Chapter 390: Director Gao's Help

Chapter 390: Director Gao’s Assistance

Lifting the bunker—this was one of the strategies Zhang Yu and his team had devised.

When faced with an irresistible onslaught, they would move the bunker together, seeking any means to dodge attacks that could not be withstood head-on.

Fortunately, thanks to the multiple reinforcements applied earlier, the bunker’s outer walls remained structurally sound despite the appearance of several deep cracks.

"Move!" Xiao Qingxuan roared. Nine dragon-shaped auras danced wildly, blasting through the mudslide while guiding the group toward a patch of ground that had yet to collapse.

But soon, as his mana was severely depleted, the dual burden of supporting the bunker and resisting the mudslide proved too much for Tian Yang. His body shriveled, and he collapsed back into the bunker.

A few seconds later, Shi Yunxiang also reached his limit, shrinking his form and leaping inside.

With the two of them withdrawing, the entire bunker plummeted, only to be caught by the remaining three, who poured out their own auras to hold it aloft.

Shi Huaiyu looked at the churning, muddy torrents and the crumbling earth around them, her face pale. "We can't hold on much longer."

She knew that if the bunker slipped from their grasp, it would be utterly destroyed by the mudslide and the collapsing ground.

"Hold it!" Zhang Yu shouted. "Shi Huaiyu! Forget the bottom, get up there and reduce the weight!"

"Xiao Qingxuan!" Zhang Yu turned his gaze to him, his voice earnest. "You go up there and help me too!"

Shi Huaiyu shrunk her body and leaped onto the bunker, frantically condensing strands of mysterious yellow energy and pouring them into the structure to continuously lighten its load.

On the other side, Xiao Qingxuan leaped onto Zhang Yu’s shoulder after shrinking, pressing a palm against him. Streams of Five Elements True Qi flowed into Zhang Yu, working desperately to heal his wounds.

As he probed Zhang Yu’s body, he couldn't help but frown. Under the strain of such explosive techniques, Zhang Yu’s internal organs were, in Xiao Qingxuan’s eyes, riddled with holes. He couldn't help but marvel at how the man had managed to survive this long.

Zhang Yu, now transformed into a giant, held the bunker with one hand while blasting away waves of pressure with the other, pushing against the torrential mud. Amidst the collapsing world, he stood as a bulwark, shielding the bunker.

The others felt a surge of inspiration at the sight.

Watching Zhang Yu bathed in blood, fighting desperately against the current to protect the bunker, Shi Huaiyu glanced at Su Yanyang in the distance and hardened her heart. "Damn it! All or nothing!"

She slapped her ghost-kidney hard. "Overload mode! Refine the kidney essence into mana."

The soul-cultivator within the kidney replied, "If you do this... my kidney will age rapidly; the depreciation rate is not low."

Shi Huaiyu retorted, "Just do as I say."

The next moment, feeling her mana rapidly replenishing, Shi Huaiyu frantically refined more mysterious yellow energy, further reducing the bunker's weight.

On the other side, Shi Yunxiang extended his arm toward Zhang Yu. "Drink some of my blood."

Seeing the earnest look on the lion-man’s face, Zhang Yu didn't hesitate; he bit down, and mouthfuls of demon blood surged into him.

Zhang Yu’s eyes brightened. It felt as if he had consumed liquid celestial rice; massive amounts of vitality flooded his body, replenishing his stamina and enhancing his physical activation.

At the same time, Zhang Yu saw information from the competition group pop up before his eyes.

Ying Xin: [1 Spirit Coin] Keep it up, Senior Brother, this is for your medical expenses.

Gongshu Jin: [1 Spirit Coin] Go for it!

Yu Xinghan: [1 Spirit Coin] Take it and fight!

Zhang Yu smiled at the sight, and with a thunderous roar, he pushed the surrounding mudslide back several meters.

But a moment later, a wave of mud over ten meters high descended with the force of a collapsing mountain.

Boom!

Watching the bunker and the six of them being completely swallowed by the mudslide, Su Yanyang said coldly, "Boring struggle."

He watched as wave after wave of sludge crashed down, the tremors continuing until the very moment the match ended.

Su Yanyang calculated silently, "If the early-to-mid-game defense had been better, if I hadn't been delayed so much in construction, or if I had been able to accumulate five more minutes of power, I could have finished them sooner."

Su Yanyang shook his head. "Forget it, there wasn't enough time in this match anyway."

As the earth settled, Su Yanyang descended to the ground.

Watching the referees dig through the earth to reveal the bunker, now reduced to ruins, Su Yanyang estimated, "About ten percent completion left; I suppose that meets the goal."

Suddenly, he frowned slightly. Upon closer inspection, the bunker seemed significantly larger than expected.

The next moment, as the outer shell was pried open, Su Yanyang realized with a jolt that wrapped within the layers of outer walls was a smaller, "true" bunker.

"No, this is the bunker of the required size."

Su Yanyang’s brow furrowed. "Over-construction? Hiding the real bunker inside a fake one?"

"But even so, it’s still severely damaged."

...

In the Spirit Realm space.

