Summit of the Old Gods

The valley floor of Sky Sparrow Pavilion, a scene of tranquility.

Yet within the dungeon where Huang Que believers were imprisoned, their hearts were in turmoil!

They caught a faint scent of plum blossoms, experienced a momentary lapse of consciousness, and when some snapped out of it, the two prison guards outside their cell had disappeared.

Disappeared?

The prisoners immediately realized that the plum blossom scent they had just inhaled came from the Ice Plum Demon Queen's Evil Technique—Soul Capturing Cold Fragrance!

Of course, it might also be the work of a magic artifact.

Regardless, the two prison guards vanished, whereas the prisoners regained their clarity.

Whoever came, they clearly had no intent to harm the prisoners and retracted the eerie plum fragrance.

"Don't make any noise." A young voice quietly sounded, startling the few prisoners who wanted to cry out, causing them to fall silent.

Huang Que disciples possess the Divine Technique—Radiant Sky Sound, capable of dispelling all negative mental states.

However, these few were in the River Realm, unable to resist a Sea Grade evil technique. When they were still confused about the plum scent in the dungeon, they were already ensnared.

"I am the aide invited by Jin Que'er Pavilion Master. You stay in the cell; before the sun sets, Sky Sparrow Pavilion will be restored to its former peace."

Within the prisoners, a slightly older woman stepped forward excitedly and lowered her voice, "Hero... sir, directly above us on the surface, there's a wooden house with two Dong Ting fiends inside."

"Hmm, they have been dealt with. You stay put." The young voice sounded again, which invigorated the listeners.

On the walls outside the cell, torches were mounted.

The flickering flames could not cast even the slightest shadow of the mysterious person.

Everything felt so surreal...

"Sir, these four prison guards belong to Dong Ting evildoers—under the Five Thunder Hall Master's command. The Five Thunder Hall Master is Middle Sea Realm; once he discovers his men are missing... Sir? Are you still there?"

Silence reigned outside the cell; the mysterious figure seemed to have departed.

Indeed, Lu Ran had returned to the surface, eyes lifted to the dim sky.

It was twilight, and the sun was setting.

Need to speed up.

Among the remnants of Thunder Shock, there are three Sea Realm Great Powers, besides the leader Lady Bai, the others being Five Thunder Hall Master and Xiong Guan Hall Master.

Of these, Five Thunder Hall Master, along with four River Realm Dong Ting disciples, managed the dungeon.

Xiong Guan Hall Master, with another four River Realm disciples, guarded the valley's sole exit, stationed inside the mountain tunnel.

As for the betrayer within Sky Sparrow Pavilion, aside from Jin Que'er, the only Sea Realm Great Power within the pavilion—Li Ying Hall Master—had been taken as a maid by Lady Bai.

She aided Lady Bai in handling all matters within the valley, spending days instructing the Sky Sparrow Pavilion disciples to submit to Lady Bai and consolidate the new leader's rule.

[Nightmare, are you in position?] Lu Ran flew towards the mountain tunnel, transmitting mentally.

[Arrived, at the tunnel entrance.]

[Good, time for me to act.] Lu Ran silently sneaked into the mountain tunnel.

The lingering plum fragrance, truly a supreme magical treasure for killing and looting.

The only problem was the troops within the tunnel, besides the Dong Ting disciples paired two by two, included many Huang Que disciples.

And the range of the plum scent is difficult to control.

As Lu Ran proceeded in the same manner, capturing two River Realm disciples into the gourd, the Huang Que disciples at the tunnel's distant edge, brushed by the shifting plum scent, were not fully hit and fearfully activated their divine technique.

"Kree~~~"

Huang Que movement technique—Radiant Sky Sound!

The usually pleasing sparrow's cry, amplified by the tunnel environment, became unbearably sharp.

Lu Ran's expression wasn't good, swiftly maneuvering through.

He didn't blame the Huang Que disciples; anyone would strive to escape danger if they found themselves mentally disoriented.

Yet the objective fact is...

These little sparrows, their voices are truly piercing?

"What is the noise?" An electric-striding man hurriedly rushed over, his sharp rebuke echoing in the tunnel, "What is hap..."

