In the Spirit Realm, Li Xingyu had been closely observing Zhang Yu's condition.
When he saw Zhang Yu's pain level reach 37, he knew the young man had hit his limit.
"He won't last much longer at this rate," Li Xingyu thought, glancing at the data displayed above Zhang Yu's head - heart rate, breathing, and other vital signs.
"He's reached his tolerance threshold. The pain level should be reduced now."
"Is this still within the realm of a Level 1 Dao Heart? Nothing special here. How could he possibly comprehend the mysteries of the Heavenly Martial Diagram?"
Just as Li Xingyu was pondering this, he noticed a sudden change in Zhang Yu's aura.
The twisted expression on Zhang Yu's face gradually smoothed out, even revealing a faint, fierce smile.
"Oh? He's holding on?"
"This aura... it feels like the martial arts from the Heavenly Martial Diagram?"
Li Xingyu watched in surprise as Zhang Yu endured minute by minute, lasting the full 60 minutes.
Calculating in his mind, he thought, "With this level of willpower, his Dao Heart is almost reaching Level 2."
"Although he hasn't mastered the martial arts from the Heavenly Martial Diagram, it seems he's gained some profound insights that are helping to enhance his willpower."
"This guy is quite impressive. This information could fetch a good price."
With that thought, Li Xingyu quickly wrote up a report on Zhang Yu and posted it on the intelligence network, initially pricing it at 1000 yuan.
After reconsidering, he changed the price to 10,000 yuan, with the headline: "Shocking! Martial Arts Prodigy Appears at Songyang High School!"
...
Removing the Spirit Realm headset, Zhang Yu shakily stood up.
Even though he was out of the Spirit Realm, he still felt a phantom pain throughout his body.
On a nearby bed, a student tried to stand but collapsed to the ground.
Similar scenes played out all around, clear aftereffects of the Spirit Realm experience.
Some students immediately opened their medicine bottles and took pills.
Zhang Yu guessed they were probably Dao Heart Stabilizers.
While one could gradually improve their Dao Heart level through basic cultivation techniques like the Heavenly Martial Cultivation Method, many students still opted for Dao Heart Stabilizers.
These drugs adjusted neurotransmitters and brain secretions, enhancing mood and motivation, thus more effectively boosting willpower and Dao Heart level.
However, the higher the quality and effectiveness of the stabilizers, the more expensive and addictive they became, with more severe withdrawal symptoms.
Once started, users often had to continue long-term, or risk their Dao Heart level regressing.
The original Zhang Yu had been unable to afford continued medication, causing his near-Level 2 Dao Heart to gradually decline.
But after recent trials and insights from the Heavenly Martial Cultivation Method, Zhang Yu felt he had returned to that near-Level 2 state.
He now preferred to rely on his own potential and discipline rather than drugs.
However, there was no time for extended rest.
The second exam of the morning was approaching, and students had to quickly gather themselves and head to the next testing site.
...
At the Spiritual Power exam site, Zhang Yu saw many assistant teachers and testing equipment ready.
When his turn came, detection patches were placed on his arms, chest, and abdomen.
Following instructions, he began circulating his spiritual power from his dantian to his palms.
This test was more precise than usual, ensuring accurate monthly exam results.
The patches not only measured the total amount of spiritual power but also the efficiency of each circulation, preventing students from relying solely on wealth to boost their power without proper quality.
Zhang Yu noticed that compared to the grueling Dao Heart exam, students were much less nervous here.
After all, one's spiritual power level was largely determined before the exam, with little room for last-minute improvements.
As Zhang Yu finished his test, the assistant teacher recording the data made a surprised sound, giving Zhang Yu an extra glance.
"Teacher, is something wrong?" Zhang Yu asked.
The teacher quickly shook her head, "Nothing."
But she thought to herself, "Such high spiritual power circulation efficiency. Must be another rich kid."
...
Lunchtime in the cafeteria was filled with zombie-like students.
Some were still recovering from the Dao Heart exam, others worried about their poor performance, and some even contemplating suicide.
Bai Zhenzhen sat down with a sigh, "That exam was brutal! The person who set those questions must have lost their mind. They probably set their phone to vibrate and stuck it in their pants while reading online comments..."
After two minutes of continuous cursing, she finally stopped to eat when Zhou Tianyi arrived.
Zhang Yu was sure similar rants were echoing across all high schools in Songyang City.
