Chapter 16: Divine Power Bead

This world is indeed very dangerous, very cruel.

Even if you only wish to be an ordinary person and live a plain life, you must exert your utmost effort.

On every night of the full moon, evil spirits of any power level may descend upon the world and wreak havoc among humans.

After every fifteenth day of the lunar month, the casualty reports from around the globe are bloody facts.

"After the fifteenth of this month, I hope I can still see you all," Li Li Yanzhu said in a deep voice.

The cheerful atmosphere in the classroom vanished completely, leaving only dead silence.

Li Li Yanzhu gave the students ample time to reflect before speaking again: "Squad Number 98."

Jiangjiang Ruyi and Deng Yutang immediately stood up.

As for why Lu Ran did not stand up, it was because he had been standing the entire time and never sat down.

Seeing this, Li Li Yanzhu took out three small red square boxes and placed them on the podium: "For this assessment, your squad ranked first in the entire school."

"These are your prizes; come up and take them."

The trio immediately stepped out of formation and walked toward the podium.

The school's rewards were distributed based on team rankings.

Individual rankings only yielded Believer Points; for everything else, the students could simply report back to their deities once they returned home.

For a Believer, the recognition of a deity was undoubtedly the greatest commendation!

As for whether the Lord Deity would bestow blessings or feel inclined to offer a few words of guidance, that was a matter between the two of you.

"Check them," Li Li Yanzhu said, her tone becoming much gentler as she looked at Jiangjiang Ruyi, who had approached the front.

Jiangjiang Ruyi picked up one of the small square boxes, gently opened it, and saw a bead resting inside.

The bead was only the size of a fingertip; it resembled crystal but was not particularly translucent.

What was visible to the naked eye was a wisp of mist flowing within the bead.

A Divine Power Bead!

Judging by its specifications and size, it should be a Stream Artifact·Divine Power Bead.

In this world, whether evaluating a Believer's power level, the grade of a divine technique, or the quality of a treasure, a single rating system was used for all:

Mist, Stream, River, Jiang, Sea.

As a high school in a small county town, for Rain Alley No. 1 High to offer "Stream Artifact" Divine Power Beads as rewards during the students' initial assessment was already quite impressive.

It was worth noting that the quality of this treasure could be improved further.

This did not mean the Divine Power Bead possessed growth potential itself.

Rather, Great Xia had an exclusive welfare policy for novice Believers.

During the Summer Break, as long as Lu Ran could complete the corresponding missions, he could trade in the old one for a new, higher-grade Divine Power Bead.

Li Li Yanzhu instructed: "When you use this treasure to assist in battle, you must never drain the divine power within the bead completely."

"Now, sense the total amount of divine power inside the bead; this portion of divine power is the foundation that ensures the Divine Power Bead functions normally."

"Unless you face a life-or-death moment, never kill the hen to get the eggs!"

"Understood, Teacher." Jiangjiang Ruyi's fingers were slender and Bai Xi; holding the crystal-clear bead between her fingertips, she admired it closely.

For a moment, Lu Ran could not tell whether the bead was more beautiful or her hand was more exquisite.

Hmm... both were good, both were good~

"You two, have you remembered?" Li Li Yanzhu asked, looking at Lu and Deng.

Lu Ran nodded immediately; he knew the characteristics of the Divine Power Bead better than anyone.

His father had possessed Divine Power Beads, and not just one.

But on that night of the full moon, all that remained of his father in this world was a blood-stained Xia Guang Dao.

It was said that the Divine Power Beads hanging around his father's neck had all shattered.

It was hard to imagine just how fierce that battle had been.

Of course, it was also possible that after his father sacrificed himself, the evil spirit clan drained all the energy from within the beads, crushing them completely.

But Lu Ran preferred to believe the former.

His father, so steadfast and fierce, must have fought until his strength was exhausted that night, until he had no arrows left and his food was gone.

"Go back," Li Li Yanzhu encouraged. "Guard against arrogance and rashness, and redouble your efforts."

"Yes." Lu Ran closed the small square box and quickly walked back to his seat.

The classmates all cast envious glances their way.

After all, only the top ten ranked squads received Divine Power Beads as rewards!

As for the other student teams, they could only purchase Divine Power Beads privately.

And the Divine Power Beads circulating on the market were mostly the lowest grade: Mist Artifact Divine Power Beads.

One Mist Artifact·Divine Power Bead could only store the energy of 8 to 10 Mist Realm·evil spirits, a very small capacity.

