[{"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-96":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},2362224,4618,"Chapter 96: Moonlit Night, Mackerel Cat","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-96",96,"\u003Cp>On the ninth day of the eighth lunar month, the bright moon hung high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From beneath Wu Ya’s military camp emerged four young people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drawing from last time’s experience, Lu Ran and the others chose to leave the village a day early, avoiding the morning rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, every departure required climbing a hundred-meter-high stone staircase; once crowds gathered, progress became slow, crowded, and dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Almost full.” Jiang Ruyi whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ruyi-jie?” Tian Tian looked puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi slightly lifted her head, gesturing toward the bright moon in the night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s just a few days until Mid-Autumn.” Tian Tian murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since demonic incursions occur every lunar fifteenth, festivals like Yuanxiao and Mid-Autumn have lost their original character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Tian and the others felt little about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they were born in an era where gods and demons coexisted; since they could remember, the world had always been this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the warmth and beauty associated with Yuanxiao and Mid-Autumn—lantern festivals, moon-worship, moon-songs—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Existed only in history books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their parents’ memories, in the stories told by their grandparents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Class monitor, all the demon crystals have been turned in,” Deng Yu said, approaching. “We collected 362 Stream-grade demon crystals and 498 Mist-grade demon crystals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu held up the military’s inventory list and continued: “We stayed in the village for seventeen days, lodging for sixteen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi: “Just give the result.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu: “Total lodging and meals cost 160 Mist-grade demon crystals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, the military collected 300 Mist-grade demon crystals on behalf of the school for completing assigned tasks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each of us kept ten Stream-grade demon crystals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi smiled and emphasized: “Just state the final result.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu: “We each take home 16,290 yuan—over four thousand per person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside them, Lu Ran smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi turned to Lu Ran: “Too little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran shook his head slightly: “Not too little—it’s far too little!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi quickly signaled him to lower his voice: “Keep it down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran stole a glance at the soldiers standing guard nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers stood motionless, faces solemn, as if they hadn’t heard a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things simply shouldn’t be said inside a military camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Ran truly believed the demon crystal buyback price was far too low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single Mist-grade demon crystal was bought back for only five yuan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was lawless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taxi flag-down fares were seven yuan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a Stream-grade demon crystal? Only fifty yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the official buyback price was fixed—but if you wanted to buy from the authorities, the price was completely different!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, with Divine Power Pearls available, the utility of demon crystals had been drastically reduced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, only high-level believers consumed vast quantities of demon crystals when breaking through their ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The authorities also discouraged individuals from hoarding large amounts of demon crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Divine Power Pearls, demon crystals emitted more blatant energy fluctuations, potentially attracting demonic attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the authorities merely advised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If your home was guarded by a small divine statue, even filling it with demon crystals should pose little risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most greedy demon clan still possessed basic instincts for self-preservation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for whether your divine patron scolds you—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s another matter entirely~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This fifteenth’s city defense will likely be organized by class,” Jiang Ruyi smoothly shifted topics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As per tradition, after students entered their final year, small-team formats gradually merged into class-wide units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The believer’s role demanded survival—leveraging each other’s strengths, uniting as one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not individual heroism or lone-wolf tactics!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among countless believers, perhaps only Lu Ran could transcend this rule and mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he possessed a demon sculpture garden!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In time, Lu Ran wouldn’t just become a “technique kaleidoscope”—he could summon countless demons to serve him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provided Lu Ran didn’t die young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man as an army? It was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our classmates are lucky,” Deng Yu sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran frowned: “Why’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu shrugged: “Being in the same class as you—how could our class rank low?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran nodded in agreement: “Indeed, our Deng Shao always speaks a little truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes fixed on Lu Ran, holding a trace of pride, a hint of delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her choice had been right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Ran revealed his exceptional talent yet was taken under the wing of the Ninth-Rank God—Xiang Xianyang—the students split into two camps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One group doubted Lu Ran utterly, refusing to team with him, fearing he’d doom his teammates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other believed Lu Ran’s talent was extraordinary—his achievements would surely be high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi barely belonged to the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, she belonged to a third category.