Chapter 12: Vigorous Progress (Thanks to Shui Lan for the generous donation)

Chapter 12: Vigorous Progress (Thanks to Shui Lan for the generous donation)

A short while later, Zhang Yu emerged from the Xianyun Corporation office building, his face pale and his body hunched, looking weak.

However, after leaving the skyscraper and boarding the subway a few kilometers away, his complexion gradually returned to normal.

As he activated the Celestial Circulation Method, streams of mana surged through his body, swiftly permeating his entire system.

The previously uncontrolled mana, which had been leaking out, was now channeled back into the correct flow, merging with the intricate mana circulation within him. It naturally continued to circulate without interruption.

Celestial Circulation Method Level 1 (0/20)

Looking at the Dao Techniques displayed on the Feather Scroll, a smile crept onto Zhang Yu’s lips.

"Sure enough, I can cultivate it."

"Without mastering this Celestial Circulation Method, it would have taken one or two weeks for the uncontrolled mana to dissipate."

The confidence to take on the trial work came from the Feather Scroll. However, while at Xianyun Corporation, he did not reveal his ability to cultivate the Celestial Circulation Method.

"This cultivation method, although designed for beginners, can operate continuously 24/7 once mastered."

"Even without actively cultivating, it operates at about 30% efficiency of active cultivation, meaning that even if I do nothing, it’s as if I’ve cultivated for over seven hours each day."

"And this is just at Level 1."

"If this cultivation method is successfully developed, it will likely become one of the most popular cultivation techniques on the market."

Zhang Yu knew that, apart from the cultivation methods taught in schools, the techniques of large corporations and major sects were all copyrighted and required payment. They were a source of immense profit.

It was precisely because the Celestial Circulation Method was so powerful that Zhang Yu was confident Xianyun Corporation considered it a highly important development project. He did not want to reveal that he had mastered it, to avoid any complications.

Especially since the cultivation difficulty was so high, Zhang Yu believed that high school students, without the assistance of guiding devices, would be unable to even complete one full cycle of cultivation, let alone master it.

This made him even more reluctant to expose his mastery of the Celestial Circulation Method.

To cultivate the Celestial Circulation Method, Zhang Yu switched the Feather Scroll’s specialization from the 36 Forms of Body Strengthening to this cultivation technique.

While this meant the 36 Forms of Body Strengthening would not progress as quickly, the Celestial Circulation Method was now on a fast track.

"Level 3 of the 36 Forms of Body Strengthening is sufficient for now."

"In the coming days, I will focus on advancing the Celestial Circulation Method."

In addition to mastering the Celestial Circulation Method, the biggest gain from the trial work was the payment from Xianyun Corporation.

Ten thousand yuan plus an additional three thousand, totaling 13,000 yuan.

Zhang Yu’s savings suddenly increased to 13,700 yuan. However, after using 10,000 yuan to repay debts on multiple platforms, his savings dropped to 3,700 yuan.

Fortunately, after repaying the 10,000 yuan, the frequency of debt collection calls decreased, and he wouldn’t face more aggressive measures in the short term.

The countdown in his mind soon interrupted Zhang Yu’s thoughts, bringing him back to focus as he resumed the Celestial Circulation Method.

...

A night passed in the blink of an eye.

At the entrance of Songyang High School, Zhang Yu walked while checking the changes on the Feather Scroll.

Celestial Circulation Method Level 1 (0/20) → Celestial Circulation Method Level 1 (11/20)

His mana, thanks to his previous hard work and the effort put into the Celestial Circulation Method, also improved.

Mana 7.7 → 7.8

"Indeed, it runs passively. Last night, I only circulated it for five cycles before sleeping, which counts as five times."

"By the time I woke up, it had increased to eight times, and during my commute to school, it reached eleven times."

Zhang Yu felt secretly pleased. Compared to the 13,000 yuan, the Celestial Circulation Method was his greatest gain yesterday.

He was determined to push the level of this cultivation method higher.

He also decided to keep the Feather Scroll’s specialization set to the Celestial Circulation Method.

Unfortunately, today’s morning classes included two consecutive physical education sessions.

On his way to the training ground, Zhang Yu felt a bit regretful.

"Ah, I have to practice the 36 Forms of Body Strengthening again."

"I’m specialized in the Celestial Circulation Method, and it’s clearly the most suitable cultivation technique for me."

Upon entering the training ground, Zhang Yu saw a group of muscular students, their bodies like marble, puncturing their skin with needles.

The sound of cracking and the roars of beasts, along with the clanging of equipment, filled the air as the demonstration class students enthusiastically trained.

At that moment, a student looked at Wang Hai in shock. "No... no way, this was sold to me by my cousin..."

Wang Hai shook his head and crushed the injection syringe in his hand, scattering the remains into the trash bin.

"Look at your weight changes over the past two weeks. Neither your muscles nor your organs have grown. Your Physical Strength Level only increased by 0.03 in two weeks, a clear sign of natural physique cultivation. You must have bought fake drugs."

He then raised his voice. "How many times have I told you to buy drugs from official channels? The safest source is through the school teachers."

"To save a little money and end up buying fake or expired drugs is a huge loss of your own time."

After lecturing the student, Wang Hai’s gaze swept over Zhang Yu, who was in a corner cultivating his physique.

Looking at Zhang Yu, Wang Hai recalled the Physical Strength Level data from his recent test: "0.85 level? A 0.02 level increase in three days?"

