Summit of the Old Gods

September 3rd, night.

Moonlight spilled over Heaven's Edge, illuminating many people.

The soldiers of the Ran Sect gathered here, all kneeling respectfully towards the edge of the cliff, save for the Ran Sect's Lady who stood with her arms folded.

Even Luo Ying, the Divine General who had ascended to the Heavenly Realm just a few days earlier, was no exception.

Despite her formidable strength, her demeanor was even more devout.

However, there was one special individual—Bai Rao.

At this moment, the beautiful snake was lazily reclining at the Ran Sect Lady's side, her enchanting eyes gazing at the young man sitting at the cliff's edge.

The mist on the island had long since dispersed.

Evidently, after nearly a month of cultivation, the Sect Master had successfully broken through and entered the Heavenly Realm!

Yet Lu Ran remained there, motionless.

"Hoo~"

The sea breeze blew, causing Jiang Ruyi's long skirt to flutter.

Her eyes appeared somewhat dazed, silently watching the young man clad in a wide white robe.

Clearly, he was just a few dozen meters away.

Yet she felt he was far, far away from her.

The suppression of hierarchy seemed like a towering mountain before her.

The two were not situated on opposite sides of a mountain.

Rather, one was at the foot, and the other at the peak.

Suddenly, Lu Ran moved.

That slowly drifting figure tugged at everyone's heartstrings.

Until he slowly turned around, revealing a pair of radiant eyes.

The stars and moon in the night sky,

dimmed in this moment.

The wide white robe dancing in the night wind did not make him appear particularly graceful; the remaining divinity was exceedingly solemn and dignified.

The so-called divinity was all the more terrifying.

It struck directly at everyone's soul, compelling all beings to bow their heads.

"So everyone's here?" The young man in white smiled as he spoke.

His tone was gentle, quite deliberately so.

His gaze swept over the crowd, brimming with a sense of accomplishment.

Heavenly Emperor, protectors, elders, Divine Generals, various Hall Masters...

"Congratulations to the Sect Master on ascending to the Heavenly Realm," Deng Yuxiang declared loudly.

"Congratulations to the Sect Master on ascending to the Heavenly Realm!"

"Congratulations to the Sect Master on ascending to the Heavenly Realm..." The people echoed in unison, following the lead of the Ran Sect's first protector, offering their congratulations.

"Thank you." Lu Ran gently flew over, lightly landing beside Jiang Ruyi, as if afraid that any force might shatter the ground.

Jiang Ruyi pressed her lips tightly together, timidly watching Lu Ran.

Rarely, the cool and elegant fairy revealed such an expression.

Lu Ran did not mind the many people present. He leaned forward and gently pressed a kiss on her cheek.

Jiang Ruyi's body stiffened.

A simple action, causing the towering mountain before her to collapse with a roar.

"Wait for me." Lu Ran spoke softly, casually ruffling Bai Rao's head before walking towards the crowd.

Jiang Ruyi finally regained her senses, her delicate face blushing involuntarily.

Bai Rao, however, felt both pleased and vexed.

Bold boy!

Having ascended to the Heavenly Realm has finally given him the confidence to dare to touch my head?

Hmm... don't just leave, keep doing it~

Bai Rao immediately crawled away from Jiang Ruyi's feet, pursuing Lu Ran.

"It seems you all have your fill," Lu Ran was quite satisfied, his gaze passing over He Qifeng and Qin Yanzhi, "We've gained two more Sea Realm Peaks."

Counting Wu Xiao and Xun Yifei, the Ran Sect now had four Sea Realm Peaks.

They were crowded with Fourth Rank individuals!

The future holds promise.

Lu Ran stopped, standing before the Wind Emperor, and softly said, "I'm waiting for you."

He Qifeng looked up at Lu Ran, his eyes firm, "Mm!"

Lu Ran smiled, continued walking, then stopped in front of Luo Ying: [In a few days, I'll bring you to merge with the Divine Sculpture.]

[Yes!] Luo Ying also replied telepathically.

