Chapter 49: Top Ten!

At the magic competition venue.

In the area where Ziyun High School was located.

Le Mulan's forehead was covered with dense beads of sweat.

At this moment, she had already completed the fourth mana oscillation, and that mass of mana, repeatedly battered, seemed to have turned into a hazy white mist, floating and sinking in her dantian, drifting unsteadily, and becoming increasingly difficult to control.

"Three times, three more times and I'll succeed."

…

Song Hailong's breathing grew heavier and heavier.

A vast mana, like layers of white clouds, rose from his dantian and gradually turned into a vortex.

"The final mana oscillation."

"As expected, in the end, I am still the winner…"

Boom!

Boom!

A rumbling sound suddenly came from afar.

Song Hailong's expression suddenly changed.

Someone had actually succeeded a step ahead of him?

"No… not…" He quickly realized something, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes: "Two people, there are actually two people faster than me?"

In the distance, Xiong Bufan put his palms together, and wisps of mana like white clouds surged from his claws, forming a clump, making him appear as if he were grasping a lively cloud, but this cloud soon began to dissipate, obviously unable to last long.

But he did not look at this; instead, he turned his head to look at the other side, the direction from which the roar had come.

"Only one step slower than me? From Bailong High School, or Ziyun High School?"

Xiong Bufan looked at that white energy shooting up into the sky, condensing like a pillar of cloud without dispersing, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes: "What's this? It's just a competition, we're competing for speed, everyone is seeking speed. Why is he training his protective aura so well?"

"This is so showy!"

At the competition venue of Songyang High School.

Zhang Yu spread his palms, and streams of white air surged wildly from his palms, floating straight upward above his head, like white smoke signals rising into the sky, instantly attracting more and more people's attention.

After Zhang Yu forcefully practiced the Wuji Cloud Hand once at the fastest speed, cramming it like a whole date, and naturally failed to convert any protective aura… he felt that he had already mastered this technique.

As his mind moved, qi followed his heart, and streams of mana completed seven oscillations in succession, turning into vigorous protective aura that gushed out from his palms, ultimately forming the scene before him.

Seeing this, Teacher Yan also clenched her fist excitedly, then quickly took out her phone and took a series of photos toward Zhang Yu.

Teacher Yan thought to herself: "Zhang Yu's talent in controlling mana is so astonishing? It seems that the content of the previous mana test didn't reflect this at all."

Recalling Zhang Yu's recent improvement in mana, she sighed inwardly, thinking that it was probably precisely Zhang Yu's improvement in this area that had greatly increased his efficiency in breathing exercises.

Bai Zhenzhen also showed a moved expression as she watched, and comforted with maternal relief: "The child has grown up."

And moments later, the results of the third round of the magic competition emerged one after another.

Xiong Bufan of Hongta High School, ranked first.

Zhang Yu of Songyang High School, ranked second.

Song Hailong followed closely, becoming third.

Le Mulan of Ziyun High School was pushed to fourth place.

And as the third round gradually ended, the total scores of each student in the magic competition were released one after another.

Many students looked at the final total score rankings, their expressions varied.

First place: Bailong High School, Song Hailong, total score 290

Second place: Ziyun High School, Le Mulan, total score 287

Third place: Hongta High School, Xiong Bufan, total score 285

The three prestigious schools still swept the top three total score rankings, and had opened up a huge gap with all the contestants behind.

But at this moment, at least most of the students present were not looking at the top three, but were focused on the fourth place.

Fourth place: Songyang High School, Zhang Yu, total score 273.

Although Songyang High School was also a key high school, now appearing in the top ten, surrounded by the names of the other three major prestigious schools, it felt so out of place.

It was as if a tight, impenetrable dark cloud had been forcibly torn open a gap.

"Fourth place, how much is the prize money again?"

Zhang Yu looked at the final ranking, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, already pondering how much the prize money for fourth place in this magic competition was.

As for this ranking, he was already very satisfied.

After all, although he was confident he would surpass these opponents in the future,

when it came to his actual current strength, he was indeed still temporarily inferior to the top students of those three major prestigious schools.

He still needed more time to develop.

Being able to squeeze into fourth place this time, he had to sigh that it was thanks to A Zhen blessing him, plus Yu Shu doing her filial duty, and of course the most important was his own persistence.

Qian Shen stared fixedly at Zhang Yu, still clearly remembering that Zhang Yu's monthly exam score was exactly 620, six points lower than his own.

But such a 620-score existence actually ranked alongside those high-ranking existences, high-caste ones, and ultimate monsters from the three major high schools who scored above 650 in the magic competition?!

"Again... it was the same at the art exhibition last time. This Zhang Yu can always perform beyond what his score should allow."

He held his head, his eyes still full of disbelief: "It's as if the six-subject 700-point evaluation system can no longer perfectly express his degree of evolution."

"This man..." Qian Shen stared fixedly at Zhang Yu, suddenly a thought he himself found unexpected surged in his heart.

"This man, who cannot be perfectly expressed by scores, might in the future cause another reform of the high school scoring system, making this evaluation system even more perfect."

At this moment, the nearby He Dayou glanced at Qian Shen, who was holding his head and mumbling, and thought to himself: "What kind of madness is this idiot having again?"

He turned his head, looking at Zhang Yu, unable to suppress the surging emotions in his heart.

Envy, jealousy... it would be impossible to say he didn't have these feelings, especially since everything happening before his eyes was occurring in the poorest person he looked down on the most.

Thinking of this, He Dayou even felt a trace of regret in his heart.

