Chapter 434: Reporting to the Heavenly Court

Chapter 434: Reporting to the Heavenly Court

Observing Ping Han, who led in construction output, True Monarch Tianxiang offered a faint smile. He gestured toward the light screen and remarked, "Rankings, after all, depend entirely on how one chooses to rank them."

"If we calculate based on the number of kills, the picture changes quite significantly."

The data on the light screen shifted abruptly, transforming from a ranking based on construction output to one based on the number of Yellow Turban Warriors eliminated.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yu soared to the top, leaving Ping Han in second place.

Many guests were taken aback by this turn of events. After all, Ping Han’s final "mountain-lifting" strike had surpassed Zhang Yu’s in both scale and spectacle; no one expected his kill count to fall short.

True Monarch Tianxiang explained, "While Ping Han’s final blow was grand in scale, it lacked the precision of Zhang Yu’s control, and thus its effective lethality was not as profound."

With a flick of his mind, he projected images of the resident deities clearing the battlefield onto the screen.

In Ping Han’s testing zone, the deities were busy segmenting and hauling away the "small mountain" he had hurled in his fury, returning it to its original location.

Beneath the displaced mountain, a vast number of smaller Yellow Turban Warriors were revealed, buried in pits but still retaining their combat capability.

Director Gao, watching this, mused to himself, "When Ping Han’s mountain-lifting strike crashed down, the larger Yellow Turban monsters bore the brunt of the impact and were shattered instantly."

"But the smaller warriors seized the opportunity, digging pits to evade the onslaught."

"Because the 'mountain' rested atop the remains of the larger monsters, it naturally left gaps between the 'mountain' and the ground."

Meanwhile, the scene shifted to Zhang Yu’s testing zone.

One by one, the corpses of the Yellow Turban Warriors were cleared away. Each appeared relatively intact, yet they had been destroyed with surgical precision; not a single one had survived across the entire battlefield.

Deng Bingding, watching the same scene, felt his shock deepen: "Zhang Yu is only a junior, isn't he? It hasn't even been two and a half years since he first entered university, and he has already progressed to this terrifying extent?"

As the battlefield remains of both Zhang Yu and Ping Han were laid bare, True Monarch Tianxiang continued, "Zhang Yu achieved higher lethality with a smaller construction scale and lower costs. Does this not prove his standard exceeds that of Ping Han?"

Upon hearing this, many civil engineering experts present could not help but nod in agreement.

After all, knowing how to minimize costs, much like knowing how to maximize project value, is an essential skill for any practitioner of civil engineering.

Geng Chenyi disagreed, arguing, "How can a civil engineering exam be judged by kill counts? It should be about scale and efficiency..."

True Monarch Tianxiang did not yield, retorting, "This is a military civil engineering certification exam, which determines the right to use military-grade martial arts. How can we ignore the kill count?"

As the two sides remained at an impasse, True Monarch Qiyun, who had remained silent until now, looked at Director Lin and asked, "Old Lin, what is your take?"

Director Lin replied, "Ping Han has his strengths, and Zhang Yu has his brilliance. However, this is Ping Han’s final attempt..."

True Monarch Tianxiang shook his head. "And what if it is his final attempt? The military certification is awarded based on merit alone. Are we to judge based on age?"

One guest suggested, "Why not just let them both earn the military certification?"

True Monarch Qiyun dismissed the idea: "The Heavenly Court grants only one quota; it is impossible for both to ascend."

Director Gao, listening from the side, sighed inwardly. He knew that for the Heavenly Court, no matter how exceptional a student might be, they would never rescind a decision.

As the judges and guests shared their views, True Monarch Qiyun summarized, "Whether it is Ping Han or Zhang Yu, both have their merits."

"Ping Han possesses immense magical power, borrowing the momentum of the Transformation Realm and wielding the forces of heaven and earth. His performance in this battle can be described as earth-shattering."

"Zhang Yu’s martial arts have been tempered through a thousand trials; his desperate final strike swept the field, which can be described as battling the heavens and fighting the earth..."

As he spoke, True Monarch Qiyun’s mind flashed back to his recent conversation with True Monarch Magnetic Pole.

In truth, while others were voicing their opinions, he had been repeatedly analyzing the performances of both students.

Especially Zhang Yu—perhaps due to his connection with True Monarch Magnetic Pole, Qiyun had focused not only on Zhang Yu but also on aspects beyond his martial arts.

"Zhang Yu’s collection of magical treasures seems unremarkable, yet they played a pivotal role."

"Without the enhancement of these treasures, his speed in digesting construction materials would have been much slower, and the residual power might not have been enough to eliminate all his enemies."

Thinking of this, True Monarch Qiyun had sent a message to True Monarch Magnetic Pole.

Qiyun: Magnetic Pole, what is Zhang Yu’s level of artifact refining?

Magnetic Pole: ?

Qiyun: [Screenshot of Zhang Yu’s advisor]

Magnetic Pole: Oh, I had almost forgotten. I did indeed take on such a disciple.

Qiyun: I am presiding over the military certification exam.

Qiyun: I want to know his level of artifact refining.

Magnetic Pole: If he were in the Artifact Refining Department, he would be in the top five of his class.

True Monarch Qiyun was slightly startled and asked, "Which of his treasures did he refine himself?"

The memory of the conversation faded. True Monarch Qiyun thought to himself, "This Zhang Yu is a great talent."

"The university is one grand game of chess. While the inter-school civil engineering competition is important, the Artifact Refining Department is ultimately more critical."

