[{"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-954":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},2363082,4618,"Chapter 954: Moonlight Over the Desert","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-954",954,"\u003Cp>In the deep of night, the heavy rain ceased, and the sea of clouds dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky brimmed with countless stars, and a bright, clear moon hung high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The haunting white moonlight spread across the entire desolate desert, settling upon the peak of a barren mountain, upon two shadowed figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sat cross-legged on the ground; the woman in white leaned slightly, resting against the man beside her, eyes closed in quiet bliss as she listened to his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi lifted her head from Lu Ran’s embrace and whispered, “The Sculpture Garden? Inside your mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran nodded gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s heart erupted in shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant—Lu Ran himself possessed a full set of statues of every god and demon in this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he could steal the power of gods and demons alike?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi absorbed this astonishing revelation, remaining silent for a long, long time, before finally asking softly, “When did Lord Xiangyang give it to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s expression turned apologetic: “The moment I became a follower of Lord Xiangyang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s gaze grew even more complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had worried so much about him back then!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had resolved—even if he dragged her down—to team up with him, take him on missions, ensure he graduated, and survive this cruel world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet from the very moment he became Lord Xiangyang’s follower, Lu Ran had already become a god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hidden, quietly rising false deity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new god waiting to seize the thrones of gods and demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be mad,” Lu Ran whispered, unnerved by Jiang Ruyi’s gaze. “Lord Xiangyang told me not to say anything!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran continued: “I’ll tell you, Lord Xiangyang is terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tells me to shut up, I shut up; he tells me to sleep, I sleep—he treats me like a perfect girlfriend… uh, sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi gave him a reproachful look, lightly rolling her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew, deep down, Lu Ran was telling the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a weakling like him defy a god?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to accomplish such a “blasphemous” grand scheme, caution was absolutely necessary!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve hidden this so long—why reveal it now?” Jiang Ruyi whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The situation is dire. I have no choice,” Lu Ran said, smoothing her jet-black hair before drawing her back into his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s gaze flickered slightly, allowing him to hold her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran added: “The Sacred Spirit Mountain Realm is a remote backwater—gods’ hands rarely reach here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its followers cannot communicate with gods or betray secrets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly, favoring this answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was entrusted with great hope by Lord Xiangyang—a man seeking to reshape the world’s order, worthy of such potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran must never act solely from selfish motives—he must always consider the greater picture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone who witnessed your techniques today must be properly dealt with,” came Jiang Ruyi’s cold, distinctive voice from within his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry too much,” Lu Ran said gravely. “The people of this realm are different from devout believers in the mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything here is enough to make them see the true face of the gods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi lowered her eyelids and whispered, “We are livestock bred by gods and demons, servants generation after generation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi lowered her eyelids and whispered, “We are livestock bred by gods and demons—slaves, generation after generation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—how could such a brilliant mind not have deduced it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran lowered his head and gently kissed her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gesture of both acceptance and comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With further confirmation, Jiang Ruyi shut her eyes tightly, silent and curled against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The haunting white moonlight painted a faint glow over the two figures on the barren mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s thoughts influenced the atmosphere—this world itself seemed to grow sorrowful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran cupped her cheek, lifting her face toward him, and kissed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One second, two seconds, three seconds…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s emotions shifted; her lips responded softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air around them changed with her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long moments passed before Lu Ran finally released her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s eyes were slightly dazed, breathing lightly, her flushed face buried in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the surrounding atmosphere, Lu Ran clearly sensed the woman in his arms was no longer as sorrowful—he whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me your story after you entered the mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go first,” came a muffled voice from his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go first,” Lu Ran said, smoothing her jet-black hair—though the familiar jasmine scent was absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t matter. Lu Ran could imagine it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as seeing a picture of an eraser let him “smell” its scent without holding one, he needed no actual scent to feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go first,” Jiang Ruyi repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I kissed you!” Lu Ran laughed, greedily inhaling the imagined jasmine fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi: “.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this your threat? Your punishment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly lifted her head, her dark eyes locking onto Lu Ran’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, fine—I’ll go first!” Lu Ran muttered. “Why so fierce?