CHAPTER 428: CHAPTER 374 THROW ZHANG YU OVER THERE (REQUESTING MONTHLY TICKETS)

"After all, the number of Soul Cultivators is increasing every year, and in the future, Soul Cultivators will surely become cheaper."

"If university warfare breaks out, Soul Cultivators will experience explosive growth. Signing them early as regular employees would be a loss, wouldn’t it?"

"Moreover, these Soul Cultivators compete with each other best when they’re temp workers, which makes them work the hardest."

Su Yanyang is quite wealthy, but he has never been a generous person.

Because he believes that the wealthier one is, the more they should save money.

"Wealth is like cultivation on the Immortal Path; the higher your cultivation, the more severe the daily consumption. Wealth and power will continuously radiate to the poor through one’s actions, gradually dissipating."

"Only by reducing monetary loss and cultivation loss, not letting it flow to the poor, can one walk further on the Immortal Road."

"Even Immortals who step out of the Three Loans and don’t rely on the Five Insurances pursue the path of True Immortal without leakage, so what right do I have to squander money?"

...

Meanwhile, an increasingly fierce gale rose outside the field, swirling rapidly like a tornado.

At the center of the tornado, Ji Yuanshu was enveloped by the storm, his whole body spinning and accelerating.

"The gravitational field is unpredictable; using force to counter it is unwise."

"The most effective way should be to counter it with speed."

"No matter how complex the gravitational field changes, as long as I can pass through it at high speed in a short time, the force acting on me will be brief, leaving no time to alter my trajectory."

Boom!

Once the speed of sound

Twice the speed of sound

Three times the speed of sound!

As Ji Yuanshu accelerated fiercely, his figure became faster and more blurred, each movement causing thunderous roars.

"It’s about time..."

Feeling his body accelerating to the limit, Ji Yuanshu’s figure flashed, and he sprinted towards the gravitational field.

The Soul Chasing Eye instantly marked the figure ahead, transmitting information through the neural network to the inexorable wind low-altitude flight module on his legs.

With a slight adjustment to the surrounding storm, Ji Yuanshu dashed past many students like a bolt of lightning, reaching the finish line.

One of the figures he overtook was Zhang Yu.

"Zhang Yu?"

Ji Yuanshu’s heart stirred slightly, but he paid no further attention the next moment.

"My real opponent is not him."

...

Although Zhang Yu was fast, surpassing many seniors, there were always those faster than him who would overtake him.

He didn’t mind, knowing that many competitors this time were wealthier and had been cultivating longer than him, so outpacing him in speed was normal.

After all, speed had never been his forte.

"Once I have time in the future, I’ll consider boosting my speed. There’s no time for that now."

Arriving at the finish line and reuniting with Shi Huaiyu and others, they all looked at the time ranking.

Seeing their team stabilized at 15th place, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Che Yufei said, "Now that we’re in the top 20, we can advance to the next round."

At the same time, everyone understood that this ranking also reflected their team’s average level in speed and gravitational field challenge, which was around 15th place.

Shi Huaiyu thought to himself, "In terms of overall strength... we are indeed weaker, but judging by the training period, we are not weak in construction and combat."

"We still have a good chance of making the top ten."

...

With this round of elimination completed, the top 20 teams remained, while the rest were eliminated and left the battlefield.

Above the arena.

Tu Lishan looked at the data of the 20 teams, thinking, "40% are from the Peace Faction, 30% from the War Faction, and 30% from the Neutral Faction; falling slightly behind in numbers."

"There’s nothing to be done; the Finance Department approved many loans for them."

Tu Lishan knew that where there is money, there is fortune. With such a major financier like the Finance Department backing them, he was not surprised by the present situation.

"But debts must eventually be repaid, and even though we’re earning slower through projects, it’s more sustainable in the long run..."

Tu Lishan pondered, "Let’s see the change in numbers from 20 teams down to 10 in the next round."

"At least in terms of top-level strength, we should be stronger."

Just at that moment, the geology teacher Wei Huai presented Zhang Yu and Ji Yuanshu’s results with a smile, saying, "Looks like struggling can’t compare to money power, huh."

Tu Lishan calmly said, "Ji Yuanshu has taken out so many spirit coins in loans, doesn’t he have to repay them?"

Wei Huai replied, "Who doesn’t borrow at the start? As long as the development is fast enough, early borrowing is but small change."

Tu Lishan said, "I’m just worried that if the development isn’t fast enough, they might end up working for the loan platform, walking into a dead end."

"On the contrary, Zhang Yu’s robust physique suits his path of struggling, and as his income rises, he’ll only become stronger. The future is promising."

Listening to the intense exchange, both Director Gao and Director Lin remained silent, as if they hadn’t heard a thing.

But all the other teachers knew that Tu Lishan and Wei Huai represented Director Gao and Director Lin, and they were ostensibly discussing two second-year freshmen, but in reality, they were discussing the different directions chosen by the two factions.

At that moment, the senior director Ling Yue True Monarch chuckled and said, "Those with strong Immortal Path potential should take loans; those with weaker potential should struggle. Under the ten great sects, everyone has Immortal Cultivation, and every student’s path is the Immortal Road. There’s no real dead end, Mr. Tu, you’re joking."

Upon hearing Ling Yue True Monarch’s words, Tu Lishan and Wei Huai immediately stopped their argument.

Ling Yue True Monarch continued, "Whether it’s spirit coins or lifespan, they are both resources on the Immortal Path. Use whichever is more plentiful."

