https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-316-Let-the-Prodigies-Battle-One-Another/13686873/
Chapter 315: Zhang Yu vs. Gong Shuijin
(Thank you to 'Nade' for the Lord-level donation)
Wanfa University City, 450th Floor.
As Zhang Yu stepped out of the Yuan Ci Channel, the scene before him stretched into a towering 50-meter-high floor, dotted with clusters of multi-story buildings, crooked low-rise shacks, narrow winding alleys, and scattered ruins of collapsed structures.
“It looks like a battlefield,” Zhang Yu muttered, the sight stirring a strange familiarity. Then it clicked—this place bore a chilling resemblance to the abandoned factory ruins he’d once explored in the wilds.
At the same time, a description of the examination venue materialized within Zhang Yu’s Eye Armor.
“So it’s a simulated urban battlefield with complex terrain—perfect for various combat training scenarios.”
Zhang Yu mused: “This must be where Security Department departments, the ones obsessed with combat, mostly come. But why are we Civil Engineering students taking our exam here? Is it due to the impact of university warfare?”
Following the directional arrow in his Eye Armor, Zhang Yu began walking toward the target location, his gaze scanning the surrounding ruins and makeshift structures. Thanks to his current engineering expertise, he could immediately tell the quality of the simulation’s construction was subpar.
“The construction team behind this exam site must’ve made a fortune.”
Just then, a message flashed in his Eye Armor.
Yu Xinghan: We’re prepping our medicinals—want some?
Zhang Yu: Yes, but something stronger, please.
Yu Xinghan: Want it spiced up? Huanwei Mushroom Powder? Neurotransmitters? Mood Modulators? Whatever flavor you want—just pay extra.
Zhang Yu stared at the list of customizable additives offered by Kunxu Pharmacy. He sighed inwardly. “It’s ridiculous… but also kind of fair.”
Zhang Yu: Nah, I’ll stick with the original taste.
After placing his order for post-exam recovery medicine, Zhang Yu followed the Eye Armor’s guidance to a crossroads—only to find Gong Shuijin already standing there.
Upon seeing Zhang Yu, Gong Shuijin gave a slight nod, then fell silent, completely absorbed in his own inner world, fine-tuning his internal energy, adjusting his body’s state to absolute peak condition.
“This semester’s class ranking first… will be mine.” Gong Shuijin thought.
Meanwhile, from the monitoring system, Tu Lishan observed the exam unfold.
“Unlike Qi Cultivation Stage, where the body is purely physical, once one enters the Foundation Establishment Stage, the flesh and Martial Energy begin to merge, taking on Daoist characteristics. Body Refinement can no longer function without Martial Energy support.”
“At this stage, testing raw physical strength in Body Refinement exams has become increasingly meaningless.”
“What matters now is how much power the body can unleash when enhanced by Martial Energy and refined by Technique. As long as you’re not using Martial Energy to sculpt your own Dao Arts, any technique that amplifies physical strength is allowed.”
“And Spirit Armor? It’s no longer an external tool—it’s an extension of the body itself.”
Tu Lishan thought, “Given this, the gap between Zhang Yu and Gong Shuijin is likely to widen even further.”
Just then, with both candidates present, their Eye Armors displayed the exam rules.
As the examiner, Tu Lishan could see the text too.
“The Body Refinement Exam consists of two stages: Speed and Strength—measuring candidates’ cultivation levels from two distinct angles.”
“The first stage is the Speed Trial. Within this First Layer simulation, candidates must perform high-speed movement across complex terrain, evading extreme heat, explosions, and specialized Martial Energy attacks.”
“This tests overall agility, reaction time, and spatial awareness in chaotic environments.”
At that moment, a message appeared in Tu Lishan’s Eye Armor.
Director Gao: Lishan, you’re watching Gong Shuijin’s exam too?
Tu Lishan replied instantly:
“Yes, Director. I’m curious—after three months of training, can Gong Shuijin finally surpass Ji Yuanchi?”
As Tu Lishan and Director Gao exchanged thoughts, the first stage of the exam officially began.
…
The countdown appeared.
Zhang Yu pulled out a few standard medicinal pills and swallowed them.
Gong Shuijin, meanwhile, drew three syringes and plunged them into his neck. His body convulsed—his internal organs pulsing violently. His blood thickened like syrup, his heart swelling to twice its normal size. His meridians trembled under the torrential surge of Martial Energy.
Gong Shuijin exhaled slowly, a smirk forming.
“Perfect. I’m at peak form.”
Had he been a younger, less experienced Zhang Yu, he’d have dismissed this as unnatural Body Refinement. But now, seeing the empty syringes on the ground, he couldn’t help but consider whether he could… recycle one.
Fujie’s voice chimed in:
“You forgot the university exam rules? No borrowing from others during the exam. Doing so counts as stealing another’s Xian Dao Potential—pure cheating.”
Zhang Yu cursed silently.
“Damn it, Kunxu… this First Layer’s nothing like the real one.”
3!
2!
1!
With the final number fading, a soft pop echoed through the air—the two candidates vanished from their spots simultaneously.
Sharp sonic booms erupted in rapid succession.
