Summit of the Old Gods

As it turned out, he was wrong!

Even though it wasn't dawn, under the gloomy sky, the mist shrouded between the endless mountain peaks was still dreamlike and illusory.

Lu Ran was a bit dazed.

He thought he had arrived at Soul-locking Mountain.

In contrast, Hidden Thousand Mountains was purely a product of the "mortal world," with peaks faintly visible in the thin mist, rendering the place like an Immortal Realm.

"Are we almost there?" Lu Ran flew forward with his blade, his heartbeat gradually accelerating.

"Buzz~" The Cloud Sea Blade suddenly trembled.

Lu Ran's forward momentum halted, and he looked diagonally downward.

Amidst the swirling mist, on a lush green peak, stood a large tree.

Behind the tree, was someone sitting?

Lu Ran squinted his eyes, observing carefully, and saw a corner of the person's clothing.

Black hem, with golden patterns?

The more Lu Ran looked, the more familiar it seemed. Isn't this... the Black Gold Emperor Robe?

Evil Spear Emperor Clan's Evil Cloud Robe?

Damn!

Lu Ran felt a bit numb.

Good news! The other party was not a powerful second-class Evil God, the disciple of Paper Simurgh.

Bad news:

The other side was likely a first-class Evil God, the disciple of the Evil Spear Emperor!

Lu Ran flew slowly, and the person sitting beneath the tree finally revealed their true appearance.

It was a middle-aged man, probably around forty, with a rather handsome face, which should have appeared more noble and dignified against the Black Gold Emperor Robe.

However, his hair was messy, and his clothing disheveled, even giving a sense of drunken stupor.

Was he really drunk?

Lu Ran noticed that the man was holding a wine gourd, gently shaking it as if estimating how much wine was left inside.

Oh?

For the first time, Lu Ran saw an existence that could rival the Fiery Phoenix Patterned Gourd.

Like the Black Gold Emperor Robe, it was black-gold in color.

Made of black jade, it looked warm and glossy, with exquisite golden cloud patterns etched on it.

"You came quickly."

Suddenly, the man spoke.

But his words were slightly slurred, as if he was quite drunk?

Lu Ran slowly descended atop the peak, sizing up the man dozens of meters away, with his gaze locked on the other man's waist.

The Divine Weapon that suppressed the Cloud Sea Blade was hidden in that scabbard.

So, was this Divine Weapon a sword?

"Gulp, gulp..." The man again lifted the black jade golden cloud patterned gourd, tipping his head back to drink.

Lu Ran slightly raised his eyes, watching the "emperor" drink heartily with his head tilted back.

The man's face was flushed, clearly due to the alcohol, because from the open collar, skin on his neck and chest appeared a sickly pale.

The world knows, Qiang Xiu and the Evil Spear Emperor love wine!

It seemed the man, due to his high level of power, had picked up the habits of the gods/demons.

Judging from the aura he exuded, this was undoubtedly a Heavenly Realm Great Power! When a member of the Human Clan cultivates to this realm, the body's strength is quite terrifying.

To wreck oneself to such a sickly state...

How much wine did he have to drink?

"May I ask, your honorable name?" Lu Ran spoke solemnly only after the other put down the wine gourd.

The man in the Emperor Robe finally focused his hazy drunken eyes on Lu Ran.

And then, he actually laughed: "You seem to be one of Da Xia's geniuses."

Lu Ran did not deny it, holding his blade in one hand while lightly running a finger along its blade: "It very much looks forward to meeting you, as we've cultivated the same Divine Weapon and Domain, it thought you and I would be kindred spirits."

"Heh." The man in the Emperor Robe let out a snort of laughter, leaning the back of his head against the tree trunk, gazing at the overcast sky.

In those hazy eyes, a hint of reminiscence seemed to flicker.

Kindred spirits?

Am I worthy?

Are you worthy?

While Da Xia's geniuses caused a bit of a stir, that's about all they achieved.

Lu Ran felt a bit disappointed, naturally understanding the other man's disdainful laughter.

So... there was no common ground?

Although the other hadn't expressed hostility, such a terrifying Heavenly Realm executioner could strike at any moment, taking Lu Ran's life.

Lu Ran tightened his grip on the Cloud Sea Blade, about to speak, when he heard the other say: "Go back."

"Huh?" Lu Ran was quite surprised.

"You're only at the Sea Realm Peak, you wouldn't withstand three moves from me." The man in the Emperor Robe waved a hand dismissively, "Let's save our battle for after you ascend to the Heavenly Realm."

