Chapter 208: Second Round Foundation Establishment Exam Ends

As the simulation depth decreased, Ye Lingxiao layered one protective technique after another, causing Zhang Yu's brow to jump repeatedly as he recognized the Titanium Gold Body Refining Technique among them, a technique he had last seen during the previous Foundation Establishment exam.

At this moment, Ye Lingxiao's depth had already reached -2,581 meters. His entire body gleamed with a metallic luster like a golden divine statue standing at the deep seabed.

Clearly, the depth of -2,581 meters still had not reached Ye Lingxiao's limit.

Just as everyone was stunned by Ye Lingxiao's terrifying strength and thought he would continue standing, Huang Zichou said, "Alright, candidate 23, your total score is already first place. You can stop now."

Only then did Ye Lingxiao nod and choose to terminate the exam.

At this point, the top two in the physical track of the second round of the Foundation Establishment exam were decided, namely Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

The two of them would participate in the final round of this term's Foundation Establishment exam in January of next year to compete for the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate.

"What a monster," Yu Xinghan muttered inwardly as he watched Ye Lingxiao walk out of the Sea-Calming Pillar. "This term's Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate is definitely going to be taken by this guy."

"But if that's the case, it means I will have to take the same term's Foundation Establishment exam as Zhang Yu again next year."

Although Zhang Yu's current strength was far inferior to Ye Lingxiao's, his rate of progress still filled Yu Xinghan with immense envy, even jealousy.

"During the last round of the Foundation Establishment exam, he only surpassed me by a little."

"But in this second round, he has already completely overtaken me."

Thinking of this, Yu Xinghan's face turned somewhat grim: "Why is Zhang Yu progressing so fast? It's utterly baffling."

"Especially since this guy is so poor—I can't just let this slide..."

Yu Xinghan was well aware of Zhang Yu's poverty, especially when they worked overtime together at the Red Pagoda every week; he could smell the aura of poverty on him, just like his own past.

"If this guy were rich, I might have no way to deal with him."

"But since he's so poor..."

Yu Xinghan had already made up his mind to talk to his senior sister, Li Xuelian, once he returned.

He thought to himself, "When I get back, I'll ask my senior sister for money."

"Then add extra lessons!"

"I must force Zhang Yu to take extra lessons with me, and best of all, follow him in cultivation every day—I have to find out what immortal cultivation secrets he has."

"Also... next year I must come to an understanding with him to take different tracks in the Foundation Establishment exam, so I can have a chance to grab the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate."

"Speaking of which..." Yu Xinghan mused, "If both Zhang Yu and I obtain the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate next year, we can go to the Ten Great together."

Recalling what Xinghuo True Person had told him about the Ten Great, Yu Xinghan thought, "Once we reach the Second Layer, our competitors will be those upper-level elders."

"If I have a familiar friend like Zhang Yu at that time, perhaps we can look out for each other."

Yu Xinghan still remembered that Xinghuo True Person had told him that when he first passed the exam and entered the Ten Greats' Ten Thousand Methods University, he was taught a lesson by an upper-level elder.

Later, Xinghuo True Person refused to accept it and challenged the upper-level elder again, only to be taught a lesson once more.

After repeated defeats and battles, challenging those upper-level elders for a full decade of university life, finally... Xinghuo True Person conceded.

Through this story, Xinghuo True Person wanted to tell Yu Xinghan that some people you cannot catch up to from birth, and you will never catch up to them in this lifetime.

Also, having a friend to borrow money from and share pressure with was very important.

Yu Xinghan deeply agreed with this.

On the other side, Zhang Yu felt Yu Xinghan's gaze and thought, "Why is this guy staring at me?"

Remembering how the guy had asked him for sparring practice after the last physical competition, Zhang Yu thought, "Could it be that this guy is planning to ask me for extra lessons and follow me in cultivation once we go back?"

"If so, I can make some money."

But thinking of Yu Xinghan's current job, and how he sold seeds to pay for sparring sessions, Zhang Yu always found it a bit odd.

"What's so strange about it?" Zhang Yu suppressed his weird feeling. "Money from selling seeds is still money, isn't it?"

Then, as the exam rankings were announced, the examinees began to exit under the arrangement of the officials.

However, before leaving, Zhang Yu had a sudden thought, recalling the matters of Zhou Chechen and the Zhou family.

So he took the initiative to speak: "Examiner, I have something I'd like to report."

Under the curious gazes of the other examinees, Zhang Yu remained behind alone.

Huang Zichou looked at Zhang Yu with a smile and asked amiably, "What can I do for you?"

Although the gap in strength between Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao was not small, and it seemed he wouldn't be able to obtain the Foundation Establishment qualification this round.

But in Huang Zichou's view, Zhang Yu might be of even greater value than Ye Lingxiao, because he could find out about the Ye clan behind Ye Lingxiao, but he could not trace what major figure stood behind Zhang Yu.

And the more he couldn't find out, the more Huang Zichou felt that something was extraordinary. At this moment, since Zhang Yu was the one who wanted to speak first, Huang Zichou planned to take the opportunity to build a good relationship with him, which could also be considered forming a good karmic tie.

