[{"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-996":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},2363124,4618,"Chapter 996: You Don","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-996",996,"\u003Cp>The mist thickened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The killing intent grew fiercer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran gripped his divine weapon and flew straight north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Ran?” He Qi’s heart tightened; he cried out urgently, “You—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dense white fog, He Qi could see nothing, relying solely on the artifact—Wind Barrier Pearl—to sense the general conditions within a hundred-meter radius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wind Barrier Pearl informed her that Lu Ran hadn’t even looked back—he’d sped away with his divine weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the direction, Lu Ran must be chasing after Master Lü and Lady Lü the Third?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this special environment, those possessing divine weapons and artifacts held a tremendous advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Believers with perception techniques were exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant those with divine weapons and artifacts had cheated the system, illuminating a hundred-meter map around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else had become blind, reduced to lambs awaiting slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem is—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You, Lu Ran, have a divine weapon and artifact, but so do Master Lü and Lady Lü the Third!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re merely at the Fourth Stage of River Realm; they’re at the absolute peak of Sea Realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How are you going to fight this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Qi did believe in Lu Ran’s close-combat skills—those forged in countless Heavenly Prodigy battles, witnessed by hundreds of millions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how strong you are, you’re still just a disciple of Xiang Xianyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re disciples of the Second-Class Divine, East Thunder Sect, with full offensive, defensive, and control capabilities—all their close-combat divine techniques maxed out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re going alone to hunt down two mighty Sea Realm masters—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that wise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Ran, wait for me!” He Qi’s thoughts raced; she took flight with the Wind Barrier Pearl in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the two were in separate battle zones, she wouldn’t know the situation—and that would be fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were on the same battlefield; how could she possibly let Lu Ran risk himself alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she flew, He Qi’s energy surged violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, she sprouted three heads and six arms; two golden bodies appeared behind her left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both golden bodies bore her likeness, yet far more solemn and majestic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Seng Divine Art—Fierce Gaze Triple Form!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She drew her sword from her waist and handed it, along with the Wind Barrier Pearl, to the left-back body; the right-back body clenched its fists, and as energy surged, an ancient bronze staff materialized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Qi’s main body summoned the divine weapon—Nine-Ring Golden Chan Staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This staff had always been a divine weapon embryo, gifted to He Qi by her family elders before she entered the mountains, cultivated for many years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly enabled the Nine-Ring Golden Chan Staff to complete its transformation was He Qi’s governance of the Forbidden City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That city—or rather, He Qi’s cause and ideals—gave her far too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It elevated her entire being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that city, He Qi ascended to Sea Realm in a spectacular fashion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And because of that city, when He Qi, with kindness and compassion, welcomed wave after wave of refugees, the Nine-Ring Golden Chan Staff finally found its opening and entered the ranks of divine weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In He Qi’s words, the Nine-Ring Golden Chan Staff embodied two words—Compassion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine-Ring Golden Chan Staff flew from He Qi’s residence, darting through the air, and she seized it firmly in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you dislike combat, but the situation demands it—thank you,” He Qi sent her thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hum~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine-Ring Golden Chan Staff trembled lightly, carrying its master northward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden, violent explosion made He Qi frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blast came from below and behind—likely over the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet He Qi racked her brain and still couldn’t identify which divine art it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a violent explosion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be Jiang Ruyi’s Jade Talisman Divine Art—Explosive Flame Talisman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perception range of divine weapons and artifacts was one hundred meters—neither too large nor too small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before He Qi found Lu Ran, she heard Lü Xiao’s furious shout from afar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brat! What kind of believer are you, you bastard?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old bastard,” Lu Ran cursed inwardly, eyes shut, listening intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Lü Xiao and Lady Lü the Third were flying north; if this continued, they’d escape the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wouldn’t do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s figure flashed, appearing instantly high above Lü Xiao, farther north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames erupted around him; though he held a blade, he swung out wave after wave of hammer shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene seemed absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the distant-output divine art of the Lie Tian Sect—Bursting Sky—was an independent technique, requiring no prerequisites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Lu Ran often wielded the Lie Tian Hammer and swung hammer shadows because the basic divine art—the Lie Tian Hammer—had devastating crushing power; he was always ready for close combat, delivering a crushing blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Lu Ran had no intention of engaging in close combat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoosh! Whoosh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blazing hammer shadows spun rapidly, bombarding Lü Xiao’s position relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao was stunned and furious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where the hell did this brat get so many techniques?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick mist obscured all vision, allowing one man to shed his disguise completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao possessed two divine weapons and one artifact, so he could sense danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dodged repeatedly, then finally plummeted toward the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A disciple of East Thunder Sect standing on solid earth was truly “the sea wide enough for fish to leap”—no one could match their speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Run?” Lu Ran sneered; eight white jade tablets suddenly spread from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jade Talisman Divine Art—Jade Talisman Array!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two sharp whistles, two white jade talismans wrapped in fine sand shot down to earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the ground churned—the Liusha River reappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao’s face filled with disbelief!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw nothing, so the feedback from his divine weapon—Son of Heaven Sword—left him utterly bewildered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… this this this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Lü the Third followed Lü Xiao closely; both her divine weapon—the halberd—and the artifact pouch at her waist confirmed this impossible truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, her heart was shaken to its core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had roamed Sacred Spirit Mountain for over a decade, lived more than thirty years—she’d never seen a figure like Lu Ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond shock, the idea already rooted deep in her heart now grew wildly stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swoosh! Swoosh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless sand whips lashed high, striking the airborne humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao immediately flew diagonally upward; logically, a Sea Realm cultivator should be able to move freely within the River Realm—Liusha River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lü Xiao had been utterly terrified by Lu Ran!