Chapter 368: Bai Zhenzhen Being Worshipped (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 368: The Adored Bai Zhenzhen (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Just as Zhang Yu voiced the curiosity in his heart, Ying Xin took the initiative to explain it to him.

After all, Ying Xin was a local of the second layer and had watched many live broadcasts of competitions before entering university.

As Ying Xin spoke, the subsequent competition showcased the distinct flying sword techniques of each contestant.

There were the living flying swords of Nether University, which flew, fought, and locked onto targets like sentient creatures.

There were the Dharma-eye flying swords of Vajra University, capable of peering across 80 kilometers to guide the blade directly to its target.

And there were the flying swords of Myriad Dharma University, which communicated with the spirit world network via the sun and moon in the sky to lock onto their marks.

It was only then that Zhang Yu realized the sun and moon of the Kunxu second layer were manufactured and controlled by Myriad Dharma University.

Both the sun and the moon were immense magical artifacts, constantly maintaining a spirit world network that covered the entire second layer of Kunxu.

Zhang Yu looked up at the bright moon in the sky, thinking, "No wonder I could get online at the remote construction site; so that's why?"

At the same time, a feeling gradually took hold of him.

"In this flying sword competition, the contestant's skill is one thing, but the flying sword itself is just as important."

Zhang Yu had initially thought this competition was like javelin or discus, relying primarily on the athlete's prowess.

But now, it seemed more like motor racing; the quality of the sword and the technology behind it were just as vital as the pilot.

"Truly a competition only the wealthy can afford to play."

Just as Ying Xin was about to introduce the next group of contestants, Yu Xinghan’s gaze sharpened, and he suddenly said, "I know this group."

Zhang Yu looked at Yu Xinghan in surprise; the other had come from the first layer just like him, so how could he know the contestants?

Yu Xinghan replied, "It’s Senior Sister Hong Xiao, Senior Sister Jiu Rao, and Senior Brother Liuyun from Hehuan University."

Ying Xin asked curiously, "You know them all?"

Yu Xinghan said proudly, "I’ve watched many of their combat videos; I know every stunning technique they possess by heart."

Zhang Yu remembered something and thought to himself, "No wonder Senior Sister Hong Xiao has such a heavy workload; so that’s where all her money goes—into her flying swords."

As he continued to watch, Zhang Yu discovered that the top ten universities each had their own distinct style of flying sword technology, while the remaining thirty-six upper colleges and seventy-two lower colleges, despite subtle differences, generally inherited their techniques from the top ten.

As for vocational colleges... were there even any vocational students in this competition? Zhang Yu hadn't noticed.

Before he knew it, the second half of the night had passed, and the rising sun began to cast its light upon the arena.

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen and several representatives from Heavenly Sword University stepped onto the field.

Bai Zhenzhen wound a few strands of her hair around her fingertips, and with a flash of sword light, those strands shot into the sky, transforming into several refined gold flying swords. They emitted a dazzling radiance in the morning sun, piercing the air at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

Data flickered across Bai Zhenzhen’s ocular implants, displaying the metrics of her refined gold swords and the information relayed by the patrol swords—including the sword's perspective, target coordinates, wind direction, altitude, and other parameters.

The sky and earth retreated rapidly in her vision, and in less than two minutes, the target appeared within her ocular display.

The next moment, as Bai Zhenzhen shifted her sword seals, the refined gold swords trailed a streak of electric light and pierced directly through the target.

Ying Xin sighed from the side, "Sigh, they start playing with flying swords in their freshman year and enter competitions in their sophomore year, while we’re still stuck practicing pile-driving in our second year."

Watching Bai Zhenzhen’s effortless movements, Zhang Yu recalled the exam she had mentioned.

"Zhen said last time it was hundreds of kilometers away... could their exam involve piloting flying swords from hundreds of kilometers away?"

"If that’s the case, is Heavenly Sword University deliberately hiding even more advanced flying sword technology?"

Seeing the competition end, Yu Xinghan noticed Zhang Yu had vanished again and couldn't help but message him: Where are you?

Zhang Yu: Busy, you go back first, don't wait for me.

...

In a small alley, Bai Zhenzhen held Zhang Yu, passing her True Spirit Root to him.

Zhang Yu took a deep breath and said, "Zhen, try to stay a bit longer if you can."

Bai Zhenzhen’s voice echoed in his ear: "I want to stay a few more days, too, so we can exchange the True Spirit Root more often."

"But it depends on how the competition goes."

...

After receiving the True Spirit Root once more, Zhang Yu simply skipped his classes and applied for overtime at the construction site.

With his multi-threaded thinking activated, he ran his level 20 breathing technique while simultaneously performing the level 20 Heaven-Turning Seal, nourishing the divine root within him by cycling two cultivation methods at once.

"One method takes 30 hours; ten methods would take 300 hours. If I cultivate them one by one, I definitely won't finish before Zhen leaves."

"But if I run two at once, that’s 150 hours."

"Although time is still tight, copying the Dao Seed before Zhen leaves is not impossible."

Just as one thread of thought ran the breathing technique and another the Heaven-Turning Seal, Zhang Yu engaged a third thread to activate the War Demon Life-Sapping Art.

However, he kept the art at its absolute minimum, increasing his physical strength by only 0.1 levels, keeping the toll on his body well within manageable limits.

"Add in the War Demon Life-Sapping Art, which can be run concurrently, and that’s three methods at once—the success rate will be even higher."

Zhang Yu cycled through the methods he had learned in his mind. Each required different muscles and meridians; some could be run simultaneously, others could not.

He calculated the combinations, arranging the compatible ones to nourish his divine root with maximum efficiency.

