Divine Power Bead

This world was indeed dangerous, indeed cruel.

Even if you only wanted to be an ordinary person and live out an ordinary life, you still had to give it everything you had.

On every full-moon night, demons of any strength rank could descend upon the world and bring calamity to humankind.

After the fifteenth of each month, the reports of casualties from all over the world were all bloody facts.

"After the fifteenth this month, I hope I can still see all of you," Li Yanzhu said gravely.

The cheerful atmosphere in the classroom vanished without a trace, leaving only deathly silence.

Li Yanzhu gave the students ample time to reflect before she spoke again. "Team 98."

Jiang Ruyi and Deng Yutang immediately stood up.

As for why Lu Ran did not stand, it was because he had been standing all along. He had never sat down.

Li Yanzhu took out three small red boxes and placed them on the podium. "Your team placed first in the entire school in this assessment. These are your rewards. Come up and collect them."

The Three-Person Group immediately stepped out and headed for the podium.

The school's rewards were distributed according to team rankings.

Individual rankings only came with Believer Points rewards. As for everything else, students could go home and report to their Gods.

For a believer, a God's recognition was undoubtedly the greatest reward!

As for whether the Gods would bestow blessings or take an interest in giving you a few pointers, that was a matter between the two of you.

"Check it," Li Yanzhu said, her tone much gentler as she watched Jiang Ruyi approach the podium.

"Let me check." Li Yanzhu looked at Jiang Ruyi, who had come to the front of the stage, and her tone softened considerably.

The pearl was only the size of a fingertip. It looked like crystal, though it was not particularly translucent.

Visible to the naked eye, wisps of mist still drifted within the pearl.

A Divine Power Bead!

Judging from its size, it should have been a Stream Grade Divine Power Bead.

In this world, whether it was a believer's strength rank, a divine art's grade, or a treasure's quality, all of them used the same evaluation system:

Mist, Stream, River, Jiang, Sea.

For a high school in a small county town, Yuxiang No. 1 High School was already being quite generous by offering Stream Grade Divine Power Beads as rewards for the students' first assessment.

It was worth mentioning that this treasure's quality could still be raised.

That was not to say Divine Power Beads possessed growth potential.

Rather, Great Xia had a special welfare policy exclusively for novice believers.

During summer vacation, as long as Lu Ran completed the corresponding tasks, he could trade in the old for the new and exchange it for a higher-grade Divine Power Bead.

Li Yanzhu cautioned them, "When using this Magic Treasure to assist you in battle, you must not drain all the divine power within the bead. First, sense the total amount of divine power inside. This portion of divine power is the foundation that keeps the Divine Power Bead functioning normally."

"Unless you are facing a life-and-death moment, you must never kill the chicken to get the eggs!"

"Okay, Teacher," Jiang Ruyi said.

Her fingers were slender and fair, her fingertips pinching the crystal-clear bead as she examined it closely.

For a moment, Lu Ran could not tell whether the bead was prettier or her hand was more exquisite.

Mm. Both were good, both were good~

"You two, did you remember that?" Li Yanzhu looked toward Lu and Deng.

Lu Ran immediately nodded. He knew the characteristics of Divine Power Beads better than anyone.

Father had possessed Divine Power Beads, and more than one of them.

Yet on that full-moon night, all Father left behind in this world was a bloodstained Xiaguang Saber.

It was said that every Divine Power Bead hanging around Father's neck had shattered.

It was hard to imagine just how brutal that battle had been.

Of course, it was also possible that after Father sacrificed himself, the Demon Race drained the energy from the beads and completely sucked them apart.

But Lu Ran was more willing to believe the former.

As unyielding as Father was, he must have fought until his strength was exhausted that night, until his ammunition was spent and his supplies depleted.

"Go back," Li Yanzhu encouraged them. "Guard against arrogance and impatience, and keep up the good work."

"Yes." Lu Ran closed the Small Box and quickly returned to his seat.

The students all cast envious looks their way.

One had to know that only the top ten teams received Divine Power Bead rewards!

As for students in the other teams, they could only purchase Divine Power Beads in private.

And the Divine Power Beads circulating on the market were mostly the lowest-grade Mist Grade Divine Power Beads.

One Mist Grade Divine Power Bead could only store the energy of eight to ten Mist Realm demons. Its storage capacity was tiny.

