Zhang Yu looked at the vest, shorts, wristbands, ankle weights, and the two large jars beside them.
These were the weighted training suit and beast meat powder he had purchased.
The weighted training suit was a durable piece of body-refining equipment, affordable and easy to use.
It allowed him to train secretly without his classmates noticing, and it also had the added benefit of being removable during fights to show off.
It was a classic piece of equipment on the path of cultivation, something every cultivator should try at least once.
The suit Zhang Yu bought weighed a total of 150 kilograms, allowing him to train his body during everyday activities.
The beast meat powder, on the other hand, was a nutritional supplement that helped replenish the nutrients his body needed for growth and recovery, helping him grow taller, faster, and stronger.
The two items cost him over 4,000 yuan, reducing his savings to just over 59,000 yuan.
"Sigh, I'm still too poor. I can only afford these low-tier items," Zhang Yu muttered to himself.
When he was browsing the shopping website, what he really wanted was an external spiritual root called the Gluttony Root.
It was said that once implanted, it would drastically boost the body's metabolism, enhance physical strength, and absorb all available nutrients to fuel the body.
According to the advertisement, you could even grow stronger by eating dirt every day.
Unfortunately, it was way too expensive, costing 40 million yuan.
Spending 40 million just to experience the feeling of growing stronger by eating dirt was far beyond Zhang Yu's current means.
"Sigh, I'll just have to try the school's Muscle Growth Root during the next free rental period," Zhang Yu thought.
As he put on the weighted suit piece by piece, he immediately felt his body grow heavier.
Simple actions like bending over, walking, or raising his arms now required much more effort, and every movement felt like a struggle.
"Huff..."
Before he could take more than a few steps, a shout came from downstairs, "Are you trying to tear the building down at this hour?"
Realizing that the noise from wearing the weighted suit was too loud, Zhang Yu decided to head to the abandoned building nearby.
As he walked, it felt like he was carrying heavy shackles.
Zhang Yu could feel discomfort in every part of his body.
However, as he activated the Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique, the discomfort was temporarily suppressed, replaced by a sense of satisfaction as he felt his body being constantly trained.
"The Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique really works for this too," Zhang Yu thought.
His next goal was to maintain the Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique as much as possible, using it to resist the discomfort of the weighted suit while simultaneously improving his Dao Heart level.
"Training both my Dao Heart and my body 24 hours a day."
If he could achieve this, he would significantly improve his efficiency in raising his Dao Heart level while also strengthening his body.
Thinking about how he had voluntarily added such a heavy burden to himself without anyone forcing him, Zhang Yu couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"There's no other way. Those rich kids from the top three schools are just too ridiculous," he thought.
"If I want to survive, get into one of the top ten universities, and join a major sect... I have no choice but to push myself."
Returning to the abandoned building, Zhang Yu sat cross-legged on the ground, maintaining the Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique while visualizing the image of an old bull plowing a field.
At the same time, he allowed his body to rest.
In theory, as long as a cultivator could endure it, the technique could be maintained indefinitely.
It was like listening to an audiobook while playing a game—a form of multitasking.
However, mental fatigue, exhaustion, and external distractions could all disrupt the technique's maintenance.
If he had to focus on something more complex, like solving exam problems or strategizing during a fight, maintaining the technique would become even more difficult.
Although his Dao Heart teacher had said that the technique could theoretically be maintained at all times, and that powerful cultivators could keep it active as long as they remained conscious, Zhang Yu had never been able to do it before.
However, ever since he recently raised his Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique to level 10 and his Dao Heart level to level 2, he found it easier to maintain the technique.
If maintaining the technique before was like constantly solving math problems in his head, now it felt more like counting from 1 to 1,000—much simpler.
"Now I should be able to perform more complex exercises while maintaining the technique," Zhang Yu thought.
This was why he was attempting to maintain the Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique in more situations.
After resting for a while, Zhang Yu stood up and began walking back and forth while maintaining the technique.
