Chapter 93: Dark Study Gang, Trial Class

Chapter 93: Dark Study Gang, Trial Class

Inside the Half-Constructed Tower, Zhang Yu stood silently in the vast hall, his mind replaying the sensation of unleashing his Excavation Palm after reaching Level 10.

"One strike", he mused, "and my control over Shovel Force deepened significantly. The area I can cover with it has doubled, at least."

He struck again, his Shovel Force roaring through the air as it surged forward.

"This Excavation Palm can unleash immense power, but the wind-up is too slow and clumsy. Definitely not ideal for combat."

"If I’m not working on a construction site, this technique isn’t very useful."

Shaking his head, he knew these laborer-style martial arts wouldn’t help his Imperial Entrance Exam scores.

"Doesn’t matter. Sharpening tools never wastes time."

"As long as they help me earn more money, spending time cultivating them is worth it."

Since he’d already maxed out Excavation Palm to Level 10 today, Zhang Yu had no intention of continuing with it. With the Feather Book still on cooldown, he focused instead on refining his Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi to boost his Physical Strength Level.

——

Five days passed in a flash.

During this time, Zhang Yu not only raised Excavation Palm and Sports Car Legs to Level 10 but also purchased and cultivated Crane Claw and Elevator Leap to the same level. Between tuition, transportation, and other expenses, his savings dwindled. Fortunately, teaching Song Hailong twice more kept his balance above 15,000 credits.

Now, after borrowing another Hiding Talisman from Zhang Pianpian and altering his appearance with Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi, Zhang Yu set off for his trial class. Unlike last time, when he’d sprinted the entire way, he now used Sports Car Legs.

Spiritual Power roared through his body like a revving engine. His legs blurred, leaving afterimages as he shot forward.

"Compared to Excavation Palm and Crane Claw, Sports Car Legs and Elevator Leap are far more practical."

Recalling how Level 10 Excavation Palm doubled his material-hauling capacity, or how Crane Claw let him lift heavy objects with both hands, he shook his head. "Same issues—slow wind-up, poor agility. Perfect for labor, but useless in battle."

In contrast, Sports Car Legs and Elevator Leap offered great value.

Commonly used by couriers, Sports Car Legs channeled Spiritual Power into the legs for lightning-fast movement, eliminating the need for cars or e-bikes. Elevator Leap compressed muscle power like a spring, enabling explosive vertical jumps—ideal for scaling buildings without elevators.

"This is my first time cultivating lightness techniques. They really do make daily life convenient."

At Level 10, Sports Car Legs protected his soles from wear, reducing the need for replacements. Elevator Leap, also Level 10, converted vertical jumps into horizontal leaps, letting couriers vault over traffic lights and congested roads to deliver packages on time.

Right now, Zhang Yu’s Spiritual Power surged from his Dantian to his legs and waist, his muscles coiling as he launched himself twenty meters forward, clearing a traffic light in a single bound.

"With these two techniques, I can reach my tutoring sessions in 30-40 minutes."

"As my Spiritual Power grows stronger, my speed and jump range will only increase. I’ll get faster over time…"

The Cloth Doll Deity hanging from his neck watched in disbelief.

"Wait… these four martial arts are simple, but reaching Level 10 in all of them in such a short time?!"

"Is this kid’s potential really from the activation I did?"

"I should give myself a boost too! How the hell did he do this?!"

Over these five days, besides cultivating the four new techniques, Zhang Yu had focused heavily on Crimson Marrow Primordial Qi.

Unfortunately, without the Primordial Chaos Pill and juggling other tasks, his Physical Strength Level had only climbed to 1.98.

"I really miss the Primordial Chaos Pill. Training without pills feels like a losing game."

——

Arriving again at the small building in the industrial park, Zhang Yu found the middle-aged man who’d greeted him before.

"You’re here", the man smiled. "May I ask your name, sir?"

Zhang Yu replied casually, "Call me Ma Yunteng. And you?"

