Chapter 589: League System, Fight for Slots (Thanks to 'Lothander')

Chapter 589: League Format and the Struggle for Quotas (Thanks to 'Luo Shanda's Mage' for the alliance leader reward)

Upon hearing Zhang Yu's inquiry, Master Xuyang hurriedly replied, "This person contacted me through a secret account; he is a top-tier prodigy student in the Finance Department."

"But he is merely a pawn. The crucial point is that he represents a high-ranking official within the Finance Department." After listening, Zhang Yu understood that this official was the key.

At this, Master Xuyang gritted his teeth and said, "Those bastards want to silence me. They have sent wave after wave of assassins to kill me; I nearly died at their hands."

"I came to find you, young friend, because I wish to abandon darkness for light and help Master Magnetic Pole deal with these parasites of the Ten Thousand Laws."

Listening to Master Xuyang, Zhang Yu smiled slightly, then sighed, "Assassinating a Golden Core master? Those bastards are truly insane and lawless."

"Rest assured, Master. How could we let these villains run rampant at Ten Thousand Laws University? My master will certainly help you seek justice."

Zhang Yu then spoke to Master Magnetic Pole and introduced Master Xuyang to him.

However, in the following days, everything seemed to return to its original, tranquil state. Neither the Finance Department nor the Dual Cultivation Sect erupted in any major incidents, which caught Zhang Yu off guard.

Fu Ji, however, was not surprised at all. She remarked, "Did you really think both sides would clash head-on, engage in direct conflict, and fight to the death?"

"That is impossible. The Finance and Artifact Refining Departments are the core of Ten Thousand Laws University. If they truly tore off their masks, how would they continue to make money?"

"Master Magnetic Pole has weathered many storms; he cannot be unaware of this logic."

"Even if he gained a slight advantage through Master Xuyang, he will surely proceed with shadow battles from here on out, without easily expanding the scope. This allows for better control over the intensity of the struggle, preserves room for cooperation for their mutual interests, and makes it easier to shift strategies at any time."

"This is what they call 'struggling without breaking, harmonizing while remaining different, and competing without causing injury'..."

In the days that followed, events seemed to confirm Fu Ji's words; no major conflicts broke out between the Finance and Artifact Refining Departments.

Yet, from various news reports and rumors, one could see that the struggle in certain sectors had never ceased.

However, as long as the specific processes and actions did not involve him, Zhang Yu did not take the initiative to concern himself with them.

After all, the Ten Great Leagues were drawing near, with only two months left. Zhang Yu focused almost all his energy on the final refinement of his strength.

Master Magnetic Pole seemed to understand this, and in the following period, he contacted Zhang Yu less and less, seemingly supporting his preparations.

Time flew by, and it was early July.

Inside the laboratory, Zhang Yu's gaze sharpened as he absorbed the final strand of calamity energy, refining it into a restriction within his dantian.

Heaven and Earth Ruin Calamity Invisible Heart Weapon Level 11 (0/110)

"This cultivation technique has now reached the Foundation Establishment realm."

Zhang Yu then looked at the notification in his eye-skeleton, which detailed the location and time of his duel with Bei Wufeng.

...

Five hundred kilometers northwest of the University City.

This area belonged to a mountainous region outside the school. Due to the lack of spiritual veins and depleted resources, it had gradually become a wasteland used for practical combat.

Because the space surrounding Ten Thousand Laws University was too precious, and the impact of Zhang Yu and Bei Wufeng's duel would be too staggering, the location was set outside the school.

In fact, the top 50 contestants of Ten Thousand Laws University often came here to conduct tests, drills, and experiments because their own strength was too formidable.

At this moment, Zhang Yu and Bei Wufeng stood atop separate mountain peaks, thousands of meters apart, facing each other from a distance.

Bei Wufeng's voice arrived via the Spirit Realm: "Junior, are you certain you still wish to challenge me?"

He tapped the Taihao Sacred Law flying sword before him and said, "Regardless of the outcome, this battle will likely cost you dearly."

Zhang Yu said earnestly, "Senior, I have made up my mind to participate in this year's Ten Great Leagues."

Seemingly sensing Zhang Yu's resolve, Bei Wufeng smiled slightly and said, "Very well."

With that, Bei Wufeng looked at the third person present and asked, "Teacher, what do you think would be an appropriate way for us to duel?"

The teacher Bei Wufeng addressed was An Zhen, the Vice Director of the Dao Arts Department. This Master An Zhen was also the instructor for the school team, responsible for the overall planning of training and investments for team members.

Today, Master An Zhen had come in person to witness Zhang Yu's challenge to Bei Wufeng for a spot on the school team.

Of course, besides Master An Zhen, other teachers and leaders were watching this battle remotely through the Spirit Realm.

Hearing Bei Wufeng's question, Master An Zhen said, "The official registration for the Ten Great Leagues has begun, and the next few days are the final window to confirm the school team's roster."

"The schedule and general content of this year's Ten Great Leagues, following the reforms, have been announced. It will begin with a team competition to eliminate a portion of the contestants, and the remaining ones will then proceed to the individual competition to determine the top ten."

"In this process, the importance of team strength is unquestionable; it even determines the direction of the entire competition."

"If you two are competing for a spot on the school team, you must follow the requirements of the Ten Great Leagues, with the team's strength as the priority."