As soon as Zhou Tianyi sat down, he said, "Did you hear? Several students from different high schools have jumped off buildings."
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen immediately focused on him.
Zhou Tianyi continued, "The rules for this Dao Heart exam were too harsh. Some students trying for high scores accidentally set their pain levels beyond their limits and passed out. They were kicked out of the Spirit Realm and got zero marks."
He shook his head, "Some couldn't handle it after waking up and just jumped."
"Zero marks," Bai Zhenzhen murmured, "The ultimate humiliation in high school. You lose all rights to exist in the school after that. I'd jump too, just to crush that question-setter."
Zhang Yu asked, "But wouldn't the question-setter be in trouble? If any of those jumpers were from wealthy families, wouldn't their parents seek revenge?"
Zhou Tianyi looked at Zhang Yu like he was an idiot, "How could that happen?"
Zhang Yu: "You mean even wealthy parents can't take revenge? Is the question-setter's background that strong?"
Zhou Tianyi shook his head, "I mean, how could a rich kid die from jumping at school?"
"They all pay for security. As soon as someone jumps, the whole school alarm goes off, and security or teachers immediately rescue them."
"Even if they hit the ground, the emergency team would revive them."
He said matter-of-factly, "If rich people want to die, they'll find other ways. You can't die from jumping at school."
Listening to Zhou Tianyi's explanation, Zhang Yu had to admit that in this broken Kunxu world, things probably worked exactly like that.
After lunch, as his specialization cooldown ended, Zhang Yu switched his specialization to the Zhou Tian Qi Absorption Technique and practiced some breathing exercises.
Zhou Tian Qi Absorption Technique Level 8 (3/160) → (6/160)
...
Soon it was time for the final exam of the afternoon - Physical Training.
In the massive training hall, Wang Hai sat on the judging panel.
He and other first-year physical education teachers would be scoring all the first-year students.
Looking down at the list of examinees, his eyes paused on Zhang Yu's name.
In Wang Hai's memory, Zhang Yu had been a model student - exercising diligently, taking his medicine regularly, and receiving acupuncture punctually.
His attitude was serious, and he had good drug tolerance.
Last month, he had become one of Wang Hai's observation targets.
If he could keep it up, Wang Hai wouldn't mind cultivating him into a second Zhao Tianxing, another star student to showcase his teaching prowess.
But starting this month, Zhang Yu had begun challenging Wang Hai's authority in class, even promoting the heretical idea of natural body cultivation.
At first, Wang Hai suspected Zhang Yu had found another supplier, that someone was trying to compete with him for the first-year demonstration class market at Songyang High.
But after Zhao Tianxing's observations and reports, Wang Hai gradually dismissed this possibility.
Then he started hearing rumors that Zhang Yu had been taken as a disciple by a Golden Core Master.
Although Wang Hai was one of Songyang High's star physical education teachers, he wasn't qualified to interact with Golden Core Masters.
He couldn't verify the truth of these rumors.
As Wang Hai pondered these thoughts, ten students stepped onto the platform in front of him.
The students bared their muscles, covered in detection patches.
With bestial roars, their muscles suddenly bulged, veins popping as astonishing power erupted from their bodies.
Data from the detection patches quickly appeared on the screens before the teachers, showing the power output from every part of the students' bodies.
This was different from the usual rough full-body strength tests.
It was a precise examination of physical strength in every part of the body as the students exerted themselves.
Meanwhile, Wang Hai and the other teachers quickly scanned the students' bodies, evaluating their muscle structure, body frame, and explosive state, combining these observations with the data to score each student.
In the physical training monthly exam, raw physical strength wasn't the only criterion.
The dimensions, size, and structure of every muscle group were important.
Which structure was better for generating power? Which muscles were more useful in actual combat? Which were active muscles, and which were dead weight? These were all factors that experienced judges had to consider based on the data.
Even with similar physical strength, differences in body structure and size could lead to huge variations in power, speed, and combat performance.
Wang Hai was well-versed in this.
As a star physical education teacher, he had seen countless 200-pound, 300-pound bodies over the decades, even 500-pound behemoths on several occasions.
After quickly recording his scores, Wang Hai's thoughts returned to Zhang Yu.
"Let's see your score then."
"If your score has dropped significantly after being isolated for three weeks, it proves you couldn't possibly be a Golden Core Master's disciple."
"And then..."
A cold glint appeared in Wang Hai's eyes.
Anyone who affected his business deserved to be expelled.
(End of Chapter)