Chapter 113: Dog Village Duo Queue

Seven days later, in Evil Dog Village.

In the desolate wilderness, torches flickered.

A tall, slender figure stood at the edge of the torchlit path, gazing at the battle group not far away.

"Truly a madman."

Without Si Si Xianxian murmured, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.

In her line of sight, Lu Ran was engaged in close-quarters slaughter with a pack of evil dogs, every step fraught with peril.

Without Si Si Xianxian was certain that Lu Ran had the ability to break away from the battlefield.

Moreover, the Xianyangyi Sect's Divine Art·Immortal Hoof was specifically created by the Divine Lord for believers to use when fleeing.

Yet Lu Ran, this outlier, plunged straight into the fray like a reckless brute!

His attitude resembled that of a brute, but his combat techniques were exceedingly refined.

Hmph. Even more refined than this pack of skinny dogs!

Step back, turn sideways, thrust shoulder forward, and slash horizontally with the blade.

Tilt head, block, and spin both blades into a disc.

A full seven or eight evil dogs surrounded Lu Ran, biting wildly like madmen.

And amidst this pack of skinny dogs, that even slimmer figure moved like a deity foreseeing the future!

Time and again anticipating the enemy's moves, repeatedly turning danger into safety.

Four words summed it up: A feast for the eyes!

The more Without Si Si Xianxian watched, the more she enjoyed it.

She also always felt that while Lu Ran outwardly worshipped Xiang Xiang Xianyang, in private he must have also worshipped the Second-Rank God·Northern Wind Blade!

Of course, that was pure fantasy.

Deities in this world possessed exclusivity; they absolutely would not allow the situation of "one disciple serving multiple gods" to exist.

Without Si Si Xianxian finally confirmed that back in the Black Lantern Demon Cave, Lu Ran had not broken through the Lantern Great Formation by luck.

"Wu~"

"Wu," the pack of skinny dogs emitted a series of whimpers.

This signaled injury, and it also signaled cowardice.

As one evil dog after another met its end, the survivors faced reality, turned their heads, and fled.

Eight attacking one, yet four were counter-killed.

The opponent was clearly cheating!

How is one supposed to play against this?

Without Si Si Xianxian casually gripped Wu Shi Zhu, a heavy hammer.

She flung it forward; the three-meter-long handled heavy hammer spun, scattering layers of flame that illuminated the pitch-black wilderness.

Divine Lie Tian's Divine Art·Fierce Explosion of the Heavenly Dome!

Such a domineering divine art used to slaughter dogs was truly a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"Boom-rumble!"

The hammer's landing point was not precise, and coupled with the evil dogs' agile maneuvering, they naturally dodged the strike.

However, while they could dodge the hammer, they could not dodge the churning flames!

The heavy hammer exploded, transforming into a sea of fire that engulfed three evil dogs.

Lu Ran even caught the scent of scorched dog meat.

Master Sister Xian's culinary skills were terrible; with one great blaze, not a single piece of good dog meat remained.

"Baa~~~"

Lu Ran turned his head, looking at the sole surviving evil dog.

The reason it survived was simply that it had fled in a different direction from its three companions.

Yet, under the bleating of the Succubus Sheep, how could there be any survivor?

If this dog were of the River Realm, perhaps there would still be a way to live.

But it was only of the Stream Realm, which made things very difficult.

The terrifying Succubus Sheep forcibly twisted the evil dog's will.

The creature, which should have been fleeing in panic, instead killed its way back with bloodshot eyes.

Seeing this scene, Without Si Si Xianxian's expression became very complex.

She had not heard Lu Ran's soft moans, but a few days ago, she had personally experienced them.

Regarding the fact that Lu Ran possessed a special version of the divine art·Sound of Compassion,

ten thousand instances of "Why him?" had surged through Without Si Si Xianxian's heart!

The deity Xiang Xiang Xianyang seemed to spoil this disciple excessively.

A modified version of the divine art·Immortal Hoof could still be linked to escaping the battlefield, but this alternative usage of the divine art·Sound of Compassion?

The effect of this method completely contradicted the core philosophy of the Xianyangyi Sect's existence!

If this was not a deity's doting indulgence, then what was it?

"Hiss!"

The blade edge entered flesh; Lu Ran pierced the dog's abdomen with both blades, then fiercely slashed an X-shape before him.

Copious fresh blood moistened the sharp blades.

A rain of blood sprinkled down, staining the red scarf on his face.

