Seven days later, Evil Dog Village.

On a desolate ridge, torches wavering in the dark.

A tall, slender figure stood at the edge of the torch-lit path, gazing at the battle not far away.

"He truly is a madman."

Muttered Si Xianxian, her voice laced with strands of admiration.

In her view, Lu Ran was fighting up close with a pack of evil dogs, each step thrilling.

Si Xianxian was certain that Lu Ran had the capacity to escape from the battlefield.

And the Divine Technique·Immortal Hoof, a gift from the Lord Immortal Goat to his believers, was specifically created for the purpose of escape.

Yet, Lu Ran, this anomaly, charged into the fray like a reckless brute!

He had the attitude of a brute, but his combat skills were exquisitely fine.

Hmm... even finer than these slender dogs!

Retreating step, side step, shoulder forward with a horizontal slash of the blade.

Tilting his head, blocking, his dual blades whirling like a disc.

Surrounded by 7 or 8 evil dogs, Lu Ran was entangled in a ferocious mauling.

Amidst the pack of slender dogs, that even more slender man seemed like a prescient deity!

Always predicting the enemy's moves, repeatedly turning peril into safeness.

Four characters came to mind: A feast for the eyes!

Si Xianxian found herself enjoying the scene more and more...

She also had a hunch that while Lu Ran formally revered the Immortal Sheep, in secret, he must have also pledged allegiance to the Second-class God·North Wind Blade!

Of course, this was pure fantasy.

The gods of the world were exclusive and would never allow a "follower to serve multiple masters" scenario to exist.

Si Xianxian finally confirmed that during their time in the Demon Cave, Lu Ran hadn't relied on luck to pass through the lantern array.

"Whimper~"

"Whimper..." The pack of slender dogs let out a series of whines.

It signified injury, but also cowardice.

As one evil dog after another met their end, the survivors recognized the reality and turned tail to flee.

Eight against one, with four killed in retaliation...

They'd been outplayed!

How could they possibly fight back?

Si Xianxian casually gripped a hefty hammer.

With a forward toss, the hammer with a 3-meter handle rotated and flared with layers of flames, illuminating the pitch-black wilderness.

Fierce Heavenly Divine Skill·Fierce Burst Sky!

Such imposing Divine Skill, when used to slaughter dogs, seemed overkill.

"Boom!"

The hammer's point of impact wasn't precise, and with the evil dogs' nimbly darting around, they naturally dodged the hammerstrike.

However, they could evade the hammer but not the rolling flames!

The hammer exploded into a sea of fire, engulfing three evil dogs within it.

Lu Ran even smelled the scorched scent of dog flesh...

The cooking skills of the Immortal Master were atrocious; a rush of flames left no good meat from the dog carcass.

"Meh~~~"

Lu Ran turned his head, looking at the lone surviving evil dog.

Its survival was solely because it fled in a different direction from its three companions.

However, under the call of the Enchanting Demon Sheep, how could there be any survivors?

If the dog had been of River Realm, it might have had a chance to survive.

But it was from Stream Realm, which made things difficult.

The terrifying Enchanting Demon Sheep forcibly twisted the will of the evil dog.

The creature that should have fled in panic turned back, eyes blood-red with fury.

Seeing this scene, Si Xianxian's face revealed a complex expression.

She hadn't heard Lu Ran's soft moans, but she had experienced them herself a few days ago.

Regarding Lu Ran's possession of a special version of the Divine Technique·Voice of Compassion...

A thousand questions of "Why him?" had popped in Si Xianxian's mind!

It seemed Lord Immortal Sheep overly doted on this disciple...

Divine Technique·Immortal Hoof's modified version could be somewhat linked to fleeing the battlefield, but a unique application of Divine Technique·Voice of Compassion?

The effects of this technique were completely contrary to the Immortal Sheep faction's philosophy!

If this wasn't divine favoritism, what else could it be?

"Slash!"

The blade's edge sliced flesh, Lu Ran's dual blades piercing through the dog's belly, and then violently carving an X-shape in front of him.

The fresh blood, nourishing the sharpness of his blades.

A shower of blood rained down, staining the red bandana on his face.

