Chapter 54
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Chapter 54: Zhang Yu’s Choice
6:00 AM.
As dawn was still breaking, Zhao Tianxing was already nearing the school.
This was much earlier than his usual arrival time, all because the results of the Monthly Exam were being announced this morning.
Since last night, Zhao Tianxing had been unable to focus on his studies or Cultivation. He decided to come to school early today, wanting to see his scores the moment they were posted.
“The Dao Arts exam was pretty tough this time. I wonder if I’ll even get 60 points.”
“Ugh, the Dao Heart Examination was brutal too. I pressed for Pleasure Powder twenty-three times. I have no idea how many points I’ll get…”
Unlike Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, who could not be bothered to check their scores after an exam, Zhao Tianxing was the type of student who would go around comparing answers with everyone.
If someone else’s answers matched his, he would secretly gloat. If their answers differed, he would usually ask a few more people to confirm.
For an exam like the Dao Heart Examination, he would even ask others how many times they pressed the button and injected the Pleasure Powder.
When he heard someone had pressed it more times than him, he would offer a comforting word while secretly rejoicing.
If he heard someone had pressed it fewer times, he would feign indifference, but his heart would sink with bitter disappointment.
When he was still over 200 meters from the school gate, Zhao Tianxing saw a crowd of students already gathered there. Clearly, they had all arrived early just like him, waiting to see the results.
Some, feeling they had improved, were eager to see their new rankings.
Others worried about their declining grades, fearing they might be moved to a lower class.
Of course, there were also the pure score-obsessed students who simply wanted to know their exact numbers.
Zhao Tianxing noticed Qian Shen standing at the very front, practising his techniques while he waited. He knew Qian Shen was always the first to arrive when the monthly results were announced.
Glancing at the still-closed school gates, Zhao Tianxing decided to find a corner to sit down in and began to review his book.
After a few minutes of waiting, accompanied by a soft creak, the gates of Songyang High swung open.
The students waiting at the entrance immediately surged forward like sardines in a net, swarming into the school grounds.
When Zhao Tianxing reached his classroom, he found Qian Shen already standing there.
Qian Shen was staring intently at the results posted on the door, and a sudden wave of relief washed over him.
Although his overall score had dropped significantly because of his lower mark in the practical combat exam, at least…
Phew… at least Zhang Yu’s score now aligns with his actual strength. The Monthly Exam evaluation system at Songyang High School seems to be temporarily bug-free.
Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxing glanced at the students around him and thought, Have Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen not arrived yet?
Ah, right. With their abilities, they probably know their scores without even looking.
Zhao Tianxing felt a pang of envy at this thought. He wished he could one day have the confidence and composure to not rush to check his results.
He quickly walked up to the list and began scanning from top to bottom for his name.
First place was Zhang Yu with 653 points.
Second place was Bai Zhenzhen with 652 points.
Seeing their rankings, Zhao Tianxing sighed inwardly.
Besides Dao Arts, their scores in all other subjects must be nearly perfect.
Of course, Zhao Tianxing knew this did not mean the two of them could relax. As time went on, the difficulty of the Monthly Exam and its evaluation standards would only increase. Students needed to constantly improve just to maintain their scores.
Many students in their second or third year of high school saw their grades decline because their personal growth failed to keep pace with the rising standards of assessment.
However, Zhao Tianxing believed that with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s talent, maintaining their scores would not be much of a problem.
Thinking about this, envy welled up in his heart once more. If only I had their talent…
As he continued reading down the list, he finally found his own name and a surge of joy coursed through him.
8th Place: Zhao Tianxing, 594 points
Soon after, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen entered the classroom one after the other.
Zhao Tianxing noticed that they only glanced briefly at the Monthly Exam rankings, seemingly unconcerned.
Watching this, Zhao Tianxing thought that Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu looked incredibly cool at that moment.
In contrast, he had been fretting all of last night and had rushed over first thing in the morning just to see the results.
Ugh, I’m so lame, he sighed.
But as the day wore on, Zhao Tianxing realized that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen seemed to have something on their minds.
He could not understand it. How could the top two students in the grade have anything to worry about?
Just then, a dark shadow flashed past the window.
A loud crash echoed from the first floor.
Another student had broken down.
***
After school that day.
When Zhang Yu arrived at the school’s meditation room again, he intended to use his free privilege to rent a Spirit Root for this week…
But he saw Wei Xin swipe his student card, who then asked with a puzzled expression, “Huh? Why isn’t it working?”
“Student Zhang Yu, please wait a moment. I’ll go ask…”
Zhang Yu casually took back his student card. “No need to ask. I probably got it wrong.”
Without even asking, Zhang Yu knew this was undoubtedly the Student Council’s meddling again.
Then, on his way home, Zhang Yu felt a humorless laugh escape him as he read the message on his phone.
The message was from Lei Jun, his Martial Arts Class teacher who guided him in Martial Arts Combat.
“Zhang Yu, the school believes your Physical Strength still needs… ‘honing’. They plan to have you build your foundation for a year and participate in next year’s Martial Arts Tournament.”
Zhang Yu silently exhaled.
The Magic Power Competition, the sports competitions, the Martial Arts Competition… It was clear the Student Council intended to erase all his opportunities to participate and cut off this path for him.
They would also cut back on benefits like the free Spirit Root rental, one by one.
If this continued, it seemed Zhang Yu would have no choice but to go back to working temp jobs after class.
