https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-26-Signing-Up-for-the-Mana-Competition-and-the-Arrival-of-the-Monthly-Exam/13686427/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-28-Taoist-Arts-and-Practical-Combat/13686429/
Chapter 27: Final Sprint
3 a.m.
Inside the office of Songyang High School.
Su Haifeng stared at the list on his computer screen, speaking into the phone:
"His Dao Heart score hasn’t changed."
"Martial Energy shot up sharply recently—looks like most of his time and money went into cultivation. That’s how he broke into the top 10."
"Physical Strength Level hasn’t been tested in three weeks, thanks to social isolation. But it was already down to 19th place before, and now that he’s focused all his energy on Martial Energy, it’s lucky he’s still holding onto 19th."
"Combat skills and Dao Arts haven’t shown any noticeable progress either. If they keep slipping, they might drop below 30th place in this Monthly Exam."
Looking at Zhang Yu’s recent performance records, Su Haifeng shook his head.
"Frankly, I don’t expect much improvement from him in this exam."
"The school will probably still assign him a Grade D Contract."
"I understand. I’ll do my best to persuade him to accept it."
"Though I have no idea how he managed to catch Li Xuelian’s attention. But he’s taken the exam now—he should’ve realized his own situation by now."
He hung up, then casually closed Zhang Yu’s file and moved on to the next document.
To him, Zhang Yu was just one small matter among countless others. Songyang High School had far more pressing concerns and more important students to monitor.
…
4 a.m.
In a dilapidated abandoned building.
Today was the day of the Songyang High School Monthly Exam.
Though Zhang Yu had undergone another massive leap in strength after nine days of relentless training, he was still practicing the Jianti Thirty-Six Forms, squeezing every last bit of refinement before the official exam began.
His Feather Scroll status now read:
Zhang Yu
Dao Heart: Level 1
Martial Energy: 11.7
Physical Strength Level: 1.05
Thanks to his passive cultivation and intermittent active breath control, Martial Energy had risen from 10.5 to 11.7.
Under his relentless grinding, Physical Strength Level had surged from 0.85 to 1.05.
But the most dramatic progress had been in the Jianti Thirty-Six Forms—now at Level 9 (89/90).
And as Zhang Yu delivered his final punch, the form finally reached Level 10, maxing out at the peak achievable within the Qi Refining Realm.
At that instant, a flood of memories surged through his mind—countless repetitions of the form, countless hours of refining his body, deepening his understanding of flesh and bone.
After countless cycles of precision forging, his body finally underwent a transformation. It began to reorganize itself into a more efficient, balanced structure.
A deafening roar echoed in his mind.
With each pulse of blood pumping through his limbs, his entire body seemed to undergo a metamorphosis.
His flesh contracted and expanded, bones cracked and popped with sharp, crisp sounds. His silhouette subtly widened.
Muscles realigned for optimal power delivery. Bones hardened into a more stable, resilient framework. The entire body became more harmonized, more coordinated.
This was the body’s structural refinement—something that usually unfolded gradually over time during the 10th level of Jianti Thirty-Six Forms. But now, it happened all at once.
Physical Strength Level: 1.05 → 1.25
A sudden 0.2-level increase—20% growth in a single moment.
Zhang Yu grinned, heart pounding with excitement.
"Leveling up Jianti Thirty-Six Forms to 10… actually triggers a full body optimization?"
"Does every skill gain such a boost when it hits 10?"
This was never taught in class.
But Zhang Yu could guess why—skills at level 10 were so far beyond the reach of first-year students, even for a foundational technique like this. It made sense the teachers never mentioned it.
"Then… I’ll push Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa to 10 as well. See what happens."
Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa: Level 8 (3/160)
He estimated it would take no more than a week to reach 10.
But despite the thought, he didn’t immediately switch his Feather Scroll’s Specialization to the breathing method. Today, he had other plans.
"Obey the Ritual, fulfill your wish, don’t slack off or delay—10."
Just as Zhang Yu felt a surge of pride from his progress, that damned countdown alarm blared again.
He cursed under his breath, but knew it was pointless. The thing had no will, no intelligence—shouting at it only felt like punching soft cotton.
So he sat cross-legged, began meditative breathing, and let his exhausted body rest.
Preparing… for the Monthly Exam.
…
Songyang High School.
Students hurried through the halls, faces tinged with unease.
The campus air felt heavier, colder—thick with tension.
Zhang Yu looked up. The old banner reading "Live to learn, learn to die" had been replaced with a new one: "One reckless act, the whole family pays."
Anti-suicide messaging.
Even the rooftop railing had been reinforced with fresh barbed wire—adding another layer of difficulty to any attempt at escaping.
Bai Zhenzhen glanced at the new signs and muttered:
"Looks like those heartless school administrators finally care about students. Realizing the Monthly Exam can trigger emotional breakdowns, so they threw up some safety nets."
