Lunar January 13, Beijing International Airport.

Lu Ran had just exited the arrival gate when he was engulfed in a full embrace by a graceful figure.

"Whoa!"

He took a step back and looked down at the young girl in his arms.

Qiao Yuansi wore a mask and a white knitted hat suitable for winter, adorned with a cute pompom.

After all, she had once appeared on "Heavenly Pride."

And because she was Lu Ran's younger sister, she became extremely popular online.

"Bro~"

The young girl looked up with a smile, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents.

Lu Ran smiled too, lightly pinching the pompom on her hat, "How come the bigger you get, the more clingy you become?"

Qiao Yuansi wrinkled her little nose in feigned annoyance, "Hmph!"

Damn you!

If you promised me you wouldn't challenge the Divine Ruins, if you didn't leave me...

I could ignore you for a whole year!

Well, maybe just one month.

A whole year is such a long time.

Qiao Yuansi thought to herself but did not voice her thoughts.

Raised by Qiao Wanjun, Qiao Yuansi had learned from a young age that:

Some things can be gained with the right amount of coquettishness.

But for some matters,

no amount of crying or fussing would help.

If she overdid it, punishment and apologies awaited her; any sadness had to be dealt with by herself.

"Where are they?" Lu Ran spoke softly, suddenly feeling that Little Yuanxi's arms had tightened around him.

"They're waiting in the car for you. The four of us standing together is too conspicuous," Qiao Yuansi whispered.

Lu Ran was puzzled, unsure why his sister's mood had suddenly dropped.

In the pick-up area, countless pairs of eyes stole glances at the two.

Though both siblings had disguised themselves, the features of a heroic young man and a delicate maiden could be seen between their brows.

"Let's go," said Lu Ran, patting Little Yuanxi's back.

Without realizing it, his voice became much gentler.

"Um," Qiao Yuansi responded, grasping Lu Ran's clothing without moving.

"Shall we go?"

"Carry me."

"There are so many people around, don't make a fuss."

"I don't care~," Qiao Yuanxi uncharacteristically protested.

Lu Ran was somewhat helpless and thought of a compromise, "How about I give you a piggyback ride?"

Qiao Yuansi shook her head, "No, I want you to carry me."

Lu Ran: "..."

He lowered his head, but saw Little Yuanxi looking up with a stubborn expression, not avoiding his gaze.

Lu Ran felt as if he had realized something.

He wanted to say, "I'll come back," he wanted to say, "I won't die."

But even Lu Ran himself didn't believe these comforting words.

"Alright," Lu Ran said, bending down and sliding one arm behind her back and the other under her knees.

"Hehe~," Qiao Yuansi giggled happily.

It was her favorite princess carry.

Indeed, those who are favored always act without fear.

Qiao Yuansi nestled her face in Lu Ran's embrace, rubbing it like a little cat.

Lu Ran spoke with annoyance, "All this effort to wear a hat and mask to avoid attention, and now look, everyone's watching us."

Qiao Yuansi muttered, "Who cares about other people."

Lu Ran: "Heh, not worried about attracting attention now?"

"Shh!" Qiao Yuansi butted her head, tapping Lu Ran's face with the pompom on her hat, "Don't talk."

Let me savor this moment and fill up my memories.

When Lu Ran, guided by Qiao Yuansi, arrived in front of the big G, Wang Ling and the others were quite taken aback.

"Ran bro!"

"What's the matter, Ran bro? Did Yuanxi sprain her ankle?"

Listening to their concerned questions, Lu Ran snorted: "No sprain, just whimsy."

Guan Yiren: "..."

Niu Zhengzheng scratched his head.

Wang Ling reacted, then laughed heartily, "Being whimsical only works if someone indulges you, haha!"

"Shut it, skeleton," Qiao Yuansi complained, slightly embarrassed.

Still grinning, Wang Ling opened the car door for Qiao family's darling daughter.

Lu Ran leaned into the car and placed Little Yuanxi in the center of the back seat, teasing, "Satisfied now?"

"Hmph," Qiao Yuansi fluttered her little hand, "Stand down."

Lu Ran: "..."

On the other side, Guan Yiren had just gotten in the car and couldn't help but suppress a chuckle at the sight of Lu Ran being rebuffed.

Lu Ran put the weapons in the trunk and they quickly got into the car, driving away from the airport, heading toward Rain Alley City.

Qiao Yuansi looked gloomy, leaning against Guan Yiren.

Until they hit the highway, Wang Ling spoke, "Ran bro."

"What is it?"

"On the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month, Rain Alley City might not be very peaceful."

"Did you consult someone?" Lu Ran looked out at the snowy scene from the car window, feeling a bit chill in his heart.

Wang Ling: "Someone from my family asked. Plus, Yiren's family sent a message too—her family's news is always very accurate."

Lu Ran nodded silently.

Niu Zhengzheng suddenly said, "Let's look on the bright side, Ran bro can score high! Compete for the position of the first Heavenly Pride!"

Guan Yiren's brow furrowed slightly, casting a stealthy glance at Lu Ran.

Although Lu Ran showed no reaction, she still spoke gently,

"Got to make the best of a bad situation."

Suddenly, Lu Ran asked, "You knew in advance and still jumped into the fire?"

Wang Ling smiled carelessly: "Always been Peng Bei Sea, Feng Chao Yang.

Rain Alley City isn't a deathtrap.

It is the battlefield for people like us!"

"Good!!" Niu Zhengzheng nodded vigorously, "Your broad-mindedness...

Sooner or later you'll advance to River Realm!"

Lu Ran found it reasonable and nodded, "Choosing the time is not as good as crashing into it, let's do it tonight."

Qiao Yuansi finally chimed in, "Right, right, right! Let's prepare and ascend tonight!"

