Chapter 292: Botched Exam Performance, Construction Site Offer

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

In Dao Heart class.

The Foundation Establishment class students all sat up straight, eyes fixed on Feng Jiu on the podium.

Feng Jiu said coolly, “Willpower is the most direct reflection of your Dao Heart. Today’s exam is simple: being burned alive.”

As the students donned their Spiritual Realm Masks, their consciousnesses instantly entered the Spiritual Realm.

Unlike the EyeNet, which only projected an augmented overlay of the Spiritual Realm onto reality, this time, they truly felt as if their spirits had entered it.

The next moment, searing flames engulfed them, and screams erupted throughout the room.

Simultaneously, Feng Jiu, as the Artifact Spirit, descended into the exam arena within the Spiritual Realm, gazing at the students who had turned into human fireballs.

She focused first on Ji Yuanshu, the top student in the class.

He was currently the only one in class who had reached Dao Heart Level 12. Even with fire consuming him, his expression remained calm, as if the blaze wasn’t fire at all but merely a warm breeze.

Ji Yuanshu’s gaze was steady as he mused, “I do this kind of Spiritual Realm training for over two hours every day. This level of intensity is nothing.”

Feng Jiu silently recorded: “Ji Yuanshu—extremely high Dao Heart potential. Tentatively selected as a competitor for next year’s Spiritual Realm Tournament.”

Next, she turned her attention to Gongshu Jin, the second-ranked student.

His Dao Heart was the closest to Level 12 in the class. Though his brows were furrowed slightly, he gritted his teeth and endured the flames.

Gongshu Jin thought, “After this exam, I need to spend more Spirit Coins on Spiritual Realm training. Time to get a membership to keep myself disciplined.”

Feng Jiu noted: “Gongshu Jin—second in Dao Heart strength. Tentatively selected as a competitor for next year’s Spiritual Realm Tournament.”

After surveying a few more students, her gaze fell on Zhang Yu. She wrote: “Zhang Yu—possibly built his Foundation early, higher-level Heart Technique. Shows decent Dao Heart potential but is still slightly below the tournament standard. Listed as a backup candidate.”

…

In Mana class.

Li Mingbo watched the students pour Mana into testing devices, focusing mainly on Ji Yuanshu and Gongshu Jin.

“From Ji Yuanshu’s purchase records on the Mana Platform, he buys both high- and low-quality Mana in large quantities.”

“Looks like he uses the high-quality Mana to infuse his body, improving its quality, and the low-quality stuff for using his Law Husk via the Spiritual Realm Network plugins.”

“He doesn’t use his own Mana for anything except cultivation… Extravagant.”

Though a bit envious, Li Mingbo was mostly pleased.

After all, Ji Yuanshu’s bulk purchases on the Mana Platform earned him a hefty commission.

“And Gongshu Jin isn’t bad either. I heard he lives in the most luxurious Upper Dorms. Every day after returning, he swaps into a Law Husk specifically designed for Mana cultivation. No wonder his progress is so rapid—just a notch behind Ji Yuanshu.”

“Hmm, Li Xiao’s improvement curve is on the rise again. Pity he’s from the First Floor. I’m worried he’ll lose steam later.”

Li Mingbo’s gaze drifted over Zhang Yu. “This Zhang Yu too—if he can maintain this performance, cracking the top 100 of the Civil Engineering Department’s Foundation Establishment students in a few years shouldn’t be an issue.”

“But the hard part is maintaining it.”

The Civil Engineering top 100 included Foundation Establishment students from all years. In Li Mingbo’s view, a First Floor student needed time to accumulate experience; only as a senior could they hope to break in.

…

At the Body Refining class testing grounds.

Lang Yougong addressed the students, “You can’t measure physical strength purely by numbers.”

“Your body’s tolerance for medicine, control over your muscles, reaction time, agility, technique… these only truly show themselves in actual combat.”

“Three months of basics are over. Today, we see what you’ve really learned…”

As Lang Yougong spoke, Zhang Yu glanced at the surrounding students, thinking, “If I’m hiding my real data, the Anti-Detection Ritual handles that. But how do I act during the practical test?”

“I can’t outperform my recorded stats too much—that’d be too conspicuous.”

He looked at Li Xiao. “This guy’s ranked just one below me.”

“Guess I just have to do slightly better than him.”

In the strength test, right after Li Xiao roared and lifted a heavy weight, Zhang Yu followed suit with a slightly heavier lift.

In the agility test, Li Xiao strained to dodge increasingly fast balls for a full minute—Zhang Yu endured for three seconds more.

Before the speed test, Li Xiao accepted a delivery package and thought, “Zhang Yu… he’s clearly treating me as his biggest rival.”

He could tell Zhang Yu had been watching him closely during the tests, and each time he barely outperformed Li Xiao, he’d hit his own limit.

“Clearly, my challenge motivated him to dig deeper.”

