Chapter 81: Competition Quota

Songyang High School.Inside the classroom, campus life remained as peaceful as ever, and students' enthusiasm for learning was as high as usual.

On the podium, the Chinese teacher lectured on the text, seemingly unnoticed. Below, students engaged in various activities: some practiced martial arts, some meditated, some took medicinal pills, and some were even sparring. This was typical combat training. This was the usual classroom atmosphere in a prestigious high school. First-year students, still accustomed to middle school habits, were initially a bit reserved at the start of the semester. But now, half a year into the school year, everyone had shed their pretense and revealed their true nature as Immortal Cultivation scholars.

The Chinese teacher paid no mind to this, as practicing martial arts, meditating, or sparring, taking pills, ingesting elixirs, or other forms of immortal cultivation, were all far more important than her humble Chinese class. She only hoped the students wouldn't try to spar with her. To her knowledge, general education teachers at Songyang High School already had some standing. Her classmate, who taught at Bailong High School, was always used by the school leadership to lecture students: "If you can't get into a good university after the college entrance exam, you'll end up as mediocre as a high school Chinese teacher." Thinking of this, the Chinese teacher sighed inwardly, "Alas, if it weren't for the sect and city government requirements, prestigious high schools would probably have already shortened general education classes out of existence."

Just then, the Chinese teacher heard someone's phone ring from below. She finally couldn't help herself and wanted to remind them: "Student, please put your phone on vibrate during Chinese class so as not to disturb other students studying." However, when she looked up, she saw that the phone's owner was none other than Zhang Yu. Although she was merely a general education teacher, she had already heard much about this popular campus figure. The first-year academic demon, Songyang's school traitor, the impure-rooted, the kept man... she had heard all of Zhang Yu's various nicknames. She heard that he had even won first place in the martial arts competition last night, and today, no one dared to reprimand him for being two minutes late to school. Considering he had the backing of a rich woman from Bailong and dared to oppose the student council, how could she, a mere general education teacher, dare to tell him whether his phone should vibrate or not? So, the Chinese teacher quickly lowered her head, pretending she hadn't heard anything.

Zhang Yu was originally cultivating his mind technique to enhance his Dao heart. Upon receiving his phone, he saw that the prize money from the martial arts competition had already been credited to his account. "Though it's not a lot of money, it arrived quite quickly," he thought. Although 50,000 yuan had been credited, after repaying Zhang Pianpian 40,000 yuan and settling the meal expenses he had borrowed from Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing, Zhang Yu's account was left with less than 10,000 yuan. Zhang Yu knew that Bai Zhenzhen's fourth-place prize was 10,000 yuan, and he estimated that her account balance was now probably similar to his. However, Zhang Yu felt a bit annoyed when he considered that the next month was just two weeks away, and he would have to pay loan interest, rent, utilities, and more. "Oh right, I also need to buy a new weighted suit, and if I continue body tempering for the next two months, my daily food expenses will probably increase as well..." The more Zhang Yu thought about it, the more expenses he realized he had. "Fortunately, I'll have some income from Song Hailong's side," he mused.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the classroom, Bai Zhenzhen also received a notification that her prize money had been deposited. In addition, she received a message from Zhang Pianpian:

Zhang Pianpian: You use your spiritual root too little normally, so you're not very skilled with it, are you? Otherwise, you should have been able to go further in the martial arts competition.Zhang Pianpian: From now on, just rent a spiritual root every day. Tell them I'm investing in you and covering the rental cost.Zhang Pianpian: Evolutionary spiritual roots get stronger the more you use them.

Seeing Zhang Pianpian's message, Bai Zhenzhen was startled at first, then immediately realized: "She found out I have a spiritual root? She wants to cover for me using my spiritual root?" Bai Zhenzhen was very familiar with the condition of her spiritual root. She secretly used it for cultivation every day after returning home. However, constantly fearing that others would discover she possessed such a 'great treasure,' she had always refrained from openly using this spiritual root to aid her cultivation daily in public places like school. After all, if this were known, various exploitative schemes, from bank mortgages to casino sales and con artists, would plague her, not to mention the intentions of wealthy individuals.

So, when Zhang Pianpian's words revealed her secret, Bai Zhenzhen's first reaction was instinctive panic. This was a fear that had accumulated deep within her heart since childhood, akin to having a ten-year-long secret bout of constipation exposed. However, considering Zhang Pianpian's care over this period, Zhang Yu's and Zhang Pianpian's sibling relationship, Zhang Pianpian's candid revelation of her fake wealthy identity, and her score of 699, Bai Zhenzhen gradually calmed down. "Zhang Pianpian should be trustworthy," she thought. Then she considered that if she could use Zhang Pianpian's name to justify renting a spiritual root every day, she could openly use it for cultivation at school daily. "This way, I'll be able to use my spiritual root for cultivation for at least ten more hours each day. I won't feel so frustrated in the next competition."

Recalling the martial arts competition, although Bai Zhenzhen finished fourth, she still felt a sense of suppression and the discomfort of having to hold back her full power halfway through. Because her stats were inferior to opponents from the three major high schools, and her bank balance was also lower, she always had many reservations when making moves, eventually even having to concede. Now that she could utilize her spiritual root more for cultivation, she immediately gained ample confidence to catch up with those top students from prestigious schools. "Zhang Yu took all the spotlight in this competition, but next time, it will be my turn. Although it's good for my 'son' to get first place, it would truly be most satisfying to step on him and claim the championship myself."