Lu Ran was utterly bewildered.

Why is martial virtue so abundant?

Suddenly, Lu Ran felt a surge in his heart!

The man in the Emperor Robe is a Heavenly Realm executioner, here in this world to kill Da Xia's genius! Yet he seems like a heavenly pride, and the other intends to let him go?

Is this... right?

They must be kindred spirits!

"Go back to cultivate, heavenly pride." The man in the Emperor Robe shook his wine gourd, "What you have done has accidentally opened this special Divine Weapon Domain, don't defile it."

Defile?

Lu Ran was even more certain of his guess!

He organized his words, trying to open the conversation: "May I ask, what is the name of your Divine Weapon?"

The man in the Emperor Robe paused his movements, slowly drawing out a long sword, silently lowering his head to examine it.

As he gazed, his drunken demeanor turned surprisingly devout, his slender fingers gently stroking the sword blade, again and again.

Lu Ran was quite impressed.

This man is really...

Always talking to himself, never answering questions at all.

"Heavenly pride."

"Here!" Lu Ran responded immediately.

"Can your dream be realized?"

"Yes!" Lu Ran's expression was firm, slowly lowering his head, "It definitely can!"

The man in the Emperor Robe smiled, finally shifting his gaze from the sword to Lu Ran.

He looked directly into Lu Ran's eyes, waves of terrifying pressure crashing onto Lu Ran like tides.

Lu Ran stood firmly, also gazing back into the other's eyes, his gaze resolute beyond words.

"Hmm." After a long time, the man in the Emperor Robe nodded slightly, "Go back, I'll wait for you here."

"I..."

"I'm here to kill you, heavenly pride." The man in the Emperor Robe spoke hoarsely, the corners of his lips slightly raised, "If you don't leave now, you won't be able to."

"What's your sword called? I believe our goals should be the same, you won't make a move!"

Lu Ran spun his Tang Blade, speaking first: "My blade is named Cloud Sea Dust Clear! And yours?"

"Hoo!!"

An astonishing aura rippled out.

Invisible, yet it forced Lu Ran to take a step back!

The man in the Emperor Robe, who was slumped under the tree, suddenly floated up, his drunken eyes no longer confused, staring intently at the Tang Blade in Lu Ran's hand, tremblingly asking:

"You... you said, your blade is... named what?"

Lu Ran's body tensed, ready to instantly teleport to dodge at any time, suppressing his inner fear, he spoke solemnly: "Blade name, Cloud Sea Dust Clear!"

A black cloud suddenly rose beneath the feet of the man in the Emperor Robe.

Lu Ran's pupils slightly contracted, confirming that the other was indeed a first-class Evil God—disciple of the Evil Spear Emperor!

"Hoo~"

The man in the Emperor Robe instantly appeared at Lu Ran's position, while Lu Ran simultaneously flickered and stood in mid-air outside the peak.

"Hmm?" The man in the Emperor Robe suddenly looked up, gazing at the young man in the fox fur cloak.

"Sir, what does this mean?" Lu Ran frowned and asked.

The man in the Emperor Robe stared at the blade in Lu Ran's hand: "Is that your blade?"

"Of course it's mine, I cultivated it myself!" Lu Ran did not understand why the other reacted so, and with such a strong reaction at that.

"Then... is it also you who named this blade?"

Lu Ran was momentarily stupefied.

Seeing Lu Ran's expression, the man in the Emperor Robe's heart trembled: "Who? Who named your blade?"

Lu Ran opened his mouth, under the other's expectant gaze, he spoke: "My... mother."

Mother?

Mother!

The man in the Emperor Robe suddenly wobbled, staring blankly at Lu Ran.

The young man's eyebrows, nose, lips...

The snow-white fox fur cloak gently swayed in the light mist, further accentuating the noble temperament of this heroic young man.

As if a shadow with unrivaled charm overlapped with the young man's figure.

"Hehe, hehe... hahaha!" The man in the Emperor Robe suddenly laughed, his laughter growing louder and entangled with such complexity of emotions.

For a moment, Lu Ran couldn't clearly describe it.

"No wonder! Hahaha, no wonder..." The man in the Emperor Robe raised a pale palm to cover his eyes.

The laughter gradually choked, emotions rising and falling dramatically.

You... haven't forgotten me.

Specially named this blade this way.

Just to let him ascend to the Heavenly Realm, to find Chou Nu...

...

Four thousand words, seeking some monthly votes.