Chapter 198: Year After Year

"Whew—"

The harsh whistle sounded across the entire venue.

The male teacher announced loudly: "Jiang Ruyi, victory!"

The playground was in an uproar.

"Jiang Meiren is awesome! Strong comeback!"

"Finally someone to cure this little sheep, hahahahaha!"

"Throwing the match! Impossible, my Ran-god can't lose, it must be throwing the match, I report!"

"No, how did Lu Ran's kick blow Jiang Ruyi away? This is unscientific!"

"That is my master's special application of the divine technique, Immortal Hoof." Tian Tian had a proud little look.

While she was saying this, she was also looking left and right.

In the sky was Jiang Ruyi's figure still flying backward.

On the ground was Lu Ran's figure constantly sliding backward.

Just from the level of the competition, Lu Ran was considered to have fallen out of the arena.

Although Jiang Ruyi was further from the podium, she could fly...

Feet didn't touch the ground, so it wasn't out of bounds!

Tian Tian looked left and right, her gaze scanning back and forth on the pair of man and woman, the more she looked, the happier she became.

Sister Ruyi finally came back~

They are truly a match!

"Whew~"

High in the sky, Jiang Ruyi's figure flying backward stopped abruptly, standing in the air.

The Jade Talisman Array exerted a powerful effect, and the flames that had exploded earlier were all absorbed by the white jade stone plaques.

The air waves caused by the explosion were also firmly resisted by the water flow armor.

After this intense exchange, Jiang Ruyi was still as proud and graceful as ever.

Looking at Lu Ran...

Hmm, also still alive.

Gradually, bursts of applause and cheers sounded on the playground.

"The grand competition has officially ended! Everyone, line up!" The male teacher returned to the podium, maintaining discipline loudly.

While speaking, he looked up at the sky again: "Jiang Ruyi, you... floating is fine!

It just so happens to let everyone see what the true bearing of a powerhouse should be."

Jiang Ruyi: "..."

She flew down immediately.

The girl clearly misunderstood, thinking that she had been too presumptuous, causing the teacher's dissatisfaction.

She didn't know that the teacher was setting up a target...

"Next, I invite the top three students to come on stage to receive their rewards."

The teacher on the stage said loudly; below the stage, Tian Tian secretly leaned toward Jiang Ruyi: "Sister Ruyi!"

"Long time no see." Jiang Ruyi dispersed the white jade stone plaques surrounding her body.

In this way, Tian Tian could get closer.

Sure enough, Tian Tian moved sideways, a pair of small hands hugged Jiang Ruyi's arm, and secretly smelled Jiang Ruyi's clothes.

Was she smelling the familiar fragrance?

"Hehe~" Looking at Tian Tian's pretty little look, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but smile.

"Sister Ruyi seems to have grown a bit taller?"

Tian Tian raised her small face, using the exact same mentality as before, looking up at the god in her heart.

"Maybe it's because of the change in water and soil." Jiang Ruyi nodded lightly.

When she left, she was 172cm tall; five months later, she had grown 2 or 3 centimeters.

Tian Tian smiled sweetly: "It seems Sister Ruyi has been eating well."

Jiang Ruyi chatted in a low voice: "The mutton and goji berry soup over at Yumen Pass... hmm."

She paused, looking up at the podium.

Finding Lu Ran was receiving an award, Jiang Ruyi felt relieved in her heart, whispering: "The goji berry soup over there is very delicious."

Tian Tian couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle, whispering: "Without meat, it should be called goji berry water."

Jiang Ruyi raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at the girl beside her.

She could feel that Tian Tian was a bit more cheerful and was no longer as timid as before.

"Hmm." Tian Tian seemed unable to withstand the goddess's gaze, lowering her head as if admitting a mistake.

Jiang Ruyi was somewhat helpless.

Just finished praising her, how did she change back...

Jiang Ruyi said softly: "I see Chang Ying is in our team."

"Yeah, yeah, after you left, the teacher arranged for her to come in."

"Have you been bullied?"

