There wasn’t much time for sentimentality. Shortly after Zhang Yu returned to the classroom, the math teacher wearing black-rimmed glasses walked in carrying a stack of test papers.
“Today we’re going to go over the test you took last time.”
“Pass out all the papers.”
“Look at the mistakes you made. I’ve told you how many times—if you don’t understand something, come ask me. Yesterday I sat in the office for three hours in the afternoon, and not a single person came to ask me questions…”
Just after the math papers were distributed, the tall and burly physical education teacher came into the classroom and looked at the math teacher, saying: “You’re sick.”
After dismissing the sick math teacher, PE teacher Wang Hai looked at the many students and said: “This class is now changed to PE.”
“But don’t forget to review your math when you go home. General education courses account for fifty points in the college entrance exam, and in the gaokao, being off by one point means being behind many people.”
“Speaking of general education, let me tell you something by the way. I’ve already spoken with your Chinese teacher about next class—that’s also changed to PE. Adding the original PE class, the entire morning today will be my PE classes.”
Everyone followed PE teacher Wang Hai to the indoor training ground, where they saw that the practice field was as huge as a plaza, filled with all kinds of exercise equipment.
Wang Hai said: “The Qi Refining realm, as the first realm of the immortal path, is important for laying a solid foundation. How solid the foundation you build in your first year of high school determines what heights you can reach in your second and third years…”
Feeling these familiar scenes, numerous memory details continuously surged from Zhang Yu’s mind.
Immortal path cultivation, after being summarized and integrated by the Ten Great Sects, now possessed systematic realm and power classifications that encompassed everything, covering all aspects of immortal path techniques—it could be said to be as vast as the ocean.
The most widely known were the ten great realms of the immortal path.
The key indicators determining which immortal path realm a person could reach were dao heart level and magical power level.
For high school students, only by crossing the 10-level threshold in dao heart and exceeding 60 points in magical power could they break through from the Qi Refining realm to the Foundation Establishment realm.
The current high school PE class was for tempering the physical body and forging willpower.
After all, a strong physical body could both increase the efficiency of magical power improvement and greatly help with the strong willpower required for dao heart levels, while also enhancing combat ability in the Qi Refining realm.
If dao heart and magical power were the foundation of the immortal path, then the physical strength trained in PE class was the foundation of the foundation.
At the same time, waves of light swept over the bodies of all the students present, displaying their physical strength data on a large screen not far away, arranged from high to low.
1st place: Qian Shen, Physical Strength 1.15 level
2nd place: Bai Zhenzhen, Physical Strength 1.13 level
3rd place: He Dayou, Physical Strength 1.12 level
…
Zhang Yu had to look all the way down to 19th place before finding his score.
19th place: Zhang Yu, Physical Strength 0.82 level
The immortal path technology in Kunxu had developed continuously, and now various data and indicators had become increasingly precise.
Physical strength was not only quantified but was also retested in every PE class.
Like dao heart, this indicator could only reach a maximum of 10 levels in the Qi Refining realm.
Although physical strength wasn’t a key indicator for breaking through immortal path realms, it was related to a cultivator’s efficiency and combat power, serving as an important foundation for the immortal path. In the 650 points of immortal path subjects, it accounted for 150 points.
“Has my physical strength already dropped to 19th place?”
Looking at his results, Zhang Yu recalled how his physical strength improvement had been continuously overtaken by those around him during this period.
At the same time, students around him took out syringes and injected them into their arms, injecting various enhancement supplements into their bodies.
These various branded supplements, once delivered into the body, would not only improve muscle and bone strength but also boost training efficiency by several to dozens of times—they were essential drugs for first-year high school students.
Here, you could go a day without training, but you couldn’t go a day without injections. Excellent top students often took eight injections or more per day.
Zhang Yu saw Bai Zhenzhen not far away inject a total of nine needles into her buttocks, arms, and thighs in one go.
