Fourth Stage!

Half a month later, in the wilderness.

On a torchlit path stretching into the night, the Jiang, Tian, and Deng Trio looked grim as they faced a rather large evil dog.

It was over two meters long, clearly an evil dog of the Stream Realm.

It was supposed to be a four-person squad, so where was the fourth member?

At this moment, Lu Ran, wielding the Xiaguang Saber, weaved through the dark wilderness, luring two smaller evil dogs.

A series of "Woof Woof Woof" sounds grated on the nerves.

At certain moments, Lu Ran wanted to turn back and attack, but reason made him restrain himself.

The two evil dogs he had taunted away were both in Mist Realm stages 3-4. Lu Ran not only couldn't go back, but he also had to constantly watch out for their evil technique, Evil Teeth!

"So annoying!"

Lu Ran muttered, adjusting the red turban covering his eyes.

Regarding the skill "Distinguishing Position by Sound," Lu Ran had spent a full half month training and had finally gained a rudimentary understanding.

But the current situation was too dangerous, so he still chose to use his eyes to observe and assist in combat.

"Brother Lu! They're here!" From afar, Deng Yutang's loud roar echoed.

"Hiss!"

Divine Mist emanated from beneath Lu Ran's feet as he launched himself forward, immediately creating distance between himself and the evil dogs behind him.

Even more terrifying, the moment Lu Ran moved, four sharp tusks appeared out of thin air, snapping at empty space.

One had to admit, Divine Technique · Immortal Hooves was too damn suitable for kiting!

Lu Ran continued to kite, while also glancing back at the torchlit path, seeing the Stream Realm evil dog lunging forward.

"Baa~"

The bleating sound was soft and faint, difficult to detect. However, the evil dogs, with their keen senses, heard it clearly!

The Stream Realm evil dog instinctively turned its head, only to see a figure, ghost-like, dart across the torchlit path.

Phantom darted out from the dark wilderness on one side, instantly disappearing into the dark wilderness on the other.

Only a faint mist drifted along the torchlit path.

The scene was somewhat eerie, somewhat horrifying.

It was hard to tell who the real demon was.

"Demon!" Deng Yutang seized the opportunity, stepping forward and thrusting the tip of his spear beneath the evil dog's belly, then flicking it upwards fiercely!

Whoosh!!

A human-shaped phantom image spread out from Deng Yutang's body, several times larger than his physical form.

It was like a Martial Soul True Body!

The figure was blurry, its features indistinct, but the red turban wrapped around its head was very clear.

Divine Technique · Red Turban Soul!

The Stream Realm evil dog was already massive and fast. When it charged with momentum, its impact was absolutely formidable.

The fate of ordinary Mist Realm believers was to be knocked to the ground and torn to shreds.

However, the Red Turban believer, Deng Yutang, directly summoned his ancestor to possess him, and his physical attributes instantly surged!

"Rise!!"

Deng Yutang roared, spearing the Stream Realm evil dog and ferociously tossing it high into the air.

From the rear of the team, Jiang Ruyi's beautiful eyes narrowed. Sparks flew from her fingertips as an Explosive Flame Talisman was flung towards the night sky.

"Rumble!"

Flames erupted, and fire blazed!

Instantly, the evil dog's howls echoed through the sky.

Jiang Ruyi didn't stop. Her fingertips trembled as she rapidly drew another Explosive Flame Talisman.

This tactic was the optimal solution derived from countless actual combat drills.

Deng Yutang had also considered directly stabbing the evil dog to death while its attention was diverted.

But that approach had a low margin for error.

Because Deng Yutang had to land a killing blow without the slightest mistake!

Otherwise, the evil dog, charging with immense momentum, would likely pierce through the spear and land directly on Deng Yutang.

If the evil dog didn't die instantly but was merely struggling in its death throes, biting and tearing wildly.

The consequences would be unimaginable!

"Rumble!"

The Stream Realm Evil Dogs had just reached their highest point when another Explosive Flame Talisman arrived.

Jiang Ruyi's divine power surged, her eyes never leaving the Evil Dogs, yet she said, "Watch Lu Ran."

Tian Tian stood in front of Jiang Ruyi, shield raised in defense. She was the last line of defense for their three-person squad.

If the tactic failed, Tian Tian would have to step up.

Now that the Stream Realm Evil Dogs were like lambs to the slaughter, Tian Tian immediately knelt down to rescue the little fatty sheep of her squad.

"Whoosh!"

Divine power surged, and Tian Tian's short, ear-length hair fluttered.

Divine Technique Lotus Bud!

Twenty meters ahead, a lotus quietly bloomed.

"Lu Ran," Tian Tian tried to shout, but her voice was still not loud.

"Brother Lu!" Deng Yutang raised his voice, making it echo through the surrounding eerie wilderness.

"Coming!"

