Chapter 348: Zhang Yu Takes First Place
“Li Xiao…” Tu Lishan gestured for Li Xiao to attack the bunker’s outer wall.
Li Xiao unleashed a palm strike, his Gang Qi roaring like artillery fire as it slammed into the wall.
Not only did the wall remain completely unscathed, but Li Xiao also felt a violent counter-force, staggering back several steps and staring in astonishment at the bunker’s exterior.
“After enduring so many strikes, it’s still this resilient? What material is this?” Li Xiao exclaimed in astonishment.
“This is Zhang Yu’s digestive byproduct,” Tu Lishan said, gesturing to the entire bunker with admiration. “The vast majority of the building materials used to construct this structure are derived from his digestive byproduct.”
He then pointed to a small, uneven pattern on the wall’s inner surface. “Look closely,” he said. “These are the imprints of Zhang Yu’s stomach. They were left during the material processing, when his stomach exerted tremendous pressure on the raw materials, leaving behind these digestive traces.”
“Besides using Gang Qi for construction, Zhang Yu’s true body repeatedly refined the Building Materials within his own high-temperature, high-pressure internal environment.”
“He stripped away impurities from the Building Materials, leaving behind only the indigestible essence to form high-strength materials for constructing the bunker.”
“The entire digestive process lasted a full three hours.”
Gongshu Jin was inwardly astonished by this revelation, recalling Zhang Yu’s prodigious appetite at the previous gathering. He thought to himself, “Zhang Yu’s digestive abilities are even more terrifying than I previously estimated! How could he possibly achieve such a feat?”
Meanwhile, Li Xiao was shaken by the revelation, his face paling in disbelief. “The Building Materials for this bunker… Zhang Yu actually excreted them? He was constructing the bunker while simultaneously defecating for three hours straight?!”
On the other side, Director Lin studied the construction logs, watching Zhang Yu devour vast quantities of building materials, continuously expel impurities, and finally regurgitate the most resilient, refined, and indigestible components. His expression grew increasingly complex.
The structure before him wasn’t merely fortified through exceptional construction skills; its very materials surpassed those used by all other candidates.
Meanwhile, Director Gao of the War Faction stood beside Director Lin, gazing at the towering pillar. He remarked calmly, “In civil engineering, materials and techniques ultimately reign supreme.”
“Without materials of sufficient strength and truly ingenious techniques, how could we have achieved the flourishing Kunxu we see today?”
“Consider this University City beneath our feet. A thousand years ago, no amount of wealth or accumulated resources could have created such a place.”
Li Xiao wasn’t the only one stunned; the other students watching the video of Zhang Yu were equally awestruck.
Ying Xin corrected Li Xiao: “It wasn’t just three hours of emptying the bowels.”
“Zhang Yu combined eating, excreting, and high-intensity construction for a full three hours, elevating the bunker’s quality to another dimension.”
Tu Lishan cautioned, “Let’s avoid using the word excreting. Student Zhang Yu’s actions still constitute transportation — moving materials from the storage location into his stomach and then from his stomach to the construction site.”
“In short, Student Zhang Yu’s performance today demonstrates a comprehensive victory in digestion, construction proficiency, physical endurance, and professional expertise.”
Li Xiao knew Tu Lishan was right. He couldn’t even achieve a fraction of these feats individually, yet Zhang Yu had surpassed the level of every student present in each aspect.
As he felt the gazes of shock, awe, admiration, and envy focused on him, Zhang Yu silently activated the Bionic Eye’s camera function, capturing the scene.
He couldn’t resist snapping extra photos of Ji Yuanshu’s particularly sour expression.
On the other side, Director Lin of the Peace Faction scoffed at Director Gao’s words. “Materials and civil engineering are indeed crucial on this construction site.”
“But even if you and I don’t do it, would we lack people to take on the tasks?”
“Yes, you’re right. A thousand years ago, building a University City like this would have been impossible.”
“But tell me, who among those who could command vast wealth and gather the world’s resources a millennium ago isn’t still alive today? Whether it’s technology or materials, all the fruits of progress will ultimately belong to them.”
Hearing this response, Director Gao’s Daoist robe billowed in his Spirit Realm Projection. He snapped angrily, “You’re incorrigibly stubborn! Didn’t you witness today’s battle? Zhang Yu defeated Ji Yuanshu head-on through sheer, unadulterated strength!”
“Heh? You call Zhang Yu’s victory ‘sheer strength’?” Director Lin chuckled softly. “Old Gao, you may not just be old in years, but your thinking is positively ancient.”
“Just listen to what the students are saying.”
A student from the Foundation Establishment Class remarked, “Even though Zhang Yu defeated Ji Yuanshu this time, he didn’t spend much money. It feels like he lacks solid backing and won’t last long. It’s not true hard power.”
Another student replied, “Zhang Yu definitely lacks foundational resources compared to others, but he still won today. He might even become the class valedictorian this year.”
Director Lin said, “Did you hear that? Money is king, the only true hard power. Your outdated ideas will only lead to your eventual obsolescence if you cling to them.”
Director Gao scoffed dismissively, “Heh, no matter how much you argue, Zhang Yu has already won this round…”
At this point, both directors paused slightly, as the final exam results and Comprehensive Points calculations had just been released.
