Inside the classroom of the model class.

Su Haifeng stood on the podium. As the head of the grade level at Songyang High School, he was a man whose mere presence made students tense and significantly increased their focus. What Su Haifeng was currently saying also caused a stir in many students’ minds, even making some feel at a loss.

“…Recently, some students have shown a weak sense of discipline, especially with the frequent occurrence of unexcused absences. This not only severely impacts your own academic performance but also disrupts the learning atmosphere of the entire class, and even the school. The school has zero tolerance for such behavior and will conduct strict investigations and disciplinary actions. Once a student is found to be absent without excuse, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. Don’t underestimate this punishment; one disciplinary action means an indelible mark on your student record. If you accumulate three disciplinary actions, the school will directly expel you. Some students might think, ‘So what if I’m expelled? I can just transfer to another school.’ But I want to warn you: once expelled, you will be placed on the education system’s blacklist. Once on this blacklist, you won’t be able to participate in the college entrance examination, and no high school or university will accept you. This means your path to immortality will be cut off…”

Qian Shen raised his hand and asked, “Do we have to attend every single general education class?”

Su Haifeng replied as a matter of course, “Naturally. Any absence from a class will be treated as truancy, including general education courses.”

Zhang Yu, sitting behind his desk, felt Su Haifeng’s gaze repeatedly sweeping over him as he spoke. He couldn’t help but feel that Su Haifeng’s words were directed at him.

As Su Haifeng looked at Zhang Yu, he secretly thought to himself, “The patrol team has finally shifted their attention away from us a bit. The immediate priority now is to seize this opportunity to capture the evil god behind Zhang Yu, which will enhance our master’s divine status.”

As a high school student, even a so-called academic prodigy, Zhang Yu was not to be feared in Su Haifeng’s eyes. Su Haifeng could easily suppress him if he wanted to. “The key issue remains the evil god behind him. We absolutely cannot expose our intentions. Otherwise, given the evil god’s caution, it might abandon Zhang Yu and flee directly. Zhou Chechen must gradually pressure him, force him, and push him until he actively seeks help from the evil god…” Thinking this, Su Haifeng’s gaze merely swept past Zhang Yu, without saying anything further.

As for the change in school rules affecting students’ future academic performance? That was completely insignificant to Su Haifeng, not to mention the elders of the Zhou family behind him. After all, to many, these key high school students were heaven-favored elites, but to Su Haifeng and his associates, they were just resources that grew in large numbers every year. At most, some were ‘domesticated,’ others ‘wild.’ Some would provide value through their labor in the future, while others would provide value through their organs. And as long as they could achieve their goal of enhancing the evil god’s divine status to usher in the new era, the sacrifice of a few students’ interests meant nothing.

During the following math class, all students obediently remained in the classroom. When the math teacher entered, he unaccustomed looked at the students, all present and sitting attentively. However, after teaching for a while, he felt invigorated, as if a great weight had been lifted. Meanwhile, teachers patrolled the hallway, constantly checking on the class situation inside. Feeling Su Haifeng’s eyes, which seemed to carry a blinding electric glare, many students were on edge, not daring to act out in the slightest.

“What a hassle.”

“Attending math class obediently, isn’t this a pure waste of time?” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “Fortunately, I can still practice my mental cultivation methods and breathing techniques.” He saw Bai Zhenzhen holding a power bank not far away, knowing she was also taking the opportunity to “charge” (cultivate) and practice breathing techniques. Zhang Yu then thought, “But for the upcoming classes, given my friendly relations with the teachers, I should have a bit more freedom, right?”

On the training ground.

The martial arts teacher, Lei Jun, called Zhang Yu aside. Zhang Yu asked, “Teacher, for the upcoming martial arts classes, can I still find a place to practice alone?”

Hearing Zhang Yu’s question, Lei Jun sighed helplessly. “No, Zhang Yu. Things are very strict lately. If you cut class, not only will you receive disciplinary action, but I’ll also be penalized, with performance deductions and salary cuts.” Zhang Yu frowned slightly upon hearing this. He preferred not to practice many of his cultivation methods in front of his classmates and teachers.

