Chapter 373: Bai Zhenzhen's Dao Seed

Zhang Yu: "How long are you staying at Wanfa University this time?"

Bai Zhenzhen: "I'll leave once the competition ends. If I can hold out until the finals, that'll be about ten days."

Zhang Yu: "Divine Spirit Root—I'll give it back to you before you leave later. You still need it for the competition."

Bai Zhenzhen tilted her head carelessly: "It's fine, just give it back to me before the match."

"Take this chance to make more use of the Divine Spirit Root."

"I gave it to you specifically to boost your strength."

"But for now, don't tell any of your university classmates about our relationship—that would make passing the Divine Spirit Root back and forth inconvenient."

Zhang Yu listened to Bai Zhenzhen's words and kept nodding. At the same time, as he looked at her before him, his gaze fell on her chest, and he couldn't help but see the Dao Seed on her body.

Green Lotus Sword Embryo (Spirit Root) Level 2

And besides the Dao Seed appearing on her chest, he saw the same markings appear on his own stomach.

Green Lotus Sword Embryo (Spirit Root) Level 2

Zhang Yu thought to himself: "So… Ah Zhen's Dao Seed is the True Spirit Root?"

"Green Lotus Sword Embryo? And it's already Level 2—is that because it transformed once back on the first floor?"

But Zhang Yu only sensed it briefly, then paid it no more attention.

Neither he nor Bai Zhenzhen bothered much about the existence of the Divine Spirit Root; the two just held each other, slowly exchanging their respective situations and feeling each other's auras.

Three years of high school, time and again facing life-and-death crises together, had long made them not family yet more than family.

Suddenly, Bai Zhenzhen said with a look of disgust: "The effect of the penis-strengthening meat isn't over yet?"

Zhang Yu said angrily: "It's still your fault—if not for eating the penis-strengthening meat you gave me, with my state of mind, how could I have been so easily stirred? I've been on edge every step of the way lately."

Bai Zhenzhen said: "I definitely didn't make a mistake back then. This matter… forget it, let me confirm it again later and then I'll talk."

Bai Zhenzhen's form moved, like a flash of lightning, and she slipped out of Zhang Yu's embrace, appearing several meters away.

She looked at Zhang Yu askance and said: "Let's stop here for today. I should be going now."

"From now on, hurry up and use the Divine Spirit Root more to cultivate."

Zhang Yu asked: "The competition starts tomorrow, right? So when do I give it back to you?"

Bai Zhenzhen said: "The first half of tomorrow night is the opening ceremony, and the second half is the first match. Give it back to me at midnight."

As she spoke, Bai Zhenzhen's figure silently vanished before Zhang Yu like streaks of flowing light, displaying extraordinary movement skills.

Gazing in the direction where Bai Zhenzhen had disappeared, Zhang Yu then focused his attention on the True Spirit Root inside his body—or rather, the Green Lotus Sword Embryo.

Under his concentrated sensing, information about the Dao Seed gradually surfaced.

"The Green Lotus Sword Embryo requires nourishment from techniques."

Zhang Yu murmured to himself: "Specifically, while using the Divine Spirit Root, I need to circulate a Level 20 technique for 30 hours, and I need to do this for a total of ten techniques."

"But these techniques do not include mental cultivation methods."

"So that means it'll take 300 hours total? Once that's done, I'll be able to replicate this Dao Seed."

Zhang Yu recalled that back in high school, the True Spirit Root had also undergone transformation after being nourished by one technique after another.

"But for now, I can only sense the conditions for replicating the Dao Seed, not the conditions for upgrading it."

This was also the first time Zhang Yu had encountered a Level 2 Dao Seed since opening the Feather Book's Dao Seed Catalog.

At the same time, Zhang Yu recalled his experience back on the first floor with using the True Spirit Root.

"Adaptability is the characteristic of the True Spirit Root."

"I wonder what changes it has undergone after evolving into the Divine Spirit Root?"

In the time that followed, under Fuji's expectant gaze, Zhang Yu began to train using the Divine Spirit Root.

