As expected, Tian Tian's weapon was a sword.
After practicing several formations and clarifying their respective positions, the group went to spar with other teams.
Tian Tian performed quite well!
Match after match, she diligently guarded Beauty Jiang's side, using petals to shield the goddess in her heart from wind and rain.
Deng Yutang had once been the team's only defensive bulwark. Once he was breached, Lu Ran had to rush in to put out the fires.
Now that they had a Sword Lotus Believer, Deng Yutang's pressure had greatly diminished, and Lu Ran could roam freely.
Jiang Ruyi, meanwhile, had gone utterly berserk!
With a relatively stable environment for dealing damage, the Electric Shackles Talismans in her hands flew everywhere, turning the entire Training Ground into a crackling, popping storm!
After several rounds of battle, the electric light flashing at her fingertips made the watching students tremble with fear.
It had to be said, the school had put real thought into this round of replacements~
By the time classes ended that morning, Tian Tian's face was full of gratitude. She bowed to them once more before hurrying away.
That entire morning, she had received nothing but care and encouragement, while her teammates showered her with praise without holding back.
Even when she made mistakes, Jiang Ruyi had not rebuked her.
For Tian Tian, who had been disliked and excluded, such a team environment was something she had never even dared to dream of.
"She's a good teammate, just not confident enough." Deng Yutang took off the sweat-soaked red turban on his head and shook out his hair.
That gesture had become his standard post-battle routine.
It really had the feeling of a "results animation."
"Mm." Jiang Ruyi watched Tian Tian's departing figure and sighed softly.
"What do you think?" Lu Ran sat on the concrete ground, looking at Beauty Jiang's tall, slender back.
"She's quite good, quite obedient." Jiang Ruyi said softly. "She suits our team very well."
"Indeed." Lu Ran strongly agreed.
When he had heard that Wu Shanshan was leaving the team that morning, he had thought: Fine, goodbye then. The next one will be more obedient!
Unexpectedly, an obedient girl had really arrived.
She did whatever they told her to do and followed Jiang Ruyi's orders unconditionally.
Even when Tian Tian spoke with Jiang Ruyi, she would unconsciously lower her head, looking respectful and humble.
Mm. She seemed a little too obedient?
"We can help her build confidence." Jiang Ruyi pondered. "Once the Lotus Sword leaves its sheath, our team will rise to another level."
Before she finished speaking, Jiang Ruyi suddenly began to tremble faintly.
Waves of Divine Power surged around her, leaving the two of them both startled and delighted.
Class Monitor was about to advance?
Lu Ran had advanced on the morning of the fifth day. Today was the Seventh Day. It was clear that Beauty Jiang's aptitude was also quite impressive.
A moment later, Lu Ran turned to look at Deng Yutang, raising an eyebrow slightly.
That tiny gesture alone made Deng Yutang's face turn red.
"Hmph." Deng Yutang turned his head away, stubbornly talking tough. "I'm about to advance too. What's the rush?"
Lu Ran chuckled.
Whoever was anxious knew it best~
Deng Yutang simply turned and walked away. "I'm going home to eat."
Lu Ran called out, "Don't forget to come back at one-thirty this afternoon. There are other students coming for tryouts."
Deng Yutang did not look back. He merely waved a hand, his movements exceptionally dashing.
"Mm~"
Beside him, Beauty Jiang suddenly let out a soft nasal sound, as though she felt very comfortable.
Lu Ran did too—he felt pretty good himself.
He knew the feeling of advancing all too well, and could not help savoring the memory.
It was utterly exhilarating!
"Don't tell anyone." Jiang Ruyi suddenly said in a low voice.
"Huh?" Lu Ran looked somewhat confused as he watched Beauty Jiang, surrounded by Divine Mist.
What was there to hide about advancing?
"It's nothing." Jiang Ruyi's face reddened, realizing she had overthought it.
It was mainly that the nasal sound she had made just now felt a little embarrassing.
Slightly awkward, she casually brushed aside the mist around her, drawing out strands of mist that looked dreamlike and illusory.
This mist was really misty.
"You want to hide your strength?" Lu Ran found it baffling, yet amusing.
In front of Tian Tian, Beauty Jiang was a gentle older sister.
Yet in front of him, she turned back into the girl who often blushed.
Interesting, huh?
"How about you? When will you be able to advance to Mist Realm: Third Stage?" Jiang Ruyi walked toward the edge of the field.
"You're really beautiful." Lu Ran curled his lip and followed after her.
"Speak properly." Jiang Ruyi said, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.
"I mean you wish!"
Jiang Ruyi: "."
"I only advanced two days ago. Uh—don't kick me, don't kick me. Put your leg down. Be more ladylike."
At noon, Lu Ran rushed home excitedly and reported the good news of taking first place on both rankings to the Immortal Sheep.
However, the Immortal Sheep did not send down a Voice Transmission.
Lord Sheep was not only domineering, but icy-cold as well.
Lu Ran did not pester him. He immediately entered cultivation mode before the shrine.
