Chapter 40 - 39: Extraordinary Lower One: Black Rock Martial Arts Initial Analysis

No one paid attention to Su Qiangwei, who was acting crazy.

What?

She’s the second-ranked fighter in Grass Hut Academy?

Theoretically, yes.

If you don’t count Ma Ran as the top, whether looking at inner Qi cultivation progress or superpower strength, Su Qiangwei is undoubtedly the strongest in Grass Hut Academy!

Unfortunately, as a man who seems to have a spotlight wherever he goes, Ma Ran cannot be ignored.

Losers aren’t remembered—unless that person is Yue Lun.

Everyone was still immersed in Ma Ran’s performance from earlier and hadn’t come to their senses.

Look at the things he said just now!

On the way to awakening a superpower, he, with a bit of serious cultivation, jumped to the Fifth Rank of Inner Qi...

Is he even human?

And...

After reaching the fifth level of Black Rock Martial Arts cultivation, you can release Inner Qi Bullets with your bare hands, having medium to short-range attack capabilities!

Even if Ma Ran disdains Inner Qi Bullets, downplaying them as worthless, it can’t stop the fervor of the Grass Hut Academy members.

"The Six Meridian Divine Sword!"

"Add some color to it, and isn’t it just like the ’Sword Pill’ in xianxia novels?"

"If we could somehow modify the appearance, it would be like the Invisible Flying Sword!"

The youth, filled with excitement, kept imagining the future while devouring food, eager to make a rapid breakthrough to the Fifth Rank of Inner Qi and show off like Ma Ran.

Unfortunately...

The ideal is sumptuous, but the reality is bony.

Right now, they haven’t even reached the First Rank of Inner Qi.

Ma Ran, while enjoying breakfast, answered the members’ questions, solving quite a few inner Qi cultivation problems for them.

He has the ability to "play," allowing him to skip the arduous accumulation process without encountering any bottlenecks.

Who else gets such perks?

Even those like Su Qiangwei, who seems like Heaven’s goddaughter, have to toil in cultivation!

Moreover, they can’t just bury themselves in hard work.

Whether it’s the inner Qi system of Black Rock Martial Arts or superpower enhancement, they both require patience, serious effort, and diligent thinking.

Otherwise, it’s easy to reach an impasse.

This is what’s called a bottleneck.

To illustrate with inner Qi cultivation, from refining the first strand of Qi to nurturing filled acupoints into mature micro-organs is the biggest challenge troubling Grass Hut Academy members.

"Brother Ran, I recorded every time you solve everyone’s problems."

The number one fanboy Dong Huaiming approached Ma Ran with a recorder in hand: "I plan to organize this into a text and compile a book."

"It’ll be titled ’Burning Martial’!"

"What do you think?"

Ma Ran looked at Xiao Ming expressionlessly.

Honestly...

Not great.

The title lacks depth or transparency; who knows what the content is about!

However...

This naming method suits Dong Huaiming’s personality.

Very adolescent.

It’s that vibe.

"Then..."

Seeing Ma Ran’s reaction, Dong Huaiming quickly changed his words: "’Burning Martial’ will be reserved for later use."

Who is Xiao Ming?

The number one fan of Grass Hut Academy’s leader!

A single look, and he knows what’s on Ma Ran’s mind.

"When you claim the divine martial arts title and become a Martial God, we’ll use it then."

Dong Huaiming, holding a large spoon, stirred the food in the metal basin and suddenly brightened up: "I just thought of something!"

"’Extraordinary Lower One: Black Rock Martial Arts Initial Analysis,’ does that work?"

Humans have limits.

Even diligent geniuses can’t cultivate inner Qi 24 hours a day.

It’s impossible for someone who devotes 18 hours a day to cultivation to maintain that!

After regular training, Dong Huaiming would roam around Grass Hut Academy.

Within just a few days, restless as he was, he had explored all of Ancient Longzhong.

The phrase ’Extraordinary Lower One’ is adapted from the words on the back of the Ancient Longzhong archway, "Three Generations Beyond One."

