Chapter 24: Reunion with Old Friends

"Brother Ran."

Wan Haihao didn’t know when he changed the way he addressed him.

The new nickname rolled off his tongue so naturally that even he was surprised: "The seniors from Fulan Academy encountered Black Rock Martial Arts and Superpower before us, right?"

"I wonder what level they’re at now..."

Hearing this, Ma Ran stopped sketching Enclosure Text and turned back with a smile: "It’s true that they started the cultivation of Inner Qi earlier."

"As for the Superpower Users..."

"So far, Fulan Academy doesn’t have any."

"The domestic Supernatural Organizations are just starting out, all in the pioneering stage, and Fulan Academy’s conditions differ from Grass Hut Academy’s."

"Therefore, everyone often exchanges resources and supports each other."

Although Wan Haihao didn’t know where Ma Ran got his information from, he didn’t doubt its authenticity at all.

What’s there to question?

The person speaking, after all, was Ma Ran!

"Among those who came this time, there’s a young man..."

As Wan Haihao pondered in silence, Ma Ran suddenly spoke up: "He has many common topics with Xiao Ming and Qiangwei."

Hearing this, Wan Haihao calmly thought for a moment, then suddenly felt goosebumps rising all over.

A person who shares topics with Dong Huaiming and Su Qiangwei...

It’s hard to imagine!

When Wan Haihao was about to ask a couple of questions, President Huang Weiguo pulled Ma Ran away.

Outside the small auditorium.

"About ’Black Rock Guiding Technique’..."

Old Huang had just started speaking when Ma Ran interrupted.

"I already know your intentions."

Ma Ran’s gaze was calm, and he spoke sincerely: "Actually, even if you didn’t come to find me, I would organize the ’Black Rock Guiding Technique’ and submit it to the academy."

"The value of the ’Black Rock Guiding Technique’ primarily lies in its ’universality’."

"Tonight, when I return to the dorm, I’ll organize it into a document and send it to you."

Ma Ran could write the ’Black Rock Guiding Technique’ into text and teach it to others.

He had already planned to do so.

Theoretically, as long as one reaches the Second Rank of Inner Qi, they can learn this guiding technique, making it accessible with a low barrier and not hard to learn.

However, it’s easy to learn but hard to master, and it can slow down one’s own Inner Qi cultivation progress.

Not everyone is willing to learn this.

Ma Ran is different.

He doesn’t need to spend much time cultivating; as long as he plays the role properly, he can skip the phases that consume a lot of time and energy.

Previously, due to "enlightening" thirty-one members in a short time, Ma Ran’s Black Rock Martial Arts tier dropped from the Second Rank of Inner Qi to the First Rank of Inner Qi.

This effort was almost instantly rewarded, elevating him from the First Rank of Inner Qi straight to the Fourth Rank!

If it were someone else, even someone of a higher rank, they couldn’t act as recklessly as Ma Ran.

The ability named "Cheats," which allows one to play roles, is unique.

"Good! Good child!"

Huang Weiguo beamed with joy, a smile blossoming on his face: "In the future, just call me Old Huang, there’s no need for such formality."

Ma Ran is very sincere.

Old Huang could see that clearly.

But hearing this kid call him "you" in such a respectful tone, it made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Ma Ran isn’t someone who begrudgingly holds onto knowledge; he is willing to share what he has figured out with others, free of charge.

In fact, Ma Ran’s original intention for researching the ’Black Rock Guiding Technique’ was to help those in the academy who were lagging in their cultivation progress.

What a kind-hearted young man!

Huang Weiguo thought, as the president of Grass Hut Academy, he must ensure Ma Ran is not at a disadvantage.

However...

After thinking about it for a long time, he couldn’t come up with anything suitable to give Ma Ran in return.

Elixirs that assist in Inner Qi cultivation?

Sorry!

Grass Hut Academy doesn’t have such things!

In fact, there isn’t even a single one across the whole country!

If they were available, Huang Weiguo would have acquired them for Ma Ran long ago, no need to wait until now?

Cash rewards...

It’s possible, but compared to Ma Ran’s contributions, monetary rewards seem trivial.

A certificate?

Come on!

He’s not an elementary school student, that would be an insult, not an honor.

Old Huang clapped his hands suddenly, and his eyes, which appeared slightly dull due to fatigue, became much clearer.

"Why not do this!"

He came up with the most appropriate return.

...

"Finally here, long journeys are truly a torment..."

"I don’t understand why we had to take the high-speed rail, wouldn’t a plane be more convenient?"

Liu Huadie ignored the complaints of her two companions, and expressionlessly pushed open the car door.

A gust of fresh, cool wind greeted her, sweeping away the fatigue of travel and invigorating her spirits.

"Ancient Longzhong, Grass Hut Academy..."

Liu Huadie took out her phone to check the time and unlocked the screen, noticing the supernatural discussion board of ’DJI’ being dominated by a name she wasn’t quite familiar with.

From top to bottom, as far as her eyes could see, there was only that person’s name.

Ma Ran!

Ma Ran!

And Ma Ran again!

"The ’Black Rock Guiding Technique’..."

Liu Huadie’s crimson lips slightly curled up: "A talent in supernatural power development?"

"Coming here this time was the right choice."

Compared to inexplicable supernatural powers, she still preferred trusting Inner Qi cultivated through personal effort.

That’s why, even before meeting him, Liu Huadie already had a good impression of Ma Ran, who created the ’Black Rock Guiding Technique.’

Thinking of this, she twisted her neck and shoulders, her joints cracking, and her eyes fell on her two companions: "Let’s go directly over, don’t keep our friends at Grass Hut Academy waiting."

Staff would be responsible for positioning equipment, so they didn’t need to worry.

The young man named Xiao Di immediately followed up: "Okay!"

"I want Ma Ran and Su Qiangwei to witness my skills!"

"Even among friends, it’s necessary to clarify primary and secondary relationships!"

Hearing Xiao Di’s words, He Nanguang felt a headache coming on.

He smiled wryly, shaking his head, lit up a cigarette, and followed slowly.

...

Ma Ran gazed into the distance, and recognized the three small dark figures at once.

Liu Huadie, He Nanguang, Wu Di.

In Ma Ran’s eyes, these people had multiple identities.

They were his admired seniors, comrades he could entrust his back to, loyal subordinates, and like-minded close friends.

Unfortunately...

The Earth Civilization was out of luck, with a tumultuous destiny, plagued by many disasters, and few Guardians were fortunate enough to die of old age.

Among these three, only Liu Huadie survived until the moment Earth exploded; He Nanguang and Wu Di both perished early on the battlefield, sacrificing themselves for the nation.

If Liu Huadie and He Nanguang didn’t deliberately tarnish Wu Di’s reputation...

At this point in time, Wu Di hadn’t experienced much separation and reunion. He was immature, still an outcast because of his sharp tongue and peculiar worldview.

Before being reborn, Ma Ran passed the academy’s test, becoming a Guardian of Earth, which was four years later.

By then, Wu Di was a senior he looked up to, an excellent, mature, and steady warrior.

Even now, the scathing remarks from his senior still linger vividly in Ma Ran’s memory.

"Ma Ran, tell me..."

"Do you have the resolve to perish together with the enemy?"

"Do you have the power to guard the Earth Civilization?"

"No resolve."

"Nor power."

"What makes you qualified to become a ’Guardian’?"