Chapter 112: The Battle in the Dog Village

Chapter 112: The Battle in the Dog Village

Seven days later, at the Evil Dog Village in the Wild Wilderness, swaying lanterns lit the night.

A tall and slender figure stood at the edge of the lantern-lit path, gazing at the distant battlefield.

"He's truly insane," whispered Xian Xian, her voice filled with a hint of admiration.

In her sight, Lu Ran was engaged in close combat with a group of evil dogs, each step filled with peril.

Xian Xian was certain that Lu Ran had the ability to retreat from the battlefield.

Moreover, the Divine Technique Celestial Hoof, a spell created by the Celestial Ram Deity specifically for his followers to escape, was at his disposal.

Yet, Lu Ran, this eccentric individual, charged into the heart of the battle like a reckless warrior!

His demeanor may be that of a hot-headed brute, but his combat skills were incredibly precise.

Hmm... Even more meticulous than this pack of thin dogs!

He retreated, sidestepped, and delivered a horizontal slash with his double-bladed weapon.

Tilting his head, blocking, and transforming his twin blades into a spinning disc.

A pack of seven or eight evil dogs surrounded Lu Ran, tearing at him with frenzied ferocity.

Amidst this pack of thin dogs, the most meticulous one seemed to possess a premonition of his enemies' actions, repeatedly turning danger into safety.

Four large characters formed in Xian Xian's mind: Pleasing to the Eye!

The more she watched, the more she enjoyed it.

She always felt that although Lu Ran outwardly worshipped the Celestial Ram, in reality, he secretly also worshipped the Second Rank Deity, the North Wind Blade!

Of course, this was just wishful thinking.

Divine beings were exclusive, never allowing the situation of "one disciple, multiple deities" to exist.

Xian Xian finally confirmed that Lu Ran's success in the Black Lantern Demon Cavern was not merely due to luck.

"Wuu~"

The pack of thin dogs let out mournful howls.

This signified injury and fear.

As the evil dogs fell one by one, the survivors realized their predicament and turned to flee.

Killing eight dogs, only to be counter-attacked by four—

The enemy was clearly out of their league!

Xian Xian casually picked up a heavy hammer and held it in her hand.

She swung it forward, and the three-meter-long-handled hammer spun and danced, creating layers of flames that illuminated the dark wilderness.

Blazing Heaven Technique Blazing Sky Dome!

Using such a domineering spell to slaughter dogs was indeed a waste of talent.

"Boom!"

The hammer's strike was not precise, and with the evil dogs' agility, they naturally dodged the blow.

However, while they evaded the hammer, they couldn't escape the surging flames!

The hammer exploded, transforming into a sea of fire that engulfed three evil dogs.

Lu Ran even smelled the scorched aroma of dog meat.

His master's cooking skills were terrible; after a single flame, there was no decent dog meat left.

"Mee~"

Lu Ran turned his head, looking at the sole surviving evil dog.

It survived because it fled in a different direction from its three companions.

However, under the call of the Enchanting Sheep, where could there be survivors?

If this dog belonged to the River Realm, it might have had a chance to escape.

But it was from the Stream Realm, making its situation dire.

The terrifying Enchanting Sheep had completely shattered the evil dog's will.

What should have been a panicked escape turned into a vengeful return.

Witnessing this scene, Xian Xian's expression became complex.

She didn't hear Lu Ran's soft whimper, but a few days ago, she had experienced it firsthand.

Regarding Lu Ran possessing a unique version of the Compassion Sound Divine Art,

Xian Xian's mind had exploded with a million "Why him?"!

The Celestial Ram Deity seemed to be overly indulgent towards this disciple.

The modified version of the Divine Technique Celestial Hoof could still be linked to escaping the battlefield, but the alternative use of the Compassion Sound Divine Art?

This spell's effect completely contradicted the survival philosophy of the Celestial Ram Sect!

If this wasn't the deity's indulgence, what was it?

"Tss!"

The blade pierced the dog's flesh, and Lu Ran's twin blades pierced its belly, then swiftly slashed an X shape in front of him.

