The living room was silent.

The tabby cat sprawled lazily on the arm of the sofa, its tail hanging off the side, swaying leisurely as it enjoyed the afternoon.

"Meow?"

The little tabby suddenly twitched its nose, catching a whiff of the scent of meat.

It got up and followed the fragrance to the kitchen doorway, peering curiously at the figure in front of the counter.

On the induction cooker, a small clay pot was emitting steam, the lid making a gentle noise.

The girl lifted the lid of the pot and skimmed the froth from the surface of the soup with a spoon.

"Meow~" The tabby cat approached.

It wasn't clear whether it had grown familiar with the girl or if it found her gentle enough.

The little tabby even began to climb up her long legs.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi looked down to see the little troublemaker at her side.

She smiled but paid no mind to the little tabby and continued carefully skimming the froth.

It wasn't until the tabby had clambered all the way up to her shoulder that Jiang Ruyi turned down the heat and covered the pot again.

"Meow~" The tabby sounded displeased.

"Hungry?" Jiang Ruyi patted the furry little head, "Just a little while... Hm?"

Jiang Ruyi suddenly felt something and walked out of the kitchen.

The increasingly intense energy fluctuations confirmed one fact.

Lu Ran had succeeded?

Finally entering the upgrade mode?

Jiang Ruyi stood in the doorway of the kitchen, looking towards the direction of the bedroom.

Clearly, there was an extremely dense Divine Power within the room! Mist was seeping out from beneath the bedroom door.

It was like dry ice sprayed on a stage.

"Meow~" The little tabby rubbed against the girl's cheek, mewling insistently.

But Jiang Ruyi seemed unaware.

She stood quietly for a long time before returning to the kitchen, her brisk steps revealing her good mood.

Meanwhile, inside the bedroom.

Where Demon Crystals once littered the floor, it was now empty.

Lu Ran was still sitting on the floor, the Energy Fluctuations around him especially intense.

In his hand, he still held half a palm-sized Demon Crystal.

This Jiang quality Demon Crystal had not yet been absorbed by Lu Ran, but he had already achieved the desired result.

"Hmm..." Lu Ran trembled lightly, suppressing the joy in his heart and dragged out a long nasal hum.

So comfortable~

The fog from the world around him was continuously drawn into his body by Lu Ran, then compressed into streams.

"Crack."

Lu Ran opened his hand, and the Jiang quality Demon Crystal fell to the floor, afraid to absorb it by accident.

Keep it. After all, all the other Demon Crystals have been absorbed; leaving just this one at home shouldn't cause too much energy fluctuation, and it should be okay.

Use it next time, or when little Ruyi upgrades, to lend her a helping hand.

Lu Ran gradually immersed himself into a wonderful world.

He guided the streams, circulating them within his body, expanding his meridians over and over again.

The body belonging to the Human Clan was constantly nourished and transformed by Divine Power...

In the kitchen, in front of the counter.

Jiang Ruyi took a spoon and sipped a little of the soup, tasting it lightly.

"Meow~" The little tabby was furious, held in the girl's arms, struggling futilely, unable to escape.

Jiang Ruyi nodded in satisfaction, sticking out her tongue to lick her lips.

Although the flavor was a bit different, it was still not bad, right?

In fact, even if she had brought mutton, it wouldn't be a big problem.

Divine·Immortal Goat did not attain divinity through cultivation based on "goat", and it had no special sentimental attachment to the species of goats.

But after thinking it over, Jiang Ruyi decided to change the ingredients.

After all, visiting and offering an Immortal Sheep Believer mutton soup...

It wouldn't sound good if word got out.

"Meow~ Meow meow meow~"

The little tabby did have some smarts; seeing that there was no escape, it began to act spoiled.

It kept meowing softly, nuzzling and rubbing against the girl in her arms.

"Okay, okay, okay." Jiang Ruyi seemed to be one who could not stand firm against such pestering, worn down by the little creature.

