Chapter 359: The Curtain Falls

"On behalf of Yuxiang City, Lu Ran thanks you, Senior, for your assistance!"

Lu Ran stood firm, cupped his hands in a salute, and looked up at the night sky.

More than twenty meters away, a woman stood upon a flying sword.

She wore a white veil, her black hair was pinned up, and her white dress was as pure as snow, her sleeves fluttering in the wind.

Lu Ran could only see the upper half of her face; her brows were full of pride, and she possessed a pair of signature phoenix eyes.

The slightly upturned corners of her eyes carried a hint of sharpness, making her appear difficult to approach.

Guan Xiao lowered her head to look at Lu Ran, observed him carefully for a moment, and said indifferently:

"Peak Master Qiao has raised a good son."

"Senior knows my mother?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly.

This woman looked to be around forty years old, likely a few years older than his mother.

"Guan wishes the Heaven's Pride Lu victory tonight." Guan Xiao nodded slightly and drifted away.

Lu Ran flicked his right hand, and the Silent Zhan Ye Dao spun and flew five meters away.

"Swish, swish~"

A straw demon had just finished forming when its head was severed.

Immediately after, the straw demon's tightly bound body expanded, and a pile of straw submerged Lu Ran's calves.

Lu Ran watched the woman's departing figure and clenched his right hand.

The hilt of the Silent Zhan Ye Dao landed steadily in his palm.

He turned around to look; Ge Bin was already organizing the Moon-Gazing troops to continue their mission.

The previously decapitated demon, Blood Skull, had also shattered into mist, vanishing between heaven and earth.

"Go, Little Lu, don't worry."

Liu Yunlan's voice came through the invisible earpiece.

She was still healing the wounded, which gave Lu Ran confidence and peace of mind.

Lu Ran looked at Liu Yunlan from afar, nodded to acknowledge her, and retreated with fairy mist swirling beneath his feet.

Thirty seconds on the west bank, thirty seconds on the east bank.

Lu Ran killed his way back, leaving behind many demon corpses, charging through the city until he reached the Wu Lie Building.

"Brother!!"

In the center of the square, the elite team from the capital was still slaughtering enemies.

Seeing the path of fairy mist, Qiao Yuanxi immediately shouted loudly.

It happened that Lu Ran stopped on the north side of the square and severed another ox head.

Qiao Yuanxi stretched her long legs and ran quickly toward Lu Ran.

"Sss—"

Lu Ran connected points into lines, having just split a Soul Demon and then killed a Ghost Eye.

"Eh?" Qiao Yuanxi stopped. "Where is my brother?"

She followed the path of fairy mist and found Lu Ran's figure again.

Then, Qiao Yuanxi changed direction and ran toward Lu Ran.

"Hoo~"

Qiao Yuanxi suddenly felt a cold wind hit her face as a figure arrived.

Lu Ran stood before Little Yuanxi and reminded her softly: "The battle isn't over yet."

Because the Rosy Cloud Blade had been by Qiao Yuanxi's side the whole time, Lu Ran knew his sister was safe and sound.

He wasn't too worried, but Qiao Yuanxi was different!

She hugged Lu Ran tightly, burying her face in his chest:

"I was scared to death! That was a River Estuary Realm Demon Lord, that's Blood Skull!"

The young girl's voice carried deep lingering fear.

Even her voice trembled slightly.

Lu Ran felt a warmth in his heart and patted Qiao Yuanxi's back.

When a River Estuary Realm Demon Lord invades, alarm sirens naturally sound.

Moon-Gazing personnel stationed in various city districts and streets would also receive notifications from the command center immediately.

"It's okay now, look, aren't I perfectly fine?" Lu Ran comforted her softly.

Qiao Yuanxi's small hands gripped Lu Ran's clothes tightly.

As if afraid that if she were careless, the person before her would disappear.

She whispered a complaint: "I told the Rosy Cloud Blade to go help you, but it wouldn't listen and insisted on staying here with me."

Lu Ran smiled: "We'll talk about that tomorrow. Be good, go command the battle first."

"Mm." Qiao Yuanxi wasn't being good; she rubbed her face back and forth against Lu Ran's chest.

