"Xu Ran, you have to take me with you this time." After Xiaowu finished combing her hair, she stood in front of Xu Ran with a charming posture. Even though she was very tired last night, she didn't close her eyes, worried that if she fell asleep, Xu Ran would sneak away.
She didn't want to be apart from Xu Ran. No matter what he was going to do this time, she wanted to accompany him.
"I'm on a serious mission this time, not out to flirt with girls. What would you do coming with me?"
"I don't care, who knows what you're really up to? If you meet a pretty girl, it'll be useless for me to do nothing." Xiaowu said, latching onto Xu Ran's arm.
"It's going to be very dangerous this time."
"I'm not afraid, you'll protect me anyway," Xiaowu giggled. No matter what dangers there were, Xu Ran would always protect her. Xu Ran was now the number one powerhouse of Soul Land. Her man was the best!
"Hmph. Zhu Qing and Rongrong have both attained godhood, and yet I haven't. Besides, you won't even let me go out with you. Do you not love me anymore? I feel like you treat them better than you treat me." Xiaowu pouted, her large eyes seeming to swirl with unshed tears.
"Alright, alright. I'll take you with me, okay?" Xu Ran said helplessly.
"Hehe, Xu Ran, you're the best. This time, you're only allowed to bring me, okay? Having more people would affect you," Xiaowu said with a beaming smile, her face changing faster than flipping through a book.
"Fine," Xu Ran said indulgently. He felt he owed Xiaowu this time, so he would take her out with him. Otherwise, even if Xiaowu didn't mention it, he would feel uncomfortable.
"I've never been to the sea before. This is a good opportunity to experience it. Plus, the journey is so long this time—if I don't accompany you, you'll be lonely. If we are together, we can do something fun."
"Okay. Let's say goodbye to them and set off. Time waits for no one, if we're late, we might run into a lot of trouble." Xu Ran knew Tang San had already gone to Sea God's Island.
Tang San had learned from past experiences and would probably be more proactive, not holding back anymore.
Xu Ran couldn't afford to take such a Tang San lightly.
If Tang San really caught up to Poseissi, it would break his heart.
With Tang Chen gone, it wouldn't be surprising if Poseissi placed her feelings on Tang San.
Outside Tiandou City.
Under the watchful eyes of a group of close female friends, Xu Ran and Xiaowu set off in the carriage. The horses they used this time had spirit beast bloodline, making them extremely fast. It wouldn't take too long to reach Hanhai City on the western frontier of the Tiandou Empire.
"What a Xu Ran, indeed the most crucial factor to the stability of Soul Land. Worthy of the man Your Majesty once favored," Emperor Xue Ye stood atop the city walls and watched Xu Ran's departing figure, speaking with admiration.
He had known that with Xu Ran's talent, he would eventually become a great powerhouse. But he never expected it to come so quickly, nor did he expect Xu Ran to be so strong.
The number one in Soul Land?
A profound and earth-shaking existence!
"Your Majesty, Lord Xu Ran stayed in the Princess' room last night," a confidant approached Emperor Xue Ye and reported.
"That's good," Emperor Xue Ye revealed a smile.
There was a time when all the forces on the Continent feared Martial Soul Hall. With the ever-changing Continent, no one was sure who could survive through this great upheaval.
And now, because of Xu Ran's appearance, the Continent once again returned to peace.
Undercurrents that were once surging calmed down in an instant.
The future might see a hundred years without a large-scale war erupting. This was a blessing for the common folk of Soul Land. For all the Soul Masters in the world, it was also a positive outcome.
If there was only one powerful force in the entire world, scenes of cultivation flourishing like this might become rare. At that time, the profession of Soul Master might even begin to decline.
In short, this result was welcome and pleasing to everyone.
...
Three days later, Xu Ran and Xiaowu had already entered the western frontier of the Tiandou Empire.
"Such a heavy scent of blood." Inside the carriage, Xiaowu knitted her delicate brows, pulled back the carriage's curtain, and surveyed the scenery outside, sensing something amiss. The wind blowing in her face carried a strong odor of blood.
"Xu Ran, it seems something is wrong up ahead." Xiaowu pointed toward the village in front.
"Indeed, there's a problem. The village up ahead has been raided by Wolf Raiders," Xu Ran said.
"What are Rogue Bandits?" Xiaowu asked curiously.
"Wolf Raiders could be said to be human, or perhaps not. They are the hybrid of humans and a species of soul beast called the Swift Wind Demon Wolf. The Martial Soul of Feng Xiaotian from the Four Elements Academy, the Gale Twin-Headed Wolf Martial Soul, is an enhanced mutation of the Swift Wind Demon Wolf. However, a Martial Soul doesn't have some of the Demon Wolf's natural tendencies. The Swift Wind Demon Wolf has a peculiar nature. It can mate with almost any creature of a similar size, and it favors human females the most. When they mate with a human female, they give birth to Wolf Raiders, a special breed. One could say they are monstrous half-wolf, half-human creatures. Wolf Raiders naturally possess the physique, speed, and some of the innate abilities of the Swift Wind Demon Wolf. They also have a certain level of human intelligence, and they are extremely bloodthirsty and greedy. Wherever the Wolf Raiders go, the people living there are doomed. These Wolf Raiders do not merely plunder; they also kill humans and eat them, with women being spared for the time being. Women who are not yet pregnant also end up as their food," Xu Ran explained.
Upon hearing this, murderous intent surged in Xiaowu's eyes.
"Let's go help those people then. We can't let them continue to harm the innocent," Xiaowu said, tugging at Xu Ran's hand.
"Okay," Xu Ran replied without hesitation. He wasn't a good person, but he wasn't a bad one either.
Arriving near the village, Xu Ran and Xiaowu looked at the scene before them, their faces pale with shock. There were countless corpses on the ground, and the earth was stained red with blood.
In front of them was a group of Wolf Raiders dressed in outlandish garb.
There were about five hundred Wolf Raiders, each with a formidable build, all over two meters tall with sturdy physiques. What was most peculiar was that all of them had gray hair, thick body hair, and looked like wild men. Their lips protruded outward, revealing canine teeth many times larger than those of ordinary humans. Their faces were also painted with dazzling colors.
They were gnawing on the bones of the villagers.
"There are still living people."
The appearance of Xu Ran and Xiaowu attracted the attention of the bandits. However, their focus was entirely on Xiaowu. These half-human, half-wolf creatures shared the same aesthetic standards as humans.
Clearly, Xiaowu was considered a great beauty in their eyes as well.
Their eyes quickly turned blood red, howling incessantly as if they had found delicious prey.
"Xiaowu, close your eyes, don't look at this," Xu Ran said as he held Xiaowu in his arms. He could feel Xiaowu trembling; she had obviously never seen such a bloody scene before.