Whenever people think of the Demon Cave, they tend to conjure bleak and dreary images of a hostile environment shrouded in darkness.

Actually, it's not true!

There are many Demon Caves in the world, each with its own environment.

The so-called "Bamboo Sea" is one such Demon Cave that boasts an elegant environment and a pleasant climate.

Frankly speaking, the Bamboo Sea Demon Cave might even be more comfortable than the continuously overcast Rain Alley City...

Nested within the Bamboo Sea Demon Cave thrives a species of "Bamboo Wood Demon," part of the Evil Demon family.

They are relatively low on the danger scale and not the brightest, on par with the Straw Demon clan.

It's clear that the school chose this particular Demon Cave precisely to enable students to get away from the rain alleys and relax.

This trip to Qiantang River province involves a lengthy journey.

According to the school's plan, students are expected to travel by train and spend the night on the train.

The class teacher gave the students two hours to consider and requested that they submit their names by ten in the morning.

Following Li Yanzhu's departure, Deng Yutang came over with Tian Tian in tow.

"Are we going?" Tian Tian stood next to Chang Ying's seat, her gaze skating over the girl and fixing on Lu Ran.

Feeling bypassed, Chang Ying struggled to assert her presence. She reached out, scooped up Tian Tian, and held her in her arms.

It was as if she was hugging an oversized doll, and she had Tian Tian sit on her lap.

"Umm." Tian Tian blushed, struggling for a moment, but she truly couldn't outmuscle the female wildling.

"I'll go with whatever you guys decide," Lu Ran responded.

He had already changed the squad's itinerary several times, consecutively visiting Evil Dog Village, Black Grave Mound, and the Black Soul Wood Forest.

This time, Lu Ran had no intention of making his teammates accommodate him once more.

"Let's go have a look," Chang Ying suggested enthusiastically, "I heard the environment there is especially nice, perfect for a getaway.

And since the Bamboo Wood Demons are all a bit dim-witted, we can have some fun with them, right?"

While talking, Chang Ying tilted her head slightly, looking at the large doll in her embrace.

"Mhm mhm," Tian Tian murmured in agreement, head low.

Seeing their leader nod, Chang Ying immediately cheered, "Yay~!"

Deng Yutang suddenly spoke up, "Should I book plane tickets for our team?"

Chang Ying replied, "Riding the train is so much better, traveling from north to south. Isn't the school's intent to let us enjoy the scenery along the way?"

"Huh?" Deng Yutang took a moment to process.

That did make sense.

Lu Ran looked at Chang Ying and abruptly asked, "Do you snore when you sleep?"

Chang Ying's eyes widened: ???

Deng Yutang chuckled, "Brother Lu's ears are too sensitive, and we're going to be sleeping on the train at night.

If you snore, he might not be able to sleep at all."

"You're the one who snores!" Chang Ying almost used Tian Tian in her arms like an axe to chop down Deng Yutang, "Don't slander people!"

"Hey! Hey!" Lu Ran hurriedly intervened.

Poor Tian Tian, swung back and forth by someone, felt dizzy...

After registering with the class teacher, everyone went home to prepare.

On his way home, Lu Ran also made a phone call.

"Hello?" A pleasant female voice came through the phone.

"Good morning," Lu Ran said casually.

Si Xianxian snorted back, "Good."

It was evident that the background noise on her end was loud, as if she was outside.

Lu Ran continued, "We're planning to train in the Qiantang River area, do you want to come?"

Si Xianxian's refusal was straightforward, "It's too far, I'm not going."

"Ah?" Lu Ran was quite surprised, "I thought you didn't want to train with Auntie."

Si Xianxian grew increasingly irritated, "Train my ass! I'm not training this month. I'm taking a break."

"You, a belligerent, staying calm?" Lu Ran was even more puzzled, "What are you doing over there? Why's it so noisy?"

Si Xianxian said annoyed, "I'm volunteering here, cleaning the streets!"

A weird smile appeared on Lu Ran's face, "Earning believer points?"

"It's called contributing to the city's appearance!" On the other end, Si Xianxian stooped to pick up a shard of porcelain from the street.

With one hand clutching the shard tight, she ground it fiercely.

The porcelain shard was thus reduced to powder and cast into the air by her.

A gust of wind blew by, dispersing the powder without a trace.

Good, another piece of rubbish cleared!

Si Xianxian nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the volunteers around her, watching this irritable Fierce Heavenly believer, dared not say a word.

Over the phone came that irritating voice again, "You must be running low on believer points, and they won't let you into the Demon Cave, right?"

Someone's life advisor had once said: Lies don't hurt people, the truth does like a sharp knife!

Si Xianxian stopped in her tracks, eyes closed, as if enduring something great, "Lu Ran, I think..."

"What do you think?"

"I think about slapping you."

Lu Ran: "..."

Si Xianxian took a deep breath, still managing to control her anger; she couldn't throw too much of a fit with Lu Ran.

But the rage had to be vented somewhere, so she cursed, "Is there something wrong with your school?

After just having gone through the Night of Ghosts, wanting to die, and they still send you on training?"

Lu Ran: "The Bamboo Sea, the intensity isn't that high."

"The Bamboo Sea, sounds fun... Uh." Si Xianxian clearly paused, "Not exciting. The Bamboo Wood Demons are too weak.

One hammer from me could smash a whole bunch, not interesting beating up weaklings."

"Alright, then keep contributing to Jinchuan City," Lu Ran laughed, "Do more!

Accumulate more points, we'll save them for later deduction."

