Chapter 379: Throw Zhang Yu Over

“After all, the number of Soul Cultivators is still increasing every year, so in the future they’ll only get cheaper.”

“If a university war breaks out, Soul Cultivators will explode in numbers. Signing a full-time contract now—wouldn’t that be a loss?”

“Besides, these Soul Cultivators work hardest when they’re competing as temporary workers.”

Su Yanyang was very wealthy, but he had never been a generous person.

Because he believed the richer a person was, the more they should save money.

“Wealth is like one’s immortal cultivation—the deeper your cultivation, the heavier your daily consumption. Wealth and power both, as you act… constantly radiate out to the poor, slowly leaking away.”

“Only by reducing the loss of money, reducing the loss of cultivation, and not letting it drain away to the poor, can you go further on the immortal path.”

“Even immortals who have jumped out of the three student loans and five social insurances still pursue the state of a ‘leakless true immortal.’ What right do I have to waste money?”

…

Meanwhile, a fiercer and fiercer gale rose up outside the arena, spinning at high speed like a tornado.

At the center of the tornado, Ji Yuanshu was wrapped in violent winds, his entire body accelerating in rotation.

“The gravity field is unpredictable—fighting it with force is unwise.”

“The most effective approach is to counter it with speed.”

“No matter how complex the gravity field changes, as long as you can pass through at high speed in a short time, the force acts on your body for an extremely brief moment, so it can’t change your momentum in time.”

Bang!

Mach 1

Mach 2

Mach 3!

With Ji Yuanshu’s violent acceleration, his figure grew faster and more blurred, each movement triggering thunderous roars like a storm.

“Almost there…”

Feeling his body had reached its acceleration limit, Ji Yuanshu flickered and charged straight into the gravity field.

Soul-Chasing Eyes instantly marked the figures ahead, transmitting the information through the neural network to the Wuchang Wind low-altitude flight components on his legs.

With a slight adjustment of the storm around him, Ji Yuanshu flew past many students like a bolt of lightning and reached the finish line.

And one of the figures he passed was none other than Zhang Yu.

“Zhang Yu, huh?”

Ji Yuanshu’s mind stirred for a moment, then he paid no further attention.

“My real opponent isn’t him.”

…

Although Zhang Yu was fast and overtook quite a few seniors, there were always people faster than him who overtook him in turn.

He didn’t mind, since many of the contestants were richer than him, had trained longer, and it was only natural they were faster.

After all, speed had never been his strong point.

“I’ll think about boosting speed when I have time later. Right now, I’m too busy for that.”

Reaching the finish line, he joined up with Shi Huaiyu and the others, and they all looked at the time rankings.

Seeing their team had stabilized at 15th place, they all breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Che Yufei said, “That means we’re in the top 20—we get to advance to the next round.”

At the same time, everyone understood that this ranking also meant their team’s average level in speed and resisting the gravity field was around 15th place.

Shi Huaiyu thought to himself, “In terms of overall strength… we are indeed a bit weaker, but from our training over this period, in building and combat we’re not weak at all.”

“There’s still a good chance at the top ten.”

…

With the end of this elimination round, the top 20 teams remained, while the rest of the contestants were all eliminated and left the battlefield one by one.

Above the arena.

To Li Shan looked at the data of the twenty teams, thinking to himself: “40% peace faction, 30% war faction, 30% neutral faction. We’re slightly behind in numbers.”

“There’s no helping it. The Finance Department approved quite a few loans for them.”

To Li Shan knew that as the saying goes, where the money is, so is fortune. With a big financier like the Finance Department backing them, he was not at all surprised by the current situation.

“But loans eventually have to be repaid. And though our steady project-based approach earns slower, it’s more sustainable in the long run…”

To Li Shan thought to himself: “We’ll see how the numbers change in the next round of twenty advancing to ten.”

“At least in terms of top-level strength, we should be stronger.”

Just then, Geology teacher Wei Huai displayed Zhang Yu’s and Ji Yuanshu’s results, smiling as he said, “It seems striving hard is still not as good as spending money.”

To Li Shan said calmly, “Ji Yuanshu borrowed so many spirit coins—doesn’t he need to repay them?”

Wei Huai said, “Who doesn’t borrow at the start? As long as development is fast enough, the initial loans are just small change.”

To Li Shan said, “I’m afraid the development won’t be fast enough, and they’ll end up working for the loan platform, eventually walking into a dead end.”

“On the other hand, Zhang Yu’s physique is robust; striving hard is the path suited for him. As his income rises, the harder he fights, the stronger he gets. His future is promising.”

Watching the two sides clash in words, neither Director Gao nor Director Lin said a word, as if they hadn’t heard anything.

But the other teachers knew that To Li Shan and Wei Huai represented Director Gao and Director Lin respectively. Though they were ostensibly talking about two sophomores, they were actually discussing the different directions chosen by the two factions.

Just then, the old director, Lingyue Zhenjun, chuckled and said, “Those with strong immortal potential borrow, those with weak immortal potential strive hard. Under the rule of the ten great sects, everyone cultivates immortally, and every student treads an immortal path. How could there be any dead end? Teacher Tu, you jest.”

Hearing Lingyue Zhenjun’s words, To Li Shan and Wei Huai immediately stopped their argument.

Lingyue Zhenjun continued, “Whether spirit coins or lifespan, both are resources for the immortal path. Use whichever one has more.”

“When lifespan is low, supplement it with spirit coins; when spirit coins are low, earn them with lifespan. The two complement each other and cannot be neglected. Am I right, teachers?”

To Li Shan and Wei Huai bowed and agreed.

