Lantern Festival

"Buzz buzz."

Next to the pillow, the phone vibrated continuously, waking the person sleeping soundly in bed.

Lu Ran, with sleepy eyes, fumbled around the pillow with one hand, finally picking up the phone and groggily saying, "Hello?"

"Brother!" A sweet voice came from the other end of the line.

"Who is it?" Lu Ran sat up, feeling a terrible headache.

This sleep, why did he feel more tired the more he slept?

"My foolish brother!"

From the other end of the phone, the girl's displeased voice came, "I already called you brother, who else could I be?"

"Yuanxi." Lu Ran patted his forehead, "I was groggy from sleep."

Qiao Yuanxi, Lu Ran's younger sister, took their mother Qiao Wanjun's surname. She was one year younger than Lu Ran.

Although the siblings had lived separately since childhood due to their parents' divorce, it hadn't affected their relationship.

Furthermore, when Lu Ran was 13, he was brought back to the Capital City by his mother. The siblings lived under the same roof for three years, and their relationship had always been good.

"You've been sleeping all day, still not awake?" Qiao Yuanxi said softly, "I'm already awake."

Lu Ran was indeed groggy. He turned his head to look out the window and saw that night had fallen, and the heavy rain had not stopped.

This is really unbelievable!

Lu Ran's brows furrowed, and a familiar feeling surged in his heart.

Did I forget something important again?

Why did I say "again"?

That's right, after the assessment in Evil Dog Village, I went home and slept. The next morning, I also felt like I had forgotten something.

What was it?

"Brother?"

"Hey, I'm here." Lu Ran scratched his head in distress.

"It's so boring. Every Lunar Fifteenth is like being detained," Qiao Yuanxi said unhappily. "It's detention for several days."

"Heh heh." Lu Ran couldn't help but chuckle.

He deeply empathized with this.

Even though Lu Ran had become a Believer, he had to stay at home during these three days, from the 16th to the 18th, and couldn't go anywhere.

There might still be Evil wandering in the city.

The devastated city also needed the authorities to clean up and repair it.

"What are you laughing at?" Qiao Yuanxi's tone shifted, and she asked with concern, "Were you injured last night?"

"Injured?" Lu Ran, adhering to the principle of reporting good news and not bad news, bluffed, "Your brother was on a killing spree!

Like a god~"

"No swearing!"

"Oh? You're telling me what to do now?"

Qiao Yuanxi's voice was drawn out, "My phone is on speaker, Mom is listening nearby."

Lu Ran: "..."

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuanxi suddenly giggled, "Silly, I was just kidding!"

Lu Ran: ???

Good heavens!

Usually, I'm the one messing with others, but today I've met my match.

Qiao Yuanxi: "When are you coming to see me? I want to eat hamburgers."

Lu Ran said helplessly, "Buy it yourself then, do I have to buy it for you?"

Qiao Yuanxi muttered softly, "It's such a waste of lettuce to lose it."

Lu Ran: "..."

Listen to this, is this something a person would say?

For three whole years, how many hamburgers have we eaten, and how many lettuce slices have I eaten for you?

You're treating me like a sheep. Wait?

Don't say it, you really can't say it!

Qiao Yuanxi: "Hurry up and tell me, when are you coming to see me?"

Hearing this, Lu Ran felt a bit conflicted.

The fifteenth city defense mission was indeed the final exam for the second year of high school. Starting today, Lu Ran was officially on summer vacation.

The problem is, the first summer vacation after becoming a believer, the students' tasks are quite heavy.

Before the start of the third year of high school, Lu Ran only had about a month to upgrade the equipment rewarded by the school.

The so-called equipment:

First, the divine power bead rewarded by the school after the novice assessment (Evil Dog Village assessment).

Second, the weapon rewarded by the school after the novice's first city defense mission.

For example, if you ranked tenth in the Evil Dog Village assessment and received a Mist Grade divine power bead from the school.

Then, during this summer vacation, you can kill evil spirits in the Demon Lair and collect 100 Mist Realm magic crystals to submit to the military.

As long as the conditions are met, the military will exchange your Mist Grade divine power bead for a higher-tier Stream Grade divine power bead.

It is especially important to emphasize:

Students work as a squad, not everyone needs to submit 100 Mist Realm magic crystals. The four-person team only needs to collectively submit 100.

Given this, why does Lu Ran think this task is difficult?

Because the reward the school gave him was the best, a Stream Grade divine power bead!

Therefore, if Lu Ran and his squad want to upgrade their equipment, collecting 100 Mist Realm magic crystals is not enough.

They need to collect 100 Stream Realm magic crystals!

Or, calculated proportionally, collect 1,000 Mist Realm magic crystals!

It is bound to be difficult.

But Lu Ran really wants to try!

After all, the benefits of this task are immense!

If Lu Ran successfully exchanges his Stream Grade divine power bead for a River Grade divine power bead.

Then, for his entire high school career, he will basically have no issues with endurance for any mission released by the school!

Two big words: Take off~

"Brother doesn't like me anymore." After not receiving a response for a long time, Qiao Yuanxi's voice was melancholic.

"No, no." Lu Ran explained, "It's mainly because I've become a believer and need to train in the Demon Lair."

