https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-380-The-Second-Half-of-the-Battle/13686966/
Chapter 379: The Hidden Blood Bar in the Competition (Thank you, 'hotpick' for the generous donation)
When Zhang Yu was buried beneath the ground in the hollow beneath the battlefield, he immediately realized he had to get out quickly.
Because during the time he was trapped underground, his team had been short one member.
"If Ma Xuan and the others take full advantage of this window, and eliminate one of us—then things will get messy."
Zhang Yu knew that while deaths in the Civil Engineering Competition were extremely rare, it wasn’t uncommon for students to surrender and temporarily leave the field. After all, medical bills, Spirit Armor repairs, and Spirit Artifact maintenance—all fell on the participants’ own shoulders.
Once the cumulative cost of injuries surpassed their financial limits, surrendering and stepping out of the competition became a perfectly rational choice.
"Our team's overall strength was never on par with Ma Xuan's group," Zhang Yu thought. "Now that I'm gone, Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang are under even greater pressure. If their bodies and Spirit Armor keep taking damage..."
He’d have done the same in their shoes—surrendering was natural. Winning the match wouldn’t mean anything if they couldn’t afford to heal or repair afterward.
"In this competition, besides the visible Blood bar on screen, each participant secretly carries another hidden Blood bar—wealth."
"The richer you are, the more losses you can afford, and the more aggressively you can fight on the battlefield."
"The poorer you are, the less you can endure—so you’re more likely to surrender under pressure."
Zhang Yu understood clearly: while he was buried, his teammates’ deposits were evaporating rapidly.
He had to move fast—before anyone on his side was eliminated, he had to return to the battlefield.
As these thoughts surged through his mind, a Gang Qi silhouette materialized behind him, radiating chilling cold.
One by one, the skeletal structure of a Human-Form Qi Aura formed in the dark, solidifying within seconds into a full-bodied Shenhan Force—Zhang Yu’s own spirit construct.
Boom!
With a single crushing punch to the earth above, a cascade of mud and soil rained down.
Another Shenhan Force followed, driving a second blow into the ground, shaking the earth beneath.
One after another, more Shenhan Forces emerged from Zhang Yu’s Gang Qi, unleashing a storm of fists that shredded the earth.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!...
After summoning nine Shenhan Forces, Zhang Yu activated his Xingxiao Chongmai Fa, each punch spiraling with shockwaves as he surged upward.
Beneath the ground, it was as if a miniature engineering crew had suddenly appeared—Zhang Yu leading the charge, his forces shattering the earth with relentless, thunderous strikes, carving a path through the soil.
The tremors spread upward with every step, growing louder and more intense on the surface.
Until Ma Xuan finally felt the shaking beneath his feet.
CRACK!
A massive explosion erupted as Zhang Yu burst through the ground, nine Shenhan Forces surging behind him—back on the battlefield.
Zhang Yu: "Sorry for the wait."
On the battlefield, Cong Na and Yang Yan were at the front lines. Ji Yuanchi was flanking from a distance, raining down artillery fire. The Construction Site was left with only Ma Xuan—controlling Xiao Sanhe from afar—and Bu Ziran and Ji Susu, still working on the site.
The sudden emergence of Zhang Yu from the ground stunned all three.
Ma Xuan knew exactly how deep he’d buried Zhang Yu. He’d calculated that, even if Zhang Yu managed to crawl out, it would take at least twenty minutes—plenty of time to push back the enemy and eliminate one or two of them.
By the time Zhang Yu returned, the tide would already be turned. Ma Xuan had all the time in the world to deal with the rest.
His eyes flicked over the nine Shenhan Forces.
"Using these to speed up the process?" Ma Xuan thought. "Then his Martial Energy must be nearly exhausted..."
At the same time, Zhang Yu’s eyes swept across the battlefield, blazing with battle lust.
"Now... let’s continue where we left off."
The nine Shenhan Forces flickered once, then unleashed a chilling gale as they charged toward Bu Ziran and Ji Susu, who were still constructing.
Bu Ziran roared, stepping forward instantly. "I’ll handle this!"
His words flashed instantly onto his teammates’ Eye Armor.
Bu Ziran: This kid’s been fighting nonstop. He’s used up massive amounts of Gang Qi to dig up from below. His Martial Energy is drained—there’s barely any strength left. He’s just bluffing, trying to disrupt our work and distract Ma Xuan. Don’t fall for it. I’ll deal with him.
Bu Ziran’s lung Spirit Armor pulsed violently, and a surge of Fei Jin Jian Qi burst from his body, gathering at the tip of his right finger.
With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a flurry of Xuanjin Zizai Jian—a sword technique that sliced through the air with razor-edged precision.
