On the ninth day of the lunar month, at the foot of the Witch Crow Mountain.

Lu Ran and his companions, aiming to beat the closure of the Demon Cave, took the initiative to leave Evil Dog Village a day before it sealed.

"It's started to rain." Chang Ying stepped out of the central building, standing under the eaves, watching the layers of rain curtain.

She didn't need to step into the rain to know just how cold it would feel.

Lu Ran came up beside Chang Ying and patted the girl's back, "After we get back, make sure to reflect well on your experience."

"I got it." Chang Ying pouted slightly and responded softly.

In the current squad, she was now the only one who was not a River Realm Believer.

During their half-month stay in Evil Dog Village, it was on the seventh day, the day Lu Ran and the others were attacked, that Tian Tian opened the gate to advancement.

And just last night, Deng Yutang had finally had a flash of inspiration and started his advancement dramatically.

The energy fluctuation he caused was particularly intense, even waking the girls sleeping in the next room.

Lu Ran lay on his small bed, silently watching Deng Yutang level up.

This time, "Quick Bro" didn't fall behind.

As a Fierce Heavenly Believer of the Red Scarf, Deng Yutang even advanced faster than a Fourth-class God·Spiritual Sign Believer!

This also indirectly confirmed that the so-called "flash of inspiration" really isn't solely about talent.

Otherwise, Deng Yutang couldn't possibly surpass Chang Ying.

It's worth mentioning that after Deng Yutang successfully advanced, Lu Ran immediately asked him what kind of thoughts led to his epiphany.

Deng Yutang's response was a simple and straightforward one — You.

Honestly, the atmosphere was a little bit ambiguous at the time...

Lu Ran was somewhat at a loss.

Your mind is full of me, and then you have a flash of inspiration?

If Deng Yutang were a girl, Lu Ran would think he was being confessed to...

On second thought, it made sense.

Deng Yutang was indeed extremely proud and ambitious.

And all along, Lu Ran had shown amazing talent and combat power, always taking the lead.

Of course, Deng Yutang would see Lu Ran as the target to chase, as his role model in life.

Having gotten such a response, and combining it with Tian Tian's previous "epiphany," Lu Ran couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The insights and understandings he provided for his teammates were centered around his hometown.

However, both Tian Tian and Deng Yutang had not needed to use Lu Ran's experiences.

Instead, Deng Yuxiang, who was even more powerful, had fully digested and absorbed Lu Ran's insights when she was advancing from River Realm Fifth Rank to the Jiang Realm.

The two matched perfectly, and under Lu Ran's guidance, she became a powerhouse.

Well... how should I put it?

It seems that master classes are truly meant for the top professionals in the industry.

Deng, Tian, Chang, these little minions are not quite there yet!

"Do you think I might be stuck in Stream Realm Fifth Rank forever?" Chang Ying looked up at the overcast sky and said in a low voice.

"How could that be?" Lu Ran half comforted and half rebuked her, "Even if everyone thinks that, you alone shouldn't think that way!"

Chang Ying's expression was downcast as she whispered, "But there are so many people in the world who are forever stuck at the Stream Realm Fifth Rank.

I don't seem to have anything special."

It was clear that Deng Yutang's overtaking had hit the girl hard.

Suddenly, an idea struck Lu Ran: "After we get back, pray earnestly in front of the shrine."

As he spoke, Lu Ran grabbed Chang Ying's arm with a whisper, urging her to bow her head:

"Only if you are devout enough and offer enough Power of Faith, maybe, Lord Spiritual Sign might be willing to give you a hand?"

Chang Ying: "Hmm..."

How unsightly Divine·Spiritual Sign dines is something the world witnesses.

Within its sect's Divine Techniques, those countless rotten spiritual signs exist just to force believers to pray devoutly.

Lord Spiritual Sign won't care whether it's a matter of life and death for you.

On the contrary, the more desperate your situation, the more devout your prayers become after drawing a rotten spiritual sign.

After all, if you show even the slightest disrespect, then forget about the skill cooldown period...

In order to survive, the believers must suppress all negative emotions and offer the purest Power of Faith to Divine·Spiritual Sign.

Since Lord Spiritual Sign behaves this way, Lu Ran couldn't help thinking the worst.

What if Divine·Spiritual Sign was meddling from the shadows, feeling Chang Ying hadn't offered enough Power of Faith, and was therefore deliberately suppressing her level to prevent her from advancing?

Could there be such a possibility?

Who knows?

"Just listen to me; once you get home, pray day and night." Of course, Lu Ran dare not voice his true thoughts; he could only offer such advice.

Lu Ran was really putting a lot of effort into it and continued, "Also, when you pray, don't forget to reflect.

You know Tian Tian and Deng Yutang's experience of advancing; try them out one by one, think about them, there's no harm."

"Mmm-hmm, I'll listen to you," Chang Ying nodded.

"What are you two doing over there?" A sweet voice came from behind.

Lu Ran turned his head to see Si Xianxian with an unhappy face, her beautiful eyes scanning the pair as she blurted out:

"Whispering secrets?"

Lu Ran rolled his eyes, annoyed.

Actually, Chang Ying was also puzzled, why did Lu Ran insist on whispering?

The reason...

Of course, was because Lu Ran had a guilty conscience!

