"Buzz... buzz..."

Next to the pillow, the cell phone vibrated continuously, waking the sleeping person on the bed.

Lu Ran, with bleary eyes, fumbled beside the pillow and finally picked up the phone, murmuring, "Hello?"

"Sis!" On the other end of the line came a sweet voice.

"Who is it?" Lu Ran sat up, feeling a pounding headache.

Why did I feel more tired the more I slept?

"My silly brother!"

On the phone, the girl's voice came with dissatisfaction, "I already called you 'brother,' who else could it be?"

"Yuanxi," Lu Ran slapped his forehead, "I was totally confused."

Qiao Yuansi, Lu Ran's younger sister by one year, took her mother Qiao Wanjun's surname.

Though their parents' divorce had them living apart since childhood, it didn't affect their close bond.

And when Lu Ran was 13, his mother took him back to Beijing, where he and his sister lived under the same roof for three years, fostering a strong relationship.

"You've been sleeping all day and still aren't awake," whispered Qiao Yuansi, "I'm already up."

Lu Ran was indeed dazed; he looked out the window only to see that night had fallen with the rain unceasing.

This is crazy!

Lu Ran frowned, a familiar feeling surfacing.

Did I forget something important again?

Why did I say 'again'?

That's right, after the Evil Dog Village assessment, I went home and slept, and the next morning, I also felt like I had forgotten something.

What was it?

"Bro?"

"Ah, still here," Lu Ran scratched his head in frustration.

"It's so boring. Every lunar fifteenth is like being in detention," complained Qiao Yuansi, "and it lasts for several days."

"Heh," Lu Ran couldn't help but laugh.

He could empathize.

Even though Lu Ran had become a Believer, during the 16th to 18th, he also had to stay at home, unable to go anywhere.

There could still be Evil Demons roaming the city.

The chaotic city needed official supervision and repair.

"What are you laughing at?" Qiao Yuansi changed her tone to a concerned one, "Did you get hurt last night?"

"Hurt?" Following the principle of sharing good news and not bad, Lu Ran bluffed, "Your brother was almost fighting mad!

Like I'm some god~"

"No swearing!"

"Whoa, you're bossing me around now?"

Qiao Yuansi's voice was soft, "My phone is on speaker; mom is listening."

Lu Ran: "..."

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi suddenly giggled cheekily, "Dummy, I tricked you!"

Lu Ran: ??

Goodness!

Usually, I am the prankster, but today I've met my match...

Qiao Yuansi: "When are you coming to visit me? I want a hamburger."

Lu Ran helplessly said, "Why don't you buy it yourself? Must I buy it for you?"

Qiao Yuansi whispered, "It's a pity to throw away the lettuce."

Lu Ran: "..."

Can you hear yourself?

For three years, how many hamburgers have we eaten, and how many pieces of lettuce have I eaten for you?

Are you treating me like a sheep... huh?

Well, don't you say!

Qiao Yuansi: "Come on, tell me when you're coming to visit."

Hearing this, Lu Ran was somewhat distressed.

The fifteenth city guarding task was indeed the final exam of the second year. Starting today, Lu Ran had summer vacation.

But the first summer vacation as a Believer meant heavier duties.

Before the start of the third year, Lu Ran only had about a month to upgrade the school-awarded equipment.

These so-called equipments,

One was the Divine Power Pearl, awarded by the school after the freshman assessment (Evil Dog Village assessment).

Another was the weapon awarded after the first city guarding task as a freshman.

For instance, if you ranked tenth in the Evil Dog Village assessment, you received a Mist Realm Divine Power Bead from the school.

Then during this summer vacation, you can kill Evil Demons in the Demon Cave, collect 100 Mist Realm Demon Crystals, and submit them to the military.

If you meet the criteria, the military will upgrade your Mist Grade Divine Power Bead to a higher tier Stream Grade Divine Power Bead.

It's important to note:

The students work in squads, not everyone needs to submit a hundred Mist Realm Demon Crystals, but as a four-person group, submitting a hundred together suffices.

So why did Lu Ran think this task was difficult?

Because the reward the school gave him was the best already, the Stream Grade Divine Power Bead!

Thus, Lu Ran and his team, if they wanted to upgrade their equipment, collecting 100 Mist Realm Demon Crystals wasn't enough.

They would need to collect 100 Stream Realm Demon Crystals!

Or, proportionally, gather a thousand Mist Realm Demon Crystals!

It was definitely tough.

But Lu Ran wanted to give it a try!

After all, the benefits from this task are tremendous!

If Lu Ran succeeds in upgrading his Stream Grade Divine Power Pearl to a River Grade Divine Power Pearl...

Then throughout his high school career, any task published by the school on the endurance aspect, he would hardly face any issues!

Two big words: Taking off~

"Brother doesn't like me anymore," Qiao Yuansi murmured sadly after not receiving a response for a long time.

"No, no," Lu Ran explained, "It's mainly because I've become a Believer now, I need to go train in the Demon Cave."

Qiao Yuansi: "Why don't we go together?"

