[{"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-29":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},2362157,4618,"Chapter 29: Waning Moon","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>That night, Lu Ran was overly joyful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His bedroom was too small to contain his joy, so he climbed out the window and darted back and forth along the sidewalk and across the lawn within the compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the steady drizzle, a series of hissing sounds echoed continuously!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Streams of divine mist traced the path of Lu Ran’s movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when most of his divine power was spent did Lu Ran stop, watching as his pair of white-mist sheep legs slowly faded away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Awesome~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran wiped his damp face and shook his head vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t felt this wild in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he sighed, he crossed the lawn and climbed back through the bedroom window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Lu Ran, soaked through, collapsed onto the floor and let out a long breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a divine art to bolster him, tomorrow’s city defense battle would grant him another advantage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered, Lu Ran suddenly realized that the Divine Sheep had been extraordinarily permissive with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Sheep originally created the Divine Art—Divine Hooves—to help believers avoid danger and escape conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, a deity permits believers to practice the divine art, but just now, Lu Ran had gone far beyond practice—he was simply drunk on joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Lu Ran rose and walked to the shrine: “Thank you, Divine Sheep!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade carving of the Divine Sheep remained pure white, silent and still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran paused, then asked respectfully: “Tomorrow, I will inevitably use this art to confront the demonic race directly, not to flee. I humbly seek your approval.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Sheep, long silent, finally delivered a voice from beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran instantly perked up: “Afterward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just tomorrow—afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran clenched his fists. This was exactly the response he expected!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the beginning, the Divine Sheep’s attitude had always encouraged Lu Ran to fight—never once had it urged him to flee or surrender!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was evident even from the way the Divine Sheep taught him the special divine art—Sound of Grief and Dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran clasped his hands together and spoke solemnly: “I will strive to make the Divine Sheep Sect shine brightly and not let down your expectations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way.” Lu Ran suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, “Does the Divine Art—Divine Hooves—have any special usage methods?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could create something like the Sound of Grief and Dread from the Divine Art—Merciful Sound, wouldn’t that be a windfall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran waited patiently, but no reply came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No special version?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran felt a small disappointment, but dared not complain aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all because the mysterious, domineering Boss Sheep had given him too many surprises lately—he’d truly spoiled this guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran fell silent. He sat cross-legged before the shrine, drawing divine power from heaven and earth, preparing fully for tomorrow’s city defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain fell all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran stayed awake all night, accompanied by the gentle patter of rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until early the next morning, the city’s deep, lingering alarm sounded again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuuu~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran opened his eyes. His gaze was unusually bright, faint energy swirling within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood, mist curling around his body, and walked to the windowsill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark clouds loomed; the drizzle had not ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by this, tonight’s full moon would be unseen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran sighed inwardly, reaching for the Creek-grade Divine Power Pearl hanging at his neck, feeling its full store of divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past days, every time he trained before the shrine, he had poured divine power into the pearl—all for the sake of the fifteenth day of the lunar month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuuu~~~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alarm still echoed through the city, lingering without end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran wasted no time. He washed up, then hurried to his father’s bedroom to retrieve his father’s sword—Radiant Light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dozen minutes later, Lu Ran, clad in a black raincoat and clutching Radiant Light wrapped in cloth, stepped onto the empty streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unavoidably, he became the center of attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially as he passed residential compounds, curious citizens peered from balconies and windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even shouted at him, urging him to go home and not wander about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, ordinary citizens could still go out shopping; today, it was completely forbidden!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran did not respond to the citizens’ warnings, only feeling deep emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, he had been one of them—helpless, begging heaven for mercy, enduring these fifteenth nights in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even had the right to stay home!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those who had a divine statue enshrined in their home could remain indoors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the statue was enshrined by you or a relative, you could kneel devoutly before the shrine and beg for one night’s peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Lu Ran could only, under official organization, flee to shelters and spend the night in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, everything had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran had become a believer, possessed divine arts, and dared to raise his blade against the demonic race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feeling—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh.” Lu Ran took a deep breath, clutching Radiant Light tightly, gazing through the rain at the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeen years—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s finally my turn to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Ran arrived at school, the playground was packed. Most students wore raincoats—they all knew the same thing: no one could fight holding an umbrella.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Brother!” Deng Yu waved from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, he held a red headband in his hand—and the way he waved made it seem odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Brother, feeling down?” Deng Yu studied Lu Ran’s grim expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Tian stood behind Jiang Ruyi, peering out from half her face, curiously watching Lu Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.” Lu Ran shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way to school, he had stopped again by Wu Lie River, hoping to give himself and the cat one last chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But heaven did not oblige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Lu Ran’s arms still held only the sword—no mottled cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hope it survives the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ruyi looked at Lu Ran, a flicker of concern in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really, I’m fine!” Lu Ran replied casually, then turned to Deng Yu with a frown. “Next time you call me, don’t wave that handkerchief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Makes me feel like a john~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu casually handed him the red headband: “Here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s for you.” Deng Yu smiled. “Didn’t you say last time you wanted to try wearing one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe~” Lu Ran’s disdain vanished instantly. “That’s too kind