The Old Gods

Chapter 1001 A bottle of green plum wine
Quanzhou City, the land of Fujian.

Inside the ancient city of Longlong (formerly Longli Ancient City), Lu Ran stood on the shoulders of the Longlong God statue, looking down at the beautiful fireworks blooming in the night sky.

It's hard to imagine that something as beautiful as fireworks would appear on the night of the fifteenth of the lunar month.

Lu Ran's eyes pierced through the night, precisely locating a wide street outside the ancient city, where a young citizen was being arrested by two Moon Gazing Men.

Dare to secretly set off fireworks?
And it happened on such a dangerous night, who else would they arrest if not you?

Interestingly, the young citizens, though being taken away, laughed loudly.

"Bah!"

"Bang!" Fireworks continued in the night sky behind him. Inside the buildings on both sides of the street, windows were open, and countless people peeked out, waving and cheering.

For the dazzling fireworks in the night sky.

For this peaceful night, free from the invasion of evil spirits.

This scene is a microcosm; at this moment, the land of Great Xia was in an uproar.

As night deepened, the evil spirits still refused to show themselves, and Lu Ran and the gods of the Burning Gate reached an unprecedented level of prestige.

Cheers, shouts, and cathartic sobs filled the air.

Lu Ran listened to the joys and sorrows of all living beings, then plopped down on the shoulder of the Dragon God statue: "Sir, what do you think the Evil Spear Emperor is planning?"

Yu Changsheng pondered for a moment and did not respond immediately.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield in the Heavenly Realm, the numerous scouts dispatched by the Burning Gate kept sending back messages, informing the Northwest forces that everything was normal and no unusual activity had been observed.

Lu Ran sighed softly, "The Evil Spear Emperor is actually building momentum for us and boosting the prestige of the gods of the Burning Gate by doing this. Is he really that kind-hearted?"

Yu Changsheng said with shame, "The Evil Spear Emperor is different from other gods and demons; I cannot fathom the thoughts of this emperor."

Lu Ran frowned: "Once the gods of the Burning Gate descended into the world, the evil spirits disappeared without a trace. The effect was immediate. But this will also damage the prestige of the old gods, won't it?"
Moreover, while the Great Xia region enjoys peace and tranquility, evil spirits continue to invade from beyond its borders.

The more Lu Ran talked, the heavier his heart became.

The extraterrestrial gods will likely be caught in a vortex of public opinion.

Do the billions of people around the world also want a new god to descend and protect them?
"Could it be that the Evil Spear Emperor wants to divert trouble eastward, using this method to unite the extraterrestrial gods and demons to deal with my Burning Sect?" Lu Ran continued to analyze.

The fact that the gods of the Burning Gate have been elevated to such a high position would infringe upon the fundamental interests of the extraterrestrial gods and demons.

Yu Changsheng's tone was serious: "[If it were any other god or demon, I might think that way. But the Evil Spear Emperor, relying on his status and guarding his own glory and pride, should disdain doing so.]"

Lu Ran pouted: "You just said it was hard to fathom the emperor's mind, but your analysis is pretty good!"

Yu Changsheng felt increasingly ashamed.

He could analyze many things based on the nature of evil, but the Evil Gun Emperor's actions were too abnormal.

Could it be that the Evil Spear Emperor is trying to curry favor and seek refuge with the Burning Gate?

How can it be!

Or perhaps it was a rebellion by the Evil Spear Emperor's subordinates, and this action was a decision made by other gods and demons?
However, the Shadow Guardian personally brought back intelligence that the Evil Spear Emperor was alive and well, and his gods and demons were all behaving properly.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran suddenly raised his head slightly, carefully sensing for a moment, and replied, "[Ruyi?]"

A clear, cool voice entered my mind: [A disciple of the Gun Refinement Sect has come to visit, bringing an invitation.]

[Oh?] Lu Ran was taken aback. [What is the content?]

