Zhang Yu could feel that as he practiced the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation, not only was his physical body strengthened, but the stomach pain he had just felt in his digestive system gradually disappeared. The “Zen” character on his chest also became increasingly dark as it continuously absorbed the drug’s toxins.

It was during this process that Zhang Yu gradually realized something: the true value of the High School Sacred Body. Or rather, he had previously underestimated the High School Sacred Body’s effects.

“Although practicing the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation nourished my body, increased my strength, and even gathered the drug’s toxins, there’s something else…” Zhang Yu thought to himself, comparing the differences before and after his practice, “It seems there’s no improvement in my drug metabolism capability.”

The Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation didn’t improve drug metabolism? Zhang Yu could only think of two possibilities for this outcome. One was that the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation couldn’t metabolize the Phoenix Mimicry Functional Substance. The other possibility was that his drug metabolism capability had already reached its limit before he even began practicing the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation—a limit beyond which it couldn’t be further improved. Since the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation could gather the drug’s toxins, the first possibility was ruled out. This left only the second possibility.

The effects of the High School Sacred Body flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind: “Drug load, absorption, and metabolism capabilities are elevated to the peak of the Qi Refining stage.”

The “peak of the Qi Refining stage” could be interpreted in many ways. Some ordinary people might consider the level of a high school graduate to be the peak of the Qi Refining stage, while others might say it’s the level after ten years of high school graduation. Still others believe that only university graduates who haven’t yet established their foundation are at the peak of the Qi Refining stage. Initially, Zhang Yu thought this “peak of the Qi Refining stage” referred to a vague range, similar to the level one might reach many years after high school graduation. But now, it seemed…

“This ‘peak of the Qi Refining stage’… does it mean my drug load, absorption, and metabolism capabilities have been elevated to the absolute limit of the Qi Refining stage? Is it precisely because it’s the limit of the Qi Refining stage that practicing the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation has no further effect?”

“In other words, even without practicing the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation, is my normal drug metabolism capability already at the peak level of the Qi Refining stage?”

“Why didn’t I notice this before?” A thought struck Zhang Yu, and he realized why: “The medicines I took previously were too few and too common. Their potency was insufficient, so they were easily absorbed and metabolized, making it impossible to detect any difference.”

“It was only when I encountered the potent and intense effects of this Phoenix Mimicry Functional Substance that I truly realized the value of the High School Sacred Body.”

At that moment, a surge of immense confidence rose within Zhang Yu: “No matter how powerful the Immortal Capital Lord (Ye Lingxiao), number 23 is still just a high school student. As long as his drug metabolism capability hasn’t reached the limit of the Qi Refining stage… then I will surely win this exam!”

At that instant, Zhang Yu secretly marveled. High School Sacred Body? This should simply be called the Qi Refining Sacred Body!

With this thought, he seized the opportunity to practice the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation. His entire body surged with power, continuously refining his muscles, bones, and internal organs, then nourishing them with the power of longevity. Although he could absorb and metabolize the Phoenix Mimicry Functional Substance simply by relying on his High School Sacred Body without practicing the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation, Zhang Yu would not miss such an opportunity to consume such a valuable medicine for free to strengthen his physical body.

Meanwhile, the True Gods watched Zhang Yu, who had become full of vigor and vitality after taking the medicine, each punch and kick producing booming sounds, and they were all slightly astonished. One True God remarked, “This Zhang Yu withstood two pieces of Phoenix Mimicry Functional Substance in one go? That’s impossible given his previous scores.”

At the same time, the other True Gods began reviewing the data transmitted from their monitoring patches. Huang Zichou stated, “His current physical data definitely exceeds his monthly exam results. This kid was hiding his strength during the monthly exam.”

Hiding strength in a monthly exam? The True Gods who heard this were slightly taken aback, but understanding soon dawned in their eyes. Although it might seem impossible to hide one’s strength in a monthly exam in a high school where achievement and scores reign supreme, each of the True Gods present was experienced and knew that in the first level of Kunxu, there were many situations that forced students to hide their strength. Especially when a student was poor, hiding their strength, deliberately scoring low, reducing their presence, and avoiding the attention of the wealthy… none of that was uncommon. As for how they hid it, each had their own methods: some poor students deliberately injured themselves, others took medicines with severe side effects to lower their abilities, and some practiced cultivation techniques that could conceal their strength.

However, such concealment always came at a great cost. It either led to injuries that hampered their cultivation, wasted a lot of time and energy, or resulted in the loss of numerous school benefits and aid due to poor academic performance. All these factors significantly increased the difficulty of cultivation for practitioners. And ironically, the students who needed to hide their strength were often poor, already lacking funds for cultivation. So, to be able to reach the level of competing for a high school Foundation Establishment Certificate under such circumstances…

“Such a sudden rise of a poor person…” Huang Zichou’s heart stirred: “Could it be related to an evil god?” He re-examined Zhang Yu’s physical body, data, and various records, and only after finding no issues did he slightly relax. However, Huang Zichou glanced at Deng Bingding, thinking he was being overly cautious. With Lord Deng in charge, it was hardly his place to discover any evil god worshipers.

