The Old Gods

Chapter 984 A Storm Is Brewing?

Lu Ran has burned out.

Since the end of winter, the extremely high intensity of his work has left him physically and mentally exhausted.

What drained him the most was undoubtedly the battle with the monk and the battle with Bloodskull.

In these two crucial battles, Lu Ran used the Silent Night Blade to change the rules of a region, and the process took an extremely long time. Even with various healing and sustaining methods, it was difficult to alleviate his severely depleted body and mind.

After descending three mountains in half a day, Lu Ran remained in a daze, feeling dizzy and lightheaded from time to time.

It looked like he might collapse to the ground at any moment.

He forced himself to stay awake and handle as many matters as possible, but eventually fell asleep.

However, inside the sculpture park, the Blood Skull Evil Sculpture kept buzzing and making a great commotion! So Lu Ran was definitely not asleep, but had fainted.

With the Lord of the Burning Gate fallen, Lady Burning Gate naturally took over the sect.

Fairy Jiang possesses exceptional abilities and methods. She resides in the vortex of dark clouds directly above Blood Dust Divine Mountain, overseeing the entire situation.

Days passed by, and before we knew it, it was the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Inside the gourd with the phoenix pattern, Lu Ran lay limply on a giant firefly cage, his body suddenly showing a slight reaction.

"Hmm," Lu Ran frowned, holding his forehead with one hand, looking around with a confused expression.

"Brother, you're awake~" a sweet voice called out, and then the lantern was lifted up.

Just then, a fluorescent green light burst forth from within the firefly cage, enveloping Lu Ran's tiny body and nourishing his mind.

It really makes you feel comfortable all over!
Lu Ran forced himself to sit up without groaning, asking, "What day is it today? What's the date?"

"I don't know, there's no sunrise or sunset here." Qiao Yuanxi held the lantern up to her eyes. "How is Dad?"

Lu Ran shook his head. The Blood Skull Evil Sculpture was still buzzing, which had really caused him a lot of trouble: "Everything is normal. It should be going smoothly."

Qiao Yuanxi whispered, "When...when do we tell Mom? When do we meet up with her?"

Lu Ran pondered, "The reunion should be quick, but let's not talk about the resurrection for now. Let's wait until everything settles down."

He certainly trusted Lord Immortal Sheep, but no one could guarantee that such a heaven-defying act as resurrecting the dead would continue smoothly.

Lu Ran felt that he shouldn't have told his mother in advance.

Hope is such a cruel thing.

If anything bad happens, let the harm stop with the brother and sister.

Stop hurting your mother.

But then again, it seems like my parents divorced a long time ago?

Lu Ran's expression was strange as he put one hand on his waist: "You didn't tell her, did you?"

The energy of the Cloud Sea Sword Spirit surged forth, permeating his palm: "You specifically instructed me not to say anything."

"That's good." Lu Ran floated up alone and looked down at the mist that filled the air. He found that the stone sculptures in the divine power lake had disappeared.

Have all the soldiers successfully advanced?
"Blazing Phoenix, where is it outside?" Lu Ran asked several times before flying out of the gourd's mouth.

"Awake?" A clear, cool voice rang out from the night sky above.

Lu Ran looked up and saw a distinctive, dazzling galaxy, realizing that this was the Demon Cave: Galaxy Bay.

He also saw a cold and alluring stone face.

It was visible to the naked eye that her cold expression gradually warmed up, and her eyes softened: "Are you feeling better?"

"Drink up!" someone's battle cry really disrupted the atmosphere.

The evil god looked helplessly at the tiny human in his palm and gave him a light glare.

What's the date today?

"The ninth day of the twelfth lunar month."

"The ninth day?" Lu Ran looked astonished. "I...I slept for almost a week?"

"It's alright, I'm here." Fairy Jiang spoke softly, which reassured Lu Ran.

He knelt down, placed one hand on her palm, and gently stroked it: "Mmm."

Jiang Ruyi said softly, "During the few days you rested, the soldiers successively devoured divine souls."

As she briefly explained, Lu Ran got a general idea.

In the two or three days after Lu Ran fell unconscious, the generals of the Ran Clan successively seized the corresponding divine positions.

Yin Yan strode into the Forest of Gods and Demons, stepping on the tiger's head of the Mountain Lord; Deng Yuxiang ascended to power, stepping on the bones of the North Wind and the Night Demon.

