"I'm so hungry," Qian Shen muttered, rubbing his stomach.
He had no interest in the paintings displayed at the exhibition.
All he wanted was to find a place to eat a hearty meal.
After all, he had just finished his intense physical training session and rushed over here.
His stomach was growling so loudly that he felt like he could devour an entire cow.
"I'll go look for something to eat," he said to his classmates before wandering off into the exhibition hall.
His classmates were used to this behavior.
They were all dedicated to their cultivation and physical training, which meant they needed far more nutrition and food than ordinary people.
As for Qian Shen, a top student who practiced day and night, eating five meals a day was considered light.
His family tutor would worry if he ate any less.
Just then, Qian Shen's eyes lit up as he spotted the buffet table.
He quickly walked over, grabbed a plate of shrimp, and devoured it in a few bites.
However, after eating for a while, he frowned.
"This food has no nutritional value?"
Qian Shen was the second-ranked student in his grade at Songyang High School.
Besides his natural talent and hard work, his family's wealth played a significant role in his success.
To enhance his cultivation, especially his physical training, he usually consumed food rich in spiritual elements.
For someone like him, who valued scores above all else, taste was secondary.
What mattered most was whether the food could improve his cultivation efficiency.
The seafood at the exhibition buffet was something he could afford, but he had no interest in indulging in such luxuries.
To him, it was a waste of time and appetite.
Seafood, fancy meals—if they didn't boost his performance, they were just garbage.
As he scanned the buffet table, he called over a server to ask if there were any other dishes that could be used for nutritional supplementation.
"Everything edible is here. Take what you want," the server replied coldly.
Qian Shen frowned and looked up, only to see a familiar face.
"You work here?" Qian Shen asked in surprise, recognizing the server.
"Yes," Bai Zhenzhen replied expressionlessly.
"Is there anything else?"
Qian Shen furrowed his brows.
"Are you short on money? You should sign a contract with the student union. Otherwise, wasting time on this meaningless job will only hinder your path in cultivation. Even if I surpass you, it won't be satisfying."
Qian Shen's tone was filled with emotion.
He had always seen Bai Zhenzhen, the only girl in his grade who could surpass him in total scores, as his rival.
In his mind, she should feel the same way.
The next three years of high school would be a battlefield where the two geniuses would compete fiercely yet respect each other.
They would push each other to their limits and eventually get admitted to top-tier universities together.
But Bai Zhenzhen simply replied, "Are you telling me what to do?" Before Qian Shen could respond, she added, "You, with a total score of just over 600, are trying to teach me, who scored 650, what to do?"
Faced with Bai Zhenzhen's blatant score-based superiority, Qian Shen, a staunch believer in the importance of scores, felt his confidence shrink.
The 50-point gap between them felt like a mountain crushing him.
In his eyes, Bai Zhenzhen's head seemed to glow with the numbers "650," exuding an overwhelming pressure that left him speechless.
Bai Zhenzhen frowned.
"Why are you staring at the top of my head?"
Qian Shen snorted and walked away.
"Just wait, Bai Zhenzhen. If you keep wasting time like this, I'll surpass you soon enough."
But as he turned around, he nearly bumped into two security guards—Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing, who had been dragged along by Zhang Yu.
Seeing that there seemed to be some tension between Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen, Zhang Yu, as a security guard, had rushed over.
Qian Shen recognized the two despite their uniforms.
"550 and 580?" he said, referring to their recent exam scores.
Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned before realizing that 550 was his score from last month's exam, and 580 was Zhao Tianxing's.
This guy only remembers scores, not names? What a study freak.
But in truth, Qian Shen didn't just forget names.
For students who scored below 550, he didn't bother remembering their names or scores.
To him, anyone below 550 was just an NPC—no need to remember them.
As for Zhang Yu, who scored 550, Qian Shen already considered him subhuman.
Based on his observations, Zhang Yu would likely score below 550 next month, making him even less worthy of memory.
Seeing the security uniforms on Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing, Qian Shen shook his head.