Lu Ran panted heavily, having fought for a long while now, he was indeed a bit tired.

Si Xianxian approached step by step, her tone teasing, "You always tell me to take it easy, yet when it comes to yourself, you bathe in a blood rain?"

Lu Ran, "Dog corpses are also resources that shouldn't be wasted.

Your hammerstrike didn't leave any remaining energy, just crisped and fragrant."

Si Xianxian, holding the Fierce Sky Hammer ablaze with flames, like wielding a three-meter-high torch, stood next to Lu Ran,

"Do you only have words for training me, every single day?"

Lu Ran murmured softly, "I am the commander, after all."

Si Xianxian suddenly reached out with her palm, moving not swiftly, as if deliberately allowing Lu Ran time to prepare.

"You... Hmm?"

Lu Ran's eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Si Xianxian's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, her fingertip writing a single character on Lu Ran's bloodstained face:

Fine!

Of course, without an exclamation point.

Lu Ran, "... "

Is she insulting me?

In the past four months, Lu Ran had grown 1 centimeter taller, reaching 178cm.

Yet his weight had only increased to 68 kilograms.

As a martial artist, Lu Ran was indeed skinny.

Perhaps it was because he was 17, an age when the body grows, or maybe due to his daily training consuming too much energy.

Either way, Lu Ran's weight refused to increase.

"Hehe~" Si Xianxian stepped back and held out the hammer forward.

The flame's light cast upon the character on Lu Ran's face, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Lu Ran wiped his cheek with one hand, removing her masterpiece, "You'd better collect the bodies! The hammerstrike just now must have cost quite a bit of your Divine Power, right?"

Si Xianxian, "I rarely praise you, and you still get an attitude?"

Lu Ran, "Carry out the orders, or I'll 'meh' you!"

"Ugh." Si Xianxian held her forehead with one hand.

Was this a warning?

You've already 'meh'd it out!

Darn it...

"Be obedient and go, I'll stand guard," Lu Ran's tone softened a bit.

"Hmph!" Si Xianxian stomped her foot and walked toward the charred dog corpses with her hammer-torch in hand.

Divine Technique·Voice of Compassion had one terrifying hidden property—familiarity with the victim!

Humans are emotional creatures.

Setting aside levels of strength, the better and closer one's emotional connection is with Lu Ran, the more effective the Voice of Compassion would naturally be.

And at the outset of the Divine Technique's effectiveness, the starting point was also higher!

Since starting their adventure, the relationship between Lu and Si had indeed undergone numerous changes.

This was apparent from their conversations.

Firstly, the two had always been training in the pitch-dark Demon Cave.

As combat comrades, their relationship had naturally improved greatly.

Secondly...

Admiring the strong is human nature, nothing to be ashamed of.

As a strong believer of River Realm·Second Rank, Si Xianxian indeed once looked down upon Lu Ran of Stream Realm Third Rank as an insignificant minion.

Now, she no longer felt that way.

Previously at Lu Ran's home, she had said things like "I could squash you with one hand."

Now, she had to weigh her words carefully.

"Huff..."

Lu Ran took a deep breath, adjusting his state.

On the third day into the Demon Cave, within the Sculpture Garden, the Evil Dog Evil Sculpture had been nurtured to Stream Realm·Fifth Rank.

As Lu Ran and Si ventured deeper into the Demon Cave, facing stronger evil demons in greater numbers, the Evil Sculpture naturally received more nourishment.

Logically, the Evil Dog Evil Sculpture should have progressed to River Realm·First Rank by now.

Yet it remained at Stream Realm·Fifth Rank...

Advancement in the smaller realm ranks for Evil Sculpture had clear soul quantity requirements.

But there weren't specific numbers for breaking through the major realm boundaries.

Could it be that Lord Immortal Goat was skimming off the top again?

Previously, the Black Light Evil Sculpture had impressively advanced, reaching River Realm from Mist Realm in a very short period of time!

Was it because time was too short that Lord Immortal Goat didn't manage to embezzle anything?

"My god," Lu Ran muttered, "let the Evil Dog Evil Sculpture reach River Realm first, then I'll have a baseline.

