In the abandoned building, Zhang Yu stood silently in the empty hall, his mind replaying the effects of his newly mastered "Excavation Palm" after reaching level 10.
"With this palm strike, my control over the 'Shovel Force' has deepened, and the area I can cover has doubled," Zhang Yu mused.
He struck out again, the force of his palm creating a whistling sound as it surged forward.
"Although the Excavation Palm can unleash tremendous power, its wind-up is too long, and the movements are too slow and lack agility. It's clearly not suitable for combat," he concluded with a sigh.
"If I'm not at a construction site, it's pretty much useless."
Shaking his head, he knew these labor-intensive techniques wouldn't help him with his college entrance exams.
"But it doesn't matter. Sharpening the axe won't delay the chopping of wood. If it helps me earn more money, I don't mind spending some time practicing these skills."
Having reached level 10 in the Excavation Palm, Zhang Yu decided to move on.
Since the cooldown for his "Feather Book" hadn't expired yet, he continued to practice the "Red Marrow Primordial Qi," striving to enhance his physical strength.
...
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Zhang Yu not only mastered the Excavation Palm and the "Sports Car Leg" to level 10 but also purchased and trained the "Crane Claw" and "Elevator Leap" to the same level.
His savings took a hit due to living expenses and transportation costs, but thanks to two tutoring sessions with Song Hailong, he managed to keep his savings at around 15,000 yuan.
Now, after obtaining another "Concealment Talisman" from Zhang Pianpian and altering his appearance with the Red Marrow Primordial Qi, Zhang Yu set off for his trial class.
Unlike last time, when he had to run the entire way, this time he used the Sports Car Leg technique.
His legs moved with incredible speed, leaving behind a trail of afterimages as he raced forward.
"Compared to the Excavation Palm and Crane Claw, the Sports Car Leg and Elevator Leap are much more practical," Zhang Yu thought.
The Excavation Palm allowed him to shovel twice as much material at level 10, and the Crane Claw enabled him to lift heavy objects with both claws simultaneously.
But both techniques were slow and cumbersome, making them unsuitable for combat.
In contrast, the Sports Car Leg and Elevator Leap were far more efficient.
The Sports Car Leg, commonly used by couriers, allowed for rapid movement through the city without the need for a car or scooter.
The Elevator Leap, on the other hand, enabled couriers to leap great distances, making it easy to navigate buildings without elevators.
"This is my first time practicing light-footed techniques. They really do make daily life much more convenient," Zhang Yu remarked with a smile, appreciating the practical benefits.
At level 10, the Sports Car Leg protected the soles of his shoes, reducing wear and tear, while the Elevator Leap allowed for horizontal jumps, helping couriers bypass traffic and deliver goods on time.
As Zhang Yu's internal energy surged from his dantian, his legs and waist tightened, propelling him forward in a leap that covered over twenty meters, easily clearing a traffic light.
"With the Sports Car Leg and Elevator Leap, I can reach my tutoring destination in about thirty to forty minutes. As my energy grows stronger and my physical power increases, my speed and jumping distance will improve even more," Zhang Yu thought optimistically.
The doll hanging around his neck watched in amazement.
"How did he manage to master all four techniques to level 10 in such a short time? Is this really the potential I unlocked? I wish I could do the same!"
Over the past five days, Zhang Yu had spent most of his time practicing the Red Marrow Primordial Qi.
However, without the aid of the Primordial Pills and with other distractions, his physical strength had only increased to level 1.98.
"I really miss those Primordial Pills. Practicing without them feels like I'm losing more than I'm gaining," Zhang Yu lamented.
...
Arriving at the small building in the industrial park, Zhang Yu was greeted by the same middle-aged man who had welcomed him before.
"You're here," the man said with a smile.
"By the way, how should I address you?"
"Call me Ma Yunteng," Zhang Yu replied casually.
"And you?"
"You can call me Black Crow. Please follow me. The teachers are waiting for you," Black Crow said, leading Zhang Yu through a hidden door into an underground tutoring base.
The place was heavily guarded, with security personnel stationed every few steps.
