Chapter 194 - I Nominate Sudden Death King as the Holy Son

After making his decision, Lu Ran prepared himself. He was determined to attack at his best as a sign of respect for his enemies. Once well-rested, Lu Ran, dressed in a black robe that made him look far from friendly, mounted the massive Captain Doofus, ready for takeoff.

With his current identity as a member of the Cult of Death, and Captain Doofus as his steed, Lu Ran couldn’t help but think of a certain Japanese animated movie about a “princess.”

Obviously, he wasn’t the princess, but with his dashing good looks, he hoped the opposing faction wouldn’t mistake him for the Prince of the Undead.

“Let’s go, Captain Doofus!” Lu Ran patted Captain Doofus.

After a week of boredom, Captain Doofus was excited for some action. It didn’t even mind being used as a steed this time. Its eyes darted up, down, left, and right as if preparing for a grand move.

“

Awooo~!

”

Captain Doofus howled as it stepped into the air and ascended rapidly. It was riding the wind!

After a few moments, Lu Ran instructed Captain Doofus to ascend even higher. They had to proceed cautiously and search slowly, as they did not know the enemy’s exact location.

However, before they could get far from the City Lord’s Mansion, a necromancer shrouded in gray mist, wearing a black robe and surrounded by the shadow of a vulture, appeared midair to block their path.

“Hmm?” Lu Ran frowned.

“I am Master Gao Li’s deputy, Huo Di. I am tasked with protecting you. Where are you heading, Your Excellency?” the necromancer asked with his raspy voice, leaving Lu Ran speechless.

Gao Li, you sneaky bastard. First, you sent Black Feather to monitor me, and now you’ve placed an even stronger deputy nearby?

Lu Ran realized that heading to the Empire Faction alone was out of the question. Gao Li would never let him walk into his death.

“How are you protecting me? That Space-attribute enemy just showed up again,” Lu Ran countered.

“I’ve had enough of being targeted again and again. I’m going after him to eliminate the threat.”

“What!?” Huo Di’s expression changed.

Had the Space-attribute enemy infiltrated again?

“Your Excellency, calm down. Chasing after him would be walking into a trap. Let’s meet with Master Gao Li to discuss countermeasures.”

“

Woof!

”

Captain Doofus glared at Huo Di.

What nonsense! You plan to block me from a fight? I’ll remember this grudge.

The commotion outside the City Lord’s Mansion also drew the attention of other necromancers.

Seeing this, Lu Ran reluctantly agreed. Gao Li had been generous with training notes and Soul Calming Stones. Lu Ran couldn’t make things too difficult for him, so he agreed to meet Gao Li.

***

“This is outrageous!”

Before long, upon learning that Lu Ran was being harassed again by that Space-attribute enemy, Gao Li was quite angry. However, seeing Lu Ran equally angry, Gao Li had to tread carefully.

“Brother Sudden Death King, calm down. You’re being too impulsive.”

When his deputy, Huo Di, recounted how Lu Ran planned to pursue the remnants of the imperial army alone, Gao Li’s face twitched.

This unconventional approach matches his usual behavior.

“Huo Di, Black Feather, how are you protecting Brother Sudden Death King if the enemy infiltrated again without being detected?” Gao Li asked as he turned toward his two deputies.

Huo Di and Black Feather looked aggrieved.

Space-attribute enemies are inherently hard to detect!

They hadn’t noticed even the slightest movement.

“It’s not their fault. But how can we just sit and wait for disaster?” Lu Ran asked.

“They infiltrated twice to get intel. The imperial army clearly aims to target Ming An City. If we remain passive, we’ll always be on the defensive.

“Brother Gao Li, that guy is such a pain. Let’s kill him together. Rather than waiting for them to prepare and launch an attack, why not take advantage of the necromancers’ strengths, move in early, and eliminate the enemy?”

Gao Li was speechless. It made so much sense that he couldn’t argue back.

Once Lu Ran realized his intentions were exposed, he decided to be upfront, trying to convince Gao Li to mobilize a large force and launch a direct assault. However, it was clear that Gao Li was hesitant.

“They are a regular army, after all. We need to plan carefully. Although they’re just remnants, their commander, Kai En, is a formidable opponent—no weaker than me. Besides, they might have gained support from private factions.

“Brother Sudden Death King, you’re only a level 1 beastmaster, aren’t you? While you’re already incredibly strong, even possessing unique insights in some areas, you must understand that on a battlefield, the gap between level 1 and level 2 is significant.

“There are quite a few level 2 beastmasters among the remnants of that imperial army. And on top of that, they number over a hundred.

