Chapter 148: Parting Ways Just Like That

Day and night alternated several times; it was the nineteenth day of the eleventh lunar month.

Rain Alley City welcomed the moment of its unsealing.

Coinciding with this day, the winter sun shone brightly, with no wind and no snow, as if summoning people to come out for some fresh air and to stretch their muscles and bones.

Yet Lu Ran remained holed up at home, sitting cross-legged in meditation before the small shrine.

The school had canceled morning classes for this month.

This was because a significant portion of the students were still within the Demonic Cave·Bamboo Sea of the Qiantang River, relaxing and vacationing there.

Since Rain Alley City had suffered the ravages of special incidents for three consecutive months, the school administration had extended great care to the students.

For this month's trial missions, students could go to any Demonic Cave to receive their assignments from the local military.

After completing a mission, they could obtain a certificate from the military; bringing it back would earn them bonus points.

The school merely stipulated that on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, all students must return to campus to participate in the final comprehensive examination.

The so-called final examination was, naturally, the Fifteenth City Defense.

Lu Ran could imagine that after students had stayed outside for so long, witnessing blue skies and white clouds, birdsong and fragrant flowers, returning to the dark, damp, and cold Rain Alley City...

... many would, after the final examination, completely move away from Rain Alley City.

People can mostly endure darkness.

If only they had never seen the sunlight.

"Hoo—"

Lu Ran kept his eyes tightly shut, breathing deeply and continuously.

His body had been "swelling" for many, many days.

Since the Fifteenth City Defense, upon returning home, Lu Ran had immediately entered a mode of bitter cultivation, focusing single-mindedly on breaking through and advancing.

He was not entirely sure whether he was walking the correct path or if he had simply become too headstrong.

In any case, around seven o'clock, Lu Ran had specifically called each of his team members, stating that he would be entering secluded cultivation at home.

As for exactly when he would emerge from seclusion? Well, that depended on fate.

Out of respect, Lu Ran had called each one individually.

Interestingly, Deng Yutang and Chang Ying reacted with surprising uniformity; both were extremely straightforward, saying they would handle this month's trial missions themselves and telling Lu Ran to cultivate in peace without worrying about points.

Tian Tian, however, spoke in soft, gentle tones, cheering on her Master with endless encouragement.

Carrying the care and expectations of his teammates, Lu Ran sat like an old monk entering deep meditation, remaining "fixed" before the small shrine.

Except for eating, drinking, and refilling the cat food, Lu Ran hardly ever stood up.

Even when sleeping, he lay prone on the floor in front of the shrine.

The only thing left undone was taking the Xiang Xiang Xianyang jade carving out of the shrine to cuddle Lord Xiang Xiang Xianyang in his arms while sleeping...

Day-and-night bitter cultivation finally yielded a qualitative transformation!

It was the afternoon of the twenty-third day of the lunar month when Lu Ran's body finally began to tremble violently.

"Ah~"

Lu Ran was ecstatic; after suffering for so many days, he was finally about to welcome a moment of pure relief.

"Knock, knock, knock~" The sound of knocking suddenly arrived.

Lu Ran, immersed in his own world, remained completely oblivious to everything outside.

He frantically compressed his divine power, condensing it into streams of water that circulated orderly within his body, expanding his meridians.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

This time, the knocking sound was even heavier.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran nearly thought he was hallucinating.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The knocking came again, not only heavier but also slightly more urgent.

Yet Lu Ran was at a critical moment; how could he have the mind to open the door?

He guarded his spirit, continuing to charge at the bottleneck, attempting to expand the vessel of his body even further.

Fortunately, the visitor outside was not persistent; after knocking three times, there was no follow-up.

The surroundings fell into silence once more, with only the small bedroom shrouded in mist, where a figure within the fog trembled incessantly.

"Whoosh!!"

A full twenty-plus minutes later, a fierce energy radiated outward from within Lu Ran's body.

"Meow!" Little Li Hua let out a sharp cry and swiftly fled the scene.

The tables and chairs in the room shifted violently, while bed sheets and pillowcases flew in every direction.

