Chapter 74: The Competition Begins

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen stood in awkward silence, wondering if they could borrow a little money from Lei Jun later, a familiar voice rang out.

“Zhenzhen, Zhang Yu, you’re already here.”

They whipped around and, upon seeing Zhao Tianxing emerge from the subway station, ran at him like starving zombies rushing a feast, clutching him like he was their last hope.

Zhao Tianxing had come today specifically to watch their competition.

“Old Zhao, lend us some cash. We need dinner,” Zhang Yu said.

Zhao Tianxing transferred ten yuan after fumbling with his phone for a while, sighing helplessly. “My mom’s afraid I’ll waste money, so she only lets me carry this much when I go out.”

Useless mama’s boy. I’m ashamed to be in the same squad as you.

Still, ten was better than nothing. Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen dragged their half-starved bodies into the convenience store nearby and bought a few buns.

But given their current cultivation and physical stats, a few measly buns didn’t even scratch the surface of their hunger.

Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes glowed green as she stared at the shelves. “Yuzi, let’s rob this place.”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Sure, you handle the robbing, I’ll take care of selling the loot.”

Then she asked, “Do you think White Dragon High School will offer free food?”

“Free?” Zhang Yu snorted. “We’ll be lucky if they don’t charge us double.”

At that moment, their eyes lit up.

A familiar figure stood in front of White Dragon High School’s grand gates, staring up at the school’s sign with reverence and snapping pictures with his phone.

“Old Qian!”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen rushed over and grabbed Qian Shen by the hand. “Treat us to dinner, man. We’re starving to the point we can’t compete.”

Qian Shen looked confused but tapped his phone. “Will 300 be enough?”

Holy crap! Zhang Yu was stunned.

Then he started to reflect: what had he been doing these past two months?

Hanging out with a card debt fiend like Bai Zhenzhen? Befriending a mama’s boy like Zhao Tianxing?

Old Qian! You’re my one true bro!

Thanks to Qian Shen’s generosity, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen demolished twelve 10-yuan combo meals in the convenience store, costing Qian Shen 120 yuan.

Patting his slightly rounded belly, Bai Zhenzhen sighed in contentment. “That’s enough. We’ve still got the competition coming up. Half full will do.”

Zhang Yu agreed and nodded. Then he turned to Qian Shen. “Don’t worry, Old Qian. Once the competition’s over and we win that prize money, we’ll pay you back.”

But Qian Shen didn’t seem to care. Instead, he scratched his head and asked, “So… is that 699-score Zhang Pianpian coming to watch you compete?”

Zhang Yu looked at Qian Shen with pity. Poor Tom, completely bewitched by a high-score goddess.

He wanted to tell him: you’ve got 620, she’s at 699. That’s a whole dimension apart. There’s no becoming friends.

But then he patted his newly satisfied stomach and said, “Probably not. She’s super busy—no time to watch some freshman-level competition.”

Qian Shen nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, she’s in her final year. Must be busy prepping for the college entrance exam and interviews.”

Off to the side, Zhao Tianxing kept glancing nervously at the time on his phone. “Didn’t you guys set the meeting with Mr. Lei for midnight? It’s almost time. Shouldn’t we head over?”

So the four of them walked back to the gates of White Dragon High School. Since Lei Jun hadn’t arrived yet, Zhang Yu suggested they wait inside.

But as soon as they stepped within a meter of the school gate, it was like some detection system had scanned them.

An electronic warning blared from the side display: “Non-White Dragon High School personnel, please do not enter.”

They turned to look, and saw the screen flashing:

Visitors must scan the code to purchase a ticket.

Single-person 12-hour pass: Access limited to below 3rd floor. Price: 500

Visitors scoring 660 or above on monthly or college entrance exams may enter free of charge.

Anyone scoring below 550 or without a high school degree is strictly forbidden from entering.

What the actual hell… “No entry for academic losers and dogs”? Under 550 gets banned, and you need over 660 to get in for free?

Zhang Yu looked at the display, then at the group.

In that moment, it felt like the school had systematically dissed all four of them from top to bottom.

And even if he wanted to buy a ticket… there wasn’t even 500 in his account.

Was he seriously about to be disqualified before the competition even started because of a ticket?

Zhang Yu awkwardly turned toward Qian Shen—only to see Bai Zhenzhen doing the same.

But Qian Shen was too mesmerized by the school gates. “Just like I heard. White Dragon’s gates aren’t something just anyone can pass through.”

And then he pulled out his phone, ready to buy a ticket.

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen opened their mouths to beg for cash, Mr. Lei Jun finally strolled up.

“You two don’t need to buy tickets,” Lei Jun waved them over. “You’re here to compete. White Dragon sent us entry passes.”

After receiving the electronic passes from Lei Jun, the group finally made it inside—except for Zhao Tianxing, who stood frozen at the gates.

With all eyes on him, Zhao Tianxing scratched his head furiously and muttered, “You guys go ahead. I’ll call my mom for some money. I’ll buy a ticket and find you inside.”

Lei Jun knew that Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing were only there to support the competitors, so he nodded. “The competition’s in the basement. You can catch up later.”

As Zhang Yu and the others stepped into the school building, he immediately noticed something strange in the air.

Qian Shen took a deep breath and marveled, “Smell that? That sweet scent in the air?”

“White Dragon High’s air circulation system includes a Focus Enhancer. It boosts mental concentration and neural stimulation. They’ve even added fruit and floral scents…”

Zhang Yu was speechless. Damn, even the air here is rich.

They walked on and soon saw the corridor floor was split into two colors: white and red.

The white strip ran down the center, marked: Reserved for students scoring 660 and above.

