Chapter 3: Physical education
There was no time for sentimentality. Shortly after Zhang Yu returned to the classroom, the bespectacled math teacher walked in, carrying a stack of test papers.
"Today, we'll go over the exam from last time."
"Pass the papers down."
"Take a look at where you went wrong. How many times have I told you? If you don't understand something, come ask me! Yesterday, I sat in my office for three hours, and not a single one of you came to ask a question..."
Just as the math papers were handed out, a tall, broad-shouldered man strode into the classroom. The PE teacher glanced at the math teacher and said, "You're sick."
Without further discussion, he dismissed the math teacher. Then, turning to the students, he announced, "This period is now PE."
"But don't slack off on your math. General education subjects account for 50 points on the college entrance exam, and every single point makes a difference."
"Speaking of general education, I might as well tell you—I've already spoken to your Chinese teacher. Next period is also PE. Combined with our regular class, that means the entire morning belongs to me."
The students followed PE teacher Wang Hai to the indoor training hall, an enormous space resembling a plaza, packed with a variety of training equipment.
Wang Hai began, "The Qi Refining Stage is the foundation of all cultivation. How solid this foundation is in your first year of high school will determine how far you can go in the next two years."
As Zhang Yu took in the familiar surroundings, memories surfaced one after another in his mind.
Ever since the Ten Great Sects systematized cultivation, it had developed into a structured hierarchy covering every aspect of the Dao. The most widely recognized framework consisted of ten cultivation realms.
Two key indicators determined how far one could ascend in cultivation: Dao Heart level and Mana reserves.
For high school students, breaking through from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage required a Dao Heart level of at least 10 and a mana reserve exceeding 60 points.
And PE class? It was meant to temper the body and strengthen the will.
A powerful physique not only enhanced mana absorption efficiency but also played a crucial role in strengthening one's Dao Heart. Moreover, in practical combat, physical strength was indispensable—even at the Qi Refining Stage.
If the Dao Heart and mana formed the foundation of cultivation, then physical training was the bedrock of that foundation.
Just then, waves of scanning light swept across the students, projecting their physical strength data onto a large screen. The rankings were displayed from highest to lowest:
1st place: Qian Shen – Physical Strength: 1.15
2nd place: Bai Zhenzhen – Physical Strength: 1.13
3rd place: He Dayou – Physical Strength: 1.12
…
Zhang Yu had to scroll down to find his name.
19th place: Zhang Yu – Physical Strength: 0.82
Cultivation technology in Kunxu had advanced to the point where every metric was meticulously quantified. Physical strength was measured regularly in PE class, much like Dao Heart assessments.
While physical strength wasn't the primary factor in breaking through cultivation stages, it influenced training efficiency and combat effectiveness. It also accounted for 150 points in the 650-point cultivation college entrance exam.
"My ranking dropped to 19th?"
Zhang Yu stared at his score, recalling how his progress had been surpassed by his peers over time.
All around him, classmates retrieved syringes and injected themselves with enhancement serums. These supplements, from various brands, not only strengthened muscles and bones but also exponentially increased training efficiency. For first-year students, they were a necessity.
Skipping a workout for a day? Fine. Skipping an injection? Unthinkable.
The top students, the true elites, took at least eight shots a day.
Zhang Yu watched as Bai Zhenzhen, a petite yet formidable figure, methodically injected herself—three in her arm, three in her thigh, and three in her hip—a total of nine shots.
Her small stature compared to the bulkier students around her reminded Zhang Yu that their training focuses differed, resulting in distinct physiques.
Wang Hai, noticing Zhang Yu's hesitation, frowned and approached. "How many days have you gone without an enhancement shot?"
Zhang Yu couldn't admit he was broke. At Songyang High School, running out of money was as disgraceful as failing an exam—only close friends like Bai Zhenzhen knew his situation.
Moreover, his fragmented memories warned him that the original Zhang Yu had already pushed his body to the limit. The relentless drug use had taken a toll on his organs and cardiovascular system, causing multiple blackouts and posing a real threat to his life.
So he casually replied, "I wanted to see how I'd do without them."
Wang Hai's frown deepened, and his voice thundered, "You've been watching those so-called 'natural training' influencers again, haven't you? All lies! How do you expect to keep up without enhancements?"
"Look at your ranking—it's already slipping! Keep this up, and you'll be kicked out of the elite class next month!"
His expression was full of disappointment. "You think I want you to take these for my own benefit? You think your injections make me stronger?"
He pointed at a student in the distance. "Take Qian Shen, for example. Twelve Dragon-Elephant injections daily to boost muscle and bone density. Two painkillers to suppress the agony of tissue regeneration. Two Taotie metabolic boosters to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption. He eats fifteen pounds of food every day just to bulk up!"
"In three months, he went from a scrawny 5'7" kid to a two-meter-tall, 300-pound juggernaut. Your so-called 'natural training' wouldn't match his progress in twenty years!"
Zhang Yu recalled how Qian Shen had transformed in just three months.
Wang Hai gestured to another student. "And look at Zhao Tianxing! He barely ranked above you before, but now his physical strength just broke 1.00! His blood is thick like mercury, his arteries are like reinforced cables, and his heart is three times its original size!"
Sweeping his gaze across the class, Wang Hai sighed. "Zhang Yu, I'm telling you this because you used to be in the top ten. You've got talent, and you've got high drug tolerance. That's why I'm even bothering to talk to you."
His words carried genuine concern, but Zhang Yu knew better. Between being broke and fearing for his life, he wasn't about to shoot up again anytime soon.
Before he could figure out how to refuse, Wang Hai pulled out a box of vials. "They say training is 30% effort, 70% diet, and 90% injection."
"This is the latest 'Divine Elephant Strength' formula from Vajra Sect. Top-tier quality, one shot equals ten of the usual stuff."
"Truth be told, this is still in the experimental phase. I got it through a connection. You've got potential, so I'll give you a deal—ten vials for 8,800 yuan."
Zhang Yu finally remembered—half the enhancement serums in class came from Wang Hai.
At Songyang High, this was normal. Training and enhancement were inseparable, and every PE teacher was both a conditioning expert and a product distributor, often backed by multiple pharmaceutical suppliers.
But Zhang Yu neither had the money nor the physical resilience to handle any more drugs. He had to find a way to brush this off.
Seeing his hesitation, Wang Hai scoffed, stowed the vials away, and said coldly, "Suit yourself."
Then he turned and walked off to continue his sales pitch elsewhere.
Watching him leave, Zhang Yu sighed. "Is every class this intense?"
Just then, a voice piped up beside him. "Wang Hai tried to sell you something again?"
Zhang Yu turned to see a clean-cut, boy-next-door type smiling at him. Memories surfaced.
"Zhou Tianyi..."
His self-study and meal companion for the past three months.
And, instinctively, the first thing Zhang Yu thought of was his ranking.
"25th place? Alright, he's good enough to eat with me... Wait, since when did I start caring about rankings so much?"
The school's obsession with rankings was getting to him.
(End of chapter...)
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