In today's Magic Power Class, the students of the demonstration class were seated cross-legged in the quiet room, practicing the Breathing Skill.
The camera in front monitored every move of the students, capturing whether they opened their eyes, scratched an itch, fidgeted, or shifted their posture... Any slight anomaly was recorded.
All this data was uniformly logged as the distraction rate.
The class with the highest weekly distraction rate would be publicly criticized by the entire school.
The students of the demonstration class didn't mind since they inevitably ranked first in any assessment.
The student with the lowest distraction rate each week would not only be publicly praised but also rewarded with 500 yuan and a free one-hour rental of the Heavenly Spirit Root.
This motivated each student in the demonstration class to become more alert.
It was the first time Zhang Yu learned of the existence of the distraction rate, and he lamented that if such a thing had existed in his past life, students would have undoubtedly cursed the school as idiots.
However, the world was different, with each student in the demonstration class eyeing the daily distraction rate like bulls in heat, filling the whole class with intense competitive energy.
At this moment, accompanied by a bell sound, everyone silently practicing mana flow stopped and looked toward the large screen at the front, anticipating the distraction rate data for this class.
1st Place: Zhang Yu, Distraction Rate 0%, Mana 8.3
2nd Place: Bai Zhenzhen, Distraction Rate 0.03%, Mana 11.2
3rd Place: Qian Shen, Distraction Rate 0.12%, Mana 11.1
...
Looking at the distraction rate rankings, although the students in the classroom remained silent, one could sense a trace of surprise spreading through their eyes and subtle expressions.
The instructor for the Magic Power Class was surnamed Yan, a female teacher with her hair in a bun, wearing black-framed glasses.
Teacher Yan, looking at the screen results, remarked, "Those with a distraction rate over 0.3%, I won't call your names today."
"It's been three months since the semester started; how many times have I told you to focus your mind and integrate your energy calmly?"
"With such a high distraction rate, how can your breathing efficiency compare to others?"
"Everyone practices 24 hours a day; you won't have more time than others. If your breathing efficiency is low, you'll fall slightly behind each day. After three years in high school, your mana disparity could be 10, 20, or even 30 points."
"And how many times have I told you, for those who can't lower their distraction rate, you can come to my office to buy calming pills. I sat in my office for three hours yesterday afternoon, and not one of you came to ask me… does everyone think they have no issues at all?!"
After some reprimanding, Teacher Yan smiled slightly, looking at the screen's top students: "Of course, there are also those who have performed very well."
"I'd like to commend the three students with the lowest distraction rates, especially Zhang Yu, who has maintained a 0% distraction rate for four consecutive days, a qualitative leap compared to before."
"His mana has also increased by 0.5 points over the last three days, indicating that he has certainly put in intense effort outside of class, either renting a spirit root or a high-grade spirit machine training room, isn't that right, Zhang Yu?"
All the students immediately turned their attention to him.
But there was Zhang Yu, still sitting with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep yet still silently operating the Circulation Qi Gathering Method.
Teacher Yan praised: "You see, this is the attitude of a true top student, not stopping even after class, seizing every second to practice and become stronger."
Zhao Tianxing looked at Zhang Yu, who was still earnestly practicing breathing, and found himself increasingly unable to understand this classmate: "Clearly someone so diligent, why does he instead slack off in PE class and avoid injections?"
Bai Zhenzhen glanced at Zhang Yu, still with his eyes tightly closed, pondering: "Yu Zi has been practicing breathing almost continuously these past days aside from eating and relieving himself… Could it be the phone calls urging the 700,000 debt have pushed him to this extent?"
On the platform, Teacher Yan continued: "Of course, as they say, you get what you pay for, and on the Immortal Path, nothing comes for free; you can't go far without spending money. Recently, there are open slots for Heavenly Spirit Root rentals at the school; interested students can come talk to me."
Before Teacher Yan left, something she mentioned caught Zhang Yu's attention.
"By the way, the city's magic competition will start next month, and in the freshman group, almost every high school in Songyang City will participate; the first-place prize is 100,000…"
"Since registration is next Friday, the school plans to select the ten students with the highest mana levels in the first year to participate in the competition…"
...
That evening, in the cafeteria.
Zhou Tianyi had to leave early for a tutoring session, leaving only Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen at the dining table.
Looking left and right at Bai Zhenzhen, Zhang Yu finally spoke up: "Azhen, I know I'm incredibly handsome, standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens in such a study-focused place as Songyang High School, but you don't have to stare at me like that."
Bai Zhenzhen asked, "You said you want to participate in the magic competition?"
"Too bad, Azhen." Zhang Yu shook his head: "If you weren't my friend, you as the top genius of the grade should be challenging me instead, then getting repeatedly faced with my astonishing performance on the field, only to have your pupils quaking countless degrees."
