Chapter 32: Spirit Energy and Physical Education

Chapter 32: Spirit Energy and Physical Education

Spirit World.

Li Xingyu had been observing Zhang Yu’s condition from the side.

When he saw Zhang Yu’s Pain Level reach 37, he sensed that Zhang Yu had hit his limit.

"He can’t keep this up much longer."

Glancing at Zhang Yu’s head, Li Xingyu could see his heart rate, breathing, and other vital signs displayed in his field of view.

"He’s reached his endurance limit. He should lower the Pain Level."

"At this level, it’s still within the realm of a 1st Rank Dao Heart. Nothing special, yet he managed to grasp the intricacies of the Heavenly Human Martial Chart?"

Just as Li Xingyu was thinking this, he felt a sudden change in Zhang Yu’s aura. The twisted expression on Zhang Yu’s face gradually returned to normal, and a sinister smile even appeared.

"Hmm? He held on?"

"This aura... it feels like the martial arts from the Heavenly Human Martial Chart?"

Li Xingyu watched Zhang Yu in surprise as he continued to endure, minute by minute, until the 60 minutes were up.

His surprise grew as he calculated, "This level of willpower, his Dao Heart is almost at 2nd Rank."

"Even though he hasn’t mastered the martial arts from the Heavenly Human Martial Chart, the profound insights he’s gained seem to have helped him improve his willpower."

"This guy is pretty impressive. The information on him should fetch a good price."

With that thought, Li Xingyu wrote down a detailed description of Zhang Yu and posted it on an information website, setting the price at 1,000 yuan.

But after some consideration, he changed the price to 10,000 yuan and added a sensational title: "Shocking! Songyang High’s Ultimate Martial Genius Revealed."

...

Zhang Yu took off his Spirit Interface Mask and shakily stood up. Even though he was now out of the Spirit World, he still felt a lingering sensation of pain all over his body.

Next to him, a student tried to stand up but immediately collapsed back onto the bed, his legs giving out.

Similar scenes played out on the surrounding beds, clearly the aftereffects of the Spirit World.

Some students immediately opened their medicine bottles and took a pill.

Zhang Yu guessed it was likely a Dao Heart buffer.

Although techniques like Basic Mind Tempering and Heavenly Martial Soul Cultivation could gradually improve Dao Heart levels by aligning one’s thoughts with the practice, many students still chose to take Dao Heart buffers.

These drugs adjusted neurotransmitters and brain secretions, enhancing mood and motivation, and more effectively boosting willpower and Dao Heart levels.

However, Dao Heart buffers weren’t without side effects. The higher the quality and effectiveness of the drug, the more expensive and addictive it was, and the more severe the withdrawal symptoms.

Once someone started taking it, they often had to continue long-term, or their Dao Heart level would regress.

The original Zhang Yu had seen his nearly 2nd Rank Dao Heart level regress due to his inability to afford the medication.

But the current Zhang Yu, after a series of trials and insights from the Heavenly Martial Soul Cultivation, felt he had returned to that near 2nd Rank level.

Zhang Yu no longer intended to use Dao Heart buffers.

He now believed more in his own potential and self-discipline.

However, there wasn’t much time for rest. The second exam of the morning was about to start, and the students had to quickly gather their strength and head to the next testing site.

...

At the Spirit Energy exam venue, Zhang Yu saw that many assistant teachers and testing equipment were already prepared.

When it was Zhang Yu’s turn, adhesive patches were placed on his arm, chest, and abdomen. He then followed the teachers’ instructions to circulate his Spirit Energy from his Energy Core to his palm.

This Spirit Energy test was clearly more precise and accurate than usual to avoid any issues with the Monthly Exam results.

The patches not only measured the total amount of Spirit Energy in Zhang Yu’s body but also the efficiency of each circulation.

This was to prevent students from having a high quantity of Spirit Energy due to money but lacking in quality.

Compared to the torturous Dao Heart exam, the students seemed less tense during the Spirit Energy exam.

After all, one’s Spirit Energy level was determined long before the exam, and there was little room for last-minute performance.

Spirit Energy was either there or not, and one either knew how to use it or not.

When Zhang Yu finished his test, the assistant teacher recording the data let out a surprised exclamation and gave him a few extra looks.

Zhang Yu asked, "Teacher, is something wrong?"

The assistant teacher quickly shook her head. "Nothing."

But she thought to herself, "Such high Spirit Energy circulation efficiency, he must be another rich kid."

...

Lunchtime.

The cafeteria was full of students who looked like zombies.

Some were still suffering from the aftereffects of the Dao Heart exam, some were worried about their poor performance, and others were contemplating suicide...

Bai Zhenzhen sat down with a sigh. "What a birth!"