It was just like damn thieves had broken in~

"Ah..."

Lu Ran suddenly leaned backward, collapsing directly onto the cold floor.

So refreshing~!

His body was finally no longer swollen, and both his body and mind felt comfortable and free.

The dense divine power was no longer restless; the streams of water were exceedingly gentle, nourishing Lu Ran's flesh and blood.

Stream Realm·Fifth Stage!

The absolute peak within the scope of the Stream Realm.

This was a rather special stage, bitterly gnashed at by believers throughout the world and dubbed—the Deathly Five!

In this world, countless young men and women aged into uncles and aunties yet still failed to cross this "Deathly Five."

The so-called reality was cruel enough to make one feel suffocated.

Now, Lu Ran had also broken into this tier, becoming one among the vast denominator.

At this moment, he could no longer accumulate any further quantity.

Only a sudden flash of inspiration could lead Lu Ran to a deeper realm and allow him to continue forward.

If no inspiration appeared, then his future held no light.

"Thump, thump, thump~"

He did not know how long passed before the knocking sounded again, but this time, it was against the window.

"Who is it?" Lu Ran asked curiously, rising and walking to the window.

Outside the window stood a tall figure, youthful and radiant.

She wore a pure white down jacket and had on rabbit-ear earmuffs.

The young girl's face was beautiful, and her attire was very cute.

Yet Lu Ran knew all too well that beneath this beautiful exterior hid a soul that was fierce and violent.

"Without Si Si Xianxian?" Lu Ran opened the window, and immediately, a cold wind rushed into his face.

"You advanced?" Si Si Xianxian sized up Lu Ran. "Did I disturb you just now?"

Lu Ran retorted irritably, "You actually know that?"

Si Si Xianxian snorted. "I noticed the energy in the room was off, so I stopped knocking immediately."

"You should be glad you were advancing!"

"Just now, I was ready to tear your door off its hinges."

Lu Ran asked directly, "Why did you come?"

"Didn't we text saying I wouldn't go out for training this month?"

Si Si Xianxian turned and walked aside, her voice drifting from afar, "Be a good boy and open the door for your big sister."

Lu Ran:?

A dozen seconds later, as soon as Lu Ran opened the security door, he saw Si Si Xianxian standing outside with a beaming smile.

"No way," Lu Ran said helplessly. "How presumptuous can you be!"

Si Si Xianxian's smile gradually vanished. "What did I do?"

Lu Ran said, "Who just blocks someone's doorway like that?"

Si Si Xianxian replied, "Then shall I leave?"

Lu Ran: "."

"Goodbye." Si Si Xianxian's face darkened, and she turned to leave.

"Hey?" Lu Ran hurriedly called out. "No, no, Without Si Si Xianxian, stop right there!"

Si Si Xianxian had already reached the building's entrance door.

Whether she changed her mind or it was simply a natural bodily reaction.

In any case, after Lu Ran raised his voice, she stopped.

"Didn't you say you weren't welcoming me?" Si Si Xianxian turned her head to look at Lu Ran.

"Does Auntie know you're here?" Lu Ran asked.

"Nonsense!" Si Si Xianxian shot Lu Ran a sideways glance, her little mouth speaking with excessive sweetness. "If I didn't come find you, do you think my mom would let me walk out the door?"

Lu Ran was truly speechless.

Look at your cold, raw, hard, and aggressive demeanor; how do you have the nerve to wear such cute rabbit earmuffs?

Do you have any shame at all!

Lu Ran asked, "What exactly do you want from me?"

"Did you quarrel with Auntie, or did you cause trouble again and come here to lie low?"

Si Si Xianxian was nearly angered into laughter; she suddenly raised her hand.

Lu Ran's expression turned alert. "What are you going to do?"

This violent Divine Lie Tian girl was the reincarnation of Fat Ding.

Her slaps were truly fast in attack speed and high in damage output!

Crackling and popping, they could practically be used as divine arts.

Si Si Xianxian waved her fair, tender palm. "Is it white or not?"

Lu Ran scoffed disdainfully. "Stop being so narcissistic; it's just so-so."

