Inside the male students’ preparation room.

As students warmed up and prepared, the small room filled with the pervasive smells of sweat, feet, and oil.

Zhang Yu endured the unpleasant odors in the preparation room while continuously applying the Vajra Ghee he had bought to various parts of his body, making his muscle definition more prominent.

Considering that each can of Vajra Ghee cost over 100 yuan and only one could be used per exam, Zhang Yu applied it even more meticulously, fearing he might waste a single drop.

“This rotten school charges so much for essential exam supplies,” he thought.

Yet Zhang Yu couldn’t afford not to buy it.

Although Vajra Ghee had no actual body-refining effects, it made his muscle lines and physical structure more visible, making it easier for the judges of the body-refining exam to score.

Without the oil, there was a risk that judges might miss the student’s muscle definition due to an oversight, resulting in a significantly lower score.

Given Zhang Yu’s current understanding of the Kunxu world, he strongly suspected that the school’s sale of Vajra Ghee generated substantial profits shared with the judges, implying that not using the oil might lead to intentionally low scores.

Zhang Yu called out behind him, “Old Zhao, help me apply some to my back.”

“Alright,” Zhao Tianxing said, dipping his hand into the Vajra Ghee in Zhang Yu’s hand and applying it to his back.

As he did so, he observed Zhang Yu’s physique and thought to himself, “Zhang Yu’s physical strength level seems quite high.”

While Zhang Yu pursued a balanced development of strength, speed, and agility, differing from Zhao Tianxing’s strength-focused path, Zhao Tianxing had seen enough to recognize good physical conditioning.

As a core student who often attended Wang Hai’s classes, Zhao Tianxing had naturally seen many academically strong students excel in body refining.

Now, looking at Zhang Yu’s muscles and feeling their marble-like firmness, he could clearly tell that Zhang Yu’s physical strength was indeed very high.

“It seems… even a bit higher than mine?”

“But how is that possible? He doesn’t even have a physical education instructor anymore.”

Soon after, Zhang Yu, Zhao Tianxing, and a group of ten others, all gleaming with oil, arrived at the examination venue with their monitoring patches.

Five physical education teachers on the platform below scanned the group. Wang Hai’s gaze lingered on Zhao Tianxing and Zhang Yu for a moment before he announced, “Begin.”

Accompanied by a series of shouts, the students on stage took turns unleashing their full physical power, expanding their muscles and unrestrainedly releasing the raw force within their flesh.

The platform beneath them groaned and creaked with a rumble, as if parts of it could no longer withstand the relentless exertion of these body-refining “monsters.”

Simultaneously, the strength data detected by the patches was rapidly transmitted to the judges’ screens.

Wang Hai first looked at Zhang Yu’s data: “Right arm muscles erupting with 443 kilograms of force, left arm muscles erupting with 422 kilograms of force…”

“So much progress in just a few weeks?”

“What kind of demonic beast medicine did he take? Is his physical structure about to be damaged?”

Upon seeing this data, Wang Hai’s gaze sharpened, and he immediately looked up towards Zhang Yu on the stage.

At the same time, shortly after the ten students on stage unleashed their physical strength, they felt five cold gazes sweep over them.

From the audience’s perspective, it would have seemed like ten formidable body-refining beasts, radiating immense power.

However, for the students on stage, looking at the five physical education teachers below felt like being targeted by five terrifying behemoths.

Their cold, discerning gazes were like five monstrous beasts picking and choosing at a butcher shop, deciding which cut of meat they wanted to devour.

At that moment, Zhao Tianxing felt like a lamb to the slaughter before the five teachers, able only to strain his muscles and exert his full strength.

Zhang Yu, on the other hand, felt completely different from his classmates.

He only felt that he was instantly fixed by five pairs of fervent eyes, their intensity giving him goosebumps.

Meanwhile, one of the physical education teachers below exclaimed in admiration, “What a frame! A beast’s back, a demon’s chest, a devil’s arms—I can’t believe a first-year high school student has already refined his physical structure so well.”

Another physical education teacher, with a covetous expression, added, “Look at his legs—you can tell his bone joints have been forged and shaped through countless trials. What a solid foundation! He’s sure to soar in the future. Why don’t I have such a good student?”

Yet another teacher patted Wang Hai’s shoulder and said, “Teacher Wang, this must be another one of your star pupils, isn’t he? This structural refinement is exceptional. Such outstanding sculpting must have required immense effort. Your year-end bonus is surely secure this year.”

Wang Hai, who had just been contemplating whether to maliciously give Zhang Yu a low score against his conscience, simply offered an awkward smile and remained silent after being patted on the shoulder.

Nevertheless, an undeniable hint of admiration still gleamed in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Yu.

He couldn’t help but think to himself, “Although pharmaceutical sales are my primary business, still…”

As a physical education teacher, Wang Hai truly couldn’t bring himself to give a low score to such an unblemished, jade-like physique; this body was simply a work of art!

Moreover, the comments from the other physical education teachers had effectively blocked his path to giving arbitrary low scores.

Thus, after fairly scoring Zhang Yu, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Wang Hai’s eyes.

