Chapter 128: Battle with the White Dragon

Under the setting sun, on the rooftop of Songyang High School, Zhang Yu's Great Sun Qi Sea had reached Level 4 (21/40). His magic power, previously constrained by the slowing bottleneck of the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, was now rapidly increasing, having reached 44.3. As the sun set and the light dimmed, Zhang Yu could feel the Great Sun Qi Sea within him gradually calm down from its previous fervent state.

"Ah, daytime illumination is still the best; the training effect is truly strong," he mused. "As for nighttime... I'll need to find some alternative methods."

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen, standing beside him, urged Zhang Yu again to go to Bailong High School to collect the sparring fees from Song Hailong and Yu Xinghan. Of course, he brought Bai Zhenzhen along to recommend her as a substitute instructor.

In a flash, the two had entered Bailong High School. As quasi-Bailong residents, they skillfully navigated the various corridors, each with different colors and regulations, passing students kneeling in training and a math teacher being verbally abused by students. Along the way, both felt a pang of emotion. Zhang Yu thought, "Bailong High School has become a zoo."

Since entering Bailong High School, they had noticed that almost seven or eight out of every ten students they saw along the way no longer looked entirely human. For instance, right before them, a bear-like figure and a werewolf-like figure were lecturing a student who still maintained a human appearance. The bear-like student's uniform had the number 35, the werewolf's had 36, and the human-looking student's chest displayed 99.

The bear-like student pressed down on the human student's head and angrily exclaimed, "You brat! Were you just secretly looking at my study notes?"

The human-looking student stammered, "I... I saw it by accident."

The werewolf added, "A mere rank 99, someone without even imitation demon muscles, dares to peek at the demonstration class's study notes? Hand over your homework. We'll do your homework today."

The human-looking student shrieked in terror, "No! Please don't take my homework! You can hit me, just hit me instead!"

Observing the struggle, Zhang Yu mused, "Aside from individuals like Yu Xinghan and Song Hailong, who have strong physical control, it seems the less human a Bailong student looks, the higher their status in school." He added silently, "It's truly become an orc kingdom, hasn't it?"

Just then, the bear-like student noticed the human-shaped Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, as well as their Songyang High School uniforms. "Huh? Songyang low-achievers dare to come to our Bailong Empire?" The bear-like student immediately frowned and walked towards Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, asking, "What are you two doing in Bailong?"

The other werewolf also approached, looking down at Zhang Yu. "Sneaking around? Are you here to steal our Bailong study methods?"

Zhang Yu scratched his head helplessly. "Um... I'm here to see Yu Xinghan and Song Hailong."

Both the bear-like student and the werewolf looked incredulous. *Our Bailong High School's top two students know Songyang low-achievers?*

Just then, an even taller figure walked over, saw Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, and said, "Long time no see, you two."

Zhang Yu's eyes lit up. "Chu Qiuer?"

The newcomer was none other than Chu Qiuer, who had once lost to Zhang Yu in the martial arts competition. The bear-like student and werewolf, upon seeing Chu Qiuer, who consistently ranked among the top five in their grade, immediately prostrated themselves on the ground like subservient bears and wolves.

Chu Qiuer glanced at the two and said calmly, "This is Zhang Yu. He was first in both the martial arts and sports competitions, and he even defeated me to win the martial arts championship."

The bear-like student and werewolf looked shocked upon hearing this. They hadn't attended the competitions, and although they had heard about such a formidable person, this was their first encounter. The two immediately knelt again, both exclaiming, "Big Brother Zhang Yu!"

Chu Qiuer continued, "He doesn't have imitation demon features because he has complete control over the imitation demon muscles within him. So, he's not just an ordinary Songyang High School student. He's the Emperor of Songyang High School. If you disrespect him, you disrespect me."

The next moment, Chu Qiuer, in a chilling tone, announced their punishment: "After school today, you two are not to do any homework. Tomorrow morning, you are not allowed to submit a single piece of homework!"

Upon hearing Chu Qiuer's words, the bear-like student and the werewolf instantly looked as if they had lost their parents, their faces filled with terror, and they slowly retreated with their tails between their legs.

After chastising the two, Chu Qiuer turned to Zhang Yu and explained, "Forgive their ignorance, Zhang Yu. These students haven't attended the competitions, so they don't know what Songyang's top students are like. You're here to see Brother Xinghan and Brother Hailong, aren't you? They're waiting for you in the training room over there."

Guided by Chu Qiuer, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen walked towards the training room at the end of the corridor. Suddenly, a group of tall, muscular, yet white-haired, emaciated, and blank-faced elderly individuals walked past them. Even from a distance, Zhang Yu could feel a strong wave of resentment emanating from them.

Then, to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's surprise, Chu Qiuer bowed and said, "Hello, seniors!"

