Chapter 312: Final Exams
In the office, Tu Lishan frowned as he looked at Zhang Yu, whose hair had turned completely white. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“If you collapse from overwork and delay the project schedule, you’ll have to pay compensation.”
Zhang Yu’s hair had turned white due to extreme fatigue and physical exhaustion. Hearing Tu Lishan’s warning, he replied calmly, “Don’t worry, Teacher Tu. I know my limits.”
“Besides, for a First Layer Student like me, rare opportunities like this must be seized. I have to push myself to the limit — how else will I rise above the rest?”
“My recovery rate is strong. I believe my body can endure this.”
Sensing the unwavering determination in Zhang Yu’s eyes, Tu Lishan sighed inwardly. Over his long career as an instructor, he had seen countless ambitious and hardworking students, but Zhang Yu’s attitude… it exuded a complete disregard for life and death.
In that moment, Tu Lishan made a judgment about the young man before him: “This boy’s unwavering devotion to the Dao is unparalleled in all my years.”
“If this were ancient times, centuries ago… he would have long since perished.”
“It’s only in this era of thriving Immortal Dao…”
“He’ll either squander everything and never find redemption, or he’ll rise through the ranks, excel in graduate studies, and climb layer by layer to the pinnacle.”
“Given this young man’s temperament, there are only two possible outcomes — absolutely no third.”
But Tu Lishan understood that the latter outcome was exceedingly unlikely; the former was far more probable. This meant the Civil Engineering Department’s investment in Zhang Yu would likely never yield returns.
Just then, a message from Director Gao appeared in Tu Lishan’s Bionic Eye:
Director Gao: “Don’t stop him, but set a limit of ten doses per day.”
Tu Lishan understood: these medications were designed to exploit cultivators, not to magically enhance their foundations. Exceeding ten doses per day would only shorten his lifespan without any additional benefits, pointlessly wasting Spirit Coins.
Tu Lishan: “But what if Zhang Yu dies…?”
Director Gao: “We’re the Civil Engineering Department of Myriad Laws University, not some ordinary university or vocational college clinging to minimal gains.”
“If he’s so confident, why not give him a chance to risk everything?”
“I’ve never hesitated to offer my students a chance to push themselves to their limits.”
Seeing Director Gao’s words, Tu Lishan sighed inwardly: “The director’s truly magnanimous, willing to risk financial losses to let his students pursue their aspirations.”
Tu Lishan looked at Zhang Yu and said, “Just make sure you know your limits.”
“Remember, stop immediately if you feel anything is wrong.”
During the final half-month at the construction site, Zhang Yu began working frenzied overtime every day, taking his medication, and practicing his cultivation arts.
Before and after taking his medicine, he would switch to the Civil Engineering Sacred Body. When practicing his cultivation art, he would switch to the University Sacred Body. When the workload became overwhelming, he would assess the situation and choose the appropriate Chain Formation Diagram Set.
Especially with the Civil Engineering Sacred Body’s enhancement, the weaker his body became, the more recklessly he could devour pills and circulate Civil Engineering Department cultivation arts, accelerating his growth far beyond his previous pace.
Of course, he also continued refining Secret Steel No. 20 daily.
To the students and teachers observing him, it seemed Zhang Yu was pushing himself to the limit, on the verge of collapse.
Che Yufei was stunned: “This guy… every time I think he’s about to break, he pushes even harder. Every time I think he’s about to die, he somehow makes it through another day. But he can’t keep this up forever. Just how much money does he owe?”
Tu Lishan thought to himself, “With such unwavering devotion to the Dao, if he were a wealthy man, his future would be limitless. What a pity… Even if he survives this trial, his lifespan will still be drastically reduced. And given his current state of weakness, I doubt he’ll score well on the final exams.”
Gongshu Jin had also heard rumors about Zhang Yu and had witnessed his weakened state firsthand several times.
He mused inwardly, “So… I misjudged him? Is Zhang Yu just an ordinary poor man from the First Layer?”
“But if he could defeat Wang Yin before, how could he be ordinary? Could it be that the pressure from Netherworld University forced Zhang Yu to abandon his path, reducing him to poverty?”
Shaking his head, Gongshu Jin realized he couldn’t unravel the complexities of the situation. As an outsider, how could he possibly understand the intricacies?
Still, seeing Zhang Yu risking his life so desperately made Gongshu Jin once again feel the helplessness of the poor.
“Poverty… it’s terrifying. They stake their lives on such meager prospects, yet they still can’t catch up to us.”
Gongshu Jin thought to himself, “Thank goodness I’m wealthy.”
Zhang Yu’s plight flashed briefly through Gongshu Jin’s mind, but his true focus remained on surpassing Ji Yuanshu in the final exams.
Late February.
Before they knew it, the day had arrived when the construction project concluded, coinciding with the end of Zhang Yu’s first semester at university.
The group packed their belongings, boarded the flying boat, and set off on their return journey.
“Counting these three months at the wilderness construction site, I’ve been on the Second Layer for eight months now,” Zhang Yu mused aloud. Standing at the bow of the ship, his white hair catching the wind, he watched the Bionics Factory shrink below, reflecting on his achievements over the past three months.
Not only had his Civil Engineering Sacred Body reached its ultimate form, but the Qi Sea Spirit Root in his Dantian had also achieved a perfect 100% Spirit Root integration level, thanks to the feedback from the Jade Spirit Gu Insect. This further enhanced his Magic Power circulation, mobilization, and absorption of spiritual energy.
Through daily consumption of various potent medicines, Spirit Stone breathing techniques, and the digestion of high-quality Magic Power from the Profound Creation Relic, Zhang Yu’s Magic Power had also advanced significantly.