"If lifespan is lacking, use spirit coins to compensate; if spirit coins are few, earn with lifespan. They complement each other and should not be neglected. Don’t you agree, Mr. Tu and Mr. Wei?"

Tu Lishan and Wei Huai bowed and acknowledged.

Tu Lishan silently thought, "This old ghost, he stands with whoever benefits him the most, playing balance between the factions. Now he wants money, he wants life, and he still wants the Director’s position... Let’s see when he overreaches."

Ling Yue True Monarch then said, "The schedule for the second elimination round is set. Does anyone have any comments?"

Tu Lishan looked at the match list for the 20 to 10 round, thinking to himself, "The match lists almost pit War Faction against Peace Faction students, with Neutral Faction mixed in on both sides."

"The upcoming elimination match will be a head-on clash between students of the factions."

He instinctively glanced at Director Gao and Director Lin, suspecting both sides had already secretly reached some agreement, hence the arrangement.

...

On the field below.

The information about Yu Xinghan and others flashed in Zhang Yu’s mind.

He looked up and saw Ying Xin, Yu Xinghan, and Gongshu Jin standing in the audience, waving at him.

Besides them, there were substitute team members from other teams in the audience.

In the first elimination round, substitutes didn’t need to participate, so they watched the match from the audience.

As the first elimination round ended, substitutes quickly regrouped with their teams.

Curiously, Yu Xinghan asked, "How will the second round proceed?"

Shi Huaiyu said, "For 20 to 10, it should be random draws, determining victory by grouping two teams together."

Shortly after she finished speaking, the match schedule notification appeared before everyone.

Looking at the matchup list, Zhang Yu noticed each team’s battle location was assigned to different simulation battlefield levels.

In the next moment, his gaze slightly tightened, seeing his team would face Ma Xuan and Ji Yuanshu’s team.

"The second elimination round will officially start in 10 minutes, please arrive at the designated arenas on time."

On the other side, Su Yanyang looked at Ma Xuan and said, "Oh? You’re facing Shi Huaiyu’s team?"

Ma Xuan smiled faintly and said, "Senior, seems like I have good luck this time, steady progress to the top ten."

Su Yanyang thought for a moment and said, "You can completely handle Shi Huaiyu."

"Among the remaining five, besides Xiao Qingxuan, the other three are old waste, and one is only a sophomore, not a concern."

Ma Xuan thought to himself, "Actually, that sophomore Zhang Yu is a bit troublesome."

But he believed he understood Zhang Yu well enough and had targeted methods, so he didn’t mention it separately.

Curiously, Ma Xuan asked, "I’ve heard about this Xiao Qingxuan. I usually avoid him, but during a competition, you don’t have to pay; maintenance and medical fees are his own problem. What could go wrong?"

Su Yanyang thought for a moment and said, "I heard a story, but I’m not sure if it’s true."

"It’s said that the one who possessed Xiao Qingxuan from ancient times, a Golden Core True Man, wasn’t scared away by debts but disguised himself as Xiao Qingxuan."

"As for the real Xiao Qingxuan... he’s been sold."

"Ah?" Ma Xuan was surprised, "Such a thing? But... after possessing, he’s ranked 40th with only a full-system rank of nine? And how did he deceive several True Monarchs in the department? Illegal possession should be soul imprisoned, body sealed, which is how it ought to be."

Su Yanyang said faintly, "This story, I also don’t know if it’s true. But consider, why can Xiao Qingxuan, with such heavy debt, still survive in Kunxu? Ideally, if he had a penny, it would be immediately deducted; he should be unable to take a step."

Seeing Ma Xuan contemplating, Su Yanyang said, "You have a plan, that’s good."

"The key isn’t winning or losing, but winning beautifully, avoiding getting exhausted by Shi Huaiyu and Xiao Qingxuan, affecting later matches."

"You’d better take the team over."

...

Outside a one-square-kilometer simulation battlefield.

Teams with Zhang Yu and Ji Yuanshu faced each other.

Only compared to Shi Huaiyu’s team full of fighting spirit, Ma Xuan’s side seemed more tranquil, but both Cong Na and Ji Yuanshu couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Qingxuan.

Then Cong Na looked at Zhang Yu and thought silently, "Ah, Zhang Yu should have stayed in our team, at least he could mix for a comprehensive score."

As the competition rules displayed before everyone, they followed the cues to enter the field.

Then both sides randomly drew lots to decide the attack and defense order.

Shi Huaiyu glanced and said, "We attack first."

"Don’t be nervous, everyone, just follow training practice, it’s fine."

As the battle officially began, Shi Huaiyu’s team of six charged towards the opponent’s base.

But next moment, the ground shook violently, and amidst loud rumbles, countless sand and earth flew up.

Ma Xuan pushed his palm forward, said with indifference, "Eliminate four first."

Next moment, sand filled the sky like a tsunami, engulfing Zhang Yu and others.

Ma Xuan was clear his side was stronger, but he wouldn’t underestimate the opponent because of this; he’d use this strength gap to eliminate opponents, giving them no chance.

But just then, a figure shot forth like a cannonball, breaking through the sand avalanche under immense power, like a meteor incoming.

"Is that... Zhang Yu?"

Ma Xuan was slightly stunned, then quickly reacted, eyes slightly narrowed: "Shi Huaiyu and them... teamed up to throw Zhang Yu here first?"