Chapter 180: Returning Under the Moon

Seven days later, Yueyahu.

Moonlight poured down, making the lake water shimmer brilliantly, truly beautiful.

Directly above the lake surface, a Night Phantom hovered in mid-air, exuding quite a kingly demeanor.

She extended one hand downward, her slender fingers tapping lightly as if plucking zither strings.

"Whoosh~ Whoosh~"

Eight Night Phantom blades crisscrossed through the air, slaughtering humans who lacked the eyes to see.

On the left bank of Yueyahu, the trio of Guan, Niu, and Jiang Qiao maintained their standard formation.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng took the lead, having transformed into a pure meat shield.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi stood in the center, holding a Brilliant Fire Lantern that draped the trio in golden-red armor, drawing the Night Phantoms' attention.

The Lantern Sect's capabilities were especially comprehensive!

Healing, defense, purification, and control—none were beyond them, with control being their greatest strength.

Lantern Sect disciples were simply kings among support cultivators!

However, when it came to output, the Lantern Sect was not particularly skilled.

Their sole output Divine Art, the Brilliant Fire Lantern, flew neither fast nor exploded over a wide area, making it unsuitable for killing enemies.

Instead, it was quite suitable for setting off like fireworks during festive celebrations.

Yet at this moment, the reason Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi could still hold the central position was because a divine weapon rested upon her back!

The Rosy Light Blade did not kill enemies, but should any flying blade approach, the divine weapon would instantly shatter it!

Consequently, Guan Guan Yiren, standing behind Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, also received the divine weapon's protection.

"Keep it up, Sister Guan Yiren, move a little closer, and my brother will be able to cast his spell!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi encouraged the team's core damage dealer.

"Mm." Guan Guan Yiren's face was covered in a layer of cold frost as she raised one hand, likewise tapping lightly with her fingertips.

Over the past seven days, Guan Guan Yiren and the Night Phantom clan had fought round after round.

Especially the flying swords and flying blades, which often engaged in deadly duels in the night sky.

The Night Phantom clan was truly too suitable as sparring partners.

Under such high-intensity combat, Guan Guan Yiren's control over the Divine Art: Flying Sword Style became increasingly effortless and skilled.

Guan Guan Yiren even believed that this short week of intensive training was equivalent to several months of her past tempering!

"Whoosh~ Whoosh~"

Eight flying swords danced lightly with her tapping fingertips, fiercely entangling with the eight flying blades while drawing ever closer to the Night Phantom in the night sky.

"Hiss!"

The Night Phantom grew increasingly annoyed, gradually losing her cool.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi immediately lifted up a Wonderful Fire Lantern.

This dark red octagonal lantern possessed only an illumination effect, but for Guan Guan Yiren and Lu Ran, it was a signal.

On the right bank of Yueyahu, at the edge of the mountain forest.

Lu Ran hid behind a large tree, exposing only half his face as he gazed at the battlefield in the night sky.

Secretly observing. jpg

As Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi released the Wonderful Fire Lantern, Lu Ran's eyes narrowed, seizing the opportunity: "Baa~~~"

"Hmm?" The Night Phantom whipped her head around, looking toward the lake's right bank.

It was precisely this momentary lapse in battlefield focus that completely sealed her fate.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The area where blades and swords clashed was already very close to the Night Phantom.

Now, with the Night Phantom's attention diverted, there was a brief gap in her control over the flying blades.

Three flying swords instantly broke free from their entanglement with the flying blades, thrusting straight at the Night Phantom.

Guan Guan Yiren's eyes were ice-cold as her lightly tapping fingertips suddenly flicked upward.

One sword lifted the veil, one sword sealed the throat, one sword pierced through the skull.

Cold light flashed, exceedingly sharp and fierce.

"Got her~" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi cheered softly, also marveling in her heart at Guan Guan Yiren's rapid growth.

Those flying swords were terrifyingly precise, seemingly having reached the level of "micro-control."

And the higher Guan Guan Yiren's combat power rose, the better results Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi could naturally achieve by following the team.

"Your brother has been put through the wringer." Guan Guan Yiren turned her head, gazing across the lake at the mountain forest.

