Chapter 281: General's Grave

Chapter 281: General's Grave

On the 19th day of the Lunar month, in the vast land of Sanjin, a tall figure stood at the entrance of the Xiaoyi City High-Speed Rail Station, enduring the scorching sun and the stifling heat.

From Rain Alley to the Capital, and now to Xiaoyi.

In just three hours, Lu Ran had arrived at the renowned Great Summer Coal Capital.

Lu Ran, who was supposed to be on a pilgrimage, had changed his plans and come here to enhance his own strength.

In the northern suburbs of this city, there was a well-known Demon Lair—General's Grave.

The name itself sounded stubborn and defiant.

Within the Demon Lair of General's Grave, the Ghost General Clan thrived.

Lu Ran had come here specifically to activate the Ghost General's evil sculpture and equip himself with the evil technique, "General's Aura."

With this technique, he would no longer have to worry about mental techniques like battle cries, illusions, and the like.

Additionally, although General's Aura was a mental defense technique, it could also enhance Lu Ran's mental strength to some extent!

In other words, this technique not only saved lives but also increased his basic attributes.

Calling it a divine skill would not be an exaggeration!

"Hello, I'm going to the General's Grave," Lu Ran said, getting into a taxi and deliberately lowering his voice.

The driver glanced at the passenger in the rearview mirror, seeing how they were trying to hide their identity, and couldn't help but be curious.

It was a scorching hot day, and this person was wearing a hat and a mask.

A celebrity, perhaps?

Lu Ran bowed his head and fiddled with his phone, pulling his hat lower, "Just focus on the road."

The driver, feeling a bit awkward, quickly averted his gaze and looked straight ahead.

Lu Ran looked at his phone screen, where Si Xianxian had sent a message a few minutes earlier:

"Then when will you be back?"

Lu Ran immediately replied:

"I'm going on a pilgrimage, so I'm not sure. It might take a long time."

Si Xianxian responded almost instantly:

"I hate you."

Lu Ran rolled his eyes and quickly replied, "Talk to me properly!"

My dear Xianxian can be crazy, wild, and even crash into walls!

But act cute?

What are you pretending to be a gentle and refined lady for?

Lu Ran looked at his phone and saw that Si Xianxian hadn't sent any more text but had sent a voice message instead.

Lu Ran immediately opened it and heard a sweet voice:

"Young Master, do you feel better after I scold you?"

Her voice was indeed sweet, but it was also affected and carried a hint of a coquettish tone.

Lu Ran secretly nodded.

No need to scold me, I already feel great!

Another voice message came through: "Speak up! Are you mute? Come on, talk!"

Lu Ran: ". . ."

That's right, this was the feeling he was looking for.

Lu Ran locked his screen, turned his head, and gazed out the window, taking in the unfamiliar city.

On this journey, Lu Ran was alone.

Without companions by his side, it meant that Lu Ran could unleash his full combat power!

He could freely use evil techniques and even summon Night Charmers to fight alongside him against the Ghost Generals.

One word: exhilarating!

Just the thought of it was thrilling!

Ghost Generals, oh Ghost Generals,

My first full-power output is dedicated to you!

Surprised? Happy?

Twenty minutes later, the vehicle arrived in the northern suburbs, quickly approaching a military camp.

Lu Ran's eyes narrowed, and he saw a massive divine statue in the distance.

It was a female divine statue, appearing relatively young with a graceful figure.

She held a bamboo whip in her hand, wore a conical hat, and donned a light green long skirt adorned with bamboo leaves and floral patterns, exuding an ancient charm.

The Seventh Rank Deity·Mystical Ape!

Of course, the stone statue itself didn't have such vibrant colors, but Lu Ran had seen the deity's ethereal form and filled in the details in his mind.

The vehicle slowly entered the camp, and in the vast parking lot, numerous vehicles were parked.

It was evident that this place was bustling with business!

The Demon Lair of General's Grave was open to the public.

Then, a question arose: If the Ghost General Clan was so powerful, why was the General's Grave open to the public?

Perhaps it was because the Ghost Generals had no horses!

Every night of the 15th of the Lunar month, when the Ghost Generals invaded the human realm, they often brought their own mounts.

Wherever a Ghost General appeared, within a radius of a hundred meters, there was a high probability of finding a Black Flame Colt.

However, in essence, these were two different evil demon races.

Therefore, within the General's Grave, only Ghost Generals could exist, and there was no mention of Black Flame Colts.

The majestic horseback generals, in their own territory, could only reluctantly act as infantry.

It was quite a frustrating situation.

Ghost Generals without horses were still dangerous, but they were far less terrifying than those riding horses!

Furthermore, due to the exceptional skills of the Ghost General Clan, they naturally became the challenge targets of powerful followers.

In Great Summer, this Demon Lair was even referred to as the "Martial Arts Academy for Experts."

Practicing and honing one's skills here would undoubtedly lead to improvement!

Lu Ran had come here with the intention of seeking knowledge and improvement.

"Thank you," Lu Ran said as he scanned the QR code and got off the car.

Carrying his backpack and holding his double swords, he looked up once more to admire the divine statue of the Deity Nine Bamboo.

To be honest, Lu Ran had some doubts in his heart.

Could the Nine Bamboo Deity, ranked seventh, really suppress the Ghost Generals?

With these unrespectful thoughts in mind, Lu Ran headed towards the central building.

