Chapter 315: Zhang Yu VS Gongshu Jin (Thanks to 'Nade' for Gifting Alliance Leader)

Chapter 315: Zhang Yu vs. Gongshu Jin (Thanks to ‘Nader’ for the Alliance Leader Reward)

The 450th floor of the Wanfa University City.

When Zhang Yu stepped out of the magnetic passageway, his eyes were met with a floor towering fifty meters high, and within this level… buildings over a dozen stories tall, crooked low-rise houses, chaotic narrow alleys, and collapsed ruins.

“It looks just like a battlefield.”

The scene before him felt somewhat familiar to Zhang Yu. Suddenly, it dawned on him—it resembled the abandoned factory ruins he had visited in the wilderness.

At the same time, an introduction to the examination site appeared in Zhang Yu’s ocular implant.

“So it’s a simulated urban battlefield with complex terrain, used for various training exercises,” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “This place is probably used more by departments like the Security Department, which focus on combat, right?”

“But why is our Civil Engineering Department taking exams here too…? Is it because of the influence of the University War?”

Following the guidance in his ocular implant toward the target location, Zhang Yu’s gaze swept over the surrounding buildings and ruins.

With his current engineering experience, a closer look revealed that the construction quality of the simulated battlefield’s buildings was quite poor.

“The construction company for this examination site must have made a hefty profit.”

Just then, a message flashed in Zhang Yu’s ocular implant.

Yu Xinghan: We’re about to order the nutrient mix. Do you want some?

Zhang Yu: Yes, but do you have anything with a stronger kick?

After three months of good food and drink on the wilderness construction site, Zhang Yu found that he could no longer stomach the standard nutrient mix upon his return.

He had never realized how bland those simple nutrient solutions, stamina recovery agents, and mana recovery agents could be.

Yu Xinghan: Want some additives? Illusory mushroom powder? Neurotransmitters? Or mood regulators? Anyway, just pay extra for whatever flavor you want.

Looking at the flavor options provided by the Kunxu Pharmacy, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, yet felt that the extra charge seemed quite reasonable.

Zhang Yu: Never mind, I’ll just take the original flavor.

After ordering his post-exam nutrient mix, Zhang Yu followed the arrow in his ocular implant to a crossroads.

There, he found Gongshu Jin already standing.

Seeing Zhang Yu, Gongshu Jin gave a slight nod but said nothing more, immersing himself entirely in his own world. He focused on sensing the power within his body, continuously adjusting his condition to its peak.

“The top rank in the class for the first semester… will be mine,” Gongshu Jin thought to himself.

Meanwhile, through the examination site’s surveillance, Tu Lishan was observing the exam.

“Unlike the pure physicality of the Qi Refining stage, after stepping into the Foundation Establishment stage, the body and mana gradually fuse into one, possessing various immortal characteristics. Physical cultivation can hardly proceed without the support of mana,” Tu Lishan mused.

“At this point, in physical cultivation exams, assessing pure physical strength has become increasingly meaningless.”

“Instead, the key lies in how much power the body can unleash under the enhancement of mana and cultivation techniques.”

“As long as you’re not casting a spell on yourself to artificially boost your abilities, any technique that enhances the body or unleashes physical power can be freely used.”

“As for the mana-imbued skeletal framework, it’s even more a part of the human body.”

Thinking this, Tu Lishan felt that the gap between Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin in the upcoming exam would likely widen even further.

Just then, as Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin both arrived, lines of text appeared in their ocular implants, explaining the rules of the upcoming exam.

As the instructor, Tu Lishan could naturally see the content as well.

“The physical cultivation exam is divided into two stages: the Speed Stage and the Strength Stage, testing the candidates’ physical cultivation levels from two dimensions.”

“The first stage is the Speed Stage. It involves high-speed movement within this simulated examination floor, navigating through various complex terrains while avoiding high temperatures, explosions, and attacks from special mana.”

