Chapter 385: Showdown Against Su Yanyang

Chapter 385: Confronting Su Yanyang

Before the next round of the competition officially began, the students were granted a three-hour window for rest and medical treatment.

Che Yufei had suffered minimal losses in the previous bout; after performing maintenance on his Dharma-skeleton and consuming some standard restoratives, he began to browse the information manifesting within his eye-socket interface.

Ever since he had posted about the match on his social feed, notifications had begun to trickle in.

He smiled as he opened the comments, watching as his high school and university peers expressed their astonishment at his breakthrough into the top ten.

Simultaneously, the internship applications he had sent out into the void without much hope were now, quite unexpectedly, yielding responses.

...

On the other side, Shi Yunxiang could not wait to flaunt his top-ten ranking.

He broadcast the news of his achievement across every group chat he belonged to.

In Shi Yunxiang’s eyes, such a display was only natural.

"If I don't show off after placing in the competition... what was the point of winning?"

"Once you have the credentials, you must flaunt them ruthlessly; letting everyone you know see your success—that is the survival rule of a university student."

He had received a long-awaited message from his mentor and was typing out a jubilant reply.

Among the demon-kin students of Wanfa University, several had reached out to inquire about his situation, asking if he required a loan from the demon-kin student aid fund.

Scanning the replies in his eye-socket, Shi Yunxiang felt a renewed sense of awe at the sheer weight of a top-ten finish in the Civil Engineering Competition.

...

Ying Clan Ancestral Hall Group

Ying Xin: I’ve made it into the top ten of the Civil Engineering competition!

Ying Xin: [Ranking Screenshot.jpg]

Ying Xin’s screenshot immediately stirred the "dead" souls in the group chat.

First Clan Head: Good, good, good. To achieve this in your sophomore year, your future is bright.

Fourth Clan Head: Ying Xin, you only got this spot because you were a substitute, right?

Second Clan Head: Excellent. You’ve latched onto a powerful benefactor; make sure you hold on tight and never let go.

Fifth Clan Head: By comparison, the ranking itself is unimportant. Once you reach the upper years, you will realize that while rank is better than raw strength, choosing the right side is more important than rank, and background is the key among keys.

First Clan Head: Did you send a gift? Take my ashes and present them to the other party.

Third Clan Head: Grandfather, you’ve forgotten that you already gave most of your ashes to me; there’s hardly any left.

Third Clan Head: Burn mine instead, there should be plenty remaining.

Watching the responses from her father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and ancestor... Ying Xin felt a warmth bloom in her heart. This was the support provided by the family’s heritage and the bonds of blood.

...

Meanwhile, Yu Xinghan lay beside the construction site, practicing his breathing techniques while manipulating his Dharma-skeleton to chat.

In the Songyang Hometown Group.

Yu Xinghan, 5th in the Wanfa University Foundation-Building Class, Top 10 in Civil Engineering Competition, Engineering Health Management Specialist: Hahaha, @Song Hailong, the video you posted is interesting.

Song Hailong, 3rd in the Immortal Soldier University Foundation-Building Class: I posted that last week, didn't I? Why are you only replying now?

Zhao Tianxing of Fengdu University (Contact me for data traffic): Top 10?

(Omitted) Yu Xinghan: Are you talking about the Civil Engineering top 10?

Yu Xinghan: I just participated in the departmental competition with Zhang Yu, defeated a few sixth-year students, and luckily snagged a top-ten spot.

Yu Xinghan: It’s quite rare to get this ranking as a sophomore. I suppose it just means Zhang Yu and I have truly surpassed the average level of the Wanfa Civil Engineering department throughout the years.

Watching the group members shower him with praise, Yu Xinghan urged them to support his videos.

At that moment, Lian Tianji’s avatar began to flicker.

Lian Tianji: Brother Xinghan, my assistant forgot to pass on the message you sent last time.

Lian Tianji: Which of your videos would you like me to recommend and share?

Seeing Lian Tianji’s reply, Yu Xinghan’s spirits soared. He quickly began to negotiate with the other party, eventually agreeing that once Yu Xinghan went to Hehuan University for a project, the two would definitely film a video together.

"Hehuan University..." Yu Xinghan’s gaze hardened. "I am going, no matter what!"

Just then, Yu Xinghan saw Zhang Yu and Xiao Qingxuan returning and hurried over to ask, "How is it?"

Xiao Qingxuan said coolly, "His injuries were already stable. The doctor treated him briefly, and after using the medicine sent by Director Gao, he should be fully recovered after an hour of rest."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Yu’s performance in the previous match against Ma Xuan had been astonishing; he had become the team’s backbone, an indispensable force for the upcoming rounds.

But shortly after, as the next round’s schedule was released, the team’s expressions turned grim.

"The new schedule pits the remaining ten teams against each other in one-on-one duels."

"The final preliminary top-ten ranking will be determined by the completion rate of our respective construction projects."

"The winner of these duels earns a challenge opportunity, allowing them to challenge a higher-ranked team in the next round. For example, if you successfully challenge the third-place team, you take their spot..."

Zhang Yu mused, "So this round determines the preliminary top ten, and the next round decides the final rankings."

Che Yufei frowned. "We’re fighting Su Yanyang’s team in this round? This..."

He looked at Shi Huaiyu beside him and asked, "You were on their team before. What is the gap between us and them?"

Shi Huaiyu touched her waist, her expression darkening. "The gap is immense."

