Sun Zhengfang heaved a heavy sigh in his heart.

It's over!

No way out...

When Lu Ran personally stated, "I have slain an Evil Dog," this genius of Da Xia had no choice but to join the battle.

"Uncle Sun?" Lu Ran spoke again.

Sun Zhengfang, hand pressed to his ear, exclaimed, "Patrol Team 004, calling Command Center!"

"Speak!" A man's deep voice came through the earpiece.

Sun Zhengfang's voice was severe, "We request to proceed to the City Center Square for reinforcement."

As Sun Zhengfang reported to the Command Center, his voice also reached the ears of all the other teams through their earpieces.

For a moment, the expressions of the Moon Gazer teams stationed in Rain Alley City were mixed.

Patrol Team 004 was famous!

This team had a glorious track record and had produced two great powers of the Human Clan.

One was the Nuoshasha believer, Ge Bin, and the other the North Wind Believer, Deng Yuxiang.

The camp was firm, the soldiers ever-flowing.

Both had successively left the team to take residence in the Wu Lie Building, shifting from guarding a district to safeguarding the entire city.

Though great powers had left the team, new Heavenly Prides had joined, once again elevating Patrol Team 004 to the top combat echelon.

At this moment, listening to Sun Zhengfang's meaning, did he want to meet up with the old team captain, Ge Bin, and lead Lu Ran to combat the Demon Lord?

Unfortunately, Deng Yuxiang was not in Rain Alley City.

Otherwise, facing off against the Demon Lord would have meant a full assembly of Patrol Team 004!

Through the earpiece, the man replied crisply, "004, hold your ground and continue patrolling!"

Sun Zhengfang's words rang with conviction, "Our team member Lu Ran has experience in slaying River Realm Evil Dogs.

He can also prevent the Evil Dogs from fleeing and causing chaos in the city.

Patrol Team 004 requests to proceed to the City Center Square for reinforcement!"

His words, sonorous and forceful,

even shook the Moon Gazers to the core.

Lu Ran had slain a River Realm Evil Dog?

What a joke...

Yes, Lu Ran was undoubtedly a Heavenly Pride, and everyone had witnessed his astonishing feats.

But a River Realm Immortal Sheep Believer slaying a River Realm Evil Dog?

Not to mention whether you have the capability to slaughter dogs, just the logistics of how this battle could have occurred was befuddling.

Encountering the Demon Lord, you didn't retreat immediately but rushed headlong instead?

That sounded... yes, indeed like Lu Ran's style.

From the Barbaric Woman to the Night Charm, then to Tangled Silk Shadow, repeatedly, he faced the Night of Ghosts;

Ghost Generals, Prison Sky Demons, Jade-faced Snakes, one after another, powerful Evil Demons close to the River Realm caliber...

Every creature Lu Ran encountered, he treated without discrimination!

Two words—hard charge!

The Command Center did not respond immediately, seemingly contemplating the battle request earnestly.

Meanwhile, Lu Ran's channel was abuzz:

"What the hell? Little Sister Ran slaughtered a River Realm pup?"

"If anyone else said this, I'd slap them right away! But when Ran Mei speaks..."

"Willing to die?"

"Charge! General Ran! Slaughter the Evil Dog and from then on, you shall be Ran, the Dog Slayer!"

"Don't go, please don't go..."

As people expressed their opinions, they suddenly noticed that in the frame, Lu Ran's expression turned solemn.

Because through his invisible earpiece, the Command Center's orders finally arrived:

"Patrol Team 004, Lu Ran!"

"Present!"

"Target area: City Center Square. Assist our warriors in slaying the Evil Dog!"

"Yes!" Lu Ran responded immediately.

"Remainder of Patrol Team 004, hold your position and continue patrolling!"

Jiang Ruyi's expression changed, and she immediately said, "I too have been part of the slaying..."

Sun Zhengfang was also anxious, "Report, our team..."

"Silence!" The man commanded with a harsh shout, his attitude unyielding, "Obey the orders, execute the mission!"

Their expressions looked quite unpleasant.

The Command Center's decision surely came with considerations: hunting a River Realm Evil Dog did not warrant a human wave tactic.

At least at this stage, there was no need to fill the ranks with lives.

The Evil Dogs possessed the long-range output technique—Evil Fang.

That was a genuine Jiang Grade Evil Technique!

The Water Armor of the River Realm believers was as fragile as paper before the rows of canine teeth.

Currently, at the City Center Square, besides the Human Clan great powers, no other Moon Gazers were present.

Even if the Evil Dog was embroiled in fierce battle, if it found the time to sneak and bite someone, the surrounding River Realm Moon Gazers would be snapped in two as well!

"I'm off," Lu Ran declared, his gaze sweeping over the few.

"Be careful!"

"Be extremely careful!" Sun Zhengfang and Wei Long said simultaneously.

"Lu Ran..." Jiang Ruyi's gaze was incredibly complex.

Just then, a streak of lightning tore across the night sky, illuminating her visage.

Reluctance, self-blame, sorrow...

Her gaze was so heartbreaking to witness.

"Wait for my return." Lu Ran stepped forward and gently embraced the girl.

Jiang Ruyi raised her arms and hugged Lu Ran tightly, more proactively than ever before.

This embrace lasted a full 3 to 4 seconds, seemingly too prolonged.

"Boom!"

After the flash, thunder naturally followed, roaring through the sky.

Amidst the thunderous roar, the girl's voice was soft, lingering around Lu Ran's ears, "Take the Cold Night with you."

"Thank you," Lu Ran murmured.

Both were aware that Lu Ran's gratitude was not only for the Cold Night Sword Jiang Ruyi had given.