“This tests the candidates’ comprehensive abilities in speed, reaction, agility, and other aspects under complex terrain conditions,” Tu Lishan thought to himself.

At that moment, Tu Lishan saw a message from Director Gao in his ocular implant: “Lishan, are you also here to watch Gongshu Jin’s exam?”

Tu Lishan immediately replied: Yes, Director. I’m also quite curious whether Gongshu Jin can surpass Ji Yuanshu after these three months of training.

As Tu Lishan and Director Gao exchanged messages, the first stage of the exam officially began.

…

As the countdown appeared.

Zhang Yu took out several standard pills and swallowed them.

Gongshu Jin, on the other hand, pulled out three syringes and forcefully injected them into his neck. He felt his internal organs throbbing violently, his blood thickening like jam, his heart expanding to twice its size, and his meridians trembling slightly under the roaring surge of mana.

Feeling all this, Gongshu Jin smiled faintly. “Excellent. I’ve reached my peak condition.”

If it were the younger, less experienced Zhang Yu from the past, seeing this would have made him curse the other for unnatural physical cultivation.

But now, looking at the syringes Gongshu Jin had discarded on the ground and the residual liquid inside, Zhang Yu wondered if he could pick them up and give himself a second-hand injection.

Fuji reminded him: “Have you forgotten the university exam rules? During the exam, you cannot borrow others’ items. Otherwise, it’s considered stealing their immortal potential and counts as cheating.”

Zhang Yu cursed inwardly: “Damn Kunxu… each floor is crazier than the last.”

3!

2!

1!

As the countdown ended, with a soft *bang*, Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin almost simultaneously vanished from their spots.

Sharp whistles of air echoed continuously.

The two of them, one after the other, trailed waves of air as they shot forward along the marked route in their ocular implants. They made high-speed turns and dashes through the complex alleys and streets before them.

Mana surged through their meridians, and vital energy roared within their muscles. As they continuously unleashed the power within their bodies, Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin moved faster and faster, their figures growing increasingly blurred.

In Gongshu Jin’s ocular implant, the conditions of various parts of his body appeared, detailing his current state.

Body Temperature: 115°C

Mana Mobilization: 30%

Muscle Strength Mobilization: 80%

Active Techniques: Whale Devourer’s Silent Breath Technique Level 15, Boiling Blood Burning Body Art Level 14, Ten-Thousand-Mile Flying Sword Step Level 12

Current Cultivation Method: Azure Dragon Soaring Heart Technique Level 15

Scanning the lines of data and feeling the effects of the medicine spreading through his body, Gongshu Jin felt he was in the best possible condition.

“A body temperature of 115°C is just right. It’s the optimal balance between heat dissipation and bodily function after activating the Boiling Blood Burning Body Art, where mana and vital energy mix. It’s also the ideal temperature for the medicine to take effect.”

But with a sidelong glance, Gongshu Jin could sense Zhang Yu relentlessly chasing after him.

“He’s really pushing it.”

“But right now, I’m not even at my full strength…”

In the next moment, as Gongshu Jin willed it, the vertebrae in his spine trembled section by section, emitting a rumbling sound.

The Vajra-Crafted Vertebral Mana Skeleton could assist the user in executing techniques through external neural and meridian connections.

However, at any given time, this vertebral mana skeleton could only store and invoke one technique.

To achieve better results in the first Speed Stage and unleash greater speed, he had specifically adjusted the technique stored in his vertebral mana skeleton. He replaced the Level 20 physical cultivation technique originally used for training with a technique specifically designed to enhance bodily movement.

Ten-Thousand-Mile Flying Sword Step—Level 20 Activation!

The mobilization of physical strength and magical power surged once more!

In the next instant...

Boom! With a deafening explosion, Gongshu Jin’s figure seemed to vanish in an instant.

If anyone had looked up after hearing the successive sonic booms, they would have found his form already gone from the spot where the shockwaves erupted.

It was only because, under continuous acceleration, he had surpassed the speed of sound, charging ahead of the roaring airwaves.

