https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-494-Yishan-Lishi-Thank-you-Yu-Xian-Qitian-for-the-Alliance-Lord-donation-/13687162/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-496-Why-Should-Ji-Hu-Be-Dismissed-When-It-s-This-Excellent-Please-Support-with-Monthly-Tickets-/13687164/
Chapter 495: Plagiarism and Zombie
(Thank you to 'Healing Doctor Hammer' for the Patronage Gift!)
As the Flying Barge sliced through the sky, it hovered above Xianbing University. Zhang Yu gazed down at the colossal chasm beneath—thousands of meters wide, bottomless, shimmering with countless glowing orbs deep within. It was said these were the underground Factories of Xianbing University, hidden far below the surface. Along the cliffs surrounding the abyss, countless lights flickered—buildings sprouting from the rock face like roots, stretching upward as if trying to pierce the heavens. The cavernous interior was packed with structures carved directly into the stone, a sprawling vertical city built from the earth itself.
At that moment, lines of Saiqi Pollution alerts began appearing in Zhang Yu’s Eye Armor. He stared at the Jiuyou Abyss below and muttered inwardly: This place has the worst Saiqi Pollution of any university I’ve ever visited.
Stepping off the Flying Barge, everyone immediately rented Spirit Artifacts designed to shield against Saiqi Pollution—otherwise, they’d be confined to a tiny, fixed zone within the university’s perimeter.
Once they left the docking platform, a massive Ji Hu advertisement loomed before them.
Mo Ejin sighed. “Xianbing University is the birthplace of Ji Hu. Legend has it the company was founded by disciples of several Hua Shen, starting out only accepting the wealthy. With its ‘wealth-first’ corporate culture, it grew rapidly and became a major name here.”
As Zhang Yu walked through the campus, he noticed that nearly every student wore a Ji Hu-brand Eye Armor. Their group stood out like oddities.
Zhang Yu shook his head. “These students really all use Ji Hu-brand, don’t they?”
Mo Ejin nodded. “Rumor has it that one in every three students at Xianbing works for Ji Hu. The university’s Spirit Armor procurement is dominated by Ji Hu-brand as well.”
“Price is another factor,” he added. “Just look at this Spirit Armor platform—Ji Hu-brand is ridiculously cheap.”
Zhang Yu glanced around and confirmed it—cheaper than even the Ji Hu-brand armor sold at Wanfa University. The deal was so tempting, he nearly considered buying a batch to resell back home.
But after calculating taxes, he let it go.
Then he noticed something else: the higher-end models of Ji Hu-brand armor were also here—familiar, even eerily so.
Zhang Yu frowned. “These high-end models… they look familiar…”
Mo Ejin smirked. “Copy-pasted, obviously. Ji Hu’s known for its low-end products because their mid-to-high-end models are all stolen from other companies. Lawsuits are constant. These copied models are banned at most universities—only here, on Xianbing’s turf, can you still buy them.”
Zhang Yu thought: So Xianbing University is protecting Ji Hu’s piracy.
Fujie chuckled. “Fresh, isn’t it? In Kunxu today, companies like Jin Gang Xuan Zao, Wanfa Jiangzong—don’t they all start by copying someone else?”
“Universities, sects—same thing. No copying, no growth. The weak copy to catch up. The strong can’t cover everything, so they absorb resources from all sides—mixing originality with theft.”
“Copyright laws can hold back ordinary people. But how can they stop powerful factions with real backing? Still, they give face to the Heavenly Court—usually by reverse-engineering and reworking the designs just enough to stay on the legal edge.”
Zhang Yu mused: When I’m strong enough, I’ll crack the code, rebuild the techniques… and copy with full force.
He sighed. But Feather Scroll’s power is still too weak. It can’t keep up with my imagination.
As they spoke, they reached the Civil Engineering Competition arena. Zhang Yu glanced at the messages from Ciji Zhenjun and Director Gao—his two teachers had already entered Lingjie to watch.
…
Above the battlefield, within Lingjie’s Audience Stand.
Ciji Zhenjun and Director Gao’s projections materialized side by side.
Ciji Zhenjun sighed. “Xianbing University… this dump hasn’t seen me in ages.”
Director Gao asked, “You mentioned earlier—the prize for this year’s Civil Engineering Competition, the Military Grade Armor design blueprint… how valuable is it?”
He was already weighing whether to have Mo Ejin step in if Zhang Yu failed.
Ciji Zhenjun replied, “This Military Grade Armor is officially designated for the Civil Engineering Department, but it’s a leaked design from above.”
“Giving out such a blueprint costs nothing to the higher-ups, yet it raises the stakes dramatically.”
“Still, people will jump in anyway, even knowing it’s a trap.”
He paused, then added, “Who wouldn’t want a glimpse into a sect’s future tech direction?”
“Even catching a hint of tomorrow’s breakthroughs could bring endless benefits.”
“Of course, you might spend years chasing it… only to find nothing. No real future tech secrets inside.”
“The true value won’t be known until you possess the blueprint. And that’s impossible to quantify.”
“But at the very least, it fills a gap in our Military Grade Armor capabilities.”
Director Gao nodded slowly. He knew universities constantly updated Immortal Dao Technologies—but these were just minor patches and tweaks within the existing framework.
