Chapter 276: Happy Time Flies

Listening to Zhang Pianpian’s words, Bai Zhenzhen nodded and said, “I understand this. It’s like how poor-scoring students are treated at Songyang High School—when you get to university, it comes down to rankings, right? Those with high rankings can insult those with low rankings however they like, and the lower your rank, the more you’re considered scum of society.”

Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up as she said, “So university is a world where rankings are everything!”

Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly and said, “You catch on quickly. Once you enter university, you’ll need to raise your rankings as fast as possible.”

Then Zhang Pianpian pointed to the halo behind her head and explained, “As for this halo, it’s the insignia of a student council officer, a special kind of spiritual realm fluctuation unique to the student council.”

“You can think of it as a visual effect. Right now you can see it directly through the screen, but up there, only those who have ocular dharma bones can see it.”

“Oh, speaking of ocular dharma bones, do you have those already?”

Zhang Yu said, “I have mine. A’zhen is planning to buy a basic model as a backup, and will equip it when the time comes…”

So then Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen told Zhang Pianpian everything about what they had gained during this period and the guidance they had received from Sparkfire True Person.

After hearing them out, Zhang Pianpian nodded slightly. “Sparkfire True Person’s guidance for you is very good, and the choice of specialization makes sense. I think you really can go down this path.”

Next, there was another round of exchange, mainly Zhang Pianpian giving them advice on what to prepare before entering university and teaching them some of the rules there.

…

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, only three months remained until the college entrance exam.

That day, as soon as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrived at the training ground in the city center, they felt an almost tangible wave of killing intent sweeping over them, violently assaulting their sea of consciousness.

Then everything went black before their eyes, and they were blasted away by an explosion.

At the same time, Sparkfire True Person’s voice finally reached their ears.

“Starting today, I will ambush you anytime, anywhere.”

“Especially you, Zhang Yu.” Sparkfire True Person glanced at Zhang Yu, who had already gotten up and was bouncing around energetically, and said coolly, “Since you’re so tough to beat, it would be a disservice to your talent if I didn’t hit you hard.”

Zhang Yu’s face darkened; for a moment he didn’t know whether to cry or laugh at having a Golden Core cultivator supervising him so diligently.

Just then, Zhang Yu’s phone vibrated slightly, and a line of text popped up: “Foundation Establishment cultivator Yuxing Han has entered within one hundred meters of you. Welcome to follow Yuxing Han on all major platforms; streams cultivation practice every night at 10 PM.”

Zhang Yu looked up and saw that the person approaching was none other than Yuxing Han—who, after taking the Foundation Establishment exam a second time, had obtained his Foundation Establishment qualification and completed it a month ago—along with Sparkfire True Person’s daughter, Li Xuelian.

Sparkfire True Person said, “Xing Han, you’ll train with Zhang Yu today.”

“Xuelian, you guide Bai Zhenzhen.”

“I’ll be right here ambushing either of you at any moment.”

Sparkfire True Person looked at them and thought to himself, “Let them train together for a while, and in the process, build some rapport.”

Meanwhile, Yuxing Han walked up to Zhang Yu, a complicated look in his eyes.

He thought, “It was me first. I was the one the old geezer accepted as his disciple first, and now I’m called in to be Zhang Yu’s training partner.”

To say that Yuxing Han felt no envy or jealousy at all would obviously be impossible.

But at the same time, he understood that in this world, the high achievers simply deserve preferential treatment. If he were Sparkfire True Person, he would also value Zhang Yu more.

“All I can do is keep chasing after him through my own efforts.”

“Maybe now, with one shot he earns more than I can with ten.”

“Then I’ll take twenty shots! Thirty shots! I’ll catch up through hard work!”

The next moment, under Sparkfire True Person’s guidance, Zhang Yu and Yuxing Han slammed into each other, obstructing each other’s muscle and tendon movements, boosting their body-tempering effects.

Watching this, Sparkfire True Person nodded slightly and thought, “Zhang Yu and Xing Han will enter Wanfa University together, both as Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Civil Engineering Department. They’ll probably train and work together for the next few years.”

“Let them get used to tempering their bodies together now. When they reach the Second Layer later, they can continue to temper together, serving as each other’s body-tempering equipment, saving money while improving efficiency.”

“Then when the time comes… even if I’m not by their side, they can help each other and improve together.”

Just then, Sparkfire True Person frowned. “Yuxing Han, what are you keep glancing at Xuelian for?”

“Zhang Yu, focus too.”

With a loud bang in the air, a nearly tangible martial will swept toward the two, shaking their minds. They immediately activated their cultivation techniques to resist desperately.

Sparkfire True Person turned his head and glanced at Li Xuelian and Bai Zhenzhen, who were tempering their bodies pressed together, and thought, “These two boys keep selling goods to Hongta nonstop—how are they still this fired up?”

…

One month before the college entrance exam.

Inside the protected area.

Over the spiritual vein, winds surged and clouds roiled; a vast sea of spiritual energy condensed into a visible substance, forming a massive tornado in the sky that connected heaven and earth as it plunged deep into the vein.

