Chapter 86: Filming, Teaching He Dayou a Lesson

Several days after the martial arts competition ended, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen finally landed an advertising gig—a group commercial featuring competition participants.

Walking along, Zhang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Did you hear what Song Hailong said yesterday? Why did he, a third-place finisher, get a solo advertisement, while we only got a group one?"

Bai Zhenzhen pouted and replied, "I asked around, and the likely reason is... it's already halfway through the school year, and we'll be in eleventh grade in another six months."

"They're afraid of us 'collapsing,' so no one wants to hire us for individual ads."

Hearing Bai Zhenzhen's answer, Zhang Yu felt puzzled. "'Collapsing'? How could we 'collapse'? Are they worried we'll mess around with fans?"

Bai Zhenzhen shot a glance at Zhang Yu. "What nonsense are you talking about? 'Messing around with fans' is nothing compared to what they're actually worried about. They're concerned our grades will seriously drop once we enter eleventh grade, since we're from poor backgrounds."

Zhang Yu instantly understood: for Kunxu's top students, "collapsing" meant a drop in grades. It made sense.

But then he became annoyed. "Do poor people always 'collapse' in eleventh grade?"

"We're already poor enough, yet it's even harder for us to earn money than for rich kids like Song Hailong. He gets solo ads, but we don't."

"Oh, and why did they ask us to be in a group commercial then? Aren't they afraid we'll 'collapse'?"

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu as if he were an idiot. "Are you stupid? In a group commercial, if we 'collapse,' they can just cut us out, can't they?"

About half an hour later, the two arrived at a photo studio and saw several familiar faces from the three major high schools already there.

But at that moment, everyone was subtly or overtly glancing at a young man, one surrounded by more than a dozen staff members.

Bai Zhenzhen asked, surprised, "Who is that? What a huge entourage."

Zhang Yu was also curious. "Isn't this a group commercial for the top eight from the martial arts competition? He doesn't seem to be one of them, does he?"

Lian Tianji popped out from behind them and said, "That's Yu Xinghan, the closed-door disciple Starfire True Person found in another city. He's apparently transferring to White Dragon High School soon."

Looking at the young man, who was surrounded by assistants, makeup artists, directors—like a star surrounded by planets—Bai Zhenzhen's eyes lit up. "Starfire True Person? You mean the 'optimized' Golden Core expert?"

Lian Tianji nodded upon hearing this. "According to Starfire True Person, Yu Xinghan will be his closed-door disciple, inheriting all his teachings and assets, and the future top scorer in the college entrance examination for Songyang City."

"Because of his title as a Golden Core disciple and such high praise, he was invited by Xianyun Group to film this advertisement."

"Look at Song Hailong, hehe... sparks are practically flying from his eyes. After all, Yu Xinghan is transferring to White Dragon High School, and he's bound to compete with Song Hailong for the top spot in their grade."

Zhang Yu looked at Song Hailong, who resembled a startled tabby cat, arching his back, fur bristling, and glaring intently at Yu Xinghan.

Zhang Yu's gaze shifted, and he suddenly asked, "Then Yu Xinghan will be participating in the upcoming competitions as well, right?"

Lian Tianji nodded. "Of course. In the next sports competition, he'll likely be a strong contender for the championship." A spark of challenge also ignited in his eyes as he looked towards Yu Xinghan.

Just as Lian Tianji, Zhang Yu, and Bai Zhenzhen were talking,

A gaze subtly shifted towards their location.

The owner of the gaze was Le Mulan from Ziyun High School.

Originally, Le Mulan had no interest in this kind of advertisement filming. However, first, the Golden Core disciple Yu Xinghan would also be there, and she was curious about him.

Secondly... it was because of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, the only two "poor" students among this group of competitors.

As she watched the two, Le Mulan thought to herself, "I've been looking at his WeChat Moments photos every day recently, and they don't disgust me as much as they used to. This is a good opportunity to take things further."

But the moment she thought about interacting with Zhang Yu, Le Mulan couldn't help but recall the image of him sitting on her, his dirty, hot, and bloody water splashing all over her, making her instinctively break out in goosebumps.

"Never mind, I'll start with the simplest approach first."

"Anyway, I'll have to get close to them during the official shooting later."

So Le Mulan quietly observed the two, her gaze constantly drifting towards their direction.

The next part of the shoot involved the various competition participants jointly endorsing Xianyun Group's tutoring institution.

During the filming, people constantly seized opportunities to approach Yu Xinghan, try to get close to him, and add him as a friend, giving Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen a taste of just how popular a true Golden Core disciple was.

As for the central position of the entire advertisement, it was completely occupied by Yu Xinghan, with other competition participants surrounding him like green leaves around a central flower.

However, Zhang Yu, Le Mulan, and Song Hailong, who were among the top three in martial arts, were merely the leaves next to the flower. Fourth-place Bai Zhenzhen was like a root beneath the leaves, and Lian Tianji, with his lower ranking, was just the mud beneath the flower.

