Chapter 257: The Roll Call, Solo Battle!

Chapter 257: The Roll Call, Solo Battle!

It had been two months since Lu Ran last participated in the Heaven's Pride competition.

Within these two months, Lu Ran's name had spread far and wide across the land.

His various performances on the battlefield were repeatedly studied and learned by people, even making their way into classrooms and becoming teaching videos in universities.

The Heaven's Pride competition was not only a morale booster for the people of Great Xia, but also a benchmark set by Great Xia for the younger generation!

And among the hundreds of Heaven's Pride participants, Lu Ran was the only high school student.

After the first round of competition, he, bearing the title of Divine Ram Follower, ranked seventh on the overall leaderboard!

Lu Ran's popularity was beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

If it weren't for the Great Xia government's strong protection and top-down pressure, Lu Ran's family's doorstep would have been trampled long ago.

Even so, during that February, Lu Ran still often received various requests for interviews.

If he hadn't noticed the situation and turned on the 'Do Not Disturb' mode early on, blocking unknown numbers and messages, he probably wouldn't have had a moment's peace each day.

After two months of fermentation, Lu Ran's participation in the Heaven's Pride competition this time had reached a fever pitch!

The kind of popularity that would crush the competition! It's worth noting that this batch of participating students numbered fifty, each of them a pride of heaven.

Among them was the top-ranked female monk believer, a rare talent in the world.

With such a unique selling point, the number of viewers on the first Heaven's Pride channel couldn't even reach a third of Lu Ran's channel viewership!

A rare talent? Who isn't?

Divine Ram Follower, Crimson Paper Lover, Divine Armament Master, Human Night Charm Succubus.

A series of tags attached to Lu Ran's head directly made him the undisputed number one in popularity.

Those who hadn't witnessed Lu Ran's heroic figure on the night of February 15th rushed into the live stream in droves.

Even during Lu Ran's daytime patrol, all sorts of strange creatures had already appeared in the live stream.

The barrage of comments was like an ocean, layer upon layer.

At this moment, as the fifteenth night of defending the city officially began, someone started a trend in the live stream, and it was filled with "bleats"!

Looking around, it was like stepping into a sheep pen.

"Bleat!"

"Bleat, bleat."

"Bleat, bleat, bleat~"

"Stop bleating, the battle has started, and this horse is so cool."

"Oh my! Isn't that a Black Fire Horse? Is the Ghost General coming?"

"Quick, kill it! Don't let the Ghost General ride the horse."

"It's over, I think I saw the Azure Dragon Crescent Saber! The Ghost General has arrived!!"

"What the hell, this general with his saber, wait till my little flame charm gives you a dance, and it'll be all over~"

At the same time, in the corner of Rain Alley.

Lu Ran covered his face with one hand and blocked Jiang Ruyi with the other, retreating with her.

Intense flames surged like a tidal wave, rushing towards them.

Even though the flames didn't burn them, the scorching heat was suffocating.

Fortunately, it was raining in Rain Alley City today, otherwise, a fire would have been inevitable.

The continuous sound of "ding ding ding" filled the air, and it was clear that someone was fighting against a divine weapon amidst the raging flames.

"They've come," Sun Zhengfang said with a grave expression, sighing heavily in his heart.

The Black Fire Horse clan of evil demons was skilled in using fire and posed a significant threat to human cities, but this clan was more of a support-type evil demon.

The truly terrifying one was the evil demon riding the Black Fire Horse—the Ghost General!

Strictly speaking, the general and the horse were two separate beings, belonging to different demon abysses.

But for some unknown reason, whenever they appeared on the fifteenth night, they always did so in pairs.

Similar to the Evil Demon Doll.

Once you spot one, there's a high probability of finding the other nearby.

Compared to that pair of child dolls, the combination of the Ghost General and the Black Fire Horse had an even higher chance of appearing together!

Out of ten times, they would appear together at least nine times!

However, there might be some differences in the timing or distance of their appearances.

Humans should seize the opportunity to eliminate one of them first.

