Chapter 350: Zhang Yu Takes First Place

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

“Li Xiao…” Tu Lishan gestured for Li Xiao to strike the outer wall of the bunker.

Li Xiao threw out a palm. A blast of Martial Qi howled like cannon fire and slammed into the wall.

But the wall didn’t so much as tremble. Instead, Li Xiao felt a powerful counterforce rebound into him. He staggered back several steps, shock flashing in his eyes.

“How can it still be this sturdy after taking so much damage?” he exclaimed. “What kind of material is this?”

“It’s Zhang Yu’s digestive waste,” Tu Lishan said, gesturing at the entire bunker. “Most of this structure was built with the byproducts of Zhang Yu’s digestion.”

He pointed to a rough patch of ridged textures on the inside wall. “See that? Those are stomach patterns—marks left behind during the high-pressure churning in his gut. It’s the trace of his digestion.”

“Besides the Martial Qi construction, Zhang Yu used his body’s high-temperature, high-pressure environment to repeatedly temper the building materials.”

“He stripped away impurities and retained only the indigestible essence to forge ultra-high-strength material for the build.”

“And the entire process took him three straight hours of digestion.”

Hearing this, Gongshu Jin was stunned. He recalled the monstrous appetite Zhang Yu had displayed at a previous gathering and thought, “His digestion is even more terrifying than I’d imagined. He can really do this?”

Li Xiao was even more horrified. “So the material for this bunker… came out of Zhang Yu? He built this while—while relieving himself for three hours straight?!”

…

Elsewhere, Director Lin studied the construction logs. Watching Zhang Yu devour massive loads of building material, spit out impurities, and finally regurgitate only the densest, most resilient portions, his expression turned complex.

This structure wasn’t just reinforced through superior construction techniques—it had already surpassed all others in material quality.

Beside him, Director Gao of the War Faction examined one of the support columns and murmured, “In civil engineering, it’s always about the materials and the method.”

“Without strong enough materials or truly ingenious technique, how would the flourishing age of Kunxu even be possible?”

“Take the university city beneath our feet. A thousand years ago, even with unlimited resources, they couldn’t have built this.”

…

Li Xiao wasn’t the only one shocked. All the students watching footage of Zhang Yu fell into a stunned silence.

Ying Xin pointed out, “It wasn’t just three hours of excretion.”

“Zhang Yu was eating, digesting, and constructing nonstop. Three full hours. He elevated the quality of this bunker to a whole new level.”

Tu Lishan added, “Let’s avoid calling it excretion. What Zhang Yu did was material transport—relocating construction material from the warehouse into his gut, and from his gut to the job site.”

“In short, Zhang Yu’s performance today was a full-spectrum victory: digestion, construction, physical foundation, and professional expertise.”

Li Xiao knew Tu Lishan was right. Even achieving one of those feats would be impossible for him—but Zhang Yu had excelled in all of them, outclassing every student on site.

Under the weight of countless gazes—shocked, admiring, envious, or resentful—Zhang Yu quietly activated the camera function of his EyeNet skull implant and recorded the moment.

He made sure to take a few extra shots of Ji Yuanshu’s sour expression.

…

Back with the instructors, Director Lin of the Peace Faction snorted at Director Gao’s remarks. “Sure, materials and engineering matter here.”

“But if neither of us are doing the work, someone else will.”

“You’re right. A thousand years ago, no one could’ve built this university city.”

“But those who controlled vast wealth and resources back then—they’re the ones still alive today. Materials, techniques—whatever’s developed will always benefit them.”

Director Gao’s projection flickered, his Dao robe billowing in irritation. “Stubborn fool. Didn’t you see today’s results? Zhang Yu won outright against Ji Yuanshu with sheer grit and real power!”

“Oh?” Director Lin smiled coolly. “And you call that real power? Gao, you’re not old in years, but your thinking sure is ancient.”

“Listen to what the students are saying.”

…

A student from the Foundation Establishment class commented, “Zhang Yu may have beaten Ji Yuanshu today, but he didn’t spend much money. Kinda feels like he’s lacking in backing—not sustainable, you know? Not real hard power.”

Another chimed in, “He’s lacking in background, sure, but a win’s a win. He might actually take first place in the whole class this year.”

…

Director Lin smirked. “Hear that? Money is king. That’s what real strength is. Your ideas are outdated. Keep clinging to them, and you’ll be left behind.”