“However, there’s also a benefit. To improve your performance, the school has specially designed a targeted assistance program for outstanding students like you. For example, during martial arts classes, to help you solidify your foundation and strengthen your fundamentals, the school has asked me to teach you various basic cultivation methods for free…”

As he said this, Lei Jun felt a pang of guilt. With many years of experience as a high school martial arts teacher, he knew very well that one should not practice too many basic cultivation methods. The practice of one person cultivating many basic methods, supposedly to solidify one’s foundation and strengthen fundamentals, was something emphasized only by ancient sects. It was done when cultivation was planned over ten or twenty years and had long since been phased out by modern times. In the current high school stage, every second counts. There are countless better and faster ways to consolidate one’s foundation than basic cultivation methods. Practicing too many basic methods is equivalent to wasting time.

“Zhou Chechen making Zhang Yu practice basic cultivation methods every day during martial arts class? It’s like making him waste time and squander his youth.” Despite this, Lei Jun ultimately did not prevent it. He thought to himself, “After all, Zhou Chechen directly convinced the principal and the school board this time. This indicates that Zhou Chechen likely leveraged the power of the Zhou family to deal with Zhang Yu. In front of behemoths like the Sixteen Noble Families, I’m just an ordinary working person. And Zhang Yu is merely a student. What power do we have to resist?”

As for transferring schools, Lei Jun sighed, thinking that Songyang High School would have to agree to release him first. Just the issues of student records and compensation would be a huge hassle. Then, if they calculated the school’s investment in the student, easily inflate the numbers, and demand high compensation, which other high school would be willing to take him? Lei Jun had heard that during a previous competition, Coach Bailong had invited Zhang Yu. At that time, Zhou Chechen had explicitly stated that they would not let him go. He heard that Zhang Yu later stopped participating in any competitions, so it was even less likely that any high school would be willing to pay a high price to take him.

Having worked and cultivated in Songyang City for so long, Lei Jun knew the Zhou family’s influence all too well. They were simply not an opponent that ordinary students or teachers could contend with. “If I go against them, I’m afraid I’ll become an ‘optimized’ middle-aged person, starting to search for jobs everywhere, but eventually unable to find a formal job due to my age, only able to deliver packages and food. Then working desperately under 360-degree surveillance, living a life where even my daily bathroom breaks, meals, and steps are strictly monitored, wearing a forced professional smile, ruthlessly trampled upon by customers, security guards, merchants, and station managers. A piece of trash who can’t pay off loans without working over 200 hours of overtime each month… If I’m lucky, I’ll work hard to earn money and use it to maintain my cultivation, eventually working safely until the end of my lifespan. If I’m unlucky, for example, accidentally injuring someone while delivering food, or getting injured by a security guard, then eventually, I won’t be able to pay off my loans due to insufficient working hours, and I’ll constantly have to ‘sell my flesh and blood.’ Watching myself slowly transform back into an ordinary old man, suffering humiliation from other mortals as a former cultivator, and finally dying an ignominious death in some sewer…”

Just thinking about it filled Lei Jun with immense fear. “No… After cultivating for so many years, how could I end up like that?” On the contrary, if he followed Zhou Chechen’s instructions, not only would he not be ‘optimized,’ but Zhou Chechen would also help Lei Jun pay off his university loans. Thinking this, Lei Jun let out a long sigh, not daring to meet Zhang Yu’s eyes. Although Lei Jun, as a teacher, admired Zhang Yu’s talent and academic performance, as a resident of Kunxu, he knew that money in hand was what truly mattered. Lei Jun thought to himself, “Sorry, Zhang Yu. But you can’t get into the Top Ten anyway, so what difference does a slightly better or worse grade make? Why not help me out?”

However, to show a little consideration, Lei Jun decided to give him some freedom of choice. He continued to tell Zhang Yu, “As long as it’s a basic cultivation method that Songyang High School is authorized to teach, you can choose whichever you like. I’ll teach you that one, and the school will grant you usage rights.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this, and he asked, “What other basic cultivation methods can we learn at our high school?”

