Chapter 76: My Turn? (Requesting First Subscription!)

After the two small teams registered, they were met by a team instructor.

This was a middle-aged male soldier named Cai Cai Yunfei; he was not as serious as imagined, and his speech carried a Tianjin accent.

Lu Ran felt quite fond of this accent!

This was inseparable from the special background of the era.

As the hometown of folk arts, Tianjin produced cultural products that were simply spiritual sustenance for the people of Great Xia.

On the night of the fifteenth, they came every month.

Countless people spending fearful nights in shelters or at home relaxed their nerves and found joy amidst bitterness by listening to works like crosstalk and storytelling.

The Lu Ran of the past was one of them.

"If you run into a Lie Hun Mo in a bit, don't you dare... ahem, don't chicken out!"

Instructor Cai's style was vastly different from Instructor Dou of Rain Alley City.

While leading the way, he admonished, "The more you run, what happens? Hey, the more it chases you!"

Everyone: "."

Cai Cai Yunfei: "Running around wildly like this throws the team into chaos. Once the team is in chaos, hey, the tactics fall apart."

Lu Ran: "."

If you're going to speak, just speak; why keep staring at me?

If nothing unexpected happened, this was likely the fault of the four words "Xiang Xiang Xianyang Believer."

Before entering the Demon Cave, the students naturally had to register their detailed information.

Although Lu Ran had already made a small name for himself, it was limited to the tiny Rain Alley City.

Arriving in Tianjin territory, Lu Ran was nothing.

As they spoke, the group circled the Shi Zhu and descended the spiral stone steps, coming upon the gate of the Demon Cave.

That, too, was a curtain of starry sky, mysterious and aesthetically pleasing.

The first person to witness this miraculous sight would surely never have imagined that behind the brilliant stars hid so many fierce and terrifying creatures.

"Whoosh~"

As the group entered the gate of the Demon Cave, a night wind suddenly arose, blowing their clothes into disarray.

Looking down,

a hundred meters below, Lu Ran saw a grand black wood encampment with torches flickering.

Gazing into the distance,

he saw paths of torches stretching deep into the night, resembling winding fire dragons.

The scene was already set!

All that was missing was an epic background music track.

"Let's go." Jiangjiang Ruyi placed a hand on Lu Ran's back, her voice soft.

"Oh." Lu Ran came to his senses, descending while exerting his vision to the limit.

Inside this Demon Cave stood vast stretches of black forests.

These trees were pitch-black throughout and extremely thick, capable of growing over a hundred meters tall.

Lu Ran knew that these giant black trees were called "Black Soul Wood"; they were hard in texture and highly fire-resistant, a specialty of this Demon Cave.

This wooden encampment underfoot was likely built by the military using local materials.

"This way." Cai Cai Yunfei led the group down from the Shi Zhu, heading straight for the south gate.

Outside the encampment gate, caltrops made of black wood were arranged in an orderly yet scattered fashion.

It seemed they were prepared to prevent a desperate charge by the Lie Hun Mo clan.

"Go boldly! If all else fails, you still have me!" Cai Cai Yunfei suddenly transformed into a crow and flew straight into the night sky.

"Let's go." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi held the Liang Ye Sword in one hand while reaching forward with the other.

Accompanied by a surge of energy, an antique-style eight-sided lantern quietly materialized.

Master Master Hua Deng Divine Art · Wonderful Miao Miao Huo Long!

Its structure was exquisitely crafted, with dragon and phoenix patterns carved onto the wooden frame, and it even featured a carrying pole.

However, all eight sides of this ancient lantern were blank, bearing no patterns whatsoever, which clashed greatly with the exquisite wooden frame.

Clashing?

No matter; once Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi gained the ability to seal evil spirits, it would match.

"Go." Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi gripped the lantern's carrying pole and gently pushed it forward.

The eight-sided lantern flew forward on its own, drifting into the pitch-black wilderness.

The Wonderful Miao Miao Huo Long drifted slowly forward, casting a dim red glow over the surroundings.

Beautiful it was, indeed,

but in this dark and eerie territory, it appeared somewhat eerie.

"Hmm." Lu Ran's expression became somewhat strange.

Why did he always feel that this ancient lantern emitting a dim red glow matched the style of a Rouge Paper Doll so well?

It was simply an essential item for a grand wedding!

"Looks good, right?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi moved to Jiangjiang Ruyi's side, looking very proud.

Jiangjiang Ruyi hadn't expected the other party to approach her.

