Chapter 36: Class A Contract

Looking at the cultivation techniques in the recommendation section, Zhang Yu began to feel curious: "My friends are watching? Just what kind of friends are watching these martial arts?"

Unfortunately, after logging in with his real name, most of the classmates Zhang Yu knew in real life appeared as friends on shopping websites. There were so many of them that he couldn't pinpoint who was watching.

"Nine Heavens Rapid Succession Eight Talisman Arts?"

Thinking of his score of 60 on the Daoist Arts exam, Zhang Yu immediately clicked in, only to be immediately deterred by the price of 98,000.

"The cost-performance ratio of talismans is too low; I'll pass for now."

Zhang Yu simply opened the rankings to see what the most popular techniques were currently.

"Everlasting Spring Longevity Technique (Deluxe Revised Edition), Health and Disease-Dispelling Technique, Bricklayer King's Detailed Excavator Claw, Sports Car Leg (Uncut Version), Elevator Vertical Cultivation Guide..."

Seeing these techniques being sold to those in the Qi Refining stage, Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned.

The bestsellers were primarily longevity and health-strengthening techniques. Zhang Yu understood this perfectly—who wouldn't want to live a few more years? As for curing illnesses, it made even more sense; hospitals were too expensive, so it was more cost-effective to endure illnesses through self-cultivation.

However, the subsequent bestsellers were either strength-based martial arts imitating excavators and cranes, or lightness techniques modeled after sports cars and elevators... In short, they were all techniques meant for "beasts of burden."

But upon second thought, Zhang Yu understood.

Compared to high school students like him, the vast majority of people in the Qi Refining stage were laborers—specifically high-income groups like construction workers, factory workers, delivery drivers, and security guards who did the work of dozens of people single-handedly.

To them, these "Excavator Palms," "Crane Claws," and "Sports Car Legs" were the tools they used to make money; they were the techniques they used to establish themselves in Kunxu.

To them, these were truly useful techniques, far more reliable than anything involving breaking through realms or increasing cultivation levels.

Having realized this, Zhang Yu changed his filter settings, adjusting the suitable age to 18–20.

The techniques that popped up instantly changed to: "Mana Increment Strategy," "Basic Eight Talismans Universal Dictionary," "Simplified Thirty-Six Forms of Body Strengthening"...

Looking at these, Zhang Yu felt that the high-selling techniques were all too basic and simple.

"It seems it's just high school students from ordinary schools buying these."

So, Zhang Yu added a new filter—technique grade.

According to the knowledge Zhang Yu had learned at school, techniques were divided into five grades: Basic, Advanced, Expert, Military, and Immortal Sect.

It was said that there were even finer sub-divisions within the Immortal Sect grade, but Zhang Yu didn't know the specifics.

After all, Military and Immortal Sect grades were not for ordinary people to cultivate; one required joining the military or political departments to gain cultivation rights, while the other required joining a Great Sect.

As for the "Circadian Qi Gathering Method" in his own hands, he estimated it was likely Advanced grade.

As for the "Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Manual," he estimated it was likely Expert grade.

"Unjust Mountain-Moving Sutra, Heart-Origin Great Mudra, Circadian Starry Sky Sword, Radiant Heart Sutra..."

Zhang Yu's gaze swept over these Expert-grade techniques. After a moment of envy, he could only shake his head helplessly: "Expert-grade techniques not only have higher cultivation thresholds and more requirements... but even the cheapest usage right costs tens of thousands. I really can't afford them."

"Unless the school contract really offers me a massive sum."

Zhang Yu's gaze swept over the Advanced-grade techniques again, thinking to himself, "The Advanced ones, however... once the contract is settled, I might consider buying a few."

"Especially a mental cultivation method suitable for me, so I can reach Dao Heart Level 3 faster and start practicing the Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Manual."

After wandering around the shopping platform and adding several decent-looking techniques to his cart, Zhang Yu intended to log out for now.

Just then, he suddenly noticed the recommendation bar changing again.

*Your competitors are placing orders: Mana Increment Strategy, Basic Eight Talismans Universal Dictionary, Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method...*

Holy crap!

"Is this how you abuse big data? Creating a 'technique competition' among users to stimulate consumption?"

"Wait... what the hell is the 'Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method'?"

*Your competitors are placing orders for the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method...* Who wouldn't click on that? Even a passerby would have to stop and take a look.

Zhang Yu clicked in, only to discover that the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method was an Expert-grade technique that combined abilities such as flesh self-healing, organ transplantation, flesh devouring, blood-qi adaptation, and human body parasitism.

In short, it was a martial art used to plunder the bodies of others.

As a former legitimate user of Qidian web novels in his previous life, Zhang Yu had only one feeling upon seeing the name and description.

Could anyone who bought this technique be a good person?

"My competitor? Just what kind of demon is practicing the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method?"

"Is there really a competitor? Or is this website just making stuff up?"

Zhang Yu was somewhat suspicious, but considering the various miraculous powers and ways of doing things in the Kunxu world, he felt it wasn't impossible.

Zhang Yu checked the price; the usage right for the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method was a whopping 300,000. Among the people he knew, there were only a few qualified to practice such a technique, and with the qualifier "competitor"...

"Qian Shen?"

"Or He Dayou?"

Zhang Yu immediately felt that He Dayou was highly suspicious. After all, Teacher Lei Jun had replayed the combat video between him and He Dayou many times, and he remembered the look He Dayou gave him was very unfriendly.

