Chapter 66: Competition Begins

As Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen stood in silence, considering asking Lei Jun for money soon, a familiar voice rang out.

“Zhenzhen, Zhang Yu, you’re already here.”

The two quickly turned their heads. Seeing Zhao Tianxing emerge from the subway station, they rushed towards him like zombies encountering a savior and embraced him.

Zhao Tianxing had come specifically to watch their competition that day.

Zhang Yu said, "Old Zhao, lend us some money. We need to buy dinner."

Zhao Tianxing, however, only transferred ten yuan, explaining with a helpless expression, "My mom was afraid I'd spend too much, so she only let me bring this much."

"Useless mama's boy. I'm ashamed to be associated with you."

Still, ten yuan was better than nothing. Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, dragging their hungry bodies, could only run into the nearby convenience store and buy a few steamed buns.

However, given their current cultivation and physical fitness, a few steamed buns were far from enough to quell their hunger.

Bai Zhenzhen gazed at the convenience store, her eyes gleaming with hunger, and suddenly proposed, "Yuzi, let's rob the convenience store."

Zhang Yu nodded, "Alright, you do the robbing, and I'll take care of digesting the spoils."

Bai Zhenzhen then asked, "Do you think Bailong High School will provide free food?"

"Free?" Zhang Yu scoffed. "It'd be a miracle if they didn't charge us double."

Just then, their eyes suddenly lit up.

They spotted a familiar figure standing reverently before the main gate of Bailong High School, taking photos of the school's sign with a phone.

"Old Qian!"

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen quickly rushed over, grasped Qian Shen's hand, and pleaded, "Please treat us to dinner; we're too hungry to compete."

Qian Shen looked at them skeptically, then opened his phone and asked, "Is 300 yuan enough?"

"Holy cow!" Zhang Yu was stunned.

He then began to reflect on what he had been doing for the past two months.

Was he really friends with a 'card slave' like Bai Zhenzhen? Or a 'mama's boy' like Zhao Tianxing?

"Old Qian, *you* are my true friend, Zhang Yu's true friend!"

With Qian Shen's financial support, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen devoured twelve ten-yuan meal sets at the convenience store.

Patting her slightly bulging stomach, Bai Zhenzhen said contentedly, "That's enough for now. We still have the competition later, so being half-full is fine."

Zhang Yu nodded in agreement and told Qian Shen, who was standing nearby, "Don't worry, Old Qian, we'll pay you back once the competition is over and we've won the prize money."

Qian Shen, however, seemed unconcerned by this. He suddenly scratched his head and asked, "Um... will Zhang Pianpian, the one who scored 699, come to watch your competition today?"

Zhang Yu cast a sympathetic glance at Qian Shen, thinking, *Ah, poor Tom, completely smitten by the high-achieving student.*

Zhang Yu wanted to tell him that with his 620 points and her 699 points, the gap was too wide for them to ever be friends.

But patting his stomach, still full from the bento he'd just eaten, Zhang Yu said, "Probably not. She's very busy; she wouldn't have time to watch a freshman competition."

Qian Shen nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. She's in her final year of high school; she must be busy preparing for the university entrance exam and college interviews, right?"

Standing nearby, Zhao Tianxing kept glancing at his phone, then reminded them, "You arranged to meet Teacher Lei at midnight, didn't you? Time's almost up. Should we head over?"

The group of four arrived at the main gate of Bailong High School. Seeing that Teacher Lei Jun hadn't seemed to arrive yet, Zhang Yu suggested they go inside to wait.

However, as soon as the four approached within a meter of Bailong High School's entrance, it was as if they were detected by some kind of sensor.

A warning then sounded from a nearby electronic screen: "Non-Bailong High School personnel, please do not enter."

The four turned to look and saw the following displayed on the electronic screen:

To visit the school, please scan the QR code to purchase a visitor's ticket.A single 12-hour tour ticket, valid for visits below the 3rd floor, costs 500 yuan.Students who scored 660 points or above in their high school monthly exams or college entrance exams may enter the school for free.Those who scored below 550 points or do not possess a high school diploma are prohibited from visiting.

