https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-101-Setting-the-Time-Fighting-for-the-Competition-Slot/13686530/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-103-Purchasing-the-Invisibility-Charm-Before-the-Competition-Please-Vote-for-the-Month-/13686532/
Chapter 102: Power Comparison – Join the Special Training Program?
Seeing Zhang Yu’s Physical Strength Level at 3.21, He Dayou’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn’t fathom having spent so much money, trained so relentlessly every day, only to be left so far behind by Zhang Yu.
Inside, he screamed: How could this happen? How?!
What did Zhang Yu even do? Why has his Physical Strength Level risen higher than mine in just one month?
Is it some new drug? Some breakthrough technology? But where would he even get the money for that?
Lan Ling’s gaze sharpened beside him, her mind racing. Could it be Zhang Pianpian pulling the strings behind Zhang Yu? How did she manage such a leap? What secret technique did she use? Did she even use Bailong High School’s Immortal Dao Technology?
Wang Hai, utterly baffled by Zhang Yu’s sudden leap, muttered, “Which pharmaceutical company? Which tech firm? Are they trying to use Zhang Yu as a test subject to promote a new product?”
He studied Zhang Yu closely, noting the absence of needle marks on his temples or the typical injection sites on his arms—no signs of the usual physical enhancement methods.
By all logic, this high school student shouldn’t be a body refinement cultivator.
Wang Hai thought to himself: The injections must be hidden somewhere I can’t see. Tianyao Needle Art? Xueshi Needle Art? What’s the real method?
Zhang Yu, feeling Wang Hai’s intense scrutiny, shivered inwardly. Lao Wang’s at it again—always suspecting I’m using performance-enhancing drugs.
Damn it, I’ve said it a hundred times—my cultivation is pure natural training!
Demon Beast Meat powder? Who doesn’t eat a bit of that when cultivating? Beast Protein Milk has almost no side effects.
Hunyuan Pill? That’s not even a real enhancement technique—it’s just basic supplementation.
I train under the sky as my blanket, the earth as my bed—true, natural cultivation!
Zhang Yu glanced at the doorframe-like figure of Lan Ling, silently acknowledging her as the true embodiment of Immortal Dao Technology’s essence.
Then Zhang Yu spoke, “So, are we still eligible to join the competition team?”
Lan Ling’s eyelid twitched slightly. Her tone was flat, almost cold. “According to the agreement… yes, you are.”
At that moment, the mood in the room was a storm of disbelief, shock, and curiosity—except for Ye Haitao, who had been ranked fifth. Now, after Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen joined, she’d plummeted to seventh place, completely eliminated from the Sports Competition.
All the money her family had poured into securing a spot in the team, the crushing debt they’d taken on—now all for nothing.
The dream of joining the Special Training Program, the chance to rise above her circumstances—gone.
Ye Haitao collapsed to her knees, her limbs trembling uncontrollably, as if her body were no longer under her control.
Her world was crumbling.
Wang Hai’s expression hardened. “Her Dao Heart is unstable. Fetch her Daoxin Buffer—force it down her throat.”
Meanwhile, Li Yong—formerly fourth, now sixth—could barely breathe. The gap between him and Bai Zhenzhen was only 0.02 levels, a difference that shouldn’t matter in the grand scheme.
But it did.
To raise me, my parents sacrificed everything.
To afford my high school education, to fund my training, to let me join the Special Training Program… they’ve carried the weight of the world.
His father joined a gang, smuggling Children’s Flying Swords—risking execution for every coin he earned.
His mother infiltrated a food syndicate, forging Pre-made Meals in underground workshops, constantly dodging gang wars and corporate raids.
Now, with Synthetic Food flooding the market, they were in danger of being purged—cut loose from the organization entirely.
This was Li Yong’s life—a family with income higher than city white-collar workers, yet living on the edge of death, bankruptcy, and debt.
A black heir, raised on dreams of escaping the underworld.
“I’m the only hope for my family. Only by getting into university can we wash our name clean, break free from the gang…”
“To keep up with this training, I’ve taken over twenty different drugs daily. I eat every two hours. I’ve broken bones in countless grueling muscle sessions. Now, if I miss even a dose of painkillers, I’m in agony—every nerve screaming.”
“We’ve given so much… I’ve given so much… Why should I lose?”
“Because Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen are rich kids playing favorites? Because they’ve been funded? Does that mean I, the poor one, have to lose to their rich dogs?”
To many classmates, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen—constantly swapping Spirit Roots like they were snacks—were already seen as wealthy patrons’ pets.
They belonged to the elite.
So when Lan Ling agreed to let Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen join the team, Li Yong stepped forward.
He locked eyes with Bai Zhenzhen, voice trembling with fury.
“Our Physical Strength Levels differ by only 0.02. In the Sports Competition, that’s not a decisive gap. I challenge you!”
After months of training, Li Yong had learned: the Sports Competition wasn’t just about raw numbers.
If it were, they could just rank all high school students by their levels—no need for a tournament.
The number was just the foundation.
What truly mattered was how much a student could push their flesh and blood.
Bai Zhenzhen has Zhang Pianpian’s backing—she’s got deeper pockets than me. But I don’t believe she’s trained harder, more focused. Her control over her body might even be worse than mine.
And in the Special Training Program, my Fascia Limit was surgically removed—my muscles can now explode beyond normal limits. I’ll beat her!
Gathering his resolve, Li Yong pointed at Bai Zhenzhen.
