Zhang Yu turned back to look at Zhao Tianxing, who was still standing in the same spot, and urged, "Get to work, Xiao Zhao. Are you just standing there slacking off?"
Zhao Tianxing quickly caught up but couldn’t help glancing back at Bai Zhenzhen, who was busy serving dishes.
He thought to himself, "No one at school will believe this. Bai Zhenzhen is actually working part-time? Did something happen at home?"
After completing another round of patrols, Zhao Tianxing followed Zhang Yu into an empty stairwell.
Zhang Yu suddenly sat down cross-legged and said, "Don’t just stand there. Take a break with me."
Zhao Tianxing hesitated, "But the captain told us to keep patrolling. What if he finds out?"
Zhang Yu chuckled, "The exhibition hasn’t even started yet. What’s there to patrol? And in this central building, what could possibly go wrong?" He added with a smile, "Besides, didn’t you want to talk to me? Perfect timing. Let’s chat about the art of being a security guard."
Hearing this, Zhao Tianxing remembered Wang Hai’s instructions.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu dropped a bombshell: "Being a security guard is all about slacking off!"
Zhao Tianxing was stunned, "What?"
Zhang Yu continued, "Does it matter if you patrol a few more times or a few less? Will your pay change?"
Zhao Tianxing thought for a moment, "Well... no?"
Zhang Yu pressed on, "Does the security level of this venue depend on whether we’re here or not?"
Zhao Tianxing scratched his head, "I guess... not? But still..."
Zhang Yu concluded, "But the time we save is ours to keep. Alright, I’m going to rest for a bit. We’ll head out when the exhibition officially starts."
Watching Zhang Yu close his eyes and begin meditating, Zhao Tianxing felt nervous, worried about getting caught slacking off.
At the same time, he admired Zhang Yu’s ability to seize every moment to cultivate, though he thought Zhang Yu was being a bit too carefree.
"Wait, wasn’t I supposed to ask him about the medicine he bought? How did we end up talking about slacking off?"
Suddenly, Zhao Tianxing’s eyes lit up as he pondered Zhang Yu’s words.
Zhao Tianxing was the type who wasn’t great at socializing but was sensitive and always overthought things.
Reflecting on Zhang Yu’s words, he felt they aligned perfectly with his own situation.
"If I ask him a few more questions or a few less, will Teacher Wang Hai stop guiding me?"
"If I’m not here to gather information, will Teacher Wang Hai really be left in the dark?"
"Did Zhang Yu already figure out what I’m up to? Was he hinting that I should slack off too?"
With these thoughts, Zhao Tianxing looked at Zhang Yu again, feeling that even his breathing seemed profound and mysterious.
As Zhang Yu circulated his spiritual energy, pushing his cultivation technique to (13/80), the exhibition finally began.
...
"This is truly an exhibition hosted by Madam Li. All the guests are either wealthy or influential," Zhao Tianxing thought to himself as he observed the attendees.
Though he didn’t recognize most of them, their luxurious clothing and accessories spoke volumes about their status.
Even though Zhao Tianxing’s father was a mid-level manager at a company, he could tell that many of these guests wore items far beyond his family’s means.
Just then, Zhang Yu whispered, "Old Zhao, look at that!"
Zhao Tianxing followed Zhang Yu’s gaze and saw a golden figure surrounded by a crowd.
Upon closer inspection, he realized the person’s skin was like gold foil, reflecting a faint golden light.
Zhang Yu asked curiously, "What is that? A robot?"
Zhao Tianxing quickly covered Zhang Yu’s mouth, nervously checking if the golden figure had noticed them.
After a moment, he let go and explained, "That’s the regional director of Xianyun Group in Songyang City. Be careful what you say."
"Xianyun Group?" Zhang Yu stared at the golden figure, "Why does he look so... shiny?"
Zhao Tianxing explained, "That’s a Fa Hai. Don’t you know about them?"
Seeing Zhang Yu’s blank expression, Zhao Tianxing realized Zhang Yu’s family probably had no exposure to such things.
He patiently explained, "A Fa Hai is like a prosthetic, but far more advanced. In terms of immortal techniques, it can replace any part of the body, enhancing abilities while retaining original functions. But you need at least 100 units of spiritual energy to implant a Fa Hai."
Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered.
He knew that 100 units of spiritual energy was the upper limit for the Qi Refining stage.
He asked, "Can you implant a Fa Hai at 100 units, or do you need to reach Foundation Establishment?"
Zhao Tianxing replied, "100 units is enough, but this person is a true Foundation Establishment expert, from a prestigious family and a graduate of Wanfa University."