However, the tattoos on the guards—"Daily Classes," "Secret Study," "Everyone Tutors"—revealed that they were members of the Dark Study Gang.
What puzzled Zhang Yu was the number "0" displayed above each guard's head.
His confusion deepened when he saw a guard with "-122" above his head, the number continuously decreasing to -123, then -124.
Curious, Zhang Yu asked, "What do those numbers above their heads mean?"
Black Crow chuckled.
"It's a position monitoring system developed in collaboration with the authorities. If they're away from their post for too long, their salary gets deducted. That guy with -122 must have been away for a while—probably had a stomachache."
"Isn't that a bit too strict?" Zhang Yu asked.
Black Crow smiled faintly.
"In this day and age, anyone with ambition is drowning in debt. Deducting a bit of salary is just part of the challenge young people face."
Zhang Yu laughed awkwardly.
"So the gang is run like a company?"
Black Crow's eyes lit up.
"Thank you for the compliment. Our leader is dedicated to making the Dark Study Gang more formal and corporate. In the future, we aim to become a legitimate company and expand into the city."
Zhang Yu finally understood.
"So the gang is made up of people who couldn't find jobs? You're like an unemployment support group, huh?"
Black Crow continued, "Ahead is the tutoring classroom. To the left and right are restrooms. Further down the stairs, you'll find the training room, showers, and cafeteria..."
As Black Crow explained the facilities, a commotion erupted near one of the classrooms.
Zhang Yu turned to see a poster advertising the "White Dragon Tutoring Class," promising students the experience of attending a top high school at night.
Below the poster, a student complained, "The teacher is too gentle. Even the worst students don't have to kneel. What kind of White Dragon Class is this? I paid to experience the teaching quality of a prestigious school. This is no different from my regular high school!"
Zhang Yu was stunned.
People were paying to experience the teaching style of White Dragon High School? But then he laughed at his own surprise.
"Of course they would. Given how obsessed parents and students in Songyang City are, if paying money could give them even a taste of White Dragon High's teaching, they'd line up to pay."
...
Meanwhile, in another classroom, several teachers were chatting while smoking.
An elderly man with "Daily Lesson" tattooed on his arm took a deep breath and exhaled a cloud of "Dao Heart Buffer," a highly addictive substance used to enhance one's Dao Heart.
It was widely popular in Kunxu and came in various forms, including cigarettes, alcohol, and beverages.
After a few more puffs, the old man said, "What do you think of the new teacher? I heard he might be from a top high school."
Opposite him, a scarred middle-aged woman sneered, "Top high schools are filled with rich, brainy students. Teachers used to dealing with those kinds of kids—do you think they can handle the dregs we have here? Most of our students would be considered traitors if they were in a top high school. Can he even teach them?"
A towering man over three meters tall, his muscles covered in needle marks, was practicing martial arts.
He snorted, "A top high school teacher teaching the Excavation Palm and Sports Car Leg? Has he ever worked on a construction site? Delivered takeout? Does he even know how to teach these skills? I've been mixing concrete for 11 years, and Sister Car has 8 years of delivery experience. Can he match our expertise?"
The old man, however, was more open-minded.
"He's mastered the 'Formless Cloud Hand' to level 10. Let's see what he can do."
Moments later, Black Crow brought Zhang Yu into the room.
"This is Ma Yunteng, the teacher here for the trial class today."
Black Crow introduced the others.
"This is Old Cai, who teaches the Formless Cloud Hand. This is Sister Car, a level 10 master of the Sports Car Leg. And this is Big Shovel, a level 10 master of the Excavation Palm."
Zhang Yu immediately realized that, like him, these people were using aliases and likely hiding their true identities and appearances.
"Thank you all for your time," Zhang Yu said with a nod.
Big Shovel, the towering man, grunted, "We're all busy. Let's get started."
Zhang Yu agreed and activated his "Formless Cloud Aura," causing mist to swirl around him, giving him an ethereal, immortal-like appearance.
"Let me begin by explaining the Formless Cloud Hand," Zhang Yu said.
(End of Chapter)