[{"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-953":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},2363081,4618,"Chapter 953: The Master","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-953",953,"\u003Cp>“Yes! Yes! It’s him!” The wraith in the mirror grew agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who saw the one who killed them would find it impossible to remain calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuyang’s emotions surged wildly, his face filled with rage and resentment: “This man was being hunted—he deliberately diverted the danger toward us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shoved us onto the shoulders of the Western Desert believers—I was the one who was—was—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuyang couldn’t continue; he remembered being buried alive by the desert sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That suffocating sensation, that deep despair, still clung to his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, Wang Xuyang had never seen the true face of the Desert Believer, You Tianyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet among those present, only one was a Sea Realm Desert Believer—so the true killer was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Lu Ran released the Soul-Stealing Mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient bronze mirror floated beside Lu Ran, facing the battlefield, allowing Wang Xuyang to witness everything clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! No!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing scream shattered the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Tianyao was blown skyward by the gales—this time, it was his turn to despair!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Western Desert faction, the Desert faction was also a terrestrial sovereign; once such a person was thrown into the air, they were utterly at the mercy of their enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, Deng Yuxiang unleashed her ultimate technique—Night Phantom Blade—not to kill, but to carve a path!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nightmare and Dragon two guardians raced downward, using the raging winds and terrifying schools of fish to forcibly block the enemy’s escape route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They also trapped and forced the burrowing rat out from underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aah! Aaaah!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agonized screams of the Desert Sea believers filled Wang Xuyang with exhilaration—his heart soared with pure delight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of sharp Night Phantom Blades darted back and forth, determined to slice the enemy into a thousand pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless Little Cang Dragons surged wildly, attacking the enemy from every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield was chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Tianyao flew wildly amid the dragon swarm and wind blades, shrieking in agony, battered relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent You Tianyao from landing again, Yu Changsheng controlled the battle and summoned a Dragon Carp Sky Boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pop~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale golden fish shimmered brilliantly, drifting through the torrential rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, it looked harmonious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 800-meter Dragon Carp Sky Boat propelled countless Cang Dragons and wind blades—along with the enemy—straight into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crack! Crack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracks spread across the Dragon Carp Sky Boat, yet it fulfilled its purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the two sets of armor on You Tianyao were already shattered and ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the Water Armor, the Desert Sea faction possessed a defensive technique—Floating Dust Robe!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “sand-fine robe” had formidable defensive power—but You Tianyao had encountered three Sea Realm assassins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crack!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You Tianyao’s defensive armor shattered before the Dragon Carp Sky Boat did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind blades slashed through the air,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>carving bloody lines across the enemy’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Dragons surged back and forth,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>piercing the enemy with countless bloody holes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuyang’s eyes widened, fixed unblinkingly on the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Desert Sea believer wasn’t just Wang Xuyang’s enemy—he was a Sea Realm powerhouse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did Sea Realm mean on Sacred Spirit Mountain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant you stood above all beings, wielding absolute power over life and death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like earlier on the battlefield, when You Tianyao casually flung others toward Elder Peng, or raised sandflows to force them into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did the lives of ants matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, this Sea Realm powerhouse who ruled over others’ fates—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was being slaughtered mercilessly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From torn clothing to lacerated flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From riddled with holes to shredded into fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuyang witnessed it all; his phantom eyes seemed ready to burst with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vengeance was fulfilled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that cathartic feeling didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What remained was endless grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuyang’s expression grew darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only I hadn’t been crushed to death by those two Sea Realm masters…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only I had survived until Lu Ran arrived—would my future have been better?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It should have been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—it definitely would have been!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck! Why did I have to die here?! Fuck!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xuyang realized now—he was a wraith, trapped inside the Sin Mirror’s Soul-Stealing Mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fate of a wraith within the mirror was one and only one—gradual dissolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.” Lu Ran flew forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cang Dragons and wind blades vanished; Lu Ran picked up a black mist cluster and sealed You Tianyao’s wraith inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clean up. Hmm, let’s return.” Lu Ran turned and flew eastward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had intended to have others collect the spoils—but under this level of devastation, what spoils remained?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yuxiang and the others followed swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they flew across the battlefield, Lu Ran collected every wraith along the way into his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master!” On the battlefield, Jing Hong had already gathered the spoils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Lu Ran’s straw cloak floated a treasure gourd; he said, “Accompany Little Chifeng and absorb the corpse of the evil dog—hurry back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Jing Hong departed on orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran and the others continued eastward, flying beyond Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi had already landed, standing with arms crossed, waiting quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her stood eight surviving members of the Fallen Immortal Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fallen Immortal Pavilion originally had nineteen members; after the clash between the two Sea Realm masters, most of them had perished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You! You how—ahhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Ran lifted another black mist cluster, Elder Peng’s stunned, wrinkled face appeared upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Peng, shocked and furious, had barely opened his mouth to protest when soulfire engulfed his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He screamed, filled with regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mission today was to annex the Hanhai Gang and bring the Desert Sea followers back to Tianhuang Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he had encountered this demon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran stepped over Elder Peng’s corpse; seconds later, he extinguished the soulfire—the man dared not utter another sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gulps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiong Xiong swallowed hard, his heart growing more frantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had thought Lu Zongzhu’s methods were already extreme—but the exquisite bronze mirror floating beside him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that a demonic technique of the Sin Mirror clan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the two black mist clusters Lu Zongzhu toyed with in his palm—those were clearly demonic techniques of the Soul-Shatter Demon clan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Lu Zongzhu torment human souls like the Soul-Shatter Demons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As several hooded, cloaked figures approached, the Fallen Immortal Pavilion members trembled with dread!