https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-225-The-Battle-Against-Ye-Lingshao/13686742/
Chapter 226: Victory or Defeat
(Thank you, ‘Zaoguang Ren’, for transferring funds to Zhang Yu and gifting Bai Zhenzhen 8 pairs of Stockings, making you the Alliance Leader)
The first trial was designed to test which of Zhang Yu or Ye Lingshao possessed the stronger, more promising physical body—using the Xuanjia Linggen testing mode. Originally, the outcome would have been determined by the maximum power output achieved by the Xuanjia Linggen. But unexpectedly, both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingshao had pushed the testing mode’s power to 100%—a feat that sent ripples through the internal communication network of the five Zheng Shen Examiners.
One junior god remarked, “We thought the Celestial Spirit Root’s ceiling was too low to distinguish their abilities, so we brought in the Divine Spirit Root. But now these two have managed to drive the Xuanjia Linggen all the way to 100%!”
Another added, “Both of them reached 100% power. How do we decide the winner?”
“Can we really go asking for the Immortal Spirit Root again? That’s reserved for the top ten sects. The higher-ups definitely won’t approve using it in the Foundation Establishment Exam…”
Just as the junior gods struggled to reach a consensus, one of them sighed, “Based on Ye Lingshao’s performance in the previous round, I thought even with improvement, he’d barely reach 80–90% at best.”
“But after only three months… he’s managed to surpass that, pushing his physical body to such a level.”
Huang Zichou nodded slightly, analyzing, “At the Qi Cultivation Stage, reaching Ye Lingshao’s level of physical refinement… any further progress, even a tiny step, should be nearly impossible.”
At that moment, the chief examiner, Deng Bingding, spoke calmly, “If it were just about muscles, tendons, bones, or internal organs, yes—progress becomes increasingly difficult as one approaches Peak Qi Refinement.”
“But this boy, Ye Lingshao… his breakthrough this time was in his mind.”
Huang Zichou blinked. “The mind?”
He recalled Ye Lingshao’s earlier speech—rambling, disjointed. Could this really be mental improvement?
Deng Bingding’s gaze remained fixed on Ye Lingshao’s direction. “Ye Lingshao has a Perfect Bloodline—his mastery of techniques is naturally rapid. But even with countless techniques, a person can only activate a limited number at once.”
“Yet just now, he activated roughly twice as many techniques simultaneously as before.”
“This means his brain and mental processing have been further developed. Only then could his simultaneous technique activation increase.”
“Because nearly all his mental capacity was devoted to technique activation, other functions—like coherent speech—suffered as a result.”
The other Zheng Shen exchanged glances. After all, the body included the mind. But in the Kunxu First Layer, cultivating the brain to enhance mental processing during Qi Cultivation was extraordinarily rare—something none of them expected to see in Ye Lingshao.
One junior god said, “Even though both reached 100% power, Ye Lingshao has already begun developing his mind at this stage. That shows deeper, more comprehensive body cultivation. His foundation for later cultivation is far stronger.”
Another chimed in, “I believe this round should be awarded to him.”
But Huang Zichou disagreed. “Didn’t you see? Ye Lingshao only achieved this through drugs. What about Zhang Yu’s explosive bursts? Don’t you see the value in those?”
Recalling Zhang Yu’s sudden rise from 2.8 meters to 3.3 meters, Huang Zichou continued, “That was clearly the Whale Tendon Nine Changes technique.”
“Given Zhang Yu’s build and Physical Strength Level, the first surge should have been his limit.”
“But he broke through that limit. What does that mean?”
“And look at the other techniques he used—each one defied expectations.”
“Clearly, the same technique, in his hands, has a higher ceiling.”
As Zheng Shen who had lived through countless ages, the examiners had witnessed similar cases before. Some people simply had an innate, rare physical talent—certain techniques simply worked better in their hands, producing greater effects.
Zhang Yu was clearly one of them.
Huang Zichou added, “Besides, from his first registration to this final round—you’ve all seen how much he’s improved.”
“With such talent and potential, if he succeeds in Foundation Establishment, his future prospects surpass Ye Lingshao’s.”
A voice countered, “It’s just innate physical talent. The upper levels already have plenty of gifted students. But Ye Lingshao—someone who figured out a method to enhance his mind at this early stage—has true wisdom and long-term potential.”
Another Zheng Shen added, “Zhang Yu can’t retake next year. But Ye Lingshao is in his final chance.”
As the Zheng Shen debated the outcome of this round, the university representatives in the audience stand were also watching, offering their own commentary.
A junior college teacher said, “Make sure to record both students. As soon as the Foundation Establishment Exam ends, we must contact them. Getting even one of them would mean we gain a future Foundation Establishment graduate!”
