Chapter 384: Showdown with Su Yanyang

Before the next competition officially begins, students have roughly three hours to rest and receive treatment.

Che Yufei had not suffered much loss in the previous battle; after maintaining his dharma shell and taking some standard medicine, he began reading the information appearing in his eye shell.

Ever since he posted on his Moments after the match, he gradually started receiving comments.

He smiled as he opened the comments under his post, watching his high school and college classmates express surprise at him breaking into the top ten of the competition.

At the same time, the internship applications he had previously sent out without a response were now quietly receiving feedback.

…

On the other side, Shi Yunxiang eagerly showed off his top-ten finish in this competition.

He shared the news of his top-ten placement in various group chats.

In Shi Yunxiang’s view, this was only natural.

"If I got a competition ranking and didn't show it off… wouldn't I have gotten it for nothing?"

"When you achieve something, you have to flaunt it hard so that everyone who knows you gets the message—that’s the survival rule for college students."

He finally received a message from his advisor after a long time and was cheerfully replying.

Meanwhile, among the demon descendants at Wanfa University, some demon descendant students came to ask about his situation and whether he needed a loan from the demon descendant student aid fund.

Looking at all the replies in his eye shell, Shi Yunxiang once again sighed inwardly at the weight of being in the top ten of the civil engineering competition.

…

Ying Clan Ancestral Hall Group

Ying Xin: I made the top ten in the civil engineering competition!

Ying Xin: Ranking screenshot.Image file

Ying Xin’s ranking screenshot immediately flushed out a bunch of long-dormant members in the group.

First Generation Patriarch: Good, good, good, achieving this as a sophomore—future looks bright

Fourth Generation Patriarch: Ying Xin, you got that ranking as a substitute, right?

Second Generation Patriarch: Nice, you latched onto a good leg—make sure you hold on tight and don’t let go from now on

Fifth Generation Patriarch: Compared to that, the ranking itself isn’t that important either. When you’re in senior year, you’ll understand that ranking matters less than strength, but siding with the right people matters more than ranking, and background is the key among keys

First Generation Patriarch: Did you give a gift? Take my ashes and give them to the other party

Third Generation Patriarch: Grandpa, have you forgotten that your ashes were mostly given away by me long ago? There’s none left

Third Generation Patriarch: Burn mine instead—there should still be plenty

Seeing the responses from her father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather… Ying Xin felt warmth rising in her heart. This was the support from her family’s heritage and bloodline bonds.

…

At the same time, Yu Xinghan was lying next to the construction site, practicing breathing techniques while using his dharma shell to chat.

Songyang Hometown Association group.

Wanfa University, Foundation Establishment Class 5, Civil Engineering Competition Top 10, Engineering Health Management Specialist Yu Xinghan: Haha, @Song Hailong, that video you sent is interesting

Xianbing University, Foundation Establishment Class 3 Song Hailong: I posted that last week, right? Why are you only replying now?

Fengdu University Zhao Tianxing (data top-up contact me): Top 10?

(Omitted) Yu Xinghan: You mean the top 10 in the civil engineering competition?

Yu Xinghan: I just participated in the civil engineering department’s internal competition together with Zhang Yu, defeated a few senior-year students, and luckily got into the top 10

Yu Xinghan: Getting this ranking as a sophomore is pretty rare. I can only say that Zhang Yu and I have indeed surpassed the average level of Wanfa civil engineering over the generations

Seeing various responses in the group that looked up to him like a god, Yu Xinghan then told them to go support his videos.

At the same time, Lian Tianji’s avatar began to flash.

Lian Tianji: Brother Xinghan, my assistant forgot to pass along the message you sent last time

Lian Tianji: Which video of yours do you want me to recommend and repost?

Looking at Lian Tianji's reply, Yu Xinghan's spirits lifted, and he quickly began communicating with the other party. Finally, they agreed that once Yu Xinghan went to Hehuan University for the project, they would definitely shoot a video together.

"Hehuan University..." Yu Xinghan's gaze turned resolute. "I'm definitely going!"

Just then, Yu Xinghan saw Zhang Yu and Xiao Qingxuan walking back. He quickly went up to them and asked, "How is it?"

Xiao Qingxuan said calmly, "His injuries were already fairly stable. The doctor gave him a simple treatment and applied the wound medicine sent by Director Gao. After resting for another hour or so, he should be fully recovered."

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Zhang Yu had performed astonishingly in the previous match against Ma Xuan, and had unwittingly come to be regarded as the team's main force, an indispensable presence in the coming competitions.

But shortly afterward, with the release of the next round's schedule, everyone in the team looked grave.

"In the new round of the schedule, the remaining top ten teams will face off in pairs."

"A preliminary top ten ranking will then be determined based on each team's building completion."

"And the winners of this round's pair-offs will have one challenge opportunity. They can issue a challenge in the next round. For example, if they successfully challenge the third place, they themselves can become third place..."

Zhang Yu said thoughtfully, "So this round determines the preliminary top ten ranking, and the next round decides the final ranking."

Che Yufei frowned and said, "This round we're up against Su Yanyang's team? This..."

He looked at Shi Huaiyu beside him and asked, "You used to be on their team too. About how big is the gap between us and them?"

Shi Huaiyu touched her waist and said with a somewhat unpleasant expression, "The gap is huge."

"Let's not even talk about Su Yanyang's personal strength. Just in his iron coffin, as far as I know, he stores nine sets of commonly used Dharma Skeletons, covering expertise in all aspects, perfectly compatible with his various techniques, allowing him to fully unleash his cultivation."