One Stream Grade Divine Power Bead, however, could store the energy of eight to ten Stream Realm demons—equivalent to the energy of eighty to a hundred Mist Realm demons!

What kind of gap was that?

More terrifying still—

A Stream Grade Divine Power Bead was already good enough, yet as one of the top ten, Lu Ran could further raise this Divine Power Bead's grade through summer tasks!

What did it mean to take one step ahead and stay ahead at every step?

Just enjoy it and be done with it!

The question was:

Magic Crystals dropped by the Demon Race also had endurance-restoring effects, so why were commoners so obsessed with possessing Divine Power Beads?

First, Divine Power Beads could squeeze out the final shred of energy within a demon's body.

Take the corpse of a Vicious Hound, for instance. Only a Divine Power Bead could drain a Dog Corpse clean; otherwise, it was merely a corpse.

Second, many demons had no physical form!

Take the demon Yanzhiren, for example.

She appeared to have a Flesh and Blood Body, but in truth, her body was pieced together from pure energy. Killing Yanzhiren would not make a Magic Crystal drop.

You could understand it as Yanzhiren's body itself being a "Magic Crystal."

It was just that you could not directly absorb her while she was alive. You had to shatter her first, then collect the energy into the bead.

"This summer vacation is going to be busy."

Lu Ran forcibly suppressed his joy, playing with the Small Box as he dropped into his seat.

After school, he planned to find a jewelry shop to have it fitted, then wear the Divine Power Bead around his neck from then on.

Before Lu Ran had even settled into his seat, Li Yanzhu informed everyone to gather at the Training Ground.

Her exact words were, "The instructors who led you during your assessment in Evil Dog Village have all been invited to the school and are waiting at the Training Ground."

"You may ask the instructors about any problems you encountered in actual combat."

Hearing this, Lu Ran could not help raising an eyebrow.

Instructor Dou Zhiqiang had come?

So when he went to the Training Ground in a moment, he would get to see Wu Shanshan?

"After you see your former teammate, don't act impulsively. If you have something to say, say it properly." Jiang Ruyi moved her arm and lightly bumped Lu Ran's elbow.

Lu Ran: "..."

I'm not some impulsive, hot-tempered person.

I only fought Kou Yingquan because I could endure it no longer.

"Did you hear me?" The girl looked at Lu Ran and earnestly tried to persuade him.

Lu Ran gestured toward the center of their desks. "Your hand. Your hand crossed the line."

Jiang Ruyi was speechless.

Are you an elementary school student?

Seeing that the girl did not move, Lu Ran immediately reached out to grab her. "If it's on my side of the desk, then it's mine!"

Jiang Ruyi hurriedly pulled back her fair, tender hand.

A little annoyed, she rolled her eyes at Lu Ran, only to spot his elbow crossing the line. She immediately said, "You crossed the line too."

"Mm-hm, I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you." Lu Ran proactively extended his hand. "If you like it, you can have it all."

"Who likes it?" Jiang Ruyi's face turned crimson. Both embarrassed and annoyed, she slapped Lu Ran's arm.

Smack~

"Everyone, go to the Training Ground now," Li Yanzhu's voice came again. "Team 98, stay behind!"

Jiang Ruyi immediately lowered her head, thinking her little movements had been noticed and that was why the team had been kept behind.

For a moment, anger flared in her heart, and Lu Ran made her teeth itch with fury.

The students in the class rose one after another and quickly left.

Only after the classroom had become completely empty did Deng, Jiang, and Lu gather around the podium again at their teacher's signal.

"The school has announced that your team will undergo some adjustments." Li Yanzhu looked at the three of them. "The school has listened to your wishes, so the three of you will remain unchanged for now."

Hearing this, Jiang Ruyi relaxed. Lu and Deng felt their hearts settle as well.

Li Yanzhu advised them, "Changes in team members are perfectly normal. Don't have any unnecessary thoughts about it."

"Before the start of senior year, this is precisely the stage for forming and running in teams. No team is set in stone."

"We understand," Jiang Ruyi said quietly. "Wu Shanshan called me last night too and explained things."

"Huh?"

Deng Yutang and Lu Ran both looked toward Class Monitor Jiang.

