"Congratulations, Wu Shanshan!"

The male teacher's gaze swept across the audience, finally settling on a short-haired girl.

"You have always been one of the most promising students with exceptional talent!"

"The god you worship is also the highest-ranked among all the gods worshipped by the teachers and students of the school!"

"After half a year of hard work, you have lived up to expectations and achieved great success in the final exams!"

"On the Night of Ghosts, you were calm and fearless in the face of danger, helping the Moon Gazer team..."

Listening to the teacher's narration and praise, Lu Ran finally understood the taste of being a "spectator."

It's really annoying~

In contrast to Lu Ran's reaction, Wu Shanshan didn't lower her head but proudly raised it.

She accepted the envious or jealous looks from others, as well as a distinguished honor that was uniquely hers.

Wu Shanshan indeed had a reason to be proud!

If not for a certain lamb making a surprising breakthrough, Wu Shanshan would have been the most outstanding student in Yuxiang No.1 Middle School.

The god she revered was Second-class God·Ash.

Common folk also called this god the "Southern Sea Bow."

Together with the East Thunder Spear, West Desolate Axe, and North Wind Blade, it was known as one of the Four Directions Martial Heroes—its strength was undoubtedly formidable!

"...Yunshan City's Divine People Bureau specially awards you 20 Believer Points, as encouragement!"

The male teacher finally finished his speech, and applause rang out on the sports field.

It was undeniable that the Believer of Second-class God·Ash receiving such glory made it more acceptable to others.

"Alright," said the male teacher with satisfaction, nodding his head, "Let's proceed to the second item, the Grand Martial Contest!"

As his words fell, the sports field stirred again.

"It's finally time!"

"Haha, this is going to be a good show~"

"Those who have advanced to the River Realm, they all seem to have some grudges, right?"

"What grudge! Just hurry up and get started, my brother Lu Ran is in a rush!" Ma Tianchuan's voice came from the front.

Lu Ran: ??

"Shut up!" A reprimand came from the back of the line, from Li Yanzhu.

Ma Tianchuan immediately shrank back.

Clearly, many people were looking forward to the Grand Martial Contest. Some students were stuck at the Stream Realm·Fifth Rank, only able to rue their luck privately.

There were only five people participating in the Grand Martial Contest, and if you were qualified to sign up, you were guaranteed at least sixth place!

Even dead last came with Believer Point rewards.

Unfortunately, the "Death of Five" had thwarted many Believer students.

The male teacher continued, "There are a total of 5 students participating in the Grand Martial Contest!"

"They are Lu Ran from Class Three (4), Wu Shanshan, Ma Tianchuan, Kou Yingquan from Class Three (7), and Gao Zhonglin from Class Three (11)."

In the line for Class 7, Ma Tianchuan finally looked a bit triumphant.

Under the students' gaze, he silently pushed his rimless glasses up.

Kou Yingquan also enjoyed the attention of everyone, slightly raising his head with a proud posture.

Though he had just had a flash of insight two days ago and ascended to the River Realm, barely catching the last train.

But no matter what, at this moment, Kou Yingquan was a River Realm strongman!

He could certainly look down from his high position upon all the lesser beings of the Stream Realm.

The male teacher went on, "Here, I would like to commend the homeroom teacher of Class Three (7), Mr. Su!"

"Out of the entire school's five River Realm Believer students, Class 7 has three!"

"The students' aptitudes are one thing, good guidance, a positive competitive atmosphere are another. This success would not have been possible without Mr. Su's guidance..."

Geez~

Lu Ran grinned.

Was the target of commendation shifting from students to teachers?

Suddenly, Lu Ran noticed a figure approaching.

He turned around and saw his homeroom teacher Li Yanzhu with an expressionless face, standing beside him.

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking towards the stage, and asked, "Confident about taking first place?"

Lu Ran couldn't help but look awkward.

Surely, the homeroom teacher wouldn't be provoked by such juvenile tactics?

However, helping students advance to the River Realm must be part of a teacher's performance assessment.

Likewise, if he could win first place in the Grand Martial Contest, the school would probably reward the homeroom teacher accordingly?

"Hmm?" Li Yanzhu looked at Lu Ran with a probing expression.

Lu Ran scratched his head and said softly, "Why don't you let them gang up on me?"

Lu Ran's tone was very humble, but his words were utterly arrogant!

Li Yanzhu immediately glared at Lu Ran, "What did I tell you on the phone yesterday?

Stay humble and vigilant! I told you to stay humble and vigilant!"

It was just a simple reprimand from the homeroom teacher, but it had the same effect as the East Thunder Divine Technique·Thunder Shock.

Lu Ran just felt his head buzzing.

What was the difference between this and being struck by a Divine Technique? He couldn't move his body at all and just had to stand there, continuing to listen to his homeroom teacher's instruction...

It was really uncomfortable~

"Now, please welcome the five students to the stage!" said the teacher on the dais in a loud voice.

"Go ahead," Li Yanzhu patted Lu Ran's shoulder, "Remember my words!"

"Uh-huh, stay humble and vigilant..." Lu Ran nodded continuously, turning his head to look at Chang Ying.

The girl promptly stepped forward and took the blade.

Lu Ran also drew a Silent Night Blade from the cloth, and quickly walked towards the podium.

"Lu Ran, go easy on me, alright?" Just as Lu Ran reached the steps of the stage, someone clapped his shoulder.

Lu Ran turned his head and saw a little wolf pup.

Greedy Wolf Believer·Gao Zhonglin!

Lu Ran immediately smiled, "We agreed, you can't gobble me up later!"

Gao Zhonglin also smiled, "No way, I don't have that ability.

I just wanted to ask if what you said last time still stands?"

Lu Ran asked with curiosity, "What did you say?"

