Chapter 104
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 104: A Buzzing Crowd
Wang Hai sighed and stepped into the disinfection corridor first, his gaze involuntarily lingering on the Bailong students in the other passage.
As the remaining students passed through the disinfection corridor, their eyes could not help but wander toward the Bailong High students.
This group’s appearance was simply too eye-catching.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, Yu Xinghan looks about the same as when I saw him during the commercial shoot.
But Song Hailong has changed dramatically…
Apart from the number on his chest and back changing from 1 to 2, Song Hailong’s skin now appeared rough, as if polished by rock. His limbs had thickened dramatically, and his forearms alone were as thick as Zhang Yu’s waist. He gave off the impression of a humanoid elephant.
But Song Hailong’s change was considered minor. At least he still looked human.
Looking past Song Hailong, the students further back appeared less and less human, their forms increasingly resembling those of Demon Beasts.
Zhang Yu recalled the intelligence Zhang Pianpian had shared with him.
“Bailong High School’s Body Refinement Technique has truly broken through. Unlike the Song Hailong of before, who could only implant partial Elephant Muscle, they can now do more. They can transform students’ muscles into mimicking Demon Muscle, forcibly breaking through their physical bottlenecks and achieving explosive growth in physical strength.”
“The wealthier the student, the more Demon mimicking muscle they can afford to have modified, making them appear increasingly inhuman.”
“However, this Demon mimicking muscle itself is malleable. If a student can fully control their power, they can gradually suppress the Demon Beast characteristics and become more human-like.”
Zhang Yu stared at Yu Xinghan, who was walking at the very front. For a moment, he could not tell if this Golden Core expert’s disciple had undergone the Demon mimicking muscle modification surgery.
After exiting the disinfection corridor, the Songyang High School group discovered a rhinoceros wearing a Bailong High School uniform was waiting for them.
It was indeed a rhinoceros. Its rough, grey-black skin, the horn-like protrusion on its forehead, its small eyes, its elongated face, and its thick limbs all gave the unmistakable impression of a humanoid rhinoceros.
The rhinoceros waved at Zhang Yu and called out, “Zhang Yu, long time no see.”
“Oh, you don’t recognize me now, do you?”
The rhinoceros smiled faintly. “It’s me, Chu Qiuhe. I’m the Bailong High School student you defeated at the Martial Arts Competition.”
Hearing this, the eyes of everyone present widened in surprise. Chu Qiuhe’s current rhinoceros-like appearance was so drastically different from before that it was as if he had been reborn.
Chu Qiuhe had come over to see the Songyang group to confirm one thing. He wanted to know whether Zhang Yu, the First-Year champion of the Martial Arts Competition, was actually representing Songyang High School in this event.
Chu Qiuhe knew he was not the only one curious about this. Many students who had been defeated in the Martial Arts Competition were eagerly anticipating their chance to settle the score in this PE competition.
Seeing Zhang Yu was indeed part of Songyang High School’s team, a flicker of anticipation stirred in Chu Qiuhe’s heart.
Chu Qiuhe looked at Zhang Yu and smiled faintly. “Your participation in this competition is something many people have been looking forward to…”
Just then, a loud sound erupted from the group of Bailong students ahead.
Song Hailong suddenly thrust his elbow toward Yu Xinghan’s temple with a force like a cannon blast. Under the blow, Yu Xinghan’s head twisted about four or five degrees before coming to a stop.
Then, with a violent jerk of his head, Yu Xinghan sent Song Hailong, a man nearly two to three times his size, hurtling through the air.
Song Hailong flipped in mid-air and landed firmly on his feet with a thud. He glared defiantly at Yu Xinghan.
Yu Xinghan calmly offered his critique. “Not good enough, Little Song. That strike carried far too much killing intent. It completely lacked the stealth of a sudden ambush. You still need to practice.”
The other Bailong students seemed unfazed and continued to follow Yu Xinghan forward.
The Songyang High School group watched this internal conflict among the Bailong students with astonishment in their hearts.
He Dayou was shocked and thought, The grade’s second-ranked student actually dared to attack the top-ranked one? Did Bailong change its school regulations?
Chu Qiuhe chuckled beside them and casually explained, “It’s been like this ever since Yu Xinghan took first place in the grade.”
Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “Is Song Hailong really that petty? Does he ambush anyone who outperforms him?”
Chu Qiuhe clarified, “Big Brother Hailong isn’t petty at all. It was Yu Xinghan who demanded this. He ordered Song Hailong to ambush him with full force five times every twenty-four hours and claimed it was a training method.”
Chu Qiuhe said with an emotional sigh, “As an order from the top-ranked student, Big Brother Hailong had no choice but to comply.”
“Ever since then, his mind and his eyes have been completely consumed by Yu Xinghan. There’s no room for anyone else.”
“I suspect he’s obsessed with how to take down Yu Xinghan and is on the verge of going mad.”
