Chapter 13 : The High-Stakes Cultivation Race

Chapter 13: The Magic Power Competition

During that day's magic power cultivation class, the students of the demonstration class sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber, practicing their breathing techniques.

At the front, a camera monitored their every move—whether they opened their eyes, scratched an itch, fidgeted, or shifted in their seats. Any minor deviation was recorded.

All these data points were compiled into a single metric: the distraction rate.

Each week, the class with the highest distraction rate would be publicly criticized across the entire school.

The demonstration class students, however, remained unfazed. No matter how the school evaluated them, they were always ranked first.

Meanwhile, the student with the lowest distraction rate each week would not only receive public recognition but also be rewarded with 500 yuan and an hour of free access to a top-tier spiritual root for cultivation.

That was enough to get the demonstration class students fired up.

For Zhang Yu, learning about this "distraction rate" for the first time in his life, he couldn't help but sigh. If this system had existed in his previous world, students would have undoubtedly cursed the school to high heaven.

But things were different here. The students in the demonstration class watched the distraction rate like bulls in heat, obsessed with shaving down every fraction of a percent. The atmosphere in the class was charged with intense competition.

Just then, the bell rang. Everyone in the meditation chamber stopped cultivating and turned to the large screen at the front, eager to see the distraction rate rankings for this session.

1st Place: Zhang Yu – 0.00% distraction rate, 8.3 magic power

2nd Place: Bai Zhenzhen – 0.03% distraction rate, 11.2 magic power

3rd Place: Qian Shen – 0.12% distraction rate, 11.1 magic power

…

Seeing the rankings, the students didn't say a word, but subtle shifts in their expressions betrayed their surprise.

The instructor for the magic power class, Teacher Yan, stood at the front. She wore her hair in a bun, black-framed glasses resting on her nose, giving her a strict yet scholarly air.

She glanced at the screen and spoke calmly, "For those whose distraction rate exceeded 0.3%, I won't call you out by name today."

"It's been three months since school started. How many times have I told you—'Focus your mind, harmonize your breath.'"

"With a distraction rate this high, how can your breathing technique ever match up to others?"

"Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. You can't create extra time for yourself, so if your breathing efficiency falls behind even a little, by the end of three years in high school, your magic power will be 10, 20, or even 30 points lower than your peers."

"And how many times have I said this? If you can't lower your distraction rate, come to my office and buy a Focus Elixir."

"Yesterday, I sat in my office for three hours. Not a single one of you showed up. What, have you all convinced yourselves you have no problems?"

After a round of reprimands, Teacher Yan's expression softened slightly. She turned back to the screen.

"Of course, some students have performed exceptionally well."

"I'd like to commend the top three in today's rankings, especially Zhang Yu—four consecutive days with a 0% distraction rate. Compared to before, this is a remarkable breakthrough."

"And in just three days, his magic power has risen by 0.5 points—a clear sign of dedication beyond class. Either he rented a high-tier spiritual root or reserved a premium cultivation chamber. Isn't that right, Zhang Yu?"

All eyes immediately turned toward Zhang Yu.

Yet, he remained still, eyes shut, seemingly in a trance—continuing his cultivation as if lost in deep meditation.

Teacher Yan nodded approvingly.

"See? This is the attitude of a true top student—not wasting a single second, constantly refining oneself."

At the back, Zhao Tianxing observed Zhang Yu carefully, his expression conflicted.

"He works this hard in cultivation… so why does he slack off in PE and refuse to take stamina injections?"

Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen studied Zhang Yu's still face and murmured to herself,

"Ever since his debt collectors started calling him 700,000 times, he's either eating, defecating, or cultivating. Nothing else. Could it be… that he's been driven to this level of madness?"

On stage, Teacher Yan continued,

"As you all know, nothing in the path of immortality comes for free. Without investment, you won't get far."

"Recently, some top-tier spiritual root rental slots have opened up. Interested students can find me after class."

Just as she was about to leave, she mentioned something that immediately caught Zhang Yu's attention.

"Oh, by the way, the city's Magic Power Tournament is next month."

"Every high school in the city will be participating. The first-place winner will receive a 100,000 yuan prize."

"Registration is next Friday. To determine our school's participants, we'll be selecting the top ten first-year students in terms of magic power."

---

That Night – School Cafeteria

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

Bai Zhenzhen kept staring at him, her gaze scrutinizing. Finally, Zhang Yu couldn't take it anymore.

"Ah-Zhen, I know my stunning good looks make me stand out in this sea of nerds, but do you really have to stare at me so intensely?"

Bai Zhenzhen ignored his joke.

"You actually want to enter the Magic Power Tournament?"

Zhang Yu sighed dramatically.

"A shame, Ah-Zhen. If you weren't my friend, right now, you'd be issuing a smug challenge, only to be utterly humiliated on the battlefield, left staring in shock at my overwhelming strength."

Bai Zhenzhen simply shook her head.

"Yuzi, do you understand what you're signing up for? That's the city-wide tournament."

"Every high school in Songyang will send their strongest, most talented, and—most importantly—richest students to compete. It'll be overflowing with disgustingly wealthy prodigies."

She sighed in mock pity.

"A regular guy like you going up against them? I can already see the future…"

"Humiliated over and over, trampled beneath their feet, reduced to Songyang High's laughingstock. The school's reputation in ruins! Your Dao Heart shattered, left groveling like a stray dog…"

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes.

"You're exaggerating. It's a magic power competition, not a deathmatch."

"And besides, first place gets 100,000 yuan."

"Even just making it into the top ten means a 10,000 yuan prize."

Seeing Zhang Yu's shamelessly money-hungry expression, Bai Zhenzhen sighed.

"Yep, the debt collectors have truly broken him. He's so desperate, he's actually delusional enough to enter the tournament."

Zhang Yu was, indeed, struggling financially. He had earned 13,000 yuan from his recent gig, but 10,000 immediately went toward loan repayment, and 1,500 covered rent.

That left him with barely 2,000 yuan.

Bai Zhenzhen gave him a skeptical look.

"You're currently ranked 16th in magic power. To qualify, you'll have to break into the top ten."

"You know how much money that's gonna take?"

Zhang Yu did the math in his head.

He was currently at 8.3 magic power. The 10th-ranked student was at 9.5.

"Actually… I need to account for everyone improving, too."

"If I want to be safe, I should aim for at least 10.0 magic power by next Friday."

"That means gaining 1.7 points in eight days."

"An average of 0.2 per day."

"Can I do it?"

Absolutely.

(End of chapter...)

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