His colleague scoffed, “You think such students would ever consider a junior college?”
The teacher replied, “So what? Junior colleges can offer a pathway to bachelor’s degrees. It won’t stop them from applying to top universities later.”
His colleague thought to himself, Once they’re in our school, their academic reputation is tainted. Future grad school and job prospects will suffer.
The teacher pressed on, “Especially Zhang Yu—have you seen his file? He’s a poor kid. Much easier to recruit than Ye Lingshao.”
“We may not be as prestigious as other schools, but we can offer better terms. Give him 10 Lingbi in annual scholarship, and he can choose any major he wants.”
“Bet everything on our recruitment budget—getting one student like him is worth more than getting 100 average ones.”
Meanwhile, at Wanfa University, the Dogs Head said, “Nice, nice. If you don’t want them, our Civil Engineering Department is taking both. Such potential bodies—wasting them on earth vein cultivation would be a crime.”
The Cat Head replied coolly, “They’re not yet qualified for our Finance Department, but they’re definitely good enough for our university.”
Though Zhang Yu and Ye Lingshao had shown extraordinary talent, the Cat Head still saw them as poor—Ye Lingshao barely scraping by, and Zhang Yu a true pauper. And poverty, in his eyes, meant weak Xian Dao potential and a shaky foundation.
He thought to himself, How can a poor boy belong in Wanfa University’s Finance Department?
The Cat Head asked, “But other universities are clearly interested. What are your offer terms?”
The Dogs Head said, “1.25 Lingbi per year in scholarship—enough to let them focus on studies without having to sell Martial Energy to earn Lingbi.”
The Cat Head nodded slightly. “1.25 Lingbi is sufficient for a comfortable university life.”
On the other side of the audience stand, “Crying-Laughing Emoji” watched the arena and said, “Mom, this Zhang Yu has real potential. I want to take him in after I go down. I’ll have him serve alongside Ye Lingshao.”
“Smiling Emoji” frowned slightly, speaking with the tone of someone who’d been through it all. “Son, I was young once too. I’ve admired, even promoted, poor talents before.”
“You can take Zhang Yu on—use him. But remember this: these people are fundamentally different from us. If you treat them too kindly, you’ll end up harming them.”
“Spoiling a dog is like killing it. If you want to truly use such a poor talent, you must break him down first. Don’t be too soft from the start.”
“Crying-Laughing Emoji” dismissed the warning. He had his own philosophy—money could buy loyalty. If you couldn’t get someone to serve you, it simply meant you hadn’t thrown enough money at the problem.
As the audience representatives debated, the internal network of the four junior gods remained divided—until they all turned to Deng Bingding, the chief examiner.
Deng Bingding spoke once more, calm as ever, “For now, call it a draw.”
“After all, neither of these boys has shown their full strength yet.”
Hearing this, the four gods froze. Their eyes flickered toward Zhang Yu and Ye Lingshao with surprise.
Huang Zichou thought, They haven’t even given their full effort?
The five Zheng Shen exchanged thoughts at lightning speed—though to the outside world, it took only a heartbeat.
Soon, Huang Zichou announced the result: the first round ended in a tie. The final qualification certificate would be decided by the total score across the second and third rounds.
In the center of the arena, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingshao locked eyes, both feeling the growing intensity of battle in their veins.
Zhang Yu licked his lips. The taut muscles of his body slowly contracted, returning to his normal size. The scorching heat radiating from him gradually cooled, and under the Kanbing Lihuo Duan Ti Dafa technique, his body entered a low-temperature state—dissolving inflammation, reducing swelling, aiding recovery.
Zhang Yu thought, I didn’t use my final move—Chunqiu Wujin Chan’s toxin burst. I wasn’t at full strength.
How much more does he have left?
A moment later, once he felt the internal damage from his previous burst had mostly healed, Zhang Yu focused his mind on the Chain Law Diagram of the Feather Scroll. He began replacing the techniques stored there, switching from advanced martial techniques to High School Basic Techniques, and toggling the Martial Dao Holy Embryo effect into the High School Saint Body.
Changing techniques and switching embodiments took Zhang Yu only 2–3 seconds.
Once complete, the benefits of the Martial Dao Holy Embryo vanished—replaced by the High School Saint Body’s enhanced Peak Qi Refinement efficiency and superior drug absorption and metabolism.
The sudden shift brought Zhang Yu a wave of relief. He felt the toxins and medicines in his body converging toward the ‘Zen’ character in his chest.
He felt satisfied.
He hadn’t eaten all those pills just to siphon off drugs. He’d done it to boost his chances in this Foundation Establishment Exam.
(End of Chapter)
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