From Wang Hai’s many years of experience, he knew that anything he couldn’t comprehend in Kunxu usually had powerful forces manipulating events behind the scenes. Ordinary people who became entangled in the machinations of those companies or powerful clans rarely came to a good end. This principle was precisely why Wang Hai had remained a physical education teacher for decades. Yet, it was also this principle that allowed him to still hold a position as a top-tier PE teacher after all those years.

Wang Hai understood Lin Hui’s desire to seize this opportunity to make a fortune, as she was a new teacher hired by Songyang High School only last year. He himself had felt the same way when he was younger. However, Wang Hai was not optimistic about the future of either Lin Hui or Zhang Yu.

“Alas, when ordinary cultivators get caught in the whirlpools of these major powers, they might earn a lot initially, but they usually end up losing everything, completely consumed.” “None of those individuals at the top are willing to let others profit for free without gaining anything in return.”

Even after receiving the Dragon-Elephant Elixir, Zhang Yu remained skeptical that Songyang High School would be so generous as to provide medicine to students for free. “This isn’t typical of Songyang High School’s culture.” “There’s nothing wrong with this medicine, is there?” It wasn’t until he saw the other students around him take the medicine and vigorously begin their body tempering exercises that Zhang Yu decided to try a small dose himself.

“I’ll give it a try. My Everlasting Spring and Autumn Zen is already at Level 10, so even if there’s an issue with this medicine, I should be able to expel it…”

Soon after that small amount of Dragon-Elephant Elixir entered his body, Zhang Yu felt a fiery sensation ignite within him, spreading throughout his entire being. Zhang Yu’s immediate thought was that the medicine was incredibly potent, like an explosion within his body that made him want to dance wildly for three days and three nights. His second realization was how toxic the medicine felt. After cultivating his Everlasting Spring and Autumn Zen to Level 10, Zhang Yu’s sensitivity to medicinal and alchemical toxins had reached an unprecedented peak. He now felt that the medicinal toxins and residues in this concoction were ten times more potent than those found in ordinary drugs.

“However, it remains under the control of my Everlasting Spring and Autumn Zen.” Yet, unwilling to expose his Everlasting Spring and Autumn Zen in public, Zhang Yu instead used the medicine’s potency to cultivate his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

Lin Hui watched silently from the side, a subtle smile playing on her lips. “This isn’t the standard Dragon-Elephant Elixir,” she thought, “but the Berserk Dragon Elixir.” “While its potency is several times greater than the Dragon-Elephant Elixir, capable of boosting one’s energy, physical strength, and vital energy comprehensively, and significantly enhancing body tempering efficiency, it also has one major drawback: its addictive nature.” “One dose leads to countless more.” “You won’t be able to stop.” Lin Hui now seemed to visualize Zhang Yu repeatedly using the Berserk Dragon Elixir, becoming increasingly addicted to the enhanced body tempering efficiency it offered. She pictured him using more and more, eventually discovering his addiction, and then kneeling before her, desperately pleading for the elixir.

The bell rang, signaling the end of physical education class and the start of dismissal.

Fu Ji sighed, “First, you can’t skip general education classes.” “Then, you’re restricted to practicing only basic techniques in martial arts class.” “And now, in PE class, they’ve given you such a potent, toxic drug.” “Each method is more extreme than the last.”

While Zhang Yu was grateful to acquire the school’s basic techniques for free, he also sensed that this arrangement wasn’t entirely benevolent. Later, in a conversation with Fu Ji, she concurred, “This is clearly a deliberate waste of your time. Are you sure you want to cultivate these basic techniques?” Zhang Yu calmly replied, “I have my own plans. Strengthening my foundation is beneficial for me.” Fu Ji didn’t understand Zhang Yu’s reasoning, only able to guess it was related to his enhanced potential.

After the recent PE class, Zhang Yu asked Bai Zhenzhen and others about their experience. Their reactions to the medicine were completely different from his, indicating they had received a different substance. “Has the body-tempering medicine been switched as well?” Zhang Yu wondered. “This is clearly aimed at me.”

After hearing Zhang Yu’s account, Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “I heard these recent school reforms were proposed by the student council,” she said. “Is Zhou Chechen pulling stunts again to get back at us?” Zhang Yu sighed, “That Zhou Chechen was quiet for a while, but now he’s causing trouble again.”

Just as Zhang Yu was about to leave school, Su Haifeng and another middle-aged teacher intercepted him. Su Haifeng stated blandly, “Zhang Yu, the school takes your development very seriously. After seeing your poor performance in Daoist arts, we specifically hired a teacher to tutor you.” “From now on, you’ll study with Teacher Zhou for four hours every day after school before you leave.” “Remember, according to Songyang City regulations, those four hours after school are considered part of the high school’s normal teaching schedule. Since these extra classes have been arranged, you are not permitted to miss them.”

