"Ran Shen is here!"
"Wuu wuu wuu, haven't seen him for four months, and Ran Dog has gotten even more handsome~"
"They all call me Ran General, Ran Mei, Ran Dog...No! Actually, my true identity is a monk."
"I am a poor monk who has come from Cai Nan, going to Wu Lie River to find a place, my monastic name is 'Force It!'"
"Extra! Extra! There's fun to watch! The neighboring live stream's Miss Qifeng has issued a challenge to Lu Ran!"
"What? The first on the Heaven Ranking challenging the third? Is Mars colliding with Earth?"
"He Qifeng has also progressed to the River Realm, hasn't she? How could she do this? Besides, she's already in the River Realm, why is she still clinging to 'Heavenly Pride'?"
"The top two in Heavenly Pride have both ascended to the River Realm, you want to replace them all and put your Ran Dog in first place, right? Shameless!"
"Don't mess up the beat! The martial monk sister said she was looking forward to a spar with Ran Shen, where did she issue a challenge?"
In Lu Ran's live stream room, it was a scene of chaos.
He didn't know that he had already stirred up trouble with a martial monk faction.
Not just He Qifeng?
In the hundred Heavenly Prides, no less than five or six martial monk believers mentioned Lu Ran.
The martial monk faction has always enjoyed sparring and challenging others.
Now, in front of the people of Da Xia, Lu Ran alone picked a fight with a River Realm martial monk believer, even calling him "Flower Monk".
Such contempt must have infuriated the martial monk faction!
Lu Ran was completely unaware of this, nor did he have time to care.
However, regarding the ascension of the Heavenly Prides to the River Realm, he had indeed heard something.
As episodes of "Heavenly Pride" aired, a total of 18 participating Heavenly Prides had ascended to the River Realm.
Truly the best of Da Xia, a meticulously chosen hundred Heavenly Prides!
Look at this rate of success!
Such a rapid ascension was indeed startling.
Before the official matches began, if a participant ascended to the River Realm, they were replaced.
But "Heavenly Pride" was already underway, with rankings set episode by episode, and obviously, no one would be replaced during it.
Correspondingly, once you ascended to the River Realm, the judges' scoring standards for you naturally increased sharply.
From then on, an interesting phenomenon emerged:
I got stronger, killed more enemies, but my score got lower...
After a battle, the scores of the Heavenly Prides who ascended to the River Realm were generally lower than when they were in the River Realm.
If Lu Ran wanted to unseat the top two, this was a rare opportunity!
"Hey Lu!"
Lu Ran, who was patrolling with his teammates, heard a call.
He turned his head and saw a couple of tall figures standing in front of an auto repair shop, waving at him with a smile.
These were Chang Ying's parents, quite distinctive.
After all, to have a daughter as tall and sturdy as Chang Ying, the couple must be of the same type.
"Uncle Chang, Aunt Chang," Lu Ran waved back politely, admonishing, "Same as always, stay inside tonight, don't come out for the excitement."
"Sure, we promise not to cause trouble for the organization."
"Be careful." The couple smiled warmly, both promising and advising.
Chang Ying's parents admired Lu Ran, but above all, they were grateful.
They knew well that their daughter's acceptance to the province's top university wasn't possible without Lu Ran's guidance.
"No need for drinks, better head back," Lu Ran said as he saw the couple approaching with water, quickly waving his hand.
In fact, not just Chang Ying's parents.
On the patrol route, Lu Ran had become familiar with many residents and shop owners.
After all, he walked this route every fifteen days of the month.
During daytime patrols, there were not a few who brought him water and food.
Lu Ran had exceptionally good eyesight.
He always saw people with enthusiastic smiles on their faces, but their eyes hid fear and concern, thankful for the Moon Gazers' protection.
This damned world spared no one.
Suddenly, Lu Ran paused in his steps, watching the backs of Chang Ying's parents, thoughts swirling in his mind.
Beside him, Jiang Ruyi immediately stopped and made a secretive gesture back to their companions.
Sun Zhengfang and Wei Long instantly fell silent.
Back at Hexi Park when they gathered, they knew that Lu Ran was in a critical period of enlightenment, advancing to the River Realm.
And Lu Ran's revelation was about this city.
That is, every moment he existed in Rain Alley City could trigger his upgrade mode.
To think of it, it really tugged at one's heartstrings.
Lu Ran, being at River Realm·Fifth Rank, called it a critical period.
And Sun Zhengfang was also at River Realm·Fifth Rank, but not at all crucial.
Maybe, during the first year or two, it really was critical.
After being stuck for over twenty years, it just wasn't crucial anymore...
"What's Ran Shen doing? Why did he stop?"
"Is this an advertisement?"
"Wuu wuu wuu~ Ran Bao is so good, he must have known I missed my parents and intentionally showed them to me."
Lu Ran stood still, his mind flashing through like a revolving lantern, haunted by the faces of the city's residents.
Those who still endured, living on this cursed land, were they also a part of Rain Alley?
With this,
Was it deep enough?
Lu Ran stood silently for a long time before finally moving forward.
His gaze swept through each shop and residential building, pondering over the faces, both present and those he would never see again.
Behind him, Jiang Ruyi followed quietly, closely.
Sun Zhengfang and Wei Long, judiciously staying at a further distance, followed a couple.
