Chapter 176: The Eerie Sheep

Under the moonlight, within the mountain forest.

The more Niu Niu Zhengzheng walked, the more panicked he felt.

It was simply too quiet here; occasionally, wind blew through the forest, causing the rustling sound of leaves, which made one's hair stand on end even more!

"Ox Head," Lu Ran called out softly.

"Where?" Niu Niu Zhengzheng swiveled his head like a rattle-drum, scanning the surroundings back and forth.

Lu Ran said, "Follow the Wonderful Fire Lanterns; the team leader has given directions to Little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, saying she will lead us to Yueyahu."

"Ah?" Niu Niu Zhengzheng looked at the eight lanterns sweeping past his side.

It was no wonder he was so nervous; the Night Phantom clan was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous existence.

For everyone to come to this place could not be called training at all; it should be called "gambling with one's life"!

To tell the truth, if Guan Guan Yiren had not stated that she intended to invite Lu Ran, Niu Niu Zhengzheng might not necessarily have agreed to come to this place.

After all, he was the one walking at the very front of the formation.

With the New Year approaching, soon they would be eating big pork elbows and drinking strong wine; wouldn't it be better to stay out of trouble?

Fortunately, Lu Ran arrived as scheduled, putting Niu Niu Zhengzheng slightly at ease.

Regarding Lu Ran's ability to gather intelligence and information, Niu Niu Zhengzheng was immensely impressed.

No matter how fast the Night Phantom clan was or how well they concealed themselves, Lu Ran would certainly anticipate the enemy's moves!

Hmm... he should be able to, right?

At the rear of the formation, Xiao Xiao Yusong felt something was off no matter how he looked at it, and he whispered:

"Da Lang, isn't there something slightly wrong with that blade in Lu Ran's hand?"

Lang Lang Zhixuan knew what his brother meant, for he had also noticed the anomaly: "I'm not sure; let's observe a bit longer."

"Speaking of which, this kid really resembles a blade; is he a believer of the North Wind?"

Xiao Xiao Yusong gave a warning beforehand: "Don't shout when I say this."

Lang Lang Zhixuan said irritably, "He is what he is; what is there to be cryptic about?"

"Even if he is extraordinarily powerful, he's just a Wu Sheng believer or a Wu Seng believer, isn't he?"

"Why should I shout?"

Xiao Xiao Yusong said, "Miss Guan said that Lu Ran is a believer of the Xiang Xiang Xianyang."

Lang Lang Zhixuan: "Huh??"

In an instant, everyone except Lu Ran looked over in this direction.

Everyone's eyes were vigilant, thinking that Xiao and Lang had encountered some danger over here.

Xiao Xiao Yusong smiled apologetically at everyone, waving his hand while lowering his voice: "I told you, don't shout, don't shout."

Lang Lang Zhixuan felt a bit awkward, then his expression changed: "Is it really that eerie?"

Xiao Xiao Yusong asked, "What?"

Lang Lang Zhixuan's voice dropped even lower: "That kid isn't lying; his hearing is truly sharp!"

"He probably heard our entire conversation."

"Oh?" Xiao Xiao Yusong looked toward Lu Ran's back.

Immediately, he understood what Lang Lang Zhixuan meant.

That single exclamation just now had made everyone tense up and look over here immediately.

Only Lu Ran did not turn his head!

No reaction?

This was the biggest problem!

As the strong ally specially invited by Guan Guan Yiren, Lu Ran ought to be the quickest to react.

Since he didn't move, there could only be one explanation:

Lu Ran had heard the entire conversation between the two and knew the cause and effect!

"Watch," Lang Lang Zhixuan said, bumping Xiao Xiao Yusong's shoulder and clearing his throat.

He raised his volume slightly, though it remained very soft: "Little Brother, this Black Ice Blade of yours is quite nice, isn't it?"

The two, Xiao and Lang, watched Lu Ran's back from afar with great anticipation.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Lu Ran continued walking quietly, still showing no reaction.

Lang Lang Zhixuan felt a bit awkward; had he guessed wrong?

Impossible!

Lang Lang Zhixuan rejected this thought; he might not trust Lu Ran, but he had to trust Guan Guan Yiren's judgment.

Therefore, Lu Ran must have heard them again, which was why he didn't turn around.

"This is too bizarre," Lang Lang Zhixuan whispered. "Come to think of it, I've never seen a little lamb cub who loves to fight and is fierce!"

"Today, I might finally get to see one."

Xiao Xiao Yusong advised, "Since you know he can hear, speak a bit more politely."

