Watching Wang Hai’s departing back, Zhang Yu mused, “What a truly responsible and good teacher.”

Bai Zhenzhen leaned in, her eyes filled with suspicion. “What exactly happened just now? There was laughter, handshakes, and all that talk. Did Wang Hai suddenly discover you’re his biological father who went missing years ago?”

Zhang Yu shook his head. “There could be many reasons, but ultimately… it all comes down to my performance on this monthly exam. Zhenzhen, as long as my grades keep improving and my abilities grow stronger, I’ll have more and more good friends in this world, won’t I?”

Watching Zhang Yu’s smug expression, Bai Zhenzhen wondered to herself, “Just how many points did Yu Zi score this time? Could he have surpassed me? No, that’s impossible.”

That evening, Zhang Yu returned to the suburbs and resumed his intensive cultivation of the Heaven Revolving Qi Absorption Method, aiming to raise it to Level 10.

By the next morning, the Heaven Revolving Qi Absorption Method had been elevated to Level 8 (37/160). After a day of both passive and active qi absorption, his magic power also increased again from 11.8 to 11.9.

Thanks to Wang Hai’s sponsorship, Zhang Yu’s savings, even after recent expenses, had reached over 72,000 yuan. Seeing this deposit, Zhang Yu immediately thought of various ways to spend it. However, he ultimately suppressed his impulses, deciding to first see what kind of contract the school would offer him after this monthly exam before planning how to use the money for self-improvement.

It was 4 AM at Songyang High School. In the teachers’ office, after another ordinary late night, Su Haifeng received the monthly exam results. To allow students to quickly understand their performance, know their scores, and guide their studies, the teachers had worked overtime, finishing the scoring and ranking for all students who participated in the exam on the very night it was held.

Excellent news, truly excellent. Su Haifeng looked at the specific rankings and scores.

First place: Bai Zhenzhen, total score 651. Su Haifeng nodded slightly, thinking, “Bai Zhenzhen is still undeniably in first place. It’s a shame her Daoist Magic score was only 60 points, otherwise her total could have been even higher.”

Second place: Qian Shen, total score 626. Su Haifeng thought, “Qian Shen has been steadily improving, especially with his 80 points in Daoist Magic, which significantly boosted his overall score.”

Third place: Zhang Yu, total score 620. Su Haifeng froze slightly, rubbed his eyes, and looked again carefully.

Third place: Zhang Yu, total score 620.

“How is this possible?” Su Haifeng straightened up and quickly checked Zhang Yu’s scores for each subject: Common Knowledge 48, Dao Heart 135, Magic Power 142, Physical Education 145, Martial Arts 90, Daoist Magic 60.

“This…” Su Haifeng was shocked, and this was with only 60 points in Daoist Magic. If his Daoist Magic had been just 7 points higher, wouldn’t he have scored 627 points, surpassing Qian Shen to become second in the grade? This meant Zhang Yu had jumped from tenth place in the grade in the previous exam, straight to third place. No… according to Su Haifeng’s estimation, his score three weeks ago should have put him back in the top 20. During this period, aside from magic power, his scores in other subjects should have steadily regressed, dropping his total score to almost 30th place.

“How could there be such a significant improvement? Did he win the lottery?” Su Haifeng became increasingly suspicious after reviewing each of Zhang Yu’s scores, especially his 142 points in Magic Power and a surprising 145 points in Physical Education. He couldn’t help but call Wang Hai, wanting to know what was going on, and if Zhang Yu’s score had been entered incorrectly.

At 4 AM, when Songyang cultivators were most energetic, Wang Hai quickly answered the phone. “Is something wrong, Teacher Su?” he asked.

Su Haifeng inquired, “I see Zhang Yu’s Physical Education score is 145? Was there some mistake?”

Wang Hai’s attitude towards Zhang Yu had been quite good that day, but that didn’t mean he had become genuinely good-tempered. He was still the ace teacher who hated anyone doubting his authority. Hearing Su Haifeng’s skepticism, he snorted coldly, interrupting him directly. “Teacher Su, are you doubting our standards for physical education, or our professionalism? As Songyang High School’s ace PE teacher and top coach, Wang Hai wasn’t intimidated by Su Haifeng in the slightest. “If you dispute the score, you can apply for a re-evaluation. But I can tell you, Zhang Yu’s score is absolutely correct; it’s 145 points. Because not only has his physical strength reached Level 1.25, placing him among the top in his grade, but his overall body structure is also absolutely excellent. With the foundation he has built, his physical strength will undoubtedly continue to grow, making him a leader among this cohort of students. It’s not out of the question for him to even participate in physical competitions in the future.”

Physical competitions, like magic power competitions, involved content far exceeding the high school curriculum. Achieving excellent results in them not only brought substantial cash prizes but also provided advantages in university interviews and even bonus points on the college entrance exam. As Songyang High School had previously produced the top student in physical education for the entire city, it consistently held an advantage in these competitions.

