Chapter 114: Wanton Heaven's Pride (Bonus chapter for Alliance Leader Fourth Roman Emperor Lin Dengwan)

"Flap, flap, flap~"

As the two approached Shitoucheng, a black crow flew down from the night sky.

"Instructor Dou?" Lu Ran turned his head slightly, facing the direction of Dou Zhengqiang.

"This is the fifth Shitoucheng you have reached," Dou Zhengqiang said.

"Mm." Lu Ran nodded.

He had come to Fierce Dog Village for training several times, but this was the furthest he had ever gone, and it had taken the least amount of time.

Dou Zhengqiang suggested, "Having reached this point, you can begin your return journey."

"Is the time halfway over?" Lu Ran sighed inwardly.

This time, he had entered the village quite late; a week had passed, and it was already the beginning of the tenth lunar month.

Dou Zhengqiang explained, "On one hand, time is limited; on the other, you cannot continue forward."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly: "Are training participants not allowed to enter the areas further ahead?"

Dou Zhengqiang: "Stream Realm students are not allowed."

Lu Ran: "."

"Haha!" Si Xianxian had been throwing a small tantrum, but upon hearing this, she finally had a slight smile.

Dou Zhengqiang led the two toward the massive city gate: "I personally acknowledge your strength.

But there are rules in Fierce Dog Village; Stream Realm trainees cannot cross the fifth Shitoucheng.

Further ahead is the city wall."

"City wall?" Lu Ran immediately perked up, "Is that the front line over there?"

"No," Dou Zhengqiang shook his head, "The true front line of the battlefield is still very far away.

The city walls ahead are used by our side to screen for demons."

"Oh." Lu Ran nodded.

This relatively stable training environment was naturally created by the military.

Dou Zhengqiang: "Beyond the five cities is the buffer zone, and beyond the sixth city is the screening zone.

Only River Realm believers can enter to train there, and furthermore, our side cannot guarantee the safety of the trainees.

As for the true front line, it is beyond the ninth city; I believe that one day, you will see it with your own eyes."

"Thank you for the encouragement, Instructor Dou," Lu Ran smiled and said politely, "Shall we go together when the time comes?"

Dou Zhengqiang shook his head: "My strength is insufficient; I can no longer qualify for the role of your team instructor."

"Ah?"

"No need to wait for the ninth city; when you head toward the sixth or seventh city, I will no longer be able to accompany you."

"Can't I just hire you with money?"

"You could hire me, but there's no need." Dou Zhengqiang's serious expression became somewhat strange, "The team might not necessarily allow me to go."

Lu Ran asked in confusion: "Why?"

Dou Zhengqiang glanced at Lu Ran: "I am a novice instructor, and my strength is at River Realm, First Stage."

Lu Ran: "."

In Lu Ran's mind, the image of Dou Zhengqiang, this cold-faced instructor, had always been very tall and imposing.

Only at this moment did Lu Ran suddenly wake up!

Dou Zhengqiang's strength realm wasn't even as high as Si Xianxian's?

But he was already around thirty years old... well, he must have reached the limit of his talent.

Thinking about it, if Dou Zhengqiang's aptitude were high enough, it wouldn't have been the turn of the Seventh-Rank God, Witch Crow, to recruit him.

In this world, where is there any fairness?

Si Xianxian was only 18, and already at River Realm, Second Stage.

Great Nightmare also had explosive talent; at only twenty, she was already at River Realm, Fifth Stage!

She was even likely to break through into the River Estuary Realm at any time, becoming a great power in human society!

Lu Ran followed Dou Zhengqiang into the city, looking at his back, and said softly: "I hope Instructor Dou can break through and advance soon."

"Heh." Unexpectedly, Dou Zhengqiang actually smiled.

He turned to look at Lu Ran, his expression not as serious as it usually was.

For some reason, seeing Lu Ran again this time, Dou Zhengqiang had an illusion: this teenager was about to graduate.

Perhaps Lu Ran's realm level on paper was still lacking.

But in terms of mindset, tactical literacy, and personal combat power, Lu Ran's true level had already far exceeded the Stream Realm!

Dou Zhengqiang had self-awareness; he knew deeply that if a heaven's pride like Lu Ran continued forward, he would no longer have the ability to protect him.

In fact, what touched Dou Zhengqiang the most on this journey was the teammate Lu Ran brought—Si Xianxian!

This young, extremely powerful Lie Tian believer should have been arrogant, proud, and lawless.

Dou Zhengqiang kept his nerves tense at all times, ready to provide assistance, determined to ensure Lu Ran's safety.

He was even somewhat worried about whether he could survive if Si Xianxian truly went berserk.

After all, she was at River Realm, Second Stage.

Her divine techniques existed solely for slaughter!

A truly enraged Lie Tian believer would disregard everything, driven only by the anger in their heart.

However...

This girl followed by Lu Ran's side, becoming more docile day by day.

Up until the scene just now, even if the girl felt annoyed, she only stomped her feet.

For a Lie Tian believer, this didn't even deserve to be called "annoyance."

In the 7 days, Dou Zhengqiang witnessed Lu Ran taming this fierce and violent person bit by bit.

This was due to Lu Ran's strength, and his stunning performance that was enough to command admiration.

It was also due to Lu Ran's clever use of divine techniques, constantly manipulating the girl's body and mind.

And even more, it was Lu Ran's repeated disregard for past grievances, ignoring any unpleasantness that had occurred, and caring for her as always.

Even if two normal believers teamed up, friction was inevitable.