Lei Jun rattled off with great familiarity, “Besides the ones I’ve already taught you, there’s also Basic High School Blade Technique, Basic High School Footwork, Basic High School Digestion Method, Basic High School Medication Absorption Method…”

As Lei Jun skillfully listed the names of the basic cultivation methods, Zhang Yu simply opened his phone and recorded them one by one. Then he logged onto a shopping website, searched for a bit, and read the introductions of each method. “Hmm, this Basic High School Footwork can complete the High School Sacred Body in the Chain Method Diagram. And Basic High School Digestion Method, Basic High School Medication Absorption Method… Very good, Songyang High School truly is a key high school. The basic high school cultivation methods it offers are very comprehensive, enough for me to complete the entire High School Sacred Body.”

Thinking this, Zhang Yu looked at Lei Jun with excitement and said, “Then I’ll start with the Basic High School Digestion Method.” Lei Jun looked at his determined expression and sighed inwardly, but said nothing, instead beginning to personally instruct him in this basic cultivation method. This Basic High School Digestion Method uses various basic movements and energy circulation to stimulate intestinal peristalsis, thereby enhancing digestive and absorption capabilities.

After two consecutive martial arts classes, Lei Jun heard a continuous rumbling sound, like rolling thunder, emanating from Zhang Yu’s body. He secretly thought, “Has he already learned it? That’s incredibly fast. What a pity. Such talent will now have to be used to continuously practice basic cultivation methods…”

Zhang Yu, however, looked at his Feather Book with satisfaction. The Basic High School Digestion Method listed on it had already reached Level 3 (5/30). Although his cultivation method had reached Level 3, Zhang Yu did not actively reveal it. He simply pretended to be just learning it over and over again. As for him, practicing in this manner still allowed him to raise his cultivation method’s level.

After the martial arts class ended, the students of the model class went together to the gymnasium, ready for their physical education class. But this time, besides Wang Hai, there was an additional physical education teacher in the gymnasium. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Wang Hai said, “Students, your physical education classes for the second year of high school will now be taught by Ms. Lin Hui, who is standing beside me. Ms. Lin Hui is highly skilled; you should learn well from her.”

The physical education teacher beside Wang Hai, who was two and a half meters tall, two meters wide, and whose gender was indistinguishable from appearance alone, smiled slightly and said, “Hello, everyone. The school places great importance on the physical education curriculum for the model class. To better improve everyone’s physical performance, the school has decided to provide a free dose of Dragon-Elephant Elixir every day during PE class.”

Upon hearing this, many students immediately cheered. Even Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up, secretly thinking, “Can this broken Songyang High School actually do something good like this?”

Wang Hai stood aside, silently watching Lin Hui distribute the Dragon-Elephant Elixir. As students happily took and administered the medicine, he silently recalled what Zhou Chechen had instructed him earlier. “Should I add addictive drugs to Zhang Yu’s Dragon-Elephant Elixir?”

Originally, Zhou Chechen had intended to assign this task to Wang Hai. The terms offered were very generous, a reward tempting enough to greatly appeal to Wang Hai. Furthermore, Zhang Yu had been confirmed not to be a Golden Core disciple; Zhang Pianpian, who had signed with him, had left Kunxu Layer One and was no longer heard from; and Zhou Chechen had already mobilized the Zhou family’s power to act… All of this seemed to indicate to Wang Hai that he should agree.

But Wang Hai ultimately chose neither to oppose, nor to support, nor to participate. Because he didn’t understand the situation. He couldn’t understand why Zhang Yu was progressing so quickly, nor could he understand if there was anyone truly backing Zhang Yu, and he certainly couldn’t figure out if Zhou Chechen was acting out of revenge or for some other purpose in targeting Zhang Yu… As a top physical education coach who had worked at Songyang High School for decades, Wang Hai had always adhered to one principle: If he didn’t understand something, no matter how profitable it seemed, he wouldn’t get involved.