Red lined both sides, marked: Reserved for students scoring below 660.

Zhang Yu froze for a moment. Then he laughed bitterly… Really? Sub-660 students can’t even walk down the middle?

Qian Shen added helpfully, “Every area in White Dragon High has entry rules based on student scores. Students must stick to the zones their scores permit.”

Zhang Yu was speechless again… Like hell! Why are you so well-informed, Qian? You from Songyang, or trying to transfer here?

When they reached the elevators, they found yet another notice: Below 660 not permitted to use elevators.

So that was it—at White Dragon High School, if you scored below 660, you weren’t even treated like a person. You’d be blocked at every turn.

Good thing they were just visitors. The rules didn’t apply to them.

The group took the elevator down to the first basement floor, and in the blink of an eye, a colossal arena stretched out before them—nearly ten meters high and covering tens of thousands of square meters.

The place was bustling with high schoolers coming and going; clearly, many of the competitors had already arrived.

But as Zhang Yu looked around, he realized that nearly all the participants were from the Three Great Academies. Students from other high schools were few and far between.

“Compared to the Law Tournament, this Martial Arts Competition is practically an internal league for the Three Great Academies.”

In the spectator stands, aside from a few scattered students from various schools, there were three large groups seated in perfect formation—backs straight, heads high—like military phalanxes.

Zhang Yu stared at their orderly posture and their uniforms. “Are those students from the Three Great Academies?”

He was genuinely surprised. “They’re not studying every spare second? They came here just to watch?”

Especially the students from White Dragon High School—their eyes were wide, their postures proud, their spirits high, looking like they were hopped up on stimulants.

Just then, a male voice came from the side: “They’re all first-years from the Three Great Academies. Observing battles between peers helps improve real combat performance in martial arts, clarifies the gap between oneself and the strong, and strengthens the heart on the Immortal Path.”

Zhang Yu and the others turned toward the voice.

It was Lian Tianji from Purple Cloud High School. He walked over slowly, smiling at Zhang Yu. “I figured you’d join the Martial Arts Competition. And here you are.”

Then he glanced at Zhang Yu’s group and raised an eyebrow. “Only this many from Songyang?”

The next moment, he nodded with an air of understanding. “Well, I guess that makes sense… it’s Songyang, after all.”

Zhang Yu felt like his Songyang uniform had just been passively insulted again.

But he had never been a die-hard loyalist to Songyang. Their reputation wasn’t his problem—he was just a contract worker for the Inspectorate Department of Songyang City.

So he asked, curious, “How many came from the Three Great Academies?”

Lian Tianji pointed toward a section near the arena. “See that? That’s them. Purple Cloud, White Dragon, and Red Tower—all sent full squads of ten. We already went through an internal elimination at school. Only the top ten made it here.”

After parting ways with Lian Tianji, Lei Jun said, “Let’s go. We need to check in at the competitor rest area. Qian Shen, you go find a seat in the stands.”

The group headed to the rest zones allocated to the various schools.

Zhang Yu surveyed the layout: Three Great Academies, Key High Schools like Songyang, and the rest—ordinary schools.

To put it simply…

The rest areas came in three tiers: the “VIP Lounge,” the “Sunshade Tent,” and the “Bare Mat.”

The VIP Lounge for the Three Great Academies had sofas, recliners, drinks, fruits, and snacks.

The Sunshade Tent, meant for Key High Schools, featured a row of folding chairs and a single crate of bottled water.

The Bare Mat zone for ordinary high schools? Just a line of hard benches.

White Dragon really was terrified that poor kids would sneak in to eat for free, huh?

“This is some serious discrimination,” Zhang Yu muttered.

…

Meanwhile, Qian Shen watched the trio leave and headed into the stands to find a seat.

As he looked around, he suddenly spotted a very familiar-looking silhouette ahead.

He hurried forward and saw the person wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a face mask. The moment the person saw Qian Shen, they immediately turned away.

Qian Shen squinted at the top of the guy’s head, then at his face, and gasped. “Wait… you’re He Dayou from 611, right?”

He Dayou from 611—that earned you a seat next to Qian Shen.

But He Dayou had been trying hard not to get recognized. The last thing he wanted was for people at school to know he was here watching a Martial Arts Competition—especially if they thought he came to see Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. That’s why he disguised himself and came in secret.

And now, busted by Qian Shen on the spot, he had no choice but to turn his head with an awkward smile. “Yeah. You came too, huh, Qian Shen?”

Qian Shen sat down next to him and asked, “You’re here to watch Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s match too?”

He Dayou laughed it off. “Them? Their skill level… doesn’t even hit the average for this competition. What’s there to see?”

“I actually came because a middle school classmate of mine is competing. They invited me personally.”

Qian Shen asked casually, “Which school is your classmate from? What’s their score?”

He Dayou turned his head away, clearly not in the mood to answer.

…

On the arena floor—

The competitors gathered together to hear the organizers explain the rules.

“To prevent high-level contestants from being eliminated too early in the ring, this competition will begin with an evaluation round.”

“Based on the scores from the evaluation round, all contestants will be divided into eight groups. Each group will then draw lots for duels. The winners of each group will move on to a final elimination tournament…”

Just as everyone was wondering how this evaluation round would work—

With a series of booming thuds, a massive golden figure, over two meters tall, marched into the arena.

The referee’s voice rang out: “The evaluation round will consist of individual bouts against the Yellow-Turban Enforcer.”

“This year’s average physical strength rating for participants is 1.98. So the Yellow-Turban Enforcer will maintain an output of 1.98-strength and spar with each of you for one minute.”

“Judges will score each competitor based on their performance during that one-minute bout.”

“The scoring rubric is as follows…”