Chapter 147: Parting Ways

Chapter 147: Parting Ways

Day and night alternated, and the nineteenth day of the lunar winter month arrived.

It was the time for the lifting of the siege in Rain Alley City.

Coincidentally, the winter sun shone brightly, with no wind or snow, as if beckoning people to come out, stretch their legs, and get some exercise.

However, Lu Ran remained holed up at home, meditating with his legs crossed in front of a small shrine.

The school had canceled the morning classes for this month.

A significant portion of the students were still in the Bamboo Sea Abyss of the Qiantang River, enjoying a relaxing vacation.

Due to the torment of three consecutive months of special incidents in Rain Alley City, the school had shown great care for the students.

This month's training mission allowed students to go to any demon dungeon and collect their assignments from the local military.

After completing the task, they could obtain proof from the military and earn extra points upon returning to school.

The school only required that all students return to campus on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month to participate in the final exam.

This so-called final exam was naturally the Fifteenth Day Siege.

Lu Ran could imagine that after the students had been away for so long, experiencing blue skies, white clouds, birdsong, and floral scents, many would choose to leave Rain Alley City permanently after the final exam.

People could endure darkness, but only if they had never known sunlight.

"Huff!"

Lu Ran closed his eyes tightly and took deep breaths.

His body had been 'swollen' for many, many days.

After returning home following the Fifteenth Day Siege, Lu Ran immediately entered a period of intense cultivation, focusing all his efforts on breaking through to the next rank.

He wasn't entirely sure if he was on the right path or if he had gone a bit overboard.

In any case, at around 7 o'clock, Lu Ran intentionally called each member of his team to inform them that he would be entering seclusion at home.

As for when he would emerge, it was up to fate.

Out of respect, Lu Ran called each of them individually.

Interestingly, Deng Yutang and Chang Ying's reactions were surprisingly consistent, both enthusiastically assuring Lu Ran that they would take care of this month's training mission, allowing him to focus on his cultivation without worrying about points.

Tian Tian, on the other hand, spoke softly, encouraging her master with many words of support.

With the care and expectations of his teammates in mind, Lu Ran sat in front of the small shrine, as still as an old monk in meditation.

Except for eating, drinking, and refilling the cat's food, Lu Ran rarely got up.

Even when sleeping, he did so on the floor in front of the shrine.

He was just short of taking the Immortal Sheep Jade Sculpture out of the shrine and hugging Lord Sheep to sleep.

After enduring the day and night of arduous cultivation, Lu Ran finally achieved a qualitative change!

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

"Ah~"

Lu Ran was overjoyed, having endured so much discomfort, and was finally about to experience a moment of relief.

"Knock, knock, knock~" A knocking sound suddenly came from the door.

Lu Ran, immersed in his own world, paid no heed to the outside world.

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

"Knock, knock, knock!"

This time, the knocking sound was more intense.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran almost thought he had imagined it.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

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

However, Lu Ran was at a critical juncture and had no time to answer the door.

He focused his mind, continuing to push against his limits, trying to expand his body's container even further.

Fortunately, the visitor outside was not persistent, and after three knocks, there was no further disturbance.

The surroundings fell silent once more, except for the small bedroom shrouded in mist, where the figure within trembled.

"Huff!!"

After more than twenty minutes, a powerful surge of energy erupted from Lu Ran's body.

"Meow!" The lilac cat let out a sharp cry and quickly fled the scene.

The furniture in the room shifted, and bed sheets and pillows flew in all directions.

It was like a thief had broken in~

"Ah!"

Lu Ran suddenly leaned back and lay down on the cold floor.

Ah, relief!

His body was no longer swollen, and his mind and body felt refreshed.

The dense divine energy no longer stirred, and the gentle streams of water nourished Lu Ran's flesh and blood.

Stream Realm, Fifth Stage!

The pinnacle of the Stream Realm.

This was a highly unique rank, which the world's believers referred to with gritted teeth as the Death Five!

Countless young men and women had grown into uncles and aunties, yet they still couldn't surpass this 'Death Five.'

The so-called reality was suffocatingly cruel.

Now, Lu Ran had also entered this rank, becoming one of the many in the vast denominator.

At this moment, he could no longer accumulate any more energy.

Only a flash of insight could guide Lu Ran to a deeper realm, allowing him to continue his journey.

Without this insight, his future would remain dim.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

After an unknown period, the knocking sound echoed again, but this time, it was on the window.

"Who is it?" Lu Ran was curious and got up to approach the window.

Outside the window stood a tall and slender figure, youthful and beautiful.

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

Her face was lovely, and her attire was adorable.

However, Lu Ran was well aware that beneath this beautiful exterior lay a savage, violent, and restless soul.

"Si Xianxian?" Lu Ran opened the window, and a cold wind blew in.

"Did I disturb you when you were about to advance in rank?" Si Xianxian asked, examining Lu Ran.

Lu Ran replied with a hint of annoyance, "You know that?"

Si Xianxian hummed, "I sensed something strange with the energy in the room, so I stopped knocking immediately.

You should be grateful that you were about to advance!

