https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-384-Ciji-Zhenjun-s-Covert-Guidance/13686974/
Chapter 383: Zhang Yu, First in Total Contribution Across the Field
(Thank you, 'Angry Cat', for another generous Almog supporter gift!)
Since Zhang Yu revealed his 20th-level Jiuxiao Yun Kongjin, the intense clash between him and Ma Xuan had drawn the attention of numerous teachers. Especially after gaining the upper hand in the first half, many were curious how Ma Xuan would adjust his tactics in the second half—and how Zhang Yu would respond.
Just as the second half of the match was about to begin, another figure appeared within the Ling Realm space, clearly here to observe the Civil Engineering Department's competition.
It was a vertical text box, containing only four bold characters: Ciji Zhenjun.
Director Gao’s gaze flickered. He sent a private message: You finally showed up.
He was used to Ciji Zhenjun’s presence in the Ling Realm Network—its barebones, no-frills appearance was typical of the man.
"This guy’s loaded, yet he refuses to spend a single coin on anything he deems unnecessary."
"No fancy Ling Realm avatars, no Yuan Ying-level projections, no flashy effects—everything’s the cheapest version possible."
"His Spirit Armor’s been patched up so many times, he’s just reprogrammed and upgraded it himself. Still running it for decades."
Director Gao knew full well: Ciji Zhenjun was the epitome of stinginess. Sometimes, he genuinely wondered if the man had been gambling—otherwise, why this obsession with saving every last coin?
"I don’t get it. He hoards so much money—where’s it all going? He’s not building immortal artifacts."
Still, despite his miserly nature and difficult personality, Ciji Zhenjun remained one of the few people Director Gao considered a friend. Today, his presence was a welcome show of support.
Director Gao scanned the Peace Faction teachers and thought, Finance Department may have deep pockets, but can you bring their Director here to watch a match and stand with us?
If we fully align with Finance Department, we’ll just become their blood bags—maybe even blow up the entire Civil Engineering Department in the process.
As Ciji Zhenjun arrived, the atmosphere in the arena shifted. Teachers exchanged glances.
Wei Huai, the geology teacher from the Peace Faction, thought to himself: Director Gao and Ciji Zhenjun’s relationship is truly unusual.
Jiao Lei Immortal, also from the Peace Faction and the homeroom teacher of Zhang Yu’s Foundation Establishment Class, mused: Ciji Zhenjun actually came in person? That means Alchemy Department must take Civil Engineering seriously—our collaboration has real weight.
Many others speculated: With Alchemy Department now allied, and ties to Hua Shen God at Tianjian University, War Faction’s going to get so many projects, they won’t know what to do with them.
Instantly, War Faction teachers felt their confidence rise.
Director Gao, Lin Director, and Senior Director Lingyue Immortal all stepped forward to greet him.
Lingyue Immortal chuckled warmly: "Welcome, Ciji Zhenjun. Your presence graces our department with honor."
Ciji Zhenjun replied: "Old Gao said today’s Civil Engineering Department would be a gathering of talents—top ten finalists will be decided. I came to take a look."
"I’m also assessing our current construction capabilities, since we’ll be building several Soulless Production Factories next year. It’s good to see how things stand now."
Hearing about the major upcoming projects, the surrounding Civil Engineering teachers’ eyes lit up—like wolves spotting fresh meat.
After a brief exchange, everyone resumed watching the match.
Ciji Zhenjun sent Director Gao a private message: "Satisfied?"
Director Gao: Yes, yes, yes [Thumbs Up]
Ciji Zhenjun: Send money.
Director Gao: [Transfer]
This is the deposit. I’ll send the rest after the match.
Ciji Zhenjun: Trust?
Director Gao didn’t reply. He knew from years of experience: if he paid in full now, the man would vanish within five minutes.
After all, every second, thought, and idea of Ciji Zhenjun was worth an astronomical sum.
Moreover, he knew that while Alchemy Department had experts in both Alchemy and Civil Engineering, Ciji Zhenjun himself had no real interest in construction techniques.
As the second half began, teams clashed once more.
Director Gao guided Ciji Zhenjun toward Mo Ejin.
As the War Faction’s strongest student—and the only one to master the Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power—Mo Ejin was the perfect showcase of their team’s strength. The ideal representative of War Faction’s talent.
Lin Director chimed in occasionally, introducing Xuan Liangtian from the Peace Faction, the only student there who had mastered mountain-moving divine powers.
Lingyue Immortal stood by with a warm smile, clearly delighted by the department’s growing talent.
But after listening for a moment, Ciji Zhenjun suddenly asked: "Who’s that student?"
Director Gao glanced at Zhang Yu, surrounded and overwhelmed by Ma Xuan and his team, and frowned. "Zhang Yu."
Though enveloped in a storm of mud and sand, every contestant shared their Eye Armor feed with judges and teachers, so the match remained visible.
Ciji Zhenjun raised an eyebrow. "He’s the Zhang Yu you told me about? I’ve never seen him before."
Director Gao didn’t answer. The sight of Zhang Yu being overwhelmed made him look like a sure-to-be eliminated fighter.
He sent a quick private message: Don’t talk about Zhang Yu. Not now.