"Just Heiya, sir. Please follow me—the teachers are waiting."

He led Zhang Yu through a hidden door into the underground tutoring base. The place was packed with guards, their tattoos reading "Study Every Day", "Secret Learning", and "Tutoring Enthusiast", marking them as members of the Shadow Study Gang.

Zhang Yu noticed something odd—each guard had a "0" floating above their head.

Suddenly, a guard with "-122" above him sprinted past, the number dropping to -123, then -124.

Zhang Yu couldn’t resist asking, "What do those numbers mean?"

Heiya chuckled. "It’s part of our corporate management system, developed with the Positive Deities. It deducts wages for leaving your post too long. He might’ve had diarrhea or something."

Zhang Yu grimaced. "Isn’t that too strict?"

Heiya shrugged. "These days, anyone ambitious is drowning in debt. Wage deductions are just a rite of passage for young people."

Zhang Yu forced a laugh. "You guys really do run this gang like a regular job."

Heiya beamed. "Thank you! Our leader’s goal is to formalize and corporatize the Shadow Study Gang. We aim to expand into the city center as a new Corporation."

He sighed. "After all, who joins a gang willingly if they can’t find a decent job? Once you’re in a gang, your resume’s ruined. No big Corporation will hire you."

Zhang Yu finally understood—it was a haven for the unemployed. A jobless support group.

Heiya gestured ahead. "The classroom’s up there. Bathrooms on both sides. Downstairs are the training hall, showers, and cafeteria…"

As he spoke, loud voices erupted from the classroom door.

Zhang Yu turned to see a poster: Enroll in the White Dragon Class! Experience elite high school education all night long. By day, you’re just an average student. By night, become a White Dragon Clan member and watch your grades soar!

Underneath, a student complained, "The teacher’s too soft! Even underperformers don’t have to kneel. What kind of White Dragon Class is this? I paid to experience elite education, but this feels no different from my regular school!"

Zhang Yu was stunned—people actually paid for this? Then he realized how foolish he was to be surprised.

"Of course they do. Knowing how obsessed parents and students are in Songyang City, if paying could even mimic Bailong High’s teaching, people would line up to throw money at it."

——

Meanwhile, in another classroom, teachers lounged and chatted.

A white-haired old man with a "One Lesson Daily" tattoo inhaled deeply, exhaling a plume of Spiritual Resolve Buffer Agent smoke—a popular addictive drug in the Kunxu Realm, used to enhance Spiritual Resolve, often consumed as cigarettes, alcohol, or drinks.

He muttered, "How’s this new teacher? Heard he might be from an elite school."

A scarred woman scoffed. "Elite schools only take rich, smart kids. Has he ever taught failures? Has he even met students below 450 points? Most of our students would be traitors if they entered an elite school. Can he teach them?"

A three-meter-tall man, his muscular body riddled with needle marks from physique cultivation, grunted. "An elite teacher teaching Excavation Palm or Sports Car Legs?"

"Has he ever worked on a construction site? Delivered food? Can he even teach these? I’ve been pouring concrete for 11 years. Che Nv has 8 years of delivery experience. Does he think he can outmatch us?"

The old man disagreed. "Still, someone who mastered Infinite Cloud Hands to Level 10 deserves a chance."

Just then, Heiya entered with Zhang Yu. "This is Ma Yunteng, our trial teacher."

He gestured to the old man. "Cai Tou, who teaches Infinite Cloud Hands."

"Che Nv, Sports Car Legs Level 10."

"Da Chan, Excavation Palm Level 10."

Zhang Yu nodded. He recognized they were all using aliases, hiding their true identities and appearances.

"Nice to meet you", he said.

Da Chan, towering over everyone, snorted. "Let’s start. We’re all busy."

Zhang Yu agreed. He activated Formless Cloud Qi, his body swirling with mist like a celestial being.

"Let me begin with Infinite Cloud Hands."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end