CHAPTER 226: VICTORY OR DEFEAT

The first trial was a test to determine whose physique was stronger and held greater potential—Zhang Yu or Ye Lingxiao—using the performance mode of the Blacksteel Spirit Root.

The initial plan had been to judge based on the maximum output the Spirit Root reached. But unexpectedly, both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao pushed the power of the Divine-Grade Spirit Root to a full 100% during the test.

This immediately stirred a flurry of discussion in the internal network among the five Righteous Gods overseeing the exam.

One minor god said, “We thought the Heavenly Spirit Root’s ceiling was too low to distinguish between them, so we brought out the Divine-Grade one instead. Who would've thought they could push the Blacksteel Spirit Root all the way to 100%?”

Another added, “If both hit 100% output, how do we determine the winner?”

“We can’t call in the Celestial Spirit Root, can we? That’s only for the Ten Major Sects. The higher-ups definitely wouldn’t approve it for a Foundation Establishment exam…”

While the minor gods wavered in indecision, one of them sighed, “Based on Ye Lingxiao’s last performance, I assumed even if he improved, he’d only push the Spirit Root to 80 or 90 percent.”

“Didn’t expect that in just three months, he could reach new heights and develop his body to this extent.”

Huang Zichou nodded slightly, analyzing, “To refine the body to this level during the Qi Refinement Realm… advancing further, even just a bit, becomes nearly impossible.”

Just then, the chief examiner Deng Bingding said calmly, “If it were just muscles, fascia, bones, and internal organs, then yes—progress near the limit is nearly impossible.”

“But this kid Ye Lingxiao… he’s made progress in his brain.”

Huang Zichou was stunned. “His brain?”

He recalled Ye Lingxiao’s rambling, disjointed speech earlier and thought, “That’s progress?”

Deng Bingding, still watching Ye Lingxiao, continued on the internal network: “Ye Lingxiao has a perfect bloodline and picks up Techniques quickly.”

“But no matter how many Techniques you learn, a person can only use so many at once.”

“Yet just now, he activated far more Techniques simultaneously than before—nearly double.”

“That shows his mental capacity and thinking speed have improved. That’s why he could execute more Techniques at once.”

“And because most of his brainpower was diverted to combat functions, his other abilities—like speech—took a hit…”

The other Righteous Gods all nodded slightly at this. The brain, after all, was part of the physical body.

But for someone to refine their brain during Qi Refinement, especially on the First Floor of Kunxu, was exceedingly rare. None of them expected it from Ye Lingxiao. ṛãɴô𐌱Ęṥ

One minor god said, “Even if both hit 100%, Ye Lingxiao’s enhancement of mental and cognitive functions at this stage shows deeper refinement. He has more potential for Foundation Establishment.”

Another agreed, “I think this round should go to him.”

But Huang Zichou offered a different view. “Didn’t you notice Ye Lingxiao used drugs to reach that state?”

“And those consecutive surges from Zhang Yu—did you not see the sheer value in that?”

Recalling how Zhang Yu rose from 2.8 to 3.3 meters in height, Huang Zichou reflected, “That was clearly the Whale Tendon Transformation (Technique).”

“With his size and body strength, that first burst should’ve been his ceiling.”

“But he broke past that limit, which means what?”

“And the other Techniques he used—it was the same story each time.”

“It’s clear that in Zhang Yu’s hands, the upper limit of a Technique is simply higher.”

As Righteous Gods who had lived through countless years, the examiners had seen or heard of such rare physical talents before.

Some people just had that rare gift—the ability to unleash Techniques with far greater power than the average user.

Zhang Yu clearly had that gift.

Huang Zichou went on, “And look at how far he’s come, from the moment he first registered to now, in the final round.”

“With talent and growth like that, if he passes Foundation Establishment, his future prospects are far greater than Ye Lingxiao’s.”

Someone objected, “That’s just innate physique talent. Do you think any student who reaches Foundation doesn’t have talent? Ye Lingxiao, on the other hand, discovered a way to enhance his mind while still on Floor 1—that’s wisdom. That’s true potential.”

Another Righteous God added, “Zhang Yu can retake the exam next year. This is Ye Lingxiao’s last chance.”

While the Righteous Gods debated the result of the round, representatives in the audience were busy evaluating both candidates.

A vocational college instructor said, “Mark down both names. Once the exam ends, find a way to contact them. If we recruit even one of them, we’ll have another Foundation Establishment graduate!”

