In the cafeteria, Zhang Yu looked at Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing with confusion, wondering why the two of them looked like they had just failed an exam.
"What's wrong with you two?" Zhang Yu asked curiously.
However, neither Qian Shen nor Zhao Tianxing could answer his question, as they had both signed confidentiality agreements.
They couldn't reveal any information about the special training program.
Zhao Tianxing forced a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing, just... the pressure from the competition team is a bit overwhelming."
At the same time, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Yu.
Zhao Tianxing thought to himself, "He Dayou and the others started their transplant surgeries yesterday. Their physical strength is going to skyrocket from now on."
"Even though Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen have great talent, they can't possibly surpass the school's immortal techniques."
"So, in the end, money is still the most important thing on the path of immortality, right?"
...
During that day's physical education class.
He Dayou, physical strength level 1.56.
Li Xianglu, physical strength level 1.55.
Wang Wenjie, physical strength level 1.53.
Overnight, after undergoing the transplant surgeries, the three of them had made significant progress.
Watching the three of them effortlessly handle various equipment and seeing their physical strength test results, the surrounding students couldn't help but show envy in their eyes.
"No wonder sports competitions are Songyang's flagship program. He Dayou and the others are improving so fast."
"Just one day and they're already this strong? Teacher Wang Hai really knows his stuff."
But He Dayou wasn't interested in the students' chatter.
He turned his head, looking for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, only to find that they seemed to have skipped the physical education class altogether.
Even in the small room nearby, there was no sign of Zhang Yu.
"Hmph, it doesn't matter. There will be plenty of opportunities later," He Dayou thought, already envisioning his physical strength skyrocketing day by day over the next month, eventually surpassing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.
"I'll keep improving faster and faster until my physical strength is close to that of a second-year student."
"My scores will eventually surpass yours."
...
Where had Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen gone?
Both of them had applied to skip the physical education class with Teacher Wang Hai.
Zhang Yu's reasoning was: "My Red Marrow Primordial Qi is improving rapidly. It's better to practice in secret to avoid leaving any traces."
Bai Zhenzhen, on the other hand, thought: "My spiritual root has too many functions. Since I already have the reputation of renting out my spiritual root, I don't need to worry about drawing attention. It's better to practice alone to avoid any unnecessary complications."
So, on the school rooftop.
Zhang Yu looked at Bai Zhenzhen in front of him and smiled, "Zhenzhen, what a coincidence. You're skipping physical education too?"
Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu and smiled back, "Yu, what a coincidence. You're here to practice on the rooftop too?"
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Zhenzhen must have awakened her abilities. She doesn't want others to notice, so she's practicing alone on the rooftop."
Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, "Yu probably hasn't awakened yet. He wants to practice in secret, hide his strength, and then show off in a month. That's why he's on the rooftop."
Zhang Yu chuckled, "Let's practice together on the rooftop then."
Bai Zhenzhen also laughed, "Sure, let's practice together."
Zhang Yu thought, "Zhenzhen is trustworthy. This time, I'll let her see my talent and make her completely admire me."
Bai Zhenzhen thought, "After hiding my potential for over a decade, I can finally show off my incredible abilities to someone. Hahaha, I can already imagine Yu's envious and jealous face."
The two of them exchanged a smile, each standing to the side and beginning their respective training sessions.
On the rooftop, Zhang Yu started diligently practicing his Red Marrow Primordial Qi.
He stood still, his body vibrating repeatedly, gradually emitting a rumbling sound, like waves crashing against rocks.
Bai Zhenzhen turned her head, watching as Zhang Yu's face and hands gradually turned red from the surging energy.
She was shocked.
Then, with a face full of jealousy, she thought, "Is this the so-called Red Marrow Primordial Qi? Has Yu already mastered it? Is he using this technique to refine his body?"
Bai Zhenzhen suddenly felt that the spiritual root inside her wasn't as appealing anymore.
She felt like she had been woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of a classmate's breathing exercises.
Like seeing a classmate secretly eating leftover medicine packaging in the morning.
Like noticing a classmate's arm had more needle marks than usual during physical education.
Bai Zhenzhen quickly released the restraints on her spiritual root, ready to start refining her body.
"Watching others show off is nothing compared to showing off myself!"
"Keep surpassing him! My physical strength next month must continue to be above Yu's!"
With that, she released the restraints on her spiritual root and began refining her body.
After practicing a dozen times, Zhang Yu felt a wave of weakness and decided to sit down and rest for a while, taking out a prepared energy drink to sip.
"Nothing beats the free energy drinks I got from Bailong High School. Free stuff always tastes better."
At that moment, sensing something unusual in the spiritual energy in the air, he turned to look in Bai Zhenzhen's direction.
He saw Bai Zhenzhen also practicing a body-refining technique.
Zhang Yu couldn't tell what technique it was, but he could vaguely sense strands of spiritual energy flowing into Bai Zhenzhen's body, nourishing her flesh and blood.
