Chapter 26: Registering for the Magic Competition and the Monthly Exam

Chapter 26: Registering for the Magic Competition and the Monthly Exam

Songyang High School.

Four days had passed since Zhang Yu rented the Energy Sea Spirit Root.

Today was the day when the first-year students at Songyang High School would be selected to register for the city-wide Magic Competition.

In Magic Power class.

As the bell signaling the end of class rang, Zhang Yu, who rarely paused his Meditative Respiration, opened his eyes and looked toward the large screen.

After several days of intense cultivation, his Magic Power had rapidly increased from 9.5 to 10.5, a significant leap that drew many envious glances from his classmates.

Zhang Yu's Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon had also advanced from level 6 to level 8 (3/160), though only he knew this. If his classmates and teachers found out, their reaction would be more than just surprise.

After all, while Zhang Yu's rapid Magic Power increase was impressive, it was not unprecedented. Many wealthy individuals could achieve even faster growth by spending enough money.

However, advancing a Contemplative Breathing Art to level 8 in such a short time was a different story. At his current level, Zhang Yu knew of no one else who could achieve this.

Looking at the screen, the Magic Power rankings for the entire grade were displayed.

1. Bai Zhenzhen, 12.1
2. Qian Shen, 11.9

Zhang Yu continued scanning down and found himself in eighth place.

8. Zhang Yu, 10.5

"Eighteenth place, huh?" Zhang Yu nodded slightly, knowing that he would have no problem registering for the Magic Competition.

But the coldness in his heart soon returned as he listened to the countdown. He closed his eyes again, determined to make the most of the remaining time for Meditative Respiration.

Teacher Yan, standing at the podium, flicked her hair and glanced at the rankings with satisfaction. "Over the past week, everyone's Distraction Rate has dropped by 8%, and Magic Power improvement has increased by 12% compared to last month. I am very pleased."

She noticed Zhang Yu starting his Meditative Respiration again and nodded approvingly. "I want to particularly praise one student, Zhang Yu. Not only has he maintained a 0% Distraction Rate for two consecutive weeks, but his Magic Power has also shown a significant improvement, jumping from 16th to 8th place. Truly remarkable, everyone, let's give him a round of applause."

Scattered applause broke out, and Teacher Yan continued, "The Magic Competition starts next month. I will provide you with the specific times and rules once I have them."

"Class dismissed."

"Oh, and students who want to buy Spirit Gathering Pills should come to my office. There's a discount this week..."

Bai Zhenzhen, sitting in the audience, looked thinner, her cheeks slightly sunken.

Seeing Teacher Yan's cheerful face, she thought, "The pressure has been so intense lately, all because of..."

She glanced at Zhang Yu's seat and saw him starting his Meditative Respiration again.

"Damn it! Zhang Yu, you bastard! Stop it! Don't push so hard!"

Despite her anger, Bai Zhenzhen couldn't bear to watch her friend fall behind. She closed her eyes in pain and began her own Meditative Respiration.

Qian Shen, not far from Bai Zhenzhen, watched her and Zhang Yu closely. Seeing them both start their Meditative Respiration during the break and even during the teacher's announcements, he felt a heavy weight in his heart.

As a student in Songyang High School's Demonstration Class, Qian Shen had always believed he could handle the pressure. But after the past eight days of intense competition with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, his thoughts had changed.

"Not even going to the bathroom, not even scratching an itch, I can't match their level of dedication!"

"Am I the one who hasn't evolved enough compared to them?!"

Staring at the two who were still in Meditative Respiration, Qian Shen finally closed his eyes in frustration.

Push! Just keep pushing!

...

In Physical Education class.

Students were either practicing needlework or cultivating their physique, their wild roars filling the air as the floor was drenched in sweat.

Bai Zhenzhen wiped the sweat from her forehead and glanced at the small black room in the corner.

Due to his isolation by Physical Education teacher Wang Hai, Zhang Yu had been practicing alone in that room during recent PE classes.

However, today, Zhang Yu was not meditating as he had in the past few days. Instead, he was practicing the 36-Form Bodyfortify.

With a series of popping sounds, Zhang Yu's muscles bulged as he lifted and lowered the exercise equipment repeatedly, each movement bursting with raw power.

Meanwhile, on the Feather Scroll, his Specialization had switched from the 8th-level Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon to the 3rd-level 36-Form Bodyfortify.

Zhang Yu had his reasons.

Firstly, due to the lack of a matching Spirit Root, the amount of Spiritual Mechanism he could absorb was limited, and the benefits of further upgrading the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon were diminishing.

Secondly, with his Magic Competition qualification secured, his next goal was the Monthly Exam in nine days.

