Skills with no cooldown? I become the Undead Scourge! - Chapter 20

But Wang Yujiao had no chance to get close or try anything.

Lu Ran was completely surrounded, packed in so tightly that not even a drop of water could slip through.

“Ran, bro! Remember me? I treated you to a meal once!”

“Lu Ran, I want to have your babies!”

“Look at me, look at me! Lu Ran, take me leveling—I’ll do anything!”

“Name your price! How much to party up with you?”

……

Faced with the clamoring crowd, Lu Ran simply raised his Frostwolf Staff and pushed through forcefully, clearing a path.

Qin Wuyao was waiting outside the throng. Seeing Lu Ran emerge, she grinned, hooked her arm through his, and the two walked off together.

How fickle the world was, how faithless people could be.

Once the academy’s top two prodigies in Spirit Power—jokingly called the “Golden Boy and Jade Girl”—now seemed to have naturally paired up.

Meanwhile, Wang Yujiao, the girl everyone had once envied for being Lu Ran’s girlfriend, had become Liang Shaoyu’s plaything.

And the irony? She’d chosen this herself!

She was the one who’d pushed Lu Ran away—just two days ago, right before his stunning rise!

But what she didn’t realize was that the gap between her and Lu Ran had only just begun to widen.

After Lu Ran left, Wang Yujiao felt a sudden hollowness in her chest. Was it regret over losing him? Or bitterness at missing her chance now that he’d soared again?

The crowd dispersed reluctantly, but no one dared complain about Lu Ran’s aloofness. Instead, the praises kept coming:

“Told you! Someone with 130 Spirit Power like Lu Ran was never gonna fade just because of his profession.”

“Is Necromancer really that strong? Isn’t it just a standard-class job?”

“Are you kidding? Necromancer is trash-tier!”

“Trash for others, maybe. My boy Ran is unstoppable!”

“Hey, hey—you weren’t saying that two days ago.”

……

Wang Yujiao’s ears burned with the chatter. For three years, she’d stood by Lu Ran’s side, listening to endless flattery.

But this was the first time it stung so badly, gnawing at her like a swarm of ants.

Even the students brushing past her shot mocking glances—at her, at Liang Shaoyu.

Liang Shaoyu didn’t care. As a spoiled heir, his escapades were no secret.

But her? She was just a toy.

“Let’s go. Grinding time.” Liang Shaoyu’s mood was equally foul, especially with everyone fawning over Lu Ran.

He’d “won” Wang Yujiao, yet it gave him no satisfaction—not when Lu Ran still overshadowed him.

Without waiting for her response, he yanked her wrist and dragged her along.

“Before we grind, we’re heading back. I need to blow off steam.”

…..

Meanwhile, Lu Ran and Qin Wuyao had already left the academy, en route to the Celestial Alliance.

“Your dad summoned us to the Celestial Alliance. Is he really planning to recruit me directly? But the rules say newcomers can’t join guilds within the first month, right?” Lu Ran asked.

“You joining the Celestial Alliance is a done deal. The rules were set after the world’s digitization—we can’t break them. But as for why we’re going? No clue. Dad just said to show up.” Qin Wuyao shrugged.

Then, nudging him mischievously, she added, “So… about your little girlfriend—”

“Ex-girlfriend,” Lu Ran corrected flatly.

“Fine, ex-girlfriend. Seems like she’s not having a great time with Liang Shaoyu. Wanna lend her a hand?” Qin Wuyao teased.

“Do I look like an idiot to you? We’re done. Her future’s none of my business,” Lu Ran stated firmly.

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Qin Wuyao’s eyes.

She grinned.

“Good. Just testing you—making sure you’re over her.”

Lu Ran glanced at Qin Wuyao clinging to his arm—and from this angle, the slight swell of her chest beneath her petite frame.

With a smirk, he said, “And if I am? Your bro’s single now. If you’ve got ideas, I might just give you a shot.”

Qin Wuyao’s grip on his arm tightened abruptly.

Then she stomped hard on his foot.

“Who wants your ‘shot’? Shameless! Move it!” she huffed, yanking him forward.

But as she turned away, her cheeks burned scarlet.

What Lu Ran didn’t know was that for three years at the academy, Qin Wuyao had always watched him.

Maybe because he was the only one whose Spirit Power surpassed hers. Maybe for other reasons.

But right now? She liked how things were unfolding.

…..

Soon, they entered the conference room.

Every eye in the room locked onto them.

Yu Qingcang’s gaze was the most intense—he knew much but hadn’t yet met Lu Ran in person.

Qin Lie and Xu Jie, having interacted with Lu Ran earlier, knew the full picture.

As for Lei Tai, Ye Hongyi, and Liu Xinxin—the three other guild leaders—their expressions brimmed with curiosity.

Xu Jie stepped forward, sealing the door shut.

With a slow downward press of his hand—

Boom!

A golden light erupted at his feet, instantly spreading to envelop the entire room.

“A barrier? Xu Jie, what’s the meaning of this?” Ye Hongyi frowned.

“All this secrecy, and I’m still in the dark. Can’t stand you cryptic types,” Lei Tai grumbled.

Liu Xinxin, ever the quiet one, simply studied Lu Ran with interest.

Lu Ran and Qin Wuyao, however, were stunned by the lineup before them.

He recognized Qin Lie and Xu Jie.

But the other four?

These were the leaders of China’s four greatest guilds—legends in their own right!

• Yu Qingcang, head of the Celestial Alliance!

• Lei Tai, commander of the Guardian Army!

• Ye Hongyi, master of the Scarlet Pavilion!

• Liu Xinxin, leader of the Mirage Guild!

Four of the nation’s most formidable figures, all gathered here!

“Today’s matters require absolute confidentiality. Hence the precautions,” Xu Jie explained lightly.

Then he pulled Lu Ran forward, gesturing for Qin Wuyao to take a seat beside Qin Lie.

Qin Wuyao sat with a smirk, watching Lu Ran like this was prime entertainment.

“First, introductions. This is Lu Ran, a newcomer who awakened his profession just two days ago. The reason we’ve gathered you today is to discuss the most efficient leveling strategy for him—as well as coordination between guilds for his future role in the Nation Wars.”

Straight to the point.

Yet the three guild leaders only grew more bewildered.

“Hold up, hold up—I’m lost here. A rookie Necromancer? No offense to the profession, but you’re telling me we’re mobilizing like this just to power-level some kid? Who’s his dad, huh? Which family’s pulling strings? ‘Cause I don’t play that game!” Lei Tai’s temper flared.

Ye Hongyi, though skeptical the Celestial Alliance would act so frivolously, also couldn’t fathom why a novice Necromancer warranted such fanfare.

Liu Xinxin, true to form, stayed silent, smiling shyly.

Xu Jie glanced at their confusion, then at Yu Qingcang’s barely contained excitement.

Without further ado, he nodded to Lu Ran.

“Show them. Summon your undead.”