Chapter 270: Happy Time Flies

Chapter 270: Fleeting Moments of Happiness

Listening to Zhang Pianpian’s words, Bai Zhenzhen nodded and said, “I understand. It’s like how a poor-performing student at Songyang High School would be judged by rankings in university, right? Those with higher rankings can ruthlessly look down on those with lower ones, and the lower the ranking, the more they’re seen as societal dregs.”

Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up as she declared, “University is a world where rankings reign supreme!”

Zhang Pianpian smiled slightly and said, “You’ve grasped it quickly. Once you enter university, you’ll need to improve your rankings as soon as possible.”

Then, Zhang Pianpian pointed to the halo behind her head and explained, “As for this halo, it’s a symbol of student council officers, a unique spiritual fluctuation belonging to the student council.”

“You can also think of it as a special effect. Right now, you can see it directly through the screen, but up there, only those with ocular spiritual artifacts can see it.”

“By the way, do you have ocular spiritual artifacts yet?”

Zhang Yu said, “I do. Ah Zhen plans to buy a basic model as a backup to take up there…”

Next, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen recounted their recent gains and the guidance they received from Master Xinghuo to Zhang Pianpian.

After listening, Zhang Pianpian nodded slightly. “Master Xinghuo’s guidance for you is excellent, and your choice of specialization is indeed reasonable. I think you can definitely follow this path.”

The conversation continued, with Zhang Pianpian mainly advising them on preparations before entering university and teaching them some of the university’s rules.

…

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, only three months remained until the college entrance exams.

On this day, as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrived at the training hall in the city center, they felt a palpable wave of killing intent sweep over them, fiercely assaulting their consciousness.

Then, everything went dark before their eyes as they were blasted away by an explosion.

At the same time, Master Xinghuo’s voice finally reached their ears.

“Starting today, I will ambush you anytime, anywhere.”

“Especially you, Zhang Yu.” Master Xinghuo glanced at Zhang Yu, who had already gotten up and was bouncing around, and said calmly, “You can take a beating so well. It would be a shame not to put your talent to the test.”

Zhang Yu’s face darkened, unsure whether to cry or laugh at having a Golden Core cultivator working so hard to guide him.

Just then, Zhang Yu’s phone vibrated slightly, and a line of text popped up: Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Xinghan has entered within 100 meters of you. Follow Yu Xinghan on various platforms; he streams his cultivation every night at 10 p.m.

Zhang Yu looked up and saw that the newcomer was Yu Xinghan, who had passed the Foundation Establishment exam for the second time, obtained his Foundation Establishment qualification certificate, and completed his Foundation Establishment a month ago. He was accompanied by Master Xinghuo’s daughter, Li Xuelian.

Master Xinghuo said, “Xinghan, you’ll train with Zhang Yu today.”

“Xuelian, you’ll guide Bai Zhenzhen.”

“I’ll be on standby, ready to ambush any one of you at any time.”

Master Xinghuo looked at the group, thinking to himself, “Let them cultivate together for a while and build some camaraderie.”

Yu Xinghan walked up to Zhang Yu, his gaze complex as he looked at him.

He thought, “I was the first. I was the first to be taken as a disciple by the old man, but now I’m being called here to be Zhang Yu’s training partner.”

To say Yu Xinghan felt no envy or jealousy would be impossible.

But he also understood that high achievers in this world deserved preferential treatment. If he were Master Xinghuo, he would also value Zhang Yu more.

“All I can do is rely on my own efforts to keep up with him.”

“Maybe he earns more from one shot now than I do from ten.”

“Then I’ll shoot twenty times! Thirty times! I’ll catch up through hard work!”

The next moment, under Master Xinghuo’s guidance, Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan collided, obstructing each other’s muscle movements to enhance their physical cultivation.

Watching this, Master Xinghuo nodded slightly, thinking, “Zhang Yu and Xinghan will enter Wanfa University together and, as Foundation Establishment cultivators in the civil engineering department, will likely cultivate and work together for the next few years.”

“Letting them get used to cultivating together now will allow them to continue doing so on the second level, serving as each other’s training equipment, saving money while improving efficiency.”

“Then, even if I’m not around, they can help each other and improve together.”

Just then, Master Xinghuo frowned. “Yu Xinghan, why do you keep glancing at Xuelian?”

“Zhang Yu, focus.”

A deafening explosion echoed in the air as a palpable martial intent swept toward the two, pressing down on their minds and forcing them to resist with all their might through their cultivation techniques.

Master Xinghuo glanced at Li Xuelian and Bai Zhenzhen, who were cultivating closely together, and thought, “These two boys keep selling goods to Hongta, yet they still have so much energy?”

…

One month before the college entrance exams.

Inside the protected area.

The spiritual vein churned with turbulent energy, and vast amounts of spiritual essence became visible to the naked eye, forming a massive tornado in the sky that connected heaven and earth as it descended into the depths of the spiritual vein.

Zhang Yu sat cross-legged at the focal point of the spiritual vein, surrounded by a massive vortex of spiritual energy that continuously absorbed the descending essence, channeling it into his body’s energy flow and refining it into his own spiritual power in his dantian.

