Summit of the Old Gods

Since returning from Mo Gu Peak, Lu Ran has been honestly staying at Heaven's Edge.

He was painstakingly searching for a way to ascend to the heavens.

However, as the days went by, Lu Ran still fell short by just a little.

Ironically, when he guided the Big Nightmare, with a few words, she smoothly stepped into the Heavenly Realm. Yet when it came to Lu Ran himself, he was stuck...

This person, huh,

when talking about others, it all seems so clear.

Lu Ran felt both helpless and amused. Just as the Evil Shadow Guardian, who had been in seclusion, finally broke through his bottleneck, the mystical fog began to drift across the heavens and the earth. So, he stayed at Heaven's Edge, to protect Yan Shuangzi.

He sat there for seven or eight days.

Until the eighth day of August, the Big Evil Shadow successfully came out of seclusion and immediately made her way to the sea cliff.

"Master." A female voice came from behind, startling Lu Ran.

He turned around and couldn't help laughing: "The fog hasn't completely cleared yet, why the rush to come out?"

Yan Shuangzi knelt and bowed, but remained silent.

Lu Ran grinned: "Then work on consolidating your realm here! Focus, I'll guard you."

Yan Shuangzi lowered her head, the corners of her lips barely lifting into an imperceptible curve: "Yes."

"Phew~"

The sea breeze blew, gradually dispersing the fog.

Heaven's Edge returned to clarity, yet the sky was still overcast, with tumultuous Cloud Sea, which annoyed Lu Ran greatly.

"The Master has something troubling him."

"I told you to focus on consolidating your realm, why are you observing me?" Lu Ran was completely exasperated.

It seemed like Yan Shuangzi didn't hear him: "Is it because of the attempt to advance to the Heavenly Realm?"

Lu Ran: "..."

This woman just doesn't listen to others!

She's becoming more and more difficult to manage.

"You can go out to seek some inspiration." Yan Shuangzi added.

Lu Ran snorted: "Half a month ago, I did go out to find inspiration and eventually encountered an executioner from the Heavenly Realm."

"What?" Yan Shuangzi's expression changed, looking up at Lu Ran.

She had been in seclusion, cultivating for a breakthrough, unaware of the matters at Mo Gu Peak or Lu Ran's great battle with Jiao Lishan.

"Let's not talk about that." Lu Ran waved his hand in irritation, "Congratulations on advancing to the fourth rank of the Sea Realm. The Heavenly Realm is just around the corner."

With that said, Lu Ran leaned back, lying directly on the ground.

When Yan Shuangzi reaches the peak of the Sea Realm, she should soon ascend to the Heavenly Realm, right?

She will at least be stronger than me!

Lu Ran thought to himself.

The Dao Heart of the Evil Shadow Guardian was clear, defined, and brilliantly shining.

"Swish~"

Yan Shuangzi suddenly moved forward several meters, maintaining her kneeling position on one knee, instantaneously teleporting to Lu Ran's side, leaning down to study him closely: "Who was the opponent? You... didn't get hurt, did you?"

Lying on his back, the cloud sea in Lu Ran's eyes was replaced by a beautiful face.

"I'm lying here leisurely, of course I'm fine." Lu Ran raised his eyelids, looking at Yan Shuangzi's upside-down face, "He was the previous Sect Master of Tianhuang Mountain, already dead."

"Dead?" Yan Shuangzi's heart stirred.

"Yeah~" Lu Ran chuckled, "Your good friend, her combat power is simply explosive..."

"What are you two doing?" Another voice came from behind.

Yan Shuangzi turned her head to look and couldn't help squinting her eyes.

The newcomer was indeed her good friend.

Deng Yuxiang still wore the same green cloak and bamboo hat, but this time, her hair was not hidden under the hat but instead flowed down her back.

What shocked Yan Shuangzi even more was that this majestic Heavenly Realm showed no sign of imposing aura!