“My suggestion is still to hold Ming An City. If they don’t attack within a month, we can wait for the divine emissary to arrive and resolve the issue effortlessly.”

“Are level 2 beastmasters that strong?” Lu Ran asked.

“I just don’t want that Space-attribute rat bothering me anymore. Fine. No active offense then. But I’m going to eliminate that Space-attribute guy myself to stop him from harassing me.”

Gao Li’s mouth twitched yet again.

I really can’t stop this guy, can I?

Honestly, no one would tolerate the feeling of being constantly spied on from the shadows. If Gao Li were in Lu Ran’s position, he’d also want to deal with the Space-attribute enemy.

“We’ll do it like this,” Gao Li said after a moment of thought.

“I’ll send a small squad to investigate that Space-attribute beastmaster. If there’s an opportunity, they’ll eliminate him.”

“I want to take revenge myself. I’m the type to hold grudges,” Lu Ran said, blinking innocently.

Who are you kidding? Sending your squad would just be delivering their heads on a platter!

Gao Li felt like Lu Ran was completely immovable, no matter what he said.

“That’s too dangerous...”

Gao Li wrestled with his thoughts for a long time before finally saying, “But I understand how you feel, Brother Sudden Death King. How about this? You and I will have a duel. A one-on-one.

“If your strength earns my approval, I’ll assign a unit to support you in assassinating that infiltrator. If you lose, I won’t let you march to your death.”

Gao Li’s expression was serious.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to test Lu Ran’s true strength. This was the furthest compromise Gao Li was willing to make.

“Sure,” Lu Ran agreed with a smile.

He had been worried that going alone might be too dangerous. But with a group of necromancers backing him up, the risk would be much lower. If luck was on his side, he might even be able to wipe out the enemy entirely in one go.

Lu Ran quickly analyzed the situation in his mind. If the enemy was strong and he couldn’t handle it alone, the Undead Faction’s support would be crucial for protecting him.

If the enemy was weak and he could handle them himself, having the necromancers seal off the battlefield would prevent anyone from escaping, allowing him to deal with them one by one and maximize his score.

After all, even if the enemy stood still and let him fight, with hundreds of familiars involved, he wouldn’t be able to finish them all alone.

“This...”

Huo Di and Black Feather were dumbfounded. They hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly into a duel between Lu Ran and Gao Li.

Soon enough, Lu Ran and Gao Li were standing outside in a courtyard. Next to Lu Ran was his familiar, Captain Doofus, with the Longleaf Swordgrass in its mouth.

The odd combination of abilities Captain Doofus had had always been a subject of complaint for Gao Li and Black Feather.

Is this some kind of Wind-Grass dual-attribute dog?

“Your opponent is this,” Gao Li said, exhaling slowly as he began summoning his own familiar.

“

RAWR!!!

”

The next moment, a black tiger-like spiritual entity materialized, its glowing green eyes glaring at Captain Doofus. It looked as though it had walked straight out of the Underworld, its cold gaze piercing.

[Name: Phantom Tiger]

[Attribute: Undead]

[Species Rank: Low Champion]

[Level: 30]

As the Phantom Tiger appeared, its data was instantly revealed to Lu Ran.

“You may attack first,” Gao Li said, waiting for Lu Ran and Captain Doofus to make their move.

However, in the blink of an eye, his pupils shrank as he felt a fierce wind surge past him.

Boom!!!

A shockwave erupted around them. Nearby, Huo Di and Black Feather, who had just begun focusing, were caught off guard. Their black robes were hit by the raging wind, and their hoods fell back to reveal their stunned faces.

In a flash, Captain Doofus had disappeared from beside Lu Ran and reappeared behind the Phantom Tiger.

Slash.

Without warning, a faint sword mark appeared on the Phantom Tiger’s leg. The creature let out a pained roar as its body tipped forward, stumbling onto the ground.

By compressing twentyfold wind energy under its paws and combining it with Haste, Captain Doofus had mastered a technique similar to godspeed, allowing for explosive bursts of speed.

The Phantom Tiger didn’t even have the chance to see its opponent before its leg was injured. With the strike complete, Captain Doofus coolly turned its gaze back toward Gao Li, who wore an expression of disbelief.

“How is this possible!?”

Gao Li, Huo Di, and Black Feather exclaimed in unison.

“Is that enough?” Lu Ran asked.

“If this had been a real enemy, that strike would have landed somewhere fatal. It wouldn’t have been just a scratch.”

“You—!” Gao Li was stunned.

“How can it have such overwhelming speed and strength?”

