[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods":3,"chapter-at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-19":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","At the Summit of the Old Gods",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2362147,4618,"Chapter 19: Evil Demon Sculptures?","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>Just a few minutes later, the black coupe entered the Yuxiang Jiayuan residential complex and stopped before a building entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran thanked them repeatedly, opened the door, and got out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Tang also stepped out and retrieved the Radiant Blade from the trunk, handing it to Lu Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Lu Ran.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passenger window rolled down slowly; Deng Yu Xiang leaned over the steering wheel, waving out the window with a tilted head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye, sister!” Lu Ran misunderstood and immediately waved back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang smiled; her glossy lipstick always reminded Lu Ran of a song by General Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke: “Work hard and coordinate well with Xiao Tang, earn more good results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’m satisfied, I might teach you a couple of tricks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran instantly perked up: “Sister also uses a blade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Tang had just gotten in the car and shouted out: “My sister is—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang slammed the accelerator; the black coupe roared off into the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran watched the vehicle roar away through the rain, and couldn’t help grinning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was both stunning and fierce—though her name was a bit off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a radiant woman didn’t match the gloomy, rainy, melancholy atmosphere of Yuxiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, my own name doesn’t fit the vibe of my hometown either?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her glossy lipstick carries a confident pride I can see~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran hummed softly under his breath as he walked home step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rushed straight to his small bedroom and bowed respectfully before the altar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Xiang Xianyang, your disciple has returned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran paused, then continued: “Thank you, Lord Xiang Xianyang, for your teachings. The special use of the Voice of Compassion is truly overwhelming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your disciple has not disgraced your name and should secure first place in this assessment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran clasped his hands together and reported for a long time; the white sheep jade carving inside the altar gave no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lu Ran bowed again, then picked up the Radiant Blade and entered the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed his clothes into the basin to soak, then washed himself and the blade repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he was clean and fresh did he step out of the bathroom, casually place the blade on the table, and collapse onto the small bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhausted beyond measure, he fell asleep quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this sleep was uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his dream, Lu Ran seemed to arrive at a mysterious place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is this?” Lu Ran’s face twisted in shock as he looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light here was dim, shrouded in thick mist with very low visibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t the issue—the real problem was: most people, when dreaming, sink into the dream and don’t realize they’re dreaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how absurd the dream, they never question it until they wake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Ran was fully awake right now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even believed he was conscious—how he’d arrived here, he didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uhh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uhh~~~” Whimpers echoed from layers of mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran tensed, whirled around to face behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold winds blew but failed to disperse the dense fog, only sending a chill down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Xiang Xianyang?” Lu Ran whispered, tiptoeing forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he advanced, a massive sculpture gradually emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s eyes widened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sculpture stood over ten meters tall, shaped like a dog, entirely black, with a slender frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sculpture of the Demon Clan’s Evil Hound?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This?” Lu Ran stared, gaping up at the giant hound’s fangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uhh~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Woof! Woof!” Whimpers and barks came again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the giant hound sculpture, Lu Ran saw figures of hounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were normal-sized but appeared as ethereal lines, like souls swirling around the massive statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Woof!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hound spirits noticed Lu Ran and opened their bloody maws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before they could leap, they were yanked back violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the sculpture, an invisible chain bound the whimpering, howling spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gulp.” Lu Ran swallowed hard and stepped back slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully counting, there were thirty to forty hound spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s mind stirred—weren’t these the thirty to forty Evil Hounds his squad slaughtered during this demon cave mission?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does this mean the dead souls came to claim vengeance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Clan has many kinds; some can indeed enter human dreams to steal souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Ran was certain: the Evil Hound clan had no such ability!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Xiang Xianyang?” Lu Ran’s temples throbbed; he didn’t know what was happening or where he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His only hope was his family’s deity—Xian Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet apart from the spirits’ wails, there was no other sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a faint glimmer flashed in the eyes of the giant hound sculpture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck this shit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran spun and dashed into the thick mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instinct for self-preservation drove him to flee, but after running only dozens of meters, he saw another massive sculpture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ghostly loop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, no—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran frowned deeply and stepped forward slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sculpture faced away from him; it was clearly a dog, but not as slender as the Evil Hound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?” Lu Ran felt increasing familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He circled cautiously to the side and finally recognized the breed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It resembled a wolfhound, entirely black, with streaks of crimson patterns across its body—elegant yet eerie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Clan’s Blood Calamity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Folklore calls it the “Blood Calamity Hound”; it’s far more infamous and vicious than the Evil Hound clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the Blood Calamity Hound can spit roaring flames, reducing human cities to infernos in moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On every fifteenth night of the lunar calendar, this cruel demon is the last thing people want to see!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention economic damage—the casualties and psychological trauma inflicted by the Blood Calamity clan are incalculable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blood Calamity.” Lu Ran gazed up dumbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around this sculpture, no spirits drifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where the hell am I?” Lu Ran was lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are there sculptures of Demon Clan creatures everywhere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is insane,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>what place have I entered?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, rain drizzled endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran woke slowly on his small bed to find wisps of mist curling through his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No doubt, Xian Yang had bestowed another blessing while he slept!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was overjoyed, carefully sensing himself—he felt no weakness at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Lord Xiang Xianyang!” Lu Ran rushed to the altar and bowed deeply again and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several attempts and patient waiting, the jade carving gave no sign; Lu Ran finally stretched out with a fierce yawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So good!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran glanced at the wall clock—it was already 8:30 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three-hour demon cave mission had been incredibly draining; he’d slept through the entire afternoon and night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the sixth day of the lunar month; school was off for a day, so Lu Ran wasn’t worried about being late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went to the bathroom, tossed his blood-soaked clothes into the washing machine, then began brushing his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he brushed, his movements suddenly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something feels off?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran brushed his teeth, silently pondering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he always feel he’d forgotten something important?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday I went to the Demon Cave, then returned to campus by bus, and the Deng siblings dropped me off home, took a bath, went to sleep, and only now woke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing’s wrong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything is clear and straightforward—no other matters remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Lu Ran frowned slightly, unsure what was wrong with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d woken up this morning for no reason at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing up, Lu Ran picked up the Radiant Blade and headed for the master bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully hung the Black Ice Blade back on the wall, his fingertips brushing the cold blade surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenes of yesterday’s dog-slaying flooded back into his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a divine weapon undoubtedly skyrocketed Lu Ran’s killing power!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran whispered, “In a few days, on the fifteenth day of the lunar month, I’ll summon you out again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he folded his fingers and lightly tapped the thin, razor-sharp edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Radiant Blade emitted a crisp, pleasant sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, it’s settled then!” Lu Ran smiled, revealing a row of white teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living alone, he had many little life hacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mind the house—I’m going out for a meal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, don’t worry—I’ll remember to bring an umbrella.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, Lu Ran turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just before stepping out, he glanced again at the wedding photo hanging directly above the bedside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his parents had long divorced, his father had never taken the photo down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran stepped backward slowly out of the room, gazing at the man in the old photograph, and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll come see you soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1434,"2026-06-21T06:12:58.056Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8e0686e6bf1c994687a1185814250918e1f150bed1966fc6810aac7154a2cd0c","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-20","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-18",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]