Valiant and Vigorous Advance

A moment later, Zhang Yu emerged from the Xianyun Corporation office building looking pale, hunched over, and utterly weak.

But after he had traveled several kilometers from the skyscraper and boarded the subway, his complexion gradually began returning to normal.

As he circulated the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, the Magical Power within him surged forward like rushing streams, permeating the flesh and blood throughout his entire body in the blink of an eye.

The Magical Power that had originally spilled out of control also returned to its proper course along with the surging currents, merging into the complex Magical Power circulation within his body and naturally continuing to flow without end.

Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method Level 1 (0/20)

Looking at the Dao Art that had appeared on the Feather Scroll, a smile curled across Zhang Yu's lips.

"Sure enough, I could master it."

"If I hadn't mastered this Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, this out-of-control Magical Power would probably have taken one or two weeks to dissipate."

The reason Zhang Yu had dared to accept the Technique Testing job was because of the Feather Scroll.

However, while at Xianyun Corporation, he had not revealed his ability to master the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

"Although this technique is merely a Breathing Technique for beginners, once mastered, it can circulate automatically twenty-four hours a day without rest."

"Even without actively circulating it, it has thirty percent of the Breath Circulation efficiency of active cultivation. Once mastered... even if you do nothing every day, it is equivalent to other people circulating their breath for more than seven hours."

"And that is only its effect at Level 1."

"If this technique were truly developed successfully, it would probably immediately become one of the best-selling Breathing Techniques on the market."

Zhang Yu knew that aside from the various techniques taught in school, the techniques held by major corporations and great Sects were all copyrighted and had to be purchased. The profits involved were immense.

It was precisely because this Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method was so formidable, and Zhang Yu believed it to be a development project Xianyun Corporation valued enormously, that he did not wish to expose the fact that he had mastered it, lest complications arise out of nowhere.

Especially since this technique was so difficult to cultivate. In Zhang Yu's view, without the guidance of that auxiliary equipment, forget about mastering it—even completing one full circulation would be impossible for a first-year High School student.

That made him even more unwilling to reveal that he had mastered the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

And in order to master the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, Zhang Yu had switched the Feather Scroll's Specialization from the Body Tempering Thirty-Six Forms to this Breathing Technique.

Although that meant the Body Tempering Thirty-Six Forms could not be raised quickly for the time being, the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method had entered the fast lane.

"Level 3 Body Tempering Thirty-Six Forms are enough for now."

"For the time ahead, I'll focus on raising this Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method."

Other than the gains from the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, the greatest harvest from this Technique Testing trip was the payment transferred by Xianyun Corporation.

Ten thousand yuan, plus the additional three thousand, for a total payment of thirteen thousand yuan.

Zhang Yu's savings had suddenly risen to thirteen thousand seven hundred yuan.

Unfortunately, after Zhang Yu took out ten thousand yuan to repay loans across several platforms, his savings instantly dropped back to three thousand seven hundred.

Still, after repaying those ten thousand yuan, the frequency of collection calls had decreased considerably. Their methods likely would not escalate anytime soon.

Then the countdown that rang out in his mind quickly cut short Zhang Yu's wandering thoughts, making him focus once more and begin circulating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.

At the gates of Songyang High School, Zhang Yu walked while examining the changes on the Feather Scroll.

Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method Level 1 (0/20) → Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method Level 1 (11/20)

And through his previous arduous cultivation, together with his work on the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method this time, his Magical Power had also improved.

Magical Power 7.7 → 7.8

"So it really was running passively. Before bed yesterday, I only circulated it for five cycles, which counted as five times."

"Yet after waking up this morning, it had risen to eight times. After actively circulating it on the way to school, it had risen to eleven times."

As Zhang Yu calculated this, he secretly rejoiced. Compared to those thirteen thousand yuan, the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method was yesterday's greatest harvest.

At that moment, he resolved to first raise the level of the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

Naturally, he also decided to keep the Feather Scroll's Specialization set to the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

Unfortunately, this morning brought another two consecutive Physical Education Classes.

Walking toward the Training Field, Zhang Yu felt a little regretful.

"Ah, I have to practice the Body Tempering Thirty-Six Forms again."

"My current Specialization is the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method. Clearly, cultivating this Breathing Technique would suit me best."

The moment Zhang Yu entered the Training Field, he saw hulking figures whose muscles bulged like marble, each one injecting himself with needle after needle.

Then, amid crackling explosions, beastlike roars, and the clanging of equipment, the students of the Demonstration Class were already training in full swing.

Just then, a student stared at Wang Hai in shock. "N-No way, my cousin sold this to me..."

Wang Hai shook his head, crushed the syringe in his hand into powder with a snap, and scattered it into the trash can.

"Look at how your weight has changed over these past two weeks. Neither your muscles nor your internal organs show any sign of growth. Your Physical Strength has only risen by 0.03 in two weeks. You have the sorry state of Natural Body Refinement written all over you. One look tells me you bought fake medicine."

Having said that, he no longer looked at the distraught student before raising his voice. "How many times have I told you? When buying medicine, you must use legitimate channels. The safest source is definitely the supply provided through the school's teachers."

"If you buy fake medicine or expired medicine just to save a little money, that is throwing away the watermelon to pick up sesame seeds. What you waste is your own time."

After reprimanding the student, Wang Hai's gaze swept over Zhang Yu, who was tempering his body in the corner.

Looking at Zhang Yu, Wang Hai recalled the Physical Strength data tested from him today. "Level 0.85? His Physical Strength increased by Level 0.02 in three days?"

