Chapter 417: Ambush on Ten Sides

In a pitch-black cave, Deng Deng Yuxiang's trembling body gradually returned to stillness.

She remained silent, head bowed low, seemingly still somewhat ashamed and annoyed.

Lu Ran knew she had recovered her state, however, because the buzzing in his brain had ceased.

Night Demon Yemo Yemo Xiesu, finally reaching Stage Five!

The peak of Jiang Jing!

Pity that the Night Demon clan has completely exploded; if Lu Ran were given a few more opportunities to cultivate the Night Demon Yemo Yemo Xiesu to Zhi Hai Jing, he would be able to produce Jiang Jing-level Night Demon minions!

Would it not be splendid to have a few more servants?

Lu Ran silently lamented the missed chance but could only suppress the impulse within, calling out softly, "Nightmare?"

"Mm," Deng Deng Yuxiang responded in a low voice.

"If your state has recovered, let us return; this is, after all, Night Demon territory—the earlier we leave, the safer we will be."

"Yes." Deng Deng Yuxiang used an expressionless face to conceal the emotions within her heart.

Lu Ran chuckled inwardly but did not expose her.

After all, she was a young woman just past twenty, and so proud, yet every time her Yemo Yemo Xiesu advanced, she appeared in this trembling, undignified state.

Indeed, it was quite shameful~

"Let's go, Mr. Conglong; we shall return to the lake district to rest." Lu Ran immediately summoned the Floor Mirror.

Over the past several days, the group had fought continuously; even with a Zhi Hai Jing great physician alleviating their physical and mental exhaustion, they still urgently needed a good night's sleep.

Upon hearing this, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng, who had been hiding far away, immediately stood up and approached.

When the group teleported outside into the snowy forest, they only then realized that night had already fallen.

Lu Ran cast the Xie Fa technique 'Mirror Flower Moon' several more times, and the three members of the Ran Sect finally returned to the mountain forest beside the high mountain lake.

Tonight's sky was still shrouded by a sea of clouds.

The forest was pitch-black.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng raised his hand to summon Little Fish, but Lu Ran, quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbed the other's wrist in one swift motion.

"Shh." Lu Ran issued a command for silence, his voice small and light.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng's heart tightened!

In this pitch-black night, he could not observe the surroundings.

All Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng could rely on was the divine weapon in his hand, the 'One River Misty Rain' Fan.

However, aside from the numerous divine weapons carried by Lu Ran, the Misty Rain Fan detected no aura of similar kind.

【Do not move.】 Lu Ran, gripping Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng's hand, issued orders to Deng Deng Yuxiang within his mind.

Deng Deng Yuxiang was already highly alert; upon hearing Lu Ran's telepathic message, she strained even harder to listen with her ears.

Sniff~

Lu Ran twitched the tip of his nose: 【There are people, quite a few!】

Deng Deng Yuxiang's expression turned grim: 【Those coming to rest by the lakeside? Or those lying in ambush for us?】

【Rein in your aura; do not let them detect you.】 Lu Ran commanded mentally while quietly summoning an ancient bronze mirror.

Sinful Mirror Xie Fa: 'Mirror of Entangled Fate'!

With a slight movement of his mind, the image within the mirror constantly shifted.

Patches of ground that appeared flat were deliberately revealed by the Mirror of Entangled Fate.

Undoubtedly, someone was hiding underground!

Within the Mirror of Entangled Fate, Lu Ran scanned over a dozen spots on the ground.

This meant that within a five-hundred-meter radius centered on himself, at least a dozen people were hidden in the earth.

Lu Ran lifted his head, gazing into the distance, carefully observing in conjunction with the environment.

It seemed this group had set an ambush centered around the lake?

This high mountain lake covered no small area; beyond the five-hundred-meter radius, surrounding the lake district, who knew how many additional ambush troops were hidden!

【Go.】 Lu Ran's face turned gloomy.

Dragging one person with each hand, he led the two Dharma Protectors to retreat cautiously, stepping back into the Floor Mirror which had not yet closed.

Yet after the figures of the three vanished, the Floor Mirror still did not close.