"Lu! Ran!" Si Xianxian ground her teeth furiously, her pretty face a bit distorted as she squeezed out the words.

"Beep... beep... beep..."

No more replies from him, just a series of busy tones in her ear.

"Dammit!" Si Xianxian picked up the big broom and swept the street fiercely.

People around shrank their heads, discreetly cleaning up rubbish.

Those who volunteer usually have noble intentions, but there are also troublemakers doing it for points.

Yet even the worst troublemaker didn't dare breathe too loud in Si Xianxian's presence.

The volunteers were indeed curious, what kind of entity could infuriate a Fierce Heavenly believer thus?

Were they not afraid of death?

Lu Ran... Well, Xu Zhen wasn't afraid of dying.

But he was quite averse to people snoring.

In the afternoon, before boarding the train, Lu Ran even bought a pair of earplugs.

It should be mentioned that Mr. Deng's spending ability had indeed come into play.

Since they weren't allowed to buy plane tickets, he upgraded all their hard sleeper reservations to soft sleeper...

"You, not spending money must be uncomfortable," Chang Ying commented, shoving the big axe under the lower bunk and then looking around the compartment.

Four of them in one compartment did ensure a lot more quiet.

"Why keep money around? Who knows when it might vanish," Deng Yutang said nonchalantly.

Leaning against the doorframe, Lu Ran couldn't help shaking his head with a smile.

"What's up, Brother Lu?" Deng Yutang smiled, "Got a better idea?"

"No," Lu Ran shook his head, "I smile because you and your sister's perspectives are quite aligned."

Deng Yutang: "..."

He had warned Lu Ran long ago to keep a distance from Deng Yuxiang.

But instead, Lu Ran had managed to join her team.

Thinking it over, Deng Yutang was actually quite grateful to Lu Ran.

He had learned of some things and knew that Lu Ran had helped his sister a lot, standing by her during numerous fifteenth nights.

"Are you sleeping on the top or bottom bunk?" Deng Yutang asked.

"I'm fine with either." Though he said this, Lu Ran plopped himself down on the lower bunk.

Deng Yutang: "..."

Tian Tian couldn't help covering her mouth and giggling, "Pfft... hehe~"

"Rustle rustle~"

Chang Ying clasped another divination container in her hand, and the spiritual signs within began to emerge.

This time, cradling the container with both hands, she rocked it back and forth, "All will go smoothly, all will go smoothly..."

The same-named Divine Technique·Spiritual Sign!

"Swish~"

A phantom sign streaked out, floating and slowly rotating above the compartment.

It bore a single character - Up!

"Ho?"

"Wow?" Their faces brightened with delight; it was rare to see an auspicious sign.

"Ha! Looks like our journey's fortune is good!" Chang Ying exclaimed in joy.

"Bamboo Wood Demons aren't that tough," Deng Yutang climbed up to the top bunk, "They're just right for practising new Divine Skills."

Lu Ran inquired, "Have you mastered the Red Edge?"

"Of course!" Deng Yutang lay on the top bunk, one hand resting on the edge of the bed.

In his palm, a faint red energy quietly emerged.

The energy flowed like a stream, with a streaming effect, emitting vibrant red light!

Red Cloth Divine Skill·Red Edge!

This skill, when properly used, wraps around the edge of a weapon, amplifying its output damage.

It had a sense of "Armor-Piercing."

Lu Ran had once seen Chen Jing, a Moon Gazer, using this skill.

"It's so pretty," whispered Tian Tian.

Chang Ying nodded in agreement, "True, it's like a handy nightlight, no need to switch on the light when getting up at night."

Deng Yutang: ???

Mr. Deng wasn't pleased, gripping the railings of the bunk bed, he looked down, "Why do you talk about our Red Cloth Divine Skill like that?

I want a one-on-one duel with you!"

"Mine, mine works too," Tian Tian quickly interjected, averting a crisis.

She lifted her small hands, and energy flowed within them.

A beautiful green lotus flower burst into bloom, its brilliance shimmering in her palm.

The petals fluttered on their own, swaying gently, wafting out a light fragrance.

Sword Lotus Divine Skill·Treasure Lotus!

This skill can spread pollen with a light fragrance, helping to soothe the mind and spirit.

Its force lay in the fact that it could cleanse away all mental anomalies within the pollen range!

Note that it's "anomaly," not positive or negative.

Meaning, whether it's Deng Yutang's Battle Roar or Lu Ran's bleating, in front of this Treasure Lotus, they would be ineffective.

Even Lu Ran's Illusion Technique of Evil Technique·Caged Fire would be classified as a mental anomaly.

As long as Tian Tian held this Treasure Lotus, Lu Ran could not pull her into his illusions.

"Wow!" Chang Ying's eyes gleamed, and she leaned in closer.

Sniff~

Lu Ran shrugged his nostrils, catching the scent of the lotus flower.

In fact, that morning in the classroom, when Tian Tian approached his desk, he had already faintly smelt a hint of the fragrance.

It was clear that Tian Tian must have liked this newly learned Divine Skill very much; she must practice it often at home for her body to retain the scent of lotus.

"Isn't it pretty?"

Tian Tian carefully placed the Treasure Lotus on the table, revealing a sweet smile on her face.

Lu Ran watched smilingly.

A flower pure and flawless, a girl charming and lovable.

Slowly, Lu Ran turned to gaze out the train window, observing the murky overcast skies.

The world had been thrown into disarray, no longer wonderful.

Fortunately,

In this world, there were still many beautiful people.

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