Chapter 323: Let the Prodigies Fight

In the surveillance footage, Gong Shu Jin and Zhang Yu had already arrived one after another at the 463rd floor of the Wanfa University City.

The two entered the gravity simulation room and prepared to begin the strength test.

Just like the speed test earlier, this test also examined the students' physical performance after running their techniques.

The content of the test was also very simple—to persist under the continuously increasing gravity multipliers inside the simulation room.

Although the content was not complicated, Tu Li Shan knew that this kind of constant increase in gravity multipliers could comprehensively assess a student's physical functions.

"Because it's passive endurance, it can test the body's functions to a more extreme degree."

"Gong Shu Jin currently has three dharma relics on him, which should give him a big advantage in this test as well."

…

Inside the simulation room.

Along with a disturbance of earthly sha gravity, both Zhang Yu and Gong Shu Jin could feel that the formation inside the simulation room had been activated.

The next moment, accompanied by the appearance of an ethereal mountain shadow in the air, the two saw the words "2x Gravity" in their eye relics.

Looking at that mountain shadow, Zhang Yu felt as if the mountain was pressing down on his entire body, making him feel a sense of heaviness throughout.

However, having long been accustomed to the gravity training from the Nine Prison Town-Yue Belt, now that he had temporarily switched off the belt for the exam, this mere 2x gravity was hardly worth a thought in Zhang Yu's eyes.

Next, every 10 seconds, Zhang Yu could feel the gravity double again.

As long as the student did not voluntarily give up or face life-threatening danger, the formation would not stop increasing the gravity.

After 100 seconds, the gravity on Zhang Yu had increased to 12 times.

Although he could feel his internal organs constantly sinking and his muscles and bones coming under pressure, Zhang Yu did not rush to activate his technique. He only controlled his breathing, trying to conserve his physical strength and mana.

Beside him, Gong Shu Jin also stood calmly in place, feeling the 12x gravity squeezing his body.

On the way to the simulation room just now, he had already adjusted his dharma relics and swapped the stored technique for a level 20 protective technique—Armored Golden Body.

Another 120 seconds passed, and now the gravity on Zhang Yu had reached 24 times.

With the circulation of mana and a surge of his muscles, Zhang Yu had already activated the War Demon Fallen Life Art, temporarily boosting his physical strength by 0.5 levels, continuing to resist the increasingly heavy gravity.

After all, thanks to the reduction from the Earth Wood Holy Body and the self-healing from body activation, at this level the War Demon Fallen Life Art was almost without burden for Zhang Yu.

At the same time, strands of martial qi burst out from within his body.

At the Foundation Establishment realm, as physical strength increases, both mana and martial qi become more integrated with the body, better enhancing physical performance. For example, the martial qi Zhang Yu was now unleashing supported his body like a layer of armor.

On the other side, Gong Shu Jin first activated his own Boiling Blood Burning Body Art. As mana infused his bloodstream, his qi and blood boiled, and his physical functions greatly increased.

Then he invoked the level 20 protective technique Armored Golden Body stored in his spine relic.

As mana flowed through his entire body, dark golden traces appeared on Gong Shu Jin's skin, making him look as if he was clad in a layer of golden armor, greatly enhancing his physical strength.

Then came the unleashing of martial qi…

As for the spine relic itself, it gave Gong Shu Jin a powerful support.

Feeling his body still as stable as Mount Tai under the pressure of 24x gravity, Gong Shu Jin glanced at Zhang Yu, whose face was flushed, and thought to himself, "At 24x gravity, he already needs to use the War Demon Fallen Life Art to gamble his life?"

"Looks like he's close to his limit."

With that casual thought, Gong Shu Jin continued to resist the increasing gravity.

On Zhang Yu's side, as the gravity kept doubling, he began to let his flesh, internal organs, blood vessels, and nerves be squeezed and dragged by the terrifying gravity, allowing all kinds of minor injuries to appear inside his body without using body activation to heal them.

At the same time, the War Demon Fallen Life Art gradually increased from 0.5 levels of physical strength to 1.2 levels.

This caused more damage to his body, but also made the effects of his Earth Wood Holy Body stronger.

Not only the lifespan reduction resistance from the second layer of the Earth Wood Holy Body, but also the various resistances from the first layer increased, helping him better withstand the increasingly terrifying gravity.

And ever since he had reinforced himself with No. 20 Spirit Method Secret Steel, Zhang Yu had felt the benefits of having strengthened bones.

Stronger bones not only bring greater resistance to impact, but also mean his body can endure even more powerful forces.

Bones are like levers inside his body—the stronger and more solid they are, the better they can support and amplify his strength.

That is true for his own explosive power, and also true for when he bears external pressure applied to him.

It was just like at this moment, when dozens of times the gravity descended, Zhang Yu’s skeleton, though growing heavier and heavier, remained completely unharmed—like steel bars inside a building, supporting his body so it stood firm.

And the flesh and blood, strengthened by the Earth and Wood Sage Body, the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrificing Art, and Martial Dao Qi, were like layers of concrete, both clinging to his skeleton and supporting it.

Under the pressure of dozens of times gravity, Zhang Yu’s injuries grew more severe, yet he could feel his body’s resistance to pressure growing stronger and his limit stretching further.