"Zhang Yu didn’t improve this fast even when he used to take drugs every day, did he?"

From Wang Hai’s years of teaching experience, such a rapid increase in Physical Strength Level was impossible without drugs. Zhang Yu must have secretly taken something before class.

"Not only is it not natural Physique Cultivation, but the drugs he’s using must be extremely potent to achieve this effect, and they’re probably causing significant damage to his body."

Wang Hai never considered that Zhang Yu could reach the third level of the Body Strengthening 36 Forms and undergo Limit-State Devil Training on his own.

However, regardless of the specifics, Zhang Yu’s actions were increasingly challenging Wang Hai’s classroom authority.

A critical question lingered: Where did Zhang Yu buy his drugs?

Would other students, seeing the results on Zhang Yu, also seek out the same sources?

If that happened, wouldn’t it affect Wang Hai’s sales performance?

Thinking about the cutthroat competition in the Physique Cultivation drug market, Wang Hai’s nerves instantly tightened.

"Is it a teacher from the second or third year?"

"Or did an external tutor guide him?"

"Is someone trying to sell drugs on my turf?"

To Wang Hai, Zhang Yu was just a pawn. What he really wanted to uncover was the person behind Zhang Yu.

But he needed to eliminate Zhang Yu’s influence in the class first.

A moment later, Wang Hai gave Zhao Tianxing a few instructions.

Zhao Tianxing then approached Zhang Yu and said, "Zhang Yu, Teacher Wang asked me to check if you’re sure you won’t be buying any more drugs."

Seeing Zhang Yu nod, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head and said with a sheepish smile, "Well, the teacher asked me to tell you that to avoid affecting others’ training, he wants you to practice in the small room on the side. Is that okay?"

Zhao Tianxing understood that Wang Hai wanted to further isolate Zhang Yu. He looked at Zhang Yu with a hint of pity but didn’t hesitate in his actions.

As a good and obedient student, Zhao Tianxing had followed Wang Hai’s guidance completely, purchasing all the drugs recommended by the teacher and putting in his own effort. This had allowed him to gradually break through Physical Strength Level 1.00 and become one of the top ten students in the class.

Thus, he always followed Wang Hai’s instructions without question.

Worried that Zhang Yu might be upset, he spoke very politely and added, "Maybe you should still buy some drugs? Teacher Wang’s drugs are of very high quality, and natural Physique Cultivation just won’t cut it..."

To Zhao Tianxing’s surprise, Zhang Yu didn’t hesitate and agreed to practice in the small room.

Watching Zhang Yu leave, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head and thought to himself, "Sigh, Zhang Yu is a bit stubborn. If he just apologized and admitted his mistake, he could continue his classes without ruining his future."

On the other side, Zhang Yu entered the small room, chuckled, and sat down to practice the Celestial Circulation Method.

Streams of Spiritual Mechanism flowed into the Dantian Energy Sea, where Zhang Yu refined them into Mana bit by bit.

Celestial Circulation Method Level 1 (11/20) → Celestial Circulation Method Level 1 (16/20)

In no time, he completed five cycles, and the two PE classes were over.

But during the next Chinese and Math classes, Zhang Yu continued to focus on the Celestial Circulation Method.

Long-term Meditative Respiration and Mana refinement were indeed tedious.

His lower back and shoulders ached, his skin itched, and his mind felt dull.

Even the former Zhang Yu would often relax after one or two hours of Meditative Respiration, standing up to walk around or scratch his itches and head.

But now, driven by the Contractual Ritual’s force and encouraged by the changing numbers on the Feather Scroll, Zhang Yu pushed through and finally completed the 20th cycle of the Celestial Circulation Method.

Celestial Circulation Method Level 2 (0/40)

The countless experiences of practicing the Celestial Circulation Method blossomed in Zhang Yu’s mind. He felt his internal Mana circulation become more complex, more refined, and more powerful.

Even after he stopped, the Celestial Circulation Method continued to run passively, but at a faster speed than before.

"Level 1 of the Celestial Circulation Method has a passive Meditative Respiration speed that’s only one-third as fast as active Meditative Respiration."

"But at Level 2, the passive Meditative Respiration speed increases to 35% of the active Meditative Respiration speed."

"Moreover, the efficiency of active Meditative Respiration has improved significantly, far surpassing my Level 1 Basic Apnea Method."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, feeling somewhat satisfied. This was a gradual improvement over time, day and night without rest.

After lunch, he continued to push himself and further enhance the Celestial Circulation Method.

For the next few days, he devoted almost all his available time to the Celestial Circulation Method.

High school Xian Dao studies were both tedious and exhausting, especially with the Contractual Ritual’s force leaving him no time to relax. The only thing that kept him going was the gradual increase in the numbers on the Feather Scroll, imagining the long-term benefits of the technique’s passive effects.

If he couldn’t resist, he might as well enjoy it.

So, during PE class, he practiced the Celestial Circulation Method.

During Chinese class, he practiced the Celestial Circulation Method.

During lunch break, he practiced the Celestial Circulation Method.

Even while waiting for work in the square at night, he practiced the Celestial Circulation Method, though he didn’t find any work for three days.

And when he went to sleep, the Celestial Circulation Method continued to run on its own.

In just three short days, the Celestial Circulation Method reached Level 4 (5/80).

Zhang Yu’s Mana also improved significantly, rising from 7.8 to 8.3.

At this point, the passive Meditative Respiration speed of the Celestial Circulation Method had reached 45% of the active Meditative Respiration speed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end