Chapter 102

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Chapter 102: The Competition Approaches

In the evening, beside the river, Zhang Yu’s muscles pulsed and twitched as he circulated the Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi with the help of the True Spirit Root.

Since joining the PE Competition Team and securing a spot in the Competition, Zhang Yu had not returned to the team’s training gym. Instead, he continued his silent cultivation just as he had before.

After all, the Hunyuan Pills, which cost 30,000 each, had consumed the vast majority of his income. He simply could not afford the Nine Dragons Needle Technique and related medicines offered by the Competition Team.

Bai Zhenzhen, on the other hand, did not need to spend money on such expensive items. She learned the Nine Dragons Needle Technique and purchased the related medicine from the Competition Team to try them out.

Bai Zhenzhen’s evaluation of the team’s training method was simple. “After the needles, you can’t eat enough, you can’t sleep, and you can’t stop, but the body-refining effect is explosive! Yu Zi, using these medicines really works better than natural body refining. You should try it too!”

Of course, Zhang Yu knew A-Zhen could withstand the needles not only because of her good resistance but also because of the support from her True Spirit Root. Recently, her True Spirit Root had even begun to amplify some of the effects from his own Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi cultivation, strengthening her internal organs.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Zhang Yu opened it to find a message from Zhao Tianxing.

“Hmm?”

It was the news spreading like wildfire through all the Songyang High School group chats. The second-year students had suffered a devastating defeat in the PE competition, the Oasis Group had shared some of its immortal cultivation technology to the Three Schools. They had achieved a major breakthrough in Body Refinement Techniques, and the top students from every grade had experienced a surge in their physical strength.

Zhao Tianxing knew that Zhang Yu spent nearly every second of his day cultivating and was too lazy to check group chats, having muted all the Songyang High School groups he was in. That was why he had sent the message directly, wanting to give his good friend a heads-up.

After reading it, Zhang Yu was quite surprised. So Lan Ling’s group of second-years… they were all defeated?

New technology? I wonder how much Song Hailong and the others have progressed. Maybe I should ask my sister.

Zhang Yu knew that Lan Ling’s standards were by no means low. If his students could not even make it into the top ten of the Competition, it clearly meant the students at the top three schools had made immense progress in body refining after their breakthrough.

Sensing a new pressure, Zhang Yu could only force himself to settle down and concentrate on cultivating his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

A few moments later, Bai Zhenzhen ran over, already wearing her golden wig, stick-on tattoos, padded costume, and face mask.

She took a light, practiced leap onto Zhang Yu’s back and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “Time’s up, Yu Zi. You need to get to class.”

At the same time, the True Spirit Root flickered faintly as it retreated into Bai Zhenzhen’s abdomen, leaving her with a pleasant, refreshing sensation.

As the True Spirit Root had switched back and forth between their bodies over this period, Bai Zhenzhen was not sure if she had adapted to the root’s expanded shape from its time in Zhang Yu, or if the root itself had adapted to their forms. Either way, the transitions now caused almost no discomfort and was replaced by the exhilarating sensation of spiritual energy infusing her body.

Zhang Yu activated Roadster Legs and dashed toward the campus at breakneck speed. As his physical strength advanced by leaps and bounds, the velocity of his Roadster Legs grew dramatically.

Feeling Bai Zhenzhen’s head resting against his back, Zhang Yu spoke. “A-Zhen, your own speed isn’t slow now. Have you considered learning Roadster Legs to get around? It’s a really useful Cultivation Art.”

“No,” Bai Zhenzhen replied.

Leaning against Zhang Yu’s back, she closed her eyes and comfortably began her breathing technique, seizing the time to refine her magic power.

Seeing A-Zhen did seem to understand his meaning, Zhang Yu decided to be more obvious. “Sigh. Running this far every day… my shoes are practically worn through.”

Bai Zhenzhen, however, kept her eyes squeezed shut, pretending not to have heard a thing as she continued to absorb spiritual energy through her breathing.

Is Yu Zi hinting at something? She thought. Does he want to turn the tables on me? Make me learn Roadster Legs, carry him around, and let him cultivate instead? Silly boy. Why would anyone who gets to ride on top be willing to get down?

Sensing Bai Zhenzhen’s grip tighten, her resolve not to get down clearly, Zhang Yu cursed inwardly.

This girl A-Zhen… I was hoping that once she got stronger, she could carry me for a bit. Good brothers should take turns carrying each other. That way I could get more time to cultivate too. But now she won’t even be my running partner. She’s just using me as her chauffeur, cultivating every day while I do all the running.

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before saying, “It just doesn’t feel right for me to run alone all the time. If we both run, it is like having a dual engine. If one of us gets sick or injured, the other can still keep going. A-Zhen, don’t you think?”

But Bai Zhenzhen acted as if she had not heard him. Her powerful thighs only tightened around Zhang Yu, and the only sound was the deafening rhythm of her breathing technique.

Damn it, Zhang Yu thought.This bastard… is pretending she can’t hear me again, isn’t she?

You think you can make me get off that easily, son? Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself. You have no idea how thick your mom’s skin is!

I could ride on you for a whole year without ever getting off!

***

In the days that followed, as the competition drew ever closer, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen felt a growing sense of urgency amid their constant, arduous training.

Fearful of failing to secure a good ranking in the competitions, they seized every opportunity to grow stronger.

And so, amidst their arduous training, time slipped by, one day after another.

***

One day, inside Purple Cloud High School’s training hall, Bai Zhenzhen entered with a somewhat puzzled look. She saw Le Mulan breathing slightly heavily and asked curiously, “You asked for me to train with you?”

Le Mulan nodded. “I want to practice close combat.”