"Bei Wufeng's task on the school team is responsible for flying sword communication."

"Zhang Yu, if you wish to take the spot, then defeat Bei Wufeng in a sword duel." In the eyes of the school's top brass, the individual competition would rely on the three strongest in the school: Dao Qiankun, Jiutian Liu, and Yan Qianji. The rest of the school team was primarily there to secure advantages and preserve the strength of these three during the team competition.

Thus, in Master An Zhen's mind, Bei Wufeng's position required professional skill and team support capabilities above all else.

Hearing this, Bei Wufeng was naturally full of confidence. He smiled faintly, "Only a sword duel? That's fine. At least we don't have to fight all-out and waste many resources."

"I just don't know if you agree, Junior?"

As he spoke, both Bei Wufeng and Master An Zhen looked at Zhang Yu.

In their view, competing only in sword dueling against the long-experienced Bei Wufeng would naturally put Zhang Yu at a disadvantage.

Master An Zhen thought to himself, "If Zhang Yu is unwilling to duel only with swords..."

"Agreed," Zhang Yu said, seemingly prepared for this, his tone calm. "Let it be a sword duel."

A trace of surprise flashed across the usually expressionless face of Master An Zhen, and he turned to look at Zhang Yu intently.

Bei Wufeng also looked at Zhang Yu with surprise and said, "Junior, do you remember our agreement?"

"Of course I remember," Zhang Yu nodded. "The loser must lend their military-grade magic treasure to the other party for free to use in the Ten Great Leagues."

Zhang Yu had signed a contract with him regarding this matter, so he could not possibly forget.

Bei Wufeng continued, "Since the competition item for today is settled, let us simply sign a supplementary agreement to confirm the conditions of victory and some other details..."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu understood that the other party was afraid he would refuse to admit defeat if he lost the sword duel and would then demand to change to another event to decide the outcome.

"No problem," Zhang Yu said. "Senior, you may draft the contract."

Watching the two sign the contract, Master An Zhen naturally did not stop them. In his view, if Bei Wufeng could borrow Zhang Yu's military-grade magic treasure for free, it would add to the school team's strength, which was a good thing for their participation in the Ten Great Leagues.

After signing the contract, Bei Wufeng breathed a sigh of relief. He tapped his sword case, and twelve flying swords leaped out in sequence, lining up neatly behind him.

"Junior, let us begin."

Zhang Yu nodded and likewise placed a hand gently on his sword case. Twelve flying swords soared into the sky, their sword intent ready to burst forth, aimed directly at Bei Wufeng's position.

"Begin."

The rules for their sword duel were simple.

First, apart from the Taihao Sacred Law sword formation and their own Dharma skeletons, neither side could use other magic treasures.

Second, the combat range was limited to a ten-mile radius; if either the flying swords or the person went out of bounds, they would lose.

Finally, whoever could penetrate within ten meters of the opponent with their flying swords would be declared the winner of the duel.

In an instant, sword light flashed in the sky as both sides deployed their sword formations to engage.

Bei Wufeng gripped his right hand, lightly pinching a sword seal. The Taihao Sword Realm manifested within his formation, expanding rapidly and pressing toward Zhang Yu's position.

Facing the Taihao Sword Realm unleashed by Bei Wufeng, Zhang Yu remained unhurried. He likewise pinched a sword seal and released his own Taihao Sword Realm to collide with it.

As the two sword realms collided with violent intensity, the spiritual ether was relentlessly squeezed aside, the air crackling with sharp, rhythmic discharges as signal strength plummeted across a radius of several miles.

Bei Wufeng offered a faint, detached smile. "A fine blade you have forged, junior, but a duel of swords is about more than mere craftsmanship."

With a flick of his finger toward the heavens, he made a sharp, clawing motion, as if he had physically seized the very fabric of the spiritual realm above.

In an instant, a torrent of ethereal light converged, flooding into his Taihao Sword Realm.

The Taihao realm and the displaced spiritual ether fused into a singular force, wrapping around Zhang Yu’s sword realm like a closing shroud.

Believing victory was certain and aware that mentors and superiors were watching, Bei Wufeng felt the urge to display his prowess.

He continued to pull at the spiritual currents, remarking, "Junior, this is the Art of Celestial Spirit Acceleration; it bridges my hidden sanctum deep within the ether to amplify signal flow."

"Now that it is unleashed, my Taihao Sacred Law formation draws upon the full weight of the spiritual realm. How can your realm possibly withstand it?"

In a heartbeat, Zhang Yu felt the enemy’s realm, bolstered by the ether, descend like a crushing hand, threatening to seal his own domain and sever the link between him and his blades.

Zhang Yu knew that in a contest of pure realm manipulation or spiritual technology, he was no match for his opponent, yet he had long prepared for this.

"Senior," Zhang Yu said calmly, "a duel of swords is, in the end, a duel of swords."

With a soft pop, Zhang Yu clenched his fist, triggering the mountain-shifting power of the Heavenly Kunlun, and a surging tide of terrestrial gravity erupted forth.

Driven by this primal force, the twelve Taihao Sacred Law swords began to hum in unison, ignoring the chaotic struggle of the spiritual realm to strike directly at Bei Wufeng’s blades through the raw reality of the physical world.

(End of chapter)