CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 73: TODAY I’LL KNOCK YOU DOWN WITH THREE PUNCHES...

PM.

The second floor of the guesthouse next to the cafeteria.

When Wan Haihao arrived, he found the round table already laden with dishes.

Bright colors and an enticing aroma.

But he wasn’t focused on that.

Apart from Ma Ran, Zhu Hanyi, and several members of Qinglian Academy, Wu Di, Dong Huaiming, and Su Qiangwei were also present!

These guys are so proactive?

Coming over uninvited, don’t they feel embarrassed?

Standing at the door and hesitating for a moment, Wan Haihao finally took his seat reluctantly.

Fortunately, there was plenty of room, avoiding any awkward situations.

The people present didn’t pay much attention to Wan Haihao’s arrival, assuming he had received an early invitation from Ma Ran to support the occasion.

"Let’s eat and talk."

At Ma Ran’s word, everyone immediately started picking up their chopsticks.

This time, unlike in A3 District, the people gathered were generally younger. Arranged by President Huang, there was no alcohol on the table, only drinks like kudzu root juice, coconut milk, milk, and orange juice.

The atmosphere wasn’t very friendly but somewhat quiet.

Wan Haihao considered a few topics, debating which one to use to break the ice, when Su Qiangwei, sitting directly across from Ma Ran, suddenly spoke: "Ma Ran, you’ve reached the Eighth Rank of Inner Qi now, right?"

Hearing this, Zhu Hanyi and the Qinglian Academy members showed amused expressions, as if they’d heard a ridiculous joke.

However, Ma Ran seriously nodded: "I’ve broken through."

"Indeed! Just as I calculated!"

Su Qiangwei’s eyes were filled with fighting spirit: "In the afternoon, I thought something was odd."

Normally, a show-off like Ma Ran wouldn’t pass up a chance to flaunt, right?!

"When you said you had something urgent to handle in the afternoon, I guessed you were going to break through the realm."

The young detective’s eyes sparkled with intelligence: "After this meal, let’s have a match!"

"I want to see if the Eighth Rank of Inner Qi is stronger, or if I am!"

Pfft!

Zhu Hanyi spun around violently, spitting coconut juice onto the floor.

What the heck?!

This woman also practiced Black Rock Martial Arts and had reached the Second Rank of Inner Qi.

She should know what the Eighth Rank of Inner Qi signifies, right?

That represents filling 256 acupoints!

Even without considering the inevitable bottlenecks and challenges during cultivation, Zhu Hanyi thought it would take him at least four to five years to reach that level.

"Pardon me!"

Zhu Hanyi took a napkin, using it to wipe his mouth and cover his awkward expression: "I just... choked."

So just how much nonsense has Ma Ran fed Su Qiangwei?

Daring to believe such exaggerations?

"Ma Ran, sigh..."

Zhu Hanyi sighed.

The "High-Density Biogenic Energy Detector," jointly developed by Qinglian Academy and Baiyue Academy, already had a prototype. Zhu Hanyi had volunteered for a few days and found the test machine rather accurate.

Before long, most academic societies might be allocated a device.

The detector could directly display how many acupoints were filled with inner qi in a digital format, immediately creating a character profile that updates in real-time on an app and database.

Then...

Under the cold light of data, any possibility of trickery would cease to exist.

"The Eighth Rank of Inner Qi is special."

Ignoring the reactions of the Qinglian Academy folks, Ma Ran commented calmly: "Its characteristic is ’Conquering without Fighting.’

"Reaching this level grants a special attack method."

"Anyone want to try it?"

Hearing this, Zhu Hanyi immediately put down his chopsticks.

He glanced around.

Not many were dining together.

The ones from Grass Hut Academy seemed to have close ties with Ma Ran.

This way, even if Ma Ran’s bluff was exposed, it wouldn’t utterly ruin him or leave him devastated.

At worst, they’d inform the few from Qinglian Academy outside later, asking them to keep this secret for Ma Ran for the time being.

With this in mind, Zhu Hanyi made his decision!

Just as he was about to speak, Su Qiangwei beside him kicked her chair back.

"What the heck!"

Xiao Ming, still gobbling rice, exclaimed, losing control of the chopsticks tightly held in his hand: "What are you doing?!"

Not just him, but all the chopsticks on the dining table floated mid-air in an instant, pointing like blades at Ma Ran.

The girl’s face flushed, her fighting spirit bursting, gripping a small chopstick in her hand, pointing at Ma Ran with equal zeal: "Bring it on!"

