Chapter 13: 007 Climbing Points Group?
Lu Ran had been practicing under the blazing sun on the playground all morning and had received quite a few visitors during that time.
In this sweltering heat, students who came to team up with Lu Ran usually brought a bottle of water or something similar.
As the beverages accumulated, the eager students became more inventive, bringing treats like crispy noodles, spicy sticks, cookie rolls, sausages, and more...
In the end, Lu Ran had become a vendor at school!
He stood alone on the southern side of the playground, surrounded by a pile of drinks and snacks.
When school let out at noon, many students saw this scene and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Li Yanzhu was both amused and frustrated, and she ordered Lu Ran to pack up his stall and go to the cafeteria for lunch.
Lu Ran grabbed a convenience bag and stuffed it full, running off with "peanuts, sunflower seeds, roast fish slices, milk drinks, and mineral water" and so on.
This was a bit too embarrassing...
He suspected that some students didn't come to team up, but just to join in the fun and make a ruckus by bringing him food.
After all, who would give a 17-year-old boy hard liquor as a gift?
Ridiculous, right?
Moreover, why on earth did the school store even sell this stuff?
Report! Definitely must report!
Hmm...
That very afternoon, Lu Ran tried to rejoin his class group. Li Yanzhu saw him, but she didn't say anything.
Lu Ran was overjoyed, it was as if the teacher had raised the big stick high in the air, only to let it fall gently.
Of course, the inspection still had to be handed in.
After school that evening, with the help of the internet, Lu Ran wrote a self-criticism report of a full five thousand words.
It was so earnest and proper that the homeroom teacher was quite satisfied.
And with that, the matter was considered resolved.
From the second to the fourth day of the lunar month, it was time for outdoor training courses, aimed at letting students choose their teammates and coordinate their teams.
Over those three days, Lu Ran and Jiang Ruyi tried out many classmates.
In the end, the two of them still chose the valiant Red Cloth Divine Technique Believer, Deng Yutang!
To form a team, you need not only mutual consent but also to follow the school's guidance.
Since Jiang Ruyi was a key student the school intended to cultivate, when she agreed to team up with Lu Ran, the school assigned another person to fill the last spot in their little squad.
And this individual was no small fry!
As mentioned before, Jiang Ruyi has long occupied the top three ranks of their year, with the first-place boy leading by a landslide.
The truth is, Jiang Ruyi was always competing with another girl for second place.
The person the school arranged to join the team was Jiang Ruyi's longtime rival, the class president of Senior Year (12)—Wu Shanshan.
This girl was quite something!
She was also in the top three of her year, but the god she revered was the mighty Second-class God·Ash!
Divine·Ash was a female Divine Sculpture holding a longbow, situated on the southern island of Da Xia—Sanda Island.
On the streets, this god was also called "South Sea Bow".
Along with her were North Wind Knife, West Desolate Axe, and East Thunder Spear.
These four Divine Sculptures located on the borders of the four directions of Da Xia were all second-tier gods and were collectively known as "Four Directions Martial Heroes".
At this point, Lu Ran's team was complete!
They had the believer of Second-class God·Ash, Wu Shanshan, the believer of Third-class God·Jade Talisman, Jiang Ruyi, the believer of Fifth-class God·Red Cloth Order, Deng Yutang, and...
The believer of Nine-class God·Immortal Sheep, Lu Ran.
It seemed like something strange had been mixed in?
Hmm... that's not important, what's important is the coordination!
The four-person team trained strenuously, constantly rehearsing formations under the guidance of the teacher and finding everyone's position.
Unfortunately, the team's coordination wasn't great.
By the afternoon of the fourth day, they still weren't feeling confident.
"I'm tired, don't want to play anymore." Wu Shanshan plopped down on the concrete ground of the Martial Arts Arena, and she didn't bother maintaining her ladylike image despite being drenched in sweat.
The fellow classmates who had come to practice with them all stopped and looked helplessly at the temperamental "Heaven's Chosen".
