Chapter 358: Ghost Kidney, Ten Thousand Coins
Zhang Yu turned to Che Yufei beside him and sent a private message: “Senior, how did you end up on this team?”
Che Yufei smiled and replied, “Tu Lishan introduced me.”
Che Yufei: “Did you know Shi Huaiyu is Tu Lishan’s Registered Disciple?”
Che Yufei: “The reason I asked you about competition teams earlier was to recruit you.”
Che Yufei: “Don’t let the fact that the team isn’t complete yet fool you. Tu Lishan will definitely recruit more members.”
Zhang Yu was slightly surprised. “No wonder Tu Lishan introduced me,” he thought. “He’s just recruiting for his own disciple.”
Zhang Yu then asked Shi Yunxiang beside him, who replied, “Old Che and I were both recruited by Tu Lishan.”
Shi Yunxiang: “His Registered Disciple originally had a competition team, but after a falling out with the captain, she quit and decided to rebuild her own team.”
Zhang Yu asked, “What kind of falling out?”
Shi Yunxiang: “During training, the captain rammed Shi Huaiyu and crushed her kidney.”
Shi Yunxiang: “When it came to assessing the damage, Shi Huaiyu demanded a complete kidney replacement or even a Bionic. But the captain insisted a simple repair would suffice.”
Shi Yunxiang: “Shi Huaiyu disagreed, believing that even a thoroughly repaired kidney would still have hidden risks. She insisted on a full replacement.”
Shi Yunxiang: “They couldn’t agree on compensation, and the dispute ended up in court. Shi Huaiyu eventually left the team.”
Zhang Yu’s heart jolted. “Good thing I didn’t hurt Le Mulan yesterday,” he thought. “It seems I need to be even more careful with every action as my strength grows.”
“I can’t let my increasing power lead to fewer friends.”
Zhang Yu asked, “What about her kidney now?”
Shi Yunxiang: “She got a used Ghost Kidney.”
Shi Yunxiang: “Functionally sound, but occasionally haunted by lingering memories of its previous owner.”
“A Ghost Kidney?” Zhang Yu mused. “Looks like this disciple from Tu Lishan isn’t particularly wealthy.”
Zhang Yu, Che Yufei, and Shi Yunxiang were all Foundation Establishment Stage experts. Their private Bionic Eye communication was lightning-fast, and the exchange was over in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Shi Huaiyu turned to Zhang Yu and said, “Junior Brother, please help spread the word. See if you can recruit any more teammates.”
A moment later, Zhang Yu posted a recruitment message for competition teammates on his WeChat Moments, immediately attracting widespread attention.
Li Xiao: “Senior Brother, do you think I’d be a good fit?”
Closing a string of useless chat windows, Zhang Yu’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Tian Yang: “Competition emergency? Is there compensation?”
Tian Yang was the senior who had accompanied Zhang Yu to entertain President Wang in the underground tomb earlier.
Zhang Yu turned to Shi Huaiyu beside him and said, “I’ve found someone, a great Seventh-Grade senior, but he might want payment.”
Shi Huaiyu waved her hand dismissively. “I’ll handle the negotiation. Get his contact information for me.”
Meanwhile, other students continued to reach out to Zhang Yu.
Gongshu Jin: “Can I join the team? Even as a substitute would be fine.”
Zhang Yu: “How much are you offering?”
Ying Xin: “Senior Brother, can I join too?”
Zhang Yu considered the ashes at home and replied: “I’ll try to reserve a substitute spot for you, but you know the rules.”
Ying Xin: “I understand! I’ll pay the substitute fee.”
Li Xiao: Transferred 0.0001 Spirit Coin.
Zhang Yu: “Xiao Li, I can’t accept this money.”
Zhang Yu: “You’re different from the others. Focus on your studies for now.”
In addition to the six official team members for the Civil Engineering Competition, teams could register up to three substitute members.
Since substitute members could also earn Comprehensive Points, many teams aiming for a top ranking would sell these positions.
