Chapter 226: Outcome (Thanks to 'Zao Guang Ren' for Transferring Money to Zhang Yu and)

Chapter 226: Victory or Defeat (Thanks to ‘Zao Guang Ren’ for transferring money to Zhang Yu and gifting Bai Zhenzhen 8 pairs of stockings, making them an ally)

The first test was to use the Xuanjia Spirit Root’s testing mode to determine whose physical body was stronger and more promising between Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

Originally, the outcome was to be decided by the final power output of the Xuanjia Spirit Root, but unexpectedly, both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao managed to raise the power of the divine spirit root to 100% during the test.

The internal communication network of the five divine examiners suddenly became lively.

One minor god said, “I thought the Heavenly Spirit Root’s upper limit was too low to measure their superiority, so we brought in the Divine Spirit Root. But now these two have both raised the Xuanjia Spirit Root’s power to 100%.”

Another minor god said, “Both have their Xuanjia Spirit Roots at 100% power. How do we decide the winner in this round?”

“We can’t just go and get the Immortal Spirit Root, can we? That’s only for members of the ten great sects, and I doubt the higher-ups would approve its use in the Foundation Establishment exam…”

Just as several minor gods were uncertain, one of them remarked, “Based on Ye Lingxiao’s performance in the last round, I thought even if he improved, he’d at most raise the Divine Spirit Root’s power to eighty or ninety percent.”

“I never imagined that three months later, he could still push further, developing his physical body to such an extent.”

Huang Zichou nodded slightly at this and analyzed, “For a Qi Refining cultivator to develop their body to Ye Lingxiao’s level, in theory… any further progress, even a tiny step forward, would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.”

Just then, the chief examiner Deng Bingding said calmly, “If it’s only about developing muscles, fascia, bones, and internal organs, then the closer one gets to the Qi Refining limit, the harder it is to improve.”

“But this kid Ye Lingxiao… this time, the improvement is in his brain.”

Huang Zichou was stunned. “His brain?”

He recalled how Ye Lingxiao had spoken incoherently earlier and thought to himself, “Is this really an improvement in his brain?”

Deng Bingding looked in Ye Lingxiao’s direction and continued on the internal network, “Ye Lingxiao has a perfect bloodline, so he learns any technique exceptionally fast.”

“But no matter how many techniques he knows, the number he can execute simultaneously at any given time is limited.”

“Yet just now, the number of techniques he executed at once far exceeded before—roughly doubled.”

“This shows that his mental capacity and thinking have been further developed, allowing him to activate more techniques at the same time.”

“It’s precisely because most of his mental energy was used to activate techniques that other aspects declined, like his ability to organize language…”

The other gods’ eyes flickered. The physical body, of course, includes the brain.

But in the Qi Refining stage, those who could develop their brains and enhance their thinking were extremely rare in the first layer of Kunxu. They hadn’t expected this from Ye Lingxiao.

One minor god said, “Even though both are at 100% power, Ye Lingxiao managed to improve his mental and thinking abilities during Qi Refining. His physical development is clearly more impressive, and he has greater potential for Foundation Establishment.”

Another minor god agreed, “I think this round should go to him.”

Huang Zichou disagreed, “Didn’t you see that Ye Lingxiao only achieved this with the help of medicine?”

“And as for Zhang Yu’s recent consecutive bursts, can’t you see their true value?”

Recalling how Zhang Yu had grown from 2.8 meters to 3.3 meters, Huang Zichou remarked, “What he just performed was clearly the Whale Sinew Nine Transformations technique.”

“Given his size and physical strength, the first surge in height should have been his limit.”

“But he broke through that limit. What does that mean?”

“Look at the other techniques he used—every single one was the same.”

“Clearly, the same technique in his hands has a higher ceiling.”

As gods who had lived through long ages, the examiners had either heard of or witnessed similar cases.

Some techniques in certain people’s hands could break conventions, becoming more powerful and effective than when used by others.

Zhang Yu clearly possessed this extremely rare physical talent.

Huang Zichou continued, “And from his first registration to this final exam, you can all see how much Zhang Yu has improved.”

“With such talent and potential, I believe if he successfully establishes his foundation, his future will be far brighter than Ye Lingxiao’s.”

Someone immediately countered, “It’s just innate physical talent. Do the higher-ups lack talented students for Foundation Establishment? It’s Ye Lingxiao’s wisdom—finding a way to enhance his mental capacity at the first layer—that shows more promise.”

Another god said, “Zhang Yu can take the exam again next year, but this is Ye Lingxiao’s last chance.”

As the gods argued over the outcome of this round, many university representatives in the audience were also watching Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao, offering their comments.

A college teacher said, “Note down both students. As soon as the Foundation Establishment exam ends, find a way to contact them. If we can recruit either one, our college will have one more Foundation Establishment graduate!”