Jiang Ruyi frowned slightly, not liking Wu Shanshan's dictatorial behavior.
Both of their comprehensive scores were at the top, and they were both class presidents, accustomed to being the center of attention and giving orders.
The command authority within the team had always been a big problem.
Wu Shanshan rubbed her head, looking troubled at the scene ahead: "With you two, one roaring and the other bleating, it's giving me a headache."
Deng Yutang, with his red headband and his spear decorated with a red tassel, had just easily driven back a practice opponent and was quite dashing.
Without looking back, he said, "If I don't inspire you with battle spirit, wouldn't you be captivated by Brother Lu's charm?"
Red Cloth Divine Technique·Red Cloth Order: A Battle Roar type skill that enhances the target's will to fight.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Wu Shanshan retorted.
"Nonsense?" Deng Yutang turned his head to look at her, "Just now, I could almost see the shine of maternal love on your face."
Lu Ran, who had been enjoying the spectacle, suddenly froze with an awkward smile.
Maternal love?
Maternal love???
"Lu Ran's cries were so pitiful, who could stand it!" Wu Shanshan huffed, "You guys are truly heartless."
As she was speaking, Wu Shanshan spotted Lu Ran standing there like a statue.
Immediately, she called out, "Ran darling, why don't you speak up for me!"
Lu Ran: ???
Who is your Ran darling?
"Ran darling?" Wu Shanshan blinked her eyes, tilting her head as she looked at Lu Ran.
"Scram." Lu Ran replied bluntly.
"Hehe~" Wu Shanshan giggled with a hand over her mouth, her laughter blooming.
Jiang Ruyi's gaze was deep as she watched the two bicker and play around, feeling somewhat out of sorts.
It was you who yelled so loudly that you wanted to team up with me...
Cursing Kou Yingquan, understanding Kou Yingquan, becoming Kou Yingquan!
The whole world,
is just a huge pot of jealousy.
"Let's call it a day, the class has been dismissed for a while now, and the teachers have all left. There's no one to guide us," Jiang Ruyi interjected at the right time, addressing the fellow students of the same grade.
"Alright."
"Goodbye, good luck tomorrow!"
"Best wishes to us all..."
Both sides said their polite farewells, and only Lu Ran's group remained on the field.
"Tomorrow we're off to Evil Dog Village, huh." Wu Shanshan said casually.
Deng Yutang chimed in nonchalantly, "I heard that the prize for first place is a high-quality Divine Power Pearl?"
Divine Power Pearls could absorb and store Divine Power, a great asset for worshippers' combat endurance and aid in cultivation.
"I'd be satisfied if we make the top three," Wu Shanshan sighed lightly. "We haven't had enough time to coordinate, and we're still lacking understanding with each other."
Lu Ran, however, didn't quite agree with what the class president said.
We're short on time,
but so is everyone else!
Moreover, Lu Ran really believed that the configuration of their team was quite good.
Deng Yutang was brave and fierce, charging ahead, his scarlet spear sweeping through enemies like a solo carry top laner!
Jiang Ruyi controlled the center, a pillar of strength in the midfield.
And the believers of the Divine Jade Talisman were all late-game players!
Once Jiang goddess grew stronger, she wouldn't only be a controller but could use the Jade Talisman as a medium to cast Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire.
The output would be astoundingly powerful!
As the "South Sea Bow"'s believer, Wu Shanshan had been strong from the start to the finish and was currently the team's main force in terms of output.
Lu Ran considered himself quite swift, wielding a horizontal blade, zipping between positions to support them, feeling very much like a jungler.
Just wait until he reached Mist Realm Third Rank and learned the Divine Technique·Immortal Hoof—Lu Ran's speed would climb to a new level!
By then, he'd be even better suited for the jungler role~
As for the support dad...
With a team full of carries, who needed a dad anyway?
This sort of lineup would make any other students cry with envy.
Wasn't this a guaranteed win-comp?
"Women!" Deng Yutang scoffed, "Why sell ourselves short? I'm aiming for the top spot!"
