Chapter 159: River Realm?!

Half an hour later, by the Wu Lie River.

On the rooftop, figures clashed with blade marks.

"Gently, hey? Can't you be gentler!" Lu Ran shouted, his feet churning immortal mist as he darted rapidly.

The Believer of the Lord Bei Feng, like a lingering ghost, had latched onto Lu Ran once again.

No matter where Lu Ran fled, a nightmare always loomed over him.

"Ding!"

The Rosy Light Blade and the Wind Blade collided heavily, producing a ear-splitting sound.

Lu Ran felt his Hukou go numb and couldn't help but mutter:

"When you tricked and coaxed me out, your words were so gentle!

But the moment we meet, you try to beat me to death, is that it?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang remained silent, her expression blank.

Though she was clearly chasing Lu Ran to kill him, her demeanor suggested she was far from satisfied?

Lu Ran summoned his immortal hooves again underfoot and hurriedly dodged.

Deng Deng Yuxiang, wreathed in wind and waves, followed him like a shadow.

After a few more exchanges, Deng Deng Yuxiang suddenly shouted: "I just don't believe it!"

Accompanying these words, her offensive became even more fierce.

Lu Ran was dumbfounded!

Aren't you the one making me flee in panic?

Why are you the one unhappy?

One had to admit, Deng Deng Yuxiang was indeed getting carried away.

As the peak existence of the River Realm, and a Believer of the Lord Bei Feng renowned for speed and blade techniques.

Yet when facing Lu Ran, who had only just entered the River Realm, she still couldn't subdue him after so long?

This sparring session was different from before.

Lu Ran had advanced to the River Realm and learned the Water Flow Armor, giving him a talisman for survival.

Therefore, Deng Deng Yuxiang no longer held back and locked her focus onto Lu Ran's Water Flow Armor.

But the more serious she became, the more she lost face!

The lively and jumping Lu Ran was like a slap in her face.

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa..."

Lu Ran's heart pounded with fear; amidst the dense blade light, he struggled to defend and dodge, finding himself stretched to the limit.

Looking at it now, before he advanced to the River Realm, Deng Deng Yuxiang had truly been gentle.

As if carefully nurturing a growing sapling?

Now that the little lamb had been fattened up, it was time to slaughter it!

"Whoosh!"

The woman wielded a wind blade, moving with terrifying speed, slashing straight at Lu Ran's face.

Lu Ran suddenly twisted his body to dodge and once again invoked the "Stick" technique.

The Believer of the Immortal Sheep sounded the horn of counterattack!

He was determined to make this lingering Believer of the Lord Bei Feng taste the flavor of being hunted by vengeful spirits.

"Hiss!"

That was the sound of the Silent Night Blade striking the woman's Water Flow Armor.

"Snap!"

That was the sound of the Great Da Da Mengyan gripping Lu Ran's neck.

Lu Ran: "..."

In a certain sense, the brother and sister shared the same Xiang Tong De Jing.

One only fears seriousness!

Once serious, you discover that you truly are incapable!

Deng Deng Yuxiang held Lu Ran in one hand, lifting him high into the air:

"You're so fast?"

"What kind of remark is that." Lu Ran dropped his twin blades, using both hands to grip the woman's ice-cold hand around his neck.

Deng Deng Yuxiang looked up at Lu Ran, narrowing her eyes: "How are you so fast?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Indeed, he was fast to an excessive degree.

Even Lu Ran himself found it somewhat unaccustomed!

Firstly, Lu Ran had advanced to the River Realm, resulting in a qualitative leap in his physical attributes.

Secondly, Lu Ran's Xie Fa · Xie Min had also advanced in grade, rising from a Stream Artifact to a Zhi He Pin!

This was the chief culprit making both Deng Deng Yuxiang and Lu Ran feel unaccustomed.

Just how fast was Lu Ran specifically?

Even he himself couldn't hold it together!

The reason the battle ended so abruptly was that, at this moment, Lu Ran was also a bit confused!

