Chapter 126: The Evil Method Kaleidoscope

"There's a shelter over there!" Wei Hu shouted loudly.

"Let's go!" Sun Sun Zhengfang decided immediately, signaling the squad to move out.

Wei Long carried Lu Ran in flight, and amidst the sound of wind and rain, he heard Lu Ran let out a heavy sigh.

"Casualties are unavoidable," Wei Long said in a low voice.

Facing such humiliation and injury inflicted upon their comrades, even the cold-hearted believers of the Prison Demon found it difficult to remain unmoved.

Wei Long did not know that the reason for Lu Ran's sigh was that among the four Moon-Gazing people the squad had rescued, two had died.

Lu Ran witnessed with his own eyes as two souls surged forth from the Wutong branches.

This pair, a man and a woman, had succumbed to severe injuries while unconscious; as their wandering souls drifted out, their expressions still held a hint of bewilderment.

Powerless to help, Lu Ran could only silently draw them into his pupils, escorting the two on their final journey.

"Open the door!"

Deng Deng Yuxiang took the lead, landing before a commercial building.

The main doors of the building stood wide open, and the surrounding area was utterly silent.

The Moon-Gazing people guarding the shelter, seeing the patrol team covered in dust and wind, naturally understood what was wrapped within those Wutong branches.

Two believers of the Two Two Biwu quickly stepped forward to treat the wounded.

Sun Sun Zhengfang issued another order: "Little Lu, stay here; we're going!"

"Uncle Sun?" Lu Ran frowned tightly, his words carrying weight, "I can do it!"

Inside the room, the crowd of Moon-Gazing people all turned their gaze toward Lu Ran.

Some recognized Lu Ran, and even those who did not could see that he was merely a student of seventeen or eighteen.

Although the pair of blades in the youth's hands were valuable and imposing, his face still retained a certain immaturity.

On this night when the barbarian tribe marched as "Ten Thousand Ghosts Walking at Night," for such a young person to accompany the Moon-Gazing patrol team was indeed overly presumptuous.

Sun Sun Zhengfang strode toward the exit: "Your mission for tonight ends here!"

Lu Ran suddenly raised his voice: "You know very well how important I am to the squad!"

Your team wasn't originally configured this way; Wei Hu was transferred specifically because of me.

If I leave, your weaknesses will become even more apparent!"

Sun Sun Zhengfang's steps halted abruptly.

For a moment, the area inside and outside the gate grew even more silent.

Even those who did not know Lu Ran now understood clearly: this yellow-clad youth was actually a member of the patrol team?

The Cloud Mountain City Divine Population Bureau had specifically adjusted the team composition for his sake.

"Don't be foolish," Deng Deng Yuxiang said softly, placing a hand on Lu Ran's head.

"Crack."

The Silent Zhan Ye Dao fell to the ground.

Lu Ran's free right hand suddenly gripped Deng Deng Yuxiang's icy hand:

"I'm going with you to support the Rain Alley Home Community.

After the mission, if you still want to leave me behind, you won't need to drive me away; I'll go home on my own."

Deng Deng Yuxiang remained silent, looking into Lu Ran's cold, horizontal pupils.

She shifted her gaze slightly to look at her own palm.

This little rascal of the Stream Realm actually possesses considerable strength; his grip made her hand hurt just a little.

"Take him along, Team Leader Sun."

"Yes, Team Leader Sun, he counters the barbarian tribe and is the tactical core!" the Wei brothers spoke up in succession.

These two believers of the Prison Demon shared a consistent viewpoint.

Lu Ran looked directly into the eyes of the Great Nightmare: "Sister?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang neither affirmed nor denied, simply turning her head to look at Sun Sun Zhengfang: "We have no time to waste."

"Let's go!" Sun Sun Zhengfang gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and strode out of the gate with long, rapid steps.

Deng Deng Yuxiang bent down, picked up the Silent Zhan Ye Dao, and stuffed it into Lu Ran's arms.

She gave Lu Ran a deep look, then turned and departed.

Obviously, like Sun Sun Zhengfang, her heart was somewhat conflicted.

On the fifteenth of last month, Deng Deng Yuxiang had indeed sought Lu Ran's help.

But a Yin Hua Dan of the River Realm, fifth stage, clearly could not be compared to the barbarian tribe's march of Ten Thousand Ghosts Walking at Night.

"Let's go!" Lu Ran quickly moved to Wei Long's side.

The Moon-Gazing people inside and outside the gate watched the youth depart with the team, their feelings growing even more complex.

