Chapter 13: Faesai

During today's Mana Cultivation lesson, the students of the Demonstration Class were seated in meditative postures within the quiet chamber, circulating their Qi according to the prescribed breathing techniques.

Cameras, positioned strategically around the room, monitored every minute detail of the students' actions. Whether a student opened their eyes, scratched an itch, fidgeted, or even wriggled in their seat – every slight deviation was meticulously recorded.

All this data was then compiled into a single metric: the "Distraction Rate."

Each week, the class with the highest Distraction Rate would be publicly shamed before the entire school.

The students of the Demonstration Class were unconcerned; regardless of the evaluation, their class would inevitably rank first.

However, the student with the *lowest* weekly Distraction Rate would not only receive commendation but also a reward of 500 yuan and a precious hour of free access to a Heaven-Blessed Spiritual Root cultivation chamber.

This incentive galvanized the Demonstration Class, filling the air with an intense, competitive atmosphere.

Zhang Yu, upon first learning of the existence of this "Distraction Rate" system, couldn't help but think that students from his previous life would have denounced the school as utterly ridiculous.

But this world was different. The students of the Demonstration Class, like bulls in heat, obsessively monitored the daily Distraction Rate. The entire class was permeated with a palpable sense of relentless pressure.

At that very moment, as a bell chimed, the students who had been quietly cultivating ceased their exercises, their gazes shifting toward the large screen at the front of the room, eagerly awaiting the Distraction Rate data for the session.

1st Place: Zhang Yu, Distraction Rate 0%, Mana 8.32nd Place: Bai Zhenzhen, Distraction Rate 0.03%, Mana 11.23rd Place: Qian Shen, Distraction Rate 0.12%, Mana 11.1...

Observing the Distraction Rate rankings, the students in the classroom remained silent, yet subtle shifts in their expressions betrayed a growing astonishment.

The Mana Cultivation instructor, a stern woman named Yan with her hair neatly arranged in a bun and thick-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, spoke, "Those students with a Distraction Rate exceeding 0.3%, I won't bother calling out names today."

"It's been three months since the start of the semester, and how many times have I emphasized focusing the mind and harmonizing the Qi?"

"With such high Distraction Rates, how can your Qi circulation efficiency possibly compare to others?"

"Everyone cultivates for 24 hours a day; you can't conjure more time. If your Qi circulation efficiency is lower, the cumulative effect over three years of high school could create a difference of 10, 20, or even 30 points in Mana!"

"And how many times have I told you, students struggling to lower their Distraction Rates can visit my office to purchase Mind-Calming Elixir? I sat in my office for three hours yesterday afternoon, and not a single person came to inquire... Does everyone believe they have absolutely no problems?!"

After her reprimand, Instructor Yan smiled slightly, glancing at the top performers on the screen. "Of course, some students have demonstrated exceptional performance."

"I want to specifically commend the three students with the lowest Distraction Rates, especially Zhang Yu, who has maintained a 0% Distraction Rate for four consecutive days. Compared to his past performance, this is a qualitative leap."

"Furthermore, his Mana has increased by a remarkable 0.5 points in the last three days, indicating that he must have invested significant effort outside of class, either by renting a Spiritual Root cultivation chamber or a high-Spiritual Energy training room, am I right, Zhang Yu?"

Instantly, all eyes turned toward him.

However, Zhang Yu remained with his eyes closed, seemingly in a state of drowsy focus, continuing to circulate Qi with the Lesser Celestial Cycle Breathing Technique.

Instructor Yan praised, "See, that is the attitude of a true prodigy. Even after class, he doesn't stop, seizing every moment to cultivate and become stronger."

Zhao Tianxing, observing Zhang Yu's dedicated cultivation, found himself increasingly unable to comprehend his classmate. "He is so diligent, why does he slack off and avoid moxibustion during Physical Training?"

Bai Zhenzhen, watching Zhang Yu with his eyes still tightly shut, mused, "Yu has been cultivating practically non-stop these past few days, except when he's eating or using the lavatory. He's reached this level of dedication... Could he be driven by those 700,000 yuan debt collection calls?"

From the podium, Instructor Yan continued, "Of course, you reap what you sow. There are no free lunches on the path of immortality. Without investing money, one cannot go far. Recently, there have been openings for Spiritual Root rentals in the school. Interested students can come to me."

Before departing, Instructor Yan mentioned something that caught Zhang Yu's attention.

"Oh, right, the City Mana Competition will commence next month. Virtually all high schools in the city will participate in the first-year group, and the first-place prize is 100,000 yuan..."

"Since registration for the competition closes next Friday, the school plans to select the top ten students in terms of Mana level from the first-year cohort to participate in the Mana Competition..."

...

That evening, in the school cafeteria.

Zhou Tianyi had to leave early for his tutoring session, leaving only Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen at the table.

After being stared at by Bai Zhenzhen for an extended period, Zhang Yu, feeling somewhat disconcerted, finally said, "Ah Zhen, I understand that my handsomeness is exceptional, like a crane standing among chickens in this study-obsessed Songyang High, but you don't need to stare at me so intently, do you?"

Bai Zhenzhen inquired, "You said you want to participate in the Mana Competition?"

"Alas, Ah Zhen," Zhang Yu shook his head and sighed. "If you, the peerless genius who ranks first in the year, weren't my friend, you would challenge me now, only to have your face repeatedly slapped on the competition grounds by my astounding performance, culminating in a seismic series of pupil shocks."

