Chapter 383: Zhang Yu with the Highest Contribution in the Field (Thanks to 'Angry Kitty')

Chapter 383: Zhang Yu, the Top Contributor of the Match (Thanks to 'Angry Kitty' for once again bestowing the title of League Leader)

Ever since Zhang Yu unveiled his level 20 Nine Heavens Void Force, his duel against Ma Xuan and the others had drawn the attention of many faculty members.

Especially after he secured the advantage in the first half, the teachers were curious to see what tactics Ma Xuan would employ in the second, and how Zhang Yu would respond.

Before the second half officially commenced, another figure materialized within the Spirit Realm space, seemingly arriving to observe this Civil Engineering department competition.

It was a vertical text box, containing only four simple characters: Magnetic Pole True Monarch.

Director Gao’s eyes flickered upon seeing this, and he sent a private message: You finally arrived.

Director Gao was long accustomed to the Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s avatar in the Spirit Realm network.

"This guy is clearly so wealthy, yet he won't spend an extra cent on anything he deems unnecessary."

"His Spirit Realm image, his Nascent Soul domain, his projection effects... he always chooses the cheapest options available."

"Even the Dharma remains on his body are constantly patched and upgraded by his own hand, used for decades on end."

Director Gao knew that, for the most part, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch was just a stingy fellow.

Sometimes he truly wondered if the man was gambling away his fortune; why else would he be so frugal?

"I really don't know where he hides all that hoarded wealth. It’s not like he’s trying to forge an Immortal Artifact."

But fortunately, while the Magnetic Pole True Monarch was miserly and difficult to get along with, Director Gao considered him one of his few true friends, and he was here today to show his support.

Director Gao scanned the Peace Faction teachers present, thinking to himself: "The Finance Department is wealthy enough, but can you drag the Finance Director here to watch a competition and stand in your corner?"

"If we fully capitulate to the Finance Department, we will end up as nothing more than blood bags for them, and they might just blow up the entire Civil Engineering department in the process."

With the arrival of the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, the expressions of the many teachers present shifted.

Wei Huai, a geology teacher of the Peace Faction, mused internally: "The relationship between Director Gao and the Magnetic Pole True Monarch is truly extraordinary."

Jiao Lei, also of the Peace Faction and the homeroom teacher for Zhang Yu’s Foundation Establishment class, thought: "The Magnetic Pole True Monarch came in person? The Artifact Refining department truly values the Civil Engineering department; their sincerity in cooperation is high."

Many other teachers felt that since the War Faction had now courted the Artifact Refining department and established connections with the Transformation God Monarchs of Heavenly Sword University, wouldn't they be drowning in projects in the future?

For a moment, the War Faction teachers present felt their spines stiffen with newfound confidence.

As the Magnetic Pole True Monarch arrived, Director Gao, Director Lin, and the veteran Director Spirit Peak True Monarch stepped forward to greet him.

Spirit Peak True Monarch said with a smile: "Welcome, Magnetic Pole True Monarch. Your presence brings great honor to our Civil Engineering department today."

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: "Old Gao said the department’s elite were gathered for the top 10 decider, so I thought I’d come take a look."

"I’m thinking about the several soul-less production zones the higher-ups are sending down next year, so I might as well inspect the construction standards of the Civil Engineering department."

Hearing about the massive projects held in the Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s grasp, the surrounding Civil Engineering teachers’ eyes lit up like a pack of wolves spotting fresh meat.

After a round of pleasantries, they returned to watching the match.

The Magnetic Pole True Monarch sent a private message to Director Gao: "Satisfied?"

Director Gao: Good, good, good [Thumbs Up]

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Pay up.

Director Gao: [Transfer]

Director Gao: This is the deposit. I’ll pay the rest after we finish watching.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Where is the trust?

Director Gao did not reply; he knew from hundreds of years of experience that if he paid the full amount now, the man would watch for five minutes and then vanish.

After all, his time, his thoughts, and his focus were all incredibly valuable.

Furthermore, he knew that although the Artifact Refining department had teachers researching fields related to construction, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch himself had no interest in civil engineering.

As the second half began, the teams clashed once more.

Director Gao pulled the Magnetic Pole True Monarch aside to introduce Mo Shangjin.

As the strongest student of the War Faction and the only one to master the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, Mo Shangjin was the faction’s poster child and the best student to showcase their capabilities.

Director Lin chimed in from time to time, introducing Xuan Liangtian, who had mastered the Mountain-Moving Divine Power for the Peace Faction.

Spirit Peak True Monarch stood by with a smile, seemingly delighted by the abundance of talent in the Civil Engineering department.

But after listening for a while, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch suddenly asked: "Who is that student?"

Director Gao glanced at Zhang Yu, who was surrounded by Ma Xuan’s group, and frowned: "Zhang Yu."

Although Ma Xuan and Zhang Yu were enveloped in a sky full of dust and sand, every contestant shared their ocular recording feeds with the judges and teachers, so the progress of the match was always visible.

The Magnetic Pole True Monarch said with surprise: "So he is the Zhang Yu you mentioned to me? This is my first time seeing him."

Director Gao did not answer, for the Zhang Yu currently under siege looked for all the world like he was about to be eliminated. Director Gao sent a private message: Stop talking, let's not talk about Zhang Yu.

But Director Lin’s eyes flashed, and he smiled faintly: "This Zhang Yu is Director Gao’s beloved protégé, a general he has cultivated with all his might."

Seeing Director Lin speak, the Peace Faction’s Wei Huai immediately added: "Indeed, this Zhang Yu must have cost Director Gao quite a bit of effort, right? But it seems the situation is dire now..."

