Chapter 188: The Smiling Lamb

Chapter 188: The Smiling Lamb

"Congratulations, Wu Shanshan!"

The male teacher's gaze swept across the entire venue, finally settling on a short-haired girl.

"The school has always held high hopes for you. Among this year's students, you are one of the most talented!"

"The deity you worship is also the highest-ranked among all the deities revered by the teachers and students in the school!"

"After half a year of accumulation, you have lived up to everyone's expectations and made a remarkable breakthrough, achieving excellent results in the final exams!"

"On the night of the Night of Many Ghosts, you remained calm and courageous in the face of danger, helping the Moonwatchers team..."

As the teacher narrated and praised, Lu Ran finally understood what it felt like to be a mere "spectator."

Indeed, it's quite a hated feeling~

Unlike Lu Ran's reaction, Wu Shanshan didn't lower her head but instead raised it proudly.

She accepted the gazes of admiration and jealousy from the crowd, along with the special honor that belonged solely to her.

Wu Shanshan indeed had the capital to be proud! If it weren't for a certain little lamb suddenly rising to prominence, Wu Shanshan would have been the most outstanding student in Rain Alley.

The deity she worshipped was none other than the Second Rank Deity Asha.

This deity was also known as the "Southern Sea Bow."

Together with the Dongting Spear, Xi Huan Axe, and Beifeng Saber, they were collectively referred to as the Four Directions Martial Heroes, and their strength was undoubtedly formidable!

"The Yunshan City Theonym Bureau specially awards you 20 Follower Points as encouragement!"

The male teacher finally finished his speech, and a round of applause erupted from the playground.

It was undeniable that the glory bestowed upon a follower of the Second Rank Deity Asha would make it more acceptable to the crowd.

"Alright." The male teacher nodded in satisfaction, "Next, let's proceed to the second item, the Great Martial Arts Competition!"

As the teacher's words fell, another commotion arose on the playground.

"It's finally here!"

"Haha, this is going to be interesting~"

"These few who have advanced to the River Realm seem to have some grudges, right?"

"What grudges? Come on, all of you, get up there together! I'm in a hurry, my brother Ran!" Qian Hao's voice came from the front.

Lu Ran: ???

"Shut up!" From the back of the team, Li Yan Zhu's rebuke rang out.

Qian Hao immediately shrank back.

It was evident that many were looking forward to this Great Martial Arts Competition, and some students who were stuck at the Fifth Stage of the Stream Realm could only lament their fate.

Only five people participated in the competition, and as long as you were eligible to sign up, you were guaranteed at least sixth place!

Even if you finished last, you would still receive Follower Points as a reward.

Alas, the "Deathly Five" had blocked the path of many Follower students.

The male teacher continued, "This time, there are a total of five students participating in the Great Martial Arts Competition!"

"They are Lu Ran from Class 4, Wu Shanshan, Ma Tianchuan, Kou Yingquan from Class 7, and Gao Zhonglin from Class 11."

In the Class 7 formation, Ma Tianchuan finally had a chance to show his prowess.

Under the gaze of the students, he silently pushed up his rimless glasses.

Kou Yingquan also relished the feeling of being the center of attention, slightly raising his head with an arrogant posture.

Although he had only advanced to the River Realm just two days ago through 'Spiritual Enlightenment,' he had managed to catch the last train.

Nevertheless, at this moment, Kou Yingquan was a River Realm powerhouse! He could indeed adopt a superior attitude and look down upon the Stream Realm underlings.

The male teacher continued, "Here, I want to specially commend the homeroom teacher of Class 7, Teacher Su!"

"In the entire school, there are only five River Realm Follower students, and Class 7 accounts for three of them!"

"On one hand, it's the students' talents, and on the other, it's the good guidance and healthy competitive atmosphere, which Teacher Su has played a significant role in fostering."

Lu Ran smirked.

The target had shifted from the students to the teachers?

Suddenly, Lu Ran sensed a figure approaching.

He turned his head and saw that the homeroom teacher, Li Yan Zhu, was standing by his side with an expressionless face.

