https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-229-The-Fate-Lies-in-the-Third-Trial/13686746/
Chapter 230: The Third Trial of the Flesh
On the Audience Stand, the civil engineering representative of Wanfa University, “Dogs Head,” nodded approvingly at the results of the current round. “Not bad, not bad. Ye Lingshao’s got sharp instincts and strong adaptability to physical transformation. If he ever gets fitted with a Spirit Armor for office work, he’d be a perfect candidate for Fengshui and Array design—could probably work forty-eight hours a day without issue.”
He chuckled, glancing at Zhang Yu. “Zhang Yu’s body is advancing faster than his Dao Heart. That means his body’s smarter than his mind. He’ll be a natural at digging trenches—no need for heavy Spirit Armor at all. He’ll be a one-man powerhouse. Not only will he outperform any artifact, but his meal expenses will be way cheaper than renting one.”
He grinned wider. “One designs, the other builds. These two will definitely become the twin stars of our civil engineering department.”
He was already eager to bring both of them in.
Inwardly, he mused: The competition’s fierce. On one hand, our students’ bankruptcy, demonic corruption, and sudden death rates keep rising. Yet we still don’t have enough capable undergrads. On the other, Tianyao University’s bunch of beasts are undercutting us with low prices—our department’s revenue keeps dropping.
If I can train these two, I’ll crush those ox demons, horse demons, dragon demons, and elephant demons. They’ll bring in real profits…
As for why he focused on current students rather than graduates? Simple—graduates demanded too much salary. Undergrads were far more cost-effective.
Beside him, “Cat Head” from the Finance Department nodded slowly. “These two aren’t bad.”
“Sure, they’re not wealthy, and their Dao foundations are weak.”
“But even in the tiniest sip of heavenly grace, the Dao always leaves a sliver of hope for ascent.”
“Their foundations may be shallow, but their borrowing potential is sky-high.”
“If they join Wanfa, I can help them secure a student loan.”
He added with a warning: “But I’ve seen quite a few people eyeing them. If you spread your bets evenly, you might end up losing both.”
“Better to concentrate your budget on one—higher success rate.”
Dogs Head pondered. “You’re right…”
Curious, Cat Head asked: “So who are you focusing on?”
Dogs Head smiled faintly. “Ye Lingshao, of course. Among the two, he’s still the stronger one.”
“Besides, he’s already in senior year—he’ll be enrolling in half a year. I can use him immediately.”
“As for Zhang Yu? He’s not even taking the College Entrance Exam until next year. We can wait. No rush.”
While the two representatives discussed their plans, “Smiling Emoji” turned to his son, saying: “See? I told you. Ye Lingshao’s the better fit.”
“The low synchronization rate with the Spirit Armor proves Zhang Yu’s mind isn’t as sharp as Ye Lingshao’s.”
“In fact, you could tell from the previous round—poor people have limited horizons. They never got proper training in this kind of thing.”
On the sidelines, “Crying-Laughing Emoji” nodded absentmindedly, thinking to himself: What if Ye Lingshao isn’t better than Ye Lingshao? I’ll just take both. I’ll use Ye Lingshao for half a year—then, when he’s gone, I’ll bring in Zhang Yu to take over as the high school poster boy. Perfect timing.
Meanwhile, Huang Zichou had nearly finished explaining the third and final round.
Zhang Yu pondered the final challenge in his mind: So it’s about competing in physical performance using the Binding Dragon Chain, facing random extreme environments—high heat, extreme cold, crushing pressure, deadly toxins, strong acids, strong bases, supergravity?
Zhang Yu and Ye Lingshao would be thrust into a randomly shifting, deadly environment within the final exam chamber. Even with their already formidable bodies, such extreme conditions posed a real threat to life.
Huang Zichou reminded them once more: “After the exam, all medical treatment will be sponsored by Wanquan Medical Insurance Company. If you feel you can’t hold on, press the emergency button immediately. I’ll extract you safely for treatment.”
“I repeat—this round’s hazardous environments shift so rapidly, they can kill you.”
“So if you feel you’re reaching your limit—admit defeat right away.”
“If you die in the exam room, this test bears no responsibility. No compensation, no refunds, nothing.”
To make this clear, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingshao signed a contract in front of five Zheng Shen, pledging that regardless of injury—permanent disability, severe wounds, death—they would not pursue liability, demand compensation, or disclose anything publicly.
