December 2, 2024
In the male examinees' preparation room.
As the candidates warmed up and prepared, the small space was filled with the stench of sweat, feet, and oil.
Zhang Yu endured the unpleasant odors while carefully applying the Golden Vajra Oil he had bought to various parts of his body, making his muscle lines more pronounced.
Thinking about how this jar of Golden Vajra Oil cost over 100 yuan and could only be used once for the exam, Zhang Yu applied it meticulously, afraid to waste even a drop.
"This lousy school, selling essential exam supplies at such high prices."
But Zhang Yu didn’t dare not buy it.
Although the Golden Vajra Oil had no actual physical enhancement effects, it made the muscle lines and body structure more visible, making it easier for the exam judges to score.
If he didn’t apply the oil, there was a risk the judges might miss the details of his physique and give him a low score, which would be a huge loss.
Based on Zhang Yu’s current understanding of the Kunxu world, he strongly suspected that the school’s sale of Golden Vajra Oil involved kickbacks to the judges.
Not using it might even lead to maliciously low scores.
Zhang Yu called out to the person behind him, "Old Zhao, help me with my back."
"Got it," Zhao Tianxing replied, dipping his hand into Zhang Yu’s jar of Golden Vajra Oil and applying it to Zhang Yu’s back.
As he did so, Zhao Tianxing observed Zhang Yu’s physique and thought to himself, "Zhang Yu’s physical strength level seems quite high."
Although Zhang Yu followed a balanced development path focusing on strength, speed, and agility, different from Zhao Tianxing’s pure strength focus, Zhao Tianxing had seen enough to recognize talent.
As a core student who often attended Wang Hai’s classes, Zhao Tianxing had seen many top-tier physical cultivators.
Looking at Zhang Yu’s muscles and feeling their marble-like texture, Zhao Tianxing could clearly tell that Zhang Yu’s physical strength was definitely not low.
"Seems… seems even higher than mine?"
"But how? He doesn’t even have a physical education teacher."
Soon, Zhang Yu, Zhao Tianxing, and eight other students, all gleaming with oil and wearing detection patches, arrived at the exam venue.
The five physical education teachers below the stage scanned the candidates.
Wang Hai’s gaze lingered on Zhao Tianxing and Zhang Yu before he said, "Begin."
"Ha!"
"Ho!"
"Roar!"
With a series of shouts, the candidates on stage unleashed their physical strength, their muscles bulging as they released the raw power within their bodies.
The stage creaked and groaned under the pressure, as if it couldn’t withstand the onslaught of these physical cultivation monsters.
Meanwhile, the data from the detection patches quickly transmitted to the judges’ screens.
Wang Hai first looked at Zhang Yu’s data: "Right arm muscle strength: 443 kilograms, left arm muscle strength: 422 kilograms…"
"Such progress in just a few weeks?"
"Did he take some kind of beast drug? Is his body structure on the verge of breaking down?"
Seeing this data, Wang Hai’s gaze sharpened, and he immediately looked up at Zhang Yu on stage.
At the same time, the ten students on stage, having just unleashed their physical strength, felt five cold gazes sweep over them.
From below, it looked like ten physical cultivation beasts, their auras overwhelming.
But for the students on stage, looking down at the five physical education teachers felt like being scrutinized by five terrifying beasts.
Their cold, critical gazes were like beasts at a butcher’s shop, deciding which part of the students’ bodies to devour.
Zhao Tianxing felt like a lamb before the slaughter, desperately trying to hold himself together and exert his strength.
Zhang Yu, however, felt completely different from his classmates.
He felt like he was being stared at by five pairs of intense eyes, making his skin crawl.
Meanwhile, one of the physical education teachers below exclaimed, "What a great skeletal structure! Beast-like back, demon-like chest, and demonic arms. I never expected a first-year student to have such a well-adjusted body structure."
Another teacher said with envy, "Look at his legs. The bone joints have clearly been shaped through rigorous training. Such a solid foundation—he’s bound to soar in the future. Why don’t I have such a student?"
Another teacher patted Wang Hai’s shoulder and said, "Teacher Wang, is this another one of your star students? The body structure is so well-adjusted. Such excellent shaping must have taken a lot of effort. Your year-end bonus is secured."
Wang Hai, who had just been considering whether to give Zhang Yu a maliciously low score, awkwardly smiled and didn’t respond.
But his gaze at Zhang Yu still revealed a hint of admiration he couldn’t suppress.
He couldn’t help but think, "Although drug sales are my main business…"
As a physical education teacher, Wang Hai couldn’t bring himself to give such a masterpiece of a body a low score.
This physique was practically a work of art!
Moreover, the comments from the other teachers had sealed off any chance of him giving a low score.
