Chapter 454: Overturning Kunlun (66)

Chapter 454: Overturning Kunlun (66)

Hearing Shi Huaiyu’s query, Mo Shangjin explained, “Zhang Yu is our team’s secret weapon. We should try to keep his true strength hidden until we face the other top ten universities.”

“Besides, the next match is against the team from Vajra University here at Wanfa.”

“I suspect that while you were competing just now, the people from Vajra University were already watching.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu asked curiously, “How strong is the Civil Engineering Department of Vajra University?”

“Vajra University…” Mo Shangjin mused, then explained, “Their Artifact Refining Department excels at processing students’ physical bodies into various magical treasures. The trade of flesh is highly active on their campus, and their body-tempering methods are perfectly adapted to the standardized Dharma remains they produce.”

“To them, the physical body is vital, because diligent tempering can be sold for profit.”

“Yet, to them, the body is also insignificant, as the entire school follows a uniform standard for tempering and Dharma remains, making the conversion between flesh and machine effortless.”

Zhang Yu asked again, “What about military-grade martial arts? How many of them have mastered any?”

Mo Shangjin replied, “The military-grade martial art of Vajra University’s Civil Engineering Department is called ‘Great Sun All-Aspects.’ I recall one student mastered it last year.”

“However, that person should have graduated by now.”

“The team you are facing this time likely has no students who have achieved it yet.”

Su Yanyang, standing nearby, asked, “Senior Mo, how much longer will your injuries take to heal?”

“We can handle the ordinary colonels and lieutenants ourselves.”

“But if the opponent is also at the top-ten level and possesses military-grade power, I fear we cannot do without you.”

Mo Shangjin sighed helplessly, “My body was contaminated by baleful energy, and I am currently undergoing a cleansing process.”

“This cannot be rushed; it will take at least two more months.”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred at these words, thinking to himself that this explained why Mo Shangjin and another student were severely injured, while Li Zhen, standing nearby, was still able to participate in the competition.

Zhang Yu thought, “It must be because Li Zhen is skilled at manipulating baleful energy.”

He looked at Li Zhen and asked, “Senior Li, doesn’t the baleful martial art you practice affect your body?”

Li Zhen replied, “How could it not? The rate of physical aging alone accelerates, not to mention all sorts of occupational diseases—not a single one is spared.”

Su Yanyang asked in confusion, “Then why specialize in baleful energy?”

Li Zhen explained, “Although my lifespan is shortened and my total working hours are reduced, my hourly income is higher. It’s equivalent to spending my lifespan in advance—spending my old-age years at double the rate while I’m young. What’s wrong with that?”

“Besides, which job on a construction site doesn’t wear down the body? You can’t work forever. While baleful energy research is harmful, one can transition into environmental protection later.”

“The Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Qi and Seventy-Two Earthly Sha Qi all involve environmental issues.”

“The environment is a major problem. The higher the cultivation, the greater the impact on the environment. With the progress of Immortal Dao technology, Kunxu will surely place increasing importance on environmental governance in the future.”

…

After concluding the match against Jinhe University, Zhang Yu hurried back to Wanfa University, continuing his routine of study, cultivation, and part-time work in the days that followed.

Finally, in late December, Zhang Yu successfully pushed “Twisting Earth into Gold” to level 20.

With all six of the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes pushed to level 20, the “Overturning Kunlun” technique within his Chain Dharma Diagram finally completed its first layer.

Primary - Overturning Kunlun (6/6): The environmental destruction and alteration effects of the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes are doubled.

Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered as he looked at this effect: “Environmental alteration?”

The next day, after arriving at the construction site on the 669th floor, he tested the first layer of Overturning Kunlun through a series of trials.

Whether it was the most basic sand and silt, half-built reinforced concrete, or finished structures, all were considered part of the environment.

Once combined with this effect, the impact and range of Zhang Yu’s techniques—whether he was unleashing the “Small Three-Harmony” or a single technique like “Twisting Earth into Gold”—increased dramatically.

He gently spread his five fingers, and wisps of metallic powder were drawn out from the sand, forming a small, metallic-colored cloud that surged and shifted in his palm according to his will.

“If the Small Three-Harmony is also effective, then the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power should be as well.”

“This means that when I unleash the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power, I can trigger even stronger and more violent environmental changes.”

“This is a divine skill for construction; who else in the Civil Engineering Department can build faster than me?”

Zhang Yu felt a surge of excitement: “I will reach the pinnacle of the construction site and earn an hourly wage that countless workers wouldn’t even dare to dream of.”

Zhang Yu calculated inwardly that once that time came, the money he earned on the construction site would likely far exceed what he currently made from artifact refining.

“In that case, I should be able to fund my artifact refining with the money from the site for a long time.”

“Sigh, it’s a pity I still have to wait until January.”

Although he was impatient, Zhang Yu understood that such things could not be rushed. He suppressed his excitement and buried his head back into his work.

“Stay steady, Zhang Yu. The more you feel this way, the less you can afford to rush.”

