Within the hallowed halls of Songyang High School, nestled in classroom 10 of the second-year cohort, a scene unfolded unlike any ordinary high school.

Despite being the lowest-ranked class in terms of academic performance, the air within classroom 10 was thick with an otherworldly, almost Daoist atmosphere, surpassing that of other schools. When Bai Zhenzhen, her face an impassive mask of ice, opened the classroom door and stepped inside, she was met by rows of desks laden with syringes and vials, and the reverent gazes of the students.

In the eyes of these students, Bai Zhenzhen, ranked within the top two of the entire year and a medalist in academic competitions, was a true prodigy of Songyang High School, destined to ascend to the second stratum – university. As for them in class 10? They were but the menial laborers, destined for the factory floor upon graduation, one foot already in the world of toil.

Yet, the arrival of such a celestial talent in their humble abode sent ripples of astonishment through their hearts.

“It’s Bai Zhenzhen! The prodigy from the demonstration class has graced our garbage dump!”

“That’s the academic powerhouse ranked second in the entire year! I would forsake even my classes to copy her test papers!”

“Is she here to bully us? Please, don’t take my homework!”

As their minds swirled with a mixture of awe and apprehension, the class monitor swiftly rose to his feet and greeted Bai Zhenzhen, “Senior Bai Zhenzhen, what brings you to our humble class?”

Though they were all second-year students, the path of cultivation respected seniority. To better navigate the treacherous landscape of Songyang High School, the students of class 10 invariably addressed the academic elites of other classes as “senior.”

Acknowledging the monitor, Bai Zhenzhen retrieved a portable charger from her bosom and stated icily, “I require the use of your class’s power outlet.”

“From this day forward, you will charge this device daily.”

“Once fully charged, deliver it to me.”

Without waiting for a response to her demands, Bai Zhenzhen turned on her heel and departed.

She had no fear that the students of class 10 would dare defy her decree. In the scholastic realm of high school, academic prowess reigned supreme. The inferior could only submit to the superior. Charging a mere power bank was a trifle, and if she demanded they kowtow, they would have no choice but to obey.

Upon leaving class 10, Bai Zhenzhen visited several other classrooms, distributing the power banks she carried.

Finally, she arrived at the floor occupied by the first-year students.

Gazing at the empty classrooms, Bai Zhenzhen mused, “The power banks are merely supplementary. The quickest way to siphon power is to touch the outlets myself.”

It was late August, and the freshmen had yet to arrive. Casually entering an empty classroom, Bai Zhenzhen activated the energy detection technique within her. It quickly swept across the room and located the four surveillance cameras.

However, the cameras appeared dim and inactive. Bai Zhenzhen understood that this meant they were not yet operational.

“After all, the first-year students haven’t arrived. No one is using this classroom yet.”

Relieved, she approached a power outlet, and her delicate fingers touched the socket.

As tendrils of electrical energy crackled around her fingertips, Bai Zhenzhen felt a surge of numbing energy flow into her body.

Energized by the current, her original thunder mana within her body became even more active. It momentarily surged, and then rushed throughout her entire body. As it strengthened her physique and nervous system, faint arcs of electricity began to emanate from her.

After absorbing some power, Bai Zhenzhen wasted no time in practicing the Lightning Body Tempering Art.

This body refinement art was specifically designed to condense thunder attribute mana to stimulate and temper the flesh.

After reaching level 10 and having it upgraded by the True Spirit Root, Bai Zhenzhen’s body’s resilience continued to increase. In high-speed states, her physical body possessed the effects of cushioning and absorbing energy.

Currently, infused with the temporarily boosted thunder mana, she completely skipped the process of condensing thunder attribute mana, allowing the Lightning Body Tempering Art to circulate more smoothly.

Moreover, since unlocking her potential, Bai Zhenzhen felt an unprecedented control over the thunder mana within her body, as if it were an innate part of her being.

Coupled with the convenience of the power outlet, which allowed her to replenish her mana at any time, Bai Zhenzhen’s body tempering was several times more effective than usual.

Even the True Spirit Root in her dantian gradually became entwined with wisps of electricity.

It wasn’t until her muscles began to ache and spasm that Bai Zhenzhen knew she was approaching physical exhaustion and halted her cultivation.

“Hmm, time for a break. I should also go back and see how the charging is going.”

Bai Zhenzhen returned to her classroom in the demonstration class, where she found her desk piled high with fully charged power banks.

Seeing this, Bai Zhenzhen smiled faintly. She immediately grabbed the power banks and ran out, sucking on the power cords as she felt the current slowly surge into her, all while engaging in breathing exercises to restore her mana.

As Bai Zhenzhen was retrieving the power banks, a student complained to He Dayou, “President, if Bai Zhenzhen keeps hogging the outlets, how are we supposed to charge our devices?”

He Dayou frowned, “Bai Zhenzhen is ranked second in the year, what are you ranked? It’s only right that you let her charge her devices. Isn’t that obvious?”

