https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-396-Receiving-the-Seven-Absolute-Arts/13686993/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-398-The-Loser-the-Second-Supreme/13686995/
Chapter 397: The Joy of Victory
Within the Yuan Ci Channel, Gong Shuijin sped forward at high velocity, scrolling through the information received in his Eye Armor.
As soon as he achieved his breakthrough, he’d immediately posted on his social circle—announcing his seventh-place finish in the Civil Engineering Competition, and claiming the right to use the Xuanhuang Zhenyue Seal.
To Gong Shuijin, this was completely natural. Progress meant flaunting it proudly—otherwise, how would his loan limit rise? How could family bonds deepen? How could bloodline ties be sustained? How could friendships with classmates remain strong?
Almost instantly, messages poured in.
Congratulatory comments. Inquiries for details. Offers of emergency funds. And countless vendors—selling medicines, Dao Arts services, and various immortal-grade products—flooded his feed with promotional deals.
Even some fellow fourth-layer residents from the Second Layer reached out.
Gong Shuijin had added a few of them to his Second Layer hometown group chat and accepted their friend requests. But as someone in the Civil Engineering Department—without an All-Department Rank, and not even Class Rank One—he remained largely unnoticed among most of his peers.
So when a fellow fourth-layer resident finally messaged him, Gong Shuijin couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
Then another message arrived.
Ji Yuanchi: Gong Shuijin, hello.
Gong Shuijin thought to himself: Huh? Isn’t this the former Class Rank One, now fifth in class, Ji Yuanchi?
With the finalization of the competition’s Comprehensive Score, the rankings had shifted dramatically. The gap between the top three had been slim to begin with—now, Gong Shuijin, Ying Xin, and Yu Xinghan had each advanced one spot, pushing Ji Yuanchi down to fifth.
Every time Gong Shuijin thought about how he now stood where he once had to look up to the Sixth Layer elders, he felt it was well worth the cost.
Gong Shuijin: What do you want?
Ji Yuanchi: Did your team give the other Seven Absolute fragment to Zhang Yu?
Gong Shuijin: Yes.
Ji Yuanchi: Your team received a lot of support from the War Faction, didn’t they?
Gong Shuijin: Without Director Gao’s backing, we wouldn’t have made it this far.
Ji Yuanchi: [Thumbs Up]
After ending the conversation, a thought struck Gong Shuijin.
If I could master three of the Civil Engineering Seven Supremes before Ji Yuanchi, and claim Xiao Sanhe… then in my future career, I’d always stay ahead of him.
But how could he get there first?
He’d tried throwing money at the problem—failed.
Then he poured funds into the Competition Team—success. He’d secured the Xuanhuang Zhenyue Seal.
More accurately… it wasn’t the team he invested in. It was his faith in Zhang Yu.
So I need to keep nurturing my relationship with Zhang Yu. If another chance like this comes, I must grab it with both hands.
What does Zhang Yu like?
Gong Shuijin mentally reviewed what he knew about Zhang Yu.
Overtime? Medicine? Meals? Massage?
…
Ying Xin’s Ancestral Hall Complex
Ying Xin: I made seventh in the Civil Engineering Department Competition!
Ying Xin: Ranking screenshot. Image file.
Third-Generation Family Head: Excellent! Excellent! Did you use the ashes?
Ying Xin: Great-Grandfather, thanks to your ashes smeared on the battlefield, we barely held on in the first half of the final match.
Fifth-Generation Family Head: Now you’re officially a loyal student of the War Faction. Next step—find a good master.
Fifth-Generation Family Lady: Send the ashes when needed. If money runs short, we’ll send more.
Fourth-Generation Family Head: And that Zhang Yu—make sure you keep him close. Best to get him to join our family.
Ying Xin: I’ve already tested the waters. But I think he’s the type who doesn’t care about this stuff—just a strict cultivator, obsessed with cultivation and overtime.
Feeling the warmth of her elders’ care, Ying Xin smiled faintly.
Then her expression sharpened.
“Where’s the First Ancestor?”
Fifth-Generation Family Head: The First Generation’s consciousness is currently frozen.
Fifth-Generation Family Head: Maintaining his mind is getting more expensive. He’s forced to keep it frozen most of the time, just to survive on minimal cost.
Fifth-Generation Family Head: But it’s fine. As long as we keep paying the fees, he’ll hold on for a while.
Ying Xin sighed inwardly. Even if he could survive, with more descendants freezing over time, and those still active growing increasingly distant from the First Ancestor… the moment of cutoff was inevitable.
Unless a descendant rose to greatness, achieved wealth and fame, and brought in a fortune—only then could the ancestors be revived… until the next time the funds ran out.
…
Yu Xinghan used his Third Eye Ability to examine the muscle fibers of Shi Huaixu in front of him.
Then, with precise fingertip force, he channeled waves of energy deep into the man’s body.
Immediately following, a surge of Martial Energy flowed in, penetrating the meridians.
This was a Massage Technique he’d learned from Gong Professor at Construction Site Health Management—a method that, while healing muscles, also reduced meridian wear and boosted cultivation efficiency.
But as Yu Xinghan studied it, he became aware that this technique was also capable of devastating the body and meridians—essentially, a lethal weapon in disguise.
When he asked Gong Professor about it, the professor chuckled.
“Indeed, it incorporates elements of ancient assassination arts.”
“But you know it now. In modern times, killing isn’t about skill—it’s about money. With enough cash, you can kill anyone you want. Without it, you can’t even kill an ordinary person. Assassination techniques? Completely useless.”
