After Nanami received the notification that her entry application was approved.

She set off for Longxia immediately.

Meanwhile, at the Four Directions Stronghold.

Cao Yuan had already reactivated the defense shield of the base.

But this was the first time, even with the defense shield, he still felt unsafe.

The defense shield that once gave him immense peace of mind now seemed like an eggshell, ready to shatter at any moment.

This was, of course, due to Lu Ran.

A single Blood Spear shattered the defense shield!

The so-called protective effect was a complete mess in front of Lu Ran!

The entire Four Directions Stronghold's professionals felt like they had survived a disaster.

"President, regarding Qin Lie's issue..."

A confidant beside him cautiously asked.

"Didn't I say it's already in the past? Moreover, Qin Lie has to compensate me. Given Qin Lie's personality, that compensation will naturally suffice," Cao Yuan turned back and glared at his subordinate, saying.

"So, what you said before wasn't just to brush them off? Are you seriously reconciling with Qin Lie?" The subordinate looked incredulous.

It's not that Cao Yuan wasn't sincere enough.

But over the years.

Who in the entire Four Directions Stronghold didn't know that Cao Yuan hated Qin Lie to the core!

Wishing he could skin him alive.

And now it's just brushed over with a few words?

"Nonsense, the Four Major Guilds are all here, do you think I dare to just brush them off? Are you pig-brained? Anyone who dares bring up my issues with Qin Lie again, don't blame me for turning hostile!" Cao Yuan cursed angrily.

Now, the members of the Four Directions Stronghold finally understood.

Cao Yuan was truly reconciling with Qin Lie for real, not just a temporary tactic to brush them off.

After finishing yelling.

Cao Yuan suddenly turned to look at Wang Yujiao in the distance.

Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Was Lu Ran your ex-boyfriend?"

Wang Yujiao was taken aback, the scene of the Four Major Guilds backing Lu Ran, and the guild leaders being close with Lu Ran, seemed to linger in her mind.

She just nodded in response.

And said, "That was in the past."

"Nonsense! If it wasn't in the past, could you be an ex-girlfriend? Wow, never thought you had the guts to betray someone with Lu Ran's status. You've got talent," Cao Yuan sneered sarcastically.

Wang Yujiao gritted her teeth tightly.

Her fists were clenched, and her body trembled slightly.

This was like a scar she least wanted to touch.

Now it was mercilessly exposed by Cao Yuan again!

But she didn't speak, and Cao Yuan obviously had no intention of letting it drop so easily.

He said leisurely, "Today didn't have to come to this point. Lu Ran's pressing on Four Directions Stronghold step by step, now it seems, you had a role in it. It's because of you that Lu Ran harbors resentment towards Four Directions Stronghold, damn it!"

Cao Yuan cursed angrily.

Though the Four Directions Stronghold lacked rare professions, Wang Yujiao hadn't really matured yet.

She hadn't even formally joined the guild, merely as a reserve member.

Yet, she had consumed quite a few resources from the Four Directions Stronghold.

In the end.

Wang Yujiao didn't contribute anything to the Four Directions Stronghold; instead, she led Lu Ran to hold grievances against them because of her!

However.

This was just Cao Yuan's thought.

In fact, Lu Ran didn't care at all and completely didn't mind.

He just saw Wang Yujiao as a stranger.

"Why are you standing there? Get lost! Do you still want to stay at my Four Directions Stronghold? Dream on!" Cao Yuan, seeing Wang Yujiao dazed, couldn't help but continue scolding.

A disaster like this can't be kept!

Having barely survived this ordeal, someone who has once betrayed Lu Ran must never be kept!

That's a ticking time bomb!

Cao Yuan had no understanding of Lu Ran, and God knows if Lu Ran would hold a grudge against Wang Yujiao and come back again.

If Lu Ran did show up, it wouldn't be just him; behind him would be the Four Major Guilds!

"What?" Wang Yujiao was stunned.

"Didn't understand? I said get lost!" Cao Yuan shouted.

After all, Wang Yujiao was just a reserve member.

She didn't even need to go through the guild withdrawal process.

"I'm a rare profession!" Wang Yujiao gritted her teeth and said.

When she first came to the Four Directions Stronghold.

The Four Directions Stronghold was very welcoming to such talents!

"A rare profession means nothing! It's useless! The fact that I'm not asking you to return the resources you've consumed is already giving you face. If you don't get lost, I might have to personally drive you away!" Cao Yuan glared at her, weapons already drawn.

Wang Yujiao looked around.

The usually amicable professionals of Four Directions Stronghold now looked at her with eyes full of disdain.

They naturally saw her as a disaster.

Wang Yujiao opened her mouth, but in the end, couldn't say a word.

With a look of desolation, she silently turned and left the Four Directions Stronghold.

The world is vast, where could she go?

Her rare profession identity would make joining other guilds no issue, but as long as there's friction with Lu Ran, any guild would immediately expel her!

This all happened without Lu Ran intending it.

It was merely the absolute deterrence brought by Lu Ran's current status and prestige!

Several hours later.

Lu Ran and his group arrived by a small river.

Though there was a river here, the surroundings still appeared very desolate.

Behind them was a rocky desert, and across the river, it looked even more like a desert.

"Up ahead is the Sea of Sand area, part of the Forbidden Area," Liu Xinxin said while cross-referencing the map.

Lu Ran also opened his map.

Indeed.

The part across the river was covered in black shadows, with no specific terrain visible.

This indicated that the area ahead was one no human professionals had ever set foot in.

"It doesn't look any different, does it?" Lu Ran muttered.

The Forbidden Area, in fact, seemed much quieter.

No signs of any monsters.

Bare and barren.

"It only looks that way; the Sea of Sand area has terrain that's not just desert but includes hills, rocks, and other complex terrains. The variety of monsters is vast, and high-level areas in the Forbidden Zone are naturally even more dangerous. We just don't have the precise data, so we must proceed with caution," Liu Xinxin advised.

After finishing,

she cautioned, "In the upcoming Sea of Sand area, there should be the sand worms unique to other low-level desert areas. These creatures are extremely hidden, proficient in ambushes and sudden attacks, with triggered aggression. The sand worms in the Forbidden Zone are of a higher level."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran immediately devised a strategy.

Even though he had never encountered sand worms, it didn't sound like a big deal so far.

Indeed.

Lu Ran himself could fly; he could even fly over the Sea of Sand, avoiding most monsters.

But Liu Xinxin and her companions couldn't fly and could only walk beneath.

Put it this way, Liu Xinxin and her companions now felt like burdens to Lu Ran.

Had Lu Ran known comprehensive data about the high-level area, like the task system, the triggering and operation of scroll tasks, etc.

Liu Xinxin would have been relieved to let Lu Ran enter the Sea of Sand alone.

After all, he won't die, so there's nothing much to worry about.

"Then let's go, I'll lead the way," Lu Ran said.

Then stepped into the river.

The three followed behind him.

In fact, Lu Ran's method was quite straightforward.

He waved his hand.

Not even consuming the undead army stored in the Universe in the Sleeve.

But summoned them on the spot.

Deploying them in a fan-shaped manner in a carpet-style sweep forward.

Skeleton Soldiers were used by Lu Ran as mine sweepers.

As soon as a sand worm was triggered, nearby Skeleton Soldiers would swarm over, using Corpse Explosion to finish the job!

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