"Whether it's direct combat, reconnaissance and roaming, terrain alteration, array layout, large-scale construction... it can be said that his abilities in every aspect far surpass ours, with no weaknesses at all."

"And the other members of his team are also students ranked in the top 40 of the entire department."

"Every single one of them carries Dharma Skeletons, magical artifacts, and various equipment of great value."

"Especially since these people all have abundant assets; in the competition, they are absolutely not afraid of consumption or subsequent medical treatment and maintenance costs."

At this point, Shi Huaiyu sighed and said, "I suspect Su Yanyang received information about this long ago. Forming such a team is probably precisely for the purpose of vying for the top seven."

"Moreover, this person acts with extreme caution; no matter what opponent he faces, he will not be the slightest bit careless..."

Listening to Shi Huaiyu's descriptions of all the formidable aspects of Su Yanyang and his teammates, the surrounding team members gradually fell silent.

Che Yufei shook his head: "Anyway, we've already secured a top ten spot. If the situation looks unfavorable in the next match, we might as well surrender early to avoid excessive losses."

Xiao Qingxuan observed the changes in expressions of everyone around and could sense a hint of slackness appearing on each face.

He understood clearly: reaching the top ten had already fulfilled the expectations of most of the team, and the next opponent was so strong that it seemed unbeatable, so it was natural for thoughts of giving up to arise.

Upon hearing this, Shi Huaiyu showed a trace of unwillingness on her face, but she did not deny what Che Yufei said, because she also lacked the confidence to encourage everyone to fight against Su Yanyang.

Simply because the risks and potential losses involved were too great.

Xiao Qingxuan looked at the pensive Zhang Yu and thought to himself: "The whole team has lost their fighting spirit. In such a situation, do you still want to win?"

As the rest period ended, everyone prepared to enter the arena again.

In front of the arena entrance, the two teams stood facing each other.

Su Yanyang leaned against the floating iron coffin behind him, looked at Shi Huaiyu, and said, "Junior Huaiyu, have you decided to fight to the end, or to surrender in advance?"

"You should be very clear about the gap between us. If you can surrender early, it can reduce losses on both sides. I think it's not a bad strategy."

"We are all civil engineering students. Why waste each other's resources?"

"You know the kind of person I am. What I hate most is unnecessary expenses."

Shi Huaiyu gritted her teeth and said, "Win first, then talk."

Su Yanyang shook his head helplessly: "Junior, you are still so irrational. On the path of cultivation, acting on impulse is the most taboo."

He looked at Shi Huaiyu's other teammates and warned, "Shi Huaiyu has some conflict with me, so the choices she makes are inevitably emotional. You should persuade her properly."

"Isn't it better to keep money for cultivation? Why waste it here? Don't you all agree..."

Just as Che Yufei, Shi Yunxiang, and others were exchanging uncertain glances, Zhang Yu suddenly walked up to Su Yanyang, looked at him, and said, "You're trying to drive a wedge between us, aren't you?"

"Oh?" Su Yanyang smiled. "What gave you that illusion?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Zhang Yu, without backing down, looked at Su Yanyang and said, "You even have to resort to trash talk and sowing discord before the battle starts. You're not confident."

"Is it that you're not actually that sure you can beat us?"

"Heh heh." The smile on Su Yanyang's face grew even brighter. "Interesting sophomore. It seems that after beating Ma Xuan, your confidence has inflated quite a bit."

"Fine. I was originally going to give you juniors some advice."

"But it looks like you'll only listen after you're lying on the ground."

Waving his hand, Su Yanyang retreated backward, while the iron coffin beside him suddenly opened. Several streams of light flew out and shot straight toward Su Yanyang.

A transformation occurred all over his body, and he had switched to a different set of Dharma Skeletons.

At this moment, Su Yanyang's arms were composed of crystals, with electric sparks flickering, emitting a palpitation-inducing fluctuation.

His legs had also turned into the same crystalline substance, and an anti-gravity force lifted him up, floating in midair.

Meanwhile, his chest and torso seemed to have transformed into blue gems, and crystal-like spines on his back looked extremely ferocious.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu and the others narrowed their eyes, and in their eye skeletons, Shi Huaiyu's introduction appeared.

Shi Huaiyu: Su Yanyang's Dharma Skeletons are bought in complete sets and systems; he buys a whole set at once.

Shi Huaiyu: Not only do they enhance his cultivation, but they also have synergistic effects, enabling systematic reinforcement and combat.

Shi Huaiyu: This set of Dharma Skeletons is the Earth Fiend God of the Ten Thousand Dao Artisan Sect, specially used to enhance control over Earth Fiend gravity.

Shi Huaiyu: When used to strengthen the Seven Absolute Arts of Earth and Wood, it can greatly increase their power and spell range.

Che Yufei and the others, listening to Shi Huaiyu's introduction and looking at Su Yanyang floating in midair, felt their fighting spirit diminish even further.

As the competition officially began, everyone entered the field one after another, and the two sides decided the order of attack and defense through random draw.

Shi Huaiyu murmured, "So in the first half, we're the defending side?"

Che Yufei peered into the distance and said, "Should we do it like last time—go out to meet them and keep the enemy out of the construction site?"

But to everyone's surprise, unlike Ma Xuan, who launched a large-scale attack right away, Su Yanyang's group showed no sign of offense at all.