Chapter 273: The Great Power's Invitation

Chapter 273: The Great Power's Invitation

The teacher's lengthy lecture finally concluded, and with the sound of drums and cheers, the swearing-in ceremony came to an end.

Time's up, let's move out!

Lu Ran marched forward with his squad, and as they passed by the podium, they encountered an old acquaintance—Zhang Feng.

"Brother Zhang!"

"Good morning, Brother Zhang," several of them greeted him.

"Good morning," Zhang Feng smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group before settling on Lu Ran.

Zhang Feng still remembered that during the end-of-term exams in the first semester of senior year, Rain Alley City had encountered the Straw Demon Clan's Ghost Night Walkers.

That night, Lu Ran received a summons from his superiors and single-handedly protected the peace of the city.

When Lu Ran returned to the shelter at dawn, a newly promoted divine weapon, the Radiant Light Saber, was floating behind him.

Since then, Zhang Feng had held Lu Ran in high regard.

He was certain that Lu Ran's future was limitless.

After that night, the people of Rain Alley City used four words to describe Lu Ran—unparalleled in Rain Alley.

However, reality dealt a harsh blow to the people of Rain Alley, including Zhang Feng.

Zhang Feng's judgment was accurate, as Lu Ran indeed rose to prominence.

But like everyone else, Zhang Feng could never have imagined that Lu Ran would grow to such an extent!

Unparalleled in Rain Alley?

That was an understatement.

He should be renowned across the land, a true Great Summer Pride!

As Zhang Feng looked at Lu Ran, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

It felt like a dream.

"Let's go, Brother Zhang," Lu Ran said with a smile, lowering his voice, "The autographs and photos can wait until after the mission."

Zhang Feng: "..."

Do I look like a fan?

I'm the leader who watched you grow up, an autograph wouldn't be too much to ask for.

I'll bring it back for my son, he'll probably like it.

"Hehe~" Chang Ying couldn't help but chuckle, "I want one too!"

Lu Ran said with a hint of annoyance, "What are you getting all excited about?"

Lu Ran and his teammates had been through thick and thin together, willing to risk their lives for each other.

And now you want my autograph?

"Let's go!" Zhang Feng gave the order, leading the group of five toward the school gate.

Outside the gate, several buses were already waiting.

Lu Ran boarded the bus with his team, and as he passed by the third row of seats, a pale and tender hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran turned to look and saw Curse Master Believer, Bai Mannie.

Jiang Ruyi was right behind Lu Ran, and her gaze, filled with a hint of melancholy, fell on the girl's hand.

Bai Mannie said nothing, but she lifted her eyes to look at Lu Ran and shook her head slightly.

Lu Ran's good mood instantly vanished.

"Thank you," Lu Ran nodded slightly and said softly, "Take care."

A trace of worry appeared on Bai Mannie's face, and she said in a low voice, "You too."

Like Chang Ying, Bai Mannie had become Lu Ran's advisor.

Every morning at 5:00, Lu Ran would ask Chang Ying to cast a divination and Bai Mannie if she felt any unease.

Compared to Chang Ying's divinations, Bai Mannie's predictions were more accurate.

After all, she didn't rely on calculations.

Powerful Spirit Sign Believers could achieve nine out of ten correct divinations, but there was always one that would be inaccurate!

Curse Master Believers were different; they didn't deal with probabilities but had a genuine premonition of danger.

The reason for Bai Mannie's worried expression was that this graduation exam was different from the usual night of defending the city.

The students were not grouped by class to collectively guard a single shelter.

Instead, they would be assigned to various locations throughout Rain Alley City in small teams.

In other words, Bai Mannie's team might not be stationed with Lu Ran's team.

Except for a very small number of students still in the Mist Realm, students in the Stream Realm and above were not allowed to stay inside the shelters but had to carry out their tasks outside the buildings.

This was a cause for concern.

The believer students were first and foremost people, and only then were they examinees.

While grades were important, their lives were even more so!

And the name "Lu Ran" was a golden guarantee for their safety.

For the vast majority of people, the sense of security that these two words brought was far greater than the three words "Moonwatchers."

"Class Monitor Jiang," Bai Mannie seemed to sense something and immediately greeted her.

It was not difficult to see that she was trying to please Jiang Ruyi, fearing that she might be misunderstood.

Although Jiang Ruyi was not among the Heavenly Talents, she possessed their abilities.

Her aura was invisible, yet it made those around her feel its presence keenly.

"Mm," Jiang Ruyi, who was quite graceful, patted Bai Mannie's shoulder as she passed by, "Take care."

As the students took their seats and the vehicles started moving, heading east.

There were only five teams in Class 3 of the senior year, totaling twenty students.

After arriving east of the river, the vehicles stopped twice, and three leaders took three teams off the buses one after another.

On the bus, only Lu Ran's team and Bai Mannie's team remained.

"Will we be with Brother Ran?" Qian asked, gripping his small, fat hand and looking at the street outside the window with a nervous expression.

He was afraid the bus would stop again.

"We're going to..." Bai Mannie realized that the vehicle was heading towards the city center.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, the towering Wuli Building was getting closer and closer to the group.

Qian scratched his head and looked at the captain, "Don't tell me we're going to guard the command headquarters?"

Bai Mannie's eyes lit up.

