The Old Gods

Chapter 852 A Kill of Ten Thousand?
Inside the Gods and Demons Sculpture Park, Lu Ran stood in the palm of the Nightmare Stone Sculpture, gazing up at the face of the Goddess Statue.

In all directions, there also stood enormous stone sculptures.

They were all warriors of the Burning Gate, and just now, under Lu Ran's orders, they bestowed the Holy Spirit Qi upon the Nightmare Stone Sculpture while ensuring that they did not lose their rank.

The garden was silent; all the false gods were waiting for a result.

However, the Nightmare Stone Sculpture remained silent.

A sigh rang out, and the Nightmare Stone Statue opened its eyes, looking apologetically at Lu Ran.

It seems things didn't go as planned; she failed to unlock the gate to the third level of the Heavenly Realm.

"The primordial energy is still insufficient," Lu Ran sighed softly.

“It’s alright.” Another giant stone hand reached out, its long fingers touching the nightmare’s palm.

Among the members of the Ranmen, few dared to touch Deng Yuxiang's hand, let alone "steal" him.

Yan Shuangzi can barely be considered one, but Jiang Ruyi definitely is.

Lu Ran understood immediately and flew to Jiang Ruyi's finger, letting her bring him back to her face.

"A million Holy Spirits sounds impressive, but in reality, they're just ten thousand demonic minions." Jiang Ruyi slowly rotated her fingers, fingertips pointing upwards.

Lu Ran: "."

It's only ten thousand?

You little brat, Ruyi, you really don't take the enemy seriously!
Lu Ran didn't know what to say, after all, Fairy Jiang was the captain and commander of the Ran Sect's first team, and had been fighting on the Heavenly Battlefield for more than a month.

There were no staff losses, and the results were quite good.

The fairy's calculations were correct: one Heavenly Realm Soul is roughly equivalent to 100 River Realm Souls, which is equivalent to 100 strands of Holy Spirit Qi.

To cultivate from the second level of the Heavenly Realm to the third level, one indeed needs ten thousand Heavenly Realm dead souls.

A kill that wiped out ten thousand people?!

This path to godhood is indeed strewn with bones and mountains of blood and corpses.

"Everyone, go back now." Jiang Ruyi looked around and encouraged them, "Next time we fight the Heavenly Realm, we must try even harder."

"Yes!"

"Yes." The group of false gods responded in unison and departed.

Deng Yuxiang murmured, "Once I reach the third level of the Heavenly Realm, I should be able to challenge the true form of gods and demons."

"I'm not sure." Lu Ran shook his head. "Maybe it's just threatening."

"If we truly want to fight against gods and demons, we need to have a sufficient number of pseudo-gods at the third level of the Heavenly Realm."

Jiang Ruyi agreed with Lu Ran's point of view and used words to reprimand Deng Yuxiang: "We do need to be fully prepared. We can have an excess of combat power, but we must not be insufficient."

Open the bow without turning back the arrow.

If we fail in this challenge, we'll have no future at all.

Deng Yuxiang replied respectfully, "Yes, Madam."

This is not a private setting. Deng Yuxiang is standing in the second row of the divine camp, surrounded by Burning Gate soldiers on all sides.

Lu Ran tapped on Fairy Jiang's fingertip as a greeting, and then disappeared.

Inside the main hall of Tianya Residence.

Lu Ran opened his eyes and glanced at the people in the room: "You all go back and rest. I'll take Yin Yan and Feng Yan to merge with the stone sculpture."

After everyone took their leave, Lu Ran looked at Jiang Xianzi beside him and asked, "Wait for me at home?"

"I'll go with you, so I can bring you back." Jiang Ruyi smiled faintly. "If three stone sculptures merge at the same time, you'll become an idiot, won't you?"

"What kind of talk is that!" Lu Ran rolled his eyes and telepathically ordered the others to come over.

"Hehe~" Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but chuckle.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran suddenly blurted out, "When you carry me back later, you're not allowed to do a princess carry, okay?"

Jiang Ruyi: "."

Lu Ran muttered, "I'm a young man in my twenties, I have to save face."

Jiang Ruyi's expression was strange: "Then I'll use a bewitching array to lure your soul and make you come back with me?"