Lu Yuan and Qin Yanzhi devoured the souls of the Demon Mirror and the Dust Shadow Flower, respectively.

"I did not allow Lu Yuan and his disciple to reunite. From now on, they will exist as single-gods." Jiang Ruyi stated her decision when mentioning the two.

“Yes, that’s how it should be.” Lu Ran nodded repeatedly.

Undeniably, both the Dust Shadow Flower and the Mirror Demon schools possess comprehensive techniques; if they were to combine their skills, their combat power would naturally be even more formidable.

The problem is, the Burning Gate is not lacking in "war gods"!
Dharma protectors, Heavenly Emperor, Divine Generals, Heavenly Generals.
Looking across the various ranks within the sect, one can find all sorts of majestic and murderous gods and demons.

But there are only two teleporters!

Lu Ran wished he could split the two into four, how could he possibly mold the master and disciple back into one?
He wholeheartedly agreed with Lady Ranmen's decision.

[In addition, Xiang Zhuo] Jiang Ruyi suddenly switched to telepathy.

The fates of the two brothers, Xiang Wang and Xiang Zhuo, were somewhat different.

Long before Lu Ran fainted, he had discussed it with Jiang Ruyi. Logically speaking, since both the Spirit Elephant and Demon Elephant stone sculptures were still in the sculpture park, the two brothers could become the inheritors of the two stone sculptures, and then merge into one and devour the divine position.

However, at Jiang Ruyi's suggestion, her younger brother Xiang Zhuo has not yet inherited the stone sculpture.

Xiang Zhuo was not a former subordinate of Yun Hai.

Of course, given his relationship with his elder brother Xiang Wang, Lu and Jiang were willing to believe their younger brother, but Jiang Ruyi still detained Xiang Zhuo.

The two leaders, Lu and Jiang, explained to the brothers that they had other plans for Xiang Zhuo and placed high hopes on him. At this stage, the Ranmen sect was indeed in need of capable people.

The stone sculptures in the sculpture garden have little independent consciousness; only when they are inherited by humans can they exert their greatest combat power on the battlefield!
Thus, the elder brother Xiang Wang alone inherited the Evil Sculpture Demon Elephant.

Later, while Lu Ran was unconscious, Jiang Ruyi sent soldiers to deliver a large amount of primordial energy to Xiang Wang, helping him advance to the third level of the Heavenly Realm, and then go to devour the spirit elephant's soul.

The deity and spirit image were already complete in their divine positions, and from this point on, Xiang Wang also became a complete deity.

The younger brother, Xiang Zhuo, served Lady Ranmen and was at her beck and call.

"Xiang Zhuo is good," Jiang Ruyi transmitted her voice. "He's more reserved than his brother, with a calm and steady temperament, and also full of reverence. He's capable of great things."

Those who can ascend to the Heavenly Realm are unlikely to have poor combat skills.

Therefore, Jiang Ruyi did not mention this aspect. Another point she did not mention was whether this person was loyal and reliable, and whether he was willing to follow his brother and serve the Ranmen together.

Since Jiang Ruyi gave such an evaluation, Xiang Zhuo naturally passed this most crucial test.

Lu Ran, of course, trusted his girlfriend's judgment.

Putting aside her discerning eyes, the third-tier magic artifact, the Phoenix Robe of Nine Heavens, is something that no being at or below the Heavenly Realm can deceive.

Your thoughts and beliefs, your inherent nature, including that elusive heart that belongs to the human race.
Lady Ranmen made everything clear in just a few words.

"Ruyi, which stone sculpture do you think would be better for him to inherit?" Lu Ran asked his wife for her opinion.

At this moment, some of the stone sculptures in the sculpture park have already absorbed the divine souls and are now real gods!

Jiang Ruyi thought for a moment: [Let's wait for Xiang Zhuo to return and ask him what he thinks.]

Where did he go?

[I have ordered the Shadow Protector to temporarily sign a master-servant contract with Xiang Zhuo. In the past few days, Xiang Zhuo and Shadow Five have been observing the movements of the God and Demon faction.]

[Shadow Five?] Lu Ran then remembered Wang Hanchuan, the peak master of Blade Ridge Peak.

That's right, when I woke up inside the gourd, I didn't hear Wang Hanchuan's screams.

Jiang Ruyi lowered her eyes slightly, gesturing downwards.