“I’ll prove who’s stronger. Are you willing to fight?”
Before anyone could respond, Bai Zhenzhen’s lips curled into a silent, triumphant smile.
Perfect. Today’s my stage. No need for Yu to steal the spotlight.
But then a pang of disappointment struck her—Zhang Yu couldn’t be challenged because his level was too high.
No one dared to step up.
She turned to Li Yong, her expression icy, distant.
“Fine. How do we test?”
Li Yong strode forward. “Good. We’ll—”
“Enough.” Lan Ling’s voice cut through like ice. “This is about securing a school spot, not your personal rivalry. The specific event will be decided by me and the faculty.”
After a brief discussion, it was decided: Bai Zhenzhen and Li Yong would face off in a barbell lift—pure, unadulterated physical strength.
As per all Sports Competition rules, no Martial Energy could be used. Only raw flesh and bone.
Both were fitted with detection patches to monitor for any forbidden energy use.
Zhang Yu watched silently, thinking: So I’ll have to stop Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa during the actual competition. Too bad—missed another passive breath cycle.
Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa was entirely under Zhang Yu’s control. He could stop it anytime. After all, it was his cultivation method.
Then Li Yong approached the 1,500 kg barbell.
He gripped it with both hands, roared, and—with his face flushed red—lifted it off the ground.
He held it for five seconds—then, with a thunderous boom, the barbell crashed back down, bouncing once before settling.
Li Yong glared at Bai Zhenzhen. “Your turn.”
Under the eyes of the crowd, Bai Zhenzhen stepped forward.
Her body tensed. Her muscles rippled, visibly swelling as if her entire frame had expanded slightly.
Each muscle fiber coiled, interlocked, merging into one powerful whole.
Thanks to Leiji True Body training, her nervous system had already been honed to exceptional precision—superior strength recruitment and control.
Then, after sharing Spirit Roots with Zhang Yu, her cultivation absorbed traces of Chisui Hunyuanqi—enhancing her muscle coordination and explosive power.
Now, with a single, effortless motion, she seized the 1,500 kg barbell.
Her face remained calm, breath steady.
“Too easy,” she said coolly.
She held it for five seconds—then casually dropped it and walked toward the next, 2,000 kg barbell.
In stunned silence, Bai Zhenzhen took a breath, her cheeks tinged red.
She let out a low, sharp shout—her arms flared with power—and with a single, fluid motion, lifted the barbell overhead.
Lan Ling’s eyes narrowed. Fierce explosive power… exceptional muscle control. This isn’t even her limit. Zhang Pianpian really went all in.
He Dayou, too, had once believed that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s sudden strength surge—without even joining the Special Training Program—might come at the cost of control.
But seeing Bai Zhenzhen lift 2,000 kg with ease, his expression darkened.
And Li Yong? His heart sank.
His personal best had been just over 1,900 kg.
Bai Zhenzhen had shattered his ceiling.
Logically, he should have given up.
But pride wouldn’t let him.
“I’ve sacrificed so much. I’ve fought so hard to get here… am I really just going to surrender because rich kids have money?”
He stepped up to the 2,000 kg barbell.
Inhaling deeply, he gripped it—then roared.
Muscles exploded into tension. The barbell, like a mountain, stood before him—only a faint tremor betrayed the strain.
“I need to go to university!”
“I don’t want my parents to keep living in the underworld!”
“GET UP, DAMN IT!”
With veins bulging, face crimson, Li Yong slowly, painfully, began lifting the barbell.
ROAR!
He finally raised it overhead, a smile creeping across his lips.
But then—crack, crack, crack—a series of sharp pops echoed from his right arm.
His eyes widened in horror.
Blood erupted from his arm.
His grip failed.
The barbell crashed down.
Wang Hai lunged forward—catching the 2,000 kg weight with one hand, the other wrapping around Li Yong’s trembling body.
Li Yong tried to move his arm—twitching, unresponsive.
“Teacher… what’s wrong?” he gasped.
Wang Hai glanced at the wound, then sighed. “After fascia-limit surgery, your muscles can push beyond limits. But your body hasn’t adapted to the overload. Your flesh tore.”
He knew this was one of the flaws of the Special Training Program—muscles aren’t a single unit. When transplanted fibers explode with power, the original tissue can’t keep up. Collapse follows.
Li Yong’s voice cracked. “Can I… recover? Can I still join the Special Training Program?”
Wang Hai patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. Just treat it, rest a few days. You’ll be back in training.”
Lan Ling didn’t even glance at the fallen Li Yong. Her gaze remained fixed on Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu—businesslike, detached.
“According to the agreement, your scores qualify you for the Sports Competition Team.”
“The upcoming monthly competition will be contested by you, Bai Zhenzhen, and He Dayou—along with the others.”
“As for future team training—whether you join or not is up to you.”
Zhang Yu tilted his head. “So… what about that Special Training Program? Can we apply?”
The so-called Special Training Program—what had allowed He Dayou and the others to skyrocket in Physical Strength Level in just a month—had become an obsession for both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.
Lan Ling looked at them, a cold smirk curling her lips. So Zhang Pianpian’s eye is on our transplant technology too? That’s why she pushed these two in?
She maintained a professional tone.
“The Special Training Program is organized by the Student Union, with school coordination. Selection is based on strict criteria.”
“You two do not meet the standards. You are not eligible.”
(End of Chapter)
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