Chapter 53: The Monthly Exam Ends, and a Storm is Brewing

Inside the unfinished building.

Zhang Yu, clad in a weighted training suit, threw a punch. As his foot slammed against the concrete floor, a sudden, muffled boom erupted through the floors.

Already drenched in sweat, Zhang Yu did not pause for a moment, continuing to practice every single movement of the "Thirty-Six Styles of Body Strengthening" with punches and kicks.

His entire body was burning hot, emitting faint wisps of white steam into the freezing night air.

Ever since he had managed to maintain the "Wild Bull Soul-Suppressing Mantra" while practicing the "Wuji Cloud Hands" up to Level 10 in a weighted suit a week ago, Zhang Yu had begun challenging himself with higher difficulties—specifically, practicing the Level 10 "Thirty-Six Styles of Body Strengthening."

At first, it was indeed difficult, serving as a dual ordeal for both his physiology and his psychology.

Fortunately, as long as he could maintain the mantra, the Wild Bull Soul-Suppressing Mantra always provided Zhang Yu with a sliver of joy and satisfaction born from anticipation.

As for when he couldn't maintain the mantra?

The power of the Ritual would guide Zhang Yu back onto the right track to sustain it.

For instance, at this very moment, as Zhang Yu’s focus wavered slightly and the mental visualization map in his mind began to blur, he knew the Ritual was about to start screaming at him again.

"Please abide by the Ritual agreement. Work hard to fulfill your wish. Do not intentionally slack off or procrastinate. 10."

Zhang Yu hurriedly concentrated, striving to maintain the state of the Wild Bull Soul-Suppressing Mantra. The mental visualization map in his mind gradually became clear once more.

Damn it!

Though the chill had dissipated again, Zhang Yu couldn't help but curse under his breath.

Just then, a cell phone ringtone echoed through the darkness of the unfinished building.

To Zhang Yu, this sound was like heavenly music.

At least this idiotic Ritual had a shred of judgment, allowing him to take a brief rest when he answered the phone.

Picking up the phone, Zhang Yu saw that the message was from Zhou Chechen, the Vice President of the Student Union.

Zhou Chechen: *Zhang Yu, what have you decided?*

Zhang Yu glanced at the time.

Hmm, a message from the Student Union at 4:00 AM—this was the normal sleeping schedule for us Songyang locals.

Zhang Yu: *I want to focus entirely on preparing for the monthly exams first. We can talk about the contract after the exams are over.*

Zhou Chechen: *Haha, no problem. We'll talk after the exams then. I've prepared a contract that will absolutely satisfy you. I look forward to the day we sign.*

Although Zhang Yu knew Zhou Chechen likely spoke this way to all signees, it was impossible not to feel a bit uncomfortable being "licked" (flattered) by him from time to time over the past month.

"A pity. In the end, it's not a pure friendship devoid of interest, just someone who wants to suck up to me for profit."

Thinking about having to continue this superficial dance with the guy made Zhang Yu feel a bit uneasy.

"I wonder if this guy will change his tune if I reject him again after this monthly exam?"

Zhang Yu looked up at his Feather Book.

Dao Heart: Level 2 (93%) Mana: 18.7 Physical Strength: Level 1.33

Through these days of rigorous training, his strength had made significant progress.

In particular, he was getting closer to Level 3 Dao Heart, and his mana level was already at a level that stood in a league of its own among the first-year students of Songyang High School; even Bai Zhenzhen couldn't match him.

Only his Physical Strength had slipped back to the 7th or 8th position because he had stopped training for half a month and had only recently resumed.

However, Zhang Yu estimated that if he continued his bitter cultivation in his current state, his Physical Strength would inevitably achieve dominant leadership in the Songyang first-year class before long.

But even so, he was still a long way from being admitted into the top ten prestigious universities.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and plunged back into his bitter cultivation.

...

The day of the monthly exams.

A solemn, murderous atmosphere permeated the high school campus.

But for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, the monthly exams themselves were no longer a cause for great worry.

After smoothly completing the morning's theoretical exams, Zhang Yu ate lunch, practiced during the break, and then went to the computer lab for the Daoist Arts exam, finishing the questions while drenched in sweat.

Next came the final exam of the day—Martial Arts Combat.

This time, the opponent he drew was Qian Shen.

Qian Shen's gaze toward Zhang Yu was complicated.

This was because his opponent was someone who had scored six points lower than him in last month's exam, yet had scored dozens of points higher than him in the total mana competition.

So, while Zhang Yu might have a lower overall score, it seemed unlikely that he was truly "lower" in ability, making Zhang Yu appear even more complex and unpredictable in Qian Shen's eyes. He was the first person who, despite having a lower score in the last exam, made Qian Shen feel incredibly cautious.

Seeing Qian Shen's cautious demeanor, Zhang Yu smiled slightly. "Then, here I come."

In the next instant, he struck out with a palm, his entire body blurring forward with a *whoosh* until he was right in front of Qian Shen.

Even though Qian Shen was cautious enough, after a dozen exchanges, he gradually fell into a disadvantage.

Finally, accompanied by a gust of wind rushing toward his face, he looked at the fist stopped right in front of his forehead and said helplessly, "I lose."

But before the second round began, he stared at Zhang Yu and said suddenly and seriously, "You didn't use your full strength, did you? You didn't even use the Wuji Cloud Hands."

Qian Shen had watched Zhang Yu learn the Wuji Cloud Hands at the competition site that day, so he naturally knew the other boy had obtained the right to use the technique.

Moreover, during the martial arts classes over the past two weeks, Zhang Yu had used the Wuji Cloud Hands every time he sparred with Bai Zhenzhen.

