High School Student with Immortal Race System

Many hands make light work, and a large round table was soon set up in the Outer Courtyard.

With over a dozen guests, the cooking was too much for his aunt to handle alone. His disciple, Cao Wei, had specially hired a professional chef, who was now busy in the kitchen.

Cao Wei’s long, straight black hair cascaded down her back, brushing against her perky bottom as she took bouncy steps, surveying everything in the Yang Residence.

She was very proud.

From its purchase to the subsequent renovations, she had spent the better part of her summer vacation here.

She had even personally selected her Master’s mattress; it had the perfect balance of bounce and support, and it was even waterproof.

’Thinking about it, I feel like the matron of the Yang Residence. I even secretly set aside a room for myself... It’s in the Outer Courtyard, but only a single wall separates me from my Master!’

’It would make things so much more convenient, whether for a surprise night visit to my Master or for seeking his guidance!’

As she mused, Cao Wei began to giggle foolishly. Her smile only vanished when she saw Xu Bamboo and her Master with their heads together, whispering intimately.

A wave of sadness and bitterness washed over her... It was like being stabbed in the heart at her happiest moment.

’It’s so addictive!’

She took a gift box from under the table. "Master, this is my housewarming gift!"

At a gathering like this, it was best to open gifts on the spot. It was a way of showing respect to the giver.

Yang Shen opened it to find a White Jade Ornament. It stood over twenty centimeters tall and depicted a master with an obscured face teaching eight disciples at the foot of a mountain.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, its value unknown...

"This is a bit too extravagant, but thank you. It’s very thoughtful."

Yuan Rui presented his gift next: a thick stack of receipts.

Yang Shen was dumbfounded. "What... what is this?"

"The Yang Residence is so large, it needs a lot of appliances to fill it out," Yuan Rui said with a smile. "TVs, refrigerators, and so on. I took the liberty of purchasing some, mainly for the guest rooms. They’ll be delivered in a couple of days."

Just like a true pragmatist. His gift was very much in character.

"That’s very thoughtful," Yang Shen said with a smile. "You all can stay in the Outer Courtyard’s guest rooms whenever you like, so I guess you bought these for yourselves too."

In truth, there were so many empty rooms that, in theory, everyone present could have a reserved room in the Outer Courtyard. It just wouldn’t be a permanent assignment.

After all, his disciples had also contributed to the purchase of the Yang Residence.

Tian Zihan’s gift was the most unique. She hugged a case of Source Energy Forest that she had "spent a fortune" on. "Master, this is my gift to you."

Yang Shen was taken aback for a moment. "Well, let’s open them up and drink, then."

His own warehouse was piled high with the stuff; he was the official spokesperson for Source Energy Forest, after all.

Everyone else presented their gifts in turn. They ranged in value from a few thousand to tens of thousands, and Yang Shen accepted them all with a smile, regardless of their price.

After the lively round of gift-giving, Yang Shen cleared his throat. "There are still over twenty empty rooms in the Outer Courtyard. You can each pick one for your own use. Just remember to keep it clean."

Among his eight disciples, some had families that had already bought or rented places near the university, while for others whose schools were far away, it wasn’t practical. Still, the offer had to be made.

More people meant more life in the house.

The eight disciples immediately cupped their fists. "Thank you, Master!"

"There’s a deal this good?" Huang Gang immediately piped up. "Can I get in on it?"

Yang Shen chuckled. "If I remember correctly, your university... is at least forty kilometers from here. Are you sure about that?"

Huang Gang sighed. "You’re right... That’s too much of a commute."

Zhao Mengmeng, on the other hand, looked a bit shy. Her university wasn’t too far from here, but she was too embarrassed to say anything.

’Yang Shen’s disciples are moving in to show their devotion. What excuse would I have for moving in...’

Xu Bamboo seemed to read Zhao Mengmeng’s mind. She took her hand and said, "If you want a room, you should ask for it."

Zhao Mengmeng mustered her courage and asked Yang Shen. He said he had no objection.

’They’re all just empty rooms, and they’re all free housekeepers. The more the merrier.’

With that settled, Yang Shen raised his can of Source Energy Forest.

"Everyone! The school year is about to begin. Enjoy your university life! Let’s all strive to improve and work hard together!"

"Strive to improve! Work hard together!"

"Cheers!!!!"

Time had already proven the loyalty of his eight disciples—aside from a certain someone whose devotion was constantly transforming.

After this affair at the Yang Residence, he now truly saw them as his disciples.

He wouldn’t be revealing the secrets of Cultivation so soon, but he wouldn’t hold back on other teachings for his disciples. They were all future auxiliary assets for the Yang Family.

In fact, all eight disciples could benefit from the bonus of the Yang Family’s Martial Arts Gate, which would also raise their future potential.

Once the medicinal ingredients business properly took off, he might even be able to provide them with extra Supplements.

Yang Shen looked toward Lin Yuebai. The key to all this rested on her.

As the sole employee of Changshen Biotechnology, Lin Yuebai was responsible for both sales and profit, as well as for developing new medicines.

Yang Shen had given her the Pill Formula for the Peiyuan Pill. Without true Alchemy, creating the original version would be nearly impossible, but a simplified version might still be feasible.

"Master," Yuan Rui sidled up after the main celebration wound down. "School starts the day after tomorrow. I saw in the freshman group chat... did the Champion Scholars all organize to arrive on campus a few days early? What’s Jiangti like?"

He had scoped out Jiangti during the summer break, but without a guide, he couldn’t get a real sense of the place just by wandering around.

He had been looking forward to his future university life for a long time!

’I must continue to expand the Yang Family Army at Jiangti!’

