By the minivan, two small teams got acquainted.

"This is my brother, Lu Ran. Just call him 'Brother,'" Qiao Yuansi introduced.

"Just call me Lu Ran," said Lu Ran, stretching out his palm in a friendly gesture.

Qiao Yuansi was indeed a year younger, but her teammates were all about the same age as Lu Ran.

"Calling him 'Brother' isn't a problem either!" Qiao Yuansi looked at Lu Ran, "In all my life, I've never met anyone with a birthday bigger than yours."

That was actually true.

Lu Qiao were blood siblings and only a year apart.

With Qiao Yuansi's birthday being the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, could Lu Ran's birthday be small?

"Niu Zhengzheng." The tall man extended his big hand, his voice deep and strong, "The Zheng that stands tall and solid like iron bones."

Lu Ran looked up at the brawny man, his eyes full of envy.

Such physical talent was truly explosive!

Look at those muscles, that large frame—is this what a seventeen-year-old student should have?

Even Deng Yutang, standing next to Niu Zhengzheng, seemed like a little brother...

"Ran Bro? You're too thin, you need to eat more," Niu Zhengzheng said with a smile, showing a set of white teeth.

Qiao Yuansi immediately said, "Niu has a straightforward nature, he means what he says, don't overthink it."

Lu Ran looked at Qiao Yuansi in surprise: "Niu?"

"Yeah, look at him; he has the look of a fierce deity and demon," Qiao Yuansi gazed up at Niu Zhengzheng, "I nearly cried when I first met him."

"Hehe," Niu Zhengzheng scratched his head sheepishly.

Although he looked rather fierce, Lu Ran thought this big guy was quite cute in his simplicity.

"This sister's name is Guan Yiren," Qiao Yuansi hooked her arm through the girl beside her, "She's a Believer of Lord Sword One!"

Sword One?

Everyone turned their attention to the girl.

The first and foremost among the deities of Da Xia?

The preeminent Lord Sword One?!

Jiang Ruyi's heart raced slightly as she studied the long-haired girl.

Indeed, the disciple chosen by Lord Sword One had to be of this caliber.

Guan Yiren was slightly taller than Qiao Yuansi, with above-average looks and an excellent demeanor.

She nodded politely to the group, her aura of unapproachability palpable to all.

Qiao Yuansi: "Bro, the command position in our team should have been Yiren Sister's."

Lu Ran: "Then how did it fall on your head?"

Qiao Yuansi grinned cheekily, tilting her head to rest it on Guan Yiren's shoulder: "Ever since she became a disciple of the Sword One Sect, she speaks less and less~"

Everyone: "..."

Guan Yiren rarely smiled, but she did now, bending a finger to lightly tap on Qiao Yuansi's head.

"I love to talk," Niu Zhengzheng suddenly said, looking at his two teammates.

"Shh." Qiao Yuansi held up a finger, signaling Niu Zhengzheng to be quiet.

Niu Zhengzheng looked at Lu Ran and shrugged his shoulders: "They don't want to listen to me."

Lu Ran's expression was a picture, struggling to keep from laughing.

After all, they had just met, and it didn't seem polite to laugh too freely...

"Brother, what kind of Believer are you?" Deng Yutang asked.

Niu Zhengzheng: "West Desolation."

Once again, the air quieted down.

Second-class God·West Desert?

One of the Four Directions Martial Heroes·West Desolate Axe?

What the heck... what kind of team is this?

A First-class God Sword One Believer, a Second-class God West Desert Believer, a Third-class God Lantern Believer?

The culturally enriched Qiao Yuansi, with the god she worshipped ranked last?

Truly the children of Beijing's elite... well, it's not really that.simple.

Rather, Qiao Yuansi was well cared for under her mother's wing and got into this kind of team.

Niu Zhengzheng noticed their expressions and couldn't help snorting: "You think I'm lying?"

While speaking, he waved his hand to summon the great axe with a surge of energy.

"Stop!" Qiao Yuansi immediately intervened.

Like a conditioned reflex, Niu Zhengzheng's energy dissipated.

Which meant, he waved his hand and then nothing happened.

Awkward!

"Right." Lu Ran continued as if nothing had happened, "What about your other teammate, why haven't I seen them?"

Qiao Yuansi looked down, toying with Guan Yiren's fair fingers: "We only have three people in our team."

Lu Ran: "Huh?"

Qiao Yuansi lifted her eyelids, flashing a mischievous smile: "We couldn't find a suitable one, then realized, three's enough!"

Niu Zhengzheng suddenly said, "I want a male teammate, to eat meat and drink with."

Lu Ran raised his eyes to the big man.

Niu Zhengzheng shrugged again: "They don't like it."

Lu Ran: "..."

"Ey~ Three people is enough for a small team, you're as good as two!" Qiao Yuansi chirped.

Niu Zhengzheng revealed his white teeth, chuckling: "Makes sense!"

"Here, let me introduce you to a buddy!" Lu Ran pushed Deng Yutang forward, "Magnanimous, brave, the real deal!"

Niu Zhengzheng looked Deng Yutang up and down, picking on him: "You're a bit short, eat more in the future!"

Deng Yutang: ???

I'm at least 185cm tall, and you call me short?

Can anyone else even survive?

Can Tian Tian survive?

Niu Zhengzheng placed a hand on Deng Yutang's shoulder: "What kind of Believer are you?"

Deng Yutang didn't speak, just pointed to the red cloth wrapped around his head.

"Ho?" Niu Zhengzheng's eyes lit up, "A disciple of Lord Red Cloth? That's the sect I wanted to join the most!