Lu Ran shifted to normal speech, joking, "After returning, share more experiences with the Divine Seeking General, let him tell stories to the children."

Xun Yifei: "..."

"Pfft~" Luo Ying couldn't help but laugh lightly.

To casually laugh before the majestic Heavenly Realm, one had to be in the Heavenly Realm as well.

Lu Ran took a few more steps, helping Elder Lu Yuan up: "Master Lu, still unable to perform the Divine Technique?"

"The Sect Master need not worry about this old man, changing camps rashly might be unfavorable for the Ran Sect's development." Lu Yuan wasn't too disheartened, just looked at Lu Ran with a heartfelt sigh.

A young man from the past had now caught up, reaching the First Level of the Heavenly Realm.

Lu Yuan knew this day would come eventually.

It just came a bit too quickly.

"I understand, my Dust Shadow Divine Sculpture will always be reserved for Master Lu," Lu Ran nodded, "In this promotion, the Immortal Sheep asked me to focus on breaking through, we exchanged only a few words.

Once I have a proper discussion with the Immortal Sheep, I'll come find you again."

"Alright." Lu Yuan nodded gently.

"Divine General Qin, escort Elder Lu back for a rest."

"Yes."

Lu Ran watched as Qin Yanzhi summoned the Ancient Bronze Mirror, sending a message: [You are just one step away from the Heavenly Realm and will soon be able to travel freely across worlds; you mustn't be too reckless.]

Qin Yanzhi immediately responded: [Both the Lady and the Cong Long protector have reminded me, all of my actions need the Sect Master's approval.]

"Mm." Lu Ran smiled, saying nothing more.

Having two wise assistants...uh, a wisely governing assistant and a thorough strategist, really alleviates worries.

Things he hadn't yet considered, they had already completed.

Lu Ran approached the small group of the Bai Family.

Headed by Bai Yanhui, with his granddaughter Bai Manni and grandson-in-law Deng Yutang on either side.

"Elder Bai, you've waited long enough." Lu Ran helped Bai Yanhui up, igniting black flames in his hand as he looked at the deeply sunken eyes of the elder.

Heavenly Grade Evil Technique·Caged Fire (Bath)!

"Gulp." Deng Yutang swallowed, his body trembling slightly.

My own brothers are already frightening enough! At his feet was a beautiful snake, also in the majestic Heaven Realm!

Kneeling half on the ground, Deng Yutang happened to be facing Bai Rao directly.

His heart was truly pounding!

"Reached the peak, Deng Shao." Lu Ran said while transferring the Black Fire to Bai Yanhui.

"Ah!" Deng Yutang responded.

In the Human World, reaching the peak of the River Realm naturally makes one a great power venerated by many.

But on Holy Spirit Mountain...especially within the Ran Sect, the River Realm is somewhat lacking.

"Manni's reached the peak too, so fast." Lu Ran said with a smile.

"Yes, Sect Leader." Bai Manni replied softly, also deeply affected by Bai Rao, and she turned her face away.

This great power of the Heaven Realm, who shares the same surname as me, really has...um, peculiar tastes.

Has she truly cultivated into a snake?

Ah!

Bai Manni suddenly remembered something: as her strength and realm continue to rise, will she adopt the habits of the Ghost Moon Fox and become a mesmerizing White Fox?

Hmm, probably not.

I worship the Ran Shen, the stone sculptures in his Sculpture Garden, and won't suffer the bane of the stone sculptures.

"Grateful...thank you Sect Leader! Thank you Sect Leader..." An aged voice rang out, full of emotion.

The old man, whose eyes were sunken in the past, finally opened them.

By the starlight, Bai Yanhui finally saw the true form of Master Lu.

But soon, Bai Yanhui couldn't see clearly again because a mist of tears covered his eyes, making the heroic young figure in his sight become blurry.

Lu Ran slightly exerted his hands, stopping the old man from saluting again: "Sorry to keep you waiting, Elder Bai."

"Not long, not long..." Bai Yanhui trembled with his aged hands, constantly wiping his eyes.

