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Chapter 221: Holy Embryo Nearly Complete — Off to the Exam
Inside an apartment near Ziyun High School, Zhang Yu scrolled through news headlines on his phone, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Songyang City is getting more chaotic by the day."
Though Zhang Yu had spent the past few weeks quietly teaching and cultivating, that didn’t mean he was blind to the world outside. Thanks to occasional intelligence briefings from Bai Zhenzhen and the constant flow of news and online rumors, he’d slowly pieced together a troubling truth.
The conflict within the Dark Tutoring Realm had intensified to the point where corporations were now directly involved. But it wasn’t just that realm—other underworld domains were also caught in escalating battles. The Dark Shopping Realm battled over smuggling rings, the Dark Drug Realm fought over counterfeit medicine, and the Dark Dining Realm clashed over fake pre-made meal scams. Gangs vied for dominance, each deploying every trick in the book to seize market share.
And behind the scenes, the corporations themselves were locked in a fierce war—price wars, smear campaigns, sabotage.
Zhang Yu had noticed the surge in discounts and coupon giveaways across shopping and food delivery platforms—clear signs of corporate price wars. Yet he’d also seen several websites he regularly used suddenly get flagged and taken down. That was the corporate sabotage war in action.
Meanwhile, fake reviews flooded product pages. Technique scores fluctuated wildly. One day, a self-media account exposed Ziyun Group’s toxic chemical leaks; the next, it revealed Hongta Group’s meat products were cut with substandard ingredients and unapproved additives.
Zhang Yu knew this was all orchestrated by corporate bots—artificially inflating outrage to manipulate public perception.
Though the corporate war raged on, it barely touched Zhang Yu’s daily life. If anything, he’d taken full advantage of the chaos—snagging massive discounts on Techniques that had saved him tens of thousands.
For instance, the recent sale on the Zhenfa Yuanshen Technique had allowed him to purchase it early—something he’d been saving for months. Now, his account balance had plummeted again, down to just over two thousand yuan.
Each time he thought about it, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly: Two months of earning big, but spending even bigger. Most of it’s gone—fused into my body as Techniques.
Zhenfa Yuanshen, the seventh Technique required for forming the Martial Dao Holy Embryo, was a Body-Refining Technique designed to enhance the body’s resistance to external Martial Energy.
"Human skin has five layers. This Technique uses one’s own Martial Energy to gradually refine each layer, enabling it to resist incoming external Martial Energy…"
"Once perfected to Level 10, all five layers of the skin are fully refined. The body gains formidable resistance to Martial Energy."
"To allow external Martial Energy into the body? Simple. Just wrap it with my own Martial Energy."
Zhang Yu knew this was exactly what happened when he used Bumu Yinfa to absorb an opponent’s Martial Energy—drawing it in.
He thought back to the assassination attempt. If he’d had Zhenfa Yuanshen back then, the fight would’ve been far easier.
Just as he pushed Zhenfa Yuanshen to Level 3, the sound of the door opening and closing echoed through the apartment.
Bai Zhenzhen stepped in, exhausted, her presence radiating a chilling, almost tangible killing intent. Zhang Yu felt his hair stand on end, a cold sensation like a blade pressing against his throat.
“A Zhen… ever since joining the Alliance War, she’s gotten more dangerous.”
But as she entered the apartment, the killing aura dissipated, and she reverted to her usual image—cool, composed, the top student from high school.
Zhang Yu glanced at the clock. “You’re back early. It’s only two in the afternoon?”
Bai Zhenzhen tossed her combat jacket onto the floor. The jacket was covered in fake Techniques—names like “Heaven’s Divine Fist,” “Demon-Devouring Palm”—all nonsense. It didn’t violate any rules, but the sheer absurdity of it made opponents hesitate in battle, just like ancient generals wearing ghostly war helmets to intimidate foes.
She kicked off her long pants and underwear, then walked straight toward the bathroom, completely unbothered by Zhang Yu’s gaze.
He noticed faint scars on her arms—and a few barely visible characters etched into the skin.
Marks left by the Jinkē Alliance’s elite—high-level seal weapons that branded their victims with a full Technique when struck. Though not immediately fatal, the marks could ruin someone financially, legally, even spiritually.
But the fact that Bai Zhenzhen had only gotten a few faint ones meant she’d dodged the worst of it at the last second.