At such a terrifying velocity, Gongshu Jin moved like a bolt of lightning, darting at high speed through the simulated urban examination ground, rapidly widening the distance between himself and Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu, who was operating his sports car legs and the War Demon Life-Consuming Technique, watched this scene with a sense of helplessness.

“Tsk… all that cultivation built on a pile of money—how could it compare to the solid foundation I’ve forged through my own blood, sweat, and hard training?”

Though he thought this, Zhang Yu knew it would be difficult for him to surpass Gongshu Jin in this round.

Ever since arriving on the second level, he had seized every moment to cultivate his techniques.

First, to advance his University Saint Body, then for the Civil Engineering Saint Body—amidst this incredibly tight schedule, he never found the opportunity to practice a Foundation Establishment stage technique to enhance his speed.

The cultivation of speed-type techniques could be considered his weakness.

If this were a Qi Refining stage physical examination, relying purely on physical strength, it wouldn’t matter much.

But upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, with the enhancement of physical strength, the fusion of body and magical power became the trend.

The amplifying effects of magical power on the body, the immortal characteristics contained within the physique… all were crucial assessment criteria for physical cultivation, making speed-type techniques particularly important.

Beyond this, he had another significant disadvantage in this area: the reinforced, heavy bones within his body.

Such an increase in weight inevitably hindered his speed.

Fortunately, the complex terrain of the examination ground prevented pure speed advantages from being fully realized.

Moreover, the occasional detonation of devices, the onslaught of blade energy, sword energy, and other special magical attacks constantly impeded Gongshu Jin’s pace.

In contrast, Zhang Yu, relying on the effects of his Three-Eyes Divine Ability and Time-Remnant Demon Pupils, could calmly evade various assaults. When evasion was impossible, he relied on his robust physique to charge through.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, Gongshu Jin landed on the finish line.

He let out a long exhale, releasing waves of scorching heat in all directions.

Then, he converted his internal magical power into ice-attribute special energy, steadily cooling himself down.

But shortly after Gongshu Jin reached the finish line, accompanied by explosive bangs, Zhang Yu also crossed the finish line within the Eye Remains.

Gongshu Jin turned his head, casting a surprised glance at his opponent.

It was only then that he took a proper look at Zhang Yu’s condition, astonished to find that although Zhang Yu still had white hair, his cheeks were rosy and radiant, his eyes firm and spirited—a stark contrast to his frail appearance a week ago.

“His speed… isn’t bad,” Gongshu Jin judged inwardly before hurrying to the final examination ground.

“My performance in the speed round was decent. As long as I do well in the strength round, I’ll definitely surpass Ji Yuanshu…”

…

Observing the performances of the two in the examination ground, Gongshu Jin’s excellence did not exceed Tu Lishan’s expectations.

Particularly Gongshu Jin’s advantage in spirit coins made Tu Lishan sigh in admiration—his talent was truly astonishing, as if his immortal potential flowed endlessly.

As for Zhang Yu’s condition, it stirred something in Tu Lishan’s heart. He mused, “Zhang Yu’s physical functions have recovered remarkably well. It seems, as he claimed, his constitution is special, and his recovery ability is quite impressive.”

“But it’s also related to this venue. This place amplifies the importance of reaction, agility, insight, and speed variation, while diminishing the advantage of pure displacement speed.”

Thinking this, Tu Lishan couldn’t help but ask, “Director, holding the Civil Engineering Department’s final exams here is also to adapt to future circumstances, right? Is it really… that severe?”

Director Gao replied calmly, “The scale of university wars has been escalating continuously. Even our top ten… will eventually have to participate. It’s just that some shortsighted individuals in the school still delude themselves into thinking the times will never change, that they can keep lying down and making money as before.”

“Enough, let’s not dwell on this. Let’s see how Gongshu Jin performs in this final round.”

Thanks to ‘Zizhou No. 5’ for the generous reward.

(End of Chapter)