Lu Ran panted heavily; he had been killing for a very, very long time today and was indeed somewhat tired.

Without Si Si Xianxian stepped closer, her tone laced with mockery: "You kept telling me to go easy, yet when it comes to your own turn, you take a blood rain shower?"

Lu Ran said: "Corpse dogs are also resources; they cannot be wasted.

If you smash them with one hammer strike, where would any energy remain? All that would be left is something burnt, fragrant, and crispy."

Without Si Si Xianxian held the Divine Lie Tian Hammer, upon which fierce flames burned, looking as if she carried a three-meter-high torch, and she came to Lu Ran's side:

"Day after day, apart from lecturing me, do you have nothing else to say, is that it?"

Lu Ran muttered softly: "I am the commander, after all."

Without Si Si Xianxian suddenly extended her palm; the movement was not fast, as if deliberately allowing Lu Ran time to prepare.

"You 'hmm'?"

Lu Ran's brows furrowed slightly.

Without Si Si Xianxian's lips curled with a faint, elusive smile, and her fingertip wrote a single character on Lu Ran's blood-smeared face:

Careful!

Of course, there was no exclamation mark.

Lu Ran: "."

Is she insulting me?

Over the past four months, Lu Ran had grown one centimeter taller, reaching 178 cm.

Yet his weight had only increased to 68 kilograms.

As a martial artist, Lu Ran was indeed on the lean side.

Perhaps because at seventeen he was still at the age of growing, or perhaps because daily training consumed too much.

In any case, Lu Ran's weight simply refused to increase.

"Heh heh~" Without Si Si Xianxian stepped back one pace, thrusting the heavy hammer forward.

The firelight illuminated the characters on Lu Ran's face, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Lu Ran wiped his cheek with one hand, erasing her masterpiece: "Hurry up and collect the corpses! That hammer strike just now must have consumed quite a bit of your divine power, right?"

Without Si Si Xianxian said: "I rarely praise you, and now you're getting temperamental?"

Lu Ran said: "Execute the order, or I'll 'baa' you!"

"Uh." Without Si Si Xianxian pressed one hand to her forehead.

Is this a warning?

You've already 'baa'd' it out!

Damn it.

"Be obedient, go quickly; I will keep watch." Lu Ran's tone softened slightly.

"Hmph!" Without Si Si Xianxian stamped her foot, lifted the heavy hammer-torch, and walked toward a patch of charred dog corpses in the distance.

The Divine Art · Sound of Compassion possessed a terrifying hidden trait—it killed the familiar!

Humans are emotional creatures.

Setting aside the level of cultivation realms, the better the emotional foundation between a person and Lu Ran, the closer they were, the more easily the Sound of Compassion would take effect.

Moreover, when Qie Zai Shen Fa took effect, the starting point would be higher!

Since the trial journey began, the relationship between Lu and Si had indeed transformed time and again.

This much could be discerned merely from their conversations.

First, the two of them had been training continuously within this lightless demonic cave.

As comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, their bond had naturally improved greatly.

Secondly,

Admiring the strong is human nature; there is no need to feel ashamed admitting it.

As a powerful believer at River Realm · Stage Two, Without Si Si Xianxian had indeed once looked down with an aloof posture upon the little minion at Stream Realm · Stage Three.

Nowadays, she would never do so again.

Previously, in Lu Ran's home, she had even spoken words like, "I could crush you to death with one hand."

Nowadays, she would have to think twice before saying such things.

"Hoo."

Lu Ran exhaled a long breath and adjusted his condition.

As early as the third day after entering the demonic cave, the evil dog Yemo Yemo Xiesu within the Sculpture Garden had already been cultivated to Stream Realm · Stage Five.

And as Lu Ran and his companion ventured deeper into the demonic cave, encountering stronger and more numerous demonic creatures, the Yemo Yemo Xiesu naturally received even more nourishment.

By rights, at this moment, the evil dog Yemo Yemo Xiesu should have already ascended to River Realm · Stage One.

Yet it remained at Stream Realm · Stage Five.

When a Yemo Yemo Xiesu advanced through minor stages, there were clear requirements regarding the number of souls.

However, when Breaking Through a Great Realm, there were no specific numerical values.

Could it be that my lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang has again lined his own pockets?

Previously, the Black Lamp Yemo Yemo Xiesu had advanced with great fanfare, soaring from the Mist Realm straight to the River Realm within an extremely short time!

Was it because the time was too short that my lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang hadn't had time to embezzle?