Blood flowed, coating the sharp blades.

The rain of blood fell, staining the red handkerchief on his face.

Lu Ran panted heavily, having fought for a long time, and was indeed exhausted.

Xian Xian approached step by step, her tone slightly mocking: "You always tell me to go easy, but when it's your turn, you bathe in a rain of blood?"

Lu Ran: "Dog corpses are resources, we can't waste them.

With one swing of your hammer, there's no energy left, only charred, crispy meat."

Xian Xian held the Blazing Heaven Hammer, its flames burning, as if carrying a three-meter-tall torch, and stood beside Lu Ran:

"All you do is scold me; you have nothing else to say?"

Lu Ran muttered softly: "I'm the commander, after all."

Xian Xian suddenly reached out her palm, her movement deliberate, as if giving Lu Ran time to prepare.

"Hmm?"

Lu Ran's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Xian Xian's lips curled in a barely-there smile, and her fingertip wrote a character on Lu Ran's blood-stained face:

"Thin!"

There was no exclamation mark, of course.

Lu Ran: "..."

Was she cursing me?

Over the past four months, Lu Ran had grown one centimeter taller, reaching 178 cm.

But his weight had only increased to 68 kilograms.

As a martial artist, Lu Ran was indeed on the thinner side.

Perhaps it was because he was 17, at the age of rapid growth, or maybe the daily training consumed too much.

In any case, Lu Ran's weight just wouldn't increase.

"Hehe~" Xian Xian took a step back, holding the heavy hammer in front of her.

The firelight illuminated Lu Ran's face, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Lu Ran wiped his face, erasing her handiwork: "Hurry up and collect the corpses! That last hammer swing must have consumed a lot of your divine power, right?"

Xian Xian: "I rarely praise you, and now you're getting angry?"

Lu Ran: "I'm just following orders, or else I'd bleat at you!"

"Ugh." Xian Xian placed a hand on her forehead.

Is that a warning?

You've already bleated!

Damn it!

"Listen, go quickly, I'll keep watch," Lu Ran's tone softened slightly.

"Hmph!" Xian Xian stomped her foot, picked up the heavy hammer-torch, and headed towards a pile of charred dog corpses in the distance.

The Divine Technique, Compassion Sound, has a terrifying hidden feature—a fatal weakness for familiarity!

Humans are emotional creatures.

Putting aside the aspect of power and cultivation realms, the closer and more emotionally connected someone is to Lu Ran, the more effective Compassion Sound naturally becomes.

And when the spell takes effect, the starting point is even higher! Ever since the journey of trials began, the relationship between Lu Ran and Xian Xian has been transforming with each step.

This can be seen in their conversations.

Firstly, the two have been training together in the pitch-black Demon Cave.

As comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, their relationship has naturally grown stronger.

Secondly, admiration is a natural human trait, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Xian Xian, a powerful believer of the Second Stage of the River Realm, had once looked down upon the small fry of the Third Stage of the Stream Realm from a lofty position.

Now, she would never do that again.

Previously, at Lu Ran's home, she had even said something like, "I could crush you with one hand."

Now, she would have to reconsider her words.

"Huff!"

Lu Ran let out a long breath, adjusting his state.

As early as the third day after entering the Demon Cave, the Evil Sculpture of the Evil Dog in the Sculpture Garden had already been cultivated to the Fifth Stage of the Stream Realm.

And as Lu Ran and Xian Xian ventured deeper into the Demon Cave, encountering stronger and more numerous demons, the Evil Sculpture naturally received more nourishment.

Logically, the Evil Sculpture should have already advanced to the First Stage of the River Realm by now.

However, it remains at the Fifth Stage of the Stream Realm.

When the Evil Sculpture advances to a lower rank, there is a clear requirement for the number of souls.

But when it comes to breaking through to a higher realm, there is no specific value.

Could it be that the Divine Sheep has been embezzling again?

Previously, the Black Lantern Infernal Sculpture had made a grand advancement, reaching the River Realm from the Mist Realm in a very short time!

Was it because the time was too short, and the Divine Sheep didn't have time to embezzle?

