Study Monster Cultivation System
Chapter 214 - 213 Strange routines have increased!

Li Zheng liked going to school, liked being at school.

He could joke around, play basketball, and read leisure books.

Very occasionally, when the mood struck, he could even attend a biology class.

Such a relaxed environment was something training classes could not match.

Of course, this didn’t mean he disliked studying.

After a day of relaxation on campus, he would go home, take a bath, change clothes, brew a pot of light tea, and pick up Jingjing.

Only then would he sit at the desk.

This was what he called studying.

It was difficult; at 112 times the efficiency, the actual time he spent studying in a day was no more than an hour. It should be done at the quietest time, with a sense of ceremony.

That evening, after Li Zheng was ready, he rubbed Jingjing, who was in his arms, and glanced at the calendar.

Final exams, countdown 12 days.

It was also time to arrange a study plan for himself.

Comprehensive exams were different from competitions; they tested average levels, and shortfalls were fatal.

Even Shi Yang and Qi Yingnan, who could enter Tier 2 with their subject-specific genius, ranked only mid-tier in school.

To put it plainly, academic competitions were also prepared for such geniuses, allowing those excellent in one subject but mediocre overall to enter higher education institutions to fully utilize their talents.

However, with the rise of various training classes, this path inevitably became distorted.

Nowadays, most of those entering Jingbei did so through academic competitions, securing contracts with benefits.

It was said that the Ministry of Education was trying to correct this trend, but Li Zheng’s class would probably not see the change.

Of course, Li Zheng didn’t care.

To him, whether it was the final exams or the college entrance exam, both were the best opportunities to test learning outcomes.

Even though the Scholar Demon System could reflect an absolute value, to understand his relative position among all the students, he still needed the comprehensive exams.

No more talking, time to check the long-unseen panel.

[Chinese: 116→131↑↑]

On the surface, there was a significant improvement, but in reality, Li Zheng had put in even more effort.

After the midterm exam, he had been following the methods of the Chinese class representative, Liu Yuexuan, insisting on reading daily, taking notes, and casually training in writing.

Though it was steady progress, he had finely appreciated a small stack of classics; however, the improvement was very limited.

In terms of Chinese, his talent was probably really limited.

There was no need to be discouraged by this. Compared to the vigorous literary expression, he naturally preferred exploring objective laws.

Nothing much to say, just keep going and see where it ends up.

Next...

[Math: 181→194↑]

It must be said, riding on the tailwinds of Mechanics Competition, studying higher mathematics in advance did have remarkable effects.

But Li Zheng didn’t feel the slightest bit proud.

He was always cautious about studying ahead of time.

In Mechanics Competitions and Chem Competitions, you would thoroughly understand the previous knowledge before moving on to new territories.

Mathematics was an exception; it was almost solely for rapidly enhancing skills for the Mechanics Competition. Although the score was high, his understanding of the formulas and rules was shallow, merely adept at application.

He knew a lot, but none could be considered expert, and he was still some distance from integration and mastery.

Such a score was just superficially high.

Despite the daunting 194, much of it came from studying higher mathematics early on; he might not even score 130+ in the actual college entrance exam mathematics.

This was very concerning...

There was reason to prioritize mathematics in the revision.

Then after that.

[English: 169→173↑]

This four-point increase was probably due to working on English materials these past few months...

A higher score in English didn’t seem very useful, as it was never going to be perfect anyway.

If there’s time, just casually aim for 180.

[Physics: 258→284↑↑]

The training class made a significant difference; just need to practice with a couple of sets of problems before the final exams to warm up.

[Chemistry: 342→343↑]

After the national team training camp, it mysteriously increased a bit, probably also benefitting from mathematics and physics.

This subject... probably won’t need attention for a few years, just let it be...

Finally.

[Biology: 121→149↑↑↑]

???

Seems like letting it grow on its own is fine?

"Forget it, let’s respect biology a little."

On the morning of the Biology exam, just put in about fifteen minutes casually flipping through the book and doing some exercises.

Once the review was over, the focus undoubtedly became math.

Often, those who barely understand would say, "The essence of physics is math," or "Math is the tool of physics."

These are, of course, one-sided views, as each has its own beauty and nuances.

Li Zheng was well aware that feeling physics was more wonderful was just a subjective idea, which suggested that in terms of mathematics, his talent and ability to appreciate the beauty of math, were lower than those for physics.