The 'elders' casually waved a hand, seemingly too weary to utter another word, and floated away, leaving a sense of gloom in their wake.

Zhang Yu asked curiously, "Who are they?"

Chu Qiuer replied, "They are third-year students. The academic pressure is immense, so some seniors age quite quickly."

*Damn, they're aging way too fast! They look like they already have one foot in the grave!* Zhang Yu silently grumbled, thinking this might be related to some immortal cultivation technique. Despite this, Zhang Yu dared not underestimate them in the slightest. In fact, after learning about the Foundation Establishment Examination from Zhang Pianpian and being told to reach the third-year level before the first round, Zhang Yu had begun to research Bailong High School's third-year student data. Fortunately, Bailong High School always heavily promoted, even relentlessly instilled, performance data at various high school stages, so it wasn't difficult for Zhang Yu to find.

Zhang Yu thought, "However, students in their third year are still rapidly improving, so the data for each period will naturally be different. For example, when they first enter the third year, the average values are roughly Dao Heart Level 6, around 70 units of magic power, and physical strength above Level 7.5. By the time of the college entrance examination, the average values are approximately Dao Heart Level 8, around 90 units of magic power, and physical strength above Level 9.5."

Upon learning this data, both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen felt immense pressure, especially remembering what Zhang Pianpian had said: to reach the third-year level before the first round of the Foundation Establishment Examination. Zhang Yu thought, "There are only four months left until the first round of the Foundation Establishment Examination begins..."

He knew that registration for the Foundation Establishment Examination was in June, the first round in August, the second in October, and the final round in January of the following year. Calculating by this timeline, opponents in the first round would include students from Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's own year who had just finished their first year and were about to enter their second year, as well as students who had finished their second year and were about to enter their third year. "And these students, who will be approaching their third year by August, are our main competitors. Considering the backgrounds and strengths of these students, plus the fact that they entered the Immortal Path a year earlier than us... By the first round of examinations in August this year, they will definitely have reached the third-year level."

Zhang Yu recalled the performance of Bailong's third-year students, thinking, "Even if we calculate by the lowest standard, considering Bailong students who have just entered their third year as our hypothetical enemies, their average data would still be Dao Heart Level 6, around 70 units of magic power, and physical strength 7.5..." He continued, "Moreover, as the Foundation Establishment Examination progresses, our opponents will continue to improve. Their stats will only be higher in the second and final rounds."

Whenever they thought of this, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen felt an overwhelming pressure. After all, Zhang Yu's current Dao Heart was only Level 4, his magic power 44.3, and his physical strength Level 4.96. Bai Zhenzhen's stats were even weaker than Zhang Yu's. Faced with this situation, both resolved to work harder. "It's mid-April now... In four months, before the first round of examinations in August, we must at least reach the average level of Bailong students just entering their third year: Dao Heart Level 6, over 70 units of magic power, and physical strength above 7.5."

When Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrived at the training room, they saw Yu Xinghan and Song Hailong engaged in combat. The massive Song Hailong's every punch and kick created sounds like wind and thunder, striking Yu Xinghan like colossal steel pillars. Yet, each strike was steadily parried by Yu Xinghan with a single hand. It appeared Song Hailong was attacking fiercely, but the impression given was that he was completely suppressed.

Upon seeing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrive, Yu Xinghan calmly smiled and said, "Zhang Yu, you're here? Song Hailong and I were just warming up since we had nothing else to do. Now that you're here, let's begin."

The next moment, as Yu Xinghan and Song Hailong's fists and palms met, the elephant-like Song Hailong retreated repeatedly, his steps causing a series of thunderous thuds on the ground. Already aware of the gap between himself and Yu Xinghan, Song Hailong was not surprised. He simply took a deep breath, calmed the turbulent qi and blood within him, and then looked at Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

Song Hailong frowned. "You mean Bai Zhenzhen can spar with me?"

Bai Zhenzhen said coolly, "Defeat me first, then you can consider sparring with Zhang Yu."

Song Hailong snorted and motioned to Bai Zhenzhen. "Then I'll defeat you first, and then I'll fight Zhang Yu."

The next moment, the two were already locked in intense combat. Song Hailong was like a rampaging giant elephant, his hands generating immense power, sweeping towards Bai Zhenzhen to capture her whole. However, Bai Zhenzhen moved like lightning, flashing back and forth around Song Hailong. Her Body-Shattering Sword Qi erupted at will, almost touching and then immediately moving away, giving Song Hailong no chance to grapple.

As soon as the two began fighting, Yu Xinghan turned his gaze to Zhang Yu, observing the opponent who had surpassed him in the sports competition. It was from that moment that Yu Xinghan had conceived the idea of having Zhang Yu as his sparring partner, to become another whetstone for him.