With their administrative privileges, they could immediately access the detailed scores and rankings in the backend system.
Director Lin’s expression stiffened momentarily, while Director Gao’s smile deepened. “If Ji Yuanshu had focused solely on his major, he might not have lost.”
“But he did lose, especially after gambling his Qi Luck while double-majoring in Finance. His defeat is all the more humiliating.”
“Just like what you’re doing now — have you considered the consequences of losing?”
Glancing at the final rankings, Director Lin let out a cold snort and vanished without another word, his Spirit Realm Projection dissipating.
Director Gao watched the direction the other figure had vanished in, the coldness in his eyes deepening before slowly receding.
Then he turned his gaze toward Zhang Yu’s location, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Who would have thought? Everyone looked down on you, yet you’re the one who exceeded expectations?”
Director Gao hadn’t initially held much hope for Zhang Yu’s competition against Ji Yuanshu, but the student had delivered a tremendous surprise at the end of the semester.
“We should increase the investment in Zhang Yu.”
“And fulfill our previous agreement by formally accepting him as a registered disciple.”
“As for the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power…”
At this thought, Gongshu Jin’s image flashed through Director Gao’s mind.
Gongshu Jin had originally been the War Faction’s intended successor to inherit the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power.
But now, Zhang Yu’s performance had clearly surpassed Gongshu Jin’s.
“Then let’s replace Gongshu Jin with him.”
“Just give him one more push. Let’s see if this kid can snatch a Military Certificate.”
Outside the Examination Field, as the exam concluded and the lockdown lifted, the medical team stationed at the perimeter immediately rushed in.
They swiftly located the corpse, set up caution tape, and began on-site medical care while projecting advertisements.
“Still worried about Qi Deviation?”
“Still afraid of accidentally dying from overwork and jeopardizing your career?”
“Want to risk everything in a crucial exam, give it your all, and leave no regrets?”
“Benevolent Heart Medical: Die when you want, achieving complete freedom over death.”
As the medical team began excavating the bunker to retrieve Ji Yuanshu’s corpse for resuscitation, many students looked on in astonishment.
One student, after seeing the advertisement, clicked his tongue: “Such an expensive service.”
Another thought: “Ji Yuanshu actually called Benevolent Heart Medical? He’s so rich!”
Someone else, gazing at Ji Yuanshu’s corpse, marveled: “Truly a man of wealth. His resurrection looks so cool! What heroic bearing!”
Meanwhile, Ji Yuanshu, in his Spirit Realm Projection form, was also watching the scene unfold.
According to his original plan, after securing first place in the exam, the medical team would enter, excavate his corpse under the public’s gaze, and bring him back to life — a resurrection for all to witness.
In that moment, the hearts of the crowd would have rallied to him, solidifying his position as the universally acclaimed first-place winner. His Qi Luck would have surged exponentially.
But now, everything was unfolding in a way utterly different from what he had envisioned.
Ji Yuanshu felt as though his exhumed corpse had become a mere stepping stone, brutally trampled beneath Zhang Yu’s feet.
This was because the students were gradually realizing the true cause of Ji Yuanshu’s death.
Ying Xin stared at Ji Yuanshu’s exhumed corpse, her mind reeling: “Ji Yuanshu… he actually used a human sacrifice? He gambled his own life? Did Zhang Yu defeat Ji Yuanshu’s very life force?”
She quickly calculated in her mind: “Before this exam, Ji Yuanshu’s Comprehensive Points were higher than Zhang Yu’s. But judging by the gap in this exam… Zhang Yu might actually have a chance to surpass Ji Yuanshu.”
On the other side, Gongshu Jin was equally stunned, his gaze fixed on Zhang Yu: “Ji Yuanshu staked his entire life and still couldn’t defeat Zhang Yu? I wonder how the final Comprehensive Points will be calculated — will Zhang Yu’s ranking surpass Ji Yuanshu’s?”
If Tu Lishan’s earlier analysis had already made everyone aware of Zhang Yu’s strength, then the exhumation of Ji Yuanshu’s corpse now drove home the full extent of his power.
Simultaneously, a jolt of electricity coursed through Ji Yuanshu’s body, gradually restoring his heartbeat and blood flow.
His brain soon resumed functioning.
Then, his Divine Soul was guided back from the Spirit Realm into his corpse.
Seeing Ji Yuanshu open his eyes, the lead doctor smiled and said, “Mr. Ji, welcome back. We’ll now conduct tests to assess your cognitive recovery.”
Ignoring the doctor, Ji Yuanshu immediately sensed the Qi Luck accumulating in his mind violently churning, like boiling magma threatening to erupt from within him.
Forcibly suppressing the Qi Luck with the copper coin magical artifact in his mind, Ji Yuanshu’s expression grew even darker.
He understood perfectly… Once tonight’s Comprehensive Points and rankings were updated, if he fell behind Zhang Yu’s rank, he would face an overwhelmingly severe backlash of Qi Luck.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu patted Yu Xinghan’s shoulder beside him and asked, “Xinghan, what’s wrong?”
Yu Xinghan replied, “Zhang Yu, I… I… I’m just fucking so happy for you.”