37 Research Rewards

"Why is everyone wearing that expression!"

Su Qiangwei's words broke the heavy atmosphere.

"The world is so vast, there must be superpowers that can extend life!"

She stared intently at the lock of white hair on Ma Ran's forehead. "I'll help you find it!"

With [Myriad Transformations] in hand, the world is mine!

[Limited Precognition] only consumes lifespan, right?

Su Qiangwei planned to apply tomorrow to visit Yingchuan Academy.

Perhaps after copying [Cellular Longevity], she could help Ma Ran resolve this hidden danger.

A perpetual precognition machine, anyone?

Ma Ran brushed aside the lock of white hair that had fallen onto his forehead.

He looked up at Su Qiangwei, his eyes clear, and stated decisively, "I believe you."

Although Su Qiangwei usually acted like an unreliable goofball, her promises carried significant weight with Ma Ran.

Beside him, Huang Weiguo also snapped back to reality and began pondering Ma Ran's prophecy.

"Two days from now, Jinshui Town."

"Many innocent people will perish due to the 'alien incident'."

This was a time of peace!

The number Ma Ran mentioned was undeniably a major event that couldn't be concealed!

What should he do then?

Disclose the existence of aliens to the public?

What a joke!

Even revealing the entire Black Rock Martial Way system wouldn't be as shocking as disclosing this information!

After all, the two known alien factions were not "friends of the universe," but malicious invaders, conquerors, and destroyers!

Seeing Huang Weiguo's expression, Ma Ran knew his identity as a prophet was temporarily confirmed.

People were always inclined to believe something was true rather than not, especially regarding such matters.

What's more...

The recent crisis he mentioned was indeed the truth!

Before his rebirth, this alien invasion was barely covered up as the "Jinshui Chemical Plant Explosion Incident."

Fortunately, Yingchuan Academy later dispatched a superpower user capable of erasing short-term painful memories, otherwise, the situation would have been truly unmanageable.

In Ma Ran's memory, the aftermath was handled quite well.

However, the fallen compatriots could not be resurrected.

Given the nation's resources, if they had received advance notice and made thorough preparations, the casualty count could have been significantly reduced.

This was also one of the few calamities that could be resolved with conventional forces and conventional weapons.

Six hundred and fifty-three.

Compared to Earth's current total population, it sounded like a negligible number.

Ma Ran knew better than anyone...

In the last few years before his rebirth, combining the populations of ten randomly selected shelters wouldn't even reach that number!

In the collision between civilizations, high-end combat power was important, but the intermediate and grassroots populations could not be overlooked.

Any arrogant thought could lead to dire consequences!

Saving the world required starting from the smallest details.

Advantages were also accumulated bit by bit; they did not appear out of thin air.

Ma Ran would find a way to save everyone he could, to the best of his ability.

"I'll go back and organize the 'Black Rock Guidance Technique' first."

Ma Ran glanced at the time and promised Director Huang, "I'll send it to you before 8 PM."

As he left the medical building, he could faintly hear voices from the news broadcast coming from Director Huang's phone.

It was the participants in an online conference room fiercely discussing the content of Ma Ran's prophecy.

Ma Ran walked towards the dormitory without looking back.

He had done everything he could regarding the alien invasion team that would descend upon Jinshui Town in two days.

The rest was up to Director Huang.

The next morning.

6:35 AM.

After a quick wash, Ma Ran placed his toothbrush in the cup and tapped the sink.

He now fully understood the medal ability of [Fragment Prophet].

When it said fragments, it truly meant fragments.

Trying to see a coherent, logical sequence of events through this ability?

Impossible!

What he could see through [Fragment Prophet] wasn't dictated by Ma Ran's subjective will.

The future scenes he could predict were highly random.

It could be someone brushing their teeth and washing their face, or a snippet of a gambler staring at the TV, waiting for lottery numbers to be announced.

"[Fragment Prophet] has limited practical use before it's upgraded to a higher level."

"However..."

"Its existence is necessary for me personally!"

Ma Ran couldn't just do nothing every day, waiting for random precognition to provide useful intel.

But it could offer a new perspective.

Observing the same event from different angles would lead to entirely different content and thoughts.

As a reborn individual, Ma Ran could change many things with his foreknowledge, but that didn't mean he was omniscient or omnipotent.

As Ma Ran's plan unfolded, the butterfly effect would become more severe, and unknown factors would increase.

The ability of [Fragment Prophet] could help Ma Ran fill in the gaps when such situations arose.

At the same time...

Ma Ran could also use his precognition to lay the groundwork for future plot developments.

"A chaotic world, a fleeting life – that's your assessment of existence. A scornful smile speaks volumes of your pride..."

His phone suddenly rang.

With a single swipe, a familiar voice entered his ear.

"Son, are you awake?"

It was Ma Ran's mother's voice.

Surprise was mixed with a hint of concern and worry.

"I'm awake,"

Ma Ran replied honestly. "I was just about to get breakfast."

"Eat on time, develop good habits... Hey, don't snatch! I'm talking to my son!"

A burst of noise came from the other end of the phone.

A moment later, Ma Ran's father took over the phone.

"Your mother can never get to the point!"

"A sum of money suddenly appeared in my and your mother's bank accounts, totaling about three million. The transfer description says 'research funding'."

"Son, you didn't embezzle the grant from Caolu Academy, did you?"

"We should be upright people, we should... Hey, why are you snatching! I haven't finished speaking!"

Ma Ran's lips twitched slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "It must be a mistake by the staff. That three million isn't research funding; it's a bonus I received for my recent research achievements."

"For the next fifty years, twenty-three thousand yuan will be deposited into your bank accounts on the fifteenth of every month."

The money Ma Ran's parents received was a small portion of the rewards from the "Black Rock Guidance Technique."

As his words fell, two suppressed cheers could be heard from the other end of the phone.

"Keep it for yourself, don't give it to us."

Father Ma seemed to want to project an image of "my son's genes are excellent, and his achievements are naturally deserved," trying hard to appear calm, but his cheerful tone carried an infectious sense of joy.

"Son, keep the money, eat more good food, find a girlfriend. Your father and I are waiting to hold our grandson."

Mother Ma was more straightforward, saying whatever came to mind without any pretense, her concern genuine and clear.

Ma Ran, however, was filled with questions.

He wasn't even eighteen yet, was he?

Who was it in his previous life who said he wouldn't be allowed to date even after starting university?

Actually, upon reflection, his parents' change in attitude was quite reasonable.

After his rebirth, he had performed so outstandingly that his parents felt their son was already capable of handling things independently.

"You've misunderstood. This three million, along with the fixed dividends from the project each month, doesn't need to go through me."

Ma Ran's lips curved upwards. "You don't need to send me living expenses either. Here, there's no need for money."

"Even if I go out for research and surveys, my food, clothing, housing, and transportation will all be fully reimbursed by Caolu Academy."

This is still too modest.

Given how much the current leaders of the various academic societies value Ma Ran...

The moment Ma Ran started playing a pay-to-win game, a large sum of money would be transferred into his WeChat wallet and Alipay.

Thank you, Qinghua Yiluo, for the 500-point tip!

Thank you, Cha Youjiu, for the 100-point tip to Ma Ran!

Thank you, Moyu Xingyuan, for the 100-point tip!

Thank you, Xinghe Guancezhe 10 Hao, for the 100-point tip!

Thank you, Tiandao You Lunhui 3434, for the 100-point tip!

Thank you, Xiaoyugan, for the 100-point tip!

(▽)

Ah! It's Friday!

Happy!

Update complete! Requesting recommendation tickets!

See you tomorrow, brothers and sisters!