Chapter 440: Chapter 385: Cutting Hair to Forge a Sword

After stepping into the Two-world Barrier Array, as the Spirit Realm Network disconnected, Zhang Yu not only couldn’t see the messages from the competition group anymore, losing communication with his teammates, but the world before his eyes underwent a dramatic change.

He couldn’t see the various markers his teammates had annotated on the Eye Remnants Vision.

He couldn’t see the various information that was originally continuously bouncing around.

Even the illumination of the entire venue dimmed, with all the floating warnings, competition rules, and advertisements vanishing into thin air.

Turning around to look beyond the barrier, he found that the neon glimmers around the arena, all those vibrant colors, had disappeared without a trace.

After being cut off from communication with the Spirit Realm, only gray-looking buildings remained before him, resembling a primitive and unenlightened world, where not a hint of the vibrant life from the Spirit Realm could be seen, making the real world seem so pale and lackluster.

Zhang Yu found himself, unknowingly, accustomed to the constant communication with the Spirit Realm world; without the support of the Spirit Realm, he always felt that everything he did was inconvenient.

In the next moment, as Tian Yang struck Zhang Yu’s body with a palm, Zhang Yu felt a sharp Sword Intent descending from the sky, infused into his body, cutting through numerous blockades, helping him communicate with the Spirit Realm once again, making the world before him clear and colorful again.

Simultaneously, Shi Huaiyu’s message appeared once more on everyone’s Eye Remnants.

Shi Huaiyu: Where are you guys?

Tian Yang: Just used the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword to break through the Two-world Barrier Array

Tian Yang: Don’t send too much data-heavy stuff

Tian Yang: Otherwise, if my balance runs out and I turn into a Spiritless Body, it’ll be troublesome

While everyone was communicating, Zhang Yu, Xiao Qingxuan, and Tian Yang had already quickly advanced into the defense constructs built by Su YanYang.

And as they moved deeper, they could feel the interior of these hive-like structures becoming increasingly convoluted and complex.

Meanwhile, the Spiritual Mechanism gradually thinned, causing their mana recovery rate to decline repeatedly.

Shi Huaiyu reminded: As Su YanYang’s array completion continually improves, the Spirit Vein occupancy rate grows higher, the Spiritual Mechanism in the air will gradually decrease

Shi Huaiyu: The deeper you go, the worse it will get, so in the upcoming actions, you should conserve your mana.

Just at that moment, Zhang Yu stopped, frowned, and said, “Are we going in circles?”

He used the Time Residual Demon Pupil to compare the footage just recorded along the way, and found that the path before them had undoubtedly been traversed.

But Xiao Qingxuan beside him shook his head: “I compared the route we just walked, we shouldn’t have been here.”

Shi Huaiyu: Zhang Yu, did you see it wrong?

Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback: “Did I see it wrong?”

He sent the comparison footage to the group, Tian Yang exclaimed, “Don’t send such high-resolution pictures!”

Xiao Qingxuan looked at the image and said, “Is there a glitch in the Eye Remnants? The place you captured, we haven’t been to.”

Zhang Yu frowned, a deep sense of doubt arising in his heart.

…

In the Spirit Realm Space.

During the entire three hours of rest prior, the teachers naturally couldn’t let the projected thoughts foolishly wait here.

Now with the new round of competition officially underway, numerous teachers from the Civil Engineering Department had also gradually arrived.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch, although arriving late to be the last presence at the scene, clearly no one dared to say anything.

Upon seeing the long-awaited arrival of Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Director Gao felt slightly relieved, fearful the other party might not come anymore due to disinterest in watching the competition.

Director Gao privately messaged: Why so long? Where did you go?

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Something came up with my new student, I got curious and checked it more closely.

Director Gao: Oh? The one you mentioned got in through the back door

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Indeed, now it seems those coming in through the back door have unique qualities

Director Gao: Naturally, it’s not like before. Previously, those lacking ability needed a back door, now using the back door indicates ability.

Director Gao: What’s the student’s name?

Magnetic Pole True Monarch didn’t reply to Director Gao but instead gazed at the five ongoing competitions and suddenly said, “Oh? At our Wanfa University, someone is using the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword?”

At this moment, there weren’t many professors watching the match between Zhang Yu and Su YanYang.

After all, in most teachers’ eyes, the power disparity between both sides was too great, making it essentially unappealing, with the outcome surely being Su YanYang’s overwhelming defeat over the opponent.

But with Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s remark, many teachers immediately focused their attention over.

Upon seeing Zhang Yu take out the Green Silk Flying Sword, intending to use Sky Sword University’s Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword to break the Two-world Barrier Array, Lang You Gong was mildly surprised and said, “Zhang Yu can use the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword? When did he apply at Sky Sword University?”

A teacher commented, “Just a common commercial tactic, this Green Silk-refined Flying Sword has a direct connection to the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword’s privilege, seems like it’s gifted by someone of considerable status at Sky Sword University.”

Director Lin’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze seemingly as calm as still water, yet his mind was filled with intricate thoughts.

Especially as he recalled the not long ago meeting between Sky Sword University’s Divinity Transformation Disciple Wen Wuya and Zhang Yu.

