Chapter 982: What Dares He Not?

Ten kilometers southeast of Smoke Rain Lake, amid dense forest, lay a moderately sized lake.

The area around the lake was heavily guarded.

Eighteen imposing soldiers, mostly wielding battle halberds, stood scattered throughout the trees, silently keeping watch.

Floating on the lake’s surface was a burly man.

His short hair was wild, his beard thick, his body naked, revealing sun-browned skin as he proudly displayed his muscular frame.

He paid no mind to the occasional glances or admiration from onlookers.

In the icy lake water, he lay on his back, eyes closed.

As if... sleeping?

“Sigh,” came a woman’s sigh from the forest, “when will this ever end?”

“Shh! Lower your voice!” a man holding a halberd warned in a hushed tone.

Though their post was far from the lake, in this silent environment, even the faintest sound stood out sharply.

Especially since the Lord of the Tiger Whisker Hall was unpredictable and could crush anyone’s skull at any moment.

Not just in the Tiger Whisker Hall—even within Thunderclap Mountain, no one dared provoke the Lord of the Tiger Whisker Hall.

“If you ask me, just send a group of slaves to guard it. They won’t fight, won’t retreat—why are we stuck here wasting time?” the woman said, clearly disgruntled.

As she spoke, she turned her head toward the lake and saw again that revolting exhibitionist.

You’ve shamed the noble image of our Thunderclap disciples!

The man beside her whispered, “Say less. The Thousand Boats Alliance isn’t made of mud—sending slaves here is just sending them to die.

How are we supposed to carry out the hunting mission?”

“Hunting?” the woman muttered under her breath, “Those cowardly turtles of the Thousand Boats Alliance wouldn’t dare show their faces!”

The man went on, “Besides, the slaves are busy building the Lord Lü’s sleeping quarters.”

“It’s all because of the sleeping quarters,” the woman scoffed. “Third Madam really knows how to enjoy herself—just opens her mouth, and her subordinates have to build palaces day and night.”

The woman muttered softly, her eyes filled with envy.

At the same moment, deep in the distant forest.

“What the hell?” Lu Ran stood behind a massive tree, half his face exposed, gazing from afar.

He was wrapped in a transparent veil of water.

The Sea Shark Sect’s forbidden art: Sea Shark Concealment!

In the ocean, this technique could hide one’s form and suppress one’s aura completely.

But on land, its effect was far weaker—people could still see Lu Ran’s bodily outline with the naked eye.

Yet the sky had just begun to lighten.

Add to that the light drizzle and misty haze, and it was truly difficult for the enemy to detect Lu Ran.

【What’s going on?】 Jiang Ruyi sent a query.

【Hah.】 Lu Ran laughed bitterly, 【The two Wuya followers reported to me that someone came to the lake and was snoring on its surface—I didn’t believe them.】

Now, Lu Ran believed.

This guy... is he really this relaxed?

He stripped off every stitch of clothing and left his halberd on the lakeshore?!

Not to mention this place is only ten kilometers from Smoke Rain Lake—just one thing: you’re a Thunderclap disciple, a pure land creature, and you dare float on a lake and sleep?

You can’t fly, you can’t swim—

Do you really not consider the Thousand Boats Alliance human at all?!

No wonder you’re one of the top Thunderclap disciples—you’ve become this arrogant?

【Everyone!】 Lu Ran leaned against the tree, watching his hidden teammates behind each trunk, 【I’ll strike first—I’ll send the enemy leader flying into the sky.

Get ready—when you hear the commotion, attack immediately!】

The Dragon Guardian and the Phoenix and Swallow Generals couldn’t hear Lu Ran’s telepathic message.

But through Jiang Ruyi and Deng Yu’s quiet relay, the others nodded.

【32】 Lu Ran counted down silently, leaping upward, lifting himself half-air with a gust of wind, standing behind the tree.

At the moment the countdown ended, he looked down from above, observing the clear water beneath the naked man, and his body suddenly flickered.

In an instant, Lu Ran plunged into the water, becoming completely invisible with the aid of the Sea Shark Concealment technique.

“Whoosh!!”

Lu Ran had already raised his right hand—he unleashed a violent gust of wind.

Night Phantom Forbidden Art: Night Wind Strike!

A furious wind howled, lifting the lake water and the man sprawled on it, hurling him high into the sky.

“Who’s there?!” The Tiger Whisker Hall Lord snapped open his eyes, his copper-bell eyes wide with shock!

The question was instinctive.

His next roar, however, revealed his formidable adaptability.

It was Thunderclap Sect’s powerful divine art: Thunderclap Roar!

Capable of rupturing enemy eardrums and rendering all beings dizzy on the spot.

But Lu Ran... was immune to mental techniques!

“Who are you?”

“Ah?! Ambush! Enemy—Western Desert worshipers?” The previously silent lake area erupted into chaos.

The Phoenix and Swallow Generals charged forward simultaneously, summoning a terrifying sandstorm.

Despite the persistent drizzle, the two Western Desert generals swiftly turned the lake area into a swirling dust storm, robbing the Thunderclap disciples of visibility.

On Lu Men’s side, each displayed their unique arts.

The Phoenix and Swallow Generals moved through the dust like omniscient gods.

Footing the earth, they unleashed terrifying waves of sand, utterly unfazed by any of Thunderclap’s lightning techniques.

“Pop~”

The odd sound of fish blowing bubbles signaled Yu Changsheng summoning a pale golden little fish.

The pale golden threads purified and sensed all things within the domain.