Gao Zhonglin, "You told me, 'The emperor takes turns, next year it's my turn!'

Now, a year has passed!"

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully, "A promise from a true man cannot be taken back once made."

"Oh?" Gao Zhonglin was just teasing, but he didn't expect such a response from Lu Ran.

Lu Ran suddenly changed the topic, "However, at that time I was only 17, not yet a man.

I was just a naive and clueless pretty boy..."

Gao Zhonglin: ??

"Both of you, come up quickly!" urged the male teacher.

Both of them went up to the stage, and Lu Ran's gaze swept over the three students from Class 7.

Wu Shanshan showed no expression and did not even glance at Lu Ran.

Ma Tianchuan, however, took several looks at Lu Ran, his heart full of fighting spirit.

Their promised duel went back to when they were novices and had been postponed until now.

As for Kou Yingquan...

He had already realized the seriousness of the problem!

Earlier, among the student formation, he immensely enjoyed the admiring and idolizing looks from his classmates.

Now, it was Lu Ran looking at him!

Lu Ran's gaze was friendly, and his smile was gentle.

Yet it sent chills down Kou Yingquan's spine!

But to give up the contest was utterly impossible for Kou Yingquan—it was a matter of Believer Points, after all.

Kou Yingquan could only put on a dark face and pretend to be calm, coldly glancing at Lu Ran.

"You are five people, and one of you will be exempt," announced the male teacher with a microphone, looking towards the audience, "Summoning Sign Believers!"

"Here!"

"Here!" Including Chang Ying, a total of three people responded.

The teacher immediately chose the tall Chang Ying, "Draw the Five Treasures Sign now!"

As the teacher walked past the five students, he said, "Summoning, offense, defense, control, support!

Whichever sign the Summoning Sign Believer draws will determine who gets the bye."

It must be noted that the probability for each type of sign to be drawn was not one in five!

The Summoning Sign was the hardest to draw, followed by the offense sign, and then control, defense, and support.

Lu Ran was happy in his heart. He was at the end of the line and was assigned the "support sign."

This was the easiest one to draw!

The male teacher didn't mince words and emphasized the unfairness of the school's Grand Martial Contest, not leaving any room for the students to object.

"Whirr—"

Below, Chang Ying was also elated, shaking the sign cylinder repeatedly, muttering under her breath:

"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, bless my brother Ran to get the bye..."

"Whoosh!" A sign flew out above Chang Ying's head.

In the next instant, Chang Ying's face lost all its joy.

The Summoning Sign suddenly transformed into a majestic and robust soldier, landing firmly on the ground.

The Five Treasures Sign's Summoning Sign!

The most difficult one to draw!

"Darn!"

"Haha! Impressive, a bullseye!"

"Chang the Great Axe, aren't you something? It seems there's a reason she scored so high, her luck is truly good, right?"

"Tsk-tsk, look at this grand Copper Armor Guard, quite impressive~"

Tian Tian: "..."

Deng Yutang: "..."

After teaming up with the gambler for so long, the two understood Chang Ying all too well.

On the battlefield, your support signs came one after another, barely showing any Copper Armor Guards!

And now you're getting all fired up?

"Uh." Chang Ying covered her face with her hand.

The more people complimented her, the hotter her face felt.

On the dais, Wu Shanshan wore a strange expression.

She was in the first spot, assigned the "Summoning Sign," and was initially quite displeased.

But now... well, this meant she got a bye?

"Go down and watch the match," the male teacher gestured to Wu Shanshan with a wave of his hand.

"Oh." Wu Shanshan immediately walked off the stage.

The male teacher pointed at the second in line, Ma Tianchuan, "You get an extra Summoning Sign."

Ma Tianchuan: "..."

The teacher looked towards the students below, "Another Summoning Sign Believer, draw the Five Treasures Sign!

Next, draw the first pairing for the match."

"Whoosh—"

Another Summoning Sign flew up from the student formation.

This male student seemed less lucky, directly drawing the support sign.

"Lu Ran, go to the side and prepare! Now we'll draw your opponent, and the remaining two students will automatically match up."

The male teacher, taking advantage of the empty "support sign" spot, gave it to Gao Zhonglin, who was now at the end of the line.

Again, the same statement:

The school's Grand Martial Contest, a display of injustice!

Ma Tianchuan and Gao Zhonglin each had two signs, and Kou Yingquan in the middle had only one defense sign.

"Draw now!" called the teacher to the Summoning Sign Believer.

"Whirr—"

People turned to look at the male student, whose face was flushed, clearly unaccustomed to such attention.

He was making an effort to perform well, perhaps hoping to draw a Summoning or offense sign.

"Whoosh—"

A Summoning Sign flew up, and then...

The wooden Summoning Sign suddenly grew larger, looking like a huge fly swatter.

"A defense sign?"

"Haha! Kou Yingquan! Hahaha! Now there's really a show to watch!"

"What show? What happened?"

"Don't you remember at the start of senior year why Lu Ran was punished with a stand in the sports field?"

"Oh, right! Now I remember!"

"Hahahahaha! It's truly a small world~"

On the podium, Kou Yingquan failed to maintain his composure, unable to keep up his pretense.

"Damn!" A single word escaped through his clenched teeth, his face turning ashen.

He had hoped that even if he lost to his teammates Wu Shanshan and Ma Tianchuan, it wouldn't be too shameful.

But his opponent turned out to be that little lamb-capable kid?!

Suddenly, Kou Yingquan felt enveloped by a gaze.

He felt his hair stand on end and turned his head to look not far away.

But he saw Lu Ran with a friendly gaze and a gentle expression.

In front of all the teachers and students, Lu Ran looked at Kou Yingquan and revealed a restrained smirk.

...

Three chapters tomorrow.

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