Chapter 317: Immortal Sect Techniques
Hearing Bai Zhenzhen’s words, Zhang Yu’s heart stirred slightly. “The Ten Greats League?”
This wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words, but Zhang Yu, who had been buried in his studies and construction work, still knew little about the league.
In his rudimentary understanding, it seemed to be a competition exclusively for university students.
But seeing Bai Zhenzhen’s formal attire and hearing her mention the opening ceremony, Zhang Yu realized he might have underestimated the importance of the Ten Greats League.
Sensing his confusion and curiosity, Bai Zhenzhen explained, “The Ten Greats League is a competition exclusive to undergraduate students from the ten most prestigious universities.”
“Among the various professional competitions, the most prestigious and highly regarded… is the Military Competition.”
“Evolving from the original Ten Greats Martial Arts Tournament, the Military Competition now encompasses both Military Skill Competitions and Military Exercise Competitions…”
As Bai Zhenzhen elaborated, Zhang Yu gradually gained a deeper understanding of the Ten Greats League.
In each Military Competition, the contestants and teams from the various universities showcase their schools’ and companies’ cutting-edge Immortal Dao Technology.
This event served both as a showcase for Immortal Dao Technology and a demonstration of the martial prowess of various universities.
The annual results of the Ten Greats Competition had a profound impact on the following year’s development in various technological fields, investment strategies, research goals, recruitment prospects for the Ten Greats, stock prices of universities and corporations, regional resource allocation, and more.
Bai Zhenzhen remarked, “The Ten Greats League doesn’t just heavily influence various fields; it also significantly impacts the participants themselves.”
“Excelling in the competition — whether by demonstrating exceptional talent, standing out, or even winning — not only attracts corporate favor and secures prestigious jobs, but also boosts future graduate and doctoral program applications.”
“And if one were to reach the pinnacle, claiming first place in every individual event of the Military Competition, achieving a grand slam, they would truly become the Ten Greats’ strongest undergraduate…”
As Bai Zhenzhen spoke, her eyes lit up as if stars were twinkling within them, Zhang Yu felt as if stars were twinkling within them.
“Claiming the title of the strongest among the Ten Greats grants the right to wield an Immortal Sect-level Technique bestowed by the Ten Great Sects… Though naturally, one can no longer participate in the Ten Greats Competition afterward.”
Hearing Bai Zhenzhen’s words, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up immediately.
Cultivation arts were classified into five grades: basic-grade, intermediate-grade, expert-grade, military-grade, and Immortal Sect-level.
Since high school, Zhang Yu had primarily used expert-grade cultivation arts.
It wasn’t until his final year of high school that, after a desperate struggle and a stroke of luck, he mastered the pre-military-grade Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force and the near-military-grade complete version of the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Heart Art.
He had never had the opportunity to access Kunxu’s true military-grade cultivation techniques. However, he had once witnessed Mo Shangjin, a senior student, demonstrate the military-grade Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power at an outdoor construction site, leaving a profound impression on him.
“The gap between military-grade and expert-grade cultivation arts is truly as vast as heaven and earth — it feels like they belong to entirely different dimensions,” Zhang Yu couldn’t help but think. “How much more powerful, then, must the Immortal Sect-level techniques be?”
Bai Zhenzhen continued, “Yu Zi, an Immortal Sect-level cultivation art isn’t just useful for University or the Foundation Establishment Stage.”
“If you continue to cultivate this technique, it will give you a tremendous advantage even at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages!”
“After all, even Nascent Soul True Monarchs often lack access to Immortal Sect-level Techniques,” Bai Zhenzhen said excitedly. “Just by gaining access to one Immortal Sect-level Technique, you can become the elite among the elite in University, towering above the masses amidst the envious and jealous gazes of countless students! You’ll become an existence they can only dream of!”
“The University will nurture us even more fiercely, companies will line up to invest in us, and countless doctoral mentors will vie for our attention!”
Bai Zhenzhen clenched her fist, her cheeks flushed with fervor as she declared, “We’ll be guaranteed direct admission to doctoral programs, adorned with glory, trophies, and Spirit Coins!”
“Yu Zi, don’t you want to climb to the top of the University food chain, crush those wealthy students from above beneath your feet, humiliate them at will, and become the undisputed Undergraduate Emperor, with guaranteed direct admission to a doctoral program?!”
Listening to Bai Zhenzhen’s impassioned words, Zhang Yu felt as if he could already visualize himself ascending to the pinnacle, bathed in the adoration of millions. A surge of heat coursed through his body.
“Hearing you say that gets my blood boiling,” Zhang Yu nodded, clenching his own fist as he slowly replied, “Of course I want that.”
Bai Zhenzhen smiled and said, “Yu Zi, let’s make a pact.”
She extended her palm toward him. “Let’s compete together in the Ten Greats League and see who claims the throne of ultimate power first.”
Looking at Bai Zhenzhen’s outstretched hand, Zhang Yu was momentarily transported back to the past, seeing the Bai Zhenzhen who had once promised to get into the Ten Greats together.
And this time, facing Bai Zhenzhen’s invitation — a challenge even more daunting and seemingly impossible — Zhang Yu also extended his palm without hesitation.
“A-Zhen, then it’s a promise. See you in the Ten Greats League.”
Across the Spirit Realm Network, their palms met.
Though there was no physical contact, at that moment, both felt as if they could transcend the network, sensing the pulse of life within each other’s bodies and the boundless fighting spirit in each other’s eyes.
