Chapter 51: Changes and Escalation

"The Infinite Cloud Hand only has six moves, and it's advancing so quickly—could I really raise it to level 10 tonight?"

But after Zhang Yu pulled himself together and practiced it five more times, he felt the mana in his body growing increasingly thin, barely enough to sustain his cultivation of the Infinite Cloud Hand.

Zhang Yu realized his earlier assumption was wrong.

"It seems there's no way to level the Infinite Cloud Hand to 10 in a single night."

Unlike basic techniques like the Freehand, the Infinite Cloud Hand consumed far more mana.

Even with the passive breathing of the Zhoutian Qi Absorption Method constantly restoring his mana, he couldn't practice for hours on end like he did with the Freehand.

So Zhang Yu simply sat down cross-legged, letting the passive breathing continue to restore his mana while he began training the Desolate Ox Soul-Calming Heart Art to elevate his Dao heart.

Alternating practice and rest in this way, after a full night, Zhang Yu had raised the Infinite Cloud Hand to level 6 (7/60).

The coverage of the Formless Cloud Qi had now expanded from his original hands all the way to his arms and shoulders, rolling and surging like a sea of clouds.

Meanwhile, the phenomenon of the mist soaring upward like a wolf smoke pillar had disappeared.

Now only extremely faint wisps of vapor could be seen rising slowly for about ten centimeters before dissipating into the air.

This was because, with the increase in control, the consumption of Qi during Zhang Yu's operation of the Formless Cloud Qi had been greatly reduced.

The next day, at Songyang High School.

Inside the student council office.

Zhou Chechen looked at the message on his phone and smiled lightly: "He actually got fourth place in the Mana Competition? That's a bit beyond my expectations."

Lan Ling, while lifting a dumbbell, said, "Word is that the competition coach from White Dragon High School talked to him, trying to poach him."

Zhou Chechen laughed out loud: "Since they lost one competition spot this time, one of their students is missing an achievement on their résumé—naturally they want to snatch someone."

"What do you think? If we sign Zhang Yu and train him specifically for the Mana Competition, could we snatch a few more competition spots and let the students from the three elite schools win fewer awards?"

For the wealthy families of Songyang City, the spots at the top ten universities were limited—whoever had fewer trophies on their résumé meant others had a higher chance of success.

Lan Ling said gruffly: "Maybe in freshman year there's a chance, but starting from sophomore year, I don't think Zhang Yu can still beat them."

Zhou Chechen laughed cheerfully: "Even that would be good enough."

"Then it's decided."

"We can't really let White Dragon High School poach him."

"After this month's monthly exam..."

Zhou Chechen looked at his own palm, gently clenching it as if grasping tightly everything he wanted.

"Zhang Yu must sign the contract."

Lan Ling understood the meaning—that after the monthly exam, Zhang Yu would have no choice but to sign.

Outside the school gate, Zhao Tianxing said into his phone, "Got it, Mom, I got it..."

A female voice came through the phone: "Spend more time with Zhang Yu—look how fast his studies are improving..."

"Got it, got it." Zhao Tianxing brushed it off and finally hung up.

Just as he stepped through the school gate, he saw a line of large characters scrolling on the electronic screen: Warm congratulations to Zhang Yu from Class 1, Senior One, for winning 4th place in the city's Mana Competition (Senior One group).

"So it's true..."

Although he'd already heard related rumors yesterday in several school chat groups, seeing the words for real now confirmed it.

Thinking that Zhang Yu, who used to eat at the same table as him, had suddenly surpassed a bunch of geniuses from the three elite schools and key high schools to grab fourth place in the Mana Competition, Zhao Tianxing couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.

Then came a wave of shame.

Zhao Tianxing, oh Zhao Tianxing—your classmate achieved such a great result, and you're this jealous? How ugly! Where's your moral integrity?

"Sigh, I can't compare with Zhang Yu. After all, he's a Golden Core disciple—he's not even the same species as us anymore."

"Getting fourth place in the competition this time must mean that Starfire True Person put a lot of effort into it."

"Mom also told me to hang out with others more..."

Zhao Tianxing thought to himself with a bitter smile: "With such a big gap, can we really hang out together?"

The rumor that Zhang Yu was a Golden Core disciple became even more certain among the students because of his fourth-place finish in this competition.

And as someone who liked to consider others' thoughts, whenever Zhao Tianxing thought about the dazzling halo Zhang Yu now wore, he felt a sense of inferiority.

After all, he's a Golden Core disciple, and the gap between our grades is growing wider and wider. Could he already look down on me? In his eyes, I've probably become just another average student on the street.

If I deliberately get close to him now, go find him to hang out... would others see it as too flattering? Would they think I'm vain? That I'm trying to bask in the glow of his Golden Core disciple status?

You couldn't blame Zhao Tianxing for overthinking, because as a teenager growing up in the city, he had seen too many similar things at school. Once the gap in scores between friends widened, the friendship always gradually changed.

Things like "You've changed since your scores got higher," or "Your score is so low, I feel embarrassed taking you out," or "I'll help you raise your score by ten points, but don't come looking for me anymore..."

