Chapter 278: The Ugly World

Chapter 278: The Ugly World

In the dark shopping mall, Lu Ran silently crept around, killing the Vermilion Paper People one by one.

As the Night Silence Blade severed the last Vermilion Paper Person's head, the mall finally fell silent.

A strand of wandering soul drifted away from the Vermilion Paper Person's body and frantically rushed towards Lu Ran.

However, the hand reaching for Lu Ran was continuously restrained by a pair of dead sheep eyes and eventually swallowed into the Divine Demon Sculpture Garden.

"Buzz!"

Lu Ran felt his brain tremble.

In the sculpture garden, the Vermilion Paper Person's evil sculpture buzzed.

Lu Ran couldn't help but feel delighted!

Was the evil sculpture about to advance from the Third Stage of the River Realm to the Fourth Stage?

Vermilion Paper People, oh Vermilion Paper People.

If I had known you'd come to see me during the college entrance exam, why did I have to ask for favors and connections to harm you in Vermilion Village last month?

I might as well go harm the Ghost General!

Lu Ran quickly scanned the area and rushed to the mannequin in the clothing store.

He removed the snapback hat from the male mannequin's head and placed it on his own, then took off the scarf from the female mannequin's neck.

Covering the lower half of his face with the scarf, Lu Ran strode towards the exit of the mall.

The square was in chaos.

Several Vermilion Paper People were wreaking havoc, and crimson waves were surging.

When Lu Ran found his teammates, he happened to witness the moment his four-person team achieved victory.

In the night sky, currents of electricity spread, and several Lotus Flying Swords swiftly darted through.

The immobile Vermilion Paper People were pierced through their heads by a string of long swords, spilling blood as they fell from the sky.

"Excellent!" Lu Ran silently praised, immediately rushing towards the group.

"Lu Ran," Jiang Ruyi saw the newcomer, and her worried heart finally calmed down.

"Brother Lu is back!" Deng Yutang's face lit up with joy, his voice filled with excitement.

Such news made the group even more exhilarated.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Ran arrived with Xian Wu, already stopping beside the group.

"Are you okay, Master?" Tian Tian's face was filled with concern as she constantly examined Lu Ran.

"Don't worry." Lu Ran's voice was calm and powerful, soothing his teammates' spirits.

His gaze swept across the battlefield, and in the square, he saw five battle groups.

"Let's go help," Lu Ran began to say, but suddenly he slightly raised his head.

The group was startled, thinking that a Vermilion Paper Person had arrived, and immediately looked up.

However, in the sky above, there was no trace of evil demons.

Chang Ying: "Ran Bao?"

The group didn't know that Lu Ran's slight head movement was to listen carefully.

He heard the sound of crying!

Although it wasn't loud, Lu Ran heard it clearly.

He turned around and looked towards the direction of the Wuli Building, his gaze fixed on the street west of the building.

"Don't..."

Lu Ran whispered a word, his heart pounding violently.

There was another battle group there.

And the crying voice was coming from Bai Man Ni's mouth.

The girl was dragging a person's hand, running frantically towards the west gate of the building as if seeking shelter.

But the person she was dragging was a ball of flesh.

This person's waist and chest had already been broken, and the back of his head was pressed against his buttocks, with his two legs tightly wrapped around his torso.

A living person had been squeezed into a ball.

Blood was flowing out of his mouth, and the scene was unbearable to witness.

Lu Ran recognized him.

He was a member of Bai Man Ni's squad, a Seventh Rank Deity·Mystical Ape Follower.

He wasn't tall, only 1.55 meters, but he had a domineering name—Hu Ding Tian.

Hu Ding Tian was introverted and unremarkable, and in the class, he was always a wallflower.

Lu Ran and this classmate weren't friends, and in the three years they had never even exchanged a few words.

But Lu Ran's emotions were still stirred.

For so long, he had indeed become accustomed to life and death.

But this was the first time Lu Ran had witnessed someone he knew from his life die on the battlefield.

