https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-375-The-Relentless-Genius-Zhang-Yu/13686961/
Chapter 374: The Seven Supreme Transformations, Intense Competition
Zhang Yu followed Shi Huaixu and the others into the arena, where a massive plaza instantly materialized before their eyes.
The competition was divided into two segments—Architecture and Civil Engineering—held in separate arenas. Zhang Yu had arrived at the Civil Engineering arena, where students from every grade had gathered, standing in small clusters, awaiting the official start.
Few of those present were ordinary students. Nearly all were elite scholars—top performers from across the grades. Rankings floated in the air like glowing banners: top 50, top 30, top 10—each one a testament to academic excellence.
Colorful spirit armors, adorned with rank insignias, shimmered under the arena lights. The dense network of Foundation Establishment Domains, if not ignored, would have pulsed incessantly, flooding every spirit armor’s vision with data.
Beyond that, projections from the Ling Realm flickered into view—some summoning teams, others advertising, some just for show, others enhancing their own aura. The spectacle overwhelmed Zhang Yu, leaving him dazzled.
It was the first time he’d seen so many Civil Engineering Department elites gathered in one place.
He couldn’t help but mutter, “So many participants… this is quite something.”
Shi Huaixu replied, “Of course. It’s about boosting your Comprehensive Score.”
“Higher placement in the competition means more Comprehensive Score, which directly impacts your ranking. Ordinary students might not care, but every top student in every grade is bound to participate.”
She sighed. “Between the 8th, 9th, and 10th grades alone, the combined strength of the top scholars and elite students could form six or seven full teams—practically sweeping the top spots.”
Zhang Yu nodded. Even among the upper grades, not every student held overwhelming power—after all, Che Yufei was still in the 7th grade.
Shi Huaixu continued, “Once the top scholars from the 4th through 7th grades take the lead and recruit others, they can form another five or six strong teams, all vying for the top ten.”
“Our team can’t beat those upper-grade squads,” she added, her tone growing heavier. “Our real rivals are the mid-tier teams. We’ll have to snatch a top ten spot right out of their mouths.”
She paused, then said quietly, “And this year’s competition… will likely be even fiercer.”
The others nodded in agreement. As Civil Engineering students, they’d all felt the growing tension over the past few months—the conflict between the War Faction and the Peace Faction was no longer hidden.
And this competition was the perfect battleground for their clash.
Shi Huaixu noticed staff members beginning to broadcast live from the arena’s perimeter. She thought to herself: This year’s performance in the Civil Engineering Competition could directly influence the momentum of both factions—impact the company’s stock price, and shape the choices of the neutral faction in the future.
If our War Faction secures more of the top three and top ten spots, we’ll gain greater influence, win more support from the neutral faction, and dominate the department in the long run.
The same applies to the Peace Faction.
Looking around at the elite students, each with their glowing department-wide rankings above their heads—Che Yufei, Shi Yunxiang, Tian Yang, Xiao Qingxuan, and others—Zhang Yu felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him.
Then, Shi Huaixu suddenly stopped walking. Her eyes fixed on a figure ahead.
“Su Yanyang…” she said.
The young man before her smiled faintly. His pupils flickered like burning flames, and a radiant orb of light pulsed in his chest—beating like a second heart.
Su Yanyang looked at her and said, “I didn’t expect you’d still be entering. But following a team of the old, weak, and poor…” His gaze swept over Che Yufei, Shi Yunxiang, Zhang Yu, lingering briefly on Xiao Qingxuan before stepping back smoothly.
“You won’t have a good chance at ranking well like this.”
“Without that extra Comprehensive Score, if you don’t secure Class Rank One from now on, are you really sure you’ll be okay?”
“Out of respect for old times, I’ll give you another chance—step back into the Lingbi reserve, act as a backup, collect some Comprehensive Score. Maybe you’ll still have a shot at Class Rank One.”
Shi Huaixu sneered. “Don’t worry about me. You worry about yourself—don’t forget to pay up after you lose your case.”
Su Yanyang shook his head, sighing. “In the cultivation path, rash emotions are the greatest enemy. You failed in stock trading because of that. Now you’re still acting so irrationally in team formation.”
“I predict you’ll go bankrupt again soon…”
As Su Yanyang walked away, Che Yufei asked curiously, “Was he on your last competition team?”
Shi Huaixu clenched her teeth. “That guy crashed into my kidney and refused to pay for damages.”
“Still…” She exhaled slowly. “Before we make the top ten, we’d better avoid running into him. He’s still strong.”
Zhang Yu glanced at Su Yanyang’s head—his department-wide ranking was 29th, far ahead of Shi Huaixu’s 38th.
With all competitors now present, the Civil Engineering Competition officially began.
