Chapter 122: Sorry, A Zhen (Repaying monthly ticket debt 5)

Two months later, will I go up to the second layer with Zhang Pianpian?

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were stunned, Zhang Pianpian continued, "There's less than two months left before the college entrance exam starts."

"After the exam, I'll head to Kunxu's second layer for my interview."

"Normally, if a student passes the interview, they'll stay at the university, because time is tight—all university students have to start classes before enrollment."

"So in two months, I won't be able to look out for you in Songyang City anymore."

Zhang Pianpian turned her head to look at Zhang Yu and said, "But like I said before, I've prepared a path for you—the Genius Class at Wanfa University."

Zhang Yu knew about Wanfa University; it was the direct-affiliate university of the Wanfa Sect, one of the Ten Great Sects, and one of the top ten universities.

For example, Xianyun Group, Shenhai Education Group, Wanxing Group… even Songyang High School and Bailong High School—if you traced them back far enough, they all ultimately belonged to the Wanfa Sect. The competition among these companies and schools was seen as internal competition from the Wanfa Sect's perspective.

But… the Genius Class? What was that? Zhang Yu rummaged through his memory but couldn't recall.

"Sis, what exactly is this Genius Class? Can I sign up as a freshman and go straight to university?"

Zhang Pianpian explained, "The Genius Class is where Wanfa University admits exceptional students early, starting from their first year of high school, and gathers a group of immortal-arts prodigies for accelerated training. So yes, you can become a university student as a freshman."

"The main target for Genius Class enrollment is usually first-year students from the second layer, so very few people on the first layer know about it."

Zhang Yu understood: this was a back door for second-layer bigshots.

Zhang Pianpian continued, "Your competition results lately have been quite good. As long as you also take top three in the upcoming Dao Heart Competition, and use the prize money and endorsement fees to shore up your Dao techniques, you should be able to meet the admission requirements for Wanfa University's Genius Class."

"Then, as long as you pass the Genius Class exam, you can enter Wanfa University with me."

Zhang Yu's heart leaped with joy, especially when he realized this would let him avoid the net of traps the rich people in Songyang City were weaving against 'poor people getting into the Top Ten universities,' and he wouldn't have to worry about the danger after Zhang Pianpian left.

But in the next moment, he turned to look at Bai Zhenzhen beside him and asked Zhang Pianpian, "Sis, what about Azhen? Are her grades good enough for the Genius Class?"

Zhang Yu had been worried about Bai Zhenzhen's competition results earlier.

Although Azhen's improvement was already astonishing—her fourth-place finish in martial competition and fifth in physical competition were definitely excellent—still…

Zhang Pianpian shook her head. "I'm afraid she won't meet the Genius Class standards."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu's heart sank. He turned to look at Bai Zhenzhen again.

But Bai Zhenzhen let out a soft laugh and said, "It's okay, Yuzi. You go ahead to the second layer at Kunxu to scout the place for me. I'll be up in two years."

Zhang Yu didn't answer her. Instead, he looked at Zhang Pianpian and said, "Sis, isn't there any way to make an exception? Can we use connections to buy an exam seat for the Genius Class?"

Hearing this, Bai Zhenzhen's breathing quickened slightly. She looked nervously at Zhang Pianpian, her hands unconsciously clenched tight.

Facing the two of them, Zhang Pianpian said flatly, "It's impossible."

"You need to understand—when it comes to crossing social strata, Kunxu has many rules that cannot be violated."

"If you want to climb layer by layer, there's no other way besides grades and exams."

"Only by staying within the rules, passing exam after exam, earning outstanding results, and obtaining the required certificates, can you climb up in Kunxu."

"This is the iron law of Kunxu. Anyone who tries to break it will face thunderous punishment…"

Hearing these words, Bai Zhenzhen's heart trembled.

In the ensuing silence, Bai Zhenzhen suddenly laughed. "I told you it's fine, Yuzi. You go up and compete with those second-layer bigshots. I'll stay in Songyang, crush all the rich people here first, and then come up."

Even as she said this, Bai Zhenzhen knew it wasn't true.

She really… really didn't want to stay alone in Songyang City.

"But what can I do? I can't make A-Yu give up his chance to go to university and stay to keep me company, can I?"

"If I said something like that, A-Yu and I wouldn't even be friends anymore, right?"

Just then, Zhang Yu spoke again: "Sis, really… is there no way to take Azhen with us?"

A chill rose in Zhang Yu's heart, because before he could speak his next sentence, the countdown sound of the ritual entered his mind.

It seemed to be urging him to seize the opportunity and get into university.

But under the pressure of this chill, Zhang Yu paused, and finally said the words he truly wanted to say—the words the ritual forbade him to say.

Because he knew he could never feel at peace if he didn't ask that question.

Zhang Yu said, "Or... if I stay, do you think Ah Zhen and I could take the normal route and pass the exam for the Top Ten? Just like you, sister?"