“Such significant improvement in such a short time, especially the excellent refinement of his physical structure.”

“It seems highly probable that Zhang Yu has truly become a Golden Core disciple.”

“In that case, I’ll have to resort to my last option.”

Dinner time.

In the cafeteria.

Because he had resumed practicing the Level 8 Circulation of Qi method today, Zhang Yu’s appetite had significantly decreased. He was almost finished with his meal in just a few bites.

Just then, a large shadow fell over him.

Wang Hai, like a mountain, sat down with a thud in front of him.

Then Wang Hai smiled at Bai Zhenzhen, who was nearby, and said, “Bai Zhenzhen, could you let Zhang Yu and I talk privately for a moment?”

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu, and after he nodded to her, she moved to a spot about ten meters away, watching them with a curious expression.

Zhang Yu looked at Wang Hai with a hint of wariness, as their relationship had never been particularly good.

Wang Hai then said, “Let’s exchange contact information. We haven’t done that yet.”

With an eighty percent certainty that Zhang Yu was a Golden Core disciple, Wang Hai decided to employ his last resort: gift-giving.

He intended to repair their relationship through gifts.

But what gift to give became a new problem.

Having come this far, Wang Hai naturally possessed considerable wisdom in gift-giving.

His first thought was naturally body-refining medicine. As a pharmaceutical salesman, providing samples, experimental drugs, or even illicit substances was second nature to him—it had become a habitual approach.

However, he quickly dismissed this option upon further thought.

“Zhang Yu himself said he practices natural body refining. Whether that’s true or false, wouldn’t giving him body-refining medicine be slapping him in the face? No, that won’t do.”

So, he considered another option: body-refining cultivation techniques.

As a top-tier physical education teacher, another significant source of income for him, besides pharmaceutical sales, came from tutoring and supplementary classes.

Helping certain individuals’ children with tutoring and teaching them body-refining techniques had always been his go-to method for cultivating relationships.

But he quickly rejected this choice as well.

“What good are the cultivation techniques I’m authorized to teach to someone like Zhang Yu now?”

“After all, he’s a Golden Core disciple. Would he really be lacking cultivation techniques from a high school physical education teacher like me?”

“After thinking it over, it’s clear I still need to give him…”

At this moment, after exchanging contact information, Wang Hai said, “Zhang Yu, your exam performance today was excellent. I, as your teacher, don’t really have anything suitable to give you, so I’ll just transfer some money.”

“This is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you don’t find it too little.”

Picking up his vibrating phone, Zhang Yu saw Wang Hai’s transfer notification and his heart stirred: “Sending me money to smooth things over? Does he think a little money will erase his attempts to isolate me?”

From his previous life, Zhang Yu had always disdained such monetary transactions. As he clicked on the transfer notification now, he tried to form a scornful expression but found he couldn’t.

He had received a transfer of 66,666.66 from Wang Hai.

Ten meters away, Bai Zhenzhen watched Zhang Yu’s expression and wondered, “What on earth happened? Yu Zi can’t even suppress the corners of his mouth!”

Meanwhile, Wang Hai said with a sincere expression, “Seeing your progress today, I, as your teacher, am truly gratified.”

“Before, my physical education teaching standards were low, and I misunderstood you. I apologize.”

Seeing Wang Hai about to stand up and bow, Zhang Yu quickly said, “Teacher, you were also looking out for my good. How can I let you apologize to me?”

Zhang Yu felt a surge of self-disgust for his own worldly pragmatism. “Damn it, Zhang Yu, how could you become like this? Have you been bought off by money so easily?”

But it wasn’t just about the money. Old Wang was in his seventies or eighties; for such an arrogant and proud ace teacher to apologize to him, there was clearly genuine sincerity.

Seeing Zhang Yu’s smile, Wang Hai felt a slight sense of relief, but then a pang of heartache hit him at the thought of the sixty-six thousand.

Although his income was not low, his expenses far exceeded those of an ordinary person, and he never had much spare cash. Sixty-six thousand was definitely not a small sum for him.

However, he knew this was not the time to fret over the money, as he was dealing with the newly accepted disciple of the Golden Core Master, Senior Xinghuo.

Years of experience told Wang Hai that if he was going to give money, he should do it completely.

He grasped Zhang Yu’s hands and earnestly said, “From now on, my PE class is your PE class. Do whatever you want during the lessons. Even if you don’t come to class, it’s fine. Skip whenever you wish; I’ll give you absolute freedom.”

What is the ultimate expression of respect a teacher can show a student?

Wang Hai, who had taught at Songyang High School for many years, gave his answer: complete freedom to skip class. This was his show of respect to a Golden Core disciple.

“Huh?” Zhang Yu was slightly surprised, then delighted. For a disciplined student like him, being able to freely arrange his class schedule was indeed a good thing.

Wang Hai looked at Zhang Yu’s surprised expression and said meaningfully, “Heh heh, after all, you hardly need my guidance anymore.”

After another round of polite exchanges, Wang Hai bid farewell: “Alright, I have things to attend to, and I’m sure you have plenty as well. I won’t keep you any longer.”