Director Lin: “Gao Chongguang, that old guy, indeed has formed connections with Sky Sword’s Divinity Transformation fellow, perhaps even reaching some sort of agreement concerning the use of the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword?”

Magnetic Pole True Monarch couldn’t help but take another look at Director Gao and privately asked, “Have you collaborated with Sky Sword University on the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword?”

The Spirit Realm… is extremely important for every cultivator.

Once separated from the Spirit Realm, not only do life and cultivation become inconvenient, but work and study efficiency are also significantly reduced.

Therefore, ensuring consistent communication with the Spirit Realm becomes crucial, especially outside of the university city.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch envisioned the pair of sun and moon in the sky, musing, “Our Wanfa University’s World-Illuminating Sun and Moon are great, but they’re just too expensive.”

“If we could bring in the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword for some competition, who knows how much budget it could save annually.”

Magnetic Pole True Monarch understood well that whether it’s the Artifact Refining Department or the Civil Engineering Department, the scale of Spirit Realm usage isn’t comparable to individual students.

The monthly expenses on the Spirit Realm are a significant outlay for any department.

“Old Gao, this guy, really found himself a leverage point.”

“From the perspective of cost reduction and efficiency increase with the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword, it is easier to integrate Sky Sword University than focusing on major battles or peace talks.”

Director Gao looked at the message sent by Magnetic Pole True Monarch but did not respond, maintaining an enigmatic expression.

Director Gao recalled the friendship between Wen Wuya and Zhang Yu.

“That Green Silk Flying Sword… could it be Wen Wuya cut his hair to refine a sword and gave it to Zhang Yu?”

“Have their relations reached such a level?”

Director Gao was extremely surprised—could such things still happen among young people in Kunxu these days?

A Divinity Transformation Disciple, meeting a first-level student and getting along so well, then gifting them with a method to join the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword…

Director Gao couldn’t help but wonder if Zhang Yu had become a double agent for Wanfa, selling some intelligence to the other side.

But he quickly dismissed this ridiculous notion from his mind, thinking, “I’ll have to ask him again properly next time.”

“My disciple is becoming more and more surprising.”

Meanwhile, the competition continued.

Watching the changes occurring after Zhang Yu penetrated the defenses, Peace Faction teacher Wei Huai said, “Isn’t this the Ten Thousand Ghosts Bewitching Soul Array?”

A teacher beside him said, “It is indeed the Ten Thousand Ghosts Bewitching Soul Array. They probably got hit when they shared the Spirit Realm connection of the Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword.”

“Now, what they perceive is filled with illusions, and the messages they receive are generated by the Array Spirit. Their every move is under Su YanYang’s watchful eyes.”

Another Neutral Faction teacher praised, “Su YanYang and their team have set up this Ten Thousand Ghosts Bewitching Soul Array quite well, showing they’ve learned their smart building courses well.”

Tu Lishan understood that senior students’ smart building courses involved combining buildings and arrays to enhance buildings with Array Spirits and Room Spirits, achieving smart, digitalized, and information-oriented architecture…

Wei Huai said, “Su YanYang has also managed cost control well, operating the Ten Thousand Ghosts Bewitching Soul Array successfully with just three Soul Cultivators, achieving impressive results.”

…

In the arena.

Fu Ji suddenly said, “Zhang Yu, you seem to have been caught. Your vision has been deceived, your eye sockets’ information distorted.”

Zhang Yu felt a jolt within him, “Have my eye sockets been tampered with?”

To continuously adapt his eyes to his strengthened body, Zhang Yu had long alternated between wearing eye sockets on each eye.

Although this prevented the Time Residual Demon Pupil from reaching optimal performance, at this moment, it allowed him to observe with the naked eye.

Yet as Zhang Yu alternately closed his left and right eyes, he saw nothing abnormal before him.

Fu Ji said calmly, “Don’t bother trying. If they can target your eye sockets, they can naturally target your naked eye vision as well.”

“These perception-concealing arrays are improved versions of ancient arrays.”

Fu Ji elaborated boldly, “Ancient arrays were born to deceive physical senses. After the emergence of eye sockets, they were found ineffective against them, leading to improvements that affect both physical bodies and magic remains.”

“Do you know why what you saw earlier contradicted with Xiao Qingxuan and Tian Yang? Because you use the Time Residual Demon Pupil, which is far superior to their eye sockets, so it lasted a bit longer.”

“If you want to test, try sending a message. The messages you send and receive now are likely distorted.”

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and sent a message in the competition group.

Zhang Yu: @Yu Xinghan, do you remember what Senior Sister Hongxiao’s latest work is?

Yu Xinghan: Last month’s ‘The Secret Blossoming Bud’

Zhang Yu mused, “Tch, in the competition group words… How could Yu Xinghan speak so candidly?”

“After all, appreciating these works with a purely artistic perspective, like us without dual cultivation, has always been a persecuted and discriminated minority in Kunxu.”

“The real Yu Xinghan would either pretend not to see my message or act like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.”

“Looks like Fu Ji was right, the messages now are all fake.”

Thinking of this, Zhang Yu grabbed Xiao Qingxuan beside him and said bluntly, “We’ve been deceived in our vision, the messages received and sent distorted…”