Qiao Yuansi looked at Lu Ran with a face full of astonishment, stammering her words.

Although the siblings often quarreled, their bond was genuine.

Facing her elder brother, not only did Qiao Yuansi feel a childhood dependency, but she also held a hint of admiration.

She was willing to believe Lu Ran, although... this news sounded like a tall tale.

"Ran Bro?" Niu Zhengzheng asked with wide eyes like brass bells, turning to look at Lu Ran, "Really or not?"

Xiao Yusong also looked at the rearview mirror, quite surprised at the reflection of Lu Ran.

On the other side, Guan Yiren also slightly turned her head, side-eyeing surreptitiously.

"Are you also participating in 'Heavenly Pride'?" Qiao Yuansi finally asked.

"Hehe~" Lu Ran looked at his sister's adorable appearance, "I'm not participating..."

"Pfft~" Qiao Yuansi interrupted Lu Ran, giving him a look.

Still feeling unsatisfied, she slapped Lu Ran's arm, "Always fooling me!"

For a moment, everyone in the car had different expressions.

Niu Zhengzheng slapped his forehead, greatly relieved, "You scared me to death."

Only Xiao Yusong and Guan Yiren continued to quietly watch Lu Ran.

Just then, Lu Ran turned to look out the car window and uttered another phrase, "Who's participating then?"

Niu Zhengzheng: ??

Everyone: "..."

"Hey? You!" Qiao Yuansi clenched her little fist and thumped Lu Ran on the chest, "Doesn't your conscience hurt?

How can you keep lying back and forth, tell the truth already!"

"Participating, participating," Lu Ran hurriedly said.

"Man, bro!"

Niu Zhengzheng was completely numb, really unable to withstand Lu Ran's constant flip-flopping.

Qiao Yuansi leaned in slightly, her large eyes sparkling as she closely observed Lu Ran's expression.

Lu Ran cradled his twin swords, using the hilt to push the girl's cheek away through a layer of fabric.

"Why though?" Qiao Yuansi pushed the hilt away, extremely curious.

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders, "Someone took a fancy to me.

There are points to earn, Divine Weapons, and Magic Artifacts as rewards, so I just joined."

"How did they notice you?" Qiao Yuansi was like a curious baby.

"Didn't I say? My teammate's sister represents Wu Lie River University in the battle."

"Hmm, and then?"

"I was in the same patrol team with her, and after that night, the 'Heavenly Pride' people noticed me."

"Wow!" Qiao Yuansi exclaimed, "You stole the show!"

Lu Ran: "..."

Qiao Yuansi playfully grinned, looking Lu Ran up and down, "You really are a sly man~"

Lu Ran silently turned his head, looking out the window.

That night, he wholeheartedly assisted Deng Yuxiang, the camera hanging on his collar, capturing only the shadows of the Big Nightmare.

Unfortunately, the cameras of Sun Zhengfang and Wei Long captured their gallant figures.

As a Ninth-Level God·Immortal Goat Sect believer, Lu Ran indeed drew too much attention.

"Rain Alley City truly is a place of outstanding people," Xiao Yusong sighed, "In the first selection of combatants, there were only 100 spots, and Rain Alley City occupied two."

Lu Ran: "Just me, that sister withdrew."

Everyone: "..."

Little Yuanxi looked blankly at Lu Ran, "You rose to the top just like that?

You stole the show and then replaced that sister?"

"No, no," Lu Ran hurriedly explained, "That sister was promoted to the River Realm, so she couldn't participate in 'Heavenly Pride' anymore.

Then, she recommended me."

"River Realm!" Qiao Yuansi was secretly amazed, her little mind also understanding, "That's right, those selected for Heavenly Pride must be especially strong."

Lu Ran nodded in agreement.

Qiao Yuansi looked at Lu Ran: "You're now recognized as Heavenly Pride of Da Xia!

So, when are you going to be promoted to the River Realm?"

Lu Ran: "..."

"Heehee~" Qiao Yuansi's little face was filled with pride, no longer teasing her brother, "On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, I'll be able to watch you on my phone!"

Lu Ran explained: "That won't work, the 100 people are split into two groups, alternating in the battle.

I'm in the second group, only participating during even-numbered months."

"Oh, I see." Qiao Yuansi was filled with joy, "Then, brother, you can still spend my birthday with me!"

"Yeah," Lu Ran couldn't help but reach out and touch Qiao Yuansi's little nose.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, during the winter vacation, students didn't need to defend the city.

And to celebrate his sister's birthday, Lu Ran specifically asked for leave from the Divine People Bureau.

This was Lu Ran's annual routine, first spending New Year's Eve with his mother and sister in Beijing before celebrating his sister's birthday on the fifteenth day of the first month.

As for his own birthday, he would celebrate it together with his sister.

This was the only time each year that Lu Ran spent with his family.

He didn't want to change his "custom."

Among all the perilous nights of the fifteenth, Lu Ran's favorite was the fifteenth day of the first month.

Even his extremely busy mother wouldn't go out to defend the city on this day.

Being powerful, she naturally took on heavy responsibilities and was a reliance for many.

But every fifteenth day of the first month, she would keep herself at home, always staying by the siblings' side.

No matter how fierce the battles outside, how rampant the Evil Demons roamed, the Qiao Family home on this day was immensely warm.

You should know, the earlier Lu Ran was just a frail ordinary person, naturally frightened, living through the night in fear.

Young as he was, he of course needed a sense of security, and more so, reliance.

Under such circumstances, having their mother at home with the siblings provided an incomparable feeling of safety and stability, something incomprehensible to others.

