Summit of the Old Gods

The stars and moon rotated as the sun rose high.

Strands of light streamed through the skylight above the cave, scattering into the hall.

This cave was spacious, intentionally designed in the style of the Cloud Sea Residence, divided into three stone chambers.

At the moment, a young man lay asleep on the large bed in the master bedroom.

The woman beside him had unknowingly awakened, listening silently to the rhythm of his deep breaths and watching the sweetness of his dreams.

In her memories, Lu Ran rarely indulged in such sleep.

He seemed to possess endless energy.

Objectively speaking, he indeed had task after task, with no respite.

"Mmm..." Lu Ran murmured groggily, turning his head slightly as if showing signs of waking.

Jiang Ruyi reached out her hand, gently patting his chest.

Under her tender touch, he fell back into deep slumber.

Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but smile, recalling last night when Lu Ran was "spat" out by the little Blazing Phoenix.

The distinguished master of the Magic Artifact had been thoroughly subdued by his own artifact.

Even his gaze seemed clearer...

The power of a Third-rank Magical Artifact was astoundingly strong!

At least for Lu Ran at the Sea Realm, its intensity was a bit overwhelming! Eagerly experimenting, he voluntarily allowed himself to be absorbed into the Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd, only for Lu Ran to understand the agony it entailed.

The little Blazing Phoenix didn't comprehend any profound laws to pin Lu Ran inside its belly directly.

It possessed a higher level of control over the Divine Power stored within the gourd, able to manipulate it at will.

Upon Lu Ran's entrance into the gourd, the "Divine Power Lake" below surged with endless water, forming a water sphere of divine power that enveloped the diminutive Lu Ran within.

In an instant, Lu Ran's body became uncontrollable.

The terrifying level of Divine Power forcefully penetrated the Water Flow Armor, wildly attacking his body with overwhelming dominance, taking over everything.

Each piece of flesh and bone, every inch of skin, brimmed with every strand of divine power that feverishly swapped places.

All belonging Divine Power within Lu Ran was expelled entirely.

This group of frenzied invaders offered no nourishment to the flesh and blood of the Human Clan, but came with overwhelming aggression and destructiveness, throwing Lu Ran's insides into chaos.

Lu Ran was utterly bewildered.

He was like a helpless child amidst the stormy seas, unable to harness the Divine Power.

Thus, any possibility of spell-casting vanished.

Lu Ran possessed numerous Soft Control Techniques himself, like the Evil Spear Emperor's Evil Technique·Evil Cloud Entanglement, Tangled Silk Shadow's Evil Technique·Tangled Silk.

These techniques forcibly injected divine power into the target's body, triggering divine power turmoil, or blocking its flow entirely.

The fundamental principle aimed to disrupt the target's divine power activation, thereby preventing them from spell-casting.

Third-rank Magical Artifact·Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd, carried this philosophy to the extreme!

Strictly speaking, the little Blazing Phoenix's method should also be considered Soft Control.

Yet for those below the Sea Realm, Soft Control reaching this intensity was indistinguishable from Hard Control!

The diminutive Lu Ran was trapped in a massive divine power water sphere, objectively possessing "torture" attributes.

Because Lu Ran needed to breathe!

The water sphere deprived him of this right, though as divine power, it didn't truly drown Lu Ran therein.

The divine power flooding his mouth and nose relentlessly choked his lungs, keeping him perpetually in a drowning, near-death state.

Lu Ran was on the verge of collapse.

The Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd, clearly an auxiliary training artifact, had grown into a torture device.

Hmm... It did align well with the temperament of Holy Spirit Mountain.

After being spat out, Lu Ran coughed profusely, tears streaming down.

It took a long, long time for him to regain clarity, turning again to Jiang Ruyi holding the Treasure Gourd in her hands...

Lu Ran's tear-filled eyes appeared particularly clear.

The little Blazing Phoenix, like a child who'd done wrong, quietly lit up its golden phoenix pattern, transforming into a bird shape and flying out.

At that moment, it sought no praise, slowly flying towards Lu Ran, chirping solicitously.

Lu Ran quickly reached out, catching the little creature.

He hurried to say he was fine, immediately praising the little buddy.

Artifact and master, one more obedient than the other.

They both seemed very sensible~

"Mmm..." Ultimately, Lu Ran opened his sleepy eyes, looking confusedly at the stone wall above.

Where is this?

Last night, where did I hide to survive... oh, right.

Home.

"Sleep a bit more," whispered the gentle voice beside his ear.

Lu Ran embraced his fiancée, letting her lay on him, covering the unfamiliar ceiling with her stunning face.

He smiled slightly, gently pressing his forehead against hers.

Indeed.

Home.

Jiang Ruyi's pretty face reddened, she averted her eyes, naturally sensing his restlessness from lying on him.

"What time is it?" Lu Ran inhaled the subtle fragrance of her hair.

"Why mind?"

"I've surely slept for several days?" Lu Ran glanced at the space beyond the screen, where strands of light pierced through, likely the master bedroom's air vent?

"Not that long," Jiang Ruyi said, somewhat helpless, realizing he no longer planned to rest.

"Mmm." Lu Ran let one hand drop to the side of the bed.

In the eastern stone chamber, on the low desk, the Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd gently moved, sensing its master's summons.

The little Blazing Phoenix immediately flew out of the study, traversing the hall, entering the master bedroom.

