Chapter 594: Pre-Match Advertising Slot Placement

Chapter 594: Pre-Tournament Advertising Placements

Zhang Yu, now flush with cash, had poured every ounce of his focus into the Azure Water Crystal Armor.

Consequently, in this final month before the Top Ten Leagues, he had absolutely no interest in returning to the construction site.

However, this particular request came from Director Gao, as Mo Shangjin had been preoccupied with graduate studies, and the site’s large-scale projects were piling up, leaving a void that required Zhang Yu to fill in for a few days.

Since Director Gao had personally asked, Zhang Yu could hardly refuse.

Given that the construction crew consisted of the demon-kin, and wanting to ensure their cooperation without wasting time on some confused soul’s discriminatory outbursts, Zhang Yu decided against being too gentle.

According to his demon-kin friends, if you want the lower-tier demons to be obedient, ferocity is far more effective than politeness; they are, as the saying goes, more compliant the more you scold them.

Yet, to avoid any accusations of discrimination, Zhang Yu had invited Shi Yunxiang to assist.

A rat demon glared at Shi Yunxiang, snarling, "Demon! We are all of the same kin, how can you help an outsider bully your own?"

"Same kin?" Shi Yunxiang sneered, thinking to himself, "Forget whether rat demons and lion demons count as the same kin; even if you were all lion demons, my own blood, born of the same mother..."

"Zhang Yu is the man with whom I pulled off a heaven-shaking heist and fought to the death against the Demonic Sect’s Golden Core masters."

"Besides, he gave me a raise!"

Zhang Yu, standing nearby, said, "Everyone..."

Shi Yunxiang glared at the demons and added, "You little beasts!"

Zhang Yu: "Let’s get to work."

Relying on his two military credentials, the prestige of his school-wide ranking, and Shi Yunxiang’s assistance, Zhang Yu channeled the mountain-moving power of the Heavenly Kunlun. The demon-kin on site cooperated in unison, and at last, no trouble ensued.

Once the work was smoothly completed, Zhang Yu reached out into the void, and with the activation of the Heavenly Kunlun’s power, he whisked Shi Yunxiang away, flying rapidly toward the University City.

As they streaked across the sky, Zhang Yu looked down at the peaceful earth beneath a cloudless expanse and the bustling campus cities passing below, thinking, "The scars left by the last economic crisis have finally begun to fade."

"The faculty and teachers have managed to suppress the Financial Department of Ten Thousand Laws University."

"The demon-kin are not as restless as they once were."

"The conspiracies of the Dual Cultivation Sect have collapsed, swept away by joint efforts across the regions, and the screening for the Dual Cultivation virus has become routine."

"The Civil Engineering Department’s projects are growing, and the business is expanding."

"The Top Ten Universities have kept the intensity of their struggles in check; there have been no more wars of the Transformation stage."

"The evil gods have no current plans for action and have all gone into hiding..."

Zhang Yu felt that everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction, and the entire second layer of the Kunlun Ruins appeared calm.

Having lived through the economic crisis sparked by the Transformation-stage masters, he felt more deeply than ever how precious the opportunity for peaceful development truly was.

"I hope this peace can last a little longer."

...

Time flew by, and it was late August.

A flash of brilliance seemed to pass through Zhang Yu’s eyes as he withdrew from the Taiqing Realm.

Through this period of frantic study and artifact-refining simulations, he had mastered all the knowledge and techniques required to forge the Azure Water Crystal Armor.

"Beyond enhancing physical performance, the greatest capability of the Azure Water Crystal Armor is to condense water vapor, generate a water field, create torrents, and rapidly breed demon beasts within those torrents to produce an army of aquatic creatures."

"In ancient times, wearing this armor would be equivalent to carrying an army that could fight and maneuver at will."

"In the modern era, these rapidly bred beasts aren't suited for combat, but they are perfect for selling for profit."

Zhang Yu mused, "Is this Azure Water Crystal Armor just a portable fish farm?"

"Aquaculture—I wonder if it’s profitable."

Zhang Yu wasn't familiar with aquaculture, but he could sense that the cultivation method contained within the armor was hidden in the technique of rapidly breeding the aquatic army.

Yet, he still could not extract it to form a complete cultivation manual.

"Is my mastery still insufficient?"

Zhang Yu looked at the blueprints, speculating based on his current knowledge, "Perhaps I need to master the armor’s design to level 20, or perhaps I must actually forge it, wear it, and participate in the armor’s operation with my own body... only then will I have the chance to extract the technique from the technology."

"Then, let us begin."

Zhang Yu glanced at his assistants, Liu Xiangqiao and Zi Yunzhen, who were ready and waiting, and walked over to begin the forging of the Azure Water Crystal Armor.

In the days that followed, Zhang Yu either practiced the craft in the Taiqing Realm or forged the armor in reality. As his skills improved rapidly, a magnificent suit of armor gradually took shape.

...

Early September.

In a conference room within the Spirit Realm, the team’s faculty advisor, True Lord An Zhen, was introducing the school team’s contestants to the advertisers.

"Zhang Yu, disciple of True Lord Magnetic Pole, defeated the second-ranked artifact refiner Bei Wufeng in a sword duel. He dual-cultivates in artifact refining and civil engineering, specializing in using refining techniques to empower construction..."

As True Lord An Zhen introduced him, he could sense the advertisers’ lack of interest in Zhang Yu.