Qian Shen said sternly, "Use the Wuji Cloud Hands. Fight me with your full strength."

"We are in a monthly exam right now, not a practice class."

"I don't want every point I earn in this exam to be obtained through deception."

"Use your full strength. Don't insult my score."

Zhang Yu took a deep breath. "I understand."

He lamented inwardly, *Is my rare moment of joy during this bitter cultivation coming to an end again?*

With another *whoosh*, Zhang Yu charged at Qian Shen again, his palm—now carrying the Wuji Cloud Qi—slamming toward him.

Having seen the power of the Wuji Cloud Hands during combat classes, Qian Shen naturally did not choose to meet it head-on.

As he dodged to the side, he simultaneously lunged with a kick toward Zhang Yu's lower body.

However, Zhang Yu's other palm, carrying layers of cloud qi, blocked the kick.

When Qian Shen's leg struck the cloud qi, it felt as if he had kicked into a mass of light, effortless mist, but in the next instant, a violent force rebounded from within, sending him flying out of bounds.

The second round ended.

The third round began.

After that battle, Qian Shen really wanted to take back what he had just said.

Although his declaration had sounded very cool, being given a low score in a combat exam was truly frustrating.

Not far away, Lei Jun withdrew his gaze from Zhang Yu and Qian Shen and looked toward Bai Zhenzhen and He Dayou on the other side.

Watching He Dayou being knocked to the ground in a few moves by Bai Zhenzhen, Lei Jun thought to himself, *The skill gap is too large. Next monthly exam, I might as well stop letting Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen draw lots and just arrange them to be in the same group for the combat exam.*

...

The next morning was the Dao Heart and Mana exam.

Entering the Spirit Realm once again.

This time, Zhang Yu found himself tied to a hospital bed, with a syringe on his left and a button on his right.

A female voice came over the broadcast: *"Good pills! Choose Ziyun! Ziyun, the all-encompassing, all-age pill! One swallow and ten thousand diseases vanish! Thank you to the Ziyun Company for sponsoring this Martial Competition..."*

Listening to the rules described in the broadcast, Zhang Yu finally understood that the content of this Dao Heart exam was—Dependency.

Every time the button was pressed, a dose of Neuro-Modulator Powder, also known as "Happiness Powder," would be injected into his body.

Once the exam began, the powder would be automatically injected into the candidates to make them feel euphoria, satisfaction, and calm.

The requirement for the candidates was to press the button as little as possible. The fewer injections received, the higher the ranking and the higher the score.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, *What a bunch of bastards.*

*Running ads during a monthly exam, huh?*

*The person designing this Dao Heart exam is getting more and more outrageous. One day, I'm going to crush them...*

...

Compared to the intensity of the Dao Heart exam, the Mana and Physical exams seemed quite ordinary.

However, when the Physical exam ended and Wang Hai once again applied to the school leadership to let Zhang Yu join the competition team, he was rejected once more.

The reason given for the rejection was that Zhang Yu's physical performance had declined and he still needed to "settle down."

But what was told to Wang Hai privately was that this all had to do with the Student Union.

After some thought, Wang Hai sent a message to Zhang Yu the next day.

"Do you have some kind of grudge with the Student Union? It seems they don't want you on the school's athletic competition team."

...

Inside the unfinished building.

Wearing the weighted suit, Zhang Yu stood quietly in place, feeling the changes within his sea of consciousness.

At this moment, he had finally reached Level 3 Dao Heart.

His control over his physical body had become more meticulous, the mana in his dantian had become more lively and controllable, and even every piece of flesh and every shred of strength in his body felt more coordinated and comfortable in his perception.

Even the mental fatigue accumulated over many days seemed to vanish in an instant, leaving him feeling incredibly refreshed.

Dao Heart: Level 3 (0%)

This was the feeling of reaching Level 3 Dao Heart—a stronger mastery over oneself and one's own power.

"Finally, Level 3 Dao Heart."

"Now I can cultivate the 'Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Technique,' right?"

Zhang Yu had long been looking forward to this expert-level technique passed down by a Golden Core True Person.

*Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Technique! Let me see where your limit lies!*

Almost immediately upon reaching Level 3 Dao Heart, he impatiently switched his Feather Book specialization to this technique.

The Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Technique was a martial arts mental cultivation method encompassing nine sets of martial arts: Fist, Palm, Leg, Finger, Claw, Saber, Sword, Spear, and Staff.

Among these nine sets, some were combat styles and some were body-refining methods, but neither was the key.

The true essence of the Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Technique lay in comprehending the "intent" contained within these nine sets to condense one's own Martial Intent.

At this moment, just like he had at the art exhibition, Zhang Yu began practicing the nine sets of Fist, Palm, Leg, Finger, Claw, Saber, Sword, Spear, and Staff from beginning to end.

With every move Zhang Yu made, the surrounding air vibrated with wind, and the concrete floor thundered under his feet.

Having upgraded his basic "Scatter Hands" to Level 5, brought his basic "Thirty-Six Styles of Body Strengthening" and advanced "Wuji Cloud Hands" all to Level 10, and having sparred with Bai Zhenzhen over a hundred times, his perspective was now entirely different from the past.

The more he practiced, the more he could feel that it contained both combat methods and body-refining methods, covering a very comprehensive range. Once mastered, it could be used both to temper the physical body and to fight enemies.

"...It just takes a bit too long."

Heavenly Martial Heart-Refining Technique: Level 1 (0/10)

It took Zhang Yu nearly 14 minutes to complete all nine sets of martial arts while wearing the weighted suit.

Realizing this, Zhang Yu felt a faint sense of "liver pain" (exhaustion from overwork).

He knew that this technique was going to be a long, arduous grind.

(End of Chapter)