Wei Huai commented, "Zhang Yu’s team performed well, but they ultimately lost due to funding. With more capital to equip top-tier Dharma skeletons and use advanced technology, their results would have been better. Zhang Yu can't keep going like this; even with nine lives, it won't be enough. He needs to find a way to borrow more money."

Tu Lishan countered, "How much did Su Yanyang spend this match? Can he keep spending like this and still break even? What happens when he can't pay it back?"

As the arguments between the pacifist and warmonger teachers flared, they quickly shifted from Zhang Yu and Su Yanyang’s match to others.

Amidst the bickering, Director Gao remained as calm as a stagnant well, quietly watching the settlement screen.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch messaged privately: The final completion rate is 36%?

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Then in the second half, as long as Su Yanyang gets the construction above 36%, he wins, right?

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Given the strength gap, that shouldn't be hard.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: It seems, as you said, this Su Yanyang is superior to your student.

Director Gao: Perhaps... but the result of the first round was different from what I expected.

Director Gao: I thought Su Yanyang would be more overwhelming.

Recalling the six of them fighting with all their might in the final minute, Director Gao’s eyes were thoughtful.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Why? Do you want to help him in the second half?

Director Gao: Would that be too hasty? He’s only a sophomore. Give him two more years to grow, and he will surely surpass this Su Yanyang.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: You’re right. But the situation changes more fiercely every year. Gaining a Seven-Absolute technique a year early makes a world of difference in future potential.

Director Gao: You think I should help him?

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: What does your disciple have to do with me?

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: I’m just being fair. If you help him now and he seizes the opportunity, it will be a qualitative leap—worth ten times your usual help. The cost-effectiveness is clearly higher.

Director Gao: You have a point.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Why are you looking at me? You don't want me to intervene, do you?

Director Gao: My methods are too well-known here; if I help, I’ll be exposed immediately.

Director Gao: After all, this is an internal competition for the Civil Engineering Department. As the Director, it’s inappropriate for me to secretly assist a student during the match.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: He’s your student, not mine. Why should I care?

Director Gao: For the sake of old times, do me a favor. Take advantage of the break to give him some guidance.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: I can't. I know nothing about him; how am I supposed to guide him?

Director Gao: I trust your level of skill. As long as you are willing, it will surely work.

Lord Magnetic: Fine, fine, just send the transfer first.

Lord Magnetic: If it weren't for our friendship of several centuries, money wouldn't even be an option.

Lord Magnetic: You have no idea how many people are lining up with cash in hand, begging for my guidance.

Director Gao: [30 Spirit Coins] I know, thank you so much, thank you.

Lord Magnetic: Right, I don't have him added yet; tell him to send me a request.

Lord Magnetic: Also, I don't guarantee a win.

Director Gao: I understand. Once you've guided him, the rest is up to his own ability.

...

Watching the referee announce the final completion rate of 36%, Su Yanyang turned his head to look at Zhang Yu and the others, who were crawling out from the debris.

He tilted his chin, looking down at them from his height, and seeing their mud-stained bodies, he said languidly, "Well done."

"For your level, this is already the best possible outcome."

"Rest well, and keep up the effort in the second half."

Watching Su Yanyang’s retreating back, Shi Huaiyu rubbed her waist, feeling only a dull, aching soreness and a wave of profound weakness.

Her face was etched with resentment as she thought to herself, "What a loss, this is a truly devastating loss."

Clearly, in Shi Huaiyu’s estimation, it was impossible for them to force Su Yanyang’s team below a 36% completion rate when they took their turn on defense in the second half.

"We are definitely going to lose to Su Yanyang."

"And it’s highly likely we won't even rank in the top seven."

Beside her, Che Yufei awoke from his state of feigned death. Upon learning of the 36% completion rate from the first half, he let out a soft sigh, then consoled himself, "To hold our own against Su Yanyang’s team like this is not bad at all."

"If it weren't for you, Zhang Yu, Shi Huaiyu, and Xiao Qingxuan, I wouldn't even dare to imagine standing toe-to-toe with them."

Xiao Qingxuan watched the scene with calm detachment; in his view, this team’s limit was the top ten, and striving for the top seven felt like a thankless, uphill battle.

Zhang Yu still wanted to fight for it in the second half. If this were a one-on-one, he would undoubtedly choose to push himself to the limit.

After all, with his Body Activation and the Earth-Wood Saint Physique, he feared nothing more than a desperate struggle.

But there were five teammates standing before him.

Seeing the exhaustion and the pained expressions on their faces, Zhang Yu didn't know how to ask them to push any harder; he found he simply couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Yet, if he said nothing, Zhang Yu knew that in their current state, they would be even less of a match for Su Yanyang’s team in the second half.

Just as Zhang Yu’s mind was racing with a thousand conflicting thoughts, Director Gao sent him a message.

Director Gao: You performed very well in the first half.

Director Gao: You didn't lose because of anything other than the fact that Su Yanyang has been cultivating for a few years longer than you.

Director Gao: During the upcoming break, I have invited a master to provide you with some guidance.

Director Gao: It took a great deal of effort for me to convince them, so learn well from them and strive for a better result in the second half.

Director Gao: [Lord Magnetic]

(End of chapter)