Several days after the martial arts competition ended, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen finally landed an advertisement gig—a group ad featuring several competition participants.
As they walked, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Did you hear what Song Hailong said yesterday? How come he, who only got third place, got a solo ad, while we only got a group one?”
Bai Zhenzhen pouted and replied, “I asked around, and the reason is… it’s been half a year since school started, and we’ll be second-year students in another half year. They’re afraid we’ll ‘collapse,’ so no one wants to give us solo ads.”
Zhang Yu was baffled. “Collapse? How could we collapse? Are they worried we’ll mess around with fans?”
Bai Zhenzhen shot him a sideways glance. “What nonsense are you talking about? Messing with fans is nothing. They’re worried our grades will drop drastically in the second year. After all, we’re poor.”
Zhang Yu instantly understood.
In Kunxu, a student’s “collapse” meant a drop in grades.
That made sense.
But then he grew angry. “Just because we’re poor, does that mean we’ll definitely collapse in the second year? We’re already poor enough, and now it’s even harder for us to make money than someone like Song Hailong. He gets solo ads, but we don’t.”
He paused, then asked, “Wait, why did they even ask us to do this group ad? Aren’t they afraid we’ll collapse?”
Bai Zhenzhen looked at him like he was an idiot. “Are you dumb? If we collapse in the group ad, they can just cut us out.”
About half an hour later, the two arrived at a studio and saw many familiar faces from the three major high schools already there.
However, everyone seemed to be glancing at a young man surrounded by over a dozen staff members.
Bai Zhenzhen asked curiously, “Who’s that? He’s got quite the entourage.”
Zhang Yu was also curious. “Isn’t this a group ad for the top eight from the martial arts competition? He doesn’t look like one of them.”
Lian Tianji popped up behind them and said, “That’s Yu Xinghan. He’s the closed-door disciple that Master Xinghuo found in another city. He’s probably transferring to Bailong High soon.”
As they watched the young man being fawned over by assistants, makeup artists, and directors, Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up. “Master Xinghuo? You mean that downgraded Golden Core cultivator?”
Lian Tianji nodded. “According to Master Xinghuo, Yu Xinghan will inherit all his teachings and wealth. He’s predicted to be the top scorer in the Songyang City college entrance exams. With the title of a Golden Core disciple and such high praise, the Xianyun Group brought him in for this ad.”
He then smirked and added, “Look at Song Hailong. He’s practically fuming. Yu Xinghan is transferring to Bailong High, so he’ll definitely be competing with Song Hailong for the top spot.”
Zhang Yu glanced at Song Hailong, who looked like a bristling cat, staring daggers at Yu Xinghan.
Zhang Yu then asked, “So, will Yu Xinghan be participating in the next competition?”
Lian Tianji nodded. “Of course. He’ll probably be a strong contender for the championship in the next sports competition.” His eyes also sparked with a hint of competitive fire as he looked at Yu Xinghan.
While Lian Tianji, Zhang Yu, and Bai Zhenzhen were chatting, a pair of eyes quietly observed them from a distance.
The owner of those eyes was Le Mulian from Ziyun High.
Originally, Le Mulian had no interest in this ad shoot, but she was curious about Yu Xinghan, the Golden Core disciple.
Plus, she was also interested in the two poorest students among the competitors—Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.
As she watched them, Le Mulian thought to herself, “I’ve been looking at his photos on social media every day, and they don’t disgust me as much as before. This is a good chance to get closer.”
But the moment she thought about interacting with Zhang Yu, the memory of him sitting on her, covered in dirty, hot, and smelly blood, flashed in her mind, making her shudder. “Forget it. I’ll start with the simplest approach. I’ll have to get close to them during the shoot anyway.”
So, Le Mulian quietly observed the two, her gaze lingering in their direction.
The ad shoot involved the competitors promoting the Xianyun Group’s tutoring services.
During the shoot, many people took the opportunity to approach Yu Xinghan, trying to get close to him and add him as a friend.
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen got a firsthand look at how popular a Golden Core disciple could be.
As for the center of the ad, it was completely dominated by Yu Xinghan, with the other competitors surrounding him like leaves around a flower.
The top three from the martial arts competition—Zhang Yu, Le Mulian, and Song Hailong—were like the leaves closest to the flower, while Bai Zhenzhen, who came in fourth, was like the stem beneath the leaves.
Lian Tianji, who ranked even lower, was like the dirt beneath the flower.
According to the director, the words “Closed-Door Disciple of the Golden Core Master” would fill the screen, making Yu Xinghan the absolute star.