Shaking his head with a sigh, Chu Qiuhe patted Zhang Yu on the shoulder and said meaningfully, “Then we’ll see each other on the field. I look forward to our match.”
Watching the retreating figures of the Bailong students, with their monstrous yet barely human-like forms, Zhang Yu suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.
Red Pagoda High School used to turn Demon Beasts into monsterfolk in pursuit of results. Now Bailong High School is turning people into Demon Beasts in pursuit of even greater strength.
The group, guided by the reception teacher, walked through the pavilions and towers of Purple Cloud High School before arriving at a massive indoor stadium.
The reception teacher introduced the location. “This is Purple Cloud High School’s largest stadium. It is usually only used for major competitions and school-wide events.”
Even before entering, the group could hear a deafening roar of voices.
Upon entering, the first thing they noticed was the blinding brightness.
Unlike the midnight darkness outside, the ceiling of the stadium was filled with what seemed like countless miniature suns, illuminating the entire space as brightly as midday.
Next, they were struck by the sheer size of the indoor stadium and the vast number of people.
Unlike the Martial Arts Competition where financial ruin was a constant concern, this competition was free from such worries. It had drawn nearly every Key High School and ordinary high school that was able to attend.
Inside the vast arena, students and coaches were bustling about. Some were injecting drugs to warm up, others were trading medicine, and still others endured insults from the Three Schools. It was a vibrant and youthful high school scene, one that was quintessential to Kunxu.
Besides the competitors, Zhang Yu and his team also noticed the surrounding staff and the countless spectators filling the stands.
He Dayou remarked with a puzzled expression, “There are so many people filming.”
The reception teacher explained, “They are professional spectators invited by the competition’s sponsors. They include media reporters, internet celebrities, and many company representatives.”
Zhang Yu looked up and spotted numerous men in suits. Their faces were etched with exhaustion and they reeked of office life from a great distance. They were clearly overworked company personnel who spent their days constantly on the job.
His gaze then shifted to the stands. The largest indoor stadium at Purple Cloud High School had tens of thousands of seats, and at this moment, it was packed to capacity.
Among the students from the Three Schools, Zhang Yu also noticed numerous figures swaddled from head to toe in protective gear, resembling mummies or zongzi( sticky rice dumplings.
Just then, a hearty laugh rang out.
“You’re finally here!”
“Those are student spectators from the ordinary high schools. To prevent them from contaminating the venue, they’re each given a sanitation suit upon entry to minimize contact with us from Purple Cloud High School.”
The newcomer was Lian Tianji from Purple Cloud High School. He nodded at the reception teacher and naturally took over the task of escorting the Songyang High School contestants.
Facing his own major sponsor, Zhang Yu chuckled and moved to stand behind Bai Zhenzhen. He greeted him enthusiastically, “Brother Lian, how did you find the time to come pick us up?”
Lian Tianji replied, “I know where Songyang High School’s rest area is. I’ll take you there.”
As they made their way to the rest area, Zhang Yu noticed advertisements everywhere, covering the ground, walls, and billboards. He also saw numerous internet celebrities of all sizes filming the event and interviewing students and company personnel.
The internet celebrity bloggers were truly of all shapes and sizes. Some were over four meters tall, while others were less than two. Their fan counts generally correlated with their physical size.
Company personnel in suits walked back and forth, constantly filming and documenting everything.
Immersed in the cacophony of voices filling the arena, Zhang Yu once again understood what Zhang Pianpian had said.
This competition is indeed an extension of the company battlefield, he thought. It’s a proving ground for them to promote new technologies.
Along the way, Zhang Yu observed many students from Purple Cloud High School whose bodies shimmered with a purple hue. They all bowed to Lian Tianji and only resumed their activities after he had disappeared from sight.
The intelligence Zhang Pianpian had provided once again echoed in Zhang Yu’s mind.
“Purple Cloud High School’s technological breakthrough lies in enhancing a cultivator’s metabolic capabilities and drug resistance. Their drug allow users to take doses more than ten times stronger than before, turning banned substances into something for routine consumption.”
“However, due to the side effects of Purple Cloud medicine, the more aggressively they use it, the more purple residue accumulates on their skin. In other words, the richer they are and the more elixirs they consume, the more their bodies turn purple.”
“But for those who can take it a step further and rapidly refine the medicinal power, the skin residue is completely broken down. It leaves only a purple mark on the forehead. The more medicinal power they refine, the more intricate the forehead pattern becomes, ultimately forming the design of a purple eye.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen occasionally glanced at Lian Tianji, who was standing nearby. They noticed the thumb-sized, circular purple mark on his forehead.
“We’re here.”
With a faint smile, Lian Tianji pointed ahead and said, “This is Songyang High School’s rest area.”
Zhang Yu and the others looked up to see the area, which was cordoned off by partitions. It was fully equipped with not only sofas, power outlets, drinking water, and energy drinks, but also fruits and snacks. This lavish setup once again made them feel the immense investment in the PE competition, as even the mere Songyang students could receive such hospitality.