“But I’ll say this up front. No moves like spitting blood or saliva are allowed.”

Le Mulan had originally wanted to hire Zhang Yu as her training partner. But she felt the leap from his clothes to the man himself was too great a step. If he tried to sit on her again, she feared it would leave an even deeper scar on her psyche.

Coincidentally, this Bai Zhenzhen is also poor and spends all her time with Zhang Yu. She has no bottom line, so I’ll test the waters with her first.

After a brief sparring session, Le Mulan’s suspicion was confirmed. The other person’s scent on Zhang Yu’s clothes… it’s Bai Zhenzhen’s.

And Bai Zhenzhen also has Zhang Yu’s scent on her.

Those two must be… sparring together every day, right? That is the only way they would leave their scents on each other.

In that case, I am essentially sparring indirectly with Zhang Yu right now.

As this thought occurred to her, Le Mulan felt her breathing quicken again and her nerves tensed slightly.

Just as I thought. I have to keep training.

An hour later, the training session ended. Bai Zhenzhen looked at the 5,000 yuan that had just been deposited into her account and felt a swirl of complicated emotions. These guys from the top three schools… they really have too much money to burn.

***

That day, on the Shadow Study Gang’s campus, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen entered an underground classroom. They immediately noticed that many of the people they passed, such as security guards, teachers, and sales staff, were injured.

When they asked about it, they learned that the Shadow Study Gang and the Golden Class Gang had clashed over recruiting students the previous day.

Zhang Yu then asked, “What about Cai Tou? Why haven’t I seen him?”

Che Nu sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she said, “Oh, Cai Tou is gone.”

Zhang Yu asked in surprise, “Did something happen to him during the clash?”

Hearing this, Che Nu gave a small laugh and said, “How could that be? Cai Tou is very strong. A minor clash like yesterday’s wouldn’t be enough to kill him. He was… fired.”

Zhang Yu said, “Fired? If he’s so strong, why would they fire him?”

Che Nu shook her head helplessly. “What’s the point of being a good fighter? No matter how tough a Qi Refining cultivator is, can they block a Flying Sword? It is better to teach a few more classes and earn more money.”

“But Cai Tou is getting old, and after years of taking Dao Heart buffer agents, his memory has been getting worse these past few months. Fewer and fewer students were signing up for his classes. Since his performance was not up to standard, he naturally had to go.”

Saying this, Che Nu let out a bitter laugh. “At the end of the day, whether you are in a company or a gang, if you do not get into a university and obtain a Foundation Establishment Certificate, isn’t this the fate that awaits us all? Leaving sooner or later is just a matter of time.”

Watching Che Nu’s dejected figure walk away, Bai Zhenzhen slowly pressed up against Zhang Yu from behind and passed her Spirit Root to him.

She spoke with a look of unwavering determination, “Yu Zi, we must get into one of the Ten Greats and complete our Foundation Establishment.”

Zhang Yu nodded with equal resolve. “Mm. I’m going to cultivate now. You should focus on your classes.”

***

It was lunchtime in the cafeteria.

Zhao Tianxing watched enviously as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen slurped down synthetic food.

Who would have thought A-Zhen and Yu Zi would actually make it into the Competition Team, Zhao Tianxing thought to himself.

But ever since the Elite Schools obtained technology sharing from the Oasis Group, their momentum has been overwhelming.

Zhao Tianxing recalled some recent rumours and turned to ask Zhang Yu, “Did you hear that Li Yong and Ye Haitao are causing a scene in the Competition Team and demanding refunds? Do you know anything about that?”

“Huh?” Zhang Yu shook his head. “No idea. I haven’t been to the team’s training for the past two weeks.”

Bai Zhenzhen chimed in from the side, “Yeah, I heard them arguing when I went. It sounded like they wanted their money back.”

Zhao Tianxing sighed. “Sigh, a single strategic move by a behemoth like the Oasis Group can unknowingly affect the futures of so many families.”

Qian Shen also nodded and said with a grave expression, “From now on, the top Three Schools will monopolize all competitions.”

“But that isn’t the most terrifying part. They already dominated all competitions except for Physical Education one.”

“What’s truly frightening is that once their Body Refinement Technique improves, the top students’ physical education scores will inevitably rise, further elevating the average scores.”

“I did the math yesterday. If this continues, given the double gap in competitions and grades, Songyang High School might only have one or two students per graduating class who can get into the Top Ten Universities.”

The doll, disguised as prayer beads and hanging around Zhang Yu’s neck, chuckled in his mind. 「Seems like the wealthy families of Songyang City are starting their infighting.」

「Heh heh, the wealthy families behind the Three Schools want to completely monopolize the spots at the Top Ten Universities and squeeze out all the other high schools.」

Zhang Yu was startled. 「The rich are fighting among themselves?」

Sensing Zhang Yu’s surprise, the doll chuckled softly and continued, 「Wealth steadily accumulates. The Three Schools receive the majority of Songyang City’s admissions to the Top Ten Universities each year. As the power of the families behind them grows, their wealth naturally increases at a far greater rate than that of other high schools.」

「Otherwise, how do you think they gradually monopolised the annual competitions year after year?」

「Songyang City’s situation is actually considered relatively good in this regard.」

「I know of cities in the first layer of Kunxu with populations in the tens of millions that have only a single Key High School.」

Zhang Yu thought to himself, So we just happened to stumble into an era where the Three Schools are further consolidating their grip on spots in the Top Ten Universities?

He sighed. The longer he stayed in Kunxu, the more a sense of mental exhaustion settled over him. The entire world seemed to exert an invisible pressure, constantly urging him forward and pushing him to run faster.

As the days passed one by one, the day of the PE competition finally arrived.