Why?

"Careful!"

Wei Long threw an arm around Lu Ran, pulling him behind him.

Wei Hu positioned himself further back, the brothers sandwiching Lu Ran between them.

Meanwhile, on the upper and lower stairwells, Deng Yuxiang and Sun Zhengfang were fighting the boy and girl dolls respectively.

"Waaaaah!"

The Ghost Talisman Boy Doll let out a chilling cry, its dark eye sockets "staring" at Sun Zhengfang as its small hands flailed wildly.

Instantly, black talismans appeared out of thin air, flung towards Sun Zhengfang.

Sun Zhengfang was unfazed. The branch in his hand rapidly assembled into a Branch Shield.

With two soft "tap" sounds, the black talismans stuck to the shield.

Immediately, deep red runes lit up on the Black Talisman Paper, the light growing more blinding.

"Bang! Bang!"

Big explosion!

Mists of blood burst forth, the fetid smell assaulting the nostrils.

However, Sun Zhengfang's Branch Shield remained undamaged.

"Stream Realm, stages 3 to 4!" Sun Zhengfang shouted, divine power surging in his palm.

Two branches shot out from the Branch Shield, whipping towards the enemy like whips.

Hearing the intel from Sun Zhengfang, Lu Ran's heart settled slightly.

The Ghost Talisman Doll certainly looked terrifying, but if it was only Stream Realm level, it couldn't possibly be a match for several powerful Moon Watchers.

"River Realm! River Realm, stage three or higher!"

From above, Deng Yuxiang's voice rang out.

Lu Ran: "..."

His recently settled heart once again hung in suspense.

Sun Zhengfang: "Big Dragon, Big Tiger, advance in an orderly fashion. Help Little Deng find the Yellow Paper first!"

The so-called Yellow Paper was the talisman that had been stuck to the tiger-head hat earlier.

From the moment the Yellow Paper talisman fell off, the Ghost Talisman Doll's body became ethereal, immune to most physical attacks.

If the Yellow Paper talisman were reattached, the Ghost Talisman Doll would regain its physical form.

Unfortunately, Lu Ran couldn't learn this trick.

Because it wasn't an evil technique.

It was the Ghost Talisman Doll's racial trait, something it possessed naturally.

"Yes!"

"Yes!" The Wei brothers acknowledged the order and quickly ascended.

Lu Ran, caught in the middle, wanted to rush up too, but though he moved his legs, he couldn't climb the stairs.

A supple branch suddenly wrapped around his waist.

Sun Zhengfang: "Little Lu, your chance to shine has arrived. Are you scared?"

Lu Ran's spirits immediately lifted: "Not scared!"

"Good! I'll lure this boy doll up," Sun Zhengfang said quickly. "You climb the stairs again and find the Yellow Paper."

Lu Ran was a little confused. Climb the stairs again?

Before he could ask, the branch around his waist suddenly tightened, lifting him into the air.

"Whoa!" Lu Ran let out a soft cry as he was swept up by the branch and sent flying out the window between the third and fourth floors.

Instantly, The night wind howled, and heavy rain poured down.

The branch bound Lu Ran as he descended, only releasing him when he reached the second floor.

Lu Ran landed heavily, facing Deng Yuxiang's Night Severing blade, which was stuck in the doorway.

"Hum~"

The Night Severing blade vibrated slightly, as if eager to join the fight.

Lu Ran charged forward, no time to comfort it.

As he moved, Lu Ran's divine power surged, pushing his evil technique, Evil Awareness, to its limit!

He quickly scanned the stairwell, running up to the second floor.

Before his headlamp beam even illuminated the Yellow Paper, Lu Ran's peripheral vision had already spotted the target.

"Found it!"

"Found it!" Lu Ran gripped the Yellow Paper, its surface rough to the touch.

"When you see an opening, stick it on the doll!" Sun Zhengfang stood behind his Branch Shield, using another branch to whip the Ghost Talisman Doll.

Though the whip cracked, each strike passed through the Ghost Talisman Doll's body, hitting the concrete steps instead.

"Wah!"

The Ghost Talisman Doll was actually crying in frustration?