Before the words finished, the man's heart fiercely palpitated.

Behind him, an overwhelming evil qi, like an invisible sea of blood, surged forth utterly immobilizing him at that very spot.

Such a scene was incredible!

Although the man was in the River Realm, having followed the Second Lady across various regions, he was naturally battle-hardened.

Yet, the terrifying presence suddenly appearing behind him didn't employ any skills; merely with its terrifying aura and oppressive force, it caused the Dong Ting disciple to stall momentarily.

Beside him, the Huang Que female disciple was also silenced.

She stared wide-eyed, stunned at the mysterious person in the straw raincoat.

As the straw-clad youth appeared, his palm had already fallen on the Dong Ting disciple's back, fingertips extending red silk thread effortlessly controlling the man, the gourd at his waist collecting the subdued spirit within.

"Zzzzz~zz~"

At the corner of the tunnel, the last River Realm Dong Ting female disciple rushed over, terrified almost to the point of being bloodless.

Faced with a life-and-death crisis, she didn't hesitate and turned to flee.

"Whirr!!"

Yet, before the River Realm female disciple could escape the tunnel entrance, a gale confronted her head-on.

"Ah!!" The woman screamed, forcibly blown back into the tunnel.

Deng Yuxiang tread amid swirling mist, moving at an astonishing speed, alone blocking the narrow and covert tunnel exit.

A stance ready to defend against all intruders!

"Don't panic, it's me! Everyone, stay calm!" cried a small Huang Que perched on Deng Yuxiang's shoulder.

Meanwhile, within the tunnel, Lu Ran had already caught the Dong Ting offender and stored him in the gourd.

"Damn, who?" A furious male voice exploded from behind.

Accompanied by crackling electric sounds, a tall, bearded middle-aged man abruptly halted.

Interestingly, the anger on Xiong Guan Hall Master's face instantaneously shifted.

"Gulp." Staring at the mysterious straw-clad figure's back, he couldn't help swallowing.

This mysterious figure was undoubtedly a Sea Realm Great Power!

Yet, this wasn't the cause of the proud Dong Ting disciple's unease; the key was the overwhelming evil qi emanating from the straw-clad figure!

Though seemingly colorless and shapeless, it manifested like a corporeal sea of blood, carrying a faintly malicious odor permeating the entire tunnel.

The wall-mount torches flickered in the wave-blown air currents, flames veering sideways.

As if on the brink of extinguishment.

The straw-clad figure slightly turned his head, glanced using his peripheral vision to the rear, within the intermittently bright tunnel light, revealing the side profile of the straw-clad youth.

Expressionless, his gaze icy cold.

Under the unique aura's enhancement, he looked... very much like a humanoid Blood Skull!

"Uh." The imposing figure of the Hall Master of the Xiongguan trembled uncontrollably.

Unexpectedly, with lightning entwined around his feet, he turned and ran away?!

Lu Ran: ?

Do you deserve to be called Xiongguan?

"Swish~" Lu Ran's figure flashed suddenly, leaving behind a blood-colored silhouette.

When he reappeared, he was already at the tunnel entrance in the valley, hiding behind the stone wall and fiercely sweeping backhand with his sword.

"Ziz~ Ziz~"

At the same time, a figure darted rapidly from within the tunnel.

The bloody light of the blade flashed, like a tripwire, directly slicing through the Hall Master's calf.

"Crack!!"

This was the sound of the Water Flow Armor shattering abruptly.

"Ah..." The Hall Master of Xiongguan screamed miserably, forcibly cut down both his calves.

Yet his momentum continued forward, his entire body rolling repeatedly on the ground, raising thick clouds of dust and crashing into a wooden hut.

The house collapsed with a bang, yet still could not stop the Hall Master of Xiongguan.

He continued to roll and slide back until stopped by a suddenly appeared figure stepping on his chest.

"Ah... uh!"

The Hall Master's scream abruptly halted because a blood-stained blade pressed against his Adam's apple.

The blade was wrapped in scorching blood, still dripping down.

The searing blood drops, highly destructive, easily burned through the Hall Master's skin, penetrating into his throat, continuing to burn through everything.