Once the general and the horse combine, their threat level is not on the same level.

"Hah!"

Suddenly, a stern shout came from the sea of fire.

Everyone's hearts trembled, and a sense of fear and dread rose from the depths of their souls.

This was the Ghost General's Dark Art - Ghost General's Might!

"Don't panic!" Sun Zhengfang shouted.

At the same time, he threw out several branches, which landed on the crowd, emitting a green glow.

Combination Technique of Green Phoenix Divine Technique: Green Phoenix Branch + Green Phoenix Holy Light.

If there was one thing Lu Ran's team lacked, it was purification techniques.

Wei Long and Jiang Ruyi, as believers of Imprisoned Demon and Jade Talisman respectively, were both offensive and defensive, but with slightly different focuses.

Lu Ran, this little lamb, was the agile and swift wild position.

Only Sun Zhengfang specialized in support, but he could heal, not purify! Left with no choice, Sun Zhengfang could only use the additional effects of the Healing Technique - Green Phoenix Holy Light to calm everyone's spirits as much as possible.

"Swoosh~ Swoosh!"

Jiang Ruyi directly threw out two jade stone plaques, and amidst the raging flames, a wall of fire suddenly rose, detonating the Jade Talisman prematurely and blocking it outside.

"Come back."

Lu Ran's expression was grave as he raised his hand.

The Radiant Light Saber pierced through the wall of fire and flew back swiftly, followed by the Cool Night Sword.

"Ssssssssss~~~"

The horse neighed, its cry echoing through the rainy night.

Accompanied by the sound of hoofbeats, a general on horseback slowly emerged.

"Hiss!" Sun Zhengfang's expression was horrified, and he sucked in a breath of cold air.

As an experienced captain, he shouldn't have had such a huge reaction?

Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi didn't know that when Sun Zhengfang had just started his job, the combination of the Ghost General and the Black Fire Horse had indeed left a deep psychological shadow on him.

"Huh!" Lu Ran looked up, gazing at the majestic general striding out of the flames.

He wore a black helmet and a misty black armor, with a beast-head belt around his waist, and held a heavy Azure Dragon Crescent Saber.

He truly resembled an ancient general!

Under the pitch-black helmet, his face was shrouded in black mist, making his features indistinguishable, except for a pair of scarlet eyes that emitted a terrifying glow.

It was a chilling and awe-inspiring sight!

The Demonic General, Ghost General!

"Huff!"

The Ghost General brandished his crescent blade, dispersing the flames around him.

The Ghost General clan did not possess any fire-based techniques, but once they mounted the Black Flame Horse, everything changed.

This clan had a hidden trait—they could communicate telepathically with the warhorses beneath them.

In a sense, the Ghost General was the master of the Black Flame Horse, capable of calming the unruly horse and using it for their purposes.

"Hmm!" The Ghost General let out a heavy nasal sound.

He extended his long sword, pointing its tip at the last person in the human squad—Wei Long.

Four large characters appeared: "Summon and Duel!"

This was another unique trait of the Ghost General clan—they loved dueling in front of the battle lines.

Of course, you could also decline.

Aside from earning the disdain of the Ghost General clan, you wouldn't lose any flesh.

It was clear that the Ghost General before them had carefully selected his opponent from among Lu Ran's group, choosing who he believed to be the strongest.

Wei Long: "."

Dueling was contrary to the combat philosophy of the human forces.

Each sect and faction had their unique divine arts, and the human believers primarily focused on utilizing their strengths and working together to fight against their enemies.

Who would dare to show off their temporary abilities, abandon their advantages, and engage in a one-on-one battle with a demon?

In this world, only the Crimson Robe followers would be provoked by such a challenge.

This was because the Deity of the Crimson Robe, the Deity of the Crimson Mantle, despised the Ghost General clan the most!

There were many similarities between the techniques of these two factions.

On the internet, there were numerous videos of battles between the Crimson Robe followers and the Ghost Generals.

The Crimson Robe followers would raise a large red banner that flapped in the wind, while the Ghost Generals would also raise a large black banner that billowed in the dark wind.

