CHAPTER 70: QINGLIAN: ZHU HANYI

Thinking this, Su Qiangwei walked out of the room.

In the past half month, other members of the Grass Hut Academy have all successively opened up two acupoints and filled them with Inner Qi, reaching the First Rank of Inner Qi.

And today, Su Qiangwei officially became one of the only two people in the Grass Hut Academy to cultivate to the Second Rank of Inner Qi in Black Rock Martial Arts!

Hmm...

Theoretically, this statement is absolutely correct, with no issues at all.

After all, this is how Su Qiangwei calculated it herself.

She and Ma Ran were in the same league.

While other Grass Hut Academy members were in another league.

"Huh?"

Just as Su Qiangwei left the dormitory building, she noticed a motorcade parked at the academy’s gate, with a group of teenagers in dark cyan long-shirts gathered around a peer like stars surrounding the moon.

"This level of embarrassing ancient-style uniform..."

Su Qiangwei squinted her eyes slightly: "They must be from Qinglian Academy."

The peer who seemed to be the big shot from Qinglian Academy was a typical pretty boy.

About 1.8 meters tall, elegant in green, with long hair floating in the air, carrying a cold weapon shaped like an Eight-sided Han Sword, with a faint smile on his face.

Overall...

Su Qiangwei’s first impression of this person was very bad.

He felt to her like a poor imitation of the ancient-styled Ma Ran, exuding an air of pretentiousness as if it were second nature, yet lacking an unexplainable essence.

It’s not about the lack of looks.

Where is he lacking...

Perhaps it’s the aura?

If Ma Ran is a fierce tiger lurking in the forest, then this guy is just a yet-to-mature mongrel.

Thinking this way in her heart is indeed rude.

But Su Qiangwei just couldn’t help it!

Not making a snarky remark in person is already a big improvement for her!

"I am Zhu Hanyi, just arrived from Sichuan."

The pretty boy in an ancient style stood at the gate, with Inner Qi vibrating around him, his voice loud and ear-piercing: "Ma Ran, how about a fight with me?"

Su Qiangwei pouted.

Sichuan is just Sichuan, no need for the fancy term.

This way of building up pretense is so childish it makes her want to laugh.

Living in the 21st century, just say what a normal person should say.

Randomly throwing in a sentence or two of ancient language, how out of place!

Compared to Ma Ran, this so-called "Inner Qi Genius" Zhu Hanyi is too immature!

Su Qiangwei glanced around and found that more than a dozen Grass Hut members had unknowingly gathered around her.

Holding a recorder and notebook without knowing what he’s doing, Dong Huaiming...

Wan Haihao, seemingly zoning out...

Wu Di, gradually getting used to life at the Grass Hut Academy after transferring his records over...

"Who is this guy?"

"No idea, but he feels pretty arrogant."

"I know him, a senior from Qinglian Academy, apparently has reached the Third Rank of Inner Qi!"

"No wonder he keeps his hair so long, cell division rate really sped up..."

"Whoa... Third Rank of Inner Qi? Are you kidding? Filled all eight acupoints?"

"Qinglian Academy started way earlier than Grass Hut Academy, in terms of Inner Qi talent, he’s probably about the same as Su Qiangwei."

"Is that all?"

"Yup."

"Then it’s nothing."

"Stronger than me by a smidge, just fit to eat dust behind Brother Ran."

Hearing these discussions, Su Qiangwei felt offended.

Are any Tom, Dick, and Harry worthy of being compared to Master Qiangwei?

What a joke!

Zhu Hanyi from Qinglian Academy had already seen photos of Ma Ran and Su Qiangwei in the archive.

So, he recognized Su Qiangwei immediately.

Originally, he doubted whether Su Qiangwei had paid a photographer to add a beauty filter to her ID photo.

Now, Zhu Hanyi had to admit that the person looked even better than the photo.

However...

These are trivial matters.

No matter how beautiful an opposite gender, Zhu Hanyi doesn’t care.

