Chapter 277: Foundation Establishment Class
Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan had already heard Zhang Pianpian’s explanation during their meal earlier, giving them a deeper understanding of Wanfa University’s Foundation Establishment Class.
Each year, Wanfa University offered a new cohort of the Foundation Establishment Class across its various majors. This class wasn’t just for students who had completed Foundation Establishment during high school—it also included university undergraduates who had passed the Foundation Establishment Exam at Wanfa and completed the Foundation Establishment process within the past year.
Fujie explained: “For example, if a Civil Engineering student from Wanfa University successfully completed Foundation Establishment this past year, they’d be admitted into your cohort’s Civil Engineering Foundation Establishment Class.”
“Those students born and raised within the university—those are usually the majority in the class.”
“You and Yu Xinghan, having completed Foundation Establishment in high school and joining the class straight after entering university—well, you’re definitely the minority.”
“But don’t worry. Those university-born Foundation Establishment students? They’re all just people who’ve been stuck in the Qi Refining Realm for one year. They may have a few extra years of cultivation, but that doesn’t make them stronger. It only proves they lack talent and Xian Dao potential.”
At that moment, Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan arrived at the classroom—and three students were already there.
One of them was towering, standing at three meters tall, his entire body bristling with taut, rippling muscles, utterly unrestrained in their display. His eyes were especially striking: pure black irises, yet etched with white markings that clearly spelled out “Tianyan.”
On the side of his back, exposed beneath his clothes, was a spine—its surface covered in flowing, golden runes that pulsed like living ink.
Zhang Yu mentally asked: Is that an Eye Skeleton? And a spinal Spirit Armor? But… why does it feel so flashy?
Fujie chuckled: “You’re not wrong. The white mark in his eyes, the golden runes on his spine—those are brand logos.”
“One’s the premium Eye Skeleton from Tianyan Company—‘Tianyan.’ The other’s the top-tier spinal Spirit Armor from Jin Gang Xuan Zao. Both are First Layer-grade gear—top-tier stuff.”
“But still, they’re not quite on par with your Shican Modong. That’s Wang Yin’s real deal—the ultimate Eye Skeleton at the Foundation Establishment stage. Classy. Subtle. Elegant.”
Fujie spoke with the ease of someone who’d lived and breathed this world: “Showing off brands, flaunting high-end gear—it’s common at elite universities. If you’ve got the strength, you’ve got to show it. Otherwise, how will people know you’re rich? How will they respect you?”
“And besides, branded Spirit Armor just performs better. It makes you stronger.”
“I used to work university sales myself—I tricked plenty of students into borrowing money just to buy flashy brands.”
As Fujie spoke, Zhang Yu’s mind flickered—suddenly, three previously unnoticed Foundation Establishment Domains flared into awareness.
- Foundation Establishment Cultivator Gong Shuijin, from Kunxu Layer 4, has entered within 10 meters of you. Stranger, do not add as friend.
- Foundation Establishment Cultivator Ying Xin, from Layer 2, has entered within 10 meters of you. Six-generation Civil Engineering descendants, report!
- Foundation Establishment Cultivator Li Xiao, has entered within 10 meters of you. Please, everyone, give your regards.
Each domain was confined to just ten meters—Zhang Yu understood why. The University City’s spatial constraints forced most cultivators to shrink their domains.
“Hmm? A Layer 4 elder?” Zhang Yu stared at the three-meter giant flaunting his Spirit Armor. He must be Gong Shuijin.
At that same moment, the three students noticed Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan.
The burly female spoke first: “You two—show your College Entrance Exam scores and basic stats. We’re ranking the class. Let’s see where you stand.”
She added: “By the way, I’m Ying Xin. We’re all first-years. You two look like first-years too, right?”
Yu Xinghan, familiar with university unwritten rules, didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, we’re first-years. I’m Yu Xinghan. College Entrance Exam: 692. Dao Heart Level 10. Martial Energy: 220.21. Physical Strength Level: 10.25.”
Zhang Yu, meeting their gaze, saw no point in hiding. “Zhang Yu. College Entrance Exam: 670. Dao Heart Level 11. Martial Energy: 276.9. Physical Strength Level: 10.94.”
Though his other scores were nearly perfect, his Dao Arts score was only 71—far from the top. After all, that subject was prohibitively expensive. With a Foundation Establishment Certificate already in hand, he only needed 600+ on the exam to qualify for the top ten. He’d never bothered to chase higher scores.
Hearing Zhang Yu’s score, Ying Xin frowned slightly—she hadn’t expected to meet someone with a 670 at Wanfa University.
But once she heard his Dao Heart, Martial Energy, and Physical Strength stats, her expression softened—just slightly—acknowledging his caliber.
She asked: “By the way, which layer are you from?”
Upon hearing Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan’s reply—Kunxu Layer 1—Ying Xin’s eyes flickered with barely noticeable disdain. Gong Shuijin’s gaze immediately turned away from them.
Then Ying Xin revealed her own stats, followed by an introduction to Gong Shuijin.