"Stop it!" Lu Ran rarely got serious, "The Demon Cave is not a place to play around."

At this stage, Lu Ran didn't have the ability to protect his sister adequately.

Furthermore, even if he was incredibly powerful, the military wouldn't allow an ordinary person to enter the Demon Cave.

Qiao Yuansi: "But I need to train too!"

Lu Ran almost laughed in exasperation: "Train what? Your courage?"

"Hmph." Qiao Yuansi was visibly upset, "Who isn't a Believer?"

"With that said, are you a Believer?"

"I am."

"You are a Belie... ver?" Lu Ran's mind was racing.

"My silly brother..."

Qiao Yuansi murmured, mimicking Lu Ran's tone, "It's been fifteen days since I became a Believer, and you still don't know.

The first thing I told you on the phone was 'I'm already awake,' and you didn't catch on at all.

I also didn't sleep all night, went for the city guarding task!"

Lu Ran was astounded: "You're only 16, in the first year of high school, you don't even qualify to participate in the Worship God ceremony, what kind of Believer are you?"

Qiao Yuansi whispered, "After the Worship God ceremony ended, I snuck onto the God Worship Platform while it was still not fully dismantled and just tried."

Lu Ran: "What?"

Took advantage of the God Worship Platform not being dismantled? Just tried?!

Her mischievousness knew some bounds, but Lu Ran hadn't expected her to go to such lengths.

Qiao Yuansi looked quite troubled: "Really, it worked accidentally~

The teachers and classmates were stunned; I was the only Believer in the whole first year, haha!"

Lu Ran: "What??"

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi burst into an elated laugh, her half-month of secrecy finally yielding the desired result.

Deep down, Qiao Yuansi still harbored a tiny hope that her brother would figure it out on his own.

Lu Ran's head was truly buzzing.

I am grueling on the God Worship Platform, begging all the deities, and none of them care about me.

You just sneak a try, and succeed?

"Wait a minute." Lu Ran said irritably, "You're tricking me again?"

"No trick. I specifically told mom not to tell you, to see when you would figure it out," Qiao Yuansi sighed deeply.

This girl, with natural dramatics since childhood: "You really don't care about me at all.

I'm your silly, cold-blooded brother..."

Lu Ran asked directly, "What kind of Believer are you?"

"I'm a third-class deity's Believer, and she's a beautiful deity!" Qiao Yuansi answered joyfully, "Guess who?"

Lu Ran suddenly perked up, "Lord Jade Talisman?"

"Not the deity Dad worships." Qiao Yuansi had a strange expression, could Lord Jade Talisman be described as "beautiful"?

Clearly, Lord Jade Talisman was a male deity.

"Then who?" Lu Ran was very curious.

Qiao Yuansi's eyes twirled: "Come to Beijing to visit me, and I'll tell you when you arrive."

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then decided, "After I and my teammates complete the summer task, I'll come to you immediately."

"Then it's a deal!" Qiao Yuansi, afraid Lu Ran might go back on his word, hung up right away.

"Impressive." Lu Ran put down the phone, full of admiration.

16 years old and already a deity's Believer?

Typically, one had to be 17-18 years old, as deities have requirements for the physical and mental strength of their Believers.

Hmm... my sister's birthday is significant.

She's called "Yuanxi" because she was born on the Lantern Festival.

So, even though Qiao Yuansi is 16, is she already ready physically and mentally?

Physically for sure, she's already elegant and graceful.

When we met during the New Year, wasn't Qiao Yuansi already about 1.68m tall?

These could still make sense, but the key issue is...

Qiao Yuansi secretly went to Worship God, and then succeeded?

Half a month ago, during the Worship God ceremony, Lu Ran sensed something unusual.

This year, the probability of students becoming Believers substantially increased compared to previous years!

So, Qiao Yuansi also benefited from this deity recruitment expansion?

"Third class deity's Believer." Lu Ran murmured to himself, "Yuanxi, that's something, huh?"

Almost catching up with you, brother!

After all, no matter how incredible you are, you're seeking deities.

You haven't stepped out of the deity sequence.

But I,

I called upon Yan Zhi... huh?

Lu Ran suddenly frowned, recalling Yan Zhi.

Yan Zhi.

Yan... Zhi?!

Lu Ran tapped his forehead anxiously, not knowing how much time passed, and suddenly his body trembled.

Like a startled cat, his hair stood on end!

I remember now!

I had a dream.

In the dream, there was a seductive and glamorous Yan Zhi person, an awe-inspiring figure of a Yan Zhi statue.

And a horrifying sheep head ablaze with Black Fire.

No,

The dream I had wasn't just that one!

I also dreamt of Evil Dog statues, Blood Disaster Dog statues...

Lu Ran abruptly turned his head, looking towards the shrine, gazing at the serene Immortal Sheep Jade Carving.

That white jade sheep face still wore a benign smile.

Its hind hooves firm on the ground, its fore hooves folded in front as if cupping hands in greeting, the epitome of friendliness and humility.

It stood quietly, always bearing this kind, compassionate appearance.

But at this moment, Lu Ran felt nothing but chill down his spine!

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