[{"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-27":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},2362155,4618,"Chapter 27: The Sound of Wind","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>The 14th day of the sixth lunar month, the entire school was on holiday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More accurately, the whole nation was on holiday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every lunar month, from the 14th to the 18th—the day before and three days after the 15th—all of society was put on pause, except for designated essential services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This five-day holiday was both an official mandate and a social custom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuuuu~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom boom boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning alarm, accompanied by rolling thunder, woke Lu Ran from his deep sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Lu Ran rubbed his eyes drowsily, picked up his phone beside him, and checked the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven o’clock sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the demonic race appears on the night of the lunar 15th, on the 14th, authorities sound the alarm to warn citizens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning, Immortal Goat.” Lu Ran got out of bed and instinctively approached the altar to pay respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Dog Village trial, Immortal Goat hadn’t manifested in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this was the proper demeanor of a deity—the divine beings, elevated above all, were not to be seen at the whim of mortal devotees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel I’m on the verge of advancing to Mist Realm, Third Stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran muttered to himself, hoping the deity would hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his advancement on the 5th, up until today, the 14th of the lunar month, Lu Ran had trained relentlessly—even on the training ground, wisps of mist clung to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the mist within his body had been compressed to a critical point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body, nourished by divine power, had grown stronger and more robust, fully prepared for advancement to Mist Realm, Third Stage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran looked forward with anticipation: “Then I’ll be able to learn the Divine Art: Immortal Hoof.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the jade carving of the Immortal Goat inside the altar remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran waited a long while, confirmed Immortal Goat offered no instruction, then bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he stepped sideways to the windowsill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The low, prolonged alarm still echoed through the city, deepening the gloom of this rainy, overcast day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s raining again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran gazed at the rain-soaked neighborhood, watching the branches sway in the slanting drizzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather forecast said tomorrow would be cloudy—would he even see the full moon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran took a deep breath and turned toward the bathroom to wash up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, he stepped out the door, umbrella in hand, wooden sword slung over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain-drenched Alley City carried a bleak, desolate air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to recent days, the streets were noticeably emptier, shops shuttered tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After searching for a long while, Lu Ran found one small store still open and bought a carton of milk and a can of fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His destination remained the banks of Wu Lie River—the abandoned residential complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Lu Ran came here,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, to honor his deceased father; on the other, he kept thinking of that little mottled cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since their last parting, Lu Ran had made a point to stop by every day on his way to school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the 6th, Lu Ran had been distracted by Wu Shanshan’s departure from the team, and in his absentmindedness, let the mottled cat slip away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home, every time he thought of that little cat, Lu Ran felt anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stray cats and dogs rarely survived the night of the lunar 15th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless someone took them in, or the mottled cat sneaked into a citizen’s home and hid beside the altar’s divine statue, otherwise—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baa~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the light drizzle, Lu Ran held his umbrella and arrived at the overgrown riverside complex of Wu Lie River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called out “Baa baa” all the way—from outside the building, to inside, then up to the dilapidated seventh-floor rooftop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the mottled cat still didn’t appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, the mottled cat isn’t here again.” Lu Ran walked to a corner of the rooftop, placed the milk and fish can on the railing, “Here, eat up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran put away his umbrella, his figure once again exposed to the rain:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry up and eat—I’ll eat what’s left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran gripped his wooden tang sword, imagined an opponent in his mind, and began training immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the cat, for many days now, father and son had eaten fish can for breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was getting tired of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Dad—well, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he liked it or not, he couldn’t speak anyway~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Lu Ran?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice suddenly came from the rooftop stairwell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Lu Ran turned and saw a tall figure in a yellow raincoat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was startled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was—uh, Little Nightmare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little thing had grown so big—her figure was amazing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran wiped his rain-drenched eyes, confirming she was still there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, his heart leapt to his throat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could anyone possibly be here, in such a desolate place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she knew his name!