Naturally, he longed to advance to Mist Realm: Third Stage as soon as possible. That way, he could learn the new Divine Technique: Immortal Hoof.
This Divine Technique could greatly enhance his speed, making it even easier for him to roam the battlefield and kill enemies.
Although the Immortal Sheep had originally created Immortal Hoof so that his followers could avoid disputes and stay far from battlefields.
But that was fine.
Once Divine Technique: Immortal Hoof landed in Lu Ran's hands, exactly how it would be used was another matter entirely.
After all, Lu Ran was the kind of person who could beg for mercy while swinging a chair at someone.
Over the Seventh and Eighth Days, Lu Ran's team tested all four students.
The remaining three students each had their own strengths, but the group always felt that something was missing.
Not until the evening of the Eighth Day did the three-person group reach a unanimous decision and submit Tian Tian's name to the homeroom teacher.
Thus, Team 98's reconstruction was complete!
The group did not dare slack off. They trained hard and built coordination every day, waiting only for the final exam on the lunar fifteenth.
The days passed one after another, and soon it was the Lunar Thirteenth.
The four, tense as they prepared for battle, ran into an old acquaintance at the Training Ground—Wu Shanshan!
"Isn't that Wu Shanshan?" Deng Yutang was drenched in sweat as he held a wooden spear and looked beyond the wire fence.
Everyone turned to look. Lu Ran could not help raising an eyebrow. "From the look of it, are they here for us?"
Jiang Ruyi's brows knit slightly as she watched Wu Shanshan and her new teammates.
Tian Tian seemed a little nervous. She sidestepped, hiding her petite figure behind Beauty Jiang.
Because Wu Shanshan's new teammates were Tian Tian's former teammates!
After the Evil Dog Village assessment, many teams had undergone adjustments, and most had finalized their new lineups before the Eighth Day.
Over the past few days, everyone had learned which team Wu Shanshan had joined.
It was none other than the team of Ma Tianchuan, second in the entire school!
"Class Monitor Jiang, I hope you've been well." Ma Tianchuan took the lead, bringing his teammates into the field.
"Hi~" Wu Shanshan followed beside Ma Tianchuan, smiling as she waved to her former teammates.
Behind her stood another male and female teammate, both students from Class 7.
Deng Yutang snorted. "Squad Leader Wu, found the team that belongs to you?"
After hearing Jiang Ruyi relay Wu Shanshan's reason for leaving, he had once thought more highly of her.
It was perfectly natural for a soldier to want to become a general.
But when he heard that Wu Shanshan had joined Ma Tianchuan's team, Deng Yutang felt as though he could hear the slap-slap sound of being slapped across the face.
She could not be the leader on Jiang Ruyi's side, so she could go be one on Ma Tianchuan's side?
Wasn't that a complete joke?!
"Mm, what about you? How is the new team?" Wu Shanshan's smile did not fade, as though Deng Yutang's words did not bother her at all.
"Not bad." Deng Yutang answered without hesitation, giving their new teammate high praise.
"Tian Tian, you really are blessed!"
The other female teammate spoke with a smile, looking at the silent Tian Tian. "You left our team, only to enter the team ranked first!"
Tian Tian did not respond to the words of her former teammate, Wang Xinyao. She remained behind Jiang Ruyi.
One of her small hands even quietly grabbed the corner of Jiang Ruyi's clothes.
When Wang Xinyao saw that, the corners of her lips rose slightly.
That lofty, condescending posture made Deng Yutang quite unhappy. "From the sound of it, Tian Tian should thank you for kicking her out?"
Wang Xinyao's expression changed. "Why do you have to talk so unpleasantly?"
Lu Ran suddenly spoke up with a cheerful smile. "Our Young Master Deng just likes saying little truths~"
After Lu Ran praised him, Deng Yutang raised his head and puffed out his chest, looking quite proud. "That's right, I like telling the truth!"
Wang Xinyao immediately flared up. "You—"
The male teammate beside her, Zheng Cheng, was equally displeased. "Team adjustments are perfectly normal!
Everyone is doing it for better development. What's right or wrong about that?"
"Alright, alright." Ma Tianchuan spoke. "Don't be so hot-tempered."
Once the captain spoke, Wang Xinyao and Zheng Cheng both fell silent.
Ma Tianchuan explained his purpose. "For the past few days, I've been watching Class Monitor Jiang's team spar with other teams, and my hands have really been itching.
Before the final exam, how about our two teams have a spar?"
"You think we're afraid of you?" Deng Yutang immediately replied.
The people on the other side looked toward Jiang Ruyi, knowing who led Team 98.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Ruyi turned slightly and lowered her head to look at the silent Tian Tian. "Do you want to spar?"
Tian Tian's eyes widened slightly. Flattered by the attention, she did not know what to do.
All this time, she had always been the obedient one.
At home, she listened to her parents. At school, she listened to her teachers.
In this team, she listened to Captain Jiang Ruyi.