"Recently, my Magic Power has improved a lot. Even without active Meditative Respiration, the passive effects of the 8th-level Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon are about 65% as effective as active Meditative Respiration."

"My Magic Power score for the Monthly Exam won't be bad. Continuing to invest heavily in it would be inefficient in terms of score improvement."

Zhang Yu thought, "To improve my Monthly Exam score, I need to focus on Dao Heart, Physical Education, Martial Arts, and Arcane Skills."

"For Dao Heart... although I haven't completed the Celestial Martial Mind Cultivation Manual, I have comprehended its profound mysteries, which should help me perform well in the Dao Heart exam."

"For Martial Arts, the 80 points for practical skills require sparring and real combat, which can't improve quickly."

"For Arcane Skills, it's even harder to improve in a short time."

After some consideration, Zhang Yu decided to focus on improving his 36-Form Bodyfortify and Physical Strength Level over the next nine days.

While practicing the 36-Form Bodyfortify, he discovered an additional benefit from the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon.

As he exerted his strength, his muscles contracted and expanded, and the Magic Power circulation continued within his body. The flow of Magic Power converted the Spiritual Mechanism into more Magic Power.

During this process, the Magic Power circulated through his damaged tendons and torn muscles, nourishing and repairing them, enhancing the effectiveness of his training.

The 36-Form Bodyfortify could achieve a similar effect at the third level, but with the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon, the Magic Power circulation was more complex and detailed, covering his entire body and significantly improving his recovery and Physical Strength Level.

Zhang Yu realized that if he could only practice the 36-Form Bodyfortify 20-30 times a day before, with the Celestial Circuit Qi Siphon, he could now practice it 50-60 times a day.

Thus, Zhang Yu decided to focus on the 36-Form Bodyfortify for the next nine days.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Zhang Yu felt a wave of emotion.

"I seem to be getting used to this pressure."

"Ah, this wretched Kunxu has turned people into ghosts."

However, after practicing the 36-Form Bodyfortify 15 times, Zhang Yu realized he was wrong.

Drenched in sweat, he lay on the floor, the soaked ground outlining his body.

Even if Physical Education teacher Wang Hai saw his diligent practice, he would have said, "Well done, take a break."

But the one supervising Zhang Yu was not a person. Instead, the Contractual Ritual echoed in his mind.

"Please adhere to the Contractual Ritual. Work hard to achieve your goal, and do not intentionally slack off or delay, 10."

Zhang Yu sighed, "You're insane! I've reached my limit."

Pain!

Physical training was far more grueling than Meditative Respiration.

Zhang Yu felt as if his lungs were bellows, and every inch of his body ached from the intense exertion.

"I'm too young to think I've adapted to this wretched world."

Despite the constant countdown, Zhang Yu lay on the ground like a dead fish until the last second, when he suddenly jumped up, enduring the pain and fatigue, and continued his 36-Form Bodyfortify training.

36-Form Bodyfortify 3rd Level (22/30)

After another grueling session, Zhang Yu collapsed in his own sweat, listening to the chilling countdown and feeling the Contractual Ritual's force threatening to tear his body apart.

"Can anyone adapt to this world?"

"Damn it... I have to break this wretched Contractual Ritual before it drives me to jump off a building!"

That noon, Zhang Yu, in a rare display, spent over 100 yuan to order a large bucket of food.

If Magic Power growth relied on absorbing more Spiritual Mechanism, then improving Physical Strength Level required more nutritious and substantial meals.

"I need to eat ten pounds!"

Seeing the amount of food Zhang Yu had ordered for lunch, Bai Zhenzhen knew how intensely he had trained during the PE class.

"Does he think his Magic Power is temporarily sufficient and is now focusing on Physical Strength Level?"

When did this guy start pushing himself so hard?

Is it because he hasn't been sterilized, giving him an extra competitive edge?

Watching Zhang Yu devour an entire chicken leg in a few bites, Bai Zhenzhen unconsciously sped up her own eating.

Zhou Tianyi sighed, "Slow down, no one is grading your eating speed."

Not far away, Su Haifeng, also eating in the cafeteria, thought, "The lunch break is too long."

"I've said it before, the school should install more surveillance cameras in the cafeteria. Anyone taking more than 10 minutes to eat should be reprimanded and fined."

With this thought, he drafted a proposal to submit to the principal, suggesting valuable cafeteria reforms.

Over the next few days, Zhang Yu, besides his regular classes, spent his free time practicing the 36-Form Bodyfortify. When he reached his physical limit, he was forced to meditate and absorb Spiritual Mechanism.

Day by day, he was tormented, but time finally arrived for the Monthly Exam nine days later.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end