Chapter 107: Physical Strength Ranking

Is Bailong High the strongest in physical strength? Hongta High is certainly very capable. And Ziyun High wouldn't be out of the question either. But what about Songyang High? Songyang High, Zhang Yu, Level 4.95?

Zhang Yu's score, appearing out of nowhere, stunned countless onlookers. The students from the three major high schools were particularly shocked. Having undergone modifications with the new body-refinement technology, they understood the immense difference between pre- and post-modification.

Chu Qiuhe stared intently at the 4.95 level displayed on the screen. It was a terrifying score, one that made him feel an impulse to kneel, and a score a student from Songyang High should never achieve. His rhino ears twitched rapidly. "How did he do it? Did Ziyun High or Hongta High help him? But he shows no signs of Hongta or Ziyun's new technology."

"Could it be..." Chu Qiuhe subconsciously looked in Yu Xinghan's direction. If there was one student from the three major high schools who hadn't displayed any signs of new technology, it was this Golden Core disciple.

"Did Zhang Yu undergo Bailong High's body-refinement technology? And has he achieved the same level of physical control as Yu Xinghan?"

"This... is it possible?"

Chu Qiuhe shook his head, dismissing the guess. Neither Xianyun Group nor Oasis Group had such plans, and Zhang Yu could not possibly possess qualifications to rival Yu Xinghan. After eliminating all impossibilities, Chu Qiuhe considered the only remaining possibility: "Has Songyang High's body-refinement technology also made a breakthrough?"

Meanwhile, in Ziyun High's resting area, Lian Tianji looked at the score on the large screen, marveling, "He wasn't lying? Is his physical strength really 4.95?" If he were to come to Ziyun High, he would be another formidable individual, strong enough to dominate others.

"How did he achieve it? Which company is supporting him?"

"Could it be... Songyang High has also mastered new body-refinement technology?"

Lian Tianji suddenly looked at Le Mulan nearby. "The sacred top student has been paying attention to Zhang Yu all this time. Did she realize his extraordinary potential long ago? As expected of the top student in our grade, her intelligence channels and judgment are far superior to mine."

At the same time, in Songyang High's resting area, He Dayou, who had just finished his physical strength test, suddenly stood up and stared at Zhang Yu's score in disbelief.

"Level 4.95?!"

This score was not just high; to He Dayou, it was absurdly high. He even wondered if 4.95 might be the highest physical strength level among all the contestants. He looked at Zhang Yu with a mixture of envy and jealousy, thinking, "Could Zhang Pianpian have secretly used Bailong High's technology to support Zhang Yu?"

"Even if not, she must have invested an incredible amount of money in Zhang Yu."

"What exactly is Zhang Yu's relationship with Zhang Pianpian? A mother investing in her son... No, even a daughter paying off her father's debts wouldn't spend this much!"

Wang Hai, also in Songyang High's resting area and watching the competition, was equally stunned. "What happened?" He then received several calls in quick succession. He had to explain to the school leaders on the other end of the line, "No, I really don't know about any new technology. Zhang Yu barely trained with me. I truly don't know how he reached Level 4.95."

In the spectator stands, Lan Ling looked at the score with a mix of shock and anger, saying to Zhou Chechen beside him, "How could Zhang Yu, that pauper, reach this point? Did he undergo Bailong's surgery?"

Zhou Chechen frowned. "I haven't heard of such a thing, but..." Considering Oasis Group's entry into Songyang City, recalling Zhang Pianpian's investment in Zhang Yu, and then thinking of Zhang Yu's astonishing increase in physical strength...

Zhou Chechen's expression gradually darkened. "Did Zhang Pianpian already know about Oasis Group's cooperation and that the body-refinement technology of the three major high schools would have a breakthrough? Is that why she made arrangements at Songyang High?"

"But what was her purpose in doing so?"

Zhou Chechen couldn't quite figure it out, but it didn't stop him from finding Zhang Yu on the field increasingly displeasing. Zhou Chechen took a deep breath. "No matter her purpose, it's already mid-April. In less than two months, Zhang Pianpian will be taking the college entrance exam and then university interviews..."

At the very back of the spectator stands, just a moment ago, Le Jingchen had been introducing Ziyun High's Super Metabolism Surgery, but the next moment, Zhang Yu's 4.95 level score left him momentarily speechless.

However, Gangshan, being an internet personality, reacted quickly and immediately said, "This student from Songyang High must have also used the new body-refinement technology, right?" Le Jingchen nodded decisively. "Definitely. Without using the latest body-refinement technology, relying solely on medication and injections, it's impossible for a first-year high school student to reach a physical strength of 4.95."

"This student from Songyang High must have used some new technology, and his body must have been modified." Le Jingchen observed that Zhang Yu's appearance showed no blackening or purplish tints, nor any signs of demonic beast characteristics. He mused, "Has Songyang High also mastered some new technology?"

Le Jingchen didn't jump to conclusions, deciding instead to carefully observe the performance of other students from Songyang High. Just then, Gangshan beside him exclaimed, "The development of this wave of new body-refinement technology is truly astonishing! Even students from Songyang High have reached a level far surpassing previous champions."

