsheng still needs time to research and experiment, planning to delve into it diligently after he finishes creating the Great Demon of the Sea Realm.

"Do you want to rest a bit before executing the mission?" Jiang Ruyi softly asked.

"It's already delayed for a long time, I'll rest when we return." Lu Ran shook his head, sending a mental transmission, [Sister He.]

[Sect Leader?] He Yingcai turned and looked up at the sea cliff.

[We're heading out on a mission, stay with Mr. Cong Long. Tell him to leave a body for himself.] Lu Ran instructed.

[Yes.] He Yingcai performed a formal salute.

Lu Ran raised his hand to cast a spell, sending a mental transmission again: [Evil Shadow, come.]

The Evil Shadow Guardian appeared silently, stepping into the mirror ahead of them.

With a single step, he reached Mist Rain Lake.

This step also made the Evil Shadow Guardian's body tense, feeling an overwhelming pressure.

"Little Master Lu." The woman's voice carried a trace of resentment, "Didn't you say you'd come right back?"

"I had some things to handle in between, apologies for making you wait, Aunt Bai." Lu Ran smiled apologetically.

Seeing this beautiful snake again, he couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart.

Lu Ran also feared Bai Rao's hopes would be dashed.

He was more worried that one day in the future, Bai Rao might "devour" He Qifeng.

Hmm...such an extreme scenario likely won't happen.

Not to mention that by then, Lu Ran's own strength will be considerable, and from the moment Bai Rao became a stone sculpture, she was already a puppet in Lu Ran's hands.

Under his control.

"Two seniors." Lu Ran spoke again, "I'm planning a trip to Tianhuang Mountain. Would you two like to stay here or enter my Treasure Gourd?"

"Why risk traveling?" Tu Feng's face was expressionless.

Tu Feng was willing to be a bodyguard for Lu Ran, but he believed that Lu Ran should find a secluded place to close himself off and cultivate.

Now the Mountain Realm is in turmoil, executioners are running rampant.

How can Lu Ran be allowed to run around aimlessly?

"Senior Tu should also be able to infer that devouring the dead souls of human believers and demonic minions and seizing the Holy Spirit Energy that belongs to the God Demons are critical ways for me to grow," Lu Ran's words were concise and to the point.

Tu Feng nodded thoughtfully.

Certain intelligence had always been unspoken by Lu Ran, but Tu Feng's mind had indeed reached this conclusion long ago.

Bai Rao's eyes flickered, her bright red tongue couldn't help but lick her lips, carrying a hint of bloodthirst: "Then I really should help young Master Lu properly."

Lu Ran's terrifying methods had an uncanny resemblance to the evil technique of the Jade-faced Snake clan's Heaven-swallowing Immortal Python.

Whenever the Jade-faced Snake clan unleashed this ultimate move, they could swallow the enemy's flesh and dead souls into their stomachs.

Unfortunately, Bai Rao was not qualified to use the devoured Holy Spirit Energy, unable to cultivate and enhance herself.

All resources were stored for the Evil God, Master Jade-faced Snake.

Until one day, when Bai Rao dies, her soul will return with all the Holy Spirit Energy she has devoured to the embrace of the Evil God.

Lu Ran, however, was different.

He had no shackles, no exploitation.

He could freely use and cultivate the Holy Spirit Energy, just like a deity!

"Aunt Bai, the Ran Sect has its rules. When facing heinous evildoers, no means are too cruel for us..."

Lu Ran spoke solemnly, explaining the sect's rules.

"Yes, I understand," Bai Rao's eyes flickered, looking at this unique young man.

To achieve great things, one should not be bound by trifles.

However, in this cruel world, among a group of cold-blooded beings, such a presence being suddenly found was really...

Quite good~

The most ruthless are the imperial families.

From a follower's perspective, Lu Ran's style made his subordinates feel at ease.

Looking at the dangerous woman before him, Lu Ran still felt uneasy and decided to say, "If the two seniors come with me, then please enter the gourd. If something happens, I'll ask for your help anytime."

Tu Feng had no more words, he stood up and walked toward Lu Ran.

Bai Rao wanted to say more, but seeing Lu Ran's serious face, she wisely decided to drop it.

A woman's intuition is sharper, she vaguely sensed that Lu Ran's firm attitude might be because Jiang Ruyi was nearby?

As Lu Ran tilted his head to gulp down the Divine Power, Bai Rao looked at the Lady of Ran Sect.

Jiang Ruyi tried hard to maintain her composure, forbidding her phoenix robe from acting up.

Bai Rao approached slowly, smiling broadly: "I call you Lady, and you, along with Little Lu, can call me Aunt Bai, alright?"

The situation being what it was, it was time to establish a good relationship with the girl.

Jiang Ruyi was a bit surprised, then quickly realized the subtlety in this olive branch from a master of the Heavenly Realm. She lightly nodded: "Aunt Bai."

Considering Bai Rao's contributions to the Ran Sect and her protection of Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi also willingly called her that.

"Good, Aunt Bai cares for you too~" Bai Rao smiled and naturally took Jiang Ruyi's hand, carefully examining the girl's ethereal beauty, "Truly gorgeous, so very likable."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Likeable?

She didn't think that the Xuan Shuang Guard standing slightly behind was any less competent than herself.

Yet from beginning to end, Bai Rao hadn't spared a second glance at the Xuan Shuang Guard.

"Here~" Bai Rao suddenly raised her hand, plucking an embroidery needle from her high-piled hair, "Since Little Lu won't let Aunt Bai stay close, I'll temporarily lend you this needle to help you in your mission."

She placed the less than an inch long, thin embroidery needle into Jiang Ruyi's hand: "Presumably, you need to gather intelligence first.

This needle can silently pierce through the enemy's Water Flow Armor and merge into their minds, controlling their consciousness."

Jiang Ruyi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Such magical artifact effects were indeed somewhat terrifying.

Nearby, Lu Ran also put down the gourd, no longer gulping.

Bai Rao turned to look at Lu Ran, her mouth slightly raised: "So you should be wary of someone like me; the first time we met, you shouldn't have let me approach so easily."

Lu Ran: "..."

"Remember, you mustn't easily trust anyone in the future." Bai Rao's smile grew wider.

Lu Ran nodded silently.

In fact, during the meeting outside the hall at Tiangang City, Lu Ran had consulted a Bright Moon Fox Heart before entering the hall with composure.

But he didn't explain, instead just picking up the Treasure Gourd and pointing it at the seductive snake.

Bai Rao felt a suction force, but she did not resist, allowing her body to gradually shrink until it was absorbed into the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd.

Lu Ran then turned the Treasure Gourd toward Tu Feng.

"She's right in reminding you," Jiang Ruyi twisted the embroidery needle with her fingers, able to discern it's a powerful second-rank magical artifact.

Lu Ran was indeed strong, but in this world, the effects of Divine Weapons and magical artifacts were bizarre and enchanting!

Who could guarantee they wouldn't flip in the gutter?

"Oh." Lu Ran still didn't explain and instead said, "Let's destroy this place before we leave."

"I rarely get a chance to unleash my ultimate move."

"The Angry Thunder Burning Fire Formation?" Lu Ran thought of the River Realm Technique of the Jade Talisman Sect.

He then suddenly remembered that the ultimate move of the Ghost Talisman Doll clan was the Evil Technique: Cold Ice Flowing Sand Array!

In the future, when this divine and evil skill merge...

What a blast that would be!

...