Ma Xuan’s team had done the same before, though Zhang Yu hadn’t received any compensation at the time.
Yu Xinghan: “How much for a substitute spot?”
Zhang Yu: “The price isn’t set yet. I’ll discuss it with the team and get back to you.”
Zhang Yu shook his head helplessly, thinking, “We haven’t even finalized the main roster, yet we have more substitute candidates than we can accommodate.”
Just then, another figure entered the Simulation Battlefield.
Seeing the newcomer, Zhang Yu and his teammates immediately noticed his Foundation Establishment Domains as they observe him.
“Warning! Foundation Establishment cultivator Xiao Qingxuan has approached within 10 meters! Please exercise caution! This user’s debt exceeds 10,000 Spirit Coins. He is incapable of compensating for any losses he may cause. Maintain a safe distance!”
As the Foundation Establishment Domain descended, the four students whirled around.
A man stood before them, towering over two meters tall, his dark skin contrasted sharply with his mismatched Bionic gear.
As Che Yufei gazed at the man and heard about his debt exceeding 10,000 Spirit Coins, he felt as if the man were a black hole of debt, frantically devouring everything around him, even light seemed to be swallowed whole.
Che Yufei thought in alarm, “A debt exceeding 10,000 Spirit Coins? Is this guy a terrorist? He’s a Myriad Debt Man?!”
Shi Yunxiang swiftly retreated, positioning himself protectively in front of the group, thinking, “Why?! Why is someone with a debt exceeding 10,000 Spirit Coins still alive and standing before us?”
Zhang Yu retreated behind Shi Yunxiang, thinking, “Are we seeing a ghost? No, even a ghost with that much debt wouldn’t still be here…”
Accustomed to the group’s unease, the man merely glanced at Shi Huaiyu and said casually, “Tu Lishan sent me. Do you still need someone?”
Shi Huaiyu’s eyes lit up. Turning to Xiao Qingxuan, she reassured the group, “Everyone, don’t be nervous. Senior Xiao may have a lot of debt, but he’s not dangerous.”
Che Yufei cursed inwardly, “Someone with a 10,000 Spirit Coin debt isn’t dangerous?”
Shi Huaiyu continued, “He’s the company’s legal representative.”
Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang exchanged a knowing glance. “So that’s how it is,” they thought.
Che Yufei pressed, “You’re a great Ninth-Year Student, ranked 40th overall in the All-Attribute Department. Why are you the company’s legal representative?”
Xiao Qingxuan remained silent. Instead, Shi Huaiyu explained, “While working on a construction site in the wilderness, Xiao Qingxuan accidentally fell into an ancient tomb and was possessed by an ancient cultivator.”
“Later, to regain control of his physical body, he seized an opportunity to manipulate the cultivator into becoming the company’s legal representative, saddling him with debt and ultimately scaring him away.”
Hearing Shi Huaiyu’s explanation, Zhang Yu and the others cast strange glances at Xiao Qingxuan.
Though Shi Huaiyu’s account was brief, the trio understood the turbulent undercurrents and the myriad fascinating details it must conceal, especially considering Xiao Qingxuan was still attending university as if nothing had happened…
Fu Ji remarked, “The depths behind this man are unfathomable.”
Shi Huaiyu exclaimed joyfully, “With Senior Xiao, Junior Zhang, and Tian Yang joining us… our team is finally complete!”
Meanwhile, Tian Yang, after learning about the team’s composition, agreed they had a chance to rank among the top ten and dropped the matter of payment.
At Zhang Yu’s introduction, the three substitute positions were sold to Yu Xinghan, Gongshu Jin, and Ying Xin.
The six team members split the proceeds equally, each receiving 0.2 Spirit Coins.
“With the team assembled and the substitute positions sold, everything is finally on track,” Shi Huaiyu murmured, stroking her Ghost Kidney. A fighting spirit gradually ignited in her eyes as she thought to herself, “Those guys… just wait and see.”
Once Tian Yang arrived, Shi Huaiyu addressed the group, “It’s early September now, leaving us three months until the competition in early December.”