Yet, the more he wiped, the more tears streamed down.

A man over seventy, having struggled on Holy Spirit Mountain, had been through so many ups and downs, and should have cultivated a calm heart.

Facing everything calmly.

The truth was indeed so; he was long used to and accepted the cruel reality of losing his eyes.

Yet, the Sect Leader brought him his granddaughter, grandson-in-law.

And a toddler great-granddaughter.

The old man who accepted everything calmly, was no longer at peace and felt a trace of longing.

Now, on this night of the third of September, after roaming the Mountain Realm for thirty years, Bai Yanhui could finally see his family with his own eyes.

"Deng Shao, Manni." Lu Ran's heart was full of mixed emotions, and he spoke softly, "Accompany Grandpa Bai back."

"Yes!"

"Yes." The young couple hurriedly got up to assist Bai Yanhui away.

Lu Ran clearly saw Bai Yanhui closing his eyes again.

Elder Bai finally got what he wished for, seeing family descendants, yet seemed to shrink back now?

Such a complex mentality.

Lu Ran watched them leave, and without the mood to encourage the others, he instructed, "Everyone return, practice diligently, don't slack."

"Yes!"

"Yes..." The people all retreated one after another.

At Heaven's Edge, only a few figures were left.

Lu Ran looked down at the woman in white and sighed, "Aunt Bai truly doesn't care about anything?"

As a dignified great power of the Heaven Realm, crawling on the ground in front of so many people?

What a sight!

"I naturally care about things." Bai Rao rubbed her cheek against Lu Ran's calf.

"It's late, Aunt Bai should go back."

"Where does little Lu want me to go?"

"Didn't they arrange a place for you?" Lu Ran slightly frowned.

"Hehe~" Bai Rao chuckled softly, slowly stood up, "Now that you are of the Heaven Realm, frowning is scary~"

Lu Ran: "..."

"Alright alright, won't disturb you young couples." Bai Rao turned to leave, a distant voice echoed, "Little Master Lu, watch your boundaries! The Heaven Realm physique is wild, be gentle with the lady."

Lu Ran immediately blushed deeply.

This demon...

Shouldn't have brought her to the ends of the earth, should have thrown her directly to the Glass Realm!

Lu Ran picked up the sword at his waist and called out, "Yan Chou."

"Young Master." A man in an Emperor Robe flew over swiftly.

"Take this and go into the cave below." Lu Ran indicated below with his foot.

"Yes." Yan Chou took the Cloud Sea Dust Clear Sword with both hands and immediately flew down the sea cliff.

Lu Ran then looked at Jiang Ruyi: [Let me take you somewhere?]

[Where...where to?] Jiang Ruyi saw Lu Ran holding an Ancient Bronze Mirror in his hand.

The anticipated Landing Mirror did not form instantly.

Yet Lu Ran's Divine Power surged, becoming increasingly fierce.

Jiang Ruyi immediately realized something!

Lu Ran's mastery of the Evil Mirror Magic·Mirror Flower Moon was already perfected, and for him to perform magic with such effort, there was only one possibility!

"Whoo!!"

The fierce fluctuation of Divine Power stirred up waves of wind, blowing Lu Ran's hair backwards, and his broad robes rustled noisily.

At the same time, in the Human World, the kingdom of Da Xia.

On Luoxian Mountain, within the Immortal Worship Hall.

An antique styled landing bronze mirror, faintly appeared, arduously piecing together.

It didn't seem to appear out of thin air, rather...

Tearing through time and space!

"Buzz!!"

The terrifying divine power fluctuation filled the Immortal Worship Hall.

"Clatter~"

"Clatter..." In the shrines on both side walls, thousands of small sculptures of Immortal Sheep kept trembling, skewing and toppling consecutively.

Finally, a landing mirror appeared in the center of the hall.

A young face exuding terrifying divinity peered out from the mirror.

Deep within the hall, an immortal sheep stone sculpture sat steadily.

The perpetually kind smiling sheep face seemed more sinister.

...