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could she be some demon arriving early?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman reached up, pulled back her hood, revealing a distinctly East Asian face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was even more stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman before him was radiant and striking—like her yellow raincoat, she stood out vividly against the gray, gloomy world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rain Alley?” Lu Ran exclaimed, disbelief on his face, “What are the odds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What odds?” Deng Yu Xiang shot him a look, “I followed the baaing to find you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got guts,” Deng Yu Xiang stepped onto the rooftop, “Daring to come here on the 14th of the lunar month?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my secret training ground,” Lu Ran held up his wooden sword, pointing south, “Look over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” Beneath the hood, the woman’s dark eyes pierced through the rain, gazing far to the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the misty rain, Wu Lie River surged onward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mighty, majestic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The view is indeed impressive,” Deng Yu Xiang gazed into the distance, then asked, “Tomorrow you’re joining Yu Tang on the city defense mission—how prepared are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pretty well. I figured I’d train a bit today to stay sharp,” Lu Ran frowned, “Why are you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang didn’t answer. Instead, she turned her gaze to the milk and fish can on the stone railing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want some, sister?” Lu Ran was quick, “I’ll give it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang rolled her eyes with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I climbed seven floors just to steal your milk and fish can?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang turned toward the stairwell, her voice drifting back: “Take your snacks home and train. Don’t loiter outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snacks?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran felt a pang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the mottled cat’s food—my father’s offering—my breakfast, okay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s this, one fish, three meals?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t changed a bit,” Lu Ran muttered under his breath, then resumed his sword practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, after dropping him off at his door, she’d floored the accelerator, her sports car roaring into the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she’d said one line and vanished again, offering no chance for small talk—truly decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran hadn’t expected that just one minute later, Deng Yu Xiang returned to the rooftop: “Do I have to take you home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no no,” Lu Ran shook his head rapidly, “I’m leaving, right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang smiled: “I see now—you’re all talk, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran sighed: “Just a little longer. Just a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if the mottled cat shows up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang nodded slightly: “It seems Yu Tang hasn’t told you much about me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was confused: “Told me what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang waved her hand—immediately, a semi-transparent, slender wind blade formed in her palm: “In front of me, Yu Tang dares not utter a single refusal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a chilling aura surged forth, making one’s blood run cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“North Wind!” Lu Ran’s eyes narrowed, “You’re a devotee of North Wind Blade?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second-Rank Deity: North Wind!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Folklore calls this deity “North Wind Blade”—its divine statue depicts a stern, sword-wielding man, stationed on the distant northern frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alongside South Sea Bow, Western Wasteland Axe, and Eastern Thunder Spear, it is known as one of the “Four Martial Heroes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s former teammate Wu Shanshan was one of the Four Tyrants’ followers—the believer of the Southern Sea Bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need to struggle,” Deng Yu Xiang’s lips curled with a faint, elusive smile, “I’ll break your legs, then carry you home myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How about it, little Lu Ran?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Lu Ran had no interest in the glossy lipstick on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Misunderstanding! Big sister, I’m going home right now!” Lu Ran cowered in utter terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined such a dazzling, captivating big sister could be a living hell-lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Deng Yu Tang dared not say “no.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She acted the moment she spoke—not a shred of room for hesitation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said before I’d teach you two moves.” Deng Yu Xiang weighed the wind blade in her hand, “No need to wait—today will do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s face stiffened; a terrifying pressure crushed his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t!” Lu Ran stepped back slowly, “I’m on guard duty tomorrow with Deng Yu Tang—if I get hurt—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shh!” Deng Yu Xiang issued a command to silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly closed her eyes, as if listening to something: “Can you hear it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman suddenly grew eerily cryptic; Lu Ran was stunned, then stunned again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hear what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu Xiang suddenly shattered the ground beneath her feet and lunged straight at Lu Ran, a faint smile tugging at her lips:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The sound of the wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1563,"2026-06-21T06:12:58.056Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","38f161b79688e0d511d66efac16b922e5d182bde047f4b7fd43f73177558a6df","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-28","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-26",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]