Chapter 64: Changes

Chapter 64: Changes (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Songyang High School.

In the cafeteria during lunchtime.

Zhao Tianxing hesitated with his tray in hand.

On the surface, the campus seemed calm, everything appearing as it did in the past.

However, the conflict that occurred at the Training Ground yesterday had already spread throughout the entire school.

Almost all the students knew that Zhang Yu from Class 1 of Grade 1 had defected to Bailong High School and clashed with the Student Union’s vice president, Zhou Chechen, and a group of seniors from Grade 2.

Based on Zhao Tianxing’s observations and summaries from various student groups, most students had a simple opinion on the matter.

The loyalists of Songyang City believed: Isn’t this just a traitor? A class traitor? For personal gain, he betrayed Songyang City and joined Bailong. He should be expelled!

Jealous students suspected: First Li Xuelian, then Zhang Pianpian—why does Zhang Yu keep attracting rich benefactors? I strongly suspect his surgery wasn’t thorough enough. The school should investigate him thoroughly.

Anger, jealousy… and hidden envy all culminated in naked malice.

Most students who were afraid of trouble stayed far away from Zhang Yu, fearing they would be implicated by the Student Union and the loyalists of Songyang City.

Zhao Tianxing felt the same way. He was also afraid that getting too close to Zhang Yu would make him a target.

After all, student bullying wasn’t unheard of at Songyang High School.

Zhao Tianxing had heard that one of the top students from the previous year, who had once topped the monthly exams, had gradually been bullied after his grades couldn’t keep up with the wealthy students.

They wouldn’t let him do his homework, take his medication, exercise, or stay up all night.

They even forced him to eat fried chicken, French fries, beer, and sweets every day, watching as his belly grew and his muscles wasted away.

They made him watch videos, read novels, and play games, watching his grades plummet and his passion for learning wither.

Only after he begged for mercy did Zhou Chechen finally let him go.

Just thinking about it made Zhao Tianxing feel short of breath.

So when Zhang Yu invited him to have lunch today, he panicked and said he had something to do and would come to the cafeteria later.

With a hesitant heart, Zhao Tianxing finished getting his food, carried his tray, and when he saw Zhang Yu’s gaze, he instinctively looked away.

This moment of avoidance made Zhao Tianxing’s heart sink.

“Sigh, it’s over between me and Zhang Yu.”

He wandered around the cafeteria aimlessly, then couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Yu’s table again.

When he saw Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen sit down next to Zhang Yu, a hint of envy crept into his eyes.

“Why can Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen be so bold, not afraid of anything?”

“If I could do what I want like them, that would be great.”

Although he always thought too much, Zhao Tianxing didn’t like this trait. He always wished he could stop overthinking and not care so much about what others thought, but he just couldn’t.

At that moment, Zhao Tianxing subconsciously gripped his tray, wanting to walk over to Zhang Yu’s table, but he felt like all the students were watching him, as if sitting next to Zhang Yu would make him an outcast.

Of course, he was overthinking it. With so many people in the cafeteria, hardly anyone was paying attention to him.

Watching Zhang Yu, Qian Shen, and Bai Zhenzhen chatting happily, Zhao Tianxing couldn’t help but feel a twinge of longing.

After returning home yesterday, he couldn’t stop thinking about Zhang Yu’s unwavering stance against Zhou Chechen.

He admired Zhang Yu for being able to do such things and longed to face any pressure with the same calmness and ease.

Just as Zhao Tianxing was hesitating, he saw Zhang Yu wave at him.

“Old Zhao! Over here!”

Zhao Tianxing was slightly stunned: “Does Zhang Yu think I couldn’t find him?”

He gritted his teeth and quickly walked over to sit next to Zhang Yu.

At that moment, he felt like everyone in the cafeteria was watching him. He just wanted to sit down quickly and stop Zhang Yu from calling him.

He wasn’t wrong; many people were indeed watching Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, and him.

But at that moment, Zhao Tianxing felt cool, maybe even as cool as Zhang Yu had been yesterday.

He was wrong. In most students’ eyes, Zhao Tianxing was just a clown, now marked as untouchable.

As soon as Zhao Tianxing sat down, Zhang Yu received a reply from Zhang Pianpian.

Zhang Yu had sent Zhang Pianpian a message: Sister, I have a classmate who loves studying and wants to add you as a friend.

Zhang Pianpian: What’s his score?

Zhang Yu: Around 620.

Zhang Pianpian: Too low, I won’t add him.

Zhang Yu: Ah?

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “My sister is severely biased against low scores.”

He remembered how Zhang Pianpian had treated him when he scored below 600. No wonder she was so rude.

But thinking about the environment at Bailong High School, Zhang Yu felt that it made sense for the top student to be this picky.

Looking at Qian Shen, who was full of anticipation, Zhang Yu hesitated and then said, “She… said you scored 620, which is too low, so she won’t add you.”

Qian Shen was momentarily stunned, then blushed and reminded Zhang Yu not to forget the 6 in the units place.

“I scored 626!”

But after saying that, Qian Shen lowered his head, his eyes dimming.

Zhang Yu felt that in that moment, Qian Shen was thinking a lot, and finally, he nodded and said, “My score is indeed too low.”

