The small restaurant where they ate carried the campus years of their youth.

"Mm..."

Lu Ran suddenly furrowed his eyebrows, faintly feeling as though he grasped something.

But it was as if he hadn't grasped anything at all.

It really was maddening—it was the same again!

Ten days ago, when he captured the inspiration of "rosy clouds shining far and wide," it was like this too.

Since then, Lu Ran rose early every morning, taking the Divine Weapon with him as he went out.

Unfortunately, Rain Alley City seldom had sunny days, so there were few mornings graced by the dawn's rosy clouds.

Lu Ran adjusted his emotions, trying to comprehend again.

Time flowed, and the lights in the city grew sparser.

One by one, households fell asleep, each light that turned off felt like a countdown timer leaping another second.

Lu Ran's heart was in turmoil.

In the end, he took another look at the sky and felt a wave of powerlessness rise within him.

Perhaps it was because the path he had walked previously was too smooth, his expectations too great.

The Vast River was not something one could traverse so easily.

The Divine Weapon flew westward, carrying its master, plummeting directly into Rain Alley's residential complex.

When it was late at night, the Lu household's lights were still on.

Lu Ran stepped down from the Divine Weapon and walked towards the apartment building.

Dawn Silence Night automatically flew up and accurately sheathed itself.

Lu Ran stood in front of his home, listening intently.

In the silence of everything, he heard even breathing, long and rhythmic.

It seemed like she had fallen asleep.

Lu Ran took out his keys and quietly opened the door.

The warm light inside the house faintly carried the scent of food.

On the living room sofa, a graceful figure sat quietly.

She wore a white silk nightgown, her long legs elegantly crossed, leaning against the back of the sofa, already asleep.

Lu Ran took off his raincoat and shoes, walking softly into the room.

He glanced at the wall clock and found it was already past one in the morning.

Lu Ran approached the sofa, looking at the girl's peacefully sleeping face, feeling a trace of guilt.

He had told her so many times not to wait for him.

But on the matter of waiting for Lu Ran to come home, Jiang Rui was particularly stubborn.

Lu Ran bent down, one hand going under her knees and the other supporting her back, lifting her in a princess carry.

"Umm." Jiang Ruyi slowly woke up, instinctively wrapping her arms around Lu Ran.

Her cheek rubbed against Lu Ran's neck as she murmured softly, "You're back."

"Sorry, go back to sleep," Lu Ran whispered, carrying her to the master bedroom, carefully laying her on the bed and covering her with the blanket.

He tiptoed back out, heading straight for the kitchen.

In the clay pot, a soup was being kept warm over a gentle fire.

This special beef and goji berry soup was also telling Lu Ran that "Heavenly Pride" was tomorrow.

Due to the gods making their rounds in the lunar sixth month and the gates of the underworld opening wide in the lunar seventh month, Da Xia officially does not hold "Heavenly Pride" competitions during these two months.

This meant that Lu Ran had not missed any sessions.

Having participated in the previous two "Heavenly Pride" competitions, Lu Ran's ranking was very good. As long as he could maintain his top ten position, he would be able to receive rewards like Divine Weapons and Magic Artifacts.

As the third on the sky list, Lu Ran also had a good chance to compete for the top three.

Of course, he would take it even more seriously!

If he could add another treasure to his collection, it would naturally mean stronger combat power and a higher chance of survival.

Lu Ran thought to himself and drank three bowls of soup in a row.

It warmed his stomach and heart.

The night passed without further words, and the next morning arrived.

Fully armed, after a hearty meal, Lu and Jiang stepped out of their home.

The meeting place this time was still the old one.

On the fifteenth day in Rain Alley City, a light rain began to fall again.

At Hexi Park, in front of a lakeside cabin.

Sun Zhengfang, wearing a raincoat, waved energetically at them from a distance: "Little Lu, Little Jiang!"

Lu Ran couldn't help but smile.

He thought back to when he first met Captain Sun—how composed he was.

As Lu Ran continued to grow and everyone went through life-and-death experiences together, Captain Sun increasingly became like a close old friend.

"Uncle Sun!"

"Uncle Sun." The two hurried forward, greeting him politely.

"Ha ha!" Sun Zhengfang came up beside Lu Ran, slinging an arm around his shoulder, "You rascal! Back from your pilgrimage?

I thought once you went to university, even if you came back, you'd be protecting Wu Lie River City.

When I heard you were rejoining the team a couple of days ago, I was overjoyed!"

