Chapter 613: Breeding Monsters

The Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor was composed of thousands of scale-like pieces, clinging to the body like a layer of skin, radiating a jade-green light that gave a feeling of being warm and smooth like jade, flowing like water.

For Zhang Yu, the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor was tightly connected to his flesh and blood—not only did he constantly channel his mana into it, but it also maintained a continuous exchange of qi and blood with him, as if it had become another organ of his.

"Saying 'organ' isn't quite accurate either—there are no nerves or blood vessels connecting it, so it's still different from a Dharma Body."

Sensing the operation of the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "It's more like a state somewhere between a Dharma Artifact and a Dharma Body."

As someone who had mastered the relevant artifact-refining techniques, Zhang Yu had a certain feeling when he first looked over the blueprints for the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor.

"According to the history of artifact-refining technology, the Dharma Body gradually evolved from Dharma Artifacts—through countless people's research, step by step they combined Dharma Artifacts with the body, and after many generations of upgrades, they eventually became new bodily organs."

"And armor like the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor seems like an intermediate state in that historical development, where some Dharma Artifacts gradually evolved into Dharma Bodies."

"But it's not actually an ancient relic; it's modeled on that design philosophy."

As Zhang Yu entered the water, the powerful functions of the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor became increasingly apparent.

Not only did Zhang Yu feel his physique and strength enhanced by the armor's boost, but the surrounding currents also seemed to become an extension of his will.

With a thought from Zhang Yu, a water field swept out around his entire body, pushing him and the sword case forward at high speed through the water like a series of whirlpools.

With a booming sound, propelled by the Divine Power of Moving Mountains of Heavenly Kunlun, Zhang Yu's speed increased once more as he raced along the competition route.

At the same time, Zhang Yu heightened his vigilance, knowing that in this underwater speed trial, contestants were allowed to attack each other.

As a target that countless people wanted to devour for popularity, Zhang Yu remained cautious whenever he spotted other contestants along the way.

His eye prosthesis displayed his current ranking.

"I set off fourth, so there are three people ahead of me."

"The first one I need to overtake should be Ling Pojun."

With the combined support of the Divine Power of Moving Mountains of Heavenly Kunlun and the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor, Zhang Yu was indeed very fast, quickly catching up to Ling Pojun.

Amid the raging torrents, without waiting for any reaction from the other party, Zhang Yu had already left him behind.

The number on Zhang Yu's eye prosthesis flashed: "Moved up to third place."

Ling Pojun, who was sprinting at full speed, suddenly felt a violent surge of water beside him, and then a dark shadow rapidly passed by him, charging forward like a streak.

"Zhang Yu?!" Ling Pojun was startled. He urged his Water Repelling Pearl to accelerate, but no matter how he pushed, he could only watch Zhang Yu's figure grow farther and farther away—like a massive wave of traffic and popularity slipping out of reach.

Ling Pojun sighed inwardly: "Damn... how is he this fast?"

Zhang Yu, having swiftly shaken off Ling Pojun, watched the jungle-like coral reefs flash by as large schools of fish were swept away by his charge. He thought to himself, "Not bad."

"Even faster than I expected."

"This underwater speed trial really suits me."

At the same time, as Zhang Yu continued to accelerate, his qi and blood surged within him, and he could feel himself becoming more in sync with the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor.

Especially with the four-headed white bull roaring repeatedly in his mind, his entire flesh seemed to come alive, constantly touching the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor as if trying to merge with it completely.

"So it's the Residual Bull Body Sacrifice Heart Sutra and the Immeasurable Heart Inner Dharma Body—these two techniques of the Great Sage's disciples... they've resonated with the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor?"

And from within the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor came a craving—a craving for "blood."

But Zhang Yu had already felt this when he first put on the armor, and he had tried using his own blood... it had no effect.

Zhang Yu guessed that this might be related to the dark art hidden within the Azure Water Golden Crystal Armor.

"Does it need blood to be activated?"

"But what kind of blood? Whose blood?"

As he pondered, Zhang Yu gradually slowed down in the water and stopped at the registration area.

This trial required following the map guidance, circling the ocean-like underwater terrain once, passing through 18 zones in order, and completing registration in each zone.

The registration method was to find the registration device within the zone and use one's own relay ball to complete the registration.

Zhang Yu slapped the sword case, and 24 flying swords shot out like fish, instantly unfolding a sword domain to probe in all directions.

"This trial tests detection techniques, which just happen to be my specialty."

As the 24 flying swords probed in different directions, the terrain data was displayed in full on Zhang Yu's eye prosthesis.

At the same time, he detected some faint spirit world signals.

A moment later, a black sphere appeared before Zhang Yu. After a collision between the black sphere and the relay ball in his hand, he completed the registration, and the black sphere directly shattered, losing its function.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Sure enough, they're all disposable? I have to find a new registration device every time."

Tossing away the shattered black sphere, Zhang Yu accelerated, conjuring a water tornado as he shot toward the next area.

At the same time, a thought surged in Zhang Yu's mind.

"Searching area by area like this is way too slow."

So, when he arrived at the next level area and began manipulating his flying sword to search for registration spheres,

as the scales of the Bishui Jinjing Armor trembled, another water field spread out.

"Let's see if this trick works."

As the water splashed back, a large school of fish had already been brought before Zhang Yu.

Then streams of demonic aura spread out from the Bishui Jinjing Armor and poured into the fish school. Amid violent twitching, the flesh of these fish gradually transformed into demon beasts at a visible rate.

…

Just as Zhang Yu was both searching for registration spheres and beginning to breed demon beasts with the Bishui Jinjing Armor,

quite a few students and teachers had already gathered at the finish point.