However, compared to many of the big guys around her, Bai Zhenzhen appeared much smaller. Zhang Yu remembered this was because their physical training directions were different, thus shaping different external forms.
PE teacher Wang Hai, seeing that Zhang Yu had made no move to inject himself, frowned and walked over: “Zhang Yu, how many days has it been since you injected function enhancers?”
Zhang Yu didn’t dare say he had no money—he knew that at Songyang High School, this was as shameful as having poor grades. Only when communicating with close friends like Bai Zhenzhen would he dare to speak of it.
Secondly, the fragmented memories in his mind told him that the original body, due to excessive drug use, had suffered heavy burdens on internal organs and cardiovascular system, had already fainted several times, and was beginning to endanger his life.
So Zhang Yu evasively said: “I want to try not using drugs…”
Who knew that after hearing this, Wang Hai’s frown deepened, and he said in a voice like thunder: “Are you looking at those influencers who can’t handle the hardship of drug use promoting natural body cultivation again? That’s all lies. How can you keep up without drugs?”
“Look how many places you’ve dropped? If this continues, you’ll be kicked out of the elite class in the next monthly exam.”
He said with an expression of disappointment: “Do you think I’m telling you to use drugs for my sake? You using drugs doesn’t make me gain muscle.”
Saying this, he casually pointed to a student in the distance: “Look at Qian Shen—12 injections of Dragon Elephant formula daily to increase muscle and bone, 2 injections of painkillers to suppress the pain of flesh tearing and growth, 2 injections of Taotie Plus to accelerate metabolism and absorption of immortal path elements from food, eating fifteen jin daily to gain weight…”
“In just three months, his physical strength skyrocketed from 0.13 to the current 1.15 level, becoming the strongest body in the first year—equivalent to twenty years of your natural body cultivation.”
Along with Wang Hai’s narration, Zhang Yu recalled how Qian Shen had transformed from a skinny guy under 1.7 meters tall three months ago into the current little giant over two meters tall and weighing over 300 jin.
Wang Hai then pointed to another student: “Look at Zhao Tianxing, who used to be inferior to you—the day before yesterday he also broke through 1.00 level in physical strength. Now he truly has blood like lead and mercury, hardened arteries, and a heart that’s expanded three times its original size…”
After casually pointing around at students, Wang Hai sighed: “Zhang Yu, I’m telling you all this because I saw that your physical strength used to rank in the top ten, your talent isn’t bad, and your drug resistance is exceptional…”
Seeing Wang Hai’s earnest appearance, Zhang Yu also felt the other’s concern, but whether it was lack of money or fear of death, both made him unwilling to inject drugs now.
Just as he was thinking about how to explain to the other party next, he saw Wang Hai pull out a box of medicine from a bag nearby: “As they say, three parts training, seven parts eating, and the remaining ninety parts depend on how you inject drugs.”
“This is the Divine Elephant Strength function enhancer newly launched by the Vajra Sect. Big sect quality is guaranteed—one injection equals ten.”
“I’ll be honest with you, this stuff was originally still in the laboratory. I got it from a good brother. Seeing that your talent is decent, I’ll give you a 20% discount now—ten bottles for 8,800…”
Seeing Wang Hai’s appearance of selling him drugs, Zhang Yu now completely remembered that more than half of the various physical enhancement supplements that the students in the class consumed came from Wang Hai.
This kind of situation was normal at Songyang High School. After all, medicine and body cultivation were inseparable—every PE teacher was not only an excellent body cultivation expert but also an excellent drug salesman, often having multiple pharmaceutical channels behind them.
But the current Zhang Yu could neither afford these nor handle the drug burden physically, so he could only think of ways to brush it off.
Seeing Zhang Yu constantly making excuses and trying to avoid the issue, Wang Hai snorted coldly, put the medicine back, and said with disappointment: “Then you better take care of yourself.”
Watching the PE teacher turn and leave to guide and sell to other students, Zhang Yu sighed helplessly and thought to himself: “What kind of broken place is this, where even PE class is so hard to attend?”
