After hearing Bai Zhenzhen agree, Zhang Yu said, “I asked around—there’s still a shortage of teachers for High School Basic Techniques over there. I’ve seen how you’ve been practicing lately. Your level in these basics isn’t low anymore, is it?”

Two months ago, Bai Zhenzhen’s High School Basic Techniques were already at level 4 or 5.

And in the time since, for the first time in her life, she had begun to unleash the restraints on her Spirit Root—ruthlessly funneling its power into her cultivation.

The experience had been nothing short of transformative. With her Spirit Root acting on her body 24/7, the bond between them had grown deeper by the day, and its effects more profound.

Now, nearly all her High School Basic Techniques had reached level 9 or 10.

Such rapid advancement was enough to catch the attention of elite cultivators—or even corporations.

So… should she tell Zhang Yu?

But then she remembered: Zhang Yu had told her the truth about the black-market tutoring world—even though it was a decapitation-level offense. They’d promised to get into the Ten Great Academies together. Wouldn’t keeping this a secret now be a little… disloyal?

“Zhang Pianpian already knows, anyway.”

“And I was planning to let him try it out soon. He’s going to find out eventually…”

With that thought, Bai Zhenzhen leaned in close and whispered in Zhang Yu’s ear, “All the Basic Techniques from first year high school—I’ve basically trained them all to level 9 or 10.”

Though he had long suspected Ah-Zhen had activated her root, hearing it outright still gave Zhang Yu a jolt.

He also recalled what the Evil God Plushie had said during lunch—something about her Spirit Root. Could it be connected to that thing growing in Ah-Zhen’s belly?

The Evil God Plushie, hearing what Bai Zhenzhen said, was also shaken. “Damn! Another freak? Was someone else pushing her limits too?”

Zhang Yu stared, dumbfounded. Bai Zhenzhen smirked proudly, then leaned closer again with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Wanna know how I did it?”

Zhang Yu rubbed his ticklish ear and replied, “Tell me whenever you feel like it. If not, that’s fine too.”

So she’s cheating. It’s not like I’m not.

He changed the subject back to the black-market tutoring scene. “I’ll ask again tonight about which High School Basic classes are most popular and in demand. In the meantime, get ready—I’ll take you for a trial session soon.”

Bai Zhenzhen gave him a surprised look. “Is Yuzi seriously not even curious how I managed to level up so fast?”

She’d been planning to tell him… but seeing Zhang Yu’s nonchalant reaction now, it felt like showing off a precious child only for the grown-ups to act indifferent. It killed all her excitement.

“Hmph. Let’s see if you’re still this cool when I let you borrow my Spirit Root. You’ll be begging.”

With that bitter thought, Bai Zhenzhen stormed off to continue training.

Over the next few days, aside from helping Bai Zhenzhen prep for tutoring, Zhang Yu spent nearly all his time focused on cultivating Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy.

One day on the rooftop, while training with Bai Zhenzhen, his muscles let out low, resonant vibrations.

He was pushing every part of his body—muscles, organs, even bones and marrow—to the limit. With the Hunyuan Pill steadily nourishing him, his physical strength was growing, bit by bit.

But it wasn’t just his strength. His bodily foundation—his natural aptitude—seemed to be deepening under the influence of the Hunyuan Pill.

“In the First Floor of Kunxu, the Ten Great Sects say you can’t legally begin cultivation until high school. Do it earlier, and it’s illegal cultivation punishable by death.”

“But rich kids aren’t like the old Zhang Yu—poor as dirt until freshman year.”

He now knew that in Songyang City, the wealthy began prepping early. Even if they didn’t cultivate outright, they still had surgeries, supplements, medicinal meals—all sorts of treatments to enhance their potential and physical foundation well before high school.

Even someone like Zhao Tianxing, who wasn’t particularly well-off, had been fed boosters since elementary school.

Almost none of the students at Songyang High started out like Zhang Yu did—cultivating with an untouched, natural body.

Zhang Yu suspected that this was why the body’s former owner had such low resistance to medicine. “Probably why the old me broke down when I started using pills.”

Now though, thanks to Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy and especially the Hunyuan Pills, Zhang Yu felt his muscles, organs, bones—even his marrow—undergoing a fundamental transformation.

No longer just building strength through wear and tear like with the Body-Refining Thirty-Six Forms.

