The Old Gods

Chapter 936 Dogs and Windows

In the Yuxiang Jiayuan residential community, a full-length mirror suddenly appears in an ordinary first-floor apartment and then immediately disappears.

Lu Ran looked at the dusty little bedroom, but had no time for sentimentality.

He turned to look out the window and saw only darkness.

Why aren't the streetlights in the neighborhood working?

Lu Ran flashed into the night sky, and when he looked down at the small town, he was completely stunned.

Total darkness!
The streetlights that were everywhere in the streets and alleys were completely dark, and every household was without a single light.

After observing for a moment, Lu Ran immediately realized that Rain Alley City was not experiencing a power outage, but rather there was absolutely no sign of human activity.

The already dilapidated town is now even more ruined, with rubble everywhere.

The streets were deserted.

There were no humans, nor any demons.

Only the thick, persistent dark clouds in the sky and the drizzling rain remained unchanged.

Lu Ran deactivated his water armor, letting the raindrops from his hometown fall on him.

On the seventeenth day of the eleventh lunar month, winter had already arrived in the north.

The winter rain was icy cold, falling on Lu Ran's face.

Has the entire city of Yuxiangcheng been relocated?

Back when Lu Ran was in high school, the city's population had been steadily declining, and at that time, there was a saying circulating in the city: "Escape from the rainy alley."

Escape this cursed city!

Has this day finally come?

Lu Ran felt extremely conflicted. He was glad that everyone had left. No matter where they went or what arrangements they were made for, at least spending the night of the fifteenth in another city was safer than staying in Rain Alley City.

After the relief came bitterness and sorrow.

hometown,

In the end, it turned into a ghost town.

That's fine, that's fine too.
People no longer have to live in fear here.

Fortunately, the Ranmen had made preparations in advance. Jiang Ruyi, Chang Ying, and Tian Tian's families had already been taken to Luoxian Mountain and were living in Luoxian Village.

Even though Deng Yuxiang's parents had moved away from Yuxiang City long ago, when Lu Ran sent Yutang and Manni's daughter back to the human world, it was the two elders of the Deng family who went to Luoxian Mountain to pick up their granddaughter.

Once you're here, you can't leave.

Deng Yuxiang's attitude was extremely firm, insisting that her parents stay in the village to raise Deng Lingyi.

"Heh," Lu Ran sighed deeply, wiping his wet face.

He turned his head and gazed eastward.

The Wulie Building, which stands far in the city center like a lighthouse, has also lost its former luster.

The searchlights on the top floor of the building will no longer pierce through the layers of rain and fog, shining into Lu Ran's eyes and bringing hope to the city's residents.

Everything has changed, everything has changed.
Lu Ran's slowly spinning body suddenly stopped.

The Wulie River continues its ceaseless flow amidst the drizzling night rain.

【elder brother?】

"Mmm." Lu Ran responded softly.

"Where did you go? The Cloud Sea Sword Spirit can't contact Mom." Qiao Yuanxi's voice was urgent.

[Can't get in touch?] Lu Ran's heart was already heavy, and now his expression became even more solemn. He casually summoned the ancient bronze mirror and returned to Luo Xian Ju.

"Brother." Upon seeing the young man emerge from the mirror in the courtyard, Qiao Yuanxi hurriedly stepped forward. "The Cloud Sea Sword Spirit said that Mother is in the human world, but she is not responding."

Lu Ran opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

The Immortal Sheep, unusually, took the initiative to send a telepathic message: "Gods and demons are all examining their followers; your mother is naturally a key target for scrutiny."

"Calm down, calm down." Lu Ran made a hand seal, but it didn't look very practiced.

A phantom square character, "Qing," emanated from his body, enveloping Xiao Yuanxi beside him.

The Spell of the Sorcerer: The Purification Mantra!

Lu Ran quickly calmed down and thought it over. The Cloud Sea Sword Spirit clearly stated that his mother was still alive and in the human world.

Regardless of the nature of the relationship between the mother and Jianyi, the mother's character alone should prevent any issues from being discovered during the investigation.
Going to see her now will only increase the risk of exposure.

On the contrary, we can take advantage of the time when our mother is being interrogated to enter the demon's lair and kill the gods and demons. This should be more effective in clearing her of suspicion.
Yes, it is so.

"Enter the park, for a meeting," Lu Ran said abruptly, then closed his eyes.

Qiao Yuanxi paused for a moment, then turned her attention to the sculpture park.

Soon, the warriors of the Burning Gate gathered on the side of the gods.

Lu Ran recounted the situation in the human world to everyone. Upon hearing about the actions of the gods and demons, the atmosphere in the garden became terrifyingly oppressive.

Lu Ran said directly, "I intend to make our stance clear: we're going to kill the martial monks directly! What do you all think?"

"Master, you absolutely cannot do that!"

Unexpectedly, Yu Changsheng was the first to lead the opposition.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran stood on Jiang Ruyi's fingertips, frowning as he looked to his right.

Yu Changsheng stepped forward, unusually kneeling on one knee, and said in a deep voice: "The identity of the martial monks is sensitive, and their strength is unparalleled! Let's not even talk about whether our side can win, or how much we will have to pay."
Even if we declare victory, the reaction from the divine and demonic faction will be unpredictable once the monk falls.

Lu Ran frowned even more deeply.

Yu Changsheng continued, "I know the sect leader wants to make his stance clear, to force the gods and demons to back down, or even to take the initiative to seek peace, but you haven't provided the gods and demons with a channel for communication. To this day, the Burning Sect remains in the shadows."