"He's just a poor wretch after all."

"And it's a good thing... he's just a poor wretch."

...Inside the rest area of Ziyun High School.

The competition coach looked at Le Mulan, Lian Tianji, and the others in front of him, and suddenly spoke: "What do you say about us trying to recruit that Zhang Yu?"

Obviously, after seeing Zhang Yu's performance, this coach wanted to poach Zhang Yu.

Lian Tianji remarked from the side: "Although Zhang Yu doesn't have our Ziyun High School's bloodline, his performance is indeed excellent. I think it's a good idea to bring him over."

The so-called 'no bloodline' refers to a chain of discrimination popular within Ziyun High School.

It generally refers to one's background from Ziyun Nursery, Ziyun Kindergarten, Ziyun Elementary School, and Ziyun Middle School.

From left to right, the more Ziyun academic qualifications one has, the 'purer' their bloodline is considered.

Le Mulan asked from the side: "What were his first and second academic backgrounds?"

"I actually did ask him that." Lian Tianji mentioned Zhang Yu's previous elementary and middle schools.

Le Mulan's face immediately showed a barely concealed disgust; the smell of poverty from those two schools was too strong.

Seeing Le Mulan's expression change, Lian Tianji knew it was hopeless, and thought to himself: "Then the next time I meet Zhang Yu, I'll probably compete against him in the martial arts competition."

!

Thinking of this, a trace of anticipation also rose in his heart.

In front of the restroom.

As soon as Zhang Yu came out, he was stopped by a man. The visitor was Han Xingye, the competition coach of Bailong High School.

"Zhang Yu, come to Bailong High School." Han Xingye extended his hand to Zhang Yu: "With talent like yours, staying at Songyang is a waste."

"Although you performed well in this competition, from now on you'll only drift further and further away from us."

Han Xingye was speaking the truth.

Although almost all of the best students from Songyang City would be snapped up by the three major schools, over time… there would always be a few who ended up in other key high schools, or even ordinary high schools.

Han Xingye had also seen a few first-year students from other high schools who had excelled in the mana competition right from the start.

But he had never seen a second- or third-year student from another high school perform outstandingly in the mana competition.

"If you come to White Dragon High School, I will definitely help you secure a contract with good enough terms."

Zhang Yu suddenly asked, "If I go to White Dragon High School, could I get into the Top Ten?"

Han Xingye was slightly taken aback, apparently not expecting Zhang Yu to ask such a question, and was momentarily stumped.

The real answer was naturally no—even if Zhang Yu went to White Dragon High School, he would only become one of their investment projects.

Forget the Top Ten—the reason they wanted to poach Zhang Yu was to keep him from participating in the remaining freshman competitions. After all, these achievements related to college entrance exam scores and university interviews were gilding projects for the rich; they shouldn't let a poor kid take the spots.

As for university, he could definitely get into a decent one in the future, but it would never be the Top Ten.

After all, White Dragon High School's conditions would certainly be better than Songyang High School, and Zhang Yu would have better opportunities here.

It was just that the spots in the Top Ten… were never meant for the poor.

Just then, Teacher Yan walked over, stood in front of Zhang Yu, and looked at Han Xingye warily. "Teacher Han, what are you saying to my student?"

Whether Zhang Yu had money or not, to Teacher Yan, as long as he could win a ranking, it was her teaching achievement.

Han Xingye smiled helplessly. They both took students to competitions every year, so he and Teacher Yan were somewhat acquainted.

Now that he had been caught poaching her student, Han Xingye felt a bit awkward. He immediately said to Zhang Yu, "Either way, it's still better than staying at Songyang High School… that thing, right?"

Upon hearing this, Teacher Yan became furious.

What 'that thing'? Don't think I can't guess the insulting words you have for Songyang High School just because you didn't say them out loud!

But then, thinking about the gap between her own school and White Dragon High School, she was really afraid he would continue saying facts she couldn't refute, so she had to cut him off: "Alright, if you have something to discuss, you can talk to me. Please don't harass our students."

Watching Teacher Yan and Zhang Yu walk away, Han Xingye shrugged and thought to himself, "If he's truly clear-headed, he should choose this side."

"Even if he still can't get into the Top Ten."

"Did you see that?"

"Fourth place! Zhang Yu got fourth place overall! Do you understand? Fourth place!"

"Just tell me how much money you're planning to invest."

Listening to the noise coming from Bai Zhenzhen's side, Mo Tianyi said helplessly, "Zhenzhen, you don't need to be that excited. I can see it…"

Bai Zhenzhen: "Then send the money now! Your leader wasn't even this impressive when he was a freshman, was he?"

Mo Tianyi: "The leader has certainly earned competition rankings before…"

After some back and forth, Mo Tianyi concluded, "Zhang Yu's results are indeed excellent."

"I admit that the money I gave you earlier was too little."

"I'll talk it over with the leader and the other senior schoolmates and try my best to get you more investment."

Bai Zhenzhen, already expecting this, urged, "Make sure you approve the money quickly."

After disconnecting the call, Mo Tianyi looked at Zhang Yu's fourth-place ranking on the screen, and his long-cold heart seemed to warm slightly.

"That was really well done."

"To break through so many rich people's suppression and reach this rank."

"But it's a pity—too late…"

A trace of helplessness and gloom flashed through Mo Tianyi's heart: "If only it had been two years earlier, I would definitely have chosen you."

Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, "He's made it to a martial arts competition ranking? I'll find out which one you are."

Thanks 'frankchiao' for the Oscar trophy gift sent to Zhang Yu's character.