Chapter 54: Zhang Yu's Choice

The hour of the rooster had barely crowed, 6 AM, when Zhao Tianxing was already nearing the school gates. This was far earlier than his usual arrival, driven solely by the impending announcement of the monthly exam results. The previous evening, he had found himself unable to focus on his studies or cultivation, and decided to arrive early, eager to witness his fate firsthand.

"This time, the Dao Technique exam was rather challenging. I wonder if I can even scrape together 60 points."

"Alas, the Dao Heart examination was also exceedingly difficult. I pressed the Joy Release button twenty-three times... I wonder how many points that will cost me."

Unlike Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, who couldn't be bothered to check their scores after an exam, Zhao Tianxing was the type of student who would seek out others to compare answers. If their answers matched his, he would revel in secret delight. If they differed, he would continue to pester others until he found confirmation. In the case of the Dao Heart exam, he would inquire about how many times others had pressed the button, how many times they had injected the Bliss Elixir. If he heard someone had pressed it more than he had, he would offer a comforting word while secretly rejoicing. If he heard someone had pressed it less, he would feign indifference, but his heart would sink, filled with regret.

At this moment, two hundred meters from the school entrance, he already saw a throng of students gathered, clearly driven by the same anxiety. Some felt they had made progress and eagerly awaited their rankings. Others felt their grades were slipping and feared being demoted to a lower class. And of course, there were the score-obsessed, simply yearning to know their exact marks.

Zhao Tianxing noticed Qian Shen standing at the forefront, already practicing his Qi cultivation while waiting. He knew Qian Shen was always the first to arrive when exam results were announced. Glancing at the still-closed school gates, Zhao Tianxing found a quiet corner to sit and began to review his notes.

After a few minutes of anxious waiting, the gates of Songyang High School creaked open. The waiting students surged forward like sardines in a net, flooding into the school grounds.

When Zhao Tianxing reached the classroom door, he found Qian Shen already there, staring at the posted results with a look of relief. Although his overall score had decreased due to a lower mark in the practical combat exam, at least...

"Phew... At least Zhang Yu's score matches his strength. The monthly exam evaluation system at Songyang High School doesn't have any bugs for now."

Zhao Tianxing glanced around at the other students and wondered, "Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen aren't here yet? Ah, well, with their strength, they probably don't need to bother checking."

He felt a pang of envy. "If only I had their confidence and composure to not be so anxious about the results."

Zhao Tianxing then squeezed forward and began scanning the list, starting from the top, searching for his name.

First place: Zhang Yu, 653 points.

Second place: Bai Zhenzhen, 652 points.

Seeing their rankings, Zhao Tianxing sighed inwardly. "Aside from Dao Techniques, their scores in all other subjects must be nearly perfect."

He knew that this didn't mean they could relax. As time went on, the difficulty and standards of the monthly exams would increase, requiring students to constantly improve to maintain their scores. Many students in the higher grades saw their grades decline because their growth couldn't keep pace with the rising standards.

But Zhao Tianxing believed that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, with their talents, shouldn't have any problem maintaining their scores. He couldn't help but feel envious again. "If only I had their talents!"

He continued down the list and finally found his name, his heart leaping with joy.

Eighth place: Zhao Tianxing, 594 points.

Soon after, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen entered the classroom. Zhao Tianxing noticed that they barely glanced at the rankings, seemingly unconcerned. Watching this, Zhao Tianxing thought Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were incredibly cool. He, on the other hand, had been anxious all night and had rushed to school early just to see the results.

"Ah, I'm so pathetic."

But as the day went on, Zhao Tianxing noticed that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen seemed troubled by something. He couldn't imagine what it could be. "These two are first and second in the grade... What could they possibly be worried about?"

Just then, a dark shadow flashed past the window. A loud crash echoed from the first floor. Another student had jumped.

...

Later that day, after school, when Zhang Yu arrived at the school's meditation chamber, intending to use his weekly free spirit root rental, Wei Xin swiped his student ID and said in surprise, "Huh? It's not working?"

"Zhang Yu, please wait a moment while I ask about this..."

Zhang Yu took back his ID. "No need to ask. I must have made a mistake."

He knew without asking that this was undoubtedly the student council's doing.

And later, on his way home, when Zhang Yu saw the message on his phone, he felt a bitter laugh rising in his throat. It was a message from Lei Jun, his martial arts instructor.

"Zhang Yu, the school feels that your physical strength needs further refinement. They have decided to let you settle down for a year and participate in the martial arts competition next year."

Zhang Yu silently exhaled.

The Dharma Power Competition, the Athletics Competition, the Martial Arts Competition... Clearly, the student council intended to block all his opportunities to compete, cutting off this path for him. And benefits like free spirit root rentals would be gradually revoked. At this rate, Zhang Yu would likely be forced to return to working odd jobs after school.

"I'm still too weak..."

Waiting for the bus at the station, he seized the opportunity to practice the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique, but found himself increasingly uncomfortable. He felt deeply that he lacked the fighting spirit required by the technique's underlying philosophy. Zhang Yu felt a fire burning in his chest, but he had nowhere to vent it.

