Lu Ran rolled his eyes and said, "Got something for me?"
Qin Wuyao chuckled.
"Not really looking for you, just happened to bump into you."
Lu Ran, of course, didn’t believe this nonsense—this was a slum area, and a rich girl like Qin Wuyao would probably never set foot in such a small restaurant to eat.
Lu Ran took a good look at Qin Wuyao.
Suddenly it occurred to him, wouldn’t teaming up with Qin Wuyao be perfect?
Though not the best choice, the two at least counted as friends.
During these years at the academy, Lu Ran didn’t have many friends. Although he was widely noticed for his spiritual power being one hundred and thirty, due to his personality, he rarely interacted with others.
Wang Yujiao was an exception, being Lu Ran’s girlfriend, but unfortunately, she’s not anymore.
Qin Wuyao, on the other hand, counted as the only person still considered a friend to Lu Ran.
Just at that moment.
Qin Wuyao brought up a topic out of nowhere, asking, "Any plans for tomorrow? I’ve reached level 5, we could team up and tackle a dungeon."
Lu Ran took the cue.
He placed the Rift Contract on the table.
"If you’re interested, let’s do this tomorrow, split the reward seventy-thirty. How about it?"
Qin Wuyao was taken aback, surprised, staring at the scroll on the table, and only then did she suddenly realize.
In amazement, she said, "This is... a Rift Contract? How... how did you get this?"
Lu Ran shrugged and said, "Got lucky and it dropped, but the level’s quite low, only level 10. If you feel like tackling it, let’s do it tomorrow; if not, I’ll find someone else..."
"I’m in!" Qin Wuyao said decisively, "That’s settled then, see you tomorrow!"
She seemed worried about Lu Ran changing his mind, and hurried off after speaking.
Early the next day, Lu Ran went to the academy to register.
Although he had graduated, during this last month, he still needed to report to the academy every day.
After all, they’re a bunch of rookies fresh out of the academy.
The academy was responsible for correcting their growth paths and pointing out issues and details to note when running dungeons and such.
Moreover, today was an important day!
Lu Ran lived in the slum area; the academy was located in the city center’s wealthy district, not too far, yet not too close either, but Lu Ran was used to walking and didn’t mind.
On the contrary, Qin Lie personally drove Qin Wuyao to the academy’s entrance today.
Through the car window, he saw the people bustling outside.
Quite a few students wore equipment with ordinary attribute levels but explosive appearances, swaggering into the academy.
Qin Lie chuckled helplessly and said, "It’s like this every year, when switching professions they’re amazed by the equipment and love showing off."
Once past this phase, most of them will choose to hide the appearance of their equipment when not running dungeons.
"Yaoyao, how’s your experience at level 5?" Qin Lie asked.
"I spent the whole afternoon without stopping yesterday, and with the group contract reducing the experience penalty, I’m already over eighty percent at level 5. Running the dungeon today should smoothly advance to level 6," Qin Wuyao mused.
"Not bad, not bad, at this speed, surely the top of this class, right?" Qin Lie said.
Qin Wuyao’s face immediately froze.
"Hard to say what rank, but definitely not first," Qin Wuyao replied.
There’s Lu Ran on top, already at level 8!
Qin Lie unaware of these facts, retorted, "Lacking confidence? Surely, with this speed of leveling up, who could surpass?"
Qin Wuyao pouted without replying.
She opened the car door, and before getting out, as if remembering something, she added, "Oh, after the morning meeting, I have plans to go dungeon running with friends, no need for the family-arranged team."
She finished speaking, shut the car door, and didn’t give Qin Lie a chance to continue the conversation.
But Qin Lie didn’t leave; in a month, he’d represent the Celestial Path Alliance to recruit, so he’s curious about this batch of students’ performances on the first day.
He headed to the academy management office through the side entrance.
On the playground, students from each class gradually arrived, seating themselves in their respective class areas.
No school leaders were present yet on the podium upfront.
The giant screen behind the podium was also off, not yet lit up.
The atmosphere was lively below the platform.
Many students were excitedly sharing their insights from leveling up on the first day.
Some were boasting about their cool skills, others were showing off their blue equipment obtained while fighting wild monsters, and some were forming cliques looking for teammates.
"The newbie level leaderboard will start updating today."
"What level is everyone at?"
"Nothing much to see on the first day, at most level 5, it never changes each year."
"Yesterday I team up to fight wild monsters, it was exhausting, only level 3!"
"I took a nap yesterday afternoon, only level 2."
"Something to say about Qin Wuyao being first, that’s a hidden profession!"
...
Lu Ran also arrived.
Qin Wuyao was in class 5, Lu Ran was in class 3.
Liang Shaoyu and Wang Yujiao were both in class 3.
Seeing Lu Ran arrive, Liang Shaoyu immediately perked up.
He grabbed Wang Yujiao’s wrist and wanted to head over; Wang Yujiao clearly realized Liang Shaoyu’s intention and was somewhat resistant.
But Liang Shaoyu ignored it, forcefully pulling Wang Yujiao right in front of Lu Ran.
Then, before Lu Ran, he wrapped one arm around Wang Yujiao’s shoulder.
Not just to mock Lu Ran, but also as a form of revenge for three years of chasing Wang Yujiao without success.
He wanted to show the people in class 3, in the end, who captured Wang Yujiao—none other than Liang Shaoyu!
Once adulating Lu Ran, his classmates from class 3 now ignored him; instead, they laughed seeing Liang Shaoyu mocking Lu Ran.
"Shao, isn’t this a bit overboard towards Lu Ran?"
"Lu Ran has been with Wang Yujiao for three years and never scored, Shao, have you scored?"
"Don’t be like that, it hurts people’s feelings, Lu Ran awakened as an ordinary Undead Mage, that’s depressing enough."
"No worries, Lu Ran has a spirit power of 130, he can handle it, haha..."
...
Despite the mocking voices around him, Lu Ran’s mind remained calm.
If Lu Ran were truly an ordinary Undead Mage, he might indeed feel disappointed.
But now, with a Golden Entry, looking at his classmates, they really seemed like waste with no difference.
On the contrary, Liang Shaoyu immensely enjoyed himself.
He gleefully said, "Scoring is simple enough, just look at Wang Yujiao’s walking posture, haha..."
Held in his arms, Wang Yujiao.
At this moment, felt like a mere toy.
Lu Ran’s former kindness was nowhere to be found in Liang Shaoyu!
Yet she must grit her teeth and endure; she needs that spot in the Celestial Path Alliance!
And she firmly believed it couldn’t be attained by following Lu Ran!
"Why so quiet? Lu Ran, what’s your level? Share it, let’s all be entertained."
Liang Shaoyu provocatively asked, "Oh, by the way, you’ve already been told, I am level 4, nearing level 5, Wang Yujiao is also level 4; you, at least level 2?"
Lu Ran couldn’t be bothered with them.
He landed heavily in his seat.
This was the academy; in no time, there would be a morning assembly. Liang Shaoyu could only put on a verbal show, nothing more.