The Crimson Robe followers would summon their ancestors, and the Ghost Generals would manifest their massive ghostly general's soul.

The Crimson Robe followers would roar with anger, their battle intent soaring.

The evil Ghost Generals would continuously shout, intimidating all living beings.

When the two sides clashed, it was a true battle of matched opponents, like a needle against a thorn!

Additionally, only the Crimson Robe followers could make the Ghost Generals dismount and engage in a ground battle.

Note that this was only a possibility, not a certainty.

Apart from the Crimson Robe followers, the Ghost Generals always rode their horses when fighting against anyone else.

"Hmph." Sitting atop his steed, the Ghost General saw that Wei Long didn't respond, so he lowered his long sword and let out a cold huff.

This disdainful sound and arrogant demeanor caused an uproar in Lu Ran's livestream.

In this world, the hatred between humans and demons was as deep as the sea.

Among the viewers, there were many ordinary people and low-level believers.

They felt helpless against the demon invasions and constantly tasted despair, living under constant pressure day and night.

For this reason, people treated "Heaven's Pride" as spiritual nourishment and the participating students as their spiritual pillars.

In other words, others could be cowardly, but as a member of Heaven's Pride, you must not be!

With millions of eyes watching, you were mocked?

That's even more unacceptable!

You represent the face of Daxia and the human race.

To put it bluntly, you can die, but you must never show fear or retreat!

Few people bothered to clarify who the Ghost General was pointing at.

But in the camera's view, the Demonic General, Ghost General, was pointing at your team and issuing a duel request, which meant he was targeting you, Heaven's Pride, Lu Ran!

"Fuck him!"

"Who are you cursing? Go, Lu Ran! Go for it!!!"

"This Ghost General is so cool."

"Cool my ass, kill him! Kill them both, horse and rider! Lu Ran, slaughter him!!!"

"Bleat!!!"

The barrage of comments in the livestream perfectly matched the sounds people heard.

Because Lu Ran indeed bleated, "Bleat!"

"Hmm?" The Ghost General, about to charge forward, heard this shout and immediately shifted his gaze.

He lowered his head to look at Lu Ran, who was at the front of the squad, and his scarlet eyes locked onto Lu Ran.

But the Ghost General didn't charge immediately.

Like the Crimson Mantle faction, the Ghost General clan possessed precision defense techniques, making them immune to mental interference!

Lu Ran held the Radiant Light Saber in his left hand and slowly raised it, pointing the tip at the Ghost General.

The intention behind this action was clear.

Duel!

"Hiss!!"

The Ghost General was extremely excited, and his red eyes emitted two eerie red rays.

"Huff~"

The Ghost General held the sword in his right hand, and in his left hand, he suddenly summoned a large black flag.

Dark winds rose, and the flag was enveloped in black mist.

When the flagpole was planted on the ground, the duel domain would be activated.

The Ghost General was holding the black flag and hadn't planted it yet, obviously waiting for Lu Ran to step forward.

"Lu Ran?" Sun Zhengfang frowned.

Given the nature of demons, he had indeed anticipated this outcome, but he couldn't help but feel regretful for not killing the Black Flame Horse first.

"Lu..." Jiang Ruyi also frowned slightly.

"If it's a duel, let's separate the battlefield to prevent the city from catching fire," Lu Ran said directly.

Although the drizzle was light, the warhorse's raging flames were overwhelming, and if allowed to run wild, it would indeed pose a significant threat to the city.

Lu Ran stepped forward, raised his hand, and slowly drew the Night Silence Blade from his back, whispering, "I'll give you some face."

The soft voice was heard by countless households.

Combined with Lu Ran's slow sword draw and solitary figure, the livestream went completely wild.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Holy shit? I'm new here, but is it always this cool?"

"I thought the Ghost General was cool enough."

"After killing the Night Charm, you become the Charm Killer! By slaying the Ghost General, you become the General Killer from now on!"

"Bleat! Bleat! Bleat!!!"

It's the end of the month, so please support with some monthly votes~

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end