"No, no, Chang Ying has a good personality..."

The two chatted in low voices; before long, Lu Ran returned to the team with a River-grade divine power bead.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran was about to join the team when an anomaly occurred!

The Cool Night Sword behind Jiang Ruyi suddenly shot out.

However, the Cool Night Sword did not stab at Lu Ran, but hung upside down, circling him once.

"This?" Lu Ran looked at Jiang Ruyi.

Jiang Ruyi acted as if she hadn't heard, still looking at the podium.

Lu Ran:???

What is there to look at with the leader's speech?

A full 3 seconds later, Jiang Ruyi was still looking forward, as if Lu Ran didn't exist.

Lu Ran raised his hand to hold the Cool Night sword hilt, pretending to examine the sword body, muttering in a low voice:

"Pretending not to see, peripheral vision a thousand times."

Jiang Ruyi broke her composure instantly.

Her face was slightly red, and she glared at Lu Ran not lightly or heavily.

"Wow!" However, at this time, Lu Ran had no heart to deal with Jiang Ruyi.

The Cool Night sword hilt was ice cold.

The emotions transmitted by the sword spirit made Lu Ran even more stunned.

Lu Ran had thought that the Cool Night Sword would be somewhat unconvinced, or have some hostility.

Never expected that the Cool Night Sword would be so gentle?

Although Lu Ran didn't hear the artifact spirit speak, he could feel traces of joy and bits of longing.

What is the situation?

Should a divine weapon belonging exclusively to Jiang Ruyi release such emotions toward me?

If the artifact spirit had such an attitude, Lu Ran believed that he could completely wield this divine weapon!

Lu Ran thought so, and did so.

The result obtained truly made Lu Ran dumbfounded!

He really wielded the Cool Night Sword!

"Ah?" Lu Ran opened his mouth slightly.

Why?

"Lu Ran!!" On the podium, the male teacher's voice suddenly came.

"Here!"

"The leader is speaking in front, what are you playing with? Stand still and listen!"

"Hey?" The Cool Night Sword suddenly left his hand and flew toward the podium.

"Stop!!" Jiang Ruyi was startled and immediately let out a sharp shout.

In an instant, the Cool Night Sword hung in mid-air.

The students below the long sword changed color one after another, hurriedly retreating to both sides.

The sudden scene made the campus fall into a dead silence.

Divine weapons are naturally treasures that everyone dreams of.

And its danger is also beyond doubt!

"Sorry, teacher." Jiang Ruyi nodded apologetically, "I will restrain it well."

The male teacher was very stunned.

Was Jiang Ruyi acting?

If she didn't feel dissatisfied, how could the Cool Night Sword attack?

But from Jiang Ruyi's performance, the Cool Night Sword's decision seemed to have nothing to do with the master.

This...

You know, Lu Ran also carried a divine weapon, the Dawn Blade, on his back.

It didn't move, naturally because Lu Ran had no hostility toward the teacher and didn't give an order to attack.

Lu Ran had the same question.

As the leader on the podium continued to speak, Lu Ran turned his head slightly and looked at Jiang Ruyi.

The girl was holding the Cool Night Sword tightly, giving Lu Ran a light white glare.

Lu Ran: "..."

He seemed to understand something.

In the philosophy of the North Wind faction:

The blade is an extension of the wielder's thoughts and a concrete manifestation of their spiritual will.

And the state of realm that people want to achieve when cultivating divine weapons coincides with this philosophy.

In other words,

The divine weapon, Cool Night Sword, cultivated through Jiang Ruyi's hands, identified Lu Ran as a quite special existence!

Therefore, when Lu Ran just held the Cool Night Sword, he felt the bits of longing and traces of joy transmitted by the artifact spirit.

The more he thought, the stranger Lu Ran's expression became.

In the previous battle, when you slashed at me, you were quite crisp and neat?

Heh, women!

No, it seems to be an artifact spirit?

Hmm... forget it, anyway, the image is female.

The leader's long-winded speech finally ended, and the opening ceremony could be considered to have entered the end.

