Two months had passed since Lu Ran last participated in "Heavenly Pride."

During these two months, Lu Ran's name had spread far and wide, across the north and south of the great river.

His various performances on the battlefield were repeatedly studied and learned, even entering classrooms and becoming college teaching videos.

The so-called "Heavenly Pride" was not just a strong tonic for the Da Xia populace from the government but also a benchmark set up by Da Xia for the young!

Lu Ran was the only high school student among the hundred Heavenly Prides.

After a round of competition, bearing the title of Immortal Sheep Believer, he ranked seventh overall!

The extent of Lu Ran's popularity was beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

If it weren't for the significant protection of the Da Xia government, starting from the top and pushing down, Lu Ran's family threshold would have been trampled long ago.

Even so, in February, Lu Ran still frequently received various requests for interviews.

Had he not seen the situation coming and turned on Do Not Disturb mode early, blocking unknown numbers and preventing messages from coming through, he wouldn't have had a moment's peace every day.

After two months of fermentation, Lu Ran's second participation in "Heavenly Pride" was explosively hot!

A crushing type of first!

You must know, among the fifty students participating in this battle, everyone was a favored child of heaven.

Among them was even the first-ranked female Martial Monk Believer, a rare and uncommon sight.

With such gimmicky support, the number of viewers on the first Heavenly Pride channel couldn't reach a third of Lu Ran's channel viewers!

A rare and uncommon sight?

Who wasn't!

Immortal Sheep Believer, Paper Doll Lover, Master of Divine Weapon, Personified Night Charm...

A series of labels were slapped on Lu Ran's head, smashing him into deserved fame as the hottest topic.

Those who had not witnessed Lu Ran's heroism personally on the night of the 15th were now surging into the live broadcast room.

Even during Lu Ran's daytime patrols, all kinds of fiends and monsters appeared in the live broadcast room.

The barrages were like seas, layer upon layer.

Now, as the night of the 15th defense officially began, no one knew who started it, but the live broadcast room had already begun "bah-ing"!

Looking around, it was as if they'd entered a damn sheep pen...

"Bah!"

"Bah bah."

"Bah bah bah~"

"Stop your damn bah-ing, the battle has started, and this horse is so cool."

"Ah! Isn't that Wu Huoju? Is the Ghost General coming?"

"Kill it fast, we must not let the Ghost General mount the horse..."

"It's over, I think I saw the Yanyue Blade! The Ghost General is here!!"

"What the hell with this general and that blade, in a moment my homeboy Ran Mei will dance for you, just shake it and that'll be the end~"

Meanwhile, at the corner of Rain Alley City.

Lu Ran covered his face with one hand and held Jiang Ruyi in front of him with the other, retreating backward.

The scorching flames, like waves, lunged forward.

Even though the group wasn't burned by the flames, the hot air that hit their faces made it hard to breathe.

Thank goodness it rained today in Rain Alley City, or else a fire would be inevitable.

The constant "ding ding ding" sound was audible, indicating that someone was clashing with a Divine Weapon amidst the raging flames.

"It still came," Sun Zhengfang said with a somber expression, heaving a heavy sigh.

The Evil Demon·Wu Huoju tribe is adept at using fire, posing a great threat to human cities, but they are auxiliary Evil Demons.

What's truly terrifying is the Evil Demon riding on Wu Huoju—the Ghost General!

Strictly speaking, a general and a horse belong to two different species and are affiliated with different Demon Caves.

But for some reason, whenever they appear on the night of the 15th, they are always together.

Just like the Evil Demon·Ghost Talisman Doll.

Once you find one, there's a certain chance to find another nearby.

Compared to that couple of boys and girls, the pairing of the Ghost General and Wu Huoju has a higher occurrence rate!

Nine out of ten times, they appear together!

It's just that there might be some time or distance differences when they show up.

Humans must seize the opportunity to eliminate one of them first.

Once horse and general unite, the threat level is simply not on the same scale.