Just as Director Gao frowned, watching the Peace Faction steer the conversation toward the imminent elimination of Zhang Yu, he saw Zhang Yu fighting with desperate ferocity. Despite being bathed in blood, he fought one against four, never stopping, and ultimately managed to subdue one of them.

The Magnetic Pole True Monarch nodded and said: "This student is interesting. Old Gao, you’ve found yourself a good disciple."

Watching this, Director Gao’s frown vanished, replaced by a smirk as he said: "I offered him a few pointers, but it’s mostly his own grit."

One teacher remarked: "Mastering the level 20 Nine Heavens Void Force and level 20 War Demon Meteor Life Technique in his sophomore year—his martial talent goes without saying. To fight so fearlessly despite the toll on his body and spirit, he is top-tier."

Tu Lishan quickly stepped in to add: "If Director Gao hadn't spotted his potential last year during his freshman year and brought him to the construction site for training, how could he have improved so much?"

On the other side, Lang Yougong also said: "I am their physical training instructor; I know their progress. Since going to the site, Zhang Yu’s improvement has truly been rapid. It just goes to show that the future of our Civil Engineering department lies on the construction site."

Director Lin watched the scene calmly. When he saw Ma Xuan’s team surrender one after another, and finally Ji Yuanxu surrender as well, his gaze grew colder.

Ji Yuanxu: Teacher, I lost.

Ji Yuanxu: It was mostly because Ma Xuan and the others were dead weight. I suspect they took bribes from the War Faction to throw the match; the War Faction is trying to suppress me.

Director Lin did not reply immediately. Instead, he checked the post-match statistics, took a screenshot of the data, and sent it to Ji Yuanxu.

One was the combat duration statistic, ranging from the highest, Zhang Yu, to Lion Yunxiang, whose combat duration was zero, with Ji Yuanxu sitting at second to last.

Then there was the estimated destruction, with Zhang Yu still ranked first, accounting for 78% of the team’s total.

The last place was still Lion Yunxiang, who had spent the whole time buried in construction, accounting for 0%.

And there was Ji Yuanxu, second to last, accounting for 1.5%.

Director Lin found the data laughable.

With these numbers, you still think others were dead weight?

Director Lin thought to himself: "This kid Ji Yuanxu, covered in designer Dharma remains, yet his combat time is at the bottom, and the destruction he caused is also at the bottom... what a useless burden."

Meanwhile, the other teachers also turned their attention to the post-match statistics.

The most eye-catching was, of course, Zhang Yu. In particular, his 89% share of the team’s total damage taken, his first-place ranking in physical injury, and his first-place ranking in estimated losses—all these figures etched Zhang Yu’s name deeply into the minds of the teachers present.

Tu Lishan sighed: "The greatest contribution in this match was Zhang Yu. To hold out for so long, his physique, his defensive techniques, his force-deflection skills, his fighting will, and his combat strategy were all indispensable."

"Come to think of it, after defeating Ma Xuan and the others, Zhang Yu’s team has entered the top 10, right?"

"To reach the top 10 as a sophomore is a rare and excellent achievement."

Tulishan proposed, "Since the departmental competition offers loan incentives for top performers, I believe Zhang Yu deserves one."

The pacifist Wei Huai replied coldly, "Zhang Yu’s fighting style is utterly impractical in reality; it only works in a competition. In actual warfare, there are no rules against killing your opponent."

"If Ma Xuan and the others hadn't held back, fearing they might kill him, Zhang Yu would have been eliminated long ago."

"If he loves to fight so much, he should transfer to the Security Department. They use avatar simulations there—he can fight all he wants without paying for any casualties."

Tulishan snorted, retorting, "Rules are rules. Isn't the essence of engineering learning to build within the constraints of the law? Zhang Yu’s ability to exploit the competition rules to secure victory is, in itself, a testament to his competence."

"The rules were there for everyone; why didn't Ma Xuan exploit them? Why didn't Bu Ziran fight with his life on the line? It is simply because they lack the talent. Some people have grown so accustomed to throwing money at problems that they have forgotten how to risk their lives."

Observing the dispute, True Monarch Lingyue nodded slightly and said, "The Civil Engineering competition mandates compensation for fatalities precisely to discourage pure combat. Zhang Yu’s fighting spirit is commendable, but it is not the style of our department and should not be encouraged."

Tulishan’s eyes flickered as he thought, "Seeing us gain the upper hand, they step in to tilt the scales?"

However, Tulishan glanced at Director Gao, and seeing the man remained silent, he held his tongue as well.

With True Monarch Lingyue’s assessment effectively sealing the verdict on Zhang Yu’s performance, the other teachers fell silent, soon turning their attention to other matches.

Meanwhile, the silent Director Gao was busy messaging Zhang Yu.

Director Gao: How are your injuries? Can you afford the treatment?

Zhang Yu glanced at the message, a warmth spreading through his heart: "Is he going to send me money?"

Just then, Zhang Yu received another notification, this one from True Monarch Ciji.

True Monarch Ciji: Guess who I am with.

True Monarch Ciji: [Photo of True Monarch Ciji and Director Gao watching the match together.jpg]

Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned, and then saw Director Gao send another message: [10 Spirit Coins]

Director Gao: Take this and get some proper nourishment.

Director Gao: You've already reached the top ten; no need to push yourself so hard in the next round.

True Monarch Ciji: You wouldn't want Director Gao to find out you've been secretly apprenticing under me, would you?

True Monarch Ciji: How is your artifact refining course coming along? Finish the first three years of the curriculum before your sophomore year ends.

True Monarch Ciji: Do that, and there will be a reward for you.

(End of chapter)