During the shoot, Zhang Yu noticed that Le Mulian, who kept standing near him, was acting strangely.
She would take deep breaths and occasionally tremble slightly.
Finally, he couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing?”
When Zhang Yu turned to look at her, Le Mulian took a step back. “I… I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Zhang Yu cursed her in his mind as a weirdo and ignored her.
Meanwhile, Le Mulian covered her nose and thought, “He smells awful… Is this what Mom meant by the ‘subway smell’ of poor people? I’m glad I came. I’m slowly getting used to it.”
After four hours, the ad shoot finally ended.
Zhang Yu received 30,000 yuan, while Bai Zhenzhen got 8,000 yuan.
They both went home.
Not long after returning home, Zhang Yu spent his newly earned 30,000 yuan on a Hunyuan Pill, which he swallowed in one gulp.
As the pill’s potent energy surged through his body, Zhang Yu immediately began practicing the Red Marrow Hunyuan Qi technique.
As the pill’s energy spread through his limbs and organs, Zhang Yu felt his muscles, organs, and bones soaking up the energy like a drought-stricken land receiving rain.
For half an hour, the energy coursed through him before gradually dissipating.
But Zhang Yu knew the energy wasn’t gone—it had been absorbed into his muscles, organs, and bones.
Although he didn’t feel an immediate increase in physical strength, he felt invigorated, as if he had boundless energy.
He knew that over the next few days, the absorbed energy would continue to enhance his physical strength as he practiced the Red Marrow Hunyuan Qi technique.
Eager to make the most of it, he continued his training.
After an entire night of intense practice, Zhang Yu pushed himself to the limit, training until he was exhausted, resting briefly, and then starting again.
Through this extreme regimen, his physical strength rose from level 1.67 to level 1.70.
“What a great pill. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it,” Zhang Yu thought.
Over the next few days, Zhang Yu seized every moment to practice the Red Marrow Hunyuan Qi technique, striving to maximize his physical strength before the pill’s energy was fully depleted.
He couldn’t help but marvel at how Kunxu had turned him into a workaholic. “I’ve been training non-stop for three days without even hearing the ritual’s usual complaints.”
As he trained, Zhang Yu could feel his body growing stronger with each passing moment. “With the Red Marrow Hunyuan Qi technique at level 10, I’m essentially a top-tier student doing beginner-level training. It’s like a max-level player returning to the starting zone to level up. No wonder I’m improving so quickly.”
In just three days, as the pill’s energy was fully absorbed, Zhang Yu’s physical strength skyrocketed from level 1.70 to level 1.87. Standing in class, feeling the last traces of the pill’s energy fade, Zhang Yu sighed.
He was becoming increasingly aware of how crucial money was in Kunxu.
“In Kunxu… you really can’t get by without money,” he thought.
Just then, the voice of the combat instructor, Lei Jun, snapped Zhang Yu out of his thoughts. “Zhang Yu, He Dayou, you two will spar.”
Zhang Yu was momentarily surprised.
He was usually paired with Bai Zhenzhen in combat class.
Why was he being matched with He Dayou this time? Was this a case of a king facing a stubborn bronze? What was Old Lei thinking?
Lei Jun’s reasoning was simple: He wanted Zhang Yu to teach He Dayou a lesson.
Recently, He Dayou had been acting arrogantly in combat class, relying solely on his increased physical strength and disregarding the combat techniques Lei Jun had taught.
So, Lei Jun sent his top student, Zhang Yu, to show He Dayou the importance of combat skills and martial techniques.
He Dayou walked up to Zhang Yu with a dark expression, thinking, “After all the training and adjustments, my physical strength should be far above Zhang Yu’s now. But this guy’s combat skills are too strong…”
Before He Dayou could finish his thought, Zhang Yu suddenly struck with a palm strike.
He Dayou instinctively blocked, only to find Zhang Yu grabbing his hand and engaging him in a test of strength.
“What!” He Dayou was shocked at first, but then he grinned. “You dare to match strength with me now?”
He Dayou grabbed Zhang Yu with his other hand, and the two locked hands, their internal energies clashing as they exerted their full strength.
He Dayou roared, trying to lift Zhang Yu and throw him out of the ring.
But in the next moment, He Dayou felt Zhang Yu’s hands as solid as stone.
No matter how much force he applied, Zhang Yu didn’t budge an inch.
Another chapter of the monthly ticket debt repaid.
Fellow Daoists, please continue lending me your monthly tickets.
(End of Chapter)