The Mask in the Lead Alloy Box

Superpower, awakening, minimum baseline test.

These keywords drew everyone's attention, their gazes focusing on the heavy lead alloy box beside Director Huang.

"Inside that... is the instrument used to measure the specific numerical values of 'belief and faith'?"

The members whispered amongst themselves.

Su Qiangwei, however, noticed that Liu Huadie and He Nanguang from Fulan Academy looked a bit pale and their expressions weren't great upon seeing the box.

She turned her head to glance at Ma Ran.

He still had that air of calm confidence, as if everything was under his control.

Confident men were the most charming, Su Qiangwei couldn't deny that, but she still found Ma Ran annoying.

When it came to Black Rock Martial Way cultivation, she found it hard to surpass Ma Ran.

Despite her stubbornness, Su Qiangwei was self-aware!

If she could awaken a superpower, perhaps there would be a chance to overtake him.

Defeat Ma Ran!

Be crowned the king!

Whether Caolu is chaotic or not, Qiangwei calls the shots!

"Brother Ran!"

Dong Huaiming suddenly raised his voice, startling Su Qiangwei so much she almost slid off her chair. "How many people do you think will meet the standard line this time?"

Young Ming was very excited.

Compared to the Black Rock Stele Martial Way system, which required painstaking effort, he was more eager to see what kind of superpower he would awaken.

Ma Ran expressed his complete understanding.

Unlike his own invincibility, whether in his past or present life, Dong Huaiming's original intention remained unchanged; he was still the same.

The more things that were difficult for Earth's current technological level to explain, the more excited he became.

In Ma Ran's memory, Dong Huaiming was a guardian of human civilization who had achieved great merit!

Compared to Wan Haihao, Young Ming's fate wasn't much better.

Driven by intense curiosity, he evaded the theoretical instructors and took it upon himself to study the You script illusionary technique system.

This ultimately led to his mental breakdown, genetic mutation, and transformation into a monster.

Afterward, Dong Huaiming was sent into an underwater cryo-chamber for forced hibernation.

He remained in a deep sleep until the end of the Earth.

"Superpower minimum baseline..."

Ma Ran pondered for a moment before answering.

Because Dong Huaiming hadn't intentionally lowered his voice, it attracted the attention of others.

Everyone wanted to hear Ma Ran's opinion.

He now held considerable sway within Caolu Academy, his credibility and trustworthiness off the charts.

Even Su Qiangwei, who was secretly competing with him, had to admit this.

If Su Qiangwei ever encountered a problem she couldn't solve and could summon anyone to help, Ma Ran would be the first person she'd think of!

Ma Ran didn't play coy, calmly extending three fingers. "Excluding myself, there are three."

His tone was decisive and utterly certain, as if he were stating an objective fact.

This was setting the stage for the upcoming [Acting].

Liu Huadie and He Nanguang had already been tested in advance at Fulan Academy; it was because they had met the passing line that they were assigned this support mission.

Within Caolu Academy, excluding Ma Ran, based on the timeline, only Su Qiangwei had met the minimum baseline this time.

As Ma Ran's new follower, Wu Di's eyes lit up, his face, swollen like a bun, filled with pride. "Among these three, it must be me!"

Dong Huaiming glared fiercely at Wu Di, let out a cold snort, and felt a strong sense of crisis.

This guy...

He didn't directly acknowledge Ma Ran's prediction but boldly declared himself part of that prediction.

He was too damn good at bootlicking!

Dong Huaiming mentally raised Wu Di's threat level by two notches.

He had initially viewed the other as a clown, thinking this kid was just an ignorant, arrogant, unruly, and thoughtless idiot.

Now, it seemed he had misjudged him!

Although the recruitment standards of various academic societies differed, most tested [Academic Power] through various trials.

At this stage, whether it was Green Lotus Academic Society, Fulan Academy, Yingchuan Academy, or Caolu Academy, every member was a one-in-a-million, top-potential extraordinary talent!

He had been too careless!

Wu Di is also a member of the academic society, how could he be an idiot?

He's quite smart!

Beside him, Wan Haihao clenched his fists, his palms slick with sweat. "Only three will meet the standard..."

He thought for a long time, and many possible names flashed through his mind.

But those names...

No matter how he turned them over in his head, he couldn't find "Wan Haihao" among them.

In the past, Wan Haihao was also a winner in life.

He was a gifted intellectual, the top scorer in the provincial college entrance examination, and smoothly sailed through his studies to a doctorate.

His parents doted on him, his romance was fulfilling, his friends envied him, and he was the "child of other people" his neighbors talked about.

But now...

His confidence, his pride, his composure had all vanished, shattered to pieces in less than a week.

Ma Ran was right.

After getting to know Ma Ran, Wan Haihao had truly changed.

An unfamiliar sense of inferiority lingered in his mind, refusing to dissipate.

As for Su Qiangwei...

Her mindset was much, much better.

"Three people?"

Su Qiangwei furrowed her delicate brows, her gaze lingering on Liu Huadie, He Nanguang, and Wu Di for a moment before she pouted and muttered softly, "It's not like this is the only chance."

"It's no big deal if I fail this time."

"I'll have to pay attention in my moral and ideological education class from now on..."

"But how do you quantify 'belief and faith' anyway?!"

"Whatever!"

"I'll observe carefully now and accumulate some experience. As long as I don't give up..."

"There will be a day when I succeed!"

Su Qiangwei had an excellent mindset, as steady as an old dog.

Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, the sealed lead alloy box was opened by two staff members in hazmat suits, and the "equipment" inside was removed.

The "equipment" provided by Fulan Academy had no high-tech appearance whatsoever. Instead, it resembled a child's toy, even appearing somewhat crude.

It was a gray-white mask, seemingly made of clay, 18 centimeters long and 12 centimeters wide.

Less than three seconds after being removed from the lead alloy box, the atmosphere in the small auditorium changed drastically.

The members, who had been full of anticipation and excitement, instantly turned pale, their eyes bloodshot.

As their gazes fell upon the mysterious mask, dozens of bloody, cruel, distorted, and terrifying images flashed before their eyes every second.

Screams!

Wails!

Groans!

They echoed in their ears, invading their minds like demonic music.

Their nostrils were filled with a thick, unyielding scent of blood.

The air was also permeated with a damp, moldy, and fetid moisture. Upon closer inspection, the mist was tinged with strange red and green hues.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The eerie atmosphere accelerated their heartbeats, and the terrifying ambiance caused them to secrete adrenaline madly.

When they averted their gaze from the mask, everything they had felt seemed like a dream, as if it had never happened