Over the past few decades, amidst unceasing flames of war, many unparalleled geniuses had emerged.

Some rose brilliantly, only to be tempered by the fires of war into stellar generals.

Some perished halfway, long since reduced to dry bones in a grave.

Regardless of how such people met their end, they mostly shared the same trait:

Born to be leaders.

Such individuals were a shot of adrenaline for the fragile human race.

They were the great banner attempting to stand erect amidst the gusts of yin wind stirred up by evil demons.

For the human forces, swaying in the wind and rain, to survive until today, it was indispensable to have such vividly colored individuals rushing forward generation after generation.

Regarding the stubborn decision of the youth in the yellow raincoat, the Moon-Gazing people felt only admiration and blessing, having no qualification to say anything else.

At this moment, carried swiftly by Wei Long, Lu Ran was rapidly approaching his home.

Disaster zone!

Lu Ran's eyes narrowed.

At the main entrance of the residential compound, vast piles of yellow sand had accumulated.

From within the compound, sounds of explosions, roars, and the wild, arrogant laughter of the Barbarian Female Drought Demons continued to ring out incessantly.

"Advance, target the main entrance of the residential compound!" Sun Sun Zhengfang shouted loudly.

There were many evil spirits within the compound, but even more Moon-Watching people!

All manner of divine arts were unleashed, even to the point of obscuring vision.

And those drifting human souls stubbornly wandered the battlefield.

Some fought alongside their fallen comrades against the enemy, while others continued their deadly struggle against the departed spirits of the Barbarian Female Drought Demons in the world after death.

Both sides being departed spirits, they posed no threat to one another anymore.

Yet the human and demon races were still slaughtering each other.

Lu Ran gazed upon a world of another dimension, witnessing a battlefield invisible to others.

It was like watching an extremely unreal projection of a nightmare.

"Damn it, what the hell are you laughing at!"

Inside the main gate of the compound, in the area to the left, a red-scarfed burly man let out a fierce roar and immediately hoisted a large banner.

Having just beheaded an enemy, he did not pause for breath, instead setting his sights on another Barbarian Female Drought Demon.

The great banner stood firmly upright, and a red dome suddenly expanded outward.

"Stop shouting, Laozi is here!"

Red light flowed along Chen Jing's twin blades; his roar was spirited and fierce as he charged toward the Barbarian Female Drought Demon.

This was the correct way to deploy the Red Scarf Divine Art: Red Scarf Domain!

The battlefield was chaotic, but no matter how chaotic, the Red Scarf believers could always carve out a special arena for single combat.

A life-or-death duel right here, one-on-one between the two sides!

"Hahahaha!"

The Barbarian Female Drought Demon remained utterly fearless; wielding a pair of stone axes, she indeed had grounds for her arrogance, her martial prowess being truly formidable.

Her sand-stone battle armor was tattered and torn, the exposed skin beneath covered in wounds and dripping with blood.

Yet the Barbarian Female Drought Demon did not care; after laughing wildly, she even licked her torn lips.

Savoring the taste of blood.

Whose blood it was did not matter.

She liked to eat it,

loved to eat it.

And Chen Jing, with a red scarf wrapped around his head and his upper body bare, was likewise covered in scars.

The water-flow armor that once covered his body had even transformed into an armor of "blood-water."

It was evident that both of them had suffered severe injuries before entering the one-on-one duel arena.

"Clang!!"

The Barbarian Female Drought Demon suddenly flicked her battle axe upward, colliding heavily with Chen Jing's downward-slashing blade.

"Shit."

Chen Jing's face changed color; he felt only numbness in Hukou, his blade nearly slipping from his grasp.

As a fellow berserker, Chen Jing had long activated the Divine Art: Red Scarf Soul, respectfully inviting the Red Scarf Ancestor to possess his body.

With all attributes soaring violently, why was his strength still inferior to that of this Barbarian Female Drought Demon?

Barbarian Xie Fa: Barbarian Power!

Unlike other techniques with "Power" in their names that amplify strength attributes,

when the Barbarian tribe activates Barbarian Power, the surging increase in strength attributes comes not only from energy fluctuations within their bodies,

but even more so from the earth beneath their feet!

When Lu Ran first encountered a Barbarian Female Drought Demon, Deng Deng Yuxiang had used a storm to disturb the enemy, yet that Barbarian Female Drought Demon stood firmly amidst the wind by relying on Ci Xie Fa.

"Rumble-rumble!"

The Barbarian Female Drought Demon flicked one axe upward while fiercely chopping down with the other.

