Chapter 12
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Chapter 12: Forging Ahead Vigorously
A few moments later, Zhang Yu emerged from the Immortal Cloud Group’s office building. He looked pale and was hunched over, cutting a weak and frail figure.
However, once he had travelled a few kilometers from the skyscraper and boarded the subway, his complexion gradually began to return to normal.
As he began circulating the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, the Magic Power within him surged forward like countless small streams, swiftly coursing through his entire body.
The previously uncontrolled and dissipating Magic Power was drawn back onto its proper path by these surging currents, rejoining the complex circulation within his body and beginning to flow naturally and ceaselessly.
Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method Level 1 (0/20)
Gazing at the Dao Art displayed on the Feather Book, a faint smile touched Zhang Yu’s lips.
“It really can be mastered.”
“If I hadn’t mastered this Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, it would have taken at least a week or two for the errant magic power to dissipate.”
Zhang Yu’s confidence in accepting the trial cultivation task had stemmed from the Feather Book.
However, while at the Immortal Cloud Group, he had concealed the fact that he could master the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
“Though this cultivation art is just a breathing technique for beginners, once mastered, it operates continuously on its own, day and night.”
“Even without actively circulating it, it achieves thirty percent of the efficiency of active breathing exercises. Once mastered… even if I do nothing all day, it’s equivalent to others cultivating for over seven hours.”
“And that’s just the effect at Level 1.”
“If this cultivation art is successfully developed, it will likely become one of the best-selling breathing techniques on the market overnight.”
Zhang Yu knew that aside from the various cultivation arts taught in schools, all other techniques from major companies and great sects were copyrighted. They all had to be purchased, representing a source of enormous profit.
It was precisely because the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method was so powerful that he was unwilling to reveal he had mastered it. In his view, it was a project the Immortal Cloud Group valued immensely, and he wanted to avoid any complications.
Furthermore, the technique was incredibly difficult to cultivate. Zhang Yu believed that without the guidance of the auxiliary device, a first-year high school student wouldn’t even be able to complete a single full circulation of the technique, let alone master it.
This made Zhang Yu even more reluctant to reveal that he had mastered the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
To master this technique, Zhang Yu had switched his Feather Book’s specialization from the Thirty-Six Forms of Body Strengthening to this breathing technique.
While this meant he could not rapidly improve the Thirty-Six Forms for now, the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method was on the fast track.
“Level 3 of the Thirty-Six Forms of Body Strengthening is enough for now.”
“For the time being, I’ll focus on improving this Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.”
Besides mastering the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, the greatest reward from this trial cultivation was the payment from the Immortal Cloud Group.
The payment was 10,000 yuan, plus an additional 3000, for a total of 13,000 yuan.
Zhang Yu’s savings suddenly swelled to 13,700 yuan.
Unfortunately, after he used 10,000 yuan to repay debts across multiple platforms, his savings plummeted back to 3,700 yuan.
Fortunately, after this repayment, the frequency of the collection attempts decreased significantly, and they were unlikely to escalate their tactics anytime soon.
Then, the countdown ticking in his mind abruptly cut short Zhang Yu’s reverie, forcing him to refocus and resume circulating the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
***
In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.
At the entrance of Songyang High School, Zhang Yu walked while checking the changes on his Feather Book.
Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method Level 1 (0/20) → Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method Level 1 (11/20)
Thanks to his previous arduous practice and his recent diligent work on the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, his Magic Power had also improved.
Magic Power 7.7 → 7.8
“So it really does run passively! I only completed five cycles before going to sleep last night, which counted as five repetitions.”
“Yet when I woke up this morning, it had already increased to eight repetitions. Then, on my way to school, my active cultivation brought it up to eleven.”
Zhang Yu calculated this and inwardly rejoiced. Compared to the thirteen thousand yuan, the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method was yesterday’s greatest gain.
He resolved to focus on leveling up this breathing technique first.
Naturally, he also decided to keep his Feather Book’s specialization set to the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
Unfortunately, this morning’s schedule included two consecutive Physical Education classes.
As he walked toward the training grounds, Zhang Yu felt a twinge of regret.
“Ugh, it’s the Thirty-Six Forms of Body Strengthening again.”
“I’m specializing in the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method now. This breathing technique is what I obviously should be practicing!”
As Zhang Yu entered the training ground, he saw a series of miniature giants whose muscles bulged like marble, jabbing injections into their own bodies one by one.
Then, amidst a cacophony of sharp cracks, bestial roars, and the clang of equipment, the students of the Demonstration Class threw themselves into their fervent training.
Just then, a student stared at Wang Hai in disbelief. “No, that’s impossible. My cousin sold this to me.”
Wang Hai shook his head, crushing the syringe in his hand into powder with a snap and tossing it into the trash can.
“Have you seen any change in your weight these past two weeks? There is no sign of growth in your muscles or your organs. Your Physical Strength has only increased by 0.03 in two weeks. You have the pathetic look of someone relying on natural body refining. It’s obvious you bought fake medicine.”
At this, he stopped looking at the crestfallen student and raised his voice to address the class. “How many times have I told all of you to buy medicine through official channels? The safest supply is the one you get from the teachers here at the school.”
“If you try to save a little money and end up with fake or expired medicine, you lose far more than you gain. You are only wasting your own time.”
After lecturing the students, Wang Hai’s gaze swept over to the corner where Zhang Yu was practicing body refining.
Looking at Zhang Yu, Wang Hai’s mind flashed back to the data from his Physical Strength test earlier that day. “Level 0.85? His Physical Strength increased by 0.02 in just three days?”
Even when Zhang Yu was constantly injecting himself with drugs before, he never progressed this fast, did he?