Bai Zhenzhen shook her head. "Yu, you're talking about the City Mana Competition."

"That's a gathering of the most talented, Mana-rich, and wealthy students from every high school in Songyang City. It's a congregation of countless walking bags of money."

Bai Zhenzhen lamented, "What outcome do you think awaits an ordinary person like you when participating?"

Her eyes seemed to foresee the desolate future. With a mournful expression, she said, "Repeatedly humiliated by countless strong cultivators, used as a stepping stone by the rich, becoming the laughingstock of Songyang High, the school's reputation dragged through the mud!"

"It's too tragic! I can already envision you being mercilessly trampled underfoot by the geniuses from other high schools, your Dao heart shattered, resembling a defeated cur."

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes. "Don't exaggerate so much. The Mana Competition isn't a gladiatorial arena; there's no shame in losing."

"Besides, the first-place prize is 100,000 yuan."

"Even just making the top ten nets 10,000 yuan."

Bai Zhenzhen, observing Zhang Yu's avaricious demeanor, thought to herself, "As expected, Yu is being driven to madness by the debt collection agency, even fantasizing about participating in the competition."

Zhang Yu was indeed facing financial hardship. Although he had recently earned 13,000 yuan at Xianyun Company, he immediately used 10,000 yuan to repay a portion of his debt and another 1,500 yuan to cover rent, leaving him with just over 2,000 yuan.

"If you want to participate, first think about how to raise your Mana level into the top ten in the year. You're only ranked 16th now, right? How much more money will you have to borrow to reach the top ten?"

Zhang Yu also performed a quick calculation in his mind.

His current Mana was 8.3, ranking him 16th in the year.

The student currently ranked 10th has a Mana of 9.5.

Therefore, if Zhang Yu wished to surpass them, he had to increase his Mana to 9.5 before next Friday...

"No, I need to consider that everyone will improve."

"To be safe, it's best to raise my Mana to 10.0 before next Friday."

"There are eight days until next Friday. In those eight days, I must increase my Mana from 8.3 to 10.0, an increase of 1.7?"

"That's an increase of 0.2 or more each day... Is that even possible?"

Absolutely possible! Easily possible!

In the eyes of other teachers and students, Zhang Yu's rapid improvement in recent days must be attributed to heavy investment, renting premium Spiritual Roots and facilities.

But Zhang Yu knew that all of this stemmed from his remarkable potential and extreme self-discipline.

A Level 4 Lesser Celestial Cycle Breathing Technique allowed him to increase his Mana by 0.5 in just three days. He believed that as the Lesser Celestial Cycle Breathing Technique continued to level up, his Mana increase would become even more rapid.

"After all, the highest level for a skill in the Qi Refinement stage is Level 10."

"For most first-year high school students, reaching even Level 4 in a Breathing Technique is impossible in the first semester."

"And if I continue to cultivate, I can probably elevate the Lesser Celestial Cycle Breathing Technique all the way to Level 8, Level 9, or even Level 10 in a short amount of time. That's a level that many people may not reach even after three years of high school."

Just as Zhang Yu was filled with renewed determination, he suddenly noticed Bai Zhenzhen extending her chopsticks toward his bowl.

"How dare you!" Zhang Yu exclaimed, raising his chopsticks to parry.

However, amidst the clanging sounds, his chopsticks were effortlessly disarmed by Bai Zhenzhen.

Sensing the familiarity in Bai Zhenzhen's movements, Zhang Yu was surprised. "Basic High School Swordsmanship? You've already mastered it? And incorporated it into your chopsticks?"

Swiftly snatching a few pieces of meat from Zhang Yu's bowl, Bai Zhenzhen chuckled. "Is it really that difficult, Yu? Isn't it just a matter of having hands?"

Zhang Yu inwardly groaned. "Damn it, she's showing off again."

Bai Zhenzhen quickly ate a few mouthfuls of rice mixed with the meat she had taken, exclaiming in surprise, "I didn't expect the 5 yuan combo's spare ribs to be so delicious. I'll buy one next time."

Patting her slightly swollen stomach, Bai Zhenzhen burped and said, "Ah, eating any more would affect my tutoring."

With that, she pushed her tray towards Zhang Yu. "Here's some extra food for you, Yu."

Looking at the neatly arranged, untouched half-portion of 'leftovers' that Bai Zhenzhen left for him, Zhang Yu understood that she had deliberately left it for him.

Seemingly aware of Zhang Yu's financial difficulties, Bai Zhenzhen had been feeding him during dinner lately.

Zhang Yu grabbed the tray, eating as he said, "Ah Zhen, you don't need to worry about my pride or ego or anything like that. With our relationship, it wouldn't be a problem to just directly give me money."

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes. "I have to go to tutoring. Enjoy your meal."

...

Outside the cafeteria.

A tall figure stood in the nearby stairwell, his eyes fixed intently on the cafeteria entrance.

A moment later, when he saw Zhang Yu emerge from the cafeteria door, the tall figure visibly tensed and immediately followed.

Trailing Zhang Yu out of the school gate and watching him enter the stationery store across the street, Zhao Tianxing's eyes flickered, his thoughts racing. "Could this be where Zhang Yu gets his supplies?"