The Evil Magic: Bewitching Array is a technique of the Ghost Talisman Doll clan.

Those who fall victim to this spell will experience a "ghost wall," wandering aimlessly like headless flies in an illusion.

In the real world, those affected move within an array made of black talismans.

Like a donkey pulling a millstone, it can't get out of that small circle.

The caster can also manipulate the black talisman (bewitching array) to move, using it to guide the person under the spell.

This method is a very advanced technique.

The Ghost Talisman Dolls are all young children of three or four years old with very low mental capacity. Even the Sea Realm Ghost Talisman Dolls can hardly use this technique.

Clearly, when the gods and demons separated, that bastard Yu Fu caused quite a bit of trouble for the Ghost Fu Doll.

"Is your heart made of ice?" Lu Ran asked with displeasure.

The stone sculpture in his mind was trembling, which was already painful enough for him, but Fairy Jiang wanted to put him under an illusion?
Jiang Ruyi smiled and said, "It works very well. Before, on the battlefield in the Heavenly Realm, many demon minions were trapped in the bewitching array, waiting to be slaughtered, waiting for me to send them home."

Lu Ran shivered: "Never mind, never mind, you don't need to deliver it. I'll have Sister Shuangzi deliver it."

Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Hmm?"

"Ahem." Lu Ran coughed awkwardly. Just then, Qin Yanzhi walked into the hall. Lu Ran quickly stood up and went forward to greet him, "General Qin is here! It's been a long time!"

Qin Yanzhi: ?

I live right in your head, and we just met in the sculpture park, didn't we?

The sudden enthusiasm left Qin Yanzhi bewildered, unsure of what to do with her hands.

Behind her, Jiang Ruyi silently watched someone's retreating figure. Her slender hand fell, picking up the magical artifact, the Immortal-Binding Whip, from her waist.
With the arrival of Yin Yan and Feng Yan, Lu Ran led his team to Mo Gu Peak. He was quite familiar with the route and led a few people to merge with the pseudo-god stone sculpture.

With General Qin accompanying him on this trip, Lu Ran naturally didn't need to force himself to keep going.

After the deed was done, he decisively transformed into a mentally challenged person and became a hands-off manager.

When Lu Ran regained consciousness, it was two days later. It was dusk, and he was lying on the large bed in the bedroom of Tianya Residence, with a sleeping figure beside him.

"Uh." Lu Ran rubbed his temples, mumbling through his sleepy voice, "[Evil Shadow?]"

【Owner.】

Yan Shuangzi thought Lu Ran would ask how many days had passed, but to her surprise, he asked instead:
How did I get back?

Yan Shuangzi suppressed a laugh and said softly, "[Madam used the Binding Immortal Whip to bind you and led you back.]"

Lu Ran: "."

Little Memories, it's quite interesting, isn't it?
If they won't let me hug them or use any bewitching techniques, they'll just tie me up with a whip and bring me back.

Lu Ran turned his head and looked at the beautiful woman sleeping soundly.

After merging with the stone sculpture, the false gods no longer needed to sleep. However, since their physical bodies were still in human form, taking a short nap was not a problem.

Lu Ran's gaze shifted downwards and landed on her soft lips.

He didn't hesitate for long before printing it.

"Hmm," Fairy Jiang suddenly opened her eyes. After a moment, her cold eyes softened, and she slowly closed them again, a hint of reproach in them.

But then she suddenly remembered something and turned her head slightly: "Is the Shadow still there?"

Lu Ran placed his hands on either side of her body, looked down at her flushed face, and said with a strange expression: "Things are different now. She is now a combination of the vicious dog and the greedy wolf."

Even if she said she left, but deliberately kept quiet and didn't actually leave, how would we know?

"You!" Jiang Ruyi curled her fingers and tapped his forehead, both amused and annoyed.

So you just gave up and did nothing?
Lu Ran raised his head slightly and said, "Why don't you go and rest for a while?"

【Yes. 】

"Alright, she's gone." Lu Ran looked down at the fairy beneath him and added, "She should be."

Jiang Ruyi rolled her eyes at Lu Ran and pushed him away with one hand: "If you're not sure, then forget it."

