When Zhang Yu saw the complex energy circulation diagram, he was also slightly startled. But after actually trying it, he realized it was much simpler than the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method he practiced daily. Compared to the full-body magical power circulation established by the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, this current path, which converted magical power into sharp sword energy, was far too simple. Zhang Yu had practiced the magical power circulation of the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method all the way to Level 10, having trained it countless times. Practicing this now was like a university student from his previous life going to an oral calculation PK platform to effortlessly defeat children.

So, when he began to channel his magical power to his right arm according to the cultivation diagram in the projection, he felt a sharp aura burst forth from his fingertips after a brief attempt. This sharp aura couldn’t even be called sword energy, and its power was only slightly stronger than a utility knife, but it still made Zhang Yu very excited.

“Ah Zhen, look! I did it!”

Bai Zhenzhen: You’re such a pest, Zhang Yu! How repulsive!

Teacher Yan immediately looked over and asked in surprise, “Have you studied this before?” After seeing Zhang Yu shake his head, she exclaimed, “It seems you have great talent in this area.” Sensing Zhang Yu’s talent in this area, Teacher Yan began to teach even more diligently. Next, she taught several basic magical power conversion routes, such as heating, low temperature, and electricity generation. Watching Zhang Yu learn all of them in a short time, she nodded repeatedly and praised him profusely.

“I’ve taught you these for today. Go back and practice diligently.”

“Don’t forget, tomorrow and the day after, at the same time, I’ll give you two more supplementary lessons.”

“Then I’ll teach you how to dissolve magical power and how to perform magical power intrusion.”

Watching Zhang Yu’s retreating figure, Teacher Yan thought to herself, “You’d better utterly defeat those eight who didn’t come for tutoring in the magical arts competition.” As for actually placing in the magical arts competition? Or making it into the top ten to win prize money or extra points for university interviews… Teacher Yan hadn’t even considered that. If it were a sports competition, Songyang High School would have some competitiveness. Although competitions are separate from the college entrance exam, Songyang High School had, after all, produced a city-wide top scorer in sports and had always been a strong sports school. However, competitions other than sports were almost always the playground of the three elite schools. Their only opponents were themselves, and even key high schools like Songyang rarely got involved. In Teacher Yan’s best estimation, Zhang Yu would be the top performer among Songyang High School’s ten contestants, making those students who didn’t come for tutoring deeply regret it and quickly send her money after the competition to beg for more lessons.

***

After leaving the classroom, Zhang Yu found a message on his phone from Zhou Chechen, agreeing to his request to continue fulfilling the loan contract and making monthly payments. After all, Zhou Chechen had previously bought his 700,000 loan debt, becoming Zhang Yu’s new creditor for monthly repayments. However, to show his sincerity, he had stated that Zhang Yu didn’t need to rush with monthly payments. Over the past few days, Zhang Yu had brought up the repayment issue several times with Zhou Chechen via phone. The other party had refused a few times but finally agreed to his request, expressing understanding for his reluctance to be in debt.

“Did he agree?”

Zhang Yu somewhat painfully paid back this month’s 15,000 loan. Although it stung, he didn’t want to have a handle that could be forcibly executed at any time due to overdue payments, as Bai Zhenzhen had warned. Especially if these wealthy individuals found out he wanted to break through the blockade and get into one of the top ten universities, an overdue loan would be a huge weakness. After this 15,000, plus 3,000 for tutoring, Zhang Yu’s savings had dropped to just over 43,000.

“Sigh, money really doesn’t last long.”

“I hope this magical arts competition will let me earn more.”

***

Meanwhile.

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen left the demonstration class classroom to go for tutoring with Teacher Yan, Liang Qin, who had just returned from the restroom, walked back and frowned upon seeing Zhang Yu’s empty seat. After searching the entire floor and finding no trace of Zhang Yu, he couldn’t help but curse inwardly, “He was just in the classroom, where did he go?”

“Is this guy deliberately avoiding me?”

“He just got lucky and became a Golden Core disciple, right? Does he need to be so arrogant?”

“If he hadn’t become a Golden Core disciple, he wouldn’t be much stronger than me…”

Walking out of the corridor, fuming, Liang Qin received another call. Listening to the inquiry from the other end of the line, he vaguely replied, “Hmm, he’s already gone home.”

“Nothing happened today.”

“Since becoming a Golden Core disciple, this person has been very arrogant, always guarding against classmates like a thief, as if afraid others will discover his secret to improving scores.”

“I know, I’ll keep an eye on him. Don’t forget to send the money.”

After hanging up, Liang Qin’s face was momentarily distracted until he saw the transfer notification text message arrive, at which point a cheerful smile appeared on his face. The reason for this was that he had been particularly short on money recently. Although most people at Songyang High School, both students and teachers, were short on money, Liang Qin was even more desperate for money than the average poor person.

Actually, his family’s financial situation was originally quite good. Although they didn’t live in the city center, they also didn’t live in the far suburbs; instead, they resided in an apartment on the outskirts of the urban area. His mother was a full-time housewife, and his father was a low-level company employee. While supporting his education was a struggle, they at least had enough to eat and drink.