Not just in terms of aura.

Deng Yuxiang was clearly standing there, yet it was as if she didn't exist— even Yan Shuangzi's divine weapon ignored her arrival.

"What's the matter? Haven't seen me for a month and a half, don't recognize me anymore?" Deng Yuxiang stepped forward, bent down, and lightly patted Yan Shuangzi's head.

As Deng Yuxiang leaned over, she revealed a dreamy, smoky blue veil among her long hair draped over her shoulders.

Yan Shuangzi observed quietly for a moment and said, "Congratulations."

Since Deng Yuxiang broke through to the Heavenly Realm, the two had not met face to face.

"I'm here to congratulate you too, searched several places," Deng Yuxiang smiled slightly, "Then I remembered, to find you, I need to find him first."

Mentioning Lu Ran, Yan Shuangzi brushed everything else aside.

She gestured toward the person lying on the ground: "He has some troubles, not quite at peace."

Deng Yuxiang crouched down, looked at Lu Ran with a laugh, "A healer cannot heal themselves?"

Lu Ran couldn't help but blink.

Their two upside-down faces, different in appearance, yet both stunningly beautiful.

They both wore green cloaks and bamboo hats, one more bright and bold, the other more restrained, with the same undertone.

Making Lu Ran somewhat lost in thought.

When the two of them enter the garden, becoming stone sculptures, will they resemble each other even more?

"If the Sect Leader really can't find peace, you can also go out to relax." A figure quietly floated up from beyond the sea cliff.

Lu Ran propped himself up on his elbow, sat up slightly, and looked in that direction.

It was Yu Changsheng, smiling, his body wrapped in two spiraling veils, floating in mid-air.

The golden veil, from the Dragon Carp Divine Skill · Dragon Carp Dance.

The black veil, from the Mo Li Evil Technique · Mo Li Dance!

The two beautifully combined, with no sense of conflict, but rather complementing each other, perfectly blending together.

Wonderful!

Lu Ran also smiled.

No wonder all my guardians are gathered here.

Wait, seems like one is missing?

Nightmare Guardian, Dragon Guardian, Evil Shadow Guardian... missing the Mad Immortal Guardian?

Hmph, that annoying girl, she's probably sneaking into the Lady's bed right now.

I haven't been home for seven or eight days, pondering over things at Heaven's Edge. My sister Xian'er must have caused some trouble during this time!

"Considering the current situation in the Mountain Realm, it's unsuitable for him to travel." Deng Yuxiang did not agree with Yu Changsheng's suggestion.

"I didn't mean for the Sect Master to go out for a stroll," Yu Changsheng retorted.

"Hmm?" Deng Yuxiang raised an eyebrow slightly.

Yu Changsheng cupped his hands before Lu Ran: "Sect Master still has a task left unfinished."

Lu Ran sat upright, already knowing what the other was referring to.

Yu Changsheng continued, "Back then, when Nightmare Guardian was about to advance, we almost got our plans destroyed by Sword One One Sect. Sect Master nearly met his doom at their disciple's hand.

Later, the three of us were hunted, ambushed by people from Sword One One Sect..."

The smile on Deng Yuxiang's face gradually faded, of course remembering the Sword One One Sect that dominated the northern snow mountains.

The Ran Sect's Demon Control Hall Master, Jing Hong, used to be a slave of the Sword One One Sect and was involved in ambushing Lu Ran and the others.

Lu Ran remembered it all too.

At that time, he was still weak, alone and isolated, guarding over Deng Yuxiang's advancement.

If it weren't for Yu Changsheng stepping in to help, the Big Nightmare would surely have been interrupted.

Whether Lu and Deng could have escaped is another story. Just saying how Deng Yuxiang's growth was brutally suppressed, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

"My mentor once advised me to seek revenge only after reaching the Heavenly Realm," Lu Ran spoke.