This definitely wasn’t just his situation, after all, the beauty of physics is more intuitive.

From galaxies to spacecraft, from nuclear reactors to the undecided quantum mechanics, appreciating these doesn’t require too much profound knowledge and talent; even a 4-year-old child can fall in love with rockets.

But to appreciate the charm of math, there is a high wall.

Most people, not to mention touching this high wall, are very far even from seeing it.

Even for Li Zheng, he had been in a fog before, occasionally catching a scent of something wonderful, but it was fleeting.

Interestingly, during this period of study, Li Zheng not only saw this wall but even bumped into it.

For an obsessive person, having a wall block your path is inevitably infuriating.

Not just infuriating, but also incredibly itchy, unbearably so.

Who wouldn’t want to stand on top of that high wall and see the legendary mathematical landscape?

It’s just...

It’s not working, not like this.

All along, he had been studying math in order to score high marks and solve physics problems.

This superficial application isn’t right.

He needed to return to the basics, to understand anew.

After all, no subject could detach itself from mathematics.

Only mathematics could detach itself from everything.

Starting now, forget those formulas.

Let’s go back to the starting point of pure human rationality.

...

In the days that followed, immersed in mathematical rationality, Li Zheng completely abandoned those formulas and exercises, choosing only the most basic textbooks and savored them page by page.

This kind of savoring was not the type where understanding it was enough.

In fact, on an application level, he had understood long ago.

But this was not truly understanding.

What he needed was the kind of understanding that begins with the simplest axioms and from which countless extensions could be derived.

If the mathematics he had mastered before was like a robust skeleton, sturdy and durable, it was still just a dead tool.

Now, Li Zheng needed to start from the first stem cell, to grow blood vessels and drips of marrow.

Only in this way would mathematics truly come to life.

Throughout this lengthy process of learning and comprehension, Li Zheng frequently emitted sighs of regret.

He regretted that his previous learning of mathematics was too superficial, too practical, wasting valuable time and opportunities.

Presumably, those legendary math wizards must have taken a completely different path right from the start.

...

January 23rd, the final exams arrived as scheduled.

After hundreds of hours of studying this week...

Li Zheng’s academic scores had almost not changed at all.

Including in math.

But he knew he was different now.

Now, he had forgotten 90% of the mathematical formulas from his high school textbooks.

Yet, he could solve problems that he previously had no idea how to approach.

From no technique to having a technique, then returning to having no technique.

At least for high school mathematics.

Li Zheng was confident he had reached the realm where no technique is superior to having a technique.

It’s just like the Mount Hua Sword Technique, which anyone can recognize as a good sword technique, adequate for certain Jianghu situations.

On the other hand, Dugu Nine Swords appear completely formless, indecipherable, and beyond the teaching capability of most people.

But these two, the difference between them spanned several realms.

Only in real combat can the true measure be seen.

On the day of the exam, at dawn.

Li Zheng arrived at school early, clearing his mind.

The path of learning is boundless, now he was filled only with deep reverence and no deception whatsoever.

He couldn’t help but recall Zhang Tao’s warning.

In today’s academic world, to be able to produce an achievement in a specific niche after dedicating a lifetime’s effort is already very fortunate.

Indeed, that was the case.

Li Zheng had climbed the high wall of mathematics and had just begun to appreciate its grandeur.

In the deserted classroom, Li Zheng smiled faintly.

At this level, let alone the final exams, even the college entrance exam would hardly stir any ripples.

But just as his mind became tranquil, a wave of disturbance came from the doorway.

"~~~So early~~~"

"Hmph, do not disturb my peaceful meditation," Li Zheng said calmly, not even looking at her. "But why are you so early?"

"I have a language exam, need to memorize the text~~" Lin Yujing hummed a little tune, tiptoed to the desk to get her language book, and slammed it on the desk, "An hour should be enough, right..."

"???" Li Zheng became more agitated, and his state of mind became disrupted, "You haven’t memorized it?"

"I’ve read it all, just didn’t specifically memorize it, what’s the matter?"

Li Zheng shuddered, feeling annoyed and disoriented, "Then... what about the mid-term exam? I remember you scored 143 in Chinese..."

"I think I lost five marks in the dictation part..."