However, even though Huang Zichou thought this way, reality did not give him the chance.

Before Zhang Yu could speak, Deng Bingding had already appeared beside the two, saying calmly, "Zichou, go write today's report first. I'll handle things here."

Glancing at the expressionless Deng Bingding, Huang Zichou thought to himself, "Come on... are you going to snatch this opportunity too? Could it be that the person behind Zhang Yu is even more formidable than I previously estimated?"

Huang Zichou had no choice but to leave, silently cursing in his heart, "All that money was fed to the dogs."

Deng Bingding looked at Zhang Yu and said indifferently, "Is there something you need?"

Zhang Yu then recounted the situation where he was followed by the Zhou family in Songyang City, and finally summed it up: "...I'm worried they're investigating my participation in the Foundation Establishment exam, so I wanted to report it to you, Examiner."

Listening to Zhang Yu's words, Deng Bingding wore a faint, ambiguous smile.

A family in Songyang City daring to investigate the Foundation Establishment exam? Deng Bingding found that hard to believe.

On the contrary, it was quite likely that Zhang Yu wanted to use her as kindling to burn the Zhou family.

No mistakes, one chapter, one post, one content, one look!

However, Deng Bingding naturally did not expose him. Instead, she pondered in her mind whether Zhang Yu was doing this on his own initiative or whether the person behind him was pulling the strings.

Deng Bingding was uncertain, so she went along with it and said, "I understand this matter. I will have someone look into the Zhou family to see if they have indeed been investigating the Foundation Establishment exam."

"Add me as a friend. If anything else comes up, you can tell me anytime."

Zhang Yu was a little flattered and said, "Add friend?"

Deng Bingding said calmly, "Protecting the information security of every Foundation Establishment exam student is the duty of us examiners. It's only natural."

Zhang Yu, somewhat surprised, added Deng Bingding as a friend and thought to himself, "So orthodox deities can add friends? Why didn't I see this function in the talismans? Is it because my faith level is too low?"

Watching Zhang Yu's departing figure, Deng Bingding's thoughts shifted slightly, and she mused, "Have the results from the other side come out too?"

On the other side, at the martial arts examination ground.

Bai Zhenzhen finally stepped onto the arena and chose to fight Yun Jing.

"At least I need to see where the gap between us lies."

Of course, another reason besides that was to make use of the medical insurance.

With this thought, Bai Zhenzhen walked onto the arena, and over her head, the 1,000,000 medical insurance quota appeared once again.

However, as soon as the medical insurance quota materialized, the number on it began to decrease rapidly, only stopping after dropping by more than 200,000.

With the healing complete, Bai Zhenzhen felt a wave of comfort throughout her body; the remaining injuries from the previous arena match had fully recovered.

On the other side of the arena, Yun Jing said indifferently, "Healed?"

"Wait, let me warm up first." Bai Zhenzhen twisted her body, and the next moment, she vanished in a flash, charging at Yun Jing with a streak of electric light.

Streams of formless sword energy surged from her fingertips, and as she unfurled a vast sword aura, she attacked Yun Jing in a grinding assault.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen was executing the Endless Sword Final Art, which she had cultivated to Level 8.

The sword techniques of this art were virtually endless. When Bai Zhenzhen unleashed them at high speed, powered by her thunderous mana, they transformed into a mighty thunderstorm sweeping toward Yun Jing.

Bai Zhenzhen certainly didn't think this attack could defeat Yun Jing; she only wanted to use her speed and the many moves of the Endless Sword Final Art to attack Yun Jing from various angles, probing his reactions and gathering more intelligence for their future competition in the Foundation Establishment exam.

And in Yun Jing's eyes, which had already been refined into a dharma corpse, he could not only see clearly every move Bai Zhenzhen made but even the numbers that appeared on each move.

3200-

500-

4899

Those numbers represented the amount of medical insurance quota that would be consumed if those moves hit him.

Through these numbers, Yun Jing seemed able to find the flaws in Bai Zhenzhen's techniques and distinguish the real from the false among their changes.

But Yun Jing did not do that.

He simply raised his palm and blasted a palm strike toward Bai Zhenzhen.

As both of his dantians erupted violently, waves of flame Gang Qi surged forth like a volcanic eruption, pumping endlessly from his body, standing on the arena like a crimson city wall that split the arena in two, then pressing forward toward Bai Zhenzhen.

Boom!

Watching the overwhelming Gang Qi bearing down and feeling the astonishing wave of heat coming at her, Bai Zhenzhen shifted her sword techniques, chopping out sword auras crackling with lightning against Yun Jing's Gang Qi.

Amid the banging explosions, the sword auras shattered, the Gang Qi surged and then quickly refilled, and Bai Zhenzhen was forced back step by step until she was finally pushed off the arena by the wall-like Gang Qi.

"Forcing me off the arena with pure Gang Qi... that's just an unreasonable way to fight..."

"Not a trace of technique—it’s all foundation bought with money."

Looking at Yun Jing on the arena and recalling his fighting style just now, Bai Zhenzhen only felt a headache coming on.