For the next three days, Lu Ran had been diligently training at home.

Concerned that Jiang Ruyi might breakthrough at any moment, Lu Ran had refrained from disturbing her.

Lu Ran, however, had been quite active in the group chat, communicating a lot with the trio of Deng, Tian, and Chang. He had already confirmed his return to the squad to complete this month's training assignment with the three.

The trio was thrilled!

Everyone was looking forward to this month's training, seemingly eager to showcase their progress and impress Lu Ran.

On the nineteenth day of the lunar month, the city was unsealed.

That morning, Lu Ran replenished Little Calico's food and water, then left the house.

"Ah..."

Standing at the entrance of the apartment building, Lu Ran took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

The morning air after the rain, mingling with the fragrance of plants, was refreshing to the soul.

Lu Ran, clad in black training gear and carrying twin blades on his back, looked exceedingly valiant.

He strode off, under the watchful eye of an old man walking his bird.

The population of Rain Alley City was indeed dwindling.

Today, in the neighborhood, a bird-walking old man had just appeared.

Lu Ran recalled that in previous years, on the day of unsealing, he would see many elders taking their strolls...

Along the way, almost everyone Lu Ran encountered would stop and stare blankly at him.

Some bold citizens even chased after him for selfies and autographs.

Only then did Lu Ran realize he had forgotten to wear a hat and mask.

Change of plans!

He took a deserted route, avoiding the bun shop, and headed to the school with a hungry stomach and in silence.

As Lu Ran neared the campus, the number of pedestrians increased.

Cheers of "Ran Mei" and "Ran Shen" came from all directions, making him somewhat embarrassed.

There were moments when Lu Ran wanted to cast the Vermilion Paper Evil Technique·Red Veil and shroud his head blindly...

The students, far more frenzied than ordinary citizens, were too much for Lu Ran to handle.

So, he drew his Dawn Blade, flew into the sky, and plunged straight down to the teaching building.

It's worth mentioning that there were no students gathered at the school's main gate.

Because today, there was no big announcement.

Due to the special event on the fifteenth of February, most students were not allowed to participate in the battle on the fifteenth's night just passed.

On February fifteenth, the Divine People Bureau suffered heavy losses, and the Moon Gazers were exhausted.

On March fifteenth, they didn't want you to be a burden, to add more to the defense corps.

Why "most students" were not allowed to participate?

Because a small group of students within the school had advanced to the River Realm!

For these students, both the school and the Divine People Bureau encouraged participation in the defense missions.

Once your strength met the standards, you no longer needed constant protection from the Moon Gazers—you had become a qualified member of the defense corps!

For participating, you would gain 15 Believer points on account of being a "social volunteer."

Moreover, due to your special status as a high school student, the school would apply its encouragement policy, awarding you an additional 15 points.

That's 30 points in hand!

The students who had advanced to the River Realm were over the moon.

The high-stakes exam was impending, and every point was precious.

The students stuck at the Stream Realm's third, fourth, or fifth level, though, were filled with complaints.

But then, who could they blame?

If you lack the strength, you'll just have to stay at home obediently.

"Huh~"

Lu Ran, with the Dawn Blade in hand, landed firmly at the entrance of the teaching building.

"Wow, Ran Shen!"

"Lu Ran!"

"Ran Meimei has arrived, everyone clear the way~"

A chorus of voices came from inside and outside the building, making Lu Ran's head buzz.

The mist swirled under his feet as he dashed into the teaching building.

Behind him, he could still hear the sounds of discussion:

"Haha, I saw him in person!"

"Even his escape is handsome, I'm so lucky..."

"Lucky again, sister~"

Ignoring the commotion, Lu Ran quickly climbed the stairs and dashed towards his class.

But at the class entrance, he stopped.

Because there, in the fourth row, he saw his deskmate.

The girl, wearing a light-colored shirt and jeans with her black hair falling over her shoulders, seemed unusually lazy.

She appeared bored, one hand propping her chin, lost in thought as she gazed out the window.

Bathed in the beautiful spring sunlight, she was radiant and serene.

"Ran Shen!"

"Ran Bro's here! Hurry, give me an autograph!" The class wasn't full, but the noise was significant.

Jiang Ruyi snapped out of her reverie and turned her head to look.

There stood Lu Ran at the classroom door, smiling at her.

Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but be stirred inside, not breaking eye contact, as memories flooded her mind.

During their first and second years of high school, she had seen Lu Ran appear at the classroom door numerous times.

Sometimes he would stealthily watch her just like now.

Since everyone became Believers, in their senior year, such moments had become rare and almost disappeared.

Now, with the college entrance examination nearing and students soon to leave the classroom, such scenes would never happen again.

"Back then, I thought it was nothing special."

Jiang Ruyi murmured softly.

"We've been classmates for two or three years now, what autograph are you talking about, stop it!" Lu Ran walked into the classroom, repeatedly refusing, "If you really want it, go ask the class teacher.

I've written how many assignments and submitted how many test papers in first and second year, my name's all over them, isn't it!"

"Ran Bro, over here!"

"Eh?"

"Click~" Qian Hao took a selfie, his plump face beaming with a radiant smile.

In the phone screen, behind Qian Hao, was Lu Ran surrounded by classmates, looking exasperated.