She crossed her arms in front of her and, looking at the podium, asked, "Are you confident about taking first place?"

Lu Ran couldn't help but feel his expression turn strange.

Would the homeroom teacher be affected by such a childish method? However, nurturing students to advance to the River Realm must be included in the teacher's performance evaluation.

Similarly, if he could win first place in the Great Martial Arts Competition, the school should also give the homeroom teacher a corresponding reward, right?

"Hmm?" Li Yan Zhu looked at Lu Ran, her face showing a probing expression.

Lu Ran scratched his head and said in a low voice, "Why don't you let them all go up together?"

Lu Ran's tone was very respectful, but the words he spoke were incredibly arrogant!

Li Yan Zhu immediately glared at Lu Ran, "What did I tell you on the phone yesterday?

Be humble and don't get carried away! I told you to be humble!"

As expected of the homeroom teacher!

Just a simple scolding could achieve the effect of the Dongting Divine Art: Thunder Roar.

Lu Ran felt his head buzzing.

What's the difference between this and being hit by a divine technique? Unable to move his body, he could only stand there and listen to the homeroom teacher's teachings.

It was so uncomfortable~

"Now, please have the five students come up to the stage!" The teacher on the podium spoke loudly.

"Go." Li Yan Zhu patted Lu Ran's shoulder, "Remember what I said!"

"Yes, yes, be humble," Lu Ran responded repeatedly, turning to look at Chang Ying.

The girl had a keen eye and immediately stepped forward to receive the blade.

Lu Ran also drew a Jie Ye Sword from the fabric and quickly walked towards the podium.

"Brother Ran, go easy on me." As Lu Ran reached the side of the podium and climbed a step, he was grabbed by the shoulder.

Lu Ran turned to see a little wolf cub.

Greedy Wolf Follower, Gao Zhonglin! Lu Ran smiled, "We agreed that you can't eat me later, right?"

Gao Zhonglin also laughed, "No, no, no. I don't have that ability.

I just want to ask if what you said still counts?"

Lu Ran asked in confusion, "What did I say?"

Gao Zhonglin: "You told me that the emperor takes turns, and next year it's my turn!

Now, it's already next year!"

Lu Ran nodded thoughtfully, "A man of his word, and a promise is like chasing four horses."

(End of Chapter)"Oh?" Gao Zhonglin had intended to joke around, but he never expected Lu Ran to say such words.

Lu Ran suddenly changed the topic, "But at that time, I was only 17 years old, not yet a real man.

I was just an innocent and naive handsome young man."

Gao Zhonglin: ???

"You two, come up here!" The male teacher urged.

The two immediately went up on stage, and Lu Ran's gaze also swept over the three students from Class 7.

Wu Shanshan's expression was blank, and she didn't even look at Lu Ran.

Ma Tianchuan, on the other hand, glanced at Lu Ran a few more times, with a hint of battle intent in his heart.

The challenge between the two could be traced back to their rookie days and had been put on hold until now.

As for Kou Yingquan, he had already realized the seriousness of the situation!

Earlier, in the student formation, he had thoroughly enjoyed the envious and admiring gazes of his classmates.

But now, it was Lu Ran who was staring at him! Lu Ran's gaze was friendly, and his smile was even gentler.

Yet, it made Kou Yingquan's hair stand on end! However, there was no way he would forfeit the match, especially since it involved Follower Points.

Kou Yingquan could only force a calm expression, trying to hide his unease, and he shot a cold glance at Lu Ran.

"There are five of you, so one person will have a bye," the male teacher said, holding the microphone and looking down at the students, "Oracle Stick Follower!"

"Here!"

"Here!" Including Chang Ying, a total of three students responded.

The teacher immediately spotted the tall girl, pointing at Chang Ying, "Five Treasure Oracle Stick, draw now!"

The teacher walked past the five students, pointing and saying, "Summoning, Damage, Defense, Control, Support!

The Oracle Stick Follower will draw a stick, and the corresponding student will have a bye."