The Evil Spear Emperor is hosting a banquet in Rusty Lonely City, Chang'an, and invites you to attend at midnight.

Lu Ran: ? ? ?
Good guy~
I've truly made a name for myself.

The mighty First-Class Evil God, the Evil Spear Emperor, actually personally hosted a banquet to invite them.

[I'm afraid this banquet will turn out to be anything but pleasant.] As Lu Ran and Yu Changsheng exchanged words, the strategist immediately expressed his concern.

Lu Ran suddenly realized something, his expression turning strange: "The Evil Spear Emperor has remained inactive, and hasn't invaded the human world tonight. Is it all for this banquet?"

If I don't go, will the Evil Spear Emperor lead his troops to invade in large numbers?
At this moment, the people of Great Xia were overjoyed, and the scope of their jubilation had reached its peak.

Just as people's hopes were being rekindled, they were plunged into despair once again by the cold and cruel reality. The impact on people's spirits will be immeasurable.

In addition, the current situation in Daxia is also far from ideal, with people showing signs of losing control.

The citizen who just ran into the street and set off fireworks is the best example!

People are venting their pent-up emotions.

If a large number of demons were to suddenly appear at this moment, who knows how many tragedies would result.

If this were to happen, Lu Ran could imagine that the gods of the Burning Gate would become the target of public condemnation!

After all, they brought unrealistic fantasies to the masses, making them indirect culprits.

Lu Ran spoke his mind, and Yu Changsheng nodded secretly, quite pleased.

Our sect leader has grown a lot, and his thinking has become more comprehensive and profound.

"The Evil Spear Emperor's move was indeed brilliant," Yu Changsheng mused.

Next,
It remains to be seen whether the Lord of the Burning Gate will dare to keep the appointment.

Yu Changsheng was willing to go on behalf of the sect leader. Previously, he had served as an envoy of the Burning Sect to negotiate with the forces in the Northwest.

But things are different now; the Evil Spear Emperor personally sent the invitation.

The Evil Spear Emperor is the absolute leader of the Northwest forces and a king of immense pride. If the Burning Gate continues to send envoys to keep the appointment, it would be tantamount to slapping the other party in the face.

If that happens, the Great Summer Palace will likely be in dire straits tonight.

"Objectively speaking, the Evil Spear Emperor has also shown sufficient sincerity." Lu Ran slowly stood up. "Inform the soldiers to be on high alert."

【Sect Master, I'll accompany you!】

“Sir, you are indeed handsome to the point of being almost otherworldly, and it’s hard to tell if you’re male or female, but I still want to bring a female companion~” Lu Ran suddenly blurted out.

Yu Changsheng: ? ? ? "Haha~" Lu Ran laughed out loud, a rare occurrence for him. "Sir, you can stay behind and oversee things. I will personally go and meet that Evil Spear Emperor!"

At midnight, Lu Ran arrived as promised.

He appeared directly in the inner city of Chang'an City, in the Rusty Lonely City, and stood in front of the Hall of Reverence.

Lu Ran didn't bring any female companions, since the Evil Gun Emperor had only invited him.

Since you've already decided to keep the appointment, bringing your goddess girlfriend along would make it seem like you're afraid or inferior to her.
Despite this, Jiang Ruyi still forcefully threw the stone sculpture of the Evil Shadow into the Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd, and had the Heavenly Realm body of the Evil Shadow Guardian accompany Lu Ran.

[Master, there is no one around the main hall.]

【Hmm.】Lu Ran stepped forward and pushed open the heavy palace door with one hand.

"Click~"

Through the crack in the temple door, Lu Ran's gaze swept over countless neatly arranged prayer cushions, and at the deepest part of the hall, he saw a several-meter-tall stone statue of a spear.

Below the stone statue is a tall figure draped in a black and gold imperial robe.

He stood with his back to Lu Ran, hands clasped behind his back, quietly standing there.

Lu Ran: "."

This scene is truly magical.

It's incredibly ironic.