But Lang Lang Zhixuan laughed: "Isn't my attitude quite good already? How much more polite can I be? Should I call him Brother Ran too?"

"There's someone," Lu Ran suddenly spoke.

The entire team immediately stopped in their tracks.

Guan, Niu, and Jiang Qiao believed him without doubt, while Xiao and Lang were half-believing and half-doubting.

Team leader Zhang Ya merely frowned slightly.

She carefully searched all around; as far as her eyes could see, there was only a stretch of silent deep forest—where was the enemy?

"Where is it, Brother Ran?" Niu Niu Zhengzheng hoisted his great axe and asked vigilantly.

"That person is playing with water." Lu Ran closed his eyes, listening intently with a tilted ear, "Keep moving forward, stay tense."

"Once you see the lake, you'll see the person."

"Understood." Niu Niu Zhengzheng strode forward.

Lu Ran spoke again: "Not just one; there should be three Night Phantoms, or perhaps more."

"This..." Niu Niu Zhengzheng turned his head to look at the commander.

For a moment, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi also found herself in a dilemma.

The military forces stationed here lacked the capability to filter out demonic entities.

The Night Phantom clan could fly and, leveraging the properties of Xie Fa, perform a certain degree of blinking movement.

Ordinary human methods, such as erecting high walls, were utterly incapable of stopping the Night Phantoms from running rampant.

Let alone filtering them out; even the human headquarters had to remain on edge day and night, fearing a surprise attack by the Night Phantom clan!

In other words: any Night Phantom you encounter here could possess any level of cultivation realm!

If there were only one or two Night Phantoms, that would be manageable.

But if there are three or more...

Lu Ran read his sister's expression and proposed: "According to our usual tactics, I will lure away two of them."

"You finish the fight quickly, and I will bring the Night Phantoms back."

"No!" Suddenly, a stern voice rang out from above their heads.

Several people looked upward, only to see Zhang Ya standing on the branch of a giant tree, looking at Lu Ran with a serious expression:

"I don't care how you fought in other demonic lairs."

"I also don't care how strong your cultivation actually is; I do not approve of this tactic, and do not mention it again in the future!"

The crowd: "..."

Zhang Ya was indeed somewhat annoyed, feeling that these few students had not taken her words before leaving the city to heart.

She then administered a harsh dose of medicine, saying in a cold voice: "I have seen many people like you."

"Those who die under the blades of the Night Phantoms are all 'experts' like you."

Lu Ran raised his head to gaze at Zhang Ya: "I guarantee, you have never seen someone like me."

"Heh." Zhang Ya let out a cold laugh, "Everyone says exactly that before they die."

"Fine then." Lu Ran turned his head to look at Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, wearing an expression of helplessness, "Then let's switch tactics."

"Team Leader Zhang's demeanor is too much like my homeroom teacher; I dare not talk back too stubbornly."

Zhang Ya's expression stiffened:???

Is this kid... mocking me?

As a great expert of the Tang Tang Jiang Jing, she naturally possessed some authority; on ordinary days, who would dare to joke and laugh with her?

"Uh, uh..." Seeing the situation turning sour, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi hurriedly said, "Let's try to secure the first move and ambush one of them first!"

"Brother, you provide intelligence to Sister Guan Yiren, letting her use her flying sword to kill the enemy!"

Among the four members of the squad, Guan Guan Yiren's flying sword was undoubtedly the fastest and possessed the highest killing efficiency.

"Agreed." Guan Guan Yiren responded softly, then turned her gaze to Lu Ran.

Lu Ran pondered for a moment; if he were luring away the two strongest ones by himself, that would be one thing.

But if engaging in team combat, facing two or three Night Phantoms together, the battlefield would inevitably become very chaotic.

There might be a large number of Night Phantom blades crisscrossing and shuttling through the air...

Thinking of this, Lu Ran stepped toward Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi and lifted the Xia Guang Dao.

"I have a sword." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, not understanding the reason, shook the Black Ice Sword in her hand, a gift from her mother.

Lu Ran, however, used the hilt to push Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's shoulder, turning her around: "You little Stream Realm nobody!"

"I told you not to come, yet you insisted on coming."

"Take the Xia Guang Dao; it won't hinder you."

Saying this, Lu Ran pressed the Xia Guang Dao against his sister's back.

"Eh?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi reached back to grip the hilt, intending to lift the blade, only to discover she couldn't move it?

"In a moment, protect her well." Lu Ran curled his finger and lightly tapped the cold Xia Guang Dao.

