https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-354-The-Competition-Decision-Taiqing-Fulu/13686925/
Chapter 353: Zhang Yu's Secret
Staring at Ye Xingli’s reply, Zhang Yu felt a flicker of surprise in his heart: "So coincidental? Ye Xingli is actually a disciple of Ciji Zhenjun?"
Then… does that make her my senior sister?
A new question immediately surfaced in his mind.
Zhang Yu: Did Ciji Zhenjun mention me?
Ye Xingli: Yeah. Master said he was chatting with Qingmu Immortal today, and the latter brought up one of his disciples.
Ye Xingli: After hearing about you, Master thought you were exceptionally talented, so he asked Qingmu Immortal a few more questions.
Ye Xingli: He told me your name was Zhang Yu.
Ye Xingli: When I heard it was you, I thought, Oh, I know this guy! So I started talking to Master about you.
Zhang Yu knew Qingmu Immortal was none other than Director Gao. But reading Ye Xingli’s message, he couldn’t help but wear a strange expression on his face—especially imagining Director Gao praising him in front of Ciji Zhenjun, while the latter listened silently, asking probing questions.
"Ciji Zhenjun… you’re such a nasty one. Playing games with Director Gao right in front of him?"
But then he realized he was also part of Ciji Zhenjun’s little game—playing the fool for Director Gao’s sake. A wave of guilt washed over him.
"Am I betraying the Civil Engineering Department?"
"Even if I am… this guy’s playing dirty. What if he just ghosts us in three years?"
Shaking his head, Zhang Yu pushed those thoughts aside. He couldn’t control the schemes of high-ranking figures. All he could do was keep pushing himself—grow stronger, achieve better results, climb higher in rank, and gain more leverage.
After chatting briefly with Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu immediately asked her about the Alchemy Department’s courses.
After all, per Ciji Zhenjun’s demand, he had to complete all three years of Alchemy Department coursework and pass the exams before the end of his third year.
Ye Xingli: You want to take some Alchemy courses alongside your major?
Ye Xingli: Makes sense. Even just the material science classes, Spirit Armor maintenance, and usage—those are all super useful for Civil Engineering.
She wasn’t surprised. After all, Civil Engineering relied heavily on understanding materials, and the Alchemy Department’s expertise in material design, crafting techniques, and optimal usage was unmatched across Wanfa University.
And as for Spirit Armor? That was even more obvious. Civil Engineering students started by wearing down their bodies in projects. Once they upgraded to Spirit Armor, the damage shifted—now it was the armor that wore out.
Knowing how to maintain it, how to choose the right one, how to use it efficiently—mastering those could save a fortune and dramatically boost productivity.
Many upperclassmen in Civil Engineering had already taken Alchemy courses. Ye Xingli had seen it all before.
But then she paused.
Ye Xingli: You’re only just entering your second year. Isn’t it a bit early to be taking courses from another department?
Zhang Yu: Just getting a head start—preparing for the future.
Ye Xingli: Fair enough. I’ll send you the course schedule. You can look up the materials yourself.
Zhang Yu scanned the list as soon as it arrived—and his expression froze.
Spirit Artifact Engineering Drafting
Spirit Artifact Principles
Spirit Artifact Design
Fundamentals of Rune Carving
Spirit Artifact Dynamics
Spirit Energy Materials and Forming Techniques
Martial Energy Transmission and Conduction
Elementary Automated Spirit Mechanism
True Fire Processing Technology...
The list was dense, overwhelming. It was like staring at endless bookshelves opening before him.
"Wait… Are Alchemy courses really this much heavier than ours?"
"In just one semester, their workload is nearly triple what we have?"
"And all these lab sessions, practicals…"
"And this schedule…"
Zhang Yu couldn’t help but ask:
"Can I really take all these courses at the same time?"
Ye Xingli: The Alchemy Department’s course load is insane—so overloaded that they don’t bother scheduling classes to avoid overlap.
Ye Xingli: You either figure out how to handle multiple courses at once, or you catch up via Network courses later.
Ye Xingli: But you don’t need to take all of them. Just pick a few that matter to you.
Zhang Yu let out a bitter laugh. "I’m taking them all."
"Ciji Zhenjun’s demands were never simple."
"If I wait until third year, I’ll be too late."
He glanced at the serene, pulsing Cannibal Cow Serenity Heart Technique in his mind, then at the Wuliang Xin Nei Fashen that flowed through his body.
Looking up at the two-headed white bull roaring into the sky, he thought:
"Thankfully, I’ve cultivated Wuliang Xin Nei Fashen enough to master multitasking."
"I need to push it to the 20th Level soon."
"With so many courses to learn, I can’t possibly keep up without the ability to focus on multiple things at once—especially while maintaining cultivation."
And then there’s Ling Realm time acceleration.
"If I use the time dilation in the Ling Realm, I can stretch my learning efficiency even further."
"But… that costs money."
"And so does studying Alchemy courses."
Zhang Yu wasn’t an Alchemy Department student. According to Wanfa University’s rules, he couldn’t freely attend their classes—unless he paid.