"Pop~"

The strange sound of fish blowing bubbles suddenly sounded, landing on the Hall Master of Xiongguan.

Healing the place where his legs were severed, and also healing the hole in his throat.

[Blazing Phoenix.] Lu Ran moved the bloody blade aside, his eyes always chilling and full of bloodthirsty aura, looking down at the man below his feet.

The Hall Master of Xiongguan was pale, already scared out of his wits.

His body constantly shrank, being sucked into the Treasure Gourd at Lu Ran's waist.

"Stop! You..." an astonished and angry voice came from a distance.

The screams of the Hall Master were too loud, not to mention a wooden shack had collapsed.

At this moment, many disciples in the valley emerged, watching the straw raincoat-wearing youth in horror.

Lu Ran looked up and saw a middle-aged woman of great charm.

Lv Second Lady·Bai Lengmei?

This appearance, this temperament... it's no wonder she was carefully selected by Sect Master Lv Xiao.

"Why does the Daoist intrude on my Sky Sparrow Pavilion?" Bai Lengmei didn't see how the Hall Master of Xiongguan was defeated, but she clearly saw her subordinate being sucked into the gourd.

Of course, she could sense the terrifying strength of the man in the straw raincoat.

The dripping blood on the sword, continuously burning through the ground, also announced the identity of the youth in the straw raincoat.

But Bai Lengmei was no small fry!

She still maintained the dignity of a superior, sternly asking.

"Intrude on your Sky Sparrow Pavilion..." Lu Ran suddenly laughed, looking at the woman several dozen meters away, "Is the Sky Sparrow Pavilion yours?"

Bai Lengmei's face turned gloomy.

Behind Lady Bai, stood a petite woman in a golden robe, her expression changing repeatedly!

As a traitor of the Sky Sparrow Pavilion, the Hall Master of Liying was undoubtedly quite sensitive to this statement.

Bai Lengmei's long and narrow beautiful eyes suddenly shifted slightly.

The two were several dozen meters apart, and to anyone, it seemed she was still staring at Lu Ran.

But how keen was Lu Ran?

He realized that Lady Bai's gaze brushed past the side of his face, looking behind him.

"Ziz~ Ziz!"

Sure enough, the sound of electricity crackled.

The Middle Sea Realm·Third Rank Five Thunder Hall Master launched an attack from behind, his speed so fast it seemed like instant teleportation!

The Five Thunder Hall Master wielded his battle axe, fiercely thrusting toward Lu Ran's back, while shouting sternly, electricity exploding beneath his feet.

There was a Thunder Shock, and a Thunderstorm Purple Light.

It was clear that the Five Thunder Hall Master was giving Lu Ran the highest level of respect, even if he couldn't stab Lu Ran to death, he wanted to pin him in place.

"Tss!"

The spear tip entwined with lightning pierced through a bloody afterimage.

The Five Thunder Hall Master suddenly turned pale!

His forward momentum didn't slow, yet at about a dozen meters, he encountered a "tripwire".

The youth in the straw raincoat knelt on one knee, holding a sword wrapped in scorching blood, swinging out a Blood Moon!

Within the Blood Moon, a boiling Blood Arc flashed by.

"Ah! Ahh... ahhh..."

The Five Thunder Hall Master couldn't react in time, both calves were directly severed, he continued to roll, spraying blood wildly, leaving a long trail of blood on the ground.

Bai Lengmei's pupils contracted violently!

She finally understood how the Hall Master of Xiongguan was defeated.

Is this the reaction speed of a Blood Skull disciple? The Five Thunder Hall Master was a Sea Realm Great Power, in a sneak attack, yet he failed?!

But the question is, why didn't the Thunder Shout stun the Blood Skull disciple?

How! Is! This! Possible?

"Hoo..."

Bai Lengmei suddenly sidestepped and stepped back, the Five Thunder Hall Master swept past her feet, rolling and sliding backward.

Lu Ran stood up, casually flipping the sword flower, the dripping blade tip, pointing far toward Bai Lengmei: "I asked you a question!

Is the Sky Sparrow Pavilion yours?"

...

Asking for some votes this month.