Tonight was the night of the college entrance exam.

Everyone was about to graduate.

After this, Hu Ding Tian could leave this cursed city and go to college elsewhere.

But he couldn't make it through this night.

"Man Ni!" Chang Ying's gaze went far, and under the dazzling neon lights, she finally realized something.

"Let's go and support them!" Jiang Ruyi made a quick decision.

Even though there were already two Moonwatcher squads on Bai Man Ni's side, Jiang Ruyi still gave the order.

"Chh—"

Lu Ran swiftly weaved through the air, but his heart had already sunk to the bottom of the valley.

There was no saving him.

Lu Ran had already seen Hu Ding Tian's wandering soul on the street.

Hu Ding Tian was at a loss, standing on the zebra crossing, watching what was happening in front of him.

The Moonwatchers and the Vermilion Paper People were entangled, and divine techniques and evil spells were frequently used.

Bai Man Ni was crying her heart out, dragging the corpse.

Another female teammate broke open the door, clearing the way for Bai Man Ni.

Qian Hao's eyes were wide with anger, and his chubby face was flushed red as he followed behind the corpse, crawling and rolling.

A green glow emanated from his body, and he was still trying to heal the corpse's injuries.

Even though everyone knew that the corpse had already lost all signs of life.

All of this was so unreal.

It was like a nightmare, a nightmare from which they couldn't wake up.

"Run fast, don't worry about me, run!"

Hu Ding Tian suddenly spoke, clenching his fists and shouting loudly.

Because the body he was following, Qian Hao, was starting to twist unnaturally.

"Maa—"

A sheep's bleat suddenly rang out.

Hu Ding Tian hurriedly turned around and saw the existence that he regarded as a god.

Lu Ran!

Lu Ran arrived, and a glimmer of hope appeared in Hu Ding Tian's eyes. He knew that Qian Hao could be saved.

At the same time, on the rooftop of the electronics mall across the street, a Vermilion Paper Person holding a paper puppet of a little person turned to look at the newcomer.

Hu Ding Tian: "Quickly, take them to the shelter. Lu Ran, help them, send them there."

Lu Ran suddenly turned and rushed towards his classmates: "Okay."

Hu Ding Tian's eyes widened in shock.

He... Lu Ran... What did he say?

Was he talking to me?

All this time, Hu Ding Tian, like everyone else, had been watching Lu Ran from afar, witnessing his ascent to the heavens and his place among the Heavenly Talents.

Hu Ding Tian had also considered asking Lu Ran for guidance, hoping to learn some movement techniques and receive some pointers. But every time, just as he mustered the courage, he would stop at the last moment.

Was he afraid of being ignored?

Was he afraid of being rejected?

Was he afraid of disturbing Lu Ran?

He didn't know, perhaps all of the above.

Lu Ran was too dazzling, only suitable to be admired from a distance.

"Ssss—"

Lu Ran's figure moved swiftly, pushing Qian Hao, along with the corpse and Bai Man Ni, into the Wuli Building.

"Ran, Brother Ran?" Qian Hao's arms were twisted awkwardly, and he turned his head foolishly to look at Lu Ran.

"Lu Ran..." Bai Man Ni's face was covered in tears, and she sat on the ground, looking up at Lu Ran foolishly.

"Go to the shrine, don't go out." As Lu Ran turned to leave, he took off his hat and tore off the scarf covering his face.

This disguise had just been put on, but now he discarded it completely.

"Be careful, Brother Ran!" Qian Hao shouted loudly.

Lu Ran had already reached the west gate of the building.

Before entering the building, he had used the Divine Technique: Sound of Panic, so at this moment, several Vermilion Paper Persons were attacking the west gate.

Fortunately, the Moonwatcher forces were strong enough to prevent the evil demons from invading the building.

"Kill her, Lu Ran, quickly kill her!" Hu Ding Tian, unable to control himself, floated towards Lu Ran, clenching his fists and repeating his words.