The Hunyuan Pill’s power flushed through his body, enhancing his blood, digestion, metabolism—and even cleansing hidden toxins in his organs.

“If I keep building up my foundation like this, I’ll be able to draw out more of my body’s potential, and it’ll get easier to grow stronger later.”

“My organs feel better too… Maybe soon I can start taking stronger body-refining pills.”

Just then, his phone rang. The call was from Song Hailong.

“Zhang Yu, just a heads-up—you and Bai Zhenzhen are off the training roster starting today.”

“Huh?” Zhang Yu said, surprised. “You serious?”

“Thanks for everything. Sparring with you really helped me level up my combat fundamentals,” said Song Hailong.

“But you’ve probably noticed—I’m growing stronger way faster now. You won’t be able to keep up.”

Zhang Yu wanted to argue—he could now take Hunyuan Pills regularly. He’d catch up soon. He opened his mouth—

But Song Hailong cut him off. “You’re good. But I found someone better. My time’s limited. I need to prioritize.”

“Who?” Zhang Yu asked, curious who was poaching his client.

Song Hailong growled, “Yu Xinghan.”

Zhang Yu could almost see his scowl through the phone, veins bulging on his forehead.

“He was first place in the latest monthly exam for first-years.”

“Heh,” Song Hailong gave a bitter laugh. “He’s looking for a sparring partner. Said I was the best in White Dragon High’s freshman class. Offered me ten grand an hour to be his training dummy.”

“It’s not about the money. But going head-to-head with him every day, pushing past him step by step—that’s exactly what I want.”

“Anyway, good luck. Don’t let me lap you in the next combat tournament…”

Zhang Yu sighed and hung up.

What could he even say?

His old employer had become someone else’s hireling. A stronger guy was offering ten grand an hour to spar—how do you even compete with that?

He relayed the news to Bai Zhenzhen.

She groaned. “Damn. There goes another income stream. I guess we’ve got no choice but to dive into the Dark Tutoring Gang. I’ll prep harder—we’ll head over in a couple days.”

It hit her then: she and Zhang Yu were risking their necks running tutoring jobs for a few grand an hour…

Meanwhile, Song Hailong just trained with a stronger opponent and made ten thousand.

“Seriously, why is it so damn easy for rich people to make money?”

…

Two more days passed.

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen met at the agreed-upon subway station.

Thanks to Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy, Zhang Yu had once again taken on the form of Mr. Ma.

As for the girl standing in front of him—blonde, tattooed across her face, arms, and neck—he only recognized her as Bai Zhenzhen after checking his phone.

What the hell? Did Ah-Zhen become a Rune Warrior? A street-punk princess?

Seeing Zhang Yu’s stunned expression, Bai Zhenzhen scoffed. “Didn’t you say we should go in disguise? You’ve got Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy to shape-shift. I’ve only got tattoos, a wig, and some pads. I’ll scrub it off at home later.”

“Add a mask, and no one’ll recognize me. I don’t even look like a high schooler anymore, right? How else am I supposed to pass a job interview?”

Zhang Yu’s eyes moved from her tattoos to her chest, hips, and shoes.

Pads, huh? No wonder she looked more… developed. Combined with the tattoos and wig, she didn’t resemble a student at all.

Still, thinking about the tutoring job interview, he hesitated. “Won’t all those tattoos be a problem?”

Bai Zhenzhen shot back, “You think a gang like the Dark Tutoring Gang cares about tattoos?”

“I’m pretty sure this is exactly their vibe. Look at the ones I picked—don’t they show how dedicated I am to illegal tutoring?”

Zhang Yu looked again. Her face was covered with things like “No End to Study,” “Class Every Day,” and images of desks, chairs, classrooms, blackboards…

He had to admit—this did look exactly like the kind of person he’d seen around the Dark Tutoring Gang.

The Evil God Plushie chimed in: “From my years in the underworld, I’d say these tattoos are a bonus. She looks way more legit than you—like a high school teacher drowning in debt and forced to sell lessons.”

“Alright then,” Zhang Yu nodded. He and Bai Zhenzhen pulled on their masks and headed toward the Dark Tutoring Gang’s campus.

Since he was bringing someone else this time, they started with the subway.

But after emerging from the station and staring down a long remaining walk, Zhang Yu offered, “Still a ways to go. Want me to carry you the rest?”