The soldiers on duty naturally noticed Lu Ran, fully armed, and couldn't help but take a few extra glances.

Lu Ran searched and headed straight for the registration desk.

At the window, a few people were already in line, and Lu Ran patiently waited for his turn.

The female soldier at the window asked, "Just you alone?"

Lu Ran nodded.

The female soldier looked Lu Ran up and down, also curious about this tightly wrapped young man, "If you're going in alone, your strength must be at the River Realm to qualify for entry into the General's Grave."

"Lu Ran held up his student ID and promptly replied, "I'm from the River Realm."

The female soldier reached out her hand towards the small window.

Lu Ran pushed his ID forward but paused, "Ma'am, could you please keep this quiet?"

The soldier looked at him with a puzzled expression, intrigued by the mysterious young man.

What does he mean?

Does he think I'll make a scene?

The soldier was slightly displeased. As a soldier, she was expected to be serious and composed, and her position at the registration window also represented the image of the military.

Do I look like a shallow person? Lu Ran was unaware that his words had offended her.

"Your ID, please!" The soldier frowned slightly.

Lu Ran obediently pushed his student ID into the small window.

The soldier reached out and took it, and the dissatisfaction in her heart vanished the moment she opened the ID.

"You..."

The soldier's eyes widened in surprise! She looked at the photo and name on the ID and then looked up at Lu Ran standing in front of the window.

"Shh," Lu Ran raised a finger and placed it on his mask.

The soldier opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and when she regained her composure, her eyes sparkled even brighter.

Lu Ran?!

The Summer Prodigy!

The sensational Sage Sheep believer? How could someone like him appear here, standing right in front of her? Undoubtedly, the impact of the Great Summer Rankings, organized by the government, was immense.

After two seasons of the rankings, Lu Ran had become a national-level "hero" figure!

"Although I've finished my college entrance exams, I won't officially graduate until June 1st," Lu Ran said softly. "For now, I'm still a high school student, and I can enter the Demon Hunt for free, right?"

"Yes, yes!" The female soldier nodded, looking up at Lu Ran with sparkling eyes.

Lu Ran smiled, "Thank you."

His smile was hidden behind the mask, but it couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.

The soldier quickly lowered her head, trying to calm her emotions.

Calm down, she thought. I represent the military's reputation.

"The Ghost General's Grave is dangerous. We recommend hiring at least one soldier to accompany you," the soldier advised.

She paused and continued, "The accompanying soldiers will do their best to ensure your safety and can also provide some guidance in your martial arts training. Mm-hmm."

As she spoke, the soldier's expression became a bit strange.

Guide the martial arts of the Summer Prodigy? It sounded like she was overestimating her abilities.

"Miss, I'd like to train alone, is that okay?" Lu Ran asked sweetly, without a hint of arrogance.

The soldier's heart fluttered at the word "Miss."

"Of course, of course," she nodded repeatedly, her attitude friendly and accommodating.

After registering, she returned the ID and reminded him, "Every 24 hours, you must report to the nearest Stone City. If you're late, the Demon Hunt will deduct points from your believer score, so remember that."

"Thank you," Lu Ran said, his eyes sparkling with gratitude as he turned and left.

The soldier watched Lu Ran's departing figure until the people in line behind him urged her to continue. She then picked up the walkie-talkie next to her.

As the soldier reported to her superiors, Lu Ran arrived at the storage area and placed his backpack and phone in a small locker.

Then, with his twin blades on his back, he headed straight for the central stone pillar.

He descended the stairs quickly, as if afraid of being stopped.

Below, the starry sky backdrop rippled with dense energy, as if beckoning Lu Ran to enter.

"Huff~"

The night wind picked up, ruffling Lu Ran's short, messy hair.

Finally, Lu Ran saw a relatively normal Demon Hunt.

The majestic stone city stretched out to the edge of the night sky, illuminated by a path of light.

It was time for some epic background music! Lu Ran's heart raced with excitement.

This time, he was alone, without a team or accompanying soldiers.

He could move freely, and it felt like the sky was the limit!

Lu Ran descended quickly, but upon entering the stone city, he was stopped.

"Mr. Lu!" Several soldiers blocked Lu Ran's path, and the leading man stepped forward.

Lu Ran: "Hello?"

"A pleasure to meet you!" The male soldier smiled, "Since you're training alone, we suggest you don't venture beyond the sixth city.

In the Demon Hunt, there are naturally formed ancient tombs and man-made graves.

The Phantom General Clan favors burial grounds, and they might be lying in wait. If disturbed, they will appear."

Before coming, Lu Ran had done his research and was well aware of these details.

However, he didn't interrupt and listened attentively.

After a long while, the soldier finished introducing the Demon Hunt and handed him a headset, "Mr. Lu, this is your communication equipment.

If you need anything during your training..."

"No need, thank you," Lu Ran waved his hand in refusal, "No flying in the city, right?"

The soldier hesitated, his expression showing difficulty, but he said, "As you wish."

Lu Ran didn't hesitate and immediately drew his divine weapon from his back, flying diagonally towards the sky.

The soldiers looked up, watching Lu Ran's figure until it disappeared into the vast night sky.

A new volume, a new beginning.

It's time for Lu Ran to soar, and I'll strive to write the upcoming story well. Thank you all for accompanying me on this journey.

Cheers!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end