Li Yanzhu nodded. "Your Results are excellent, and the school has listed you as priority trainees. Many students wish to join you."

"After the School Authorities' comprehensive consideration, four Candidate Students have been selected for you. They belong to different Gods' underlings, each with their own characteristics, and all are well suited to your team."

"Today and tomorrow, these four students will report to you one after another at staggered times for trial training."

"Haha, that is exactly as it should be!" Deng Yutang laughed heartily.

Lu Ran was interested too. "I'm a judge now?"

This kind of feels like Great Xia Voice?

*If you want me to turn around, shouldn't you offer up something first?~

Li Yanzhu looked at Jiang Ruyi. "Before eight tomorrow evening, unify the opinions within your team. Choose one new teammate from the four candidates and report it to me."

"Okay, Teacher Li."

"Go on." Li Yanzhu waved her hand. "Training Ground No. 13."

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Teacher Li."

The Three-Person Group bade farewell to their homeroom teacher and swiftly left, heading for the Training Ground on the school's northern side, nestled within the forest.

Though it was called a Training Ground, it was really just several patches of concrete enclosed by wire fencing, much like basketball courts.

The difference was that there were no basketball hoops, only weapon racks filled with all kinds of wooden weapons.

While they hurried along, Deng Yutang asked curiously, "Class Monitor, what did Wu Shanshan tell you?"

"She said that after discussing it with the teachers and her family, she felt she was not very suited to this team."

Jiang Ruyi spoke softly. "She said that after discussing it with her teachers and family, she felt that she wasn't very suitable for this team."

"Heh." Deng Yutang snorted. "How was she not suited?"

"There was one thing she said that was quite true." Jiang Ruyi thought for a moment. "Wu Shanshan said this was not her team."

"She wants to be captain?" Deng Yutang's expression was strange.

If Wu Shanshan wanted to be a leader rather than distrusting her teammates or holding prejudice against Lu Ran—

Then Deng Yutang truly would have looked at her in a higher light.

"I see the instructor." Lu Ran interrupted them and gestured into the distance.

Through the wire fence, they saw a familiar figure.

They did not see Wu Shanshan, though. She was probably off teaming up.

"Instructor Dou!"

"Instructor!" The group quickened their pace and jogged into the grounds.

Dou Zhiqiang said, "Time is tight. I'll first go over some of the problems that arose during your mission."

This soldier really was swift and decisive.

Lu Ran raised his hand. "Instructor, I have a question. Could you answer it first?"

"Speak."

Lu Ran said, "I've been wondering the whole time—how did I get these ninety-eight points?"

The scores for this assessment were the results issued by the military after the proctoring instructors submitted their reports.

And on the individual results ranking released by the military, Second Place had only scored eighty-seven points. Lu Ran was leading by a cliff!

Dou Zhiqiang explained, "Your understanding and use of the Immortal Sheep Sect's divine arts far surpassed everyone else's."

Lu Ran said, "So that's how it is..."

Dou Zhiqiang continued, "Because of your outstanding performance, your team underwent Transforming the Body and Changing the Bones, forming an overwhelming advantage against the Vicious Dog Clan."

"Your success rate reached one hundred percent. Your efficiency in killing enemies was higher, and you yourselves were safer."

"Hehe~" Lu Ran smiled. "Well, look at how things turned out."

Dou Zhiqiang kept a cold face. "Do you have any other questions?"

Lu Ran: "..."

Why are you being so fierce?

Dou Zhiqiang said coldly, "If not, I'll begin."

Lu Ran raised his hand again.

Dou Zhiqiang frowned slightly. "Ask."

Lu Ran really was bold. He blurted out, "Since I'm so impressive, where were those two points deducted?"

Dou Zhiqiang: ???

Deng Yutang was a little dumbfounded too. "Good Stuff."

Jiang Ruyi reacted quickly, reaching out to seize Lu Ran's wrist and press down his raised hand.

"Instructor, please tell us our problems. Lu Ran has no more questions."

Lu Ran felt miserable.

When did I say I had no questions?

By the instructor's logic, even full marks couldn't hold me back—I'd have to score 120!

Thanks to Alliance Leader Xiaodaofengli for the 100,000 reward.

Thanks to Big Bro for his care and support. May Big Bro's writing career sail with favorable winds, grow better and better with every book, and soar all the way to the heavens.