CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 17: THE UNDERDOG

Yang Zhou still didn’t want to speak, but it would be impolite not to say anything, lacking in grace, so he said blandly:

"Dual-black is a popular nickname, strictly speaking, dual-black is not a specific race, no one stipulates that dual-black must have a strong constitution, individual differences are quite normal."

"Individual differences? Haha, Brother Yang himself is dual-black, isn’t saying that against your conscience?"

Yang Zhou pursed his lips and didn’t speak; his cold attitude made the female teacher intimidated, but his handsome profile made her yearn, and she continued to find opportunities to chat with him:

"But speaking of which, dual-black really are favored by the Heavenly Dao, the source of supreme blood. Even with such a poor physique, they can have a first-class Primordial Spirit. If their bodies were a bit stronger, wouldn’t they be able to reach Heavenly Armor? Unfortunately, her body is weak but her spirit is strong, unable to exert the power of the first-class. The talent is ultimately wasted."

Yang Zhou’s sword brows furrowed slightly. He finally withdrew his gaze from the playground, coldly looked at the female teacher, and said:

"I have seen geniuses with Double Heaven Armor qualifications being instantly killed by low-level Star Beasts, and also witnessed martial masters with B-level qualifications single-handedly retreating safely after challenging a group of high-level Star Beasts. Thus, talent and qualifications do not equate to capability. A person’s talent determines how high their starting point is; perseverance and will determine how far they go. None of these are related to being dual-black."

"A weak body can be strengthened through training, as long as she doesn’t give up, there will always be a time when her physical strength matches her Primordial Spirit. But if her will is weak, afraid of fatigue and pain, even if she has Double Heaven Armor qualifications, she won’t go far in the future!"

The female teacher was tactfully shut down by Yang Zhou, realizing other teachers were also listening attentively to their conversation, she felt both awkward and angry.

"Indeed, people with dual-black traits are rare in the Qianyuan Continent. Dual-black students inevitably attract attention, but I don’t want other students to judge by appearance, randomly define others, or label them. Even positive discrimination falls under campus bullying, and I absolutely do not tolerate such occurrences in Datang Academy. As teachers, you must correct your attitude and not lead students with incorrect thoughts. Such remarks as dual-black being Heaven’s favored must not be said by Teacher Tang anymore."

"Besides, my mother only bore one child, I have no sister, so Teacher Tang should refer to me as Teacher Yang Zhou, or Director Yang."

"...Yes." Tang Li awkwardly scraped out a mound of Datang City with her foot.

"Everyone else, listen up!" Noticing other teachers were also paying attention to their conversation, Yang Zhou simply raised his volume.

"Teachers of the Martial Arts Department must undergo evaluations every year. Anyone who fails to meet the evaluation standards, regardless of your identity, background, or who recommended you, will pack up and leave. The Martial Arts Department does not keep idlers!"

This made not only Tang Li but also the other few teachers’ faces turn sour. Everyone knew that the position of a school teacher was a golden rice bowl. Once in the system, even with mediocre qualifications and no achievements, one could earn high pay and comfortably retire.

Datang Academy never conducted teacher evaluations. These practical training teachers had been slack for half their lives, and their business long neglected.

Evaluate? Evaluate my foot!

But being one rank higher crushes a person. The department director is the direct superior to these practical training teachers. No one dared defy him. Moreover, Yang Zhou wasn’t just any director; his background was so influential that even Principal Lian had to smile in front of him. No matter how unwilling they were, they had to follow his rules.

Yang Zhou was untouchable, so the teachers naturally took out their frustration on Tang Li. This foolish infatuated one, what good is it to bring up dual-black? Doesn’t she know Yang Zhou is dual-black, being eyed by a noble lady who wants him as a son-in-law? When Yang Zhou refused, he was exiled by the family to Datang?