The phrase "Three Generations Beyond One" praises Zhuge Liang, saying Mr. Kongming is the greatest talent after the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties.

And "Extraordinary Lower One"? That’s Xiao Ming’s dedication as Ma Ran’s ardent fan.

Ma Ran glanced at Dong Huaiming’s food tray and said with complex emotion, "As you wish."

Having seafood Buddha’s Delight for breakfast is quite heavy...

Just as Ma Ran put down his chopsticks, a junior schoolmate ran over to clear his tray and took it to the dish return area.

Xiao Ming, holding back for a long time, finally couldn’t suppress his curiosity and hesitantly asked, "Brother Ran, your hair..."

Ma Ran’s smile seemed a bit forced: "It’s a side effect of the superpower."

"Changing the future through ’Limited Foreknowledge’."

"Whether it’s a positive or negative change, it accelerates cellular aging and drains life."

He then awkwardly shifted the topic, calmly detailing yesterday’s superpower awakening to Dong Huaiming.

Once Dong Huaiming knows certain information, it’s as if the entire Grass Hut Academy knows it.

Theoretically, this is also a kind of acting.

However, Ma Ran is now certain—the ’play’ ability filters out harmful aspects, leaving only beneficial parts.

Otherwise, from the very beginning, the reborn person shouldn’t have been Ma Ran, but the few surviving humans and comrades before Earth’s destruction.

"I see!"

Dong Huaiming, full of worry, carefully considered his choice of words, and after some contemplation, cautiously said, "Brother Ran, in the future..."

"Try to use this ability less!"

Though he’s an extreme teenager with an unusual way of thinking, he’s still a fine young man educated in materialism for years.

To Dong Huaiming, superpowers like manipulating water, fire, wind, and thunder can be reluctantly explained with scientific theory.

But among the abilities ’Limited Foreknowledge,’ ’Myriad Transformations,’ ’Yukong,’ and ’Unity,’ apart from ’Yukong’ sounding somewhat normal, the other three are each more unscientific!

But...

To alter a particular future, Ma Ran has obviously expended some lifespan.

"Don’t worry."

"I know my limits."

...

Shortly after returning to the dorm, Ma Ran received the remaining rewards for uploading the ’Black Rock Guiding Technique.’

The remaining rewards were divided into two parts.

First was a new phone without any brand labels.

Its design was somewhat similar to Xiaomi’s latest model.

Its overall performance was excellent, and its reliability far surpassed any smartphone on the market.

Most importantly, it came pre-installed with an app called ’DJI’.

This is the domestic app for communication and research on supernatural abilities and phenomena.

Normally, only members who have joined the academic society and undergone at least a month of evaluation can access this app.

President Huang Weiguo opened a door for Ma Ran, skipping the evaluation.

Through this app, one can obtain first-hand information on supernatural phenomena and stay updated on the latest research findings from other academic societies.

In addition to this, there was a certificate.

Red background, gold-embossed edges!

The back had a white bar with text explanations.

"1. This certificate is issued by the Grass Hut Academy, exclusively for one person per certificate, and cannot be lent."

"2. The certificate holder has temporary exemption from conventional laws and, in legal dispute cases, is only subject to the academic society’s court judgment."

"3. ..."

In total, seven clauses, simply yet clearly outlining the benefits and obligations of the certificate holder.

——

Thanks to Xu Ziyu for the 100-point roasted chicken leg donation to Ma Ran!

Thanks to Dried Fish for the 100-point roasted chicken leg donation to Ma Ran!

Thanks to Terrible Me for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to Cute Little Love for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to Black Dragon’s Cloud Rise for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to OoO Your Little God OVO for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to Meowpass’s Childhood Friend for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to Moyu Xingyuan for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to Moon White Breeze thatched cottage for the 100-point donation!

Thanks to Autumn Wind’s Thousand-Year Awakening for the 100-point donation!

Thank you! (๑▽๑)