The monk's death was unlike any of the previous targets slain by the Burning Gate; it clearly signaled to the gods and demons that the Burning Gate possessed the power to kill any one of them!

To this day, the Burning Gate has only slain gods and demons of the third rank or below.

Even though there are beings like the Ghostly Eye Demon and the Raging Sea Flame Dragon, who possess exceptional abilities in certain aspects, their weaknesses are also very obvious.

First-class gods are completely different!

Once the monk dies, then the North Wind Blade, the East Thunder Halberd, the West Wilderness Axe, the South Sea Bow, and all the like will be destroyed.

This includes gods and demons such as martial arts performers, spearmen, yin female characters, evil spear emperors, and jade-faced snakes.
More importantly, there's blood in the skull!
It's Jian Yi!

For humans, gods and demons are supreme, but within the realm of gods and demons, the difference in strength is particularly pronounced.

There are only a handful of true rulers.

To exaggerate a bit, in the face of first- or second-tier powerful gods, weak gods are almost no different from human ants.

Real-world examples are right here: things like the Heavenly Bead - Soul Bead, the Rainbow Jade - Soul Jade, and the Battle Horn - Netherworld Horn are completely unable to control their own destiny.

With just a word from the powerful god, they had no choice but to submit.

"The gods and demons will be trapped in a state of waiting for death, with no way to survive!" Yu Changsheng raised his huge stone face and looked up at Lu Ran. "They may go completely insane, and their behavior will be completely uncontrollable."

Huangfu Zhao stepped forward and said sincerely, "Young Master! I agree with Mr. Conglong. As Lord Xianyang told you, gods and demons originally fled to Earth from the depths of the distant universe."

If they can escape once, they can escape a second time.

Once the gods and demons are driven to desperation and abandon the mortal realm, the Burning Gate will inevitably have to step up on this battlefield in Great Xia; otherwise, the Faceless Jade Venerable will invade the mortal world.

Yu Changsheng continued, "Neither gods nor demons need to abandon the human resources they have painstakingly found. They only need to escape the battlefield of Great Xia and establish themselves in other countries."

With our current strength, if we were to appear in the open, we would be fighting against the Faceless Jade Venerable on one hand, and facing an encirclement and suppression by gods and demons on the other.

"Young Master, please reconsider!"

"Young Master, please reconsider!" One by one, the former generals of Yunhai stepped forward, echoing Huangfu Zhao and Yu Changsheng.

Today, everyone knows what kind of person the Lord of the Burning Gate is. He is indeed gentle, but extremely stubborn in some aspects.

Once a decision is made, it is almost impossible to change it.

Not to mention the fact that gods and demons would inflict such cruelty on humankind.

"Hmm." Lu Ran's expression was grim. "We need to think of a way; we can't let the gods and demons continue like this!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Lu Ran was willing to listen to the advice.

Lu Ran continued, "Today is already the seventeenth of the lunar calendar, and demons are still invading the city! We must do something, otherwise, on the fifteenth of next month, the mortal realm..."

As he spoke, Lu Ran found himself unable to continue.

The park was completely silent.

Ultimately, it all comes down to strength.

The current strength of the Burning Gate is insufficient to support a showdown between the group and the gods and demons.

Lu Ran suddenly said, "Since we can't express our attitude through quality, how about we express it through quantity?"

Yu Changsheng immediately said, "I think it's feasible! The Burning Gate aims to improve its strength as much as possible in the shortest amount of time."

"The Xuan Shuang Guards, Wuya Heavenly General, Elder Lu, Qin Divine General, and Hua Heavenly General—these warriors, who inherited divine and demonic powers, are all potential targets for our next elimination."

Upon hearing the name Wuya, Lu Ran immediately thought of the great sea demon Ximian, whom he had just killed.

He absolutely deserved to die!

Jiang Ruyi suddenly spoke up: "From this perspective, the Purple Thunder Demon Roc and the Savage Woman could also become our targets."

Both are second-tier evil gods, powerful but with obvious weaknesses.

These two evil gods are also closely related to Generals Huangfu Zhao and Feng Yan. Once they die, several soldiers will immediately obtain divine positions and be promoted to evil gods.

Yu Changsheng spoke up: "Sect Master, Madam! I believe we should still open a window for the gods."

Even if they are unwilling to give up everything they possess, and can divide up vast numbers of unclaimed believers, if we continue this relentless slaughter, even the gods and demons will inevitably resort to desperate measures!

"window."

Yu Changsheng pleaded, "I know that the sect leader hates gods and demons, but given the current situation, we have to cooperate with some of them to at least keep them at bay."

We shouldn't underestimate ourselves; the Burning Sect will surely rise to prominence. But Sect Leader, we need time!

"Who are you looking for?" Lu Ran asked directly.

Yu Changsheng hesitated for a moment before saying a name: "Nüying".

The third-class goddess, Nüying, is a complete deity without any demonic side. Since she has no demonic side, she has naturally never participated in the invasion on the night of the fifteenth.

Moreover, Nüying's personality was extremely unique.

The believers she recruited were all resolute and loyal, which to some extent reflects the personality of the deity herself.

The disciples of the Nüying sect almost all dedicated themselves to the country, and the disciples always guarded the depths of the demon's lair.

The original female warrior was also a frontier general. In the third heaven, she guarded a sacred mountain alone, sacrificing her life on the front line.

Establishing contact with the women is somewhat acceptable.

Just as Lu Ran was about to say something, Yu Changsheng said again, "Rouge Paper Man."

"what??"

Lu Ran looked bewildered, almost thinking he had misheard.

A paper doll?
(End of this chapter)