"The person who set the Dao Heart exam questions must have lost their mind. I bet they’re hiding their phone in their pants, set to vibrate, waiting for the backlash..."

For over two minutes, she unleashed a steady stream of creative insults until Zhou Tianyi arrived, and she finally took a bite of her food.

Zhang Yu knew that similar curses were likely floating over the heads of students in high schools across Songyang City.

As soon as Zhou Tianyi sat down, he couldn’t help but say, "Did you hear? Several high schools have seen students emotionally collapse."

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes narrowed, and they both looked at Zhou Tianyi.

Zhou Tianyi continued, "Because the rules for this Dao Heart exam were too strict."

"For example, some students trying to score higher accidentally set their Pain Level too high and fainted, getting kicked out of the Spirit World and receiving a zero."

He shook his head in regret. "Some couldn’t handle it when they woke up and completely broke down."

"Zero", Bai Zhenzhen muttered. "The ultimate shame in high school. It means losing your place in school forever."

"I’d break down too. I’d make sure to kill the person who set the questions before I collapse."

Zhang Yu asked, "So, the person who set the questions must be in trouble. If a rich kid fails, won’t their parents go crazy and seek revenge?"

Zhou Tianyi looked at Zhang Yu as if he were an idiot. "How?"

Zhang Yu: "You mean rich kids’ parents can’t take revenge? The person who set the questions has a strong background?"

Zhou Tianyi shook his head. "I mean, how could a rich kid fail in school?"

"Each one pays for security."

"The moment there’s a problem, a school-wide alarm goes off, and security or teachers immediately help."

"Even if they try to jump, the emergency team will save them."

He said matter-of-factly, "Rich kids, if they’re going to die, will find other ways. In school, even jumping from a building won’t kill them."

Seeing Zhou Tianyi’s confident explanation, Zhang Yu had to admit that in this broken Kunxu, things might indeed be like that.

After lunch, Zhang Yu took advantage of the cooldown period for his specialization and adjusted the Feather Codex’s specialization to the Circulating Heaven Qi Gathering Method, practicing Spiritual Respiration a few more times.

Circulating Heaven Qi Gathering Method Level 8 (3/160) → (6/160)

...

Before long, it was time for the last exam of the afternoon.

Physical Education.

In the vast training ground, Wang Hai sat in the judges’ seat.

He would be scoring all the first-year students alongside a few other physical education teachers.

Glancing at the list of candidates, his eyes lingered on Zhang Yu’s name.

Zhang Yu, in his memory, was a model student who exercised daily, took his medication, and got acupuncture. He was serious and had good drug tolerance, becoming an observation subject last month.

If he kept it up, Wang Hai wouldn’t mind grooming him into a second Zhao Tianhang, a future star student.

However, this month, Zhang Yu began challenging his authority in class, even promoting the heretical concept of Natural Body Cultivation.

Initially, Wang Hai suspected that Zhang Yu had another supplier and that someone was trying to compete with him for the Songyang High Demonstration Class market.

But after Zhao Tianhang’s observations and reports, he gradually ruled out that possibility.

Then he heard rumors that Zhang Yu had been taken on as a disciple by a Golden Core Cultivator.

Wang Hai, though one of Songyang High’s top physical education teachers, wasn’t at the level to interact with Golden Core Cultivators.

He couldn’t confirm whether the rumors about Zhang Yu were true.

As Wang Hai pondered these thoughts, ten students walked onto the platform.

They exposed their muscles, and their bodies were covered in various detection patches.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

With animal-like roars, the students’ muscles bulged, and veins popped out as they unleashed incredible strength.

The data from the detection patches quickly appeared on the screens in front of the physical education teachers, showing the strength of each muscle group.

This was different from the rough full-body scans of the past. It involved a detailed test of each muscle group’s strength as the students exerted themselves.

Meanwhile, Wang Hai and the other judges quickly scanned the students’ bodies, evaluating the dimensions, size, and structure of their muscles, and combining the data to score each candidate.

In the Physical Education Monthly Exam, Physical Strength Level wasn’t the only factor in scoring.

The dimensions, size, and structure of each muscle group were also crucial.

Which structure was better for exerting force? Which muscles were more useful in combat? Which were live muscles, and which were dead muscles? These required experienced judges to evaluate based on the data.

Even with the same Physical Strength Level, differences in body structure and size could significantly impact physical strength, speed, and combat performance.

Wang Hai, a seasoned judge, had seen countless bodies over the years, from 200 to 300 pounds, and even 500-pound behemoths.

After a quick scan, he recorded his scores and thought about Zhang Yu again.

"Let’s see your score."

"If your score drops significantly after being isolated for three weeks, it means you can’t possibly be a Golden Elixir disciple."

"Then..."

A cold glint appeared in Wang Hai’s eyes.

Anyone who threatened his interests should be expelled.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end