After returning home, Lu Ran had a hearty shower before collapsing onto the bed of the small bedroom and fell into a deep sleep.

He paid no mind to the turmoil of the outside world.

Exhausted in body and mind, he slept soundly as the sky darkened.

It wasn't until dusk that Lu Ran slowly woke up.

"Mmm..."

Lu Ran rubbed his eyes, turned his head, and looked at the white wall next to his computer desk.

He placed one hand on the edge of the bed and gave it a gentle squeeze.

On the wall where the sword rack was, a Tang sword slowly slid out of its sheath and flew to Lu Ran's side.

"How about it? Have you figured it out?" Lu Ran asked in a soft voice.

Silent Night Blade: "Forbidden to all beings to cast spells."

Lu Ran's heart leaped: "Your Divine Weapon Domain, is it really silence?"

Silent Night Blade: "At first, I only wanted to silence the golden-winged bats, but that piercing squeal was just the way Evil Technique is cast."

Excited, Lu Ran gripped the handle tightly: "Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly the right way to think!"

The Silent Night Blade gently broke free and flew back to the wall, sheathing itself.

Lu Ran: ??

What does that mean?

Are you looking down on me?

I clearly took a shower, I'm not dirty...

Lu Ran suddenly realized: "You're a blade, you cut through blood and flesh every day, and you're disgusted by me?"

Silent Night Blade: "It has nothing to do with being dirty or clean; you're too loud."

Lu Ran: "..."

Can't even get excited?

Lu Ran looked at the Silent Night Blade on the wall and deliberately lowered his voice: "Is your path still obstructed?"

In his mind, a thought from the Silent Night Blade emerged: "Blocked. I am stopped outside, not allowed deeper insight."

Lu Ran's expression turned serious: "Can you sense where that Divine Weapon might be?"

Silent Night Blade: "I cannot."

"Cannot?" Lu Ran frowned slightly, "Divine Weapons overlapping in domains should always be able to sense each other's location!"

Silent Night Blade confirmed again: "I only know the other's existence.

But I cannot pinpoint the other's location."

Lu Ran was silent for a long time and sighed gently: "This is going to be difficult."

If that was the case, then there was only one possibility.

That Divine Weapon wasn't in this world!

Only when Divine Weapons are not in the same dimension are they unable to locate the enemy.

Therefore, that Divine Weapon was likely within a Demon Cave.

It could be in the possession of a human warrior, or it could belong to the ranks of the demonic.

Lu Ran hoped more it would be in the hands of the demons.

In that way, he would have no qualms about attacking.

But if that weapon really was in the hands of a demon itself...

Then, the Silent Night Blade might not be able to advance for a considerable time in the future.

How easy would it be to challenge a demon itself?

Fortunately, the demonic lords are all suppressed by All Gods and hidden deep within Demon Caves, unable to leave.

Otherwise, Lu Ran could be in danger any moment...

"Silent Night, I have a task for you."

"Mm."

"Always be vigilant, no matter the time or place, no matter how dangerous things get. Once you detect the enemy's location, you must inform me immediately!"

Lu Ran's words were stern.

Once Silent Night Blade locked onto an enemy, it would mean the enemy had brought the weapon to the human realm!

This was a matter of life and death for Lu Ran, involving his friends and relatives, and the safety of his city.

Silent Night Blade: "Yes!"

"Click."

Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open.

A little head peeked in, sneaking a look around.

A moment later, the siblings looked at each other and blinked.

"Brother!"

Qiao Yuansi immediately bounced through the door, her cheeks puffing up.

"Hello there, little pufferfish."

"You're the pufferfish!" Qiao Yuansi was visibly upset, "You've been asleep all day!"

Lu Ran was puzzled: "Didn't you also fight all night? Aren't you tired?"

Qiao Yuansi pouted: "I woke up hungry at noon!"

"Oh, oh!" Lu Ran got out of bed immediately, "I'll cook for you."

Qiao Yuansi's smile blossomed instantly, following Lu Ran into the kitchen with a bounce in her step.

After dinner, the siblings curled up on the sofa, watching TV.

Lu Ran also video-called Jiang Ruyi.

Interestingly, both Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi were quiet, while little Yuanxi on this end and Xianxian on the other were chattering away.

During the video call, the two Jiangs were in a house in Luoxian Village.

That was the house Lu Ran had arranged for Father Jiang and Jiang's mother; both were there.

Lu Ran and Qiao Yuansi greeted them warmly, and made plans to celebrate the New Year together after wrapping up their business.

One detail made Lu Ran somewhat emotional.

When talking with his uncle and aunt, Jiang's mother Zhuang Jingyi's eyes were clearly moist.

Even though the fifteenth night had passed, just thinking about what Lu Ran had gone through, she couldn't help but be worried and scared.

Lu Ran could feel that Zhuang Jingyi had come to regard him as her own child.

Originally, Jiang Ruyi had disguised herself well, always wearing a gentle smile.

But as her mother's emotions wavered, Jiang Ruyi's feelings also appeared to change...

Lu Ran felt very fortunate.

In a world filled with suffering, it was warming to have such family members who cared and waited for him.

Lu Ran even thought that this was a compensation given to him by the heavens.

As long as he lived with perseverance and effort, beautiful things awaited him.

In the blink of an eye, it was the eighteenth day of the lunar month.

That morning, the siblings sat in front of the computer, watching the "Heavenly Pride" official website, awaiting the announcement of the results.

"It's 7:59." Qiao Yuansi stomped her feet in excitement, constantly refreshing the page.

"It has to be first place." Lu Ran said with a smile, "I don't believe I can't score 134 points... uh."

Before he could finish, his mouth was covered by a small hand.

Qiao Yuansi frowned: "You can't jinx it! Don't tempt fate!"

