Chapter 397: The Joy of Victory

Inside the Magnetic Channel.

Gongshu Jin surged forward at high speed while skimming through the EyeNet messages flashing across his ocular husk.

The moment his score update came through, he wasted no time posting on his social feed—bragging about clinching seventh place in the Civil Engineering Competition and winning usage rights for the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal.

In Gongshu Jin’s mind, this was only natural. If you made progress, you had to show it off—loudly. How else would your loan limit increase? How would family bonds deepen? How would you sustain kinship, or maintain ties with your classmates?

Sure enough, the moment his post went live, a flurry of messages followed.

Some congratulated him. Others asked for details. Some wondered if he needed emergency funds. Still others flooded him with promotions—peddling pills, Dao Techniques, or various immortality products at discounted rates.

Even some upper-level locals from the Fourth Floor, who happened to be stuck on the Second Floor, reached out to him.

Gongshu Jin had added a few such seniors to his contacts via the shared “Fourth-Floorers Trapped on Second Floor” alumni groups. But within the Civil Engineering Department, where he lacked an all-department ranking and wasn’t even the top of his class, he’d never been particularly noteworthy among his Fourth-Floor peers.

To receive outreach from them now filled Gongshu Jin with a distinct sense of glee.

Just then, a new message came in.

Ji Yuanshu: Gongshu Jin, hello.

Gongshu Jin raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? Isn’t this the former top student in class—now dropped to fifth—Ji Yuanshu?”

With the latest round of competition scores settled, the previously close rankings had shuffled dramatically.

Former third, fourth, and fifth—Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin, and Yu Xinghan—each rose a rank, pushing Ji Yuanshu down to fifth.

Every time he thought about how the once-untouchable Sixth-Floor elite was now firmly beneath his feet, Gongshu Jin felt his money had been well spent.

Gongshu Jin: What’s up?

Ji Yuanshu: Did the other portion of your team's Seven Absolutes score get awarded to Zhang Yu?

Gongshu Jin: Yes.

Ji Yuanshu: The War Faction really backed you guys, huh?

Gongshu Jin: Without Director Gao’s support, we wouldn’t have made it this far.

Ji Yuanshu: 👍

After the brief exchange, a thought began to take shape in Gongshu Jin’s mind.

“If I can complete three doors of the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes ahead of Ji Yuanshu and master the Small Threefold Harmony, then maybe I can stay one step ahead of him my entire civil engineering career.”

But how?

He had once tried dumping money on himself. Failed.

Later, he funded the competition team—and scored the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal.

“More precisely, I bet on Zhang Yu. And that bet paid off.”

“I need to keep my relationship with Zhang Yu strong. If another opportunity like this comes, I need to seize it hard.”

“What does Zhang Yu like, anyway?”

His mind scanned what he knew of Zhang Yu.

“Overtime? Pills? Meals? Massages?”

…

Ying Clan Ancestral Group Chat

Ying Xin: I got seventh in the Civil Engineering Competition!

Ying Xin: [Ranking Screenshot Attached]

Third-Generation Clan Head: Excellent. Did the bone ash help?

Ying Xin: Great-grandfather, your bone ash spread across the arena is the only reason we held the upper hand in the first half of the last match.

Fifth-Generation Clan Head: You’re now a loyal disciple of the War Faction. Next up, find yourself a solid mentor.

Fifth-Generation Matriarch: If you need more bone ash, just say the word. We’ll send another batch.

Fourth-Generation Clan Head: And about that Zhang Yu—do your best to build ties with him. If possible, get him into our clan.

Ying Xin: I already tried probing. But I get the feeling he’s the ascetic type—focused solely on cultivation and overtime.

Bathed in the love and attention of her elders, Ying Xin smiled faintly.

Then her eyes narrowed. “Where’s the Progenitor?”

Fifth-Gen Clan Head: First-Gen’s thoughts are currently frozen.

Fifth-Gen Clan Head: The cost of maintaining his consciousness keeps rising. He’s frozen most of the time now to minimize fees.

Fifth-Gen Clan Head: But no worries. As long as we keep paying on time, he’ll hold on.

Ying Xin sighed inwardly. Even if they could extend his survival, as more descendants went into stasis and the living grew ever more estranged from the First-Gen, the day they stopped paying was only a matter of time.

Unless one of them struck it rich, rose to fame, and earned enough to fund their ancestors for another round—until the next shortfall came again.

…

Yu Xinghan deployed his Three-Eyed Divine Sight, scanning every microtwitch in Shi Huaiyu’s muscles.

Then he channeled power through his fingers, pressing it deep into her body.

A stream of mana followed, flowing into her meridians.

This was a massage Technique Yu Xinghan had learned from a professor of Construction Site Health Management. It soothed muscle fibers, reduced meridian wear, and boosted mana training efficiency.

But during his studies, Yu Xinghan also realized: it was just as effective at destroying muscle and meridian pathways—a lethal assassination technique in disguise.

When he asked the professor about it, the man chuckled. “True, it incorporates elements of ancient killing arts.”

“But you know the modern truth: assassinations are all about money. With cash, kill however you want. Without it, you can’t even afford to murder a mortal. Old techniques are useless.”

