"Brother Ran."
Wan Haihao didn't know when he had changed the way he addressed him.
The address rolled so naturally off his tongue that even he was surprised: "Those seniors from Fulan Academy came into contact with Black Rock Martial Way and supernatural abilities earlier than we did, right?"
"I wonder how far they've gotten by now..."
Hearing this, Ma Ran stopped sketching the prison script and turned around with a smile. "It's true that they came into contact with Inner Qi cultivation earlier."
"As for supernatural ability users..."
"At present, Fulan Academy doesn't have a single one."
"The country's supernatural institutions have only just gotten started. They're all still at the stage of blazing trails through thorny wilderness, and Fulan Academy's circumstances are different from Caolu Academy's."
"So everyone often exchanges what they have and supports one another."
Although he didn't know where Ma Ran had gotten his information, Wan Haihao didn't doubt its authenticity in the slightest.
What was there to question?
The person saying it was Ma Ran!
"Among the people coming this time, there's a young man..."
As Wan Haihao fell silent in thought, Ma Ran suddenly said, "He and Xiao Di and Su Qiangwei have a lot of common topics."
Hearing this, Wan Haihao calmly thought it over for a while, then suddenly felt his scalp go numb and broke out in goosebumps.
Someone who had common topics with Dong Huaiming and Su Qiangwei...
It was impossible to imagine!
Just as Wan Haihao was about to ask a couple of questions, President Huang Weiguo pulled Ma Ran away.
Outside the small auditorium.
"Regarding the 'Black Rock Guidance Technique'..."
The moment Old Huang began speaking, Ma Ran interrupted him.
"I already know why you came."
Ma Ran's gaze was calm, and his tone sincere. "Actually, even if you hadn't come to find me, I would have compiled the 'Black Rock Guidance Technique' and submitted it to the academy."
"Most of the value of the 'Black Rock Guidance Technique' lies in its 'ability to be widely taught.'"
"When I return to the dormitory tonight, I'll organize it into a document and send it to you."
Ma Ran could write the "Black Rock Guidance Technique" down and teach it to others.
He had already decided to do so.
In theory, anyone who reached Second Stage of Inner Qi could learn this guidance technique. The threshold wasn't high, and the difficulty wasn't great either.
However, it was easy to learn but difficult to master, and it would also slow down one's progress in Inner Qi cultivation.
Not everyone was willing to learn such a thing.
Ma Ran was different.
He didn't need to spend too much time cultivating. As long as he played his role properly, he could skip the cultivation process that consumed massive amounts of time and energy.
Earlier, because he had "enlightened" thirty-one academy members in a short period, Ma Ran's Black Rock Martial Way rank had fallen from Second Stage of Inner Qi to Inner Qi Stage One.
Those sacrifices had been repaid almost in the blink of an eye. He had risen straight from Inner Qi Stage One to Fourth Stage of Inner Qi!
If anyone else tried it, even someone with a slightly higher rank, it would have been impossible for them to act as recklessly as Ma Ran.
The ability to play a role in this way, practically like a cheat, was unique.
"Good! Good boy!"
Huang Weiguo's face lit up with delight, and a smile blossomed across his face. "From now on, just call me Old Huang. No need to be so formal."
Ma Ran was incredibly sincere.
Old Huang could tell that much.
But hearing this kid address him as "you" every other sentence made him feel uncomfortable all over.
Ma Ran wasn't the sort of person who kept his discoveries to himself. He was willing to share what he had figured out with others for free.
In fact, Ma Ran's original purpose in researching the "Black Rock Guidance Technique" had been to help those in the academy who were falling behind in their cultivation.
What a kind-hearted young man!
Huang Weiguo felt that as the president of Caolu Academy, he absolutely couldn't let Ma Ran suffer for it.
But...
After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't come up with anything he could offer Ma Ran in return.
Pills to assist with Inner Qi cultivation?
Sorry!
Caolu Academy didn't have anything like that at all!
