[{"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-58":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},2362186,4618,"Chapter 58: Level Assessment?","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-58",58,"\u003Cp>Lu Ran quickly hung up the phone, crisp and decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is terrifying!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does my butt still ache after answering that call?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran touched the spot once struck by the wind blade and walked toward the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a thorough shower, taking barely more than ten minutes before stepping out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he passed the window, his peripheral vision caught something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without thinking, Lu Ran stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran saw a luxury sports car parked on the sidewalk outside the lawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the car’s front fender, a tall figure leaned half-sitting, scrolling on her phone, facing Lu Ran’s bedroom window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young woman, with sharp senses, lifted her eyelids and looked toward the bedroom window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awkward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the red sun rose, the sky blazed with morning glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning sunlight illuminated the woman’s refined profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beautiful ruby earring on her earlobe glimmered brilliantly in the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu smiled playfully: “I heard your phone signal is bad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.” Lu Ran, with no escape, stepped forward to the window. “It’s too old. Needs replacing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can’t afford it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who blocks someone’s front door like this?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu tilted her chin slightly, gesturing toward Lu Ran: “How’s your ear signal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.” Lu Ran touched his earlobe. “Works well enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Bring your sword.” Deng Yu turned, opened the car door, and plopped into the driver’s seat. “Five minutes. Starting countdown now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Deng Yu raised her slender arm and waved her phone, the countdown already active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, don’t you have a younger brother?” Lu Ran looked pained. “If you’re itching to fight, go beat him up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu replied casually: “He’s not even blood-related.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: ???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You say that… and you’re actually kind of right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran sighed: “It’s early morning. At least let me eat something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll treat you.” Deng Yu didn’t look up. “Say what you want.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran stared at the arrogant heiress in the luxury car and blurted: “Hot pot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu actually laughed in annoyance, swung one long leg out of the car, and stomped her leather boot hard on the ground as if to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soy milk and fried dough sticks are fine too.” Lu Ran turned and rushed to find his clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu watched the figure vanish from the window and retracted her leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, Lu Ran leapt straight out of his bedroom window, carrying his wooden sword, crossing the lawn, and arriving beside the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why the rush? There’s still plenty of time.” Deng Yu smiled more charmingly as she watched Lu Ran’s disgruntled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you stationed in Yunshan City?” Lu Ran leaned against the car window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fifteenth is coming. I’ve been sent back by the bureau.” Deng Yu gestured to the passenger seat. “Get in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.” Lu Ran reluctantly got in, sword in hand. “If you want to stretch your limbs… why not bring Yu Tang along?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu pressed the accelerator: “I wanted to take Yu Tang on this mission too. He’s not up to it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Lu Ran immediately defended: “Yu Tang is strong—he’s our team’s soul!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what hardship we face, he never loses heart. He’s always the one who lifts us up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu drove on, a faint smile curling at her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere of this team was truly good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, she’d spoken with Deng Yu Tang on the phone, checking in on the team’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At seventeen or eighteen, they’re at that age of fierce competitiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, whether from Deng Yu Tang’s mouth or Lu Ran’s, both praised the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu smiled, glancing at Lu Ran: “Don’t bother. No matter how much you praise my brother, you’re still getting beaten.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Lu Ran muttered: “Then how about I praise you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~” Deng Yu burst out laughing, her voice bright and unrestrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her radiant beauty matched perfectly with today’s sunny alleyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a breakfast shop around here?” Lu Ran asked as the car drove deeper into the outskirts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This road led to the desolate area beside Wu Lie River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone wants to meet you.” Deng Yu spoke. “Meet them first. Then I’ll take you to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?” Lu Ran asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know how much trouble your extra test caused the bureau,” Deng Yu tapped the steering wheel. “A few of my colleagues want to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it!” Lu Ran’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would this girl block my door just to beat me up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the person I’m about to meet… is my teammate from the Fifteenth Night?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perform well when we get there,” Deng Yu whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minutes later, the sports car slowed and stopped before an abandoned residential complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran opened the door and stepped out, scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not seeing any Moonwatchers, he looked up at the rooftop of the abandoned building: “Are they up there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu walked into the overgrown grass. “Not the one you usually train at.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran followed, whispering: “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for his thanks went unsaid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Deng Yu had already learned a bit about Lu Ran and understood why he insisted on training here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu smiled: “I didn’t want to meet here originally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this area is one of the key zones our team is assigned to protect during the Fifteenth Night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “We’re responsible for this patch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.” Deng Yu led Lu Ran into the central building of the complex. “Centered here, covering two nearby blocks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “Seems like a small area?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu reminded him: “This is July fifteenth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right.” Lu Ran nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two reached the rooftop and met three Moonwatchers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two young men stood at the rooftop railing, gazing at the view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were similar in build, over 1.8 meters tall, with neat, short hair and dressed in black tactical uniforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one corner of the rooftop, a middle-aged man was on the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a square face, over forty, and was none other than Sun Zhengfang—the officer who had treated Lu Ran’s injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here they are.” The two young men turned in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces were nearly identical, both appearing to be in their late twenties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twins?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wei Long, Wei Hu.” Deng Yu introduced them. “Just call them Brother Wei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran greeted them, but his mind raced with thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Long?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That name’s a bit… over the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Lu Ran.” Both responded, their expressions cold and serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They were soldiers before transferring to the Divine People’s Bureau,” Deng Yu whispered. “Both are Prisoner Demon devotees.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a coincidence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.” Deng Yu laughed, clearly aware of Lu Ran’s past. “What’s that look for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran immediately shook his head: “Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder this is the Wangyue team—truly brimming with talent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The followers in the first three rows? They’re all precious assets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this team, Deng Yu is a Second-Rank Divine—Devotee of the North Wind; the Wei brothers are Third-Rank Divine—Devotees of the Imprisoned Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four words: explosive talent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled Lu Ran was why two Devotees of the Imprisoned Demon, known for control and defense, were in the same team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t redundant resource allocation. Oh, I get it—maybe it’s because of me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Lu.” Far away, Sun Zhengfang was still on the phone, waving over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Sun, hello!” Lu Ran smiled and waved back, very polite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the team’s chief physician; if he ended up missing an arm or leg during this mission, he’d be stuck relying on the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Zhengfang also smiled: “Da Long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Long: “Here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Zhengfang gestured toward Lu Ran’s position: “Go easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Long: “Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Long received the order and strode toward Lu Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu stepped back immediately and warned: “Show me everything you’ve got.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your performance will determine your role in the team on the Fifteenth Night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Deng Yu’s surprise, Lu Ran gripped his wooden blade and spun it in a flourish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she picked him up this morning, he’d been sullen and reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, facing the powerful opponent striding forward, Lu Ran was brimming with battle spirit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that this kid has a thing for fighting Imprisoned Demon devotees?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!” Lu Ran tensed his body, his legs slightly crouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just a rank assessment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, let you all see what it means to climb straight to Platinum in one battle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re saying I’m Silver?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No no no, you must’ve misread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, it’s not that I’m stubborn—your matchmaking system’s flawed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1446,"2026-06-21T06:12:58.056Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fbcd8fc080157afb5610a38f628b42625058b6a6b03b7c8417a14342be1a5813","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-59","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-57",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]