Over the next few days, Zhang Yu abandoned almost everything. Aside from frantic cultivation, he met Bai Zhenzhen to exchange the True Spirit Root—once before the competition, and once after. The flying sword competition grew increasingly intense; beyond the initial beyond-visual-range strikes, there were various contests of destructive power, speed, technique, and distance.

The most dangerous, however, was the sword duel.

Contestants fought within a ten-kilometer arena, with the match ending only upon surrender or the destruction of the flying sword.

It was in these duels that Zhang Yu finally saw military-grade flying swords in action, watching as they turned into streaks of light, invincible and capable of severing anything, displaying terrifying speed and destruction.

Bai Zhenzhen was a revelation in the duels.

Using only seven refined gold flying swords, she swept through her opponents one after another.

When facing an opponent with a military-grade sword, she formed a sword array with 108 refined gold blades, using her divine root to shroud the sword qi and light, creating an invisible array to strangle her foe.

Watching her control 72 swords with one finger to parry the military-grade weapon, while remotely maneuvering 36 others to sneak behind her opponent and suppress their physical body, countless spectators gasped in awe, making Bai Zhenzhen shine brighter than ever.

Ye Xingli of the Artifact Refining Department was also watching. As a top student in her field, she was fascinated by the sword technologies of the various schools.

Seeing Bai Zhenzhen defeat her opponent, Ye Xingli thought, "A divine root versus a military-grade sword?"

"This invisible sword technique is too advantageous in a duel. The opponent didn't even get to unleash the true power of their military-grade sword before their body was defeated."

"But this trick is only effective the first time it’s shown; the next opponent will surely be prepared."

As more people learned that Bai Zhenzhen was a disciple of the Seven Emotions God-Monarch, their interest in her grew even further.

Countless messages began to pop up in her ocular display.

"Miss Bai Zhenzhen, are you interested in endorsing our company's products?"

"Are you taking on advertisements?"

"You have a standby fund of 100 spirit coins; reply 'Yes' to receive it within five minutes..."

"Would you be willing to accept an interview?"

Requests for endorsements, advertisements, and even offers of loans flooded her feed, never ceasing.

No sooner had she stepped out of the hotel than a throng of people awaited her, their lenses instantly swiveling to capture her image.

With a flicker of movement, Bai Zhenzhen accelerated, vanishing from their sight in a heartbeat.

...

Deep within a narrow alleyway.

Zhang Yu embraced Bai Zhenzhen from behind, whispering, "You have been growing more famous by the day."

"Hmm..." Bai Zhenzhen hummed softly, feeling the divine spirit root returning to her dantian, and replied, "They are merely tedious people; they shall not interfere with our affairs."

Zhang Yu cautioned, "Be careful. Our business must never be discovered by anyone."

A moment later, Bai Zhenzhen returned to the hotel, only to find Wen Wuyai waiting for her once more.

Wen Wuyai asked, "Zhenzhen, why do you keep slipping out alone lately?"

Bai Zhenzhen replied, "Just taking a stroll. Is there a problem with that?"

Wen Wuyai noted, "Zhenzhen, your hair is a bit disheveled..."

Bai Zhenzhen sidestepped him in a flash: "I am going to take a bath. Do not follow me."

Watching her retreating figure, Wen Wuyai sighed helplessly, thinking to himself, "What on earth is Bai Zhenzhen doing? Should I look into this a little?"

...

As the Flying Sword Tournament progressed, many contestants drew the public eye, and Bai Zhenzhen was among them.

Beyond the endless chatter regarding her divine spirit root, the greatest focus remained on the Seven Emotions God-Monarch who stood behind her.

Soon, intelligence regarding how the Seven Emotions God-Monarch had vigorously cultivated Bai Zhenzhen was unearthed.

At the start of her freshman year, Bai Zhenzhen was granted a temporary military permit due to her exceptional high school grades in incantations.

Then, in the first semester, she joined the senior patrol squad, capturing evil gods and dangerous elements from the dark realms, thereby amassing a wealth of merit.

By the second semester, thanks to her accumulated merits and her modifications to the Sky-Patrol Flying Sword, she was promoted by exception, attaining a military post at Sky Sword University and gaining access to approved military-grade techniques and spirit roots...

Ying Xin thought with adoration, "It is damn impressive; truly worthy of a God-Monarch! This path of cultivation for a disciple is simply beyond our reach."

Gongshu Jin thought with envy, "This is the handiwork of a top-tier tycoon—securing a military post as a freshman. Indeed, the truly wealthy can navigate the university system at will; the richer one is, the more shortcuts one can take, achieving with ease what we cannot."

Che Yufei lamented, "Bai Zhenzhen progresses so rapidly, yet there is not a single wrinkle on her face... This is a truly top-tier master."

Ji Yuanshu gazed at Bai Zhenzhen on the arena, finding her sword-like hair utterly charming, the sword light that symbolized wealth so deeply moving.

Thinking of the Seven Emotions God-Monarch behind her, he thought with intense reverence, "As expected, if one has money, one can ruthlessly shatter all the norms and conventions of the university, trampling everyone less wealthy than me underfoot."

Ye Xingli of the Artifact Refining Department also marveled, "Money... The Seven Emotions God-Monarch is truly so wealthy, so wise, and so adept at cultivating disciples. To pave such a shortcut to immortality for one's apprentice with gold—what kind of master-disciple affection is this? What a profound bond? Even if Bai Zhenzhen were to sacrifice everything for her master in the future, it would be only right."

Following her progress, the Spirit Realm network was flooded with praise for Bai Zhenzhen and the Seven Emotions God-Monarch—admiring her, envying her, lauding their bond, worshiping her achievements, revering the God-Monarch's wealth, and sighing at the sheer brilliance of the rich.

————

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