She fished out a piece of beef from the pot, put it in a bowl, and holding the little tabby, returned to the dining table to sit down.

The beef and goji berry soup in the pot simmered on a slow fire. The girl at the table smiled as she played with the little tabby.

As night fell, it began to rain again in Rain Alley City.

Inside the small bedroom, after a long period, the upgrade was finally fruitful.

"Whoosh!!"

A gust of wind surged, causing the furniture inside the room to shift.

Lu Ran suddenly opened his eyes, which still shimmered with a captivating brilliance.

River Realm·Second Rank!

Just one rank away!

Just one more small rank upgrade, and Lu Ran's combat strength would see a qualitative breakthrough!

Whether it's the Evil Technique·Night Charm Shadow of the Night Charm Clan or the Evil Technique·Evil Shadow Flash of the Evil Dog Clan, both are evil techniques compatible with River Realm·Third Rank.

At least Lu Ran was confident that after acquiring Instant Teleportation, he would definitely be stronger than a dog!

"Haha!" Lu Ran quickly got up, pulled open the door, and strode out.

The living room was brightly lit, with a figure leaving the kitchen and looking this way.

"Success!" Lu Ran strode across, "Second Rank!"

Jiang Ruyi looked at Lu Ran's excited expression, "Congratulations... oof!"

Jiang Ruyi, who was about to offer her congratulations, was suddenly enveloped in an embrace.

Lu Ran, overjoyed, lifted the girl and spun her around where they stood.

Jiang Ruyi's face flushed, sharing in the joy.

She wrapped her arms around Lu Ran, leaning in slightly, her cheek buried in his neck.

"It smells good." Lu Ran put Jiang Ruyi down and suddenly said.

"Yes, the soup has been... Hmm." Jiang Ruyi's eyes suddenly widened.

Because Lu Ran had leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on her thin lips.

Ambush~

In an instant, Jiang Ruyi's cheeks, already slightly red, turned crimson.

"Hmm." Lu Ran nodded to himself.

Ambush successful~

Jiang Ruyi took a couple of flustered steps back, her face flushed with embarrassment, caught off guard by the sudden act.

"Let's see what delicious food you've made?" Lu Ran immediately headed to the kitchen.

Jiang Ruyi: ???

This man, this man... A kiss and then he runs off?

"Whoa!" Lu Ran lifted the lid of the pot, eyeing the gently stewing beef and goji berry soup, smoothly picking up the little tabby.

This little thing really doesn't mind the heat, huh?

Truly hungry, I barely lift the lid and your little head dives straight for the pot?

"Ruyi! Where's Ruyi?" Lu Ran called out as he ladled soup.

"I'm, I'm going back now." Jiang Ruyi's voice came from the living room.

"Huh?" Lu Ran swiftly exited the kitchen, "It's raining outside, I'll take you home in a bit."

"It's late, I'm going now." Jiang Ruyi's eyes shifted, she already had her boots on.

Lu Ran hesitated a moment and then said, "I just thought I should be bolder sooner rather than later."

"What?"

"I think Deng Family's siblings have the right idea, spending their money freely, buying whatever they fancy."

As he spoke, Lu Ran stepped forward, "After all, the world is so dangerous, you never know when people will be gone."

Of course, this was all based on Lu Ran's confidence and his perception of her feelings.

At the same time, Lu Ran was following his own heart.

Over the past two years, every little moment had blended together.

If so, Lu Ran naturally wanted to be more proactive.

Just like last year, when Lu Ran stood side by side on the sports ground, he seized the opportunity of teaming up to shout the words "I want us to be together."

Ever since becoming a Believer, facing the battlefield was even more dangerous.

The encounter against the River Realm level Evil Dog not long ago was still fresh in their minds.

Why wait any longer?

"Tut tut tut, say no to bad omens." Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly in dissatisfaction.