“Maybe he even took some harmful booster pills just to win.”

“But it’s mutual, Zhang Yu… you’ve fired me up too.”

Li Xiao swallowed a newly bought berserker pill. As his body began to heat up, he resolved, “Even if I need a few days to recover after this, I’ll beat you in this round!”

At the speed test, Li Xiao shot forward like a bolt of lightning… chasing right behind Zhang Yu.

His heart pounded like a drum as his limbs pumped with all their might…

But the faster he went, the faster Zhang Yu moved too—he just couldn’t catch up.

Staring at Zhang Yu’s back, Li Xiao felt like he was facing the gates of a construction site—so close he could step in, yet always just out of reach.

“Damn it… Why’s it so hard to get into the site?”

Zhang Yu, carefully controlling his speed to stay ahead, thought, “That should be fine now.”

Noticing Li Xiao’s grief-stricken glare, he sighed, “Come on, I only beat you by one spot. No need to take it so hard.”

But then the results appeared: “Huh? I ranked fifth in physical tests?”

Zhang Yu frowned at Li Xiao. “Did that guy… hide his real strength too? Should’ve picked someone else to pace myself with.”

“Oh well, my previous performance was solid. Overperforming a bit now isn’t that strange, right?”

Lang Yougong smiled at Zhang Yu. “Keep working hard. At this rate, you might qualify for the Civil Engineering Department competition next year.”

Elsewhere, a few higher-ups had been observing Zhang Yu and Li Xiao’s rivalry.

“Those two are definitely trying to one-up each other. Good—motivates both of them.”

“They ranked that high in the physical test?”

Ying Xin laughed, “Let’s see which of them burns through their money first. First Floor students don’t handle college life well—spending like crazy early on, advancing fast, then crashing hard. Seen it too many times.”

She’d already noticed Li Xiao was relying on loans to keep up. Deep down, she was just waiting for him to default so she could enjoy the show.

Seeing Li Xiao walking over, dazed and exhausted, Ying Xin called out with a grin, “Old Li, done with exams? Wanna hit the training room together?”

Li Xiao forced a smile and nodded. “Sure.”

…

During the major-specific exams.

Courses like Engineering Array Drafting, Martial Force Studies, and Construction Techniques included both written and practical tests.

Excavator Palm, Crane Claw, Sports Car Leg, Elevator Leap—Zhang Yu had already learned them and trained each to Level 10.

But more specialized Civil Engineering Techniques like Mixed Steel Qi, Hoisting Force, and Mountain-Back Dash—he barely had time to practice outside of class. He’d only scratched the surface.

Most of his time and energy had gone into Techniques related to the Earth-Wood Saint Body.

Still, after just three months, the teachers didn’t expect mastery. Zhang Yu’s performance didn’t particularly stand out.

Gongshu Jin, watching Zhang Yu, thought, “My friend here’s got no martial aptitude, but his base stats are excellent—even if he’s not catching up to me, he’s solid.”

“Probably threw a lot of resources at it.”

…

That night, exam results were fully tallied.

6th place: Zhang Yu, Composite Score: 688

7th place: Li Xiao, Composite Score: 682

Looking at the final rankings after three months, Li Xiao felt a bit dazed.

Just as he thought Zhang Yu had stolen his spot on the construction site, Tu Lishan’s message gave him new hope.

“Li Xiao, not every student gets a shot at the site right after enrollment. I fought hard to get this one opening—for an exceptional student.”

“Saw how hard you’ve been working. I really admire that.”

“Your scores are a bit lower than Zhang Yu’s, but I believe in you. The moment I saw you, I knew—you’re a construction site kind of guy.”

“Here’s the deal: send me 20% of your monthly site earnings, and I’ll make the arrangements to guarantee your spot.”

…

Back at the dorm.

Zhang Yu showed off his sixth-place rank and asked Zhang Pianpian, “Sis, I messed up a bit on the exam. Is sixth place too flashy?”

Zhang Pianpian sighed. “A little… but it’s still fine. What went wrong this time?”

Zhang Yu sighed too. “Picked the wrong benchmark.”

“I chose that Li Xiao as my reference. Turns out he’s been hiding his strength.”

“Maybe he picked me as a benchmark too—trying to stay right behind me.”

“So I picked him as mine—trying to stay ahead.”

“One chases, one runs… next thing you know, we both bumped up in rank.”

He shook his head. “The Top Ten is full of monsters. I’m not the only one with talent.”

Zhang Pianpian nodded slightly. “Well, it can’t be helped. Sixth place isn’t too flashy. Just hold that spot for now—don’t leap ahead again so easily.”

At that moment, the door opened and Yu Xinghan walked in, bearing the proud rank of eleventh.

He asked, “Zhang Yu, did Teacher Tu talk to you about the construction site?”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Said to report in a few days.”

Yu Xinghan: “Did he mention anything about kicking back part of your pay?”