Due to the late start of Grass Hut Academy, Wan Haihao's cultivation time was relatively short, only about a month.

From this perspective, even if most of the members at the scene were stronger than him, the difference was only slight, with no substantial gaps between them.

Therefore, no one mocked him, as if after Su Qiangwei's verbal barrage, everyone had suddenly become more cultured.

To the disappointment of the students, the second person to detect was Zhu Hanyi, not Ma Ran.

"Qinglian Academy member, Zhu Hanyi, has opened 9 acupoints in his body. The current Black Rock Martial Arts level is: Third Rank of Inner Qi."

As Zhu Hanyi just left the Inner Qi Detector, retrieving his Eight-sided Han Sword from the young lady's hand, a slightly harsh voice rang in his ear.

"Half a month ago, you reached the Third Rank of Inner Qi a day before I did."

"Half a month later, you've only opened one acupoint?"

"Is this all you've got, Zhu Hanyi?!"

The speaker was a teenager wearing a Zhiyuan Academy uniform.

His name was Peng Hanqing, and he was an old acquaintance of Zhu Hanyi.

The two were often compared by the club presidents.

In Peng Hanqing's view, whether Ma Ran's cultivation was fake was none of his business.

In front of the Inner Qi Detector, all pretense would be self-defeating!

If Ma Ran was misjudged, he could quickly prove his innocence.

The person Peng Hanqing cared more about...

Was Zhu Hanyi!

During this two-week period, Zhu Hanyi, being selected into the Demon Mountain assault team, had an almost unlimited supply of Inner Qi Capsules.

Meanwhile, Peng Hanqing had to ration his intake carefully, measuring the time meticulously and consuming Inner Qi Capsules cautiously.

Why?

In what way was he weaker than Zhu Hanyi?

If Zhu Hanyi could seize the opportunity, cultivating properly, opening 11 or even 12 acupoints, Peng Hanqing would have no complaints!

But the problem was, Zhu Hanyi was now actually weaker than him?

What does this indicate?

It indicates that Zhu Hanyi hadn't been training properly during this period, nor did he cherish the hard-won Inner Qi Capsules, wasting the most precious extraordinary resources at this stage!

In Peng Hanqing's eyes, this was simply unforgivable behavior!

Unlike most academic society members.

Peng Hanqing did not participate in the academic ability test, wasn't from a military background, and didn't pass the spiritual will test.

He was one of the few members recruited as a "supernatural phenomenon experiencer" into the society!

Months ago, during a night self-study session, because of extreme fatigue, Peng Hanqing couldn't resist the drowsiness and took a nap.

When he woke up, he was shocked to find that...

All his classmates and substitute teachers had their eyes gouged out by an unknown creature!

Everyone lay in pools of blood, groaning in pain, crying helplessly!

The strong smell of blood stung Peng Hanqing's nerves.

Meanwhile, other classmates and teachers in the corridor passed by, like blind and deaf people, completely oblivious to the bloody, brutal scene in the classroom.

Only Peng Hanqing knew the tumult of emotions he experienced, having witnessed that scene.

Not going insane on the spot was a testament to his strength.

To prevent himself from making any noise and attracting the culprit back, Peng Hanqing bit down hard on his left hand while trembling, dialing the emergency line.

By the time help arrived, he had nearly bitten through his finger bones, his mouth filled with the taste of blood.

Although the news publicly declared that a "highly dangerous psychopath" committed the crime, Peng Hanqing didn't believe it!

What kind of psychopath could selectively blind and deafen all the teachers and students passing through the corridor?

Afterwards, recruited into Zhiyuan Academy, Peng Hanqing learned...

That bloody night study incident was orchestrated by an extraterrestrial being.

What?

The officials captured and killed the alien?

Sorry, that didn't happen.

The extraterrestrial being, code-named "Eye-Stealing Monster," had completely vanished after that incident.

Peng Hanqing vowed that he must become stronger, stronger than any creature, so that when he encounters the Eye-Stealing Monster again, he will kill it and end the nightmare that has been haunting him!

"..."

So now, the more Peng Hanqing looked at Zhu Hanyi, the more he disliked him.

He felt that Zhu Hanyi, clearly blessed with the best resources and possessing excellent talent, didn't appreciate it.

"Peng Hanqing, you're mistaken!"

Being scolded directly, Zhu Hanyi did not flinch but rather stepped forward, focusing his mind, allowing the Eight-sided Han Sword behind him to fly into his hand: "You think I haven't progressed? That I haven't worked hard and wasted my cultivation?"

"No!"

"The extraordinary power in the world isn't limited to the Inner Qi Cultivation system of Black Rock Martial Arts!"

As he spoke, Zhu Hanyi caressed the long sword in his hand, a trace of obsession in his eyes: "To specialize in Seven Vortex Swordsmanship, I gave up Inner Qi cultivation, letting go of easily attainable superpowers."

"If my swordsmanship cultivation progresses even slightly, I could convert all Inner Qi into swordsmanship resources, allowing me to forge a Sword Spirit!"

Zhu Hanyi's demeanor was the same as usual.

The words he spoke didn't seem like something a normal person would say: "My mentor Lin Qiubai selflessly taught me the essence of Seven Vortex Swordsmanship..."

"This sword requires a lifetime of dedication to pursue!"

Upon finishing his speech, he twisted his wrist, spinning the sword in a flourish.

The teenagers and staff at the scene stepped back, making room.

The time Zhu Hanyi spent in training the Seven Vortex Swordsmanship was incredibly short, and even with his considerable talent and guidance from a master, he was still stuck in the first realm of Swordsmanship, the Nurturing stage.

But still...

Even so, combined with the robust physique granted by his Third Level of Inner Qi Cultivation, Zhu Hanyi wielded his Eight-sided Han Sword with great skill.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The sword blade reflected the light, dazzlingly.

Zhu Hanyi's sword techniques were ancient and simplistic, using only the stab, slash, cut, and parry moves, lacking in any supernatural finesse, but...

Although his movements involved crossing the room swiftly, drawing and slashing his sword, few could clearly discern his actions.

The heavy sword in Zhu Hanyi's hand, rather than becoming a burden, seemed to serve as an asset.

With sword in hand, his movements became more agile and swift, like a barefoot person finally wearing the right shoes.

He came like the wind, went like lightning, with the sword edge vibrating, leaving afterimages!

Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

The sword shadows crisscrossed, the gusts of wind raging.

After a moment, Zhu Hanyi exhaled deeply.

Sheathing his sword, he gently stroked the hilt, proudly stating: "Under my master's guidance, I've used my spiritual nature to nurture the 'Rain Boiling Sword,' gradually pushing it beyond the limits of ordinary high-intensity alloys."

"Now, it truly can cut through iron like mud!"

Peng Hanqing's expression was not good, but the resentment in his eyes dissipated: "Indeed impressive."

"I misunderstood."

"Apologies."

Zhu Hanyi shared the same Third Rank of Inner Qi as he did, and even had fewer acupoints filled than him.

But still...

Zhu Hanyi was incredibly strong!

Far stronger than he was by several orders of magnitude!

"Hmm?"

Peng Hanqing suddenly noticed that since entering the venue, Ma Ran, who had always carried himself with a disdainful attitude, was now looking at him with a peculiar gaze.

To be precise...

Ma Ran seemed to be looking at his head.

Is there something on his head?

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