Chapter 217: This is Exactly the Flavor

Chapter 217: That’s the Flavor

The second trial teacher entered the classroom.

He was a burly man, his muscles bulging like marble.

Old Mr. Wang struck again, three consecutive palms that drove the man back three steps, yet his expression remained unchanged, steady as a mountain.

Old Mr. Wang praised, “Fine hardiness! Such cultivation is unattainable without a university degree.”

The other man smiled faintly. “If the elder is satisfied, that’s enough.”

“Hello everyone, I’m Teacher Yao, but you can call me Xiao Yao.”

“I used to sell regulated addictive substances—a legitimate trade.”

“Then someone told me that without breaking the law, you’ll never make real money. I heard the underground tutoring world paid well, so I joined this line.”

“And then I understood: some things exist outside the law, but they’re reasonable…”

Hearing this, everyone laughed.

Teacher Yao stripped off his shirt, revealing a back full of needle holes.

Displaying those still-oozing punctures, he said with pride, “Coming from a drug-selling background, I’ve long studied how to expel drug toxins.”

“From the number of holes, you can gauge my dosage.”

“The reason I’m still in such healthy shape today lies in the Azure Blood Detox Needle technique I’ll teach you.”

“This needle method reaches deep into the organs, forcing out drug toxins and residue daily. No more worrying about side effects—you can take your medicine and work overtime with peace of mind.”

“Of course, as a former professional, feel free to ask me about drugs or buying them. I still have some channels to help you get discounts…”

…

In the other meeting room, the elders of the Dark Study Gang listened to Teacher Yao’s lecture, nodding in approval.

“Xiao Yao’s good—he sells drugs while teaching, so his course revenue has always been top-notch.”

“Combining drugs with lessons is the trend. Key high schools have been doing it for ages. We should follow suit.”

…

Outside the classroom, Zhang Yu listened to Teacher Yao and thought to himself, “No good—I need to stack more advantages.”

He recalled his last trial lesson in the park: “These old Qi-refining geeks probably all went to key high schools, maybe even the Big Three.”

“Out in the world, identity is what you make it. If I pretend to be from White Dragon, I might get more favor…”

…

“Greetings, everyone. My surname is Bai, and I graduated from White Dragon High School.”

The third trial teacher was an old man with white hair and a youthful face.

With a chuckle, Teacher Bai took Old Mr. Wang’s three palms, stepping back only slightly before steadying himself.

Old Mr. Wang raised an eyebrow. “You’re from White Dragon too? Then we’re alumni.”

Teacher Bai smiled. “I’m 145 years old. Greetings, junior. I remember when I studied at White Dragon—it was just a small building back then, no grade rankings…”

Hearing him casually recount White Dragon’s history, Old Mr. Wang believed most of it and nodded. “Greetings, senior.”

Teacher Bai smiled, looked at the elderly crowd, and said slowly, “As they say, learn till you’re old to live till you’re old. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty who died poor from lack of work.”

“When I was young like you, I was busy working every day, taking night classes to stay competitive.”

“After all, without learning, how can you work? Without work, how can you earn money to live to old age?”

“Only by persisting in learning, working, and paying taxes all your life can we walk the true path of cultivation.”

“I’m 145 now, but I’ve almost saved enough for an elixir to extend my life. Once I take it, I’ll live to 170 and work another ten years…”

The elders applauded in unison, looking at 145-year-old Teacher Bai as if seeing their own role model.

“Heh, of course, my longevity and work ability come from years of cultivation and expelling toxins from my body…”

…

In the other meeting room, the gang elders praised him.

“Old Bai is steady—he’s already bonded with the students before the lesson even starts.”

“With his seniority, experience, and his own example, he can handle these clients. If we give him this class, the renewal rate will be high.”

“Ah, Xiao Yao or Old Bai—hard to choose.”

…

Outside the classroom, listening to Old Bai, Zhang Yu thought grimly, “This guy’s using the White Dragon brand too?”

“Damn it… I need to think of another edge.”

“These old Qi-refining geeks are all arrogant, from key high schools, even the Big Three.”

“Ordinary tricks won’t intimidate them…”

After Teacher Bai’s lesson ended, it was finally Zhang Yu’s turn.

As soon as he entered, Old Mr. Wang led the charge: “Young man, get out. No need to speak.”

Though Zhang Yu’s disguised face looked thirty or forty, to these elders he was just a young brat.

Old Mr. Wang said coldly, “We’ve decided—we want Senior Bai. No more changes.”

With that, he struck a palm that roared like wind and thunder, aimed at Zhang Yu’s chest, as if to blast him out the door. Bang!

A loud explosion.

Old Mr. Wang’s palm first hit Zhang Yu’s copper-armored corpse skin, tempered by the Resentful Demon Art.

Then the force was blocked by the Formless Cloud Aegis beneath the skin.

Finally, through the Aegis’s transmission, it dispersed across Zhang Yu’s bones, which gleamed like silver frost.

Seemingly unmoved, Zhang Yu had withstood the blow using his flesh and bones, honed to the peak of Qi Refining, combined with his technique.

To Old Mr. Wang, it felt like striking a tempered steel beam in a skyscraper’s foundation—not only did he fail to push Zhang Yu back, but his palm ached fiercely.

“You brat!” Old Mr. Wang stared at Zhang Yu in shock. “Such formidable protective arts—more than one, I’d wager?”

Zhang Yu smiled faintly. “Elder, two more palms.”

Old Mr. Wang said flatly, “With your body cultivation, you must be from a university. No need to test further.”

He clasped his hands behind his back, his aching palm trembling, longing for an ice pack.