"Hmm." Lu Ran responded with a deep voice, and divine mist enveloped his feet.

Hu Ding Tian's mouth hung slightly open.

Lu Ran was actually responding to him, actually talking to him?

Hu Ding Tian stared at Lu Ran in a daze, never imagining that when he finally spoke to Lu Ran, it would be after his death.

"Ssss—"

Lu Ran brushed past a Moonwatcher, even passing through Hu Ding Tian's ghostly form, and headed straight for the Vermilion Paper Person on the street.

Because Lu Ran's speed was so fast, Hu Ding Tian wasn't taken into the Netherworld Eye.

Hu Ding Tian, unable to control himself, followed Lu Ran's figure, flying backwards and quickly turning to look.

He saw Lu Ran and a Vermilion Paper Person getting infinitely closer.

"Hiss!" The Vermilion Paper Person's beautiful eyes shone brightly, her face filled with excitement.

But seeing Lu Ran's fierce killing intent, the Vermilion Paper Person suppressed the desire in her heart and quickly raised her hand.

"Whoosh~"

The red wedding veil surged towards Lu Ran.

Under normal circumstances, Lu Ran would have been wrapped up by the wedding robe and captured alive.

"Ssss—"

Lu Ran's speed suddenly increased, leaving everyone in awe!

He took a hundred-meter running start, allowing the red wedding robe to pass over his head.

That pitch-black Night Silence Blade pierced straight towards the Vermilion Paper Person's heart.

Flame Gate Sword Technique First Form: Question the Moon!

The Vermilion Paper Person's face stiffened, and she lowered her head in disbelief, looking at the blade embedded in her chest.

A Vermilion Paper Person with a fatal injury couldn't use the Evil Spell: Paper Substitute.

Lu Ran didn't give her much time to be surprised. He twisted his wrist, and the blade pointed upwards. With a fierce upward swing, he slashed.

In an instant, the Vermilion Paper Person was split into two pieces from her chest to her head.

Blood splattered all over Lu Ran's face.

However, he had no time to waste. Hearing the intense sound of the wind, he stomped his foot heavily and darted sideways.

The crimson wave covered the sky and crashed down.

Street lamps, shops, asphalt roads, and everything else were smashed to pieces, and thick smoke and dust filled the air.

The other two Vermilion Paper Persons had already abandoned the rest of the human race and were searching for Lu Ran's figure in the smoke and dust on the ground.

It was at this moment of distraction that various divine techniques struck, killing one of the Vermilion Paper Persons.

The other Vermilion Paper Person reacted quickly and immediately summoned the Evil Spell: Vermilion Paper Sleeve, absorbing endless output.

She seemed to have the power to embrace all!

"Baa~"

Just at this moment, the sheep's bleat sounded again.

The Vermilion Paper Person seemed to be enchanted, once again looking towards the direction of the sound.

In the midst of the thick smoke and dust, she faintly saw Lu Ran's figure.

But for this glimpse, she paid the price with her life.

"Lu Ran, can you help me?"

Hu Ding Tian's voice trembled slightly, and his face was filled with pleading.

Lu Ran turned to look at the approaching Hu Ding Tian.

A glance from him once again ignited hope in Hu Ding Tian's eyes, a longing for life:

"Lu Ran, you're so powerful, you must be able to save me, you must!"

Lu Ran fell silent.

"Lu Ran, help me. My dad is still waiting for me at home, and he's going to hold a banquet for my enrollment."

"Farewell." Lu Ran spoke softly.

As Hu Ding Tian's words stopped, the hope in his eyes disappeared, leaving only a bitter expression:

"No, is it impossible? I'm disturbing you."

A wave of sourness rose in Lu Ran's heart, and he turned to look to the side.

But the ghost, after all, had to pass through his eyes and enter the sculpture garden.

Lu Ran slightly lowered his head, covering his eyes with one hand, feeling the ghost passing through his fingers and entering his pupils.

Classmate,

I will take your share and overturn this ugly world.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end