It kept summoning Black Talisman Papers, flinging them relentlessly at Sun Zhengfang's shield.

It was clear this evil entity had low intelligence, seeming like a three or four-year-old child.

Sun Zhengfang and Lu Ran were "loudly conspiring," but the ghost doll didn't react, solely focused on bombarding the Branch Shield.

"Here goes~"

Lu Ran roared inwardly. Just as the Ghost Talisman Doll flung a Black Talisman Paper, mist sprayed from his feet.

"Whoosh—"

Lu Ran darted forward, Yellow Paper in hand, and slapped the back of the Ghost Talisman Doll's head.

"Ugh~" The Ghost Talisman Doll let out a strange guttural sound.

Its little head buzzed!

It even forgot to cry.

The Ghost Talisman Doll's ethereal body instantly solidified.

Not only that, but a festive Tiger Head Hat was suddenly placed on the Ghost Talisman Doll's head.

We don't know where the hat came from.

Anyway, the Yellow Paper was in place, and the hat followed.

Since the Ghost Talisman Doll had regained a physical form, its fate was sealed.

Lu Ran's slap was no joke!

He sent the Ghost Talisman Doll flying, straight towards the Branch Shield.

On the Branch Shield, branches sprang up, transforming into sharp Wood Spikes.

"Pfft~"

The Ghost Talisman Doll's body, composed of pure energy, shattered into mist and dispersed.

"First time seeing this, huh?" Sun Zhengfang retracted his Branch Shield and looked down.

From Sun Zhengfang's expression, it was clear he was very satisfied with Lu Ran's performance.

Sun Zhengfang could have dealt with the Ghost Talisman Doll himself.

But when conditions allowed, the Gods Bureau's principle was to let Lu Ran participate as much as possible.

Lu Ran hadn't disappointed Sun Zhengfang, completing the task properly once again!

Just like his performance over the past few hours, he was steady as a rock.

"I've certainly opened my eyes," Lu Ran nodded.

He had only seen such evil entities in textbooks.

In terms of rarity, the Ghost Talisman Doll should be on par with the Yanzhiren.

Sun Zhengfang gestured for Lu Ran to go upstairs: "There's a 30% chance for Ghost Talisman Dolls to appear in pairs. These evil entities are strong, but also weak.

Their weakness lies in their minds.

Their strength comes from their racial traits and powerful Evil Techniques."

"Mhm," Lu Ran replied, running upstairs. "I'm familiar with the divine techniques of the Jade Talisman sect."

Lu Ran said this because the Ghost Talisman Doll's Evil Techniques had similar effects to the divine techniques of the Jade Talisman sect.

The only difference was that the Ghost Talisman Doll flung black talismans, not White Jade Stone Slabs.

"Stop!" Wei Long's shout came from above.

Sun Zhengfang continued to cover their rear, looking up at the stairwell above: "Did you find the Yellow Paper?"

Wei Long: "It's already with Xiao Deng. Da Hu is activating Blood Sea Chaos on the fifth floor, blocking the evil entity's path."

Even so, the Ghost Talisman Doll was in an ethereal state, and couldn't be blocked from the sides.

But there was no need to worry about the Ghost Talisman Doll escaping.

After all, such evil entities had low intelligence and a penchant for slaughter; they would never let this group of people go.

"Da Long, protect Lu Ran," Sun Zhengfang continued to move upwards.

Facing a River Realm Ghost Talisman Doll, Sun Zhengfang didn't intend to let Lu Ran fight anymore.

"Rumble!"

A violent explosion echoed. Deng Yuxiang from upstairs had retreated.

Deng Yuxiang kept her eyes shut, her expression grim.

She was wrapped in strands of wind, laced with wisps of mist.

North Wind Divine Technique: Shattered Wind Armor!

"Come out!" Deng Yuxiang's voice was frigid. "I'll give you a quick end."

Suddenly, Deng Yuxiang's ears twitched slightly. Clutching a wind blade, she violently slashed upwards.

From the wall to her front left, a pale little hand suddenly emerged, flinging a black talisman.

The wind blade shattered the black talisman, and in an instant, lightning flashed!