It must be clarified that the probability of drawing each type of stick is not one in five!

The Summoning Stick is the hardest to draw, followed by the Damage Stick, and then Control, Defense, and Support.

Lu Ran's heart leaped with joy as he stood at the end of the line and was assigned the "Support Stick."

This was the easiest one to draw!

The male teacher was quite domineering, fully displaying the unfairness of the school's grand competition, and he didn't give the students any room for rebuttal.

"Clatter~"

Below the stage, Chang Ying also had a delighted expression, shaking the oracle stick container vigorously, and muttering to herself:

"Heaven and Earth, bless me, let my dear Ran have a bye."

"Whoosh!" A stick flew out and hovered above Chang Ying's head.

The next moment, all the joy vanished from Chang Ying's face.

The oracle stick suddenly transformed into a mighty and robust soldier, landing steadily.

The Summoning Stick of the Five Treasure Oracle Sticks!

The most challenging stick to draw!

"Oh my!"

"Haha! That's amazing, a perfect draw!"

"Is Chang Da Fu capable? It seems there's a reason she can score so high, her luck is truly impressive?"

"Tsk! That Great Copper Armor Guardian is quite something~"

Tian Tian: "."

Deng Yutang: "."

After teaming up with the gambling group for so long, the two of them had become very familiar with Chang Ying.

On the battlefield, you've been drawing Support Sticks one after another, and it's rare to see a Copper Armor Guardian!

Now you're feeling lucky?

"Hmm." Chang Ying covered her face with one hand.

The more people praised her, the more embarrassed she became.

On the podium, Wu Shanshan's expression was peculiar.

She was the first in line and had been assigned the "Summoning Stick," and she was initially quite unhappy about it.

But, well, she got a bye?

"Go down and watch the match," the male teacher waved at Wu Shanshan.

"Oh." Wu Shanshan immediately went down.

The teacher pointed at Ma Tianchuan, who was second in line, "You, add one more Summoning Stick."

Ma Tianchuan: "."

The teacher looked at the students below, "That Oracle Stick Follower over there, Five Treasure Sticks!

Now draw the first group of contestants."

"Whoosh~"

Another oracle stick flew up from the student formation.

This male student spread his legs and directly drew the Support Stick.

"Lu Ran, go and prepare! Now we'll draw your opponent, and the remaining two students will be automatically matched for a battle!"

The male teacher then assigned the vacant "Support Stick" position to Gao Zhonglin, who was at the end of the line.

Once again, the school's grand competition showed its unfairness!

Ma Tianchuan and Gao Zhonglin each had two sticks, while Kou Yingquan, in the middle, only had one Defense Stick.

"Oracle Stick Follower, draw!"

"Clatter~"

People turned to look at the male student, whose face had turned red, obviously not used to such attention.

He was determined to show off, hoping to draw a Summoning or Damage Stick.

"Whoosh~"

An oracle stick flew up, and then

The wooden stick suddenly grew larger, resembling a giant fly swatter.

"Defense Stick?"

"Haha! Kou Yingquan! Hahahaha! This is going to be an interesting match!"

"What's so interesting? What happened?"

"Do you remember why Lu Ran was standing in the schoolyard for punishment on the first day of senior year?"

"Oh, right! I remember now!"

"Hahahaha! It's a destiny's vengeful meeting!"

On the podium, Kou Yingquan's expression management failed, and he couldn't keep up the act anymore.

"Damn!" Kou Yingquan's face turned ashen, and he forced out a word through clenched teeth.

He had thought that losing to his teammates, Wu Shanshan and Ma Tianchuan, wouldn't be embarrassing.

But his opponent turned out to be that little lamb?! Suddenly, Kou Yingquan felt enveloped by a gaze.

He felt his hairs stand on end and turned to look into the distance.

But Lu Ran's gaze was friendly, and his expression was kind.

Under the gaze of the entire school's teachers and students, Lu Ran looked at Kou Yingquan and showed a slight smile.

End of Chapter

Chapter end