Meanwhile, another True God nodded slightly, remarking, “This child’s immortal cultivation talent is limitless. If he can secure a good teacher after going to the second level, it’s not impossible for him to ascend beyond the fifth level in the future.” Another True God said, “The key is that he’s only in his second year of high school. He can still take another Foundation Establishment exam next year, which means he already has one foot in the door of the top ten.”

“His talent is truly astonishing.”

As time progressed to October, Zhang Yu had already officially become a second-year high school student in September. While the True Gods were discussing these matters, Huang Zichou did not interject; instead, he recalled his past memories. In fact, Huang Zichou had witnessed the rise of about five or six immortal cultivation geniuses of similar caliber, and their common characteristic was…

“Talent?”

“Talent, my foot!” Huang Zichou secretly thought, “Talent is merely the most basic requirement. The most crucial factor for any poor genius to rise is that they have someone powerful backing them.”

“Rise merely by talent and effort? Ascend to the peak of immortal cultivation? Only ordinary people who have been repeatedly brainwashed by corporations and media would believe that.” Huang Zichou was very clear about this, as he had been responsible for education for many years. All poor geniuses who managed to rise were either taken in by powerful figures after showcasing their talent, or their talent itself was part of a powerful figure’s grand scheme. Huang Zichou sighed inwardly, “It’s not ancient times anymore; how could one succeed purely on their own talent?”

On the other side, Deng Bingding also did not participate in the discussion, merely recalling the results of his previous investigation into Zhang Pianpian. “That Zhang Pianpian was favored by some great deity and has already ascended to the second level.”

“Zhang Yu’s progress is terrifying… it’s quite possible he also has a divine backer.” After thinking this, Deng Bingding’s first reaction was… should he help Zhang Yu? Could he befriend the great deity backing him? However, remembering what happened after he last reviewed Zhang Pianpian’s information, Deng Bingding quickly dismissed the idea. “Every action and word of those esteemed elders above must have profound meaning. Perhaps it’s to conceal Zhang Yu, or to temper him. I should not be meddling.”

“However… perhaps after today’s exam, I could add him as a friend.”

While the True Gods were discussing Zhang Yu on their internal network, the other examinees were equally astonished by his performance. Ye Lingxiao, in particular, focused his gaze sharply. After seeing Zhang Yu consume two pieces of Phoenix Mimicry Functional Substance in a row, the fighting spirit in his eyes intensified. He thought to himself, “Is this your true strength?”

“As expected, you hid a lot of your strength in the last exam.”

“But I won’t lose to you.”

“I am the perfect bloodline, the result of countless efforts by the Ye clan, the company’s future flagship product, destined to obtain the Foundation Establishment Certificate.” Ye Lingxiao also knew that only by obtaining the Foundation Establishment Certificate would his clan arrange for his Foundation Establishment. Only then could he break through to the Foundation Establishment realm before university enrollment, making the most solid preparations for his future ascension to the second level and apprenticeship under a renowned master.

“My path to immortal cultivation is not limited to just the top ten…”

Ye Lingxiao then picked up a spiritual power meridian injection and thrust it fiercely into his arm. As the injection was pushed into his body, Ye Lingxiao felt his spiritual power surge and circulate violently, continuously erupting like ignited gasoline. His heart rate accelerated, his breathing became more rapid, and his meridians showed slight signs of twitching under the fierce impact of the spiritual power. With a low shout, Ye Lingxiao once again activated his Level 10 Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation, fully dedicated to dissolving the burden brought by the fierce medicinal power.

“No problem…”

Under the blessing of his perfect bloodline, Ye Lingxiao’s physical body was like a whale swimming in the ocean, open-mouthed, gulping down countless seawater, fish, and shrimp before it. Every shred of his flesh and blood, every inch of his internal organs, was frantically processing the medicinal power, digesting, absorbing, and metabolizing it. With the added boost of the Spring and Autumn Endless Meditation, Ye Lingxiao could even more clearly feel the surging medicinal power being continuously metabolized through his cultivation, harmlessly accumulating as waste within his body. A confident smile appeared on his lips.

Just as Ye Lingxiao felt the surging medicinal power had passed its peak, a thought arose in his mind. “Another injection should be fine.”

“Then I’ll take another one, completely widen the gap between us, and make him feel despair…”

But just as Ye Lingxiao picked up another spiritual power meridian injection, he caught sight of Zhang Yu walking up beside him and directly picking up a spiritual power meridian injection. Zhang Yu was heard muttering, “Just refining the body is too wasteful. I might as well boost my spiritual power too.” Then, under Ye Lingxiao’s astonished gaze, Zhang Yu jabbed the needle into his own arm. As the injection entered his body, Zhang Yu’s body couldn’t help but twitch slightly. Then, his Great Sun Qi Sea surged violently like a volcanic eruption, frantically absorbing the spiritual energy from its surroundings.