Chapter 49: Top Ten!
The Mana Competition arena.
In the zone occupied by Ziyun High School.
Le Mulan’s forehead was drenched in a fine sheen of sweat.
She had just completed her fourth Mana Oscillation. The martial energy, repeatedly twisted and strained, now resembled a hazy, swirling mist, floating and drifting within her dantian—growing increasingly unstable, harder to control with each passing moment.
“Three more times… just three more… I can do it.”
…
Song Hailong’s breath grew heavier, more ragged.
A vast tide of martial energy surged upward from his dantian like layered clouds, gradually coalescing into a spiraling vortex.
“One final Mana Oscillation.”
“Of course… I was always destined to win.”
Boom!
Boom!
A sudden, thunderous roar erupted from afar.
Song Hailong’s face darkened instantly.
Someone had beaten him to it?
No… wait.
A flicker of shock flashed across his eyes.
“Two people? Two of them beat me?!”
Far away, Xiong Bufan clasped his palms together.
A stream of pale, cloud-like martial energy surged from his fingers, forming a small, shimmering orb—giving him the look of someone grasping a playful, living cloud. But the orb flickered and began to dissipate almost immediately, clearly unsustainable.
Yet he didn’t focus on that.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the source of the sound—the direction where the thunderous explosion had come from.
“Only a step behind me? Which school is this… Bailong High School? Or Ziyun High School?”
Xiong Bufan stared at the towering pillar of white vapor rising into the sky, solid and unyielding.
“What the heck? It’s just a competition for speed. Everyone’s racing to finish fast. Why’s he spending so much time perfecting his Protective Aura?”
“This guy is so full of himself!”
---
In the competition zone of Songyang High School,
Zhang Yu spread his palms wide.
A torrent of white energy surged from his hands, spiraling upward like a column of white smoke rising from a battlefield. In moments, the spectacle drew the attention of countless onlookers.
After hastily, almost recklessly, forcing through Wuji Yunshou in one go—without managing to generate a single drop of radiant energy—he suddenly realized: he had mastered the technique.
With a mere thought, his martial energy obeyed his will.
Seven consecutive oscillations followed in rapid succession, each one amplifying the power until a surge of blazing radiant energy erupted from his palms, forming the magnificent scene before him.
Teacher Yan watched, her eyes alight with excitement.
She clenched her fist, then quickly pulled out her phone, snapping photos of Zhang Yu nonstop.
“Zhang Yu’s talent for controlling martial energy is… astonishing. The previous Mana Exam results never even hinted at this level of ability.”
Recalling Zhang Yu’s recent progress, she sighed inwardly—surely, it was this very mastery that had dramatically boosted his cultivation efficiency.
Bai Zhenzhen watched in silence, her eyes glistening with emotion.
“He’s grown up,” she murmured, her heart swelling with quiet pride.
Then, moments later, the results for the third stage of the Mana Competition appeared.
Hongta High School – Xiong Bufan – 1st
Songyang High School – Zhang Yu – 2nd
Song Hailong – 3rd
Ziyun High School – Le Mulan – 4th
As the third stage concluded, the cumulative scores for each student were revealed.
The final rankings drew gasps and murmurs across the arena.
1st: Bailong High School – Song Hailong – Total: 290
2nd: Ziyun High School – Le Mulan – Total: 287
3rd: Hongta High School – Xiong Bufan – Total: 285
The three elite schools once again dominated the top three, their lead over the rest of the competitors massive and undeniable.
Yet, at this moment, the eyes of most students weren’t on the podium.
They were fixed on the fourth-place spot.
4th: Songyang High School – Zhang Yu – Total: 273
Songyang High School was a prestigious institution, yes—but to see one of its students crack the top ten, standing amidst the giants of the three top schools, felt utterly surreal.
It was like a tear in an otherwise impenetrable storm cloud.
“Fourth place… how much is the prize money?”
Zhang Yu glanced at the final rankings, a smile tugging at his lips.
He was already mentally calculating the reward for finishing fourth.
For him, this result was more than satisfactory.
Yes, he had confidence that in time, he’d surpass all these rivals.
But in terms of raw power right now? He still lagged behind the prodigies from the top three schools.
He still needed more time to grow.
This time, breaking into the top four?
He had to admit—A-Zhen had blessed him, the Feather Scroll had fulfilled its duty, and above all, his own relentless persistence had carried him here.
Qian Shen stared at Zhang Yu, jaw clenched.
He remembered clearly—Zhang Yu’s monthly exam score had been 620. Six points below him.
And yet, this 620-point student had just stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the 650+ scorers, the high-caste elites, the ultimate monsters of the top three schools?
“Again… just like at the art exhibition. That Zhang Yu always exceeds what his scores should allow.”
He buried his face in his hands, eyes wide with disbelief.
“It’s like the seven-subject 700-point system can no longer even measure how much he’s evolved.”
“This man…”
Qian Shen locked eyes with Zhang Yu, a sudden, unexpected thought surfacing in his mind.
“A man who defies any numerical system… maybe he’ll one day force a revolution in the high school evaluation system. Make it more complete.”
At that moment, He Dayou glanced at Qian Shen, muttering under his breath:
“What’s this idiot going on about now?”
He turned back to Zhang Yu, his chest churning with unspoken emotion—envy, jealousy, all of it.