It felt like he had thrown away half his brain and half his muscles, forcing himself to relearn basic movements.
The next night, Zhang Yu returned to the abandoned building and tried doing some simple warm-up exercises while maintaining the technique.
On the third day, as he grew more accustomed to it, Zhang Yu began practicing the Formless Cloud Hands while wearing the weighted suit.
The Formless Cloud Hands, now at level 6, felt like it had been practiced thousands of times in his mind.
Every movement came naturally, without much thought.
As he maintained the mental image of the technique, his body, under the pressure of the weighted suit, continued to practice the Formless Cloud Hands.
The spiritual energy within his body surged, transforming into strands of formless cloud energy that radiated outward.
However, because he had to split his focus to maintain the technique, and due to the strain of the weighted suit and the energy consumption, his efficiency in practicing the Formless Cloud Hands slowed down significantly.
It took him three full days to finally push the Formless Cloud Hands to level 10.
Listen to him—"only" reaching level 10. Clearly, Zhang Yu still thought this progress was too slow.
"Sigh, my talent is still not good enough. It's limiting my potential and self-discipline," Zhang Yu muttered.
In the abandoned building, Zhang Yu's spiritual energy rose from his dantian, silently completing seven rapid oscillations before spreading throughout his limbs and bursting out from his entire body.
In an instant, white mist surrounded Zhang Yu, giving him an ethereal, immortal-like appearance.
"This is the effect of reaching level 10 with the Formless Cloud Hands. The formless cloud energy is no longer limited to my hands but can now emanate from every part of my body, truly integrating offense and defense."
However, the energy consumption also increased significantly.
Zhang Yu felt like he could only maintain this state for a few minutes before he had to stop.
After these days of intense training, Zhang Yu's abilities had improved once again.
His spiritual energy, constantly refined through day and night breathing exercises, had reached 16.9.
The weighted suit and the training with the Formless Cloud Hands had increased his physical strength to level 1.28.
His Dao Heart, constantly trained by the level 10 Desolate Bull Soul-Calming Technique, remained the fastest to improve, now at level 2 (65%).
...
That day, shortly after Zhang Yu arrived in class, he saw a middle-aged woman with a weathered face come to a desk and start packing up some belongings.
Just as Zhang Yu was feeling puzzled, Zhou Tianyi, who was sitting nearby, said, "Liang Qin dropped out. That's his mom here to collect his things."
"What? Why?" Zhang Yu asked, surprised.
Zhou Tianyi sighed, "Apparently, he gambled and lost over 100,000 yuan. When his parents found out, they came and withdrew him from school."
"I heard they made a scene in the teacher's office yesterday. Liang Qin kept kneeling and kowtowing, but his parents insisted on withdrawing him."
Zhou Tianyi shook his head and sighed, "His parents did the right thing. Once you get addicted to gambling, you'll be stuck as a mortal for life, never achieving anything on the path of cultivation."
"Not to mention a high school student like him—even if he became an immortal, he'd fall right back down, losing all his cultivation and ending up bankrupt, forced to live as a mortal again."
Zhang Yu fell silent.
Liang Qin's situation with debt was somewhat similar to his original self.
He thought that if he hadn't transmigrated into this body, the original Zhang Yu might have ended up the same way.
Just then, Bai Zhenzhen pulled Zhang Yu out of the classroom and said, "Those cheapskates finally sent a message. They sent over an electronic agreement for you to sign."
Shortly after Zhang Yu signed the electronic agreement, a notification for a money transfer popped up on his phone.
Seeing the 20,000 yuan that had been transferred, both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen felt a surge of excitement.
Bai Zhenzhen said, "Those tightwads actually sent 20,000 yuan in one go. They must really value you."
"Transfer 8,000 to my card. I need it for something."
Zhang Yu didn't ask why and transferred the 8,000 yuan, only reminding her, "What have you been up to lately? You disappear right after school every day."
