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Chapter 41: Conspiracy and the Start of the Mana Competition
When Zhang Yu saw the intricate cultivation diagram, he couldn’t help but feel a slight jolt in his chest. But once he actually tried it out, he realized it wasn’t nearly as complicated as he’d thought. Compared to the Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa he practiced daily—the full-body martial energy circulation—it was child’s play. This method, which converted martial energy into sharp, blade-like force, was astonishingly simple.
Zhang Yu had already advanced his Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa all the way to Level 10. He’d practiced it countless times. Now, mastering this new technique felt like a college student effortlessly crushing a beginner-level math quiz on a popular online platform.
So when he followed the projection’s diagram, channeling martial energy into his right arm and giving it a tentative push, he immediately felt a sharp, cutting sensation burst from his fingertip. It wasn’t quite a true blade energy—its power was barely stronger than a craft knife—but it still sent a thrill through him.
“Ah-Zhen! Look! I did it!”
Bai Zhenzhen: You’re such a shrimp, Zhang Yu! Steamed goose heart!
Teacher Yan immediately turned to look, her eyes widening. “Have you studied this before?”
After Zhang Yu shook his head, she sighed in admiration. “Looks like you’ve got a natural talent for this.”
Once she realized his aptitude, Teacher Yan taught with even greater care. She then walked them through several basic martial energy transformation techniques—heat generation, cold induction, electrical charging—each one mastered by Zhang Yu in mere moments. Her nods became more frequent, her praise more effusive.
“Today’s lesson is done. Practice hard at home.”
“Come back tomorrow and the day after at the same time—I’ll give you two more sessions.”
“Later, I’ll teach you how to neutralize martial energy and how to handle intrusions.”
Watching Zhang Yu leave, Teacher Yan thought to herself: You’d better crush those eight students who skipped class in the Mana Competition. Make them regret it.
As for actually winning a prize, placing in the top ten, or earning money and a boost for university interviews—she didn’t even consider it.
If this were a sports competition, Songyang High might have a shot. After all, they’d produced the city’s top athlete before, and they were still a powerhouse in physical sports.
But outside of sports? The other competitions were basically a playground for the three top-tier schools. Their only real rivals were each other. Even prestigious schools like Songyang High rarely made a dent.
At best, Teacher Yan hoped Zhang Yu would become the strongest among the ten students Songyang sent—just enough to make the ones who skipped class regret their laziness and rush to pay her for makeup lessons after the competition.
Meanwhile, after leaving the classroom, Zhang Yu checked his phone and saw a message from Zhou Chichen—accepting his request to continue the loan contract and keep making monthly repayments.
After all, Zhou Chichen had already purchased Zhang Yu’s 700,000 debt, becoming his new creditor. But out of goodwill, he’d offered to let Zhang Yu delay repayment.
Over the past few days, Zhang Yu had messaged him several times about the loan. Each time, Zhou Chichen refused. But now, finally, he agreed—understanding Zhang Yu’s reluctance to carry debt.
“Did you agree?” Zhang Yu asked, his voice tight with hesitation.
He reluctantly paid 15,000 this month. It hurt—deeply—but he couldn’t risk being caught with a delinquent loan, especially not if the wealthy ever learned about his plan to break through and get into one of the Top Ten Elite Universities. That kind of debt would be a fatal weakness.
After the 15,000 payment, plus another 3,000 for tutoring, Zhang Yu’s savings dropped to just over 43,000.
“Damn, money really doesn’t last long.”
“Hope the Mana Competition brings me some real cash this time.”
---
On the other side of the school.
As Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen left the Model Class room to attend Teacher Yan’s tutoring session, Liang Qin returned from the restroom. He noticed Zhang Yu’s empty seat and instantly frowned.
He searched the entire floor, but found no trace of him.
“He was just here a moment ago—where did he go?”
“Is he avoiding me on purpose?”
“He’s just lucky enough to become a Golden Core Disciple. Does he really think he’s above everyone else now?”
“If it weren’t for that title, he’d be no better than me…”
Fuming, Liang Qin stormed out of the hallway and answered a call.
On the other end, a voice asked, “Is he gone?”
Liang Qin muttered, “Yeah, he went home. Nothing happened today.”
“He’s acting all high-and-mighty now, like he’s got some secret to his grades. Always watching everyone like a thief. Scared someone’ll find out how he’s getting better.”
“I know. I’ll keep watching him. Don’t forget to send the money.”
After hanging up, Liang Qin stared blankly at his phone. Then, the notification pinged—his transfer had arrived. A grin spread across his face.
He needed money—badly.
Everyone at Songyang High was poor, students and teachers alike. But Liang Qin was worse off than most.
His family had been decent before. Not in the city center, but not in the suburbs either—just on the edge of the urban ring, living in a modest apartment. His mother stayed home full-time, his father worked a low-level office job. It wasn’t easy, but they’d managed to keep food on the table.