Yellow sand splashed from beneath her feet, the earth split apart, and a shockwave churned outward.

Barbarian Xie Fa: Barbarian Split!

"Pfft—"

Chen Jing spat a mouthful of blood; the churning shockwave slammed into his face, shaking him so violently that his internal organs felt as though they were shifting position.

So... so strong, this Barbarian Female Drought Demon.

"Crack!" A sound of snapping rang out.

The banner pole shattered when struck by Chen Jing as he flew backward, and the red dome vanished rapidly.

"Hahahahaha!" The Barbarian Female Drought Demon laughed wildly, pressing her advantage without mercy.

She stomped heavily on the ground, chasing the direction of Chen Jing's backward flight, and suddenly darted forward.

Suddenly, chains of blood shot out to block her path and kill.

Yet the Barbarian Female Drought Demon's brutish body smashed through them by sheer force.

Then a great net woven from blood chains appeared, blocking her path of pursuit.

It too was fiercely shattered by the chop of her twin axes.

The Barbarian Female Drought Demon's brute strength and ruthlessness had surged; it seemed she had set her sights solely on Chen Jing.

You thing that doesn't know death, you still dare to challenge me to a duel?

I will definitely kill you!

I will definitely chop you into minced meat!

"Baa."

A faint bleat of a sheep suddenly came from the side.

"Hm?" The Barbarian Female Dryad's eyes suddenly widened.

Subconsciously, she turned and swung her axe, striking directly toward the direction where the faint sound had come from.

Lu Ran, shuttling at high speed and displacing rapidly, had moved from the enemy's side to behind the enemy.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh."

The yellow-clad youth and the Barbarian Female Dryad moved with astonishing consistency!

Both faced each other, legs bowed, upper bodies leaning forward, constantly sliding backward to reduce their momentum.

"Lu Ran?!"

"Lu..." Wei Long, who guarded Lu Ran, and Deng Deng Yuxiang, who was paying special attention to Lu Ran in the night sky, both underwent a drastic change in expression.

At the main entrance of the residential compound, there were fully four battle groups.

This was also the reason Lu Ran had not dared to shout loudly just now.

And with the Red Scarf Believers having activated their domain, the squad's primary support target would naturally be chosen from among the other three battle groups.

Only Lu Ran, in a single glance, had locked onto Chen Jing, his entire mind focused on him.

Everyone knew just how reckless the Red Scarf Believers were.

Lu Ran had even witnessed with his own eyes Chen Jing and the Fanged Masked Man employing the Ming De Da Fa, trading injuries for injuries and gambling life for life.

The moment the flagpole shattered, Lu Ran darted out directly.

By the time Wei Long reacted, the slippery "loach" had already rushed into the residential compound, moreover drawing the Barbarian Female Dryad's attention and swapping positions with her.

"Hiss!"

Energy surged beneath the Barbarian Female Dryad's palm, and she once again gripped two sandstone axes in her hands.

Sliding backward at high speed, without waiting to come to a stable stop, she fiercely flung the sandstone axes out.

This time, Lu Ran did not dodge left or right.

He did not even retreat.

Instead, facing the Barbarian Female Dryad directly, immortal hooves rose again beneath his feet.

Charging straight forward!

"A young swallow returning to its nest" could only describe the difference in size between the two parties.

The term that truly fit this scene ought to be "a moth flying into the fire," seeking its own death.

"Hiss—"

Mist gushed forth, and the tail of the raincoat fluttered noisily in the wind.

The Barbarian Female Dryad widened her eyes; she had flung the dual axes by predicting the position where the enemy would slide backward.

Lu Ran's sudden forward dash and lowered head caused the two sandstone axes to fly past above his head.

"Baa."

Lu Ran suddenly raised his head.

A pair of cold, horizontal pupils met scarlet eyes in a blazing stare!

Behind the pitch-black pupils hid a wisp of black fire burning dimly.

Black Lamp Xie Fa · Fire in the Cage!

"Hiss!" Rage rose from the Barbarian Female Dryad's heart; in her field of vision was a scene that flickered constantly and switched rapidly.

Lu Ran's expression was gloomy as he shuttled at high speed.

The Barbarian Female Dryad did not know what was wrong with her; the more she tried to see the enemy clearly, the more the scene before her eyes flickered.

"Hiss!!" Ignoring everything, the Barbarian Female Dryad caused energy to surge in her hands and summoned the sandstone axes first.

"Bang!"

Lu Ran, darting forward close to the ground, suddenly stomped one foot down heavily.