Anyone who heard what Lu Ran just said wouldn't be able to find any fault with it.

The issue was, when providing advice, Lu Ran was harboring a disrespectful heart towards Divine·Spiritual Sign!

This special mental state inadvertently reflected in his actions.

"What are you plotting?" Si Xianxian stepped forward and pulled Lu Ran away from Chang Ying.

"Nothing, just giving Chang Ying some advice, hoping she will be able to advance soon," Lu Ran said helplessly.

Si Xianxian muttered, "Men and women shouldn't be so casual with each other; be more mindful.

Ruyi is such a good girl, next month she will take me out to...uhh, Ruyi is such a good girl, you can't let her down."

Lu Ran: ???

How do they even relate!

Lu Ran lowered his head to look at Si Xianxian's hand clutching his arm:

"Men and women shouldn't be so casual, so what are you doing?"

Si Xianxian raised her eyebrow, "I'm different, I'm you two's Sister Xian'er, I don't fancy you!"

Lu Ran cracked a smile, "Chang Ying doesn't fancy me either, she doesn't like scrawny guys...hey?"

Lu Ran scratched his head.

Why am I insulting myself?

Si Xianxian's face was twisted, trying hard not to laugh.

"Pfft...HAHAHAHAHA!"

In the end, the Fierce Heavenly girl couldn't hold it in any longer, laughing unrestrainedly.

"Buzz off," Lu Ran gave Si Xianxian a nudge and pushed her away, "I'll see you off in a bit, go home properly."

"Hmph," Si Xianxian's smile slowly faded away, "Perform well on the fifteenth; I'll be watching."

"Aren't you on duty on the fifteenth?"

"I have no teammates, not going makes no difference. Besides, the Moon Gazers don't trust me; they are going to assign a bunch of people to watch me anyway."

Hearing that, Lu Ran nodded affirmatively.

That makes sense.

If you put a Fierce Heavenly Believer in a sanctuary, they might blow up even without the help of an Evil Demon.

"We ready to go?" Deng Yutang's voice came from behind.

There he was, Deng Yutang, striding forward with a somewhat triumphant air.

"Did you submit the mission report?"

"Yeah, Brother Lu, you can count on me! I've even got the military's evaluation report," Deng Yutang shook the camouflaged backpack he was carrying.

"Rustle rustle~"

You could hear that it was filled to the brim with Demon Crystals.

Deng Yutang, "Brother Lu, you didn't exchange your share of Demon Crystals for money, right?"

Lu Ran nodded, "That's right."

"We didn't either; here." Deng Yutang handed the backpack over to Lu Ran, "Go for it!"

Tian Tian also clenched her small fist with encouragement, "Master, go for it!"

Lu Ran caught the strap of the backpack with one hand, moved by the gesture.

Suddenly, Jiang Ruyi raised her hand.

In her pale palm lay a Demon Crystal half the size of a hand.

One should know, the Demon Crystals from Evil Dogs at the Mist and Stream levels were only the size of a fingertip, and River Grade crystals were a little bigger, but not by much.

Yet, the crystal that the girl held was quite sizable, catching the stealthy glances of the soldiers standing guard in the distance.

"River Grade Evil Dog Demon Crystal," Jiang Ruyi looked towards Lu and Si.

Si Xianxian motioned with her hand, "Give them all to Lu Ran, he's about to level up, right?

Help him push through; who knows, he might succeed?"

Jiang Ruyi handed it to Lu Ran with a playful tone, "Looks like you're quite liked; everyone supports you."

Lu Ran indeed was close to leveling up.

Three or four days earlier, he felt that he was touching the bottleneck of River Realm First Rank.

Reflecting back, he had first entered the River Realm on the eighth day of December last year.

Two full months had already passed!

This journey through the River Realm was indeed arduous...

"I'll definitely give it my all!" Lu Ran took the River Grade Demon Crystal and nodded vigorously.

Demon Crystals were meant to help high-level believers break through and level up.

Believers at the Mist and Stream realms could also try absorbing a large amount of Demon Crystals when stuck at a level.

But honestly, it's hardly necessary.

When you're at the Mist or Stream level, the energy you can draw from in front of the shrine is enough to help you advance.

If you can't progress further, it's not due to a lack of energy but rather a lack of talent.

After believers advance to the River Realm, that's when the value of Demon Crystals becomes apparent.

At this moment, Lu Ran was in the ideal position to use Demon Crystals!

He had faintly grasped the bottleneck but was unable to initiate the leveling up mode.

Now, Lu Ran could try to absorb a large number of Demon Crystals all at once, attempting to break the shackles.

It must be noted that this method only applies to levels 1 to 4 within a major realm.

If you're at level 5, no amount of Demon Crystals will help.

After all, you need not only energy but also a "flash of inspiration."

"Rustle rustle~"

Lu Ran weighed the heavy backpack and listened to the crisp, pleasant sound.

It was full of love!

He looked up, scanning across the familiar faces, and seeing his teammates' encouraging and well-wishing expressions, Lu Ran sighed inwardly.

In the future, when his teammates reach the bottleneck of their levels, he must kill more Evil Demons, collect more Demon Crystals.

And pay them back double!

For now, Master Ran would gladly accept this bulging pack.

Before participating in "Heavenly Pride," whether I can breakthrough and advance will depend on it!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.