Under the watchful gaze of many complex eyes, Lu Ran quickly took the stage with his team members to receive the first-place reward.

Lu Ran got a slender blade that was clearly modeled after the Tang horizontal sword.

It looked like it was made of bronze, and even like one of those buried for a long time, with a dark green patina that was mottled and aged.

"Tsk," Lu Ran pursed his lips, gripping the long sword, feeling a sense of time-worn aura washing over him.

The Mottled Green Stone Sword!

Mottled Green Stone was considered one of the better materials among the common minerals found in the Demon Cave.

Jiang Ruyi and Tian Tian each received a Mottled Green Stone Sword, and Deng Yutang also got a Mottled Green Stone Spear.

Who knows if Mr. Deng said to himself in his heart,

"Thanks to the school for these mediocre rewards!"

After the group of four had thanked the audience and left the stage, it was then time for the second and third place teams to come up for their awards.

The weapons they received were made of an even lower-grade material from the Demon Cave, the common ore known as Magic Yellow Rock.

It looked like a kind of yellow-brown rock, nothing special.

As for the weapons for the fourth to tenth place, they were even heavier!

Made of Magic Grey Rock!

Looked just like the stones you could pick up off the street...

With such a comparison, Mottled Green Stone suddenly looked quite pleasing to the eye, at least it had some semblance to "bronze ware"!

"This vacation, there will certainly be no shortage of work."

Lu Ran ran two fingers over the Mottled Green Stone Sword.

Mottled Green Stone was a kind of watershed mark!

As for the more advanced minerals from the Demon Cave, those could no longer be considered "common"!

On one side was Lu Ran, eager to take on tasks and get a precious blade.

Meanwhile, up on the God Worship Platform, after the school commended the top ten, the male teacher started assigning summer homework.

The summer homework was simple:

The school required the students to team up and collectively slay a hundred Mist Realm Evil Demons.

This homework didn't involve a leaderboard, just complete it, and you'd get six Believer points credited to your account.

Kind of like handing out a "basic guarantee," right?

"These six points are practically a gift from the school to you! If you don't want them, don't come crying to me when you can't graduate."

"You've all undergone two assessments now. You know what you're capable of and how hard it is to earn Believer points."

"Those who aren't sure, go take a look at the leaderboards! Or check the official website!"

"Take a good look at the gap between you and first place. You became Believers on the same day, and Lu Ran is already facing a retest!"

"You must complete your summer homework, otherwise, you'll only fall further behind Lu Ran!"

Lu Ran: ???

Why the hell are you dragging me into this while you're lecturing them?

Crap!

I thought my Sound of Despair was pretty impressive, but turns out, you're even better at mockery?

"That's all from me, think about it carefully." The male teacher finally changed the subject, "Next up, the fifteenth night!"

Upon hearing this special term, the students' expressions all turned solemn.

The teacher on stage was also gravely serious: "Next month's fifteenth is the very special fifteenth of the seventh lunar month!

And you will all be on summer holiday.

I want to stress this once more: on the night of the seventh lunar month fifteenth, you are not allowed to engage in battle!"

Lu Ran played with the Mottled Green Stone Sword in his hand, his mind whirring.

The fifteenth of the seventh lunar month

was indeed the most special full moon night.

The number of Evil Demons invading the city on this night was far greater than on other fifteenth nights, and the level of danger was also much higher.

Everyone living in this world knew this.

The Divine People Bureau's retest, however, was not mandatory. Students could choose not to attend.

But...

Who could easily give up such an opportunity?

The logic of getting a head start was understood by everyone.

The better you performed among your peers, the more opportunities you would have to earn points.

Take for example this invitation from the Divine People Bureau; it was a tangible example.

And the Divine People Bureau's retests offered more than just points.

If you managed to complete the task, there would definitely be corresponding material rewards!

For decades, Da Xia had been following this incentive policy, encouraging Believer students to train and grow.

At the chairman's platform, the teacher shouted: "Don't get arrogantly complacent just because you've become Believers and participated in one defense of the city.

On the days before and after the seventh lunar month fifteenth, all of you had better stay at home praying in front of the Divine Shrine Divine Sculpture!

Or go to the shelter and seek refuge.

If there's any deviant behavior, expect to be expelled immediately. Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Understood!" The field rang with a unified response.

The teacher nodded, "Now for the next order of business, team adjustments. The teams I call out will maintain their current formation, dismiss on the spot, and enjoy your holiday!

Team 1, Team 4..."

Immediately, there was an uproar on the field.

Following Team 1, straight to Team 4?

So, Teams 2 and 3 are subject to adjustment?

Tian Tian twisted her fingers nervously, like someone awaiting judgment, her heart hanging in her throat.

Her team was number 98, so Tian Tian waited and waited, almost to the point of breaking down.

"Don't worry," Jiang Ruyi gently ruffled Tian Tian's hair.

"Hmm," Tian Tian responded softly, head bowed.

Seeing the girl still filled with distress, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but pinch her cheeks, consoling, "We really like you."

"Thank, thank you," Tian Tian said softly.

Was this like giving an acceptance speech for an award?

"Team 98!" Finally, the verdict was out.

Acquitted!

Hearing team 98 called out by the teacher, Tian Tian was almost moved to tears.

The girl's emotional fluctuations seemed a bit too severe, hard to understand unless putting oneself in her shoes.

"All right, that's enough," Jiang Ruyi patted Tian Tian's shoulder, then turned to look at Lu Ran, almost speaking but stopping short.

"As for Brother Lu being specially recruited, I do have some different thoughts," said Deng Yutang, clearly noticing Jiang's concern.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ruyi turned to look.

After thinking for a moment, Deng Yutang said, "The Divine People Bureau deliberately drops Brother Lu into the Moon Gazer team on the next fifteenth night.

To me, this seems more like a form of protection?

We've just been through a city defense task, and at the gate where we were stationed, Gate 4, quite a few powerful Evil Demons appeared.

Doesn't it strike you as a bit odd?"

While saying this, Deng Yutang also glanced at Lu Ran, the implication being clear.

After all, Lu Ran's "glorious" achievements were clearly traceable.

On the God Worship Platform, Lu Ran had summoned an Evil God·Yan Zhi.

"Protection, huh," Jiang Ruyi's brows knitted slightly, noncommittal.

If they really wanted to protect Lu Ran, wouldn't it be safer to let him stay at home in front of the Divine Sculpture or to throw him into a shelter?

"I've decided I'm going," Lu Ran suddenly spoke up, his usually joking demeanor now serious, "I won't miss this opportunity.

So... onto the next topic!"

Then, Lu Ran deftly switched gears, "When are we heading to Evil Dog Village?"

"Hehe," Deng Yutang couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

That's it, that's the spirit!

A true man,

should be precisely like this!

Jiang Ruyi paused for a moment before saying, "Let's go home and get ready first. We'll go in the afternoon."

Deng Yutang continued, "You guys wait at home; I'll drive to pick you up."

Lu Ran was surprised, "Are you old enough? Do you have a license?"

Who would have guessed, Deng Yutang retorted with a simple, "Almost."

Lu Ran: ???

"Almost" again, brother?

I ask when you're leveling up, you say almost.

I ask if you have a driver's license, and you also say almost?

Lu Ran protested, "Aren't you afraid of being caught by your sister and locked up in a dark room?"

"Almost brother" seemed a bit helpless as well, "It's not me driving; we have a chauffeur."

Lu Ran: "..."

Sorry, Mr. Deng.

It seems I was a bit too loud earlier.

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