"Divine Technique!" Deng Yutang strode forward, laughing heartily.

"What's all the fuss about," Lu Ran said as he pressed against Chang Ying's face, pushing her backward.

Chang Ying leaned her head back and retreated, her tall figure also blocking Deng Yutang's path forward.

"Cough." Suddenly, a light cough came from behind.

The noisy and clamorous classroom quickly became quiet.

Li Yanzhu, the class teacher, stood at the doorway. Her gaze lingered on Lu Ran for a moment before she spoke to the students:

"I know how you all feel, and I also admire and respect Lu Ran as a strong individual.

But as Believers, you should still be cautious with certain vocabulary and not attribute them to others casually."

"Hm?" Lu Ran couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

Originally, he wasn't very fond of the nickname "Ran Shen."

But after what Teacher Li had said...

Lu Ran suddenly took a liking to this title.

A bunch of stones can be called divine, what's lacking in my flesh and blood?

"Return to your seats," Li Yanzhu stepped into the classroom and patted Lu Ran's shoulder.

It was rare for the usually serious class teacher to look at him with such admiration.

"Oh." Lu Ran walked towards the interior of the classroom and noticed that there were fewer students in the class.

Class 3-4 used to have around thirty people. Now at a glance, there were only just over twenty?

Were those people injured or on leave?

Or had they transferred or moved away?

Lu Ran leaned more towards the latter, especially after having witnessed the scene in front of the train station himself.

There had been people who thought Rain Alley City was a cursed city.

And after the Barbaric Clan's Night of Ghosts event, this reputation became even more entrenched.

Escaping Rain Alley City seemed to have become a trend.

"People are panicking."

Lu Ran sighed inwardly and randomly found a seat to sit down.

It was evident that the impact of the fifteenth night event was significant; just in Lu Ran's class alone, there were two entire teams missing.

Hmm... perhaps it was a quantitative change leading to a qualitative one.

After three consecutive special events, anyone would feel uneasy.

"Thump," Chang Ying sat down on the chair next to Lu Ran, her large eyes staring intently at him.

"I really can't give this to you," Lu Ran said softly, his hand on the scarf.

Chang Ying: "..."

Do you really see me as a bandit?

Lu Ran turned his head, looking at Chang Ying's still passionate gaze, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Just happy to see you alive," Chang Ying leaned on the desk with her elbow propped up, supporting her cheek with her palm, making no attempt to hide her gaze.

Lu Ran: "Didn't I already report my safety in the group chat, and we even chatted for quite a while?"

"That's not the same, silly!" Chang Ying revealed a smile, "Now you're alive, sitting right beside me."

Lu Ran had never expected to see such a sweet smile on Chang Ying's wild face.

Indeed, for everyone, each fifteenth night was a massive disaster.

Everyone was on tenterhooks, first for themselves and second for their friends and family.

After all, no one knew whether they would still be able to meet the person they remembered after that night.

Especially for someone like Lu Ran, who was different from others and didn't just stay at home or inside a shelter.

He ventured alone into the fifteenth night, keeping company with death.

"I'm also glad to see you again," Lu Ran said with a sincere look in his eyes, speaking softly.

"Mm..." Chang Ying's gaze lost its wildness, her eyelids drooping slightly.

It seemed she remembered something, and the joy on her face vanished without a trace, leaving only a hint of loss.

Lu Ran asked softly, "What happened?"

Chang Ying lay down on the desk and whispered, "Seeing you face dangers alone, I always want to help you, but I..."

Listening to Chang Ying's murmur, Lu Ran felt a warmth in his heart.

Her posture with her chin propped on her arms and big eyes staring at the desk reminded Lu Ran of the little calico cat at home.

He thought he was crazy to make such a connection.

But Chang Ying's slouching figure, coupled with her murmured voice, sounded much like a muffled mew.

Hmm... indeed, like a giant cat.

"You've advanced in rank, right?" Lu Ran tried to cheer up his teammate.

"I've been at Stream Realm Third Rank for a while," Chang Ying muttered softly.

"Learned Divine Technique·Seven Treasures?"

"I've learned it, but I'm afraid to use it," Chang Ying shook her hand, "with my luck, let's not even go there!"

All along, Chang Ying had mostly used the initial Divine Technique·Five Treasure Signs.

In the past, during the pitch-dark Demon Cave, when everyone's lives were at stake, she had mustered the courage to use the advanced Divine Technique·Six Treasure Sign.

And she hit the jackpot!

The sole lousy sign among the six was drawn by her.

At Stream Realm Third Rank, the Spiritual Sign Sect would adapt the "Seven Treasures."

The signs representing five categories became more potent, but the number of lousy signs in the sign cylinder increased by one, becoming two.

That's the trajectory of the development of the Spiritual Sign Sect.

At River Realm, Chang Ying would learn "Eight Treasures," "Nine Treasures."

The five signs representing offense, defense, support, summoning, and control would crazily update and evolve, getting outrageously strong!

At the same time, the number of lousy signs would also incrementally increase.

As we all know, Divine Techniques could be improved in grade.

This means Chang Ying's "Five Treasure Signs" could reach the same River Grade as "Nine Treasures."

But even at the same grade, the effects would be like chalk and cheese!