Based on Wang Hai’s years of teaching experience, such a rapid increase in Physical Strength was impossible without medication. Zhang Yu’s claim of natural body refining without drugs or enhancers was clearly a lie. He must have secretly injected himself with something before class.
“Not only is this not natural body refining, but the drugs he’s using must be incredibly potent to achieve this effect. The damage to his body must be considerable.”
As for the possibility that Zhang Yu had reached the third level of the Thirty-Six Forms of Body Strengthening and had independently undergone the devilish training in a state of physical limits never even crossed Wang Hai’s mind.
Regardless, in Wang Hai’s eyes, Zhang Yu was becoming an ever-greater challenge to his authority in the classroom.
This also raised the pressing question of where Zhang Yu had bought his drugs.
What if other students saw Zhang Yu’s results and followed his lead to buy from the same source?
Wouldn’t that cut into his own sales?
The moment Wang Hai thought of the bloody competition in the Body Refining Drug market, his nerves instantly tensed.
“A Second-Year teacher? Or a Third-Year teacher?”
“Or did an outside tutor guide him?”
“Is someone trying to sell drugs on my turf?”
To Wang Hai, Zhang Yu himself was nothing more than a pawn. What he truly wanted to uncover was the person pulling Zhang Yu’s strings.
Still, the influence Zhang Yu had in the class had to be erased.
A moment later, Wang Hai whispered a few words to a student named Zhao Tianxing.
Zhao Tianxing then approached Zhang Yu and said, “Zhang Yu, Teacher Wang asked me to confirm something with you. Are you absolutely sure you won’t be buying any more drugs?”
After Zhang Yu nodded, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head and spoke with an embarrassed look. “Well, the teacher told me to ask if you would be willing to practice alone in the small side room so you don’t disturb the other students. Is that okay with you?”
Having been instructed by Wang Hai, Zhao Tianxing understood that Wang Hai intended to further isolate Zhang Yu.
He looked at Zhang Yu with a hint of pity, but he acted without any hesitation.
As the model student and obedient pupil in Wang Hai’s eyes, Zhao Tianxing had followed his teacher’s guidance to the letter. He bought all the drugs Wang Hai recommended, and combined with his own efforts, he had gradually pushed his Physical Strength past the 1.00 level to become one of the top ten students in the class.
For that reason, he always obeyed his physical education teacher, Wang Hai, without question.
However, worried that Zhang Yu might get upset, Zhao Tianxing spoke very politely. After he finished, he added, “Why don’t you just buy some medicine? Teacher Wang’s drugs are top quality, and natural body refining really isn’t effective.”
To Zhao Tianxing’s surprise, Zhang Yu did not hesitate for a moment and immediately agreed to go and train elsewhere.
Watching Zhang Yu’s retreating figure, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head and thought to himself, “Sigh, Student Zhang Yu is so stubborn. Couldn’t he just apologize to the teacher, admit his mistake, and continue attending class properly? He’s ruining his own future with this impulsive decision.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu entered the small room, chuckled, and sat down. He immediately began to practice the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
Strands of spiritual energy surged into his Dantian Qi Sea, where Zhang Yu refined them bit by bit into Magic Power.
Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method Level 1 (11/20) → Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method Level 1 (16/20)
In what felt like the blink of an eye, he had completed five cycles and two Physical Education classes had already passed.
But during the subsequent Chinese and Math classes, Zhang Yu remained in his seat, diligently circulating the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
Prolonged cultivation where one has to had to absorb spiritual energy and refine it into Magic Power, was naturally a tedious task.
His lower back, abdomen, and shoulders would ache. His skin would itch. His mind would grow weary from the monotony and dullness.
Even the old Zhang Yu would often take a break after one or two hours of cultivation. He would stand up to walk around, scratch an itch, or rub his head.
But now, under the pressure of Ritual Power and the encouragement of the Feather Book’s changing numbers, Zhang Yu persevered. He finally completed the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method for the twentieth time in one go.
Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method Level 2 (0/40)
The experience from countless repetitions of the method blossomed in Zhang Yu’s mind. He could feel the magic power circulation within his body becoming more complex, more refined, and slightly more vigorous.
Even after Zhang Yu stopped, the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method continued to operate, but at a slightly faster pace than before.
“At Level 1, the speed of passive absorption is only 30% of active breathing.”
“But at Level 2, the speed of passive absorption has increased to 35% of active breathing.”
“When I actively circulate the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, the breathing efficiency has also improved significantly. It’s far superior to my previous Level 1 Basic Breathing Method.”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly with a hint of satisfaction. This was the result of constant, day-and-night improvement.
After lunch, he redoubled his efforts and continued to advance the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
In the time that followed, he dedicated nearly every available moment to the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
High school Immortal Path studies were both tedious and grueling, especially since Zhang Yu had no time to relax under the relentless pressure of Ritual Power. The only thing that eased his mental strain was watching the numbers behind the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method slowly climb and imagining the long-term benefits of its passive effects.
If you cannot resist, you might as well enjoy it.
So during Physical Education class, he cultivated the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
During Chinese class, he cultivated the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
During his lunch break, he was still cultivating the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method.
While waiting for work at the plaza in the evenings, he continued to cultivate the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method, though unfortunately, he had not found a job in three days.
As for when he was home sleeping, it went without saying that the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method was still operating on its own.
In just three short days, the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method had been raised to Level 4 (5/80).
Fueled by his diligent practice, Zhang Yu’s Magic Power surged forward, climbing from 7.8 to 8.3.
At this point, the passive absorption speed of the Cosmic Orbit Energy Gathering Method had reached 45% of its active breathing speed.