Wang Ling laughed heartily, "I'll hold you to that!"

The atmosphere in the car improved a lot, but before they could engage in much conversation, a phone call interrupted them.

Lu Ran took out his buzzing phone and glanced at the screen, his expression darkening.

No need for others to read his expression.

The extreme emotions of a Jiang Realm Great Power, like dark clouds, instantly overshadowed everyone's hearts.

After a moment of silence, Lu Ran still answered it, "Sister."

From the other end of the call, a hoarse voice came through:

"Third day of the first lunar month, North Wind City."

Lu Ran ignored the message and asked with concern, "What's wrong with your throat, didn't you rest well?"

Deng Yuxiang's voice was very soft, almost hoarse, "Are you coming?"

Lu Ran responded solemnly, "I will be there."

"Beep...beep...beep..."

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Lu Ran silently put down the phone.

Qiao Yuansi left Guan Yiren's embrace and cautiously approached, "Bro, what's wrong?"

After a moment of silence, Lu Ran spoke softly, "You know my place in Heavenly Pride was yielded by a sister."

Qiao Yuansi nodded, "I know, you've mentioned her before. She ascended to River Realm?"

"Mm, she's always been in North Wind City..."

Lu Ran briefly explained Deng Yuxiang's situation, and as his words trailed off, a hush fell in the car.

Regarding the competition for the Divine Weapon Domain, no one could offer any words of comfort.

It was like that moment at the airport when facing Little Yuanxi, where he neither had the power nor the right to assure her that he would definitely return.

That he definitely wouldn't die.

After a while, Qiao Yuansi spoke softly, "I'll go with you."

"Okay," Lu Ran responded quietly.

Wang Ling asked, "Can I come along?"

Guan Yiren spoke softly, "I'd like to see North Wind City too, I've never been there."

Qiao Yuansi declined, "No need! Your families are so big. During New Year's, you're too busy to even pay respects to all the elders."

"That's right, Yuanxi, come spend the New Year with me at Luoxian Mountain."

"Luoxian Mountain? Great, Sister Ruyi will be there, right?"

"Mm."

Listening to the siblings' conversation, Guan Yiren turned her head to look out the window, her eyes shadowed with darkness.

...

At dusk, snowflakes drifted through Rain Alley.

The small town was wrapped in silver, looking very clean and quiet.

Amid the cold wind, an SUV stopped in front of an old residential building.

The siblings retrieved their luggage and, after bidding farewell to their teammates, entered their familiar home.

"Bro, shall we make a snowman later?" Qiao Yuansi was full of anticipation.

As he unlaced her shoes, Lu Ran replied, "Sure, after we eat.

You go tidy up first and sort out the luggage."

Speaking of luggage, Qiao Yuansi remembered something, "Oh, I brought you a gift!"

"A gift?"

"Yep." Qiao Yuansi slipped into her slippers, opened her suitcase right there, and pulled out a knife sheath.

It was a wooden knife sheath, all black with gold ornamentation.

Overall, it was strikingly similar to the two sheaths their mother had given.

At the end of the sheath, below the gold pattern, was a golden square character—Desolate.

The Desolate of Eight Desolate Annihilation?

"Do you like it?" Qiao Yuansi offered it with both hands as if presenting a treasure.

"Is it from your squad?"

"Of course it's from me!" Qiao Yuansi replied discontentedly, "Your blade sheath for Eight Desolate Annihilation looks so shabby.

I'm thoughtful enough to give you this, and you're crediting others."

"Thank you, I really like it," Lu Ran took the sheath, smiling.

"Hmph, I take it back."

"It's in my hands now, you think you can take it back?"

"You... robber!" Qiao Yuansi retorted, but seeing Lu Ran's fondness for the sheath, a smile crept onto her lips.

"Go tidy up your belongings," Lu Ran urged and headed to the small bedroom with the sheath in hand.

He took down the three knives from his back and placed each one on the wooden rack on the wall.

When it came to the Eight Desolate Blade, he fitted it with the new sheath before putting it in place.

Lu Ran stepped back to view the three identical knives and sheaths, seeing it as a positive sign.

Hopefully, the Eight Desolate Annihilation would follow in the steps of Rosy Clouds and Silent Night, quickly forming its own blade spirit.

After standing there for a while, Lu Ran closed the room door, then came before a small shrine with his hands clasped together:

"Lord Immortal Goat, when I was at Luoxian Mountain, there were others present, and I haven't been able to communicate with you."

"Since the advancement of Vermilion Paper Evil Sculpture to the River Realm level, during the past two months of training, I have been attempting to combine the Vermilion Paper Evil Technique·Paper Mache with our Divine Technique·Body of Sin."

"But..."

"You must have noticed, I have never succeeded."

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Can these two techniques truly be combined?"

Inside the shrine, the Immortal Sheep Jade Carving remained silent and motionless.

In the ensuing silence, Lu Ran's thoughts churned.

This matter could be trivial or significant.

As a minor issue,

it could be that Lu Ran lacked ability and insight.

Or that Jiang Pin's Divine Technique and Evil Technique were still insufficient to support the fusion, lacking the necessary conditions.

On a larger scale, the situation could be quite revolutionary.

If the two techniques fundamentally couldn't be combined, it would mean that the philosophy of Lord Immortal Goat was mistaken.

Could a deity...

also have moments of unclear cognition and erroneous theory?

Is that possible?

A low and hoarse voice quietly entered his mind:

"Are you questioning me?"

After a moment of silence, Lu Ran spoke softly again, "Perhaps the disciple's understanding and application of the techniques are not profound enough.

I will continue to strive to comprehend them."

"Heh," Lord Immortal Goat scoffed coldly.

And then all fell silent again.

...

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