Chapter 40: Zhou Bai’s Study Plan
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Zhou Bai napped in the corner of the library until almost an hour after class ended. He slowly woke up from his sleep and sat up straight, yawning.

When he glanced at the clock in the library, he went blank for a second. “It’s this late already?”

“Christina,” Zhou Bai said to the cat in his consciousness. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Don’t talk to me,” Christina said. “You’re going to make me lose my mind! From now on, don’t disturb me. I’m going to raise my Primordial Spirit Value to ninety-nine!”

Zhou Bai’s lips twitched. He looked at the auxiliary practice system and immediately beamed with joy.

Degree of Taoification: 0%

Primordial Spirit Value: 99

Divine Map: Deva Nine Disasters

Laziness: 270

“I got two hundred in the course of one afternoon.” Zhou Bai nodded contentedly. He took the textbook material he borrowed and left the library. “If I cut class every day, I’ll make tremendous progress in Tao practice.”

Zhou Bai stroked the textbook materials in his hand, thinking to himself, Yeah, the best plan from now on is to cut class in the day and raise my Laziness. Then at night, I’ll self-study, little by little. Even if I can’t keep up with Jing Xiu and the rest, I won’t be too much behind in terms of basic theories.

Once he had a concrete plan, Zhou Bai felt even more at ease.

On the way back, he had dinner and brought a bowl of rice for Elsa from the cafeteria.

Once he walked into the dorm building, Zhou Bai’s brows furrowed. “What’s that smell? Why do I feel like this dorm is getting more and more stinky? Is someone pooping outside?”

When he arrived at the door, Zhou Bai felt his heart go cold. There was a message from Lu Chongyang.

“Zhou Bai, I don’t know what reason you have to choose this path of cutting class, but practicing Tao is ultimately the choice of one’s will. I won’t force you by violence. I hope you won’t waste your gifts and the investment the Tao academy has made in you.”

Reading the message on the paper, Zhou Bai felt slightly guilty. What he was doing must disappoint Lu Chongyang. He seemed to have had high hopes for him.

But he couldn’t not do this. Cutting class and self-studying was the method that suited Zhou Bai best.

He let out a quiet sigh. Zhou Bai put the note away and walked into the room.

Good thing Old Lu probably gave up trying to force me to go to class, he thought. After all, personal will is the most important thing in Tao practice. If I’m being so uncooperative, there’s no point in forcing me. That must be what he’s thinking.

He shook his head, clearing away his thoughts. Zhou Bai fed Elsa, then took out his notes and began studying the textbooks.

Elsa crouched on the side obediently, watching Zhou Bai with interest. Every time Zhou Bai moved, she stood up excitedly, thinking Zhou Bai was about to play with her.

But she when saw Zhou Bai immediately go back to reading, she sat down again in disappointment.

Zhou Bai ardently read the textbook in his hand, thinking it was much easier to comprehend than what was taught in class today. It was a basic textbook, explaining a lot of the fundamental knowledge required for practicing Tao, such as what Spark was, how to breathe Spark, how to sense Spark, and the patterns of primordial spirit power—how to start it, related principles, sensation of primordial spirit power…

Studying these basic materials would greatly remedy the gaps in Zhou Bai’s knowledge, allowing him to not always rely on the auxiliary system in his future journey of Tao practice to the point of creating latent issues.

“Aaah—” Zhou Bai stretched his back and stood up from the chair.

Unknowingly, he had studied from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., nearly six hours. Zhou Bai didn’t feel tired, though, thanks to the changes in his body after he practiced Tao.

Zhou Bai’s physique and primordial spirit had both far exceeded the standards of ordinary humans. After studying for six hours straight, he felt only a little tired. He decided to take a break and continue later.

“I’m going to skip class during the day anyway. From now on, I’ll sleep during the day and study at night.”

Seeing Zhou Bai get up and walk around, Elsa ran up hastily, wagging her tail and gazing at Zhou Bai with anticipation.

“No, Elsa, I can’t play with you. I’m taking a short break and continuing my studies in a bit,” Zhou Bai said as he rubbed Elsa’s head. “If you have to pee, don’t forget to go to the bathroom. Christina must have taught you.”

After midnight, Zhou Bai decided to lie down and rest for a while and increase his Laziness. Then he went back to his desk and self-studied until the next morning.

But in the latter half of the night, he felt a little hungry. His brain couldn’t keep up either. Zhou Bai decided to go to the cafeteria.

After he returned from eating, he found the room next to his was open again.

In the pitch-black corridor, a man and a woman stood at the door, bathed in the bright red light. Their faces looked flushed with blood.

The woman was the pale girl next door that Zhou Bai had met before. The man was a buff man with a square face and a serious expression, who was saying something to the girl.

As Zhou Bai approached them, with his improved hearing and sight, he faintly overheard their conversation.

“Sakurako, with your current level, you won’t pass the test in two months. If you can’t pass, you’ll be expelled.”

“I’ll try my hardest.”

“Trying hard isn’t enough. To put it frankly, Sakurako, practicing Tao requires a natural gift. Some people have a limited gift and reach their limits at twenty or thirty. The results from your last test were already…”

“I’ll try my hardest!”

The square-faced man sighed. “All right. I understand what you told me, and I’ll make preparations. But don’t force yourself. The practice of Tao cannot be forced. You should know after so many years at Tao academy.”

The pale-faced girl bowed to the square-faced man and said, “Thank you.”

As Zhou Bai approached, the two of them suddenly turned their heads, looking at Zhou Bai without expression.

Zhou Bai went blank for a moment, then said, “I just came back from eating…you guys continue.”

Zhou Bai returned to his room, but he didn’t hear anyone speaking outside again, as if they had already left.

Zhou Bai continued studying hard until the morning, then lay down on the bed and started to sleep, waiting for his Laziness to increase.

But not long after he fell asleep, Zhou Bai woke up to the sound of knocking.

He heard a female voice yell, “Zhou Bai! When will you stop hiding? Come to class with me!”

“Who is that?”

Zhou Bai decided to play dead but heard constant pounding on his door. The female voice shouted, “Zhou Bai! If you don’t come out, I’m going to abort the child!”

“F*ck!” Zhou Bai jumped out of his bed. He had no choice but to put on his clothes and open the door.