Zhang Yu mentally compared the numbers: Ying Xin, Layer 2, College Entrance Exam 695, with slightly higher stats than him.
Gong Shuijin, Layer 4—College Entrance Exam 700, Dao Heart Level 12, and his Martial Energy and Physical Strength were over 20% higher than Zhang Yu’s.
Finally, there was Li Xiao—the quietest of the three.
Zhang Yu’s Eye Skeleton flickered with a message from Yu Xinghan: You remember this guy? He’s a Xian Du person. We took the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam together last year.
Zhang Yu blinked. He’d been so focused on his own cultivation that he hadn’t paid attention to the other qualifiers from Yu Xinghan’s final cohort.
Li Xiao then announced his own score: 693 on the College Entrance Exam, with slightly lower basic stats than Zhang Yu—but he said nothing more.
He didn’t attempt to bond with the two First Layer newcomers. Instead, he remained close to Gong Shuijin and Ying Xin, flitting between them like a devoted follower.
Gong Shuijin glanced at Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan, then spoke coolly: “Currently, among the five of us, Zhang Yu ranks third, and Yu Xinghan ranks fifth.”
The top two positions were naturally Gong Shuijin and Ying Xin. Li Xiao, the Xian Du cultivator, came in fourth.
Just then, more students began entering the classroom. Under Gong Shuijin and Ying Xin’s questioning, each one promptly reported their stats.
Though the newcomers were all recent Foundation Establishment graduates from within the university, none could surpass Gong Shuijin’s numbers.
Clearly, as Fujie had said, lingering in the Qi Refining Realm for years didn’t make one stronger after Foundation Establishment. It only revealed a lack of talent and Xian Dao potential.
Zhang Yu watched the Layer 4 elder—like an interviewer assessing each classmate, firmly holding the top spot.
Soon, a small crowd gathered around Gong Shuijin, forming a halo of admirers around him.
Gong Shuijin thought: True prodigies usually go to the top-tier departments—Finance, Alchemy, Dao Arts. Here in Civil Engineering, I might actually have a shot at the class rank one.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan quietly stood in the corner—ignored, unnoticed.
As more Foundation Establishment students arrived, their rankings continued to fall. Zhang Yu dropped to 12th. Yu Xinghan fell to 18th.
But neither cared. They’d been through too much—starting from the bottom, climbing slowly, step by step.
Yu Xinghan quietly activated his cultivation technique, practicing his Breathing Technique to refine his Spirit Energy.
Zhang Yu, meanwhile, was experimenting with something new.
After hearing Zhang Pianpian mention Cement as a companion herb, an idea had struck him.
After activating the Cannibal Cow Serenity Heart Technique, can I control my body’s hyper-activation to suppress intestinal digestion? If so, I wouldn’t need to eat Cement at all.
Now, he attempted to slow his digestive tract—reducing peristalsis, suppressing digestive secretions.
This was the first time he’d tried such a thing since raising the Cannibal Cow Serenity Heart Technique to Level 20, drastically increasing his body’s cellular activity.
Back in Layer 1, he’d only focused on boosting digestion. He’d never imagined he’d one day face the opposite problem—digestion overload.
Now, with a slight mental push, he felt his awareness sink into his digestive system. The gut movements slowed. Secretions decreased.
It actually works! Zhang Yu felt a surge of excitement. So I don’t need to eat Cement after all.
Fujie sounded genuinely surprised: “Your Can Niu She Shen Jue is impressive. The range of applications is insane.”
Meanwhile, Li Xiao, the Xian Du cultivator, glanced at the two silently training. Hmph. Came from Layer 2, still thinking hard work and persistence matter?
Months, even years of grinding—nothing compares to what the upper-class elites casually drop from their hands.
Li Xiao stayed glued to Gong Shuijin’s side. Now, as the group discussed Spirit Armor, he looked at Gong Shuijin’s eyes and smiled: “Gong Shuijin, what brand’s your Eye Skeleton? Looks unique.”
Gong Shuijin replied flatly: “Tianyan.”
Li Xiao perked up: “Tianyan Company? Me too—I’m using a Tianyan Eye Skeleton.”
Gong Shuijin gave a faint, disdainful smirk. He didn’t reply. He didn’t even bother to acknowledge Li Xiao’s attempt to fit in.
Ying Xin chuckled: “Gong Shuijin, your Tianyan model—it’s a high-end one, right? The cheapest version’s already 10 Lingbi.”
Gong Shuijin nodded coolly: “Close enough. This one’s fully equipped. Cost me about 12 Lingbi.”
A collective gasp of awe rippled through the crowd.
Li Xiao swallowed hard, staring at Gong Shuijin’s eyes with envy. His own Eye Skeleton suddenly felt cheap, outdated.
Then—light flashed across the room.
A new Foundation Establishment Domain enveloped them all.
- Foundation Establishment Cultivator Ji Yuanchi, from Kunxu Layer 6, has entered within 100 meters. Please remain silent.
The classroom, which had just been buzzing with chatter, fell dead silent. Even Gong Shuijin, ever stoic, narrowed his eyes and turned toward the door, like everyone else.
(End of Chapter)
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