A handsome, youthful man stepped onto the stage, his presence striking. He looked down at the crowd and said, “Another year of the Civil Engineering Competition has arrived…”
Zhang Yu studied the name hovering above the man’s head and thought to himself: The Department Head of Civil Engineering… Lingyue Immortal?
He’d heard Tu Lishan speak of this elder head—supposedly the true leader of the department. But he’d also heard rumors that the man’s lifespan was nearing its end, that he was close to death.
Yet here stood Lingyue Immortal—vibrant, energetic, the picture of youth. Where was the old man?
Then, Lingyue Immortal spoke again:
“To adapt to the changing times, the school has decided to add a new incentive to this year’s Civil Engineering Competition. Extra prizes will be awarded.”
“Teams finishing in the top seven will each earn two slots—two students from each team will be granted one of the seven supreme techniques of Civil Engineering. The allocation will be decided internally by each team.”
The announcement caused a ripple of shock through the crowd. Then, murmurs erupted.
Zhang Yu gasped. “Seven Supreme Techniques of Civil Engineering? Top seven teams, two students each—so fourteen students will receive them?”
He thought to himself: Compared to the old system, where only the Class Rank One student received one technique per year, this is a massive expansion.
And soon, he realized what many others were thinking.
“If this keeps happening every year… won’t more and more students end up mastering the Seven Supreme Techniques? Even Xiao Sanhe? Maybe even Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power will become widespread?”
Fujie chuckled. “Techniques were once tightly restricted—now they’re suddenly opened up. Could it be preparation for an upcoming University War? Heh, this is the opportunity the times have given you—making it easier than ever for students to master the Seven Supreme Techniques.”
“War really is the engine of progress. Even before the battle starts, it’s already giving you more chances.”
Zhang Yu said, “So does that mean the War Faction is gaining dominance in the Civil Engineering Department?”
Fujie shook his head. “Not necessarily. The Peace Faction may not want the top ten to fight, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want stronger power.”
“In fact, if you look at the department’s own wishes, I believe both the war-mongers and the peace advocates would want to open up the Seven Supreme Techniques to more students. That way, the department grows—more resources, more students, more powerful individuals.”
“Every university department is like that. They all want to expand, to grow stronger, to attract more talent.”
“So the shift—from restricting to opening up the Seven Supreme Techniques—must reflect higher-level decisions, not just departmental choice.”
“Maybe it’s the Architecture and Civil Engineering College above us. Or the leadership of Wanfa University. Or even the influence of the Wanfa Sect.”
“Regardless of the reason… we’re too low in the hierarchy to know. We don’t need to dig too deep.”
“But one thing’s certain: the competition will become fiercer than ever. Look around—there are already people planning to take out loans, to rush-order Spirit Artifacts and Spirit Armors via Express Delivery.”
Zhang Yu nodded. Whether for war or peace, both factions wanted more of their students to master the Seven Supreme Techniques—perhaps even Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power.
Then, the first elimination match began.
The plaza shifted before their eyes, and strange, twisting gravity fields emerged—shifting in direction and intensity.
These fluctuating gravity fields formed a labyrinth of obstacles.
The goal was simple: each student had to cross the one-kilometer-wide complex gravity field as quickly as possible. The total time taken by all members of a team was summed, and the fastest 20 teams advanced to the next round—20 to 10.
The rest were eliminated.
Lingyue Immortal spoke calmly. “In the Finance Department, more money means better cultivation. In our Civil Engineering Department… it’s the body that matters. The stronger the physique, the better.”
“This first elimination round is designed to weed out those with weak bodies.”
As the match began, students surged into the gravity field, sprinting toward the finish line.
But just as one moment they were flying at breakneck speed, roaring like storms, the next moment they plunged into the field—and their speed plummeted. Their forms wobbled, struggling to stay upright.
Then, Zhang Yu felt a subtle shift in the surrounding gravity.
In an instant, several figures blurred past like black lightning—vanishing across the field in a flash.
Zhang Yu’s eyes widened. “Mo Ejin.”
He remembered that senior who wielded the Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power. The man had activated his technique and, in a single motion, carried five teammates across the one-kilometer gravity field.
“Amazing…”
As Zhang Yu marveled, the gravity shifted again. Another group of figures exploded through the field, trailing afterimages and a crackling burst of air.
“Another student with Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power?” Zhang Yu blinked. “So he’s not on Mo Ejin’s team?”
Fujie smirked. “Most likely, one’s from the War Faction, the other from the Peace Faction. Internal rivalry—rather than team up, they’d rather weaken their own side than help the other.”
Zhang Yu shook his head. Mo Ejin and the other top student were too far ahead. Right now, his priority was to get through the gravity field as fast as he could.
(End of Chapter)
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