Naturally unwilling to dampen the mood, she smiled and nodded gently: "Mm."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's next action surprised Jiangjiang Ruyi even more.

She linked one arm with Jiangjiang Ruyi's while slowly raising her other hand.

Guided by its master, the Wonderful Fire Lantern drifted slowly into the night sky.

"It can even serve as a Kongming lantern!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi looked up at the eight-sided lantern flying further away.

Jiangjiang Ruyi gazed at Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's pretty profile and said softly, "You are at Stream Realm, Stage One; you should have learned the Blazing Fire Lantern?"

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi, who was already holding her palm high, suddenly spread her five fingers and made a small sound effect with her mouth: "Boom!"

Lantern Divine Art · Blazing Fire Lantern!

"Bang!"

In the night sky, the Wonderful Fire Lantern turned into a ball of fire and exploded.

The Wonderful Fire Lantern is the most basic Divine Art of the Lantern sect, possessing only an illumination effect.

Its "wonder" lies in its ability to change properties at any time, serving as the carrier for many subsequent Divine Arts of the Lantern sect.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, "There, the fireworks you wanted."

Jiangjiang Ruyi observed the explosion range, then smiled and nodded.

Although the two had known each other for only a short time, Jiangjiang Ruyi already understood this playful and cute younger sister's childlike nature.

Seeing Jiangjiang Meiren's gentle smile, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi couldn't help but be secretly mesmerized.

Tsk tsk,

Truly not bad~

To one side, Guan Guan Yiren turned her head slightly, her gaze seemingly present yet absent as it flicked toward the pair.

However, this believer of Liangye Jian Yi remained aloof and said nothing.

Tian Tian, standing behind and to the side of Jiangjiang Ruyi, watched Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi holding Jiangjiang Ruyi's arm and likewise said nothing.

"Brother Ran." Niu Niu Zhengzheng, carrying a patterned battle axe, grinned and said, "I heard from Jiang Qiao Yuanxi that you're the top Gao Zhongsheng in Rain Alley?"

Lu Ran, rarely modest, replied, "Just a small place; not worth mentioning."

Lu Ran had always been friendly toward Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's two teammates.

After all, these two would accompany his sister throughout her high school years, and Lu Ran did not want to ruin the team's atmosphere because of himself.

"That still makes you number one," Niu Niu Zhengzheng said stubbornly.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi asked curiously, "What are you trying to do?"

Niu Niu Zhengzheng said, "Compete, of course?"

"Ox Head, don't act foolishly again!" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi stopped him. "We are here to join forces and kill enemies, not to duel each other."

Lu Ran suddenly spoke up: "I'm fine with either."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi had already been warned beforehand that Niu Niu Zhengzheng had a straightforward personality.

When it comes to men,

one fight is worth more than a thousand words.

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said angrily, "Why are you acting foolishly too!"

Lu Ran, however, smiled: "Since he keeps calling me 'Brother Ran,' I must live up to that title!"

"Haha!" Niu Niu Zhengzheng said. "Blades and swords have no eyes; let's save the sparring for later."

"Let's just compete to see who kills enemies more cleanly!"

"That works," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi agreed immediately. "But we must find a Stream Realm · Lie Hun Mo; we cannot be overconfident."

Lu Ran looked at Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi with considerable surprise.

He hadn't expected that his usually mischievous sister would consider things so thoroughly.

However, Lu Ran did not realize that Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi was so determined precisely because she feared he would encounter problems and be unable to handle a Stream Realm · Lie Hun Mo.

Of course, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi knew that Lu Ran's results in every assessment had been excellent.

But she had never personally witnessed Lu Ran in combat.

Furthermore, since Lu Ran was a believer of Xiang Xiang Xianyang, his entire set of Divine Arts was clearly more suited for maneuvering and harassing enemies.

Naturally, Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi believed that her brother's good results relied more on his team.

Asking her brother to face a Stream Realm · Lie Hun Mo in a solo duel?

Wouldn't that be making things difficult for a sheep!

The role of a believer has never been about fighting alone, but about shining brightly in one's own position.

"Alright, I'll follow orders," Niu Niu Zhengzheng said, striding forward.

"Don't worry." Jiangjiang Ruyi, being meticulous, had noticed Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi's concern.

"Hmm?" Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi looked at Jiangjiang Meiren.

Jiangjiang Ruyi asked, "Since becoming a believer, you haven't seen your brother?"

"That's right," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said, nodding.

Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly, "When your brother acts foolishly, even all six of us combined might not survive."

Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi exclaimed, "Huh?"

Behind and to the side, Tian Tian was also stunned in her heart.

From beginning to end, Lu Ran had been her teammate, the one who led the team to soar.

Tian Tian had never considered what would happen if Lu Ran were an enemy.

The more she thought about it, the more panicked Tian Tian became!

She truly did not know what she should do to survive against Lu Ran.

"Thank you for standing up for my brother," Jiang Qiao Jiang Qiao Yuanxi said very seriously. "But Sister, you must not kill him with kindness."

Everyone present was at least a disciple of a Fifth-Rank God.

Not to mention the presence of explosive-level existences like a believer of the Western Wasteland and a believer of Liangye Jian Yi.

How is my brother supposed to win?

Is he supposed to keep bleating, crying and begging the opponent to let him have a round?

"Forget about your brother's combat talent; you'd better see it for yourself." Jiangjiang Ruyi felt somewhat helpless, yet she didn't blame the other party.

After all, unless witnessed with one's own eyes, it was hard for her to imagine that this little lamb could actually ride atop everyone's heads, tyrannizing them.

"Ha, finally here!"

After traveling for a long time, the group finally spotted a wandering Lie Hun Mo in the wilderness beyond the path of torches.

Niu Niu Zhengzheng let out another excited shout: "Brother Ran, time me!"

Lu Ran: "."

He truly was a reckless brute.

We're having a contest, and you want me to moonlight as the referee too?

"Moo!!" Niu Niu Zhengzheng hefted his heavy patterned battle-axe and charged forward.

That single cow-moo from Niu Niu Zhengzheng,

left the opposing Lie Hun Mo completely stunned.

"Hehe." Niu Niu Zhengzheng grinned broadly.

The Lie Hun Mo race possessed huge physiques; even the weakest Fog Realm Lie Hun Mo stood over two meters tall.

Its entire body was pitch-black, bearing a fierce ox head; although it walked upright, all four limbs were demon-modified ox hooves.

Coincidentally, Niu Niu Zhengzheng was equally burly, also standing over two meters tall.

In the relatively dim light, that single shout from Niu Niu Zhengzheng had truly bluffing the opponent into submission.

"Whoosh!"

Taking advantage of the Lie Hun Mo's momentary stupor, Niu Niu Zhengzheng rushed forward rapidly, suddenly swinging his great axe from bottom to top.

Xi Huang Shen Fa · Drifting Sand!

In an instant, a cloud of sand and soil flew up, striking straight at the Lie Hun Mo's face.

"Moo!"

Blinded by the sand and soil, the Lie Hun Mo instinctively squeezed its eyes shut, roaring in anger.

Without another word, Niu Niu Zhengzheng, whose axe was already poised in an upward strike, viciously chopped downward.

It carried the momentum of splitting Mount Hua!

Moreover, at the exact moment the axe blade struck down, a phantom axe shadow unexpectedly enveloped that massive axe head.

Xi Huang Shen Fa · Shattered Wilderness Axe!

This technique, Ci Ji Fa, possessed remarkable characteristics.

If a Xi Huang believer carried no weapon, they could summon a great axe bearing crack patterns out of thin air.

If the believer carried a weapon, then the shattered axe shadow could attach itself to the armament, enhancing the axe blade's power!

"Slish—"

Blood sprayed everywhere.

The Lie Hun Mo, like a wooden stake, was split directly in half from top to bottom by the great axe!

Overwhelming force, clean and decisive!

The Fog Realm Lie Hun Mo, with its eyes blinded, could only retreat while roaring wildly and thrashing its ox hooves, unable to mount any proper resistance.

Meanwhile, Lu Ran silently counted in his heart, reaching five.

"How was it?" Niu Niu Zhengzheng turned his head to look toward the torch path.

"Five seconds." Lu Ran answered truthfully.

And those five seconds even included the time Niu Niu Zhengzheng spent running over.

No wonder he was a Second-Rank Deity · Xi Huang Axe Believer.

Truly both reckless and violent!

Niu Niu Zhengzheng bent down to search for the demon crystal, shouting loudly: "Brother Ran, your turn."

"My turn?"

Lu Ran flicked both hands downward, driving his twin blades deep into the ground.

Then, he slipped one hand into his pocket.

Under the curious gazes of the crowd, Lu Ran pulled a red scarf out of his pocket.

(End of Chapter)