In the west of Rain Alley City, under the feet of the crow.

Lu Ran had come to Evil Dog Demon Cave again, but this time, the military no longer provided a free instructor for the team.

Why?

Lu Ran, Jiang Ruyi, and Si Xianxian were River Realm First Rank, Second Rank, and Third Rank, respectively.

Who needed an instructor anymore?

Although the two, Jiang and Lu, were powerful, they were still high school students with free admission. As for Si Xianxian, who was tagging along, she had to pay for a ticket...

And it was while buying the tickets that a problem arose!

"Fierce Heavenly believer·Si Xianxian!" In the central building, the female soldier at the registration desk furrowed her brows as she looked at the student ID card.

"What's wrong?" Si Xianxian said with a displeased expression.

Why shout so loudly? What's wrong with being a Fierce Heavenly believer?

Clearly, Si Xianxian's sweet smile was almost exclusively for Lu Ran.

When dealing with others, this Lie Tian Girl did not wear a friendly face.

"Don't talk." Lu Ran immediately stepped forward, blocking Si Xianxian, "I'll handle this."

The female soldier looked at Lu Ran, "Si Xianxian is on the blacklist and is not allowed entry into the Demon Cave."

A statement that stunned both Lu Ran and Si Xianxian.

Right!

How could they have forgotten that?

Last time, Si Xianxian had roughed up Kou Yingquan here, slapping him several times.

The result was Si Xianxian being detained for five days and deported, banned from entering Evil Dog Village for six months.

"Blacklist?" Jiang Ruyi stepped forward.

"Back in the beginning of October, Sister Xian'er had a conflict with someone in Evil Dog Village," Lu Ran said distressedly, rubbing his forehead.

It's not even past the New Year yet; the six-month ban obviously hasn't expired.

"It's my fault, I forgot about this," Lu Ran looked at Si Xianxian, "why didn't you remember either?"

Si Xianxian snorted, "I've fought countless battles in my life!

How could I remember every little skirmish?"

"Hehe~" Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but snicker, finding Si Xianxian increasingly amusing the more she interacted with her.

She looked at the female soldier, asking, "Is there any way we could make an exception?"

"No, that's the rule," the female soldier responded with a matter-of-fact demeanor.

"Should we try another Demon Cave?" Jiang Ruyi looked at the others.

Chang Ying blatantly said, "But our training assignment is to get Evil Dog Demon Crystals... Uh."

She stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth.

For Si Xianxian had suddenly turned and glanced at Chang Ying.

"Don't mess around, she's my friend," Lu Ran said sternly, speaking in a low voice.

"Ah, got it," Si Xianxian turned to look elsewhere.

Lu Ran took out his phone, "I'll check where the nearest Evil Dog Demon Cave is from here."

Suddenly, a male voice came from behind, "Your team's configuration isn't bad."

"Hm?" Lu Ran turned around to see a male soldier.

Judging from the insignia on his shoulder, he seemed to be someone in charge?

The male soldier looked Lu Ran up and down, clearly recognizing this notable person from Rain Alley City, "People on the blacklist are not allowed to do field training in Evil Dog Village.

But there's an exception."

Lu Ran, "What?"

Si Xianxian looked distressed and without waiting for an answer, said directly, "Labor reform."

Everyone: "..."

Lu Ran looked at the male soldier oddly, "What kind of labor reform?"

The patient soldier explained, "This Fierce Heavenly believer can go between the Fifth and Sixth Walls, in what's called the buffer zone.

Under the supervision of our soldiers, she needs to find Evil Dogs of River Realm Second Rank or lower.

Without harming them, she must drive the Evil Dog Clan towards the direction of the Fifth Wall until they are expelled from the buffer zone."

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully.

It was essentially helping the military with their work!

Beginner believers also had a stable training environment under careful protection from the military.

Thinking this, Lu Ran asked, "What if we encounter Evil Dogs of River Realm Third Rank or higher?"

The male soldier, "You can eliminate them right there."

"This is some good work!" Lu Ran looked at Si Xianxian.

"What's good about it!" Si Xianxian looked at Lu Ran as if he were simple-minded, "It's so troublesome being cautious!

If I accidentally hurt an Evil Dog, all work for the day is wasted, and I might even get penalized!"

The male soldier nodded, "It seems this Fierce Heavenly believer knows the rules well."

Si Xianxian rolled her eyes, "Lu Ran, labor reform really isn't for me. You know my Divine Technique involves area attacks.

Killing, I'm capable! Not killing, too difficult..."

Lu Ran, "Listen to what you're saying."