"Click! Click..."

As the shutter sounds rang out again, Lu Ran hadn't given any autographs, but ended up in quite a few photos.

After a while, he finally made it to his seat and plopped down: "Did you succeed in advancing?"

Jiang Ruyi shook her head gently.

A sense of heaviness filled Lu Ran's heart.

With an advancement in Believer level, failures in breaking through barriers had become increasingly common.

Jiang Ruyi smiled and explained upon seeing Lu Ran's expression, "I haven't tried to break through yet."

Lu Ran sighed in relief, "Oh, you're still in the preparation phase."

"Yep, I want to make it more secure and kill more Demon Crystals in the Demon Cave."

"Right!" Lu Ran nodded firmly.

For high-level Believers, the longer the preparation phase, the better.

Advancing was something that needed to be done in one vigorous effort!

Failing to break through a bottleneck not only affects morale but also inflicts a certain degree of physical harm.

Then, what you lose is not just a few days.

"What did you have for breakfast?" Jiang Ruyi casually asked, still looking out the window and resting her hand on her chin.

"I didn't have anything." Lu Ran replied with some frustration.

"You didn't have anything?" Jiang Ruyi puzzled.

Is it that hard to have a meal?

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders: "I forgot to wear a hat, didn't dare go where there were many people."

Jiang Ruyi wordlessly pulled out a piece of chocolate from her desk and placed it on the table: "Here."

However, Lu Ran didn't move, staring intently at the chocolate.

Jiang Ruyi looked at Lu Ran, both amused and annoyed, and whispered, "Eat it yourself! There are a lot of classmates watching."

"Brother Lu!" Deng Yutang strode energetically into the classroom.

Chang Ying followed, just as vivacious: "Ran darling... Eh, chocolate!"

Compared to Da Xia's genius, Chang Ying seemed to be more interested in the tasty treat.

Lu Ran clenched his fist and bumped it with Deng Yu Tang.

Deng Yutang sat down in front of Lu Ran and asked, "By the way, Brother Lu, do you know where my sister went?"

Lu Ran: ?

Are you asking me?

Who's her real brother here?

Deng Yutang looked at Lu Ran skeptically: "I just heard from my parents that my sister went to North Wind City a while ago.

You didn't know that?"

"I..." Lu Ran opened his mouth, then said, "I knew."

"You knew!" Deng Yutang nodded assertively, asking further, "What did she go there for?"

Lu Ran: "Didn't your parents tell you?"

Deng Yutang frowned deeply: "They said my sister went to North Wind City for further studies, but I've always felt something off."

Deng Yuxiang had the opportunity to stay in North Wind City early on, so why had she changed her mind now?

What's more, Rain Alley City, the city she loved, had helped her breakthrough to become a Jiang Realm Great Power.

Deng Yuxiang had no reason to leave!

Deng Yutang whispered, "Brother Lu, she's not lying to my parents, is she? Not going to battle, to the front lines or something?"

Lu Ran immediately shook his head, "No, she did go to North Wind City."

"That's good to hear." Deng Yutang nodded, "How long will my sister be gone? Just for studies, or is she going to serve the gods indefinitely?

Will she be coming back?"

With one question, Lu Ran fell silent.

Coming back?

Could Deng Yuxiang return?

She should be able to, Lu Ran thought. He would go to pick her up, no matter what her outcome.

"Brother Lu?" Deng Yutang closely watched Lu Ran's reaction, growing increasingly suspicious.

Jiang Ruyi reached out and gently tapped Lu Ran's leg.

"Merely for studies," Lu Ran finally spoke up, "As for when she'll be back...

Your sister is a Jiang Realm Great Power. Once she enters closed-door cultivation, it could be a few months or even several years, right?"

"Yeah." Deng Yutang relaxed a bit and nodded.

Lu Ran quietly sighed to himself.

It seemed Deng Yuxiang hadn't told her family about the Divine Weapon, probably not wanting to worry them.

He wondered if her colleagues knew.

Fortunately, when Lu Ran had spoken about this matter with Jiang Ruyi yesterday, he had kept his voice low and was some distance from Sun Zhengfang behind them.

"Everyone back to your seats," the teacher's voice suddenly came from the podium.

Tian Tian, waiting to say hello, missed her chance and had to sit back sullenly.

Luckily, Sister Ruyi was kind enough to turn her head and smile at Tian Tian.

Tian Tian's spirits lifted instantly, as if the world had brightened a bit.

On the podium, Li Yanzhu scanned the students: "Today is April 23rd by the solar calendar, with less than two months till the college entrance exam.

Today's assigned training homework is the second-to-last assignment of your high school career.

You won't have many more chances to improve your grades. You must earn these 20 points. Clear?"

"Clear!"

"Yes!" There were only about twenty students in the class, but their response was resounding.

Li Yanzhu nodded in satisfaction, glancing at Lu Jiang's direction:

"Those capable can try to communicate with the army stationed at Ghost Moon Mountain and ask for an upgrade of the training mission. It's worth a shot."

"Ghost Moon Mountain?"

"We're going to Ghost Moon Mountain this time?" Suddenly, the students were both excited and anxious, and the classroom buzzed with discussion.

...

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