Chapter 50: Changes and Increased Stakes

"To think this Limitless Cloud Hand only requires six forms and I've learned them so quickly. Could I truly elevate it to level 10 tonight?"

However, after Zhang Yu invigorated himself and practiced another five rounds, he felt the arcane energy within his body thinning rapidly, making it difficult to sustain his cultivation of the Limitless Cloud Hand.

Zhang Yu realized his previous assumptions were wrong.

"It seems there's no way to raise the Limitless Cloud Hand to level 10 in a single night."

Unlike basic skills like Scattered Hand, the Limitless Cloud Hand consumed a much larger amount of arcane energy.

Even with the passive breathing technique of the Celestial Cycle Qi Gathering Art constantly replenishing his power, it wasn't possible for him to practice for hours on end like he did with Scattered Hand.

So, Zhang Yu simply sat down cross-legged, allowing the passive breathing to continue restoring his arcane energy while he focused on cultivating the Desolate Bull Soul-Quelling Incantation to enhance his Dao Heart.

Practicing intermittently throughout the night, Zhang Yu managed to raise the Limitless Cloud Hand to level 6 (7/60).

He noticed that the coverage of the Formless Cloud Aegis had expanded from his hands to encompass his arms and shoulders, constantly surging like a turbulent sea of clouds.

Furthermore, the phenomenon of cloud-like smoke soaring into the sky like a signal flare had vanished.

Now, only faint wisps of vapor rose a dozen centimeters before dissipating into the air.

This was because, with increased control, Zhang Yu's arcane energy expenditure during the operation of the Formless Cloud Aegis had been greatly reduced.

...

The next day, at Songyang High School.

Inside the student council office.

Zhou Chechen looked at the message on his phone and smiled slightly. "He actually got fourth place in the arcane energy competition? That's quite a surprise."

While lifting a dumbbell, Lan Ling said, "I heard that the competition coach from White Dragon High School talked to him, wanting to poach him."

Zhou Chechen chuckled. "If they lose a spot in the competition, it means one less achievement on their students' resumes. Of course, they'd want to recruit him."

"Do you think if we sign Zhang Yu and train him specifically for arcane competitions, we can snatch a few more competition spots? Let the students from the top three schools win fewer awards?"

For the wealthy in Songyang City, the number of spots in the top ten universities is limited. If someone has fewer awards on their resume, the chances of success for others increase.

Lan Ling mumbled, "Maybe there's a chance in the first year, but from the second year onwards, I don't think Zhang Yu can outperform them."

Zhou Chechen grinned. "Even if that's the case, it's still good."

"Then let's decide on that."

"We can't let White Dragon High School poach him."

"After the monthly exam this month..."

Zhou Chechen slightly clenched his fist, as if holding something he desired tightly in his palm.

"Zhang Yu must sign."

Lan Ling understood the meaning of those words: after the monthly exam, Zhang Yu has no choice but to sign.

...

Outside the school gate, Zhao Tianxing said into his phone, "I know, Mom, I know..."

A female voice came from the phone: "Hang out with Zhang Yu more. Look how quickly he's improving in his studies..."

"I know, I know." Zhao Tianxing replied perfunctorily before finally hanging up.

As he walked into the school gate, he saw the words scrolling across the electronic screen: "Congratulations to Zhang Yu of Class 1, Grade 1, for winning 4th place in the city's arcane energy competition!"

"It's real..."

Although he had heard rumors about it in several school groups yesterday, seeing the words confirmed it for Zhao Tianxing.

To think that Zhang Yu, who used to eat at the same table as him, had suddenly surpassed a bunch of academic powerhouses from the top three schools and key high schools, taking fourth place in the arcane energy competition. Zhao Tianxing couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.

Then came a wave of shame.

Zhao Tianxing, oh Zhao Tianxing, your classmate achieved such great results, yet you're so envious? How ugly! Where has your morality gone?

"Sigh, I can't compare myself to Zhang Yu. After all, he's a Golden Core disciple. We're not even the same species anymore."

"Being able to take fourth place in this competition must be due to Grandmaster Starlight putting in a lot of effort."

"Mom even told me to hang out with him more..."

Zhao Tianxing smiled wryly in his heart. "With such a big gap, can we even hang out together?"

The rumors of Zhang Yu being a Golden Core disciple were further confirmed by his fourth-place finish in the competition.

As someone who likes to consider other people's feelings, Zhao Tianxing felt a sense of inferiority when he thought about Zhang Yu's dazzling aura.

After all, he's a Golden Core disciple, and the gap between our scores is widening. Could he already be looking down on me? In his eyes, I might already be just an average student.

If I deliberately try to get close to him and hang out... won't people think I'm being too flattering, that I want to bask in his Golden Core disciple's glory?

It's not that Zhao Tianxing is overthinking things, but as a teenager who grew up in the city, he has seen similar things happen too often in school.

When the gap in scores between friends widens, friendships always gradually change.

Things like, "Ever since you got high scores, you've changed as a person." Or, "Your score is so low, I feel embarrassed taking you out." Or, "I'll help you raise your score by 10 points, but don't look for me anymore..."

