As Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen stood in awkward silence, contemplating borrowing from Lei Jun, a familiar voice echoed.

“Zhenzhen, Zhang Yu, you’re already here.”

The duo whirled around, spotting Zhao Tianxing emerging from the subway station like a beacon of hope. They surged forward like ravenous ghouls, embracing him tightly. Zhao Tianxing had come specifically to witness their competition.

Zhang Yu: “Old Zhao, lend us some coin, we need to purchase sustenance for the evening.”

However, Zhao Tianxing reluctantly produced a mere ten yuan, sighing, “My mother, fearing my profligacy, only allowed me this paltry sum.”

A useless mama’s boy! I am ashamed to be allied with such as you!

Yet, ten yuan was better than naught. Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen trudged wearily into a nearby convenience store, acquiring a few steamed buns.

Alas, with their current cultivation and physical prowess, a mere handful of buns could not satiate the gnawing emptiness within.

Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes gleamed with a feral light as she gazed at the convenience store, suddenly declaring, “Yu-zi, let us plunder this establishment!”

Zhang Yu nodded in agreement: “Indeed. You shall be responsible for the act of acquisition, and I shall manage the redistribution of the acquired goods.”

Bai Zhenzhen queried further, “Do you believe White Dragon High School might provide gratis provisions?”

Zhang Yu scoffed: “Gratis? I’d be surprised if they don’t charge us double!”

At that very moment, their gazes locked onto a tantalizing sight.

A familiar figure stood before the grand gates of White Dragon High School, gazing upon its sign with reverent awe, whilst snapping a photograph with his mobile device.

“Old Qian!”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen surged forward, seizing Qian Shen’s hands, pleading, “Treat us to an evening repast, we are too famished to compete!”

Qian Shen regarded them quizzically, tapping on his phone. “Will three hundred suffice?”

Heavens! Zhang Yu was dumbstruck.

Then, he began to reflect upon his actions of the past two months.

Consorting with a credit card slave like Bai Zhenzhen? Befriending a mama’s boy like Zhao Tianxing?

Old Qian! You are, in truth, my genuine friend!

Under Qian Shen’s patronage, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen decimated twelve ten-yuan meal sets at the convenience store, costing Qian Shen a grand total of one hundred and twenty yuan.

Patting her slightly distended belly, Bai Zhenzhen declared contentedly, “Enough for now. We must compete later, a partial fullness will suffice.”

Zhang Yu nodded in agreement, then turned to Qian Shen, saying, “Fear not, Old Qian. Once we have conquered the competition and claimed our winnings, we shall repay you.”

Qian Shen brushed off the repayment, scratching his head and inquiring, “Will… will Zhang Pianpian, the prodigy with a score of six hundred and ninety-nine, grace us with her presence at your competition today?”

Zhang Yu cast a pitying gaze upon Qian Shen. Alas, poor Tom, hopelessly infatuated with a high-scoring maiden.

Zhang Yu longed to tell him: your score is six hundred and twenty; hers, six hundred and ninety-nine. The chasm between you is too vast, friendship is unattainable.

Yet, patting the recently consumed sustenance in his stomach, Zhang Yu said, “I doubt it. She is occupied. What time does she have to watch a mere freshman competition?”

Qian Shen nodded thoughtfully, musing, “Indeed. She is in her final year, preparing for the gaokao and university interviews.”

Zhao Tianxing, ever glancing at the time on his phone, interjected, “Didn’t you arrange to meet Teacher Lei at midnight? Time is nigh. Should we not hasten our approach?”

Thus, the quartet returned to the gates of White Dragon High School. Seeing that Teacher Lei Jun had yet to arrive, Zhang Yu suggested they enter to await him.

Alas, as the four approached within a meter of White Dragon High School, they were detected, as if by some arcane ward.

Instantly, a warning blared from an adjacent electronic screen: “Unauthorized personnel of White Dragon High School, entry forbidden.”

The four turned to observe the electronic screen, which displayed:

For campus visitation, please scan code to purchase visitor pass.

Single-person 12-hour tour, accessible to 3rd floor and below, price 500.

Those with high school monthly exam or gaokao score of 660 and above, entry is free.