"Anyway, I have to be careful of the wealthy people nearby."

"Practicing something like the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method... what a beast in human skin."

But soon, he saw in the recommendation bar below the purchase page: *People watching this technique are also watching: Anti-Parasitism Method, Divine Purification Manual, Heaven-Slaying Demon Art...*

Seeing these highly targeted names, Zhang Yu immediately doubted his previous judgment.

"Could the platform really be messing with me just to trick me into placing an order?"

Based on Zhang Yu's understanding of the Kunxu world, the corporations in this world were absolutely capable of such things.

He could only keep it in mind for now. However, before exiting the platform, he thought for a moment and added the Anti-Parasitism Method, the Divine Purification Manual, and the Heaven-Slaying Demon Art to his favorites.

A moment later, he simply reopened the platform and added the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method to his favorites as well.

"Heh, it'll be best if that person placing the order can also see that their competitor is watching the Heavenly Demon Parasitism Method, the Anti-Parasitism Method, the Divine Purification Manual, and the Heaven-Slaying Demon Art..."

In the blink of an eye, another night passed.

Zhang Yu's Circadian Qi Gathering Method made further progress, rising to Level 8 (95/160).

And after a day of hard cultivation, his mana had also risen to a level of 12.1.

...

The next day.

Inside the campus of Songyang High School.

Zhang Yu received a friend request from a user with a barbell as their profile picture.

"Hello Zhang Yu, I am Lan Ling from the Grade 11 Model Class, and also the Sports Director of the Student Union. I have something I wish to discuss with you. Please accept my friend request."

After Zhang Yu accepted, the other party quickly sent a new message.

"Hello, Student Zhang Yu. In order to promote the development of the Immortal Dao in society and assist our school's students in scaling the heights of the immortal path to achieve even better results, and based on the principles of mutual voluntary cooperation and win-win results, we are very honored to invite you to negotiate regarding contract signing, with the aim of reaching deeper value-added cooperation..."

The person asked to meet him at 12:00 PM today at the Student Union office to discuss the contract.

"Has it finally come?"

Thus, at noon that day, after washing his face, combing his hair, and tidying his clothes, Zhang Yu arrived in front of the Student Union office.

Just as he knocked on the door, he saw another door appear after the first one opened.

Oh... it wasn't that another door appeared behind a door, but rather a person who looked very much like a door appeared.

A student with a build as wide as a door opened it for Zhang Yu, stepping back with a smile: "You must be Student Zhang Yu?"

Zhang Yu glanced at the dumbbell the "door-man" was holding and greeted him: "Student Lan Ling?"

Just as they were greeting each other, a burst of laughter came from behind the door-man, followed by the sound of thumping footsteps.

"Is Zhang Yu here?"

A young man, who hadn't even had time to put on shoes, jumped off the sofa and ran a short distance to Zhang Yu, grasping both his hands excitedly: "Hahaha! I heard yesterday that another peerless genius has emerged from our Songyang High School. I've finally been waiting for you today!"

With that, he grabbed Zhang Yu and pulled him inside.

Beside them, Lan Ling followed and introduced, "Student Zhang Yu, this is our Student Union Vice President, Zhou Chechen."

Zhang Yu remembered; this person seemed to be the top student of the eleventh grade.

Ever since the monthly exams ended, he was a name frequently seen in various parts of the school, just like him.

Zhou Chechen pulled Zhang Yu onto the sofa, and the two sat down together.

Feeling his hand being gripped tightly by the other, and seeing the gaze filled with admiration, excitement, and agitation, Zhang Yu's heart tightened.

*Holy crap, is he a fencer?*

Zhou Chechen reached out and made a grasping motion in the air, and a stack of documents flew from the desk into his hand.

"After I saw your grades, I immediately looked up your information."

"Only then did I discover that debt collection calls regarding you had been made to the school."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu's heart sank, thinking: *Are they going to use my debt to drive down the price?*

Instead, Zhou Chechen waved the documents in his hand and smiled: "After I heard about it, I immediately had someone buy out your debt."

"Over a dozen platforms, a total of 700,000 in debt, all right here."

"How can our school's prodigy be weighed down by debt? If word got out, other high schools would think Songyang High School is so poor we can't even afford to invest in our own students."

As he spoke, he released a burst of mana, turning all the debt documents into ash.

Under Zhang Yu's stunned gaze, Zhou Chechen continued: "From now on, you won't have to pay back debt every month."

"This 700,000 debt will be recorded under my name for now. No interest is needed, and there's no rush for you to pay it back."

"From now on, just focus on your studies and cultivation here at Songyang High School. Once you graduate from university and enter a Great Sect, you can slowly pay me back when you've made money."

Zhang Yu stared at him in shock. He hadn't expected that with one move, the Vice President of the Student Union had temporarily suppressed his most pressing financial crisis.

Then, Zhou Chechen picked up another document and said: "This is the Grade-A contract I've set for you after discussing it with the President."

"A monthly cultivation allowance of 50,000. Spiritual roots, quiet rooms, spiritual realms, talismans, the cafeteria, potions... everything in the school is 20% off... We've also prepared a single room for you in the school dormitory..."

Listening to the various preferential terms being listed, Zhang Yu's heart couldn't help but race, feeling an overwhelming urge to sign the document immediately.