Inside the training ground.

The students of the first-year advanced class were engaged in one-on-one combat training.

Lei Jun, the martial arts teacher, shouted to the crowd, “Daoist arts depend on wealth, while martial arts demand a life-or-death commitment. If you want to spend less money, you must exert more effort.”

“For every extra bit of strenuous practice you put in now, you’ll save a sum of money on tutoring classes.”

“In two months, you will officially become second-year students. Do you think your current level is sufficient for the second year?”

While urging everyone to practice diligently, Lei Jun looked at the purple-skinned individuals, orcs, and black-skinned individuals in his class and sighed, “This year’s high school entrance interview will likely consider willingness to undergo new body modification surgery after admission as a significant bonus point.”

“In another five to ten years, it will probably become a mandatory part of admission, just like sterilization surgery.”

Lei Jun could already imagine the situation then: “What? You, looking like that, still want to cultivate immortality? Go complete your modification surgery first.”

However, Lei Jun also felt a bit fortunate: “Thankfully, I’m not a physical education teacher; it doesn’t concern me much.”

As new body modification technologies advanced, Lei Jun knew that PE teachers were almost constantly in meetings, researching new teaching plans.

“That’s why martial arts teachers are better; our teaching assignments are the easiest.”

“Though, it’s only truly easy for first-year martial arts teachers.”

Lei Jun knew that third-year martial arts teachers faced considerable pressure.

After all, dealing with third-year students who have entered late-stage Qi Refinement and are at their most score-hungry age requires genuine combat experience.

“Teachers like me, who are only proficient in basic combat experiences such as ambush, insult, and provocation, can only participate in sparring matches.”

But just being able to fight isn’t enough to be a third-year teacher.

Lei Jun knew that was a pipe dream.

“How can a third-year teacher be competent without several years of research in areas like insurance contracts, injury assessment, medical compensation, and organ valuation? Otherwise, they wouldn’t even understand how students get killed or injured in class.”

However, with high risk came high income, and Lei Jun sometimes envied the earnings of third-year martial arts teachers who also worked as insurance and medical agents.

Just then, footsteps echoed from outside. Lei Jun watched as rows of second-year students approached, his brow furrowing, especially when he saw Lan Ling leading them.

At the same time, the first-year students, who had just been practicing, stopped and bowed to greet the arriving second-year students.

“Greetings, seniors!!”

Observing the first-year students’ respectful gestures, Lan Ling nodded slightly. “Carry on with your activities,” he said.

He then approached Lei Jun, smiling slightly. “Teacher, today’s second-year and first-year combat exchange has been arranged. You’ve received the notification, right?”

Lei Jun checked and indeed found that the event had just been scheduled, which displeased him even more.

This was because he recalled the scene a few months ago when Lan Ling had “guided” Bai Zhenzhen.

But he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

Lei Jun sighed inwardly, “So, it’s finally come?”

Lei Jun knew that the Songyang High School Student Council, and even the sixteen prominent clans of Songyang City, would not stand by and watch as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, two poor individuals, repeatedly claimed top ranks in competitions.

To the wealthy residents of Songyang City, every competition ranking was a crucial achievement for interviewing at the top ten universities. How could such opportunities be given to poor people who were destined not to get into those institutions?

Even at the peak of Qi Refinement, Lei Jun dared not defy such a powerful trend at that moment. He could only force himself to say, “Don’t hurt anyone.”

Lan Ling replied, “Don’t worry, Teacher. I’ve told all the students to be very careful during combat training with the younger students and absolutely not to injure them.”

“By the way…” Lan Ling’s gaze swept around. Not seeing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, he casually added, “Are all the students here? If not, please call them over.”

In a corner of the training room, Zhao Tianxing, purple all over like a human-shaped eggplant, secretly pulled out his phone and started messaging Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen: “The Door-panel man is looking for trouble with you two. Don’t come here.”

But just as he finished sending the message, a hand gently tapped Zhao Tianxing’s back, startling him so much he nearly dropped his phone.

“Junior, let this senior give you some pointers.”

Zhao Tianxing turned his head and saw a senior, whose build was considerably wider than his own, smiling at him.

Lan Ling said indifferently, “Zhou Ke, remember, definitely don’t hurt the junior.”

“Don’t worry,” Zhou Ke said gently as he pulled Zhao Tianxing forward. “I guarantee not even a single hair on him will be harmed.”

In the school’s small grove.

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were hiding here, quietly cultivating.

As Zhang Yu circulated his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi, accompanied by intense movements of his muscles, organs, and bones, he was steaming all over, like a radiator constantly radiating heat into his surroundings.

Since returning from the Immortal Capital, Zhang Yu had been spending lavishly to push forward on his immortal path, and his strength had naturally advanced by leaps and bounds.

As of today, his mana had reached 69.4 and his physical body grade 6.81, increasingly approaching the average level of White Dragon people just entering their third year of high school.

Only the progress of his Dao Heart had been slower recently, only advancing to Level 5 (37).

“That guy Yu Xinghan said he’d introduce me to channels for cultivating my Dao Heart in the spirit world after this year’s college entrance exam. Why hasn’t it happened yet?”

Besides the improvements in his Dao Heart, mana, and physical body, Zhang Yu’s other gain was pushing his Dragon-Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm to Level 10 during combat training with Yu Xinghan.