Especially since this was happening to the very person he’d looked down on—just a poor kid from a backwater school.
A pang of regret stirred within him.
“He’s still just a commoner.”
“Thankfully… he’s still just a commoner.”
---
In the rest area of Ziyun High School,
the coach suddenly spoke up, addressing Le Mulan and Lian Tianji:
“What if we brought that Zhang Yu to us?”
Clearly, the coach had been impressed by Zhang Yu’s performance and wanted to recruit him.
Lian Tianji nodded.
“Zhang Yu may not have our bloodline, but his results speak for themselves. I think it’d be a great move to bring him in.”
The term “bloodline” was a common jab within Ziyun High School’s internal hierarchy.
It referred to one’s educational roots—starting from Ziyun Nursery, Ziyun Kindergarten, Ziyun Primary, all the way up to Ziyun Middle School.
Each additional “Ziyun” added to one’s pedigree, making them “purer” in the eyes of the elite.
Le Mulan asked, “What were his first and second academic institutions?”
“I asked him myself,” Lian Tianji replied, reciting Zhang Yu’s former elementary and middle schools.
Le Mulan’s expression instantly twisted with disdain.
Those schools carried too much of a “poor neighborhood” aura.
Seeing her reaction, Lian Tianji sighed internally.
“No chance.”
“Next time we meet… it’ll probably be on the battlefield, competing against each other.”
And with that thought, a flicker of anticipation sparked in his chest.
---
Outside the restroom.
Zhang Yu stepped out—only to be blocked by a man in a coach’s uniform.
It was Han Xingye, the competition coach from Bailong High School.
“Zhang Yu. Come to Bailong High School,” Han said, extending his hand.
“Your talent deserves better than staying at Songyang.”
“Sure, you did well today. But in the long run… you’ll only grow further apart from us.”
He wasn’t lying.
While the top students in Shao Yang City were almost always snatched up by the three elite schools, exceptions did occasionally emerge—rare talents from other key schools, even ordinary ones.
Han Xingye had seen a few first-year students from lesser schools shine in martial energy competitions.
But never a second- or third-year student from a non-elite school.
“You come to Bailong, and I’ll make sure you get a contract with excellent conditions.”
Zhang Yu paused.
Then he asked, “If I go to Bailong, can I make Top Ten?”
Han Xingye froze.
He hadn’t expected that question.
The truth?
No.
Zhang Yu would be nothing more than an investment project at Bailong High School.
Not Top Ten—far from it.
The real reason Bailong wanted him was to pull him out of future competitions.
Because achievements in these events—linked to college admissions and interviews—were golden tickets for the wealthy.
They shouldn’t be taken by someone like Zhang Yu.
He might get into a decent university, sure.
But Top Ten?
Never.
Bailong’s resources would help him grow, yes.
But Top Ten?
That was never meant for the poor.
Just then, Teacher Yan arrived, stepping in front of Zhang Yu, eyes sharp and guarded.
“Teacher Han, what are you saying to my student?”
Regardless of wealth, to Teacher Yan, any student who earned a ranking was a reflection of her teaching success.
Han Xingye sighed, smiling awkwardly.
He and Teacher Yan had known each other for years—both coached students in these competitions.
Now, caught red-handed trying to steal a student, he felt a little embarrassed.
He turned back to Zhang Yu.
“Regardless… you’d be better off here than stuck at Songyang… you know, that place.”
Teacher Yan’s eyes flashed with anger.
“That place?”
You didn’t even say it out loud, but I know exactly what you’re implying!
She knew her school couldn’t match Bailong’s prestige.
And she feared that if he kept talking, she’d have no reply.
So she cut in sharply:
“Enough. If you have something to discuss, talk to me. But don’t harass my student.”
Watching them walk away, Han Xingye shrugged.
“If he were truly wise… he’d pick this side.”
“Even if he still can’t make Top Ten.”
---
“Did you see that?!”
“Fourth place! Zhang Yu made it to fourth! Do you know what that means?!”
“Just tell me how much you’re willing to invest.”
From nearby, Bai Zhenzhen’s voice rang out, ecstatic.
Mo Tianyi sighed, rubbing his temples.
“Zhenzhen, calm down. I see it…”
Bai Zhenzhen snapped back:
“Then why aren’t you sending money? You know he wasn’t even this strong when our leader was in first year!”
Mo Tianyi:
“Leader did get competition rankings too…”
After a long back-and-forth, Mo Tianyi finally concluded:
“Zhang Yu’s performance is exceptional.”
“I admit… I underfunded you all.”
“I’ll update the leader and the other seniors. I’ll push to secure more investment.”
Bai Zhenzhen nodded, already eager.
“Just make sure the money comes through fast.”
After ending the call, Mo Tianyi stared at the screen—the image of Zhang Yu’s fourth-place ranking.
Even after the initial thrill had faded, his chest stirred with warmth.
“Well done.”
“Breaking through so many wealthy elites… that’s incredible.”
“Too bad… it’s too late.”
A wave of regret washed over him.
“If only two years ago… I would’ve chosen you.”
Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself:
“Competed in martial arts tournaments before? I’ll find out exactly who you are.”
—
Thank you to ‘FrankChiao’ for the 10,000-point Oscar Trophy gift for Zhang Yu.
—
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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