Lu Ran's appearance caught the attention of many soldiers, who looked at him closely.

It was clear that many recognized him as Da Xia's genius.

After Chen Jingjing paid her respects to the gods, she went to negotiate with the soldiers.

Lu Ran, on the other hand, went straight to the trunk to fetch weapons.

"Are you okay?" A graceful figure approached him.

"Hm?" Lu Ran turned his head and saw the side profile of Jiang Ruyi.

Jiang Ruyi picked up the Silent Night Blade and looked at Lu Ran. "You've been very quiet all the way here."

Lu Ran silently nodded, sighing inwardly.

I'm not doing a very good job as a son, am I?

All along, his mother had been an immensely strong presence in his heart.

The sudden situation had caught him off guard, and unfortunately, he was too weak to do anything about it.

"Is it because of Auntie?" Jiang Ruyi came behind Lu Ran, helping him secure the scabbard of his blade.

"Yes." Lu Ran picked up the Dawn Blade and handed it behind him.

"Jingjing said we can only stay in the Demon Cave for seven days," Jiang Ruyi whispered softly, carefully arranging Lu Ran's equipment.

Lu Ran understood her meaning and turned to look at the young girl. "After the training is over, will you accompany me back to Beijing to see her?"

Jiang Ruyi smiled lightly and nodded, "Sure."

Her eyes were clear and her smile was enchanting, causing Lu Ran to lose his train of thought momentarily.

Chen Jingjing couldn't help but glance at Jiang Ruyi a few more times.

"Excuse me." Si Xianxian inappropriately squeezed over, pulling a two-meter long Black Luminous Stone Hammer from the trunk.

She also had some inappropriate thoughts about wanting to explore West Sea and experience the local customs.

But Si Xianxian was too embarrassed to say...

"Let's go," Chen Jingjing reminded.

"Let's go!" Lu Ran led the way, followed by his two teammates catching up to Chen Jingjing's pace.

Soon, Lu Ran felt the influence of being "Heavenly Pride."

Wherever he went, soldiers looked at him as if he had grown flowers on his face.

Lu Ran was also secretly relieved, thankful that he had worn a hat and mask on the plane earlier, otherwise he would have been mobbed at the airport.

Under the guidance of a soldier, the group of four descended the spiraling stone stairway.

The gate of the Demon Cave below resembled a Starry Sky Curtain, mysterious and profound.

"Whew~"

As they entered, a gust of night wind passed by, messing up Lu Ran's short hair.

His eyes narrowed as he saw a bright moon hanging in the distant sky.

While Lu Ran was admiring it, a cloud drifted by, gradually obscuring the moon.

Such a perfect moment!

After enjoying for a while, Lu Ran surveyed the terrain of the Demon Cave.

What met his eyes was an endless expanse of mountains and forests.

"Everyone, please pick up the pace," a leader soldier's urging voice came from below.

"Oh," Lu Ran responded loudly, quickly making his way downhill.

The group descended about a hundred meters before they finally set foot inside the grand Stone City.

Two middle-aged male soldiers stepped forward briskly. They looked to be in their mid-forties.

The leading soldier introduced himself, "My name is Li Ming, Dust Shadow Believer, River Realm First Rank.

This is Li Xin, Biwu Believer, River Realm Second Rank.

We will accompany you throughout this training mission."

Lu Ran looked at their somewhat similar faces, wondering.

These two must be brothers, both Jiang Realm Great Powers.

Among them, a Dust Shadow Believer?

A Dust Shadow Believer willing to engage in worldly affairs is of strategic value, a true rarity!

And the military in this Demon Cave was willing to dispatch such personnel as leaders for their own team?

Lu Ran sensed that this was likely special consideration from the military.

After all, during his previous training in the Night Charm Demon Cave, there had been only one Biwu Believer leading the team.

Chen Jingjing spoke up indifferently, introducing herself: "Sword One Believer, River Realm, Chen Jingjing."

Somehow, Chen Jingjing didn't mention her specific level of strength.

However, just the mention of River Realm was enough.

Chen Jingjing gestured to her side, "These three are trainees."

Lu Ran and the others promptly introduced themselves.

"I recognize you," Li Ming's gaze fell on Lu Ran.

"Thank you both," Lu Ran said modestly.

Li Ming's response was beyond Lu Ran's expectation, "It's our honor."

Si Xianxian quietly nodded in agreement.

Of course, it was an honor to be able to lead Da Xia's genius through training and ensure Lu Ran's safety.

The brothers distributed lighting and communication devices and then led the way towards the east gate of Stone City.

Along the way, Li Ming repeatedly emphasized discipline, asserting that even if Lu Ran was Heavenly Pride, he could not violate any rules.

Otherwise, they would be directly expelled from the Demon Cave.

Lu Ran nodded repeatedly, meanwhile growing more confident.

Having a Dust Shadow Believer in the team ensured everyone's safety!

That dark Other Shore Flower could always lead everyone to slip away from the battlefield at any moment.

It was practically a bug!

The group exited through the east gate and noticed a few torches extending toward the entrance of the forest.

"Our destination is Yan Zhi Village," Li Ming stated from the back of the group, "Just follow the torches."