His lung Armor naturally refined and stored Fei Jin Jian Qi with every breath. And his Xuanjin Zizai Jian, an Expert-Level Cultivation Technique, was specifically designed to dismantle Gang Qi.
Now, channeling his full power, he pushed the technique far beyond its normal limits.
Sword energy lashed out—one, two, three—and the first Shenhan Force was torn apart in an instant.
But before Bu Ziran could even smirk, a sudden wave of freezing cold erupted from the shattered body.
A torrent of venomous cold surged through the scattered Gang Qi, flooding into Bu Ziran’s body. His face turned pale blue, and his internal temperature plummeted.
"Zhang Yu still has this much Martial Energy?!"
As the remaining eight Shenhan Forces charged forward, Bu Ziran’s heart sank. The cold was spreading through him—fast.
He retreated instantly, shouting: "Ji Susu, boost your body temperature first—then destroy these things!"
In moments, both Bu Ziran and Ji Susu had to halt their work, retreating while simultaneously activating their inner cultivation to raise their body heat—dodging the relentless assault of the eight Shenhan Forces.
While the Shenhan Forces held Bu Ziran and Ji Susu at bay, Zhang Yu’s true body surged forward—muscles bulging, veins popping, pushing Zhanmo Yunshou Gong to its absolute limit.
With a single step, he unleashed a howling gale, charging straight at Ma Xuan.
Ma Xuan’s gaze flicked between Bu Ziran and Ji Susu, then settled on Zhang Yu barreling toward him.
"Still thinking you can fight me while dealing with them?" Ma Xuan sneered. "How arrogant."
But he didn’t release Xiao Sanhe to engage Zhang Yu directly.
He thought: If I break the seal now, Shi Huaixu and the others will storm in immediately. If too many people start fighting in the Construction Site, this match will spiral into chaos—the worst possible outcome.
Compared to that, this Zhang Yu? I can take a few hits.
As Ma Xuan pondered, Zhang Yu arrived—Zhanmo Yunshou Gong driving Wuji Zhen Chan, tearing through the cold air, one punch aimed straight at Ma Xuan’s skull.
Pang!
A surge of protective aura erupted from Ma Xuan’s body, blocking the blow.
But the cold in the punch—bone-chilling, soul-freezing—made Ma Xuan’s brows twitch.
Zhang Yu smiled, staring at him calmly. "So, what’s it going to be?"
"Shall I freeze you solid… or shall I let Shi Huaixu’s team storm in and wreck everything?"
"Ma Xuan. It’s your turn to choose."
Ma Xuan stared back, expression calm. "Zhang Yu… Jiuxiao Yun Kongjin has given you more confidence than you deserve."
"I won’t let Shi Huaixu in."
"And you… won’t hurt me."
As he spoke, a golden glow flared from his forehead—spreading rapidly across his body, enveloping him in a shimmering aura.
Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed.
Skin Spirit Armor?
He snapped a screenshot and sent it to the competition group. Tian Yang responded instantly.
Tian Yang: It’s Jin Gang Zhuo Pi from Jin Gang Xuan Zao. Once activated, it triggers the Diamond Body Incantation—extremely high resistance to physical impact and Martial Energy attacks. Ordinary strikes can’t break it.
Zhang Yu’s mind raced. A Dao Arts-type Spirit Armor?
He struck again—fists flying, Gang Qi flaring—but each blow was deflected by the golden aura. Ma Xuan stood unmoved, as if untouched.
Ma Xuan smirked. The situation was back under his control.
But then—from the very hole Zhang Yu had dug—another figure shot up from the earth.
"Xiao Qingxuan?!"
Zhang Yu’s eyes widened.
The figure emerging from the hole was wrapped in Dragon-shaped Gang Qi, its form unmistakable.
Ma Xuan’s eyes widened in shock.
Then—realization struck.
"No way… He wasn’t holding back on the front lines all this time… He’s been tunneling here the whole time?"
No… Shi Huaixu must have been helping him from the front. And Zhang Yu was digging the final stretch. They connected beneath the ground—saving time and energy.
The image formed in Ma Xuan’s mind: Shi Huaixu manipulating the soil, Xiao Qingxuan carving the first half of the tunnel, Zhang Yu the second—until they met.
And now he understood why Xiao Qingxuan had been able to occasionally act on the battlefield.
His true body was underground, using Gang Qi with a 100-meter transmission range to guide attacks through the tunnel—creating the illusion he was still on the front lines.
Seeing Zhang Yu and Xiao Qingxuan exchange a knowing glance, Ma Xuan realized: they’d already coordinated.
This is bad.
Before he could react, Xiao Qingxuan emerged—palm thrust forward.
Nine massive, hundred-meter-long Dragon-shaped Gang Qi surged forward—crashing into the half-built Bunker.
Ma Xuan’s face darkened.
There was no more time to hesitate.
(End of Chapter)
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