of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he spoke humbly, his hands moved smoothly—he snatched the headband without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi watched the man’s hypocrisy and felt speechless; Tian Tian covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!” Deng Yu burst into laughter, smugly glancing at Jiang Ruyi. “A bet’s a bet, Jiang Class Monitor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi sighed and accepted the two red headbands Deng Yu offered: “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What bet?” Lu Ran was confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu: “I prepared one for each of us on the team. The class monitor said they were too valuable to accept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then we made a bet—if you accepted yours, she’d accept hers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran felt awkward and quickly changed the subject: “By the way, Deng Shao, what does your sister do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu: “She’s with the Full Moon Task Force, under the Divine People’s Bureau, stationed at Yunshan City’s headquarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain Alley City is a county; the prefecture-level city governing it is Yunshan City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, the population reaches millions, and the Seventh-Rank Divine—Lord Wu Ya—has a statue standing tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Divine People’s Bureau, Full Moon Task Force.” Lu Ran understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu’s sister is a Cop Uncle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why she showed up at Wu Lie River—and why she meddles so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine People’s Bureau is a law enforcement agency of Great Xia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike ordinary police, it targets believers, primarily cracking down on believer crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Full Moon Task Force is a division within this bureau; its members are collectively called “Full Moon People.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Full Moon” is a lunar phase, also known as the full moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Great Xia’s lunar calendar, each day’s lunar phase has a specific name—“Full Moon” refers precisely to the fifteenth day of the lunar month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every fifteenth night,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Moon-Watcher is the city’s protector, the one the citizens rely on and trust most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why all of a sudden bring her up?” Deng Yu tang was baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Jiang Ruyi let Tian Tian tie a red sash around her arm, her beautiful eyes glancing at Lu Ran, half-hearted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just bored, thought I’d ask,” Lu Ran muttered under his breath, sighing inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dream Nightmare was actually a public official—and a Divine Citizen Enforcer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to spank her? That would be next to impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You might even\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>end up getting sent to sew machines yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your sister’s name?” Lu Ran pressed. “Be specific.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deng Yuxiang. Jade’s ‘yu,’ Xiang River’s ‘xiang.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.” Lu Ran scratched his head—unsurprisingly, he scratched the hood of his raincoat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really had mispronounced her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you keep asking about her?” The usually bold Deng family son felt a rare pang of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “Just asking. Why the panic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu tang’s expression turned strange: “I know in others’ eyes, my sister is beautiful, powerful, and incredibly rich.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Lu brother, listen to me—don’t go near her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me? Go near her?” Lu Ran smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your sister’s beauty makes your nose drip, and she’s the kind you’d wipe with cash without blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she’s the one who oversees believers like me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfectly suited to her role,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>do you think I’d walk into the tiger’s den?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu brother, I’ve always treated you like a brother!” Deng Yu tang clamped an arm around Lu Ran’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never meant to be your brother-in-law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this little frame of mine can’t handle her long blade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Sister Ruyi,” Tian Tian whispered after tying the red sash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.” Jiang Ruyi murmured, idly watching the bow she’d tied on her arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Tian waited eagerly, hoping Jiang Ruyi would tie her own red sash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Ruyi merely toyed with the bow, ignoring the girl entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Tian opened her mouth, then shut it, silently stuffing her red sash into her pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside them, Deng Yu tang kept pleading: “Lu brother, don’t jump into the fire pit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got it wrong,” Lu Ran sighed. “Yesterday during training, I happened to run into your sister on patrol, and then—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then she beat me up!” Lu Ran looked miserable. “I didn’t want to say—it makes me sound like a tattletale.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, so that’s it,” Deng Yu tang exhaled. “Then why not say it? Telling me won’t help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wouldn’t dare cough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: ???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where’s the legendary bravery of the Red Sash believers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Meiren snapped back to attention, looking down at the silent Tian Tian: “Where’s your red sash?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I’ve got it in my pocket,” Tian Tian whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll tie it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, okay!” Tian Tian’s gloom vanished instantly; her face lit up with a smile as she pulled out the red sash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did she beat you?” Deng Yu tang pressed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t bring it up—your sister’s a follower of the North Wind Blade, and you never told me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran sighed, muttering under his breath: “She beat me so bad I had to crawl around looking for my cat...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu tang: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran waved him off, unwilling to elaborate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!” Deng Yu tang burst out laughing. “My sister doesn’t hold back when she hits, but afterward, she always gives pointers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu brother, didn’t she teach you a few moves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s heart stirred; he looked at the red sash in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, the Dream Nightmare had truly opened a new world for him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d repeatedly told Lu Ran to listen to the wind’s voice, not just rely on his eyes to see the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She really did teach me,” Lu Ran said, folding the sash into a long strip and trying to blindfold himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu tang stared for a long while, still confused: “What exactly did she teach you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you tell?” Lu Ran, blindfolded, listened intently to the noisy surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu tang frowned at Lu Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Admittedly, the blindfolded look was kind of cool!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get it!” Deng Yu tang’s eyes lit up. “She taught you to cosplay the Ninja Turtles?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: ???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve got some weird tastes, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you, Dead Ghost Da Meng, for your 100,000 reward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long time no see—you’re back~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wishing you find true love soon, may lovers become spouses (`) 💖\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2085,"2026-06-21T06:12:58.056Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5e83013aa5b41b6aa94be268ff988fd87549e1a06486f66e2a33616c96b1962d","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-30","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-28",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]