Two figures streaked forward in a blur—one behind the other—cutting through the air with waves of force, racing along the path marked by their Eye Armors. They weaved through alleyways and streets, making lightning-fast turns, accelerating with every stride.
Martial Energy roared through their meridians. Blood surged through their muscles. With each pulse of power, their speed increased, their silhouettes blurring into streaks.
Inside Gong Shuijin’s Eye Armor, real-time body data scrolled across the screen:
- Body Temperature: 115°C
- Martial Energy Deployment: 30%
- Muscular Power Output: 80%
- Active Techniques:
- Jingtun Mingsi Method – Level 15
- Fexue Fen Shen Jue – Level 14
- Wanli Feijian Bu – Level 12
- Current Cultivation Art: Canglong Yuetian Xinjue – Level 15
Gong Shuijin scanned the numbers, feeling the medicinal energy spread through his body. “Perfect. 115°C—just right. The ideal balance between heat dissipation and bodily function, and the optimal temperature for medicinal energy efficiency.”
But as he glanced sideways, he noticed Zhang Yu closing in behind him.
“Hmph. Serious about it, huh?”
“But I’m not even using full power yet.”
With a thought, Gong Shuijin’s spine began to vibrate—each vertebra cracking and resonating with a deep, thunderous roar.
Jin Gang Xuan Zao—the spinal Spirit Armor—could interface with nerves and meridians, assisting in Technique activation. But only one Technique could be stored and accessed at a time.
To maximize speed in this stage, he had reprogrammed his armor’s core. The 20-level Body-Refining Technique he’d once cultivated was replaced with a dedicated Wanli Feijian Bu – Level 20 Propulsion Technique, designed solely for enhancing movement.
Muscles and Martial Energy surged again.
Then—BOOM!
Gong Shuijin vanished.
If someone had looked at that spot a moment later, they’d see nothing—only a shockwave exploding outward, and no trace of the man who had just been there.
Because in sustained acceleration, he had broken the sound barrier, streaking ahead of his own sonic boom.
In that terrifying speed, he became a streak of lightning, darting through the simulated city with blinding precision, rapidly widening the gap between himself and Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu, still channeling Racing Leg and Zhanmo Yunshou Gong, watched in quiet frustration.
“Tch… all that speed, just money and tech. Nothing like the sweat and blood I poured into my own cultivation.”
He knew deep down, though, that catching up to Gong Shuijin in this stage was nearly impossible.
Since arriving at the Second Layer, he’d been relentless in his cultivation—first to advance the University Holy Body, then to refine Tu Mu Holy Body. In that frantic, compressed cultivation timeline, he’d never had the chance to master a Speed-boosting Foundation Establishment Technique.
Speed-focused Techniques were his weakness.
In the Qi Cultivation Stage, raw physical strength could carry the day. But now, with the fusion of body and Martial Energy, the power of energy-enhanced techniques, the Daoist traits in the flesh—these were the real metrics of Body Refinement. Speed Techniques were essential.
And worse, he had another disadvantage: his bones, already heavily reinforced, were now unnaturally dense. That extra weight dragged down his speed.
But the simulation’s complex terrain worked in his favor—pure speed couldn’t dominate here. And the sudden explosions, the incoming slashes of specialized Martial Energy—blades, knives, streams of energy—were constantly disrupting Gong Shuijin’s momentum.
Zhang Yu, on the other hand, relied on his Third Eye Ability and Shican Modong—allowing him to dodge with uncanny precision. When evasion was impossible, he charged through with raw, unyielding strength.
BOOM!
Gong Shuijin landed at the finish line.
He exhaled deeply, releasing a wave of scorching heat into the air. Then, his Martial Energy shifted, transforming into a cold, icy form, slowly cooling his body.
Not long after, another explosion of force—Zhang Yu crossed the finish line.
Gong Shuijin turned, surprised. Only now did he truly examine Zhang Yu’s condition.
The man still had white hair, but his cheeks were rosy, his eyes sharp and bright—nothing like the pale, frail figure from just a week ago.
“His speed… isn’t bad at all.”
A flicker of respect crossed his face.
“My Speed Trial went well. If I perform equally well in the Strength Trial, I’ll surpass Ji Yuanchi for sure…”
…
From the monitoring room, Tu Lishan watched both performances.
Gong Shuijin’s excellence didn’t surprise him. His innate Lingbi advantage made his talent undeniable—Xian Dao Potential poured out like a river.
But Zhang Yu’s recovery stunned him.
“His body functions have recovered remarkably. Just as he claimed—his Constitution must have unique traits, exceptional regeneration.”
“But this arena also plays a role. It amplifies reaction, agility, perception, and quick changes in direction—while minimizing the advantage of pure speed.”
Tu Lishan couldn’t help but ask:
“Director… is the Civil Engineering Department’s final exam being held here because of future realities? Is the situation really… that dire?”
Director Gao replied coldly:
“The scale of university warfare keeps growing. Even the Top Ten will one day see battle. But some fools in power still dream of eternal peace—of lying in comfort, earning money like before.”
“Enough. Let’s see what Gong Shuijin can do in his final stage.”
(End of Chapter)
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