Anyway, Zhu Hanyi saved two elementary school students from the disaster at Demon Mountain with his sacrifice.

Wei Zuxia's sacrifice, however, didn't save anyone.

There's no need to compare who had it worse.

No eggs remain unbroken under a toppled nest; in Earth's last few years, tragedies were everywhere.

Yet, in some ways, Wei Zuxia's end was even more sorrowful than Zhu Hanyi's.

In Ma Ran's impression, this person's greatest strength, and simultaneously his greatest flaw, was his sense of responsibility.

Wei Zuxia's sense of responsibility was so heavy that he would often work tirelessly, studying tactical layouts day and night, leading to both physical and mental exhaustion.

Thus...

He would occasionally say thoughtless things or do seemingly foolish things in formal settings.

Ma Ran could completely understand.

People are flesh and blood, not machines made of iron and steel fueled by blood, and it's impossible to never make a mistake in one's lifetime.

In Ma Ran's mind, someone like Wei Zuxia is at least ten thousand times better than a hypocrite with a sweet tongue and dagger heart, or those who act chivalrously but reveal their true colors on the battlefield!

What a pity.

Character determines destiny!

Wei Zuxia was the kind of person who put all his effort into doing good, wanted to help, and indeed could help most of the time, yet would still end up being resented afterwards.

"...That's all for the tactical layout."

Wei Zuxia looked at Ma Ran.

He had been speaking for a long time, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Are there any details that need supplementation or improvement?"

Ma Ran shook his head.

What else could he add?

As long as the general direction is right, there's no problem.

Even if a plan is flawless in theory, it depends on who the executor is.

There are always people in the world who can turn a theoretically perfect plan into a mess, causing their teammates harm and destroying themselves.

At the same time, some people are naturally gifted with the power to turn decay into magic; no matter how bad the strategy, how scarce the intelligence, or how harsh the conditions, if she executes it, she can complete the task perfectly.

Thinking of this, Ma Ran glanced at Su Qiangwei, feeling a slight throbbing in his temples.

She is her, yet she isn't her.

Noticing Ma Ran's complex gaze, the girl performed a neat feat of cracking a walnut by hand, casually tossed the kernel into her mouth, and happily chewed it: "Do I have a grain of rice on my face? What are you looking at me for?"

As she spoke, there was another soft "crack" from her sturdy hands.

These were stone walnuts from Hebei Zhulu, Su Qiangwei's recent favorite.

Paper-shelled walnuts always felt lacking.

Iron walnuts from Guizhou were too hard and took an effort to crack.

Ma Ran slightly closed his eyes, gently rubbed his temples with his fingertips, and said in a pensive tone, "I think there's a problem with this roster."

"Zhu Hanyi and Wan Haihao are acceptable."

"You..."

Su Qiangwei slammed the walnut shells onto the conference table with a "snap," her brows furrowed with anger: "Trying to steal the spotlight again, why is this person so disregardful of the codes of the jianghu spirit!"

Ma Ran raised his eyebrow: "Can you do it?"

The girl sneered, spreading her hands, with lightning suddenly appearing in her left hand and flames swirling around the right: "Of course!"

Seeing this, Ma Ran pondered for a moment and nodded slightly: "It's good that you have confidence."

With his combat power at the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi, his stat values were much higher than Su Qiangwei's. Even without considering combat experience, his chance of success would still be higher than if Su Qiangwei were to go.

Looking back on the past month of experience now, Ma Ran's plan had a slight deviation from the very beginning.

Originally, the third script hidden deep in his heart, "Lord of the Red Lotus," was prepared to lead Su Qiangwei into the Extraordinary Domain.

Unexpectedly, Su Qiangwei performed beyond expectations in the academic ability test, and although she didn't take the top spot, she managed to get into Grass Hut Academy by a whisker.

So...

The script and role of "Lord of the Red Lotus" is no longer the third script after "Sword Master's Soul."

Its priority will be placed back.

Before this, Ma Ran was not entirely willing to let Su Qiangwei go into danger.

After all...

The battlefield Valkyrie who shares the same face, same name, same abilities, and the same social relations as Su Qiangwei, was the spiritual pillar that supported Ma Ran through his novice phase and is the idol he sincerely acknowledges.

However...

Su Qiangwei is extremely willing, and she holds [Myriad Transformations] in her hands.

At this stage, she is not exceptionally strong, but she at least possesses copies of all the Supernatural Abilities from the Yingchuan Academy.

Even if she appears unwilling to think most of the time, at critical moments, she's still dependable enough.

This could be seen from the last A3 District Nightmare incident.

Even when not on site, Su Qiangwei could decisively help in her own way.

Although he finds her immature behavior contemptible at times, deep down, Ma Ran has already considered her a partner.

He believes that in most emergencies, Su Qiangwei can lead the team members to retreat intact.

As for the other two on the list...

Zhu Hanyi, as the strongest in Qinglian Academy and a Sword Cultivator at the Third Rank of Inner Qi, can indeed be considered a high-level combat power at this stage.

Wan Haihao originally wasn't qualified.

However, as an additional member, his presence equates to that of Lin Qiubai.

Sword Master's level of combat prowess in everyone's heart needs no explanation.

The presence of "Lin Qiubai" is precisely the reason why Ma Ran finally agreed for Su Qiangwei to join the assault team.

Meeting adjourned!

...

That noon, in the canteen.

"Not eighteen yet, still need family consent?"

Su Qiangwei sat across from Ma Ran, her gaze dazed, sending spoonful after spoonful of curry pork chop rice into her mouth.

Her mouth stuffed with food, the girl looked like a little hamster and mumbled incoherently, "Really? You're not tricking me, are you?"

Ma Ran didn't reply, focusing instead on his oily noodles.

"Mmm..."

"Should be true."

She then stuffed a spoonful of curry sauce with meat and rice into her mouth and pointed the empty spoon at Ma Ran: "You're a person who, though likes to seek the limelight, is always so serious, you're not the type to lie about this."

"Pranks and you are like oil and water!"

"Ninth Rank of Inner Qi... heh heh... Ninth Rank of Inner Qi..."

Evidently, Su Qiangwei was still holding a grudge over the fact of Ma Ran mastering the Black Rock Martial Arts to full level.

However, she quickly adjusted her mindset.

Full level means that the road ahead is blocked, leaving no further possibility for advancement.

What?

To pioneer a new path from scratch?

Sounds easy enough?

In reality, it's as difficult as reaching the heavens!

When the Black Rock Martial Arts Civilization faced the extinction crisis, even with the combined efforts of people worldwide, they couldn't create a method to reach the Tenth Rank of Inner Qi cultivation.

What reason would Ma Ran have to achieve that alone?

Learning ability and creative ability are two entirely different matters!

Though Su Qiangwei believes in Ma Ran's talent, one objective fact remains - he lacks accumulated Extraordinary Knowledge and foundation.

In such conditions, how could Ma Ran innovate and create new paths?

So...

Ma Ran's skyrocketing journey through the Inner Qi Ranks formally ends here as of today!

While she, Su Qiangwei, with [Myriad Transformations] in hand, grows stronger the more Superpower Users she encounters!

In the long run, she is practically limitless in potential!

Seeing this, Su Qiangwei let out an immature laugh.

"Heh heh..."

"Oh right, where were we in our conversation?"

"Mmm..."

"Under eighteen, need guardian's consent?"

The smile gradually faded from Su Qiangwei's face.

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