Then, one month after enrolling at Songyang High, everything changed.
Maybe it was the crushing academic pressure. Maybe it was his declining rank. Maybe it was the constant presence of genius after genius. Or perhaps it was the subtle, sometimes obvious, displays of wealth from the rich students, or the relentless discipline of the teachers.
Liang Qin didn’t know why—but from elementary school through middle, he’d always been a top student. Now, in high school, he started zoning out in class.
He’d stop mid-breathing exercise to check his phone.
Lifting weights felt like dragging chains.
When studying talismans, his mind wandered.
He… was starting to hate studying.
And in a school like Songyang High, hating school meant disaster. Just thinking about it made his chest tighten, and his focus only got worse.
Then, one day, a second-year student he’d casually met introduced him to a way to unwind—just for a little.
“Try this platform,” the boy said.
Liang Qin hesitated. “Is this gambling with martial energy?”
The boy shrugged. “Just a little fun. Win, and you get a break. Lose, and it’s just extra motivation to push harder.”
He patted Liang Qin’s shoulder. “I was the same when I first came. Just playing a little helped me adjust.”
“You’re a genius—your willpower’s stronger than most. As long as you don’t get addicted, it’s harmless. Plus, you earn extra martial energy.”
Thinking of his lifelong self-discipline, Liang Qin gave in.
It was a platform where you could deposit money to bet, gambling for martial energy. Win, and you could withdraw it via Stored Spirit Roots, drawing energy from others’ cultivation. Lose? You either used your Stored Spirit Roots to help someone else train, or paid in cash.
First bet: lost.
Second bet: lost again.
He was about to give up, thinking the whole thing was a scam—when the third bet paid out 0.3 martial energy.
He still remembered that moment—the surge of adrenaline, the rush of satisfaction as he withdrew the energy from the platform’s Stored Spirit Root. That sudden, explosive surge of power—something he’d never forget.
From then on, he’d play occasionally.
At first, it was exactly as the senior said. Winning gave him relief—enough energy to skip a few Mana Class sessions, to feel light and free. Losing made him train harder, fueled by renewed determination.
“If you stay in control, it’s actually helpful,” he’d thought in the first two months.
But now, four months in—
Regret. Regret. Regret.
Every time he woke from a nightmare, staring at the door in terror, imagining someone bursting in to steal his dantian, his organs, his flesh—he thought of how he’d secretly drained his parents’ bank card. How he was drowning in debt.
And yet, right now, at the school gate, staring at his new 500-yuan transfer, his fingers twitched again.
Moments later, the money vanished—gone in an instant.
He collapsed into himself, pounding his chest.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll follow Zhang Yu. More money coming.”
“Next time, I’ll stop at 300. Just need iron willpower to control greed.”
As he walked home, his mind already scheming his “fix-the-world” plan.
---
Inside Songyang High’s office.
Su Haifeng looked at the man on the other end of the line, now hanging up. “So it was you who sent Liang Qin after Zhang Yu?”
“Even so, that kid’s already a gambling addict. His word’s worthless.”
The man chuckled softly. “I just needed him to keep an eye on Zhang Yu—nothing more. A minor pawn, really. I never expected him to succeed. Useless people, useful for something.”
Su Haifeng shook his head. “Zhang Yu’s already had talks with the students. He’ll sign the contract soon. Aren’t you done yet?”
The man’s voice turned cold. “Zhang Yu was my gift to this school. Yes, things took an unexpected turn—but I won’t let go so easily.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve received word. Zhang Yu and the Student Union will sign the contract after the next Monthly Exam.”
“I’ll make sure everything’s ready.”
---
In the days that followed, Zhang Yu trained joyfully in the Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa, feeling the steady, satisfying growth of his Dao Heart Level.
Besides his daily classes, he practiced the techniques Teacher Yan taught him—preparing for the upcoming Mana Competition.
Ten days passed.
Finally, the day of the Mana Competition arrived.
In that time, thanks to the relentless progress of his Level 10 Huangniu Zhenhun Xinfa, Zhang Yu’s Dao Heart Level had climbed to Level 2 (42%). He felt confident he’d reach Level 3 after the next Monthly Exam.
Meanwhile, his martial energy, steadily cultivated through Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa, had reached 15.4.
Zhang Yu’s sudden surge in martial energy once again shocked his peers. But when they noticed his Physical Strength Level hadn’t changed, they simply concluded he’d poured every ounce of focus into spiritual cultivation and energy refinement—clearly preparing for the Mana Competition.
That morning, at Songyang High’s front gate, Teacher Yan gathered Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, He Dayou, and others, loading them onto a bus bound for the city-wide Mana Competition for first-year students in Songyang City.
(End of Chapter)
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