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi chose Lu Ran not as a gamble—she had already prepared for the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Xiang Xianyang’s discipline, Lu Ran might indeed avoid battle, flee at critical moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might do every despicable yet understandable thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lu Ran joined another team and performed poorly—even once faltering—his survival prospects would become dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone would shun him; no team would accept such a coward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having sat beside him for two years, Jiang Ruyi understood Lu Ran’s nature—strong-willed, proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She truly couldn’t bear to see him humiliated, crushed, broken beyond repair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Jiang Ruyi chose to stand by him—at least, to help him graduate safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her immense surprise, Lu Ran’s performance far exceeded everyone’s expectations!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never once made her carry him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite the opposite—this little lamb was the true leader of the flock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, this conclusion came too soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran was still only a Stream-grade believer; as his realm advanced, the influence of his god would naturally deepen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Jiang Ruyi still prepared for the worst, ready to bear the consequences at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you staring at me so much?” Lu Ran scratched his head, feigning bashfulness. “It’s kind of embarrassing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.” Jiang Ruyi’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d performed well—so far, truly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran whispered: “If you like it, say it out loud.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu’s expression turned odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought your voice wasn’t loud at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “The fifteenth of every lunar month comes like clockwork—more reliable than relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knows which fifteenth will be my last?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve got to be brave. You’ve got to seize the chance—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran fell silent as Jiang Ruyi stepped forward, walking straight toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden move left Lu Ran momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Tian’s mouth hung slightly open, unsure what Ruyi-jie intended, only thinking she was incredibly brave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi stood before Lu Ran, lifting her eyelids to meet his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lu Ran was at a loss, he felt a sharp pain in his toes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Ruyi stepped forward again and crushed his shoe tip with her heel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ow!” Lu Ran hissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You treating me like the Axe Gang now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The vehicle’s here,” Deng Yu said, barely holding back his laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t talk such gloomy nonsense,” Jiang Ruyi snapped, then turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once her back was to them, her cheeks burned red, and her steps grew faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such an unladylike gesture was certainly not her style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Yu tang slung an arm around Lu Ran’s shoulder and gazed at Jiang Meiren’s graceful back, urging:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lu, Class Monitor Jiang is right! Don’t ever speak such ill-omened words again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth proved: lies don’t hurt, but the truth is a sharp blade!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are everyone so wary?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because what Lu Ran said could very well come true!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, as early as June 15, Lu Ran had nearly died in the arms of the Red Paper Creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, I won’t say it anymore.” Lu Ran replied offhandedly, following Deng Yu tang toward the business vehicle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At ten p.m., Lu Ran stood before his own door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he inserted the key into the lock, he heard a persistent scratching from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Click.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran opened the door: “Good evening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tabby cat’s expression changed instantly, leaping backward in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cat’s cry was piercing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little tabby’s fur stood completely on end, its body arched, retreating steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because his killing aura was too strong, his bloodstain too thick?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, then stepped into the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the tabby’s wary gaze, Lu Ran avoided it and headed for the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than half an hour later, Lu Ran emerged, his body fragrant with shower gel, clutching a pile of cleaned magic crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baa~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint bleat sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, a fluffy little head peeked out from the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single note of compassion had forcibly reversed the creature’s mindset and will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poor tabby,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had been toyed with at the whim of this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some extent, the believers were no longer human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Lu Ran wished, ordinary people before him were no different from this little cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here.” Lu Ran sat on the edge of the bed and placed several glittering magic crystals on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meow~” The tabby approached, rubbing against Lu Ran’s ankles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its fluffy paws curiously pawed at the translucent magic crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s gaze gradually softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bathing could only wash the bloodstain from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene before him could purge the violence from his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran had been a believer for just over two months, yet the number of lives he had taken already numbered in the thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corpses littered the ground; rivers ran red with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I scared you.” Lu Ran bent down and gently stroked the cat’s fluffy ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was unusually gentle; he sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the days ahead, the little tabby would surely be frightened again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, along his path forward, the bones would only grow more numerous, more numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until they piled into a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1633,"2026-06-21T06:12:58.056Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f7047ec3c6376b95d977f2508f99504424ae5d817bcb78dcf7f474b2c453cfd0","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-97","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-95",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]