Those scoring below 550 and those without a high school diploma, visitation prohibited.

Damn it all! So, those with inferior academic prowess are denied entry, are they? Restricting those below 550 is understandable, but why require 660 for free passage?

Zhang Yu scrutinized the information on the electronic screen, then surveyed his companions.

At that instant, he felt that the four of them, from highest to lowest, were being scorned by White Dragon High School.

Moreover, to purchase a pass… his bank account contained no sum as great as 500!

Was he to be eliminated before the competition even commenced, kept outside the hallowed gates of White Dragon High School by a mere 500?

Zhang Yu could only sheepishly turn his gaze to Qian Shen, only to realize that Bai Zhenzhen had likewise fixed her pleading eyes upon him.

Qian Shen, however, was gazing upon the gates of White Dragon High School with rapturous admiration, sighing, “Truly, as I have heard, the gates of White Dragon are not accessible to all.”

With that, he prepared to scan the code and purchase a pass.

As Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen prepared to beg for a loan, Teacher Lei Jun finally arrived, fashionably late.

“You two need not purchase passes,” Lei Jun waved his hand, saying, “We are here to participate in the competition. White Dragon High School has issued passes for us.”

Having received the electronic passes from Lei Jun, the group finally gained access to White Dragon High School, save for Zhao Tianxing, who stood awkwardly outside the gates.

Under the gazes of the other three, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head sheepishly, stammering, “Go on ahead. I shall telephone my mother for funds, purchase a pass, and then seek you out.”

Lei Jun, aware that Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing were there to support Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, nodded in agreement, saying, “The competition venue is located on the lowest floor. Find your way there later.”

As Zhang Yu’s party stepped within the walls of White Dragon High School, Zhang Yu noticed a peculiar aroma permeating the air.

Qian Shen inhaled deeply, exclaiming, “Do you perceive it? The sweet fragrance in the air?”

“White Dragon High School has specially infused the air circulation with a nootropic agent, enhancing mental focus and neural stimulation. They’ve also added a touch of fruit and floral scents…”

Zhang Yu was speechless. Verily, the very air of White Dragon High School was fragrant indeed.

The group continued onward, encountering a corridor divided into white and red paths.

The white path lay in the center, bearing the inscription: For White Dragon High School students, 660 points and above only.

The red paths flanked the sides, proclaiming: For White Dragon High School students, below 660 points only.

Zhang Yu was briefly stunned, then burst into laughter. Good heavens! Those scoring below 660 were relegated to the margins, were they?
Qian Shen, standing to the side, explained, “Each area and venue within White Dragon High School has a point standard for students entering and exiting. Students must operate within the designated areas according to their scores.”

Zhang Yu was rendered speechless again… Wait, what are you explaining? Qian Zi, you’re from Songyang! How are you so familiar with White Dragon? Are you planning to defect?

Next, they walked along the corridor to the elevator, but when they tried to take it to the first floor, they found a sign that read, “No elevator access for students below 660 points.”

Zhang Yu realized that those below 660 points were not treated as human beings at White Dragon High School; they were practically unable to move an inch.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu and his group were tourists and did not need to abide by these rules aimed at the school’s students.

So, the group took the elevator to the first floor. In the blink of an eye, a huge stadium, about ten meters high and covering tens of thousands of square meters, appeared before them.

The hall was filled with high school students walking around. Clearly, many schools’ competition participants had already arrived.

But Zhang Yu looked around and noticed that almost all the competitors were from the three famous schools. People from other high schools were barely visible.

“Compared to the magic competition, this martial arts competition is practically an internal league for the three famous schools.”

And on the surrounding stands, besides some scattered students from various schools, there were three orderly groups of students sitting upright, like formations.

Zhang Yu looked at the rows of seated students and their uniforms and exclaimed in surprise, “Those are students from the three famous schools?”

He felt very surprised: “Aren’t students from the three famous schools supposed to be seizing every second to study? Why are they here watching the competition?”

Especially when he saw the White Dragon High School students, each with wide eyes, chests puffed out, looking energetic and radiant, like they had hyperthyroidism.

Just then, a male voice came from the side, “They’re all first-year students from the three high schools. After all, watching the battles of strong peers helps improve one’s own martial arts combat level, recognize the gap between oneself and the strong, and strengthen one’s determination to pursue the Tao.”