"Yan Zhi Village?" Lu Ran couldn't help but be curious.

"Yes," Li Ming explained, "In the Demon Cave, the terrain is relatively uniform, and any unusual environment tends to attract the attention of Evil Demons.

Over the years, we've learned that the Yan Zhi Clan has a particular fondness for desolate ancient houses.

Therefore, we have built many villages and constructed several houses in the forest."

Lu Ran was intrigued: "Just like the Night Charm Clan prefers lakes, always gathering by the waterfront?"

"Something like that," Li Ming nodded, "Our soldiers regularly patrol each Yan Zhi Village, exterminating any Evil Demons within.

The Yan Zhi Village we are heading to is the one closest to our main city."

Well then~

Lu Ran grinned: "Building villages for them?

Wouldn't it be easier to just create a lake or destroy a piece of forest to create an unusual environment?"

Li Ming shook his head: "Unusual terrain indeed attracts the attention of Evil Demons, but it won't make the Yan Zhi tolerate staying long.

They mostly just glance and leave.

Desolate ancient houses are different."

Lu Ran was puzzled, turning to look at the soldier: "You mean the Yan Zhi can actually stay inside them?"

Li Ming nodded: "It's possible.

Some Yan Zhi may even fight fiercely over ownership of these houses, engaging in deadly conflicts with each other."

Lu Ran: ???

Jiang Ruyi and Si Xianxian exchanged glances, today they had learned something new.

Evil Demons fighting among themselves wasn't surprising.

After all, each was ferociously brutal, sparing no quarter with each other.

But Evil Demons from the same clan generally don't turn weapons on each other.

Ultimately, this is because these demonic minions originate from the same Evil Demon Sculpture.

Moreover, on the night of the 15th, different species of Evil Demons are also less likely to fight among themselves.

Humans are the real prize, the ultimate temptation for them; why would demons bother with their own kind?

Moreover, deep down, Evil Demons are also programmed to collect human fear.

Jiang Ruyi suddenly spoke up: "Since the Yan Zhi Clan is quite fond of ancient houses, can't we build such places in our cities too?"

The girl's idea was clear, to use the property of the Yan Zhi Clan appropriately.

On the 15th night, lure the Yan Zhi to these ancient houses rather than letting them wreak havoc in the city.

Li Ming was willing to address the young people's queries: "Our world is far more varied and vibrant compared to this monotonous and barren Demon Cave.

Moreover, the Yan Zhi are essentially Evil Demons.

Once they appear in a city, their attention is completely on humans; they wouldn't care about any ancient houses."

Jiang Ruyi silently nodded.

It made sense. Weren't there plenty of ancient buildings in human cities?

If such structures really had great appeal to the Yan Zhi, Da Xia would have already promoted it widely.

"Jingjing," Lu Ran called out.

Chen Jingjing turned around to see Lu Ran nodding with a smile: "The three of us are training, you can stay behind the group, no need to lead the way for us."

"Yes," Chen Jingjing immediately stepped back.

Despite being a distinguished and haughty disciple of Sword One, and holding a position as a Jiang Realm Great Power, she was surprisingly obedient.

Si Xianxian noted this scene, amazed:

"I just realized today, Lu Ran is quite the young master."

Lu Ran strode forward, grumbling: "Right, you, the maid, follow safely behind.

I, the young master, will shield you and attract hostility, leading the way up front!"

"Hahaha~" Si Xianxian couldn't help but laugh out loud, teasing, "Thank you, young master!"

"Muttering nonsense!" Lu Ran muttered, diving into the forest.

As Si Xianxian's laughter subsided, the forest again sank into silence.

Only the night wind passing through the trees brought the rustling sound of leaves, adding an eerie atmosphere.

Lu Ran placed his hand over his shoulder, drawing out the Silent Night Blade, his nerves taut as he followed the small path through the forest.

After a long march, Lu Ran suddenly found himself in a clearing.

He quickened his pace, and just before leaving the forest, his eyes narrowed slightly.

A desolate village?

It looked quite substantial from a distance.

Under the night sky, the bright moon bathed each house, large and small, in a broad cold light.

At the entrance to the village, a huge stone bore three blood-red characters — Yan Zhi Village.

"Wow~" Lu Ran looked at the blood-colored characters, truly enlightened.

Behind him, the group quickly emerged from the forest.

Li Ming, looking at the tranquil Yan Zhi Village under the moonlight, timely said, "Our troops just cleared this area.

We can enter the village to look around, get familiar with the terrain, and then set up an ambush, waiting for the Yan Zhi to walk into our trap."

Lu Ran suddenly spoke up: "Someone's there."

Li Ming: "What?"

Lu Ran stepped towards the village, leaving the group behind, and quietly sniffed, whispering:

"Yan Zhi."

Li Ming and Li Xin exchanged glances, Chen Jingjing also slightly raised her eyebrows.

Under the moonlight, Yan Zhi Village lay completely silent, and no one had detected even a hint of energy fluctuations.

Yet here was Lu Ran, at the village entrance, informing everyone that there were Yan Zhi inside?

You're...

Yes, you're Heavenly Pride.

We all know you're incredibly powerful, ranked seventh in Da Xia.

But isn't this a bit too supernatural?

...

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