Lu Ran rested for a full two days before his overexerted body recovered.

That morning happened to be the day when "Heavenly Pride" announced its results.

A high score of 149 points allowed Lu Ran to look down on all his peers, leaping directly from third to first on the overall leaderboard!

First place on the Heavenly Pride List!

As for where that missing 1 point went...

No idea!

Maybe it was because his sleep was too enviable?

In any case, this honor filled Lu Ran with surprise and joy.

It also sent his supporters into a frenzy of delight, creating an atmosphere in the major forums similar to the festive cheer of the New Year.

That youth who surpassed all in Rain Alley City had finally become the "Supreme of Da Xia" in name and in fact!

The 10 judges participating in the scoring had all left comments for Lu Ran, among which the simplest one stood out the most.

Just a mere five words:

"First-class among mortals!"

Such an evaluation sent people's blood racing, and filled his numerous followers with pride.

Regardless of whether or not he could hold onto this ranking after the next two issues of "Heavenly Pride", at least for now, Lu Ran was the top of the Heavenly List!

For a time, Lu Ran was so popular that his fame turned from purple to black...

The officials from "Heavenly Pride" also approached Lu Ran, hoping he would cooperate in an interview program, and afterward visit some remote schools with the crew to bring warmth to the people there and to cheer on the Believer students.

The former Lu Ran, as a senior high school student, had been exempted from many events.

But now that he was in college, naturally, the officials came looking for him.

Lu Ran thought the activity was quite meaningful and really wanted to participate.

The problem was, he was in a crucial period of promotion to the River Realm and needed to contemplate in stillness.

Helplessly, Lu Ran explained the situation to the leaders of the program crew.

They didn't make things difficult for him and simply agreed to wait until after his promotion to the River Realm to participate in the activities.

No one believed that Lu Ran would be stuck at River Realm·Fifth Rank for a lifetime like other Believers.

As the number one Heavenly Pride of Da Xia, he was naturally expected to advance at any time!

Nobody wanted to be the sinner of Da Xia.

Nevertheless, the "Heavenly Pride" side still hoped that Lu Ran could spare 2 hours for a simple interview.

Lu Ran felt it was bad to refuse again, so he agreed.

As a result, on the nineteenth of the lunar calendar, the day the nation lifted its restrictions, the people from "Heavenly Pride" rushed to Rain Alley.

This time, the interview involved Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi together, lasting just the right amount of 2 hours, after which the large group of people directly left for the return trip to the capital, leaving in a decisive and swift manner.

Lu Ran was left dumbfounded!

If it weren't for the fact that he had signed over a hundred autographs, Lu Ran might have thought these people had no interest in dealing with him.

However, Lu Ran's good days seemed to last only a few days.

When everything returned to normal, Lu Ran fell back into the old rut of daily failures.

He had grasped the rosy clouds of the Dawn Domain, but couldn't capture his own.

Sometimes, Lu Ran reflected, maybe he was too anxious.

Even for the most talented second-class God Believers, spending three to five months at River Realm Fifth Stage was pretty normal.

He had been home since August 4th; how many days had he truly spent in contemplation?

With this mindset, Lu Ran calmed his emotions and continued to painstakingly contemplate, spending another fifteenth day in Rain Alley City.

On the night of September 15th, Lu Ran was still patrolling together with Sun Zhengfang and others.

That night, the heavens seemed to look favorably on the long-suffering Rain Alley City.

Heaven finally let Rain Alley be, but not Lu Ran.

He still hadn't found the path to advancement.

Jiang Ruyi watched with open eyes as Lu Ran became more silent day by day, growing increasingly worried.

Lu Ran's path to advancement had always been smooth until now.

At the age of 18, he ranked first on the Heavenly List of Da Xia, and even if Lu Ran was mature for his age, his spirit was undeniable.

Now, day after day of fruitless efforts.

To say he was unaffected would undoubtedly be a lie.

On the fourth day of the tenth lunar month, there seemed to be a slight change in the seemingly plain days.

That day, Lu Ran stayed on the abandoned rooftop by the Wu Lie River until two in the morning before heading home.

When he returned to the house, he stood still in front of the master bedroom door for a long time.

The bedroom was empty.

There were only traces of her faint scent, but no sight of her.

For two months, Lu Ran had grown accustomed to finding warm meals in the kitchen and a sleeping figure in the master bedroom whenever he came home.

But on this particular day,

The meal was ready, but the lady was gone.

"Heh..."

Lu Ran took a deep breath and leaned weakly against the door frame.

Had he been neglecting her?

It seemed... he had.

For quite some time now.

He had been returning later and later each day.

In the mornings when he woke up, she had already prepared breakfast and left for the Jiang family to offer her respects to the divine.

Every day, they hardly exchanged a few words.

And there were even days when he had become fixated on his problems and didn't return home the whole night.

Perhaps she had been discontent for some time.

Lu Ran silently looked at the empty bed, and after a while, he picked up his phone and scrolled through WeChat.

The last time they chatted on the phone goes back a long while.

Seeing the time, past two in the morning...

Lu Ran hesitated for a moment, then put away the phone.

After eating a late-night snack in the kitchen, Lu Ran returned to the master bedroom and crashed into bed.

Normally, he only slept for four to five hours, sometimes sneaking out before Ruyi even woke up.