Zhang Yu sat cross-legged at the point where the spiritual vein landed. Around him, a gigantic mana vortex constantly inhaled and exhaled the descending spiritual energy, drawing it into the circulation of his mana and eventually refining it into his own mana within his dantian.

Jade Whirlpool Qigong — Level 20

Mana: 261.9

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Although the total time spent in meditation hasn't been much, every session is inside a spiritual vein, so the mana growth has been very rapid. I've finally reached level 20 in Jade Whirlpool Qigong."

"Now the Crippled Ox Self-Sacrifice Technique, the Spring-Autumn Boundless Zen, and Jade Whirlpool Qigong have all hit their Foundation Establishment limit."

"As long as I cultivate step by step, it shouldn't be a big problem to eventually temper my Dao heart, mana, and physical strength all to the Foundation Establishment cap."

But Zhang Yu knew that relying solely on these three techniques and slowly cultivating wasn't his style at all.

Moreover, once he reached the second level, he might have to face Wang Yin's hostility. To better compete with the geniuses up there, he had to grow stronger and cultivate faster.

"It's a pity I can't buy any useful Foundation Establishment techniques on the first level. I'll have to find a way once I enter university."

Thinking about the college entrance exam a month from now, and then ascending to the second level to start university life, Zhang Yu felt a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and unease.

"And when is Fuji going to wake up? It's been over half a year—just how long is she planning to sleep this time?"

Shaking his head to temporarily suppress the distracting thoughts, Zhang Yu began to sense the effects of the level 20 Jade Whirlpool Qigong.

Level 20 Jade Whirlpool Qigong allowed the mana vortex to spin faster as breathing continued, improving the efficiency of spiritual energy absorption and mana refinement.

According to Zhang Yu's estimation, this acceleration would reach its limit after about an hour of continuous breathing, boosting efficiency by thirty percent.

"Not bad."

Zhang Yu nodded inwardly. This way, his mana would be a notch higher by the time he entered university.

"But from now on, every time I come to the spiritual vein, I can start renting a longer slot."

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen's voice came: "Yu, it's about time. Let's go."

The two figures shot out, their Foundation Establishment-level bodies kicking up a gale, and in an instant arrived at the protection zone's ticket gate.

An An waved at them: "Done cultivating?"

Thanks to Zhang Yu's help, An An had become the ticket gate's mascot, not only getting a raise but also having her work hours cut down considerably.

Looking at her increasingly fluffy tail and rounder head, Zhang Yu waved and said, "Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's figures blazed across the expressway against the setting sun, heading home.

From his phone came Zhao Tianxing's voice: "[Crying with laughter] I've been doing pretty well lately. Since I became a spirit-cultivation student, I don't need food expenses anymore, but the internet fees and electricity bills…"

The next moment, Zhao Tianxing suddenly disconnected.

Seeing the message that the other party's account was suspended, Zhang Yu sighed helplessly and topped up a hundred for him, then teased, "Old Zhao, what kind of internet are you using? Those fees are really piling up."

Zhao Tianxing replied helplessly, "For spirit-cultivation students, it's charged as commercial internet with tiered price increases, so the costs build up fast. But I can already work part-time now—once I earn some money, I'll pay you back for the internet."

After chatting with him for a bit, Zhang Yu put away his phone and felt a weight on his back—Bai Zhenzhen had jumped onto him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yu, it's been ages since I rode you. Let me ride you today, okay?"

Hearing her words, Zhang Yu could tell that Bai Zhenzhen was different today.

Bai Zhenzhen leaned against Zhang Yu's back, listening to the powerful sounds from his muscles, and said with a smile, "Yu, three years ago, I never thought I'd really make it into the top ten."

Zhang Yu nodded. "Yeah, who could have imagined?"

The past half-year and more had been the most fulfilling and carefree days Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had experienced since entering high school.

No pressure from the rich, no stress from rivals—just step by step, steadily improving themselves, feeling themselves draw closer to their goals with the help of many people.

Zhang Yu even felt like he had a bit of happiness in Kunxu.

And now, watching the setting sun paint Songyang City in layers of gold, Zhang Yu sighed, "Everyone is getting better and better."

"We'll get better and better too."

"Not just to make it into the top ten."

"Later, we'll also take the master's exam, the doctoral exam, break through to the Golden Core together, break through to the Nascent Soul, and enter the Ten Thousand Laws Sect together."

Bai Zhenzhen couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, as if she had already imagined the beautiful future of the two of them climbing Kunxu together, and a warmth she had never felt before rose in her heart.

Back in the apartment, the two had dinner together. Bai Zhenzhen suddenly received a message that the eye dharma relic she had ordered had arrived.

When Bai Zhenzhen arrived at the express station across the street to pick up the package, she received a call from Zhang Yu: "Yeah, I'm picking up the package."

"The thing you ordered has also arrived?"

"Okay, okay, I'll bring it up for you."

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

Bai Zhenzhen looked at her phone in puzzlement. The network signal clearly showed it was normal, so why couldn't she hear the other person's voice anymore?