Chapter 366: Bai Zhenzhen, the Object of Worship
Just as Zhang Yu voiced his curiosity, Ying Xin proactively provided an explanation.
As a native of the Second Layer, Ying Xin had watched numerous competition broadcasts before entering university.
As Ying Xin elaborated, the subsequent competition showcased the diverse flying sword techniques of the contestants.
Netherworld University’s living flying swords flew, fought, and locked onto targets as if sentient beings.
Vajra University’s Dharma Eye flying swords could directly target objects 80 kilometers away, guiding the blades with precision.
Myriad Laws University’s flying swords communicated with the Spirit Realm Network through the Sun and Moon, locking onto their targets via celestial connections.
It was then that Zhang Yu learned that the Sun and Moon of the Kunxu Second Layer had been primarily constructed by Myriad Laws University.
Both celestial bodies were colossal magical artifacts, constantly maintaining the Spirit Realm Network that blanketed the entire Second Layer of Kunxu.
Zhang Yu raised his head, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. “No wonder we could connect to the network at the construction site in the wilderness. So this is why?”
He gradually began to realize something.
“In the Flying Sword Competition, the competitors’ skills are only one part of the equation. The flying swords themselves are just as crucial.”
Originally, Zhang Yu had assumed the Flying Sword Competition was similar to javelin or discus throws, primarily dependent on the athletes’ skill.
But now, it seemed more like Formula One racing, where the quality of the flying swords and the technology behind them were equally as important as the competitors’ skills.
“This really is a competition only the wealthy can afford.”
Just as Ying Xin was about to introduce the next group of competitors, Yu Xinghan’s gaze sharpened, and he suddenly declared, “I know this group.”
Zhang Yu shot Yu Xinghan a surprised glance. He had come from the First Layer, just like him, yet he knew the competitors?
Yu Xinghan continued, “They’re Senior Sister Hongxiao, Senior Sister Jiuyao, and Senior Brother Liuyun, all from Joyful Union University.”
Ying Xin asked curiously, “You know them all?”
Yu Xinghan declared proudly, “I’ve watched countless videos of their battles and learned every astonishing technique they wield.”
Zhang Yu suddenly remembered something and thought to himself, “No wonder Senior Sister Hongxiao has such a heavy workload. She must be pouring all her resources into flying swords.”
As he continued watching, Zhang Yu noticed that each of the Ten Great Universities had its own distinct style of flying sword technology. While the remaining Thirty-Six Upper Colleges and Seventy-Two Lower Colleges displayed subtle variations in their flying sword techniques, their overall approaches ultimately stemmed from the Ten Greats.
As for the Vocational Colleges… were there even any Junior College Students participating in this competition? Zhang Yu hadn’t paid any attention.
Before he knew it, the second half of the night had gradually passed, and the rising sun gradually illuminated the arena.
Just then, Bai Zhenzhen and several other representatives from Heavenly Sword University took the stage.
Bai Zhenzhen twirled several strands of hair around her fingertip. With a flash of sword light, the strands shot skyward, transforming into several refined metal flying swords that gleamed brilliantly in the morning light. They struck through the air at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
Bai Zhenzhen’s Bionic Eyes flickered, displaying the refined metal flying sword’s specifications and the data transmitted by the Sky-Patrolling Flying Swords. This included the sword’s visual feed, the target’s coordinates, wind direction, altitude, and other parameters.
The sky and ground blurred past her at dizzying speed. In less than two minutes, the target materialized within her Bionic Eyes’ interface.
In the next instant, as Bai Zhenzhen’s sword art shifted, the refined metal flying sword surged forward with a burst of electric light, piercing straight through the target.
Ying Xin sighed beside her. “Ah, they start practicing flying swords as Freshmen and are already competing by their Second-Year. We’re Second-Years and still stuck at performing basic drills.”
Watching Bai Zhenzhen’s effortless movements, Zhang Yu’s thoughts drifted back to her earlier remark about the exam.
“A-Zhen mentioned last time it was several hundred kilometers away… Could their exam involve controlling flying swords across such a vast distance?”
“If that’s the case, is Heavenly Sword University deliberately concealing even more advanced flying sword technology?”
Seeing the competition end, Yu Xinghan suddenly noticed Zhang Yu was missing again and couldn’t resist sending a message: “Where are you?”
Zhang Yu: “Busy right now. Go back without me. No need to wait.”
In the narrow alley, Bai Zhenzhen embraced Zhang Yu, transferring her True Spirit Root to him.
Zhang Yu took a deep breath and said, “A-Zhen, please stay as long as you can.”
Bai Zhenzhen’s voice whispered in his ear, “I want to stay longer too, so I can transfer my True Spirit Root to you a few more times.”
“But it depends on how the competition goes.”
After obtaining the True Spirit Root again, Zhang Yu simply skipped classes and applied for overtime at the construction site.