Advancing to the River Realm had become an obsession for Lu Ran.

But today, Lu Ran slept deeply, undisturbed until...

Dusk.

Jiang Ruyi opened the front door, stepped inside, and casually closed it behind her, but noticed the shoes under the shoe rack.

She paused for a moment.

"Thud." The door closed with a sound that wasn't too loud or too soft.

Jiang Ruyi snapped out of it and tightened slightly.

She removed her boots, didn't put on slippers, and made her way quietly into the house.

Sure enough, on the large master bed, she saw Lu Ran's figure.

"I'm back," said Lu Ran softly.

"Did I wake you?" Jiang Ruyi spoke gently, stepping forward.

Lu Ran, still bleary-eyed, looked at Jiang Ruyi approaching the bed, and momentarily lost his words.

She wore a dark long coat and a dark red knitted scarf, elegant and beautiful.

Compared to the day they parted last autumn, her face had lost much of its youthfulness.

Even with the warm-colored scarf as a contrast, it couldn't hide her increasingly refined and aloof air.

"Why didn't you cultivate today?" Jiang Ruyi knelt by the bed, leaning slightly, observing Lu Ran who remained silent.

Gazing into her still gentle eyes, Lu Ran became unsure.

She didn't seem angry, did she?

"Lu Ran?" Jiang Ruyi called softly.

"Tired," Lu Ran averted his gaze, simply answering.

It was an unassailable excuse.

For two whole months, save for the days around the fifteenth, Lu Ran left early and returned late every day.

The tiredness of his body was one thing, his soul another.

"Are you sick?" Jiang Ruyi reached out and touched Lu Ran's forehead.

Cold but soft.

Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly: "Why are you so hot?"

Lu Ran looked helplessly at his girlfriend: "Your hand is cold."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

Lu Ran: "..."

Early October of the lunar calendar marks the transition from autumn to winter; it was indeed somewhat cold outside.

"It's good that you're not sick." Jiang Ruyi gave Lu Ran a light glance, stook up, and while taking off her scarf, she walked out of the bedroom.

In a short while, the tall silhouette reappeared at the master bedroom's threshold, hand on the doorknob, about to close it:

"Do you want to sleep some more?"

Suddenly, Lu Ran said, "Last night, you weren't home."

Jiang Ruyi paused in her movements.

Lu Ran: "Was there something at Uncle and Auntie's place? Or?"

Jiang Ruyi bit her lip, hesitating with a conflicted expression: "I..."

"What happened?"

After a long hesitation, Jiang Ruyi spoke softly, "I've advanced. I've been cultivating in front of the divine shrine all this time and didn't come over."

"Huh?"

"River Realm Fifth Stage."

"That's great news!" Lu Ran's heart leaped with joy, then he became puzzled, "What's there to be reluctant to tell me?"

Jiang Ruyi cautiously glanced at Lu Ran, shook her head gently: "Nothing."

Remember that Lu Ran had been at River Realm·Fifth Rank two months ago already.

Returning from Luoxian Mountain, he seemed like a being from the heavens, with stars hidden in his eyes.

Day after day, Jiang Ruyi had watched those lights in his eyes dim.

She couldn't do anything but try her best to take care of his routine, restraining herself from disturbing his contemplation.

Now, two months later, they were once again at an equal level.

Jiang Ruyi knew how much Lu Ran had sacrificed and the struggles in his heart.

She was indeed worried that Lu Ran might take a hit.

"You..." After some contemplation, Lu Ran understood her state of mind.

He looked at his girlfriend with mixed irritation and amusement, beckoning her: "Come here."

Jiang Ruyi slightly bowed her head and approached.

As she got close to the bed, a warm hand caught her cold wrist.

"Uhm." Jiang Ruyi let out a gentle cry and was pulled down onto the bed.

Lu Ran pinned her underneath, propping himself on either side of her and gazing down into her eyes:

"You advancing makes me really happy! Do you think I'm so petty?"

Jiang Ruyi lifted her eyes, carefully examining Lu Ran's.

After a while, she averted her gaze and whispered, "I was afraid you might take it poorly."

"Heh." Lu Ran actually found this amusing.

When he saw a hint of a smile on Jiang Ruyi's face, he was itching with frustration!

What kind of person did she think I am?

Is it terrifying that I failed, but my girlfriend's success gnaws at my heart?

"I'm going to cook dinner," Jiang Ruyi said softly, starting to scoot away.

Lu Ran stopped her again: "Let's eat out, to celebrate for you!"

When he emphasized the word "celebrate", Lu Ran did so with particular emphasis.

"Oh." Jiang Ruyi looked away, "What shall we eat?"

Lu Ran snorted: "Let's have hotpot lamb, fitting for your grand achievement."

"Pff... Hehe~" Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but laugh, then hurriedly stifled it.

Lamb, that kind of food, would never appear on the Lu family's dining table.

Even though Lord Immortal Goat had nothing in common with the sheep of the world and didn't care about it at all...

Still, the word "lamb" did carry the "sheep" character...

"Let's go." Lu Ran urged, having not eaten hotpot lamb for a long time, he did have some cravings.

They dressed up, donned hats and scarves, fully armed, and quickly stepped out the door.

At that moment, the two of them did not realize what this outing would bring them...

...

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