Chapter 85

When a senior brother steps in, one is worth two.

With Fifth Senior Brother Cheng Haonan stepping in to plead his case, Ouyang Lanlan once again set up a perfect Spirit Gathering Array for Zhang Xingyu.

That night, Zhang Xingyu bought dry rations, bid farewell to his brothers, closed his courtyard gate, and began his three-month closed-door cultivation.

One day, two days, one month, two months...

Days passed one by one, Nanhua Immortal Academy gradually returned to calm, and the matter of the "waste" Zhang Xingyu was gradually forgotten by everyone.

This morning, three people came to the courtyard gate; they were Zhang Xingyu's close friends Zhu Dafu and Hu Siping, as well as the gossip-monger Bai Xiaosheng.

"Brother Xingyu is really something, copying others in doing closed-door cultivation. He's been at it for three months; if he doesn't come out soon, he won't make it to the midterm exams," Zhu Dafu muttered loudly.

There was also some worry in Hu Siping's eyes: "It shouldn't be, right? He said he'd be in closed-door cultivation for three months, he should be coming out today."

"That's hard to say. Ever since Brother Xingyu became a disciple of the Beautiful Teacher, he's been doing crazier and crazier things. He goes into closed-door cultivation at the drop of a hat; three or five days is common, but this time it's actually three months," Zhu Dafu said, pouting.

Bai Xiaosheng chimed in from the side: "As the saying goes, to succeed, one must first go mad. Brother Xingyu and his Beautiful Teacher are the same kind of people—both crazy."

Just as they were chattering, inside the courtyard, in the cultivation room, Zhang Xingyu opened his eyes.

The dusty floor told him that the spirit stones had been exhausted, and this cultivation session was over.

What a pity, truly a pity.

Just a tiny bit more, and I could have cleared all the meridians of the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

Now, I've only cultivated to the third layer of Qi Refining, still stuck in the early stage.

Back then, I patted my chest so loudly in front of the Beautiful Teacher.

This time, I'm going to lose a lot of face.

Walking out of the cultivation room, bathing, grooming, and changing into a clean white robe, Zhang Xingyu became a handsome guy once again.

When brothers meet, there is naturally a lot to talk about.

That afternoon, Bai Xiaosheng wrote in his portable notebook: "On the 10th of the second month of the 100,003rd year of the Immortal Era, the 'waste' Zhang Xingyu finished three months of closed-door cultivation and stepped out of his room. At this moment, his cultivation is at the third layer of Qi Refining."

Although he didn't want to see her, he had to.

Spirit Talisman Research Center, Instructor's Studio.

Zhang Xingyu stood bowing before the Beautiful Teacher, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, heart on his toes.

In front of him, Huo Lingwu glared at him and cursed: "You brat, didn't you say the middle stage of Qi Refining was a piece of cake? Now, where is your cake? Where is your plate? One thousand high-grade spirit stones—even a pig would have cultivated to the late stage of Qi Refining. But you, you're still at the third layer..."

Seeing she was tired from scolding, Zhang Xingyu handed her a cup of tea: "Beautiful Teacher, drink some water and rest. Using your voice at high volume for too long makes it easy to lose it."

Hearing him say this, Huo Lingwu couldn't help but burst into laughter.

She didn't really want to scold Zhang Xingyu; she just wanted to use this opportunity to knock him down a peg.

After resting for a while, Huo Lingwu took out a jade slip and threw it to Zhang Xingyu.

"You brat, this is the production method for the entry-level spirit talisman 'Meteor Shower'. Take it back and study it well; within three days, you must produce a perfect-quality entry-level spirit talisman."

Zhang Xingyu nodded and replied softly: "I guarantee I will complete the mission."

This time, he didn't dare to pat his chest. He had already lost face once, and he didn't want to lose it again.

Closing the door to guests, closed-door cultivation.

Three days passed in a flash, and Zhang Xingyu's courtyard gate opened again.