The other elders marveled silently. They knew Old Mr. Wang’s skill, and Zhang Yu’s stock rose instantly in their eyes. They quieted down, eager to hear the young man’s teaching.

Zhang Yu walked to the podium and said calmly, “My surname is Ma. You can call me Teacher Ma.”

“The technique I’ll teach today, the Spring-Autumn Infinite Zen, is one I learned at Immortal Cloud High School.”

An elder frowned. “Immortal Cloud High School? Never heard of it.”

Another said, “Sounds vaguely familiar—maybe an ordinary high school?”

But Old Mr. Wang jerked his head up, stunned. “You said Immortal Cloud High School? Could it be that…”

"Indeed," Zhang Yu said softly. "It is none other than the Immortal Cloud High School on Level 1.5 of the Celestial Capital."

"I am a native of the Celestial Capital."

Zhang Yu's words immediately captured the undivided attention of everyone present.

Meeting their collective gaze, Zhang Yu added indifferently, "My home is located near the Northern Sixth Ring Road on Level 1.5 of the Celestial Capital, and not outside the ring, mind you, but inside it."

Someone whispered in hushed tones, "What exactly is Level 1.5?"

Old Mr. Wang murmured back, "It is the realm above the clouds in the Celestial Capital, a sky city, though as for where this Northern Sixth Ring Road lies precisely... I cannot say."

Zhang Yu explained, "Suspended high above the Celestial Capital is a floating island that blankets the entire metropolis—a city in the sky. We generally refer to it as Level 1.5, situated right between the first and second levels of the Kun Ruins."

"The most breathtaking spot up there is the Central Cloud-Sea Park."

"Even now, I can still recall the forests within that sea of clouds, the pristine lakes, and the great dragons breathing out mist and vapor..."

As Zhang Yu reminisced about the various extravagant scenes of Level 1.5 he had witnessed during the Dao Heart trials of his Foundation Establishment examination, a nostalgic gleam appeared in his eyes while he described the wonders of Level 1.5 to the crowd.

In his heart, Zhang Yu thought secretly, "That half-day spent in the illusion is certainly more than enough to boast about here in Songyang City."

Meanwhile, listening to descriptions of the various delicacies, magical husks, and cultivation cauldrons found within the luxury estates bordering the Cloud-Sea Park, the crowd listened with faces full of yearning, wishing desperately that they could visit such a place just once in their lifetimes.

Old Mr. Wang was even more astonished, thinking to himself, "Just what is this man's background? The people from the Celestial Capital I encountered on the second level didn't seem to talk about anything nearly as grand as what he is describing."

After boasting for a short while, Zhang Yu suddenly raised an eyebrow, looked at the crowd, and said, "Frankly speaking, having me come to a provincial place like this to tutor a bunch of outsiders like you is something I had absolutely zero interest in doing."

He let out a helpless sigh and continued, "Alas, fortunes rise and fall like unpredictable weather, and disasters can strike anyone at any time, so I suppose I must simply endure this grievance..."

Feeling the three parts disdain, three parts aloofness, three parts contempt, and one part sheer arrogance radiating from Zhang Yu's eyes, Old Mr. Wang's body trembled repeatedly as he cried out in his heart, "That is precisely the feeling!"

"The people from the Celestial Capital I met on the second level had their noses turned up to the sky exactly like this; this is the exact flavor of how they speak to us people of Songyang!"

As Zhang Yu imitated the elite lords of the Celestial Capital he had observed during his Foundation Establishment exam, he quietly monitored the changing expressions of the crowd, thinking to himself, "It is exactly as I thought."

"The more these old beasts of burden despise a mere high school education and look down on those inferior to them, the more they worship wealthy, brilliant students like the masters of the Celestial Capital."

...

Inside the conference room.

The gang elders exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "An elite master from the Celestial Capital has actually come to teach here? Is he the real deal or a fraud?"

An elderly man with a long white beard remarked, "Whether he is real or fake, haven't you seen how well the clients are responding?"

Another bald elder laughed and said, "Excellent, truly excellent! This is exactly what we need! This is precisely what our Hidden Learning Gang should be focusing on! With the brand name of a Celestial Capital native, who knows how many new students we can attract."

A supporter of Teacher Yao countered, "But Little Yao can boost our pharmaceutical sales. He mentioned he wants to open up a new market for the gang. As long as he becomes a gold-medal teacher, he can help us secure pharmaceutical distribution channels."

The long-white-bearded elder scoffed, "You actually believe him just because he said so? I could just as easily claim I can secure the copyrights to the Immortal Rhyme."

Another person chimed in, "Then what about Old Bai? A genuine White Dragon native, one hundred and forty-five years old, possesses extensive working experience, and is entirely dedicated to the gang..."

The bald elder interjected, "An old fossil of one hundred and forty-five years? He might drop dead in the middle of a class one day for all we know. Why on earth would we choose him?"

He continued, "In my view, we should choose this Ma Yunteng. The brand of a Celestial Capital native carries enough weight to truly benefit the gang."

Yet another proposed, "I still feel Little Yao is better. No matter how dazzling a brand name is, it cannot compare to making more cold, hard cash."

Someone else suggested, "Little Yao has his merits, and Little Ma has his strengths. Why don't we simply select two gold-medal teachers this time?"

Someone immediately shot back, "There are only so many classes available. If we choose two... where are we going to find enough classes for both of them to lead?"

The elders throughout the entire conference room fell into a fierce argument, bickering endlessly over whom to choose as the new gold-medal teacher to take over the class.

Requesting Monthly Tickets

(End of this chapter)