Chapter 173: A Flower from the Other Shore

Chapter 173: A Flower from the Other Shore

Qiao Yuansi looked at Lu Ran with a bewildered expression, her words stumbling out.

Although the siblings often bickered, their bond as brother and sister was genuine.

When facing her older brother, Qiao Yuansi not only had the dependence formed since childhood but also a hint of admiration.

She was willing to believe Lu Ran, even though this news sounded like a fantastical tale.

"Brother Lu?" Niu Zhengzheng widened her big eyes like copper bells and turned to look at Lu Ran, "Is this for real?"

Xiao Yusong also looked at the rearview mirror, gazing at Lu Ran in the mirror with surprise.

Guan Yiren, sitting on the other side, slightly turned her head, secretly glancing at Lu Ran.

"Are you participating in The Heavenly Pride?" Qiao Yuansi finally asked.

"Hehe~" Lu Ran looked at his sister's adorable expression, "I'm not participating."

"Tsk!" Qiao Yuansi interrupted Lu Ran and rolled her eyes at him.

Feeling that she hadn't vented enough, she patted Lu Ran's arm, "You're just fooling me!"

For a moment, the expressions of everyone in the car varied.

Niu Zhengzheng slapped her forehead, feeling greatly relieved, "You scared me."

Only Xiao Yusong and Guan Yiren remained silent, still observing Lu Ran.

Lu Ran turned his head towards the car window, and another sentence escaped his lips, "Who's participating then?"

Niu Zhengzheng: ???

Everyone: "."

"Hey? You!" Qiao Yuansi clenched her small fist and pounded Lu Ran's chest, "Don't you have a conscience?

Why are you lying to me, come on, tell the truth!"

"I am participating," Lu Ran quickly said.

"No, brother!"

Niu Zhengzheng was stunned; she couldn't handle Lu Ran's teasing.

Qiao Yuansi leaned forward slightly, her big eyes sparkling as she scrutinized Lu Ran's expression.

Lu Ran held his twin blades, using the hilts to gently push away the girl's face through the fabric.

"Why?" Qiao Yuansi moved the hilts aside, her curiosity piqued.

Lu Ran shrugged, "Someone took a liking to me.

There are Believer Points, and there are also Divine Armament and Magical Tool rewards, so I decided to participate."

"Why did they take a liking to you?" Qiao Yuansi was like a curious child.

"Didn't I tell you? My teammate's sister represents Wuli River University in the competition."

"Mhm, and then?"

"I'm in the same patrol team as her, and after that night, the people from The Heavenly Pride noticed me."

"Wow!" Qiao Yuansi exclaimed, "You stole the spotlight!"

Lu Ran: "."

Qiao Yuansi smiled mischievously, examining Lu Ran up and down, "You're indeed a man full of tricks~"

Lu Ran silently turned his head towards the window.

That night, he wholeheartedly assisted Deng Yuxiang, and the camera hanging from his collar recorded only the silhouette of the Great Nightmare.

However, Sun Zhengfang and Wei Long's cameras captured their heroic figures.

As a believer of the Ninth Rank Deity Immortal Sheep Sect, Lu Ran indeed attracted a lot of attention.

"Rain Alley City truly breeds exceptional people," Xiao Yusong sighed, "Only 100 participants are selected in the first year, and Rain Alley City has taken two spots."

Lu Ran: "It's just me; the sister withdrew from the competition."

Everyone: "."

Little Yuansi stared at Lu Ran in surprise, "You got promoted like this?

After stealing the spotlight, you replaced that sister?"

"No, no," Lu Ran quickly explained, "That sister advanced to the River Basin Realm and couldn't participate in The Heavenly Pride.

Then, she recommended me to the production team."

"The River Basin Realm!" Qiao Yuansi was secretly amazed, her little head also realized, "That's right, those selected for The Heavenly Pride must be exceptionally strong."

Lu Ran nodded in agreement.

Qiao Yuansi looked at Lu Ran, "You're also recognized as Heaven's Pride in Xia!

So, when are you advancing to the River Basin Realm?"

Lu Ran: "."

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuansi's small face was filled with pride, no longer teasing her brother, "On the 15th of the first month, I'll be able to see you on my phone!"

Lu Ran explained, "No, these hundred people are divided into two groups, taking turns to compete.

I'm in the second group, participating every even-numbered month."

"Oh, I see." Qiao Yuansi was delighted, "Then my brother can still spend my birthday with me like before!"

"Yes," Lu Ran couldn't help but reach out and rub Qiao Yuansi's little nose.

The 15th of the first month fell during the winter vacation, so students didn't need to defend the city.

And to celebrate his sister's birthday, Lu Ran specially asked for leave from the Divine Bureau.

This was Lu Ran's annual routine; every year, he would first accompany his mother and sister for the Chinese New Year's Eve, and then on the 15th of the first month, he would celebrate his sister's birthday.

As for his own birthday, he would celebrate it together with his sister.

This was the only time during the year that Lu Ran spent with his family.

He didn't want to change his "custom."

On each dangerous and terrifying 15th night, Lu Ran's favorite was the 15th of the first month.

Every year on this day, even the extremely busy Mother would not go out to defend the city.

With her formidable strength, she naturally took on heavy responsibilities and was a pillar for many.

But every 15th of the first month, she would stay at home, always by the siblings' side.

No matter how chaotic and evil the outside world was, the Qiao family would enjoy a warm and peaceful day.

It was known that the previous Lu Ran was just an ordinary and fragile person, so he would naturally be worried and anxious.

The young him, of course, needed a sense of security and reliance.

Under such circumstances, the feeling of extreme peace and stability when Mother stayed at home with the siblings was something others couldn't comprehend.