Zhang Pianpian shook her head. "My path suits only me; you two cannot walk it."

"Idiot!" the evil god disguised as a prayer bead cursed. "Are you stupid?"

"It's perfect that Bai Zhenzhen can't go up—kill her and steal her spiritual root."

"With the conditions at Ten Thousand Methods University, plus your talent and her spiritual root, entering the Nascent Soul realm within a hundred or two hundred years is absolutely no problem! Freedom of wealth and cultivation will also be within reach!" At that moment, the evil god felt nothing but rage.

He felt he had never seen such an utter idiot, ten times stupider than the poorest, most contemptible, most foolish mortal he had ever deceived.

"Fucking pauper! You deserve to eat dirt on Kunxu First Layer for life!"

Bai Zhenzhen, hearing Zhang Yu's words, also spoke up. "What are you being stupid about? Yu, you have a chance at the Top Ten, so take it..."

Watching Bai Zhenzhen put on a show of ease, Zhang Yu suddenly said, "You'll be toyed to death, Ah Zhen."

"Ah Zhen, if we both leave and leave you here alone, those people will toy you to death."

Bai Zhenzhen fell silent upon hearing this.

Especially after spending this time learning more about the student council, the high school, and the company's tactics, while cultivating hard with Zhang Yu under Zhang Pianpian's guidance.

Bai Zhenzhen found that she could no longer accept going forward alone as easily as she once had.

And with Zhang Yu's words, he laid out plainly the things she had deliberately avoided thinking about.

One by one, they were...

At that moment, Bai Zhenzhen felt as if she had suddenly fallen into an icy lake—endless darkness and cold around her, with no way but to sink deeper, unable to see the direction ahead.

So scared...

I'm really so scared...

Bai Zhenzhen wanted to say something, to force a smile and tell Zhang Yu to be sensible and go to the Second Layer.

But the fear of the future, the terror of the engulfing darkness, made it impossible for her to speak those words with ease again.

"I'm sorry, Yu..." Bai Zhenzhen lowered her head, clenching her fists tighter and tighter, bitter at heart: "I'm too useless. I really... I really can't bring myself to say goodbye."

On the other side, Zhang Yu looked at Zhang Pianpian, as if waiting for her reply.

But with Zhang Pianpian's silence, the chill deep in Zhang Yu's heart grew more intense.

Clearly, the ritual's power—which had always driven Zhang Yu to study hard, cultivate hard, and pass the exam for one of the Top Ten Universities—

could not tolerate Zhang Yu giving up this chance to enter Ten Thousand Methods University.

"Please abide by the ritual agreement, strive to fulfill the wish, and do not deliberately slack off or procrastinate. 5."

"Please abide by the ritual agreement, strive to fulfill the wish, and do not deliberately slack off or procrastinate. 4."

As the countdown in his ear approached its limit, Zhang Yu knew time was running out.

He could no longer hold out.

At that moment, he thought, "I'm sorry, Ah Zhen."

"But if I insist on staying... I'll only be killed by this ritual."

Not daring to look at Bai Zhenzhen beside him, Zhang Yu knew he had to accept Zhang Pianpian's plan before the countdown ended.

Qi and blood surged violently within his body.

A blazing fury rose in his mind: "This damn world, this trashy Kunxu realm..."

Just as Zhang Yu was about to speak at the last moment, a sigh came from Zhang Pianpian.

Zhang Pianpian: "Sigh, I knew it. You two really... do you have to go together?"

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen suddenly looked up, eyes wide, staring at Zhang Pianpian.

Seeing the hope in their eyes, Zhang Pianpian said helplessly, "If you don't join the Genius Class, it means that after I leave, you'll have to stay on Kunxu First Layer, honestly finish three years of high school, take the college entrance exam, and get into university."

"Without my protection, if you want to avoid the siege of the rich and pass the exam for the Top Ten in the next two-plus years... the only way I can think of is one."

"But this method is very hard—extremely hard. Even I, in my three years of high school, never succeeded."

Zhang Pianpian's mention of "another way" made the countdown in Zhang Yu's mind stop, and he couldn't help asking eagerly, "What way?"

"The way is..." Zhang Pianpian said slowly, "After I leave, before you graduate high school, you should take the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam while still attending classes."

What?!

That's the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam!

Zhang Yu thought to himself, why does your tone make it sound as simple as 'taking the College English Test Band 4 before high school graduation'? That's the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam, not some CET-4.

Many college students can't even pass the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam, and you want high school students to take it?

And can high school students even take the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam?

How could they possibly pass the Foundation Establishment Certificate exam before graduating high school?

Zhang Yu exclaimed in shock, "Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam? Isn't that... something only college students can take?"

Bai Zhenzhen also said beside him, utterly stunned, "Can high school students take the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam?"

——

Paid back another chapter of the monthly ticket loan, and asking for more monthly tickets.