Chapter 478: Exchange and Match

Chapter 478: Exchanges and Contests

"Just holding me is enough?"

Hearing Bai Zhenzhen's words, a flicker of surprise stirred in Zhang Yu's heart: "What does Ah Zhen mean by this?"

He still remembered their meeting at Wanfa University last year, when she had embraced him the moment they met, eager to transfer the Divine Spirit Root.

Why now?

Zhang Yu wondered: "Is someone still watching us?"

At that moment, Fu Ji spoke: "Ah Zhen wants me to tell you that the surveillance of the Spirit Realm at Sky Sword University is extremely advanced; the transfer of the Divine Spirit Root cannot be rushed."

"At this very moment, the Seven Emotions God-Lord might still be watching you."

"And Wen Wuyai, who just left, might also be continuing to track us."

Zhang Yu understood. As fellow believers of Fu Ji, both he and Bai Zhenzhen could communicate directly with her through their thoughts within a certain range.

Clearly, Bai Zhenzhen was using this method to relay the message.

Hearing Fu Ji’s warning and realizing the Seven Emotions God-Lord might be observing them, Zhang Yu was startled, and the Divine Spirit Root, which had been restless, immediately retreated into his Dantian.

Zhang Yu knew deeply that neither the transfer of the Divine Spirit Root nor the fact that he possessed one could ever be revealed to outsiders.

Bai Zhenzhen nodded at Zhang Yu and said: "Since you've come all the way to Sky Sword University, let me show you around."

Zhang Yu let her take his hand as they walked outward.

They followed the tunnel, emerged from the mountain, and reached the flying sword docking station at the summit, standing back-to-back as they looked down at Sky Sword University below...

Outside the warehouse of the underground factory, Zhang Yu lifted Bai Zhenzhen into his arms...

In a dark alley beside the second-hand flying sword market, the two pressed tightly together...

After changing locations repeatedly and leaning against each other in various ways, Bai Zhenzhen stopped Zhang Yu’s further advances time and again.

Bai Zhenzhen frowned, a trace of helplessness appearing in her eyes.

Fu Ji said: "She says it’s still not possible; the Seven Emotions God-Lord might be watching all the time."

"Wen Wuyai might not have given up on tracking us either. The surveillance here at Sky Sword University is too tight; I fear we cannot escape it."

"She even feels that besides the Seven Emotions God-Lord and Wen Wuyai, many others at Sky Sword University seem to be keeping an eye on you and her."

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly at these words, touching his Dantian, and thought: "Is it impossible?"

"Sky Sword University... it looks more ethereal than Wanfa University, but the surveillance seems even more suffocating."

"And the attention on me and Bai Zhenzhen seems particularly intense."

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu felt like two small insects on a chessboard, under the glare of spotlights, unable to stir up any waves no matter how hard they tried.

The Divine Spirit Root, which could once move freely between them, now felt as if it were shackled by thousands of chains, with no possibility of transfer.

Bai Zhenzhen smiled and looked at Zhang Yu: "Yuzi, you should be heading to your match soon, right?"

"Time is too tight this time. When I go to Wanfa next, we can explore and have fun properly."

Zhang Yu looked into Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes, sensing her intent, and nodded firmly: "Yes."

At the same time, Zhang Yu felt the Divine Spirit Root in his Dantian tremble slightly again.

In fact, throughout their time together, Zhang Yu had felt his Green Lotus Sword Embryo Divine Spirit Root becoming increasingly restless, as if it had an urge to surge into Bai Zhenzhen’s body.

At that very moment, Bai Zhenzhen felt the same agitation from her own Divine Spirit Root.

The constantly vibrating root seemed ready to emerge at a single thought, darting toward Zhang Yu’s body.

Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself: "You guy... why are you so eager to run into Zhang Yu’s body?"

They could only suppress the restlessness within them.

Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted, and he said: "Ah Zhen, come watch my match later."

Bai Zhenzhen nodded: "Needless to say, I’ll definitely be there."

Fu Ji told Bai Zhenzhen: "Zhang Yu wants me to tell you that after the match, find him immediately; he might have a way."

...

Outside the Civil Engineering competition arena.

Shi Huaiyu sent another message to urge Zhang Yu.

She worried: "Could something have happened to Zhang Yu? The competition is about to start; why isn't he here yet?"

Su Yanyang waved his hand: "He is a man of discretion; nothing will happen."

He thought to himself: "Wen Wuyai is at Sky Sword University; what could possibly go wrong?"

Just then, Xiao Yunjie’s eyes flickered: "He’s here."

With a thunderous boom, white shockwaves erupted in the distant sky.

Propelled by the mountain-moving power of Tiankunlun, Zhang Yu appeared above the crowd in an instant and drifted down gently. Across from Wanfa University, Yue Guanyuan, who was also waiting for the competition to begin, looked up at the descending Zhang Yu and thought: "His Tiankunlun mountain-moving power is indeed deeper than what he showed last time."

"It seems the news Wen Wuyai mentioned is true; this guy gained cultivation during the Yin-artifact experiment."

"However... regarding his Dharma Remains, other than the Eye Remains, the rest are still in a purely physical state."