’He already had a series of plans: first, he’d run for dorm leader, then class president! After that, he’d establish a club, get into the student union, and secure the presidency! Then he’d recruit talented individuals from far and wide!’

’Finally, I’ll become the mastermind behind the scenes of all of Jiangti and present my power base to my Master!’

’So that more people can bask in the glory of Master Yang’s grace!’

If you were to ask why someone so capable wouldn’t just crown himself king...

’Yuan Rui considered himself an extremely pragmatic person. With his own power and background, he couldn’t handle such a huge undertaking.’

’But my Master can! And as his first disciple, my rewards will only be greater, never less!’

Yang Shen thought for a moment before giving a fair assessment. "Jiangti is tough. Full of formidable people. It’s also a little bizarre... and extremely competitive."

Yuan Rui blinked...

’Isn’t that right in my comfort zone?!’

’Taking a risk on Jiangti was the right call after all. This is a stage better suited for me.’

The housewarming party continued for a long time, stretching from noon until late afternoon as evening began to fall.

A few people left, but most stayed behind to pick out their favorite rooms in the Outer Courtyard.

Cao Wei immediately claimed the room she had already set aside for herself. With only a wall between them, a nighttime visit to her Master would now only require standing on her tiptoes.

The others gathered in the courtyard, discussing preparations for the start of the school year or asking for pointers on their Cultivation.

Even Huang Gang had mixed in among them. Despite only being at the Bone Training stage, he was shamelessly giving pointers to a group of Marrow Refining cultivators.

Lin Yuebai went to the back courtyard to see the Spirit Field, with a curious Zhao Mengmeng trailing behind her.

Interestingly, the moment Lin Yuebai stepped into the Spirit Field, she received an enthusiastic welcome from the Sun Worms, which all took to the air and swarmed around her.

Lin Yuebai shrieked and fled, covering her head!

"WAAAH!!! They’re huge! Patriarch, save me!"

’Her Life Chart attracts Gu Insects and Spirit Monsters, yet she’s afraid of bugs...’

In the inner courtyard, Yang Shen heard the wails of his sole employee. From a great distance, he formed a Finger Technique.

After reaching the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, his Magical Power had increased significantly.

Only then did the Sun Worms settle down and return to their nests.

In the inner courtyard, the moon was bright and the stars were few, with only the occasional chirp of crickets.

Xu Bamboo sat by the lotus pond, peering down curiously.

The pond was a bit strange. It wasn’t very large and was almost completely dry... It seemed out of place in the otherwise immaculately kept Yang Residence.

In its center sat a massive stone, which Xu Bamboo recognized as the "Pickled Vegetable Jar" Yang Shen had hidden in the stairwell. The rock’s surface was as smooth as a mirror, with faint water stains spreading across it. The overhanging eaves shielded the lotus pond from the rain, and anyone entering the "ancestral hall" would have their reflection cast upon the stone’s surface.

’Judging by the marks, is the water outlet hidden inside the stone? But at this rate, how long will it take to fill?’

Meanwhile, Yang Shen sat nearby on a somewhat worn-out lounge chair.

He couldn’t leave this lounge chair behind, so he had brought it with him.

He held a book on Pre-Qin Ancient Texts, reading it intently.

As of now, no one knew what sort of treasure was hidden beneath the Yang Residence.

It wasn’t just the Qi Storage Pavilion; there was also the Source Liquid. Their value was immeasurable.

This was why, despite having spent nearly all the money he earned over the summer, Yang Shen wasn’t the least bit worried.

Xu Bamboo gazed at Yang Shen’s tall, athletic frame and remarked, "You look even taller today. Don’t tell me you had a breakthrough?"

Though Yang Shen had been busy all summer, he and Xu Bamboo still saw each other from time to time.

Compared to Yang Shen, who had been running around making money, Xu Bamboo’s summer had been far more monotonous. She had been completely immersed in the Gaokao Center, practicing her Martial Arts with unflagging diligence.

Blessed with top-tier talent and having experienced Breaking the Cocoon and Rebirth, she had already reached late-stage Marrow Refining and wasn’t far from the Innate realm herself.

In fact, Yang Shen felt that Xu Bamboo was even stronger than the various provincial and municipal Champion Scholars he had met a couple of days ago.

Xu Bamboo had ranked 23rd in Jianghuai City, but Jianghuai was filled with countless experts. The absolute scores of the Champion Scholars from more remote regions might not have been much higher than hers to begin with, and that was before she had put in two full months of hard work.

Yang Shen spread his hands. "That’s right. You’re looking at a genuine Innate Expert."

Xu Bamboo sat down beside Yang Shen, resting her chin in her hands. "I thought I was catching up to you, but you broke through first again. What does Innate Rebirth feel like?"

Yang Shen closed his eyes. "It’s a profound experience, and it should be different for everyone. Innate Rebirth isn’t a wishing machine... I was hoping I’d grow to be two meters tall."

Xu Bamboo quickly waved her hands. "No! Two meters wouldn’t be as handsome. You’re the perfect height right now."

Yang Shen asked, "Are there any ’rebirth effects’ you’re hoping for?"

Xu Bamboo thought to herself, ’Oh, there are...’

A girl always has her little wishes.

For example, she wished she had Zhao Mengmeng’s fullness.

And Cao Wei’s hair.

Hmm... and a little more fuzz.

But she was too embarrassed to say any of that out loud.

The young woman reached out and gently traced a line between Yang Shen’s eyebrows. "For this house... you must be tired. You worked so hard this summer."

Yang Shen kept his eyes closed. "It was okay."

Everyone else thought he was amazing, but only Xu Bamboo asked if he was tired.

This, perhaps, was what it felt like to be at ease.