Early November.

As the monthly exams approached again, students at Ziyun High were bustling about, and the sound of their diligent reading continuously echoed from the restrooms.

Lian Tianji glanced at the empty seat nearby and thought, “Has the esteemed top student gone to find Zhang Yu again?”

He clenched his fist, thinking, “He’s not even letting go of an hour of lunch break?”

Inside an apartment outside Ziyun High, Le Mulan, having just finished her workout, was drenched in sweat, her entire body glistening as if she had just emerged from a swimming pool.

She looked at the puddle of sweat on the ground, a mixture of hers and Zhang Yu’s, and a hint of hesitation flickered in her eyes.

Le Mulan then asked, “Zhang Yu, do you not need to take medication anymore?”

Zhang Yu looked at the data on his Yu Book.

Since his physical strength had last broken through to Level 10, reaching the Qi Refinement limit, his mana, which was already over 97, finally reached 100 units, officially hitting the Qi Refinement limit.

Recalling a year of arduous cultivation, Zhang Yu remarked, “Ordinary medication isn’t very useful to me now.”

After saying this, he continued cultivating his newly acquired expert-level body refining technique: Nine Transformations of Whale Sinews.

Zhang Yu’s muscles constantly expanded and contracted, becoming increasingly elastic with each exercise.

As he practiced this technique, Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Each level mastered in the Nine Transformations of Whale Sinews adds a layer of elasticity and resilience to my muscles. Not only can it expand muscles and change body shape, but it also grants powerful resistance to blows.”

Zhang Yu had now cultivated this technique to Level 5. He felt that once he channeled energy into his muscles, they could transform into a rubber-like state, giving him far greater resistance to punches, kicks, and bludgeoning from blunt objects than ever before.

Zhang Yu mused, “If I cultivate this technique to Level 10, according to the description of its Level 10 effects in the e-manual, my body should be able to instantly increase in height from its normal state to about 2.8 meters without issue.”

“At that point, the resistance of my flesh and blood to attacks will be even more terrifying. Even experts of the same level would likely need dozens of consecutive blows to injure me.”

“This 1.1 million manual is truly extraordinary.”

Considering the cost of the Nine Transformations of Whale Sinews, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh at how incredibly useful money was in Kunxu.

“In Kunxu, ultimately, wealth is what allows one to grow stronger.”

“And with money, combined with my astonishing potential, my progress speed is even faster.”

If it weren’t for earning more money, Zhang Yu wouldn’t have taken on Le Mulan’s sparring sessions in addition to his courses with the Dark Study Gang. After all, his mana and physical body had already reached the Qi Refinement limit, rendering most medications ineffective for his cultivation.

Upon hearing Zhang Yu’s reply, Le Mulan’s feelings grew even more complicated.

She recalled what her brother, Le Jingchen, had said.

“According to what you said last time, did you collect the sweat I asked you to?”

“Such clean sweat after taking medication is unusual. It might be a new immortal cultivation technique.”

“I heard news from the Ziyun headquarters in Xiandu that a prominent family there claims to have discovered a new modification surgery that allows a high school student to possess metabolic capabilities far exceeding their own strength. They’ve been searching for the company behind this technology.”

“The situation in Songyang City is constantly changing, and Oasis Group’s takeover is already a certainty. If we can uncover the origin of this technology, it could add a little leverage for our family…”

“If you have the chance, collect some and bring it to the lab for analysis.”

“Oh, and remember not to let the other person know about this process.”

Recalling her brother’s words, Le Mulan thought to herself, “I never would have thought… back then, it was Zhang Yu hesitating whether to collect my sweat.”

“Now, it’s my turn to collect his.”

Watching Zhang Yu head to the restroom, another of her brother’s remarks flashed through Le Mulan’s mind: “Urine or other bodily fluids would be even better.”

Le Mulan’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly shook her head, dispelling the infuriating thought from her mind. While Zhang Yu was in the restroom, she quickly pulled a test tube from her bag and collected a sample of the sweat on the ground.

Time continued to fly by as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen worked and cultivated.

In the blink of an eye, another half month passed, bringing them to mid-November.

On this day, Zhang Yu was cultivating with Yu Xinghan at Bailong High School.

While Yu Xinghan rested, Zhang Yu cultivated his new technique alone: the Blood Transformation Grand Art, the fifth expert-level body refining technique capable of forming a Martial Dao Saint Embryo.

As he sat cross-legged on the ground, his face, arms, and other areas of his skin cycled between shades of green and red, constantly changing as his blood rapidly metabolized and circulated within his body.

Zhang Yu thought, “This Blood Transformation Grand Art can increase physical strength, purify flesh, and more quickly deliver nutrients and energy throughout the body by accelerating blood metabolism. It truly boosts the body’s operational efficiency.”

Zhang Yu could feel that as he practiced this technique, he would be able to unleash his full physical power for longer durations.

“1.03 million is a bit expensive. If it weren’t for my current high income, I really couldn’t afford this martial art.”

While Zhang Yu silently practiced the Blood Transformation Grand Art, Yu Xinghan, nearby, was processing reimbursement with her senior sister via phone.

“Senior Sister, Zhang Yu and I have finished our session. It cost 30,000 yuan.”