As the teacher announced the training mission for this month, the student phalanx also disbanded.

"Tsk, the monthly training mission for the second semester of the third year actually has 20 points!"

"Hasn't the difficulty increased? We have to go kill River Realm demons."

"Yeah, we might not be able to get full marks for the homework every month."

"If only I could have a divine weapon~"

"Ha, you really dare to think..."

The students discussed and walked out of the campus.

Lu Ran and the others didn't intend to become the focus, so they went directly to the teaching building.

The five-person group was very fast and returned to the empty classroom.

Jiang Ruyi looked at the familiar classroom, looked at her former seat, and a hint of memory appeared in her eyes.

"Welcome back, Class Wu Ban Zhang." Deng Yutang finally found an opportunity to come to Jiang Ruyi's side.

"Hmm." Jiang Ruyi smiled and nodded politely.

"Hello, Class Wu Ban Zhang Jiang." Chang Ying didn't dare to step forward, just waved her hand.

"How is this team?" Jiang Ruyi looked at the tall Chang Ying with a smile.

"Especially good." Chang Ying secretly glanced at Lu Ran beside her, "Especially reassuring."

Jiang Ruyi nodded quite approvingly, also looking at Lu Ran.

"I have something to tell you." Lu Ran suddenly spoke.

"What is it?" Deng Yutang was very curious.

Such a big Jiang Meiren is standing here, you don't go to reminisce, but instead want to hold a meeting?

Lu Ran sat on the desk with a plop: "Do you know about Heaven's Pride?"

"I watched it!" Chang Ying said immediately, "I watched it on the 15th of the first lunar month."

"I watched it too!" Deng Yutang echoed, "That group of college students, really one is fiercer than the other?"

"Yeah!" Chang Ying nodded repeatedly, "It made my blood boil, I was a bit carried away.

My dad told me that after watching the show, there was hope for living..."

Lu Ran: "..."

Is the curative effect so immediate?

Without a doubt, "Heaven's Pride," launched by the Great Xia official, was inevitably a national-level show.

Its early publicity was overwhelming, and this time after the 15th of the first lunar month, once "Heaven's Pride" was broadcast, the popularity was so hot it was about to explode!

Tian Tian looked at Lu Ran and asked in a low voice: "What's wrong with this show?"

Lu Ran: "On the 15th of next month, I can't guard the city with you."

"Ah?" Deng Yutang widened his eyes, "Brother Lu is going to...?"

Several people's expressions were shocked, looking at Lu Ran one after another.

Lu Ran encouraged: "Don't hold back, say it boldly!"

Deng Yutang said incredulously: "Brother Lu is going to participate in Heaven's Pride?"

Precisely because Deng Yutang had seen with his own eyes how fierce those college students were, he was even more disbelieving.

Regarding Lu Ran's strength, Deng Yutang was quite approving and quite admiring.

The problem was, those fierce college students were all at the fifth stage of the River Realm!

Looking around, there wasn't even a fourth-stage River Realm!

And they were all contestants from big cities, coming from the top institutions of each province.

Lu Ran was still just a high school student!

"Hmm." Lu Ran nodded.

"Wow..." Tian Tian opened her small mouth slightly.

Deng Yutang was full of disbelief.

Everyone naturally knew that Lu Ran's strength was peerless.

But this was the one hundred "Heaven's Prides" certified by the Great Xia official and selected from all over the country!

There were only one hundred spots!

What concept is this?

Up to this moment, several people suddenly woke up that such a big figure had appeared beside them!

Lu Ran was already in the same sequence as those unreachable, radiant children of heaven.

The only difference was that Lu Ran was standing right beside them, and several people could see him and touch him.

Jiang Ruyi's smiling eyes were gentle, full of pride, looking at Lu Ran lightly.

Because she had just been teased by Lu Ran.

So this time, she no longer used her peripheral vision.

It was his turn to use peripheral vision.

It's the end of the month, asking for some monthly tickets~

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 199 =====