"You... you..." Li Zheng painfully grabbed his head, "Don’t be too excessive, dare to not memorize for the final too."

"I usually wouldn’t memorize for the final exams, but I’ll be more cautious this time," Lin Yujing smacked her lips and opened the book, "Don’t worry, I will eventually get second place in the future, but you’ll certainly not be the first."

"!!!"

At this moment, Li Zheng, who had been cultivating his temperament for many days and had calmed his mind, fell apart.

"Are you memorizing just to annoy me?!" Li Zheng cursed.

"Alas! The transmission of the teacher has long ceased!"

"Shut up, do not recite out loud."

"Desiring others to be without confusion is difficult!"

"..."

At this point, Li Zheng broke down.

To hell with level.

The purpose of studying is to compare!

Just to see Lin Yujing scratch her desk!

Memorizing.

I will memorize too!

...

The three-day final exams commenced.

The eighteen-year-olds here had no Koshien and no student council.

No dream-chasing idols, no literary and arts clubs.

But that does not mean they lacked passion, effort, and struggle.

For the ideal future, for being who they longed to become.

Zhang Xiaoke wrote furiously, pressing ahead unswervingly.

Jiang Qinghua frowned, finding it very difficult.

Xu Mengxi focused solely, challenging the ordinary.

Qiao Bixia was fierce and intense, scrambling through disordered problems.

Last, there were Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chui Xue.

Clash at the Summit of The Forbidden!

Masters, very difficult.

Simply because no matter how hard they tried, they could hardly improve by even a fraction.

Simply because, even if they improved by a fraction, there were no opponents to surpass.

Lin Yujing, such was a master.

Since kindergarten, within sight, she was the only master.

Perhaps if she had gotten second or third place in middle school exams, she might have thought about going to No. 4 Middle School or Ren Da Fu to meet competitors at her level.

Sadly, such masters did not exist.

She was still the first.

She naturally had no reason to go to prestigious schools, choosing instead Lake Ying with its beautiful near-water scenery to enjoy solitude.

Li Zheng was never such a master.

Since kindergarten, he had been the kind who delved into trivialities, ignoring helpful tips and refusing to take shortcuts, stubbornly sticking to hard study, thereby slowly improving in mediocrity.

Perhaps if he had changed slightly, abandoning knowledge too deep for middle and high school students and used some techniques for the sake of scores, he might have been able to enter those prestigious schools.

But then, he would not have been Li Zheng.

To have more undistracted self-study time, he also chose Lake Ying with its beautiful near-water scenery, finding joy in his studies.

This was fate, with some coincidences.

But even without these,

Masters, would eventually meet other masters.

Summit of The Forbidden, that final battle is inevitable.

Even without this encounter, there would have been another.

The venue was merely moved from the Chemistry Competitions finals to the campus of Lake Ying.

The number of rounds was changed from 1 to infinite.

However, a master had met another master.

Only then did a master develop a craving for victory.

Only then did a master develop a fear of defeat.

With both craving and fear,

blood would heat up.

"Li Zheng, are you feeling unwell..."

The voice of Tang Zhifei broke through Li Zheng’s heated state in the midst of the math exam.

"Not at all," Li Zheng responded verbally, his speed of writing answers not slowing in the slightest.

Tang Zhifei, seeing Li Zheng’s face flush with heat, asked with some concern, "Really no fever?"

"No..."

"Okay..." Tang Zhifei sighed and continued to proctor the exam.

Soon, she noticed Lin Yujing also seemed off.

The usually gracefully aloof deity, like a top-tier fighter fully utilizing their inner strength, appeared to have a high fever as well.

"Yu Jing, are you alright?" Tang Zhifei asked anxiously.

"Hmm," Lin Yujing nodded vigorously.

"Hmm means yes or no..."

"Hmm, no problem."

"Okay..." Tang Zhifei looked around, seemed to want to say something but held back.

Are you two practicing the Jade Girl Heart Sutra in the classroom?

At that moment, another proctor, Zhu Hongbo, came over: "What’s up?"

"Nothing." Tang Zhifei gestured towards Li Zheng and whispered, "I feel like they’re trying too hard..."

"Top students sparring, that’s normal." Zhu Hongbo casually glanced at Lin Yujing’s test paper, nodding and muttering, "Fast and steady, no problem."