But Lin Director’s eyes sparkled. "This Zhang Yu is Director Gao’s prized student—someone he’s poured his heart into cultivating."
Wei Huai from the Peace Faction quickly added: "Indeed. Director Gao’s invested a lot of effort into him. But right now, the situation looks dire…"
Just as Director Gao frowned, worried that the Peace Faction was turning the spotlight on Zhang Yu’s near-elimination, he watched in disbelief as Zhang Yu, fighting fiercely, managed to hold off four opponents—bloodied, exhausted, but never stopping—until he finally subdued one.
Ciji Zhenjun nodded. "This student’s got potential. Old Gao, you’ve found a good one."
Director Gao’s frown melted into a subtle smile. "I only gave him a few pointers. The rest? He earned it himself."
A teacher remarked: "Second Year already mastering 20th-level Jiuxiao Yun Kongjin and Zhanmo Yunshou Gong—his martial talent is obvious. And to fight so recklessly, without fear of loss—his physique, protective techniques, force dispersion skills, and sheer willpower? All top-tier."
Tu Lishan quickly added: "If Director Gao hadn’t spotted Zhang Yu’s potential during his freshman year and brought him to the Construction Site for training, he wouldn’t have advanced so fast."
Lang Yougong chimed in: "I’m their Body Refining instructor. I know their progress. Ever since they went to the Construction Site, Zhang Yu’s improvement has been staggering. It proves—our future lies in the real construction fields."
Lin Director observed calmly. When Ma Xuan’s team finally surrendered, and Ji Yuanchi followed suit, his expression grew colder.
Ji Yuanchi: Teacher, I lost.
It’s because Ma Xuan and the others were terrible—worst teammates ever. I suspect they took bribes from War Faction, deliberately playing fake. They’re trying to suppress me.
Lin Director didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he pulled up the post-match statistics, took screenshots, and sent them to Ji Yuanchi.
First: Combat Duration—from Zhang Yu at the top, down to Shi Yunxiang with zero seconds, with Ji Yuanchi ranking second from last.
Second: Damage Estimation—Zhang Yu still ranked first, responsible for 78% of total damage.
Last place? Still Shi Yunxiang, who had been quietly building the entire time—0% damage contribution.
Ji Yuanchi? 1.5%.
Lin Director couldn’t help but smirk. You call others cheaters? You’re the one who spent the entire match in the back, wearing high-end Spirit Armor, yet contributed nothing. What a waste.
Other teachers also examined the stats.
The most striking name, of course, was Zhang Yu.
His Team Damage Tolerance Percentage: 89%,
First in Full-Field Physical Damage,
First in Full-Field Estimated Loss.
These numbers etched his name into every teacher’s mind.
Tu Lishan sighed: "Zhang Yu made the greatest contribution today. To last this long, he needed endurance, Body-Protection Technique, force dissipation, combat will, and strategy—every single one of them."
"Now that his team beat Ma Xuan’s, they’re in the top ten, right?"
"A Second Year making top ten? That’s extremely rare."
He suggested: "Since this department’s internal competition includes a loan reward for outstanding performers, I think Zhang Yu deserves one."
Wei Huai from the Peace Faction replied coolly: "Zhang Yu’s style has no real-world application. It only works in competitions. In actual combat? There’s no rule saying you can’t kill your opponent."
"If Ma Xuan hadn’t held back out of fear of killing someone, Zhang Yu would’ve been eliminated long ago."
"If he loves fighting so much, why not join the Security Department? There, it’s all simulated battles with dummies—no rules, no liability, even if someone dies."
Tu Lishan snorted. "Rules are rules. Engineers are supposed to work within the rules. Zhang Yu used the competition’s rules to win—this is a skill in itself."
"Why didn’t Ma Xuan use the rules? Why didn’t Bu Ziran fight harder? Because they simply can’t. Some people are used to buying their way through life—they’ve forgotten how to fight."
Watching the debate, Lingyue Immortal nodded slightly. "The rule against killing in the Civil Engineering Competition was established to discourage pure combat. Zhang Yu’s spirit is admirable, but it’s not our department’s style. No need to encourage it."
Tu Lishan’s eyes narrowed. Now that we’re winning, they’re stepping in to tilt the field?
But seeing Director Gao remain silent, he held his tongue.
With Lingyue Immortal’s verdict, Zhang Yu’s performance seemed sealed—most teachers stopped discussing it, and the conversation shifted to other matches.
Meanwhile, Director Gao quietly reached out to Zhang Yu.
Director Gao: How are you? Can you afford treatment?
Zhang Yu glanced at the message, feeling a warm pang in his chest. Is he going to send money?
Just then, another message arrived—this time from Ciji Zhenjun.
Ciji Zhenjun: Guess who I’m with.
Ciji Zhenjun and Director Gao watching the match together — Photo File
Zhang Yu paused, surprised.
Then Director Gao sent another message:
[10 Lingbi]
Take this and eat more.
You’re already in the top ten—no need to push so hard next time.
Ciji Zhenjun: You don’t want Director Gao to know you secretly apprenticed under me, do you?
How’s your Alchemy studies going? Finish all three years’ curriculum by the end of Second Year.
Do it, and I’ll reward you.
(End of Chapter)
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