Chapter 197: A Thousand Glances

Chapter 197: A Thousand Glances

"Shhh—"

The shrill whistle pierced the air, reverberating throughout the entire venue.

The male teacher announced loudly, "Jiang Ruyi, wins!"

The sports field erupted in an uproar.

"Jiang Ruyi is so cool! She's back with a bang!"

"Finally, someone is putting that little sheep in his place, hahahaha!"

"Fixed match! No way, my Burnt God can't lose. It must be a rigged match, I'm reporting this!"

"No, how did Lu Ran's kick send Jiang Ruyi flying? That's not scientific!"

"That's my master's unique application of the Divine Art: Immortal Hoof." Tian Tian boasted proudly.

As she spoke, she glanced around, her eyes scanning the crowd.

In the sky, Jiang Ruyi's figure continued to fly backward.

On the ground, Lu Ran's figure slid backward.

In terms of the fight, Lu Ran had essentially been knocked out of the arena.

Although Jiang Ruyi was farther from the grandstand, she could fly.

Her feet didn't touch the ground, so she wasn't considered out of bounds!

Tian Tian looked left and right, her gaze sweeping over the pair of male and female students, and the more she looked, the happier she became.

Sister Ruyi is finally back~

They really are a perfect match!

"Huff~"

High in the sky, Jiang Ruyi's backward flight abruptly halted, and she stood mid-air.

The Jade Inscription Array demonstrated its formidable power, as the previously burst flames were completely absorbed by the white jade tablets.

The blast wave caused by the explosion was also solidly blocked by the Water Flow Armor.

After this intense clash, Jiang Ruyi's posture remained as graceful and ethereal as ever.

In contrast, Lu Ran was still alive.

Gradually, the sports field erupted in applause and cheers.

"The grand competition is officially over! Everyone, fall in line!" The male teacher returned to the grandstand, maintaining discipline with a loud voice.

As he spoke, he looked up at the sky, "Jiang Ruyi, you can keep floating if you want!

Let everyone see what a true powerhouse looks like."

Jiang Ruyi: "."

She immediately flew down.

The girl seemed to have misunderstood, thinking that her boldness had displeased the teacher.

How could she know that the teacher was setting her up?

"Next, the top three students, please come up to receive your rewards."

As the teacher on the grandstand spoke, Tian Tian secretly approached Jiang Ruyi, "Sister Ruyi!"

"Long time no see." Jiang Ruyi dispersed the white jade tablets surrounding her.

This allowed Tian Tian to get a little closer.

As expected, Tian Tian sidestepped and hugged Jiang Ruyi's arm with both hands, secretly inhaling the scent of her clothes.

It seemed like she was smelling a familiar fragrance.

"Hehe~" Looking at Tian Tian's cute expression, Jiang Ruyi couldn't help but smile.

"Sister Ruyi seems to have grown taller?"

Tian Tian tilted her face up, maintaining the same attitude as before, gazing up at the deity in her heart.

"Maybe it's because of the change in environment." Jiang Ruyi nodded lightly.

When she left, she was 172 cm tall, and after five months, she had grown 2-3 centimeters.

Tian Tian smiled sweetly, "Looks like Sister Ruyi has been eating well."

Jiang Ruyi whispered, "The mutton and goji berry soup at the Jade Gate Pass."

She paused and looked up at the grandstand.

Seeing Lu Ran receiving his reward, Jiang Ruyi's heart relaxed, and she whispered, "The goji berry soup there is really good."

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

Jiang Ruyi slightly raised her eyebrows and looked at the girl beside her.

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

"Hmm." Tian Tian seemed to be unable to bear the goddess's gaze and lowered her head as if admitting her mistake.

Jiang Ruyi felt a bit helpless.

She had just praised her, but now she was acting shy again.

Jiang Ruyi whispered, "I see Chang Ying in our team."

"Yeah, after you left, the teacher arranged for her to join."

"Did she bully you?"

