That night, Zhang Yu swallowed a Hunyuan Pill in one gulp. The surge of potent medicinal force immediately spread through his limbs and bones.

He activated his Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy, driving every muscle, organ, and bone in his body to absorb the torrent of incoming power.

At moments like this, Zhang Yu always felt that the thirty thousand he spent on pills hadn’t vanished into thin air—it had merged into his very flesh and blood.

By the time dawn broke, Zhang Yu looked at the stat panel on his Feathered Tome. His physical strength had reached Level 2.08, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

It had now been two weeks since the Martial Arts Combat Tournament.

Two more weeks remained before Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen would know whether their athletic scores qualified them for the competitive sports team—specifically, if they ranked among the top five.

And six weeks remained until the actual sports competition.

While Zhang Yu had focused mainly on physical strength during this period, his Dao Heart and Mana had also improved thanks to his Heart Technique and passive breathing.

Displayed on the Feathered Tome were: Dao Heart Level 3 (93%), Mana 25.5.

“My Dao Heart and Mana have been improving a bit more slowly, but it’s still within acceptable limits. No need to switch to a stronger cultivation method just yet—physical strength remains the priority.”

“With my current income, I can afford a steady supply of Hunyuan Pills. If my revenue increases, I could even supplement with Nutritional Cultivation.”

“If I keep boosting my body using Level 10 Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy, I should be able to hit top five in two weeks, and maybe even break past Level 4.0 for the competition six weeks from now.”

Thinking this, Zhang Yu checked his balance.

Even though he’d been tutoring Song Hailong again and taking extra tutoring jobs around the campus, with a new month came expenses: fifteen thousand in loan interest, nearly two thousand in rent and utilities, plus the cost of pills and food.

All in all, he had just over five thousand left in his account.

“Sigh, still broke. Hope I get more tutoring gigs soon.”

With that fleeting thought, Zhang Yu hurried off to school.

At the school gate, the results of the monthly exam were on display.

The entire student body of Songyang High buzzed with energy—it was report card day.

Zhang Yu sighed as he recalled the exam from two days ago. “What a shame. If the exam had been a few days later, after I took this second Hunyuan Pill, my score would’ve been higher.”

“But it’s no big deal. My athletic score will definitely be higher next time.”

He gave the rankings a casual glance before walking toward the classroom.

To him, these monthly tests were worth a passing glance—the competitions were what really mattered.

He still remembered what Zhang Pianpian had told him:

“If you want to get into the Ten Great Academies, win every remaining tournament this year. Become the strongest freshman in Songyang City.”

But just as Zhang Yu stepped into the school building…

A thunderous crash rang out—someone had fallen from above.

Without thinking, Zhang Yu darted forward and reached out. A burst of Formless Cloud Qi surged from his palm, catching the plummeting figure in a gentle force that dispersed the momentum of the fall.

Zhang Yu blinked in surprise when he saw who he’d caught.

“You’re… Shuang Youpeng?”

He remembered him—formerly ranked first among the freshmen, now a sophomore who’d been beaten into submission during combat class by Student Council Vice President Zhou Chechen.

“You know, jumping off buildings gets you fined here. Good thing I caught you.”

“Besides, someone at your level wouldn’t die from this height, right? You’d just get seriously injured and the medical bill would hurt more.”

But something felt wrong.

Although Shuang Youpeng’s appearance hadn’t changed much, his body felt… light. Unnaturally so.

It was as if most of the flesh beneath his clothes had withered away—nothing like the sturdy sophomore physique he once had.

Under Zhang Yu’s confused gaze, Shuang Youpeng said nothing. No thanks, no blame. He simply stood up and walked silently toward the school building.

Zhang Yu opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

What he sensed from Shuang Youpeng was a kind of hopeless numbness—like a man who had given up on everything.

Finally, Zhang Yu asked, “You okay?”

Shuang Youpeng paused and replied coolly, “I’m fine. Just a moment of weakness. I still have debts to repay. I won’t jump again.”

“Do me a favor—don’t tell anyone what happened. The school fines you for it.”

He paused briefly, then added, “That sports competition… you’d be better off giving up. It won’t end well.”

…

In Class 1 of the freshman year.

Several students were gathered around He Dayou, offering congratulations.

“Dayou, you’ve really improved. You actually got first place this time.”

“662 points! That’s gotta qualify you for a free visit to White Dragon High.”

“49 in General Studies, 130 in Dao Heart, 143 in Mana, 150 in Athletics, 95 in Martial Arts, 95 in Dao Techniques… Even the best from the Three Great Academies barely hit that level.”

