Inside the hall, Zhang Yu stared at Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing with a puzzled expression, curious as to why the two wore expressions of utter defeat.

“What’s wrong with you two?”

However, upon hearing Zhang Yu’s inquisitive question, Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing could only remain silent. Both had signed confidentiality agreements, and any information regarding the special cultivation program was strictly forbidden to be disclosed.

Zhao Tianxing forced a bitter smile and shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just…the pressure from the competition team is a bit much!”

At the same time, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Yu.

Zhao Tianxing mused to himself, “He Dayou and the others already started their transplantation surgeries yesterday. Their physical prowess will skyrocket from now on, won’t it?”

“Even though Yu and Zhen are incredibly talented, they can’t possibly surpass the school’s immortal techniques!”

“So the path of immortality…it truly boils down to money, doesn’t it?”

During physical education class that day, the results were apparent:

He Dayou: Physical Strength Level 1.56
Li Xianglu: Physical Strength Level 1.55
Wang Wenjie: Physical Strength Level 1.53

Overnight, after undergoing transplantation surgery, He Dayou and the other two had made significant improvements.

Watching the trio manipulate various equipment with ease, and observing their physical strength test data, the surrounding students couldn’t help but reveal envious glances.

“The sports competition is indeed Songyang’s signature program! He Dayou and the others are improving so fast!”

“They’ve only been there for one day and they’re already this strong? Teacher Wang Hai is truly skilled!”

But what He Dayou hoped to see and hear was not the whispers of these students. He turned his head, searching for the figures of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, only to find that they seemed to be absent from physical education class. Even the small room beside them was devoid of Zhang Yu’s presence.

“Hmph, it doesn’t matter. There will be plenty of opportunities later!”

He Dayou seemed to envision a scene where, in the coming month, his physical strength would surge daily, ultimately crushing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen beneath his feet.

“I will improve faster and faster, until my physical strength approaches that of a high school senior!”

“My scores will eventually surpass yours!”

So where had Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen gone? Both had applied to Wang Hai to be excused from physical education class.

Zhang Yu’s thought process was: “My Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi is improving rapidly. I should find a place to practice secretly, lest someone discover a clue.”

Bai Zhenzhen thought: “My spiritual root has many functions. Since I already have the reputation of ‘renting’ a spiritual root, I don’t need to worry about attracting attention. I might as well practice alone, to avoid prying eyes and prevent abnormalities from being noticed.”

Thus, on the school’s rooftop…

Zhang Yu looked at Bai Zhenzhen before him and smiled. “Zhenzhen, what a coincidence. You’re not attending physical education class either?”

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu and smiled back. “Yu, what a coincidence. You’ve also come to the rooftop to practice?”

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Zhenzhen has probably become enlightened. She doesn’t want people to see through her, so she’s practicing alone on the rooftop!”

Bai Zhenzhen thought, “Yu must have some plan. He wants to secretly practice, hide his strength, and make a grand appearance a month from now, so he’s come to the rooftop, right?”

Zhang Yu chuckled. “Then let’s practice together on the rooftop!”

Bai Zhenzhen also laughed. “Yes, let’s practice together, together!”

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Zhenzhen is still trustworthy. This time, I’ll let her witness my talent and completely subjugate her!”

Bai Zhenzhen thought, “After all, a mother doesn’t hide anything from her son. After enduring for more than a decade, I can finally find someone to showcase my astonishing potential.

Hahahaha, I can already see Yu’s envious and jealous look!”

Thus, the two exchanged smiles, each standing still to the side, and began to cultivate separately.

On the rooftop, Zhang Yu began to diligently cultivate his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

He stood still, his body gradually emitting a thunderous roar amidst repeated vibrations, like waves repeatedly crashing against the rocks.

Bai Zhenzhen turned her head, looking at Zhang Yu’s cheeks and hands, which were gradually turning red under the surging blood and Qi. She felt a slight shock in her heart.

Then, with a face full of jealousy, she thought, “Could that be the Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi? Yu has already mastered it? He’s starting to use this technique to temper his body?”

Bai Zhenzhen suddenly felt that the spiritual root in her abdomen was no longer appealing.

She felt that her mood at this moment was like being awakened in the middle of the night by a classmate’s vomitting sounds, seeing a classmate secretly eating the remaining medicine packets in the morning, and seeing a classmate with more needle holes on their arms than usual during physical education class.

Bai Zhenzhen quickly released the restraints on her spiritual root, preparing to begin body tempering.

“How can a son’s showboating compare to a mother’s showboating?”

“Continue to surpass him, surpass him! My physical strength next month must continue to be above Yu’s!”

With that said, she had already released the restraints on the spiritual root within her body and began body tempering.

After practicing more than ten times, Zhang Yu felt a burst of weakness in his body, so he decided to sit down and rest for a while, while taking out the prepared energy drink to take a few sips.

“As expected of the energy drink I got from White Dragon High School. Free is the best!”

Just then, sensing the strange aura of the spiritual machine in the air, he turned his head to look in Bai Zhenzhen’s direction.

He saw Bai Zhenzhen also practicing a body tempering technique. Although Zhang Yu couldn’t tell what technique it was, he could vaguely feel wisps of spiritual machine flowing towards Bai Zhenzhen’s flesh, seemingly nourishing her entire body.