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

The two of them chatted quietly, and soon, Lu Ran returned to the team with a River Essence Power Orb.

"Hmm?" Just as Lu Ran was about to rejoin the team, a strange phenomenon occurred!

The Cool Night Sword behind Jiang Ruyi suddenly shot out.

However, the Cool Night Sword didn't stab Lu Ran but instead hung upside down and circled around him.

"What?" Lu Ran looked at Jiang Ruyi.

Jiang Ruyi seemed not to have heard and continued to look at the grandstand.

Lu Ran: ???

What's so interesting about the teacher's speech?

After a full three seconds, Jiang Ruyi still stared forward, as if Lu Ran didn't exist.

Lu Ran raised his hand to grip the Cool Night Sword's hilt, pretending to examine the blade, and muttered,

"Pretending not to see, a thousand glances in my peripheral vision."

Jiang Ruyi's composure shattered.

Her face turned slightly red, and she gave Lu Ran a light glare.

"Oh!" However, at this moment, Lu Ran had no time to pay attention to Jiang Ruyi.

The Cool Night Sword's hilt was icy cold.

The emotions conveyed by the sword spirit within made Lu Ran even more dazed.

Lu Ran had thought that the Cool Night Sword would be a bit resentful or hostile.

He never expected the Cool Night Sword to be so gentle?

Although Lu Ran couldn't hear the sword spirit speak, he could feel a hint of joy and a touch of longing.

What was going on? Was the Divine Armament, exclusively belonging to Jiang Ruyi, supposed to release such emotions towards him? If the sword spirit had this attitude, then Lu Ran believed he could definitely wield this Divine Armament!

Lu Ran thought so and acted accordingly.

The result left Lu Ran dumbfounded!

He had actually wielded the Cool Night Sword!

"Ah?" Lu Ran slightly opened his mouth.

Why?

"Lu Ran!!" Suddenly, the male teacher's voice came from the grandstand.

"Yes!"

"The leader is speaking up there, what are you playing at? Stand straight and listen!"

"Huh?" The Cool Night Sword suddenly slipped from Lu Ran's hand and flew towards the grandstand.

"Stop!" Jiang Ruyi's heart skipped a beat, and she cried out in a soft yet commanding voice.

In an instant, the Cool Night Sword hung suspended in midair.

The students below the longsword all paled, quickly scattering to the sides.

This sudden turn of events plunged the school into a deathly silence.

Divine Armaments were, without a doubt, treasures that everyone dreamed of possessing.

And their level of danger was equally undeniable!

"Sorry, teacher." Jiang Ruyi apologized with a nod, "I'll make sure it stays under control."

The male teacher was taken aback.

Was Jiang Ruyi putting on an act?

If she hadn't been dissatisfied, why would the Cool Night Sword have attacked?

But from Jiang Ruyi's reaction, it seemed that the sword's actions were unrelated to its owner's intentions.

This...

It was common knowledge that Lu Ran also carried a Divine Armament, the Radiant Light Saber.

The fact that it hadn't moved was likely because Lu Ran held no hostility towards the teacher and hadn't given any command to attack.

Lu Ran shared a similar question.

As the leaders on the grandstand continued their speech, Lu Ran slightly turned his head to look at Jiang Ruyi.

The girl tightly gripped the Cool Night Sword, shooting Lu Ran a quick glance.

Lu Ran: "..."

He seemed to understand something.

In the North Wind Sect's philosophy:

The sword is an extension of the wielder's thoughts, a physical manifestation of their mental will.

And the state of mind one must achieve when cultivating a Divine Armament aligns perfectly with this concept.

In other words,

The Divine Armament Cool Night Sword, cultivated by Jiang Ruyi, had recognized Lu Ran as a very special existence!

That's why, when Lu Ran first held the Cool Night Sword, he felt the faint thoughts and joy emanating from the weapon's spirit.

The more Lu Ran thought about it, the stranger his expression became.

