As Zhang Yu finished his first cycle of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique, countless images of his training flashed through his mind.
These were moments of deep comprehension of the nine martial arts sets, sensing their intent, and grasping their essence.
In the next moment, nine different intents simultaneously emerged in his mind.
The killing intent to crush armies, the unyielding fighting spirit, the fearless courage...
These intents seemed to have been tempered a thousand times in his mind, finally converging into a single figure.
This was the martial intent Zhang Yu had condensed in his sea of consciousness after mastering the first level of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique.
The figure vaguely resembled Zhang Yu, but its face was blurred, exuding an aura of battling heaven and earth.
"Heavenly Martial Intent..."
With a thought from Zhang Yu, the Heavenly Martial Intent in his sea of consciousness began to move, guided by his will, and started practicing the nine martial arts sets of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique.
As the Heavenly Martial Intent activated, a new aura surged from Zhang Yu's body.
At this moment, Zhang Yu felt as if he had become a war god, ready to crush everything in his path with sheer violence.
Blood vessels appeared in his eyes, and his blood and mana began to circulate slightly faster.
Zhang Yu could feel his body gradually adjusting to a state more suited for combat.
"Phew."
He exhaled and temporarily stopped the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique, thinking to himself, "Is the Heavenly Martial Intent this ferocious? It seems to require a mindset of a battle maniac."
"That Starfire Real Person... an old man kicked out of a major sect, actually created such a martial art?"
"Damn... was he kicked out for beating up his superiors?"
To Zhang Yu, it felt like discovering that a middle-aged man fired from a company was secretly a battle maniac.
"Logically, it shouldn't be like this."
After all, in Kunxu, fighting was costly.
Killing a bystander meant paying compensation, destroying a building meant even more compensation.
The greater the destruction, the more money you had to pay.
What about fighting in remote, unclaimed lands? From Zhang Yu's memory, there wasn't a single piece of land around Songyang City that wasn't owned by some corporation.
If a strong person wanted to fight often, they'd have to spend money to stop the police from arriving if they won, and even more money to speed up the police if they lost.
Injuries required medical expenses, and even if uninjured, they'd need to buy insurance just in case.
And if they bought insurance, wouldn't they also need to insure their magical treasures and artifacts every year?
"The stronger you are, the more you spend. The more you spend, the poorer you become. The poorer you are, the weaker you become."
"So, the stronger you are, the weaker you become."
"Starfire Real Person was probably kicked out because he was too combative."
Zhang Yu sighed, "The path of immortality isn't just about fighting and killing."
But overthinking was useless now.
Zhang Yu continued to practice the technique, aiming to push the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique to the second level.
To master the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique, the external body and the internal Heavenly Martial Intent needed to synchronize, practicing the nine martial arts sets together.
If only the martial intent in the sea of consciousness was used, it would merely activate the technique's effects.
As the Heavenly Martial Intent acted again, Zhang Yu felt the technique's effects more deeply.
Only one technique could be active at a time, so at this moment, Zhang Yu only felt the effects of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique, not the Calm Bull Soul-Settling Technique.
Without the Calm Bull Soul-Settling Technique, Zhang Yu's endurance should have significantly decreased.
But under the influence of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique, he felt an overwhelming fighting spirit, unafraid of anything, ready to crush any obstacle with a single punch.
Even the hardships of training were suppressed by this fighting spirit, making Zhang Yu feel motivated even without the Calm Bull Soul-Settling Technique.
"So intense! So thrilling!"
Feeling his blood and mana slightly accelerating, Zhang Yu realized that the Heavenly Martial Intent not only enhanced combat but also boosted his cultivation.
Two hours passed in a flash.
Covered in sweat and with surging blood, Zhang Yu had practiced the technique ten times.
Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique Level 1 (0/10) → Level 2 (0/20)
In an instant, Zhang Yu felt his mind traversing countless days and nights, deeply immersed in the intent of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique through repeated practice.
At the same time, the figure formed by the Heavenly Martial Intent in his sea of consciousness became clearer, its face vaguely resembling Zhang Yu's.
Another night passed, and with intermittent breaks, Zhang Yu finally pushed the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique to Level 3 (12/30).
Then he received a call from Wang Hai, informing him that due to his involvement with the student council, he hadn't been selected for the school's sports competition team.
"A deliberate warning?" Zhang Yu thought to himself.
"If I refuse to sign the contract this time, will they use more tactics against me?"
Soon after, he received another invitation from the student council to discuss the contract.
...
Songyang High School.
Noon.
Student Council Office.