Green Vortex Qi Technique: Level 20

Spiritual Power: 261.9

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Although my total cultivation time isn’t long, each session takes place in a spiritual vein, so my spiritual power growth is still rapid. The Green Vortex Qi Technique has finally reached Level 20.”

“Now, the Remnant Ox Self-Sacrifice Technique, the Eternal Spring and Autumn Meditation, and the Green Vortex Qi Technique have all reached the Foundation Establishment limit.”

“As long as I continue cultivating step by step, there’s no problem refining my Dao heart, spiritual power, and physical strength to the Foundation Establishment upper limit.”

But Zhang Yu knew that relying solely on these three techniques for slow cultivation was not his style.

Moreover, after ascending to the second level, he might face Wang Yin’s hostility. To better compete with the geniuses up there, he had to become stronger and cultivate faster.

“Unfortunately, there aren’t any useful Foundation Establishment techniques available on the first level. I’ll have to figure something out after entering university.”

Thinking about the college entrance exams in a month, followed by ascending to the second level and starting university life, Zhang Yu felt a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and unease.

“And why hasn’t Fuji woken up yet? It’s been over half a year. How long is she going to sleep this time?”

Shaking his head to temporarily set aside his distracting thoughts, Zhang Yu began to sense the effects of the Level 20 Green Vortex Qi Technique.

At Level 20, the Green Vortex Qi Technique could accelerate the rotation of the spiritual energy vortex as cultivation continued, improving the efficiency of absorbing spiritual essence and refining spiritual power.

According to Zhang Yu’s estimation, this acceleration would reach its limit after about an hour of continuous cultivation, increasing cultivation efficiency by thirty percent.

“Not bad.”

Zhang Yu nodded inwardly. This meant his spiritual power would be even higher when he entered university.

“But from now on, I can start renting longer sessions each time I come to the spiritual vein.”

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen’s voice called out, “Yu Zi, it’s about time. Let’s go.”

Their figures shot forward, their Foundation Establishment-level bodies stirring up a gust of wind as they arrived at the protected area’s ticket checkpoint in an instant.

An’an greeted them, “Finished cultivating?”

Thanks to Zhang Yu’s help, An’an had become the ticket checkpoint’s fee-collecting mascot, receiving a raise and shorter working hours.

Looking at her increasingly fluffy tail and rounder head, Zhang Yu waved and said, “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s figures raced along the highway toward home, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

A voice came from Zhang Yu’s phone—Zhao Tianxing’s: “[Laughing and crying] I’ve been doing well lately. After all, as a soul cultivator, I don’t have to worry about food expenses. It’s just the internet and electricity bills…”

The next moment, Zhao Tianxing suddenly disconnected.

Seeing the message that the user’s service had been suspended, Zhang Yu sighed helplessly, topped up a hundred for him, and teased, “Old Zhao, what kind of internet are you using? You’re spending quite a bit on it.”

Zhao Tianxing replied helplessly, “Soul cultivators are charged commercial rates for internet, and the prices increase in tiers. The bills just add up quickly. But I can work part-time now. Once I earn some money, I’ll pay you back for the internet.”

After casually chatting with the other person for a few moments, Zhang Yu put away his phone and felt a sudden weight on his back. It was Bai Zhenzhen, who had jumped onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yu, it's been so long since I last rode on you. Let me ride you today, okay?"

Listening to her words, Zhang Yu could sense that Bai Zhenzhen seemed different today.

Leaning against Zhang Yu's back, Bai Zhenzhen listened to the powerful sounds emanating from his muscles and tendons, smiling as she said, "Yu, three years ago, I never would have imagined that I could actually make it into the top ten."

Zhang Yu nodded and replied, "Yeah, who would have thought?"

The past six months or so had been the most fulfilling and peaceful days for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen since entering high school.

There was no oppression from the wealthy, no pressure from rivals. Step by step, they steadily improved themselves, feeling closer and closer to their goals with the help of many people.

Zhang Yu even felt a faint sense of happiness, even in Kunxu.

Now, gazing at the sunset-drenched Songyang City, bathed in a layer of gold, Zhang Yu sighed with emotion, "Everyone is getting better and better."

"We will get better too."

"Not just making it into the top ten."

"In the future, we'll pursue master's degrees, doctorates, break through to the Golden Core stage, advance to the Nascent Soul stage, and enter the Ten Thousand Laws Sect together."

Bai Zhenzhen couldn't help but smile, as if already envisioning the beautiful future of the two of them climbing Kunxu together, a warmth rising in her heart like never before.

Back in their apartment, the two had dinner together when Bai Zhenzhen suddenly received a notification—the Eye Technique Artifact she had ordered had arrived.

As Bai Zhenzhen went to the courier station across the street to pick up her package, she received a call from Zhang Yu: "Yeah, I'm picking it up now."

"Your order arrived too?"

"Alright, alright, I'll bring it up for you."

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

Bai Zhenzhen looked at her phone, puzzled. The network signal showed normal, so why couldn't she hear the other person's voice?

(End of Chapter)