“You have real talent in healing and rehabilitation. With the current climate—war clouds gathering, upheaval across academia—I believe rehabilitation and therapy will be in massive demand in the future, not just in construction sites. Work hard.”
As Shi Huaixu sighed in pleasure, Yu Xinghan suggested, “Sister, I’ll give you a kidney maintenance session later. Want to sign up for a membership? It’ll be cheaper than going to a shop.”
Over the past period, Yu Xinghan had turned nearly every member of the Competition Team into clients—and through them, expanded his reach to upperclassmen.
With his Comprehensive Score and income rising steadily, he felt more and more grateful for joining this team.
Then he received a message from Lian Tianji.
Lian Tianji: Xinghan, I saw your post. Congratulations on seventh place.
Yu Xinghan: I saw your photo too—was that girl from Hehuan University?
Lian Tianji: That’s my girl.
Yu Xinghan: Huh?
Lian Tianji: After successfully completing Foundation Establishment, I transferred into the department’s Foundation Establishment Yangji Class. Only Class Rank One can be a man there.
Yu Xinghan: What?
Lian Tianji: Conversely, in the Yinji Class, only Class Rank One can be a woman.
Lian Tianji: I thought long and hard before choosing. I decided to endure hardship first—then enjoy the rewards.
At that moment, Shi Huaixu groaned in pain.
“Yu Xinghan… what are you doing?”
Yu Xinghan apologized profusely, refocusing his attention on the man.
But in his mind, a voice echoed again and again:
Zhang Yu! Hehuan University isn’t our sanctuary!
But if you’re not a local student… just a visitor…
Yu Xinghan had to admit—he was intrigued.
Then Li Xuelian messaged him.
Li Xuelian: Good job. I didn’t waste my time training you and Zhang Yu.
Li Xuelian: I’ve connected you with a batch of injured personnel from the Security Department.
Li Xuelian: See if you can turn them into clients.
…
Back in his dorm, Yu Xinghan wanted to discuss the intelligence on Hehuan University with Zhang Yu—but when he glanced at his roommate’s current status, he saw he was on a call with Bai Zhenzhen.
Bai Zhenzhen smiled at Zhang Yu. “Your team made seventh in the Departmental Competition?”
Zhang Yu nodded, recounting the events of the competition. Bai Zhenzhen listened with a wide grin.
Bai Zhenzhen: “Great! Now we’re both getting closer to the Top Ten League.”
Zhang Yu: “Yeah. A Zhen, we’ll keep growing together. One day, we’ll enter a sect together.”
Fujie thought to herself: One’s in the inter-school league, the other in the departmental competition. The gap is huge… Bai Zhenzhen really is puffing up Zhang Yu’s reputation.
Bai Zhenzhen: “Heh, how was the Green Silk Flying Sword Mom gave you this time?”
Zhang Yu: “It was useful—just… a little short. Can you send more?”
Bai Zhenzhen: “You think you can just pluck a strand of hair and make a sword? That’s Qingqing Sword Intention forged. It doesn’t just appear out of nowhere.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “And as your strength grows, the Green Silk Flying Sword will fall behind. When that happens, you’ll get a new Spirit Artifact.”
Zhang Yu shook his head. “No need. Even if I don’t use it in battle, it can still link to the Network at critical moments. I want to keep it with me.”
Bai Zhenzhen blinked. “You keep it on you all the time?”
Zhang Yu smiled, raising his right hand to reveal the Green Silk Flying Sword—wound around his finger like a ring.
“Yeah, always with me. It’s handy—links the Network in the wild, cuts materials on construction sites. Super convenient.”
Bai Zhenzhen stared at the strand of silk on his finger. “So… you keep it on even when you’re… playing?”
Zhang Yu froze for a second—then scowled.
“That’s not ‘playing’! That’s work. That’s earning money. Don’t forget—you were the one I trained, one step at a time, until you graduated high school.”
Bai Zhenzhen: “Mm-hmm… work.”
She added, “By the way, can you stop talking to Wen Wuya about all that nonsense?”
Zhang Yu nodded. “It’s easy—just post something every day, and money comes in. Can’t stop now.”
Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes. “Every time I see him, he’s talking about Civil Engineering, construction sites… I’m about to go insane.”
Zhang Yu said, “I’ll figure something out.”
On the other side, after ending the call, Bai Zhenzhen heard Qingqing God’s voice echo in her ear.
“You two… what do you think Wen Wuya is?”
Bai Zhenzhen jumped in surprise, then patted her chest. “A wallet. Zhang Yu’s wallet.”
Qingqing God asked curiously: “Even now, don’t you still feel the gap between Zhang Yu and you is too wide?”
“Not just Zhang Yu—no student in his department comes close to Wen Wuya.”
“Wen Wuya is your equal. Long-term, he’s the better Network match.”
Bai Zhenzhen replied: “Mom, if everything’s about money and profit, is it still real feeling? Can you even cultivate Jiqing Sword Dao like that?”
Qingqing God said calmly: “If wealth and profit are part of measuring affection—why couldn’t that be Jiqing Sword Dao itself?”
Bai Zhenzhen said: “But if you could transcend all of it—driven by pure, intense emotion… wouldn’t that be what you truly want?”
“Reading my mind?” Qingqing God smiled. “Hua Shen’s time and life stretch far beyond what you imagine. Rather than guessing my intentions, perhaps you should spend more time understanding your own heart.”
(End of Chapter)
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