Throughout this entire process, judging solely from Zhang Yu’s external appearance, he was clearly struggling greatly.

His face became redder and redder, every inch of his skin so red it seemed about to bleed.

Blood also began to appear at the corners of his eyes, clearly indicating internal bleeding under the pressure of gravity.

Capillaries all over his body burst in many places, and a large number of subcutaneous hemorrhages of different patterns appeared on the surface of his skin…

Gongshu Jin, watching from the side, initially only felt a sense of superiority as he watched Zhang Yu’s desperate struggle.

“He’s about to give out, right?”

“Is the medical expense really enough?”

When he saw blood flowing from Zhang Yu’s seven orifices, he already thought the other was being nonsensical.

“Immortal Dao isn’t something you can win just by risking your life.”

“If risking your life could win, then why would we earn so much money?”

With the support of a Vajra Mysterious Dharma Body, the boost of a level-20 cultivation art, the effect of expensive medicines, and a strong physique bought with countless spirit coins… Gongshu Jin watched Zhang Yu’s desperate struggle from a high perch, like watching a clown.

But when Zhang Yu, drenched in blood, held out through 30 times gravity, 40 times gravity, 50 times gravity… the emotions in his heart changed like a roller coaster—from admiration, to mockery, to shock… and finally to a hint of bewilderment.

“What the hell?”

“How can he still be holding on?”

“Has he gone crazy?”

“Why hasn’t he fallen yet?”

Until a bloody smell came from Gongshu Jin’s own mouth and nose, until he felt the surging internal bleeding in his organs, and heard the creaking, unbearable sounds from his own bones…

Until he fell to the ground, ending the exam, and the added gravity disappeared from his body.

Until Gongshu Jin raised his head and looked up at Zhang Yu, who was covered in blood but stood like a towering red giant, still resisting the terrifying 55 times gravity…

At this moment, the shock and incomprehension in Gongshu Jin’s heart reached their peak.

He had come to today’s exam holding spirit coins, with boundless confidence and absolute strength, aiming to surpass Ji Yuanshu.

But in this final exam hall, he was inexplicably—nonsensically—left far behind by a poor man from the first layer.

60 times gravity!

Gongshu Jin exclaimed inwardly: “Impossible?!”

…

“Unbelievable.”

Tuli Shan watched the recording of the final exam over and over, still finding it incredible: “Final result… 64 times gravity.”

“Zhang Yu could actually hold out to this level?”

“This is not something pure desperation can achieve; it shows that the limit of his body’s function has far surpassed Gongshu Jin’s.”

“To achieve this level of body refinement in such a short time—was it because of the three-month field training?”

Tuli Shan sighed: “It seems indeed as he said, his physique is extraordinary with powerful recovery, which allowed him to recover under the ravages of repeated doses of medicine and force out the potential within his body.”

Director Gao nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face: “This Zhang Yu is a genius—a desperate genius—worthy of cultivation.”

“But the so-called teaching according to aptitude means his cultivation method differs from Gongshu Jin’s.”

“Gongshu Jin has plenty of money and high immortal Dao potential; we charge for cultivating him, and the more we cultivate, the more we earn. Once he grows up, he can stand on his own.”

“As for Zhang Yu, though we have to invest money, he mainly relies on his own desperate effort—low investment, fast growth, high returns.”

On the other side, Tuli Shan nodded slightly at this, thinking: “Zhang Yu’s only drawback is that his lifespan will be shorter, and his working years will be fewer.”

Director Gao had already burst into hearty laughter: “Sure enough, in times of great change, dragons and snakes always rise from the earth.”

"A prodigy who fights desperately, a prodigy who spends money lavishly—both are fine prodigies of our Civil Engineering Department."

"Let prodigy fight prodigy, prodigy inspire prodigy, competing with each other; they will surely shine brilliantly in the future."

Having said that, Director Gao waved his hand and said, "Let the backstage quickly calculate the scores. I want to see what the latest ranking is."

"Oh, and go ask… never mind, you go buy some of Zhang Yu's body samples from him."

Director Gao planned to ask a professor from the Breeding Department of the Sky Demon University whether Zhang Yu's condition could be mass-produced.

…

Outside the examination hall.

Zhang Yu checked his results through his magical skeleton, only to find the scores weren't out yet.

As for the ranking, it wasn't yet time for the daily midnight update.

"Sigh, I'll have to temporarily continue bearing this 28th place ranking."

Casually wiping off the bloodstains on himself, just as Zhang Yu was about to leave, he suddenly heard Gongshu Jin's voice coming from behind.

"Zhang Yu…" Gongshu Jin looked at Zhang Yu and said, "In three months, you've actually surpassed me?"

"What exactly did you do in these three months?"

"Win the lottery?"

"Or win money gambling?"

Looking at Gongshu Jin's bloodshot eyes, Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, "Eat until full every day, insist on taking lifespan-reducing pills every day, and never work overtime beyond 24 hours."

"Stick with it for three months, and that's it."

Seeing Zhang Yu about to turn and leave after speaking, Gongshu Jin shouted, "I'm not done talking to you! Where are you going?"

Zhang Yu waved his hand and said, "The exam is over. I plan to go to the construction site for some overtime, earn some bonus money, and treat myself."

"Besides, what else can we, Civil Engineering Department students, do if not go to the construction site for overtime?"