Zhang Yu was speechless upon hearing this. What kind of absurd rule was this? Four hours after school were considered normal teaching hours? Was that even a rational statement? When he heard the subject of the extra classes, Zhang Yu was taken aback. “Daoist arts? Tutoring?” Weren’t high school Daoist arts just about talismans? Didn’t progress in this field simply depend on how much money you had to spend, with no money meaning no results? And this needed tutoring?

When Teacher Zhou led Zhang Yu into the classroom and presented him with three hundred test papers, he felt a profound sense of malice. Teacher Zhou, standing before him, said indifferently, “Start on the test papers. Do them a hundred times, and their meaning will reveal itself.” “From now on, you’ll come every day to complete these papers. The more you do, the better your test-taking ability for talismans will become.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a strong wave of dissatisfaction surged through him. “This is designed to waste another four hours of my time every day,” he thought. Teacher Zhou watched Zhang Yu’s subtly changing expression, a hint of mockery in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Do you want to defy the school’s standard curriculum and face disciplinary action?” Zhang Yu took a deep breath and silently began working on the talisman test papers before him.

As Zhang Yu was completing his talisman papers, Bai Zhenzhen kicked open the student council office door with a loud bang. Seeing He Dayou behind the desk, Bai Zhenzhen asked coldly, “Was Zhang Yu’s after-school talisman tutoring arranged by the student council?” He Dayou quickly raised his hands in defense. “It has nothing to do with me,” he explained. “That was the President’s idea.” Bai Zhenzhen then asked, “Where is Zhou Chechen?”

Moments later, Bai Zhenzhen, crackling with lightning, shot like a bolt of electricity onto the third-year students’ training ground. From a distance, Bai Zhenzhen watched Zhou Chechen and Lan Ling practicing. “Zhou Chechen,” she said coldly, “cancel Zhang Yu’s extra classes immediately. Otherwise, starting today, I’ll challenge you daily and make you throw up every time I see you. Let’s see how you dare to show your face at school then.”

Zhou Chechen, however, didn’t even spare Bai Zhenzhen a glance. He casually waved his hand and said, “Get rid of her. Don’t interrupt our training.” The next moment, Bai Zhenzhen saw a blur appear before her. It moved so fast she barely had time to cross her arms in defense. Bai Zhenzhen was sent flying like a meteor, landing outside the training ground in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, a young man slowly approached her, chuckling. “My name is Zhou Hao,” he said, “and I’m currently in charge of Zhou Chechen’s security.” “So, do you want me to beat you until you throw up and drag you out, or will you leave on your own?” With a soft whoosh, Zhou Hao instantly appeared before Bai Zhenzhen. Looking at her, he added, “By the way, I’m a university graduate from one of the 72 Lesser Academies. My major was security.” “With your high school level, you stand no chance against me.”

Bai Zhenzhen stared intently at Zhou Hao, sensing his peak Qi Refining aura. She knew he was right. “One of the 72 Lesser Academies?” she thought. Among universities, besides the top ten prestigious institutions, there were 36 Greater Academies, 72 Lesser Academies, as well as vocational colleges and other miscellaneous schools. The 72 Lesser Academies represented 72 third-tier universities. While not considered elite among many institutions, they indicated that an individual had been at the peak of Qi Refining for over a decade, having mastered an unknown number of Level 10 cultivation techniques.

“A difference of over ten years of cultivation…” Bai Zhenzhen gritted her teeth, knowing that even if she displayed her full power, she would be no match for him.

Watching Bai Zhenzhen turn and leave decisively, Zhou Hao nodded. “That’s right,” he said. “Only a wise person knows when to yield.” “Also, Zhou Chechen asked me to ask you: if he offers you a million, would you be willing to betray Zhang Yu?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Bai Zhenzhen retorted, spinning around abruptly. “Just transfer the money, and I’ll go stab him twice right now.” Zhou Hao replied calmly, “Sign the contract first, then I’ll transfer the money.” Bai Zhenzhen snorted and walked away without looking back.

As she settled into the small flower garden, intending to cultivate while waiting for Zhang Yu’s class to end, she detected via a sensing ritual that a camera was aimed at her. “A school camera? No, that’s not where the school cameras are located…” Sensing a bright light in her vision, Bai Zhenzhen’s brow furrowed even deeper. “Someone is secretly monitoring me,” she thought. “Is it one of Zhou Chechen’s people again?” Realizing that the person monitoring her might be a university student of Zhou Hao’s caliber, Bai Zhenzhen knew it would be extremely difficult to shake them off.

“If they keep watching us… we won’t even be able to go to the Covert Study Group.” “This guy is slowly eroding our opportunities for cultivation and earning money.” At that moment, Bai Zhenzhen felt a pressure she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Especially as Zhou Chechen’s various tactics unfolded, a pressure more intense, heavier, and harder to resist than any he had previously exerted began to constantly assail her from all directions. It felt like a bottomless abyss, threatening to completely engulf both her and Zhang Yu.

The announcement for the February event, where monthly votes earn fan titles (Ultimate), has been pinned in the reader community. Please check that post for event rules if you are interested.