"Zhang Yu wasn't this fast even when he used to inject medicine every day, was he?" Based on Wang Hai's many years of teaching experience, Zhang Yu's Physical Strength could not possibly have grown this quickly through pure Natural Body Refinement without taking medicine or injections, as he claimed. He must have secretly injected medicine before class.

"Not only is it not Natural Body Refinement, the medicine he injected must have been especially potent to achieve this effect. The damage to his body is probably severe too."

As for Zhang Yu reaching Level 3 in the Body Tempering Thirty-Six Forms and undergoing demonic training in an extreme state by himself, that possibility had never even crossed Wang Hai's mind.

But regardless, Zhang Yu was increasingly challenging Wang Hai's authority in class.

In particular, there was one question hidden within this: where had Zhang Yu bought his medicine?

Would other students see the results on Zhang Yu's body and seek out that channel to buy medicine as well?

Would that not affect his sales performance?

At the thought of the blood and rain of the body-tempering medicine market, every warning nerve in Wang Hai's head instantly tensed.

"A second-year or third-year teacher?"

"Or did some outside cram-school teacher advise him?"

"Are they trying to sell goods on my turf?"

As far as Wang Hai was concerned, Zhang Yu himself was merely a chess piece. What he most wanted to understand was the person behind Zhang Yu.

However, the influence within the class still needed to be erased.

Thus, a moment later, Wang Hai gave a few instructions to a student named Zhao Tianxing.

Zhao Tianxing then came to Zhang Yu's side and said, "Zhang Yu, Teacher Wang asked me to ask whether you're sure you won't be buying medicine from now on?"

After seeing Zhang Yu nod, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Well... the teacher asked me to tell you that, so you won't affect everyone else's training, he wants you to practice by yourself in the little room off to the side. Is that okay?"

After receiving Wang Hai's instructions, Zhao Tianxing understood that Wang Hai intended to isolate Zhang Yu further.

There was a trace of pity in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Yu, but his actions did not hesitate in the slightest.

As one of Wang Hai's so-called good students, an obedient student, Zhao Tianxing had fully accepted Wang Hai's guidance, purchased every medicine Wang Hai recommended, and combined it with his own hard work. Step by step, he had broken through to Level 1.00 Physical Strength and become one of the top ten students in the class in terms of Physical Strength.

Thus, he had always obeyed Sports Teacher Wang Hai without question.

Yet worried that Zhang Yu might be upset, he spoke very politely and added after finishing, "Why don't you buy some medicine after all? Teacher Wang's medicine is especially high-quality. Natural Body Refinement really won't work..."

But to Zhao Tianxing's surprise, Zhang Yu did not hesitate at all and directly agreed to go out and train.

Watching the other's departing back, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head and thought, Sigh, Zhang Yu is kind of stubborn. Couldn't he just apologize to the teacher, admit his mistake, and continue attending class properly? In one impulsive move, he's ruined his own future.

On the other side, Zhang Yu entered the small room, gave a low chuckle, sat down, and immediately began practicing the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

Wisps of spiritual opportunity flowed into his Dantian Qi Sea, where Zhang Yu refined them bit by bit into Magical Power.

Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method Level 1 (11/20) → Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method Level 1 (16/20)

In the blink of an eye, he had completed five cycles, and the two Physical Education Classes had ended as well.

Yet during the following Language Class and Math Class, Zhang Yu remained in the classroom, diligently circulating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

Circulating spiritual opportunity and refining Magical Power for long periods was naturally an extremely boring task.

His waist, abdomen, and shoulders would ache, his skin would itch, and his mind would grow dry and weary.

Even the Zhang Yu of the past, after circulating his breath for one or two hours, would often be unable to resist taking a break—standing up to walk around, scratching an itch, or rubbing his head.

But now, driven onward by Ritual Power and encouraged by the changing numbers on the Feather Scroll, Zhang Yu gritted his teeth and continued cultivating. At last, he raised the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method to its twentieth cycle in one breath.

Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method Level 2 (0/40)

The cultivation experience of countless circulations of the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method blossomed in Zhang Yu's mind. He could feel the Magical Power circulation within him becoming more complex, more exquisite, and somewhat more surging.

After Zhang Yu stopped, the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method continued circulating, but its speed had become somewhat faster than before.

"At Level 1, the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method's Passive Breathing Technique only operated at thirty percent of the speed of active Breath Circulation."

"But after reaching Level 2, the speed of Passive Breathing Technique has risen to thirty-five percent of active Breath Circulation."

"As for actively circulating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method, its Breath Circulation efficiency has also improved significantly. It is far stronger than my original Level 1 Basic Breathing Technique."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, feeling fairly satisfied. These were improvements that would accumulate over long days and nights without cease.

So after lunch, he pressed on with renewed vigor and continued raising the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

During the time that followed, he devoted nearly every usable moment to the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method.

Immortal Dao studies in High School were both dull and arduous. Especially with Ritual Power forcing Zhang Yu onward, he did not have even a moment to relax. Only by watching the number after the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method rise bit by bit, and imagining the long-term benefits brought by the technique's passive effect, could his spirit feel somewhat better.

If one could not resist, then one could only enjoy it.

Thus, he cultivated the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method during Physical Education Class.

He cultivated the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method during Language Class.

He was still cultivating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method during his lunch break.

While waiting for work in the square at night, he continued cultivating the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method. Unfortunately, he had not found work for the past three days.

And there was no need to mention when he went home to sleep—the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method continued circulating on its own.

In just three short days, the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method had risen to Level 4 (5/80).

Zhang Yu's Magical Power also advanced valiantly and vigorously with his diligent cultivation, rising from 7.8 to 8.3.

At that point, the Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method's passive Breath Circulation speed had reached forty-five percent of the active Breath Circulation speed.

(End of Chapter)