“I’m so hungry.”

Qian Shen rubbed his belly, completely uninterested in the paintings displayed in the exhibition before him. He just wanted to find a place to eat a big meal. After all, he had just rushed over from a body-refining remedial class, and he was so famished he felt like he could eat a whole cow.

“I’ll go find something good to eat.”

After greeting the classmates he had come with, Qian Shen began searching around the exhibition hall. The students who accompanied him to the exhibition were not surprised by his behavior. With their daily diligent study of the immortal path and rigorous body tempering, the nutrition they required and the amount of food they consumed naturally far exceeded that of ordinary people. For a top student like Qian Shen, who diligently cultivated 24 hours a day, his daily food intake was even greater. If he only ate five meals a day, his tutor would worry that he had a poor appetite.

Just then, Qian Shen’s eyes suddenly lit up, fixed intently on the buffet table. He quickly walked over, grabbed a plate of large shrimp, and devoured it in a few bites. But after eating for a bit, he frowned, muttering, “This food is so lacking in nutrition?”

Qian Shen, a top student in the first year at Songyang High School, consistently ranked second in his grade. Besides his talent and hard work, the most important factor, of course, was his family’s wealth. To enhance the effectiveness of his cultivation, especially body tempering, the food he usually ate was rich in various immortal path elements. For him, a firm believer in the supremacy of scores, taste was secondary; what mattered most was whether the food could improve his cultivation efficiency.

He could naturally afford the seafood offered at the art exhibition’s buffet, but he had no interest in spending money solely to satisfy his cravings. Instead, he felt it was a waste of his time and appetite. Seafood, gourmet meals… if they couldn’t improve his scores, they were just garbage.

So, while glancing at the other dishes on the table, Qian Shen called over a server, wanting to ask if there were other food options that could serve as dietary supplements.

“Everything edible is here; just take what you want.”

Listening to the server’s somewhat cold voice, Qian Shen couldn’t help but frown. When he looked up, he saw a familiar face. Qian Shen looked at the server’s uniform and said in surprise, “You work here?”

“Mm-hm,” Bai Zhenzhen replied expressionlessly. “Is there anything else?”

Qian Shen frowned and replied, “Are you really short on money? Then quickly sign a contract with the student council. Otherwise, continuing to waste time on such meaningless work will only hinder your path to immortality. By then, even if I surpass you, it won’t be as meaningful.”

Qian Shen’s tone was full of emotion, as he had always regarded Bai Zhenzhen, the only girl in his grade who could surpass him in total scores, as his rival. He felt that Bai Zhenzhen should also think the same way. For the next three years of high school, the entire grade, and even the entire school, would be a battleground where these two geniuses would contend yet admire each other. They should break through their limits in one competition after another and ultimately, after three years, be admitted together into a top-tier university.

But in response to Qian Shen’s emotional words, Bai Zhenzhen merely said indifferently, “Are you telling me what to do?” Without waiting for Qian Shen’s reply, Bai Zhenzhen continued, “You, someone with a total score of just over 600, want to tell me, with 650, what to do?”

Faced with Bai Zhenzhen’s blatant score-based discrimination, Qian Shen, a firm supporter of score-supremacy, instantly deflated. The 50-point difference felt like a mountain crashing down on him. Your score is higher, so your words are reasonable. At this moment, in Qian Shen’s eyes, it was as if three shimmering digits, ‘650’, appeared above Bai Zhenzhen’s head, radiating an overwhelming pressure that stifled any rebuttal from him.

Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “No, when you’re talking to me, why are you looking at the top of my head?”

Qian Shen snorted coldly and turned to leave. “Just wait, Bai Zhenzhen, by wasting your time like this, you’ll be surpassed by me very soon.”

Little did he know, just a few steps after turning, he almost bumped into two security guards. It was Zhang Yu, who had come to check on the situation between the two parties, and Zhao Tianxing, whom he had dragged along. Having just seen what appeared to be a slight conflict between Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen, Zhang Yu, as a security guard, quickly rushed over.

Qian Shen looked at the two. Although they were wearing security uniforms, he recognized them instantly as classmates. “550 and 580?”

Zhang Yu, hearing this address, was slightly startled. The next moment, he realized that ‘550’ was his total score from last month’s monthly exam, and ‘580’ seemed to be Zhao Tianxing’s total score. Goodness, he only sees scores and can’t even remember classmates’ names, can he? He’s another one who’s studied so much he’s become obsessed.

But actually, Qian Shen didn’t just forget names; in fact, for students with scores below 550, he couldn’t remember either their names or their scores. After all, for him… below 550? Weren’t they all just NPCs? Was there any need to remember them? The ‘550’ in front of him, in Qian Shen’s eyes, was already a sub-human. Based on his observations during this period, the other person would likely score below 550 in the next monthly exam, so from next month onwards, there wouldn’t even be a need to remember him.

Looking at Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing in their security uniforms, Qian Shen shook his head again. “Why are you two also working here?” Facing ‘550’ and ‘580’, the confidence that had just been suppressed by ‘650’ instantly surged back within Qian Shen. He said proudly, “Why aren’t you two spending more time studying and cultivating, instead of wasting time here?”

Zhang Yu: “Aren’t you here too?”

Qian Shen chuckled confidently. “I specifically rescheduled my remedial class today to come here and comprehend the peerless martial arts depicted in the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram.”

