Chapter 881: Just the usual, I guess~

The old saying goes: tiger's back, wasp's waist, mantis legs.

He Qi Feng has it all—born to be a martial artist!

Her shoulders are broad, her waist slender, and her long legs are swift and powerful, running as if treading on wind-fire wheels.

Think about it—she was selected through multiple rounds of screening by Great Xia and chosen to compete in The Prodigies.

She was even specially admitted by the Divine Wu Seng, becoming the only female disciple in the Wu Seng sect in nearly forty years!

He Qi Feng's talent is naturally among the supreme in the world.

She's just a bit lacking in looks, barely above average.

She can't compare at all to Da Mengyan.

But this world runs on strength; at the Jiang and Hai levels, everyone judges by aura and presence.

Looks can't feed you.

"Hey? Hey?" Lu Ran suddenly sensed trouble!

A giant Wu Seng girl was charging straight at him—with no sign of slowing down?

Lu Ran's body tensed, barely holding back the urge to draw his blade and slash!

"Stop—oh!" He ultimately didn't act, and was crushed in a tight hug.

The massive momentum drove him back several steps before he barely steadied himself.

"Slap! Slap!"

He Qi Feng's short hair fluttered as she excitedly pounded Lu Ran's back, her laughter bright and unrestrained: "Haha, long time no see!"

Nearby, Yu Changsheng watched this joyful embrace in silence.

His gaze was distant, fixed on Lu Ran's face.

This is what you meant by "not familiar"?

"Yeah, yeah, long time no see." Lu Ran winced, his straw cloak covered in a thin layer of water armor, trembling from He Qi Feng's slaps.

In the forest, three Wu Seng followers had also stopped.

Two of them were over forty; the other Wu Seng follower was young, around twenty-five or twenty-six.

At this moment, the young man was also watching the embrace, feeling a pang of envy.

But he only watched from afar, daring not to say a word.

"Lu Ran! It really is, really is Lu Ran!"

The excited voice rang out again.

Behind the three Wu Seng followers, two men had caught up—both dressed in straw garments and straw sandals, their aura clearly not that of Wu Seng followers.

They looked like twins, their faces eight or nine tenths similar.

"What are you two saying?" The envious young Wu Seng disciple glared at the two Biwu followers.

Most Wu Seng followers held no goodwill toward the Zhu Huai and Zhu Hua brothers.

Partly out of contempt, partly because they'd been fooled badly.

"My lord! The young man embraced by Mistress He is named Lu Ran—he's also one of Great Xia's Prodigies!"

"My lord! Don't be fooled by Lu Ran's youth—he's the undisputed champion among Great Xia's Prodigies, famed throughout the land!"

The Zhu brothers spoke in turn, their voices low but trembling with excitement.

"Oh, so he's a Prodigy too."

The young Wu Seng disciple said this aloud, but inside, his envy deepened.

He sneered inwardly and asked: "You two rave on endlessly—just tell me, where does this young Lu rank on the Prodigy List?"

The Zhu brothers exchanged glances, immediately sensing the young Wu Seng's hostile tone.

"My brothers and I entered Shengling Mountain in early August last year—back then, Lu Ran had only competed in two rounds of The Prodigies."

"Cut the fluff! I asked you—what rank was he then?!"

"First."

"What did you say?" The young Wu Seng stared, stunned, at the Zhu brothers.

Upon hearing "first," even the two older Wu Seng followers looked astonished.

Zhu Huai quickly smiled apologetically: "My lord, we wouldn't dare lie to you!"

Zhu Hua quickly added: "It's truly first place!"

"First?" The young Wu Seng scrutinized Lu Ran closely.

In fact, when He Qi Feng mentioned The Prodigies, most Wu Jifeng disciples had scoffed.

Without exaggeration, nearly all the powerful figures on Shengling Mountain looked down on so-called human strongholds.

This is a higher-dimensional world!

Compared to the human realm, Shengling Mountain is a "high-martial world."

Great Xia's Prodigies?

So what?

Just a bunch of kids playing house in a greenhouse.

Walk into our Shengling Mountain—what are you then?

Young man, abandon your worthless honors, lower your proud head—here, you must learn reverence!

But He Qi Feng, with pure, unyielding strength, made it clear to all Wu Seng disciples:

What the hell do you mean, "Great Xia Prodigy"?

Since ancient times, scholars have no first, warriors have no second!

No more talk—just fight.

The proof is:

He Qi Feng was a Prodigy in the human realm—and she remains a heavenly prodigy in Shengling Mountain!

If He Qi Feng can only rank second, what kind of divine being must the legendary "Great Xia's Number One Prodigy" be?

How could anyone here not secretly stare?

The young Wu Seng disciple's attitude shifted—he grew solemn and asked the Zhu brothers: "Which Divine Patron does this young man follow?"

The Zhu brothers exchanged glances.

They felt uneasy.

They wanted to tell the truth—but feared it would sound too unbelievable.

Would they be punished?

"Answer!" The young Wu Seng frowned at them.

