Heaving a sigh, Wang Hai took the lead, striding towards the disinfection tunnel, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the Bai Long (White Dragon) students in the adjacent lane.

As the remaining members of Songyang High passed through the disinfection channel, their eyes couldn’t help but linger on the White Dragon students.

Their appearance was simply too eye-catching.

Zhang Yu mused inwardly, “Yu Xinghan hasn’t changed a bit since the last time I saw him in that advertisement.”

“Song Hailong, on the other hand, has undergone a significant transformation…”

Aside from the number on his chest and back changing from 1 to 2, Song Hailong’s skin now resembled rough-hewn rock, and his limbs were far more muscular than before. His forearms alone were as thick as Zhang Yu’s waist, making him appear…like a human-shaped behemoth.

But Song Hailong’s transformation was considered minor; he still retained a human semblance.

Looking past Song Hailong, the White Dragon students further back were increasingly less human, their forms more akin to demonic beasts.

Zhang Yu recalled the intelligence Zhang Pianpian had provided.

“Bai Long High School has indeed made breakthroughs in body refinement techniques. Unlike the previous Song Hailong, who could only have partial elephant muscle implanted, they can now modify students’ muscles into imitation-demon muscles.”

“This allows them to forcibly break through their physical bottlenecks, resulting in explosive growth in physical strength.”

“The wealthier the student, the more imitation-demon muscles they possess, and the more bestial their appearance becomes.”

“However, these imitation-demon muscles are inherently malleable. If a student can fully control their power, they can gradually retract the beastly features, becoming more and more human.”

Zhang Yu stared intently at Yu Xinghan, who led the group, wondering if this Golden Core disciple had undergone the imitation-demon muscle modification surgery.

After exiting the disinfection tunnel, the Songyang High students were greeted by a rhinoceros wearing the Bai Long High uniform.

Indeed, it was a rhinoceros. Its coarse, grayish-black hide, the horn-like protrusions on its forehead, its small eyes, elongated face, and thick limbs…all gave the impression of a human-shaped rhino.

The rhino waved at Zhang Yu, greeting him, “Zhang Yu, long time no see.”

“Oh, you probably don’t recognize me now?”

The rhino chuckled, “I’m Chu Qiuhe, the Bai Long High student you defeated in the previous martial arts competition.”

Hearing the rhino’s words, astonishment rippled through the Songyang High group. Chu Qiuhe’s current rhino-like appearance was a far cry from his previous form, akin to being reborn.

Chu Qiuhe had come to meet the Songyang students because he wanted to confirm one thing upon seeing their team: whether Zhang Yu, the champion of the previous first-year martial arts competition, was representing Songyang High this time.

Chu Qiuhe knew he wasn’t the only one curious; many students defeated in the previous martial arts competition were eagerly awaiting the chance to avenge their losses in this sports competition.

Seeing Zhang Yu indeed among the Songyang High representatives, a hint of anticipation flickered in Chu Qiuhe’s heart.

Chu Qiuhe gazed at Zhang Yu, smiling slightly, “Your participation in this sports competition is something many have been looking forward to…”

Just then, a loud crash erupted from the White Dragon group ahead.

Song Hailong suddenly thrust an elbow at Yu Xinghan’s temple with a cannon-like roar. Yu Xinghan’s head twisted slightly under the blow, about four or five degrees, then stopped.

Then, with a sharp shake of his head, Yu Xinghan flung the much larger Song Hailong, who was two or three times his size, flying outwards.

With a thud, Song Hailong, tumbling through the air, landed firmly on his feet, looking at Yu Xinghan with discontent.

Yu Xinghan, however, leisurely critiqued, “No good, Little Song, the killing intent is too strong this time. There’s no sense of subtle ambush at all. You need more practice.”

The White Dragon students seemed unfazed by this, continuing to follow Yu Xinghan forward.

The Songyang High students watched this internal strife amongst the White Dragon students, a mixture of surprise and bewilderment on their faces.

He Dayou exclaimed in surprise, “The second-ranked student daring to attack the first-ranked? Have the Bai Long High rules changed?”

Chu Qiuhe chuckled nonchalantly, explaining, “It’s been like this ever since Yu Xinghan became the top student.”

Bai Zhenzhen frowned, “Is Song Hailong so petty? Does he attack anyone who surpasses him?”

Chu Qiuhe elaborated, “Of course, Big Brother Hailong isn’t that petty. Yu Xinghan demands it. He requires Song Hailong to launch a full-force ambush on him five times every 24 hours, saying it’s a way to train.”

Chu Qiuhe added with some emotion, “As the demand of the top student, Big Brother Hailong has no choice but to accept.”

“Since then, his eyes and mind have been filled with nothing but Yu Xinghan; there’s no room for anyone else.”