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just one Sea Realm powerhouse advancing was enough to strike terror into the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much more so with three?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yuxiang, Yu Changsheng, and Luo Ying had just finished a brutal battle—their aura was still fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Deng Yuxiang—her killing intent was terrifyingly dense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Calm down. Ruyi and I are still at the River Realm.】Lu Ran transmitted mentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran wasn’t much better off than Jiang Ruyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His only advantage was that Deng Yuxiang often stayed by his side, so he’d grown slightly accustomed to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Understood.】Deng Yuxiang replied softly, forcing herself to suppress her aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This woman in the white dress—is she the Master’s Lady?” Yu Changsheng asked Deng Yuxiang, glancing at her quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.” Deng Yuxiang gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Changsheng smiled, studying the girl, murmuring in awe: “Truly a celestial beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the Master is utterly devoted to her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve learned idioms now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the heavy rain, both teams finally met up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Changsheng gripped his folding fan, bowed slightly toward Jiang Ruyi, and clasped his hands: “Guardian of the Flame Sect, Conglong, greets the Sect Master’s Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady.” Deng Yu and Xiang Luoying both bowed their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three vast seas bowed respectfully in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene fell into complete silence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet their inner thoughts were anything but silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had exploded inside!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members of Luoxian Pavilion could clearly see that Lu Ran and the three Sea Realm experts belonged to the same organization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few had entertained a faint suspicion—that such a mysterious and powerful figure as Lu Ran might hold a higher position within the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the methods Lu Ran had displayed were utterly shocking!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Lu Ran was currently only at the River Realm, his potential was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one had expected this—from the tone of these Sea Realm experts,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>is the leader of this organization?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flame Sect? Sect Master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello.” Jiang Ruyi’s gaze swept over them, her eyes complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had worked hard to assemble this team to better search for Lu Ran, hoping to aid him, so they could both survive better in the Sacred Spirit Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, looking again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran, just by acting, summoned three Sea Realm experts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu has also advanced to the Sea Realm—so fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Jiang Ruyi’s gaze settled on Lu Ran’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories flooded her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the moment they became believers, Lu Ran had always been the one leading and protecting her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had always tried hard, always wanted to help him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>later, he became the supreme prodigy of Daya, and she was called Lu the Prodigy’s fiancée.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he became the human sect master, known as the Lord of Luoxian Mountain, and she was called the Lord’s Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came this Sacred Spirit Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is the Flame Sect’s Sect Master; now she too would be called the Sect Master’s Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath her veil, Jiang Ruyi’s face revealed a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>every time, you make me worry over you for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispering silently in her heart, Jiang Ruyi’s gaze grew even softer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Dry Sea believer who brought the battlefield here,” Lu Ran raised his left hand. “He killed many of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the black mist, You Tianyao trembled in terror, daring not utter a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back, he had already been burned once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the elder—the one who just chased you.” Lu Ran raised his right hand; another face was etched into the black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi looked at the two black mist orbs, then lifted her eyelids, gazing gently at Lu Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the black mist, faint soul flames ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Aaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ssshh—no! Don’t! Don’t burn me! Spare me, please… Aaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The piercing screams carried far, far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some felt satisfaction; others shuddered in dread!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain still fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could not extinguish the faint soul flames, nor quench Lu Ran’s rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely concealed it outwardly; his inner shock and fury were no less intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This much, the Eight-Wild Annihilation Blade could attest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran appeared calm and composed, but his true state was utterly off—he was immersed in a specific emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much did he desire his weapon to ascend?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet from start to finish, he had ignored the buzzing, trembling blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran knew well—even if he hadn’t come, Jiang Ruyi likely could have escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>how could he not be afraid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wailing continued, so heart-wrenching it sent chills down even the listeners’ spines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran lowered his head, silently watching the souls in his palm, their faces twisted in excruciating agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Lu Ran glanced again at the Soul-Stealing Mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could do so little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hoped, perhaps, they might find a sliver of solace, as he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1834,"2026-06-21T06:13:01.220Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c7ec87afcf8e4cedd238e111c2c0e56e6b06298638eb2d17aa178d0eab4de055","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-954","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-952",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]