"Is this the effect of the spiritual root? Something like a muscle-enhancing spiritual root that strengthens the body?" Zhang Yu thought with envy, "Having a spiritual root is so great. I must ask Zhenzhen to lend it to me sometime."
Then Zhang Yu noticed something else.
With his experience in multiple martial arts at level 10, he could easily detect subtle differences in others' techniques.
Looking at Bai Zhenzhen now, Zhang Yu felt that her body-refining technique was being adjusted with each repetition, making it more comfortable and smoother, as if Bai Zhenzhen was naturally adapting to the technique.
"Is Zhenzhen adjusting and improving with each repetition of her training?"
It sounded ordinary, but upon closer thought, Zhang Yu realized how impressive it was.
Zhang Yu was shocked, "Isn't this just like my Feather Book? Her technique is improving rapidly too?"
"She wasn't this good before, was she?"
"She must have awakened secretly!"
Thinking that Bai Zhenzhen had been secretly improving behind his back, Zhang Yu got up after resting for a while and continued to push himself, practicing the Red Marrow Primordial Qi.
From then on, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen diligently refined their bodies together, supporting each other.
When the class bell rang, Zhang Yu had already raised his Red Marrow Primordial Qi to level 7 (15/70).
He felt his muscles, internal organs, and bones being pulled and refined with each repetition of the technique, producing strange internal movements.
On the other side, Bai Zhenzhen was steaming all over, her red face dripping with sweat.
She felt her muscles growing and strengthening under the influence of her spiritual root.
As the class bell rang, the two of them exchanged a smile.
Zhang Yu laughed, "Impressive, Zhenzhen."
Bai Zhenzhen also smiled, "You're not bad either, Yu."
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "I won't shower when I get back today. I'll start practicing right away! I must get the Red Marrow Primordial Qi to level 10."
Bai Zhenzhen secretly vowed, "I won't even take a dump when I get back today. Damn it, body! I'll push through until dawn!"
Over the next few days, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen seized every moment, moving from one secluded corner of the campus to another, leaving behind pools of sweat as they relentlessly pushed their bodies to the limit.
During physical education class, He Dayou felt excited as he watched his physical strength increase daily, but he was also slightly disappointed each time he didn't see Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.
But he endured it.
He kept reminding himself, "Isn't this exactly what I expected?"
"Talented poor people may be strong at first, but in the end, they'll always lose to the rich."
"After the transplant, as the new muscles integrate with my body, my physical strength is increasing rapidly every day."
"The later Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen witness my strength, the more despairing the gap will feel to them."
With a hint of anticipation, He Dayou continued to practice diligently during physical education class.
Meanwhile, during the same class, Zhao Tianxing, not far away, secretly observed He Dayou, his eyes filled with envy and hesitation.
"Qian Shen has already dropped out, saying he won't join the competition team. Lanling has brought in another student."
"But... should I drop out too?"
"I don't like this method of improving, but He Dayou and the others are improving their physical strength so quickly. At this rate... I'll never catch up."
But thinking about how his parents were planning to sell their house to fund his participation in the competition team, Zhao Tianxing hesitated again.
...
That day, in a small grove before school ended.
Zhang Yu sat cross-legged, his body continuously emitting white steam in the cold wind.
He was practicing the Red Marrow Primordial Qi, which he had already pushed to level 10.
At this moment, his muscles, internal organs, and bones were all being pulled and refined with each repetition of the technique.
In addition, there was the effect of reaching level 10 in Red Marrow Primordial Qi.
Zhang Yu's body structure became more rational and complete, with every muscle fitting together perfectly, like precisely crafted parts assembled into a flawless whole.
This post-level 10 body adjustment also caused his physical strength to skyrocket immediately.
Combined with the intense training over the past few days, his physical strength had risen to level 1.67.
Moreover, his digestion and metabolism had also improved.
Zhang Yu felt like he was constantly hungry, with every part of his body craving food.
"My daily food expenses have already risen to over 600. Body refining is really expensive."
But even so, Zhang Yu could feel that his body still wasn't satisfied.
"Maybe I need to start taking pills?"
Red Marrow Primordial Qi could be paired with pills for body refining, but the required pills, called Primordial Pills, cost 30,000 each, as Zhang Yu had seen online.
"Damn it... Ziyun Pharmaceutical is robbing people!"
With the skyrocketing food expenses and the need for pills, Zhang Yu felt like he was running out of money faster and faster.
Although he had just given Song Hailong another tutoring session yesterday, earning another 5,000, Zhang Yu still felt that the less than 16,000 in his account wasn't enough.
Fortunately, another opportunity to earn money came today.
As the school bell rang, Bai Zhenzhen, who had finished her training, looked at Zhang Yu and said, "Let's go, Yu. Time to shoot that advertisement."
(End of Chapter)