Then Qian Shen raised his head, looking admiringly and said, “No wonder you’re a 699. Your standards for friendship are so high.”

“Please tell her that I will study hard, improve my score, and eventually add her as a friend.”

“Also, although I’m at Songyang High School, I’ve always admired Bailong High School. I even took the entrance exam once but just missed the Model Class…”

Zhang Yu understood. Qian Shen was clearly a mental Bailong student, thinking the air at Bailong was sweeter.

He reluctantly relayed Qian Shen’s words to Zhang Pianpian.

Zhang Pianpian: In the future, don’t forward messages from people scoring around 620. They can’t keep up with us.

Seeing Qian Shen’s determined face, Zhang Yu hesitated but didn’t have the heart to tell him what Zhang Pianpian said.

...

In the afternoon class.

The Chinese teacher was lecturing at the front of the room.

Bai Zhenzhen was practicing her Mana Control Proficiency.

Her phone vibrated, and she saw a message from Mo Tianyi.

Mo Tianyi: Bai Zhenzhen, you and Zhang Yu have joined Bailong High School’s Zhang Pianpian?

Bai Zhenzhen was slightly stunned but quickly understood. However, she wasn’t sure how to reply.

Zhang Pianpian, the top student in Grade 3 at Bailong High School, was seen by Mo Tianyi and his friends as a representative of the wealthy.

Zhang Pianpian’s support for Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu was seen as them being forcibly signed by Bailong High School.

Bai Zhenzhen couldn’t tell Mo Tianyi that Zhang Pianpian admired their talent and wanted to help them get into the Ten Great Sects.

And she had promised to keep the secret of her and Zhang Yu’s relationship with Zhang Pianpian.

But then she realized, why should she explain?

Explaining too much might expose her and Zhang Yu’s plan to get into the Ten Great Sects under Zhang Pianpian’s protection.

What if Mo Tianyi and his leader also wanted Zhang Pianpian’s protection?

Or if Mo Tianyi’s group spread the word, and the wealthy found out, wouldn’t it cause more trouble?

Now everyone thought they had been signed by Zhang Pianpian and wouldn’t try for the Ten Great Sects. This was a good thing.

In the future, if they really got into the Ten Great Sects, they could repay Mo Tianyi and his group for their investment and even help them reach the Kunxu Second Floor.

“In the end, what matters most for me, Yu, and Mo Tianyi is getting into the Ten Great Sects.”

“So the choice that increases our chances of getting in is the best one.”

With that, Bai Zhenzhen replied: Yes, sorry, we can’t handle the pressure. We won’t try for the Ten Great Sects anymore. We’ve signed with Zhang Pianpian.

A moment later, Mo Tianyi replied: Sigh, I don’t blame you. I heard about the pressure from Songyang High School. It’s normal to give in. But please keep our secret and don’t tell anyone.

Bai Zhenzhen: Don’t worry. We’ve given up, but we hope you succeed. You are our last hope. Good luck!

...

In the Spirit Realm.

Mo Tianyi read Bai Zhenzhen’s sincere reply and felt a sense of relief, but a hint of regret flashed through his mind.

Zhang Yu’s fourth-place finish in the Magic Aptitude Competition and Bai Zhenzhen’s strong will had made him believe they had a chance of getting into the Ten Great Sects.

But now it seemed...

“Ultimately, they couldn’t withstand the pressure.”

He also felt a pang of regret about the money he had given them.

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have given them the money. I should have saved it for the leader.”

He thought, “In the end, the one who will get into the Ten Great Sects and help us break through this ceiling is the leader…”

Just then, a message appeared before him: Work has been idle for over a minute. Please return to your position and continue working.

Mo Tianyi quickly refocused and reopened the Spirit Realm connection to continue his work.

Unlike other high schools, Mangshan High School’s soul cultivators had to start internships from Grade 1.

A series of dialog boxes soon appeared before Mo Tianyi. His job today was customer service for a tutoring agency.

Customer: My son has completed the Sterilization Procedure, but the high school won’t accept him. Now the girls’ school and the soul cultivators are rejecting him because of his physical defects. What can we do?

Mo Tianyi replied: Girls’ schools and soul cultivators have lower standards and are always popular. Physical defects make it easy to be rejected. However, there is a solution. You can have your son undergo a Sterilization Organ Restoration Surgery and reapply.

Mo Tianyi: If he fails again, he can repeat a year and undergo the Sterilization Procedure again. This double Sterilization Procedure is a huge plus on his resume, showing his strong spiritual resolve. He will definitely be accepted next year.

Mo Tianyi: We can recommend a hospital for you…

Beside Mo Tianyi, a dozen identical versions of him were handling different dialog boxes.

In the Spirit Realm, these Mo Tianyis were in a ten-square-meter room, empty except for them and the dialog boxes.

After eighteen hours of continuous work, he finally had a five-minute break.

Looking at his earnings, Mo Tianyi quickly sent the money to his leader.

“The leader needs the money.”

Thinking that his earnings today would help the leader have a better chance of getting into the Ten Great Sects, Mo Tianyi felt a sense of satisfaction and anticipation.

“Leader, you must succeed. You are the only poor person in Songyang City who has a chance of getting into the Ten Great Sects.”

“And the only hope for us to escape this life…”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end