Just now, I was about to break down your door."

Lu Ran asked directly, "How did you get here?

Didn't we text that I wouldn't be going on the training mission this month?"

Si Xianxian turned and walked to the side, saying from a distance, "Be a good boy and open the door for your sister.

Lu Ran: ?

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

"No," Lu Ran said helplessly, "You're so bold!"

Si Xianxian's smile gradually faded. "What's wrong with me?"

Lu Ran: "Who just blocks someone's door like that?"

Si Xianxian: "So, should I leave?"

Lu Ran: "."

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

"Hey?" Lu Ran quickly said, "Wait, Si Xianxian, stay there!"

Si Xianxian had already reached the corridor door.

Whether it was a change of mind or a natural bodily reaction, after Lu Ran raised his voice, she stopped.

"Aren't you unwelcoming?" Si Xianxian turned to look at Lu Ran.

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

"Of course!" Si Xianxian gave Lu Ran a sideways glance, her sweet lips pouting, "If I didn't come to find you, my mom wouldn't let me out of the house."

Lu Ran was truly impressed.

With your cold and tough attitude, how can you bear to wear such a cute rabbit ear bag?

Do you have any shame?

Lu Ran asked, "What are you looking for me for?"

Did you argue with Auntie? Or did you get into trouble again and are hiding here?"

Si Xianxian almost laughed in anger. She suddenly raised her hand.

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

This hot-tempered, fiery girl was a reincarnation of a Snorlax.

Her palm strikes were both fast and powerful!

The sound of her slaps was like a divine spell.

Si Xianxian shook her fair and tender palm: "Isn't it white?"

Lu Ran scoffed: "Stop being so self-absorbed, it's just so-so."

Si Xianxian looked at her hand: "It's been a long time since it touched blood, it's too clean. It's time to kill."

Lu Ran: ?

Si Xianxian turned to look at Lu Ran and suggested, "Let's go, let's go kill together?"

Lu Ran was surprised and guessed, "You mean going to the Demon Dungeon to kill demons?"

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

Lu Ran said impatiently, "I already told you, this month I'm not going out to train, I want to cultivate at home."

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

"Thank you," Lu Ran nodded.

This scene was eerie.

Both of them spoke with a sharp tone, as if they were arguing.

But for a fleeting moment, the two of them were polite, congratulating and thanking each other.

Fortunately, this eerie scene didn't last long.

After this brief exchange, the two continued their "argument."

"Fine, I'm leaving," Si Xianxian huffed, pushing open the corridor door with one hand.

"Where are you going?" Lu Ran stepped out of the house, standing in the cold corridor.

"Home, where else?" Si Xianxian gazed at the snowy world outside the window, speaking nonchalantly.

"Really going home?"

"Mhm."

Lu Ran thought for a moment and said, "You're not trying to deceive both sides, are you? You told me you're going home, but you told Auntie Si that you're at my place?"

Si Xianxian: "."

Damn!

I forgot that you're a high school student!

I've walked into a trap.

Lu Ran said, "Should I call Auntie Si now and tell her?"

Si Xianxian raised her palm again.

Lu Ran: "What's the problem now?"

Si Xianxian suddenly smiled: "There's no problem this time, I just want to slap you."

Lu Ran: "."

Seeing Si Xianxian approaching step by step, Lu Ran said, "I want to make a breakthrough and enter the First Stage of the River Realm in one go!"

Si Xianxian, of course, didn't dare to slap Lu Ran. Her fair palm landed on his shoulder.

"At this stage, cultivating at home is useless!

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

Lu Ran felt a little embarrassed: "To break through the Fifth Stage of the Stream Realm, I rejected my teammates.

But now, I'm going out to train with you, what's this all about?"

"You've already reached the Fifth Stage of the Stream Realm!" Si Xianxian was excited, "You didn't lie, and besides..."

"What?"

"They'll eventually part ways." Si Xianxian stood in a rather unsteady manner, leaning against the corridor wall.

Lu Ran: "What do you mean?"

Si Xianxian shrugged her shoulders: "No matter how close you are to your friends, as long as you keep moving forward, you'll eventually drift apart."

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

Birds of a feather flock together.

Soon, the only peers by Lu Ran's side should be Jian Yi, Bei Feng, and the believers of powerful gods like Western Wilderness.

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

"Hmph." Si Xianxian smiled, with a hint of self-mockery, "Everyone thinks they're special.

They won't part ways with classmates, they won't separate from dear friends.

They believe they'll stay with their loved ones forever, growing old together."

Lu Ran looked at the girl who had seen through the red dust: "So pessimistic?"

Si Xianxian shrugged her shoulders, quite carefree: "They'll part ways eventually."

"Maybe," Lu Ran didn't confirm or deny it, but he didn't think so in his heart.

Because he was too special!

In Lu Ran's mind, he and his teammates had another unbreakable bond—that of a deity and his apostle.

"Come in," Lu Ran said as he walked into the house.

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

"It's killing demons," Lu Ran corrected again, pointing to a corner of the living room, "The cat litter needs changing."

Si Xianxian: ???

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(End of Chapter)

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