He Dayou gave a faint, scornful smirk at these bandwagoners who always flattered whoever topped the scores.

This month, with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen paired off for the Martial Arts exam, He Dayou finally got a result that matched his true abilities.

“Got the Martial Arts score I deserve at last.”

Dao Techniques were always his strong suit. Athletics? Ever since joining the sports team, he’d become the strongest in the grade.

Just then, his phone buzzed. A message came in—he’d asked someone to find out Zhang Yu’s physical strength.

“So this guy finally showed up for athletics. Let’s see what level he hit on the test yesterday… 2.05, huh?”

“No wonder he became Zhang Pianpian’s lapdog. Must’ve been fed plenty of goodies to reach that level.”

“But compared to my 2.3? He’s still miles behind—and the gap is only going to grow.”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s score, He Dayou exhaled deeply. All that effort and cash poured into the sports team had paid off.

“Zhang Yu, soon you’ll know what it feels like to give it everything you’ve got… and still fall short.”

Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxing looked utterly miserable.

“Even Yuzi and Ah-Zhen got overtaken by He Dayou?”

Though a bit envious of He Dayou, Zhao Tianxing, like Qian Shen, had dropped out of the sports team. He watched helplessly as another student took their place, shot up in physical strength, and then beat him in this month’s rankings.

Zhao thought to himself: “Qian Shen quit because he looked down on using money to buy gains. That’s why he left.”

“And after I quit too… I could feel Qian Shen looking at me differently. Like I’d earned his respect.”

“But the truth is, I’m nothing like him. I’m not cool or decisive.”

“I quit the team because I’m weak.”

He lacked the confidence to deliver good results after his parents had spent half their life savings on him.

“Joining the team cost enough to force Mom and Dad to sell the house.”

“And this is just freshman year—how much more will it take in the future?”

“With my talent… even after all that money, would I ever earn it back?”

Zhao had no faith in himself. He was terrified of wasting his parents’ life savings, terrified of failing under soul-devouring debt. So he gave up.

“I’m pathetic. I even told Qian Shen I quit because I didn’t want to ‘buy my way in.’ Total lie. I just want everything… but I’m afraid to fail.”

…

In the cafeteria, Zhao Tianxing set down his tray, his face gloomy.

Then he saw Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen scarfing down synthetic food like it was a speed-eating contest.

“Man, Yuzi and Ah-Zhen are always so optimistic. Even after dropping in the rankings, they’re still cheerful. Wish I could be like that.”

As she ate, Bai Zhenzhen stole glances at Zhang Yu’s protein milk.

“Yuzi’s been eating better lately,” she thought. “Did he find money somewhere? Or… sell something he shouldn’t have?”

Zhang Yu glanced at the mush on Bai Zhenzhen’s tray and thought, “Ah-Zhen’s trying to boost her physical strength too. Bet she’s strapped for cash. Wonder if she’d be interested in the black-market tutoring biz…”

The Evil God Plushie hanging on Zhang Yu’s chest was also watching Bai Zhenzhen closely. After several days of observation, it had come to a conclusion.

It sent a message straight into Zhang Yu’s mind: “Hey, Zhang Yu. Did you know that woman’s got something in her belly?”

“Pfft!”

Zhang Yu choked, nearly spitting out his food.

He turned away and whispered under his breath to the plushie, “She’s pregnant?!”

Across the table, Bai Zhenzhen glared as Zhang Yu spat into her bowl. “What’s wrong with you, Zhang Yu? Trying to steal my food with cheap tricks? I swear I’ll piss in your soup!”

The plushie clarified, “I meant Spirit Root. She’s got a Spirit Root in her belly.”

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes. “Duh, Ah-Zhen rented one.”

The plushie chuckled. “Is that so? Based on my observation, I think that Spirit Root actually belongs to her.”

“It’s just really good at hiding. If you two weren’t around each other so much, and she didn’t keep using it openly in front of you, I wouldn’t have caught it.”

Zhang Yu stared at Bai Zhenzhen in shock. “She… grew a Spirit Root?”

Bai Zhenzhen snapped, “What are you mumbling about? Go get me another lunch!”

Still reeling, Zhang Yu grabbed his student card and ran off to buy another meal.

Bai Zhenzhen glanced at the phone Zhang Yu had left on the table. It buzzed with a new message.

From: Lian Tianji

Message: Sell me one of the shirts you’ve worn.

Her expression froze as she turned off the screen.

“So that’s why Yuzi’s been flush with cash lately.”

“He’s already… gone that far?”

Ah-Yu! Have you really pushed yourself this far for money… for the Immortal Path?