Lu Ran nodded, his muffled voice emanating from the delicate little hand: "I believe in omens."

I do believe in omens!

In this world, you won't find anyone who believes more than me... no, that's not right.

To put it accurately, omens believe in me!

"Hmph." Seeing Lu Ran looking obedient, Qiao Yuansi let go of her hand, turned her head to look at the computer screen, and suddenly exclaimed, "It's eight o'clock!"

She hurriedly refreshed the page and saw a newly posted link:

"The Fifth Battle of Heavenly Pride (December 15) The Second Batch of Participants' Score List."

"Here it comes!" Qiao Yuansi clicked on it immediately, and her eyes caught the name Lu Ran in a glance.

146 points!

"Yoo-hoo~~~"

Qiao Yuansi leaped with excitement, cheering and jumping.

She turned around and hugged Lu Ran tightly, her cheeks flushed: "Didn't I tell you, you're the first!"

Lu Ran also smiled, yet casually said: "Wonder who it was that just told me to believe in omens."

"First place! This time it's the real deal!"

Qiao Yuansi ignored what Lu Ran said, turning her head back to the computer.

"Tsk tsk tsk~" She sat down on the chair, cupping her chin with small hands, and gazed contentedly at her brother's score.

As if watching it longer could make the score increase...

Lu Ran glanced at the score list, grinning wryly: "Getting promoted to River Realm is truly a sin, they deducted too many points.

After fighting Blood Skull like that, only 146 points?"

Qiao Yuansi, however, reasoned: "Is that not high enough?

Think about the night of October 15, after going through Night of Ghosts and battling Demon Lord Evil Spear Emperor, you only got 142 points, right?"

Lu Ran raised his eyebrows; she had a point.

Compared to that night, gaining a score for slaying a River Realm Demon Monarch, Blood Skull, indeed meant a significant bonus.

Qiao Yuansi, feeling delightful, said: "Let's see, how did the judges praise you?"

She clicked on the mouse, opening Lu Ran's score, also seeing the comments:

"The leading prodigy, Da Xia's fortune!"

"When I heard people cry, pray, and cheer for you, when I saw the devotion in their eyes as they looked at you, the score loses its meaning."

"Human realm as a test, the mountains and rivers give the answers."

"Create above the smoke, drink from the sweet springs, since ancient times, glory has belonged to the youth!"

Qiao Yuansi's eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Ran, then back at the computer screen.

Her ponytail swung as her little head bobbed like a rattle-drum.

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Yuansi giggled: "Since ancient times, glory has belonged to the youth~"

Lu Ran patted her head: "What do those first six words mean?"

Qiao Yuansi: "Don't know?"

"Are you not a talented student from Jing University?"

"Cut it out~ I'll look it up later." Qiao Yuansi admired the comments for a good while longer, feeling sweeter the more she read.

Eventually, she went back to the official website, her eyes suddenly sharp.

"The Annual Heavenly Pride Leaderboard!"

Qiao Yuansi hurriedly clicked in.

"In the Gregorian year 2019, in the year of the Earth Pig according to the Chinese zodiac, here are the annual rankings of the hundred Heavenly Prides."

"First place, Lu Ran, Immortal Sheep Believer, located in Rain Alley City High School No. 1 / Wu Lie River University.

Total score: 729 points (Battle scores of 143, 149, 149, 142, 146)."

"Second place, He Qifeng, Martial Monk Believer..."

Qiao Yuansi was overjoyed, suddenly remembering something: "Oh right, brother, we can choose our rewards now!"

Lu Ran nodded immediately: "I thought you had forgotten."

"How could I!" Qiao Yuansi quickly searched for the rewards page, "Now they should have released the information on the Magical Artifacts!"

At this step, Lu Ran also became a bit excited.

"We have it!" Qiao Yuansi hurriedly looked at the Magical Artifacts.

The first artifact really was a Treasure Bead!

"Magical Artifact·Wind Barrier Treasure Pearl: By offering the Magic Artifact, one can summon a Wind Barrier that blocks incoming enemies..."

Qiao Yuansi's face took on a strange look: "Isn't this just a defensive technique? Wind Wall?"

Lu Ran speculated: "Since it's a Magical Artifact, the Wind Wall should be exceptionally large, the defensive effect should be especially strong, right?"

Qiao Yuansi grimaced, her eyes drifting to the second Magical Artifact.

Surprisingly, it wasn't a gourd, but rather seemed to be a wooden crutch?

The part that looked like a gourd-mouth was actually a small protrusion on the crutch...

"Nice!" Lu Ran laughed, "Heavenly Pride is fooling everyone."

"Magical Artifact·Dragon Whisker Treasure Staff: Upon summoning the Magical Artifact, the dragon whiskers can attack the enemy.

The Dragon Whisker Treasure Staff can also grow into a towering tree, with endless dragon whiskers that can protect a certain area, sheltering all living beings."

Qiao Yuansi's expression was odd: "Isn't this just Biwu Divine Skill·Biwu Tree?"

Lu Ran: "..."

It's at least a Magical Artifact.

Should be more powerful than the Biwu Tree, right?

Qiao Yuansi scrolled down, watching for the third Magical Artifact: "What's this... eh? A gourd?"

The world was mistaken about the second Magical Artifact, only for the third artifact, shrouded in mist, to indeed be a gourd.

Were everyone's guesses wrong, yet not entirely incorrect?

Qiao Yuansi read: "Magical Artifact·Blazing Phoenix Pattern Gourd: Can absorb Divine Power from heaven and earth, aiding in cultivation.

Can also Absorb Demons' corpse bones, refining their physical bodies, extracting their energy..."

Qiao Yuansi's voice grew fainter as she murmured: "Isn't this just a Divine Power Pearl?"

Lu Ran: "..."

...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.