Chapter 41: Conspiracy and the Start of the Fête

When Zhang Yu saw the complex circulation diagram, he was initially a bit startled.

However, once he actually tried to practice it, he realized it wasn't much more difficult than the Daily Orbit Qi-Gathering Method he practiced every day.

Compared to the full-body mana circulation established by the Orbit Qi-Gathering Method, this route of converting mana into sharp sword qi was far too simple.

Zhang Yu had raised his mana circulation in the Orbit Qi-Gathering Method all the way to Level 10, and he had lost count of how many times he had practiced it.

Practicing this now... was as easy as a college student in his past life crushing kids on a mental math competition platform.

So, as he began to follow the circulation diagram in the projection, guiding his mana to his right arm, he made a slight attempt and immediately felt a sharp aura erupting from his fingertips.

This sharp aura couldn't even truly be called sword qi—its power was barely stronger than a utility knife—but it still left Zhang Yu feeling incredibly excited.

"A-Zhen, look! I did it!"

Bai Zhenzhen: "Shrimp-head Zhang Yu! Steamed Goose Heart!" (Note: Internet slang/nonsense)

Teacher Yan immediately looked over, surprised. "Have you studied this before?"

Seeing Zhang Yu shake his head, she remarked with emotion, "It seems you have quite a talent for this."

Realizing Zhang Yu possessed this talent, Teacher Yan began to teach him with even more dedication.

She proceeded to teach several basic mana conversion routes, such as heating, low temperature, and electrification. Seeing that Zhang Yu could master all of them within a short period, she nodded repeatedly in praise.

"That's all for today. Practice more when you get back."

"Don't forget, tomorrow and the day after will be at the same time. I'll give you two more supplementary lessons."

"Then, I'll teach you how to dissipate mana and how mana invades the body."

Watching Zhang Yu's departing figure, Teacher Yan thought to herself, *You brat, you'd better crush those eight students who didn't show up for extra lessons at the Magic Competition.*

As for actually winning a rank? Making it into the top ten? Winning prize money or gaining extra points for university interviews...

Teacher Yan hadn't even considered those things.

If it were a sports competition, Songyang High School would have some competitive edge. Although academic competitions and the Gaokao were different things, Songyang High School had produced city-wide sports champions and had always been a strong school in athletics.

But for any competition outside of sports, it had almost always been the playground of the three elite schools. Their only opponents were themselves; even key high schools like Songyang rarely even brushed against them.

According to Teacher Yan's best estimate, Zhang Yu would simply be the best performer among Songyang High School's ten participants, making those students who skipped the extra lessons regret it deeply, prompting them to rush to her with money to beg for tutoring after the competition.

On the other side, after leaving the classroom, Zhang Yu found a message from Zhou Chechen on his phone, agreeing to continue fulfilling the loan contract and making monthly repayments.

After all, Zhou Chechen had already purchased his 700,000 debt, becoming Zhang Yu's new creditor. However, to show sincerity, he stated that Zhang Yu didn't need to rush the monthly payments.

Over the past few days, Zhang Yu had discussed the repayments with Zhou Chechen several times via phone. The other party had declined a few times before finally agreeing to his request, expressing understanding of his desire not to carry debt.

"He agreed?"

Zhang Yu felt a pang of heartache as he repaid this month's 15,000 loan. Despite the sting, he didn't want to be held by a vulnerability that could lead to forced execution at any time, just as Bai Zhenzhen had warned.

Especially once those wealthy people realized he intended to break through the blockade and get into one of the top ten universities, this overdue loan would become a massive weakness.

After this 15,000, plus the 3,000 for tutoring, Zhang Yu's savings had dropped to just over 43,000.

"Sigh, money really doesn't last."

"I hope this Magic Competition allows me to earn a bit more."

...

Meanwhile.

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen left the demonstration class to go to Teacher Yan for extra lessons, Liang Qin, who had just finished using the restroom, walked back. Seeing Zhang Yu's empty seat, his brow furrowed instantly.

After searching the entire floor and finding no trace of Zhang Yu, he couldn't help but curse inwardly, *He was clearly in the classroom just now. Where did he go?*

*Is this guy intentionally avoiding me?*

*So what if he got lucky and became a Golden Core disciple? Does he need to be so stuck-up?*

*If he hadn't become a Golden Core disciple, he wouldn't be much better than me...*

Walking out of the hallway full of resentment, Liang Qin received another phone call.

Listening to the inquiry on the other end, he said vaguely, "Yeah, he's already gone home."

"Nothing happened today."

"Ever since he became a Golden Core disciple, his attitude has been incredibly arrogant. He's constantly guarding himself against his classmates like a thief, as if he's terrified someone will find out his secret to improving his scores."

"I know. I'll keep an eye on him. Don't forget to send the money."

After hanging up, Liang Qin looked distracted until a notification for a bank transfer arrived, at which point a beaming smile appeared on his face.

The reason was simple: he was desperately short of money lately.

While most people in Songyang High School—both students and teachers—were short on money, Liang Qin was even more desperate than the average poor person.

In truth, his family's original circumstances were quite decent. Although they didn't live in the city center, they didn't live in the far suburbs either; they lived in an apartment on the edge of the urban ring. His mother was a housewife and his father was a low-level office worker. Although supporting his education was a struggle, they never lacked food or drink.

Things changed one month after he enrolled in Songyang High School.

