CHAPTER 197: HIGH SCHOOL SAINT BODY? NO—IT’S THE QI REFINEMENT SAINT BODY!

Zhang Yu could feel it—ever since cultivating the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation, not only had his physique grown stronger, but even that wave of gut-wrenching pain earlier was gradually fading.

And the “Zen” character on his chest continued to blacken, absorbing more and more of the medicinal toxins.

It was during this process that Zhang Yu gradually realized something—the true weight behind the High School Saint Body.

Or rather, he had completely underestimated what it was capable of.

“After activating the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation, my body is nourished and fortified, and the toxins are drawn into one place… but…”

Zhang Yu mentally compared his state before and after cultivation and murmured, “My ability to metabolize medicine doesn’t seem to have improved.”

The Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation didn’t enhance medicinal metabolism?

Zhang Yu could only think of two possible reasons for this.

One was that the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation simply couldn’t metabolize the Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent.

The other… was that even before he activated the technique, his body had already reached the upper limit of medicinal metabolism—an absolute peak that could not be improved.

But since the technique could draw toxins into the “Zen” character, the first theory clearly didn’t hold water.

That left only the second possibility.

In his mind, Zhang Yu recalled the description of the High School Saint Body: “Enhances drug tolerance, absorption, and metabolic rate to the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm.”

Now, the phrase “Qi Refinement peak” could be interpreted in many ways. Some considered it equivalent to a senior year high schooler’s level. Others thought of it as the level of someone ten years out of high school. Still others believed only a university graduate who hadn’t built their Foundation counted.

Originally, Zhang Yu believed it referred to a vague range—something like someone many years post-graduation.

But now…

“This ‘Qi Refinement peak’—is it actually referring to the absolute peak, the extreme limits of the Qi Refinement Realm for medicinal load, absorption, and metabolism? And because I’m already at that peak, even the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation can’t push it any further?”

“Does that mean even in my normal state, without circulating the technique, my medicinal metabolism is already at Qi Refinement max?”

“How did I miss this before?” Zhang Yu blinked and immediately found the answer. “The medicine I took before was too weak. Easy to absorb and metabolize. There was no way to notice any difference.”

“But this Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent packs a punch—and that’s what revealed just how valuable the High School Saint Body really is.”

At that moment, a powerful confidence surged within him. “No matter how powerful Xiandu Lord No. 23 (Ye Lingxiao) is, at the end of the day he’s still a high schooler. If his metabolism hasn’t reached the Qi Refinement limit…”

“Then I will win this exam!”

He couldn’t help but marvel—how could they call this a High School Saint Body? This should be called a Qi Refinement Saint Body!

With that, he wasted no time and resumed cultivating the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation. His blood and flesh surged with power, grinding his muscles, bones, and organs through intense refinement, while the Longevity Mana nourished his form.

Even though he could metabolize the Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent without using the technique, how could Zhang Yu possibly waste such a precious drug? This was a golden opportunity for free body refinement—he had to make the most of it.

And the Righteous Gods observing from above were momentarily stunned as they watched Zhang Yu, post-injection, move like a dragon and strike like a tiger. Every punch and kick echoed with thunderous force. ṘἁꞐö𝐁ĘS

One Righteous God murmured, “This kid just tanked two patches of Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent? That shouldn’t be possible based on his test scores…”

The others immediately pulled up the real-time data from the Detection Patches.

Huang Zichou spoke. “His current physical stats are way above what he showed in the Monthly Exam. He was hiding his true strength.”

Hiding strength during the Monthly Exam? At first, the Righteous Gods were confused. But then a knowing look crossed their eyes.

Sure, it might seem unthinkable to hold back in a high school environment where test scores meant everything.

But every one of these Righteous Gods had seen enough of the world to know better. On the First Floor of Kunxu, there were countless reasons a student might be forced to hide their strength.

Especially if the student was poor.

For a poor student, hiding their capabilities, scoring low on purpose, avoiding attention from the wealthy… that wasn’t rare—it was survival.

And how they did it varied. Some injured themselves intentionally. Some used drugs with massive side effects to suppress their stats. Others cultivated Techniques that hid their real power…

But all of these came at great cost.

Either the injury would delay their progress, or the effort would drain time and energy—and the low scores meant fewer school resources or subsidies.

All of this made it harder to cultivate.

And it was always the poor students who had to play this game—students who already lacked money to train properly.

