Purple Cloud Pill

A sharp, piercing screech of air friction rang out through the arena.

Zhang Yu held one hand high above his head. Resting on it was a flying sword spinning at high speed like a helicopter rotor.

I've chosen you! Spiral Shuriken!

In the next moment, he unleashed his magical power, and the spinning flying sword swept from low to high like an enormous disc toward the signal plates hanging in midair.

Ascetic Cultivator (Expand Details)

When Han Xingye focused on the expanded details above Zhang Yu's head, he saw a long string of words.

Ascetic Cultivator | Athletic Talent Student | Songyang City's Extremely Impoverished Population | Loan Slave | Card Slave | ???

After seeing that string of evaluations above Zhang Yu's head through the Heaven's Eye Talisman, Han Xingye was shocked for the second time that day.

"Songyang High School again?"

"Where did they dig up all these talents this year?"

The first two descriptions, Ascetic Cultivator and Athletic Talent Student, were easy enough to understand. They simply meant he trained diligently and with discipline, and that he excelled at sports.

The next three descriptions were easy to understand too. They could be summed up in two words: poor person.

It was the final three question marks that shocked Han Xingye.

"Question marks?"

"Stealth Talisman? Disguise Talisman?"

Since the Heaven's Eye Talisman could inspect someone's traits, there were naturally methods to counter it, such as Stealth Talismans and Disguise Talismans.

But first, how could a poor guy like this afford Talisman Arts?

And second, Han Xingye had never seen anyone deliberately create an effect like "???" after using a Stealth Talisman or Disguise Talisman. Wasn't that practically announcing that they were hiding something?

"Those three question marks are pretty arrogant."

Arrogance and poor person—two words that should never have gone together—were both things Han Xingye sensed above Zhang Yu's head.

So he became curious about Zhang Yu's performance.

Then he saw the flying sword begin to spin, soaring upwards like a disc.

Han Xingye's gaze sharpened. Watching the rapidly spinning flying sword stir up gusts of air and sweep through the signal plates dancing in midair like a full moon, a trace of astonishment appeared on his face.

Then he laughed. "Heh heh, this really does make it easier to hit the signal plates. In the shape of a disc, a few casual sweeps can strike every signal plate. It makes up for his lack of experience controlling a flying sword."

80 points

Han Xingye had just nodded slightly at the score when he heard many students voicing their dissatisfaction, accusing Zhang Yu of cheating and breaking the rules.

Han Xingye swept his gaze across them.

Not Worth Mentioning, Rare, Not Worth Mentioning, Not Worth Mentioning

Not Worth Mentioning, Not Worth Mentioning, Not Worth Mentioning, Rare

Not Worth Mentioning, Not Worth Mentioning, Rare, Not Worth Mentioning

Looking at the dissatisfied students, Han Xingye curled his lip and thought, A bunch of idiots.

To make a flying sword spin like that while retaining control instead of letting it fly out of control and crash around requires unbelievably precise control over magical power.

This magical-power flying sword was designed for straight-line paths. To make it spin like that, he has to constantly alter the rhythm of magical-power input every single instant.

That guy used his powerful control over magical power to make up for a great deal of his lack of experience operating a flying sword.

Eighty points isn't high at all. If anything, it's too low.

The judges probably didn't want to encourage this because of their relationship with the sponsoring companies.

Han Xingye glanced at Ziyun High School and Red Pagoda High School. Sure enough, not a single student from the Three Great Famous Schools objected. Clearly, they could all see how difficult it was.

In the following matches, people began trying Zhang Yu's method, but they all failed one after another, flinging their flying swords away.

Fortunately, referees stood watch nearby at all times, so no one was hurt.

By then, the many students who had originally objected gradually realized that Zhang Yu's spinning-flying-sword maneuver had been anything but simple.

On his way back, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. This flying sword really doesn't support this kind of operation. My magical power could clearly increase the rhythm even further, but the frequency at which the scabbard receives commands has already hit its limit. Otherwise, my score could have been higher.

Clearly, such high-speed rotation had not yet reached the limit of the magical-power control Zhang Yu had developed through the Level 10 Heavenly Cycle Qi Gathering Method. It had merely reached the flying sword's own design limit. After all, this flying sword had never been designed to be used this way.

