Chapter 145: Ambition!

"Prodigy, prodigy."

Lu Ran gazed at the calm lake surface, his mind active and stirring.

A program organized by the official Da Xia government naturally possessed unquestionable value.

Mobilizing the entire nation's strength to select a tiny handful of people to compete, how could the quality possibly be low?

Just speaking of this program's name alone, wouldn't that be enough to make talented youths from all over Da Xia break down doors and rush madly to join?

To put it bluntly, you don't even need to achieve good results!

As long as you are selected, aren't you then a "Prodigy" officially recognized by the Da Xia government?

Setting aside the various benefits individual contestants can obtain, the key point is that behind every single person stands a deity!

Thinking of this, Lu Ran's mind became even more active.

Such a major project will surely face the entire nation, even the whole world; the influence of this program is bound to be unprecedented!

Then, behind this project, is there also the shadow of deity participation?

Always, the many deities within the Da Xia Realm have mostly only recruited believers from within the realm.

Looking at it now, at this special juncture, are the deities preparing to expand outward and export themselves?

After the program airs, when those foreigners witness the powerful demeanor of the Da Xia deities' believers, might they not come to pledge allegiance by reputation?

To a deity, humans are simply humans; there is no distinction of skin color, nor any difference of race.

As long as you are of the human race, you can provide faith power exclusive to humans, and the deity can feast heartily!

"Tsk tsk~"

Lu Ran pressed his lips together, unsure whether his thoughts were correct or not.

But the growing strength of the Demonic Race was plain for all to see.

Various signs also repeatedly indicated that the deities were indeed expanding their recruitment.

"Deng Deng Yuxiang!!"

A loud shout dragged Lu Ran out of his thoughts.

Deng Deng Yuxiang and Lu Ran turned their heads simultaneously, looking toward the lakeside.

There, Sun Sun Zhengfang, with a serious expression, commanded loudly: "What are you doing? Take your hand away, stop covering the camera!"

Deng Deng Yuxiang: "."

Lu Ran looked at Deng Deng Yuxiang and saw a rare expression.

The Great Da Da Mengyan was not very happy, but she forcibly restrained herself from exploding.

Kind of amusing~

After all this time, this was also the first time Lu Ran had seen the Great Da Da Mengyan being scolded.

Deng Deng Yuxiang was undoubtedly a true, genuine powerhouse; as a "Blade Cultivator," she was even more of a killing machine.

To speak without exaggeration, given one minute, she could kill Sun Sun Zhengfang sixty times over.

Hmm... if she put in some effort, perhaps it would be more than sixty.

Always, Sun Sun Zhengfang had been very polite to the Great Da Da Mengyan, but today...

It was clear now; "Prodigy" was indeed a major project, so much so that Sun Sun Zhengfang had even brought out his identity as the old team leader.

"Hmm?" Deng Deng Yuxiang naturally noticed the schadenfreude in Lu Ran's eyes.

Expressionless, she lowered the hand covering the camera, letting it naturally land on Lu Ran's shoulder.

"Hiss—" Lu Ran gasped in pain from the cold air.

He nearly thought his shoulder was about to be crushed by her grip.

Good heavens~

No wonder she is the peak of the River Realm, no wonder she is among the first batch selected for the official list of Da Xia Prodigies!

What grip strength!

It's going to be the death of me...

"Laughing?" Deng Deng Yuxiang's lips held a faint, barely perceptible smile as she spoke softly.

"Wrong, wrong," Lu Ran repeatedly begged for mercy. "So many people are watching; don't expose your true nature... ahem, behave yourself."

You no longer represent only yourself.

You represent your school, you represent the Divine Citizen Bureau, you represent the Lord Bei Feng Faction, you represent the basic quality of the Da Xia populace..."

Deng Deng Yuxiang's entire demeanor collapsed!

This string of titles pressing down truly weighed heavily on her.

She wanted to say something, yet seemed to fear something.

Finally, she raised one finger, touched her own lips, her slightly narrowed eyes carrying a trace of severity.

Lu Ran decisively shut his mouth, knowing when to stop.

He could feel that Deng Deng Yuxiang was suffering terribly.

Hmm... even more amusing~

"You two, come here," Sun Sun Zhengfang called out again.

"Oh!" Lu Ran let out a startled cry.

The Great Da Da Mengyan scooped up Lu Ran in one grab, wind and waves churning beneath her feet.

The two traced a parabolic arc across the lake surface, accompanied by a dance of chaotic frost and snow, landing steadily on the shore.

"Uh." Lu Ran hurriedly shifted two steps away; for the short term, he had no intention of provoking the Great Da Da Mengyan again.

"Come over, and bring your camera too," Sun Sun Zhengfang beckoned to Lu Ran, walking toward the dock house.

"I have to bring mine too?" Lu Ran immediately followed.

Sun Sun Zhengfang laughed: "Only letting Little Deng wear it? Does that make you the protagonist?"

Lu Ran: "."

That's right!

Lu Ran walked into the dock hut and saw a familiar figure.

"Brother Wei," Lu Ran greeted.

Can't tell if it's a dragon or a tiger; calling them by their surname is always safe.

Wei Long nodded: "You're here."

Lu Ran: "Where's your brother?"

Wei Long: "Little Hu has returned to his own squad. Tonight, I'll guard you."

"You kid are actually smart." Sun Sun Zhengfang, naturally a shrewd person, smiled. "Not showing a bit of fear, and your identity is already out."

"Heh." Deng Deng Yuxiang followed into the room and sneered, "He has plenty of little tricks."

There wasn't much mockery in the woman's words; instead, it seemed like a form of praise?

Lu Ran, indeed as the others had described, deduced: "So, there are no special events tonight?"