In fact, not a single pill could be found anywhere in the entire country!
If there had been any, Huang Weiguo would have obtained them for Ma Ran long ago. Would he have waited until now?
A cash reward...
That was possible, but compared with Ma Ran's contribution, a monetary reward seemed far too insignificant.
A certificate of commendation?
Forget it!
He wasn't an elementary school student anymore. That wouldn't be praise; it would be an insult.
Old Huang suddenly slapped his hands together, and his eyes, which had been slightly clouded by fatigue, became much clearer.
"How about this!"
He had thought of the most suitable reward.
"We finally made it. Long-distance travel really is torture..."
"I don't understand why we had to take the high-speed rail. Wouldn't flying have been more convenient?"
Liu Huadie ignored the complaints of her two companions and pushed open the car door with an expressionless face.
A fresh, chilly wind blew against her face, sweeping away the fatigue of the journey and invigorating her spirits.
"Gulunzhong, Caolu Academy..."
Liu Huadie took out her phone and checked the time. As she casually unlocked the screen, she discovered that the supernatural discussion board on "Dajiang" had been overrun by a name that wasn't particularly familiar.
She scanned from top to bottom. Everywhere she looked, there was only that person's name.
Ma Ran!
Ma Ran!
Still Ma Ran!
"'Black Rock Guidance Technique'..."
Liu Huadie's bright red lips curved slightly upward. "A research-oriented talent in supernatural powers?"
"Coming here was the right choice."
Compared with supernatural abilities that appeared for no apparent reason, she was more willing to trust Inner Qi cultivated through her own efforts.
Thus, before even meeting Ma Ran, the creator of the "Black Rock Guidance Technique," Liu Huadie had already developed a favorable impression of him.
Thinking this, she rolled her neck and shoulders. Her joints cracked loudly, and her gaze fell on her two companions. "Let's go straight there. Don't keep the friends from Caolu Academy waiting."
The equipment and such would be handled by the staff. They didn't need to worry about it.
The youth named Xiao Di immediately followed her. "Okay!"
"I'm going to show that Ma Ran and Su Qiangwei what I'm capable of!"
"Even between friends, we still have to distinguish who's primary and who's secondary!"
Hearing Xiao Di's words, He Nanguang felt his head grow dizzy.
He smiled bitterly and shook his head, lit himself a Huazi cigarette, puffed out clouds of smoke, and followed at a leisurely pace.
Ma Ran gazed into the distance. His eyes landed on three tiny black dots, and he immediately recognized who they were.
Liu Huadie, He Nanguang, and Wu Di.
In Ma Ran's eyes, these people had many identities.
They had once been seniors he worshipped, comrades he could entrust his back to, loyal subordinates, and kindred-spirited close friends.
Unfortunately...
Earth's civilization had been unlucky, its fate tortuous, and its disasters unending. Few of its guardians had been able to die peacefully of old age.
Of the three, only Liu Huadie had survived until the moment Earth exploded. He Nanguang and Wu Di had both died in battle long before that, sacrificing themselves for their country.
If Liu Huadie and He Nanguang hadn't deliberately smeared Wu Di...
At this point in time, Wu Di hadn't experienced too many joys and sorrows. He was immature, still a chuunibyou patient ostracized by others because of his sharp tongue and bizarre worldview.
Before his rebirth, Ma Ran had passed the academy's trials and become a guardian of Earth four years later.
At that time, Wu Di had been a senior he looked up to, an outstanding, mature, and steady warrior.
Even now, Ma Ran still remembered the senior's harsh wake-up call as clearly as ever.
"Ma Ran, tell me..."
"Do you have the resolve to perish together with your enemy?"
"Do you have the power to protect Earth's civilization?"
"Neither the resolve."
"Nor the power."
"What qualifications do you have to become a 'guardian'?"
I got up especially, especially, especially early today!
So today's update is also especially, especially, especially early!
Hehehe...
Happy weekend!
Before you continue