With a soft "pop,"

the chubby Treasure Gourd fell into Lu Ran's palm.

Jiang Ruyi turned her head to look, and said softly: "You can further experiment to see if the Blazing Phoenix can imprison a Heavenly Realm Great Power."

Yu Changsheng only had the "First Layer of Heaven" realm, but his physical body was only at the Sea Realm Peak.

To verify the abilities of the small Blazing Phoenix, they had to find Elder Lu Yuan.

If it were before, Lu Ran naturally wouldn't feel much psychological pressure, but now...

Lu Yuan had all his skills sealed, and his emotions and state probably wouldn't be very good.

Better to try with Tu Feng and Bai Rao.

Lu Ran thought to himself, his fingertips brushing over the exquisite Phoenix Pattern: "Mr. Cong Long told me that after reaching the Heavenly Realm, you can refine traces of Holy Spirit Energy from the Divine Power."

Jiang Ruyi, smart as ice and snow, immediately understood Lu Ran's meaning.

Can the small Blazing Phoenix refine Holy Spirit Energy from the vast Divine Power?

It seems quite possible!

"Third-ranked Divine Weapons and Magic Artifacts correspond to the Heavenly Realm, right?" Lu Ran suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly, got up, and sat down, "Why do you say that?"

"People from the River Realm can control first-rank Divine Weapons, and people from the Sea Realm can control second-rank Divine Weapons."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Such a rash division of power levels, is there really no problem?

If compared from this perspective, Divine Weapons and Magic Artifacts seem to be half a notch below the Human Clan.

After all, only when both sides are evenly matched and neither can defeat the other can they be considered equal in strength.

Lu Ran picked up the Blazing Phoenix Patterned Gourd: "Maybe your strength is benchmarking the Heavenly Realm. Later, we'll go find Mr. Cong Long and ask how he refines Holy Spirit Energy."

"Buzz~" The Treasure Gourd trembled slightly.

"Good." Lu Ran patted the plump gourd and then looked at Fairy Jiang, "I promised little Yuanxi to take her to Mo Gu Peak to watch the sunset, shall we go together at dusk?"

Mo Gu Peak?

Jiang Ruyi's brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

So, Qiao Yuansi found Lu Ran at Mo Gu Peak yesterday?

He's gone there again...

Two months ago, it was Jiang Ruyi who accompanied Lu Ran to find Mo Gu Peak together.

During the three days they stayed on the peak, she also sensed that Lu Ran had some special feelings for Mo Gu Peak.

"After we return tonight, I plan to go into seclusion for cultivation." Lu Ran sat up, placing one hand in her hair, gently smoothing it, "To advance to the Sea Realm Peak as soon as possible and enter the Heavenly Realm sooner."

Advancing to the Heavenly Realm,

means Lu Ran will have enough strength to face the executioners from the Heavenly Realm. No longer needing to live in constant fear like now.

It also means Lu Ran can transcend this world!

Ascend to the Heavenly Realm, descend to the Human World.

Travel to and from the Mountain Realm without restrictions.

Everything is up to Lu Ran!

Most importantly, to communicate with Master Immortal Sheep.

He has so many questions, longing for Master Immortal Sheep to guide him through the maze.

"Alright." Jiang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Now everyone has gathered at the ends of the earth, progressing rapidly, all chasing your pace."

"Mmm." Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

As one person advances, all enjoy the blessings, naturally progressing rapidly.

"You are not like Mo Gu Peak, you are not alone."

Lu Ran was taken aback.

"You and your Ran Sect are more like Ten Thousand Blade Mountain." Jiang Ruyi smiled faintly, "You have many companions, they all follow you."

Since her promotion to the River Realm, she hasn't cared about many things, so she can't empathize with the layers of pressure in his heart.

But Jiang Ruyi will try to do something.

For example, moving, separating Lu Ran from the Ran Sect disciples, so he no longer sees those faces full of eager anticipation.

"Mm." Lu Ran's hand in her hair moved down, grasping Fairy Jiang's wrist, pulling her directly into his arms.

The little Blazing Phoenix instantly fell out of favor.

It was set aside by its owner, floating up pitifully.

"Blazing Phoenix, go... go to the study." Jiang Ruyi realized what someone intended to do, started giving orders to the little one, then suddenly sensed something peculiar.

Lu Ran also stopped his antics, suddenly looked up.

Wisps of mist emerged, and within seconds, the bedroom was shrouded in mist.

"Huh?" Lu Ran blinked.

Fairy Jiang wasn't lying!

Who is the Great Power advancing at the ends of the earth?

"This density of Divine Power..." Jiang Ruyi carefully felt, this was clearly not an ordinary Jianghai person's advancement.

Could it be the Martial Emperor or Luoshen ascending to the Heavenly Realm?

"Evil Shadow, go see who it is." Jiang Ruyi commanded.

A few seconds later, Yan Shuangzi appeared behind the screen: "The Fog Dragon Roll is connected to our Central Island, it should be the Nightmare Guardian."

Lu Ran's eyes widened slightly.

Is it really the Big Nightmare?

Great timing!

He was just planning to go into seclusion for cultivation, and this windfall ride came just like that.

Little Yuanxi, the sunset and all, let's look at that next month.

The Big Nightmare is coming with her Panamera!

No more words needed!

Get in, get in~

...

It's the end of the month, asking for some monthly votes.