Things changed a month after he enrolled in Songyang High School. Perhaps it was the heavy academic pressure, or his gradually slipping ranking, or the pressure from one top student after another, or the intentional or unintentional flaunting of wealth by rich students, or the teachers’ extreme strictness… Liang Qin didn’t know why, but he, who had been a top student from elementary school to junior high, suddenly started zoning out in high school classes. He couldn’t resist opening his eyes and checking his phone halfway through his breathing exercises. During physical training, he always felt weak and listless. He always found himself staring blankly when studying talismans. He… seemed to have developed a distaste for studying.

What would be the outcome of disliking studying at Songyang High School? Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated, and his condition worsened. Just then, a second-year high school student he had coincidentally met introduced him to a method to relax and vent stress. The other person said, “Go play on this platform.”

Liang Qin hesitated, “Is this for betting on magical power?”

The other person smiled carelessly, “A little gambling for entertainment, right? If you win, you can relax for a few days and rest. If you lose, just take it as a bit of pressure to study even harder.” The other person patted Liang Qin’s shoulder and advised, “When I first entered high school, I also found it hard to adjust. I just came here to play and relax.”

“You don’t need to be too scared. Geniuses like us who can get into high school have willpower far superior to ordinary people.”

“As long as you control yourself and don’t get addicted, a little relaxation is harmless and beneficial, and you can even earn some extra magical power…”

Thinking of his self-discipline throughout his life, Liang Qin finally couldn’t resist trying it. This was a platform where one could deposit money to bet and win magical power through gambling. If you won, you could obtain magical power cultivated by others through a proxy spirit root connection. If you lost, you either helped others cultivate magical power through a proxy spirit root connection or paid off the debt with money.

Liang Qin lost his first bet. He lost his second bet too. Just when he thought all his money would be gone and that such platforms were indeed unreliable, he won 0.3 magical power on his third bet. Even now, he still remembered the excitement he felt at that moment. He still remembered the thrill of extracting 0.3 magical power from the proxy spirit root connection sent by the platform after he cashed out. The exhilarating sensation of his magical power suddenly surging was something he would never forget.

In the following period, he would occasionally place small bets on this platform. At first, it was indeed as the senior student had said. If he won, the magical power he gained would relieve the pressure of a magical power class for several days, making things much easier. And if he lost, he would redouble his efforts in cultivation, feeling more motivated.

“Indeed, as long as I can control myself, this platform is beneficial and harmless…” This was what Liang Qin thought two months into the school year. But now, four months into the school year…

Regret! Regret! Regret!

Whenever he thought about secretly using his parents’ bank cards and the huge debt he had accumulated, Liang Qin would wake up in fright repeatedly, staring at his bedroom door, as if afraid someone would rush in at any moment to take his Dantian, organs, or flesh…

But at this moment, at the school gate, looking at the 500 yuan he had just received, Liang Qin felt an urge to gamble again. A moment later, watching the freshly acquired 500 yuan instantly melt away again, Liang Qin thumped his chest and stomped his feet, once more falling into a state of regret.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

He comforted himself, “Tomorrow I can continue following Zhang Yu and get more money.”

“Next time, if I win 300, I’ll stop immediately.”

“As long as I control my greed with absolute willpower, I can pay back my debts little by little…”

Pondering his plan to make amends, Liang Qin walked towards home.

***

In the Songyang High School office.

Su Haifeng watched the person in front of him hang up the phone and said, “So Liang Qin was sent by you?”

“But this student has become a gambling addict. His words can’t be trusted.”

The man opposite him smiled slightly and said, “I just had him keep a slight eye on Zhang Yu. It was merely a casual move, utilizing a waste, and I didn’t expect him to uncover anything significant.”

Su Haifeng shook his head, “Zhang Yu has already spoken with the student council. It’s likely he’ll sign a contract soon. Are you still not giving up?”

The other person said coldly, “Zhang Yu was someone I brought in. Although things have developed somewhat beyond my expectations, I won’t let go so easily.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve received news that Zhang Yu and the student council will sign the contract after the next monthly exam.”

“I will seize the time and get everything done.”

***

In the following days, Zhang Yu happily cultivated the Wild Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art, feeling fulfilled and satisfied as he experienced his Dao Heart level gradually improving. Apart from that, he continued with his daily classes and studies. He also occasionally practiced the techniques he learned from Teacher Yan, preparing for the magical arts competition. In a blink of an eye, more than ten days passed, and finally, the day of the magical arts competition arrived.

During these past ten-plus days, relying on the diligent advancement of the Level 10 Wild Ox Soul Suppressing Heart Art, Zhang Yu’s Dao Heart level also increased to Level 2 (42). He felt that he should have a chance to raise his Dao Heart level to Level 3 around the time of the next monthly exam. His magical power also steadily increased with the day and night breathing exercises of the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, now reaching a level of 15.4. Zhang Yu’s surge in magical power once again surprised the students. However, after noticing that Zhang Yu’s physical strength remained almost unchanged, they merely sighed, remarking that he must have dedicated all his effort to spiritual qi absorption and magical power refinement, guessing that he was preparing to go all out for the magical arts competition.

At the entrance of Songyang High School on this day, Teacher Yan, accompanied by Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, He Dayou, and others, boarded a bus bound for the magical arts competition venue for first-year high school students in Songyang City.