The Rank-Climbing Dream Team?

Lu Ran trained on the sports field all morning beneath the blazing sun, taking on quite a few clients along the way.

In this sweltering weather, whenever classmates came to ask Lu Ran to team up, most of them brought a bottle of water or something similar.

As the drinks piled up, the classmates trying to curry favor grew more inventive, bringing instant noodles, Spicy Strips, sausage rolls, and all sorts of things.

By the very end, Lu Ran had turned into a schoolyard vendor!

He stood alone on the south side of the sports field, surrounded by a heap of drinks and snacks.

When school let out at noon, many students saw the scene and laughed themselves silly.

Li Yanzhu was both amused and exasperated. She ordered Lu Ran to pack up his stall and go eat in the cafeteria.

Lu Ran stuffed everything into a huge plastic bag—peanuts, sunflower seeds, grilled fish fillets, milk, beverages, bottled water, and the like—and ran off in a flash.

That was way too socially mortifying.

He had every reason to suspect that some classmates had not come to team up at all, but simply to join the fun and egg things on by bringing him food.

Seriously, who gave Strong Liquor to a seventeen-year-old boy as a gift?

Who were they calling weak?

And why did the school convenience store even sell that stuff?

Report it! It had to be reported!

Mm.

That afternoon, Lu Ran tried returning to the class group. Li Yanzhu saw him, but she did not say anything.

Lu Ran was overjoyed. Teacher Li's big board had been raised high, only to come down lightly.

Of course, he still had to hand in his self-criticism.

After school that evening, Lu Ran went home and racked his brains, writing furiously. With the help of the internet, he eventually produced a full five-thousand-word self-criticism.

Its sincerity of wording and uprightness of attitude left the homeroom teacher quite satisfied.

And with that, the matter was considered over.

From the second to the fourth day of the lunar month, all classes were outdoor training sessions, meant to let the students choose teammates and build chemistry.

Over those three days, Lu Ran and Goddess Jiang held trial training with many classmates.

In the end, the two still chose the valiant and fierce Red Turban Believer, Deng Yutang!

Forming a team required not only agreement from both sides, but also compliance with the school authorities' guidance.

As one of the school's key students, after Jiang Ruyi agreed to team up with Lu Ran, the school assigned another member to their squad, filling its final vacancy.

This person had quite an impressive background!

It had been mentioned before that Jiang Ruyi had always occupied one of the Top Three in the Grade. In truth, the boy in First Place was miles ahead of second and third.

All along, Jiang Ruyi had competed with another female student for Second Place.

And the person the school assigned to their team was Jiang Ruyi's old rival, the squad leader of Class 12, Grade Two—Wu Shanshan.

This girl was no ordinary person!

Also among the Top Three in the Grade, Wu Shanshan had worshipped a Second-Class God—Asha!

God Asha was a female God Sculpture holding a longbow. This God Sculpture stood on Sand Island, an island in southern Great Xia.

Among the people, this god was also known as the "South Sea Bow."

Standing alongside it were the North Wind Blade, West Wasteland Axe, and East Thunder Halberd.

These four gods, positioned along Great Xia's four borderlands, were all gods of the second rank and collectively known as the Four Directions Military Heroes.

Thus, Lu Ran's team was complete!

There was Wu Shanshan, a Second-Class God Asha Believer; Jiang Ruyi, a Third-Rank God Jade Talisman Believer; Deng Yutang, a Fifth Grade God Red Turban Believer; and—

Lu Ran, a Ninth Rank God Celestial Goat Believer.

Did something strange seem to have slipped into the mix?

Mm. That was unimportant. What mattered was building chemistry!

The four-person team trained diligently, repeatedly drilling formations under their teachers' guidance and finding the right role for each person.

Unfortunately, the team's coordination was not all that good.

Even when school let out on the afternoon of the fourth day, everyone still felt uncertain.

"I'm tired. I'm done playing." Wu Shanshan plopped down onto the cement floor of the Training Ground. Drenched in sweat, she could no longer be bothered with maintaining a ladylike image.

Several same-grade students serving as sparring partners stopped in unison. Faced with this willful Son of Heaven, they were helpless.

Jiang Ruyi's brows drew together slightly. She did not like Wu Shanshan making decisions on her own.