Le Jingchen set aside his thoughts and echoed, "That's how the development of immortal cultivation technology is; it always benefits society, allowing more and more people to progress further on the path of immortality."

Gangshan asked curiously, "A physical strength of 4.95 at the first-year high school level is truly terrifying! There shouldn't be anyone higher than him here, right?" Le Jingchen chuckled and shook his head. "4.95 is indeed very impressive, but it's still a bit behind the top students from the three major high schools who have applied the latest body-refinement technology."

Soon after Le Jingchen finished speaking, a terrifying dragon's roar echoed from the competition arena, startling countless spectators, whose faces turned pale and hearts pounded with an instinctive fear. The first-place ranking on the large screen had already changed again.

Hongta High, Hu Yuntao, Level 4.98. But before people could fully express their amazement at Hu Yuntao's score, another, even deeper and more powerful beast roar rang out, pushing Hu Yuntao down to second place.

Bailong High, Song Hailong, Level 5.03. Gangshan exclaimed, "It's only been a little over seven months since the start of the first year of high school, and physical strength can already break past Level 5?" He shook his head with a wry smile. "This era has truly changed."

As if in response to Gangshan's sentiment, as more and more students from the three major high schools completed their physical tests, the scores on the large screen continuously shifted. The first-place position, in particular, changed multiple times.

Song Hailong had just claimed first place with a physical strength of 5.03, only to be pushed down moments later by Xiong Wenwu's 5.05. But Xiong Wenwu's 5.05 didn't hold the top spot for long either, as Yu Xinghan's 5.07 snatched the first-place position.

After Yu Xinghan secured the first-place position, it remained unshaken, and the entire top ten list gradually stabilized.

However, while most of the audience and staff were engrossed in the performances of the top students from the three major high schools, marveling at each successively higher physical strength score, Le Jingchen's attention was drawn to the fifth and seventh positions.

Fifth place: Songyang High, Zhang Yu, Level 4.95. Seventh place: Songyang High, Bai Zhenzhen, Level 4.92.

Le Jingchen mused, "Songyang High... so they have also mastered new body-refinement technology?"

"Hmph... Did they deliberately sacrifice the second-year competition to feign weakness, then plan to make a grand splash in today's first-year competition to promote their new technology?"

"Are they coveting the status of the three major high schools?"

"Heh, quite ambitious. I truly underestimated them before."

Although he knew that the strength of the many top students from the three major high schools was still enough to crush other high schools, the thought that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen might snatch one or two spots in the latter half of the top ten list made Le Jingchen feel a surge of disgust. It was like seeing an unwashed pauper enter Ziyun High, or feeling as though a spotless desk had been touched by dirty hands.

Just then, Gangshan nearby asked curiously, "Jingchen, that Le Mulan from Ziyun should be your younger sister, right? Her performance seems a bit low; what's your take on it?" Sixth place: Ziyun High, Le Mulan, 4.93.

Le Jingchen smiled faintly and calmly explained, "Ziyun's Super Metabolism Technology primarily focuses on improving the body's drug resistance. This allows cultivators to enhance their physical strength more easily and quickly, but it also leads to a certain issue."

"That is, pure physical strength alone cannot fully reflect their normal combat power."

Gangshan asked, "What do you mean by 'normal combat power'?" Le Jingchen explained, "It naturally refers to their performance after taking medication regularly."

Gangshan nodded slightly. As everyone was accustomed to daily medication, 'normal combat power' naturally referred to strength after regular dosage. Le Jingchen continued, "Although Le Mulan's physical strength appears to be Level 4.93, because she can regularly take more potent drugs, her normal combat power is actually far above Level 4.93. When she truly exerts herself, she can perform at a level comparable to someone with Level 5.05 physical strength."

"And these aspects cannot be detected by a simple physical strength test."

"However, once they reach the Qi Cultivation stage bottleneck—for example, if both parties' physical strength is at the Level 10 limit—then the person who underwent the Super Metabolism Surgery will undoubtedly perform better." Le Jingchen said with confidence, "If you don't believe me, watch the upcoming matches; Le Mulan will definitely make it into the top three."

Meanwhile, Wang Hai's phone was almost ringing off the hook. Zhou Chechen, too, was fielding call after call with inquiries.

Zhou Chechen: "No, Principal! We really haven't had a technological breakthrough."

"Uncle, you should know my situation well. I haven't even undergone the surgery myself, so how could I give it to a poor student in the first year?"

"Auntie, please help me contact someone from Ziyun Pharmaceuticals. I have no intention of breaching any contract; we haven't made any deals with other companies..."

After frantically hanging up the phone, Zhou Chechen looked with irritation towards Songyang High's resting area. "Zhang Yu... Bai Zhenzhen... Which company did Zhang Pianpian sell them to?"

As the entire venue buzzed with discussions and rumors involving various companies, high schools, contestants, and the competition itself began to spread from this point, the physical strength tests were officially completed. The second event of the physical competition was about to begin.