From day to night.
A drizzling rain arrived as scheduled.
Until a piercing roar completely broke the stillness of the night.
The night of the fifteenth had finally begun.
"Hiss!"
Jiang Ruyi furrowed her brows, watching the screaming Fog Shadow Man ahead, seemingly finding it noisy.
She reached forward with one hand, and from her sleeve flew a Cold Night Sword, stabbing straight at the enemy.
The Fog Shadow Man hurriedly dodged, but the Cold Night Sword automatically targeted it.
"Roar!!" The Fog Shadow Man yelled angrily, gathering a mist ball in its hands.
"Whoosh~" The Cold Night Sword was incredibly fast, penetrating the Fog Shadow Man's chest directly.
And at the junction of the hilt and the blade, a piece of White Jade Stone burst forth.
Jade Talisman Divine Skill·Bursting Flame Talisman!
"Bang!!"
The jade token exploded, and waves of fire surged.
The Fog Shadow Man, composed entirely of mist, burned wildly, flames reaching the sky.
The drizzling rain couldn't extinguish the spreading fire.
The poor Fog Shadow Man, having met its nemesis, burned clean.
"Remember the first time we encountered a Fog Shadow Man?" Lu Ran suddenly spoke.
He hadn't said much all day.
Jiang Ruyi spoke softly: "The first was a River Realm Fog Shadow Man, unrelated to you and me; I remember the second one."
"Oh?"
Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but smile: "Back then you were abducted by the Yan Zhi, just rescued and returned in front of the shelter.
I only knew the Electric Shackles Talisman, and I tried over and over to immobilize the Fog Shadow Man, with meager effect."
The girl who once struggled desperately, now merely waved her hand casually, and the Fog Shadow Man was utterly annihilated.
"I was talking about that one too." Lu Ran smiled at Jiang Ruyi, "That rainy night, it seemed to be the first time you hugged me."
Jiang Ruyi's expression was startled, then she slightly glared at Lu Ran and turned her head to the side.
"Wow! Sweet moment alert! Love watching it~"
"She really gets shy easily!"
"@Wu Lie River University, @Wu Lie River University, @Wu Lie River University."
"A girl's first expression of feelings, two people embracing in the rain, how romantic hahaha hahaha mom! I want to shove an umbrella up Ran Dog's ass and open it!"
Lu Ran stepped up the stairs, standing at one end of the narrow, old footbridge, pausing in his stride.
At the other end of the footbridge, a figure in a big red robe appeared.
"Huh?" Lu Ran raised his eyebrows slightly, "The other main character of that night has shown up."
Evil Demon·Yan Paperman!
"Be careful." Sun Zhengfang warned.
After all, judging this kind of Evil Demon's realm from its appearance wasn't possible.
But Lu Ran had a dog's nose and could smell the intensity of the Ghost Energy.
Of course, such a judgment method wasn't very accurate, but Lu Ran was certain the other was absolutely not River Realm.
"Huh?" Yan Paperman had an elegant smile on her face as she sized up her prey on the bridgehead.
However, when Lu Ran pinched the raincoat's hood and lifted it up, she suddenly froze.
Her pale lips parted slightly, and her beautiful eyes filled with intense emotion.
From surprise to ecstasy, then intense heat...
Her expression changed repeatedly, the only constant being the cruel intent hidden in her eyes.
"I got it." Lu Ran patted Jiang Ruyi's shoulder and strode forward.
Wei Long frowned, watching Lu Ran's advancing back, but due to Lu Ran's status, didn't speak up.
But Sun Zhengfang was anxious: "Jiang?"
"Let him go." Jiang Ruyi said softly, her eyes carrying an indistinct emotion.
Thinking back to the day of the university entrance exam, the Yan Zhi Clan's Night of Ghosts occurred.
That night, Lu Ran experienced great ups and downs.
He also became aware of something in the midst of the Yan Zhi Clan's encircling and blocking.
The three of them, their cameras focused on Lu Ran.
As he spread his arms, the faces behind the screens were all baffled...
"No! Dude!!"
"What does this mean? Is he going to hug the Yan Paperman?"
"Ahh??"
"F***! Getting intense, seeing illusions, why isn't the Yan Paperman making a move?"
"Don't say anything, let's just wish this couple a happy marriage!"
Yan Paperman indeed made no move.
She seemed like a bride waiting to be wed, waiting for Lu Ran to come for her.
Compared to slaughtering Lu Ran, the first goal of the Yan Zhi Clan was to possess him.
As for how to imprison, torture, and murder him afterward, that was another matter.
When Lu Ran showed no hostility at all and walked into the net...
His action perfectly matched Yan Paperman's first desire.
That unrivaled charming figure, with eyes like autumn waters, also opened her arms, waiting to embrace tightly.
However, she didn't get her desirable groom.
Those who take the initiative to offer hugs are mostly up to no good.
As the two approached each other, the Silent Night Blade suddenly unsheathed and fell into Lu Ran's hands.
Mist swirled under Lu Ran's feet, and thunder rose from the flat ground.
Ran Sect Blade Technique Second Form·Moon Shock!
"Zi!"
Shadows crossed, blade fell.
A beautiful head soared high, a look of bewilderment on its face.
The world seemed to quiet down, in the patter of light rain, it was as if people were watching a silent drama.
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