Bai Zhenzhen shook her head: "Yu Zi, the competition you want to join is the city-wide magic contest."
"It's where every high school in Songyang City sends their most outstanding, mana-rich, and wealthiest students to compete, gathering countless affluent individuals."
Bai Zhenzhen remarked empathetically: "What outcome would await someone as ordinary as you entering such a competition?"
Her eyes seemed to foresee a dire future, expressing with a look of sorrow: "Being repeatedly humiliated by countless strong achievers, becoming a stepping stone for the rich, the clown of Songyang High School, and tarnishing the school's reputation to dust!"
"How tragic, I can already see you being ruthlessly trampled underfoot by prodigies from other schools, with your Dao Heart shattered, like a dead dog."
Zhang Yu rolled his eyes: "Don't exaggerate; the magic competition isn't a fight; losing isn't shameful."
"Besides, the first place gets a prize of 100,000 yuan."
"Even just making it to the top ten gets you 10,000 yuan."
Seeing Zhang Yu's money-hungry expression, Bai Zhenzhen thought Yu Zi must be truly pressured by the debt collector's calls, already crazed enough to attempt the competition.
Zhang Yu indeed faced financial difficulties; although he made 13,000 yuan at the Immortal Rhythm Company a few days ago, he used 10,000 to repay loans and another 1,500 for rent, leaving him with only a little over 2,000 yuan.
"If you want to enter the contest, first think about how to raise your mana level to the top ten in the grade. What's your current rank, 16th? How much more money would it take to climb to the top ten?"
Zhang Yu quickly calculated in his mind.
Currently, his mana is 8.3, ranking 16th in the grade.
And the student in the 10th spot has 9.5 mana.
So, to surpass them, Zhang Yu must raise his mana to 9.5 by next Friday...
"No, I have to consider that everyone will improve."
"To be safe, it's best to reach 10.0 by next Friday."
"With eight days until next Friday, is it possible to increase mana from 8.3 to 10.0, a full increase of 1.7?"
"Can I increase it by more than 0.2 per day... is it possible?"
Absolutely possible! Easily possible!
In the eyes of other teachers and students, Zhang Yu's rapid improvement these days must be due to spending large sums renting quality spirit roots and venues.
But Zhang Yu knew it all stemmed from his incredible potential and intense discipline.
The level 4 Circulation Qi Gathering Method alone allowed him to increase his mana by 0.5 in just three days; he believes that as the Circulation Qi Gathering Method continues to level up, his mana growth will be even more rapid.
"After all, during the Qi Refining Stage, the maximum skill level is 10."
"A level 4 Breathing Skill, for most freshman students, is something they can't achieve within the first semester."
"While as I continue practicing, I might soon upgrade the Circulation Qi Gathering Method to levels 8, 9, or even 10, reaching a level many might not achieve even by the end of high school."
Thinking about this, as Zhang Yu was regaining his spirit, he suddenly noticed Bai Zhenzhen's chopsticks reaching into his bowl.
"How audacious!" Zhang Yu scolded, raising his chopsticks to block.
In the ensuing series of clashes, Bai Zhenzhen easily outmaneuvered his chopsticks.
Noticing the familiarity in Bai Zhenzhen's actions, Zhang Yu exclaimed in surprise: "High School Basic Sword Technique? You've learned it? And incorporated it into chopstick maneuvers?"
Having taken a few pieces of meat from Zhang Yu's bowl, Bai Zhenzhen chuckled: "Is it that hard, Yu Zi? Isn't it just using your hands?"
Zhang Yu thought: "Damn, she showed off again."
Bai Zhenzhen mixed up the meat she got with some rice and remarked, "I didn't expect the 5 yuan set meal ribs to be so tasty; I'll get one next time too."
Patting her slightly bulging belly, Bai Zhenzhen gave a satiated burp and said, "Ugh, eating anymore would affect my tutoring."
Saying this, she pushed her tray towards Zhang Yu: "A supplemental meal for you, Yu Zi."
Looking at the neat and untouched 'leftover food' Bai Zhenzhen left, Zhang Yu understood she purposely left it for him.
Perhaps due to her awareness of Zhang Yu's financial struggles, Bai Zhenzhen had taken to offering him extra food during dinner time.
Zhang Yu took the tray over, eating as he said, "Azhen, you don't need to worry about things like my pride or self-respect. With our relationship, you could just transfer me money directly."
Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes: "I'm heading for tutoring; take your time to eat."
...
Outside the cafeteria.
A tall figure stood in the corridor not far away, glaring intently in the direction of the cafeteria door.
A moment later, seeing Zhang Yu exiting from the door, the figure quickly perked up and followed.
Following Zhang Yu out of the school gate, observing him entering a stationery store across the street, Zhao Tianxing's eyes flickered, and he thought: "Could this be where Zhang Yu gets his supplies?"