You dare to cultivate without money?!-Chapter 67 - 50 Changes and Upping the Ante
67: Chapter 50 Changes and Upping the Ante
67 -50 Changes and Upping the Ante
“Is it possible to reach level 10 of the Limitless Cloud Hand in just one evening with these mere six moves?”
However, after Zhang Yu gathered his spirits and practiced five more times, he felt his mana becoming increasingly depleted, making it difficult to sustain his Limitless Cloud Hand training.
Zhang Yu realized that his previous assumption was wrong.
“It seems I can’t elevate the Limitless Cloud Hand to level 10 in one night.”
Unlike basic cultivation techniques like Freehand, the Limitless Cloud Hand consumes significantly more mana.
Even with the passive Circulation Qi Gathering Method continuously restoring his mana, he couldn’t train it for hours on end like he could with Freehand.
So Zhang Yu simply sat cross-legged, letting the passive method continue to restore his mana while practicing the Wild Bull Soul Suppressing Heart Technique to enhance his Dao Heart.
Thus, with intermittent practice, after a night had passed, Zhang Yu had raised his Limitless Cloud Hand to level 6 (7/60).
Now the coverage of the Formless Cloud Gang extended from his hands to Zhang Yu’s arms and shoulders, rolling like a sea of clouds.
The previous phenomenon of cloud-like mist rising like a signal flare was no longer visible.
Only extremely fine smoke tendrils could be seen slowly rising ten centimeters before dissipating into the air.
This was because, with increased control power, the consumption of Gang Qi during the operation of the Formless Cloud Gang was greatly reduced.
…
The next day, at Songyang High School.
In the student council office.
Zhou Chechen looked at the message on his phone and smiled slightly, “To think he actually got fourth place in the Mana Competition?
That’s quite unexpected.”
Lanling said while lifting a dumbbell, “It’s said that the White Dragon High School’s competition coach has talked to him, trying to recruit him.”
Zhou Chechen laughed, “Since they lost a competition spot to him, which means fewer achievements on a student’s resume, of course, they want to recruit.”
“Do you think if we sign Zhang Yu and focus on training him for competition, we could snatch a few more spots?
Maybe make the students of the three major schools win fewer awards?”
For the wealthy in Songyang City, there are only so many spots in the top ten universities, so fewer trophies on someone’s resume means a higher chance of success for others.
Lanling replied gloomily, “Maybe there’s a chance in the first year, but starting in the second year, I don’t think Zhang Yu could still outperform them.”
Zhou Chechen laughed, “Even if that’s the case, it’s not bad.”
“Then that’s decided.”
“We can’t let White Dragon High School really poach him away.”
“After this month’s exams are over…”
Zhou Chechen looked slightly clenched his hand, as if tightly gripping what he wanted.
“Zhang Yu must sign the contract.”
Lanling understood the implication, meaning Zhang Yu must sign the contract after the exams.
…
Outside the school gate, Zhao Tianxing spoke into his phone, “Got it, mom, I got it…”
A female voice rang out from the phone, “Spend more time with Zhang Yu, see how quickly he’s improving…”
“Got it, got it.” Zhao Tianxing hung up the phone after a perfunctory response.
Just as he stepped into the school gate, he saw a line continuously rolling on the electronic board: Warm congratulations to Zhang Yu from Class 1, Year 1 for winning fourth place in the citywide mana competition for Year 1 students.
“It’s really true…”
Although he had heard this rumor in several school groups the day before, seeing this official line confirmed the truth for Zhao Tianxing.
Thinking about Zhang Yu, who used to sit at the same table with him during meals, now suddenly surpassing many top students from the three major schools and key high schools to win fourth place in the mana competition, Zhao Tianxing couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
Then came a wave of shame.
“Zhao Tianxing, Zhao Tianxing, how can you be so jealous when your classmate achieves such good results?
It’s so ugly!
Where has your decency gone?”
“Sigh, I can’t compare with Zhang Yu, after all, he’s a Golden Core disciple, we’re not even the same species anymore.”
“He must have worked hard under Master Xinghuo to achieve fourth place in the competition.”
“And my mom still wants me to hang out with him…”
Zhao Tianxing forced a bitter smile, “The gap is so big, can we even hang out together?”
The rumor about Zhang Yu being a Golden Core disciple was further solidified by his fourth-place result in the competition among students.
As someone who cares about others’ opinions, Zhao Tianxing felt inferior every time he thought about the dazzling aura surrounding Zhang Yu.
“After all, he is a Golden Core disciple, and our scores are diverging more and more, could it be he already looks down on me?
In his eyes, I might just be an ordinary student on the sidelines.”
“If I deliberately try to get close to him now, would others think I’m too sycophantic, or that I want to bask in the glory of a Golden Core disciple?”
Zhao Tianxing couldn’t be blamed for overthinking, as being a city boy, he’s seen similar situations at school many times.
Once a gap in scores appears between friends, the friendship tends to change in nature.