The content of the training was also very simple: he already had more than ten Level 20 techniques mastered, so just picking any ten to circulate was incredibly straightforward.

"To get it done before Ah Zhen leaves Wanfa University, the time is really tight."

"Fortunately, I now have multiple thought streams, so it's not like there's no chance."

With that in mind, Zhang Yu seized the moment to circulate his cultivation technique, using it to nourish the Green Lotus Sword Embryo while sensing the wondrous effects of the Divine Spiritual Root.

…

On the construction site the next evening.

Yu Xinghan massaged Ying Xin's shoulders as she said, "Why did it seem like there were so many more people on the road today?"

"And all from other universities too?"

Ying Xin replied, "It's because of the Flying Sword Competition. This year's venue is at our school. A lot of students from many universities—even vocational colleges—have come. How could the crowds not be large?"

Meanwhile, many messages were constantly jumping in Zhang Yu's optical prosthetic, all discussions about the Flying Sword Competition from various group chats.

But after scanning them, Zhang Yu saw that most were just casual talk. None of his acquaintances seemed to be participating in the Flying Sword Competition.

"True, flying swords have too high a threshold. Most of those who can compete in an intercollegiate tournament are upperclassmen."

"But Ah Zhen is only a sophomore and already able to join this competition. Looks like under the guidance of the Seven Emotions Divine Lord, she's really improving by leaps and bounds."

Just then, Zhang Yu saw screenshots of the opening ceremony in many group chats.

"Has the opening ceremony started?"

Zhang Yu looked for a livestream of the opening ceremony, casually clicked one, and watched as teams of university representatives marched into the venue.

There was the Heavenly Demon University team, with only one contestant.

There was the Vajra University team, where every contestant was covered in mechanical prosthetics, looking like statues.

And there was the Harmonious Bliss University team, which made Zhang Yu's gaze grow heavy as he sensed their overwhelming power.

As each team entered, the livestream host occasionally introduced the contestants.

But Zhang Yu didn't recognize any of the students from other schools—he let their names go in one ear and out the other, paying them no heed.

Yet the moment the Heavenly Sword University team appeared, Zhang Yu's gaze immediately locked onto Bai Zhenzhen.

Bai Zhenzhen was wearing a white-gold competition uniform, radiating a heroic spirit and an unprecedented sharp aura.

Her original long black hair had also turned white-gold, emitting layer after layer of sword light.

The host introduced: "Bai Zhenzhen from Heavenly Sword University—if you've been following flying sword competitions in the past half year, you should definitely recognize her."

"As a personally taught disciple of the Seven Emotions Divine Lord, Bai Zhenzhen's improvement rate is astonishingly fast, and she's a hot contender for the top ten in this competition."

"Look at her hair—the color comes from the constant manifestation of essence-metal qi."

"It is said that every single strand of her hair has been refined by the Seven Emotions Divine Lord, and when needed, each strand can transform into an essence-metal flying sword for her to wield."

At the same time, Zhang Yu noticed screenshots and discussions about Bai Zhenzhen popping up in several group chats.

In the class group chat, someone posted a screenshot of Bai Zhenzhen, expressing envy and amazement at a Nascent Soul disciple.

Even Ji Yuanshu, seeing Bai Zhenzhen's introduction, couldn't help the longing in his eyes: "A Nascent Soul disciple… Just her long hair alone is worth more than the total assets of ninety percent of the students at Ten Thousand Methods University."

"To be this wealthy—wherever she goes, fortune follows. Even just being her friend can increase one's luck."

And in the Songyang hometown group chat, many students @'ed Zhang Yu, asking about Bai Zhenzhen's situation, but Zhang Yu ignored them all.

Qian Shen from Tianhai University: @Zhang Yu, do you know what Bai Zhenzhen's comprehensive score is now?

Seeing that Zhang Yu hadn't replied in the group chat for a long time, Zhao Tianxing thought to himself: "Has Zhang Yu's relationship with Bai Zhenzhen not been as good lately? Like how my relationship with Zhang Yu now is definitely not as good as it was in high school."