Therefore, Lu Ran's love for the 15th of the first month was a mix of various factors.

On the 15th of July, how is it calculated?" Guan Yiren, who rarely spoke, asked.

Xiao Yusong, who had been listening intently, explained, "In the lunar calendar, the gods patrol in June, and the gates of the underworld open in July.

During these two months, The Heavenly Pride is suspended."

Qiao Yuansi asked, "Then how is the battlefield calculated?

Rain Alley City is so small, and the invading demons aren't strong."

Lu Ran turned to look at Qiao Yuansi, his eyes filled with a mysterious light.

Do you know what happened to your brother and me in Rain Alley?

The night patrol of ghosts is nothing special; it's like a daily routine! The attendance rate is almost as high as the Moonlit People."

"Hmm." Qiao Yuansi hugged Lu Ran's arm, burying her face in his sleeve.

Looking at his playful sister, Lu Ran sighed, "Don't ask. There are professionals to handle the scoring; we don't need to worry about it."

"Mhm." Qiao Yuansi felt the tension ease, and she immediately lifted her small face, "After we return, I'll tell Mom this good news."

Lu Ran nodded with difficulty, "Alright."

As a master of 'plastic bag retrieval,' making such a decision was indeed challenging.

"We're here," Xiao Yusong announced.

"So fast?" Lu Ran looked out the window and realized they were in an underground parking lot, still within the city.

"You forgot, Brother Xiao is a Dust Shadow Follower," Qiao Yuansi whispered.

"Oh," Lu Ran couldn't help but feel a slight stir in his heart.

latest information, he had the fortune of experiencing the teleportation technique!

"Just sit tight; there's no need to be nervous," Xiao Yusong said, spreading his palms.

A black flower quietly bloomed in his palm, resembling a narcissus.

Its leaves were narrow and long, and its stamens were even longer, extending outward.

The black color added a touch of mysterious elegance to the flower.

"Huff~"

On the flower, a surge of energy created a stunning scene.

It depicted a dynamic landscape with towering mountains and flowing streams, appearing incredibly lifelike.

Lu Ran was amazed; the beautiful scenery expanded until it engulfed the entire car.

Dust Shadow Divine Art: Otherworldly Flower!

"Huff!"

The terrain map suddenly contracted, and Lu Ran felt his vision blur for a moment.

Both the people and the car were teleported to another location.

In fact, Lu Ran had witnessed this divine art before!

It was in the dark demon cave when everyone encountered the demon nest and fled in disarray. A team of soldiers came to their aid.

At that time, a 3D terrain map unfolded above a soldier's head.

Then, divine armaments descended, and a large number of guards were teleported over.

"Over there!" A soldier knocked on the car window, indicating a parking spot a few meters ahead.

"Okay," Xiao Yusong smiled and nodded, driving forward and parking the car.

Only then did Lu Ran realize that Xiao Yusong had teleported them directly to the military camp's parking lot in one go.

As expected, the soldier who had knocked on the car window earlier was one of Xiao Yusong's men.

As everyone got out of the car, some stood while others knelt, all paying their respects to the statue of Lord Sword's avatar.

Afterward, Xiao Yusong smiled and approached the soldier, who seemed familiar, and they bumped fists.

"Brother, I can't guarantee Miss Guan's safety!" the soldier said with a smile, "This is the Night Charm Abyss. I'm even scared myself."

Despite his words, the young soldier showed no signs of fear.

"Haha!" Xiao Yusong laughed, "We're both in a hurry. She doesn't even want to use us.

She didn't even tell me; she directly requested reinforcements from the Wuli River."

"Oh?" The soldier's tiger-like eyes fixed on the group.

He seemed to recognize Guan Yiren's teammates, and his gaze immediately locked onto Lu Ran.

Xiao Yusong shook his head and smoothed his medium-length hair, "Brother Lang, this guy's background is not simple. Show some respect!"

Lu Ran's expression was peculiar as he watched Xiao Yusong's casual gesture.

Carrying a guitar on his back, wasn't he just a folk singer?

Brother Lang nodded, "Since Miss Guan invited him, I must show some respect."

"You two," Guan Yiren looked at her childhood friends from the courtyard, "Shut up."

The two: "."

"Let's go, I've found another brother. Let's go together," Brother Lang said, putting his arm around Xiao Yusong's shoulder.

Guan Yiren spoke softly, "It's inconvenient with so many people; just the few of us will do."

Brother Lang's expression turned peculiar as he looked at Lu Ran, "So fierce? You don't look that old."

Xiao Yusong: "It's because he's young that he's so fierce! He's my competitor."

Lang Zexuan was puzzled, "What competitor?"

Xiao Yusong lowered his voice, "The Heavenly Pride."

Lang Zexuan froze.

He looked at Lu Ran, then at Xiao Yusong, and immediately elbowed Xiao Yusong, "Stop joking!"

Xiao Yusong smoothed his hair again, "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"Hey?" Lang Zexuan looked at Lu Ran, examining him up and down.

Lu Ran, holding two swords, smiled with his lips pursed, "Hello."

"I'm not doing well."

"Huh?"

Lang Zexuan: "I didn't make the cut. In a fit of anger, I dropped out of school and joined the military."

Lu Ran: "."

Lang Zexuan: "Brother, which university are you from? Wuli River? Is the competition fierce at your school?"

Lu Ran scratched his head, "It's not fierce; there's no competition at all. I'm still in high school."

Lang Zexuan's eyes widened, "You! What did you say?"

Lu Ran whispered, "Why don't you try dropping down a level?"

Lang Zexuan: ???

There will be another update at 10 PM.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end