True, world-shaking advancements usually came from sects, spreading outward and sometimes reshaping entire layers of Kunxu’s ecosystem.
So even a glimpse of future tech could be invaluable.
Director Gao thought: This blueprint’s worth likely exceeds the armor itself. Then… what about Xianbing’s Alchemy Department? They’d be interested. And with the Hua Shen Spirit Armor experiment on the line…
Just then, a metallic, puppet-like projection emerged in Lingjie.
“Ciji. Long time no see.”
Ciji Zhenjun’s eyes flickered. “Qian Kui. You’re here for the Civil Engineering competition?”
Director Gao’s Eye Armor instantly pulled up the man’s profile: Xianbing University Alchemy Department’s Qian Kui Zhenjun, Department Director. Over the past three years, involved in over two thousand copyright disputes—Xianbing’s most notorious copycat.
Qian Kui Zhenjun smiled faintly. “I heard your Wanfa University just copied Qiongjiang God’s Spirit Armor again. I came to see the results.”
Ciji Zhenjun snorted. "My team's projects are all independently developed—don't smear me with lies."
Qian Kui Zhenjun waved a hand. "Fine, fine. Call it independent development if you want. Let's watch the competition. See how well your 'original' work holds up."
…
Outside the arena, both teams entered simultaneously.
Wan Gouxuan smiled at Zhang Yu. “Zhang Yu, your school’s strength is impressive. The Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power—its destructive force is terrifying.”
“We’ll keep it light. No need for unnecessary damage over a competition.”
Zhang Yu glanced at him, surprised, then nodded casually.
Wan Gouxuan’s expression remained calm, but inside, his excitement surged.
Control. Control. Control.
He kept repeating in his mind. Don’t let him notice. Don’t make him wary. Don’t let him realize… he’s already our prey.
Keep the malice in check. Don’t give him a chance to surrender. Don’t let him run.
At that moment, Zhang Yu was to Wan Gouxuan like a delicate flower—something to be approached slowly, carefully, before the moment of destruction. He would tear him apart in one swift motion.
Worst case? Rip his body apart, scatter every last scrap of material across the field—perfect for our collection.
The more he thrilled inside, the more serene he appeared from the outside—no hint of madness.
As both sides entered the arena, the competition officially began. Wan Gouxuan and his teammates opened a series of Iron Coffins.
From within, guttural roars erupted as twisted human forms emerged.
These were workers from the underground Factories, long exposed to high-concentration Saiqi. Their Spirit Armors were shattered, their souls gone—abandoned by their original owners.
Without maintenance, their bodies deteriorated further, infected beyond repair. Only the Primary Artifact Spirits remained, still operating the corpses, keeping them barely functional.
But since their original owners had forsaken them, the Primary Spirits were now stuck in Network Overdue status—offline.
Left to wander in the high-Saiqi zones, they became the company’s and the school’s forgotten dead: zombies.
Driven only by instinct, the Spirits endlessly sent out Lingjie Connection requests—this desperate, automatic plea became their final obsession, their sole craving: Lingjie.
Then, Wan Gouxuan pointed.
A spark ignited in the darkness.
The flow of Lingjie energy surged through the zombies—like a flame in a void. Guided by that light, they charged toward Wanfa University’s position.
Roaring, their bodies crackling with Saiqi, they launched forward like wild beasts.
Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes. He knew these zombies weren’t strong, but their Saiqi was uncontrollable. Contact meant shortened lifespan, massive medical bills, and pollution of the construction site.
Without hesitation, Zhang Yu leapt into the air, meeting them head-on.
But in that instant, a cascade of divine light descended from above—crackling with terrifying pressure.
Zhang Yu’s hair stood on end. One touch from that golden light would kill him instantly.
At the same time, every Eye Armor flashed with a message from the referee.
Referee: Emergency situation. Competition paused. Do not move.
Zhang Yu froze. This was the first time he’d ever seen a referee speak during a match.
What’s happening?
As the golden light receded, all the zombies’ Spirit Armors were stamped with a First Layer Mosaic.
Zhang Yu blinked. Then it hit him.
Shit… Ji Hu Corp’s worried about brand damage. They’re censoring the Ji Hu armor on the zombies?
Referee: Competition resumed.
The battlefield surged back to life.
Zhang Yu raised his hand, unleashing a palm strike. The raw power of Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power erupted like a wall of mountains, blocking the oncoming zombies.
Then, with a flick of his fingers, he reached out—aiming to seize them mid-air and hurl them toward Xianbing University’s construction zone.
But as the zombies were caught, their Spirit Armors writhed violently.
In the Lingjie network, a command flashed: Self-Detonation.
Their long-standing craving—finally fulfilled.
The explosions tore through the arena, each a deafening cry of release.
And with them, a massive cloud of Saiqi erupted—spreading wildly, unchecked, poisoning both sides.
Zhang Yu’s eyes sharpened.
So Xianbing University wants to flood the entire arena with Saiqi? They must be confident in their protection tech.
On the opposite side, Wan Gouxuan watched with a cold smile.
Wanfa University… you live in paradise. You breathe clean air, study without protection. How could you possibly understand what we endure?
Spreading Saiqi across the battlefield? To you, it’s hell. To us… it’s just normal.
He repeated to himself: Stay patient. Stay patient. One step at a time. Don’t let him escape.
(End of Chapter)
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