Chapter 455: The Non-Loser Loses, The Non-Winner Wins

Chapter 455: The Unvanquished Vanquished, The Unvictorious Victorious

Amidst the fierce, blazing light, the spiritual energy within Chan Rong’s body seemed to boil over, transforming into waves of martial aura that erupted outward like a luminous mist.

Within the sea of his consciousness, his intent rose steadily like a rising sun, dispelling every trace of negative emotion from his heart.

As the last of his words left his lips, Chan Rong’s eyes, burning with incandescent fire, turned toward the construction site of Wanfa.

Ever since watching the battle between Team Wanfa and Team Jinhe through the spiritual realm, Chan Rong had thoroughly vetted the current roster of Wanfa University, concluding that Li Zhen and Xiao Qingxuan were the only ones worthy of note.

Upon his return, Chan Rong had ordered an investigation into the Wanfa students based on his observations, and the results had confirmed his suspicions.

"Xiao Qingxuan's background is a mystery, but anyone capable of running up a debt of over ten thousand spiritual coins is undoubtedly someone to watch."

"Li Zhen possesses a unique mastery over the Earthly Fiend Qi; though he lacks the power to sway the final outcome, he can sap my lifespan and drain my medical insurance, so I must prevent him from drawing near."

Yet, there was one individual who had slightly caught Chan Rong off guard, and that was Zhang Yu.

"To think this Zhang Yu managed to secure a military certificate during his junior year; he is indeed a student of some repute even within Wanfa University."

"However, as a junior, it is impossible for him to have mastered Wanfa's Seven Earthworks Ultimates, meaning he cannot possibly unleash the Divine Mountain-Moving Might of Heavenly Kunlun."

"If this boy wishes to contend with me, he will need at least a few more years of tempering."

"Though the subsequent investigation brought a few surprises, my initial judgment back then was not mistaken..."

As these thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, the blazing radiance around Chan Rong surged violently, and the battlefield below began to billow with trails of green smoke.

Great swathes of mud and sand ignited spontaneously without fire, melting away under the extreme, searing temperatures.

With his attainment in the Manifestations of the Great Sun, Chan Rong was confident that even if he stood perfectly still and merely circulated his martial arts, it would suffice to crush his opponents.

Under this steadily rising heat, his adversaries would find it difficult to execute even the most basic of construction work.

But just then, a lone figure vaulted forward.

"Zhang Yu?"

"Does he still have tricks up his sleeve?"

Chan Rong’s gaze narrowed, his eyes locked onto the figure rising into the air as he immediately went on high alert.

Though his rational mind told him defeat was impossible in this match, his instinct to respect every opponent kept him vigilant, refusing to offer any opening that might result in financial loss.

Zhang Yu burst into a long laugh and called out, "A fine military-grade technique indeed. To think that in my first clash against an opponent of the Top Ten tier, I would encounter such a formidable foe."

Yet in the very next instant, Chan Rong realized the youth was moving further and further away, about to sprint right out of the arena in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, Zhang Yu’s proud voice echoed across the field, "My first defeat in the inter-collegiate league, I bestow it upon you."

"Once I master the Divine Mountain-Moving Might of Heavenly Kunlun, I shall return to battle you again."

Chan Rong sneered, thinking to himself, "It seems my judgment was correct. Unless Mo Shangjin returns, Wanfa will not rise to prominence this year."

On the other side, Xu Yanyang watched the scene unfold, a wave of secret admiration washing over his heart: "Brilliant! As expected of someone who earned a military certificate. To be the first to stand up and surrender takes true accountability!"

Just as Xu Yanyang was about to let out a long howl and make his exit, he saw Xiao Yunji already retreating with lightning speed, her voice ringing out, "Jingang University, the power between our sides today is unequal. We look forward to a fair contest with you next time."

Simultaneously, Xiao Yunji stared at Zhang Yu’s retreating figure, thinking, "While we were still hesitating and agonizing over the decision, he had already taken the first step without a single care. Zhang Yu might well be one of those rare... truly accountable men in the civil engineering department."

Immediately following her, Li Zhen moved like a late-starting arrow that overtook the rest, surging past Xiao Yunji toward the boundary line in a flash as he laughed, "Bringing out military-grade power right from the start? Only a fool would fight you."

Seeing his teammates accelerating their retreat one after another, Xu Yanyang hurriedly caught up, muttering to himself, "These guys react so damn fast. They were prepared to flee all along."

Within the network of the spiritual realm.

A spectating student from Jingang University spoke up, "Surrendering without even a fight? Has Wanfa run out of tricks?"

Li Zhen replied, "What's your rank at Jingang University? How many competitions have you entered? Do you understand competitions better than we do?"

Yu Xinhuan, also spectating, chimed in, "If you aren't ranked in the top one hundred of your department, don't speak."

Gongshu Jin added, "Indeed. When facing military-grade power, escaping before a single blow lands is a victory in itself."

Ying Xin said, "To be unburdened by useless things like pride and face, and to lead one's teammates to preserve their immortal cultivation potential by becoming the first to surrender on the field—how is that not taking first place in this battle?"

Shi Yunxiang remarked, "Learn well, all of you. If you work in civil engineering and don't know when to run, expect to spend your entire life shoveling cement."

On the other side, watching Zhang Yu be the first to flee, Mo Shangjin nodded in approval: "Not bad. Decisive when it matters, fleeing when you must. Your performance in this match did not disappoint me."

Mo Shangjin sighed with emotion, "In this world, one must avoid fighting the stronger and constantly seek battle with the weaker."

"A true powerhouse is one who continuously accumulates experience by beating down the weak. Striking only the weak and avoiding the strong is the true law of the powerful."

"Your actions today were entirely correct. If others fail to understand you, it is merely because they themselves are useless and lack the heart of a true powerhouse. You need not pay them any mind."