"By favoring Magnetic Pole and Zhang Yu, I can allow Zhang Yu to master the 'Mountain-Moving Divine Power' of Tiankunlun before he transfers... becoming an interdisciplinary talent in artifact refining."

"If he can then give back to the civil engineering department, fostering further cooperation between the two, it would add weight to the balance against the Finance Department, while simultaneously curbing the trend of coin speculation in the school..."

"Director Gao would certainly support this if he knew."

Although True Monarch Qiyun never openly opposed students speculating in Qiongjiang coins, he was certainly not pleased to see his own students being harvested like leeks by the scythes of Hehuan University.

He could already imagine the atmosphere that would take hold in the civil engineering department if Ping Han were to win the certification.

Of course, regardless of the university's internal politics or the students' financial trends, the foundation of these thoughts rested on Zhang Yu’s strength.

If Zhang Yu’s ability were not, from a certain perspective, a cut above Ping Han’s, Qiyun would not have pondered so deeply. His thoughts raced like lightning, yet he continued speaking aloud: "...However, Ping Han’s reliance on the forces of heaven and earth, while grand in power, lacks perfect control, leaving behind flaws and regrets."

"Zhang Yu’s every ounce of strength was earned through his own struggle. With supreme fighting spirit, supplemented by bone ash, flesh, and digestive matter, he forged a steel defense that annihilated the most enemies at the lowest cost. To me, this is the true spirit of civil engineering."

"But my assessment is merely my own."

"I will report the data from today’s entire exam, along with everyone’s opinions, truthfully to the Heavenly Court. The final result will naturally be decided by the great gods and immortals of the Court."

Geng Chenyi thought to himself that the high-and-mighty immortals of the sects would hardly care for such trivial matters, likely leaving it to the great gods.

But the gods would hardly spare much attention for this exam, and in all likelihood, they would simply synthesize the opinions of the resident deities and the experts present.

"Normally, the Heavenly Court does not overturn the on-site recommendations of the military certification exam. Given the current situation, with both True Monarch Qiyun and True Monarch Tianxiang backing Zhang Yu, the military certification for this year’s civil engineering class will almost certainly go to him."

Geng Chenyi mused, "This Ping Han... what a pity. If he had won the certification, he could have driven quite a few people to buy Qiongjiang coins."

Hearing True Monarch Qiyun’s words, the attendees shared similar thoughts, realizing that the military certification was almost certainly destined for Zhang Yu.

Of course, procedurally, everything had to be submitted for approval, awaiting the final word from the Heavenly Court.

Before the official announcement, the experts and professors present had no interest in leaking the result prematurely.

Director Gao, who had been listening to the debate, wore a complex expression.

In his heart, it was a profound regret that either Ping Han or Zhang Yu would have to walk away without the certification.

Now, hearing of Ping Han’s failure, that regret deepened, even dampening his joy for Zhang Yu’s likely victory.

He knew this was Ping Han’s final opportunity.

...

Outside the examination hall.

Su Yanyang walked out, looking frail, his eyes still lingering with a trace of deep remorse.

The mere thought of his premature sale of Nectar Coins sent a fresh wave of agitation surging through him.

Just then, he caught sight of Zhang Yu, who had been carried outside the examination hall and was currently receiving treatment from a minor deity.

Seeing the young man’s body reduced to a mangled, bloody mess, Su Yanyang felt his own spirits lift quite unexpectedly.

"To be so grievously wounded by the mere strike of a Yellow Turban Warrior?"

"What a fool, overreaching himself; he’s only a junior, yet he dares to attempt the military certification exam?"

Su Yanyang mused to himself, "Serves you right to lose everything."

At that moment, a violent, suffocating aura of slaughter swept over him, startling Su Yanyang out of his skin.

He turned his head to see Xiao Yunjie, now returned to her human form, approaching with heavy strides.

Her face was twisted in a grimace of pure malice, her teeth bared, while the spectral armor clinging to her body writhed and shifted as if possessed of a malevolent consciousness of its own.

Su Yanyang silently retreated a few paces, doing his best to put some distance between himself and her.

He thought to himself, "This woman... could it be that she sold her Nectar Coins too?"

Meanwhile, Ping Han walked over, drawing the eyes of the crowd toward him.

Observing the man’s pristine condition and his expression of utter, placid indifference, Su Yanyang could not help but ask, "Did you sell your Nectar Coins?"

Ping Han offered a faint, serene smile. "Join the guidance group, and you can see my portfolio allocation."

"But since I am in a good mood today, I suppose I can show you for free."

As he spoke, a series of screenshots materialized within Su Yanyang’s ocular implants.

Su Yanyang sighed inwardly, "This man... does he not possess even the slightest shred of doubt?"

Ping Han continued, "Junior Su, the art of coin speculation cannot be mastered without enduring repeated losses and the relentless tempering of one's inner resolve."

"If you are interested, you may join the guidance group; I share my experiences and demonstrate my trades there every day."

As Su Yanyang pored over the profit screenshots Ping Han had displayed, the urge to join the group began to take root in his heart.

On the other side, Xiao Yunjie, showing no interest in the talk of coins, stared directly at Ping Han and asked coldly, "At the end of the trial, what was the integrity of your formation core?"

Ping Han replied with casual nonchalance, "One hundred percent, I suppose."

Hearing this, Xiao Yunjie’s eyes dimmed, for she knew that any hope of her victory had vanished into nothingness.

The other candidates nearby, having overheard the exchange, gazed at Ping Han with envy, thinking that this genius—who had made a fortune in coin speculation—would surely secure the military certification as well.

(End of chapter)