Chapter 316: Let the Prodigies Duel

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

On the surveillance feed, Gongshu Jin and Zhang Yu had both entered the 463rd floor of Wanfa University City.

They stepped into the gravity simulation chamber to begin the Strength Trial.

Just like the previous Speed Trial, this test also assessed the students’ physical attributes under the circulation of their Techniques.

The exam itself was simple: endure as the chamber steadily increased gravitational pressure.

Though the premise was basic, Tu Lishan knew the rising gravity multipliers provided a comprehensive evaluation of bodily performance.

“Because it’s passively endured,” he said, “it allows for an extreme assessment of the body's full capabilities.”

“Gongshu Jin has three Law Husks integrated—he should have an advantage here.”

…

Inside the simulation chamber.

As the chamber's Force Mechanics Array activated, both Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin felt the disturbance of Earthforce Gravity.

A vague mountain shadow manifested in the air, and “2x Gravity” appeared in their ocular HUDs.

Zhang Yu stared at the spectral mountain, feeling as though it had dropped straight onto his shoulders. A faint heaviness spread through his limbs.

But he’d long trained under the pressure of the Nine Hells Mountain-Suppressing Belt. With that belt temporarily removed for the exam, mere 2x gravity barely registered in his mind.

Every ten seconds, the multiplier increased by one.

So long as the student didn’t voluntarily quit or suffer life-threatening damage, the Array wouldn’t stop amplifying the gravitational force.

After 100 seconds, Zhang Yu was under 12x gravity.

His organs were sinking, and pressure radiated through his muscles and bones—but he hadn’t yet activated any Technique. He simply regulated his breathing, conserving energy and Mana.

Beside him, Gongshu Jin stood unshaken under the same weight.

On their way to the chamber, he’d already swapped out his stored Techniques—replacing them with the Level-20 defensive Technique, Grand Might Battleplate.

After another 120 seconds, Zhang Yu hit 24x gravity.

His body surged with power as he activated the War Demon Life-Draining Technique, temporarily increasing his physical strength by 0.5 levels to withstand the mounting pressure.

Thanks to his Earth-Wood Saint Body, along with regenerative Body-Refining Techniques, Zhang Yu bore the strain without much burden.

Threads of Martial Qi burst forth from within.

At the Foundation Establishment Realm, the integration of body, Mana, and Martial Qi grew tighter. The Martial Qi wrapped around his flesh like armor, bolstering his frame.

On the other side, Gongshu Jin activated his Blood Qi Sutra. Mana surged through his bloodstream, igniting his body like a furnace.

Then he summoned the Grand Might Battleplate again from his spinal Law Husk.

Mana coursed through his body as dark gold patterns glowed on his skin—he now looked like he wore golden armor.

His strength soared. Martial Qi followed next.

The spinal Law Husk gave him unparalleled reinforcement.

Feeling like a mountain under 24x gravity, Gongshu Jin glanced at the flushed Zhang Yu and thought, “He’s already using the War Demon Life-Draining Technique? At just 24x?”

“Seems like he’s close to his limit.”

He casually continued enduring the rising pressure.

But Zhang Yu let the gravity grind his flesh, organs, blood vessels, and nerves. He didn’t activate his Body-Refining Techniques to heal.

The War Demon Life-Draining Technique pushed his strength from 0.5 to 1.2 levels.

The stronger he grew, the more damage he took—yet that only amplified the effects of his Earth-Wood Saint Body.

Not just its second-tier lifespan mitigation, but also its first-tier resistances, helping him resist the crushing force.

And ever since he reinforced himself with Spiritsteel Alloy, Zhang Yu had appreciated the benefits of upgraded bone structure.

Stronger bones didn’t just mean better offensive potential—they meant withstanding heavier burdens.

His bones were like leverage bars: the sturdier they were, the more they could endure and amplify force.

So as the external pressure intensified, Zhang Yu’s reinforced skeleton held firm—like steel beams in a skyscraper.

Meanwhile, his War Demon Life-Draining Technique, Martial Qi, and Earth-Wood Saint Body turned his flesh into layers of concrete—adhering to, and bolstering, his inner frame.

With each increase, his injuries worsened, but so too did his resilience.