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders: "A big city like Wu Lie River has plenty of protectors."

Though he said this, Lu Ran mentally added: Rain Alley is different; Rain Alley only has us.

Sun Zhengfang asked with concern, "How's university life?"

Lu Ran's expression turned strange: "Not quite sure; since the semester started, I've only been to class for one day.

No, not even a whole day."

He looked at Jiang Ruyi: "What was it, twenty minutes?"

Jiang Ruyi didn't speak, but thought to herself that it was probably only seven or eight minutes.

"Hahahaha!" Sun Zhengfang's laughter was hearty, shaking Lu Ran's shoulder back and forth, "I've seen your glorious deeds!

You stormed back to campus on that day, all for your beauty! Ha ha!"

Lu Ran: "..."

Jiang Ruyi's face turned red, and she looked down slightly.

There were too many onlookers that day, and various videos about Lu Ran's battle spread like wildfire on the Internet.

The degree of discussion was also high, with all sorts of opinions.

Some said Lu Ran's methods were too cruel; after all, the opponent was a compatriot, and there should be limits in a friendly contest.

Others said Lu Ran had already exercised restraint; what he dismantled was the opponent's Golden Body, not the actual body.

Some even said that Lu Ran should use a thunderous hand to deter those with malicious intentions.

As a Heavenly Pride representing the face of Da Xia, could he let people bully him?

Netizens' opinions varied greatly. Some even claimed Lu Ran was bullying the weaker party.

As soon as this was mentioned, it was quickly drowned out by backlash.

A West River Believer fighting a Jiang Realm Great Power, and you're telling me it's the strong bullying the weak?

Do you have no shame?!

With that, Wu Lie River University also become infamous, with various official accounts being bombarded by netizens.

The genius of Da Xia, the top scorer of the national college entrance exam, "marrying down" into your school only to be treated unfairly?

Apparently, Lu Tianjiao was meant to be concentrating on his pilgrimage in Cai Nan.

But on the second day of the term, he specially flew back from Wu Lie River to deal with the problem!

What is your school even doing?

You're holding back Da Xia's genius from deep contemplation?!

Can't you see the influence of "Heavenly Pride"? Are you unaware of the situation between Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi, who have released sweet moments during the last two seasons?

If you're not capable of providing a stable learning environment for students, then you might as well not enroll any Heavenly Pride!

Beijing University, universities in Shanghai, Qiantang River University...

Every university is eager to have Heavenly Pride enroll!

Didn't your school have a contingency plan before recruiting students? Didn't you make any situational estimates?

During this time, Wu Lie River University kept issuing apologies and handled those responsible.

By now, Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi had nothing to do with it anymore, and it was up to the university authorities to quell the public fury.

Some things are like that; once they're on the Internet, they can't be contained.

"You, young man, are becoming increasingly inscrutable," Sun Zhengfang exclaimed emotionally, "That was a fight with someone from the River Realm, and you dared to fight."

Not only dared to fight, but you also managed to win?

Without exaggeration, this fight surprised everyone!

Usually, when Lu Ran appeared in the public eye, it was when he was slaying Evil Demons.

The word "direct confrontation" was consistent throughout Lu Ran's demon-slaying journey.

No one would have thought that when facing a Jiang Realm Great Power from the Human Clan, even a disciple of a First-Class God·Monk...

Lu Ran still dared to go for a direct confrontation!

The analysis of this battle became a sensation throughout Da Xia.

Lu Ran started with verbal provocation, luring the Jiang Realm Great Power into a trap, then constantly bleating, provoking a barrage of powerful moves from the Monk sect.

Using the enemy's spear to attack their shield.

With the Body of Substitute granting immunity to damage, the dual blades dismembered the Golden Body.

Each step was linked, forming a perfect chain!

This battle truly showcased Lu Ran's brilliance.

And naturally, Lu Ran's brilliance also represented the brilliance of Da Xia!

"Calm in the face of danger, methodical in approach," "a textbook example of the weak overcoming the strong," and so on.

People gave Lu Ran the highest praise, sparking a frenzy.

Of course, all of this was unknown to Lu Ran.

He was always struggling to comprehend the Divine Weapon Domain and the method of promotion.

This youngster, who had brought a trace of shock to the world, stayed by the Wu Lie River, day in and day out, completely inactive.

He couldn't quite "shake" things up, and was about to wilt...

...

Three updates today, at 12, 18, 22.

Four thousand words, asking for some monthly tickets.

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.