One Stream Artifact·Divine Power Bead, however, could store the energy of 8 to 10 Stream Realm·evil spirits, equivalent to the energy of 80 to 100 Mist Realm evil spirits!

What a tremendous gap!

Even more terrifying was...

A Stream Artifact·Divine Power Bead was already excellent enough, yet Lu Ran, being in the top ten, could also upgrade the grade of this very bead through Summer Break missions!

What did it mean to be one step ahead and stay ahead at every step?

Just enjoy the comfort, that's all!

Here comes the question:

The demon crystals dropped by the evil spirit clan also have endurance properties, so why is everyone so obsessed with owning Divine Power Beads?

First, the Divine Power Bead can extract the very last wisp of energy from within an evil spirit.

Taking the corpse of the Evil Dog demon as an example, only the Divine Power Bead can drain the dog's corpse; otherwise, it remains merely a skeleton.

Secondly, many demons possess no physical form!

Take the Lady Lady Yanzhi Man demon, for instance.

She appears to be made of flesh and blood, but in reality, her body is assembled from pure energy; killing the Lady Lady Yanzhi Man will not cause a Demon Crystal to drop.

One could understand it as the Lady Lady Yanzhi Man's body being a "Demon Crystal" itself.

However, you cannot directly absorb it while she is alive; you must shatter her first, then collect the energy into the bead.

"Looks like I'll be busy this summer vacation."

Lu Ran suppressed the joy in his heart, toyed with the small square box, and plopped down onto his seat.

He planned to find a jewelry shop after school to have it processed, so he could wear the Divine Power Bead around his neck in the future.

Lu Ran had barely settled into his seat when Li Li Yanzhu announced for everyone to gather at the martial arts field.

Her exact words were: "The squad instructors who led you during the assessment in Evil Dog Village have been invited to the school and are waiting at the martial arts field."

"Any problems you encountered during actual combat can be discussed with the instructors."

Hearing this, Lu Ran couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Instructor Dou Dou Zhiqiang is here?

Does that mean I'll get to see Wu Wu Shanshan when we go to the martial arts field in a moment?

"After seeing your former teammates, don't act impulsively; talk things through calmly." Jiangjiang Ruyi moved her arm and gently nudged Lu Ran's elbow.

Lu Ran: "."

I'm not some impulsive, short-tempered person.

I only fought Kou Kou Yingquan because I could no longer endure it.

"Did you hear me?" The girl looked at Lu Ran, advising him earnestly.

Lu Ran gestured toward the middle of the desk: "Your hand, your hand crossed the line."

Jiangjiang Ruyi was utterly speechless.

Are you an elementary school student?

Seeing the girl didn't move, Lu Ran immediately reached out to grab her: "If it's on my side of the desk, then it's mine!"

Jiangjiang Ruyi hastily withdrew her fair, tender palm.

Somewhat annoyed, she shot Lu Ran another glare, and just then noticed his elbow had crossed the line, so she immediately said: "You crossed the line too."

"Mm-hmm, here, here you go." Lu Ran proactively extended his hand toward her. "If you like it, it's all yours."

"Who likes it." Jiangjiang Ruyi's face turned crimson; both shy and angry, she slapped Lu Ran's arm.

"Slap~"

"Everyone, head to the martial arts field now," Li Li Yanzhu's voice came again. "Team 98, stay behind!"

Jiangjiang Ruyi immediately lowered her head, believing her little antics had been discovered, which was why their team was made to stay.

For a moment, fire flared in her heart, and she was so angered by Lu Ran that her teeth itched.

The students in the class rose one after another and quickly departed.

Only when the classroom was completely empty did Deng, Jiang, and Lu, at the teacher's gesture, gather again before the podium.

"The school has notified us that there will be some adjustments to your team." Li Li Yanzhu looked at the three of them. "The school has taken your wishes into account; the three of you will remain unchanged for now."

Hearing this, Jiangjiang Ruyi felt a weight lift from her heart, while Deng and Lu felt even more reassured.

Li Li Yanzhu advised: "Changes in team members are very normal; don't let it affect your mindset."

"Before the start of the Gao San semester is precisely the stage for forming and honing teams; no team is fixed."

"We know," Jiangjiang Ruyi said softly. "Last night, Wu Wu Shanshan called me and explained everything."

"Huh?"

