https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-41-Conspiracy-and-the-Start-of-the-Mana-Competition/13686446/
Chapter 40: Joyful Heart Art and Mana Competition Tutorial
The next morning.
Since last night, after breakthrough to Level 10 of Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa, Zhang Yu had begun practicing Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa—the one he’d purchased.
For days now, he’d been relentlessly driven by Ritual Power to study, train, and work, and he’d grown accustomed to the constant pressure. But as soon as he started practicing Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa, he felt an instant, profound resonance. Progress came faster and more fiercely than he’d ever imagined.
Especially as the technique kept leveling up, Zhang Yu found himself increasingly able to endure the monotony, tedium, and loneliness of cultivation. Aside from the compulsion of Ritual Power, he didn’t stop for even a moment—charging forward with relentless determination along the path of Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa.
At dawn’s first light, Zhang Yu slowly opened his eyes. His Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa had already reached Level 7 (15/21).
To advance this much in a single night was so astonishing that Zhang Yu himself felt a flicker of fear—fear of his own talent.
Beyond that, Dao Heart had also made significant progress. Most strikingly, Zhang Yu had just seen new data on the Feather Scroll: Dao Heart Level 2 (1%).
Could it be that since I started cultivating Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa, my grasp of Dao Heart has become sharper—enough to actually perceive its progress?
Zhang Yu shook his head. His understanding of the Feather Scroll was still far too limited.
After rising, brushing his teeth, and washing his face, Zhang Yu continued silently rehearsing the cultivation technique on his way to school.
Given how fast he was progressing, he felt confident he’d reach Level 10 today.
…
Songyang High School.
During break time.
Zhang Yu, deep in cultivation, heard footsteps drawing near. His brow twitched slightly.
A tall boy with a shaved head stepped in front of him and said, “Zhang Yu, sorry to bother you.”
“Could I borrow your math test from yesterday?”
After waiting a few moments and seeing Zhang Yu still silent, the boy chuckled, unfazed. “Sorry, guess I interrupted you.”
“Go ahead and keep training. I’ll come back later.”
But as he turned away, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Zhang Yu’s complete disregard stung.
Hmph. No wonder he’s ranked third—so arrogant. I’m just a 530-point student. He doesn’t even see me as human.
On the other side, Zhang Yu exhaled in relief as the footsteps faded.
Liáng Qín… is he really this pushy?
Liáng Qín was the boy who’d just asked for the test.
Ever since Zhang Yu’s Monthly Exam results came out, classmates had been flocking to him—trying to pry into the secret behind his sudden rise. Most came only once or twice and then disappeared. Especially since Zhang Yu spent nearly every break in cultivation, and others, seeing how he ignored them, gradually stopped bothering.
But Liáng Qín was different.
He showed up after every class.
Not just then.
During Martial Arts class, he’d bring Zhang Yu water.
After PE, he’d hand him a towel.
In the cafeteria, he’d even try to reserve a seat for him.
And whenever they spoke, he’d constantly flatter Zhang Yu—like a persistent little bee, hovering around him nonstop.
At first, Zhang Yu thought he was a decent guy.
But after a few days, he found him increasingly annoying.
Especially the constant interruptions during study breaks, which disrupted his cultivation.
And the constant backdoor probing about his study secrets made it feel hollow.
So over the past two days, Zhang Yu had simply stopped responding—hoping Liáng Qín would take the hint and leave.
Though it seemed to stir some resentment in the boy, Zhang Yu had no choice.
…
As the school day neared its end, during self-study, Zhang Yu’s body gave a slight tremor.
A cool, refreshing sensation surged from the depths of his mind, flowing through his entire body like sweet dew. It felt incredibly satisfying.
At the same time, a faint roar echoed within the mental image he’d been cultivating—the old ox he’d drawn.
Now, the ox looked alive—its horns raised to the sky, its mouth open in a low, echoing bellow, as if truly awakened.
Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa – Level 10
Reaching Level 10, Zhang Yu felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and joy.
Just the thought of steadily growing stronger, of pushing more and more techniques to Level 10, filled him with eager anticipation—and that anticipation brought pure, unfiltered happiness.
Is this the true effect of reaching Level 10 with Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa?
As long as you hold hope for the future, even the most monotonous cultivation, even endless hardship, can feel joyful and satisfying.
Zhang Yu found himself increasingly drawn to this technique.
A cultivation method that brought joy to the soul—how could it not reduce suffering and boost efficiency?