Yu Changsheng nodded with a smile, "Things are different now! Both the Nightmare Guardian and I have already advanced to the Heavenly Realm, and Sect Master has two executioners, Tuo Peak and Bai Rao.

No matter how formidable the Sword One disciples are, it's hard for them to escape through the cracks between Sect Master's fingers."

"Hmm..." Lu Ran pondered for a moment.

Yu Changsheng continued, "If Sect Master can destroy the Sword One One Sect, you'll probably find clarity in your heart, achieving a clear state of mind."

Lu Ran agreed quite a bit, his hand fell to his waist, drawing out the Cloud Sea Dust Clear Blade.

Revenge!

More importantly, to prepare the Divine Sculpture, Sword One for my mother's honor!

"Buzz~" The Cloud Sea Blade trembled slightly.

"Alright." Lu Ran slowly brushed two fingers over the cold blade, "On this trip, you three guardians will accompany me."

"Yes!"

"As you command." The three responded in unison.

Lu Ran's hand fell on his wrist again, from his straw raincoat sleeve, he picked a thin embroidery needle.

In recent days, I have already troubled Senior Tuo.

On this journey to Sword One One Sect, let Aunt Bai accompany us.

Since returning from Mo Gu Peak, the two have frequently communicated via magic artifact, Bai Rao had also scolded Lu Ran a little, asking why he didn't ask for her help.

This time, bring her along.

After all, she put in genuine effort, diligently and wholeheartedly, Lu Ran shouldn't neglect the Jade Snake Aunt too much.

At the same time, within the Luli Realm.

Beside a small waterfall, stood a quaint little wooden house.

Inside the house, a woman dressed in white, pure as snow, was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Around her, numerous Jade-faced Snakes nestled close, beside Bai Rao's back, sides, and legs...

Each one more gentle and obedient than the last.

"Hmm?" Bai Rao felt something stir within her mind, vaguely sensing something.

The Jade-faced Snake curled at her feet immediately lifted its face of captivating beauty, gazing at Bai Rao with concern.

The one coiled behind moved up her back, turning its head to look at her profile...

Just a faint nasal sound, and the whole house of beauty snakes was thrown into disarray.

Unfortunately, their sincere affection was for a heartless woman.

Bai Rao pushed aside the "pet" by her face with a tinge of wistfulness in her eyes, internally communicating: [You rascal, finally remembered me, did you?]

The energy of the Artifact Spirit flowed over the surface of the magic artifact, the embroidery needle. It echoed its master's words, mimicking the woman's tone vividly.

So much so that Lu Ran felt a tingle at the back of his neck!

"I'm planning to make a trip to Sword One One Sect. Does Aunt Bai want to accompany me?" Lu Ran asked while holding the embroidery needle.

[Sword One One Sect?] Bai Rao couldn't help but laugh, [What trouble did those ruthless women bring to our little Sect Master Lu?]

Lu Ran: "..."

He hesitated for a moment, muttering softly, "Not all of them are ruthless, some are quite good."

[Oh?] Bai Rao was a bit surprised.

She had thought Lu Ran was going to Sword One One Sect to fight.

She didn't expect that he would speak up for those naturally aloof sword cultivators.

Some gossip?

Bai Rao suddenly brightened up!

Could it be, Lu Ran had some emotional entanglement with a sword cultivator lady, one that was both love and hate?

[What's Little Lu going to do at Sword One One Sect?]

"Revenge! It's something from a few years ago. When I was still just a sprout, they wanted to crush me." Lu Ran looked at the embroidery needle in his fingers.

[I see.] Bai Rao felt a bit disappointed, thinking she could witness a poignant drama.

"Does Aunt Bai want to go with me?"

[Of course~ Those cold and proud women, their chins almost lifted to the sky, it vexes just thinking about it. I'll help you blow them all into dry bones, won't that relieve your anger?]

"Ahem... not all, some are gentle too."

Bai Rao: "..."

...