Wu Shanshan glanced sideways at the overconfident Deng Yutang, "You act as though you've been at the top of the whole school before.
Neither Jiang Beauty nor I have spoken out, and yet you're the one all fired up?"
Jiang Ruyi: "..."
At the start of team formation, Wu Shanshan had looked at Deng Yutang with starry eyes.
But as they spent more time together, she began to despise this self-proclaimed 'young master'.
He had no modesty at all!
Lu Ran was better... well, just a nicer person, that's all.
The deity Lu Ran worshipped really left a lot to be desired!
The reason Wu Shanshan lacked confidence partly had to do with Lu Ran.
After all, the nature of Lord Immortal Goat was clear, benevolent and non-confrontational.
In such a case, how could Lu Ran possibly be a reliable teammate?
At the current stage, he was managing to maintain his personality.
But in the future?
Lu Ran might be influenced by the deity and be disciplined into a "good person" by Immortal Sheep.
Always preferring peace to conflict, willing to suffer in silence rather than compete.
Perhaps one day on the battlefield, Lu Ran would abandon his teammates and flee.
Because Divine·Immortal Goat did not seek conflict!
The Divine Techniques of the Immortal Sheep sect were also mostly about avoidance of combat.
Some students' opinions on Lu Ran and their desire to rely on him didn't concern Wu Shanshan.
She was one of the many who were filled with doubt about Lu Ran.
In her mind, Lu Ran, sooner or later, would drop the ball; he was only suitable as an early-stage teammate.
Due to the pressing timeline, with the assessment on the fifth day, and not being in a position to refuse the school's arrangement outright, she was only temporarily part of this team.
"Young master isn't good at written tests!" Deng Yutang stubbornly declared, "And as for sparring, I can't bear to hurt my fellow students.
But tomorrow's assessment will be different, we're going to kill dogs!
Ma Tianchuan should step down from his first-place throne as well."
Wu Shanshan snapped back to attention, displeased, "Stick to the topic, will you? There's no need for insults."
Deng Yutang: "..."
Finally, the silent Jiang Ruyi spoke up, her expression somewhat worried:
"Ma Tianchuan's team is also very strong and he's a believer of the Third-class God·Nuosha, in addition to several powerful teammates."
"It's not a First-class God." Wu Shanshan snorted with a touch of relief.
For two long years, she'd been overshadowed by Ma Tianchuan.
And after this year's Worship God ceremony, she finally surpassed him in terms of deity ranks!
"The rank of the deity doesn't matter, it's our own strength that counts," Deng Yutang shifted the conversation. "How's your practice going?"
Interestingly, Deng Yutang's eyes weren't on either of the prodigies, but on Lu Ran.
Lu Ran shrugged: "I'm almost at Mist Realm·Second Rank."
Wu Shanshan: "Ah?"
Deng Yutang's eyes shone brightly, internally affirming his expectations.
Jiang Ruyi raised her eyebrows slightly, asking, "When exactly?"
Lu Ran sensed within himself, "Tonight maybe, or tomorrow? Pretty close."
"So soon!" Wu Shanshan was surprised, skeptical, "I need at least three or four more days. How can you... oh, right!"
Wu Shanshan had an epiphany.
Indeed, Lu Ran worshipped the Nine-level God·Immortal Sheep, but before that, he had revered the Evil Demon·Yan Zhi!
In terms of innate talent, Lu Ran was indisputably the best in the whole school.
Remembering this made Wu Shanshan look at Lu Ran with a mixture of envy and pity.
It was such a waste.
To have such great potential and yet to venerate a sheep.
If he had revered any other deity, wouldn't Lu Ran be striding across the school?
Alas...
What a poor fellow.
"Let's go home early," Jiang Ruyi said, walking towards Lu Ran. "Advance to the next level as soon as possible, so we can have a better chance."
In normal society, worshippers could cultivate Divine Power too, like these few, surrounded by wisps of mist, none slacking off.
But in front of a Shrine or Divine Sculpture, the Divine Power would be even denser.
"Okay, let's go home!"