Perhaps it was the heavy academic pressure, perhaps the declining rankings, perhaps the pressure brought by one top student after another, or perhaps the unintentional stimulation of wealthy students flaunting their riches, or the extreme strictness of the teachers...

Liang Qin didn't know why, but after being a top student throughout elementary and middle school, he suddenly began to lose focus in his high school classes.

He would find himself opening his phone to scroll through it halfway through breathing exercises.

During body tempering, he always felt weak and listless.

While studying talismans, he couldn't help but zone out.

He... seemed to have developed an aversion to studying.

What were the consequences of developing an aversion to studying at Songyang High School?

Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated, which in turn made his condition even worse.

It was at this time that a second-year student he happened to know introduced him to a way to relax and vent his stress.

The senior said, "Go play on this platform."

Liang Qin hesitated, "Is this for gambling mana?"

The other person smiled nonchalantly, "A little gambling is good for the soul. If you win, you can relax for a few days. If you lose, just treat it as a bit of pressure to make you study harder."

The senior patted Liang Qin on the shoulder, advising, "I wasn't well-adjusted when I first entered tenth grade either. I just played on here to relax."

"Don't be too afraid. For geniuses like us who made it into this high school, our willpower is far beyond ordinary people."

"As long as you control yourself and don't get addicted, a little relaxation is harmless, and you can even earn some extra mana..."

Thinking of his lifelong self-discipline, Liang Qin eventually couldn't resist trying it.

It was a platform where one could deposit money to place bets and win mana.

If you won, you could obtain the mana cultivated by others through "Spirit Root Grafting."

If you lost, you either had to help others cultivate mana through Spirit Root Grafting or pay off the debt with money.

On his first bet, Liang Qin lost.

On his second bet, he lost again.

Just as he thought his money was gone and that such platforms were indeed unreliable, on his third bet, he won 0.3 mana.

To this day, he still remembered the excitement of that moment.

He still remembered the rush of withdrawing 0.3 mana from the Spirit Root Grafting sent by the platform after his withdrawal.

That sensation of mana suddenly surging was something he could never forget.

In the time that followed, he would occasionally place small bets on the platform.

At first, it was exactly as that senior had said.

If he won, the mana gained would relieve the pressure of a mana class for several days, making him feel much more relaxed.

If he lost, he would work twice as hard to cultivate it back, giving him more motivation.

"It's true, as long as I can control myself, this platform is harmless..."

That was what Liang Qin thought two months into the semester.

But now, four months into the semester...

Regret! Regret! Regret!

Every time he thought about how he had secretly swiped his parents' bank cards, or thought about the massive debt he had accumulated, Liang Qin would wake up from his sleep in terror, staring at his bedroom door in fear, as if someone might burst in at any moment to take his dantian, his organs, or his flesh...

But at this very moment at the school gate, looking at the 500 yuan he had just received, Liang Qin felt his hands itching again.

A moment later, watching the newly acquired 500 yuan melt away instantly, Liang Qin beat his chest and stamped his feet, falling once again into a state of regret.

"It's fine, it's fine."

He comforted himself, "I'll keep following Zhang Yu tomorrow and get more money."

"Next time, if I win 300, I'll stop immediately."

"As long as I use absolute willpower to control my greed, I can pay off the debt bit by bit..."

While contemplating his "Plan to Mend the Heavens," Liang Qin walked toward his home.

...

Inside the Songyang High School office.

Su Haifeng watched the person in front of him hang up the phone and said, "So, you were the one who sent Liang Qin out?"

"But that student has turned into a degenerate gambler; his words can't be trusted."

The man opposite him smiled slightly. "I just had him keep a slight eye on Zhang Yu. It was meant to be a casual move, just making use of waste. I didn't expect him to actually find anything."

Su Haifeng shook his head. "Zhang Yu has already spoken with the Student Council. It's estimated he'll sign the contract soon. You still haven't given up?"

The other party said coldly, "Zhang Yu was brought in by me. Although things have developed somewhat beyond my expectations, I won't let go so easily."

"Don't worry, I've already received word that Zhang Yu and the Student Council will sign after the next monthly exam."

"I will make haste to get everything settled."

...

In the following days, Zhang Yu happily practiced the Desolate Ox Soul-Suppressing Heart Sutra every day, feeling the steady, satisfying increments in his Dao Heart level.

Aside from that, he continued his daily classes and studies.

He also occasionally practiced the techniques he learned from Teacher Yan as preparation for the Magic Competition.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed, and the day of the Magic Competition finally arrived.

During these ten days, thanks to the rapid progress of the Level 10 Desolate Ox Soul-Suppressing Heart Sutra, Zhang Yu's Dao Heart level had risen to Level 2 (42%).

He felt that around the time of the next monthly exam, he would have the chance to raise his Dao Heart to Level 3.

His mana, through day and night breathing via the Orbit Qi-Gathering Method, had also grown steadily, now reaching a level of 15.4.

Zhang Yu's sudden surge in mana once again surprised the students. However, after discovering that his physical strength had remained almost unchanged, they only lamented that he must have poured all his effort into spiritual breathing and mana refinement, guessing he was preparing for a full sprint in the Magic Competition.

At the entrance of Songyang High School on this day.

Teacher Yan was leading Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, He Dayou, and the others onto a bus, heading toward the venue for the Songyang City first-year Magic Competition.

(End of Chapter)