His colleague was less hopeful. “How could a student like that apply for a college?” The college teacher replied, “What’s wrong with college? College allows upgrading to a bachelor’s degree! It won’t affect their chances of getting into a good university!”

His colleague thought to himself, “Once they enter our college, their academic record will be tainted. It will affect their future studies and job hunting, won’t it?”

The college teacher continued, “Especially this Zhang Yu. Have you seen his file? He’s poor, so he should be easier to win over than Ye Lingxiao.”

“Our college may have some gap compared to other universities, but we can offer him better conditions—an annual scholarship of 10 spirit coins during his studies, and he can choose any major.”

“We’ll bet all our recruitment budget on securing him. Recruiting him is far more worthwhile than recruiting a hundred slackers!”

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Husky Head from Wanfa University said, “Not bad, not bad. If you don’t want these two, our Civil Engineering Department is willing to take them. Such promising bodies would be wasted if not used to sort out earth veins.”

The Cat Head said calmly, “Though they’re not yet qualified for the Finance Department, they are indeed good enough for our university.”

Despite Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao’s extraordinary talents, in the Cat Head’s view, Ye Lingxiao was still too poor, and Zhang Yu was an extreme pauper. Poverty meant insufficient potential and foundation in the immortal path.

He thought to himself, “How could a poor man be worthy of Wanfa University’s Finance Department?”

The Cat Head continued, “But I see other universities are quite interested in them. What conditions are you planning to offer?”

The Husky Head said, “An annual scholarship of 1.25 spirit coins. That should be enough for them to avoid borrowing mana to mine spirit coins after enrollment and focus on their studies for a while.”

The Cat Head nodded slightly. “1.25 spirit coins should be sufficient for daily life at university.”

At the other end of the audience.

The “Crying Laughing Emoji” looked at the exam ground and said, “Mom, this Zhang Yu has some talent. After I go down, I want to recruit him too, let him and Ye Lingxiao assist me together.”

The “Smiling Emoji” frowned slightly and warned in a seasoned tone, “Son, your mother was young once too. I once appreciated and promoted some poor people.”

“You can recruit this Zhang Yu and use him, but remember one thing: these people below are ultimately different from us. If you treat them too much like people, you’ll only end up harming them.”

“Spoiling a dog is like killing a dog. If you truly want to make good use of such a poor man, you must temper him well. Don’t be too kind to him from the start…”

The “Crying Laughing Emoji” disagreed. He had his own principle for employing people: throw money at them. He didn’t believe there was a good subordinate money couldn’t buy; if it couldn’t, it meant he hadn’t thrown enough.

As the representatives in the audience each evaluated the two on the field, the four minor gods in the internal network remained deadlocked, finally turning to the chief examiner Deng Bingding.

Deng Bingding said calmly, “Let’s call it a draw for now.”

“After all, neither of these kids has yet unleashed their full strength.”

Hearing Deng Bingding’s words, the four minor gods were momentarily stunned, looking at Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao with surprise.

Huang Zichou thought to himself, “This still isn’t their full strength?”

The five gods’ thoughts exchanged rapidly on the internal network. Though the information exchanged was vast, to the outside world, it was but an instant.

Soon, Huang Zichou announced the result of the first round: a tie, with both scores temporarily equal.

The final decision on who would receive the Foundation Establishment qualification would depend on the scores from the second and third rounds, calculated by total points.

Meanwhile, standing in the center of the exam ground, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao exchanged glances, both sensing the intensifying battle intent in the other.

Zhang Yu licked his lips, his swollen muscles slowly beginning to contract, returning to their normal size.

The scorching body temperature gradually dropped, and under the effect of the Kan Bing Li Huo Body-Tempering Great Technique, it entered a low-temperature state, alleviating inflammation and swelling, aiding recovery.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “At the very last moment just now, I still had the Spring-Autumn Endless Zen toxin burst to unleash, so I wasn’t truly at full strength.”

“I wonder how much of his strength the other side has yet to reveal?”

And a moment later, after sensing that the damage from the outburst within his body had mostly healed itself, Zhang Yu's mind focused on the Chain Method Diagram of the Feather Book, and he began to replace each technique listed there with high school basic techniques, switching the effect of the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo to the High School Sacred Body.

This process of replacing techniques and switching sacred bodies took Zhang Yu about two or three seconds.

After the switch, the enhancements from the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo all transformed into the Qi Refining limit's digestive capacity and drug absorption and metabolism abilities brought by the High School Sacred Body.

This also gave Zhang Yu, who had just swallowed a large amount of medicine, a feeling of relief.

Feeling the medicinal toxins converging toward the character 'Zen' on his chest, Zhang Yu felt a sense of satisfaction.

The reason he had taken so many medicines just now was not merely to freeload on the drugs, but to increase his chances of victory in this Foundation Establishment exam.

(End of this chapter)