"Fight fiercely!"

I’m gonna knock you out with three punches today...

"Ah!"

Can’t move!

Su Qiangwei’s smile froze, and her eyes gradually became panicked.

The chopsticks floating in the air lost their telekinetic control, falling onto the table and plate, clinking noisily.

"What’s going on?"

Zhu Hanyi frowned deeply.

He noticed that after Su Qiangwei locked eyes with Ma Ran, her breathing became rapid, sweat gathered on her forehead and soaked into her bangs, her entire body trembling slightly, seemingly under enormous pressure.

If Zhu Hanyi hadn’t fought with Su Qiangwei today, gaining some understanding of her pride, he might have thought the two were cooperating in some act.

But...

From Zhu Hanyi’s perspective, he couldn’t comprehend the methods Ma Ran used at all.

Looking at Su Qiangwei’s current state, she’s obviously lost combat power.

The result is decided!

Clear distinction in skill!

Conquering without fighting...

Can the Eighth Rank of Inner Qi really achieve this level?

Faint purple light in Ma Ran’s eyes gradually faded, and he softly said, "This ends here."

Su Qiangwei clapped her hands, the chair that had flown away returned behind her, and the scattered chopsticks on the table returned to each person’s front, with a dark look, she started eating voraciously.

As she ate, she mumbled vaguely about "one to two, temporarily behind", "Ninth Rank is the limit, soon no potential for growth" and such.

Not long after, a smile spread across Su Qiangwei’s face once again, giggling mysteriously, as if she thought of something cheerful.

If she didn’t speak, just looking at that silly smile, she’s actually quite cute.

Zhu Hanyi shook his head.

Aside from other aspects, the mentality of this girl is truly commendable.

With that thought, Zhu Hanyi slowly stood up, eyes blazing as he looked at Ma Ran: "I also want to try your methods just now."

Su Qiangwei’s rapid defeat somewhat shook him.

But this wasn’t enough to completely dispel Zhu Hanyi’s doubts about Ma Ran.

Having contacted Black Rock Martial Arts for less than a month to reach Seventh Rank of Inner Qi is already absurd enough!

Eighth Rank of Inner Qi?

That already exceeds the limits of Zhu Hanyi’s imagination.

He really can’t believe such a person exists on Earth!

We’re all carbon-based life forms, more specifically, all Chinese, the genetic difference can’t be too large.

Perhaps Ma Ran’s physique is somewhat stronger than his, more suited for cultivating Black Rock Martial Arts, intelligence sufficiently surpassing his, capable of instantly computing 512 acupoints, but...

Improving Inner Qi tests patience and perseverance, requiring gradual accumulation through many efforts!

Since the first incident of alien biological invasion occurred domestically five months ago, the world has become increasingly unfamiliar.

The strength of Extraordinary Ones isn’t absolute, there’s a relationship of mutual restraint.

Su Qiangwei can subdue him with one move, Ma Ran can defeat Su Qiangwei with a glance, but this doesn’t mean he’s weaker than Ma Ran!

Ma Ran appeared entirely unstrained, saying casually: "Right now?"

Zhu Hanyi didn’t overestimate himself either, the eight acupoints within him worked rapidly.

He released the sparse Inner Qi, spreading it across his body.

Furthermore, he concentrated most of his Inner Qi at his eyes, fully prepared.

Zhu Hanyi stared unblinkingly at Ma Ran, his concentration extremely focused, a strand of long hair beside his face moving without wind, his clothes fluttering①: "Seize the day."

"Just today!"

"Right now!"

...

① Clothes fluttering: The clothes and sleeves sway in the wind, having an ethereal quality. Typically used to describe the charming image of ancient attire.

——

monthly tickets! Breaking 100 tickets! Extra Chapter Card +1!

Current remaining Extra Chapter Cards: 3.

——

Thanks to Divine Death Commander’s reward of 1600 points!

Thanks to Chao Youjiu for rewarding Ma Ran a chicken leg (100 points)!

Thanks to book friend with last number 6591 for the reward of 100 points!

Thanks to Magic Flash for rewarding 100 points!

Thanks to star. sky for rewarding 100 points!

Thanks to Eight Errors for rewarding 100 points!

Thanks to Strange Green for rewarding 100 points!

Thanks to Ion Jun for rewarding 100 points!

Thanks to Evil Beast Good Reason for rewarding 100 points!

Thank you! (๑▽๑)