From childhood to adulthood, her wishes had never been important, and she had long grown accustomed to silence and obedience.
Tian Tian truly had not expected Jiang Ruyi to ask for her opinion.
"I, I..." Tian Tian stammered softly. "I'll listen to you."
Wu Shanshan urged her from across the way, "What is there to hesitate over?"
Wang Xinyao, meanwhile, looked toward Lu Ran with a trace of scrutiny in her eyes.
"I heard your understanding of Divine Techniques is quite unique. We're all curious!
Show us a thing or two later, so I can get a feel for it?"
"You might not be able to take it." Lu Ran smiled. "My Divine Technique is specially meant for killing evil demons.
Once I use it, blood has to be spilled."
Wang Xinyao's anger had not faded, and her expression was unfriendly. "Are you threatening me?"
To everyone's astonishment, Lu Ran actually nodded!
Not only that, he said something that left everyone dumbstruck: "Do you want to die?"
In an instant, the atmosphere in the field plunged to freezing point!
Wang Xinyao was a little panicked as well.
This Lambkin was indeed different from the other weak and timid Celestial Goat Believers.
He was truly unyielding!
"I'm joking. I'm not like Young Master Deng." Lu Ran suddenly smiled and waved his hand. "I like telling little lies~"
Everyone: ???
Wang Xinyao: "."
Though furious, Wang Xinyao did not speak again.
At the end of the day, Lu Ran's results were right there. He was the undisputed first place in the entire grade, someone who had practically scored full marks!
There had to be at least dozens of evil Vicious Hounds slain beneath his blade.
Jiang Ruyi looked at Tian Tian, whose head was lowered submissively, and said gently, "What do you think?"
"I..."
"It's alright. Speak." Jiang Ruyi's slender hand fell beside Tian Tian's ear, tucking the girl's hair behind it.
Tian Tian finally gathered her courage and said softly, "Maybe... maybe we shouldn't fight.
The day after tomorrow, we're joining the city defense operation. Don't... don't get hurt at a time like this."
"Mm." Jiang Ruyi turned to Ma Tianchuan. "Forget it. The final exams are in two days. There's no need to stir up unnecessary trouble."
Ma Tianchuan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. Then after the city defense mission, we'll come seek your guidance."
He could tell that everyone's tempers were running high.
Forcing a sparring match in an atmosphere like this would have been unwise. After all, the Night of the Fifteenth mission was the top priority.
What a pity. He had been hoping for a hearty, satisfying battle.
"Let's go." Ma Tianchuan turned and left, laughing. "Lu Ran, don't let me overtake you in this major exam!"
"I only got lucky last time." Lu Ran replied modestly. "This time, you're guaranteed first place."
Ma Tianchuan chuckled. "A sugar-coated bullet?"
Lu Ran shrugged. "I love telling little lies~"
Ma Tianchuan: "."
Everyone: "."
"Hmph." Deng Yutang watched them leave. "What sparring? They came looking for trouble."
"From now on, be like this today." Jiang Ruyi rubbed Tian Tian's head. "Whatever you're thinking, tell us. Don't always swallow your grievances.
"We're a whole. In the future, we'll have to face many problems together."
"Mhm, mhm." Tian Tian answered softly, her little hands twisting together as she lowered her head even further.
She looked just like a meek little wife, didn't she?
On this particular track, Lu Ran could somewhat relate to Tian Tian.
After all, when Lu Ran faced President Overbearing Sheep, if he was told to shut up, he had to shut up; if he was told to sleep, he had to sleep~
Jiang Ruyi turned to Deng Yutang and teased, "Since there was no fight, I suppose that left you feeling wronged."
"Defending the city matters more." Deng Yutang naturally knew what took priority. "In this major exam, I'll just keep Ma Tianchuan pinned beneath me."
Wu Shanshan might have left, but one thing she said was quite right.
Whenever Deng Yutang mentioned the name "Ma Tianchuan," it always sounded like he was cursing in the street.
"What do you say, Brother Lu?" Deng Yutang looked at Lu Ran. "Shall we teach them another lesson?"
"Let's survive first, then talk about scores." Jiang Ruyi corrected the team's philosophy, afraid Lu Ran would get carried away and fool around with Deng Yutang.
"Mhm, mhm, Beauty Jiang is right!" Lu Ran nodded decisively.
Hearing Lu Ran answer like that, Jiang Ruyi relaxed and said softly, "That's enough for today. Go home and cultivate properly. Oh, right."
She looked at Lu Ran again. "You said yesterday that you were about to advance to Mist Realm: Third Stage."
Lu Ran carefully sensed it and confirmed, "It'll happen within the next couple of days."
Tian Tian secretly raised her head and looked at Lu Ran with worship in her eyes.
He was breaking through again?
So amazing.
Jiang Ruyi noticed the girl's furtive little expression and could not help patting her head, teasing:
"The day after tomorrow, you'll have to protect us well."
"Mhm, mhm." Tian Tian hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to sneak another look.
Before you continue