Just as Zhang Xingyu stepped out of the gate, he was grabbed by Hu Siping and Zhu Dafu, who were waiting outside.

"Xingyu (Brother Xingyu), hurry up, today is the midterm exam," Hu Siping and Zhu Dafu shouted in unison.

Teaching Building, Teaching Hall.

Bai Xiaosheng was waiting expectantly.

"Why haven't Zhang Xingyu and the others arrived yet? If they don't come soon, the exam will start," Bai Xiaosheng muttered to himself.

Just then, the front door of the classroom opened, and the proctor walked in with the exam papers.

"Students, this morning we are having the midterm theory exam. The exam time is one hour; during the exam, no whispering, no..."

The proctor rattled off a long list of exam rules and then prepared to distribute the papers.

At this moment, the back door of the classroom was pushed open, and Zhang Xingyu and the other two rushed in, panting.

Seeing the three of them rush into the classroom, the proctor was about to scold them loudly.

When he saw clearly that it was Zhang Xingyu and Zhu Dafu behind him, he immediately shut his mouth.

Zhang Xingyu chose a seat and sat down, waiting quietly for the exam to begin.

Soon, he received his exam paper.

When he finished reading the dozen or so questions on the paper, he was dumbfounded.

He didn't recognize most of the content on the paper.

This was no wonder; he had been in school for more than four months, and he had either been acting weird or in closed-door cultivation, having attended fewer than three real classes.

Damn it.

One only regrets not having learned enough when the time comes to use it, and regrets not listening in class when the exam arrives.

At this moment, besides regret, Zhang Xingyu wished he had clairvoyance or X-ray vision.

Handing in a blank paper, Zhang Xingyu walked out of the Teaching Building with his head drooping, feeling extremely depressed.

On the stone steps at the entrance, Long Xiaotian was walking up, accompanied by Bai Ping and others.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu's appearance, Bai Ping immediately blocked his path.

"Yo, isn't this our academy's famous waste Zhang Xingyu? What, didn't pass the assessment and handed in a blank paper? Looking like a dead dog," Bai Ping mocked.

"Yo, it really is the waste Zhang Xingyu. Boss, this waste looks like a dead dog, yet he still dares to compete with you for the fairy; he really doesn't know his own strength," Long Xiaotian's other lackeys also laughed.

Zhang Xingyu glared at Long Xiaotian: "Good dogs don't block the way. Long Xiaotian, the dogs you keep are blocking my way; why don't you pull them away!"

"You're farting, this waste dares to curse people. Believe it or not, I'll beat you up!" Before Long Xiaotian could speak, Bai Ping had already clenched his fists.

Zhang Xingyu puffed out his chest: "If you have the ability, hit me!"

"Damn it! I'll beat you to death!" Bai Ping was furious and raised his fist high.

A large hand grabbed Bai Ping's hand: "Bai Ping, don't fall for it. The academy rules state that fighting inside the academy will lead to expulsion."

Zhang Xingyu glanced at them: "Small fry. I let you hit me, and you don't even dare."

Long Xiaotian stopped Bai Ping and stared fixedly at Zhang Xingyu: "Zhang Xingyu, do you dare to go to the fighting arena?"

The fighting arena was a ring specifically for students to resolve grievances. As long as no one died, the academy wouldn't interfere.

Zhang Xingyu shook his head: "Do you think I'm stupid? You're at the tenth layer of Qi Refining, and I'm at the third. You want to challenge me to the fighting arena."

Long Xiaotian raised the corners of his mouth, narrowed his eyes, and said with a soft laugh: "Zhang Xingyu, it's not me and you. It's Bai Ping and you. Bai Ping is at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, and you're at the third; it's not much of a difference. How about it, do you dare to go?"

Zhang Xingyu glared at him: "Why wouldn't I dare? However, I never fight for free. If you want me to go to the life-and-death arena, there must be some benefits."

Long Xiaotian laughed: "Bold! How about betting one thousand contribution points?"