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi looked at him, exasperated yet amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I fell with Great Nightmare in the central-eastern region of the Sacred Spirit Mountain…” Lu Ran recounted his journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi’s heart rose and fell with every step of his path into the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambush by the Heaven Disciples, capturing Long Li in the highland lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeated assassinations on Sword Peak, narrowly escaping death each time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Journeying east toward the sea, subduing the Twin Divine Generals Xiang and Luo, taking root at Cloud Sea Cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marching north to Blade Ridge Peak, rescuing people from snow and wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rushing to Wu Jifeng, slaughtering the wolf pack to save the immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reuniting with old friends, allying with Great Wind Hall; crossing the sea eastward, seizing the Seven Star Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too much—far too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just over half a year, Lu Ran’s journey was astonishingly intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grew fiercely, constantly rising—either fighting, or on his way to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even now, Lu Ran only recounted key moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He omitted things like slaying Night Shades, clearing the Deadwood Forest, defending Cloud Sea Cliff from attacks by the Shi siblings and the Sea Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This epic struggle stirred Jiang Ruyi’s heart deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held back her questions again and again—until she couldn’t help but interrupt: “Is Xian’er with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep~” Lu Ran grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally planned to surprise her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he thought—no need. Let her know sooner, so she could rest easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran added: “Xian’er is safe in my hideout, training hard every day. Cloud Sea Cliff is guarded by a sea realm expert—she’s secure. Don’t worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way—do you want to speak with her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” Jiang Ruyi raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran tapped his temple: “To free Xian’er from Lie Tian’s corruption, I had her sever her master-slave pact with the god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, she’s bound to the Lie Tian statue in my Sculpture Garden—I can communicate with her anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. Don’t distract her training. We’ll see her when we return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi spoke these words, yet her mind raced, her eyes glinting faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright!” Lu Ran chuckled. “Perfect—we’ll give Xian’er a big surprise when we get back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi suddenly asked: “Can I sever my pact with Yu Fu and bind myself to a statue in your Sculpture Garden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran paused, then said seriously: “Ruyi—severing a pact has severe consequences! Xian’er had no choice—Lie Tian’s corruption grew worse daily. We had to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then explained in detail the consequences for a lowly human who voluntarily breaks a pact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lu Ran finished speaking, he added, “When we return to the mortal world, we can ask Master Xiang Xianyang for help—he can resolve the issue from a higher dimension.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished, Lu Ran added: “Once we return to the mortal world, we can ask Lord Xiangyang for help—he can resolve this from a higher dimension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then you won’t drop in rank! That’s how Great Nightmare did it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi stared straight into Lu Ran’s eyes, her lips parting softly: “But I no longer wish to be Yu Fu’s follower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t want to be livestock. I don’t want to be a slave anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her determined gaze, Lu Ran opened his mouth—but no words came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, ever since learning the true face of the gods, she despised them utterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been deceived for too long…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[101] Once, she had been so devout to the gods—now, her hatred burned as fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since entering Sacred Spirit Mountain and fully regaining her clarity, Jiang Ruyi had suffered greatly, burying this pain deep within her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she had no other choice—in this perilous world, she could only adopt others’ methods to protect herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now it was different!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had Lu Ran!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man with countless pseudo-god stone statues, determined to steal the power of gods and demons alike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ruyi,” Lu Ran whispered gently, “you said just this afternoon that you could break through to River Realm, Fifth Stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you reach the peak, you may step into Sea Realm at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you sever the bond now, you’ll almost certainly drop a stage—this inner and outer delay would cost you far too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Jiang Ruyi could speak, Lu Ran added: “You’re not like Xian’er. She’s newly bound—she’s Lie Tian’s emotional trash bin. If this continues, she’ll go mad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The God Yu Fu merely makes your disposition colder—it doesn’t seriously hinder your growth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi whispered, “But my thoughts and emotions will become a barrier, constantly interfering with my growth! I’ll accept dropping a stage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran frowned deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People have different temperaments and handle problems differently—if she truly faced such a burden, it ought to be resolved soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, binding Jiang Ruyi to the pseudo-god stone statues sooner also had certain advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could fuse with the statues earlier, raising her innate potential ceiling and accelerating her cultivation speed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi suddenly said: “Aren’t you still months away from reaching River Realm, Fifth Stage? If I really drop a stage, I’ll just be waiting for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: ???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You girl, that’s a cruel thing to say!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting smile passed over Jiang Ruyi’s face, then vanished—her expression turned solemn, her beautiful eyes locking onto his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s breath caught slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi rose to her knees, her slender hands cradling Lu Ran’s face, their gazes meeting directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were unwavering, utterly serious, as she repeated slowly, word by word:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Ran, I trust you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran gazed at the face so close to his, and pressed his lips to her soft ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course you can trust me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My pseudo-god Yu Fu stone statues were made for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were always meant to trust me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1775,"2026-06-21T06:13:01.220Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2fbd98fad675f438acf56bd523fb5247704a60926c4ab918ae849defd8aa13f2","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-955","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-953",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]