From the outside, though, he looked like he was suffering terribly.

His skin flushed crimson as if blood might leak from his pores.

Blood began to drip from the corners of his eyes, a sign of internal hemorrhaging.

Capillaries burst beneath his skin, forming strange blood-patterns across his body.

Gongshu Jin observed this, at first with condescension.

“He’s pushing himself too far.”

“Can he even afford the hospital bill?”

Seeing Zhang Yu bleeding from his seven orifices, he scoffed. “This isn’t how the Immortal Path works.”

“If winning were as simple as risking your life, what’s the point of spending all that money?”

With his Vajra-Forged Law Husk, Level-20 Techniques, premium pharmaceuticals, and a mountain of Spiritual Coins, Gongshu Jin looked down at Zhang Yu like a clown.

Yet as Zhang Yu fought through 30x, then 40x, then 50x gravity, Gongshu Jin’s emotions rollercoastered—from disdain to surprise, then to pure confusion.

“What the hell?”

“How is he still standing?”

“Is he insane?”

“Why hasn’t he collapsed?”

Only when the coppery tang of his own blood filled his nostrils, when internal hemorrhaging churned his guts, and his bones began creaking under strain—

Only when he finally collapsed, the pressure lifted from his broken body.

He looked up to see Zhang Yu still standing.

Blood-soaked, trembling—but upright under 55x gravity. A red titan defying the crushing sky.

Gongshu Jin could no longer comprehend.

He had walked into this exam full of confidence, brimming with resources, aiming to surpass Ji Yuanshu.

But in the final trial, he’d been left behind—utterly eclipsed by a first-tier nobody with no money.

60x gravity.

Gongshu Jin trembled. “Impossible…”

…

“Incredible.”

Tu Lishan watched the replay again and again. “Final result… 64x gravity.”

“Zhang Yu actually lasted this long?”

“That’s not just reckless effort—it means his physical limits already exceed Gongshu Jin’s by far.”

“Did it come from those three months of wilderness training?”

He sighed. “Looks like he really does have extraordinary physique and regeneration. Otherwise, he couldn’t have recovered from so many rounds of medicinal trauma to awaken his body’s potential.”

Director Gao nodded, a smile curling at his lips. “Zhang Yu’s a genius. A desperate one—but a genius worth grooming.”

“Of course, teaching must match the student.”

“Gongshu Jin has money and high Immortal Path potential. We invest in him, we profit more with each step he grows stronger.”

“Zhang Yu also needs investment—but mostly relies on his own grind. Low cost, rapid returns, high yield.”

Tu Lishan nodded slightly. “His only flaw is his shortened lifespan. He won’t be able to work as long.”

Director Gao laughed heartily. “Times are changing. Dragons and snakes rise together.”

“One genius buys his way up. One bleeds his way up. Both belong to our Civil Engineering Department.”

“So let the prodigies duel the prodigies. Let them push one another. That’s how legends are born.”

He waved a hand. “Get the back-end to finish calculating results. I want to see the updated rankings.”

“Oh, and ask… forget it. Just buy a few of Zhang Yu’s body samples.”

He planned to consult with the Breeding Department at Demon-Beast University—to see whether Zhang Yu’s traits could be mass-produced.

…

Outside the testing hall.

Zhang Yu checked his scores via his Law Husk, only to find the results weren’t out yet.

As for rankings, they wouldn't update until midnight.

“Sigh. Guess I’ll be stuck at Rank 28 for now.”

Wiping the worst of the blood away, he was about to leave when he heard Gongshu Jin’s voice from behind.

“Zhang Yu…” Gongshu Jin stared at him. “In just three months… you actually surpassed me?”

“What did you do these past three months?”

“Win the lottery?”

“Get lucky at gambling?”

Zhang Yu considered, then said, “Ate my fill every day. Took life-shortening meds every day. Worked overtime—never more than 24 hours a day.”

“Did that for three months. That’s all.”

As he turned to leave, Gongshu Jin barked, “I’m not done talking! Where are you going?”

Zhang Yu waved casually. “The exam’s over. I’m heading to the construction site for a shift.”

“Besides, we’re in the Civil Engineering Department. If we’re not working overtime on-site, what else would we be doing?”