Both of them ranked near the top in overall results, and both were squad leaders. They were used to being surrounded like stars by the moon, used to giving orders.

Command authority within the team had always been a major problem.

Wu Shanshan rubbed her hair and looked ahead in distress. "One of you keeps roaring like a baby, and the other keeps bleating. You're giving me a headache."

With a Red Turban wrapped around his head and a Red Tasseled Spear in hand, Deng Yutang casually forced back a sparring student, looking utterly dashing.

Without even turning his head, he said, "If I hadn't boosted your Battle Intent, wouldn't you have fallen for my Brother Lu?"

Red Turban Divine Technique: Red Turban Order—A battle-roar technique that strengthened the target's fighting spirit.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Wu Shanshan retorted.

"Nonsense?" Deng Yutang turned to look at the stubborn girl. "Just now, I could practically see the radiance of Motherly Love on your face."

Lu Ran, who had been watching the spectacle, immediately had his smiling face freeze.

Motherly Love?

Motherly Love???

"Lu Ran was crying so pitifully. Who could stand that?" Wu Shanshan said angrily. "You people really do have hearts of stone."

As she spoke, Wu Shanshan noticed Lu Ran standing foolishly to one side.

She immediately said, "Ran Bao, say something for me!"

Lu Ran: ???

Who was her Ran Bao?

"Ran Bao?" Wu Shanshan blinked, tilting her head as she looked at Lu Ran.

"Get lost," Lu Ran said irritably.

"Hehe~" Wu Shanshan covered her mouth with one hand and burst into laughter.

Jiang Ruyi watched the two joking and bickering with a distant gaze, feeling a little uncomfortable inside.

You were the one who shouted so loudly that you wanted to team up with me.

First, curse Kou Yingquan. Then understand Kou Yingquan. Then become Kou Yingquan!

The whole world—

Was one enormous Vinegar Jar.

"Let's stop here for today. School ended a while ago, and the teachers have all left. No one is here to guide us." Jiang Ruyi spoke at the right moment, addressing the same-grade students.

"Alright."

"See you. Good luck tomorrow!"

"Let us encourage one another, let us encourage one another."

The two teams exchanged polite farewells, leaving only Lu Ran and the others in the Training Ground.

"Tomorrow, we're heading to Evil Dog Village." Wu Shanshan said it casually.

Deng Yutang likewise said casually, "I heard First Place gets a high-quality Divine Power Bead?"

Divine Power Beads could absorb and store divine power. They were excellent items for believers' Combat Endurance and cultivation assistance.

"I'll be satisfied if we make the Top Three." Wu Shanshan sighed softly. "We've had too little time to coordinate, and our teamwork still isn't smooth enough."

However, Lu Ran did not agree with Squad Leader Wu's words.

Our time was short—

But everyone else's was short too!

Besides, Lu Ran truly thought this team's lineup was quite good.

Deng Yutang was valiant and fierce, charging at the front. His Red Tasseled Spear swept wide and bold—he was practically the big brother of the top lane!

Jiang Ruyi controlled the field from the center and held the Overall Situation in her grasp, naturally serving as the team's central pillar in mid lane.

And believers of the Divine Jade Talisman were all Late Stage players!

Once Goddess Jiang grew stronger, she would not only control the field, but use Jade Talismans as a medium to unleash Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire.

Her damage output would be astonishing!

As the believer of the "South Sea Bow," Wu Shanshan was powerful from beginning to end. Right now, she was the team's main source of damage.

Lu Ran considered himself fairly nimble. With a Tang-style Katana in hand, he roamed back and forth, supporting every position. It really felt like playing jungle.

Once he cultivated to Mist Realm: Third Stage and learned Divine Technique: Immortal Hoof, Lu Ran's speed would rise to another level!

At that point, he would be even better suited to the jungle~

As for a support dad—

The team was full of big daddies already. What need was there for another dad?

With a lineup like this, other students were practically drooling with envy.

Wasn't this obviously a rank-climbing dream team?

"Woman!" Deng Yutang said disdainfully. "Why aim so low? What I want is First Place!"

Wu Shanshan shot the overconfident Deng Yutang a sidelong glare. "As if you've ever taken First Place in the whole school.