Women only slow down his sword-drawing speed!

Not even the reincarnation of Xi Shi or the spirit of Diao Chan could shake his mind!

At this moment, Zhu Hanyi’s eyes and heart were focused on only one person—Ma Ran!

Being a fellow genius currently very popular in the country, Zhu Hanyi had been hearing this name a lot recently.

When eating in the canteen, people discussed Ma Ran.

While analyzing and calculating acupoint locations in front of the Black Rock Stele, people also mentioned Ma Ran.

Even when exhausted from cultivation and looking for shared experiences on the ’DJI’ app, out of ten posts at least three would mention this name.

Ma Ran, Ma Ran, it’s always Ma Ran!

The seventy-four people in A3 District who were parasitized by immature Nightmare Spores seemed to still have defeat memories left in their minds after recovery, all becoming "Ran Chui".

Even the few Second Rank of Inner Qi who went to A3 District for support, when mentioning Ma Ran, all showed a look of admiration.

These past few days for Zhu Hanyi have been tough.

From childhood to now, he was always the first, never overshadowed by peers.

The sudden emergence of Ma Ran made him feel he might not be the most special one.

Hold on...

Don’t get it wrong!

Zhu Hanyi did not turn dark because of this nor did he fall into despair.

On the contrary, with encouragement from academy mates and repeated guidance from the president, he gradually overcame his mental block.

Additionally, Zhu Hanyi took this opportunity to break through the bottleneck that had held him back for a long time, successfully connecting the acupoints in his body, forming a small circulation of Inner Qi, nourishing and nurturing cells.

Filling all eight acupoints, finally advancing to the Third Rank of Inner Qi!

Even Zhu Hanyi, who had never reached the standard line of "Belief Will", successfully surpassed it, becoming a reserve Superpower User.

In terms of social contributions, Zhu Hanyi temporarily has nothing substantial to offer.

Comparing these with Ma Ran is self-humiliating.

Zhu Hanyi acknowledged Ma Ran’s achievements, and...

Though he never told anyone nor showed it, deep down, he admired Ma Ran quite a bit.

Others, looking at the "Black Rock Guiding Technique", only saw Ma Ran’s profound understanding of Inner Qi cultivation.

Zhu Hanyi, however, saw a quality called "selflessness" within.

Whether Ma Ran’s cultivation is faked or not, at least in the Grass Hut Academy, he indeed helped many refine their first stream of Inner Qi.

Zhu Hanyi thoroughly understood the entire "Black Rock Guiding Technique".

More than anyone, he realized that achieving such a level might lead to irreversible severe harm to oneself!

Even with that...

Regarding Inner Qi cultivation, Zhu Hanyi also refuses to acknowledge himself as inferior to anyone!

With this thought, he sighed, a hint of frustration in his tone: "Ma Ran..."

"Having read the "Black Rock Guiding Technique", I thought he would be a worthy opponent."

"But seeing isn’t as good as hearing."

"He actually didn’t dare to accept the challenge."

"I’m very disappointed."

Losers not wanting to seem too incompetent, thus over-praising the winner...

This is standard practice, he’s used to it by now.

Seventh Rank of Inner Qi?

Heh.

Such information is ridiculously fake!

Don’t know who’s being insulted!

Only those who have truly engaged with the Black Rock Martial Arts System know how difficult Inner Qi cultivation really is!

——

Thanks to Box Person for the 5000 point tip!

Thanks to "Beautiful Bloom in the Rain" for the 200 point tip!

Thanks to Dried Fish for tipping Ma Ran a little drumstick (100 points)!

Thanks to Jiang Tai for the 100 point tip!

Thanks to Where’s my little fish? for the 100-point tip!

Thanks to "Sweet Plum Wine" for the 100-point tip!

Thanks to Chao Youjiu for the 100-point tip!

Thanks to Starry Sky for the 100-point tip!

Thanks (๑▽๑)