Chapter 268: A Fleeting Time of Happiness

Listening to Zhang Pianpian’s words, Bai Zhenzhen nodded and said, “I get it. It’s like being a poor student at Songyang High School. In university, it’s all about rankings, right? Those with high rankings can thoroughly insult those with low rankings, and the lower your rank, the more you’re the scum of society.”

Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up as she said, “University is a world where ranking is supreme!”

Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly. “You catch on quickly. When you get into university, you must also raise your ranking as soon as possible.”

Then, Zhang Pianpian pointed to the halo behind her head and explained, “As for this halo, it’s the mark of a Student Council officer. It’s a unique Spirit Realm fluctuation exclusive to the Student Council.”

“You can also think of it as a special effect. You can see it directly through the screen now, but on the upper layer, only those with an eye bionic can see it.”

“By the way, do you two have eye bionics yet?”

Zhang Yu said, “I have one. Zhen plans to buy a basic model as a spare to take up with her…”

And so, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen went on to tell Zhang Pianpian all about their recent gains and the guidance they had received from True Person Starfire.

After listening, Zhang Pianpian nodded slightly. “True Person Starfire’s guidance is very good, and his choice of specialization is indeed reasonable. I think you can certainly walk this path.”

The three of them continued to talk for a while, with Zhang Pianpian mainly giving them pointers on preparations for university and teaching them some of the rules.

---

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

On this day, as soon as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrived at the training ground in the city center, they felt a tangible killing intent sweep over them, violently assaulting their seas of consciousness.

Then, their vision went black as they were sent flying by an explosion.

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

“Starting today, I will sneak attack you, anytime, anywhere.”

“Especially you, Zhang Yu.” True Person Starfire glanced at Zhang Yu, who had already gotten up and was moving about energetically, and said flatly, “You’re so good at taking a beating. It would be a disservice to your talent if I didn’t hit you a little harder.”

Zhang Yu’s face darkened, unsure for a moment whether he should cry or laugh at having such a diligent Golden Core expert guiding him.

Just then, Zhang Yu’s phone vibrated slightly, and a message popped up:

Zhang Yu looked up and saw that the newcomers were none other than Yu Xinghan, who had passed the Foundation Establishment exam on his second try, obtained his Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate, and completed his breakthrough a month ago, along with True Person Starfire’s daughter, Li Xuelian.

True Person Starfire said, “Xinghan, you’ll train with Zhang Yu today.”

“Xuelian, you will guide Bai Zhenzhen.”

“I will be on the side, ready to sneak attack any of you at any moment.”

True Person Starfire looked at the group and thought to himself, Let them train together for a while and foster some camaraderie at the same time.

Yu Xinghan walked up to Zhang Yu, his gaze toward him somewhat complicated.

He thought, I was clearly first. I was the first to be taken as a disciple by the old man, but now I’m being called over to be Zhang Yu’s sparring partner.

It would be impossible to say that Yu Xinghan felt no envy or jealousy.

But he also understood that in this world, those with better results deserved preferential treatment. If he were True Person Starfire, he would definitely value Zhang Yu more as well.

All I can do is rely on my own efforts to keep chasing after him.

Maybe he can earn more from one ‘shot’ now than I can from ten.

Then I’ll just shoot twenty times! Thirty times! I’ll catch up to him through sheer effort!

In the next moment, under True Person Starfire’s direction, Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan collided, each obstructing the other’s muscular circulation to enhance the effect of their respective body tempering.

Watching this scene, True Person Starfire nodded slightly, thinking, Zhang Yu and Xinghan will be entering Myriad Laws University together, and both are Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Civil Engineering Department. They will likely be cultivating and working together for the next few years.

By having them get used to tempering their bodies together now, they can continue to do so after they go to the second layer, serving as each other’s body tempering equipment. It will save money and increase efficiency.

Then… even if I’m not by their side, they can still help each other and improve together.

Just then, True Person Starfire frowned. “Yu Xinghan, why do you keep glancing over at Xuelian?”

“Zhang Yu, you focus too.”

With a boom, a tangible martial will swept toward the two of them, pressing down on their minds and forcing them to circulate their heart arts to resist.

True Person Starfire turned his head to glance at Li Xuelian and Bai Zhenzhen, who were tempering their bodies in close contact, and thought to himself, These two kids keep selling their goods to Red Pagoda, yet their vitality is still so strong?

---

One month before the college entrance exam.

Inside the protected area.

The sky above the spirit vein churned with wind and clouds as a massive amount of spiritual energy formed a tangible, visible vortex in the sky, a giant tornado connecting heaven and earth as it descended toward the depths of the spirit vein.

Zhang Yu sat cross-legged at the point where the spirit vein converged, a huge magic power vortex around him continuously drawing in the spiritual energy descending from the sky, incorporating it into his body’s magic power circulation, and finally refining it into his own magic power within his dantian.