To Li Shan thought to himself: “This old ghost sides with whoever gives him more benefits, playing balance between the two factions. Now he wants both money and life, and also the position of full director… Let’s see how long until he chokes himself to death.”

Lingyue Zhenjun then said, “The schedule for the second round of elimination matches has been set. Everyone, please take a look. Any objections?”

To Li Shan looked at the match list for the twenty advancing to ten, thinking to himself: “The two sides of the match list are almost entirely composed of students from the war faction and the peace faction, while the neutral faction is mixed in on both sides.”

“The upcoming elimination matches will be a direct confrontation between the two factions.”

He subconsciously glanced at Director Gao and Director Lin, thinking that the two sides must have secretly reached some sort of understanding to arrange it this way.

…

On the arena floor below.

In Zhang Yu’s eyes, information about Yu Xinghan and the others appeared.

He looked up and saw Ying Xin, Yu Xinghan, and Gongshu Jin standing in the audience, waving at him.

Besides them, there were also substitute members from other teams in the audience.

In the just-concluded first round of elimination, substitute members did not need to participate, so they had all waited in the audience and watched the matches.

As the first elimination round ended, the substitute members gradually gathered with their own teams.

Yu Xinghan asked curiously, “How is the second round going to be conducted?”

Shi Huaiyu said, “For twenty advancing to ten, it should be a random draw, with two teams in a group deciding the winner.”

Just as she finished speaking, the match schedule notification appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Looking at the match list, Zhang Yu found that each team’s battle location had been arranged on different levels of the simulated battlefield.

The next moment, his gaze slightly focused as he saw that his own team was going to face Ma Xuan and Ji Yuanshu’s team.

“The second round of elimination matches will officially begin in ten minutes. Please ensure all teams arrive at the designated venues on time.”

On the other side, Su Yanyang looked at Ma Xuan and said, “Oh? You’re up against Shi Huaiyu’s team?”

Ma Xuan smiled slightly and said, “Senior Brother, looks like I’m lucky. Advancing to the top ten should be pretty secure now.”

Su Yanyang thought for a moment and said, “You can completely suppress Shi Huaiyu.”

"Among the remaining five, aside from that Xiao Qingxuan, the other three are old trash, and one is only a sophomore, none are worth worrying about."

Ma Xuan thought to himself: "Actually, that sophomore Zhang Yu is a bit troublesome."

However, he thought he already understood Zhang Yu quite well and had plenty of ways to deal with him, so he didn't mention it separately at the moment.

Ma Xuan asked curiously: "I've heard rumors about this Xiao Qingxuan. Normally I can't be bothered to provoke him, but during competitions there's no need to pay compensation, and maintenance and medical fees are all taken care of by oneself. What else could be the problem?"

Su Yanyang thought for a moment and said: "I've heard a story, but I don't know if it's true or false."

"It's said that the ancient Golden Core true man who seized Xiao Qingxuan's body wasn't scared off by the debt, but instead disguised himself as Xiao Qingxuan."

"As for the real Xiao Qingxuan... he has already been sold by him."

"Ah?" Ma Xuan exclaimed in surprise: "Is there such a thing? But... after the Golden Core true man took over the body, he's now a senior ninth-year student but only ranked 40th in the entire department? And how could he fool the several True Lords in the department? According to reason, for illegal usurpation, the soul should be sentenced, and the body sealed up. That is the proper course."

Su Yanyang said calmly: "I don't know if this story is true or false. But you can think about it: Xiao Qingxuan carries such heavy debt, why can he still survive in Kunxu? Logically, if he had even a single cent on him, it would be deducted immediately, and he should be unable to move an inch."

Seeing Ma Xuan looking thoughtful, Su Yanyang said: "Just keep that in mind."

"The key to this match is not winning or losing, but winning beautifully. Don't let Shi Huaiyu and Xiao Qingxuan drain too much of you, affecting the later matches."

"Hurry up and lead your team there."

……

Outside the simulated battlefield covering one square kilometer.

The two competition teams, one with Zhang Yu and the other with Ji Yuanshu, stood facing each other.

However, compared to the battle-ready team of Shi Huaiyu, Ma Xuan's side appeared relatively calm. But regardless, whether it was Cong Na or Ji Yuanshu, each couldn't help but shoot a few extra glances at Xiao Qingxuan.

Then Cong Na looked at Zhang Yu again and thought to herself: "Sigh, Zhang Yu might as well have stayed on our team. At least he could scrape together a composite score."

And as the competition rules finished displaying before everyone, they each entered the field according to instructions.

Then the two sides drew lots randomly to determine the order of offense and defense.

Shi Huaiyu glanced and said: "We attack first."

"Everyone, don't be nervous. Just follow what we did in training. It'll be fine."

As the battle officially began, Shi Huaiyu and his team of six charged one after another toward the enemy's position.

But the next moment, with a tremor of the ground and a thunderous roar, countless sand and mud shot into the sky.

Ma Xuan pushed his palm forward and said calmly: "Let's eliminate four first."

The next moment, the sky-filling sand and mud surged like a tsunami toward Zhang Yu and the others, engulfing them.

Ma Xuan was well aware that the other side's strength was inferior to his own, but he wouldn't underestimate the opponent because of that. He would only exploit the advantage of this strength gap to eliminate the opponent, giving them no chance.

But in the very next instant, a figure smashed out like a cannonball, propelled by tremendous force, directly breaking through the sky-filling sand and mud, and came charging in like a meteor.

"That's... Zhang Yu?"

Ma Xuan was slightly startled, then realized, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Shi Huaiyu and the others... they teamed up and threw Zhang Yu over first?"