Bai Zhenzhen smiled faintly, "Just trying to find a way to get into one of the top ten universities."
"Since those cheapskates value us so much, we should make them help ease our burden."
As if remembering something, she added, "After next week's monthly exam, Zhou Chechen will probably come to pressure us into signing the contract again."
"If we reject the student council again this time, they'll definitely put more pressure on us."
"Especially since you placed fourth in the recent magic competition. They'll definitely try to force you to sign. Can you handle it?"
Zhang Yu wasn't entirely confident, but seeing Bai Zhenzhen's concerned look, he laughed and said, "Of course I can handle it. Just don't give up halfway."
Zhang Yu thought about the pressure from the ritual, realizing that he either had to survive the ritual or get into one of the top ten universities.
There was no other choice.
As he thought this, a familiar chill rose within him, reminding him to hurry back and continue his studies and training.
"Sigh, enough talk. My own strength is what matters most. I'll go back and train now."
Bai Zhenzhen grabbed his shoulder and reminded him, "Remember, when you reject them, you can shift the blame to Purple Cloud High and White Dragon High, saying they're trying to recruit you. Use that to negotiate with the student council and buy more time."
"Most importantly, don't let them figure out that you're aiming for the top ten universities."
Watching Zhang Yu hurry away, Bai Zhenzhen seemed to sense his urgency.
"Yu's been working harder and harder lately."
"He must be feeling the pressure too."
"But it's fine. I'm almost close to finding that guy..."
"After all, even though Yu's a bit better than me in the magic competition, when it comes to getting into the top ten, he still needs me to watch his back."
...
In the quiet room.
Zhang Yu, who had rented the Muscle Growth Root, felt that with every breath of spiritual energy he took in, the root would feed back a more vibrant strand of energy.
This was the growth energy provided by the Muscle Growth Root.
As the growth energy was naturally absorbed by his flesh and blood, he felt his entire body begin to move on its own, rapidly devouring all available nutrients.
With the continuous action of the Muscle Growth Root and the constant infusion of growth energy, this state would last for 6 to 12 hours, greatly enhancing the effects of his physical training.
The intercom buzzed with Wei Xin's voice, "Student Zhang, would you like to extend your session?"
Zhang Yu slowly exhaled, thought for a moment, and said, "Add one more hour."
...
In the training hall.
Martial arts teacher Lei Jun was giving Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen extra lessons in preparation for next month's martial arts competition.
Amidst the sounds of collisions and explosive impacts, two figures clashed repeatedly, like two giant beasts tearing into each other.
Zhang Yu's Formless Cloud Hands unleashed a surge of martial energy.
Bai Zhenzhen, however, pointed her fingers like a sword, sending out a flurry of sword shadows that struck the weakest and most critical points of the martial energy, instantly dispersing it.
Lei Jun shouted from the side, "Zhang Yu, the Formless Cloud Hands emphasizes adaptability. You need to go with the flow, not just rely on brute force."
Zhang Yu didn't want to rely solely on overpowering his opponent, but Bai Zhenzhen's combat experience was far superior to his.
If he didn't instinctively use his martial energy to suppress her, he would have been completely dominated.
"How is Zhenzhen so good at fighting?" Zhang Yu wondered.
Although he wasn't going all out, he was still using level 1 Formless Cloud Hands, yet Bai Zhenzhen was able to completely suppress him with just a few basic martial arts techniques.
Zhang Yu couldn't help but suspect that Bai Zhenzhen was cheating.
"Is she using some kind of X-ray vision? Or auto-aim? Or reading my moves? How does she always hit my weak points and see through my techniques?"
...
Days passed as Zhang Yu continued to study, train, and take extra lessons.
In the blink of an eye, another week went by.
The day of Songyang High's monthly exam had arrived once again.
And classmates, teachers, the student council... as well as various people Zhang Yu knew or didn't know, were all gradually turning their attention to him and Bai Zhenzhen.
(End of Chapter)