"Hum~" The Xia Guang Dao trembled slightly.

Guan Guan Yiren's eyes narrowed!

This is actually a divine weapon?

A believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang actually possesses an exclusive divine weapon sooner than a Liangye Master Jian Yi believer like me, who specializes in sword arts?

"Wow!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi exclaimed in both surprise and joy.

She released her hand and spun around on the spot.

The Xia Guang Dao also followed her, spinning around while remaining attached to her back, without falling off.

On the tree branch, Zhang Ya couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly.

As a believer of Two Two Biwu, Zhang Ya had been destined to have no affinity with weapons in this life, so she was indeed not very sensitive in this regard.

Yet upon witnessing Lu Ran's actions, seeing the Black Ice Blade carried on the young girl's back...

In Zhang Ya's mind, Lu Ran's words from just moments ago suddenly echoed:

I guarantee, you have never seen someone like me!

In the distance, Xiao Xiao Yusong's expression was quite remarkable: "Now I know why he was selected as a Heavenly Pride."

"Nonsense!" Lang Lang Zhixuan was completely overwhelmed, "Damn it, I figured that out too!"

"Let's go." Lu Ran gripped the Silent Night Blade, twirled it in a flourish, and strode forward.

Guan Guan Yiren looked at Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, who carried the divine weapon on her back, and felt a trace of envy well up in her heart.

This elder brother, Lu Ran, was truly too good to his younger sister.

With everyone about to face the powerful Night Spirits, he had still left the divine weapon with little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi at such a critical moment.

"Go, go, go," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, dragging Guan Guan Yiren forward.

"Shh!" Lu Ran issued the command for silence and began creeping ahead.

Moments later, Lu Ran halted his steps; his gaze pierced through the dense forest shadows to reveal a clear, crescent-shaped lake.

The lake lived up to its name—Yueyahu!

Under the pouring moonlight, the lake water shimmered with rippling waves, strikingly beautiful.

Another woman dressed in black stood quietly upon the lake's surface, wearing a conical hat with a black veil gently brushing against it.

Such a Night Spirit,

was like the final stroke that brings a painted dragon to life, imbuing the entire scene with profound artistic conception!

The more Lu Ran looked, the more he wanted to carry her home to serve as a nanny for little Li Hua.

"Do you see her?" Lu Ran asked in a low voice, leaning his back against a large tree.

Guan Guan Yiren nodded gently: "Where are the other two?"

Lu Ran closed his eyes, listening carefully to his surroundings: "They should be at the bottom of the lake."

Guan Guan Yiren slowly raised her hand and suddenly asked: "In your opinion, should we use the Flying Sword Form or the Ten Thousand Swords Form?"

Lu Ran paused for a moment, turning to look at the white-skirted maiden beside him.

Believers of Master Master Jian Yi were naturally an extremely arrogant type; why would they need to consult others' opinions on which Divine Art to employ?

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said: "Let's use the Ten Thousand Swords Form; the sword rain can also slay the Night Spirits at the lake bottom."

Guan Guan Yiren replied: "The Ten Thousand Swords Form cannot track the Night Spirits; I fear a surprise attack will be difficult to pull off, and we won't be able to reduce their numbers."

Lu Ran whispered: "Oh, then let's use the Flying Sword Form."

Guan Guan Yiren shook her head: "The two Night Spirits at the lake bottom will be startled; they will definitely rush out and launch an attack against us."

Lu Ran looked at Guan Guan Yiren with a completely bewildered expression: "What exactly do you want to do?"

Guan Guan Yiren said indifferently: "I just want you to help me make a choice.

Ever since I learned the Ten Thousand Swords Form, this same problem has troubled me for a long time."

Lu Ran directly twirled his blade in a flourish: "Stop agonizing over it.

How about I take the lead? Will that work?"

Guan Guan Yiren: "."

Had anyone else tried to snatch the position of initiating the main attack from a believer of Master Master Jian Yi, Guan Guan Yiren would naturally have felt nothing but contempt in her heart.

Even glancing at such a person once more would have been considered her bestowing charity upon them.

But these words came from Lu Ran's mouth...

He was truly capable of taking the lead!

"Whoosh!" Guan Guan Yiren stopped hesitating as energy surged violently within her palm.

Directly above Yueyahu, a patch of golden sword rain abruptly appeared, rapidly scattering downward.

Master Master Jian Yi Divine Art · Ten Thousand Swords Form!

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(End of Chapter)