Therefore, Lu Ran's fondness for the fifteenth day of the first month stemmed from a mixture of many factors.

"How about the fifteenth day of the seventh month?" Yiren finally spoke up.

Xiao Yusong, who had been listening all along, explained, "In the lunar sixth month, gods roam, and in the lunar seventh month, the gates to the underworld open wide.

These two months, 'Heavenly Pride' is on hold."

Qiao Yuansi asked, "Then what about the battlefield?

Rain Alley City is so small, the invading Evil Demons aren't strong."

Lu Ran turned to look at Qiao Yuansi, his gaze deep.

Do you know what Rain Alley has done to your brother?

Night of Ghosts is nothing special, just like everyday dinner!

That attendance rate, almost catching up to the Moon Gazers...

"Hmm." Qiao Yuansi hugged Lu Ran's arm, burying her face against his arm.

Lu Ran looked at his coquettish sister and helplessly said, "Don't ask anymore, there are professionals who score, we don't need to worry about that much."

"Mhm." Qiao Yuansi felt the tide had passed and immediately raised her small face, "I'll tell mom the good news when we get back."

Lu Ran nodded with difficulty: "Alright."

Being a "Plastic Bag Master," making such a decision was indeed challenging.

"We're here," Xiao Yusong spoke up.

"Already?" Lu Ran looked outside and found they were in an underground parking lot, not even out of the city.

"You forgot, brother Xiao is a Dust Shadow Believer," Qiao Yuansi whispered.

"Oh." Lu Ran couldn't help but feel moved.

He hadn't expected to experience teleportation!

"Just sit tight, no need to be nervous," Xiao Yusong spread his palm open.

A black flower quietly bloomed on his palm.

This flower, shaped like a lycoris, had narrow leaves and even longer filaments, extending outward.

The black color added a mysterious and elegant air to the flower.

"Hoo~"

Energy surged above the flower, creating a spectacular scene.

It included high mountains and flowing streams, dynamic and strikingly realistic.

Lu Ran clucked in amazement as the beautiful scene grew larger and larger until it swallowed the entire car.

Dust Shadow Divine Skill·Other Shore Flower!

"Hoo!"

The terrain diagram suddenly converged, and Lu Ran only felt a blur before his eyes.

Both people and car were transported to another location.

In fact, Lu Ran had seen this divine skill before!

That was in the Dark Light Demon Cave, when the group encountered the Evil Nest and fled in a sorry state, a soldier team came to aid.

At that time, a 3D terrain diagram unfolded above a soldier's head.

Then the divine weapons descended from the sky, and a large number of guards were teleported over.

"There!" a soldier tapped on the car window, indicating a parking spot a few meters ahead.

"Okay," Xiao Yusong smiled and nodded, drove forward, and parked the vehicle.

Lu Ran then realized that Xiao Yusong had accurately transported everyone inside the military camp's parking lot.

If nothing unexpected, the soldier who tapped on the window was Xiao Yusong's teleportation coordinate.

As everyone exited the vehicle, several people either stood or knelt, all saluting a statue representing Lord Jian Yi.

After finishing, Xiao Yusong then smiled and approached the soldier, looking very familiar as they bumped fists.

"Brother, I can't guarantee Miss Guan's safety!" the soldier laughed, "This place is the Night Charm Demon Cave, and even I'm scared."

Though he said so, the young soldier's demeanor showed no trace of fear.

"Haha!" Xiao Yusong laughed as well, "We both volunteered, and she's too lazy to use us.

She even brought in external help from Wu Lie River without telling me."

"Oh?" The soldier's tiger-like eyes looked towards the group.

He seemed to recognize several of Guan Yiren's teammates and locked his gaze on Lu Ran immediately.

Xiao Yusong shook his head and stroked his medium-length hair:

"Brother Lang, this young fellow is no small fry, be nice, okay?"

Lu Ran's expression was odd as he watched Xiao Yusong's carefree gesture...

Carrying a guitar, isn't this just like a folk singer?

Soldier Lang naturally nodded, "Since Miss Guan invited him, I must be good."

"You two," Guan Yiren looked at childhood friends in one courtyard, "shut up."

Both: "..."

"Let's go, let's go, I've found another buddy, let's go together," Soldier Lang draped an arm around Xiao Yusong's shoulders.

Guan Yiren spoke softly: "Too many people isn't convenient, just us few will do."

Soldier Lang looked oddly at Lu Ran: "That fierce? Doesn't look very old either?"

Xiao Yusong: "Because he's young, he's fierce! This is my competitor."

Lang Zhixuan asked in confusion, "What competitor?"

Xiao Yusong lowered his voice: "Heavenly Pride."

Lang Zhixuan froze.

He looked at Lu Ran, then back at Xiao Yusong, and elbowed Xiao Yusong, "Stop joking!"

Xiao Yusong stroked his hair again: "Believe it or not."

"Yo?" Lang Zhixuan looked at Lu Ran, examining him up and down.

Lu Ran held his twin swords and pressed his lips into a slight smile, "Hello."

"I'm not very well."

"Ah?"

Lang Zhixuan: "I was rejected. In a fit of anger, I quit school and came here to enlist."

Lu Ran: "..."

Lang Zhixuan: "Brother, which university are you from? Wu Lie River? Is the competition fierce at your school?"

Lu Ran scratched his head: "Not fierce, no one competes, I... I'm in high school."

Lang Zhixuan widened his eyes: "You! What!?"

Lu Ran whispered: "Maybe you should try downgrading?"

Lang Zhixuan: ? ? ?

...

There's another update at 22:00.

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.