When Zhang Yu asked, she turned, eyes blank. “I just captured their trainees and handed them over to our faction. Then Anxue Alliance and Jinkē Alliance announced a ceasefire.”
Zhang Yu immediately turned away, grumbling. “I’ve told you a hundred times—don’t walk around naked! You’re costing me production resources! That’s money!”
Bai Zhenzhen tilted her head, annoyed. “We’ve been together for months. Why hide every time you change? It’s exhausting. And are we really that short on time?”
She smirked, her voice dripping with mockery. “Besides, I’m not the only one. You’ve got your own little habits, haven’t you?”
She turned back, pulling off her last pair of shorts. “Yesterday, I came home and you were already gone. But I saw the trash—whole piles of used tissues…”
Zhang Yu slammed his palm on the floor. “I told you not to go through the trash!”
“And it was just for blowing my nose, not what you’re thinking!”
Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, stepping into the shower. “Same thing.”
“Zhang Yu,” she added, voice dripping with sarcasm, “you really should check the market value of your… product. Hongta’s price has dropped so low, it’s barely worth more than tap water now. It’s completely useless.”
You damn— Zhang Yu seethed silently. A Zhen, don’t you remember how I pulled every string to support you back when you were broke? Now you’re worthless, and you dare mock me?
Bai Zhenzhen continued, “That thing is a pain. Once the Foundation Establishment Exam is over, no more frugal living. I’ll pay for your sterilization—full-service, no hassle.”
With that, she disappeared behind the shower curtain. Water soon began to flow.
Fujie, observing from the side, murmured in surprise: “A ceasefire? Really?”
She turned to Zhang Yu. “Check the news.”
Zhang Yu pulled up his phone, scrolling through headlines. He found the announcement: Xianyun Group and Shenhai Group declared a strategic partnership, exchanging shares.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s stunned expression, Fujie chuckled. “What’s so surprising? Mutual share exchange, mutual dependency—then total market monopoly. That’s standard practice in Kunxu. It’s been escalating for years.”
“Besides, Xianyun and Shenhai may seem like rivals, but in truth, both belong to the Wanfa Sect—the Top Ten Sects.”
“Once someone in the sect calls for peace, cooperation is just the beginning. Merger? Not impossible.”
She paused. “Still… this partnership feels sudden. Check their other news.”
Zhang Yu read further. “They’re expanding into the food industry. Planning a joint venture with Luzhou Group?”
Luzhou Group… Zhang Yu frowned. Why does everything seem to tie back to them?
Fujie thought to herself: Luzhou Group… backed by the Yinling Palace. So it’s that kind of situation again. Just don’t let Zhang Yu get involved.
She waved a hand. “Anyway, none of this matters to you. Focus on the Foundation Establishment Exam. That’s your top priority. Everything else—forget it.”
With the Anxue and Jinkē Alliances now at peace, Bai Zhenzhen no longer had to fight on the front lines. She gained unexpected free time.
So she spent her days training—inviting martial arts teachers from Songyang High School to spar with her in real combat drills, refining her Techniques, honing her body, and strengthening her Martial Energy.
Days passed like this, and soon, it was the first of January.
Two days remained until the final round of the Foundation Establishment Exam.
In the apartment, Zhang Yu sat cross-legged, half his body frozen in ice, the other half blazing hot—steam rising from his skin.
He was cultivating the eighth Technique of the Martial Dao Holy Embryo: Kanbing Lihuo Duan Ti Dafa.
It used the Kan (Water) and Li (Fire) aspects of Martial Energy to refine his body—granting resistance to extreme heat and cold, while increasing physical resilience.
This was the moment he pushed the Technique to Level 10.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed through the room. His body, once split between freezing and burning, now surged with alternating waves of ice and fire—cold and heat colliding, then merging into a single, balanced state.
Zhang Yu exhaled slowly, feeling the transformation in his flesh and blood.
“Finally… the eighth Technique of the Martial Dao Holy Embryo is complete.”
Now that Kanbing Lihuo Duan Ti Dafa reached Level 10, his body could withstand extreme temperatures. He could fight in either scorching or freezing states—each with its own tactical advantages.
He glanced at the second layer of the Holy Embryo’s effects and let out a laugh.
“Even if I don’t reach the ultimate form, this should be more than enough for the Foundation Establishment Exam.”
Checking his phone, he saw his leave request had been approved.
All set. It’s time to go.
(End of Chapter)
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