Chapter 617: The More Videos You Watch, the Higher the Threshold Becomes

Chapter 617: The More Videos You Watch, the Higher the Threshold

"The true domain of the strong?"

Zhang Yu's gaze swept over the ranking of advertising quotes he had received, where he ranked third, with the highest quote for the next match reaching six hundred and fifty spirit coins.

Of course, Zhang Yu knew it was impossible for him to pocket all six hundred and fifty spirit coins, after all, he still had to share the profits with the school and pay taxes.

Estimating in his heart, Zhang Yu thought, "I should end up with around two hundred spirit coins in the end."

Beside him, Dao Qiankun continued to offer guidance, "Although named moves are powerful, they are not without limitations."

"First of all, there are various conditions regarding the occasions of use; you can't just find a random corner and keep casting the move to reap the benefits."

"Secondly, named moves seek positive impact; if using it leads to defeat or a poor performance, the payment will decrease. The more failures, the less money, until the naming is ultimately canceled."

"Therefore, although using a named move earns you money each time, making you stronger with every battle, you must never abuse it in the long run. At the very least, only use it when you have a certain grasp and confirm it will be effective."

"Especially for your named move this time, the company might only buy it for one match. If you want to sign a long-term contract, you must deliver a brilliant performance in this very match..."

Zhang Yu listened attentively to Dao Qiankun's introduction, knowing the other man had far more experience in this area than he did.

Watching Zhang Yu listen so earnestly, Dao Qiankun felt increasingly satisfied with the humility and obedience the young man displayed.

Especially recalling the young man's words in the interview about placing him on the throne, and how he had risked his life to create opportunities for him in the previous team match—all this made Zhang Yu appear even more pleasing to Dao Qiankun's eyes.

Dao Qiankun said, "Send me the list of advertisements you can take, and I'll help you choose."

Zhang Yu had no objections and directly forwarded the document sent by An Zhen Zhenjun to Dao Qiankun.

Dao Qiankun projected the document, crossing out company names one by one as he spoke, "Taking advertisements isn't just about the money; you must also pay attention to style and image."

"It's like cultivating a technique; you can't be eager for quick success and instant benefit, only looking at which technique brings faster progress now. You must also consider the long-term potential of the technique and whether it suits you."

"Advertisements are the same. Many companies offer a lot of money, but taking them lowers your tone, harms your personal brand value, and might even reduce your immortal potential in return..."

"But for those responsible to the school, they only consider the revenue of the current season and won't think about your future."

As he spoke, Dao Qiankun crossed out the advertisements from several companies, including Jihu Brand and Yaodao Pavilion.

Among the remaining few brands, Dao Qiankun circled Wando Artisan Sect, Lingxiao Smart Manufacturing, and Yunxiu Academy.

He continued, "For the companies I've circled, have them come up with an advertising plan and a specific naming plan. Then you can pick one from these companies."

"A named move doesn't just affect the company's image; the specific naming plan will also in turn affect you, the one casting the move."

"There is a week until the next match begins. It's neither a long time nor a short time, so you must hurry and negotiate with them..."

Hearing Dao Qiankun's advice, Zhang Yu felt he had gained a lot. After discussing with An Zhen Zhenjun, he sent his opinions to the company and waited for the next feedback.

...

At the same time.

Inside the flying ship belonging to Tianjian University on the other side.

Bai Zhenzhen was sitting cross-legged in a quiet room, watching the crimson sword qi flickering and surging before her.

Her mind recalled the scenes from the previous match.

When Zhang Yu and Kuang Tianqing engaged in their final desperate struggle, Bai Zhenzhen had also wanted to support him with stronger and greater power.

Even before the battle, Zhang Yu had wanted Bai Zhenzhen to try injecting sword qi into him to secretly strike Kuang Tianqing, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't erupt with that black sword qi possessing destructive power again.

Later, watching Zhang Yu step by step walk towards death, although it caused Bai Zhenzhen's sword qi to once again transform into that black sword qi that extinguished vitality and severed all things, even the Taihao Holy Law Sword Formation couldn't transmit this sword qi, and it would even damage the Taihao Holy Law flying swords in return.

After the match ended, Bai Zhenzhen didn't even dare to approach Zhang Yu; she was afraid that in her fluctuating emotions, she might accidentally kill Zhang Yu, who was already severely injured.

"I'm so useless..."

Bai Zhenzhen clenched her fists, "Unable to stop others from insulting Zhang Yu, and unable to help Zhang Yu collect fees for dual cultivation."

"The unorthodox path is a dead end, and the orthodox path is also impassable."

"Whether in ancient times or modern times, I am so useless, showing none of the demeanor expected of a Tianjian University student, a disciple of the Transformation Divine stage."

However, after this team match, Bai Zhenzhen was not entirely without gains.

In the end, while watching Zhang Yu step by step walk towards death, relying on her own aptitude and the adaptive effect of the Divine Spirit Root, she gradually gained a little control over the changes in the sword qi of the Ultimate Emotion Sword Dao, and could even retain a certain degree of sanity while wielding the sword qi.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen finally comprehended some of the mysteries of the Ultimate Emotion Sword Dao.

"Only by giving birth to ultimate emotion in the heart, and experiencing love, hate, and passion, can one truly drive the ultimate moves in the Ultimate Emotion Sword Dao."

"Because only those with love as deep as the sea, and who are truly emotional and authentic, can strike a sword that severs love and emotion, extinguishing vitality."

"Using emotion to control emotionlessness, this is the true tenet of the Ultimate Emotion Sword Dao..."