Fine currents, like little snakes, crawled along the wind blade towards Deng Yuxiang.

But as soon as the currents touched her body, they were erased by the strands of wind.

At the same time, a small tornado, hugging the wall, tore through.

Wall plaster fell, and dust billowed.

The Ghost Talisman Doll clearly sensed danger. The little hand emerging from the wall quickly retracted.

Deng Yuxiang said sternly, "Captain Sun, you guys evacuate this place first. I'll tear this building down."

Sun Zhengfang: "Nonsense!"

Deng Yuxiang was indeed infuriated, wanting to unleash her full power and directly activate Tornado Storm.

The Ghost Talisman Doll was immune to physical attacks, right?

Then neither it nor this damned building would survive!

Sun Zhengfang made a swift decision: "Big Dragon, you take Little Lu and jump out the window. Use Voice of Compassion to lure the Ghost Talisman Doll."

"Shh!" Deng Yuxiang suddenly made a shushing gesture.

Sun Zhengfang immediately fell silent, afraid of disturbing his teammates.

Silence filled the stairwell.

Deng Yuxiang, however, frowned slightly. Had she misheard?

Currently, the Ghost Talisman Doll's body was in a phased state, making almost no sound when it moved.

Therefore, Deng Yuxiang could only listen for the subtle wind ripples caused by energy fluctuations when the ghost child cast its spells!

The difficulty of this was imaginable!

Below in the stairwell, Lu Ran waited for a moment before secretly getting up to mischief again.

Using Wei Long as a human shield, he pushed the Prison Devil Believers and cautiously climbed two steps, reaching the fourth floor.

Wei Long naturally knew Lu Ran wanted to contribute to the team, but...

He stabilized himself, no longer moving, solidly blocking Lu Ran.

But Lu Ran still had a trick!

He hugged Wei Long, tilted his body, and stretched his head out as far as he could.

Finally, Lu Ran saw the tall figure standing by the window on the fourth floor and a half.

Wei Long was about to straighten Lu Ran up when he noticed Lu Ran had closed his eyes.

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not disturb Lu Ran.

In fact, no one knew that Lu Ran was completely different from Deng Yuxiang!

North Wind Believer, was listening to the sound of the wind.

Lu Ran, was sniffing out the ghost's aura!

Evil Technique: Evil Awareness enhanced not just hearing, but all five senses, including hearing!

Huh?

Why is the smell getting fainter?

The Ghost Talisman Doll isn't in the building anymore? Did it run?

Impossible, how could such an evil creature escape. Holy crap!

Lu Ran's heart leaped: "Sis, watch your back!"

"My back?" Although Deng Yuxiang was surprised, she still turned to look.

This trust stemmed from Lu Ran's repeatedly astonishing performances.

But this time, Lu Ran seemed to have made a mistake.

The broken window had no glass, only a frame. Outside was pitch black, and the rain poured down.

Where was the Ghost Talisman Doll's figure?

"Huh?" Just before Deng Yuxiang closed her eyes, she suddenly noticed a pale little hand quietly peeking out from the window frame.

Deng Yuxiang abruptly flicked her wrist, sending a yellow paper talisman flying towards the little hand.

Her movements were incredibly fluid. She leaned out of the window frame, her wind blade slashing horizontally with all her might!

This troublesome creature was instantly decapitated!

"Pfft!"

The ghost child's energy body shattered, turning into wisps of mist that dispersed outside the window.

Wei Long's mouth hung slightly open, his face full of disbelief.

"What?" Sun Zhengfang also scratched his head.

Deng Yuxiang straightened up and said softly, "Little Lu Ran."

"Sis?"

"On what grounds?"

Lu Ran: "..."

On the grounds that I have a dog's nose?

That explanation didn't sound right either!

Deng Yuxiang turned slightly, looking down. "I haven't heard it yet. How could you hear it?"

Lu Ran opened his mouth, unsure how to explain.

Because I don't rely on hearing!

I rely on smelling!

After a long pause, Lu Ran finally managed to blurt out, "When I get off work tomorrow, I'll help Sis clean her ears."

Deng Yuxiang: ???

Is he insulting me?