"Sigh, if Zhang Yu doesn't ask me to eat lunch today, I still shouldn't take the initiative to look for him, so I don't get rejected."

When the bell rang for the last class of the morning, Zhao Tianxing intentionally glanced in Zhang Yu's direction.

Seeing Zhang Yu chatting with Bai Zhenzhen, he couldn't help but feel envious. If only he could have Bai Zhenzhen's good grades and chat with Zhang Yu so easily.

Seeing Zhang Yu talking to Zhou Tianyi again, he was envious of Zhou Tianyi. Even though his score was lower than his, he could still talk to Zhang Yu without any awkwardness. He never had such a good attitude.

Just then, Zhao Tianxing noticed that Zhang Yu and his two companions had stood up and were walking towards him.

Zhao Tianxing quickly lowered his head and pretended to tidy up his desk, putting a few books back and forth as if he couldn't find the right place for them, completely ignoring Zhang Yu and the others.

But in his heart, he was constantly paying attention to Zhang Yu's movements, thinking: Will he ask me to go eat lunch together?

Zhang Yu: "Old Zhao! Let's go eat lunch together."

Zhao Tianxing quickly stood up and smiled. "Yeah, let's go."

On the way to the cafeteria.

Zhou Tianyi laughed. "Zhang Yu, do you feel that the atmosphere at school is a little different today?"

"Is it?" Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, "The teachers are still so kind, the students are still so friendly, and the air is filled with the scent of learning. It's all good."

Zhou Tianyi: "You got fourth place in the competition. Now most of the school believes you must be a Golden Core disciple. Don't you feel that everyone is more respectful to you?"

Zhang Yu recalled for a moment. It seemed that the students' attitudes towards him were indeed... somewhat more distant.

Bai Zhenzhen, who was next to him, said calmly, "Yeah, I heard people talking about you in the women's restroom. They all said you must have been promoted by a Golden Core master, that you just have connections and good luck."

Zhou Tianyi: "I heard people saying in the men's restroom that you must have mastered the code to getting a sugar momma. Otherwise, ordinary people like them wouldn't even know where the Golden Core disciple selection art exhibition is held, let alone be selected after participating..."

Zhang Yu sighed. "Sigh, I never thought that winning glory for the school would end up with alienation and jealousy."

Zhou Tianyi laughed. "Zhang Yu, the higher your score and the better your grades, the more people will be jealous of you."

He slowly said, "They won't think about your hard work or your talent. They'll only think you have good conditions and attribute all your success to your luck."

Looking at Zhou Tianyi's sighing expression, Zhang Yu thought thoughtfully, "I didn't expect you, who's ranked 25th in the grade... to understand so much."

Zhou Tianyi stumbled and said angrily, "I... There are more than five hundred students in our school's first grade. The person who's ranked 25th has also surpassed a lot of people."

Zhao Tianxing, who was next to him, gradually relaxed as he watched Zhang Yu laughing and talking. "I didn't expect Zhang Yu to still be so approachable after winning fourth place in the competition."

But after a moment, Zhao Tianxing changed his mind. Zhang Yu had changed a little after all.

In front of the food serving window, Zhang Yu looked at the cafeteria aunt and said, "Auntie, I got fourth place in the city's arcane energy competition. Can you give me a little more meat?"

The food serving auntie: "Okay, this biggest pork chop is for our fourth-place winner in the city's arcane competition."

Songyang High School has a strong academic atmosphere, so even the cafeteria aunties look at scores first before looking at people.

...

That night.

In the suburbs of Songyang City.

Accompanied by the sound of whooshing wind, a dark figure flashed through the night sky at high speed, constantly approaching Zhang Yu's rented house.

Bang!

With a slight pause in front of the apartment building's gate, the dark figure darted in like a wisp of green smoke as the gate opened. In the blink of an eye, it had arrived at Zhang Yu's floor and finally appeared ghostlike in front of Zhang Yu's door.

Knock knock knock.

Zhang Yu quickly stood up to open the door.

He saw a middle-aged man with a dragon-like stride and a majestic aura standing at the door, looking at him.

"Are you Mr. Zhang Yu?"

Zhang Yu nodded. "You're from Sure-To-Deliver? You got here in just over twenty minutes. You guys are fast."

The middle-aged man smiled and took out the items from the large backpack behind him, handing them to Zhang Yu. "Mr. Zhang, these are the items you ordered. Please sign for them."

A moment later, Zhang Yu closed the door again and took out the things he had bought.

Through this arcane energy competition, Zhang Yu recognized the gap between himself and the top students from the famous schools, which made him even more eager to improve himself.

In his current situation, he had the Celestial Cycle Qi Gathering Art constantly replenishing his arcane energy every day, and his Dao Heart was an area he focused on improving daily. Only his physical strength had stagnated and he had no time to improve it.

Thinking about the martial arts competition next month, where he would probably have to compete against the wealthy students from the top schools again, Zhang Yu felt even more that he needed to improve his physical strength.

So, after some careful calculations, he bought something online.