To say it aloud would truly invite ridicule:

I was caught because my speed was too fast.

I lost the sparring match because I became too strong.

"Little Lu Ran?" Seeing Lu Ran did not respond, Deng Deng Yuxiang gently waved her hand.

Consequently, Lu Ran, who was being held suspended in midair by her, swayed along with it.

"Put me down first?" Lu Ran patted the back of her hand.

From the other party's actions and tone, Lu Ran could clearly perceive a slight change in Deng Deng Yuxiang's attitude.

When Lu Ran was at the Stream Realm, Deng Deng Yuxiang had been relatively caring toward him.

Nowadays, Lu Ran had advanced to the River Realm, placing him within the same major realm as Deng Deng Yuxiang.

The powerful strength he displayed made Deng Deng Yuxiang view him even more as a proper opponent!

Under the influence of this subconscious shift, she became more aggressive when facing Lu Ran.

"Mm." Deng Deng Yuxiang released her hand, also realizing her actions had been somewhat abnormal.

As Lu Ran dismissed his Water Flow Armor, Deng Deng Yuxiang reached out again, as if to make up for something, and smoothed the wrinkles in his clothes.

Silence reigned atop the rooftop terrace.

The tense atmosphere, like swords drawn and bows bent, gradually vanished.

"No wonder the Rouge Paper Person took a liking to you; such physical talent is indeed what only a First-Grade God Believer should possess," Deng Deng Yuxiang said softly, looking at Lu Ran.

She suddenly realized he had grown a little taller again.

On the night of the fifteenth of the Winter Month, when the two of them had faced each other eye-to-eye, they had been at the same level.

Looking at him now, he must have grown another centimeter, reaching about 1.79 meters.

"It's alright." Lu Ran's words seemed humble, but were actually the plain truth.

Just wait until I adapt further to the River Grade·Xie Fa: Evil Sensitivity and utilize it to the extreme.

By then, I'll show you again what true speed really is~

Not just the Vicious Dog Xie Fa·Evil Sensitivity, but also the Lie Hun Mo Xie Fa·Soul-Splitting Power.

During this sparring match, Lu Ran hadn't even dared to activate Soul-Splitting Power!

Although practitioners can voluntarily lower the grade of their techniques while casting, Lu Ran, having just entered the River Realm, was already in a state of soaring physical attributes.

At this moment, he hadn't even fully adapted to this "new body" of his, so he hadn't gone too wild.

"Heh, getting the benefit yet acting aggrieved." Deng Deng Yuxiang gestured toward the saber scattered in the snow, "Pick it up."

"Let's fight again later; I need to digest this first." Lu Ran quickly waved his hands.

Deng Deng Yuxiang hesitated for a moment but did not press the matter, turning instead to walk toward the rooftop railing.

"By the way, how was your ranking last time on the fifteenth?" Lu Ran asked.

Deng Deng Yuxiang shook her head: "Middle tier."

"Huh?"

"The evaluation 'Prodigy' gave me was 'mediocre'."

"So strict?" Lu Ran sighed inwardly.

Are all the contestants in this event monsters?!

"It was just an internal trial broadcast," Deng Deng Yuxiang said, gazing out at the vast white world, "not counted toward the official competition's point accumulation.

By the way, the people from 'Prodigy' specifically asked about your situation."

Lu Ran: "Me?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang nodded slightly: "In their eyes, your performance was much better than mine."

Lu Ran: "."

Damn,

isn't this stealing the spotlight!

Deng Deng Yuxiang: "They also submitted a request to the Bureau, hoping our squad maintains this configuration.

Since you have to participate in the final exams this month, let's forget it for now.

Wait until next year, on the fifteenth of the First Month, when 'Prodigy' officially broadcasts; you and I will go together then."

Lu Ran pursed his lips and said nothing.

"What, unwilling?" Deng Deng Yuxiang turned her head to look at him.

"Is it because of me that your score was low?" Lu Ran asked.

Deng Deng Yuxiang asked puzzledly: "Why would you say that? You made this squad more complete and allowed me to perform even better."