Yu Xinghan looked at the 15,000 yuan she spent on Zhang Yu, then at the 30,000 yuan Li Xuelian transferred. She chuckled inwardly, “Hmph, a woman I can manipulate at will.”

“Whew, that feeling is back.”

Yu Xinghan picked up a collection bottle and walked towards the door, saying, “Zhang Yu, keep practicing on your own for a bit. I have to work some unexpected overtime.”

Meanwhile, in a distant office…

Li Xuelian glanced at the 30,000 yuan she had paid and messaged Immortal Xinghuo: “Dad, Yu Xinghan spent another 100,000 yuan.”

“Transfer the money to me quickly. He’s currently in his second year of high school, a crucial time where every penny counts.”

Time flew by as Yu Xinghan and Li Xuelian continuously spent money, and in the blink of an eye, it was late November.

Inside the cafeteria of Songyang High School.

Zhang Yu looked at the newly released synthetic meat before him. Its shape, texture, and color were indistinguishable from real meat. He took a bite, a hint of surprise appearing on his face: “This synthetic meat from Oasis Group is incredible, isn’t it? It’s practically like real meat.”

Bai Zhenzhen, next to him, nodded repeatedly and ate the synthetic meat heartily, saying, “It’s cheap and delicious. Who would buy real meat after this?”

Just then, a student quietly walked up to their table and offered a small bowl of synthetic meat.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Bai Zhenzhen was about to call out to the student, but they slipped away without looking back.

Meanwhile, there were already over a dozen such small dishes offered on their table.

Zhao Tianxing, watching from nearby, was incredibly envious—both of how much they could eat and of their prestige and standing at Songyang High School.

He thought to himself, “Ever since Bai Zhenzhen stood up for the first-year students last time and taught a lesson to the bullying third-year seniors, the entire first and second years now seek protection from Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu.”

Recalling various rumors about the Everbright Group being blockaded and Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen having incredibly profound backgrounds, Zhao Tianxing sighed inwardly: “They truly deserve to be called the emperors of Songyang High School.”

“Within Songyang High School, the ‘clown’ position can no longer appear beneath their feet.”

“And as long as I stay close to them, I too can avoid the ‘clown’ position.”

After lunch, Zhang Yu went to the cafeteria rooftop, closed his eyes, and began to activate the Vengeful Spirit Root within his body, absorbing the negative energy from Songyang High School.

At this moment, he was using the impact of the negative energy to temper his Dao Heart.

Dao Heart: Level 7 (75.3)

While using the negative energy’s impact to temper his Dao Heart, Zhang Yu also remembered to circulate his mana and continue cultivating the Five Qi Organ Refining Method, the sixth expert-level body refining technique capable of forming a Martial Dao Saint Embryo.

He circulated his mana through different meridians, directing special mana of five distinct attributes to nourish his five internal organs and coordinate their powers to mutually support each other, making his visceral strength increasingly powerful.

During this organ refining process, Zhang Yu’s digestive and metabolic capabilities would also continuously strengthen.

“Although I have the High School Saint Body, my digestive and metabolic capabilities are already quite strong. However, considering that the High School Saint Body will eventually be replaced, the improvements from this Five Qi Organ Refining Method will be very useful then.”

“Moreover, once this technique is cultivated to Level 10, I’ll be able to mobilize the power of my internal organs during combat and integrate it into my fighting techniques.”

“Then, even with the same level of physical strength, my explosive power will be even greater.”

The next moment, the negative emotions brought by the impact of the negative energy made Zhang Yu’s eyebrows twitch. He had to cast aside all distractions and fully devote himself to cultivation.

Time rapidly passed as Zhang Yu focused on his cultivation, bringing them to early December, with only one month remaining until the final Foundation Establishment examination.

Zhang Yu slowly emerged from the classroom where the Dark Study Gang held its lessons, under the admiring gaze of numerous students.

Black Crow approached him and reminded him, “Teacher Ma, thanks to your recent presence, many older students from the Gold Class Gang have been drawn here.”

“Coupled with Teacher Le’s repeated outstanding achievements, the Gold Class Gang is not only at a disadvantage but also on the verge of collapse.”

“However, the more desperate they become, the fiercer their counterattacks will be. It’s very likely they’ll target you, so please be extra careful.”

Zhang Yu replied somewhat absently, “It’s merely a mutually beneficial arrangement. Without it, my income wouldn’t have surged so dramatically over the past two months.”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s gaze was flickering over the content on his Yu Book’s Chain Technique Diagram.

Since he had advanced the Five Qi Organ Refining Method to Level 10, the Martial Dao Saint Embryo finally accumulated six techniques, activating its first layer of effects.

As he replaced the original High School Saint Body with these six techniques one by one on the Chain Technique Diagram, it was replaced by:

Elementary Martial Dao Saint Embryo (6/6): Saint Embryo initially formed, greatly increasing resistance to blows and external wound self-healing capabilities.

Zhang Yu thought, “Greatly increased? It doesn’t specify by how much. Looks like I’ll have to experiment gradually to find out.”

As Zhang Yu walked along the suburban road, he suddenly heard Fuki say, “The network signal is suddenly not very good.”

“It seems someone is coming to cause you trouble.”