You dare to cultivate without money?!-Chapter 38 - 27: Last-Minute Exam Rush

3 a.m.

In the office of Songyang High School.

Su Haifeng looked at the list on the computer screen and spoke to the other end of the phone: "Hmm... There's no change in the Dao Heart score."

"The Mana has improved rapidly recently; it seems most of the time and money were spent on Breathing Skill, which is how it reached the top 10 level."

"Physical strength hasn't been tested for three weeks due to isolation, but it had already dropped to 19th before, and now that he is focusing on Mana, maintaining the 19th spot is already a blessing."

"No significant progress in Martial Arts or Daoism, it's possible these two subjects might drop to 30th place after this monthly exam."

Reviewing Zhang Yu's recent scores, Su Haifeng shook his head: "Overall, I don't think he will make significant progress in this monthly exam."

"The school is likely to give him a Tier D contract."

"I understand. I will try my best to persuade him to sign the contract."

"Even though it's unclear how he got Li Xuelian's favor, he's taken the exam, and he should realize his situation now."

After hanging up, Su Haifeng casually closed Zhang Yu's score record and started reading the next document.

To him, Zhang Yu was just a small matter among many others; there were more important things and students in Songyang High School needing his attention.

...

4 a.m.

In an unfinished building.

Today is the day of the monthly exam at Songyang High School.

Although Zhang Yu's abilities had improved significantly after nine days of hardship, he was still practicing the Thirty-Six Forms of Body Building intensively, hoping to enhance his capabilities before the exam officially began.

At this moment, his status panel on the Yu Shu prologue had changed to:

Zhang Yu

Dao Heart lvl 1

Mana 11.7

Physical Strength lvl 1.05

Thanks to passive Breathing Skill mixed with occasional active sessions, his Mana increased from 10.5 to 11.7.

His Physical Strength, through relentless training, rose from lvl 0.85 to lvl 1.05.

Of course, the most significant improvement over these nine days was the Thirty-Six Forms of Body Building, which at this moment reached lvl 9 (89/90).

As Zhang Yu threw his final punch, the Thirty-Six Forms reached lvl 10, the limit of the Qi Refining Realm.

As he upgraded the Thirty-Six Forms to lvl 10, memories seemed to flood through his mind, of him practicing the forms over and over, contemplating deeply on his physical being.

After countless meticulous refinements, his body was on the brink of a qualitative change, beginning to adjust in a more optimal manner.

A booming sound seemed to resound in his mind!

As his heart pumped waves of blood and energy throughout his body, Zhang Yu seemed to undergo a transformation.

His muscles contracted and expanded, bones cracking with audible snaps, and his body outline subtly enlarged.

Muscle distribution optimized for force, bones more sturdy and stable, his entire physique more balanced and coordinated.

This was the culmination of body optimization achieved gradually while leveling up the Thirty-Six Forms to lvl 10, now completed instantly.

Physical Strength lvl 1.05 → lvl 1.25

With the adjustment and optimization of his body structure, Zhang Yu's Physical Strength surged by 0.2 levels, a 20% increase.

Particularly, Zhang Yu felt the kind of enhancement this structural optimization would bring was more than just a one-time strength increase but would have lasting effects, allowing him to progress further and faster in Body Refinement.

Zhang Yu smiled slightly, excited in his heart: "Reaching lvl 10 in the Thirty-Six Forms actually triggered an active body structure optimization."

"Could leveling up skills to 10 generally bring such a big improvement?"

This was information not taught in class.

But Zhang Yu figured, even the basic martial art like the Thirty-Six Forms at lvl 10, was too distant for first-year students, so it's normal for the teacher to skip such details.

"Next, I'll also promote the Circulation Qi Gathering Method to lvl 10 and see what happens."

Circulation Qi Gathering Method lvl 8 (3/160)

Zhang Yu estimated it would take him about a week to level this Breathing Skill to lvl 10.

However, even with these thoughts, he did not immediately switch his specialization on Yu Shu to the Circulation Qi Gathering Method, because he had other plans for today.

"Please adhere to the ritual agreement, strive to fulfill the wish, avoid deliberately slacking off, 10."

Just as Zhang Yu was feeling uplifted by his improvements, that damned countdown began ticking again.

Although Zhang Yu cursed at it, he knew it had neither will nor intelligence, cursing it felt like punching into the air, empty and meaningless.

So he sat down cross-legged, and while meditating and practicing Breathing Skill, he also let his exhausted body rest and recover some physical strength.

Prepare...for the monthly exam.

...

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Songyang High School.

The students rushed around with a hint of unease on their faces.

The atmosphere in the school seemed to hint at a grim sense of tension today.

Zhang Yu looked up; the original banner reading "Live to death, learn to death" had been changed to an anti-suicide slogan "One person acts recklessly, the whole family pays the price."

Even the perimeter of the rooftop was wrapped with barbed wire, increasing the difficulty for students to act rashly.

Beside him, Bai Zhenzhen praised: "It seems those heartless school leaders are finally showing some concern for the students, knowing that the monthly exam can easily lead to emotional breakdowns, they even added some protective measures."

However, upon arriving at the cafeteria for breakfast and seeing the notice about the price increase of some dishes, Bai Zhenzhen couldn't help but burst into anger.

"Raising the prices again? How many times since the start of the semester?"