With a cold snort, the temperature in the office seemed to plummet, causing even the burly Lan Ling to shiver.
But the next moment, the temperature returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
But Lan Ling knew it wasn't an illusion.
Zhou Chechen's mood had just soured.
A few minutes ago, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had both rejected the student council's contract offer again, citing that the top three universities could offer better terms.
Lan Ling slowly put down the dumbbell in his hand and looked at Vice President Zhou Chechen on the sofa, asking, "What should we do?"
Zhou Chechen muttered, "I've given them enough face, haven't I?"
"I've offered them the best terms I could."
"I just don't understand why they won't agree to something that benefits both them and the school, a win-win situation."
Lan Ling said, "Maybe Zhang Yu's fourth-place finish in the mana competition has given him some unwarranted ambition, making Bai Zhenzhen think she can raise her price too."
Zhou Chechen sighed, "Does he really think the top three universities can sign them if we don't let them go? Trying to raise the price... do they even think they're worth it?"
"These poor people, if you're too harsh, they resent and curse you, and won't work properly."
"If you give them a little respect, they start getting ideas above their station, thinking things they shouldn't, and always end up making a mess."
With that, he waved his hand helplessly, "Do whatever you think is necessary."
"Just make sure I see their signed contracts within seven days."
...
In the first-year demonstration class.
Zhang Yu was maintaining the Calm Bull Soul-Settling Technique while continuing his studies.
Since starting the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique, Zhang Yu had been alternating between the two techniques.
When practicing the martial technique, he would activate the external martial moves while maintaining the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Technique.
When he couldn't practice the martial technique, like during breaks or classes, he would maintain the Calm Bull Soul-Settling Technique.
This process made Zhang Yu feel a conflict in his mindset, affecting the efficiency of both techniques.
"One demands constant fighting, crushing everything. The other requires patience and silent accumulation."
"Switching between these two... it's exhausting."
He couldn't help but scratch his head, linking the conflict between the two techniques to the contract decision he faced.
"At least with techniques, I can choose. But in reality, there's no option to just fight..."
Just then, his phone vibrated.
Zhang Yu saw a message from his mana class teacher, Mr. Yan.
"Zhang Yu, did you offend the student council? I've refunded your tutoring fees, and you won't be able to participate in future mana competitions."
"Try to mend your relationship with the student council quickly."
Reading this, Zhang Yu's eyes narrowed.
He knew this was another pressure tactic from the student council.
Suddenly, Bai Zhenzhen's voice came from beside him, "I got kicked out by Old Yan. Did you get kicked out of the mana competition team too?"
Seeing Zhang Yu nod, Bai Zhenzhen angrily said, "Those bastards in the student council are going to keep messing with us."
"Can you handle it?"
Zhang Yu nodded, "I can handle it, but how long can this go on?"
Bai Zhenzhen said, "Until we're strong enough, until we find a way to get into a top university."
"And during this process, the pressure from the student council will only increase."
"That's how these rich people are. Once their interests are affected... no, even if they just make less money, they'll immediately drop their facade and start coming after you with everything they've got."
Bai Zhenzhen held her head, looking distressed, "We'll be constantly suppressed, constantly isolated."
"They might use combat classes to have teachers or seniors beat us up, use spirit realm classes to torment us in the spiritual world, bribe teachers to give us low grades, strip us of our benefits and opportunities..."
"Their lackeys will also come out one by one with all sorts of dirty tricks, like gluing chairs, pouring cold water in the bathroom, stealing homework... all sorts of petty nonsense."
"They'll use every means possible to mess with us."
Her eyes seemed to see a dark high school experience ahead.
"We'll gradually become hated and despised in school, falling to the bottom of the food chain, repeatedly humiliated by the rich, until we become people no one wants to eat with."
She suddenly grabbed her head, "Ugh, damn it."
"This situation won't get better, it'll only get worse, until we graduate... or until we kneel and sign their contract."
Zhang Yu rolled his eyes, "How do you know all this?"
Bai Zhenzhen, "A long time ago, a senior told me before she committed suicide."
Then she turned to Zhang Yu, "If you can't handle it, you can sign the contract now while you can still get a good deal."
Zhang Yu smirked, "No way."
"I'm aiming for the top ten universities. I'd rather die than sign."
Seeing Zhang Yu's determination, Bai Zhenzhen smiled, "Then let's hold on together."
"But don't worry, sitting around waiting isn't my style."
"I'm close to finding the leader of the Poor Alliance. I'll definitely find a way to get into university without signing that contract."
(End of Chapter)