"My gods," Lu Ran muttered to himself, "Let's just get the Evil Sculpture to the River Realm first. I have a plan in mind.

Anyway, I have to stay in the Evil Dog Village until the 10th, and after completing my goal, I'll still be here to capture souls."

"What are you muttering about?" Xian Xian asked as she approached.

Lu Ran casually replied, "I was just bargaining with the deity...cough, I mean, I was praying to the deity."

Xian Xian felt like she had heard some disrespectful words, and her face showed her displeasure.

Then, looking at the dog corpses around Lu Ran, she said angrily, "I've already cleaned up the bodies outside.

These few dogs are right by your feet, and you want me to clean them up too?"

Lu Ran spoke softly, "I left them for you on purpose.

The energy in my Divine Energy Orb is almost full, and your spellcasting is like spending nothing. Go ahead and absorb them."

The trace of annoyance in Xian Xian's heart vanished.

She pouted, and the words "thank you" reached her lips but never left her mouth.

Xian Xian silently squatted down and used her Divine Energy Orb to absorb the dog corpses.

Lu Ran advised, "I told you before, don't use a cannon to swat a mosquito.

When dealing with Stream Realm evil dogs, you can lower the intensity of your spell and use the least amount of divine power to deal the most damage."

Xian Xian didn't seem to care, "It's just more fun this way. Worrying about so much is annoying."

Lu Ran picked up his knife and tapped the girl's head with the blade, "Not listening again?"

Xian Xian slightly widened her beautiful eyes and looked up at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran: "What's wrong?"

Xian Xian's body trembled slightly.

Lu Ran smiled, his lips pursed, resembling a classic expression from a certain novel.

Slowly, Xian Xian stood up, her expression serious, "I'm really going to go crazy."

Only believers with mental defense skills can achieve complete immunity.

Lu Ran's bleating couldn't break through the "mental firewall" of such believers.

However, for most believers, they would first be affected and then use their own mental strength to forcefully remove the influence.

In other words, as soon as Lu Ran bleated, the spell would take effect!

As for whether the effect lasts for 5 or 8 seconds, or just 0.01 seconds, that's another matter.

Lu Ran: "If you follow my commands, you won't go crazy."

Xian Xian: "I'm not listening to you enough?

You've almost bleated me into a lifeless clay figure, and you want me to do what?"

The more Xian Xian spoke, the angrier she became, and she couldn't help but stomp her foot hard.

"Boom!"

Dust flew everywhere.

The ground beneath the girl's boots was trampled, leaving cracks.

Lu Ran immediately took a step back.

Wow, look at how the kid is being pushed, almost learning the Soul Shattering Demon Hoof!

"Alright, alright," Lu Ran said, "I won't..."

Xian Xian suddenly took a step forward and covered Lu Ran's mouth with her hand.

If she had been a bit slower, that word might have slipped out again!

"No! You! Can't! Say! That!" Xian Xian said through gritted teeth.

Her beautiful, fair face was contorted, a characteristic of a Blazing Heaven Follower.

Lu Ran nodded slightly, and a muffled voice came from under the girl's palm, "Okay, fine."

"Hmph!" Xian Xian angrily flung her hand away, not bothering with the dog corpses anymore, and headed towards the path of swaying lanterns.

Lu Ran: "Today's training ends here. Let's head to the next Stone City for some rest."

Xian Xian!" Lu Ran called out, but she didn't respond, pretending not to hear.

Lu Ran took off the Divine Energy Orb from his neck and squatted down to absorb the dog corpses, "Wait for me."

In the distance, Xian Xian's steps gradually slowed.

She took a few more steps and finally stopped.

Without turning around, perhaps it was her last show of stubbornness.

Lu Ran smiled. According to the standards of a Blazing Heaven Follower, Xian Xian had indeed performed very well these past few days.

Whether it was because of Lu Ran's bleating or her gradual acceptance of her teammate, or maybe she didn't want to be sent back to double-queue with her mom, Xian Xian had indeed been very well-behaved.

Hmm. He should treat her better too.

Three more chapters today at 12, 18, and 22.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end