His current Magic Power stood at 546.8, with a Magic Power Quality level of 157%.
As for his dao heart, its growth had slowed slightly due to the exorbitant Spirit Realm Network fees at the construction site, limiting his access to Spirit Realm Services. It now stood at level 13 (70.8%).
Through the relentless practice of various Body Refinement Techniques and the amplified power of potent medicinal elixirs, Zhang Yu had forcefully pushed his physical strength to level 14.39.
This fundamental growth alone represented a quantum leap in Zhang Yu’s combat prowess. Over the past three months of work, his savings had also swelled to 22 Spirit Coins.
Yet these were not his greatest gains.
Every one of the 206 bones in his body had been refined with Spirit Law Secret Steel No. 20, granting him a skeletal structure virtually indestructible at the Foundation Establishment Stage — a framework of inconceivable durability.
Settling back into the flying boat’s cabin, Zhang Yu knew that such abundant “all-you-can-eat” opportunities were unlikely to arise again anytime soon.
“Even if such a chance arises again, there’s no need to consume so voraciously,” he mused.
Zhang Yu could feel his body growing numb to the medicinal effects; the potency diminished with each passing day.
His body was like sugarcane that had been repeatedly squeezed dry, yielding not a drop more juice.
“The next time I consume medicinal substances… I’ll need ones that provide substantial nourishment, Primordial Qi, and enhance my foundation,” Zhang Yu thought to himself.
He switched to the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo, enhancing his self-healing abilities, and began activating his body’s vitality to mend his injuries.
“The Martial Dao Sacred Embryo’s amplification… seems to have weakened again,” Zhang Yu thought to himself.
While healing, he pondered, “After I return, my next cultivation goal should be completing the Qi Meridian Everflow Chain Method Diagram Set.”
His recent construction work had left him with little time or suitable environment to focus on practicing the breathing technique. As a result, he hadn’t had the chance to advance the Qi Meridian Everflow after mastering the Civil Engineering Sacred Body.
“Besides the Qi Meridian Everflow, there’s also Yu Xinghan’s Dao Seed to upgrade, Le Mulan’s Profound Cold Meridian, Elder Sister’s Supreme Clarity Talisman…”
A mental flicker of future cultivation plans flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind. Finally, his eyes gleamed with resolve. “But before any of that, I need to pass the final exams first.”
Zhang Yu clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him and the unbreakable strength of his bones. “I wonder how far I’ve come now,” he mused.
Myriad Laws University City, Dormitory, Room 125.
Zhang Yu glanced around the empty room, knowing everyone was busy with their own affairs and hadn’t returned yet.
After sending a message to the group chat to let them know he had arrived home safely, Zhang Yu immediately went to return the Profound Creation Relic and Jade Spirit Gu Insect he had borrowed.
On his way back, he checked the arrangements for the final exams.
Unlike the final exams in high school, Myriad Laws University’s final exams only required students to apply themselves and complete them within the specified time and location.
Most of the students in the Foundation Establishment Class had already finished their final exams, leaving only Gongshu Jin and Zhang Yu, who had been away at the wilderness construction site, yet to complete them.
Checking the class rankings, Zhang Yu saw that without the final exam scores, he had plummeted to the very bottom, ranking 28th.
“28th in the Foundation Establishment Class? That’s too embarrassing to face anyone. I better apply for the final exams soon.”
The examination application process flashed through Zhang Yu’s Bionic Eye. He successfully applied for an exam slot one week later.
During the following week, Zhang Yu focused on studying, cultivating, and recuperating, restoring his body’s nutrition and Primordial Qi.
In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. With his body fully recovered to its peak condition, Zhang Yu strode confidently toward the agreed-upon examination field.
Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin weren’t the only ones focused on the final exams.
Many students in the Foundation Establishment Class were also closely monitoring Gongshu Jin’s performance.
Ying Xin refreshed the class rankings, thinking to herself, “I wonder how much Gongshu Jin has improved since returning? Can he challenge Ji Yuanshu now?”
Meanwhile, Teacher Tu Lishan was observing Gongshu Jin’s exam progress through the Spirit Realm Network.
First came the professional skills exams. Leveraging the practical skills he had honed during his three months on the construction site, Gongshu Jin completed each section with near-perfect precision.
Next was the dao heart examination.
Despite being stationed on a remote construction site, Gongshu Jin had spared no expense, using Spirit Realm Services daily to temper his dao heart…
Suddenly, Teacher Tu noticed Zhang Yu was also taking the final exams.
Using his teacher privileges, he curiously checked Zhang Yu’s exam progress.
“Oh? His professional skills scores are nearly perfect, just like Gongshu Jin’s? Looks like those three months of hard work weren’t wasted after all.”
“His dao heart still needs work. He hasn’t utilized the Spirit Realm Services much, so it’s understandable he can’t match Gongshu Jin.”
“His magic power isn’t too far behind Gongshu Jin’s?” Tu Lishan nodded slightly. “It seems he’s truly been forced to unlock a significant amount of hidden potential.”
“Next is the body refinement exam, right? Are they assigned to the same Examination Field?”
Recalling Zhang Yu’s weakened state when he left the construction site, Tu Lishan shook his head slightly. “Although his potential has been repeatedly awakened and he survived the grueling work, the physical toll has been immense. Even if we ignore the lifespan he’s lost, recovering from his current frailty will require considerable time and Spirit Coins.”
“Zhang Yu’s constitution may be somewhat unique, but it’s nowhere near as extraordinary as he claims. Relying solely on that to defeat a wealthy powerhouse like Gongshu Jin is a pipe dream.”
As the body refinement exam was about to begin, Tu Lishan murmured inwardly, “The gap in their body refinement scores will likely be the widest.”