The Evil Spear Emperor, a demon, brazenly appeared in the Ancient City of Gods, even standing in the revered temple belonging to the god Spear Decay.

"They've arrived." A deep, magnetic male voice came from deep within the hall.

This must be the legendary male god's voice.

It sounds kind of nice~
Lu Ran stepped inside, closed the palace door behind him, and casually said, "If the Evil Spear Emperor dares to invite me, how could I not accept?"

Upon hearing this, the Evil Spear Emperor slowly turned around and looked at the human youth from afar.

He was very young and very dashing.

He stood tall and imposing, his cold eyes showing no sign of fear.

The Evil Spear Emperor silently observed the young man, and gradually, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Lu Ran was also sizing up the other person.

The young emperor deep within the palace was naturally the celestial body of the evil god, and his demeanor was far beyond that of ordinary minions.

The Evil Spear Emperor had a handsome yet heroic face, with a pair of jet-black eyes beneath his sword-like eyebrows.

There wasn't a single white in its eyes; it was eerie and terrifying.

It is also as deep as an abyss.

He was dressed in a noble black and gold imperial robe, his long hair was tied up, and he wore a dark gold crown, exuding the majesty unique to emperors.

The Evil Spear Emperor simply stood there quietly, his imposing aura already enveloping the entire hall.

Lu Ran now has a concrete understanding of the term "dragon's pattern and phoenix's splendor".

"Humans, please." The Evil Spear Emperor gestured slightly downwards.

Next to the pillars on either side of the center of the hall, there is a low table, complete with an antique wine pot and cups.

But there were no side dishes, not even a single fruit.

Are you going to drink it straight?

Lu Ran thought to himself as he stepped into the room and knelt behind the low table, where he could smell a faint aroma of wine.

Sniff~
It seems there's a hint of plum fragrance mixed in?
Lu Ran couldn't help but purse his lips.

It's hard to imagine that evil spirits would appear in a temple of worship.

It's even harder to imagine that an evil god and a human would be drinking and making merry in this temple, right in front of a statue of a god.

Lu Ran suddenly turned his head and looked at the spear-wielding statue deep inside the hall: "Aren't you going to come out and have a drink?"

"Hahahaha!" The Evil Gun Emperor's hearty laughter came from more than 20 meters away.

The statue of the gun remained silent and unseen.

Lu Ran glanced at the old man's blurry stone surface, snorted coldly in his heart, and withdrew his gaze.

The Evil Spear Emperor's smile gradually faded, his slender fingers, with their distinct knuckles, toying with a golden goblet: "Humans, is this the peace you desire tonight?"

Lu Ran was silent for a moment, then shrugged: "What others give you is never as good as what you earn yourself."

"Hmm." The Evil Spear Emperor nodded in agreement, picked up the golden goblet, and drank the plum wine inside in one gulp.

Lu Ran pursed his lips, really.
They didn't even know to move aside!
Lu Ran wasn't afraid of poison in the wine; he had methods to cure it and methods to purify it.

More importantly, he possesses the Divine Sculpture Poisonous Bee, a divine technique of this sect that grants immunity to all poisons.

The Dharma lives up to its name!

All types of poison in the God-Demon system have no effect on Lu Ran.

However, given the true nature of the Evil Gun Emperor, he probably wouldn't stoop to doing such despicable things.

"The Evil Spear Emperor has remained inactive, allowing Great Xia to be so peaceful, just to invite me here for a drink?" Lu Ran asked.

I must say, this drinking session was truly extraordinary.

All living beings benefited from Lu Ran's good fortune.

"I want to see with my own eyes what kind of person it is who kills martial monks, cuts off blood skulls, and slaughters all the first-class gods and demons." The Evil Spear Emperor had a faint smile on his face.

Lu Ran picked up the golden goblet from the table and raised an eyebrow slightly:
"Does Your Excellency seem indifferent to the deaths of gods and demons?"

(End of this chapter)