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However, while the difficulty of the Qingyuan Sword Class trial was "not high," the benefits were certainly not lacking.

At this point, one must introduce a special currency unique to Qingyuan: Study Points.

The so-called Study Point is a currency of extremely high value; one Study Point has the purchasing power of ten yuan, but ten yuan cannot be converted back into a Study Point.

As for the utility of Study Points, the most basic use is for meals at the school cafeteria, purchasing items at the school supermarket, or even paying tuition fees directly.

In particular, when paying tuition, using Study Points grants a thirty percent discount.

Furthermore, upon graduation, one can go to the School Administration Office and exchange them for cash at a one-to-ten ratio.

Beyond that, Study Points have advanced applications, such as changing seats or even switching classes.

As long as you have enough Study Points, in a sense, you can do whatever you want.

The only catch is that Study Points do not support transactions between students; they can only be used by the individual for themselves.

The reason for this regulation is tied to the acquisition rules for Qingyuan's Study Points.

The most conventional way to earn Study Points at Qingyuan is through exams. In every monthly exam, the top three in the class and the top ten in the grade generally receive Study Points. The latter, in particular, sees the top-ranked student in the grade receive as many as two hundred points.

What does two hundred mean? At a one-to-ten exchange rate, that is two thousand yuan. Over the course of a year, with nearly ten major exams, that approaches twenty thousand yuan.

It is entirely possible to cover one's tuition and living expenses solely through academic performance.

In addition, earning honors in off-campus competitions or performing on stage at school-organized events can also yield a certain amount of Study Points.

Then there is the school forum, where activities released at certain times also offer opportunities to earn Study Points.

As for Zhao Cheng, ever since Qingyuan reformed its system and the Study Point system was introduced, he had always been an insulator to them.

Never mind the top ten in the grade; even the top three in the class were filled with insurmountable obstacles given his ability.

Of course, because the average score of Zhao Cheng's class was not high enough, the coefficient for earning Study Points for the top three was also low, though whether it was high or low had absolutely nothing to do with Zhao Cheng.

His Study Point balance had always been zero.

Unlike some top students who used Study Points not just for cafeteria meals but even for tuition, living in such an extravagant manner.

As for the source of the Study Points, it did not rely on funding from the Education Bureau, but rather on the profits from the cafeteria, the school supermarket, and the school choice fees paid by some students; every transaction was public and verifiable.

Using an entire school to support a small group of elite students was naturally an easy task.

And the effect of this incentive model was indeed very good.

Of course, this model was not unique to Qingyuan; it emerged about thirty years ago.

At first, it was only implemented in prestigious schools in super-first-tier cities, as only they had the strength to do so.

As the economy continued to develop and grew wealthier, it spread at an extremely rapid pace, like a prairie fire, first to prestigious schools in first-tier cities, then to second-tier cities.

As for a third-tier small city like Xiangnan, under normal circumstances, it would have taken at least a dozen years, and it might not even have reached Qingyuan, but rather the First Middle School of Xiangnan at most.

And after every trial in the Qingyuan Sword Class, Study Points were awarded based on ranking.

However, students in the Qingyuan Sword Class were different from ordinary students; they had additional exchange privileges, allowing them to redeem special items.

When purchasing these special items, their Study Points had triple the purchasing power.

In other words, one Study Point was equal to thirty yuan.

As for the number of Study Points awarded:

First place: 300 Study Points.

Second to fifth place: 150 Study Points.

Sixth to tenth place: 80 Study Points.

Eleventh to fifteenth: 60 Study Points.

Sixteenth to twentieth: 40 Study Points.

Twentieth to twenty-fifth: 30 Study Points.

Twenty-fifth to thirtieth: 20 Study Points.

Thirtieth to thirty-fifth: 15 Study Points.

The resources obtained by the first-place student were twenty times greater than those obtained by the last-place student.

This was what Shi Tianyi meant when he said that resources always tilt toward the strong.

Although this disparity in the Qingyuan Sword Class seemed cruel, even the last-place student actually received a purchasing power of about four hundred and fifty yuan.

After all, this was school; in society, the reality would only be crueler, with no such thing as a safety net.

It was truly a case of the strong getting everything and the weak having nothing.

To those who have, more will be given, and from those who have not, even what they have will be taken away.

After this match, Zhao Cheng fought his way to third place and instantly received 150 Study Points. If these points were exchanged for special items, it would be equivalent to four thousand five hundred yuan.

Four thousand five, it didn't seem like much, but one had to know that Zhao Cheng's parents were both employed, and their combined monthly salary was only about fifteen thousand.

Yet, with just that salary, they had bought a house in less than ten years, and in the process, they had supported two children through school, never once falling short on daily pocket money.

As for the cost of living, a bowl of noodles nowadays cost two yuan, which shows the purchasing power of four thousand five hundred.

Zhao Cheng had walked the path of society in his past life and endured its harsh beatings, and having embarked on an extraordinary path in this life, he did not let this "huge sum" of 150 study points stir his heart. If it were a typical high school student who had suddenly come into such a fortune, their composure would inevitably have been shaken.

There was also the matter of the Qingyuan sword trials, which took place every half month.

From this, one could see just how formidable Qingyuan's strength truly was; they lacked for nothing, least of all money.

This question was also a point of confusion for many, leading to a proliferation of groundless rumors and hearsay.

It was only rumored that Qingyuan was a pilot project for a large-scale endeavor, and due to certain special circumstances, it had received funding from a major financial conglomerate, which accounted for its sudden rise.

"The logistics department of the kendo class will open shortly. Since you placed third this time, you have 150 study points. Don't let them sit idle; exchange them all."

"It is evident that your mental power is quite strong, but your physique is lacking. You haven't taken any supplements before, so what suits you best right now are the Three Treasures Health Pill and Three Yang Body Cleansing Water from Tianxin Pharmaceutical."

"The former nourishes the three treasures internally, strengthening the five viscera and six bowels over time and imbuing them with vitality; the latter nourishes the muscles, bones, and skin externally, making them both strong and supple while rendering the body more transparent."

"Neither of these medicines is particularly potent, but they are perfectly suited for your current stage."

"The Three Treasures Health Pill costs three study points, and the Three Yang Body Cleansing Water costs five. You should exchange for twenty-eight Three Treasures Health Pill and thirteen doses of Three Yang Body Cleansing Water; that will be just enough to last until the next sword trial."

"You should be practicing your swordsmanship twice a day. Take one Three Treasures Health Pill after each session, and perform your breathing technique for a quarter of an hour afterward for the best results."

"Use the Three Yang Body Cleansing Water when you bathe. Submerge your entire body, including your head, while holding your breath. Soak for twenty minutes per dose, and follow it up with twenty minutes of your breathing technique to achieve the optimal effect."