As the head teacher and a math teacher of the advanced class, Zhu Hongbo’s judgment was quite authoritative.

The two then moved closer to Li Zheng.

Zhu Hongbo stared intently at the test paper.

He stared for a long time...

After watching for two or three minutes, he pursed his lips, pulling Tang Zhifei back to the front of the classroom.

"Li Zheng is really off..." Zhu Hongbo stroked his chin, pondering, "The thought process and feel of the answers... it’s like he’s become a different person... very interesting, yes, very interesting."

"What’s interesting about that? I totally don’t understand."

"Well..." Zhu Hongbo gestured, "You see, I grade homework and papers for two classes every day. After a while, even without looking at the names or handwriting, just by the answering methods and feel, I can almost guess who it is."

"I can relate to that," Tang Zhifei muttered, "But with Literature, there are so many subjective parts, analysis, essays and such, easy to judge. Aren’t the answers to math questions all the same? Can you still tell who’s who?"

"Yes, you can, but the condition is that the person originally has a style." Zhu Hongbo glanced at Lin Yujing, "Lin Yujing always had the most distinct style, able to find the simplest solutions for nearly every problem, skipping any process that can be omitted, occasionally even providing solutions not in the standard answer."

"And Li Zheng?"

"Li Zheng would always follow the most orthodox methods, blindly solving... trying one approach after another, and if it weren’t for space limitations... he’d write out the Taylor series expansion for you." Zhu Hongbo smacked his lips, "But today... it’s completely different, he seems to just look at the question, immediately know where the dead ends are, then randomly pick one among a few viable approaches, and deliberately choose different paths for different questions, as if evenly training..."

"Lost you again."

"Haha, let me simplify it then, it’s like Murong Fu, using the enemy’s tactics against them, each question tackled with a different method, prioritizing artistic sense over simplicity."

"!" Tang Zhifei exclaimed, "Suddenly such high praise?"

"But in math, simplicity is the greatest art," Zhu Hongbo chuckled, "However, Li Zheng deliberately challenging the difficulty, training multiple thought processes, is also quite interesting. Originally, he recognized only one path, dead set on it. Now he sees many paths, trying each just for fun, it’s roughly that feeling... Ah, if these two weren’t preparing for Chem Competitions, I’d have tempted them to try Math Competitions."

"Oh, that, Teacher Zhu, you do as you please," Tang Zhifei rolled her eyes and looked back at the two, "Last week, the deputy head of Jinghua Physics Department personally contacted Liu Xiaodong, enquiring about their conditions and profiles..."

Zhu Hongbo exclaimed, "Isn’t it still before the Chem Competitions?"

"Exactly, they just have that capability, casually showing up can fetch them contracts, tell me if that’s aggravating, aggravating!" Tang Zhifei unconsciously clenched her fist, "And then, they both rejected the deputy head, said Liu Xiaodong even banged his head against the wall in his office, but he dared only hit his own head, didn’t dare goad them... tell me if that’s aggravating, aggravating?"

"That really is kind of aggravating," Zhu Hongbo also started shaking his head, "Now that you mention it, they really don’t have a problem with spreading themselves too thin, anyway they could easily get into T2..."

"Exactly, if you’re thinking about Math Competitions, just prepare in advance, I’ll help you talk to them," Tang Zhifei whispered, "Look at Tao Feifei, it’s tiring, but training them is also a way for her to improve herself, they win awards, and Tao Feifei herself is almost a distinguished competition coach, a bright future indeed."

"Hey," Zhu Hongbo laughed, "It’s too bad there’s no competition for Literature."

"There is, the New Concept Essay..." Tang Zhifei sighed in frustration, "It’s just, that doesn’t really depend on the Literature teachers..."

"Haha, you’re already their head teacher, don’t be too greedy now; as for Math Competitions, I actually know a bit..." Zhu Hongbo pondered for a moment, then perked up, "Well... if I’m going to pull them into Math Competitions, Zhifei, you’ll need to help me out."

"Why don’t you just talk to them directly?"

"I can speak directly to Li Zheng, but not Lin Yujing." Zhu Hongbo’s mouth curved up, "To lure Lin Yujing in, we’ll still need some bait, otherwise it’ll be just like with Chem Competitions."

"What bait?"

"Hehe, I have a plan..."

Tang Zhifei listened, mouth agape.

Bizarre tactics had increased!

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