After scoring Zhang Yu fairly, Wang Hai’s eyes flashed with determination.
"Such rapid improvement, especially in body structure adjustment."
"It seems Zhang Yu has truly become a Golden Core disciple."
"In that case, I’ll have to use my final move."
Dinner time.
In the cafeteria.
Because he had started practicing the 8th-level Zhou Tian Qi Absorption Technique again today, Zhang Yu’s appetite had decreased significantly.
He was about to finish the food on his plate with just a few bites.
But at that moment, a large shadow loomed over him.
Wang Hai, like a mountain, plopped down in front of him with a thud.
Wang Hai then smiled at Bai Zhenzhen, who was sitting nearby, and said, "Bai Zhenzhen, could you let me talk to Zhang Yu alone for a moment?"
Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu, and after seeing him nod, she moved to a seat about ten meters away, curiously watching the two.
Zhang Yu looked at Wang Hai with a hint of wariness, as their relationship was far from good.
Wang Hai said, "Let’s exchange contact info. We haven’t done that yet."
With an 80% certainty that Zhang Yu was a Golden Core disciple, Wang Hai decided to use his final move—gift-giving.
He planned to repair their relationship through gifts.
But what to give became a new problem.
Wang Hai, having come this far, was no stranger to the art of gift-giving.
His first thought was physical enhancement drugs.
As a drug salesman, giving out samples, experimental products, or even contraband was second nature to him—it had almost become a reflex.
But he quickly dismissed this idea.
"Zhang Yu himself said he practices natural physical cultivation. Whether that’s true or not, giving him physical enhancement drugs would be like slapping him in the face. No, no."
Then he thought of physical cultivation techniques.
As a top physical education teacher, aside from drug sales, another significant source of income for Wang Hai came from tutoring and teaching physical cultivation techniques.
Helping some people’s children with tutoring and teaching them physical cultivation techniques had always been his go-to method for building relationships.
But he quickly dismissed this option as well.
"The techniques I have the rights to teach are nothing compared to what Zhang Yu, a Golden Core disciple, must already know."
"After much thought, the only thing left to give is…"
After exchanging contact info, Wang Hai said, "Zhang Yu, you did very well on today’s exam. I don’t have much to offer, so I’ll just transfer some money to you."
"This is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you don’t mind."
Zhang Yu’s phone vibrated with a notification of Wang Hai’s transfer.
He thought to himself, "Trying to smooth things over with money? Thinking a little cash can erase the isolation you put me through?"
Zhang Yu had always despised such monetary transactions.
As he opened the transfer notification, he wanted to show a look of disdain, but he found himself unable to do so.
"Received 66,666.66 yuan from Wang Hai."
Bai Zhenzhen, sitting ten meters away, noticed Zhang Yu’s expression and thought, "What’s going on? Zhang Yu can’t even keep the smile off his face."
Meanwhile, Wang Hai said sincerely, "Seeing your progress today makes me very happy."
"In the past, my teaching skills were lacking, and I misjudged you. I apologize."
Seeing Wang Hai about to stand up and bow, Zhang Yu quickly said, "Teacher, you were just looking out for me. There’s no need for you to apologize to me."
Zhang Yu felt disgusted with his own pettiness.
"Damn it, Zhang Yu, how did you become like this? So easily bought with money?"
But it wasn’t just about the money.
Wang Hai, a proud and respected top teacher in his seventies or eighties, had just apologized to him.
There was sincerity in that.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s smile, Wang Hai breathed a small sigh of relief, though the thought of the 66,666 yuan still made his heart ache.
Although his income wasn’t low, his expenses far exceeded the average person’s, and he rarely had much spare cash.
66,666 yuan was no small sum for him.
But he knew this wasn’t the time to dwell on the money.
After all, the person in front of him was a newly accepted disciple of the Golden Core Master, Xinghuo.
Years of experience told Wang Hai that when giving money, it’s best to do it in one go.
He grabbed Zhang Yu’s hands and said earnestly, "From now on, my physical education class is your class. You can do whatever you want during class, even skip it if you want. I’ll give you complete freedom."
What’s the ultimate sign of a teacher’s respect for a student?
After years of teaching at Songyang High School, Wang Hai had his answer—letting them skip class.
This was his way of showing respect to a Golden Core disciple.
"Ah?" Zhang Yu was slightly surprised but also pleased.
For a self-disciplined student like him, having the freedom to arrange his own class time was indeed a good thing.
Wang Hai, seeing Zhang Yu’s surprise, hinted, "After all, you don’t need my guidance anymore."
After some more small talk, Wang Hai bid farewell, "Alright, I have things to attend to, and I’m sure you’re busy too. I won’t keep you."
(End of Chapter)