Qiao Yuanxi: "Can we go together?"

"Don't be silly!" Lu Ran was unusually serious, "The Demon Lair is not a place for playing."

At this stage, Lu Ran did not have the ability to protect his sister well.

Even if he had immense power, the military would not allow ordinary people to enter the Demon Lair.

Qiao Yuanxi: "I need to train too!"

Lu Ran almost laughed in anger: "Train what? Train your courage?"

"Hmph." Qiao Yuanxi was very unhappy, "Who isn't a believer?"

"What do you mean, are you a believer?"

"I am."

"You are a believer. Huh?" Lu Ran was completely taken aback.

"My foolish brother,"

Qiao Yuanxi muttered, with a hint of Lu Ran's demeanor: "I've been a believer for fifteen days, and you still don't know.

The first thing I said on the phone was 'I'm awake,' and you didn't catch on at all.

I also stayed up all night to participate in the city defense mission!"

Lu Ran was very surprised: "You're only 16, and you're in your first year of high school. You're not even qualified to participate in the worshiping ceremony. What kind of believer are you?"

Qiao Yuanxi whispered, "After the worshiping ceremony ended, I snuck onto the God-Worshipping Platform before it was completely dismantled and tried it."

Lu Ran: "Ah?"

Snuck onto the God-Worshipping Platform before it was dismantled? Tried it?!

His sister was indeed a bit mischievous, but Lu Ran never expected her to be this naughty.

Qiao Yuanxi looked quite troubled: "Oh dear, I accidentally succeeded~

The teachers and classmates were all stunned. I'm the only believer in the entire first-year cohort, haha!"

Lu Ran: "Ah???"

"Hehe~" Qiao Yuanxi giggled happily. After half a month of hiding, she finally got the result she wanted.

In fact, Qiao Yuanxi still had a sliver of hope that her brother would discover it himself.

Lu Ran's head was buzzing.

I, who fought desperately on the God-Worshipping Platform, begging the gods in the sky, and none of them paid attention to me.

You just snuck over and tried it, and you succeeded?

"Wait." Lu Ran said irritably, "Did you lie to me again?"

"I didn't lie to you. I specifically told Mom not to tell you, to see when you'd find out," Qiao Yuanxi sighed.

This girl had the makings of a drama queen since childhood: "It's been so long, you really don't care about me at all. My foolish and cold-blooded brother."

Lu Ran asked directly, "What kind of believer are you?"

"I'm a believer of a third-class god. She's a very beautiful god!" Qiao Yuanxi smiled, "Guess who?"

Lu Ran's spirits immediately lifted: "Lord Jade Talisman?"

"Not the god my dad believes in." Qiao Yuanxi's expression was strange. Could Lord Jade Talisman be described as 'beautiful'? Lord Jade Talisman was clearly a male god!

"Then who is it?" Lu Ran was very curious.

Qiao Yuanxi's eyes darted around: "Come to the capital city to visit me? If you come find me, I'll tell you."

Lu Ran thought for a moment and decided: "After my teammates and I finish our summer vacation missions, I'll come find you immediately."

"Then it's settled!" Qiao Yuanxi, afraid Lu Ran would go back on his word, hung up the phone.

"Amazing," Lu Ran put down his phone, filled with emotion.

At 16, one could become a god's believer? Generally, one had to be 17 or 18. After all, gods had requirements for a believer's physical and mental strength. Hmm. My sister's birthday is quite significant. The reason she's called 'Yuanxi' is because she was born on the Lantern Festival. So, even though Qiao Yuanxi is 16, her body and mind are already ready? We don't know about her mental state, but physically, my sister has indeed grown into a graceful young lady. When I saw her during the New Year, Qiao Yuanxi was already 1.68 meters tall. These things are understandable, but the key issue is... Qiao Yuanxi secretly worshipped the gods and succeeded? Half a month ago, when Lu Ran participated in a worshiping ceremony, he sensed something was different. This year, the probability of students becoming believers has significantly increased compared to previous years! So, Qiao Yuanxi is also a beneficiary of this expansion of gods?

"Third-class god believer," Lu Ran muttered to himself, "Yuanxi, you're incredible?" You're almost catching up to your brother! After all, no matter how powerful you are, you're still worshipping a god. You haven't broken out of the god sequence. But I, I invited Yanzhiren. Huh? Lu Ran's brow suddenly furrowed. Mentioning Yanzhiren, he vaguely remembered something. Yanzhiren. Yanzhiren?! Lu Ran tapped his forehead in distress. After an unknown amount of time, his body suddenly trembled. Like a startled cat, his hair stood on end! I remember! I had a dream. In the dream, there was a seductive and beautiful Yanzhiren, and a stunning statue of Yanzhiren. There was also a terrifying goat head burning with black fire. No, the dreams I had were more than just that! I also dreamed of a statue of evil dogs, a statue of Blood Disaster Hounds. Lu Ran suddenly turned his head, looking towards the shrine, towards the warm, white jade sculpture of a celestial sheep. The white jade goat's face still wore a kind smile. Its hind legs were on the ground, and its front legs were clasped in front of it in a gesture of friendly humility. It stood quietly, always looking kind and loving. But at this moment, Lu Ran felt a chill run down his spine!