Lu Ran shrugged his shoulders: "Without comparison, there is no harm, right?"

Deng Deng Yuxiang:?

Lu Ran pressed his lips together in a smile, offering the other party a classic expression.

"Hehe." Deng Deng Yuxiang suddenly laughed, beckoning to Lu Ran, "Come here."

Lu Ran instead took two steps backward.

Only a fool would go over there!

The Great Da Da Mengyan indeed had bright, expressive eyes, and her smile was even more dazzling and moving.

But these things could not fool Lu Ran.

After all, he had just been grabbed by the neck by her, suspended in the air and swaying left and right...

Seeing Lu Ran would not come over, Deng Deng Yuxiang snorted and turned back around.

Gazing into the distance, she changed the subject to ask: "How was your harvest on this trip to Lord Bei Feng City?"

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said: "Teacher Yan treated me very well; she gave me a lesson and practiced with me for a whole day."

"Just one day?"

"I went at an unlucky time; it happened to be New Year's Day, and she had gone to attend the sacrificial ceremony. Later, she entered the Divine Ruins, and I never saw her again."

Hearing this, Deng Deng Yuxiang silently nodded.

Sensing the woman's silence, Lu Ran's thoughts also became somewhat complicated.

Before he could say anything, Deng Deng Yuxiang spoke again: "What did she teach you?"

"The three realms of the blade."

"You are not a believer of the Lord Bei Feng; do not stray from the path," Deng Deng Yuxiang advised softly. "It is fine to have a superficial understanding, but there is no need to obsess over this way."

The rigid requirements of the Lord Bei Feng Divine Method forced believers of the Lord Bei Feng to delve deeply into this path.

Other believers in the world had no need to waste time and energy on this.

"Oh." Lu Ran's heart stirred, and he carefully examined Deng Deng Yuxiang.

The woman was tall, wearing an expensive dark woolen coat, exuding a powerful aura.

But under Lu Ran's conscious gaze, this noble and elegant woman gradually transformed into a great blade.

"Sister Deng Yuxiang also resembles a blade."

"How does that compare to Yan Shuangzi?"

Faced with this question, Lu Ran fell silent.

And silence, in fact, was a response in itself.

Deng Deng Yuxiang did not press further; she placed one hand on the stone railing, pressing down a faint snow handprint.

"Have you ever regretted it?" Lu Ran stepped forward to the stone railing, standing three meters away from her, gazing at her profile.

"Regret what?"

"Going home," Lu Ran said. "Teacher Yan said that back then, you were more qualified and had a better chance than anyone else to stay in Lord Bei Feng City."

Deng Deng Yuxiang smiled but said nothing.

Lu Ran spoke softly: "Over these years, Yan Yan Shuangzi has often been able to listen to the teachings of the Shenming Sect."

"Now she has entered the Lord Bei Feng Divine Ruins and obtained a tremendous opportunity."

"When she returns to the human world, she will likely already be a great expert of the River Realm."

Deng Deng Yuxiang finally spoke, saying in a low voice: "I am happy for her."

Lu Ran was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Sister, you have been stuck at the fifth stage of the River Realm for quite a long time, haven't you?"

Just counting the time Lu Ran had known Deng Deng Yuxiang, it had already been half a year.

He did not know how long she had been stuck before that.

"What do you mean?" Deng Deng Yuxiang turned her head to look at Lu Ran. "Do you want me to leave Rain Alley City?"

"No, no," Lu Ran shook his head. "I just thought you could go beneath the feet of the gods and seek some guidance?"

"I have returned before," Deng Deng Yuxiang said in a low voice.

Lu Ran said: "New Year's Eve is coming soon; there should be a festival in Lord Bei Feng City too, so you could..."

"Enough." Deng Deng Yuxiang cut off Lu Ran's words.

Lu Ran hesitated several times but still advised: "It won't take much time; you can return on the fifteenth..."

"Enough." Deng Deng Yuxiang gazed into the distance, looking at her snow-covered hometown.

Her voice was very light.