Last time, when Lu Men ambushed Ling Feng Hall, only Lu Ran had used the Jade Face Snake Forbidden Art: Immortal Realm to purify.

But now, with Yu Changsheng present, the Thunderclap disciples’ battle roars posed far less threat.

Even so, the Nightmare and Shadow Guardians remained cautious, not rushing into battle immediately.

“Boom!”

Jiang Ruyi flew into the sky at once, protecting herself while hurling two Sandflow Talismans to the ground.

The earth churned, rivers of sand flowed.

Deng Yuxiang pinpointed the enemy by sound and fired thirty-two Night Phantom Blades from afar.

Yan Shuangzi, the farthest from the lake, stood at the edge of the Prayer Carp’s purification zone, adjusting the rank of the Forbidden Art: Evil Perception, gripping tightly the divine weapon: Evil Moon Crescent Blade.

For a group of extremely fast-moving foes, her divine weapon’s domain was a perfect killing tool.

Lu Men’s generals each displayed their arts—Master Lu was no less formidable!

And... was Master Lu even arguing with the Tiger Whisker Hall Lord?

“Hah!” The Tiger Whisker Hall Lord glared fiercely, bellowing, “You dare?!”

“What do I dare not?” came a cold, young voice from the thick dust.

“Boom!!”

A phantom hammer shadow was flung skyward, striking the Tiger Whisker Hall Lord’s overly muscular body.

“Ugh!” The Tiger Whisker Hall Lord grunted.

Though naked, the instant he was attacked, a Thunderclap Armor materialized over his body.

Yet after the hammer’s impact, a crisp “crack-crack” rang out.

The Sea Sect’s defensive divine art—Thunderclap Armor—was this weak? Just one hammer blow, and the armor began to shatter?

“You little brat!” The Tiger Whisker Hall Lord, hearing the youth’s voice, roared in fury, raising his hand.

Beneath thick clouds, beneath the drizzle.

A surge of divine power surged wildly, rapidly coalescing into a monstrous halberd.

The halberd was forged entirely of pure energy, crackling with terrifying lightning that hissed continuously.

Thunderclap Sect’s Jiang Jing’s ultimate technique: Thunderclap Divine Halberd!

In that instant, the entire Thousand Boats Alliance “awoke!”

“Roar!!” From within the thick dust, a phantom great serpent descended from the sky, howling as it pierced through the Tiger Whisker Hall Lord’s body.

Earlier, the Tiger Whisker Hall Lord had been blasted skyward by the hammer—his upward momentum had been fierce.

Now, the Immortal Heaven Serpent surged forward, piercing his body and pinning him midair.

“Aaaahhh!” The Tiger Whisker Hall Lord screamed in rage.

He ignored everything else, raising both hands high, pouring all his strength into the technique.

He intended to drive the Thunderclap Divine Halberd down, destroying everything!

“Yaa!!”

At that very moment, Lu Ran appeared out of nowhere, materializing beside the Tiger Whisker Hall Lord.

Lu Ran’s scream was piercingly shrill.

That was the song of the merfolk from the depths of the sea!

The sound waves, spreading forward like a loudspeaker, completely enveloped the enemy’s body.

Tiger Beard Hall Master: !!!

His copper-bell eyes bulged outward, as if about to pop out of their sockets.

“Ah! Aaaah!”

Tiger Beard Hall Master’s eyes cracked open in agony, enduring wave after wave of spiritual assault, screaming loudly.

As everyone knows, any divine art of the grand technique type requires absolute focus to cast!

During the casting preparation, even the slightest mistake could render all effort useless.

“You little brat! Give me—Aaaah! Die!!”

Tiger Beard Hall Master, truly worthy of the vast sea!

His spiritual strength is genuinely high.

At this moment, he was indeed mentally dazed, even his eyes slightly rolled back—he should not have been capable of casting, yet—

Had the Thunderbolt Divine Spear high in the heavens already taken shape?

“Ding~ Ding~ Ding~”

At the eleventh hour, a string of Night Phantom Blades surged forward!

A single blade shattered Tiger Beard Hall Master’s wildly unstable Thunderbolt Armor; the next two blades pierced his equally unstable Water Armor.

A long succession of Night Phantom Blades, like a serpent, pierced through his back, pierced through his heart, and burst out from his chest!

“Aaa!!” Tiger Beard Hall Master arched his waist, his body forming a bridge as he shot upward.

“Who the hell are you yelling at?!” Lu Ran was both shocked and furious.

Rarely did he curse so bluntly.

He was truly enraged and startled by the insult.

Lu Men Dao Method, Third Form: Shuo Star!

Lu Ran gripped the Eight Wilderness Blade, and facing the sea realm powerhouse with no defensive armor, he swung his blade down!

“Ssshh!”

His massive head was severed clean off.

Tiger Beard Hall Master’s eyes still rolled back, blood gushing profusely from his severed neck.

At the edge of the battle, Deng Yu’s slender fingers pinched the brim of her wide hat, mist swirling beneath her feet as she flew backward through the rain.

The trailing hem of her large raincoat fluttered forward, snapping loudly.

The instant she broke free from the sandstorm, she looked up at the sky.

Beneath the gray haze, endless purple lightning scattered, and the grand Thunderbolt Divine Spear vanished without a trace.

“Hmph.” Deng Yu’s gaze was icy.

In your next life,

keep your mouth clean.

She closed her eyes, listening intently to everything within the dust, one hand reaching forward.

Thirty-two Night Phantom Blades plunged once more into the thick sand.

(End of Chapter)