"Not to mention Su Yanyang’s own strength, his Iron Coffin alone contains, to my knowledge, nine sets of standard Dharma-skeletons, covering every specialty. They adapt perfectly to his various techniques, allowing him to unleash his full cultivation."

"Whether it’s direct combat, reconnaissance, terrain manipulation, formation setup, or large-scale construction... his capabilities far exceed ours. He has no weaknesses." "And the other members of his team are all students ranked in the top 40 of their respective departments."

"The Dharma-skeletons and magical artifacts they carry are all worth a fortune."

"In particular, these people are all incredibly wealthy; they have no fear of resource consumption or the costs of post-match medical care and maintenance."

At this, Shi Huaiyu sighed. "I suspect Su Yanyang received word of this long ago. He formed this team specifically to contend for the top seven."

"Furthermore, he is extremely cautious. He never shows the slightest negligence, no matter the opponent..."

Listening to Shi Huaiyu describe the formidable nature of Su Yanyang and his teammates, the surrounding members fell into a heavy silence.

Che Yufei shook his head. "We’ve already made the top ten. If the situation looks unfavorable in the next match, we should concede early to avoid excessive losses."

Xiao Qingxuan observed the shifting expressions of those around him and could sense the slackening of their resolve.

He understood clearly: reaching the top ten had satisfied the expectations of most of the team, and with an opponent so powerful they seemed invincible, the desire to give up was only natural.

Shi Huaiyu showed a trace of reluctance, but she did not refute Che Yufei’s words, for she lacked the confidence to encourage them to fight Su Yanyang.

The risks and potential losses were simply too great.

Xiao Qingxuan looked at the pensive Zhang Yu and thought to himself, "The entire team has lost their fighting spirit. In such a state, do you still think you can win?"

...

As the rest period ended, the teams prepared to enter the arena once more.

Before the entrance to the competition grounds, the two teams stood facing each other.

Su Yanyang leaned against the iron coffin hovering behind him, looking at Shi Huaiyu as he spoke: "Junior sister Huaiyu, have you decided to fight to the bitter end, or will you surrender while there is still time?"

"You are well aware of the chasm between us; if you could surrender early, it would minimize the losses on both sides, which I believe is a prudent strategy."

"We are all students of the Civil Engineering Department, so why must we exhaust one another?"

"You know me well enough to know that I despise unnecessary expenditure above all else."

Shi Huaiyu gritted her teeth and retorted: "Win first, then we shall talk."

Su Yanyang shook his head in resignation: "Junior sister, you remain as irrational as ever; on the path of immortality, nothing is more perilous than letting emotion dictate your actions."

He turned his gaze toward Shi Huaiyu’s teammates, offering a word of caution: "Shi Huaiyu and I have our differences, and the choices she makes are inevitably clouded by sentiment; you all should really try to reason with her."

"Wouldn't it be better to save your resources for your cultivation? Why squander them here? Don't you agree?"

Just as Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang’s eyes flickered with hesitation, Zhang Yu suddenly stepped forward, standing before Su Yanyang: "You are trying to sow discord among us, aren't you?"

"Oh?" Su Yanyang chuckled: "And what gives you such a misguided impression?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Zhang Yu stared back at him, unyielding: "To rely on trash talk and manipulation before the battle even begins—it shows a lack of confidence."

"Is it possible that you aren't actually as certain of victory as you pretend to be?"

"Heh." The smile on Su Yanyang’s face grew even more radiant: "An interesting sophomore. It seems that after defeating Ma Xuan, your confidence has swelled quite a bit."

"Very well. I had intended to offer you all some senior advice."

"But it appears that is a lesson you will only be able to hear once you are lying on the ground."

With a wave of his hand, Su Yanyang retreated, and the iron coffin beside him suddenly burst open, releasing several streaks of light that surged toward him.

His entire form shifted as he swapped his set of Dharma remains.

Now, Su Yanyang’s arms were composed of crystalline structures, flickering with electric arcs that emitted a pulse of heart-stopping power.

His legs had transformed into the same crystalline material, defying gravity to suspend him in mid-air.

His torso resembled a blue gemstone, while jagged, crystal-like protrusions sprouted from his spine, looking utterly ferocious.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu and the others narrowed their eyes, the descriptions from Shi Huaiyu flashing through their ocular implants.

Shi Huaiyu: Su Yanyang’s Dharma remains are all part of a complete, integrated system; he buys them in full sets.

Shi Huaiyu: They not only bolster his cultivation but possess synergistic effects, allowing for systematic enhancement and combat.

Shi Huaiyu: This set is the 'Earth Fiend God' from the Myriad Dao Artisan Sect, specifically designed to amplify the manipulation of terrestrial gravity.

Shi Huaiyu: When used to augment the Seven Wonders of Civil Engineering, it drastically increases both their destructive power and their range.

As Che Yufei and the others listened to Shi Huaiyu’s briefing and watched Su Yanyang floating above, their fighting spirit seemed to wither away.

As the competition officially commenced, everyone entered the arena, and the order of offense and defense was decided by a random draw.

Shi Huaiyu murmured: "Are we the defending side for the first half?"

Che Yufei gazed into the distance and asked: "Shall we do as we did last time—go out to meet them and repel the enemy before they reach the construction site?"

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, unlike Ma Xuan, who launched wide-scale attacks from the outset, Su Yanyang’s group did not initiate any offensive maneuvers at all.