The room with the Inner Qi Detector is quite spacious, comfortably accommodating over a hundred people without any sense of crowding.

The room is filled mostly with teenagers, and a few young adults, all exuding a vigorous and energetic aura regardless of age.

Although everyone's expressions differ, there is a hint of pride in everyone's eyes.

At this time, those present in the base are essentially the most outstanding and exceptional talents from various academic societies.

As soon as Ma Ran entered, he immediately felt the scorching gazes from everyone around.

"In literature, there's no number one; in martial arts, there's no number two."

Over the past month, he has definitely been in the spotlight, and who knows how many people feel jealous every time they hear his name.

Ma Ran's demeanor remained calm, with an air of composure and serenity.

By the look of him, he didn't seem to intend to engage in small talk with anyone.

This kind of demeanor was something that Su Qiangwei, Wan Haihao, or Zhu Hanyi had long been accustomed to.

During previous militarized training, Ma Ran attended each subject briefly just to make up the numbers, clearly not focusing his mind on it.

Yet it would be insufficient to criticize Ma Ran for this.

Because...

Even though Ma Ran merely glanced at the subjects, the level of military skills he demonstrated in practice left each instructor praising him endlessly.

This was not something achieved by sheer memory alone.

Body coordination, comprehension, and athletic ability: If any of these three aspects were lacking, achieving this level would be impossible!

In reality, his three teammates were overthinking it.

Mostly, during militarized training, Ma Ran devoted the vast majority of his time to studying Enclosure Text and Spiritual Power.

It's not that he was arrogant and refused to learn and progress, but rather because...

Though all instructors were very professional, there was indeed a slight gap compared to Ma Ran's level.

After all, Ma Ran was a battle-hardened fighter from life-and-death trials, with his skills honed to the point where adding an extra ounce would be cumbersome, yet lacking an ounce would feel insufficient.

Some instructors, indifferent to personal pride, even wrote applications wanting to exchange identities with Ma Ran to further their studies alongside him.

Undoubtedly, these applications were decisively rejected by the authorities.

"What arrogance..."

"This kid, is he Ma Ran?"

"You better show a little respect."

"Oh? Why should I respect him? Rescuing A3 District and twice turning away the White Mane crisis were indeed his contributions. But his Inner Qi cultivation issues lower his image score for me. Although President Qian says he has reached the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi, does anyone actually believe that? Ma Ran is just an average person in my eyes."

"Initially, I thought the same as you, but... Zhu Hanyi is at the Third Rank of Inner Qi, and by his actions, he believes Ma Ran indeed possesses Ninth Rank cultivation. Zhu Hanyi is stronger than me, and I'm willing to trust his judgment."

"Everyone, quiet down!"

"What's the point of discussing this here? Let Ma Ran go for the test later, and we'll find out, right? The Inner Qi Detector hasn't had any mishaps so far, with a one hundred percent accuracy rate!"

"In the face of ironclad evidence and solid deeds, why doubt? Is it jealousy making you lose your usual poise?"

"Haha? Me, jealous of him? That's ridiculous!"

Voices of discussion arose inside the room.

Some were, in a state of imbalance, displeased by Ma Ran, finding fault in him.

There were also those who spoke for him—like Song Chu, He Nanguang, Liu Huadie, and others.

Ma Ran pondered briefly, ready to intervene to rescue those confused lemon-faced youths.

However, Su Qiangwei beside him suddenly spoke up.

She stood in front of Ma Ran, pointing at a few members who criticized the most, and sneered, "I've truly encountered too many people like you."

"You approach life with intermittent enthusiasm yet consistently just struggle along idly, have narrow perspectives, and shallow insight, thinking everyone else is just like you."

"Just because you can't do something, you assume others can't either."

"I wonder, Ma Ran's abilities are a hundred times greater than yours, yet he doesn't have your problem, does he?"

"Ma Ran loves to be in the spotlight, but did he question the Sword Master's abilities when Lin Qiubai stole the spotlight from him?"

"He's just diligently cultivating, trying to expand the limits of Black Rock Martial Arts and forge the path of the Tenth Rank of Inner Qi!"

"And you?"

"Without investigation, you have no right to speak. Where are your arguments for your doubts?"

"Could it be that jealousy has erased your reasoning?"

"Is your distorted pride making you unable to see others better than yourself?"

As she spoke, Su Qiangwei pointed to the monitoring equipment in the room, snorted, and said, "After the Demon Mountain disaster is over, feel free to check the surveillance yourself!"

"See if the video shows you making a fool of yourselves out of jealousy?"

Her words spewed out sharply like raindrops in a storm.

Like a long spear or sharp sword, piercing directly to the heart.

It was...

Quite sudden.

The few youths who harshly criticized Ma Ran had their expressions shift between green and purple, their eyes turning dark.

They opened their mouths, wanting to retort, but couldn't find a place to start.

It seemed...

She made some valid points?

Had they truly become ugly because of jealousy?

If someone else had said these words, they would have likely been unconvinced, choosing to resort to fists rather than words.

But the one who spoke just now was Su Qiangwei, who single-handedly suppressed the entire Yingchuan Academy!

With more force behind her words due to her strength!

Su Qiangwei's persuasive power...

Was rather potent.

The youths felt the gaze of others and only felt a burning sensation on their faces, like someone scratching repeatedly with a gua sha tool, their bodies heating up, wishing they could hide away in a hole.

Ma Ran glanced at Su Qiangwei in surprise.

This skill with words...

Not bad.

The girl's performance today reshaped Ma Ran's understanding of her.

Standing to Ma Ran's right side, Wan Haihao was inwardly full of discontent after hearing the others' discussions, wanting to go talk sense into those small talkers who criticized the harshest.

But they'd already been silenced by Su Qiangwei's words, and further rhetoric would be pointless.

Actions speak louder than words!

The Inner Qi Detector, with its "one hundred percent accuracy" claim, could prove Ma Ran's strength and innocence!

"Brother Ran, I'll go test this machine first."

With these words, Wan Haihao strode forward.

The Inner Qi Detector from the outside appeared much like the semi-enclosed gaming pods often referred to in science fiction virtual reality-themed novels.

Measuring approximately three meters long, two meters wide, and two point two meters high, it was gold and red in color and made of metal.

From the outside, observable components included: helmet, reclining chair, neural connection wires, data collectors, central processors, and display screens.

Beyond these, nothing more was visible.

It seemed other academic society members had completed their tests, so Wan Haihao needn't queue and approached the Inner Qi Detector by himself, beginning the Inner Qi data monitoring under the guidance of a lady.

With a silver helmet rich in sci-fi flavor atop his head and the cool feel of gel patches on his limbs, Wan Haihao felt a faint electric current pass over his skin, muscles, and bones, reaching straight to his Acupoints.

Moments later, heat began to rise, and the Inner Qi within his Acupoints started to surge.

A string of text suddenly appeared on the previously pitch-black monitor.

"Grass Hut Academy member, Wan Haihao, with 3 Acupoints opened within the body, current Black Rock Martial Arts level: First Rank of Inner Qi."

This was nearly the worst data among everyone present.

No one mocked him.

Everyone waited quietly, awaiting the test results of the Grass Hut Academy's group.

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