Lu Ran poked his head out from within the mirror again, exerting his vision to the limit, locking his gaze on a distant spot beneath a tree.

He slowly raised his hand, and suddenly five thin red threads extended from the tips of his five fingers.

Entangling Thread Xie Fa: 'Entangling Threads'!

As the saying goes: Rather brave the Hall of Yan Wang than touch the Entangling Threads!

"Today, you have kicked an iron plate," Lu Ran murmured in his heart as the five thin red threads slowly probed forward.

They were like five venomous snakes hiding in the darkness!

Yet far more sinister than venomous snakes, and far harder to detect.

The Entangling Threads quietly reached beneath the tree, the fine filaments silently piercing into the soil.

"Ah? Ah!!!"

This sudden cry of shock completely awakened the dead-silent mountain forest.

Divine power surged in Lu Ran's hand, and the five threads fiercely adhered to the ambush troops.

Entangling Thread Xie Fa: 'Entangling Chaos'!

On the basis of the fine threads controlling the enemies' physical bodies, this technique could obstruct the flow of divine power within the target and interfere with their spellcasting!

"Come!"

Lu Ran roared inwardly in anger and yanked fiercely backward.

A tall woman was forcibly yanked out of the earth, flying straight toward the floor-standing mirror.

"What is happening?"

"An enemy attack?"

"Woo~~~" The lake area instantly descended into chaos as the sound of horns suddenly blared.

Yet long before the horn sounds rose, amidst the pitch-black mountain forest, the woman had already been dragged into the mirror, which then dissolved along with her.

Eighty kilometers away, within a lush mountain forest.

Lu Ran gently flicked his five fingers; the tall woman floated in midair like a marionette, slowly turning around.

Without another word, a streak of seductive deep red flashed across his eyes.

Thread-Pulling Xie Fa · Thread-Pulling Pupils!

Lu Ran's expression turned sinister and ruthless; "First, you give me—hmm?"

Lu Ran was somewhat stunned; he had intended to offer a greeting gift, using the Thread-Pulling Pupils to torment and intimidate the opponent, making this captive more obedient.

He had not expected his illusion technique to be pushed right back at him?

This woman... is she immune to mental-type techniques?

What kind of believer is she?

I don't care what kind of believer you are!

Is my Xie Fa · Thread-Pulling Chaos something to be trifled with?

Lu Ran's divine power surged wildly, using the red threads to frantically block the circulation of divine power within the woman's body.

Subsequently, another streak of bewitching deep red flashed across his eyes.

"Ah! Ahhhhhh!!"

The tall woman wailed miserably, her body and brain feeling as though pierced by ten thousand needles.

Excruciating pain transmitted from her limbs and bones twisted her features, causing her body to convulse continuously.

Jing Fang Ji Fa also requires active activation; once Lu Ran further disrupted the divine power within her body, he could naturally forcibly disturb or even shut down her Jing Fang Ji Fa.

"Shut up!" Deng Deng Yuxiang commanded in a low voice, full of authority.

"Mm." The tall woman subconsciously obeyed the command, yet the extreme agony made her unable to suppress her moans.

After confirming the captive could not stir up any trouble, Lu Ran looked left and right: "Let us first find a concealed place."

At the same time, on a cliff not far from the Gaoshan Lake.

Thinking back, it was here that Lu and Deng had rested while investigating the lake, before meeting Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng.

And at this very moment, a woman stood there, her expression terrifyingly cold!

"M-Master," a man trembled as he knelt behind her.

"Speak," the white-skirted woman coldly spat out a single word.

"Jing Hong... Jing Hong she... she has disappeared," the man stammered in his report, his forehead already pressed against the ground; "We just searched... conducted a search, but could not find anyone."

"Trash!" The white-skirted woman squeezed out two words through clenched teeth.

With the anger rising in her heart, the temperature between heaven and earth plummeted abruptly.

"Hiss!"

A sword blade pierced into a skull.

With a casual flick of her sleeve, the white-skirted woman caused the flying sword to instantly shatter the man's Water Flow Armor, pinning the kneeling man dead to the spot.

She had executed her slave, yet the fury in her heart remained unquenched.