Zhang Yu warned himself inwardly: “Step by step, continuous learning, continuous work, continuous cultivation. Even if I master the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power, it is only the beginning.” “My goal is the top ten sects; everything is still far off.”

…

In the blink of an eye, the time arrived for the second match of the Civil Engineering Inter-University League.

This time, the competition was held at Wanfa University.

Vajra University brought a total of 6 official team members and 3 substitutes.

Before the entrance to the arena, Chan Rong, the leader of the Vajra University team, looked at Zhang Yu and the others with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Chan Rong said, “Mo Shangjin isn’t appearing? It seems his injuries are truly troublesome.”

Zhang Yu said calmly, “You know Senior Mo?”

Chan Rong murmured, “Know him? Of course I know him.”

“I still remember when we fought Wanfa last year, Mo Shangjin used his Seven Absolutes Dharma remains to unleash the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power, turning the entire examination hall upside down.”

“It was a world-shaking strike. I still remember our senior brother desperately resisting with ‘Great Sun All-Aspects,’ only to be soundly defeated by Mo Shangjin and thrown right out of the arena.”

Zhang Yu glanced at the projection of Mo Shangjin beside him and sent a private message: You were too ruthless in last year’s match, weren’t you? I feel like Vajra University is holding a grudge and wants to make us pay.

Mo Shangjin looked at the soaring fighting spirit of the Vajra University members and said, “Sigh, I didn’t know I wouldn’t be able to play this year.”

“Besides, the department was bidding for a project at that time, so Teacher Gao wanted me to be high-profile to build momentum for the bid.”

“Otherwise, do you think I wanted to use the Seven Absolutes Dharma remains to trigger the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power? The cost is very high, you know?”

Just then, Chan Rong looked at Zhang Yu, who was messaging Mo Shangjin, and seeing Zhang Yu’s shifting gaze, Chan Rong said, “Is Mo Shangjin projecting himself here through the Spirit Realm?”

Zhang Yu was slightly stunned, and just as he was wondering what to say, he heard Chan Rong continue, “Mo Shangjin, because of that strike of yours last year, almost all of our team’s Dharma remains and magical treasures were scrapped.”

Zhang Yu gasped inwardly, thinking, “This is a massive grudge.”

Chan Rong continued, “Today, you watch closely as I deal with your teammates.”

Mo Shangjin frowned at Chan Rong and said, “Be careful, this guy has come prepared.”

…

3!

2!

1!

As the match officially began, Chan Rong soared into the sky, flames erupting from his body, making him look like a sun hanging high above the arena.

Chan Rong articulated each word with deliberate precision: "Mo Shangjin, when you defeated me last year, I had already secured my military certification."

"It is only a pity that my cultivation was insufficient; back then, I had yet to master the Myriad Aspects of the Great Sun."

"Had last year’s competition cycle been as generous as this one, granting me more time to refine my craft, we would never have fallen to you."

"Today, I shall dispose of your teammates first; let us meet again on the field in the coming year."

With that, Chan Rong pressed his palms together, and a violent surge of internal energy erupted from his body, transforming into a blinding, incandescent radiance that bathed the entire arena.

Simultaneously, almost as Chan Rong spoke and channeled his power, the intelligence Mo Shangjin had once shared regarding the Myriad Aspects of the Great Sun flashed through the minds of Zhang Yu and his team.

Mo Shangjin: "The Myriad Aspects of the Great Sun is a martial art that condenses the martial intent of the solar zenith, fused with the searing energy of the Great Sun."

"To master this military-grade technique at the foundation stage means that once unleashed, one becomes the sun itself, causing the temperature within a kilometer to rise steadily until, in mere minutes, everything within that radius is reduced to ash."

"Beyond this vast, creeping heat, the technique can also trigger localized, explosive temperature spikes within a hundred-meter range."

"A single glance or a flick of the wrist is enough to set a man ablaze."

"The smaller the volume of space heated, the more instantaneous the inferno..."

Whether it was Zhang Yu, Xiao Yunji, Su Yanyang, or the others, their cognitive and reactive speeds were extraordinary; they had processed the entirety of this intelligence before Chan Rong had even finished his monologue.

Yet, in the wake of this realization, hesitation and internal conflict fractured their resolve.

The opponent wielded military-grade power—should they simply surrender?

But if they were to surrender, should one act unilaterally, becoming the first to break?

Such thoughts flickered through Su Yanyang’s mind like lightning.

In the next heartbeat, relying on his lightning-fast reflexes and processing speed, he tapped into the competition group chat via his ocular interface.

Competition Group.

Su Yanyang: What do we do?

Xiao Yunji: If we fight to the death, we risk losing our entire set of Dharma remains, plus the astronomical cost of medical treatment.

Li Zhen: We cannot fight like this; people will die.

Xiao Yunji: Then what do you suggest?

Watching the messages refresh incessantly in the group chat, Su Yanyang cursed inwardly: "At a time like this, why hasn't a single person stepped up to call for surrender? Is there not one person here with the spine to take responsibility?"

Requesting monthly votes.

(End of Chapter)