So why did so many people give it bad reviews?
Unless… those who reached Level 10 still felt no joy—because their lives had already lost all hope for the future?
Thinking of Kunxu’s current state, Zhang Yu sighed helplessly.
Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa is a good technique.
But no matter how good a method is, the future still depends on the person.
Just as he was lost in thought, a voice broke in.
“Yǔzi?”
Bai Zhenzhen stared at Zhang Yu’s blissful, radiant face, scanning him from head to toe before narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
“Yǔzi, you didn’t… leak in the classroom, did you?”
Zhang Yu snapped his eyes open, glaring at her with exasperation.
“Ugh, I was just pondering the beauty of cultivation, the bitterness of life—then you come along and ruin the entire mood with your crude remark.”
Bai Zhenzhen ignored his poetic musings. She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him toward the door.
“Stop whining. Don’t tell me you forgot? We’ve got Mana Competition tutoring after school. We already paid 3,000 yuan.”
Zhang Yu’s Martial Energy had broken into the top ten of the grade last month, earning him and Bai Zhenzhen a spot on the first-year team for the Martial Energy Competition.
But the competition covered topics completely outside their regular curriculum—far beyond what was taught in class.
So Teacher Yan had organized special tutoring sessions to teach the basics of Mana Competition.
…
Inside the classroom.
Besides Teacher Yan—sitting with her hair tied in a bun and thick-rimmed glasses—only Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were present.
Teacher Yan explained, “The others all have private tutors. They’ve arranged their own extra lessons, so they didn’t come.”
Zhang Yu mentally groaned. So the only two in the top ten who’re actually poor are us?
Bai Zhenzhen clenched her fists. I can’t believe this tutoring session is so damaging to my campus reputation.
Teacher Yan’s eyes flashed with fire. These rich kids don’t respect me at all. They’d rather trust their private tutors than me?
Those so-called tutors—slick talkers, all smoke and mirrors, just out to drain money. What do they know compared to my 30 years of solid teaching at a top high school?
Ten showed up, only two came. This is a massive blow to my prestige!
And they didn’t even pay the fee?
If students from Class 2 or 3 did this, Teacher Yan would’ve called their parents straight away—dragging them to school to teach them a lesson.
But then she thought of the parents of the eight Model Class students…
Hmph. They’re too busy. As teachers, we should be understanding.
She looked at Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen and thought, You two poor souls—make me proud. Crush those eight rich brats. Make them come crawling back to my class.
She pushed the thought aside, her expression calm as she began:
“The Mana Competition tests things completely different from your regular classes. Martial Energy quantity is just the foundation. What really matters is control over your energy.”
She projected an image of the human meridian system.
“Right now, the Martial Energy in your bodies is in its most basic form.”
“By directing its flow and path, you can transform its shape.”
“For example, one advanced path leads to sword qi, palm force—practical applications in combat.”
“Even further, you can trigger heating, freezing, electrical discharge… all from controlled energy manipulation.”
As she spoke, she raised one finger.
A sharp, cutting ripple burst from her fingertip, slicing cleanly through a sheet of paper.
Moments later, her fingertip glowed faintly red—tiny flames flickering at the tip.
“This is the most basic form of energy transformation.”
“Of course, such basic changes rely on fundamentals—on your control. The power is minimal.”
“But the real practical value comes from advanced techniques—specialized Martial Energy forms created by rare, legendary skills.”
Listening, Zhang Yu suddenly remembered He Dayou’s icy palm strike during the Monthly Exam combat.
He guessed that had to be a specialized form of Martial Energy—born from a specific technique.
On the podium, Teacher Yan projected an animated diagram of energy flow.
“This is the simplest path to generate sword qi—transforming your Martial Energy into a single thread of sharp energy.”
“Try it, just like I taught you.”
Bai Zhenzhen stared at the animation. After a moment, her head started to spin.
“This flow path is too complicated!”
She tried on her own—only to feel utterly defeated.
Her Martial Energy circled endlessly in her left arm, but no trace of sharpness emerged.
This is supposed to be the easiest method?
This is the competition level?
It felt like being handed a second-degree equation right after learning addition.
Just then, a voice rang out from beside her.
“Zhenzhen, look!”
Bai Zhenzhen turned.
Zhang Yu was tapping rapidly on his notebook with his finger—then, with a flick, sliced through it like paper.
Yǔzi, your face looks terrifyingly unfamiliar…
(End of Chapter)
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