The student responded, “But…”

He Dayou interrupted, “No buts. Either you endure it, or you surpass her in academics. Then you can charge your devices in the principal’s office for all I care.”

Watching the student slink away, He Dayou shook his head and sighed inwardly. As the vice president of the student council, he had to uphold justice.

If Zhao Tianxing were the one hogging the outlets, he would stand up for justice, but since it was Bai Zhenzhen, he could only advise his fellow students to endure it.

Meanwhile, on the school rooftop.

Zhang Yu was cultivating the Endless Spring Autumn Meditation. With each repetition, the muscles in his body seemed to break apart during forging and tearing, then rapidly repair and heal under the nourishment of everlasting mana.

His entire being grew stronger with each cycle of autumn, spring, death, and life, constantly expelling accumulated drug and pill toxins.

Finally, with the completion of another round of Endless Spring Autumn Meditation, Zhang Yu’s gaze suddenly sharpened. His Endless Spring Autumn Meditation had finally reached level 10.

At that moment, countless experiences of spring and autumn cycles, along with physical nourishment and purification, flooded his mind, allowing him to grasp the essence of this technique at its peak.

The 49 stances of the Endless Spring Autumn Meditation flashed through his mind, corresponding to the flow of everlasting mana throughout his body. The cycle of autumn and spring constantly strengthened his physique and purified his flesh, seemingly without end.

At this moment, Zhang Yu discovered that after the Endless Spring Autumn Meditation reached level 10, its detoxification ability became even more powerful, even allowing him to control and retain pill and drug toxins within his body that were originally meant to be expelled.

These pill and drug toxins would form a “Zen” character on the surface of his skin on his chest, and as the toxins accumulated, the character’s color would deepen.

These toxins would not affect him under normal circumstances, but when Zhang Yu needed them, he could unleash them, stimulating his body and squeezing out his life potential to unleash physical power beyond his limits.

“However, the stronger the accumulated toxins, the stronger the potential unleashed, but the more life force it consumes.”

Zhang Yu pondered the mysteries within, thinking, “This is a desperate measure, but I shouldn’t use it unless absolutely necessary.”

As for when to use this desperate measure?

In Zhang Yu’s view, it certainly wasn’t during a fight. After all, fighting was already desperate enough, and this move was too likely to be a losing gamble. It might even be more cost-effective to lose.

On the other hand, the Foundation Establishment Exam concerned his entire future. If he needed to sacrifice a few years of his lifespan to increase his chances of success, Zhang Yu could accept it.

“Now that the Endless Spring Autumn Meditation is at level 10, I should find time to gather the high school basic techniques to complete the High School Sacred Body.”

After briefly familiarizing himself with the level 10 Endless Spring Autumn Meditation, the bell rang, signaling dinner time.

The constant body tempering made eating almost as important as the tempering itself.

He leaped down, landing on the ground with a resounding thump under the gazes of the crowd, and strode towards the cafeteria.

Scanning the queue in front of the cafeteria, noting the purple people, black people, and beast people, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but marvel at the diversity of Songyang High School.

He felt a particular sense of kinship towards the black people.

“It’s like traveling back in time.”

“I never thought Kunxu would have its own black people.”

Amidst the reverent gazes of the crowd, Zhang Yu bypassed the queue, got his food, and settled down at his usual spot in the cafeteria, where he found Bai Zhenzhen had already arrived.

As Zhang Yu ate, he opened his phone and began selecting the high school basic techniques, when Zhao Tianxing and Qian Shen also arrived with their meals.

However, Zhao Tianxing and Qian Shen looked quite different from how they had appeared a few weeks ago.

Although their skin still had a slight purplish tint, it was much lighter than the average high schooler.

Zhao Tianxing remembered how awkward he had felt when only a few people in school had undergone the modification surgery and become purple people like him.

But as the number of purple people in school increased, he began to feel more natural. It was the people who hadn’t undergone the surgery who felt self-conscious and awkward.

And when most people had undergone the modification surgery, those with the purplest skin became the most despised, self-conscious, and awkward.

Because after the Super Metabolism Surgery was completed, the lighter the skin color, the stronger the mastery of super metabolism.

Zhao Tianxing thought to himself, “Without realizing it, a new hierarchy has emerged among the purple people at school, from the lowest-level dark purple people, to the intermediate light purple people, to the highest-level non-purple people. The lighter the color, the higher the status.”

“And this is only because Songyang High School hasn’t fully implemented the Super Metabolism Surgery. I heard that at Ziyun High School, everyone has undergone the Super Metabolism Surgery, and skin color is fully integrated into the school’s high school caste system…”

Just then, an announcement came over the school’s loudspeaker, declaring that the school was cracking down on discipline, strictly enforcing rules against tardiness and absenteeism…

Hearing this, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen both frowned. They were both notorious for skipping classes.

After all, the current high school curriculum couldn’t keep up with their progress, and not skipping classes meant wasting time, which was unacceptable for two people who desperately needed time to prepare for the Foundation Establishment Exam.