Anyway, I won't be leaving Evil Dog Village until the tenth day, and after completing my goal, I'll still be here for Soul Binding."

"What are you muttering about?" Si Xianxian approached.

Lu Ran casually replied, "Praying to the gods for a barg... cough, I was praying to the gods."

Si Xianxian looked skeptical, feeling as though she might have overheard some irreverent remarks.

Then, she looked at the dog corpses around Lu Ran, irate, "I've dealt with the bodies outside.

You want me to take care of these few dogs at your feet too?"

Lu Ran spoke softly, "I left them there for you on purpose.

My Divine Power Pearl is nearly full, and you cast spells like they're free, so absorb their energy."

The trace of annoyance in Si Xianxian's heart dissipated.

She pouted, and while the words "Thank you" reached her lips, they ultimately remained unspoken.

Si Xianxian quietly knelt down and used her Divine Power Pearl to absorb the dog corpses.

Lu Ran advised, "I've told you before, don't use a sledgehammer to swat a fly.

To handle Stream Realm evil dogs, you can decrease the Divine Technique's intensity, use the least Divine Power for the most output."

Si Xianxian was nonchalant, "As long as it's satisfying, why fuss about the details? It's too bothersome."

Lu Ran tapped the girl's head with his blade, "Not listening again?"

Si Xianxian's eyes widened as she lifted her gaze to Lu Ran, "You..."

Lu Ran, "What's up?"

Si Xianxian's body shuddered slightly.

Lu Ran pursed his lips and smiled, reminiscent of a certain classic emoji from a letter.

Gradually, Si Xianxian stood up with a serious face, "I'm genuinely going to go insane."

Only a believer proficient in Spirit Defense Techniques could achieve complete immunity.

Lu Ran's 'Meh' sound couldn't penetrate such believers' "Spiritual Firewall."

But for most believers, they would be affected first and then have to rely on their mental strength to forcibly remove the influence.

In other words, as soon as Lu Ran 'Meh'd out loud, the Divine Technique would take effect!

As for whether the effect lasted for 5 seconds, 8 seconds, or 0.01 seconds, that was a topic for another discussion.

Lu Ran, "If you follow commands, you won't go insane."

Si Xianxian fumed, "Aren't I already obeying you enough?

I'm almost 'Meh'ed into a passionless mud man by you, and you still want more from me?"

The more she spoke, the angrier Si Xianxian became, resulting in a heavy stomp.

"Thud!"

Dust surged up.

The ground beneath the girl's boots cracked with lines.

Lu Ran immediately took a step back.

My, my...

Pushing the child too far, she's nearly mastered the Soul-splitting Demon Hoof...

"Alright, alright," Lu Ran interjected, "from now on..."

Si Xianxian suddenly stepped forward, covering Lu Ran's mouth with her hand.

Had she been a moment slower, that phrase might have slipped out again!

"No! Talking!" Si Xianxian enunciated each word sharply, teeth clenched.

Her fair and pretty face showed the distinctive distortion of a Fierce Heavenly believer.

Lu Ran nodded gently, his muffled voice emerging from beneath her palm, "Mhm, okay."

"Hmph!" Si Xianxian irritably flicked her hand away and, leaving the dog corpses behind, walked towards the torch-lit path.

Lu Ran, "That's enough training for today. Let's head for the next Stone City to rest."

Si Xianxian kept silent, as if deaf to his words.

Lu Ran took off the Divine Power Pearl from his neck and crouched down to absorb the dog corpses, "I'll catch up in a bit."

In the distance, Si Xianxian slowed her pace.

She took a few more steps and eventually came to a halt.

Without turning back, that might have been her final display of stubbornness.

Lu Ran smiled softly, judging by the standards of a Fierce Heavenly believer, she had indeed performed very well these past few days.

Whether she was 'Meh'ed into it, gradually acknowledging her teammate, or just didn't want to be sent back to recite scriptures dungeon-crawling with her mother...

In any case, Si Xianxian was really well-behaved.

Hmm... I should treat her better from now on.

...

Three updates for the day at 12, 18, and 22.

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