Behind a tree, she vaguely saw half a figure.

Completely different from a week ago.

This powerful believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang had retracted all his sharpness, dedicating himself to playing support for her.

As fellow youths of seventeen or eighteen, and both proud geniuses, Guan Guan Yiren asked herself honestly if she could be so magnanimous.

Spending one's own time to tailor clothes for others.

Lu Ran had done it, and without a single complaint.

Even so, Guan Guan Yiren placed Lu Ran on a level higher than herself.

After all, Lu Ran had been selected for "The Prodigies" and possessed a divine weapon; these were solid, tangible achievements.

Despite this, Lu Ran was willing to lower his status voluntarily to serve as a foil for her training.

How could Guan Guan Yiren know that Lu Ran did not care who delivered the killing blow to the Night Phantom.

As long as the soul arrived, he would let them call him whatever they wanted~

"It's fine, it's fine." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi waved her small hand, "Sister Guan Yiren brought him here precisely for better reinforcement and improvement!"

"Mm." Guan Guan Yiren, expressionless, showed a faint smile on her face.

Indeed, I have benefited from little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi.

Everyone can see how much care and attention Lu Ran, this older brother, gives to his younger sister.

The divine weapon carried on Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's back not only protected little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi but also added a layer of insurance to Guan Guan Yiren's safety.

In fact, Guan Guan Yiren could perceive Lu Ran's special feelings.

Since they met, Lu Ran has been particularly friendly to Guan and Niu.

Back then, Niu Niu Zhengzheng was full of doubts about Lu Ran, and back then, Guan Guan Yiren had almost hurt Lu Ran.

Regarding the various things that happened during their training journey, Lu Ran handled them lightly and brushed them aside.

The meaning behind it was self-evident.

"You have a good brother." Guan Guan Yiren reached out and gently rubbed Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's head.

"Mm, mm!" Hearing Sister Guan Yiren praise Lu Ran, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi immediately became happy and turned to look across the lake.

Nearby, Niu Niu Zhengzheng scratched his head: "Actually, I feel quite aggrieved too."

"What are you aggrieved about?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi rolled her eyes at Niu Niu Zhengzheng. "You've improved through training and can now block the flying knives."

Niu Niu Zhengzheng: "..."

That's true!

Standing here, I either deflect the flying knife or take the blade in my body.

After a week, the number of times I've been cut has indeed decreased.

"That's enough for now." From the nearby woods came the voice of Team Leader Zhang Ya, "We should go back."

Her words also reached everyone's ears through the invisible earpieces.

"Is it time?" Lu Ran's voice sounded in the earpiece.

"You should leave." Zhang Ya spoke in a strictly official manner.

Lu Ran: "Since we're already here, let's play a bit longer~"

Zhang Ya's face darkened, and she felt her temples throb!

Strangely enough, Lu Ran always felt she was like a strict homeroom teacher, while Zhang Ya treated Lu Ran as a proud and unruly student.

Indeed, people are mutual.

As soon as Lu Ran spoke, Zhang Ya felt a surge of anger!

Guan Guan Yiren raised her hand to her ear and said softly, "Next time, I'll bring you again."

She felt she owed Lu Ran and had decided that next time, she would make Lu Ran undergo special training.

The young girl's cold voice reached everyone's ears through the earpiece.

Xiao Xiao Yusong and Lang Lang Zhixuan also heard it and their expressions became strange.

Although the two were a few years older than Guan Guan Yiren, they had grown up playing together since childhood and naturally knew the temper of the young Miss Guan.

It was rare for young Miss Guan to speak up on her own initiative.

And why did this voice sound a bit gentle?

"Oh." Lu Ran, looking very regretful, replied in a low voice.

The Night Yemo Yemo Xiesu sculptures in the sculpture garden had not advanced to Jiang Jing.

What made Lu Ran even more uncomfortable was that whenever a sculpture was at the fifth stage and faced a Break Through Great Realm, the number of lost souls required was uncertain.

It was simply infuriating.

Over these seven days, the group had slain no fewer than two hundred Night Mei Yemo Xiesu.