"Ha!"

Suddenly, a harsh shout burst forth from within the sea of flames.

Everyone's hearts shook, and a sense of panic and fear rose from the bottom of their hearts.

This was the Evil Technique·Ghost General's Might of the Ghost General clan!

"Don't panic!" Sun Zhengfang shouted loudly.

At the same time, he flung several branches from his hand, and the supple branches landed on everyone, emanating green light.

Combination skill from Biwu Divine Skill: Biwu Branch+Biwu Holy Light!

If Lu Ran's team lacked anything, it was Purification Techniques.

Wei Long and Jiang Ruyi, being Prisoner Demon believers and Jade Talisman believers respectively, are well-rounded in offense, defense, and control, though their focus differs slightly.

This young sheep Lu Ran was a flexible and Swift jungler.

Only Sun Zhengfang played the main support, but while he could heal, he couldn't purify!

With no other choice, Sun Zhengfang could only use the healing skill·Biwu Holy Light's additional effects to try and soothe everyone's minds.

"Swish~swish!"

Jiang Ruyi directly threw out two Jade Tokens, only to see that within the fierce flames, a firewall suddenly stood up, detonating the Jade Talisman in advance and blocking it outside.

"Come back."

Lu Ran's expression was grave as he raised his hand.

The Dawn Blade penetrated the firewall and quickly returned, with the Silent Night Blade following.

"Neigh~~~"

The steed whinnied loudly, echoing through the rainy night.

Accompanied by the sound of hooves, one general and one horse slowly walked out.

"Hisss..." Sun Zhengfang grimaced, taking in a sharp breath.

As an experienced team captain, he surely shouldn't have such a strong reaction?

Lu Jiang duo didn't know that when Sun Zhengfang had just started working, the combination of the Ghost General and Wu Huoju had indeed left a deep psychological shadow on him.

"Whoa!" Lu Ran looked up, watching the majestic general emerge from the flames atop the horse.

He wore a black helmet and armor shrouded in mist, with a beast-headed belt around his waist, wielding a heavy Yanyue Blade.

Truly like an ancient general!

Beneath the dark helmet was a face engulfed in black mist, indistinct, but those blood-red eyes shone terrifyingly.

Eerily daunting yet strikingly awe-inspiring!

Evil Demon·Ghost General!

"Huh!"

The Ghost General swung the Yanyue Blade sharply, scattering waves of flames.

The Ghost General clan lacked any fire-related techniques, but riding on this one Wu Huoju changed everything.

The clan had a hidden trait: a mind-meld with the steed beneath them.

To some extent, the Ghost General was the master of the Wu Huoju, calming the unruly steed to serve him.

"Hm!" The Ghost General let out a deep nasal sound.

He pointed the tip of his blade at Wei Long, the Human Clan member at the very back.

Four words: Call out, single combat!

This was another trait of the Ghost General clan: a love for single duels before the army.

Of course, you could refuse.

Besides being disdained by the Ghost General clan, you wouldn't lose anything.

Clearly, this Ghost General had carefully picked the strongest in his eyes out of the Lu Ran quartet.

Wei Long: "..."

Single combat was against the combat philosophy of the Human Clan troops.

The various schools and sects had different Divine Skills, and the believers of the Human Clan focused on joining forces to face the enemy.

Who would flaunt temporal bravado, abandon their advantages, and engage in a life-and-death fight with an Evil Demon?

In this world, probably only the Red Cloth Sect couldn't stand such provocation.

This was because Divine·Red Cloth despised the Ghost General clan the most!

The techniques of the two sects also had many similarities.

Online, there were many battle scenes of Red Cloth versus Ghost General.

A Red Cloth Believer would hoist a red flag billowing in the wind, and the Ghost General would raise a chilling black flag.

The Red Cloth Believer would invite the ancestor spirit to possess them, while the Ghost General would unfold a massive Domain of General Soul.

The Red Cloth Believer would roar in rage, the battle spirit soaring.