Lu Ran flashed to the edge of her palm and peered down.

That is, he had excellent eyesight and, looking down from a height of two or three hundred meters, saw the tiny human race kneeling at the feet of the gods.

“He’s figured it out.” Jiang Ruyi looked down at her feet, and when she looked away from Lu Ran, she returned to her expressionless state.

As the gaze of the deity descended upon him, the former peak master of Blade Ridge Peak lowered his head even further.

In just a few days, the Phoenix Soul Imprint transformed this powerful Heavenly Realm expert into a loyal servant.

Wang Hanchuan still retains his own thoughts and consciousness, but he no longer possesses his own will.

They dared not harbor the slightest thought of resistance or act of defiance.

You can't even have thoughts of suicide or escaping from suffering; it's truly despairing to think about.

Lady Ranmen was very satisfied with this.

Wang Hanchuan and Xiang Zhuo were worlds apart in character. Without Feng Pao's control, she wouldn't even have allowed Wang Hanchuan to continue living, let alone join the Burning Gate.

There's no need to unnecessarily increase potential threats.

But since she possesses this powerful phoenix robe, she should make the most of it.

Jiang Ruyi continued, "He is now Shadow Five, and the Evil Shadow Protector has also signed a master-servant contract with him."

He has performed well in recent days, bringing back a lot of valuable information.

"What is the reaction of the God and Demon faction?" Lu Ran asked in a deep voice.

"Most of the mountain peaks are now deserted, and the gods and demons have gathered their forces, forming two groups."

"Oh?"

"The Golden Jade Divine Mountain, led by the Jade-Faced Serpent, and the Pear Garden Divine Mountain, led by the Martial Arts Performer, both have a considerable number of gods and demons. They are quite powerful and rely on each other, forming a powerful group."

Lu Ran pursed his lips and nodded silently.

Golden Jade Divine Mountain is located in the very center of the Heavenly Battlefield, while Pear Garden Divine Mountain is located in the south-central part of the region, making them adjacent to each other.

In Lu Ran's mind, the powerful gods who probably existed on the two divine mountains quickly flashed through his mind:
First-class deities and demons: Jade-faced Snake, Martial Male Role, Yin Flower Female Role; Second-class deities and demons: Asha (Fisherman), Heavenly Phoenix, Paper Phoenix; Third-class deities and demons: Dragon Carp, Ink Carp, Poisonous Bee (Poisonous Flower), Melting Bear (Extinguishing Demon).
These are just the powerful gods.

In addition, there are other gods and demons who, although ranked lower, possess powerful functions, making them a force not to be underestimated.

“The other powerful group is the Northwest Group, led by Gun Xiu and Evil Gun Emperor,” Jiang Ruyi said softly. “The Northwest has more soldiers and generals, and is even stronger.”

Lu Ran nodded secretly, fully aware of the terror of the gods and demons of the Northwest.

First-class gods and demons: Gun Destroyer, Evil Gun Emperor; Second-class gods and demons: Western Wilderness, Savage Woman; Third-class gods and demons: Radiant Sparrow, Nine Nether Sparrow, Thousand Bones (White Bone Staff), Drought Sea (Sand River Doll).

In terms of the number of powerful deities, it is roughly the same as the combination of Jinyu Mountain and Liyuan Mountain.

However, the Northwest forces still have many powerful gods and demons who are not ranked at the top.

Take, for example, the top damage dealer in the God and Demon faction—Lie Tian!
Take, for example, that cunning old fox – the fortune teller!
Who would classify these two as weak gods?

"The Western Wilderness has abandoned the western front and retreated to the northwest. The overall strength in the northwest is shrinking."

"Contract. Neither of the two forces has come to Blood Dust Divine Mountain these past few days?" Lu Ran suddenly asked.

"They should know everything. They've been sending their underlings to scout ahead, but haven't launched a full-scale attack."

Mentioning this, Jiang Ruyi's expression grew even colder: "It seems that the deaths of the martial monks, especially the death of Blood Head, have completely awakened them, and they are now acting with extreme caution."

You can contact Aunt Qiao. At this time, Jian Yi should be the one that both sides try their best to win over. Maybe you can find out some information about the movements behind the gods and demons.

They might be plotting something!

Lu Ran's expression was solemn as he gently gripped the sword hilt: "Hmm."

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(End of this chapter)