Summit of the Old Gods

Luoxian Residence, in the bedroom.

Inside the gauzy bed canopy, Jiang Ruyi, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly opened her eyes.

Her heart was pounding wildly, and she quickly turned her head to look.

By the dim glow of the small nightlight, she saw a shadowy figure moving behind the thin veil.

Jiang Ruyi, though a fourth-rank in the Sea Realm, still felt like a rootless drift in the face of the Great Power of the Heavenly Realm. Her emotions could only sway with the other person's moods.

Slowly, a hand parted the canopy, and their eyes met.

The usually calm and composed Jiang Ruyi suddenly panicked, feeling the stranger's aura unfamiliar.

She had walked with him through storms, shared victories and defeats, fought and fled together.

But she had never seen Lu Ran in such a state.

Like a silent, trapped beast.

Oppressively terrifying.

Coupled with his celestial might, it made Jiang Ruyi feel suffocated.

Yan Shuangzi, who was secretly guarding them, also struggled to breathe, as if the entire Luoxian Residence was being pressed down and drowned under the deep sea by his hand.

Jiang Ruyi tried to compose herself, softly saying, "You're back."

"Mm." Lu Ran turned and sat on the edge of the bed.

The billowing bed canopy slowly fell, obscuring his eyes.

Jiang Ruyi carefully leaned forward, hugged him from behind, and gently asked, "Not feeling well?"

Lu Ran pursed his lips but remained silent.

Seeing he didn't respond, Jiang Ruyi asked no further.

She didn't know what had transpired that night. Lu Ran's unusual state might be related to the future path or perhaps Aunt Qiao.

After all, Lu Ran had left with the third-tier Divine Weapon, Cloud Sea Dust Clear Sword.

Upon returning, he became this heavy-hearted.

After what seemed a long time, Lu Ran lifted a hand, grasped her slender fingers wrapped around his chest, and gently held them, "You're about to reach the peak, aren't you?"

"Yes, it's time for a retreat."

"Then let's go back."

"I've asked Senior Sister Cheng Rou to send breakfast, let's eat something tomorrow morning," Jiang Ruyi said softly.

Of course, breakfast wasn't important.

What mattered was that Lu Ran had just exited seclusion. For almost a month, he had been in the midst of an advancement, hardly closing his eyes.

Though the body of a great power from the Heavenly Realm had changed somewhat, taking the first step toward transforming into a Pure Energy Body, Lu Ran had not yet shed his mortal flesh.

"Haven't had plain congee for a long time."

Jiang Ruyi whispered, resting her forehead gently against the side of Lu Ran's head.

"Okay." Lu Ran removed his shoes.

As the two lay on the bed, Jiang Ruyi resting on Lu Ran's arm, suddenly said, "You could borrow the smoke-blue veil from Sister Yuxiang and go play with the Little Tabby, do you miss it?"

Ah, Sister Cat...

Lu Ran was indeed diverted, recalling the little creature wrapped in a large bath towel, rolled into a bundle, looking adorable.

It had been over four years since they found the Little Tabby.

Back then, it must have just entered adulthood.

How long do tabby cats live?

A dozen years?

Lu Ran believed that the Jiang family's uncle and aunt would take good care of the little one, though he didn't know if, by the time he completed everything, the Little Tabby would still be alive.

Would it be able to wait for the day when its owner takes it home?

...

The next morning, at daybreak, a bamboo basket appeared "refreshed" on the small stone table in the courtyard.

The mushrooms indeed tasted exceedingly fresh! Even the plain congee tasted fragrant and sweet to Lu Ran.

Worldly matters,

are truly wonderful.

Except for that pile of stones, stubbornly rooted like chronic ailments all over.

After enjoying a meal, Lu Ran led his team back to Holy Spirit Mountain, Heaven's Edge.

Jiang Ruyi took the young Blazing Phoenix to retreat for cultivation, while Lu Ran summoned Feng Yan, the two generals, gave them a few instructions, and then opened an Ancient Bronze Mirror for them.

Nearing noon, Luo Ying received an urgent call from the Sect Master and immediately set off.

"Sect Master!"

"Sect Master!" Xun Luo and his wife swiftly flew to Heaven's Edge, respectfully saluting the young man in white robes sitting at the cliff's edge.

Unexpectedly, the Sect Master said, "I am back from the Human World."

Luo Ying suppressed his excitement, "Sect Master, you..."

Lu Ran still didn't turn around, directly saying, "I am the Human World Sect Master of the Immortal Sheep Sect, overseeing Luoxian Mountain, with kind grandparents and good-hearted uncles and aunts in the mountain.

You should know the nature of my sect's disciples.

If you wish, you may send your children to be fostered at Luoxian Mountain, and I will assign a mother to take care of them."

Xun Yifei couldn't help but look up, mustering the courage to gaze at the back of the Great Power of the Heavenly Realm.

He understood Lu Ran's words, that they could send their children back to the Human World to grow up healthy, relieving the couple of their worries.

But the couple would have to stay in the mountain to cultivate.

It makes sense, the Ran Sect still had goals to accomplish, and there couldn't be delays.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Luo Ying said with emotion, "Could we have some time to discuss this?"

"No rush," Lu Ran reached to the side, summoning the Ancient Bronze Mirror, "I called you here to integrate you with the Stone Sculpture, let's go."

The couple got up and approached the cliff's edge, following Lu Ran into the Landing Mirror.

In just one step, they reached Mo Gu Peak.

Lu Ran no longer needed a transit station.

From the distant eastern seas directly to the deepest part of the Northwest Desert, only a Landing Mirror was needed.

"Sect Master!" Xue Fengchen flew in quickly, wielding the Divine Weapon, Soul Devourer Axe, "The site is prepared, aside from Yun Yan and me, there are no other living beings inside or outside the peak, or in the sky above and the ground below."