No one knew what the young girl had gone through.

The descent of a Demon Lord was enough to make people terrified.

And this Demon Lord was actually the head of the demons, Blood Skull?

Including Lu Ran, there were three human powerhouses stationed in Yuxiang City.

Yet Qiao Yuanxi learned that the person who went to face the battle was her brother, Lu Ran.

At that moment, Qiao Yuanxi truly panicked.

The Blood Skull clan was a legendary existence.

Whenever this clan is mentioned, it is often accompanied by phrases like "killing without blinking" and "seas of blood and mountains of corpses."

Qiao Yuanxi's heart had been in her throat!

Now seeing Lu Ran return safely, she almost cried with joy!

It was a special feeling, almost like recovering something lost, that ordinary people couldn't understand.

"It's over, you're going to be scolded badly." Lu Ran said with a smile.

This scene was already a foregone conclusion.

After tonight, who knew how the internet would portray Little Yuanxi.

Lu Ran felt that rather than letting others say it, it was better for him to say it himself, provide appropriate guidance, and ask everyone to be tolerant.

He flicked the Silent Zhan Ye Dao away and said gently:

"A Jiang Jing Fifth Stage powerhouse, hiding in her brother's arms crying on the battlefield?"

"Mm."

"Were you that afraid I would die?"

"Pah, pah, pah! What are you saying!"

"Then hurry up and advance to the River Estuary Realm, and help your brother fight together?"

The battlefield was chaotic, with roars echoing constantly.

Yet on this terrifying battlefield, the siblings spoke in soft whispers.

It was somewhat magical, somewhat heartwarming.

"Brother-in-law, don't worry! Anyone who dares to scold my wife, I'll be the first to disagree!"

"Ran-treasure is so gentle~ I want a hug too 【Hug. JPG】"

"Haha, God Ran has been hard-controlled! He can't bear to push her away, and he can't bear to scold her; he doesn't even dare to use a heavy tone, does he?"

"Qiao Yuanxi: I heard you're the number one Heaven's Pride of Great Xia? Stand still for me! Attention, hug~"

"Blood Skull: No! Buddy!! You were so fierce when killing me, now you don't even dare to breathe?"

"Those who are favored are fearless~ 【Red Rose. JPG】"

The livestream room was very joyful; because of Lu Ran, kind comments were in the majority.

In the camera, Lu Ran had finally calmed his sister down, and Qiao Yuanxi's red-rimmed eyes made everyone feel a bit heartbroken.

Lu Ran brought Qiao Yuanxi back to the team and heard Niu Zhengzheng's loud laughter:

"Brother Ran is mighty! Hahahaha! You beheaded Blood Skull?"

Wang Ling also laughed loudly: "Brother Ran is mighty!!"

Lu Ran said modestly: "With the help of the seniors, I had no worries behind me."

Guan Yiren hovered in the air, flying swords weaving wantonly around her.

She watched Lu Ran silently, a hint of concern in her eyes.

Lu Ran noticed something, turned his eyes to look, and happened to see Guan Yiren flying on her sword again, killing demons.

A moment later, Lu Ran suddenly said: "Just now, there was a senior who was a disciple of the Master Master Jian Yi sect.

She also had the surname Guan, do you know her?"

Guan Yiren was still killing enemies; she didn't look at Lu Ran, just nodded slightly: "My aunt."

They really were related?

Lu Ran nodded secretly.

Since the Master Master Jian Yi sect and the Blood Skull clan were mortal enemies, then this Ms. Guan Xiao must have come to—wait!

That's not right!

If Guan Xiao had come for her mortal enemy, she should have been like Wang Ling's uncle, Wang Quan, engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the enemy?

That was the only way to earn a reward.

But just now, Guan Xiao directly told Lu Ran to go kill Blood Skull.

She, this powerful Master Master Jian Yi disciple, was instead willing to play the supporting role, blocking the Blood Skull clan's ultimate move for Yuxiang City.

This...?

Lu Ran pondered for a moment, then stopped thinking about it; after all, the night wasn't over yet.

However, after Blood Skull appeared, the second half of the night in Yuxiang could be considered "calm."