Walking through the alley leading to his apartment, Zhang Yu wondered, "What if I go to Li Xuelian? If she sees the level of my Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique, would Stellar Ember True Person want to accept me as a disciple? Could I gain more bargaining power by getting Stellar Ember True Person involved?"

But thinking that Stellar Ember True Person was probably just another person who wanted him to sign a contract of servitude, Zhang Yu sighed again.

He looked up at the sky, feeling as though the entire city of Songyang was a giant dining table, and he and Bai Zhenzhen were like two dishes placed on the table, being selected by wealthy patrons.

"Should I run?"

"Flee to another city, work odd jobs while cultivating, and emerge after a decade or two?"

"But what about Ah Zhen? Would she be willing to run?"

"Alas, this cursed ritual is forcing me to take college entrance exams, she probably won't agree..."

Opening the door to his apartment, Zhang Yu was taken aback, frozen in place.

A slender girl wearing the uniform of White Dragon High School was sitting in his chair. Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her pale hands were gently stroking the sheath of a long sword resting on her lap.

Zhang Yu said with difficulty, "Sis... Sister?"

The high school student from White Dragon High School was Zhang Yu's older sister, Zhang Pianpian. But he hadn't expected her to be a student at White Dragon High School, something completely absent from Zhang Yu's original memories. Especially the large number 1 on her chest, indicating that Zhang Pianpian was the top student in her grade at White Dragon High School.

His sister could do this? How did she manage it? Why didn't the original Zhang Yu know anything about it?

Zhang Pianpian looked at him coldly and said flatly, "Go see Zhou Chechen and sign the contract."

Zhang Yu instinctively frowned. "You're here to get me to sign the contract?"

Zhang Pianpian said indifferently, "I'm doing this for your own good. If you keep resisting, they'll force you to your death."

Zhang Yu, thinking of the ritual binding him, said just as coldly, "Signing the contract is as good as killing me."

Their gazes clashed in the air. Seeing Zhang Yu's unwavering resolve, Zhang Pianpian seemed to sense a kind of fearless determination in his eyes.

She nodded slightly. "I didn't expect you to become like this."

"I thought you were better suited for a peaceful, ordinary life."

"Since you don't want to sign with Songyang High School, then come with me. I'll take you to White Dragon High School."

Zhang Yu was slightly stunned. Although he had countless questions, he asked the most crucial one first: "Can I get into the Top Ten?"

Zhang Pianpian smiled. "Of course."

"You finally have the ambition to pursue immortality. In that case, I'm willing to give you a chance to compete for the Top Ten."

Although it was his first time meeting his sister, Zhang Yu felt that the Zhang Pianpian before him was completely different from the Zhang Pianpian in his memories, filled with unfamiliarity.

Was this really his sister? Were they truly the same person? Had money and grades completely changed his sister?

But Zhang Yu knew that now wasn't the time to think about these things, so he asked what he considered the second most important question.

Zhang Yu: "Can you take another person with us?"

Seeing Zhang Pianpian tilt her head, looking at him curiously, Zhang Yu continued, "Can you take Bai Zhenzhen with us to White Dragon High School?"

Zhang Pianpian looked confused. "Why?"

Zhang Yu: "She's like a brother to me, and I want to help her."

He thought to himself, "If I leave, leaving Ah Zhen alone to face the student council, those bastards will definitely be even more ruthless."

Zhang Pianpian said blankly, "Brother? Is Bai Zhenzhen also our relative?"

Zhang Yu initially thought Zhang Pianpian was mocking him, but seeing her earnest expression, he tentatively explained, "I mean, our friendship is extremely deep."

"When I was at my poorest and most miserable, she gave me 500 yuan and treated me to a meal."

Zhang Pianpian still looked confused, asking, "Can't you just transfer 500 yuan back to her now?"

Zhang Yu: "No."

Zhang Pianpian: "What about 5000?"

Zhang Yu: "It's not a matter of money."

He felt even stranger. The Zhang Pianpian before him was too unlike the sister in his memories.

Seeing Zhang Yu's insistence, Zhang Pianpian pondered for a moment and said, "White Dragon High School has limited slots. I can only take one person to White Dragon High School at most."

Zhang Yu's heart sank.

But Zhang Pianpian continued, "However, if you can pass a certain assessment..."

"Both of you can be saved."

Zhang Yu quickly asked, "What assessment?"

"Divine Support, or rather, Divine Outsourcing." Zhang Pianpian said indifferently, "As long as you have an identity within a Divine department, then at least until I enter college, even if you stay at Songyang High School, no one will dare to mess with you."

"I can be your recommender for the assessment."

"But you must understand that if you come to White Dragon High School with me, it can protect you until graduation."

"But if you only rely on this Divine Support identity, then after I enter college, they won't have so many scruples."

"And now, there are only six months left until I graduate high school and enter college."

"Are you sure you want to take this risk?"