Zhang Yu stared at the dense, line after line of potential harms listed, followed by pages of rights they were surrendering. His unease deepened.
But having come this far, Zhang Yu wasn’t backing down. He thought: But the risk of dying… is this intentional pressure?
If we misjudge and push beyond our limits, on the brink of death—will the Zheng Shen even intervene?
Given Kunxu’s track record… this kind of dangerous test? Not impossible.
Across the room, Huang Zichou thought: Master Deng truly is a Sixth-Rank Heavenly Sovereign. This exam is comprehensive, the results undeniable, and now we can sell premium data on Qi Cultivation Stage bodies under extreme conditions. A win-win.
Yet to Zhang Yu, the danger was already terrifying.
But this was only part of it.
Inside the chamber, he and Ye Lingshao would stand on a high platform, each gripping one end of the Binding Dragon Chain.
The chain—described by Huang Zichou as a thick, durable cable forged from high-strength materials—was said to have once been used to bind ancient dragons.
The goal: pull your opponent off the platform. Whoever managed it first won.
If either let go of the chain, they lost immediately.
And if either collapsed under the environmental strain, they also lost.
Huang Zichou said: “This round tests not only your endurance, physical resilience, and raw strength under extreme conditions—but also your ability to unleash potential under pressure.”
“And the key? Pressure.”
“High school might be the last time you can truly relax…”
Zhang Yu mentally cursed: Relax? High school’s not relaxing at all!
Huang Zichou continued: “Once you enter university, that’s when you truly step onto the Immortal Path. The next ten years will be relentless. No room to rest. The pressure will only grow each year.”
“Sudden death, bankruptcy, dropout, demonic corruption—these threats will keep coming, pushing you to your limits.”
“This round is about testing how much potential you can unlock under unbearable stress.”
“You have thirty minutes of rest now to recover from the previous rounds.”
“Half an hour from now—final exam begins.”
Just as Huang Zichou announced the break, Zhang Yu suddenly asked: “Examiner, can we still access the medicine cabinet during this break?”
Huang Zichou blinked in surprise.
Instantly, a ripple of protest came from within the inner network.
Mu Guiyin spoke up: “The exam hasn’t even started. What’s the point of eating now? Just inflating costs!”
Other Zheng Shen echoed the objection.
Huang Zichou remained silent—spending more money was the enemy of the Zheng Shen. Anyone supporting it would be instantly targeted.
But then, he received a message from Deng Bingding.
Master Deng? You want me to allow medicine access?
Huang Zichou paused, then spoke decisively: “Medicines are meant to be taken before the exam. I see no problem.”
As the small gods argued, the focus turned to Deng Bingding.
Finally, the Sixth-Rank Zheng Shen spoke: “Mu Guiyin has a point. (Thumbs up.) But Zichou also has a point. (Thumbs up.)”
“I’ll allow medicine access—fifteen minutes before the exam starts.”
He added with a faint smile: “The sponsors also said they’ve rarely seen someone like Zhang Yu—so eager to eat medicine. They feel a genuine ‘hunger for medicine’ from him. They love his eating style and have decided to donate extra supplies—let Zhang Yu eat as much as he wants.”
So fifteen minutes later, as the medicine cabinet opened, Zhang Yu rushed over, grabbed a large bottle, and downed it in one go.
At the same time, his Chain Law Diagram had already switched to High School Saint Body, maximizing his drug tolerance and metabolic capacity to the peak of Qi Cultivation Stage.
He felt the medicine explode inside him—waves of potent energy surging through his body, then converging toward the “Chan” character in his chest.
Good. I’ll use this free medicine opportunity to build up more medicine poison in these fifteen minutes.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingshao approached the medicine cabinet and took only a few pills—boosters for explosive power, recovery agents for stamina and energy. He planned to take them just before the exam.
For him, medicine wasn’t scarce. Overdosing before the test would only burden his body with digestion—extra strain.
He touched the Fenshen Ling capsule in his pocket—Daojie Sustained-Release Capsules—thinking: Take it now, combine it with dual-mind focus and my bloodline potential. Enter the exam with my absolute peak form. Let the university representatives have even more leverage in recruitment.
At this final stage, he had no hesitation about going all out.
But one question lingered: Should I take one or two capsules?
To this day, the lab hadn’t made a final decision.
Ye Lingshao thought: Two might be stronger. But two might also bring unforeseen consequences.
(End of Chapter)
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