"What the hell... is it 'no entry for academic failures and dogs'?" Zhang Yu muttered. "It's one thing to bar those below 550 points, but why do you need over 660 points to get in for free?"

Zhang Yu looked at the information on the screen, then at his companions.

He felt as if Bailong High School was looking down on all four of them, from top to bottom, at that very moment.

And if they were to buy tickets... where would he get 500 yuan from his bank account right now?

Was he going to be eliminated outside the gates of Bailong High School by a mere 500 yuan before the competition even began?

Zhang Yu could only sheepishly turn his head, his gaze once again falling on Qian Shen. He then noticed Bai Zhenzhen was also looking at Qian Shen, just like him.

Qian Shen, however, gazed at the gate of Bailong High School with a look of longing, sighing, "It's just as I heard; Bailong's gate isn't for everyone to enter."

After speaking, he prepared to scan the code and buy a ticket.

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were about to ask for money to buy tickets, Teacher Lei Jun finally arrived.

"You two don't need to buy tickets," Lei Jun said, waving his hand at them. "We're here for the competition, and Bailong High School has already issued tickets for participants."

After receiving the electronic tickets from Lei Jun, the group finally entered Bailong High School without issue. Only Zhao Tianxing stood outside the main gate, his face a mask of embarrassment.

Under their gaze, Zhao Tianxing awkwardly scratched his head repeatedly, saying, "You guys go on ahead. I'll call my mom for money, and I'll come find you once I've bought a ticket."

Lei Jun knew that Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing were there to watch Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's competition. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "The competition venue is on the first basement floor. You can come over by yourself later."

As Zhang Yu and his companions stepped inside the Bailong High School building, Zhang Yu immediately noticed a peculiar scent in the air.

Qian Shen, standing beside him, took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Do you smell it? That sweet scent in the air?"

"Bailong High School specifically adds nootropics to its air circulation system. They're designed to enhance brain focus, increase nerve stimulation, and even have a hint of fruit and floral scents..."

Zhang Yu was speechless. The air in Bailong High School was indeed fragrant.

The group continued onward and noticed that the corridor floor was divided into white and red sections.

The white section ran down the middle, marked "Exclusive Lane for Students of This School Scoring 660 Points and Above."

The red sections ran along both sides, marked "Exclusive Lane for Students of This School Scoring Below 660 Points."

Zhang Yu paused for a moment, then burst into exasperated laughter. *So, those scoring below 660 points have to stick to the sides, huh?*

Qian Shen explained, "Every area and facility within Bailong High School has score-based access rules for its students. Students must operate within their designated zones based on their scores."

Zhang Yu was speechless once more. *What are you explaining? Qianzi, you're from Songyang; why are you so familiar with Bailong? Are you trying to transfer here or something?*

They continued along the corridor to the elevators, intending to take one down to the first basement floor, but found a sign that read, "Elevator access prohibited for scores below 660 points."

Zhang Yu realized that students scoring below 660 points were essentially treated as second-class citizens at Bailong High School; it was nearly impossible for them to move freely.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu and his group were considered visitors, so they weren't required to abide by these rules meant for the school's own students.

The group then took the elevator to the first basement floor, and in an instant, a massive sports arena, approximately ten meters high and covering tens of thousands of square meters, appeared before them.

The venue was teeming with high school students, indicating that many of the competition participants had already arrived.

However, as Zhang Yu looked around, he noticed that almost all the participants were from the three elite schools; there were hardly any students from other high schools.

"Compared to the legal competition, this martial arts competition is practically an internal league for the three elite schools," Zhang Yu remarked.

In the surrounding spectator stands, apart from a few scattered students from various schools, there were three distinct groups of students seated in perfect, chest-out formations, like military squares.

Zhang Yu looked at the students sitting in rows, dressed in their uniforms, and asked in surprise, "Are those students from the three elite schools?"

He was particularly surprised, "Students from the three elite schools aren't seizing every single second to study, but instead are here watching a competition?"

He specifically noticed how the students from Bailong High School were all wide-eyed, chest out, vibrant, and glowing, as if they had hyperthyroidism.

Just then, a male voice came from the side: "They are all first-year students from the three elite high schools. After all, observing the battles of strong peers also helps improve one's own practical martial arts skills, recognizing the gap between oneself and the strong, and solidifying one's commitment to the path."