Zhu Huai stammered: "My lord, Lu Ran… Lu the Prodigy is…"

"Stammering? Is it that mysterious? Can't you even say it?"

Zhu Hua gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and said firmly: "Lu the Prodigy is a follower of Xiang Xianyang!"

The young Wu Seng:???

The expressions of the other two Wu Seng followers were equally stunned.

The young Wu Seng processed this, then grabbed Zhu Hua by the collar:

"You—what—did—you—say?"

"What's all the shouting?" He Qi Feng's sharp voice came from afar.

The young Wu Seng immediately released Zhu Hua, bowing his head to He Qi Feng in apology.

Lu Ran looked at the straw-clad twins and asked tentatively: "Are these two your servants?"

"You little brat!" He Qi Feng spat lightly. "Still as annoying as ever."

"Hehe~"

"They're my subordinates," He Qi Feng said, arms behind her, gazing at them.

The aura of authority she unconsciously exuded was imposing, making Lu Ran marvel.

But when she turned back to Lu Ran, a smile returned to her face: "These two brothers have quick minds.

Earlier, when I fought a group, they recognized me.

Later, when they were hunted down and had nowhere to run, they remembered me and fled all the way to Wu Jifeng."

Lu Ran raised an eyebrow, listening silently.

He Qi Feng smiled brightly: "To beg for protection, they panicked and claimed to be my close friends—lied and tricked their way past the guards and up the mountain.

When I saw them, I was stunned—I didn't know these two at all!

But they burst into tears, saying they'd watched TV, seen me on The Prodigies, and had been fanatically devoted to me ever since."

After this explanation, Lu Ran understood the full story.

The guard unit's Wu Seng disciples were furious when they realized they'd been fooled!

But He Qi Feng was magnanimous—after investigating the brothers, she didn't expel them; instead, she kept them on as subordinates.

After all, they were both Biwu followers at the early Jiang realm, and their healing abilities were reliable.

As He Qi Feng put it: "It's all about survival!"

Using your wits is perfectly normal.

Through this, Lu Ran realized a problem!

Human followers are constantly thrown into Shengling Mountain by the Divine.

And those thrown in after 2019 should all recognize the group known as Great Xia's Prodigies?

The title "Heavenly Prodigy" must carry some real influence!

The two brothers are the best example.

They were truly cornered, but barging into Wu Jifeng was like a lamb walking into a tiger's mouth!

Clearly, the two brothers had staked their very lives on the title "Second Heavenly Prodigy of Great Xia."

Lu Ran couldn't help but nod silently.

He Qi Feng could draw followers—so could I!

This is the advantage of being a Heavenly Prodigy of Great Xia!

If I could bring He Qi Feng under my wing, the influence and appeal of Ran Men would surely rise another notch!

"When did you arrive at Shengling Mountain?" He Qi Feng changed the subject. "Was it the nineteenth of the first month?"

"How do you know?" Lu Ran frowned.

"On the nineteenth, Luoxian Mountain opened a Divine Ruin—the whole world knows that," He Qi Feng smiled. "Who among Xiang Xianyang's followers could shatter a Divine Ruin? I guessed it was you!"

"Oh."

"Since coming here, I've been searching for you," He Qi Feng's eyes gleamed as she locked gazes with Lu Ran. "I never expected to find you here! What a coincidence!"

Her smile was radiant: "Thank goodness I spotted the aurora—otherwise, we'd have missed each other."

"We wouldn't have missed each other," Lu Ran smiled back. "I came here specifically to find you."

"Huh?" He Qi Feng was startled. "You came here just for me?"

"Of course."

"How did you know I was at Shengling Mountain?"

"It told me." Lu Ran pulled a pearl from his pocket.

"This is—" He Qi Feng's eyes snapped wide!

Lu Ran held the pearl in his palm and extended it slightly: "I recognized this Wind Barrier Pearl—I knew you were here."

He Qi Feng didn't take the pearl, only stared at Lu Ran in disbelief.

"Where did you get this pearl?"

Lu Ran chuckled at the Wu Seng girl: "Don't you know who stole your pearl?"

He Qi Feng's face froze. "You ran into them? Then you didn't… they didn't…"

She instinctively wanted to ask if Lu Ran was all right—but there he stood, perfectly fine. The answer was obvious.

So…

Lu Ran grinned: "They dared rob He Tianjiao's pearl—do you think I'd let them get away with it?"

He Qi Feng stared at Lu Ran, speechless.

Lu Ran gave her the classic expression—a quiet, smug smile.

Slowly, He Qi Feng's expression grew complex as she met his gaze: "A high-stage River Realm Wuya believer, a peak River Realm Lie Tian believer, and a high-stage Sea Realm Tianluan believer."

Lu Ran shrugged: "What's Tianluan, Lie Tian, River, Sea—when it comes to fighting, it's all the same."

He Qi Feng: "You… you killed them all?"

Lu Ran said nothing, only shrugged again.

He Qi Feng's eyes widened slightly:!!!

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)