The Evil Demon Ghost General would constantly shout, intimidating all beings.

When the two clashed, it was a true meeting of equals, sharp as the edge of a blade!

Also, only a Red Cloth Believer might get the Ghost General to dismount for infantry combat.

Note! Might, and not definitely.

Aside from the Red Cloth Believer, when the Ghost General fought anyone else from the Human Clan, they always rode their horse.

"Hmph." Atop the steed, the Ghost General, seeing Wei Long unresponsive, lowered his blade and snorted disdainfully.

This contemptuous noise, that lofty demeanor, really blew up Lu Ran's live broadcast room.

In this world, the Human Clan's hatred for Evil Demons was indeed a vendetta as deep as the sea!

Among the audience, common people and low-level believers formed a large proportion.

Powerless against the invasion of Evil Demons, they constantly tasted despair, living under constant pressure every day.

That's precisely why they treated "Heavenly Pride" as spiritual sustenance, seeing the participating students as a spiritual focus.

In other words, others could be timid, but you as the Heavenly Pride absolutely cannot!

Under the gaze of tens of thousands, you were made fun of?

That's! Even! More! Unacceptable!

You represent Da Xia's dignity, the Human Clan's dignity.

To put it unpleasantly: you can die, but you absolutely cannot fear, and even more so, you cannot retreat!

Hardly anyone distinguished who exactly the Ghost General had pointed at.

But on camera, when the Evil Demon·Ghost General directed at your team, issuing a direct challenge to single combat, it meant they were challenging you, Heavenly Pride·Lu Ran!

"Kick his ass!"

"Damn, who's cursing? Get him, Lu Ran! Go!!"

"That Ghost General is so damn handsome..."

"Handsome my ass, kill him! Man and horse! Lu Ran! Slay him ahhhh!"

"Bah!!!!!"

The live broadcast room's mad surge of comments surprisingly coincided with the voices people heard.

Because indeed, Lu Ran had shouted aloud, "Bah!"

"Huh?" The Ghost General was about to charge when he heard the shout and turned his gaze away.

He looked down at Lu Ran at the forefront of the team, those blood-red eyes locking onto him.

But the Ghost General didn't charge immediately.

Because, like the Red Cloth Sect, the Ghost General clan had Spirit Defense Techniques and was completely immune to mental disturbances!

Lu Ran held the Dawn Blade in his left hand, slowly lifting it, pointing its tip at the Ghost General.

The intention was clear.

Single combat!

"Neigh!!"

The Ghost General was excited beyond measure, his eyes emitting two chilling red glows.

"Huff~"

All at once, the Ghost General, in his right hand, summoned a black flag.

A cold breeze sprang up, mist swirling on the flag.

When the flagpole was planted in the ground, the Domain for a duel would open.

Now the Ghost General held the black flag, not yet planted, clearly waiting for Lu Ran to advance.

"Lu Ran?" Sun Zhengfang frowned deeply.

The trait of the Evil Demon was apparent; it was regrettable they couldn't preemptively kill Wu Huoju.

"Lu..." Jiang Ruyi also lightly furrowed her brows.

"If we duel, the battlefield will be isolated, preventing the city from catching fire," Lu Ran said directly.

Although the rain was light, the horse's flames were too intense—if let to run free, it would certainly be a great hazard to the city.

Lu Ran stepped forward, lifting his hand to slowly draw out the Silent Night Blade on his back, whispering quietly,

"I've given you enough respect."

The soft words spread into thousands of households.

Combined with Lu Ran's slow drawing of his blade and stepping forward alone, it totally set off the live broadcast room.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Damn, I'm new here, has this always been so stylish?"

"I thought the Ghost General was cool enough..."

"Eliminate the Night Charm, and you'll be Ran Mei! Decapitate the Ghost General, and from then on, you'll be General Ran!"

"Bah bah bah!!"

...

End of the month, folks, I could use some support with monthly tickets~

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