Let alone having a powder keg in the team?

Yet Lu Ran, with his tolerance and forbearance, handled it all steadily.

Only at this moment could Dou Zhengqiang see the qualities that a Fairy Sheep believer should have in Lu Ran.

Now, a week had passed, and the small team had stabilized.

The result of this man and woman grinding together made Dou Zhengqiang sigh again and again.

Fairy Sheep believer, Lie Tian believer.

These two detested existences could actually pair up!

And they were even quite compatible?!

It was truly hellish...

"Instructor Dou?" Lu Ran looked at the dazed instructor and said, "I hope that next time we meet, Instructor Dou will have entered River Realm, Second Stage."

"Thank you." Dou Zhengqiang came back to his senses and turned to continue walking.

This was Lu Ran's first time reaching the fifth city.

He looked around, only to find that it was no different from the previous Stone Cities.

Under the guidance of Instructor Dou, the two arrived at the Stone Hotel.

After opening two rooms, the two agreed to have dinner together in an hour and returned to their respective rooms.

Lu Ran seized the time to shower and wash his clothes, and prayed to the God during his bath.

The general meaning was something like, "Fairy Sheep, please stop talking for now, don't be so greedy, wait until the Evil Plastic is cultivated to the River Realm before eating."

Of course, that was the main point, but the words Lu Ran used were relatively tactful.

An hour later, in the hotel restaurant on the first floor.

Lu Ran walked into the restaurant wearing slippers and the camouflage short-sleeved shirt and shorts provided by the hotel.

As soon as he entered the door, Lu Ran froze.

At a square table, Lu Ran saw several familiar figures.

Ma Tianchuan, Wu Shanshan?

They were actually here too... well, that made sense, Rain Alley City only had this one demon cave.

As expected of the team led by Ma Tianchuan, they could actually penetrate so deep into the demon cave!

One had to know that reaching this point meant one could encounter River Realm Fierce Dogs.

"Oh?" Lu Ran's voice was very soft, and he raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lu Ran had already forgotten the name of the other girl in the team.

But that last boy... Kou Yingquan?

How did he get into this team?

Lu Ran froze at the entrance, while Ma Tianchuan, who was sitting facing the restaurant door, also saw Lu Ran's figure.

"Lu Ran?" Ma Tianchuan was somewhat surprised and waved his hand.

"Mm?" Wu Shanshan turned her head abruptly and looked at the restaurant entrance.

Sure enough, she saw that familiar figure again.

Wu Shanshan's expression couldn't help but turn ugly.

Since they parted last time, Lu Ran was still the one shining brightly.

He had remained firmly in first place and even participated in the Divine People Bureau's additional test.

And Wu Shanshan, who had tried every means to escape the team, finally had a teammate she liked, but her results were not ideal.

She had put in all her effort, wanting to prove her choice.

Unfortunately, Rain Alley had experienced two special events in succession, and the school did not allow students to participate in the fifteenth assessment.

Everyone's scores had risen sharply, which was equivalent to no one rising at all...

This time, seeing old teammates in private, Wu Shanshan was indeed a bit embarrassed.

"Coincidence." Lu Ran nodded with a smile.

"Not a coincidence." Ma Tianchuan also nodded with a smile, "If you can reach here, you will always meet."

Hearing this, Lu Ran nodded in agreement.

This time, Fierce Dog Village only opened the West Gate direction; even though there were many torch paths, they would always converge at each Shitoucheng.

Kou Yingquan turned his head to look at Lu Ran; after several months, the two looked at each other intensely again.

Lu Ran's tone carried a hint of teasing: "Changed teammates again?"

Wu Shanshan's ugly expression finally turned gloomy.

Because she had forced her way into the team, effectively squeezing Tian Tian out, these words sounded particularly harsh to her ears.

Ma Tianchuan remained expressionless and pushed his rimless glasses: "The former teammate transferred schools."

"Transferred?" This response was beyond Lu Ran's expectations.

Ma Tianchuan sighed lightly: "His family moved away from Rain Alley City."

Lu Ran fell silent.

Rain Alley City was indeed like a cursed city.

He had also seen with his own eyes the crowds of people carrying large bags and small bundles, leaving in a hurry in front of the train station.

"Why are you blocking the door?" A pleasant female voice came from behind.

Si Xianxian came to Lu Ran's side and, following his gaze, saw a table of young people.

She scrutinized them and said casually: "Your classmates?"

For this newly appeared girl, Ma Tianchuan and the others all had their eyes light up, and they were also somewhat confused.

In their impression, there was no such classmate in school.

The girl's appearance was excessively excellent; she could definitely go toe-to-toe with Jiang Meiren.

Having said that, for martial artists, being fair-skinned and beautiful couldn't be eaten as a meal, so everyone could be dismissive.

But her arrogant and overbearing aura was almost writing the words "Heaven's Pride" on her face...

Obviously, this girl couldn't be a vase!

"Have a grudge?" Si Xianxian suddenly spoke.

"Ah?" Lu Ran looked at the girl in surprise.

"Heh." Si Xianxian sneered, "I am a Lie Tian believer.

In my life, it is full of hostility everywhere."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Lu Ran's profile: "Perhaps, it will take me a long time to confirm whether someone is genuinely releasing goodwill toward me.

However, I can tell at a glance who harbors malice."

Lu Ran: "."

Si Xianxian turned to look at the group, her eyes wanton, scrutinizing them one by one:

"Speak, which one."

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(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 115 =====