And Lu Ran's earth-shattering battle with Blood Skull spread rapidly across the internet!

Before dawn, various related reports had already flooded the official websites of major news media.

According to custom, the report card for each issue of "Heaven's Pride" would be announced on the 18th of the lunar month.

But the people of Great Xia and various media outlets had already determined a fact.

This could be seen from the comments of netizens and the headlines of the media:

"Dust Settles! Yuxiang Youth Reaches the Peak of Heaven's Pride!"

"Ninth-Grade Fairy Sheep Disciple, Great Xia's Number One Heaven's Pride!"

"Head of Demons? Beheaded!!"

"The world is full of feasts, only you dare to attend Yuxiang City — Selected from livestream netizens"

Lu Ran, who had shocked all of Great Xia, was not yet aware of this.

He accompanied the capital's team to continue fighting, frantically collecting lost souls.

From time to time, Lu Ran would leave for a while, patrolling the entire city while taking in the wandering souls still roaming the human world.

Until the sky gradually brightened, Lu Ran let out a slow sigh of relief in his heart.

"It's over."

In the center of the square, Qiao Yuanxi stood beside Lu Ran, looking up at the vast white sky.

Yuxiang City,

was indeed a cursed land.

At the very least, it wouldn't be fitting for the occasion; it couldn't learn to add flowers to the brocade.

Thick frost mist filled the sky; one couldn't see the winter sun, let alone beautiful morning clouds.

"Let's go home." Lu Ran was still thinking about the Silent Zhan Ye Dao.

"Okay." Qiao Yuanxi nodded repeatedly; of course, she wanted to be alone with Lu Ran.

Poor sister, she didn't know at all that her brother's head was full of blades.

"Congratulations, Brother Ran!" Wang Ling walked up and clenched his right fist.

Lu Ran smiled and bumped fists with Wang Ling.

He didn't belittle himself.

If he couldn't score over 134 points for his performance tonight, the people of Great Xia wouldn't agree!

"Haha, congratulations in advance, Brother Ran!" Niu Zhengzheng grinned and clenched his sandbag-sized fist.

Lu Ran also bumped fists with him.

"Yiren?" Wang Ling looked at the woman standing alone to the side and reminded her softly.

Guan Yiren didn't step forward, just watched Lu Ran from afar; once again, she was drowned in his eyes.

Lu Ran smiled and nodded: "Thank Senior Guan for me."

Thank her for what?

You even saved my life.

Guan Yiren didn't speak, just smiled and nodded.

Qiao Yuanxi suddenly said: "How about we eat hot pot together tomorrow or the day after? To celebrate?"

"Okay!"

"Haha, okay! It's settled!"

The group of five laughed and chatted, feeling happy for Lu Ran.

However, at this time in the livestream room, the atmosphere of the barrage had long since changed.

Words of farewell kept floating across the screen, making people feel increasingly sad.

"Goodbye, this time it's really goodbye 【Crying. JPG】"

"Ran-dog, Ran-charm, Ran-general, Ran-emperor, Ran-treasure, Ran-god... until we meet again."

"Feeling empty inside."

"Is it really over? So warm, so sad."

"Will we meet again?"

"Thank you for accompanying me through one terrible night after another."

Suddenly, people noticed the camera shift.

Lu Ran's face appeared on the screen.

His hat had long been lost in the battle, and what shocked people was that Lu Ran had taken off his black mask.

This wasn't the first time Lu Ran had shown his true face.

After all, in the past two months, Lu Ran had participated in two events with "Heaven's Pride."

But this time, Lu Ran was taking a selfie, and he was really close to the camera.

The people of Great Xia before the screen rarely enjoyed the treatment of Little Yuanxi.

Under the frost and snow, his smile was very warm, and his voice was gentle:

"A journey of mountains and rivers, until we meet again.

Wishing you a bright future, hoping for peace for the rest of your lives."

After a short few seconds, the barrage, which was always diverse, gradually became unified:

"Wishing you a bright future, hoping for peace for the rest of your lives."

"Wishing you a bright future, hoping for peace for the rest of your lives."

"Wishing you a bright future, hoping for peace for the rest of your lives."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 360 =====