Initially, Gao Li had planned to engage in a measured exchange with Lu Ran. He never anticipated that his Phantom Tiger would be so thoroughly outclassed in just one move.

“

Rawr!!!

”

The Phantom Tiger also looked alarmed. It sensed the faint kingly aura emanating from Captain Doofus.

“I told you, we’re strong,” Lu Ran said with a slight smile.

“Although its level is low, as a King-ranked familiar, it can easily fight across ranks...”

“King?” Gao Li was dumbfounded, staring at Captain Doofus, with the Longleaf Swordgrass in its mouth.

Is this a joke? This dog is a King-ranked familiar?

Even in Imperial Beast City, King-ranked familiars were extraordinarily rare.

A King... No wonder Lu Ran and his familiar can handle Space-attribute infiltrators with ease.

But why? Why would someone with a King-ranked familiar choose to join the Cult of Death?

“He’s that strong?”

Black Feather murmured to herself. She’d known Lu Ran wasn’t weak, but she never imagined even Master Gao Li would be so decisively suppressed.

Without using his necromantic enhancements, Gao Li had been utterly dominated in a single exchange, showcasing the terrifying strength of Lu Ran’s familiar. Huo Di’s expression shifted, while Gao Li’s emotions surged.

“Brother Sudden Death King, what were you even thinking by bringing a King-ranked familiar into the cult...”

He’d assumed Lu Ran’s familiar was merely a Champion-ranked familiar. But instead... it was a King.

“Nothing much. I just became a necromancer out of personal interest,” Lu Ran replied with a casual smile.

“So, Brother Gao Li, do you think I have the strength to launch a proactive strike now?”

Gao Li’s expression remained conflicted.

A King-ranked familiar...

Lu Ran’s status in Gao Li’s mind rose to an entirely new level again.

To think that at level 1, he could form a contract with a King-ranked familiar. And with such an intense interest in necromancy, once the divine emissary took him under their wing, he’d surely be nurtured as a Holy Son candidate—not just a core member.

Countless thoughts raced through Gao Li’s mind before he finally made up his mind. It was impossible to ignore the Space-attribute infiltrator. If Lu Ran were injured due to negligence, the consequences would be catastrophic.

“Brother Sudden Death King, whatever you say goes. From now on, I’ll assign 100 level 1 necromancers to your command. Let’s go on the offensive and show the imperial army what we’re capable of.

“Let them know we’re not to be trifled with.”

Lu Ran’s expression turned odd.

So, this is the power of strength... I’ve somehow become the leader of a hundred-strong necromancer battalion.

“Alright,” Lu Ran said with a pleased expression.

“But since this is my personal grudge, I’d feel guilty if my brothers and sisters were dragged into danger. They don’t need to fight. They just need to stay nearby, provide support, and cheer us on to scare the enemy.

“As for the enemy, let me try handling them myself first. I don’t want any innocent comrades getting hurt or killed because of me.”

“What?”

Gao Li, Huo Di, and Black Feather were dumbfounded. The trio was stunned, increasingly unsure if they could truly understand Lu Ran.

Is this guy for real? I’m gonna cry...

If they had a say, all three would’ve nominated Lu Ran as a Holy Son of the cult on the spot. They, too, wanted a leader like him.

“Brother Sudden Death King, you...”

Gao Li felt a sudden surge of emotion. For the first time, he felt that Lu Ran was someone worth forming a deep connection with. When the time came, Gao Li swore to praise Lu Ran highly in front of the divine emissary.

Of course, Lu Ran’s motives weren’t exactly selfless. He simply wanted all the experience to himself.

If not for the scoring system and rewards, he’d never risk his life with such dangerous solo action.

“I’ve made up my mind,” Gao Li said after some contemplation.

“I’ll retrieve a powerful weapon buried in the Land of the Dead to aid you in this mission, Brother Sudden Death King.”

“Huh?” Lu Ran was surprised.

“It’s fine. Exposing it to real combat will aid in its growth.”

“What kind of weapon?” Lu Ran asked.

Oh, right! There’s that thing too. If I weren’t here, Gao Li would definitely use it to deal with the imperial army. It must be a key item capable of shifting the tide of battle.

“It’s a sword forged by one of the cult’s elder blacksmiths using unique methods. Its blade is composed of a thousand shards of soul bones and teeth fragments. It can transform into various shapes to attack the enemy. It’s called the Bone Sword of a Thousand Blades.”

“

Woof!

”

Captain Doofus shuddered upon hearing this.

Bone Sword of a Thousand Blades? What kind of demonic crafting is this? Evil necromancers... Lu Ran, don’t follow their bad example!