Hearing Wang Hai’s high praise for Zhang Yu, Su Haifeng was even more astonished. He didn’t have time to dwell on the unfriendliness in Wang Hai’s tone and pressed on, “He hasn’t been attending PE classes properly for the past three weeks, has he? How could his score improve so much?”

Wang Hai’s old face flushed at this. He paused before explaining, “Zhang Yu is different from ordinary students. He has his own development path and knows how to cultivate himself.” Thinking that Zhang Yu was a Golden Core disciple who hardly needed his guidance, Wang Hai continued, “It was precisely because I recognized this that I gave him the freedom to handle his PE classes himself. Forget about him managing his own classes; he can even skip them in the future. This is teaching according to aptitude.”

After ending the call with Wang Hai, Su Haifeng still found it somewhat unbelievable. Was Wang Hai really talking about Zhang Yu? That poor guy?

Frowning in thought for a moment, Su Haifeng made another call. “Hello? The monthly exam results are out. Zhang Yu is third in the grade, his score is…” After reporting the score, Su Haifeng sighed and said somewhat awkwardly, “I have to admit, my judgment of Zhang Yu was completely wrong. Given his performance, it would be entirely normal for the school to offer him a Grade B, or even a Grade A contract.”

“That’s no longer my responsibility,” he added. “I expect the student council will be talking to him in a couple of days.”

A male voice on the other end of the line replied, “I understand. Please try to delay the student council for me. I’ll try other methods.”

Su Haifeng said, “You know those people in the student council; I can’t hold them back. Whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly.”

At 6:30 AM, the entrance of Songyang High School was already bustling with students arriving for class. As Zhang Yu entered the school gate, he saw the monthly exam results updated on the giant screen at the entrance. Student privacy, psychological burdens… these concepts simply didn’t exist at Songyang High School. Not only were the results prominently displayed on the large screen at the school gate, but the entire class’s new monthly exam scores were also posted on the door of each classroom, and even the electronic screens in the cafeteria continuously flashed ranking updates. Zhang Yu even heard the broadcast mentioning the monthly exam while he was in the bathroom, praising students with high overall scores and significant improvements while shaming those with large regressions or low total scores. The school’s philosophy was characterized by complete transparency, no privacy, and maximum psychological pressure.

“…And dear students, today we would especially like to congratulate Zhang Yu from Class 1, Model Class. Student Zhang Yu jumped from his original tenth place in the grade to third place in this exam, with a total score of 620, an astonishing increase of 70 points. This can truly be called a leap forward…”

Zhang Yu finished using the restroom, washing his hands while listening to the broadcast, and couldn’t help but nod to himself. “The school’s widespread announcement of results does have its positive aspects; it wasn’t without its merits.”

When Zhang Yu subsequently entered the classroom, he attracted many gazes, with people constantly looking at him, their eyes containing various emotions.

Qian Shen looked from Zhang Yu to Bai Zhenzhen, their scores of 620 and 651, respectively, floating back and forth in his mind, making all the other surrounding students seem insignificant by comparison. “Indeed, besides Bai Zhenzhen, this Zhang Yu will also be my rival throughout high school.” Qian Shen felt invigorated, as if he could already see the next three years, with the three of them fiercely competing, their victories and losses hard to distinguish, ultimately all being admitted to top universities. He couldn’t wait to take out his spellbook and begin studying talismans again. “Talisman skills are my strong suit, but I only got 80 points this time. I need to practice more!”

On the other side, He Dayou’s face was grim as he looked at his scores for each subject. “Total score 603. Martial Arts 50 points…” The 50-point Martial Arts score was so painfully glaring that it made his blood churn, wishing he could smash the desk in front of him to smithereens with a single punch. Evidently, his continuous defeats at Zhang Yu’s hands, coupled with his two abysmal, instant-loss performances, were what drove He Dayou’s Martial Arts score so low. This made a hint of murderous intent flicker uncontrollably in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Yu.

However, as the son of a school board director, he quickly suppressed this impulse. “Every ‘poor student’ is a valuable resource for the school; how could I lay a hand on him? Don’t be angry; Zhang Yu must be targeted by the student council by now anyway. He and I are not even on the same track; I can’t let him disrupt my focus. I must concentrate on self-improvement.”

He Dayou circulated his cultivation technique, allowing his emotions to slowly calm down. He had come to understand that he and Zhang Yu were not competing on the same path, and he shouldn’t let the other person affect his state or his scores, like this 50 in Martial Arts. “Ultimately, improving my own strength and assets is the right path. This time I got 90 points in Daoist Magic, which is already my strong suit, but there’s still room for improvement.” With that thought, He Dayou took out his spellbook and immersed himself in studying, no longer paying attention to the changes around him.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen tilted her head, looking at Zhang Yu, and wondered, “Could Yu Zi have been lying low all this time, pretending for four months, only to shock everyone with his sudden breakthrough? No, that’s not right. He shouldn’t have that kind of ability. Unless… Yu Zi, like me, also unlocked something?”