Zhang Yu: “Hmm, we also came to comprehend the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram. And we get paid 800 per hour, too. Isn’t it much more cost-effective to earn money and comprehend divine techniques at the same time?”

“Hm?” Qian Shen was slightly startled by this and looked at Zhang Yu with some surprise. He thought to himself, “Could someone with 550 points actually say something reasonable?” He looked at Zhang Yu and said, “550, I’ll remember you.”

“My name is Zhang Yu!” Zhang Yu couldn’t help but look at the top of his own head again. “Why do you keep staring at the top of my head?”

But Qian Shen quickly reacted. “Wait, you two also want to comprehend the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram?”

Zhao Tianxing felt more and more eyes looking their way, and Qian Shen’s scornful gaze made his cheeks flush slightly. He quickly waved his hands and said, “No, no, no, I wasn’t trying to comprehend the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram.”

Qian Shen, however, didn’t bother to listen to Zhao Tianxing’s explanation. He just shook his head and lamented, “The Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram was personally drawn by a Golden Core master. The peerless martial arts contained within it are specifically for selecting true geniuses. Even I don’t have absolute confidence in mastering them, let alone you two?”

With that, Qian Shen lost interest in looking at the ‘550’ and ‘580’ in front of him and turned to leave. As he watched Qian Shen’s retreating back, Zhao Tianxing’s expression grew even more bitter. Not only had the other person seen him working as a security guard, but because of Zhang Yu’s careless words, the other person also mistakenly thought he was there to comprehend the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram. Zhao Tianxing was filled with bitterness, already envisioning being mocked by many classmates. He thought to himself, “This trip was a huge embarrassment.”

Zhang Yu, standing nearby, didn’t have as many thoughts swirling in his head as Zhao Tianxing. He looked at Bai Zhenzhen and asked, “Are you alright? Are you and Qian Shen not on good terms?”

Bai Zhenzhen pursed her lips and said casually, “What could happen to me? Most of the time, he brings it upon himself.” Then she looked at Zhang Yu with a strange gaze. “You also plan to comprehend the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram?” Seeing Zhang Yu nod confidently, Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, “Yu Zi must be getting increasingly deluded due to his massive debt. With his level… he actually wants to comprehend martial arts left by a Golden Core master?”

Zhao Tianxing, standing nearby, just wanted to leave quickly. He tugged at Zhang Yu’s clothes, trying to get him to leave, but then he noticed Zhang Yu winking at Bai Zhenzhen. Immediately after, he saw Bai Zhenzhen secretly place a portion of seafood into Zhang Yu’s arms.

Zhang Yu: “Old Zhao, want to try some?”

Zhao Tianxing urgently said, “The captain said we’re not allowed to eat from the buffet.” As he spoke, he hastily used his body to shield Zhang Yu, afraid that someone might see what was happening.

Zhang Yu said casually, “Isn’t Ah Zhen also working here? We can just take a little something from the company while we’re at it.”

Just as Zhang Yu was tasting the large shrimp on the plate, a voice came from behind Zhao Tianxing. “What are you two doing?” The voice startled Zhao Tianxing. When he turned around and saw that the speaker was Zhou Tianyi, a classmate, he actually breathed a sigh of relief. Unconsciously, Zhao Tianxing seemed to have gradually gotten used to wearing a security uniform in front of his classmates.

Zhang Yu looked at Zhou Tianyi in surprise and said, “Old Zhou, you’re here too?”

Zhou Tianyi smiled and said, “Yeah, I came with Qian Shen and the others.”

Zhang Yu: “Really? How come I didn’t see you earlier?”

Zhou Tianyi said, “Heh heh, how did you end up here?”

The two chatted about their respective situations. Zhao Tianxing, standing nearby, once again urged Zhang Yu that it was time to continue patrolling. Zhou Tianyi, however, suddenly said with a mysterious expression, “I have some gossip about a Golden Core master; I wonder if you’d be interested in hearing it?”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s curious expression, Zhao Tianxing said, “The captain is already urging us in the group chat, asking where we are…”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Never mind, work is important. I’ll hear your story next time.”

Just as the two were turning to leave, they heard Zhou Tianyi say, “True Monarch Xinghuo had half of his cultivation taken after resigning, which is why he plans to retreat to the first layer.”

“Hm?”

Both Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing immediately turned around, waiting for Zhou Tianyi to continue speaking. Bai Zhenzhen, standing nearby, didn’t look over, but she also pricked up her ears to listen.

Zhou Tianyi smiled and continued, “Golden Core masters can live up to 400 years, but True Monarch Xinghuo was already 350 last year and was ‘optimized’ by the Myriad Law Sect. When he resigned, half of his cultivation was reclaimed. He couldn’t afford the expenses of the upper levels, which is why he wanted to retreat to the first layer of Kunxu to focus on nurturing his descendants and training disciples.”

Zhang Yu was once again shocked by this absurd world. “Wait… they take half your cultivation when you resign?”

Zhou Tianyi said as if it were obvious, “The sect nurtured him and gave him the opportunity and resources to form a Golden Core. Isn’t it normal to hand over half his cultivation when he leaves?”

Just as the three were listening to Zhou Tianyi’s news about True Monarch Xinghuo, the crowd in the distance suddenly became agitated. A guest whispered, “Madam Li is here; the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram is about to be unveiled.”