So to rise to the level of contending for a Foundation License under these conditions…

“A poor kid rising like this out of nowhere…” Huang Zichou suddenly felt a chill. “Could it be tied to an Evil God?”

He double-checked Zhang Yu’s physical condition, metrics, and background information. Everything came up clean, and only then did he breathe easier.

Still, he glanced at Deng Bingding, thinking to himself that he was being overly cautious. With Lord Deng in charge, there was no way a hidden Evil God believer would slip through unnoticed.

At that moment, one Righteous God nodded and commented, “This kid’s potential on the Immortal Path is immense. If he signs with a good teacher on the Second Floor, it’s not impossible for him to rise to the Fifth Floor someday.”

Another added, “And he’s just in his second year of high school. He’ll get one more shot at the Foundation Exam next year. That’s practically a foot already in the door of the Ten Great Academies.”

“His talent is extraordinary.”

Now that it was October, Zhang Yu had officially become a second-year student in September.

As the Righteous Gods discussed this, Huang Zichou stayed silent, lost in memory.

In fact, he’d seen five or six similar Immortal Path prodigies rise up before. And they all had one thing in common—

“Talent?”

“My ass.”

Huang Zichou grunted inwardly. “Talent is just the baseline. The real reason poor geniuses can rise—is because they’ve got someone backing them.”

“Rise to the top on talent and hard work alone? Only the normies brainwashed by corporate PR believe that crap.”

He knew this all too well—education was his department.

Any poor student who ever rose to prominence did so because they were either scouted by a powerful figure, or their talent had been planted by one from the start.

He sighed. “This isn’t ancient times anymore. No one gets ahead on talent alone.”

Meanwhile, Deng Bingding also stayed quiet. His mind drifted back to his past investigation into Zhang Pianpian.

“Zhang Pianpian… who knows which major figure took a liking to her. She’s already ascended to the Second Floor.”

“And Zhang Yu’s meteoric rise… probably means he’s got a patron too.”

With that thought, Deng Bingding’s first instinct was—should he lend Zhang Yu a hand? Try to curry favor with whoever’s behind him?

But remembering what happened last time he dug into Zhang Pianpian’s background, he immediately squashed the idea.

“Those major figures—every move, every word has meaning. Maybe they’re keeping Zhang Yu hidden on purpose. Or maybe they want him tempered through hardship. Either way, it’s not my place to interfere.”

“But… maybe I’ll send him a friend request after this exam.”

While the Righteous Gods chatted in their internal network, the students were just as stunned by Zhang Yu’s display.

Especially Ye Lingxiao. His gaze sharpened when he saw Zhang Yu take two full doses of Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent.

“So that’s your real strength…”

“You were holding back last round, weren’t you?”

“Well, I won’t lose to you.”

“I am the Ye Clan’s pride, the company’s future main product. I’m destined to get that Foundation License with my perfect bloodline.”

He knew full well—only by securing the License would his family greenlight his Foundation Establishment. Only then could he break through before university and prepare to ascend to the Second Floor and find a worthy master.

“My path on the Immortal Road doesn’t stop at the Ten Academies…”

He picked up a Mana Circulation Injection and stabbed it straight into his arm.

The moment the fluid entered his veins, Ye Lingxiao’s entire body ignited with Mana. Like gasoline meeting fire, it exploded into action.

His heart pounded faster, breath grew labored, and his meridians twitched under the impact of surging Mana.

“Ha!”

With a low shout, Ye Lingxiao activated his Level-10 Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation, working at full throttle to handle the brutal influx of energy.

“No problem…”

Blessed by his perfect bloodline, his body became a whale in an ocean of Mana—gulping down drug power like it was fish and shrimp. Every inch of his flesh and organ tissue devoured, absorbed, and metabolized the energy.

With the Technique’s aid, the tidal wave of medicinal force was broken down and stored safely in his body. A smirk crept onto his face.

Once he felt the peak of the drug’s potency had passed, an idea struck him.

“One more shot should be fine.”

“Yeah—one more. That’ll put me far ahead. Let him feel despair…”

But just as he reached for another Mana Circulation Injection, he saw Zhang Yu walking over beside him and grabbing one too.

Zhang Yu muttered, “Just refining the body is a waste. Might as well boost my Mana a bit.”

Before Ye Lingxiao’s startled eyes, Zhang Yu had already jabbed the needle into his arm.

As the fluid surged in, his body shuddered—but only for a moment. Then, his Great Sun Qi Sea ignited like a volcano, pulling in surrounding spiritual energy with terrifying force.