“You’ve got talent in rehabilitation and therapy. With the shifting tides in academia and the specter of war looming, there’s a huge market for this—beyond just construction sites. Keep at it.”

Shi Huaiyu let out a satisfied moan, prompting Yu Xinghan to suggest, “Senior, I can also do kidney upkeep next. Want to sign up for a membership?”

“Cheaper than any spa package.”

Over the past few weeks, Yu Xinghan had turned nearly the entire competition team into regular clients—and through them, started acquiring upperclassmen customers as well.

Seeing his rising composite scores and income, Yu Xinghan couldn’t help but feel grateful for joining the team.

Just then, a message came in from Lian Tianji.

Lian Tianji: Brother Xinghan, just saw your post—congrats on placing seventh!

Yu Xinghan: I saw your photo too. That girl next to you—classmate from Pleasure and Harmony University?

Lian Tianji: That

was

me.

Yu Xinghan: Huh?

Lian Tianji: After reaching Foundation Establishment, I transferred to the Yang-Polarity Foundation Class here. Only the top student gets to be male.

Yu Xinghan: Huh??!!

Lian Tianji: In the Yin-Polarity class, top student becomes female.

Lian Tianji: I thought it over before choosing—bitterness first, sweetness later.

Just then, Shi Huaiyu yelped, “Yu Xinghan, what are you doing?!”

Yu Xinghan quickly apologized and refocused on his technique.

But in his mind, a voice echoed.

“Zhang Yu! Pleasure and Harmony University might not be our promised land…”

“But as tourists—maybe...”

Yu Xinghan had to admit, he was intrigued.

Then another message popped up—Li Xuelian.

Li Xuelian: Not bad. Guess training you and Zhang Yu paid off.

Li Xuelian: I’ve put you in touch with some injured students from the Security Department.

Li Xuelian: Try turning them into clients.

…

Yu Xinghan returned to the dorm, ready to share the Pleasure and Harmony intel with Zhang Yu—but a glance showed he was on a call with Bai Zhenzhen.

Bai Zhenzhen beamed, “Your team took seventh in the department competition?”

Zhang Yu nodded and started recounting their journey, prompting Bai Zhenzhen’s smile to widen.

Bai Zhenzhen: “Nice! That means we’re both one step closer to the Ten Sect Leagues.”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Mm. Ah-Zhen, let’s keep getting stronger. Maybe we’ll enter a sect together someday.”

From the corner, Fu Ji scoffed inwardly. “One’s in interschool tournaments, the other’s in a department competition. That’s a

huge

gap… and Bai Zhenzhen’s still hyping him up?”

Bai Zhenzhen: “By the way—did Mom’s Green-Silk Flying Sword work well during the match?”

Zhang Yu: “It worked great. Just didn’t have enough of them. Think I can get a few more?”

Bai Zhenzhen: “You think I can just yank strands of hair at will? That sword’s forged with Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship—it’s not easy to replicate.”

“And besides, the more you grow, the less it’ll keep up. You’ll need new artifacts eventually.”

Zhang Yu shook his head. “No need to swap it out. Even if it’s not for fighting, it’s great for connectivity. I want to keep it with me.”

Bai Zhenzhen’s curiosity piqued. “You keep it on you?”

Zhang Yu raised his right hand with a grin—the Green-Silk Flying Sword was looped like a ring around his finger. “Always. Lets me stay online outdoors, and cuts through building materials on-site. Super convenient.”

Bai Zhenzhen squinted. “So when you’re, y’know… having fun, you wear it too?”

Zhang Yu froze. Then barked, “That’s not

fun

! That’s

work

. That’s how I earn money. Don’t forget—you made it through high school because of me putting in work, one ‘session’ at a time!”

Bai Zhenzhen: “Right, right… ‘work.’”

Then she added, “Oh, and could you stop egging Wen Wuya on with all that nonsense?”

Zhang Yu nodded. “A few posts a day earns me money. I can’t stop now.”

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes. “Every time he sees me, he won’t shut up about civil engineering. About construction sites. I’m sick of it.”

Zhang Yu said, “I’ll think of something.”

After she hung up, a voice echoed in Bai Zhenzhen’s ear—Seven Sentiments Lord.

“You two… what do you take Wen Wuya for?”

Startled, Bai Zhenzhen thumped her chest and replied, “Zhang Yu’s wallet, obviously.”

Seven Sentiments Lord asked curiously, “Even now, you don’t feel Zhang Yu is far beneath you?”

“Not just him. Even his department’s top student is nowhere near Wen Wuya’s level.”

“Wen Wuya is your equal. From a long-term view, he’s the better connection.”

Bai Zhenzhen responded, “Mom, if everything’s about money and benefit, then what’s the point of emotions? How would I train in Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship?”

Seven Sentiments Lord replied coolly, “If wealth and benefit are woven into the emotional spectrum—why

not

incorporate them into your sword path?”

Bai Zhenzhen said softly, “But if I can transcend all of that—rely on pure, intense emotion to fuel my sword intent—wouldn’t

that

be what you’ve always wanted?”

“Trying to guess my thoughts?” Seven Sentiments Lord chuckled. “Time and life at the Nascent Soul stage are far more expansive than you imagine. Instead of second-guessing me, why not spend more time recognizing what you truly feel deep inside?”