Si Si Xianxian looked at her hand. "It's been too long since I stained them with blood; they're too clean. It's time to kill someone."

Lu Ran:?

Si Si Xianxian looked at Lu Ran and proposed, "Let's go kill someone together, shall we?"

Lu Ran was shocked and guessed, "You mean going down into the Demon Cave to kill demonic creatures, right?"

Si Si Xianxian nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

Lu Ran retorted irritably, "I already told you, I'm not training this month; I'm staying home to cultivate."

"Oh, right." Si Si Xianxian suddenly said. "I forgot to congratulate you on advancing to Stream Realm, Stage Five."

"Thank you." Lu Ran nodded.

This scene was very bizarre.

Both of their tones were sharp, as if they were quarreling.

Yet suddenly, for an instant, both became polite, offering congratulations and thanks to each other.

Fortunately, this bizarre moment did not last long.

After just that single exchange of dialogue, the two resumed their "argument."

"Fine, I'm leaving then." Si Si Xianxian snorted in dissatisfaction and pushed open the stairwell door with one hand.

"Where are you going?" Lu Ran stepped out of his apartment, standing in the chilly stairwell.

"Going home, obviously; where else would I go?" Si Si Xianxian gazed out the window at the snow-covered world, speaking casually.

"Really going home?"

"Mm."

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said, "You're not planning to deceive both sides, are you?

You tell me you're going home, then tell Aunt Si you're here with me?"

Si Si Xianxian: "."

Damn!

This Immortal actually forgot, you kid are a Gao Zhongsheng!

I've walked right into a trap.

Lu Ran opened his mouth: "Should I call Aunt Si right now and let her know?"

Si Si Xianxian raised her palm again.

Lu Ran: "What's the problem this time?"

Si Si Xianxian suddenly smiled: "No problem this time; I just purely want to slap you."

Lu Ran: "."

Seeing Si Si Xianxian approaching step by step, Lu Ran said, "I want to press my advantage in one go and break through into the first stage of the River Realm!"

Si Si Xianxian naturally dared not slap Lu Ran; that Bai Xi palm landed on his shoulder instead:

"At this stage, bitter cultivation at home is utterly useless!

You need to go out and seek opportunities; you need to find inspiration!"

Lu Ran felt slightly awkward: "In order to break through to the fifth stage of the Stream Realm, I rejected all my teammates.

Yet now, I'm going out to train with you; how does that make sense?"

"You've already become fifth stage of the Stream Realm!" Si Si Xianxian heard hope and immediately said, "You didn't lie to anyone; besides—"

"What?"

"Everyone parts eventually." Si Si Xianxian stood without proper posture, leaning her body slightly askew against the stairwell wall.

Lu Ran: "What do you mean?"

Si Si Xianxian shrugged: "No matter how close your friends are, as long as you keep moving forward, you will eventually drift apart."

Si Si Xianxian never believed that the members of Lu Ran's squad could keep up with his pace.

Birds of a feather flock together.

It won't be long before the peers beside Lu Ran should only be believers of powerful gods like Liangye Jian Yi, Bei Feng, and Xi Huang.

Lu Ran shook his head: "I don't think so."

"Heh." Si Si Xianxian chuckled, carrying a hint of self-mockery, "Everyone thinks they are special.

That they won't drift apart from classmates, won't separate from close friends.

That they will stay forever with their beloved, growing old together with white hair."

Lu Ran looked at the girl who seemed to have seen through the mortal world: "So pessimistic?"

Si Si Xianxian shrugged, quite carefree: "If it's time to scatter, we scatter."

"Perhaps." Lu Ran made no commitment verbally, yet in his heart, he did not think so.

Because he was too, too, too special!

In Lu Ran's imagination, he and his teammates shared another unbreakable bond—God and Apostle.

"Come in." Lu Ran walked inside the room and said casually.

Si Si Xianxian's heart leaped with joy: "You agreed to go kill people with me?"

"It's killing evil spirits." Lu Ran corrected her again, then casually pointed to a corner of the living room, "The cat litter needs changing."

Si Si Xianxian:???

Asking for some monthly tickets~

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(End of Chapter)