The moment Zhang Yu returned to Songyang High School's rest area, he received Teacher Yan's praise.

"Zhang Yu, you did very well. You used magical-power control to make up for your shortcomings in flying-sword operation. Eighty points is too low."

"As for the complaints from those trash students at ordinary high schools, just treat them like air. Don't take them to heart."

Thinking of Zhang Yu's score, Teacher Yan secretly rejoiced. If the next two rounds have events better suited to Zhang Yu's strengths, maybe he can squeeze into the top ten?

Only the top ten in total Magic Competition scores received prize money and a real ranking, one that could help in university interviews. High schools also attached an entirely different level of importance to it.

At the thought that Zhang Yu might truly squeeze into the top ten, and that her year-end bonus would definitely rise as well, Teacher Yan's mood immediately soared.

She casually pointed at the student with the worst score this time and said, "Bai Zhenzhen, go get Zhang Yu a bottle of water. Zhang Yu, don't be nervous about the next two rounds. Just perform at your usual level..."

Bai Zhenzhen's eyes flew wide open. She glanced at Zhang Yu, who was snickering beside her, and could only rise helplessly and run over to the organizers to get water.

"Wait, A-Zhen. Let me take a picture."

"Are you trying to die, Zhang Yu?"

She hurled the water bottle at Zhang Yu's head, then sat down in a huff and thought, Fuck, I should've left before the competition started.

What bullshit Magic Competition. It's all a game for rich people.

Yuzi, you'd better make the top ten, or else I'll...

Not far away, He Dayou looked at Zhang Yu's score, a flicker of surprise crossing his heart. His magical-power control is actually this impressive? Good... good thing he's a poor bastard.

Not long after, the first event ended completely. The host came onstage again and said with a chuckle, "For good pills, choose Purple Cloud! Purple Cloud Pills for every age, wholeheartedly protecting your health—one dose cures ten thousand ailments! We thank Purple Cloud Company for jointly sponsoring this Magic Competition."

"All first-aid medicines for the second round will be sponsored by Purple Cloud Company..."

As he spoke, the host began announcing the rules of the second event. This round tested the ability to dissolve Special Magical Power.

The process was simple. With detection patches attached to the competitors' bodies, the judges would inject a strand of Special Magical Power and see how long it took each competitor to dissolve it. The shorter the time, the higher the score.

If more than ten minutes passed, or if a competitor felt unable to endure it, they could immediately take a Magic Dissipation Pill sponsored by Purple Cloud Company to eliminate the Special Magical Power inside their body.

Besides this, Purple Cloud Company had set up temporary medicine stalls all around, selling all kinds of medication the competitors might need.

The reason Purple Cloud Company was selling medicine here was because the second round had another rule.

This round allowed medication.

Zhang Yu was stunned.

Holy shit! Are you bastards even human? You're encouraging drug use in a competition just to earn Purple Cloud Company's sponsorship money?

At the same time, Zhang Yu saw his Songyang High School classmates pulling things out one after another.

Painkillers, sedatives, focus enhancers... Looking at the three-piece sets they took out, Zhang Yu suddenly realized these guys had come prepared long ago.

Teacher Yan asked with concern, "Zhang Yu, did you bring any medicine?"

"Remember to take it before the event starts."

Taking medicine during a competition... To Teacher Yan, that was perfectly normal.

Afraid of pain and itching? Chew a painkiller. Lacking willpower? Drink a sedative. Worried about getting distracted while circulating energy? Have a bottle of focus enhancer...

In short... if you wanted to be vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger on the field, you couldn't stop taking medicine off the field.

That was competition.

Competition meant taking medicine!

Magical Power Competitions had always been among pharmaceutical companies' favorite events to sponsor, so at least one round usually permitted competitors to take medicine. As long as the medication fell within the approved range listed by the organizers, it was allowed. This was also what the referees and Soul Cultivator assistants throughout the arena would supervise and inspect shortly.

Thus, taking medicine was part of the competition itself. It even displayed a high school's depth of resources.

Seeing Zhang Yu's bewildered expression, Teacher Yan helplessly opened her bag. "Look at you. You came to a competition without even preparing medicine?"