A colleague, less hopeful, replied, “You think students like them would go to a vocational college?”

“Why not?” the instructor shot back. “We have direct programs to transfer into universities! It won’t stop them from getting into a good school later.”

His colleague thought privately, “But attending our school would taint their records. It’d hurt their chances for higher education or job prospects.”

The instructor added, “Especially Zhang Yu—did you see his background? He’s poor. Should be easier to recruit than Ye Lingxiao.”

“Our college might lag behind others, but we can offer better benefits—ten spirit coins a year, any major he wants.”

“We could blow the entire recruiting budget on just him. It’d be worth more than a hundred mediocre students.”

Meanwhile, in another corner, a Huskyheaded representative from Wanfa Sect University said, “Not bad. If you don’t want them, our civil engineering department will gladly take them. With bodies like theirs, they'd be perfect for geospiritual surveys.”

The Catheaded rep replied coolly, “They’re not yet qualified for our finance department, but they could make it into the university.”

Though both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao had shown exceptional talent, in the Cathead’s mind, Ye Lingxiao was already poor—and Zhang Yu was super poor. And poverty, to him, meant lacking Immortal Path potential and foundation.

He thought to himself, “How could a pauper be fit for Wanfa’s finance department?”

Aloud, he said, “Still, the other universities seem interested. What are you offering?”

The Huskyhead said, “1.25 spirit coins a year—enough to keep them from having to borrow mana for work, so they can focus on their studies.”

The Cathead nodded slightly. “1.25 spirit coins is indeed sufficient for daily life.”

Elsewhere in the stands—

“Laughing-Crying Emoji” looked down at the exam field and said, “Mom, this Zhang Yu’s got potential. Once I go down, I want to bring him on board—have him and Ye Lingxiao both serve under me.”

“Smiling Emoji” furrowed her brows and replied with a seasoned tone, “Son, I was young once too. I also once supported a few poor talents.”

“You can recruit Zhang Yu—but remember this: people like them are not the same as us. If you treat them too well, you’ll only be doing them harm.”

“Favoring a dog is killing a dog. If you want to get the most out of someone poor, you’ve got to grind them down. Don’t be too kind too soon…”

“Laughing-Crying Emoji” wasn’t convinced. He believed in one thing: throwing money. In his world, there was no such thing as a loyal subordinate money couldn’t buy. If someone couldn’t be bought, the money just wasn’t enough.

While the various school reps continued commenting on the two examinees, the four minor gods in the internal network reached an impasse—and all turned to Chief Examiner Deng Bingding.

Deng Bingding said calmly, “Let’s call it a draw for now.”

“After all, neither of these kids has shown their full strength yet.”

His words left the minor gods momentarily stunned. Their eyes widened as they looked again at Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao with renewed surprise.

Huang Zichou muttered inwardly, “That still wasn’t their full strength?”

The five Righteous Gods continued exchanging thoughts at lightning speed in the internal network. Though the conversation was dense, from the outside, it passed in an instant.

Soon after, Huang Zichou announced the result of the first round: a tie. Both candidates would move forward with the same score.

The Foundation License would ultimately be awarded based on the combined score of the first, second, and third trials.

Meanwhile, in the center of the exam field, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao exchanged a glance—each sensing the rising battle spirit in the other.

Zhang Yu licked his lips. His bulging muscles slowly receded, returning to their normal size.

The burning heat in his body gradually subsided as the Cold-Flame Dual-Temper Body Technique began to cool him, relieving inflammation and swelling to aid his recovery.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “At the end there, I still hadn’t used the toxin burst from the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation. That wasn’t my full power yet.”

“Wonder how much the other guy’s still hiding?”

After a short while, once the damage from his earlier burst had mostly healed, Zhang Yu turned his focus to the Chain Diagram in the Feathered Tome, swapping out Techniques for a set of high school-level basics and switching the Martial Saint Embryo effect to the High School Saint Body.

It took Zhang Yu two or three seconds to complete the switch.

With the transition, all boosts from the Martial Saint Embryo were replaced by the High School Saint Body’s abilities—better nutrient absorption, faster metabolism, and enhanced drug processing.

The sudden surge of well-being from the absorbed medicines made Zhang Yu feel a wave of comfort.

Gathering toxins beneath the character for “Zen” etched into his chest, Zhang Yu smiled inwardly.

The real reason he took all those pills earlier wasn’t just to leech off them—but to increase his chances of winning the Foundation Establishment exam.