Zhang Yu and the others all turned their heads, looking in the direction the voice had come from.

They saw Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School slowly approaching. He smiled at Zhang Yu and said, "I had a feeling you'd come to participate in the martial arts competition, and sure enough, here you are."

He then glanced at Zhang Yu and his companions, surprised. "Is this all Songyang is sending?"

The next moment, he nodded thoughtfully. "Then again, it's understandable. It is Songyang, after all."

Zhang Yu felt as though his Songyang school uniform had just been inadvertently disdained once more.

However, Zhang Yu had never been particularly loyal to Songyang. What did Songyang being looked down upon have to do with him? His true identity was an outsourced employee of the Songyang City Inspection Team.

So Zhang Yu curiously asked, "How many people came from the three elite high schools?"

Lian Tianji pointed towards a section of the arena. "Look, they're all over there: Ziyun, Bailong, and Hongta. Each school sent a full roster of ten participants. We've already had an internal qualifying round at our schools; only those who made it to the top ten could come here to compete."

After parting ways with Lian Tianji, Lei Jun said, "Alright, let's go. We'll report to the contestant lounge first. Qian Shen, you can find a seat in the audience."

Zhang Yu and his group arrived at the resting areas assigned to each school.

Zhang Yu observed the resting areas allocated to the three elite high schools, key high schools like Songyang High School, and other ordinary high schools.

How to describe it?

Zhang Yu felt that the three types of resting areas were akin to a 'VIP lounge', a 'sun shelter', and a 'straw mat', respectively.

The 'VIP lounge' for the three elite high schools featured sofas, recliners, drinks, fruit, and snacks.

The 'sun shelter area' for key high schools had a row of chairs and a case of bottled water.

As for the 'straw mat area' for ordinary high schools, it simply offered a row of benches.

It's as if old man Bailong is terrified that those "stinky" ordinary high school students will come to Bailong to freeload again, huh?

"This is way too discriminatory."

Meanwhile, after Qian Shen watched the three depart, he made his way to the spectator stands.

Just as he was about to find a seat, he suddenly noticed a familiar figure in front of him, seen from behind.

He quickly approached and saw that the person was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. As soon as this person saw Qian Shen, they immediately turned their head away.

Qian Shen looked at the top of the person's head, then at their face, and asked in surprise, "You... are you He Dayou, the one who scored 611?"

*He Dayou, who scored 611, was certainly qualified to sit with him and watch the competition.*

He Dayou truly did not want to be recognized, nor did he want anyone from school to discover he was at the martial arts competition. He particularly didn't want people to think he was there to see Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, which was why he had secretly come in disguise.

To his dismay, he was recognized by Qian Shen on the spot. He could only turn his head resignedly and say, "Oh, you're here too, Qian Shen."

Qian Shen asked curiously, "Are you also here to watch Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's martial arts competition?"

He Dayou smiled dismissively. "Their skill level... it wouldn't even meet the average standard in this competition. There's nothing worth watching at that level."

"Actually, my junior high classmate is participating, and they specifically invited me to come and watch."

Qian Shen simply sat down next to He Dayou and asked curiously, "Which high school is your junior high classmate from? What's their score level?"

He Dayou turned his head away, looking as if he had no desire to speak.

On the other side of the arena,

The participants first gathered together to hear the organizers announce the rules.

"To prevent powerful contestants from being eliminated too early in the arena, this competition will begin with a scoring round."

"Based on the contestants' scores, everyone will be divided into eight groups. Within each group, contestants will draw lots for their duels. The first-place winner from each of the eight groups, a total of eight contestants, will then proceed to the elimination round..."

As everyone wondered how the scoring round would be conducted,

A golden figure, over two meters tall, slowly walked into the arena, accompanied by heavy thudding sounds.

The referee at the front announced, "The scoring round will consist of each of you taking turns to spar with the Yellow Turban Warrior."

"The average physical strength level of the participants in this competition is 1.98. Therefore, the Yellow Turban Warrior will maintain a physical strength output of 1.98, and will spar with each of you for one minute."

"Judges will then score your performance during that minute."

"The specific scoring rules are as follows..."