Si Xianxian helplessly said, "Really! Those Mist Realm Evil Dogs, if I accidentally touch one, it will die!

What do you want me to do?"

Everyone: "..."

Lu Ran said irritably, "Don't we have each other?

I'll lure all the low-level Evil Dogs away.

Ruyi will pick out the River Realm Third Rank ones and freeze them on the spot, waiting for you to smash, alright?"

Si Xianxian looked surprised, looking at Lu Ran.

She, who had no friends before, was indeed full of habitual thoughts, only thinking of the days when she had to "labor reform" alone.

Hearing Lu Ran say that, her mind rapidly flashed through many thoughts.

Lu Ran wasn't just boasting—he indeed had such ability!

Si Xianxian felt a sweetness in her heart and whispered, "Is it really you two doing the labor reform, or is it me?"

"We're here to train our skills, aren't we!" Lu Ran said nonchalantly, happy to take on this challenge.

Now, having reached River Realm, slaughtering the carefully selected Evil Demons by the soldiers didn't seem to bring much honor.

Lu Ran looked at Jiang Ruyi, asking, "What do you think?"

Jiang Ruyi wasn't interested in slaughtering low-level Evil Demons.

Moreover, she didn't want to dampen Lu Ran's spirits.

Jiang Ruyi turned to the male soldier, asking, "Can we help our companion redeem herself?"

The male soldier nodded, "You can. While assisting the Fierce Heavenly believer with her labor reform, you are also helping our troops filter out Evil Demons.

Thus, for you, this counts as an upgraded training assignment.

As I mentioned earlier, your team configuration is excellent, qualified for this task; our side will also draft an evaluation report based on your performance.

After the training is finished, you can submit it to the school for extra Believer points."

Extra Believer points?

Lu Ran was greatly moved and immediately replied, "We'll do it!"

The male soldier smiled, "However, these three Stream Realm·Fifth Rank students are not allowed in the buffer zone."

"Yeah!" Tian Tian nodded repeatedly, "We won't cross the city walls."

Jiang and Lu were originally heading for the buffer zone.

In the team's plan, the two would accompany everyone to Fifth City, then split from the team to broaden their horizons and make a killing.

"Okay, Xiao Zhang!"

"Present!"

"You escort them into Evil Dog Village to the transfer point."

Lu Ran was curious, looking at the male soldier, "Transfer point?"

The male soldier nodded, "This Fierce Heavenly believer is not allowed to train."

Lu Ran, "So?"

"So, we'll transfer her directly to the labor reform area to prevent her from slaying Evil Demons on the way to the buffer zone."

Lu Ran hurriedly said, "Then we…"

"Lu Ran." The male soldier took Lu Ran's student ID, glanced at it deeply, then handed it back, "You all go to Fifth City together."

"Thank you!" Lu Ran suddenly realized that he had been given a lot of consideration throughout this series of events.

Within the bounds of Rain Alley City, he had indeed made some name for himself.

But mere renown was not enough.

Perhaps, he was gradually becoming the pride of the city, with expectations from many.

Thinking of this, Lu Ran sighed inwardly.

"What's wrong?" Suddenly, a soft voice came from beside him.

Lu Ran came out of his reverie and looked at Jiang Ruyi's concerned face, whispering:

"The concern of strangers comes too suddenly, it's a bit hard to adapt."

Jiang Ruyi also saw how the "upgraded training assignment" had fallen upon them.

She smiled softly, saying, "Tian Tian told me a lot, said you've done a lot for this city."

Lu Ran grinned.

That's true~

Especially on the night of the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, I patrolled the streets, turning my knives into Divine Weapons...

Jiang Ruyi walked forward with Lu Ran, jesting, "This kind of situation will likely become more frequent.

After you participate in Heavenly Pride, wherever you go in Rain Alley City, there will probably always be someone looking out for you."

Who in the world doesn't know of you?

Lu Ran pursed his lips, whispering softly, "That makes me feel a bit pressured.

You have to help me a lot on February fifteenth, I can't afford to lose face!"

"Don't worry!" Jiang Ruyi's voice was soft yet firm.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran muttered, "Let's work hard, try to become a local tyrant of this broken city!

Then I won't have to pay for cat food, and I can just grab cans of SPAM~"

Jiang Ruyi glanced at Lu Ran with a smile, "Is that your ambition?"

"Then... let's first become the pride of Rain Alley City."

Lu Ran said quietly, adding mentally: And then become the totem of Rain Alley City!

A totem,

An object of reverence and worship, the guardian spirit of the people.

Hmm... that sounds somewhat rebellious, doesn't it?

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