"A bunch of useless people can't even handle the cafeteria properly, how can they run a school?"

Zhang Yu consoled: "Sigh, acting inhuman is their usual practice, just keep your mindset calm so as not to affect today's monthly exam."

But moments later, listening to the cafeteria aunt announce the new rule, Zhang Yu angrily retorted: "Why can only one 5 yuan meal be served per person per day? I could get ten yesterday! Students just want to eat their fill; why can't they?"

"Alright, alright, Yu Zi." Bai Zhenzhen patted Zhang Yu's shoulder comfortingly: "Don't be rash, a teacher is watching, how about I buy you an extra basic meal?"

Carrying his meal, Zhang Yu found a place to sit and checked his account balance.

Even though he had once again received the 500 yuan reward for 0% distraction rate, due to the high daily food consumption needed for Body Refinement, the continuous use and purchase of nerve fillers, along with travel and other miscellaneous expenses, his savings had dwindled to 6000.

And the new month was about to start, meaning new loans to repay, new rent, utilities to pay...

And the food expenses, after starting high-intensity Body Refinement, Zhang Yu felt his appetite growing; eating ten pounds a day was normal, costing hundreds per day, totaling over ten thousand a month.

Zhang Yu increasingly felt that cultivation was indeed a money-consuming endeavor.

"Hopefully, I'll get good results in the monthly exam, secure a good contract."

"Otherwise, I'll have to go back to working part-time."

Just then, Zhou Tianyi sat down beside the two with his meal, shaking his head helplessly: "Do you know why the cafeteria prices increased?"

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen both lifted their heads suddenly, staring at Zhou Tianyi, waiting for him to continue.

"The city government, in order to promote Oasis Company's synthetic food, increased the tariffs on ingredients imported from other cities, meaning in the future, the prices of non-synthetic foods in the whole Songyang City will likely keep rising."

"It's said that the principal is also considering replacing the cafeteria's pre-made dishes with synthetic food."

The original Zhang Yu had eaten quite a bit of synthetic food before cultivation, as it was much cheaper.

Fried insects, plant protein, with recycled water and oil, the taste was described as not fit for pigs.

"So even the pre-made meals can't be eaten?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen sighed again, cursing Oasis Company and the city government for being inhuman.

After breakfast, since today was the monthly exam, the three did not return to the classroom as usual but proceeded to their respective exam venues.

In the morning, there were the General Education Exam and the Martial Arts Theory Exam, both written tests, the former with a total score of 50 points, and the latter 20 points.

In the afternoon, there would be the 100-point Daoism exam, and the 80-point Martial Arts practical exam.

The 80 practical points and 20 from the morning's Martial Arts theory combine to make the 100 points for the Martial Arts Class.

Being all written exams in the morning, the original Zhang Yu was already very proficient in these areas.

After the exams, Zhang Yu, unlike other students, didn't busy himself with matching answers but quickly had lunch and then made use of time in the small garden to start training.

Freehand lvl 1 (0/10)

Zhang Yu switched his specialization on Yu Shu to Freehand, which was why he hadn't switched to the Circulation Qi Gathering Method earlier.

After leveling the Thirty-Six Forms to 10 the previous day, no matter how he worked on the Circulation Qi Gathering Method, substantial improvement was unlikely.

However, using daytime breaks to boost his Freehand, only at lvl 1, could at least get this skill up to lvl 2.

This would undoubtedly contribute to the improvement in the afternoon's Martial Arts practical exam.

With this thought, Zhang Yu practiced more earnestly.

During his moves, driven by the 1.25 Physical Strength, his entire body rang with the sound of bones and muscles; every punch and palm carried gusts of wind and thunder.

Meanwhile, strands of Mana flowed into different body parts with each move, enhancing the power of each strike.

Freehand is a basic practical Martial Art, containing only 15 moves, but it covers punches and palms, legs and grapples, addressing various combat situations, each move having a corresponding Mana flow path.

Zhang Yu diligently practiced these 15 moves repetitively.

As a practical Martial Art, practicing Freehand had a lower intensity compared to the Thirty-Six Forms.

Additionally, with his current Physical Strength level 1.25, alongside the Mana circulation from the lvl 8 Circulation Qi Gathering Method, and the body optimization from the lvl 10 Thirty-Six Forms, his speed in practicing Freehand accelerated, and in just over 50 minutes, he reached lvl 2.

Freehand lvl 1 (0/10) → Freehand lvl 2 (0/20)

Instantly, the 15 Freehand moves flashed through Zhang Yu's mind back and forth, and he mastered them thoroughly.

But Zhang Yu didn't stop; although his body was feeling tired, he decided to continue practicing this Martial Art.

"There are still two and a half hours before the afternoon exam begins."

"Let's see if I can push Freehand to lvl 3 before the exam."

And so Zhang Yu practiced the 15 Freehand moves tirelessly, sweat pouring down like rain.

As his body grew more fatigued, his limbs started to weaken, and his movements began to lose precision.

But whenever Zhang Yu thought of his mounting debts and steadily rising expenses, he held on with gritted teeth.

Over two hours later, a huge bead of sweat dropped to the ground with a plop.

Now, Zhang Yu's entire body emitted steam, his muscles boiling from hours of intense activity.

However, a smile appeared on Zhang Yu's face, as he had finally managed to push this Martial Art to the third level.