Chapter 329: Secret Weapon, Profound Cold Meridian
The Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force was the most potent and valuable martial art in Zhang Yu’s arsenal.
This Former Military-Grade Martial Art allowed him to create Void Apertures within his Gang Qi, each capable of absorbing his own power and releasing it in explosive bursts when needed.
When the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force reached Level 10, he could open 10 Void Apertures, each capable of storing a strike from his opponent and releasing 10 strikes in return.
Later, when Zhang Yu advanced the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force to Level 20, the number of Void Apertures he could create doubled to 20. More importantly, the maximum amount of power each Void Aperture could hold… grew exponentially alongside his body’s capacity to endure greater forces.
Zhang Yu still remembered True Person Starfire’s guidance during his fierce battle against Wang Yin: “To maximize its effectiveness, different types of power absorbed into the Void Apertures — palm strikes, fist strikes, and so on — must be combined with corresponding techniques.”
Shortly after Zhang Yu acquired the Third Eye Mystic Power, he created the 5-5 Split Combat Method. At the same time, he realized that this combat method could be integrated with the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force, greatly enhancing his counterattack power against formidable foes.
When Zhang Yu’s physical strength broke through to 15.0, his physical body and Gang Qi gradually merged into a harmonious whole. While manipulating Gang Qi for construction work, another new idea sparked within him.
Just as he was doing now, using the Third Eye Mystic Power in conjunction with the Formless Cloud Gang to simulate Humanoid Gang Qi and execute techniques identical to Cong Na’s.
Within the Formless Cloud Gang, the Void Apertures opened by the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force released the Tendon-Severing Palm force that Cong Na had just unleashed.
To Cong Na’s astonishment, a series of Humanoid Gang Qi figures materialized behind Zhang Yu, relentlessly blocking her attacks with identical techniques and palm strikes, trapping her in a stalemate.
“He’s also mastered the Tendon-Severing Palm? And to such an advanced Cultivation Realm?”
Cong Na’s first reaction wasn’t to suspect Zhang Yu of stealing her martial arts or absorbing her palm force. She simply assumed his Tendon-Severing Palm mastery was exceptionally high.
Faced with this situation, Cong Na chuckled softly, and layers of Gang Qi erupted from her body.
“It seems I underestimated you.”
“Then I’ll get a little more serious.”
Cong Na threw a punch, unleashing a spiraling vortex of Gang Qi that hurtled toward Zhang Yu like a massive drill.
This was the Star Firmament Meridian-Rushing Grand Art of the Civil Engineering Department. At its highest mastery, it could cleave mountains and bore through the earth, rapidly excavating tunnels through rock and underground.
As Cong Na’s fist struck, the spiraling Gang Qi tore through the air with explosive force, shattering the Humanoid Gang Qi barriers before her like paper.
But in the next instant, another Humanoid Gang Qi figure charged forward, mirroring her stance perfectly: fist clenched, elbow bent… then striking with the same ferocious power.
Boom!
An identical vortex of spiraling Gang Qi erupted.
As Cong Na’s fist and the Humanoid Gang Qi’s fist collided violently, explosive shockwaves radiated outward from the point of impact, creating a violent gale that shook the surroundings.
“He can use the Star Firmament Meridian-Rushing Grand Art too?!” Cong Na exclaimed inwardly, her surprise quickly giving way to realization.
“That’s not right.”
Swiftly reviewing the battle in her mind, Cong Na thought, “He absorbed my power and then released it back at me?”
“Such formidable redirection of force!”
“What cultivation art is this?”
There were many cultivation arts capable of channeling kinetic energy, redirecting attacks, or even reflecting them. Cong Na racked her brain, but she couldn’t immediately recall any technique with such remarkable effects — not only absorbing and releasing her power, but also mimicking her moves with Gang Qi.
Though the Humanoid Gang Qi had unleashed the Star Firmament Meridian-Rushing Grand Art it had just absorbed, it ultimately lacked Cong Na’s superior foundation. After a brief stalemate, it shattered once more.
Cong Na took a deep breath, her eyes burning with renewed battle spirit.
“Who would have thought this year’s freshman class would harbor such a prodigy?”
“Hey! I’m talking to you.”
Seeing Zhang Yu still focused on his work without even turning around, Cong Na grinned. “Arrogant freshman.”
“Then let’s see if you can imitate this move too!”
With a violent jerk of her arms, rows of holes appeared below Cong Na’s elbows. Martial dao Gang Qi, accelerated through her artificial meridians, erupted from them at high velocity.
Simultaneously, her forearms began to spin rapidly…
“In the Foundation Establishment Stage, mere martial arts prowess isn’t enough.”
“Only when powerful martial arts are paired with a compatible Bionic can a cultivation art unleash its full potential.”
Cong Na understood that most university students weren’t authorized to learn or use military-grade cultivation techniques; expert-grade techniques were the limit of what they could access.
In this context, to further enhance their expert-grade techniques, many students would choose to enhance their cultivation arts by using Bionics specifically designed to amplify their power.
Now that Cong Na’s Starry Sky Meridian Arm had activated, her next punch would gain immense explosive force.
But just as she was about to strike, a message popped up in her Bionic Eye:
Ma Xuan: “Stop, Cong Na.”
Cong Na: “Why should I? My next punch will definitely defeat him.”