During their previous battle, when you cut me down, you were so swift and decisive. Hmph, women!

Wait, wasn't it the weapon's spirit?

Hmm, whatever. The point is, it's a female spirit.

Finally, the leaders' lengthy speech came to an end, and the opening ceremony was drawing to a close.

As the teachers announced the training mission for the month, the student formation disbanded.

"Tsk, the monthly training mission for the second semester of senior year is worth 20 points!"

"The difficulty has increased, too. We have to go and kill demons in the River Realm."

"Yeah, from now on, we might not be able to get full marks for our monthly assignments."

"It would be great if we had a Divine Armament."

"Haha, you're quite the dreamer."

The students chatted excitedly as they left the school grounds.

Lu Ran and his group didn't want to attract attention, so they headed straight for the teaching building.

The five of them moved quickly, returning to the empty classroom.

Jiang Ruyi gazed at the familiar classroom, looking at her old seat, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.

"Welcome back, Class Monitor." Deng Yutang finally found an opportunity to approach Jiang Ruyi.

"Mhm." Jiang Ruyi smiled and nodded politely.

"Hello, Class Monitor Jiang." Chang Ying didn't dare to come closer, only waving from a distance.

"How's the team doing?" Jiang Ruyi smiled, looking at the tall Chang Ying.

"It's great." Chang Ying sneaked a glance at Lu Ran beside her, "I feel very reassured."

Jiang Ruyi nodded in agreement, also looking at Lu Ran.

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

"What is it?" Deng Yutang was curious.

With such a beautiful woman like Jiang Ruyi standing here, why would you want to discuss something else instead of catching up with her?

Lu Ran sat on the desk, "Do you guys know about Heaven's Pride?"

"I watched it!" Chang Ying immediately replied, "I saw it on the 15th of the month."

"I watched it too!" Deng Yutang chimed in, "Those university students were so fierce, each one more impressive than the last."

"Yeah!" Chang Ying nodded repeatedly, "It got my blood pumping, and I even felt a bit overwhelmed.

My dad told me that after watching the show, he felt like he had hope for the future."

Lu Ran: "..."

Is the effect that immediate?

There was no doubt that Heaven's Pride, officially launched by Daxia, was a program of national significance.

The show's promotion had been extensive, and after the 15th of the month, when it aired, its popularity soared to scorching heights!

Tian Tian looked at Lu Ran and asked in a soft voice, "What's so special about this show?"

Lu Ran: "Next month, on the 15th, I won't be able to defend the city with you guys."

"What?" Deng Yutang's eyes widened, "Brother Lu, you're going to...?"

The group's faces were filled with shock as they turned to Lu Ran.

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

Deng Yutang, in disbelief: "Brother Lu, you're going to participate in Heaven's Pride?"

The reason Deng Yutang couldn't believe it was that he had witnessed firsthand just how formidable those university students were.

He highly respected and acknowledged Lu Ran's abilities.

The problem was that each of those vigorous university students was a River Realm Fifth Stage cultivator!

Not a single Fourth Stage cultivator was among them!

And they were all from top universities in various provinces.

Lu Ran was just a high school student!

"Mhm." Lu Ran nodded.

"Wow," Tian Tian said, her mouth slightly agape.

Deng Yutang's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Everyone knew that Lu Ran was exceptionally talented.

But this was a program officially endorsed by Daxia, and the one hundred 'Heaven's Pride' participants were selected from thousands upon thousands of candidates nationwide!

There were only one hundred spots!

What did this mean?

At this moment, the group suddenly realized that a big shot was among them!

Lu Ran was now in the same league as those unreachable, dazzlingly brilliant Heaven's Pride participants.

The only difference was that Lu Ran was right there beside them, tangible and within reach.

Jiang Ruyi smiled gently, filled with pride, and looked at Lu Ran with a soft gaze.

Since she had just been teased by Lu Ran, this time, she didn't use her peripheral vision.

Instead, he did.

End of the month, please vote for this chapter~

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end