"Should I go ask him? Comfort him?"

"Better not. If his relationship with Bai Zhenzhen really has cooled off, and I go ask him, would he think I'm laughing at him? Wouldn't that make him even more upset? And our relationship would get worse, right?"

"Sigh, college is like this—it turns the gap between college students into something like the gap between humans and ghosts. Old classmates just drift further apart."

Zhao Tianxing remembered that at the start, the hometown group chat had 999+ messages every day, but as time passed, now sometimes no one sent a message for days. If it weren't for Bai Zhenzhen's sudden rise to prominence, it wouldn't have suddenly become lively again.

In the Civil Engineering Competition group chat.

Ying Xin: Only a sophomore and already in the top ten? Even as a Nascent Soul disciple's student, that's too exaggerated.

Gongshu Jin: That's a Nascent Soul, and the issuer of the Seven Emotions Coin.

Xiao Qingxuan: At this level of wealth, you can change the world with a single thought—there are very few things left you can't accomplish.

Che Yufei: Sigh, if I could become a Nascent Soul disciple, I'd give up everything I own without a second thought.

Shi Yunxiang: How about we go and become disciples of this Bai Zhenzhen? If we could be her disciples, wouldn't that make us Nascent Soul grand-disciples?

Shi Huaiyu: It's not that easy. A Nascent Soul disciple is bound to be surrounded by layers of protection—how could an ordinary person even get close?

Shi Huaiyu: Before you even get near, you'd be kicked out by the supervising teacher.

Che Yufei: How do you know?

Shi Huaiyu: I tried going to their dorm yesterday.

Yu Xinghan was looking through the chat history when he suddenly noticed that Zhang Yu had sent him a message, asking him to keep their acquaintance with Bai Zhenzhen a secret for now.

Aside from Yu Xinghan, Zhang Yu, though unsure how much Li Xiao knew about him and Bai Zhenzhen, also sent him a message warning him not to say anything unnecessary.

Yu Xinghan replied: "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."

At the same time, Yu Xinghan sighed inwardly: "Ah, I was hoping to mooch off a chance to film an interview with Bai Zhenzhen, but it looks like that's not happening now."

"But the gap between Bai Zhenzhen and us is just too huge right now."

"Zhang Yu asking me to keep the relationship secret—maybe that's Bai Zhenzhen's intention."

"After all, she's a Nascent Soul disciple. Every move she makes carries great weight. If she doesn't want to show our connection, we can only go along with it."

Yu Xinghan understood very well that although they had been friends back in high school, now they were as different as clouds and mud. Whether he could receive her favor was entirely up to her; he couldn't force it.

"Hm?"

Just then, Yu Xinghan suddenly noticed that Zhang Yu was no longer on the construction site.

"Where'd he go?"

"Not working overtime?"

This was the first time Yu Xinghan had seen Zhang Yu leave in the middle of overtime.

"Looks like Bai Zhenzhen really has a big effect on him."

After the opening ceremony.

In a hidden corner of the 66th floor.

Zhang Yu held Bai Zhenzhen and returned the True Spirit Root to her.

Instantly, Bai Zhenzhen trembled violently: "Yuzi... you... go slower..."

She exclaimed in surprise: "Why am I... so unaccustomed to this?"

Zhang Yu said: "After all, it's been too long since we last switched the True Spirit Root. The differences between us are especially great. It's not just me not adapting to the changes you brought—you must also not be adapting to the changes I brought over."

"So the adaptation process for the True Spirit Root is especially intense, and the reaction is especially strong."

"Zhen, bear with it. We can't delay any longer—you still have to go compete soon."

"Mm." Bai Zhenzhen frowned slightly, nodded, and said: "Continue."

The next moment, as Bai Zhenzhen clenched her silver teeth and her whole body trembled, she felt the True Spirit Root return to her dantian.

At the same time, an intense stimulus centered on the True Spirit Root spread through her entire body, bringing all kinds of incredible changes.