A voice approached from afar. In the dark wilderness, the Phantom finally appeared.

Lu Ran spotted the lotus blooming on flat ground along the torchlit path and charged towards it.

Clearly, this tactic had been rehearsed by the squad countless times.

"Woof!"

"Woof!!" Behind him, two Evil Dogs were in hot pursuit, barking angrily.

Speed was the specialty of the Evil Dog clan.

And now, this damned human race was truly detestable!

Every second Lu Ran was alive seemed to mock the skinny dogs, "Is this all you've got?"

"Woof!"

The Evil Dogs' eyes suddenly lit up. They saw the fleeing figure ahead suddenly turn around?

Indeed, the moment Lu Ran approached the illusory lotus, he abruptly turned and slid backward.

His legs were bent, his upper body leaned forward, and he even thrust a knife into the ground, sliding backward within the illusory lotus.

The Evil Dogs, impatient, immediately pounced.

Their landing spot was, needless to say!

The illusory lotus was like a mousetrap, and Lu Ran was the tempting piece of cheese.

"Woof!"

The Evil Dog further back saw its companion pounce and opened its mouth, initiating another evil technique.

Evil Technique Evil Teeth!

Four fangs appeared out of thin air, assembling in front of Lu Ran and biting down fiercely.

Before the fangs could fully form, Lu Ran had already sensed the energy fluctuations.

"Bang!"

Lu Ran's feet pushed off, and he leaped sharply to the side.

The illusory lotus rapidly closed, trapping the Evil Dog that had thrown itself into the net. The moment it closed its petals, becoming a Lotus Bud, it turned into a solid form.

With a few dull thuds.

The precisely landed Evil Dog was firmly trapped by the Lotus Bud.

The Evil Dog further back, however, crashed into the solidified Lotus Bud.

The two demons, who had been hunting together, were thus separated.

Though only separated by petals, they could no longer assist each other.

At the same time, Deng Yutang had already lunged forward.

"Die!"

Deng Yutang was incredibly fast, like lightning!

This was because the ancestor hadn't gotten off him yet!

The so-called surge in all attributes naturally included speed.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran immediately spoke, imitating a sheep's bleat:

"Baa~"

In an instant, the Evil Dogs' concentration was broken, and the Tianchen Spear was already upon them!

Deng Yutang could withstand the full pounce of a Stream Realm Evil Dog, but he couldn't handle a mere Mist Realm Evil Dog?

Three shots, two shots, the dog's life was extinguished!

"Tian Tian!" Lu Ran shouted sternly, mist churning beneath his feet as he charged straight for the lotus bud.

Tian Tian dared not be distracted, her eyes fixed on Lu Ran's figure.

Just as he was about to collide with the lotus bud, Tian Tian quickly withdrew her small hand.

Deprived of its master's divine power, the lotus bud instantly dissolved into an illusion.

"Skinny Dog, I've had enough of you!"

Lu Ran, wielding the Xiaguang Saber, cut straight through the illusory lotus.

"Screech!"

A pitch-black dog head flew high into the air, spraying gushing blood.

Lu Ran, meanwhile, plunged into the dark wilderness and vanished without a trace.

"Well done." Jiang Ruyi bent down, reaching out to gently pat Tian Tian's head.

"Mhm." Tian Tian, kneeling on one knee, lifted her small face, revealing a sweet smile.

Far behind the two women lay a bloody, mangled dog corpse.

The Stream Realm Evil Dog was blown to pieces, its life long extinguished.

Flap flap flap~

High in the sky, a black crow circled, taking in everything.

Even Dou Zhiqiang, a man of vast experience, couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Spectacular!

A four-person squad with an average strength of Mist Realm Third Stage had killed one Stream Realm Evil Dog and two Mist Realm Evil Dogs without taking any damage.

The four had showcased their respective sect's characteristics, their coordination incredibly tacit, their transitions seamless.

Their offensive was like mercury pouring onto the ground, a single, unbroken flow!

They really should record this segment and send it to the school as beginner textbook material!

Such skilled coordination wasn't a matter of luck.

As the instructor, Dou Zhiqiang had witnessed their growth over the past 15 days.

If there were grades for summer vacation homework, not just completion, he would have given these students...

The black crow flapped its wings, its eyes piercing through the vast night, locking onto a spot in the dark wilderness.

In its sight, the young man holding the saber trembled slightly, enveloped in mist.

"Mmm~"

Lu Ran closed his eyes, letting out a contented hum.

Divine power surged within him, and the divine power bead around his neck also released mist, helping him break through to a higher realm.

Mist Realm Fourth Stage!

At the same moment, within Lu Ran's spiritual world, in the mist-shrouded garden of evil sculptures.

The giant sculptures belonging exclusively to the Vicious Dog Clan, their eyes that were originally dim and lusterless, quietly began to glow with a faint light.