A few minutes ago.

Outside the tactical vehicle, within a makeshift ward built of isolation panels.

Song Chu was soaking in a bucket of ice water, surrounded by hot steam, with scalding waves surging in the bucket and bubbles rising.

His eyes were tightly closed, his entire body as red as a boiled crab, with a needle attached to his arm transfusing blood.

Beside him, He Nanguang lay limply on a stretcher, as if someone had pulled out his bones, while a nurse fed him medicine spoon by spoon.

The cost of the [Yukong] ability is a decrease in bone density.

However, the specificity of this ability allows He Nanguang's body to absorb and utilize the free calcium in his blood very efficiently, enabling him to almost eat calcium tablets like meals without worrying about kidney stones.

"The thing I worried about the most still happened."

Song Chu poured a small bucket of ice water over his head, steam rising all around him: "We still lost contact with the front line…"

He Nanguang chewed the calcium tablet in his mouth, washed it down with a sip of mineral water, and sighed: "Actually, we anticipated this situation, didn't we?"

"After all, some important ability users are still very young, their bodies not fully developed, and their spiritual will barely meets the minimum standard for awakened superpowers."

"Especially Wang Xiaoshuang, the fact that she's held on until now has already exceeded my expectations!"

"But…"

"Tiger Brother has no Dog Sister."

"Her brother Xiao Wang, back in A3 District, was evenly matched with you…"

Saying this, He Nanguang waved off the nurse's spoon: "Wait a bit, my absorption speed isn't that fast."

Though he said this, He Nanguang had clearly recovered a lot, managing to stand up and walk without a crutch.

He leaned against the wall, slowly making his way to Song Chu, immediately feeling a wave of heat hit him.

"We've already completed our assigned tasks, and that's enough."

"Think about it, if we both thought of it, would Ma Ran not have thought of it?"

Unlike Song Chu, He Nanguang didn't ignore age differences to forcibly acknowledge 'Brother,' maintaining his dignity.

"Rather than that, I'm more worried about Wan Haihao."

He Nanguang and Wan Haihao are similar in age, and they exchanged contact info the first time he went to Grass Hut Academy.

As their friendship deepened, he discovered Wan Haihao's biggest problem, but several heart-to-hearts didn't help.

"Initially, Wan Haihao was extremely despondent, depressed, almost to the point of reclusion."

Saying this, He Nanguang shook his head: "He's actually a lot better now than he used to be."

"Though I still fear Wan Haihao may not withstand the pressure, the one making tactical plans is Ma Ran."

"I trust him!"

Even after only meeting twice, He Nanguang resolutely chose to trust Ma Ran.

Reason?

No reason needed!

From the first encounter, He Nanguang knew that precocious boy was trustworthy!

Though Liu Huadie from Fulan Academy didn't speak much or mention Ma Ran, he knew Liu Huadie's attitude towards Ma Ran was the same as his own!

In these turbulent times filled with alien influence and Earth's changing landscape, it's the easiest era for heroes to emerge.

Everyone is willing to believe, the [National Guardian] level ability user Ma Ran is the hero who will lead everyone to victory!

If not Ma Ran, then who, Su Qiangwei?

Though she performed well in the Lotus City Demon Mountain battle, her usual impression is too ingrained in people's minds to change with just a couple of instances!

"Indeed…"

In the ice water bucket, Song Chu's eyes reflected a hint of remembrance, his lips curving slightly: "You can always trust Brother Ran!"

"When I first met him in A3 District, he was just entering the Sixth Rank of Inner Qi."

"In the blink of an eye, Brother Ran not only mastered Black Rock Martial Arts to full level, but also broke through the limits of the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi, paving the way to the Tenth Rank!"

"Every time I think about it, it feels like an eternity ago."

"Yet it's only been over a month…"

…

Inside the tactical vehicle.

After Lin Qiubai instantly defeated the Grey-clothed Sword Saint, the table and projector screen blurred as if strongly interfered with.

A moment later, the images completely vanished.

Simultaneously, a girl around five feet tall clutched her eyes, falling painfully to the ground.

Her name was Wang Xiaoshuang, from Henan, a Pillar-level ability [Caged Gaze] awakener from Yingchuan Academy.

When the superpower erosion occurred, the cost was — damage to the optic nerve.

"Ah!"

Wang Xiaoshuang cried out in pain, her eye sockets red, eyes tightly shut, tears uncontrollably streaming down her cheeks.

With tears, she apologized: "I'm sorry!"

"Brother Ma Ran, I'm so useless!"

The reason for this address is justified.

Wang Xiaoshuang had just graduated primary school and entered her first year of middle school.

Age-wise, calling Ma Ran brother was entirely reasonable.

This affectionate address was mainly because…

Wang Xiaoshuang fervently idolized Su Qiangwei, Ma Ran, and Song Chu.