I’m still too weak…
While waiting for the bus at the station, he seized the time to practice the martial arts of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique, but the more he performed the moves, the increasingly awkward it felt.
He deeply sensed that he lacked the mentality to fight everything before him, a mindset that was severely incompatible with what this mental cultivation technique required.
Zhang Yu felt as if a fire was trapped in his chest with no way to be vented.
Walking down the alley to his apartment, Zhang Yu thought to himself, What if I go find Li Xuelian? Seeing my current level in the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique, would True Person Starfire consider taking me as a disciple?
Could I bring True Person Starfire into the situation to create more room for negotiation?
But when he considered that True Person Starfire was likely just another person who wanted him to sign a slave contract, Zhang Yu sighed once more.
He looked up at the sky, feeling that all of Songyang City was a giant dining table. Right now, He and Bai Zhenzhen were like two dishes placed upon it, waiting to be picked over by wealthy patrons.
Should I run away?
Escape to another city, work odd jobs while I cultivate, and only emerge after a decade or two of development?
But what about A-Zhen? Would she be willing to run?
Sigh, this idiotic ritual is still forcing me to take the university entrance exams. She probably wouldn’t agree…
When Zhang Yu opened the door and stepped into his apartment, he was taken aback and froze on the spot.
A slender girl in a Bailong High School uniform was sitting in his chair.
Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her fair, delicate hands were gently caressing the scabbard of a longsword resting on her lap.
Zhang Yu managed to speak with difficulty, “Sis… Sister?”
The high school student from Bailong High School before him was none other than his original body’s elder sister, Zhang Pianpian.
But he never expected her to be a student at Bailong High School. This was something completely absent from his original memories.
Especially the large number “1” emblazoned on her chest, which signified that Zhang Pianpian was already the top-ranked student in her grade at Bailong High School.
His sister had actually managed to reach this level? How on earth had she done it? And why did the original Zhang Yu know nothing about it?
Zhang Pianpian regarded him coldly and said flatly, “Go see Zhou Chechen. Sign the contract.”
Zhang Yu instinctively frowned. “You came to make me sign?”
Zhang Pianpian said indifferently, “I’m doing this for your own good. If you keep resisting, they will drive you to your death.”
Thinking of the Ritual he was bound to, Zhang Yu replied in the same flat tone, “Making me sign is the same as killing me.”
Their gazes clashed. Seeing Zhang Yu’s refusal to yield a single step, Zhang Pianpian seemed to sense a death-defying resolve in his eyes.
She nodded slightly and said, “I never expected you to become like this.”
“I had assumed you were better suited for a peaceful, ordinary life.”
“Since you’re unwilling to sign with Songyang High School, then come with me. I’ll take you to Bailong High School.”
Zhang Yu was taken aback. Though his mind was filled with a thousand questions, he asked the one he felt was most crucial. “Can I test for the Ten Greats?”
Zhang Pianpian smiled. “Of course.”
“You finally show some of the spirit needed to challenge the Path to Immortality. Since that’s the case, I’m willing to give you a chance to compete for the Ten Greats.”
Even though this was his first time meeting his original body’s sister, the Zhang Pianpian before him felt worlds apart from the one in his memories, a complete stranger.
Was this really his sister? Were they even the same person?
Had money and scores completely transformed this sister of his?
But Zhang Yu knew this wasn’t the time for such thoughts, so he asked what he felt was the second most important question.
“Can… can I bring someone else along?”
Seeing Zhang Pianpian tilt her head and look at him curiously, Zhang Yu continued, “Can I bring Bai Zhenzhen to Bailong High School too?”
Zhang Pianpian looked puzzled and asked, “Why?”
Zhang Yu said, “She’s like my own Blood Brother. I want to help her.”
He thought to himself, If I leave and A-Zhen is left alone to handle the Student Council, those beasts will definitely strike even harder.
Zhang Pianpian asked blankly, “Blood brother? Is Bai Zhenzhen also our relative?”
At first, Zhang Yu thought Zhang Pianpian was mocking him, but seeing her earnest expression, he cautiously explained, “I mean that we’re really, really close.”
“When I was at my poorest, in the darkest period of my life, she gave me 500 yuan and even treated me to a meal.”
Zhang Pianpian still looked confused and asked, “Can’t you just transfer her back 500 yuan now?”
Zhang Yu shook his head. “No.”
Zhang Pianpian pressed, “Then 5,000?”
Zhang Yu replied, “This isn’t about the amount of money.”
He felt this was even more bizarre. The Zhang Pianpian before him was nothing like the sister from his original body’s memories.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s determination, Zhang Pianpian pondered for a moment before saying, “Bailong High School has limited spots. At most, I can only bring one person with me.”
Zhang Yu’s heart sank.
But then Zhang Pianpian continued, “However, if you can pass an assessment…”
“Both of you can be protected.”
Zhang Yu immediately asked, “What kind of assessment?”
“A Divine Assistant, or rather, outsourced divine duties,” Zhang Pianpian replied calmly. “As long as you hold a position within a divine department, no one will dare to cause trouble for you, at least until I enter university, even if you stay at Songyang High School.”
“I can recommend you for the assessment.”
“But you must understand that if you come with me to Bailong High School, you’ll be protected there until you graduate from high school.”
“If you rely solely on the Divine Assistant position, they’ll have fewer constraints after I enter university.”
“And there’s only half a year left until I graduate from high school and enter university.”
“Are you sure you want to take this risk?”