Jiang Ruyi and I haven't even said anything, yet you're the one getting worked up?"

Jiang Ruyi: "."

At the beginning of their team-up, Wu Shanshan had once stared at Deng Yutang with a lovestruck face.

But as they interacted more and more, she began to dislike this guy who called himself "this young master."

He was not humble in the slightest!

Lu Ran was better. Mm, though only as a person.

The god Lu Ran worshipped was truly pathetic!

One reason Wu Shanshan lacked confidence was Lu Ran.

After all, Immortal Sheep's nature was right there: be kind to others, yield and never contend.

Under such circumstances, how could Lu Ran possibly be a reliable teammate?

At this stage, he could still maintain his own personality.

But what about later?

Lu Ran was very likely to be influenced by his god and disciplined by Immortal Sheep into a "wonderful person."

He would value harmony in all matters, endure grievances, and no longer strive to outdo others.

Perhaps someday in the future, on a battlefield, Lu Ran would abandon his teammates and turn around to flee.

Because God Immortal Sheep did not wish to fight!

Most of the Immortal Sheep Sect's divine techniques were also methods of avoiding battle. That was how they were meant to be used.

Wu Shanshan did not care how some students viewed Lu Ran or how much they wanted to cling to his thigh.

She was one among the majority, full of concerns about Lu Ran.

In Wu Shanshan's mind, Lu Ran would drop the ball sooner or later. He was only suitable as an early-stage teammate.

Because time was tight, with the assessment on the Fifth Day, and because Wu Shanshan could not directly refuse the school's arrangement, she had temporarily joined this team.

"This young master isn't good at written exams!" Deng Yutang's mouth remained stubborn. "As for sparring matches, I couldn't bear to strike my classmates.

Tomorrow's assessment is different. We're going to kill dogs!

Ma Tianchuan should get down from his First Place seat too."

Wu Shanshan came back to her senses and said unhappily, "Say what you mean. Don't insult people."

Deng Yutang: "."

The silent Jiang Ruyi finally spoke, her expression somewhat worried.

"Ma Tianchuan's team is strong too. He himself is a Third-Rate God Nuo Sha Believer, and he has several powerful teammates."

"It's not like he worshipped a First-Class God." Wu Shanshan snorted, secretly delighted.

For a full two years, Ma Tianchuan had kept her beneath his feet.

Yet after this year's god worship, she had finally surpassed him in divine rank!

"A god's grade isn't what matters. It still depends on our own fighting strength." Deng Yutang abruptly changed the subject. "How's your cultivation going?"

Interestingly, Deng Yutang did not look at either of the two Sons of Heaven at all. Instead, he looked directly at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran shrugged. "I'm almost at Mist Realm: Second Stage."

Wu Shanshan said, "Huh?"

Deng Yutang's eyes brightened, inwardly thinking that it was just as he had expected!

Jiang Ruyi raised her brows slightly and asked, "Exactly when?"

Lu Ran carefully sensed it. "Tonight, maybe tomorrow? More or less."

"So fast!" Wu Shanshan looked astonished, deeply suspicious. "I'll need at least another three or four days. How did you—oh, right!"

Wu Shanshan suddenly understood.

Lu Ran had indeed worshipped a Ninth Rank God, Immortal Sheep, but before that, he had worshipped the evil demon Yanzhiren!

In terms of talent and potential alone, Lu Ran was unquestionably First Place in the entire school.

Thinking of this, Wu Shanshan looked at Lu Ran with both envy and pity in her eyes.

What a shame.

He clearly had such excellent aptitude, yet he had worshipped a sheep.

If it had been any other god at all, Lu Ran could have swaggered through life, couldn't he?

Sigh.

What a pitiful guy.

"Let's head back early." Jiang Ruyi walked toward Lu Ran. "Break through sooner, and we'll gain another measure of victory."

In ordinary society, believers could cultivate divine power as well. For instance, faint mist drifted around the people here; no one had slackened off.

But before a shrine or a God Sculpture, divine power was much denser.

"Alright, home we go!"

Thanks to Weixiao Kun Da Meng for the hundred-thousand reward.

Boss, that's generous. Thanks for the support! Long time no see—may you enjoy reading, and may all go smoothly for you~