Zhang Yu understood—a Foundation Establishment expert, fresh out of a top university, showing off in front of Qi Refining juniors like them.
As more guests arrived, Zhang Yu spotted two more individuals who likely had Fa Hai—one with gem-like eyes and the other with a halo floating behind his head.
These three figures stood out among the wealthy crowd, attracting Qi Refining juniors who seemed eager to kneel before them.
Zhao Tianxing gradually grew more comfortable in his security uniform, no longer feeling as awkward around the guests.
While patrolling, they overheard some conversations.
Some guests marveled at Madam Li XueLian’s wealth and influence.
Others praised the quality and value of the paintings on display.
Naturally, some discussed the "Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram," a painting personally created by a Golden Core expert.
"Brother Li, are you here to study the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram painted by Senior Xinghuo?"
"Of course. If any genius under 18 can master the martial arts depicted in it, Senior Xinghuo will take them as a disciple. This news has spread throughout the Songyang immortal community. How could I miss it?"
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "What? There’s such information? And it’s spread throughout the Songyang immortal community? How come I didn’t know?" Was it because he was just a small fry in the immortal world?
But for now, Zhang Yu suppressed his questions and focused on his duties as a security guard.
He approached the speaker and politely asked, "Sir, are you alright?"
The young man, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, looked at the guard in confusion, "What’s wrong with me?"
He proudly declared, "I’m Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School. Can’t you see I’m chatting with my friend?"
Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing exchanged glances, then looked at the so-called "friend"—a box on the table with a unique wooden texture, resembling an urn.
Zhang Yu couldn’t help but think, "Is he schizophrenic? Has studying driven him mad?"
He did know about Ziyun High School, a top-tier school even more prestigious than Songyang High, one of the three elite schools in Songyang City.
It was a place Zhang Yu had never dared to apply to in the past.
Rumors said Ziyun High was infamous for its brutal methods, oppressive environment, and draconian rules.
Compared to Ziyun, Songyang High’s strictness was nothing.
Stories of a caste system, weak students eating in restrooms, and the strong forcing the weak to kneel were enough to terrify students from other schools.
Looking at Lian Tianji chatting with the "urn," Zhang Yu couldn’t help but think Ziyun High had truly driven its students to madness.
But then, the "urn" spoke, "Brother Lian, these security guards must have misunderstood. I’m Li Xingyu, a soul cultivator from Mangshan High School."
Mangshan High? A soul cultivator?
Zhang Yu remembered—that was a school he had once considered applying to.
He knew soul cultivators had lower academic requirements and specialized paths, but they also had to abandon their physical bodies.
Seeing the "urn" on the table, he was shocked, "Mangshan High really turns people into ghosts."
Zhang Yu quickly apologized and left with Zhao Tianxing.
They watched as Lian Tianji and Li Xingyu continued their conversation, and the "urn" extended four propeller-like devices, flying away like a drone.
Zhang Yu silently thanked his past self for not choosing the soul cultivator path.
Without a physical body, how could one even cultivate, let alone achieve immortality?
"Wait, how does a soul cultivator even practice the martial arts from the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram?"
He then recalled the information the two had shared about the diagram.
"If that’s true, then this exhibition will likely attract many geniuses under 18, all hoping to master the martial arts in the diagram?"
With this thought, Zhang Yu grew even more excited about the exhibition.
Earning 400 an hour, watching the show, and possibly learning a legendary martial art—who said this job wasn’t great? It was fantastic.
He turned to Zhao Tianxing and asked, "What about you, Old Zhao? Are you interested in the martial arts from the Heavenly Martial Arts Diagram?"
Zhao Tianxing naturally shook his head.
He knew his limits.
Such things were only for true geniuses or the wealthy.
What did it have to do with ordinary people like them? Not only was he uninterested, but he also felt like retreating.
Even if the diagram were unveiled later, he wouldn’t dare to try, fearing he’d make a fool of himself in front of everyone.
Moments later, Zhao Tianxing, who had just started to feel comfortable in his security uniform, wished he could hide his face and strip it off immediately.
Zhang Yu noticed Zhao Tianxing quickly turning away and followed his gaze, spotting a few familiar faces.
"Hey, isn’t that Qian Shen? And a few others from our school?"
Qian Shen was the top student, always second to Bai Zhenzhen in academic rankings.
Zhang Yu patted Zhao Tianxing’s shoulder, "Old Zhao, look. Aren’t those our classmates?"
Zhao Tianxing quickly pulled Zhang Yu aside, nervously saying, "Turn around quickly. Don’t let them see us."
(End of Chapter)