According to the director, at the opportune moment, the words "Golden Core True Person's Closed-Door Disciple" would fill the entire screen, establishing him as the absolute protagonist.

During the shoot, Zhang Yu felt that Le Mulan, who had come to stand beside him, was acting strangely. She would take deep breaths one moment and tremble slightly the next, which finally prompted him to ask, "What are you doing?"

Seeing Zhang Yu turn his head, Le Mulan instinctively took a step back. "You... I'm fine, it's none of your business."

Zhang Yu silently cursed her as crazy and stopped paying attention.

Le Mulan, however, was covering her nose, thinking to herself, "He smells so bad... Is this what Mom meant by 'the subway smell' of poor people?"

"It was definitely right to come this time. I'm slowly getting used to it."

After four hours, the advertisement was finally shot. Zhang Yu took 30,000 yuan, and Bai Zhenzhen took 8,000 yuan before they each headed home.

However, shortly after arriving home, Zhang Yu's newly acquired 30,000 yuan transformed into a Primordial Unity Pill, which he swallowed in one gulp.

Feeling surges of violent medicinal power coursing throughout his body, Zhang Yu immediately seized the time to begin cultivating his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

As the medicinal power of the Primordial Unity Pill spread through his limbs and bones, Zhang Yu felt his muscles, organs, and even bones throughout his body greedily absorbing the surges of power, like land parched by a long drought finally receiving sweet rain, as he circulated his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

It took a full half hour for the medicinal power to slowly dissipate within his body.

But Zhang Yu knew the medicinal power wasn't truly gone; it had merely been temporarily absorbed into his muscles, organs, and bones.

Although Zhang Yu didn't feel any immediate increase in physical strength at that moment, he felt full of vigor and vitality, with boundless energy throughout his body.

He knew that over the next few days, the absorbed medicinal power would continuously take effect, enhancing the results of his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi cultivation and further strengthening his physical body.

Immediately, he couldn't wait to continue cultivating his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

An entire night passed. As Zhang Yu frantically cultivated his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi, he would lie down almost as soon as he was exhausted from training. The moment the 'ritual' urged him, knowing he could train again, he would stand up and continue practicing.

Under such extreme training, his physical strength instantly increased from level 1.67 to level 1.70.

"What a good pill, truly a good pill. Its high price is certainly justified."

So, over the next few days, Zhang Yu seized every minute and second to continuously cultivate his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi, striving to further increase his physical strength before the medicinal power completely dissipated.

Zhang Yu sometimes couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Kunxu, you truly turn people into demons. Here I am, willingly pushing myself, and I haven't heard the ritual's squawking for three days straight."

And throughout this training process, Zhang Yu could feel his physical body growing stronger bit by bit, almost every moment.

"After all, fully utilizing Level 10 Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi is, by conventional standards, something only a top student in their final year of high school could achieve."

"Yet, I'm using it now to enhance my physical strength, which is only at level 1.7. It's like a max-level expert returning to the beginner's village to level up—truly a rapid progression."

In just three days, as the medicinal power was depleted, his physical strength continuously increased, rising from level 1.70 to level 1.87.

At this moment, Zhang Yu stood in the classroom, feeling the medicinal power completely depleted. He sighed inwardly, his desire for money growing even stronger.

"In Kunxu... you really can't get by without money."

Just as he was thinking this, the voice of Lei Jun, the practical combat teacher, reached him, interrupting Zhang Yu's daydream.

"Zhang Yu, He Dayou, the two of you will spar together."

Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback. Usually, in practical combat class, he was almost always paired with Bai Zhenzhen. Why was he with He Dayou this time?

"A King fighting a Stubborn Bronze? What's Old Lei trying to do?"

Lei Jun's intention was simple: he wanted Zhang Yu to teach He Dayou a lesson, specifically because He Dayou had been too arrogant in practical combat class recently.

"He's been blindly charging around, relying on his surging physical strength, completely disregarding the practical combat techniques I've taught."

So Lei Jun sent out his top student, Zhang Yu, intending to show He Dayou the importance of combat techniques and martial arts.

He Dayou, with a grim expression, approached Zhang Yu. He thought to himself, "After this period of implantation and adaptation training, my physical strength should be far superior to Zhang Yu's. But this kid's practical combat ability is too strong..."

Just as He Dayou was strategizing, Zhang Yu struck with a palm.

He instinctively reached out to block, only to find that Zhang Yu had grabbed his hand and was now wrestling with him for strength.

"What?!" He Dayou was startled at first, then delighted. "You dare to challenge my strength now?"

He Dayou's other hand also lunged to grab Zhang Yu. Their hands locked together, and as their magical powers clashed, both unleashed their inner strength.

He Dayou let out a roar, intending to lift Zhang Yu and hurl him out of bounds.

But the next moment, He Dayou felt that his opponent's hands were as solid as rock, completely unmoving despite his exertion of force.