Director Gao scoffed. “Hmph. No matter how much you talk, Zhang Yu won this round…”

He stopped short as the final scores and rankings for the semester came in.

With their clearance level, both directors instantly accessed the backend data.

Director Lin’s expression stiffened. Director Gao’s smile deepened. “If Ji Yuanshu had stuck to his field, he might not have lost.”

“But he chose to double major in finance and stake everything on his luck—and now he’s lost even worse.”

“Just like what you’re doing now. Have you thought about the consequences if you lose?”

Seeing the final rankings, Director Lin snorted but said nothing. His spiritual projection quietly dissipated.

Director Gao stared after him, his gaze sharpening—then gradually softened again.

He turned to face Zhang Yu’s direction and smiled. “No one expected anything from you, yet you surprised us all.”

He’d never placed much hope in Zhang Yu outperforming Ji Yuanshu. But the final exam had delivered a stunning reversal.

“We should increase our investment in Zhang Yu.”

“And, per our agreement, accept him as a registered disciple.”

“There’s also the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might…”

Director Gao’s thoughts turned to Gongshu Jin.

Originally, the War Faction had planned for Gongshu Jin to inherit the Mountain-Moving Might.

But after today’s performance, Zhang Yu had clearly surpassed him.

“Let’s swap them. Give that legacy to Zhang Yu instead.”

“Give him another push. Let’s see if he can earn a military permit.”

…

Outside the exam grounds, now that the test had officially ended, the site was unsealed and the medical teams rushed in.

They quickly located the bodies, set up a perimeter, and started treatment—while projecting advertisements overhead.

“Still worried about Qi deviation?”

“Still scared of dropping dead from overwork during exam prep?”

“Want to risk your life on a crucial exam, go all out, and leave no regrets?”

“HeartWound Medical—freedom to die, whenever you choose.”

As the medics excavated the bunker and retrieved Ji Yuanshu’s corpse for emergency revival, many students watched in amazement.

Some, after scanning the ads, marveled, “Damn, that service is expensive.”

Others thought, “Wait, Ji Yuanshu called in a Death-Rescue team? He’s loaded!”

Still others stared at his corpse in awe. “Rich folks, man. Even their corpses look heroic when they come back to life.”

Ji Yuanshu, now a spiritual projection in the Realm Network, watched it all unfold.

In his original plan, he would seize first place, the medical team would dig him out, and he would rise from the dead before a crowd of admirers.

That moment would secure him overwhelming popularity and a surge in luck.

But now, everything had gone wrong.

As his body was unearthed, Ji Yuanshu felt like nothing more than a stepping stone—trampled under Zhang Yu’s feet.

Because the students were beginning to understand just how he’d died.

Ying Xin, looking at his corpse, was stunned. “He… he used a sacrificial ritual? He bet his life on this? Zhang Yu… won against someone who put their life on the line?”

She quickly calculated, “Before this exam, Ji Yuanshu’s overall score was higher. But given this gap in performance… maybe Zhang Yu really overtook him.”

On the other side, Gongshu Jin stared at Zhang Yu in shock. “Even staking his life wasn’t enough for Ji Yuanshu to win? I wonder what the final rankings say…”

If Tu Lishan’s earlier analysis had proven Zhang Yu’s strength—

Then the moment Ji Yuanshu’s corpse was dragged out, everyone truly grasped how powerful Zhang Yu was.

Meanwhile, electricity sparked across Ji Yuanshu’s body. His heart started beating. Blood began to circulate again.

His brain resumed activity.

And his soul projection from the Realm Network was guided back into his body.

When Ji Yuanshu opened his eyes, the lead doctor smiled. “Welcome back, Mr. Ji.”

“We’re going to run some cognitive function tests…”

But Ji Yuanshu didn’t respond.

The instant his mind rebooted, he sensed his stored-up luck boiling like magma in his sea of consciousness, threatening to burst out.

He barely suppressed it using the coin-shaped artifact in his mind, his face darkening.

He understood perfectly: the moment tonight’s rankings updated, if he landed beneath Zhang Yu, the backlash would be unbearable.

…

Elsewhere, Zhang Yu turned to Yu Xinghan beside him and clapped him on the shoulder.

“Xinghan, what’s wrong?”

Yu Xinghan replied, “Zhang Yu, I… I… I’m just so freaking happy for you.”