Yet these two identical phrases ultimately caused Lu Ran to close his mouth.

On the rooftop, silence fell once again.

After a long while, she finally broke the quiet, instructing: "Prepare well for the exam; this fifteenth day might not be very stable."

Lu Ran, however, said: "On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, I advanced right here."

"Hmm?" Deng Deng Yuxiang raised her eyebrows slightly.

Lu Ran moved to Deng Deng Yuxiang's side, resting his elbow on the stone railing and gazing into the distance: "I feel that Rain Alley City favors me too much."

"It seems afraid that I might leave it."

"Hehe." Deng Deng Yuxiang laughed dryly.

As someone who had abandoned a great opportunity and forsaken the prosperous world, she had not expected to feel a slight resonance with someone who had not yet stepped out.

Their experiences and backgrounds might differ.

But some people possess such talent and comprehension that they can attain a certain state of mind early on.

After all, the emotions of this world are interconnected.

Realizations on an inner level are not something one naturally possesses simply because of their age.

There are countless people who have lived empty lives for decades.

Likewise, those who achieve great success early are also frequently seen.

"Sister, look at that river," Lu Ran lifted his head slightly, gesturing toward the distance.

Deng Deng Yuxiang followed his gaze, looking at the mother river belonging to the people of Rain Alley.

Lu Ran said: "Quite fierce, huh."

Deng Deng Yuxiang: "..."

Lu Ran shared his realization: "In this world of ice and snow, all flowers, grass, and trees have withered; everything is sealed in ice and buried in snow."

"Only the Wu Lie River has not changed."

"From as far back as I can remember until now, it has never changed."

"Mm." Deng Deng Yuxiang gazed at the river water rising with mist and nodded lightly.

"Nothing can stop it—not the passage of years, nor the changing of seasons..." Lu Ran's words halted as he suddenly turned his head to look at Deng Deng Yuxiang.

He saw her brows tightly knitted, her body actually trembling slightly.

Lu Ran widened his eyes, staring blankly at the woman, feeling only that the energy fluctuations emanating from her body were growing increasingly violent.

Was this—

—a breakthrough?

From River Realm stage five, breaking through to Jiang Jing?!

Suddenly, a trembling palm landed on the top of Lu Ran's head, rubbing it with neither too much nor too little force.

Lu Ran stared at her foolishly; a full two or three seconds later, he suddenly laughed, laughing very happily:

"It seems your choice was correct."

"What Lord Bei Feng City could give you, your hometown can too."

"Mm." Deng Deng Yuxiang smiled as well.

Slowly, she pressed Lu Ran's head down, her thin lips lightly kissing his frost-dusted hair.

"Whoosh!!"

A wild wind erupted!

A terrifying energy churned forth from within Deng Deng Yuxiang, directly blowing Lu Ran away.

Between heaven and earth, which was already a vast expanse of white, layer upon layer of white mist now surged forth continuously.

The terrifying energy rushed toward the Wu Lie River and toward the rooftop of the abandoned residential building.

"Hiss—"

Leaning his upper body forward with his legs bent, Lu Ran slid backward continuously, while immortal mist gushed forth beneath his feet.

Before the rooftop railing, he finally halted his retreat, lifting his gaze to look into the distance.

Wind and waves, rolling up frost and snow mixed with white mist, entwined the human figure within.

Deng Deng Yuxiang stood firmly; her eyes closed, her head tilted slightly upward, her long black hair dancing in the wind, the tails of her overcoat flapping wildly.

At this moment, Lu Ran felt as though he were beholding a goddess statue.

He felt deeply honored!

He was witnessing with his own eyes a River Realm stage five expert cross that invisible threshold to become a great human powerhouse.

For forty years, those two lightly spoken words, "threshold," had blocked countless talents and heroes.

Now,

the threshold blocking Deng Deng Yuxiang was shattered in one stroke by that surging Mother River.

Indeed,

the hometown favors every child who cherishes their hometown.

Four thousand words; requesting some monthly votes.

(End of chapter)