Zhang Yu waved his hand with humility, saying, "It was nothing. I merely did it for the sake of the subsequent inter-collegiate matches. I couldn't let my teammates suffer losses here; I had to guide them through a battlefield relocation to achieve a strategic victory."

In his heart, Zhang Yu knew that it would not be long before he could master the Divine Mountain-Moving Might of Heavenly Kunlun. To risk his life against a military-grade powerhouse now... would be sheer foolishness.

"Haha, well said."

Mo Shangjin turned his head, gazing at the slowly receding 'sun' in the sky, and smiled faintly, "If the people from Jingang University meet us in the losers' bracket later on, they will understand that the true losers of this match were them, and the victors were us."

"Because their failure to inflict massive losses upon us in this battle will be the ultimate cause of their downfall this year, and one of the reasons for our triumph."

……

Just as Zhang Yu successfully executed the strategic relocation with his teammates.

In the spectator stands of the spiritual realm network, Wan Gouxuan from Xianbing University remarked indifferently, "Mo Shangjin didn't even show his face in this match against Jingang University. It seems his injuries are indeed severe."

Saying this, he lamented, "What a pity. Now that Wanfa University has dropped into the losers' bracket, I doubt I will cross paths with them."

Recalling how his entire team had been caught off guard by Mo Shangjin last year, severely injured to the point where each member's medical insurance was shattered right before his eyes, a deep hatred flashed through Wan Gouxuan’s eyes.

At that moment, another voice echoed from beside him, "Those who want to fight Wanfa, those who want to crush Mo Shangjin... you aren't the only one."

"Mo Shangjin has injured so many people on the field over the years. Who wouldn't want to take his life while he's down after hearing news of his injury?"

Wan Gouxuan turned to look at the spiritual realm projection beside him and said, "Xiang Shan, so you did come."

The spiritual realm projection appearing before Wan Gouxuan belonged to none other than the top student of the civil engineering department from Tianyao University, a military-grade powerhouse who had clinched first place in the previous competition—Xiang Shan.

Xiang Shan looked at the shifting dynamics on the field and thought to himself, "It is exactly as Master Tianxiang said. Although this Zhang Yu secured a military certificate, without several years of tempering, he cannot master a military-grade technique. He is no threat for the time being."

With this thought, Xiang Shan smiled faintly, "As it stands, if Mo Shangjin remains hidden, then after falling into the losers' bracket, they will eventually be thoroughly eliminated by your Xianbing University, or perhaps by the likes of Jingang University."

Hearing Xiang Shan’s words, Wan Gouxuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he sneered, "Are you implying that your Tianyao University will definitely eliminate us in the upcoming matches?"

Xiang Shan replied indifferently, "Do you honestly think otherwise?"

"As everyone knows, we demons possess the advantage of low demon rights. Out of a population of ten billion demons, only one hundred million are of noble demon descent, while the remaining nine point nine billion are merely considered beasts."

"This point is a monumental advantage in the field of civil engineering, dictating our Tianyao University’s absolute hegemony over construction sites."

Xiang Shan glanced casually at Wan Gouxuan before continuing, "This is a structural defect inherent to your human race. Want to defeat us? First, make sure your low-level cultivators can afford to eat human flesh for every meal."

Wan Gouxuan was provoked into a laugh of sheer exasperation, "You bloody... what do you know? It is precisely because of this that Tianyao University can never catch up to us in high-end immortal cultivation technology. Do you truly believe the advantage of low-cost demonic power can last forever?"

"Once high-intelligence artifact spirits are successfully mass-produced on a large scale..."

Xiang Shan waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Talk about it when it actually succeeds. Didn't a massive incident just break out at Hehuan University not long ago? They even joined a heresy."

"It's still safer with our Tianyao University employing only soul cultivators instead of artifact spirits; it keeps things peaceful."

Wan Gouxuan replied in irritation, "These are merely the growing pains of technological progress in immortal cultivation..."

Xiang Shan curled his lip, "If I were you, I wouldn't worry about such grandiose matters. Those are things for the Transformation Stage masters to fret over."

"In comparison, you ought to care more about whether the lower classes can afford human flesh, or pay closer attention to Chan Rong of Jingang University. I happen to think he poses quite a threat to your Xianbing University..."

In the blink of an eye, Xiang Shan’s silhouette flickered and vanished into the void.

Wan Gouxuan stared toward the direction of his departure, let out a cold snort, and severed his connection to the spirit realm.

...

Meanwhile, although this battle had been a strategic triumph, Su Yanyang and the others remained haunted by the fear of what might happen should they face such force again.

Within the competition group chat.

Su Yanyang: We are heading into the losers' bracket now; what if we encounter military-grade power again?

Xiao Yunjie: Senior Mo, how much longer do you intend to lie there?

Mo Shangjin: If everyone is willing to crowdfund my medical expenses, I suppose I could speed up my recovery.

Xiao Yunjie: Zhang Yu, can you master the Heaven-Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power before the league ends?

Su Yanyang: It would grant us another military-grade asset and secure our standing in the tournament, so why is the department dragging its feet? Why must you wait until next year to learn the final of the Seven Absolutes?

Zhang Yu: Don't say that; the department has its own difficulties, and everything must follow the proper procedures.

Just as Zhang Yu finished scanning the messages in the group chat, a notification from Director Gao appeared on his screen.

Director Gao: A job well done in this battle.

Director Gao: Now that news of our entry into the losers' bracket has spread, True Monarch Qiyun has exerted pressure, and Director Lin will no longer obstruct you in the seven civil engineering trials.

Director Gao: Furthermore, the schedule has been accelerated; on the first of next month, the first day of the new year, you shall begin learning the seventh absolute.

(End of this chapter)