Zhang Yu and the others turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Lian Tianji from Purple Cloud High School slowly approached, smiling at Zhang Yu and saying, “I guessed you would come to the martial arts competition, and indeed, I found you.”

Then he glanced at Zhang Yu’s group, surprised, “Did Songyang only send these few people?”

The next moment, he nodded thoughtfully, “But it’s understandable, after all, it’s Songyang.”

Zhang Yu felt that his Songyang school uniform had been inadvertently looked down upon again.

But Zhang Yu was never a filial son of Songyang. What did Songyang being despised have to do with Zhang Yu? His real identity was a contracted employee of the Songyang City Patrol Team.

So, Zhang Yu asked curiously, “How many people did the three high schools send?”

Lian Tianji pointed to a place on the side of the field, “Look, they’re all over there. Purple Cloud, White Dragon, and Red Pagoda each sent a full contingent of 10 people. We’ve already had a round of eliminations at school. Only those who win in the top ten can come here to compete.”

After separating from Lian Tianji, Lei Jun said, “Let’s go. We’ll go to the competitor’s lounge to register first. Qian Shen, you can find a seat in the stands yourself.”

Zhang Yu and his group arrived at the lounge assigned to each school.

Zhang Yu looked at the lounges of the three famous high schools, Songyang High School and other key high schools, and other ordinary high schools.

How should he put it?

Zhang Yu felt that the three types of lounges were similar to the difference between a ‘VIP lounge’, a ‘sunshade tent’, and a ‘grass mat’.

The three famous high schools’ ‘VIP lounge’ had sofas, lounge chairs, and drinks, fruit, and snacks.

The key high schools’ ‘sunshade tent area’ had a row of chairs and a box of water.

And the ordinary high schools’ ‘grass mat area’ just had a row of benches.

White Dragon was probably afraid that the damn ordinary high school students would come to White Dragon to freeload again.

“This is too much discrimination.”

On the other side, Qian Shen watched the three leave and walked to the stands.

Just as he was about to find a seat, he suddenly noticed that the back of a person in front of him looked familiar.

He hurried up and found that the person was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. Upon seeing Qian Shen, he immediately turned his head away.

Qian Shen looked at the top of the person’s head, then looked at their face, and said in surprise, “You… are you He Dayou from Class 611?”

He Dayou from Class 611 was qualified to sit with him and watch the competition.

And He Dayou really didn’t want to be recognized, let alone be discovered by people from the school that he was here to watch the martial arts competition, especially not wanting people to think he was here to see Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, so he disguised himself and sneaked over.

Who knew that he would be recognized by Qian Shen face-to-face, so he could only turn around helplessly and say, “Yeah, you came too, Qian Shen.”

Qian Shen asked curiously, “Are you also here to watch Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s martial arts competition?”

He Dayou smiled indifferently, “Their strength… doesn’t even reach the average level in the competition. What’s interesting about that level?”

“Actually, my junior high school classmate is participating in the competition and specially invited me to come and watch.”

Qian Shen simply sat down next to He Dayou and asked curiously, “Which high school is your junior high school classmate from? What’s their score level?”

He Dayou turned his head away, looking like he didn’t want to talk.

……

On the other side of the arena.

The competitors first gathered together, then listened to the organizers announce the rules.

“In order to prevent strong players from being eliminated too early on the stage, this competition will first conduct a scoring match.”

“Based on the players’ scores, everyone will be divided into 8 groups, then a draw will be held within each group for a duel, and then the first place from each of the 8 groups, a total of 8 players, will start a knockout tournament…”

Just as everyone was curious about how the scoring match would be scored.

Accompanied by the sound of thumping, a golden figure more than two meters tall slowly walked into the arena.

Only the referee in front was heard saying, “The content of the scoring match is for everyone to take turns fighting with the Yellow Turban Warrior.”

“The average physical strength level of this year’s competitors is 1.98, so the Yellow Turban Warrior will maintain a physical strength output of level 1.98 and take turns fighting with everyone for one minute.”

“Then the judges will score based on everyone’s performance within that one minute.”

“The specific scoring rules are as follows…”