“We’ll train once a week from now on.”
“Everyone knows the competition rules, right?”
Zhang Yu nodded. The Civil Engineering Competition was a combat-oriented competitive event.
During the competition between Team A and Team B, Team A would first construct a project within a set time limit while under attack from Team B.
Then, Team B would do the same while under attack from Team A.
The final scores would be based on the completion rate and quality of both teams’ projects.
“Another set of rules that simulates a battlefield environment,” Zhang Yu mused inwardly.
“The entire competition tests both teams’ construction and combat abilities.”
After briefly explaining the rules, Shi Huaiyu began assigning positions for the six-person competition.
Just then, Xiao Qingxuan, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, pointing at Zhang Yu. “This guy… He’s only a Second-Year student, meaning he was just a Freshman a few days ago, right? Are you sure you want a newcomer who just got promoted from Freshman year to compete?”
“If we kick him out, we could find a stronger student to replace him, couldn’t we?”
Shi Huaiyu replied, “Senior Xiao, Junior Zhang is the top student in our class and Director Gao’s registered disciple…”
Xiao Qingxuan said blandly, “So, he’s exceptionally wealthy? If that’s the case, I have no objections.”
Zhang Yu knew he couldn’t stay silent any longer.
He stood up and looked at Xiao Qingxuan, saying, “That’s not the case… I’m not wealthy. I earned my place here through my own abilities.”
“It’s just that my grade level and exam limitations have restricted my scores, preventing my ranking and Comprehensive Points from fully reflecting my true strength.”
“Moreover, I’m still improving rapidly. In three months, my strength will be even greater.”
Xiao Qingxuan said coolly, “Words alone mean nothing. We in the Civil Engineering Department prove ourselves through action.”
“I’ll test you myself.”
As he spoke, Xiao Qingxuan unleashed a palm strike. A torrent of violent, dragon-shaped Gang Qi erupted, stirring up a cloud of dust as it surged toward Zhang Yu.
As the dragon-shaped Gang Qi bore down, every detail — the dragon’s claws, fangs, whiskers, and even individual scales — appeared vividly lifelike, as if a true giant dragon had materialized before them.
Zhang Yu understood that this level of detail meant Xiao Qingxuan’s Gang Qi Conduction Rate had exceeded 95%, allowing Gang Qi to flow through him like his own flesh and blood, granting unparalleled control and destructive power.
Bang!
A Formless Warrior materialized, intercepting the dragon-shaped Gang Qi. It threw a punch at the colossal dragon.
But in the next instant, the Formless Warrior was torn to shreds by the dragon-shaped Gang Qi, unable to stall it even for a moment.
More Formless Warriors leaped into action, charging toward the dragon like selfless, fearless fighters, only to be pulverized one after another in an instant.
Facing the descending giant dragon, Zhang Yu let out a low roar. His muscles bulged, Gang Qi surged, and with multiple cultivation arts activated, he channeled his power to its absolute limit. Then, he unleashed a skyward punch.
With a thunderous roar, Xiao Qingxuan’s expression shifted abruptly. He felt as if his palm had first struck a wad of cotton, its force continuously absorbed and redirected. After finally breaking through layer upon layer of Gang Qi, it then felt like slamming into an impossibly hard nail.
The dragon-shaped Gang Qi completely pierced into Zhang Yu’s body, smashing directly into the ground. Yet Zhang Yu stood motionless, utterly unscathed.
Though Xiao Qingxuan hadn’t used his full strength, a flicker of surprise still flashed in his eyes as he saw Zhang Yu effortlessly parry his strike.
“Such a resilient body,” he nodded approvingly. “I acknowledge your strength. You’d be perfect for a defensive position.”
Just then, a Formless Warrior materialized beside Xiao Qingxuan.
Zhang Yu chuckled lightly. “Senior, why don’t you try taking one of my strikes?”
In the next instant, a dragon’s roar echoed as the Formless Warrior, channeling a power intensely familiar to Xiao Qingxuan, charged straight at him.