But on the day of Worship God, Second-class God·West Desert came first and took me away."

Clearly, his interest soared!

Jiang Ruyi suggested, "Let's get on the van, we can talk more on the way."

"Let's go," Qiao Yuansi pumped with energy, "On the road, let's finalize our tactics and take them down!"

The group of seven quickly boarded the van.

The driver, full of envy, watched the young people, having heard every bit of their conversation clearly.

"Make sure your weapons are secured, don't get them scratched," the driver hit the gas, heading out of the city.

Lu Ran sat in the back row next to Jiang Ruyi, whispering, "It's also good not to become a disciple of Sword One."

"Hm?" Jiang Ruyi looked puzzled.

Lu Ran whispered lower: "Look at that Guan Yiren, she doesn't say a word, all high and mighty, like an ice sculpture."

Jiang Ruyi whispered back: "Don't talk about others like that."

Lu Ran continued: "How nice it is to be gentle! What if you accidentally joined the Sword One Sect, what then?"

"Go away." Jiang Ruyi spat playfully at Lu Ran.

Was that supposed to be comforting?

But my vow is to Lord Jade Talisman, who is also quite stoic.

Ultimately, it's the duty of Believers to keep their true hearts.

Jiang Ruyi quietly regarded Lu Ran, thinking to herself: Just like you're doing, don't let the divine twist your nature.

In the front seat, Qiao Yuansi turned back curiously, looking at Lu and Jiang.

Her gaze was lively, and the more she looked, the more interesting she found it.

Something's not right!

There's something up with these two!

"What are you looking at?" Lu Ran suddenly asked.

"Looking at Sister Ruyi, how beautiful, right?" Qiao Yuansi said with a grin.

Jiang Ruyi smiled and waved her hand off.

She was always so free and easy, unless it involved Lu Ran.

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow: "Not old, but your taste isn't bad?"

Jiang Ruyi immediately nudged Lu Ran with her arm.

Qiao Yuansi's eyes gleamed brightly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two.

There's definitely something up!

No, I have to keep an eye out for my foolish brother.

Mother's Black Ice Sword must not be given away lightly!

...

Forty minutes later, the van entered an army camp on the outskirts north of Jinmen.

From a distance, Lu Ran saw the Divine Sculpture of Lord Sword One.

You have to admit, Sword One was truly extraordinary, with an immensely wide scope of protection.

Sword One's main Divine Sculpture stood in Beijing, while her Divine Sculpture Avatar was extended to here in Jinmen.

After multiple inspections, the vehicle entered the parking area of the camp and everyone alighted one by one.

The normally silent Guan Yiren kneeled down toward Lord Sword One's Divine Sculpture upon disembarking.

With palms joined together, her usually cold expression became deeply reverent as she quietly prayed to something.

The others may not have knelt, but they all bowed in respect.

As for Lu Ran, looking somewhat awkward, he admired Lord Sword One's statue before going to get his sword from the trunk.

He wasn't a Believer of Sword One, so it didn't feel right to pay homage.

More importantly, Lord Immortal Goat was different from the rest, always by Lu Ran's side with its domineering nature.

Lu Ran didn't want his own divine to misunderstand anything.

Indulging in a blasphemous thought:

The Sword One Divine Statue in the God Demon Sculpture Garden was far more elegant and grand than this Sword One Avatar statue!

If he ever wanted to take a closer look, Lu Ran would just have to sleepwalk into the Garden.

"Oh?" As Lu Ran was getting weapons from the trunk, he noticed a familiar Black Ice Sword.

The black iced blade, the golden hilt, the recognizable golden tassels.

Lu Ran naturally recognized his mother's side arm; it seemed she let Yuansi use it.

"Do you remember the name of that sword?" Qiao Yuansi came next to Lu Ran.

"Of course," Lu Ran picked up the Black Ice Sword, "Cold Night."

"Want to know a little secret?" Qiao Yuansi's eyes curved into beautiful crescents.

"What?"

"The names of Dawn Blade and Cold Night Sword were given to each other by mom and dad."

Lu Ran's eyebrows twitched; this was the first time he'd heard the story.

Quite romantic?

Qiao Yuansi: "Mom insisted that I bring the sword.

She said after the trials, to have you bring Cold Night back to Rain Alley City."

"Why?" Lu Ran was puzzled.

Qiao Yuansi hooked her arm through Lu Ran's: "She said, to hang Cold Night and Dawn Blade together."

Lu Ran fell silent, not responding.

He wanted to protest it was a waste, for this was a Black Ice Sword, a true Demon-slaying Weapon!

But after all, it was his parents' matter, so he didn't feel right to comment.

Qiao Yuansi suddenly lowered her voice, hinting at a secret:

"Mom also said, if one day, brother thinks of giving Cold Night to a girl...

She wants to meet her in person in advance."

Lu Ran: "..."

If I recall correctly, aren't I only 17 this year?

Yes... rather premature.

In this special era where the whole nation venerates the divine, Da Xia Country encourages marriage and childbirth.

Young people can get married on the day they turn 18 after becoming Believers.

Qiao Yuansi's eyes playfully implied something: "What do you think? My cold-blooded brother, have you ever been smitten with anyone?"

Lu Ran, carrying two blades: "Enough talk, let's go slaughter some demons!"

The siblings left, chatting and laughing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ruyi stood quietly to the side of the vehicles, watching their departing figures.

...

Tonight at midnight, the book will be released, and I request that everyone leave a fixed monthly ticket.

There will be extra chapters after the release, and I will write a release note in a bit.

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.