The reason is quite simple…

Wang Xiaoshuang's brother had been stationed in A3 District for the past few months.

In the A3 District Nightmare incident, if not for Ma Ran, Song Chu, and Su Qiangwei, her brother's grave might already be overrun with grass.

"You've already done your best."

Not far away, Ma Ran also stood up and said calmly, "Don't blame yourself, they won't have any problems."

The medical personnel in white coats quickly entered the tactical vehicle to carry Wang Xiaoshuang out on a stretcher for a physical examination.

"Don't worry, Xiaoshuang should not have suffered any irreversible damage."

Next to him, Liu Huadie popped a quick-acting heart pill into her mouth, and her tightly knitted brows slightly relaxed.

Her "Unity" ability places a severe burden on her heart. Ignoring abnormal sensations in the body could easily lead to sudden death.

While Su Qiangwei, Wan Haihao, and Zhu Hanyi and their team were tackling challenges on the front lines, other members of the academic society were not just standing by idly, as each had their own tasks and responsibilities.

The superpower users each played to their strengths, without need for further explanation.

Take Peng Hanqing from the Beijing Zhiyuan Academy, for example. Pure Inner Qi cultivators like him, once they reach the Second Rank of Inner Qi, have almost all participated in the Lotus City rescue operations, saving the lives of many innocent civilians.

This was also equivalent to fighting on the battlefield.

Ma Ran was about to speak when his eyebrow suddenly twitched, and his mind was stirred.

The "play" ability began providing feedback!

New acupoints were being developed one by one.

High-density biopower naturally evolved, circulating within his body continuously, filling all the acupoints and transforming them into mature micro-organs, imperceptible to the naked eye.

Five hundred and twenty-five!

Six hundred!

Seven hundred and seventy-seven!

Nine hundred!

Finally, the total number of mature acupoints filled within Ma Ran's body reached a thousand and twenty-four!

The previous role-playing finally paid off!

Heads of various academic societies, their members, frontline warriors, and even the mastermind behind Demon Mountain, the White Mane aliens.

All the audience seemed captivated, believing in the authenticity of Ma Ran's performance!

Over a thousand acupoints' worth of Inner Qi converged within Ma Ran's body, quantitative change inducing qualitative change.

An exuberant and vigorous life force surged like mighty rivers and seas, rushing endlessly!

In the blink of an eye, Ma Ran almost underwent a transformation, with his whole body emitting slight popping sounds, like roasting beans.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

If he hadn't promptly unwoven the Youwen Text Illusion, he might have had to spend more effort explaining how these additional five hundred and twelve acupoints were calculated without the aid of the Black Rock Martial Arts Stele.

Why did this breakthrough occur at such a critical juncture?

Perceiving something amiss, immediately weaving an illusion had almost become Ma Ran's instinct.

His reaction speed was fast enough, so...

He didn't need to face these questions.

Ma Ran quickly realized the fundamental changes occurring within his body.

Bones more solid!

Muscles more powerful!

Skin more resilient!

Nerve reflexes faster!

Upon truly reaching the Tenth Rank of Inner Qi, Ma Ran instinctively clenched his fist, little by little sensing the turbulent, fierce, and unrestrained powerful strength within his body.

What exactly does the Tenth Rank of Inner Qi mean?

Let's give a very intuitive example!

The total amount of Inner Qi in Ma Ran's body, now like a dragon dancing wildly, would even make five hundred First Rank Inner Qi cultivators combined pale in comparison!

Overall attributes, countless times stronger than the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi!

According to Ma Ran's estimation, a pure Black Rock Martial Arts practitioner at the Tenth Rank of Inner Qi could easily defeat two Ninth Rank Inner Qi practitioners!

However...

Ma Ran's brow slightly raised.

Upon reaching the level of the Tenth Rank of Inner Qi, his body seemed to vaguely feel as if it was filled to the brim with Inner Qi!

Attempting to continue modifying the Black Rock Martial Arts System and raising its upper limit posed some challenges.

Simply increasing the number of acupoints...

Is not enough!

One must either start with energy compression.

Or find a way to enhance the body's ultimate endurance capacity!

Both of these approaches seem reasonable, logically sound, relatively scientific.

In fact, they can advance simultaneously!

However...

The key issue isn't whether the idea is rational, but whether...

Ma Ran can gain more, higher-quality recognition from the "audience" through role-playing!

After slightly adapting to the new strength, Ma Ran dispelled the Youwen Text Illusion.

He surveyed the surroundings and said, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much."

"Before departing, the Sword Master promised me that they would ensure everyone's safe return."

The distressed crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief, a touch of joy appearing on their faces.

Lin Qiubai is very proud. If he indeed made such a promise, then...

The survival rate of Su Qiangwei and others would greatly increase!

Remaining silent all along, only responsible for transmitting messages through "Unity," Liu Huadie suddenly spoke up, "What's the price?"

"What did you pay to get this promise?"

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