"Why are you two working here? Shouldn't you be focusing on studying and cultivating instead of wasting time?"
Zhang Yu retorted, "Aren't you here too?"
Qian Shen chuckled confidently.
"I postponed my tutoring session today to come and study the Heavenly Martial Diagram. It contains a peerless martial art that only true geniuses can comprehend. Even I'm not entirely confident I can master it, let alone you two."
With that, Qian Shen lost interest in the "550" and "580" and walked away.
Zhao Tianxing's face turned bitter as he watched Qian Shen leave.
Not only had Qian Shen seen him working as a security guard, but Zhang Yu's careless words had also made it seem like they were there to study the Heavenly Martial Diagram.
Zhao Tianxing could already imagine the ridicule he would face from his classmates.
"This is so embarrassing," he thought.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu, oblivious to Zhao Tianxing's worries, asked Bai Zhenzhen, "Are you okay? You and Qian Shen don't get along?"
Bai Zhenzhen shrugged.
"I'm fine. Most of the time, he's just embarrassing himself."
She then gave Zhang Yu a strange look.
"Are you really planning to study the Heavenly Martial Diagram?"
Seeing Zhang Yu nod confidently, Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, "Zhang Yu is getting more and more delusional because of his debt. With his level, he actually thinks he can comprehend a martial art left by a Golden Core expert?"
Zhao Tianxing, eager to leave, tugged at Zhang Yu's sleeve, but Zhang Yu was busy exchanging glances with Bai Zhenzhen.
Soon, Bai Zhenzhen discreetly handed Zhang Yu a plate of seafood.
"Want some, Lao Zhao?" Zhang Yu asked.
Zhao Tianxing panicked.
"The captain said we can't eat from the buffet!" He quickly used his body to shield Zhang Yu, afraid someone might see.
Zhang Yu casually replied, "It's fine. Bai Zhenzhen works here too. We're just taking advantage of the company's resources."
As Zhang Yu started eating the shrimp, a voice came from behind Zhao Tianxing.
"What are you two doing?"
Zhao Tianxing jumped in fright, but when he turned around and saw it was their classmate Zhou Tianyi, he relaxed.
Unconsciously, Zhao Tianxing was starting to get used to wearing the security uniform in front of his classmates.
"Lao Zhou, you're here too?" Zhang Yu asked in surprise.
Zhou Tianyi smiled.
"Yeah, I came with Qian Shen and the others."
"Really? I didn't see you earlier," Zhang Yu said.
Zhou Tianyi chuckled.
"How did you end up here?"
The two chatted for a bit about their situations, but Zhao Tianxing urged Zhang Yu to continue their patrol.
Just then, Zhou Tianyi mysteriously said, "I have some gossip about a Golden Core expert. Interested?"
Seeing Zhang Yu's curious expression, Zhao Tianxing said, "The captain's already asking in the group chat where we are..."
Zhang Yu nodded.
"You're right. Work comes first. We'll hear it next time."
As they turned to leave, Zhou Tianyi added, "Master Xinghuo had half of his cultivation taken away after he resigned. That's why he's planning to return to the first layer."
"What?" Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing immediately turned back, eager to hear more.
Even Bai Zhenzhen, though she didn't look over, perked up her ears.
Zhou Tianyi continued, "Golden Core experts can live up to 400 years, but Master Xinghuo is already 350. The Ten Thousand Techniques Sect decided to 'optimize' him last year. When he resigned, they took half of his cultivation. Without the resources to maintain his lifestyle, he decided to return to the first layer of Kunxu to focus on raising his descendants and training disciples."
Zhang Yu was shocked.
"Wait, they take half your cultivation when you resign?"
Zhou Tianyi shrugged.
"The sect trained him and gave him the resources to form his Golden Core. It's only fair they take half back when he leaves."
As the three listened to Zhou Tianyi's story, a commotion broke out in the distance.
A guest whispered, "Madam Li is here. The Heavenly Martial Diagram is about to be unveiled."
(End of Chapter)