"Good thing I brought a spare set."

As she spoke, Teacher Yan pulled out all sorts of bottles and jars from her bag, poured out several doses, and handed them to Zhang Yu.

Looking at Teacher Yan's loving, concerned gaze, Zhang Yu helplessly accepted all the medicine.

Damn! My body probably can't take medicine, can it?

The original Zhang Yu had ruined his body by taking too much medicine. That memory had frightened Zhang Yu so badly that he had never dared take medicine carelessly, at most using some Nerve Filler to reduce his need for sleep.

On top of that, he possessed astonishing talent and bore enormous debts, so he had never planned on recklessly taking medicine in the first place.

Though he did not know whether his current body would have any problems from taking medicine indiscriminately, he had no intention of taking the risk.

Taking all this medicine for a competition... I'm afraid the lifespan I gain through Immortal Cultivation won't even match what I burn away.

But under Teacher Yan's attentive gaze, he could only nod with an awkward smile and think, I'll pretend to take it in the bathroom later.

Meanwhile, the entire venue had turned into a medicine exhibition.

In Ziyun High School's rest area, Lian Tianji stuffed a huge handful of medicine into his mouth, then took a great gulp of water and swallowed it all.

The competition coach watched his face gradually turn red and purple, then nodded. "Not bad. You've entered competition condition."

After saying that, he took a wooden box from his bag.

When the wooden box opened, ten syringes emitting a faint purple glow floated before everyone's eyes.

The competition coach said, "These are Meridian Expansion Injections brought from Purple Cloud Laboratory. As they circulate with your blood, they will temporarily widen the meridians throughout your bodies and increase the efficiency of your energy circulation later."

"One shot per person. Don't fight over them."

After watching the students finish their injections one by one, he encouraged them, "Everyone, you must endure to the end. Our total score isn't far behind White Dragon High School's. We must catch up in this round!"

Roar!

Having just taken medicine and injections, everyone felt boundless fighting spirit surge through them. They let out a thunderous roar that shook the ears.

Red Pagoda High School's rest area.

The competition coach held a Demon Descendant student shaped like a red panda in his arms and scooped several handfuls from the veterinary medicine beside him. "Bufan, have another handful. We're at the bottom among the Three Great Famous Schools now. If the second round goes the same way, my bonus for this year is finished."

The red panda, Xiong Bufan, stretched out a paw and gave him the middle finger. "Enough!"

"Stop feeding me!"

"Mmgh... fuck you... stop feeding me!"

Meanwhile, in White Dragon High School's rest area.

Song Hailong swallowed a huge handful of medicine, then looked toward Ziyun High School's rest area in the distance.

Hearing the fierce roars coming from Ziyun High School's side, he snorted coldly. "In a moment, I'll crush all your fighting spirit beneath my feet."

At the same time, competition coach Han Xingye walked over carrying an insulated case and said to the group, "These are Kang Ling Needles specially prepared by the school for you. Inject them into your Dantians shortly. Come get them now."

As the insulated case opened, a blast of cold air rushed forth, revealing two rows of fluorescent injections.

Song Hailong grinned. Wearing the number one on his school uniform, he was also the first to pick up a syringe.

The other students around him also took syringes from the insulated case in the order of the numbers on their chests, then jabbed them into their Dantians.

Students from the other schools watched enviously. Kang Ling Needles? They condense the essence of Spiritual Energy and can rapidly restore magical power inside the body. Are they planning to replenish magical power while dissolving magical power during the competition?

Some students were even filled with jealousy. "A Kang Ling Needle enters the dantian, and my fate is mine, not Heaven's. Sigh... I wonder if I'll ever be able to afford a Kang Ling Needle in this life."

At that moment, a commotion arose from one corner of the arena.

A student foaming at the mouth and convulsing in all four limbs was carried out, sparking a wave of discussion.

A student sighed, "Did they overdose?"

A teacher said disdainfully, "What overdose? There's only insufficient drug resistance. They still need more training!"

Another teacher clapped his hands and urged, "Stop minding other people's business! Focus on the competition!"

As everyone's preparations gradually came to an end, the second event officially began.