"Huh?" Lu Ran's face stiffened, and he really wanted to slap himself.

This mouth of mine is really something!
Lu Ran quickly said, "No! Sister Shuangzi must have left. She's very obedient!"

Seeing his frantic state, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but chuckle, and got up to lean against the headboard: "Let's do it later, it'll be dark soon."

Lu Ran: "."

You'd better tell me if you have something to say!

As it turned out, Lu Ran did indeed understand Jiang Ruyi. As more and more soldiers from the Ran Clan advanced to the Heavenly Realm, she also began to plan the formation of the third squad.

The Burning Gate has now decided to focus its efforts on nurturing a few stone sculptures to advance to the third level of the Heavenly Realm.

If we could have three teams to plunder resources in the Celestial Realm, the speed at which we cultivate false gods would naturally be much faster!
"Let's wait for Mr. Huangfu's news." Lu Ran also sat leaning against the headboard and analyzed, "As long as Huangfu and the Leng siblings join the team, the third squad will have enough DPS positions."

It's more than enough.
It's the top-of-the-line model!

Jiang Ruyi naturally trusted the abilities of Yunhai's former subordinates.

She even felt that the second stone sculpture that the Burning Gate had concentrated all its resources on cultivating should be Mr. Huangfu!

Having fought in the Heavenly Realm for so many years, how rich is Huangfu Zhao's combat experience?
As the future successor of the Eastern Thunder-Purple Thunder Demon Roc, Huangfu Zhao possesses sufficient output, powerful control, and the world's top speed.

Such a person is undoubtedly the best choice for the Burning Gate to open up the future and kill the gods and demons first!
Jiang Ruyi spoke her mind, and Lu Ran nodded repeatedly in agreement.

She then continued, "Third squad, Shadow can be the scout, and the squad's early warning personnel... Hmm, do you want to include Manny in the squad?"

Lu Ran nodded readily: "Manny is also at the Sea Realm level. The team is strong enough to protect her without any problem. The problem is the teleportation personnel."

In the Great Xia God and Demon System, only the Dust Shadow Flower - Mirror Demon has a teleportation skill.

It seems we'll have to drag another disciple from the Burning Sect into the fray.

Moreover, this person can only become a follower of Chenying or Niejingyao, and is not qualified to be an inheritor.

As Lu Ran pondered this, he suddenly said, "Ruyi, I want to go back to the mortal realm in a little while."

"go back?"

"Well, I'd like to ask my mother for some advice on cultivation. In this world, she's probably the only one who can answer my questions."

As he finished speaking, the smile on Lu Ran's face gradually faded, and he sighed softly, "Besides, her old subordinates from Yunhai are all here now."

Jiang Ruyi naturally noticed the bitterness in his heart.

She nestled beside Lu Ran, tilting her head slightly and resting it on his shoulder: "Let's tell her after all the old members have joined Ran's sect. After all, there are still a few who haven't rejoined the team."

Lu Ran remained silent for a long time before nodding and saying, "Alright."

This shouldn't be considered escaping, right?
Xiao Ruyi is right. There are still a few people who haven't returned. If something goes wrong, it will be a second blow to her, just like Lu Ran told his mother beforehand.

No need.

Jiang Ruyi changed the subject, saying, "Should we take this opportunity to bring the two grandfathers of the Cheng family into the Burning Sect?"

Both Grandpa Cheng Yi and Grandpa Cheng Li were first-generation combat sheep and both reached the Sea Realm. Since a few years ago, when they received divine blessings thanks to Lu Jiang and Grandpa Cheng Yi, their strength has been steadily increasing.

Cheng Yi should be at the second stage of the Sea Realm, while Cheng Li is even more terrifying, having reached the fourth stage of the Sea Realm!

Lu Ran pondered for a moment and said, "There's no need to bring them to Holy Spirit Mountain. We can give the two old men a stone statue as a preparation for the future. Let them continue to stay at the feet of Lord Immortal Sheep and guard the mountain to cultivate."

Jiang Ruyi pondered, "Then what kind of stone sculpture do you plan to have them inherit?"

This is a good question!

So, which one should we choose?
(End of this chapter)