A simple phrase, "It's windy outside, let's talk in the cafeteria," drew thirty-one followers behind Ma Ran.
Perhaps it was because they needed something from him, or perhaps it was because Ma Ran's aura was too overwhelming, but even though he didn't say anything, this group of members conscientiously followed behind him, with none daring to walk alongside him.
Wan Haihao had to admit, blending into a large crowd tightly following behind Ma Ran felt quite exhilarating.
The group's pace wasn't fast, but their steps were steady.
No one spoke unnecessarily.
Everyone was immersed in a strange, silent atmosphere.
It felt like standing on an ancient battlefield, following an unrivaled general to charge into the fray and cut down banners.
"Xiao Ming has influenced me badly..."
"Thinking like this is the typical mindset of a teenager caught in fantasy."
With a bitter smile, Wan Haihao quickened his pace, walking up behind Ma Ran and looking at the youth's long hair draped over his shoulders. He lowered his voice and said, "Your hair grows so fast..."
He had noticed this phenomenon two days ago, but had kept quiet about it until now.
With the atmosphere just right, he seized the opportunity to speak.
Ma Ran turned his head, his jet-black hair lightly dancing in the air.
He smiled slightly, his voice calm: "When you reach the Third Rank of Inner Qi, it will be the same for you."
"Under the nurturing of Inner Qi, your life force becomes vigorous, cell activity increases, and it's normal for your hair growth to accelerate."
"When you reach the Fourth Rank of Inner Qi, this phenomenon will naturally disappear and return to normal."
Ma Ran hadn't reached the Third Rank of Inner Qi.
This long hair over his shoulders wasn't real.
It was an illusion created by Ma Ran during his recent studies in Enclosure Texts.
He had deeply researched the Illusion Technique system of the Enclosure Texts in his past life, and picking it up again, he quickly grasped it.
The fake hair created by Ma Ran perfectly deceived human senses, even allowing people to touch it.
For now, it had only one flaw — it lacked real mass.
There's no need to worry too much about this flaw.
For Ma Ran, being able to deceive the eyes of those around him was sufficient for now.
Without calculating the positions of Acupoints, with the boost from the "Inner Qi Genius" medal, if he spent twenty hours a day fiercely cultivating, accumulating Inner Qi, it would take about 2.33 days to advance from the Second Rank of Inner Qi to the Third Rank of Inner Qi.
The Fourth Rank of Inner Qi, would require 4.66 days.
The Fifth Rank of Inner Qi, would require 9.32 days.
The Sixth Rank of Inner Qi, would require 18.64 days.
The Seventh Rank of Inner Qi, would require 37.28 days.
The Eighth Rank of Inner Qi, would require 74.56 days.
The Ninth Rank of Inner Qi, would require 149.12 days.
At first glance, it seems like it wouldn't take much time, totaling less than a year altogether.
However...
The thing Ma Ran lacked the most right now was time!
Moreover, this was only the theoretical time required.
With extended exhaustive cultivation, the efficiency of Inner Qi accumulation would inevitably decrease significantly.
To prevent the accumulation of hidden injuries, he would also need to take some time off to rest.
So...
The actual time needed to reach the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi would be at least three times this amount!
Ever since his public revelation yesterday, Ma Ran had put aside Inner Qi cultivation.
Not cultivating did not mean Ma Ran's Inner Qi cultivation would hit a bottleneck at the Second Rank and stop progressing.
With the help of the Illusion Technique from Enclosure Texts, by playing the role of having already advanced and being widely recognized...
Ma Ran would truly achieve a breakthrough!
Every afternoon during the moral education class meeting, the members felt Ma Ran's aura becoming sharper and his presence growing stronger.
That...
Was just acting.
A raised gaze, a furrowed brow, a sidelong glance...
Each of Ma Ran's gestures and expressions was full of subtlety.
As someone who made a living by playing roles, he had long since honed his acting skills to perfection!
From the noble sons of ancient noble families to the desperate gamblers in street betting shops...
Ma Ran could effortlessly master and switch between any demeanor!
"Third Rank of Inner Qi, huh?"
Wan Haihao looked at the jet-black long hair on Ma Ran's shoulders with a complex expression: "You've already filled eight acupoints!"
"It's amazing!"
Amid sincere admiration, there was a hint of deflated spirit.
When faced with setbacks and challenges, the vast majority choose to avoid them.
Very few people, like Su Qiangwei, fight against the tide, unleashing their full potential.
But Wan Haihao wasn't one of those two kinds of people.
Having had a smooth journey since childhood without significant challenges, he would deflate at lightning speed when faced with setbacks, negating all his past accomplishments and merits.
Ma Ran gave this senior a deep look.
Comrade...
You might not know.
But I understand you better than you know yourself!
Curious, observant, intelligent yet fragile, yet viewing responsibility and honor as more important than life itself...
A true warrior!
Even when the "Suffering Tempering Method" training failed, and his spirit collapsed, and disaster struck, Wan Haihao still struggled to rise from his sickbed, fighting to protect his comrades.
In his previous life, Wan Haihao died young.
But his heroic figure fighting to the last moment was eternally engraved in Ma Ran's memory!
It wasn't just about Wan Haihao.
Su Qiangwei, Dong Huaiming, Zhu Hanyi, He Nanguang, Liu Huadie...
Ma Ran remembered the voices and smiles of every comrade.
He dared not forget.
Suppressing these memories, Ma Ran gave Wan Haihao a deep look and said, "Inner Qi cultivation is a gradual process; one mustn't be impatient. Avoid arrogance and heedlessness. Carefully capture every thread of Biological Energy and slowly transform it through the Acupoints."
Then, the subject took a turn: "However..."
"I've recently been researching a way to quickly reach the initial stage."
Ma Ran's voice grew louder to ensure the thirty people behind him could hear clearly: "Once you calculate the precise position of your own Acupoints, you can quickly refine your first thread of Inner Qi."
"Now, I've already made some progress."
...
Because many were watching from the sidelines, Ma Ran only had a simple breakfast of three bowls of beef noodle soup and a plate of egg and shredded meat fried rice.
A younger student, probably from middle school, keenly volunteered to clear away Ma Ran's plates and utensils, then wiped the table clean with a napkin.
Ma Ran rewarded the student with a smile and spoke in a calm manner: "The concept of Acupoints can be understood as underdeveloped micro-organs."
"Through consuming food and accumulating Biological Energy, you transform it into Inner Qi, filling the Acupoints..."
"Reaching this point doesn't mean it's over."
"Once you've filled your first Acupoint, you'll face a problem."
Ma Ran raised a finger: "How to let the Acupoint automatically refine Inner Qi?"
His thought process was somewhat unconventional.
Hearing this, many members present looked dumbfounded, unable to follow his line of reasoning.
Everyone was only thinking about how to refine the first thread of Inner Qi and whether there were any shortcuts.
"I think... I seem to understand what you mean now."
Wan Haihao was the first to snap back to reality.
His voice was softer than usual, and he seemed less confident: "In theory, the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi corresponds to five hundred and twelve Acupoints."
"Assuming we are all at the Ninth Rank of Inner Qi right now..."