With Wei Hu not in the squad, this message was undoubtedly revealed.

Otherwise, the squad configuration would never have been downgraded.

On the other hand, it should also be due to Lu Ran himself?

Lu Ran believed that on the fifteenth of last month, his performance had been excellent!

It could be fully described as "slaughtering on all sides." With such terrifying combat power, he could indeed gain deeper trust from the Divine Citizens Bureau.

"You shouldn't say that." Sun Sun Zhengfang handed the equipment to Lu Ran.

Lu Ran took the small camera, turned his head to look at Deng Deng Yuxiang, and thought it a pity in his heart.

If there were no special events, Deng Deng Yuxiang's battlefield performance would undoubtedly be greatly diminished.

Achieving a standout record would likely be very difficult.

Deng Deng Yuxiang, extremely intelligent, read Lu Ran's expression and said softly, "Set your mindset right."

Lu Ran: "Hmm?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang covered the camera again: "My personal record isn't important; what matters is this city, and the people within it.

If there are no evil spirits invading tonight, leaving me with nothing to show, that would be best."

Deng Deng Yuxiang suddenly stopped speaking.

Because in Lu Ran's lowered hand, he held her camera, filming Deng Deng Yuxiang's towering figure from a low, oblique angle, as if secretly taking a photo.

"I understand." Lu Ran nodded heavily.

In the face of major right and wrong, Lu Ran's thinking was absolutely without issue.

For this small town, for the people still staying in his hometown, Lu Ran's emotions were no less than those of the Great Da Da Mengyan.

If Lu Ran didn't possess certain traits, given his eerie nature, he would only have grown even more rapidly!

This was not empty talk.

The red-scarf believer, Chen Jing, was still alive; that was the best proof.

Otherwise, Chen Jing should have become fertilizer in Lu Ran's sculpture garden last month.

The convictions and beliefs in his heart needed no explanation to outsiders; Lu Ran had always been doing it silently and demonstrating it with his actions.

But the impression points Deng Deng Yuxiang should receive, Lu Ran wouldn't let slip.

One thing is one thing.

Since he had already entered the game, he must seize every opportunity to make a name for himself!

"Hmm." Deng Deng Yuxiang pouted, but ultimately said nothing, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Standing outside the door, she let out a soft sigh.

Deng Deng Yuxiang wasn't even sure if Lu Ran had intentionally lured her into saying those words.

Inside the room, someone's voice came again: "Uncle Sun, give some suggestions to the higher-ups; our group of war reporters needs upgraded equipment.

Ideally, it could be fixed to the head; a camera that keeps shaking won't do."

Standing in the icy snow outside the house, Deng Deng Yuxiang felt somewhat helpless, yet a hint of warmth rose in her heart.

Hearing it this way, he really was doing it on purpose.

This guy is really...

The night curtain gradually descended, and the snow stopped falling.

Alas, the wind and waves did not cease, always rolling up layers of frost and snow from the ground, the cold striking the face.

The four members of the squad walked along the empty, deserted streets, stepping onto the same patrol route as last month.

"By the way, Sister, which university do you attend?" Lu Ran quickened his pace and came to Deng Deng Yuxiang's side.

Deng Deng Yuxiang: "."

Ever since getting the camera, she always felt that every word Lu Ran said had an intention.

"Sister?"

"You don't even know that? How can you have the face to ask me?"

"Doesn't a university only have one combat slot?" Lu Ran chuckled. "I'm going to university next year; I'm afraid I might steal your slot."

Deng Deng Yuxiang widened her eyes slightly and looked at Lu Ran.

"Hahaha!" Behind them, Sun Sun Zhengfang burst into loud laughter.

Wei Long, who was always very serious, also showed a smile on his face.

For this rising star, everyone in the entire Divine Citizens Bureau had a deep understanding of his growth and performance all along the way.

"Wu Lie River University." Deng Deng Yuxiang introduced herself.

"A fine school," Lu Ran nodded.

In this world, any university qualified to bear a province's name was that province's leading institution.

"Come be my junior," Deng Deng Yuxiang said casually. "This is just a trial broadcast; the number of pilot schools is very small."

"In the future, surely each school shouldn't have only one quota."

"That works; by then, we two can form a twin-star duo, Sister," Lu Ran said, then asked, "What are the rewards for this ranking?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang pondered for a moment before saying, "There are believer points, as well as weapons and equipment."

Lu Ran let out an "Oh" and fell silent.

The Great Dream Da Da Mengyan had already cultivated its own divine weapon; other weapons would likely fail to catch its eye.

The most important aspects were the believer points and the immense influence the ranking could bring to one's own Divine Gate!

If it were him,

as a believer of the Ninth-Rank God, Xiang Xiang Xianyang, he would trample all those believers of Liangye Jian Yi, Lord Bei Feng, East Thunder, and other gods beneath his feet,

displaying it clearly before the eyes of the world!

How satisfying would that be?

What did they call this? Public execution?!

Deng Deng Yuxiang suddenly said, "It's said the results are cumulative, calculated on a yearly basis."

"The final ranking rewards apparently include divine weapons and magical artifacts."

Lu Ran: "What did you say?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang smiled at Lu Ran: "What's wrong? Finally interested?"

"Divine weapons and magical artifacts possess weapon spirits; they are living beings!" Lu Ran expressed deep skepticism. "How could they possibly become prizes?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang shook her head, unable to explain.

But the news was solid!

This alone was enough to show the Great Xia's level of emphasis on this project.

They were even willing to put forth divine weapons and magical artifacts, the most precious and rare treasures.

A new month, a new beginning!

Asking brothers for support with monthly tickets!

(End of Chapter)