The dangers involved, even now when recalling them, made people feel a shiver of fear.

There were almost no Night Mei Yemo Xiesu in the Mist Realm; most were in the Stream Realm and River Realm, and their numbers were roughly equal.

According to the standard that one hundred lost souls of the same realm allow a Yemo Yemo Xiesu to advance one level, Lu Ran had already gathered enough.

But obviously, when a Yemo Yemo Xiesu Breaks Through a Great Realm, it requires more lost souls.

"Let's go, I'll take you back to Huicheng." Xiao Xiao Yusong came to Lu Ran's side and patted his shoulder.

"Mm."

As the group reunited, a black spider lily bloomed in Xiao Xiao Yusong's palm.

These past few days, the group had hardly traveled at all.

Every time they returned to the city to rest, Xiao Xiao Yusong would bloom a flower.

When returning to the lake area to hunt, Xiao Xiao Yusong would bloom another flower.

Very convenient!

Every time Lu Ran saw this spider lily, he was filled with envy.

It was clearly black, but in Lu Ran's eyes, it appeared so enchanting and beautiful.

The more he looked, the more he loved it~

When will I be able to have one too?

Lu Ran admired the spider lily; as the illusory image expanded and then contracted, the group directly returned to the main city.

"Brother Xiao." Lu Ran suddenly spoke, "Can this Divine Technique Artifact directly teleport people outside the Demon Cave?"

"Yes." Xiao Xiao Yusong nodded. "But my current strength is insufficient, and the Divine Technique Artifact's grade is not high enough."

Hearing this, Lu Ran became even more eager.

To be able to teleport directly from the human world into the Demon Cave?

It was simply a cheat skill for skipping tickets!

"You should go back." Zhang Ya looked at the group and urged them to leave.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was very polite, her voice sweet as she said, "Thank you, Team Leader Zhang, for your care over these past few days."

Zhang Ya's demeanor softened slightly: "Everyone, go back. It's the twenty-fifth of the twelfth month; go home and prepare for the New Year."

"It's almost New Year~" Little Jiang Qiao Yuanxi instantly regained her boundless energy.

Just thinking about the imminent arrival of New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival filled her with immense joy.

She hoped that this year, Mother would finally show some sense!

Not so strict, punishing people by making them kneel at the slightest provocation~

Hmm. Yes, this year's birthday wish shall be exactly that!

"Goodbye, Team Leader Zhang."

"Farewell, Team Leader." The group bid farewell to Zhang Ya, then, under Lang Lang Zhixuan's lead, circled around the Shi Zhu once more.

Under the send-off of the aesthetic moonlight, Lu Ran, whose harvest was quite satisfactory, finally departed from the Night Charm Demon Lair.

As Lu Ran stepped out of the central building, he couldn't help but raise a hand to shield his face.

The warm winter sun, veiled by clouds and mist, was not particularly glaring.

But Lu Ran had grown accustomed to the night; he would need some time to adjust.

"Little Bro!" Lang Lang Zhixuan arrived beside Lu Ran with a hearty laugh, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

"Just call me Lu Ran," Lu Ran said helplessly.

For several days now, Lang Lang Zhixuan had been addressing him this way.

The problem was, Lu Ran didn't feel young at all.

"Wouldn't that be too distant?" Lang Lang Zhixuan laughed. "On the fifteenth of the second month, I'll definitely be watching the livestream."

Looking forward to your performance, haha!

Give those arrogant geniuses a proper lesson!"

Lu Ran's expression turned peculiar: "Since you put it that way, then address me as Master Ran."

Lang Lang Zhixuan:?

Am I actually the student here?

Lu Ran pressed his lips into a smile and sent the other party a classic emoji.

Whether he could teach others a lesson, Lu Ran wasn't sure.

But Master Ran knew clearly that this student Lang before him had already been thoroughly schooled!

The formerly haughty Most Dongting believers, after merely seven days of lessons, had become completely obedient.

No more doubts, no more resentment, and their speech was becoming increasingly pleasant.

So... should he strive a bit harder to make all the geniuses under heaven behave themselves?

(End of Chapter)