"Sigh, if Zhang Yu doesn't ask me to eat lunch together today, I'd better not approach him, just to avoid being rejected."

And when the bell for the last class of the morning rang, Zhao Tianxing deliberately or unintentionally glanced in Zhang Yu's direction.

Seeing Zhang Yu chatting with Bai Zhenzhen, he felt a little envious. If only he could have scores as good as Bai Zhenzhen's, then he could talk and laugh freely with Zhang Yu.

Seeing Zhang Yu talking with Zhou Hua again, he also felt a little envious of Zhou Tianyi. Even though his scores were lower than his, he could still chat with Zhang Yu about everything without any awkwardness. He himself never had such a good mindset.

Just then, Zhao Tianxing noticed the three of them—Zhang Yu and the others—stand up and walk in his direction.

Zhao Tianxing quickly lowered his head. Feeling them getting closer and closer, he pretended to organize his desk, moving a few books back and forth as if he wasn't satisfied with their placement, completely ignoring the presence of Zhang Yu and the others.

But in his heart, he was constantly focused on what was happening over by Zhang Yu, a single question running through his mind: Will he ask me to go eat together?

Zhang Yu: "Old Zhao! Let's go eat together."

Zhao Tianxing quickly stood up, smiled, and said, "Yeah, let's go."

On the way to the cafeteria.

!.

Zhou Tianyi laughed: "Zhang Yu, do you feel something different about the school atmosphere today?"

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, "Really? The teachers are still so gentle, the classmates are still so kind, the air is filled with the scent of learning—everything's great."

Zhou Tianyi: "You got fourth place in the competition. Now almost everyone in the school believes you're definitely a Golden Core disciple. Haven't you noticed that people treat you with more respect?"

Zhang Yu thought back for a moment. It did seem that his classmates' attitudes toward him carried... a little more subtle distance.

Bai Zhenzhen beside him said flatly, "Mm, I heard people talking about you in the girls' bathroom. They all say you must have been lifted up by a Golden Core master—it's all about connections and good luck."

Zhou Tianyi: "In the boys' bathroom, I heard someone say you've got the 'rich lady password.' Otherwise, people like them wouldn't even know where the Golden Core disciple selection art exhibition was held, let alone get selected after attending..."

Zhang Yu sighed: "Sigh, I never thought that winning glory for the school would end up only bringing me distance and jealousy."

Zhou Tianyi smiled: "Zhang Yu, the higher your score, the better your results, the more jealousy you naturally attract."

He said slowly: "They don't think about your hard work or your talent; they just think you have good conditions and attribute all your successes to your luck."

Watching Zhou Tianyi's look of lament, Zhang Yu said thoughtfully: "I didn't expect someone ranked 25th in the grade to... know quite a bit."

Zhou Tianyi stumbled a step and said irritably, "I... our school has over five hundred people in the first year. The 25th place still has plenty of people beneath them."

Zhao Tianxing, watching Zhang Yu laughing and chatting easily, gradually relaxed inside: "I didn't think Zhang Yu would still be so approachable after getting fourth in the competition."

But after a moment, Zhao Tianxing changed his mind—Zhang Yu had changed a little after all.

In front of the serving window, Zhang Yu said to the cafeteria auntie: "Auntie, I got fourth place in the city-wide mana competition. Can I get a little extra meat?"

The serving auntie: "Sure thing! This biggest rib goes to our fourth-place city mana competition winner."

Songyang High School had a strong academic atmosphere, so of course even the cafeteria aunties judged people by their scores first.

That night.

On the outskirts of Songyang City.

Accompanied by the whooshing sound of swift wind, a black shadow flickered at high speed through the night sky, constantly closing in on Zhang Yu's rental house.

Bang!

Weiwei paused at the main door of the apartment building. As the door opened, the dark shadow slipped inside like a wisp of green smoke, and in an instant, it had already reached the floor where Zhang Yu was, finally appearing like a ghost before his door.

A knock sounded: "Dong dong dong."

Zhang Yu quickly stood up and went to open the door.

He saw a middle-aged man standing at the door, his gait like a dragon and tiger, his aura deep and stable as a mountain, looking at him.

"Are you Mr. Zhang Yu?"

Zhang Yu nodded and said, "Speedy Delivery? Only twenty-some minutes, you guys are fast."

The middle-aged man smiled, pulled out the product from the large backpack behind him, and handed it to Zhang Yu: "Mr. Zhang, this is the product you ordered. Please sign for it."

A moment later, Zhang Yu closed the door again and took out the things he had bought.

Through this magical power competition, Zhang Yu had realized the gap between himself and the top students from prestigious schools, which made him even more eager to improve himself.

As for his current situation, his magical power was being trained daily through the Zhoutian Caiqi technique, and his Dao heart was the goal he focused on improving every day. Only his physical strength had no time to improve and had temporarily stagnated.

Thinking again about the martial arts competition next month, where he would probably have to compete against those rich kids from prestigious schools, Zhang Yu felt even more that he needed to improve his physical strength.

So after careful budgeting, he bought some things online.