"Network courses and textbooks aren’t cheap. If I want a tutor, it’ll cost even more."
He sighed. The old frustration returned—money was never enough.
And every time he thought about it, one face surfaced in his mind: a man. A rich man.
So Zhang Yu sent a message to his senior, Tian Yang.
The same senior who had been in his sixth year, now in his seventh, and had once teamed up with Zhang Yu in the underground tomb to “collect” Wang Zong’s wealth.
Zhang Yu: Did you manage to reach Wang Zong?
Zhang Yu: Here’s my fresh-graded ranking. If you can get in touch, send it to him.
Zhang Yu: I miss him so much…
These past months, the more he earned on his own, the more he realized how much he hated the feeling of having just enough—and the more he longed for the days when he could just ask Wang Zong for money.
Moments later, Tian Yang replied:
Tian Yang: Can’t reach him.
Tian Yang: I miss him too.
Tian Yang: If you get any more great screenshots, send them to me. If I find a way to contact him, I’ll forward them all.
After a casual chat, Zhang Yu scanned through messages from others.
Li Xiao: Senior Brother, you’re amazing this time! I posted your ranking in the Xian Du hometown group—they didn’t believe me at first.
Li Xiao: Ye Lingshao even asked if it was fake.
Li Xiao: You should’ve seen their faces—completely stunned.
Zhang Yu smirked inwardly: "You little Xian Du snake. You know I can’t see your group chats, yet you still don’t send me the screenshots?"
Just as he was mentally drafting a way to hint for the chat logs, Fujie suddenly said:
"Ye Lingshao might actually be able to reach Wang Zong."
Zhang Yu perked up. "Fujie, you’re sharp when it comes to scams."
He knew Ye Lingshao was the heir of the Ye family from the First Layer Xian Du, a former lapdog of Wang Zong’s during his time in the First Layer—and someone who had graduated high school and entered university before Wang Zong’s downfall.
"Ye Lingshao likely went to Youming University. He might actually be able to contact Wang Zong."
Without hesitation, Zhang Yu replied:
"Forward me Ye Lingshao’s info. I want to add him as a friend."
The moment he saw the contact info Li Xiao sent, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up:
Youming University, Biological Department Foundation Class – 3rd Place, Ye Lingshao.
"Yep, definitely Youming University."
He added Ye Lingshao as a friend—expecting a delay in approval.
But to his surprise, the request was accepted instantly. And almost immediately, a message popped up:
Ye Lingshao: Zhang Yu, don’t contact me again.
Ye Lingshao: If Wang Zong finds out, he’ll misunderstand.
After sending those two messages, Ye Lingshao promptly deleted Zhang Yu from his contacts.
…
Youming University.
As Zhang Yu stared at the name, Ye Lingshao clutched his chest in shock.
"This… this guy."
"How is he even this good at studying?"
In that instant, the pride he’d felt after securing 3rd place in the final exams vanished—replaced by envy and dread.
…
Seeing Ye Lingshao cut ties so coldly, Zhang Yu could only sigh and move on.
He scanned through the rest of the messages.
Shi Yunxiang: If you were at Tianyao University, you’d already be on the list of girls wanting to date you.
Che Yufei: Yu-er, did you join the Competition Team yet?
Zhao Tianxing: [Thumbs Up]
Zhang Yu understood Zhao Tianxing’s silence. The guy was likely still working late—no time for long messages.
He sent back a thumbs-up in return. No words needed.
Then, he saw a message from the Competition Team group.
Ma Xuan: @Ji Yuanchi, results out?
Ma Xuan: Next, you’ll be learning the first supreme technique of Civil Engineering Seven Supreme—Xuanhuang Zhenyue Seal.
Ma Xuan: It’s foundational. Not just for Civil Engineering Seven Supreme, but for all large-scale construction techniques.
Ma Xuan: Mastering it will seriously help in competitions.
Ma Xuan: I’ve got solid experience—ask me anything.
Just as Ma Xuan was typing, Cong Na sent him a private message.
Ma Xuan opened the Eye Armor notification window.
Cong Na: Don’t say anything.
Cong Na: Please, just stop.
Cong Na: Here’s the big reveal—final exam ranking.
Cong Na: It’s from our class. Open it yourself.
Ma Xuan clicked it open—then froze.
Zhang Yu was ranked above Ji Yuanchi.
Ma Xuan: Impossible! How could Zhang Yu beat Ji Yuanchi?
Ma Xuan: Where’d you get this screenshot?
Cong Na: Posted on Zhang Yu’s social circle.
Ma Xuan remembered—Cong Na was friends with Zhang Yu.
Ma Xuan: If it’s from his social circle, it’s probably real.
Ma Xuan: But I still can’t figure it out—how did Ji Yuanchi lose?
Cong Na: Who cares how he lost? He lost. That means Zhang Yu’s current strength is above Ji Yuanchi’s.
Cong Na: The real question now is—should we replace Ji Yuanchi… and put Zhang Yu in his place?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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