Ma Xuan: “It’s just a test. Why resort to the Starry Sky Arm?”
Cong Na: “Even without my Hand Bionic, give me time and I’ll still crush him.”
Cong Na: “He’s recklessly using Gang Qi to redirect force. How long can his Magic Power possibly last?
Ma Xuan: “Cong Na, this is just a test, not a real battle. Don’t get carried away.”
Cong Na was about to retort when his next message stopped her cold.
Ma Xuan: “After a fight like this, the outer shell of your Starry Sky Arm must be quite worn down, right? And how many more uses do your Impact Joints have before they need to be replaced?”
Ma Xuan: “Fighting Zhang Yu is quite time-consuming, energy-intensive, and costly.”
Thinking about the maintenance bill for her Bionic, Cong Na immediately felt that sparring with classmates should be done in moderation.
As her fighting spirit and battle intent gradually subsided, Cong Na increasingly realized that Ma Xuan was right.
“This guy… can really take a beating.”
“And it’s not just taking hits; he absorbs force and redirects it, enduring head-on collisions.”
“Continuing to fight him like this would wear down my Bionic considerably.”
If Cong Na had played video games, she would have seen Zhang Yu as the kind of monster specifically designed to drain equipment durability. Even if you win, you’d still have to spend a fortune repairing your gear.
Cong Na: “So? You’re planning to recruit him into our team?”
Ma Xuan: “If you faced an opponent like him in the department’s selection tournament, wouldn’t you find it annoying?”
Cong Na narrowed her eyes slightly: “Kind of disgusting.”
Ma Xuan: “Exactly. Zhang Yu not only frustrates opponents mentally, but his force redirection technique is a game-changing tactical asset, perfect for stalling the enemy’s strongest fighter.”
Cong Na smiled inwardly, already picturing the constipated expressions on the faces of senior students struggling to deal with Zhang Yu.
Ma Xuan: “Moreover, he’s been at Myriad Laws University for less than a year. By the time the departmental selections begin in the second half of the year, his strength will undoubtedly have increased significantly.”
Meanwhile, on another floor of Myriad Laws University City, Ma Xuan, who was communicating with Cong Na, mused inwardly, “Absorbing and reflecting an opponent’s power using Gang Qi… this cultivation art… could it be the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Force?”
“To have mastered a former Military-Grade Martial Art… Though currently ranked as an expert-grade technique, it’s not something one can simply acquire.”
“This Zhang Yu… he could be our secret weapon.”
On the other side, after finishing his work, Zhang Yu turned to Cong Na and asked, puzzled, “Why aren’t you attacking anymore?”
Cong Na smiled slightly. “You’ve already demonstrated enough strength to pass the test. Besides, I dislike pointless battles.”
“Funny, me too,” Zhang Yu chuckled, unconsciously touching the Azure Silk Flying Sword on his index finger.
If she had unleashed the Star Firmament Meridian-Rushing Grand Art with her Bionic, he would have had no choice but to use the Azure Silk Flying Sword given to him by Bai Zhenzhen.
Zhang Yu then asked, “So… does this mean I passed?”
As an outstanding student at Myriad Laws University, Cong Na was quick to adapt to reality.
Having witnessed Zhang Yu’s strength, she abandoned her previous condescending attitude toward ordinary freshmen and said politely, “I personally think you’re more than qualified. Welcome to the competition team.”
“But we still need the other members’ approval.”
“Let’s add each other as friends first. Once they agree, I’ll add you to the group chat.”
After parting ways with Cong Na, Zhang Yu’s figure flashed, and he was already rushing back to the underground tomb.
“I didn’t expect things to go so smoothly.”
“Now I can finally participate in the competition next semester.”
Just then, a message from Le Mulan appeared in his Bionic Eye.
Le Mulan: “Zhang Yu, I feel like my Magic Power is about to undergo some kind of transformation.”
Seeing this message, Zhang Yu’s spirits soared. “Today really is doubly blessed!” he thought.
Zhang Yu: “Where are you? I’ll come right over.”
A moment later, Zhang Yu arrived at the dormitory to find Le Mulan sitting cross-legged, radiating waves of bone-chilling cold that had dropped the entire room’s temperature.
Seeing Zhang Yu, Le Mulan said, “I feel like I’m almost there, but there’s still a tiny bit missing.”
Zhang Yu strode over and said, “Sit still. I’ll give you one last push.”
As Zhang Yu channeled a surge of Magic Power into Le Mulan’s body, she slowly absorbed it. Suddenly, her Dantian trembled.
In the next instant, a terrifying chill erupted from her Dantian, sweeping through every meridian in her body.
Wherever the chill passed, Le Mulan’s circulating Magic Power underwent a drastic transformation, changing in its very essence.
During this process, her vital energy and Magic Power seemed to freeze, plunging her into a hazy, half-conscious state, as if she had entered a state of hibernation.
How long she remained in this state, she couldn’t tell. When she finally regained awareness, she discovered that her meridians and Magic Power had undergone earth-shattering changes.
But before Le Mulan could fully grasp these transformations, she noticed Zhang Yu standing stiffly behind her, completely motionless.
“Zhang Yu’s frozen solid?” Le Mulan exclaimed in alarm. “Could he have been affected by my body’s cold when he channeled Magic Power into me earlier?”