Meanwhile, the sound of the horn, possessing searching and detecting effects, still echoed through the mountain forest.

Under these invisible sound waves, the actions of the white-skirted woman were perceived clearly by everyone blowing the horns.

Yet no one dared harbor the slightest complaint; instead, they searched with even greater effort.

Whether sorrow, despair, or perhaps existing anger—all emotions could only be buried deep within their hearts.

The low-pitched horn sounds possessed a very unique timbre, echoing within the silent night.

It was as if everyone were mourning and sending off their deceased companion.

Inside a concealed mountain cave, a small pale golden fish swam slowly in midair, illuminating this newly opened small cavern.

It is worth mentioning that this fish originated from the lowest-grade Mist Grade · Rain-Praying Carp.

Clearly, Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng worried his purification method might interfere with Lu Ran's work, so he deliberately lowered the quality of the Divine Technique Artifact.

"Sect Master, impressive methods."

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng's eyes were deep and obscure as he watched the red threads extending from Lu Ran's fingertips.

My dear Sect Master!

Just how many evil cults have you infiltrated?

During the battles of the past ten days, Lu Ran would occasionally reveal some kind of Xie Fa, causing Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng to feel secretly alarmed.

And tonight,

Lu Ran actually brought out the Xie Fa of the Thread-Pulling Clan?

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng strove to maintain his composure.

Yet a person's reputation is like a tree's shadow!

These sexy beauties were steeped in poison from head to toe, causing too much trauma to the human race.

Anyone would feel fear and raise their guard.

Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng truly had not expected that the gentle and polite Lu Ran was, behind the scenes, dangerous to such an extent!

"Mr. Conglong jokes," Lu Ran said casually, keeping his eyes fixed on the captive.

At the other end of the thin red line, a woman was being held.

Five silk threads were placed respectively on this woman's forehead, both wrists, and both ankles, completely controlling her every move.

This woman was over forty years old, tall and big, standing half a head taller than Deng Deng Yuxiang.

Compared to the curvaceous Deng Deng Yuxiang, this woman was also more burly.

She wore black robes that still bore traces of mending.

Because Deng Deng Yuxiang had given orders beforehand, this woman dared not open her mouth to beg for mercy, yet her eyes were filled with tears and her face written with pleas.

"What believer are you?" Deng Deng Yuxiang interrogated.

The tall woman's lips trembled: "A War Horn believer."

Fifth-Rank Deity · War Horn!

The War Horn sect's offensive methods were rather scarce, but their supportive abilities were quite outstanding.

Among the Moon Gazing human troops, figures of such believers also existed, but comparatively speaking, most War Horn believers had been recruited by the military.

Of the War Horn sect's total six divine arts, sound-based techniques accounted for a full five!

Various horn sounds offered comprehensive effects and performed quite well.

Recalling those years, the moment Lu Ran summoned the Evil Spirit · Rouge Paper Man upon the God-Respecting Platform, the students cried to the heavens and scrambled on the ground, scared out of their wits.

At that time, a teacher had blown a horn to control the situation.

The entire chaotic playground quickly fell silent.

This was enough to demonstrate the War Horn believers' powerful crowd-control ability!

"A War Horn believer?" Deng Deng Yuxiang's inner malice grew even fiercer.

She had privately analyzed that perhaps Yu Seeing Yu Changsheng had once offended someone, which was why enemies had tracked him to the Lake District and set up an ambush.

Yet the profession of War Horn believer was far too targeted.

One of Lu Ran's few weaknesses was his fear of sound!

Could this be a coincidence?

If Lu Ran had not been sufficiently vigilant and possessed an exceptionally keen nose,

he would likely already have been pinned in the Lake District by the sound of the horn!

"Who sent you?" Deng Deng Yuxiang grabbed the woman by the throat and lifted her right before her eyes.

The woman's lips trembled: "Sword Sword Shanfeng, Senior Dongfang Ning."

Deng Deng Yuxiang's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, the malice in her chest unable to be suppressed, filling the entire cave.

DONG! FANG! NING!

Today three updates: 12:00, 18:00, 22:00.

(End of Chapter)