“I suspect he’s constantly thinking about how to [censored] Yu Xinghan and is on the verge of going crazy.”

Shaking his head ruefully, Chu Qiuhe patted Zhang Yu’s shoulder, saying meaningfully, “Then I’ll see you on the field. I’m looking forward to competing with you.”

Watching the departing White Dragon students, seeing their increasingly beastly appearances, Zhang Yu suddenly felt a sense of unease.

“Previously, Hongta High sought achievements by molding demons into humans. Now, Bai Long High pursues greater strength by transforming humans into demons.”

Guided by the receiving teacher, the group walked among the pavilions and towers of Ziyun (Purple Cloud) High School, soon arriving at a massive indoor stadium.

The receiving teacher explained, “This is Ziyun High School’s largest stadium. It’s usually only used for major events and school-wide activities.”

Before even entering, the group could sense a bustling atmosphere.

Upon entering, the first sensation was the brightness.

Unlike the midnight environment outside, the stadium’s interior was lit as if filled with countless miniature suns, illuminating the entire space as if it were midday.

The second sensation was the sheer size of the stadium and the number of people.

Unlike the dangerous martial arts competition, this sports competition, without the threat of bankruptcy-inducing damages, attracted nearly every key high school and ordinary high school that could participate.

The vast arena was teeming with students and coaches, some warming up, some trading medicinal pills, and some being humiliated by students from the top three high schools, creating a vivid scene of youth and high school life unique to Kunxu.

Besides the athletes, Zhang Yu and the others also saw peripheral staff and countless spectators in the stands.

He Dayou asked with a puzzled expression, “There are so many people filming videos.”

The receiving teacher explained, “They are all professional viewers invited by the competition’s sponsors, including media reporters, internet celebrities, and people from various companies.”

Zhang Yu looked up and indeed saw many people in suits and ties, exuding a sense of corporate weariness even from a distance, clearly individuals accustomed to endless overtime.

Zhang Yu then looked towards the audience stands. The largest indoor stadium at Ziyun High could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators, and it was packed.

Besides students from the top three high schools, Zhang Yu also saw many individuals completely wrapped up like mummified dumplings.

Just then, a hearty laugh rang out.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

“Those are student spectators from other ordinary high schools. To prevent them from dirtying the venue, they are each given a set of clean clothing upon entry to avoid too much contact with us, Ziyun High students.”

The speaker was none other than Lian Tianji from Ziyun High. He nodded to the receiving teacher, naturally taking over the task of welcoming the Songyang High team.

Facing the major client who bought his clothes, Zhang Yu laughed and stepped behind Bai Zhenzhen, greeting him enthusiastically, “Brother Lian, what brings you here to meet us?”

Lian Tianji responded, “I know where Songyang High’s rest area is. Let me take you there.”

On the way to the rest area, Zhang Yu saw all sorts of advertisements everywhere – on the ground, on the walls, on billboards – and countless internet celebrities, large and small, filming the venue and interviewing students and company people.

They were truly all sorts of internet celebrities and bloggers, with the larger ones exceeding four meters in height and the smaller ones being less than two meters tall. Their number of followers was also generally proportional to their size.

There were also company people in suits and ties walking around, constantly filming and recording something.

Sensing the bustling atmosphere of the entire venue, Zhang Yu once again understood what Zhang Pianpian had said.

Zhang Yu murmured in his heart, “This sports competition is indeed an extension of the corporate battlefield, a battlefield for them to promote new technologies.”

Along the way, Zhang Yu also saw many students wearing Ziyun High uniforms, their bodies radiating a violet hue, bowing to Lian Tianji. They only resumed their actions after Lian Tianji was out of sight.

Zhang Yu’s mind recalled the information provided by Zhang Pianpian.

“Ziyun High’s technological breakthrough lies in enhancing cultivators’ metabolism and drug resistance. They can inject ten times more drugs than before, and various prohibited drugs can be taken as routinely.”

“However, due to the side effects of Ziyun’s drugs, the more drugs they inject, the more violet drug residue remains on their skin. In other words, the wealthier they are and the more drugs they take, the more violet their bodies become.”

“But those who can rapidly refine the drug power will have all the skin drug residue decomposed, leaving only a purple mark on their forehead. At this point, the more drug power they refine, the more complex the pattern on their forehead becomes, eventually forming the pattern of a purple eye.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen occasionally glanced at Lian Tianji, and they could see a thumb-sized purple circular mark on his forehead.

“We’re here.”

Lian Tianji smiled slightly, pointing forward, “This is Songyang High’s rest area.”

Zhang Yu and the others looked up and saw that the area in front of them, enclosed by partitions, was equipped with sofas, power outlets, drinking water, and energy drinks, as well as fruits and snacks, further emphasizing the scale of investment in this sports competition. Even the humble Songyang students received such treatment.