But as soon as she stepped into the cafeteria and saw the new price tags—another increase—she exploded.
"Again? How many times has this been since school started?"
"Can’t even run a decent canteen—how are they supposed to run the whole school?"
Zhang Yu tried to calm her:
"Come on… not treating people like humans is their default mode. Just stay calm. Don’t let it ruin today’s exam."
But then she overheard the cafeteria staff announcing new rules.
"Why’s it only one 5-Yuan Set Meal per person per day now? Yesterday I could get ten!"
"Students just want to eat—why can’t they even do that?"
"Alright, alright, Yu." Bai Zhenzhen patted his shoulder. "Don’t lose it. Teachers are watching. I’ll buy you an extra Poor Guy Set Meal."
They found a seat, plates in hand. Zhang Yu glanced at his account balance.
He’d earned another 500 yuan for a 0% Distraction Rate—but with daily meal costs from intense training, constant Neural Filler use, transportation, and other expenses, his savings had dwindled to just 6,000 yuan.
And soon, a new month would begin—meaning new loan repayments, rent, utilities… not to mention food.
After ramping up his cultivation, his appetite had grown monstrous. Ten pounds of food a day was normal. That meant hundreds per day—over ten thousand yuan a month.
Zhang Yu sighed.
"Looks like the more you cultivate, the more money it costs."
"Hope I score well on this exam and get a good Contract."
"Otherwise… back to working odd jobs."
Just then, Zhou Tianyi arrived with his tray, sitting beside them. He sighed heavily.
"You two know why the canteen prices went up?"
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen snapped their heads up, eyes locked on him.
"City government’s pushing Oasis Company’s Synthetic Food. They’ve raised tariffs on imported ingredients from other cities. Expect food prices across all of Songyang to keep rising."
"Rumor is the principal’s even considering replacing the cafeteria’s fresh meals with synthetic alternatives."
Zhang Yu—whose original self had eaten plenty of Synthetic Food before cultivation—remembered the taste:
Fried insects, plant protein, recycled water, and grease.
Tasteless. Even pigs wouldn’t eat it.
"Wait… no more pre-made meals?"
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen groaned in unison.
They cursed Oasis Company and the city government alike—callous, soulless entities.
After breakfast, instead of returning to class like usual, the three headed straight to their respective exam halls.
Morning session:
- General Education Test (50 points)
- Martial Arts Theory (20 points)
Both were written exams.
Afternoon session:
- Dao Arts Exam (100 points)
- Martial Arts Combat Test (80 points)
The 80 points from combat, combined with the 20 from theory, totaled 100—perfect for the course.
Morning exams were all written. Zhang Yu had mastered these topics long ago.
After finishing, he didn’t join classmates in frantically checking answers. Instead, he rushed through lunch and headed straight for the Small Garden to train.
San Shou: Level 1 (0/10)
He switched his Feather Scroll’s Specialization to San Shou—the reason he hadn’t yet leveled up Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa.
After pushing Jianti Thirty-Six Forms to Level 10, further cultivation of the breathing technique wouldn’t yield much.
But with daylight hours to spare, he could easily raise San Shou—currently at Level 1—toward Level 2.
And that would give him a solid edge in the afternoon’s combat exam.
Zhang Yu focused harder.
With his 1.25-level Physical Strength, the rhythm of his strikes echoed through the air—every punch and palm strike thundered like wind and lightning.
Each movement channeled a trickle of Martial Energy through specific body points, amplifying the impact.
San Shou was a basic combat art—only 15 moves total—but each one covered different situations: punches, palm strikes, kicks, throws. Each move had its own Martial Energy pathway.
Zhang Yu repeated the 15 moves again and again.
As a practical combat technique, it was far less grueling than Jianti Thirty-Six Forms.
But with his optimized body, Level 8 Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa, and Level 10 Jianti Thirty-Six Forms fueling his stamina, progress was rapid.
Within just over fifty minutes, San Shou leapt to Level 2.
San Shou: Level 1 (0/10) → Level 2 (0/20)
Instantly, the 15 moves flashed through his mind—burned into memory, perfectly clear.
But he didn’t stop.
Despite growing fatigue, he pressed on.
"Two and a half hours until the afternoon exam."
"Let’s see if I can push San Shou to Level 3 before then."
He kept striking—sweat pouring down his face, limbs trembling, movements starting to waver.
But every time doubt crept in—when he thought of his debts, the rising costs, the endless pressure—he gritted his teeth and kept going.
Two and a half hours later, great beads of sweat splashed onto the ground.
Zhang Yu stood drenched in heat, muscles burning from three hours of nonstop effort.
But on his face, a smile emerged.
He had done it.
San Shou had reached Level 3.
(End of Chapter)
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