Deng Yutang and Lu Ran both looked toward Class Wu Ban Zhang Jiang.

Li Li Yanzhu nodded and said: "Your results were excellent, so the school has listed you as key candidates for cultivation; many students wish to join your team."

"After comprehensive consideration by the school administration, we have screened out four candidate trainees for you. They serve under different deities, each with unique characteristics, and all are very suitable for your team."

"Over the next two days, these four students will arrive at staggered times to report to you sequentially for trial training."

"Haha, that's only proper!" Deng Yutang laughed heartily.

Lu Ran also became interested: "So I've become a judge?"

It feels a bit like The Voice of China?

If you want me to turn my chair, wouldn't you have to offer some tribute~

Li Li Yanzhu looked at Jiangjiang Ruyi: "By 8 PM tomorrow night, unify your team's opinion and select one new teammate from the four candidates, then report your choice to me."

"Understood, Li Laoshi."

"Go ahead." Li Li Yanzhu waved her hand. "Martial Arts Field No. 13."

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Li Laoshi."

The trio bid farewell to their homeroom teacher and quickly departed, heading toward the martial arts field located in the forested hills on the north side of the school.

Though called a martial arts field, it was essentially patches of concrete ground enclosed by wire fencing, resembling basketball courts.

The difference was that there were no basketball hoops there, only weapon racks holding various wooden blades.

On the way, Deng Yutang asked curiously: "Class Wu Ban Zhang, what did Wu Wu Shanshan say to you?"

"She said that after discussing with her teachers and family, she concluded that she isn't quite suitable for this team."

Jiangjiang Ruyi spoke softly, then added: "She also wished us to grow stronger and continue achieving good results."

"Hmph." Deng Yutang snorted. "In what way is she unsuitable?"

"There is one thing that is quite true," Jiangjiang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Wu Wu Shanshan said this is not her team."

"She wants to be the team captain?" Deng Yutang's expression was strange.

If Wu Wu Shanshan wanted to be the leader, rather than distrusting her teammates or holding a prejudice against Lu Ran,

then Deng Yutang would truly look up to her.

"I see the instructor," Lu Ran interrupted the two, gesturing toward the distance.

Through the barbed wire, the group saw a familiar figure.

Wu Wu Shanshan was not seen; she was probably forming a team.

"Instructor Dou!"

"Instructor." The group quickened their pace, jogging into the arena.

Dou Dou Zhiqiang spoke: "Time is tight; I will first discuss some problems that appeared during your mission."

This soldier is truly decisive and forceful.

Lu Ran raised his hand: "Instructor, I have a question; can you answer it for me first?"

"Speak."

Lu Ran: "I have always been puzzled; how did I get 98 points?"

The scores for this assessment were the results given by the unit after the proctoring instructors reported them.

And on the personal score list given by the military, the second place was only 87 points; Lu Ran was leading by a cliff-like margin!

Dou Dou Zhiqiang explained: "Your understanding and application of the Xianyangyi Sect's Yi Pai Shen Fa far exceed others."

Lu Ran: "I see."

Dou Dou Zhiqiang continued: "Because of your outstanding performance, your team was reborn, forming an overwhelming dominance against the Evil Dog Clan.

Your success rate reached 100%, your enemy-killing efficiency was higher, and you were safer yourselves."

"Hehe~" Lu Ran smiled, "Look how this turned out."

Dou Dou Zhiqiang's face was cold: "Any other questions?"

Lu Ran: "."

Why so fierce?

Dou Dou Zhiqiang spoke in a chilling voice: "If not, I will begin."

Lu Ran raised his hand again.

Dou Dou Zhiqiang frowned slightly: "Ask."

Lu Ran was indeed bold, spitting out a sentence: "Since I am so powerful, where were my two points deducted?"

Dou Dou Zhiqiang:???

Deng Yutang was also a bit stunned: "Good heavens."

Jiangjiang Ruyi, quick-eyed and fast-handed, reached out and grabbed Lu Ran's wrist, pressing his raised hand down:

"Instructor, please speak about our problems; Lu Ran has no more questions."

Lu Ran felt very uncomfortable.

Where did I say I had no more questions?

According to the instructor's logic, even a perfect score couldn't stop me; I should get 120 points!

Thank you to Alliance Leader Xiao Dao Feng Li for the 100,000 reward. Thank you, old brother, for your care and support; I wish your writing career smooth sailing, getting better and better, with a long, rising trend.

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(End of this chapter)