To him, this was normal; after all, advertisers only chased the contestants with the highest potential for success in the Top Ten Leagues.

Contestants like Dao Qiankun, Jiu Tianliu, and Yan Qianji were the primary targets for the advertisers.

"Ye Xingli is the third-ranked student in the Artifact Refining Department, specializing in Dharma-skeleton design and live-stream sales. With our investment and guidance, she already has 8 million followers..."

As An Zhen began to introduce Ye Xingli, he could feel the advertisers’ attention focusing significantly.

Regardless of her potential for success, those 8 million followers were clearly of great interest to them.

However, upon discovering that the majority of those followers were junior college or vocational students, the advertisers’ interest dissipated once more.

...

Ye Xingli walked through the artifact factory.

With a surge of mana, cylindrical structures rose up and unfolded with a boom, revealing set after set of Dharma-skeletons. A look of satisfaction appeared on her face as she gazed at them.

In her view, the struggle of the Immortal Path... was a struggle of Dharma-skeletons.

As long as one could defeat the opponent’s Dharma-skeleton, one could defeat the opponent.

She filmed videos incessantly, live-streamed constantly, and made money tirelessly, finally completing the forging of these sets just before the competition.

Ye Xingli thought to herself, "My military-grade Dharma treasures and skeletons have reached their control limit."

"To exert greater strength and achieve better results, I need to target the different opponents from the Top Ten Universities and equip different skeletons based on the types of skeletons they use."

"In this year’s Top Ten Leagues... I will never lose in the competition of Dharma-skeletons."

"This is the opportunity for my follower count to skyrocket once again."

...

In the Spirit Realm conference room.

True Lord An Zhen continued, "Yan Qianji, the strongest student in the Artifact Refining Department, personal disciple of the Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Transformations, and a member of the Heavenly Sun Brilliance Divine update group for three consecutive years..."

Following An Zhen’s introduction, the eyes of the advertisers seemed to light up one by one.

Someone shouted on the spot, "I want the advertising space on the chest!"

Someone snatched the chance: "I want the top of his head for an advertisement!"

Another person, while contacting their superiors, chimed in: "What about the branding rights for the Heavenly Sun Radiant God? We will pay any price you ask."

...

Before the puppet production line.

The Heavenly Sun Radiant God, radiating a unique black flame, stood proudly.

Yan Qianji sat upon the shoulder of the Heavenly Sun Radiant God, watching as a myriad of puppets were birthed in rapid succession along the line, a satisfied smile gracing his face.

"This year's Top Ten League is truly magnificent."

"If the school hadn't increased their investment, my puppet production line would never have been completed so easily."

...

Inside the Spirit Realm conference room.

The projection of Jiutian Liuliu manifested directly.

He looked at the advertisers and smiled faintly: "As for my advertisements, I shall negotiate them with you personally."

Facing the incredibly enthusiastic advertisers, Jiutian Liuliu stated: "A flat fee is out of the question."

"Every one of my advertisements will come with an embedded link."

"Beyond the placement fee, there must be a tiered commission structure..."

Although Jiutian Liuliu’s demands were harsh, they did nothing to dampen the fervor of the advertisers.

After all, according to the projections of numerous firms, Jiutian Liuliu possessed the potential to reach the top ten of this year's league, making him a highly coveted target for sponsors.

And when all of Jiutian Liuliu’s advertising slots were sold out and his figure vanished, the many advertisers turned their predatory gazes toward Anzhen Zhenjun.

"Only one left."

"It's just Dao Qiankun remaining..."

"We must secure it, no matter the cost!"

If Jiutian Liuliu was viewed by the companies as a guaranteed top-ten contender, then Dao Qiankun was a guaranteed top-three, with a real chance at the championship.

In the budgets of these advertisers, the funds allocated for Dao Qiankun could be ten times that of Jiutian Liuliu!

But facing the ravenous gazes of the advertisers, Anzhen Zhenjun offered a bitter smile and said helplessly: "My apologies, everyone."

"Dao Qiankun refuses to sell his advertising space."

"He says..."

"He has no need for spirit coins."

...

Inside the meditation chamber.

The cold voice of the artifact spirit echoed.

"The 9,876th attempt to forge a Golden Core begins..."

As circuit after circuit of spiritual energy opened, a torrent of tangible essence surged forth, converging upon the spot where Dao Qiankun sat.

With a sharp crack like a thunderclap, blinding golden light gradually dissipated from Dao Qiankun’s body.

The artifact spirit reported calmly: "Golden Core breakthrough failed."

Dao Qiankun casually tossed aside a pitch-black orb and said indifferently: "It has been used for so long, it can no longer hold up; have someone bring a new one."

Letting the puppet retrieve the spent core, Dao Qiankun looked at his new record.

"Very good. Before the Top Ten League, I will complete the record of 10,000 Golden Core near-misses."

"I... shall be the strongest beneath the Golden Core realm!"

"Kuang Tianqing..."

His gaze shifted to the Golden Core rankings before him, to the name currently holding the top spot in the simulated benchmarks.

On the current Golden Core Seed List, he had surpassed Kuang Tianqing with a high score of 520,000, reigning supreme in first place.

But Dao Qiankun understood that this was by no means their true strength; at this very moment, Kuang Tianqing must be like him, constantly transcending his limits with the full support of the school.