And ever since his Dragon-Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm reached Level 10, Zhang Yu had felt subtle changes in the structure of his muscles and bones day by day, indicating a transformation his body had undergone with daily eating and exercise.

Zhang Yu understood that this was the Level 10 effect of the Dragon-Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm, also known as Dragon Tendons and Elephant Bones, which granted the body a more immortal and powerful carrying capacity, enabling it to withstand and transmit higher bursts of strength.

“Truly worthy of a 200,000-credit martial art. No wonder Yu Xinghan practices this martial art.”

“If I had this Level 10 Dragon-Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm during the physical competition, maybe I could have supported 13,000 kilograms? No, perhaps even 14,000 kilograms of the Sky Pillar.”

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen, who was nearby, suddenly asked, “Yu Zi, did you see the message Old Zhao sent us?”

Hearing this, Zhang Yu opened his phone. After reading Old Zhao’s message, he looked at Bai Zhenzhen and asked, “Ah Zhen, what do you think?”

Bai Zhenzhen smiled. “If we don’t even dare to contend with students like Lan Ling from Songyang High School, how can we hope to compete with the guys from the Immortal Capital?”

As she spoke, Bai Zhenzhen shot towards the training room in a flash of electricity.

“Yu Zi, I’m heading over first. If you arrive late, you might not get a chance to act.”

Watching Bai Zhenzhen disappear in an instant, Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Ah Zhen’s speed is getting faster and faster.”

He knew that it wasn’t just him making rapid progress during this time; Bai Zhenzhen was also advancing at an astonishing pace.

“Originally, Ah Zhen’s martial arts talent was already remarkable, enhanced by her True Spirit Root.”

Zhang Yu recalled Bai Zhenzhen’s previous performances when learning basic high school martial arts, comprehending the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Art, and grasping the Limitless Cloud Hand Outer Techniques; she succeeded in almost all of them in a very short time.

And now…

“While the True Spirit Root propelled my cultivation speed, I also stimulated its evolution.”

Zhang Yu possessed too many cultivation techniques cultivated to Level 10, far exceeding the typical level of a high school student.

As the True Spirit Root continuously adapted to Zhang Yu, it seemed to absorb more traces of cultivation techniques from the circulation of his physical body and mana, then carried them back into Bai Zhenzhen’s body.

This made it effortless for Bai Zhenzhen to cultivate the techniques Zhang Yu had practiced, allowing her to make continuous rapid progress.

Especially for pure external martial arts like Dragon-Back Mountain-Flipping Hand and Dragon-Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm, Bai Zhenzhen found them incredibly easy to master.

However, Zhang Yu knew that Bai Zhenzhen couldn’t afford the usage rights for these cultivation techniques due to their cost. She secretly practiced them and had no intention of openly using them, only for her own self-improvement.

Inside the training ground.

Zhao Tianxing, looking like an eggplant, had just gotten up when Zhou Ke kicked him in the backside again, sending him face-planting onto the ground, which drew a burst of laughter from the second-year students.

Zhao Tianxing struggled to get up again, but no matter how he dodged or counterattacked, Zhou Ke would always appear ghost-like behind him and deliver another kick to his backside.

The force used by his opponent was not great, just enough to knock Zhao Tianxing down.

This represented a complete dominance in strength, speed, and control.

So, Zhao Tianxing was not injured.

Nor did he feel disheartened by the huge gap between himself and his opponent.

After all, he was facing a senior from the grade above. Zhao Tianxing knew that any first-year student in this situation could only humbly submit.

“There’s a year’s difference, after all; it’s completely normal not to be a match for a senior.”

Most of his thoughts at that moment were no longer on the fight but on his current embarrassing state.

“Good thing I had that super metabolism surgery; I’m purple all over, so everyone probably can’t see me blushing, right?”

“Purple is my best camouflage now.”

Getting up once more, Zhao Tianxing quickly tightened his somewhat loose pants, afraid they might fall off if he got kicked again.

He knew that he had surely become the laughingstock of everyone present.

The only thing Zhao Tianxing could think to do was to try and act indifferent. Once people had laughed enough, they would naturally stop eventually.

This was his experience after being a clown repeatedly.

As for resisting?

“First-year students like us are definitely no match for second-year seniors.”

“And the ones leading are from the Student Council…”

Thinking of the powerful clans behind Lan Ling and his group, Zhao Tianxing secretly told himself not to cause trouble for his parents.

Just then, a voice rang out: “That’s enough, isn’t it? What’s the point of this kind of combat training?”

Zhou Ke stopped, looked at Qian Shen, who had spoken, and tilted his head. “Junior, do you have an issue with a senior’s guidance?”

Zhao Tianxing, who was on the side, watched Qian Shen with a touch of emotion as he got up. “Old Qian…”

Qian Shen, however, frowned and said, “In the college entrance exam’s combat test, Yellow Turban Strongmen simulate the examinees’ abilities for combat.”

“To improve your score, you should fight opponents with similar stats.”

“What you’re doing now, aren’t you just wasting everyone’s cultivation time and dragging down their scores?”

“Moreover, Zhao Tianxing and most of the people here don’t have high scores to begin with. Aren’t you just holding them back even more by doing this?”