https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-115-Breakthrough-Before-the-Match-Sky-Column/13686554/
Chapter 114: Victory or Defeat
Even with her ice-like skin and jade-like constitution, Le Mulan felt her body on the verge of melting at that moment.
The power within her surged like molten lava, driven by the potent medicinal effects, propelling her forward like a storm wind.
Ziyun High School, Ziyun Pharmaceutical, and her family had poured immense resources into this competition—and the upcoming tech showcase that followed.
This weight of expectation was something Le Mulan had never felt before.
Yet she didn’t resent it.
The care from her family, the sacrifices of her parents, the guidance of her older brother—these had shaped her life from childhood into that of a privileged prodigy.
Her genes, her talent, had been tested again and again, deemed the finest.
So she had received, again and again—privileges, advantages, endless support.
And that very abundance had bred a quiet fire in her heart.
She wanted everyone in her family to know—she wanted those siblings who had been filtered out to understand.
She was worthy of all this investment.
Now, with this breakthrough in body refinement technology, and the company’s expansion into the Physical Fitness Competition, she finally had her chance—to prove herself to her family, to repay her parents’ faith.
Le Mulan’s eyes locked onto Yu Xinghan and Zhang Yu in the distance.
“I thought I’d at least get second…”
A sharp whoosh—she’d already leapt past Bai Zhenzhen.
“That gap…” She gritted her teeth, watching the two figures ahead. “Too far to catch up… No, I have to try—just try!”
Then, suddenly, she noticed a shadow flicker beside her.
“Someone’s catching up?”
“Who?”
“Song Hailong?”
But as she glanced at the slender silhouette, she knew it wasn’t him.
“Wait… Is that… Bai Zhenzhen?”
Surprise flashed across her face. She hadn’t expected the girl she’d just left behind to actually keep pace.
“How can she still be following?”
Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen battled through the gale, her body screaming in agony. Every muscle, every tendon, every organ strained under unbearable pressure.
Unlike Zhang Yu, who could push his body beyond limits simply by deepening his physical cultivation—without needing much medicine—Bai Zhenzhen had only managed to absorb fragments of Chisui Hunyuanqi training through her Spirit Root.
She hadn’t reached Zhang Yu’s level.
So before the race, she’d injected herself with twelve needles—this was the source of the torment in her internal organs.
But now, as she accelerated alongside Zhang Yu, the blood surged faster, her muscles strained to the limit, and the scars across her body flared with unbearable pain.
She couldn’t keep pushing at full force.
“Even if I can’t catch Yu Xinghan, that’s his fight. Let Yu handle him.”
“I’ll conserve my strength. Can’t afford injury before the next stage.”
But just as she thought that, Le Mulan surged past her.
Bai Zhenzhen realized she could no longer hold back.
“Yu will beat Yu Xinghan. He’ll take first.”
“I’ve got to keep third—otherwise, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
With a sudden burst, Bai Zhenzhen’s body began to radiate heat. Her muscles convulsed violently, and her scars turned a deep crimson—like dragon claws tearing through her flesh, each one sending waves of agony through her.
And as she relentlessly pursued Le Mulan, the other girl fought to shake her off.
“How can I lose to this poor girl?”
“I have to show everyone in my family—my investment wasn’t wasted!”
The two streaked down the track, their movements so fast they tore the air apart, their winds colliding like sparks flying from steel.
“I’m going to make it to the Top Ten—with Yu!”
The red scars on Bai Zhenzhen’s body grew even more vivid, as if they were bleeding under the strain. The pain was unbearable—like her flesh was being ripped apart.
“Damn it… Should’ve spent more on painkillers…”
A roar tore from her soul. She pushed her body past the breaking point, enduring the agony until they reached the final 500 meters.
GROWL!
Two hearts thundered in unison.
Only one thought remained in their minds:
Surpass them. I must surpass them!
Then, in Le Mulan’s stunned gaze, Bai Zhenzhen surged forward—leaping over her, reclaiming her third-place position.
But as Bai Zhenzhen raised her head, flushed with triumph, she saw something unexpected.
Zhang Yu’s speed had slightly slowed.
The two lightning bolts—Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan—had finally separated.
Whoosh!
Yu Xinghan crossed the finish line first.
Zhang Yu followed closely behind, collapsing the moment he stopped, his face pale.
Bai Zhenzhen finished third, rushing to Zhang Yu’s side. “Are you okay?”
Zhang Yu shook his head. “I’m fine.”
But inside, his heart pounded wildly.
After pushing his body to absolute limits, enduring wave after wave of strain, his heartbeat had grown frantic—like it might explode from his chest.
His heart couldn’t keep up with the demands his will was placing on his body.