After the thunder, Jiang Ruyi finally released Lu Ran, stepping back.

The Cold Night Sword flew before Lu Ran, suspended upside down.

Grasping the Cold Night Sword, he no longer lingered and shot straight into the night sky.

Jiang Ruyi clasped her hands together, her fingertips pressed to her lips, looking up at the silhouette of Lu Ran flying into the night until it disappeared into the torrential rain.

"Whish!"

A wide yellow raincoat fluttered, rustling amid the wind and rain.

Lu Ran, clutching the Cold Night Sword, soared over the city, and what lay before him were the Moon Gazers still fighting valiantly in the streets and alleys.

The towering Wu Lie Building, a shining beacon, guided Lu Ran's direction.

Through the earpiece, the voice of the Command Center reached him again, with a noticeably older sounding operator, "Mr. Lu, when was the last time you killed a River Realm Evil Dog?"

Mr. Lu?

It sounded as if they were addressing his father, Lu Xing.

Lu Ran, steadying his mind, responded, "I used myself as bait, leading the Evil Dog into the Fiery Heavenly Divine Skill·Fiery Earth Thousand Flames."

The Command Center: "..."

Lu Ran continued, "Prior to that, I grappled with the Evil Dog for a long time, acclimating to its style of combat, rest assured.

This is not the same as before; I will work with the elder of River Realm to find a breakthrough in killing the enemy.

Furthermore, I'll soon enter the battlefield range, and I need to listen to voices, so please keep quiet."

The Command Center: "We have adjusted you, Ge Bin, and Liu Yunlan to the same channel.

Mr. Lu, on behalf of this city, I thank you for your selfless aid and contributions during this crisis.

If you have any needs, please contact us in time.

May Rain Alley survive this long rainy night, and wish us luck."

Lu Ran suddenly laughed.

Dad,

After many years, I've heard the words they once said to you.

"Crack!"

Suddenly, lightning struck down, illuminating the night sky and hitting the lightning rod atop the Wu Lie Building.

Lu Ran couldn't help tightening his grip on the hilt of the Cold Night Sword.

Afraid?

Such a grown man; he had battled through many fifteenth nights, often keeping company with death.

How could he possibly fear thunder?

It was merely that he hadn't yet stepped out from that stormy night of youth.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

From West River to Hedong.

From the dim streetlights of city areas to the neon flickers of the bustling square.

"Swoosh~"

Lu Ran descended at high speed, landing securely on an outdoor restaurant on the eleventh floor or so of Wu Lie Building.

He approached the railing and looked down at the square below.

Right then, a massive camphor tree stood erect in the center of the square.

Its branches lashed out continuously, creating a horrifying scene.

Judging by the tree's size, it was undoubtedly a Jiang Grade Divine Technique.

This River Realm Biwu Believer must be the "Liu Yunlan" the Command Center mentioned just now, right?

Lu Ran's eyes narrowed. At the northeast corner of the square, he spotted two dead Moon Gazers.

One had been severed at the waist, the cut edge jagged, clearly the work of canine teeth.

His eyes wide with horror.

Another fallen female Moon Gazer's head had rolled to the side, while a thigh had fallen far away, already partially devoured.

Damn it...

Anger surged in Lu Ran's heart.

The Evil Dog Clan's Evil Technique made it clear that surround tactics were futile.

And it also meant this battlefield should not have anyone making a final stand.

There were more than these two human corpses at the scene; within a pile of Evil Dog corpses to the northwest, scattered limbs could be seen as well.

The sight was incredibly grim.

Those Moon Gazers, most likely, had been consumed.

It was hard to imagine the agony they must have suffered in their final moments...

"Snap! Snap! Snap!"

The camphor tree whipped its branches around, covering a substantial area.

A pack of Blood Disaster Dogs emerged on the eastern side of the square, and immediately a multitude of Biwu branches extended, whipping and stabbing.

Several Evil Demons hadn't even gotten a clear glimpse of the human world before they perished on the spot.

In the area to the front left of the tree, a man and a dog were engaged in intense combat.

The man wielded dual daggers, his figure ghostly, nimbly dodging the lashing branches, entangled with the Evil Dog.

That Evil Dog was no small creature!

It must have been over three meters in length with a shoulder height surpassing two meters, its joints swirled with thick black energy, resembling smoke or fog.

That stature...

Was it River Realm Fourth Rank, or even Fifth Rank?

As the Evil Dog leapt about, clouds of black mist also spread in its path.

With a heavy heart, Lu Ran watched for a moment before he leaped forward, wielding the Cold Night Sword as he plummeted towards the edge of the square.

Wu Lie Building was Command Central and also a refuge, and of course, there were also ordinary citizens inside.

Lu Ran naturally couldn't linger too long here, lest he draw the Evil Dog's attention.

As Lu Ran drew closer, he distinctly noticed a slight change in the forcefulness of the tree's whipping.

Immediately, Lu Ran spoke up, "Senior Liu, there's no need to hold back on my account."

He came to slay enemies, not to be a burden!

For other River Realm believers to speak to a River Realm great power in such manner would be sheer arrogance.

But Lu Ran...

He had dared to blaze through the Tether Silk Robe, were these thousands of branches any different?

Moreover, Liu Yunlan's target of attack was not him.

"Hmm, ready your special Voice of Compassion," the woman's voice was cool, carrying a touch of authoritative aura.

"A name well-known," the man's voice came through, steady and powerful, presumably Captain Ge Bin whom Lu Ran had yet to meet.

Lu Ran advanced step by step amongst the relentless lashing branches, his focus on the entangled pair of man and dog:

"A name well-known."

...

Three more chapters today: 12 PM, 6 PM, 10 PM.

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