"Oh my god," Lu Ran muttered softly, "just let the evil dog Yemo Yemo Xiesu ascend to the River Realm first, so I can have some peace of mind.

In any case, I won't leave Dog Corpse Village until the tenth; after completing the objective, I will still be here capturing souls."

"What are you mumbling about?" Without Si Si Xianxian walked over.

Lu Ran replied casually: "Bargaining with a god—cough, I was praying to the gods."

Without Si Si Xianxian's expression turned suspicious; she felt as though she had just heard some irreverent remark.

Immediately, she looked at the several dog corpses surrounding Lu Ran and said irritably, "I cleaned up the corpses outside. Are you expecting me to clean up these dogs right at your feet as well?"

Lu Ran said softly, "I saved them specifically for you.

The energy in my Divine Power Bead is nearly full, and you cast spells like money is no object; hurry up and absorb them."

The slight anger in Si Si Xianxian's heart vanished completely.

She pursed her lips; the words "thank you" reached the tip of her tongue, but ultimately failed to come out.

Si Si Xianxian silently squatted down and used the Divine Power Bead to absorb the dog corpses.

Lu Ran advised, "I told you before, don't use a cannon to swat a mosquito.

When dealing with Stream Realm vicious dogs, you can lower your Yi Xia Shen Fa intensity, using the least Divine Power to deal the most damage."

Si Si Xianxian dismissed it: "As long as it's satisfying, that's enough. Worrying about so much is annoying."

Lu Ran lifted his blade and tapped the girl's head with the flat: "Not listening again?"

Si Si Xianxian widened her beautiful eyes slightly, looking up at Lu Ran: "You—"

Lu Ran: "What's wrong?"

Si Si Xianxian's figure trembled slightly.

Lu Ran pressed his lips into a smile, looking very much like a classic emoji from a certain messaging app.

Slowly, Si Si Xianxian stood up, her expression serious: "I really will go mad."

Only believers possessing mental defense techniques could achieve complete immunity.

Lu Ran's "baa-baa" sounds might not penetrate such believers' "mental firewalls."

But for most believers, they were hit first, then relied on their own mental strength to forcibly remove the influence.

In other words, as long as Lu Ran uttered a "baa," the divine method would take effect!

As for whether the effect lasted five seconds, eight seconds, or 0.01 seconds, that was a matter for another category.

Lu Ran: "If you follow orders, you won't go mad."

Si Si Xianxian was furious: "Haven't I been obedient enough to you?

I'm almost turned into a clay figure with no temper by your 'baa-ing'; what more do you want from me?"

The more she spoke, the angrier Si Si Xianxian became, and she couldn't help but stomp her foot hard.

The more she spoke, the angrier Si Si Xianxian became, and she couldn't help but stamp her foot hard.

Dust scattered in all directions.

The ground beneath the young girl's boots was trampled into streaks of cracks.

Lu Ran immediately stepped back.

Good heavens~

Look how much you've pushed the child; she's almost learned the Lie Hun Mo Hoof.

"Alright, alright," Lu Ran began, "From now on I won't—"

Si Si Xianxian suddenly stepped forward and clapped a hand over Lu Ran's mouth.

Had she been even a moment slower, a certain word would have slipped out again!

"Do. Not. Speak!" Si Si Xianxian said word by word, gritting her teeth.

On that fair and pretty face lay the distinctive distortion of a Divine Lie Tian believer.

Lu Ran nodded gently, his muffled voice coming from beneath the girl's palm: "Mm, okay."

"Hmph!" Si Si Xianxian resentfully waved her hand, left the dog corpses uncollected, and turned to walk toward the path of torches.

Lu Ran: "Today's training ends here; we'll head to the next Stone City to rest."

Si Si Xianxian remained silent, acting as if she heard nothing.

Lu Ran removed the Divine Power Bead from his neck, squatted on the ground, and began absorbing the dog corpses: "Wait a moment, I—"

In the distance, Si Si Xianxian's pace gradually slowed.

She took another two or three steps, but ultimately stopped.

She did not turn around; perhaps that was her last shred of stubbornness.

Lu Ran smiled; judged by the standards of a Divine Lie Tian believer, she had indeed performed very well these past few days.

Whether she was "baa-ed" into submission, gradually accepted her teammate, or simply didn't want to be sent back to queue up with her mother's sermon-style nagging.

In short, Si Si Xianxian was truly quite well-behaved.

Mm... he ought to treat her better too.

Three updates today: 12, 18, 22.

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