Just then, a young man walked over, came to Zhang Yu’s side and asked: “Did Wang Hai try to sell to you again?”
The speaking student looked clear-browed and handsome, with the appearance of a boy next door.
Zhang Yu’s mind also brought up memories related to the other party.
“He is… Zhou Tianyi.”
Zhou Tianyi was Zhang Yu’s dining and study partner whom he had met on the first day of school.
The two had eaten together for three months and studied together for three months, establishing a fragile friendship in the process.
However, as memories emerged, Zhang Yu’s first thought was of the other’s grade ranking.
“Grade ranking 25, qualified to eat at the same table as me… Hmm? How did I also develop this grade discrimination?”
Zhang Yu felt that as memories continued merging, he seemed to be continuously influenced, paying more and more attention to academic rankings in this school.
Hearing Zhou Tianyi’s inquiry, he nodded and said: “Mm, wanted to sell me Divine Elephant Strength.”
“You didn’t buy again?” Seeing Zhang Yu nod, Zhou Tianyi hissed and said: “Aren’t you afraid Old Wang will mess with you?”
“Mess with me?” Zhang Yu said: “It’s just not buying medicine, it shouldn’t be that bad, right?”
Zhou Tianyi shook his head repeatedly: “Sigh, do you want to hear some gossip about Wang Hai?”
“Forget it, I’m not one for gossip.”
Zhang Yu turned and walked toward the practice equipment nearby, planning to familiarize himself with his body and the PE class content.
Zhou Tianyi continued: “A teacher complained that Wang Hai was jerking off in the adjacent office, and when he climaxed, he cracked the ceiling.”
Zhang Yu’s footsteps stopped. He wasn’t a gossipy person, but such trashy gossip… he had to see what was really going on.
Zhou Tianyi said: “Wang Hai later explained he wasn’t doing that—the banging sounds were him disciplining disobedient students.”
“Later I asked students from previous years, and it turns out Wang Hai has long had a habit of corporal punishment for poor students.”
“Especially if grades drop and they don’t buy his medicine, they’ll be bullied with him taking the lead.”
“I heard a few years ago there was a student who was driven to mental problems by him.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s gaze suddenly sharpened: “Wang Hai gets away with all this?”
Zhou Tianyi said nonchalantly: “Wang Hai’s teaching results have always been good. He’s Songyang High School’s ace PE teacher, having taught three students who achieved first place in the city for physical strength during the college entrance exam. Some say he has channels to experimental drugs from major sects that are still in laboratories.”
“Even if the school really wanted to stop using him, most students and parents wouldn’t agree—they’re all counting on Wang Hai to buy medicine and help them improve their physical strength.”
Saying this, he looked at Zhang Yu with a warning: “If you keep not buying medicine and your grades don’t improve, you’ll probably be messed with by him too.”
Seeing Zhang Yu’s furrowed brow, Zhou Tianyi asked curiously: “I say… you used to inject quite a bit, how come you suddenly stopped buying? Could it be you’re out of money? Want me to lend you some?”
Feeling the sincerity in the other’s eyes, Zhang Yu smiled helplessly: “No need.”
“Really no need?” Zhou Tianyi: “How about you use mine today first?”
Zhang Yu naturally shook his head repeatedly—he was really afraid that a few more injections would directly kill him.
According to the memories in his mind, there was no shortage of people in this world who suffered severe injuries, disabilities, or even death due to excessive drug loads. Even Songyang High School had people seriously injured every year due to excessive drug use.
But even so, students pursuing physical strength through drugs continued in an endless stream.
The original body had already shown signs of being unable to bear the load starting from last week.
Thinking that the original body had not only left him with a debt of 700,000 but also left him with such a physical body, Zhang Yu sighed again in his heart.
Just as the two were whispering, a cold gaze suddenly swept over, and they heard Wang Hai shout: “Don’t chat during PE class.”
Zhang Yu and Zhou Tianyi immediately stopped their conversation and each began exercising.