During physical education class, the mingled scents of sweat and medicinal herbs created a distinctive aroma unique to Songyang's Immortal Path. The clanging of equipment and the groans of human bodies echoed continuously, the sounds of students striving diligently on the path of immortal cultivation. Yet, some cast glances at Bai Zhenzhen nearby, sensing the surging spiritual energy in the air, their minds filled with various thoughts. Some felt envy: "Zhang Pianpian is truly too good to Bai Zhenzhen, letting her rent a spiritual root every day!" Others thought of a plan: "I can also love Bailong; I want to be Zhang Pianpian's 'dog' too!" Still others mused wildly: "Bai Zhenzhen became Zhang Pianpian's 'dog' and can rent a spiritual root daily. If I were to become Bai Zhenzhen's 'dog,' I wonder if she could lend me her spiritual root for an hour every day?"

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu was not vigorously tempering his body like the surrounding students. Instead, he went to a small room nearby to delve into the Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand technique he had newly learned yesterday. After all, since he had switched his Yu Shu specialization to this grappling technique yesterday, the 24-hour cooldown period hadn't passed yet. The only practical martial art he could rapidly improve now was this one. "I might as well practice it then. After the cooldown period ends tonight, I'll switch back to the Crimson Marrow Primal Qi." Zhang Yu's hands moved, leaving streaks of afterimages as he began to practice the Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand.

Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand Level 2 (4/20)

This martial art, which relies purely on physical strength, comprises eighteen moves. Although the number of moves isn't small, each one is very brief, designed for instantaneous exertion to break tendons, fracture bones, throw opponents to the ground, and restrain them. Grappling techniques inherently prioritize swiftness and ferocity. On average, each move takes less than a second, and in a blink, Zhang Yu had completed practicing the entire Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand set once. Recalling the practical martial arts he had previously cultivated, Zhang Yu mused, "Practical martial arts moves often require simplicity and speed, which is why a set can be completed so quickly." Zhang Yu understood that if this weren't the case, he wouldn't have been able to learn, let alone surpass, Song Hailong's Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand on the arena. A few minutes later, Zhang Yu felt a jolt in his mind. Countless experiences of the Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand technique emerged, and this martial art had advanced from Level 2 to Level 3. "If I continue cultivating at this pace, I should be able to raise the Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand to Level 10 today."

While Zhang Yu was diligently practicing martial arts hidden in the small room, the physical education teacher, Wang Hai, called five students, including Qian Shen, He Dayou, and Zhao Tianxing, aside. "The school plans to select a group of promising students from the first-year grade to join the sports competition team for training," he announced. "Are you five willing to join?"

Before anyone else could react, Qian Shen immediately asked, "Just us five? Aren't Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen joining?"

Wang Hai replied, "The school leadership believes they still need more time to mature."

Qian Shen asked, puzzled, "Their monthly exam scores are first and second in the grade. They still need to mature? But we get selected instead?" Wang Hai, naturally unable to explain that it was all due to the student council, immediately brought forth another reason. "Because they are too poor." Seeing the five students slightly taken aback, Wang Hai continued, "They can't even afford the tuition fees and nutritional supplements for the competition team. How can they join?" Not only did the other four find no issue with this, but even Qian Shen was left speechless. Especially recalling how Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had previously borrowed money from him for dinner, he understood that their financial situation must be dire.

After recruiting the five students into the sports competition team, Wang Hai then called Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen over. "Your applications for the sports competition have been rejected again," he said. Wang Hai looked at the two with some regret, "You should understand what exactly happened." Previously, Wang Hai had thought Zhang Yu was a Golden Core disciple, but after Zhang Pianpian came to Songyang High School to support Zhang Yu and clashed with the student council, he became somewhat unsure. Regardless of whose disciple he was, Wang Hai could sense Zhang Yu's extraordinary talent and potential to contend for top ranks in sports competitions. He sighed inwardly, "What a pity, the student council isn't giving them any chance at all."

Listening to Wang Hai's words, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, of course, understood that the student council must be interfering. Wang Hai continued, "However, you're not entirely without a chance. If, one month from now, you can maintain your physical education scores within the top five of your grade, you can represent the school in the sports competition." Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen exchanged a curious glance, their hearts filled with doubt. As if sensing their confusion, Wang Hai went on, "The school has selected five first-year students to join the sports competition team. If, one month from now, you can maintain your physical education scores within the top five in competition with them, you'll be able to represent the school in the sports competition."

Now Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen understood. Clearly, the student council believed that after joining the competition team and receiving training, these five students would completely surpass the two of them in physical education scores. Watching the burning fighting spirit in Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's eyes, Wang Hai, however, sighed inwardly. As Songyang High School's ace physical education teacher, he knew the training methods of the competition team all too well. "The so-called opportunity for comparison a month later is merely an excuse provided by the student council, intended to legitimately push Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen out of the competition and leave Zhang Pianpian with nothing to say," he thought. "Given Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's rate of progress, raising their physical strength to 2.1 or even 2.2 in a month would be the absolute maximum. However, the competition team, through their special training program, can raise He Dayou and the others' physical strength to over 3.0 within a month. This isn't about talent; it's purely a huge disparity in immortal cultivation technology. If Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had joined the special training program, their improvement within a month would likely have been even greater..." Precisely because he knew all this so well, Wang Hai understood that once Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were not selected for the special training program, they effectively had no chance of catching up to the competition team members in terms of physical strength, let alone participating in the sports competition.