Verdant Vortex Qi Art Level 20

Magic Power 261.9

Zhang Yu thought to himself, Although the total time I’ve spent on breathing exercises isn’t long, I’ve done it in the spirit vein every time, so my magic power has grown rapidly. The Verdant Vortex Qi Art has finally reached Level 20.

Now, the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Art, the Spring and Autumn Endless Zen, and the Verdant Vortex Qi Art have all reached the limit for Foundation Establishment.

As long as I continue to cultivate step-by-step, it won’t be a problem to temper my Dao heart, magic power, and physical strength to the upper limits of Foundation Establishment in the future.

But Zhang Yu knew that slowly cultivating with just these three techniques was not his style at all.

Furthermore, after ascending to the second layer, he might have to face Wang Yin’s hostility. To better compete with the geniuses up there, he had to become stronger and cultivate faster.

It’s a pity I can’t buy any useful Foundation Establishment techniques on the first layer. I’ll have to figure that out after I get into university.

Thinking about the college entrance exam in a month, and then ascending to the second layer to begin his university life, Zhang Yu felt a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and unease.

And why hasn’t that Fu Ji woken up yet? It’s been over half a year. How long is she going to sleep this time?

Shaking his head, he temporarily suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind and began to feel the effects of the Level 20 Verdant Vortex Qi Art.

At Level 20, the Verdant Vortex Qi Art could, with continuous breathing exercises, accelerate the rotation of the magic power vortex, increasing the efficiency of spiritual energy absorption and magic power refinement.

According to Zhang Yu’s estimate, this acceleration would reach its limit after about an hour of continuous breathing, increasing the efficiency by thirty percent.

Not bad.

Zhang Yu nodded to himself. This way, his magic power would be even higher when he went to university.

But from now on, I can start renting the spirit vein for longer periods each time I come.

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen’s voice came, “Yu-boy, it’s about time. Let’s go.”

The two figures shot out, their Foundation Establishment-level bodies kicking up a fierce wind, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the protected area’s ticket gate.

An’an greeted them, “Finished cultivating?”

Thanks to Zhang Yu’s help, An’an had become the fee-collecting mascot at the ticket gate. Not only did her salary increase, but her working hours were also reduced.

Looking at her increasingly fluffy tail and chubbier head, Zhang Yu waved and said, “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s figures streaked down the highway against the setting sun, heading home.

Zhao Tianxing’s voice came from the phone: “I’ve been doing well recently. After all, I’m a soul cultivator student now, so I don’t have to pay for food. It’s just the internet fees, electricity fees…”

In the next moment, Zhao Tianxing’s connection was suddenly cut off.

Seeing the message that the user’s service had been suspended, Zhang Yu sighed helplessly, recharged a hundred for him, and then teased, “Old Zhao, what kind of websites are you visiting? You’re burning through that internet fee pretty fast.”

Zhao Tianxing replied helplessly: Soul cultivator students are charged commercial internet rates, with tiered pricing increases, so the fees get used up quickly. But I can work part-time now. I’ll pay you back for the internet fee once I earn some money.

After chatting with him for a bit, Zhang Yu put away his phone, only to feel a weight on his back as Bai Zhenzhen jumped on, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Yu-boy, it’s been a while since I rode you. Let me have a ride today.”

Listening to her, Zhang Yu could feel that Bai Zhenzhen was a little different today.

Bai Zhenzhen leaned against Zhang Yu’s back, listening to the powerful sounds emanating from his muscles, and said with a smile, “Yu-boy, three years ago, I never would have imagined that I could really get into one of the Ten Greats.”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Yeah, who would have thought.”

The past six months or so had been the most fulfilling and peaceful days for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen since they entered high school.

There was no oppression from the wealthy, no pressure from rivals. They just improved themselves step-by-step, with the help of many people, feeling themselves getting closer and closer to their goal.

Zhang Yu even felt that, even in Kunxu, he could feel a small sense of happiness.

And at this moment, looking at the setting sun and the golden-hued Songyang City before him, Zhang Yu said with emotion, “Everyone is getting better and better.”

“We will get better and better too.”

“We’re not just going to get into the Ten Greats.”

“We’re going to get Master’s degrees, PhDs, break through to the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms together, and enter the Myriad Laws Sect together.”

The corners of Bai Zhenzhen’s mouth couldn’t help but curl up, as if she could already envision a beautiful future of them climbing the heights of Kunxu together, a warmth she had never felt before rising in her heart.

Back in the apartment, after they ate dinner together, Bai Zhenzhen suddenly received a message that the eye bionic she had ordered had arrived.

When Bai Zhenzhen went to the courier station across the street to pick it up, she received a call from Zhang Yu. “Yeah, I’m picking it up now.”

“The thing you ordered arrived too?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll bring it up for you.”

“Hello?”

“Where’d he go?”

Bai Zhenzhen looked at her phone, puzzled. The network signal clearly showed it was normal, so why couldn’t she hear his voice?

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