The ground trembled, and waves of air churned.

Lie Hun Xie Fa · Soul-Splitting Demon Hoof!

The sudden, tremendous impact force caused the Barbarian Female Dryad's backward sliding momentum to accelerate abruptly.

Even the sandstone axe she had summoned beside her hand, due to this unexpected situation, failed to fall into its master's palm.

Want to grab a weapon?

Have you asked the Soul-Splitting Demon's dual hooves?

"Baa." Lu Ran opened his mouth slightly.

That mournful bleat was so faint, indicating the fragility and bullying nature of a youngling.

Yet, where in Lu Ran's sinister face was there even a hint of weakness?

"Ahhh!" The Barbarian Female Dryad was nearly insane; relying on instinct, she grabbed toward the empty space ahead.

Lu Ran suddenly turned sideways, agile and swift.

Vicious Dog Xie Fa · Evil Agility!

The Barbarian Female Dryad's large hand brushed past his chest.

Want to grab me...

Would the clan of vicious dogs agree to this?

"Silence!"

Lu Ran, holding the Silent Zhan Ye Dao, thrust upward from below, directly piercing the Barbarian Female Ba's waist and abdomen.

Energy boiled within his body, divine power currents ran wild, and his right hand slashed fiercely across!

Lie Hun Xie Fa · Power of Soul-Splitting!

"Hiss!"

A gush of fresh blood sprayed out from the Barbarian Female Ba's waist.

Under the intense pain, the Barbarian Female Ba swiped fiercely at the space before her.

She seemed intent on grabbing the "invisible" tiny human into her embrace and crushing him to pieces.

Yet Lu Ran acted as if he had eyes in the back of his head, suddenly crouching down.

Vicious Dog Xie Fa · Evil Awareness!

The Barbarian Female Ba's massive hand swept past; Lu Ran transitioned seamlessly, surging upward violently.

The Dawn Light Blade gripped tightly in his left hand was swung, tracing a half-moon arc!

Empowered by the strength of the Soul-Splitting force, the blade flashed once across the Barbarian Female Ba's neck.

"Whoosh~"

The blade entered flesh, and the head separated from the body.

"Holy shit!!"

Wei Long stared blankly at this scene, his heart filled with unparalleled horror.

Deng Deng Yuxiang likewise wore a look of shock; anxious and angry as she had been, the situation had unexpectedly turned out this way in the blink of an eye.

The soldiers of Moon-Gazing, who had been secretly observing from all around, saw their expressions change.

That figure, wielding twin blades and clad in a yellow raincoat...

Had transformed from an insubordinate youth into a god of slaughter rampaging across the battlefield!

"Good!"

"Kill!!"

"Kill!"

In this battle of Lu Ran's,

just how fast was his speed?

Even at this very moment, the headless corpse of the Barbarian Female Ba was still sliding backward!

This...?

Lu Ran's rate of growth was indeed too shocking for the world to comprehend.

Initially, merely seeing the lingering spirit of the Barbarian Female Ba would have terrified him until his heart trembled.

The sheer brutality of the Barbarian Female Ba had truly made his heart palpitate in secret fear.

The second time, when Lu Ran encountered the Barbarian Female Ba again, he had already broken through his inner trauma.

He used the Fire in the Cage, supplemented by the Sound of Sorrow and Fear, to help Deng Deng Yuxiang defeat the enemy in a single strike!

The third time was this very occasion.

When Lu Ran faced the Barbarian Female Ba,

he confronted her head-on!

He was even more reckless than the damn Red Scarves!

Along this journey, Lu Ran had personally witnessed the Xie Fa of the Barbarian Female Ba and studied the combat style of her kind.

Now, he had once again lifted his twin blades!

With that Yi Shen Xie Fa emerging repeatedly, he controlled the Barbarian Female Ba from start to finish.

Moreover, he fought and killed from beginning to end!

With a "Thump."

The sliding headless corpse finally collapsed to the ground, sliding to a stop at Chen Jing's feet.

Chen Jing, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, sat on the cold ground and suddenly lifted his head.

He saw only a familiar figure slide to a halt before him.

The same rainy night, the same face, the same vividly colored yellow raincoat...

Everything was so familiar,

like the revolving lantern of memories one sees when nearing death.

But Chen Jing was certain that he had not died.

Chen Jing was even more certain that the youth was just as annoying as ever, speaking the exact same words they had exchanged at their first meeting:

"Uncle, don't be so rash next time."

Four thousand three hundred words; requesting some monthly votes.

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(End of Chapter)