Things like “Ever since you scored higher, you’ve changed” or “Your score is so low, taking you out feels embarrassing” or “I helped you by boosting your score by 10, don’t ask me again…”
“Sigh, if Zhang Yu doesn’t ask me to have lunch together today, I better not go and seek him out, lest I get rejected.”
As the bell for the last class of the morning rang, Zhao Tianxing casually looked in Zhang Yu’s direction.
Seeing Zhang Yu chatting with Bai Zhenzhen, there was a hint of envy in his heart.
He wished he could have grades like Bai Zhenzhen and chat freely with Zhang Yu.
Seeing Zhang Yu talking to Zhou Tianyi, he was envious of Zhou Tianyi too; despite having lower scores, he could still converse freely with Zhang Yu without feeling awkward, lacking such good composure himself.
Just then, Zhao Tianxing noticed Zhang Yu and his friends standing up and walking toward him.
Zhao Tianxing quickly lowered his head, pretending to organize his desk, moving the books back and forth as if dissatisfied, never noticing Zhang Yu and his friends’ presence.
But deep down, he always kept an eye on Zhang Yu, wondering in his mind: Will he invite me to eat lunch together?
Zhang Yu said, “Lao Zhao!
Let’s go for lunch together.”
Zhao Tianxing immediately stood up, smiling, “Sure, let’s go.”
On the way to the cafeteria.
Zhou Tianyi chuckled, “Zhang Yu, have you noticed anything different about the school’s atmosphere today?”
“Have I?” Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, “The teachers are still so gentle, the classmates are still so kind, and the air is filled with the scent of learning.
Everything is fine.”
Zhou Tianyi said, “Since you placed fourth in the competition, most people in the school believe you’re definitely a Golden Core disciple now.
Didn’t you notice they’re treating you with more respect?”
Zhang Yu recalled briefly, realizing that his classmates were indeed showing a subtle and elusive sense of distance.
Bai Zhenzhen remarked dryly, “I overheard in the girls’ restroom that people are saying you were brought up by a Golden Core True Man, that you had connections and got lucky.”
Zhou Tianyi added, “I heard similar talks in the boys’ restroom—people saying you cracked the ‘wealthy wives’ code.
Ordinary folks like them wouldn’t even know where the Golden Core disciple selection exhibition is held, let alone get chosen.”
Zhang Yu sighed, “Who’d have thought that winning honor for the school would bring about alienation and jealousy?”
Zhou Tianyi laughed, “Zhang Yu, the higher your score and better your results, the more envy you’ll attract.”
He added slowly, “They won’t think about your efforts or talents; they’ll just assume it’s your circumstances and attribute all your success to luck.”
Watching Zhou Tianyi’s pensive expression, Zhang Yu mused, “Who’d have thought you’d understand so much, ranked 25th in the year…”
Zhou Tianyi stumbled, retorting, “We…We have over 500 first-year students, being 25th still put me above many.”
Watching Zhang Yu chatting cheerfully, Zhao Tianxing gradually relaxed, “Who’d have thought Zhang Yu would be so approachable after placing fourth in the competition.”
Moments later, Zhao Tianxing changed his mind, realizing Zhang Yu had changed slightly.
At the canteen window, Zhang Yu looked at the canteen lady and asked, “Auntie, I came fourth in the citywide Mana Competition; can you give me a bit more meat?”
The canteen lady replied, “Sure, the largest rib piece is for our citywide Mana fourth place.”
The intense learning atmosphere at Songyang High School means even the canteen auntie gauges people by their scores first.
…
That night.
Songyang City Suburb.
Accompanied by the sound of strong winds, a shadow flickered rapidly through the night sky, moving swiftly toward Zhang Yu’s rented apartment.
Bang!
Pausing slightly at the apartment building’s front gate, as the gate opened, the shadow slipped inside like a wisp of smoke, quickly reaching Zhang Yu’s floor, and finally appeared eerily at his door.
A knock sounded.
Zhang Yu hurriedly stood up to open the door.
At the door stood a middle-aged man with a dignified presence looking at him.
“Are you Mr.
Zhang Yu?”
Zhang Yu nodded, “Express Delivery?
You got here in just over twenty minutes; you’re pretty fast.”
The middle-aged man smiled and pulled the goods from his large backpack, handing them to Zhang Yu, “Mr.
Zhang, this is your order; please sign for it.”
A moment later, Zhang Yu closed the door again, casting a glance at the items he’d purchased.
Through the Mana Competition, Zhang Yu recognized the gap between himself and the top students from prestigious schools, fueling his urgency to improve.
In his current situation, with mana being consistently replenished by the Circulation Qi Gathering Method daily and his Dao Heart being his key daily focus, it was his Physical Strength that he had no time to enhance, leaving it stagnant for the time being.
With the Martial Arts Competition next month, where he’d likely face off against wealthy students from top schools, Zhang Yu felt the pressing need to enhance his Physical Strength.
Thus, after some careful calculations, he ordered some items online.