Sword energy flickered within Yue Guanyuan, yet no tension was visible on his face.

After all, even though Zhang Yu’s cultivation had grown, he hadn't pushed the Tiankunlun power to level 20, and he was still a grade behind in Dharma Remains—like playing a game with fewer equipment slots.

As for himself, he was not only well-prepared but also possessed a military-grade flying sword supported by Wen Wuyai.

"Against Zhang Yu alone, victory is within my grasp."

"The biggest threat in this battle is whether Mo Shangjin will buy a resurrection."

Thinking of this, Yue Guanyuan looked at the Wanfa University team members: "Where is Mo Shangjin? Is he not appearing in this battle either?"

Zhang Yu turned his head, looked at Yue Guanyuan, and smiled: "Classmate, are you very familiar with Senior Brother Mo?"

Yue Guanyuan sneered at the question. Recalling his defeat last year, the shattering of his flying sword, and the humiliation of his sword spirit, a trace of resentment crept into his tone.

"Familiar? Mo Shangjin and I are all too familiar."

Yue Guanyuan gritted his teeth: "I have been looking forward to another fight with him. Is he not coming?"

Facing Yue Guanyuan’s probing, Zhang Yu didn't commit to a definitive answer, saying casually: "Who knows? None of us know Senior Brother Mo’s condition. Maybe his injuries have healed, and he can take the field at any time."

Yue Guanyuan snorted inwardly: "Deliberately bringing up Mo Shangjin to make me think there’s a possibility of a substitute."

"Does he think this will make me hold back in the competition, afraid to use my full strength to guard against Mo Shangjin?"

"But even without using my full strength, I am enough to crush you one by one."

On the other side, Zhang Yu asked in the competition group: Senior Brother Mo, this guy seems to have a lot of opinions about you?

Mo Shangjin: It is well known that many students at Sky Sword University are very protective of their flying swords.

Mo Shangjin: And this Yue Guanyuan is particularly petty.

Mo Shangjin: When we fought last year, I accidentally scratched his flying sword.

Mo Shangjin: I have already apologized to him, yet he remains relentless, bombarding me with private messages of abuse.

Li Zhen, standing by his side as Mo Shangjin’s teammate for the past few years, thought to himself: "You didn't break it by accident, and you know it."

The competition officially commenced, and the two teams entered the arena, taking their positions at their respective construction sites.

3!

2!

1!

As the countdown concluded, magical power surged and martial energy pierced the heavens; the participants unleashed their techniques in unison, setting their plans into motion.

Billowing clouds of dust and sand erupted into the sky. With the coordinated efforts of Shi Huaiyu, Su Yanyang, and the others, the earth heaved and shifted, rapidly reshaping itself to lay the foundations of the array.

Simultaneously, from the direction of the Sky Sword University camp, streaks of sword energy soared upward, lifting massive boulders into the air as if to assemble a series of small, floating islands above the arena.

Witnessing this, Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened, recognizing it as the signature craft of the Sky Sword University’s Civil Engineering Department.

Unlike the civil engineering programs at many other universities, Sky Sword’s department was established solely to serve the needs of the institution itself.

The very campus they stood upon, this entire university perched atop the clouds, was a testament to the labor of their own civil engineers.

Constructing floating islands and airborne architecture had always been their greatest expertise.

As everyone else sprang into action, Zhang Yu took the lead, surging forward.

Propelled by the mountain-moving divine power of Tiankunlun, he streaked across the field like a rainbow piercing the sun, leaving a series of sonic booms in his wake as he accelerated toward the Sky Sword camp.

He was confident that within a single breath, he could bring their construction site within his strike range and use his mountain-moving power to turn their work into chaos.

But in the next instant, flashes of lightning danced across the sky.

Amidst a series of air-shattering reports, Zhang Yu felt faint shadows graze past him, whistling toward his rear.

"What is this!"

Watching a lock of his hair drift to the ground, his heart skipped a beat as the combat logs of the Thunder-Suppressing Seal flickered in his vision.

The Thunder-Suppressing Seal was a magical artifact Zhang Yu had recently forged specifically to counter flying swords.

It had just triggered automatically, using a lightning strike to deflect the incoming blades.

At the same time, Ying Xin’s grandfather, who was assisting in the operation of the seal, sent a message: They are merely nails, but because they are so small and travel at such extreme speeds, they are nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.

Ying Xin’s grandfather: It is the Great Freedom Instant-Prison Sword Qi of Sky Sword University.

Ying Xin’s grandfather: Be careful, another wave is coming!

Meanwhile, Yue Guanyong sensed Zhang Yu’s high-speed charge. His martial energy swept across a row of steel bars before him, instantly reducing them to a heap of metallic shards.

Yue Guanyong thought calmly: "I shall follow Wen Wuyai’s instructions and gradually increase the pressure, forcing you to reveal your true strength."

"Only then, by suppressing you in one fell swoop at the very end, will Mo Shangjin be unable to buy his way back into the fight."

As his sword energy flared, the fragments of steel transformed into a metallic storm. Carrying a razor-sharp aura, they descended upon the earth like a meteor shower of thousands, hurtling toward Zhang Yu.