“Is this the effect of the spiritual root? Something that can enhance the body, like a muscle-building spiritual root?”

Zhang Yu thought with a face full of envy, “Having a spiritual root is really great. I must ask Zhenzhen to borrow it to play with in the future!”

Then Zhang Yu discovered a new abnormality.

With his experience of having multiple martial arts at level 10, he was more than capable of discovering subtle differences in other people’s moves.

Looking at Bai Zhenzhen at this moment, Zhang Yu felt that there were obvious adjustments in each iteration of the other party’s body tempering technique, which made people feel more comfortable and more enjoyable. It was as if Bai Zhenzhen naturally…constantly adapted to this set of body tempering techniques.

“Could it be that every time Zhenzhen practices martial arts, there will be adjustments and improvements?”

It sounded ordinary, but upon closer inspection, Zhang Yu felt the formidable nature of it.
Zhang Yu was inwardly shocked, “Isn’t this just like my Feather Script, allowing for rapid progress in cultivation techniques as well?”

“She wasn’t this formidable when she practiced before, was she?”

“She’s definitely secretly cheating!”

The thought that she had been secretly striving where he couldn’t see spurred Zhang Yu to rise after a short rest and continue to push himself in cultivating the Scarlet Marrow Primordial Qi.

Thus, in the following days, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen diligently practiced body refinement, keeping each other company in the process.

When the school bell rang, Zhang Yu had already raised the Scarlet Marrow Primordial Qi to Level 7 (15/70). He felt every muscle and tendon in his body pulling, his internal organs constantly exercising. With each repetition of his practice, they were tempered, emitting strange sounds of internal movement.

On the other side, Bai Zhenzhen was flushed with heat, sweat dripping from her rosy cheeks. She felt every muscle in her body growing and strengthening under the catalyst of her spiritual root.

As the bell rang, the two exchanged a smile.

Zhang Yu laughed, “Impressive, Zhen’er!”

Bai Zhenzhen also smiled, “You’re not bad yourself, Yu-zi!”

Zhang Yu mused to himself, “No shower tonight, straight to cultivation! I must raise the Scarlet Marrow Primordial Qi to Level 10!”

Bai Zhenzhen secretly vowed, “No bathroom break tonight! Damn this flesh! I’ll push it until dawn!”

And so, for the next few days, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen seized every moment, darting through the school’s deserted corners, leaving behind pools of sweat, relentlessly pushing their bodies to the limit.

During physical education, He Dayou felt thrilled at his daily increase in physical strength, but was subtly disappointed each time he failed to see Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

But he endured it all.

He continuously told himself, “Isn’t this the outcome I foresaw?”

“Talented poor people are only impressive at the beginning. In the end, they will inevitably lose to the wealthy!”

“After the transplant, as the newly integrated muscles continuously fuse with my flesh, my physical strength is now rapidly increasing every day!”

“The later Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen witness my strength, the more despairing the gap will feel to them!”

With a glimmer of anticipation, He Dayou continued to diligently cultivate during physical education.

Also in physical education, Zhao Tianxing surreptitiously observed He Dayou, his gaze always accompanied by a hint of envy and hesitation.

“Qian Shen has already withdrawn, indicating he won’t participate in the competition team. Lan Ling has selected another student to join!”

“But… should I also withdraw?”

“I don’t like this method of increasing my score, but He Dayou and the others are really improving their physical strength quickly. At this rate… I won’t be able to catch up with them!”

But the thought of his parents planning to sell their house to help him get a higher score in this competition team caused Zhao Tianxing to hesitate.

One day, in the small forest before school ended.

Zhang Yu sat cross-legged, his body constantly emitting white vapor in the cold wind. He was cultivating the Scarlet Marrow Primordial Qi, which had already reached Level 10.

At this moment, every muscle, internal organ, and bone marrow in his body was pulled together, tempered in each repetition of his force exertion.

Furthermore, there were the effects of the Scarlet Marrow Primordial Qi reaching Level 10.

Zhang Yu’s physical structure became more rational and complete. Every muscle in his body fit perfectly, like exquisitely crafted parts perfectly assembled together.

This adjustment of his physical structure after Level 10 instantly boosted his physical strength. Adding to the diligent cultivation of the past few days, his physical strength had increased to level 1.67.

In addition, his digestion and metabolism were greatly enhanced.

Zhang Yu felt that he was constantly hungry now, and it felt like every piece of his flesh was starving.

“The daily food costs have already risen to over 600. This body refinement is really expensive!”

Even so, Zhang Yu could feel that his body was still not satisfied.

“It seems I need to consume pills?”

The Scarlet Marrow Primordial Qi can be used with pills for body refinement, but the corresponding pills are called Primordial Pills, which Zhang Yu saw online cost 30,000 each.

“Damn it… this Purple Cloud Pharmaceutical Company is robbing people!”

With the soaring food costs and the need for pills, Zhang Yu felt increasingly short of money.

Although he tutored Song Hailong again yesterday and another 5,000 yuan was credited to his account, Zhang Yu still felt that the balance of less than 16,000 yuan was not enough to spend.

Fortunately, another opportunity to earn money has come today.

As the school bell rang, Bai Zhenzhen finished her practice, looked at Zhang Yu, and said, “Let’s go, Yu-zi, let’s go shoot the advertisement!”