Zhang Yu came to a large iron ball, his whole body’s muscles tensed, and after exerting force suddenly, he lifted the 100-kilogram iron ball.
Then, as his muscles throughout his body contracted and expanded with effort, the large iron ball was moved to various positions around his body like a toy.
As the iron ball flew up and down and rotated, Zhang Yu also felt his blood and qi surging throughout his body, and various parts of his body gradually warming up.
“This is warm-up…”
The entire process seemed to be carved into his flesh and blood like instinct. Zhang Yu completed the warm-up training almost without thinking.
In the subsequent training, his mastery of this physical body became deeper and deeper, and related memories continuously emerged from his mind.
“Body cultivation in the Qi Refining stage mainly involves tempering muscles and bones, breaking through limits through repeated practice, and ultimately improving physical strength levels.”
“The specific method… for example, the most widespread method among high school students is the cultivation technique called the Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation.”
The Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation was a body cultivation technique created by the Ten Great Sects specifically for high school teaching. Thirty-six movements combined with different equipment could comprehensively develop the physical body and effectively improve physical strength.
Under the immortal path framework summarized by the Ten Great Sects, all martial arts and dao techniques were classified into levels 1 to 100.
Most students at Songyang High School could successfully get started after learning for a week or two, practicing basic martial arts like the Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation to level 1.
If they could continue to improve their level, the training effects of the Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation would become stronger and more incredible.
But this was obviously not easy. In Zhang Yu’s memory, in the three months since school started, only Bai Zhenzhen had improved the Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation to level 2.
It was precisely because of this that Bai Zhenzhen could maintain her physical strength results at second place in the grade with 9 injections per day, closely pursuing Qian Shen who took 16 injections per day.
“The level of the Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation relates to the efficiency of physical strength improvement, but what really determines strength and PE class results is still physical strength itself.”
“Speaking of which, my physical strength is 0.82 level, and I can casually swing around things weighing several hundred jin. The highest physical strength in the Qi Refining realm can reach level 10, and after Foundation Establishment, it can reach up to level 20… the gap between people here is too large.”
Zhang Yu initially just wanted to practice casually, familiarizing himself with the PE class content and his own body.
But as he practiced set after set of the Thirty-Six Forms of Health Cultivation movements, he became more and more serious, more and more meticulous, as if there was an instinct in his body urging him, encouraging him, making him persevere in training.
Muscles were continuously torn, bones were continuously impacted, and after repeated practice, his physical body, after repeated devastation, finally produced a warm current that began silently repairing the injuries in his flesh and blood.
This was the magical power within Zhang Yu’s body. Just like in the past few months of PE classes, the physical body was devastated under heavy pressure, then continuously repaired under the action of magical power, becoming stronger.
Whew!
Two hours passed in a flash. Zhang Yu exhaled deeply, feeling his whole body aching and his flesh and blood seeming about to disintegrate.
“No wonder they need painkillers…”
He looked up at Bai Zhenzhen still sweating profusely in the distance, and other students also frantically training on the other side. A sense of urgency instinctively surged from his heart, seeming to urge him to continue squeezing his body.
“If the original world had such crazy training, they probably would have trained themselves to death long ago, right?”
“It’s only because there’s pharmaceutical support under various immortal path technologies here, plus magical power… that’s how they can hold on and become stronger and stronger.”
Feeling the pain coming from various parts of his body and that instinct still craving training, craving to become stronger, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh at how deep the original Zhang Yu’s obsession was.
However, as training continued, this instinct hidden deep in the human body seemed to be gradually fading.
The future path would ultimately have to be chosen by the current Zhang Yu himself.
When the morning PE class completely ended, Zhang Yu had collapsed on the field, while around him stood a group of students who were still lively and continuing their frantic cultivation.
Zhang Yu sighed that this was probably the difference between using drugs and not using drugs.
Suddenly he glanced at the blackish area in his palm, discovering that the unfilled portion was now less than one-fourth.