Take the support sign as an example:

The support sign in Five Treasure Signs could only replenish the caster's Divine Power.

An upgrade in Divine Method Grade would simply enhance the casting effect of this sign.

But the support sign in Divine Technique·Nine Treasures...

One could continuously recover the caster's Divine Power.

Two could clear the caster's mind, dispelling negative mental states.

Three could heal the caster's injuries.

Four could perform area Healing according to the master's guidance.

Five could comprehensively enhance all the body's attributes for a specific group, as arranged by the master!

What concept is this?

What kind of disparity is this?

Why does Nine Treasures dare to have four lousy signs in it?

Because the profit from winning the bet is immensely rich!

That's why countless Believers flock to it, desperately drawing a hand at the critical moment!

If you draw the right one, you're godly!

If you miss... damn it.

Next time for sure!

Keep in mind, this is just the difference in support signs.

Say nothing of the output signs, summoning signs, etc., the discrepancies are just as staggering!

"From now on, call me Ran Shen?" Lu Ran suddenly spoke up.

"Hm?" Chang Ying turned her head slightly to look at Lu Ran, "What's wrong, don't you like it when I call you Ran Bao?"

Lu Ran shrugged nonchalantly: "You can call me Ran Bao with your lips, but think of me as Ran Shen in your heart."

Chang Ying's expression became strange, and after staring at Lu Ran for a long time, she said in a low voice, "Shameless."

Lu Ran: "..."

Indeed, others might genuinely admire and call out "Ran Shen" from their hearts.

But for Lu Ran to actively ask others to address him that way seemed a bit shameless?

"Slap!"

Chang Ying's large hand landed on Lu Ran's back, and her face once again displayed a smile: "Fine!

Since you're so powerful, I guess I'll reluctantly agree to it."

During this conversation, Chang Ying's smiling face became somewhat serious, and her eyes were earnest: "Just don't let me down with the nickname I have for you.

You have to survive!"

At that moment, Lu Ran also smiled.

He could feel Chang Ying's sincerity, her earnest wishes.

Did Lu Ran care about the empty title of "Ran Shen"?

It was merely because he took an interest in a "Disciple."

In private, the two could be close comrades-in-arms, noisy friends.

But someday in the future, Chang Ying, the troubled disciple of the Spiritual Sign Sect, might very well accept the olive branch he extended.

The timing would also be good.

With the character of the Spiritual Signs, Chang Ying was bound to suffer terrible losses.

Everything was ready; he only needed to thoroughly examine Chang Ying as a person.

And today's conversation with Chang Ying, her troubles and sorrows, her sincere blessings...

Had won her lots of points!

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chang Ying moved back a bit under Lu Ran's intense gaze, "Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to me?"

Lu Ran: ?

Chang Ying whispered, "I... I still want to find someone tall and mighty, I've always liked that type since I was a child.

I don't have many wishes, I'm only living this one lifetime, and who knows when I might just croak.

You're... cough, anyway, we're not quite suitable."

"Get lost!" Lu Ran was actually amused.

What kind of nonsensical talk was this?

Chang Ying sat up straight, her mouth firing off like a machine gun: "Ran Bao, I know you're amazing, and I really admire you.

But in my heart, you are a dependable teammate, a strong individual I look up to.

You're about to turn 18, remember, it's essential not to act against a girl's will, using violence, coercion, or other means..."

"Shut up!" Lu Ran hurriedly reached out and covered Chang Ying's mouth.

You gambling addict, are you teaching me the law now?

If this were overheard by the students in front or behind us, what would they think of me?

Besides, with Jiang Ruyi being so fair and gentle, a goddess, why would I turn around and chase after you, a wild woman like you?

Forget that it's not my type,

But if I really liked it, couldn't I just summon a Barbaric Woman myself?

Wouldn't that be even more powerful and wild...

Chang Ying's face was earnest, and her muffled voice came from Lu Ran's palm again:

"Ran Bao, I can entrust you with my life."

Lu Ran lowered his voice, grinding his teeth, "Just stop talking."

Chang Ying kept going, her eyes innocently wide, her voice soft and muffled:

"But not my body."

Lu Ran was utterly flabbergasted!

Today, he truly had met his match.

Chang Ying's mouth, with its incessant chatter, had left Lu Ran utterly defeated.

Lu Ran suddenly remembered when Chang Ying first joined the small four-person group; she also left Deng Yutang dazed and confused...

"You two, sit properly!" The class teacher Li Yanzhu's scolding voice came from the podium.

Lu Ran pulled his hand away and also lowered his head.

Chang Ying sat correctly as well.

Only her eyes betrayed an impish smile.

To survive in this world plagued by suffering and misfortune, fun had to be sought out by oneself.

Even if overexerted, just a moment of joy was enough to last for a long time.

Li Yanzhu: "The school is aware of what you all have gone through.

I represent the school in commending you and feel deep sorrow for the misfortune you have encountered."

Li Yanzhu's gaze swept over the students as she continued: "For this month's training, the school has specially selected a Demon Cave with an excellent environment for you.

While practicing, you'll also be able to relax and adjust your state of mind.

This Demon Cave, located in Qiantang River province, is called Bamboo Sea. You've probably heard of it..."

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