Lu Ran held her hand, swinging it from side to side as he did once at school, as if to confirm whether he could swing this Divine Weapon.

Lu Ran: "This soup, you've been cooking it for so long, let's drink it together.

I'll take you home afterwards."

Jiang Ruyi looked at Lu Ran both annoyed and embarrassed, but eventually let herself be led back inside.

"Shoes..."

"No worries, I'll mop the floor later."

"I'll change shoes and it'll be fine, what's there to worry about? I'm not running away." Jiang Ruyi said, both amused and exasperated.

"Isn't that what you were about to do just now?" Lu Ran muttered under his breath.

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Isn't it because you ambushed me!

As she thought about it, Jiang Ruyi's cheeks blushed again, as if on fire.

Jiang Ruyi questioned herself: she had always been open and forthright in her dealings with people.

But with this one person...

The two returned to the kitchen, with Lu Ran indulging heartily.

Little Ruyi's cooking skills were truly commendable!

Steamy, perfectly seasoned.

No need for rice, just lift the bowl and drink.

Lu Ran was thoroughly satisfied~

Nothing was more comforting than drinking a bowl of beef and goji berry soup after a thrilling advancement.

Jiang Ruyi, however, had only taken a couple of sips before putting down her spoon.

She rested her elbows on the table, propped her cheek on her palm, and watched Lu Ran devour his meal quietly.

"You should eat some too." Lu Ran said, words muffled.

"Hmm." Jiang Ruyi snapped back to reality, settled in her thoughts, "I got a call from Yunshan City's Divine People Bureau, they agreed to let me join the patrol team."

"Good." Lu Ran replied with his mouth full, "Now you don't have to worry about not having enough points.

The major universities are bound to recognize your talent."

Jiang Ruyi smiled, gazing softly at Lu Ran: "Stop worrying about me all the time, think about yourself.

I saw the Heavenly Pride issue from the night of the fifteen, there were 5 people who scored over one hundred forty points.

And those who scored one hundred thirty were even more plentiful."

"It's all about luck." Lu Ran said casually.

After the night of the fifteenth, Heavenly Pride would score students based on their performance in battle.

The maximum score was 150 points.

The 5 people Jiang Ruyi mentioned who scored over one hundred forty points each had encountered special events without exception.

Four students encountered the Night of Ghosts; one student met a Demon Lord descending upon the world.

It was apparent that the frequency of special events occurring across Da Xia was on the rise.

If this trend continued, what had been called special events could become the norm.

"But everyone says Rain Alley City is a cursed city." Lu Ran finished the last sips of soup from his bowl.

Based on Rain Alley City's past experiences, the intensity and level of Lu Ran's "exam" were certain to be high.

Actually, Lu Ran was conflicted; he didn't want Rain Alley City to go through hardship again, but well... never mind, it would be best if special events didn't occur.

I'll patrol more diligently, deal with more high-ranking Evil Demons from the River Realm, protect residential areas, help the Moon Gazers more...

Lu Ran firmly believed that he could find a way to make them shine.

Just as he firmly believed that he could keep little Ruyi by his side, walking a long, long road together.

"Everything will go smoothly, just like before," Jiang Ruyi whispered gently.

Just like before?

Lu Ran's gaze swept over the counter, feeling the warmth of the kitchen that hadn't been warm in a long time, and looked at the rising wisps of steam in the pot.

Jiang Ruyi extended her hand, "Shall I serve you some more?"

"I can do it myself." Lu Ran took the bowl and stood up to walk towards the counter, "Can we make a deal?"

"What is it?"

"Before every major battle, you come to make this soup for me, okay?"

Jiang Ruyi pretended to ponder for a moment, then said, "We'll see how you perform."

Lu Ran was careful not to spill a drop as he ladled the soup, a smile on his face:

"Hmm, okay."

The rain tapped at the window outside, patter by patter.

The warm house bathed in the cozy light.

Just like before.

Like many years ago.

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