"Good." Lu Ran patted Xue Fengchen on the shoulder, standing on the collapsed Mo Gu Peak, gazing into the distance.

Within a radius of several hundred kilometers, there wasn't a soul in sight.

Everywhere you looked, there was desolation.

This was, in Lu Ran's mind, the end of the world.

There should be no living creatures here.

"Lead the way, Feng Divine General."

"Yes!" Xue Fengchen immediately complied, leading a few people down the mountain.

In one morning, the Feng Yan duo had dug out a massive space at the base of Mo Gu Peak's mountain.

This action was necessary.

In the future, many Ran Sect warriors will fuse with stone sculptures at the end of this world.

As Lu Ran entered the mountain's interior, another figure emerged from underground.

"Sect Master!" Gao Yunyan slowly surfaced, wearing a Divine Power Bead String around his neck, with an earthen yellow Treasure Bead radiating brilliant light.

This Magic Artifact not only allowed the wearer to travel freely underground but also served as a small night light.

"Thank you for your hard work," Lu Ran said smoothly. "You and Feng Divine General must diligently cultivate. Although you won't be the first to fuse with stone sculptures in Ran Sect, you can still compete for first place."

"Please, Sect Master, enlighten us," Gao Yunyan said with great curiosity.

"You and Fengchen are the Barbaric and West Desolation, the opposites in the eyes of the world. But essentially, God and Demon share the same source, two sides of the same coin."

Lu Ran looked at Xue Fengchen: "At that time, you as Divine Sculpture and Evil Sculpture can combine together, perfectly blending as one."

Gao Yunyan's phoenix-like eyes shone brightly as he looked at Xue Fengchen.

The former big girl of West Desolation, now the female fiend of the Barbaric Wilderness, was never one to be shy.

Gao Yunyan did not hide the anticipation in his heart and was very curious about the world-ending power that would result from the fusion of Divine Sculpture and Evil Sculpture!

"However, the premise of your cooperation is being evenly matched," Lu Ran smiled looking at Xue Fengchen, "Otherwise, the weaker will become food for the stronger."

Xue Fengchen: "..."

Gao Yunyan's lips curled slightly, then he defended, "Rest assured, Sect Master, Fengchen's cultivation has already caught up."

"Hmm." Lu Ran stepped toward the center of the space, examining the seemingly strong walls, "No matter which one of you is stronger, at that time, you must hold a heart of compassion, and give the other a way out.

You two are my confidential generals. Losing one, I'd be heartbroken."

"Yes!"

"Yes!" Feng Yan duo responded in unison.

"Come, Luo Divine General." Lu Ran reached forward with one hand, "You need not show mercy, after replacing Ash's divine sculpture, go ahead and swallow the Evil God Fisherman."

Luo Ying felt a bit excited inside, then immediately sensed an overwhelming energy surge!

"Hoo!!"

The fierce wind waves blew Lu Ran's hair backward, his robe fluttering loudly.

The pure energy spread out, vast as the ocean, quickly assembling a huge stone sculpture.

Inside the mountain, it was pitch black, but Lu Ran, with his sharp eyes, clearly saw the Fake God Ash.

Upon a cursory glance, her massive body was at least two hundred meters away!

Ash wasn't known for her beauty.

Compared to most humanoid divine sculptures, she was indeed lacking in looks.

But her equipment was remarkable!

She wore a splendid Canglong Treasure Armor, with a blue base and adorned with dark golden patterns.

She had thick and long braids, holding a blue long bow, poised in an archery stance.

Two Canglongs coiled around her, exuding an impressive aura!

God Ash!

Of course, the stone sculpture was gray, all the colors were Lu Ran's imagination, as he had once seen shadow images of Ash online.

"Luo Divine General," Lu Ran said in a trembling voice, "Go touch... touch, fuse, and replace her!"

"As you command!" Luo Ying braced against the terrifying momentum, wielding her Second-rank Divine Weapon, the Golden Law Bow, and flew forward.

The moment her hand touched the stone sculpture, the sound of cracking continued.

"Crack! Crack..."

Pieces of stone began to fall off.

"Buzz!"

The ground shook, and fragments of stone and sand fell incessantly.

Xue Fengchen frowned slightly; the space they had carved out, half underground, half at the mountain's base, uncertain if this cavern could withstand the turbulent energy.

"Deploy the Sand Sea," Xue Fengchen suggested.

"Okay." The duo stomped their feet, as the West Desolation Sand Sea and Barbaric Sand Sea spread out, swiftly climbing the stone walls under the master's guidance, propping up the cavern.

"Booming..."

Ash's stone sculpture exploded violently, the airwaves surged, and fine gravel flooded into Luo Ying's body.

It's hard to imagine how a small human a little over 1.7 meters tall could fully receive such a massive being.

"Uh." Luo Ying's eyes widened, feeling as if her body would explode from the energy!

At this moment, Lu Ran rode in abruptly.

Luo Ying's expression changed!

Her body involuntarily transformed into a Pure Energy Body, entering the God Demon Sculpture Garden through Lu Ran's pupils.

"Hmm..." Lu Ran's nasal sound was low, one hand supporting his forehead, looking quite uncomfortable.

The Feng Yan duo dared not disturb the Sect Master, continuing to use the thick Sand Sea to maintain the cavern's stability.

Xun Yifei was somewhat dumbfounded!

Due to the darkness inside, he could only rely on his Divine Weapon for perception, but the Waterfall Flow Spring Blade informed its master that the lady had vanished.

Gone!

"Divine Seeking General."

"Sect Master?" Xun Yifei quickly responded.

"In a few days, I'll give her back to you," Lu Ran said, distressed as he rubbed his temples.

"Ah... okay, okay."

...