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young master of the Lu Sect—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bizarre!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao’s first instinct was to flee danger—he certainly wouldn’t dive into the Liusha River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.” Lu Ran’s face darkened. You think you can run?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran granted Master Lü sufficient respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could scorn his enemies, but in the details of battle, he had to take this mighty master of East Thunder Mountain seriously!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For any other enemy, Lu Ran would have already teleported in and smashed their face with his great hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Lü was different!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was surrounded by treasures, had countless eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Ran killed Lady Lü the First, Blood Moon Sect Master, and others, they’d all turned instantly, swinging halberds, resisting in every way possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao could only react faster!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran knew clearly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Xiao’s second-grade divine weapon—Purple Thunder Furious Dragon Halberd—could tear through his defenses with a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, Master Lü also possessed the artifact—Blood Jade Ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is said this artifact can amplify the master’s strength!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Xiao, Lu Ran would be killed in a single strike; with the Blood Jade Ring aiding him, Lu Ran was nothing but a porcelain doll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One touch and he’d shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This battle,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>should be fought at range!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran’s strategy was clear: this extraordinary, immensely powerful Yanyang Sea must be kited by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kite him to death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his blade forward, and within the Jade Talisman Array, two Frost Talismans shot rapidly toward Lu Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puff~” The Frost Talismans burst one after the other beside Lu Xiao, spreading cold frost that coated his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little brat, you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiao drowned his inner fear with a roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran didn’t use the Electric Shackles Talisman because Dongting disciples naturally wield lightning and have high resistance to thunder techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, Lu Ran only knew Jiangpin Divine Art, while Lu Xiao was a Great One of the Sea Realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Innate disadvantage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disadvantage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then today, this Great Master of the Sea Realm’s peak shall truly feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How I’ll play you to death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff~” Four black lines shot out from the tip of Lu Ran’s blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demon Spear Emperor’s Art: Demon Cloud Entanglement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at Jiangpin level, these black mist lines could seep into an enemy’s body and continuously disrupt their divine energy flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongting has no purification? Then they deserve to be beaten!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!!” Lu Xiao let out a fierce battle cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Lu San’s wife stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred meters away, Lu Ran’s face turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are you yelling so loud?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sharply whipped his blade, sending two hammer shadows hurtling forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiao dodged back and forth, then suddenly shot backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swoosh~ Swoosh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A string of Night Phantom Blades swept past Lu Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Nightmare was here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiao dodged the Night Phantom Blades, but Lu San’s wife was repeatedly pierced by the blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her dazed state, her two armors were already unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid a series of crisp cracks, the Thunderclap Armor exploded violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?!” Lu San’s wife finally snapped back to her senses—her high cultivation saved her life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her head still spinning, she hastily raised her halberd and retreated, frantically deflecting the Night Phantom Blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thread of venomous hatred flashed in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiao,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>you truly deserve to die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a golden dragon roared toward them, claws and fangs bared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Seng Divine Art: Soaring Cloud Dragon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Qi Feng arrived in a flash, wielding his divine weapon, his expression more serious than ever: “Lu Ran, there are too many things here that don’t belong on this battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stop pretending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this battle, give me an explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Qi Feng gave Lu Ran no chance to respond—she kicked the ground repeatedly, summoning wave after wave of golden dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Ran: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he canceled the Flame Sky Tyrant or the Jade Talisman Array, the frost lingering in the air, the lingering Demon Cloud Entanglement still hunting enemies, and the speeding Night Phantom Blades—all of these shouldn’t be here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaahhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiao’s roar shook the heavens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without any ranged low-tier techniques, he could only endure blows and desperately dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shame, rage, and indignation had reached their peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You filthy bastards!!” Lu Xiao darted up and down, dodging the furious golden dragons while wildly swinging his Heaven-Defying Halberd to deflect the incoming Night Phantom Blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acted decisively, shooting diagonally upward, risking being pierced by several Night Phantom Blades to escape the trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A series of sharp cracks rang out—indeed, several Night Phantom Blades struck his chest, then bounced off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!” Lu Ran replied grimly, his figure vanishing in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I won’t pretend anymore!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time Lu Ran’s second sentence reached him, he had already shifted position, standing dozens of meters directly ahead of Lu Xiao:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait for my explanation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord of Ruan Sect’s face was dark as he spun a sharp blade flourish—each blazing hammer shadow that rushed forward delivered one message to Lu Xiao:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>you won’t leave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiao: !!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Qi Feng: !!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First day of the month—brothers, please support with monthly votes~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1924,"2026-06-21T06:13:01.220Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","39a712bfa274653e6b27525fae24840b3ef05b2118f957003a9b66136b233973","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-997","at-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-chapter-995",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fat-the-summit-of-the-old-gods-cover.jpg"]