Not everyone can covet a handsome man. It’s infuriating that Tang Li is both incompetent and loves to flirt but can’t even flirt properly, and instead touches a sore spot. Otherwise, Yang Zhou wouldn’t have thought of evaluating them.

In the distance, Li Xing covered the part of her ribs where a stitch pain kept arising, quietly withdrew her Divine Sense, her expression grave. This was the second time today she heard people mention "dual-black," what exactly is dual-black?

In the latter half of the course with frog jumps, high knees running, etc., Li Xing unsurprisingly remained in last place. When the physical training finally ended amidst cries of pain, she lost a total of thirty-five points. At this rate, she would be expelled with zero points in less than three days.

Feeling completely depleted, Li Xing lay spread out on the ground, not bothered about maintaining a five-heart-to-heaven posture, and began circulating the Eternal Green Technique.

At this moment, her body was like a black hole, madly absorbing Chaos Qi. Li Xing was surprised to find that the operation speed of Eternal Green Technique was unprecedentedly fast; within a short cycle, the amount of Chaos Qi she absorbed was equivalent to that accumulated from a day’s worth of cultivation ordinarily. The cultivation technique which hadn’t evolved for a long time unexpectedly showed a bit of growth.

Li Xing was shocked; could it be that when the body reaches its limit, the cultivation effect is better instead?

She didn’t want to waste this opportunity, speeding up her cultivation rate. As the technique ran, Li Xing’s strained muscles were repaired, and the ache in her body gradually dissipated, feeling extremely comfortable as if soaking in warm hot springs.

The Little Fatty within her Dantian was almost going crazy from joy; so many Spiritual Energy Balls rushed in frenetically, it couldn’t swallow them fast enough.

Engrossed in cultivation, Li Xing didn’t notice the slight breeze rising around her, a small vortex formed from the pure Spiritual Energy emanating from her body.

As classmates who had rested gradually trickled out in groups toward the exit of the playground.

As Tang Dou passed by Li Xing, noticing her lying on the ground with closed eyes as if having fainted, her black hair clinging to her damp face, brimming with a shattered feeling.

So weak!

Tang Dou rolled his eyes disdainfully and quickly walked away, but Little Sparrow behind him suddenly stopped.

"Wow, it’s so cool here!" A refreshing breeze brushed his face, and Little Sparrow felt his weariness lessen considerably.

"The playground doesn’t even have a single tree, what’s cool about it? Not eager to get off school, thought problems, if you want to be cool, go home and enjoy the air conditioning, what’s with the dawdling here?"

With a rebuke from Tang Dou, Little Sparrow nodded obediently following him out toward the school gate. But after just a step outside, exhaustion and heat waves hit again, Little Sparrow pursed his lips, thinking it truly was an illusion, this class sure exhausted his brain.

Once the fatigue sensation disappeared and the speed of absorbing Chaos Qi returned to normal, Li Xing ceased her cultivation, slowly opened her eyes.

There were still classmates who hadn’t left the playground, indicating she hadn’t spent too long in cultivation. Cultivating for such a short time, her Eternal Green Technique increased a bit, this discovery thrilled Li Xing immensely.

It turns out the Yimu Power, the more dire the circumstances, the better it functions, this is the true arcane of mastering Eternal Green Technique and achieving physical immortality.

The physical fitness class must be attended diligently, even if being the tail-end incurs point deductions, as long as Body Refinement speed improves, she’s not losing out!

Li Xing checked the light-brain, there were only three minutes until the school bus departure. The free meals in the cafeteria can’t be packed, between catching the bus and eating, she had to choose one.

Does it even require choosing, of course eating is more important. After sending a message to Anna saying she’d return home late, Li Xing patted the dirt off her clothes and walked leisurely toward the cafeteria.

Datang Academy offers on-campus housing, so the cafeteria still sees many students dining in the evenings, barely any empty seats. Li Xing, fortunately, found one spot without needing to share a table.

Before she could place an order, the seat across from her was already occupied.