Videos began to play within the eye sockets of Bai Zhenzhen's skull, precisely the scene of her and Zhang Yu first encountering Kuang Tianqing, watching helplessly as Kuang Tianqing began to insult Zhang Yu.

Heartache...

The more Bai Zhenzhen watched, the more her chest felt stifled, and the more anxious and short of breath she became, while the originally crimson sword qi around her gradually transformed under this emotion into that ominous black sword qi filled with an aura of extinction. "As expected..."

Opening her palm, Bai Zhenzhen looked at the surging black sword qi in her hand with one eye, and at the scene of Zhang Yu struggling in the video with the other, feeling the sword qi becoming even more turbulent.

"This is using emotion to control emotionlessness. Precisely because of the deep bond between Zhang Yu and me, I can erupt with this vitality-extinguishing sword because of his ordeal."

Taking a deep breath, Bai Zhenzhen closed the video, and the black sword qi around her gradually turned back to red.

Thinking for a moment, Bai Zhenzhen saved the video file named "Kuang Tianqing vs. Zhang Yu (Part 1)" in a secret directory.

She thought resentfully, "I will firmly remember everyone who insults Zhang Yu; you are the nourishment for my advancement in the Ultimate Emotion Sword Dao."

Just as Bai Zhenzhen was thinking this, the voice of the Seven Emotions Divine Lord came to her ears, "Comprehending the sword dao again?"

"If you want to stimulate the Ultimate Emotion Sword Dao by watching videos and recalling those unforgettable scenes... then you have already taken a wrong path."

Bai Zhenzhen's gaze condensed as she asked, "Master, what do you mean?"

The Seven Emotions Divine Lord said indifferently, "You have a senior martial brother who once used this method."

"It was very successful at first. He fought while watching videos, pushing the sword qi to defeat his opponents time and again. His momentum was unmatched among the top ten, and he won quite a few championships."

"But the human heart changes constantly, and human emotions are the same."

"The more videos you watch, the higher the threshold becomes."

"At first, perhaps an ordinary video of his wife being insulted could make him mobilize the sword qi."

"But after watching for a long time, you gradually become numb, needing stronger stimulation, more insulting videos, to make him mobilize the sword qi."

"Later, even adding demon descendants and junior college students into the videos... was the only way to make him mobilize the sword qi."

"Step by step like this... eventually, one day, breaking through one's bottom line, surpassing the extreme one can endure, one will fall into demonic deviation."

The Seven Emotions Divine Lord said in a cold and cruel tone, "So I say, this is a wrong path, and the end of this wrong path is demonic deviation and utter madness."

Hearing this, Bai Zhenzhen was startled, then said, "Then at least... there's no problem in the short term."

She gritted her teeth and said, "I will pay attention to controlling the frequency and won't use this ultimate move easily."

The Seven Emotions Divine Lord sighed, "Take care of yourself."

Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, "If my Divine Spirit Root helps me adapt, could it help me walk this path smoothly?"

Thinking of the Divine Spirit Root, Bai Zhenzhen remembered the last time she and Zhang Yu exchanged Divine Spirit Roots under the arena of the Civil Engineering Competition.

Although it was only a brief moment, it gave Bai Zhenzhen an extraordinary feeling, and made her look forward to the next exchange of spirit roots.

She mused inwardly, "Alas, it is a pity that the exchange of our divine spirit roots stirs up too much of a commotion; the moment I unleash my sword qi, I shall draw the attention of others."

"Especially now, when this place is under the watchful eyes of many Deity Transformation Sovereigns. Should their gaze fall upon us and discover the divine spirit root upon Yu Zi..."

Though she yearned to exchange spirit roots with Zhang Yu to elevate their combined strength, Bai Zhenzhen knew the time was not yet ripe; they must wait for a safer, more concealed opportunity.

Suppressing for the moment her urge to exchange spirit roots, Bai Zhenzhen turned her gaze to the flying sword beside her.

This flying sword, chosen from the sword vault of the Seven Emotions Sovereign, had never been fully brought under Bai Zhenzhen's control, yet she could feel the formidable power it harbored within.

"My trump card cannot be wielded lightly, nor is there an opportunity to exchange spirit roots for the time being."

Gazing at the flying sword before her, Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, "Ultimately, the swiftest way to bolster my combat prowess at present is to thoroughly master this very blade."

...

Deep within the Spirit Realm.

Watching the text broadcast sent by Li Xuelian, along with Zhang Yu's post-match interview and Q&A, True Immortal Xinghuo could not help but sigh with emotion.

True Immortal Xinghuo murmured, "Little did I think that one day, my name would have the chance to spread through the university."

"I wonder what my old friends would think upon hearing this."

Li Xuelian said, "Father, as Zhang Yu continues to climb the ranks in the future, reaching the Golden Core stage, or even the Nascent Soul realm, you might just have a chance to return."

True Immortal Xinghuo shook his head and replied, "I only fear that someone might transfer their hatred for me onto Zhang Yu."

"Perhaps that child should not have mentioned my name."

Li Xuelian said, "Father, there are those who hate you, and those who remember you. I rather think those who hate you won't necessarily make things difficult for Zhang Yu, but those who remember you... might just go out of their way to offer him some convenience."

...

Meanwhile, when Zhang Yu returned to his flying vessel, he found the avatar of True Monarch Ciji already waiting there.

"Master!" Zhang Yu hurried forward to greet him, asking respectfully, "What brings you here?"

True Monarch Ciji replied indifferently, "If I hadn't come, my disciple would have been mistaken for a student of the Civil and Earth Department."

(End of Chapter)