After disconnecting the connection, Zhang Yu turned to Zhang Pianpian beside him and asked curiously, “Sis… Senior Sister, how do you enter the Ten Greats League?”
Zhang Pianpian replied calmly, “Students from the Ten Great Universities within the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation realm can participate through their school’s selection process. Typically, only students ranked within the top ten of their department have a chance to compete.”
Just as Zhang Yu was thinking the requirement wasn’t particularly difficult, Zhang Pianpian added, “If you’re referring to the Military Competition within the Ten Greats League, there’s another requirement: you must possess a military qualification certificate and master the power of a military-grade cultivation technique.”
Seeing Zhang Yu’s surprised expression, Zhang Pianpian smiled faintly. “Isn’t it natural for the Military Competition to require military-grade power? Though I’ve heard the standards used to be lower, but over time… the requirements for any competition inevitably increase.”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “A military-grade cultivation technique? To master the Civil Engineering Department’s military-grade technique, I’d need to rank first in my class for seven years. But I want to switch departments, so I’ll have to consider the Artifact Refinement Department’s military-grade technique instead?”
While Zhang Yu was pondering this, Fu Ji was searching the Spirit Realm Network, thinking, “Winning all the individual events in the Military Competition and claiming the title of ‘Ten Greats’ strongest… hasn’t anyone achieved that in decades, or has there?”
“Immortal Sect-level Techniques aren’t so easily acquired — the waters here run deeper than anyone can fathom.”
“Participating in the Ten Greats League and securing good rankings is definitely a good thing.”
“Bai Zhenzhen probably just wants to motivate Zhang Yu.”
Then Fu Ji had a sudden thought and mused to herself, “Speaking of which… after so many calls with Bai Zhenzhen, I’ve never seen her current ranking at Heavenly Sword University. Is she deliberately keeping it hidden?”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhang Pianpian watched Zhang Yu and thought to herself, “The Ten Greats League… with my little brother’s rapid growth, in a few more years… maybe we really could participate in the team competition together.”
“If we can secure a decent ranking, I should be able to postpone reporting to the Divine Ministry by staying on for a graduate degree, maybe even a doctorate, instead of going right after my undergraduate studies.”
Over the next few days, Zhang Yu continued his daily routine of studying, working overtime, and cultivating.
One evening, as spiritual energy surged through his body, constantly permeating his limbs and nourishing his flesh and blood, he finally advanced his Heavenly Fortune Longevity Art to Level 20.
At Level 20, the Heavenly Fortune Longevity Art could fully absorb spiritual energy to nourish the physical body without refining it into Magic Power, greatly enhancing its efficiency in nourishing the physical body.
However, Zhang Yu still found the progress painfully slow. Was he really supposed to rely on gradual, incremental cultivation, meticulously solidifying his foundation step by step?
“How can I ever catch up to Kunxu at this rate? How can I keep pace with the Top Ten?”
“Compared to slowly practicing cultivation, it’s clear I need to rely more on tonics and health supplements.”
Early one morning, after returning to his dormitory from the construction site, Zhang Yu noticed a package by the door. He knew his order had arrived.
He picked up the package, opened the door, and stepped inside, only to see Yu Xinghan whirl around with a bang, frantically tugging at his waistband.
“You fucking… couldn’t you knock?” Yu Xinghan roared. “Have you no respect for your roommate?!”
Zhang Yu snorted coldly. “Can’t you take this outside? Find an empty spot below the 100th floor to settle this. Who’s the one disrespecting the dorm?”
Yu Xinghan retorted stubbornly, “You little punk… Don’t think I don’t know what you and Le Mulan have been up to in this dorm!”
“Huh?” Zhang Yu said awkwardly. “Stop changing the subject.”
Yu Xinghan sneered. “Hmph! You’re making money on the sly and not even sharing with your brother? After all the times I had your back in high school, and all the money I wasted on you!”
Zhang Yu countered, “Didn’t I repay you? If I hadn’t introduced you to the Red Pagoda, you might have gotten a second vasectomy by now. How else would you have built up your Immortal Dao foundation and achieved seed freedom like you have now?”
Outside the dorm room, Le Mulan, who had just returned from an overnight internship at the pharamaceutical factory, opened the door and overheard their conversation.
A flush of embarrassment crept across her face as she listened to their exchange.
She had thought she and Zhang Yu had been discreet enough, but Yu Xinghan had somehow found out.
“How did he find out?” Le Mulan couldn’t help but wonder. “I didn’t let even the slightest hint slip.”
She quickly suppressed these distracting thoughts, shifting her focus to another concern: “Looks like next time I’ll have to arrange to meet Zhang Yu outside. Getting caught like this could cause trouble — if they realize I’m letting Zhang Yu make all the extra money, it could damage my relationship with my roommates.”
Le Mulan understood all too well that whether in the First Layer or the Second Layer, whether in high school or university, earning money without sharing with friends could easily ignite conflicts.
Meanwhile, Xuan Ge stood beside Le Mulan, listening to the conversation inside the room. A thoughtful expression flickered across his face.
“They’ve known each other since high school? They’ve been using this to enhance their Immortal Dao foundations since then?”
Xuan Ge’s gaze sharpened involuntarily. “High school in the First Layer… is it really that free?”
“And it seems… quad cultivation truly makes interpersonal relationships even more complicated than dual cultivation.”
“Who cultivated with whom how many times, who cultivated more with whom, who cultivated less with whom, who lost out, who profited — it all involves the complex social dynamics of quad cultivation.”