As the command center was located in the Wuli Building, the security there was incredibly strong!

If their team could take the exam in this area, the safety factor would naturally be higher.

In the top floor of the Wuli Building, there was even a Human Great Power stationed!

Although the Great Power wouldn't intervene lightly, they would definitely take action in the event of a special incident.

Under Bai Manni's prayer, the vehicle indeed stopped at the entrance of the Wuli Building.

"Let's go, get off!"

The two team leaders stood up simultaneously, causing Qian Hao to laugh heartily.

This action also amused the two Moonwatcher leaders.

They naturally knew what the students were thinking.

Moreover, with the little fat boy's natural comedic charm, the two Moonwatchers didn't feel the need to scold them.

However, after getting off the vehicle, Qian Hao's face fell.

The female leader led them to the west side of the Wuli Building.

Zhang Feng, on the other hand, led Lu Ran and the others straight to the main entrance of the Wuli Building, which was also its north entrance.

Directly in front of the main entrance was a vast square, offering an extremely wide field of view.

The bustling commercial street was built around the square.

It wasn't hard to imagine how the area would transform into a dazzling urban night scene with neon lights flashing at night.

"Brother Zhang," Deng Yutang gazed at the revolving door of the Wuli Building, "Are we guarding this door tonight?"

Throughout the building and its surroundings, there were soldiers standing guard at every corner.

The Wuli Building was undoubtedly a heavily guarded location! Even on regular days, most of the building's floors were off-limits.

During the 15th day of the lunar month and its vicinity, the security was even tighter.

Did this place really need a student squad?

Zhang Feng thought for a moment and pointed forward, "Over there."

Following his gesture, they saw the vast square.

Tian Tian slightly opened her mouth, "We're supposed to guard the square?"

The central square offered an extremely wide field of view and was well-connected to the surrounding areas.

Standing in the open square, the squad could easily spot any demons descending upon the surrounding areas.

Wasn't this like making them targets?

Zhang Feng spoke up, "We will be stationed in the area in front of the door.

If demons appear in the square, we will naturally go and clear them out."

Deng Yutang weighed the Tian Chan Gun in his hand, "With this, we can't help but aim for a high score."

Everyone: "..."

"Brother Lu, I remember, wasn't that where you killed the Demon Lord?" Deng Yutang raised his gun, pointing to the eastern region of the square.

"Yes, yes!" Chang Ying nodded repeatedly, "That's the place, where Ran Bao's sword sent the dog head flying high!"

From Lu Ran's first-person perspective, he couldn't see the entire battlefield.

But this was the city center, with cameras everywhere, capturing Lu Ran's battle from all angles without any blind spots, presenting it to the world.

"What a pity." Lu Ran sighed, "The Demon Crystal of the Jiang Jing Evil Dog belongs to the Moonwatcher forces.

If I could retrieve it, it would help you break through and advance."

Zhang Feng: "..."

The teammates smiled, feeling warm inside, knowing that being Lu Ran's companion was a blessing.

They understood Lu Ran and knew he wasn't joking; he would genuinely give it to them.

"Does Little Lu want that Jiang Jing Demon Crystal?" Suddenly, a middle-aged man's voice came from behind.

Everyone turned to look, and Zhang Feng immediately stood at attention and saluted.

Ge Bin, however, suppressed a gesture and scanned the group of young people.

"Team Leader Ge," Lu Ran laughed awkwardly, "I was just saying that, I understand the rules."

He used this title, naturally considering himself a member of the 004 Patrol Team.

The rest of the group stood properly, not daring to speak.

Ge Bin was of average height and had an ordinary appearance, looking very normal.

But he had appeared in Lu Ran's camera, and everyone knew that this man was a Jiang Jing Great Power and the Ding Hai Shen Zhen of Rain Alley City!

Ge Bin nodded, "Follow me for a chat?"

"Huh?" Lu Ran was a bit taken aback.

Lu Ran considered himself a team member, but Ge Bin didn't treat Lu Ran as a subordinate.

Ge Bin smiled and asked, "Do you have time?"

"Yes," Lu Ran agreed immediately.

It was currently the morning, and the night was still far away, so Lu Ran certainly had time.

Moreover, with a Human Great Power personally coming down to invite him, Lu Ran couldn't refuse and save face.

Ge Bin looked at Jiang Ruyi beside him and said, "Come along."

"Okay." Jiang Ruyi nodded slightly. Ever since her pilgrimage, she had been accompanying the patrol team on missions every 15th day of the month.

She was considered a half-member of the team.

Ge Bin nodded at Zhang Feng, not as strict as one might imagine, and said with a smile, "I'll take your people with me and return them to you later."

"Yes!" Zhang Feng stood tall and straight, his voice loud and clear.

Putting aside Ge Bin's identity as a Human Great Power, he was a member of the Yunshan City Divine Citizen Bureau's Moon Watch Division, while Zhang Feng was a member of the Moon Watch Team.

They had a proper superior-subordinate relationship.

"Let's go." Ge Bin turned and walked towards the revolving door, gesturing to the soldiers standing guard beside the door to allow them to pass.

Lu Ran naturally let his right hand hang down, lightly shaking his fingers.

Jiang Ruyi gave Lu Ran a light glare.

But she still reached out, and Lu Ran took her hand, walking into the iconic building of Rain Alley City—the Wuli Building.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end