Yet, in that moment of extreme pressure, under the strain of battle, he felt something remarkable.
In just seconds, his heart had broken through its previous limits—surpassing what would normally take days to achieve.
The cost?
The heart muscle had been worn down, depleted. That was why he’d fallen behind Yu Xinghan in the final sprint.
Zhang Yu thought: Like muscles after a breakthrough—they need time to rebuild, to grow stronger.
My heart has broken through, but it won’t become stronger on its own. It needs time, needs resources to heal and grow.
At that moment, his body screamed for food.
Not just nourishment to replenish lost energy—but his heart, now transformed, was begging for nutrients, craving strength, demanding to become greater.
Breaking limits is just the beginning.
Zhang Yu placed a hand on his chest.
Real growth requires substance. My heart wants to be stronger. Right now, it needs massive amounts of food and nutrients.
And then, with Chisui Hunyuanqi, I can accelerate digestion and growth.
The 10th-level Chisui Hunyuanqi gave Zhang Yu an extraordinary metabolism and digestion capacity—this was one of the reasons his Physical Strength Level had skyrocketed.
On the other side, Yu Xinghan glanced coldly at Zhang Yu.
Was the slowdown at the end due to the medicine wearing off? Or side effects?
He knew Zhang Yu had used some powerful drug to keep up. But still, being matched by a student from Songyang High School—especially one who’d taken his Golden Core Disciple title—was deeply unsettling.
Guess I was too careless.
Next round… I’ll take some medicine too.
Then, as cameras focused on him, Yu Xinghan flashed a bright smile.
“Don’t forget to follow Xianyun Group’s Faux Demon Muscle Surgery next month!”
After leaving the arena, Yu Xinghan answered a call from Li Xuelian—daughter of Xinghuo Immortal, and Yu Xinghan’s nominal senior sister.
Li Xuelian asked, “How did it go?”
Yu Xinghan reported, “First in the first three events.”
“Win the last one, and it’s all set.”
“Don’t worry, Sister. The Xianyun contract won’t fail.”
“After this, who else could possibly win the overall title?”
…
In the Audience Stand, Le Jingchen’s expression darkened.
Le Mulan hadn’t even made the top three—she finished fourth.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen—using some unknown tech and potent drugs—had clawed their way into the top three.
Especially Zhang Yu, who had matched Yu Xinghan stride for stride for a time.
Even if Yu Xinghan had slowed intentionally, it was still enough to steal the spotlight from Le Mulan.
Songyang High School…
The thought of Ziyun High School being outshone by Songyang High School sent a chill through Le Jingchen’s eyes.
Then, his phone buzzed.
A flood of messages arrived.
Le Jingchen scanned the screen.
Zhou Chichen from the Zhou family. Lan Ling from the Lan family. Both say Songyang High School has no tech breakthrough.
And they claim this Zhang Yu is just a dog of Bailong High School’s Zhang Pianpian.
Le Jingchen’s eyes narrowed.
Bailong High School… Xianyun Group? Could this be Xianyun’s move?
He turned sharply toward the main screen.
If Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen are using Xianyun tech… then five of the top ten competitors are backed by Xianyun Group.
Le Jingchen could already picture it—the aftermath of the Sports Competition, when Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s tech was revealed.
Bailong High School and Xianyun Group—winning big.
…
After the third event, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen rushed straight to the Self-Service Dining Area.
Zhang Yu, pale-faced, said, “A Zhen, I need to eat. A lot. Then I’ll cultivate, digest, and strengthen my heart. That way, next stage, I’ll unleash my full strength and beat Yu Xinghan.”
Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “Even if you win the next round, it won’t be enough for overall first.”
The Sports Competition had four events:
- Physical Strength Level – 50 points
- Agility Check – 75 points
- Speed – 75 points
- Strength Check – 150 points
Bai Zhenzhen calculated:
Yu Xinghan had already scored 200 points across the first three events.
Zhang Yu had 191.
“So you don’t just need first. You need to outperform him by a wide margin in the Strength Check.”
Zhang Yu nodded seriously.
“Scoring is based on performance. If I get first—150 points—and my strength is clearly superior, his score will drop.”
“To beat him, I need to hold him below 141 points. Or… lead him by at least nine points.”
Bai Zhenzhen stared, stunned.
“Nine points in a 150-point event? Against that freak? Are you serious?”
Zhang Yu said, “Whether it’s possible or not, we have to try.”
“And we’ve got one and a half hours of rest before the next stage. Plenty of time to do a lot.”
So in the Self-Service Dining Area, Bai Zhenzhen kept bringing plate after plate of food.
She watched Zhang Yu devour it—eating like a man possessed.
(End of Chapter)
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