With his multi-layered thinking fully engaged, he simultaneously circulated the Level 20 Breathing Technique, activated the Level 20 Heaven-Turning Seal, and ran both cultivation arts in tandem, nourishing the Divine Spirit Root within him.
“One cultivation art requires 30 hours. Ten arts would take 300 hours. Cultivating them one by one would definitely take too long before A-Zhen leaves.”
“But if I run two simultaneously, it’ll only take 150 hours.”
“Even though time is still tight, replicating the Dao Seed before A-Zhen leaves might not be impossible after all.”
While one layer of his mind circulated the Breathing Technique and another focused on the Heaven-Turning Seal, Zhang Yu activated a third layer of his mind to initiate the Battle Demon Life-Shattering Art.
However, he activated the Battle Demon Life-Shattering Art at its minimum level, increasing his physical strength by only 0.1 levels. The energy consumption remained well within his manageable range.
“With the Battle Demon Life-Shattering Art — a cultivation art that can be activated simultaneously with others — I can run three arts at once, further increasing the chances of success.”
Zhang Yu mentally reviewed the cultivation arts he had mastered. Each art utilized different muscle groups and meridians; some could be run simultaneously, while others could not.
He mentally rearranged and combined the compatible arts, optimizing his efforts to nourish the Divine Spirit Root with maximum efficiency.
Over the next few days, Zhang Yu virtually abandoned all else, dedicating himself entirely to frenzied cultivation. He exchanged the True Spirit Root with Bai Zhenzhen both before and after the competitions.
The Flying Sword Competition grew increasingly fierce. Beyond the initial long-range strike event, there were various contests focusing on destructive power, speed, technique, and distance.
The most perilous event was the Sword Duel.
Contestants engaged in flying sword combat within a 10-kilometer arena. Defeat was declared when one side surrendered or their flying sword was destroyed.
It was during the Sword Duels that Zhang Yu finally witnessed Military-Grade Flying Swords in action. He watched in awe as these swords transformed into relentless sword light, piercing any defense and cleaving through all obstacles with astonishing speed and destructive force.
Bai Zhenzhen emerged as a sensation in the Sword Duels.
Wielding only seven refined metal flying swords, she swept through opponents with unstoppable momentum, dispatching them one after another.
Against opponents using Military-Grade Flying Swords, she deployed a sword formation of 108 refined metal blades, enhanced by her Divine Spirit Root. By concealing the sword qi and light, she created an invisible flying sword formation that crushed her adversaries.
Spectators gasped as she deftly manipulated 72 swords to parry the military-grade blades while simultaneously maneuvering 36 swords stealthily behind the enemy, directly suppressing their physical form. The crowd erupted in astonished cheers, catapulting Bai Zhenzhen into the spotlight.
Ye Xingli, a top student in the Artifact Refinement Department, was also watching the Flying Sword Competition. As a prodigy in artifact refinement, she was keenly interested in the flying sword technologies of various schools.
Witnessing Bai Zhenzhen defeat her opponent, Ye Xingli mused, “A Divine Spirit Root battling a Military-Grade Flying Sword?”
“This invisible flying sword gives her such an unfair advantage in Sword Duels. Her opponent barely had a chance to unleash the true power of their Military-Grade Flying Sword before their True Body was defeated.”
“Still, this trick is most effective the first time. Opponents will undoubtedly be prepared for it in future matches.”
As word spread that Bai Zhenzhen was a disciple of Divine Monarch Seven Emotions, interest in her only grew.
Countless messages flooded her Bionic Eye:
“Miss Bai Zhenzhen, would you be interested in endorsing our company’s products?”
“Are you accepting advertising offers?”
“You have a reserve of 100 Spirit Coins available. Reply ‘yes’ to withdraw within five minutes…”
“Would you be willing to grant an interview?”
Endless messages flooded in: endorsement requests, advertising pitches, offers of loans — the notifications never stopped.
Shortly after leaving the hotel, Bai Zhenzhen found herself surrounded by a crowd of reporters and onlookers, their cameras instantly swiveling to capture her every move.
With a flash of movement and several bursts of acceleration, Bai Zhenzhen vanished from sight, leaving the crowd behind.
In a narrow alley, Zhang Yu hugged Bai Zhenzhen from behind and whispered, “You’ve been getting more and more popular lately.”
“Hmm…” Bai Zhenzhen hummed softly, feeling the Divine Spirit Root return to her Dantian. “Just some bored people. It won’t affect our plans.”
Zhang Yu cautioned, “Be careful. Our plans must remain a secret.”
Moments later, Bai Zhenzhen returned to the hotel and found Wen Wuya waiting for her.
Wen Wuya asked, “Zhenzhen, why have you been sneaking out alone so often lately?”
Bai Zhenzhen replied, “Just taking a walk. Is there a problem with that?”
Wen Wuya said, “Zhenzhen, your hair is a bit disheveled…”
Bai Zhenzhen flashed past him. “I’m going to take a bath. Don’t follow me.”
Watching her retreating figure, Wen Wuya sighed helplessly, thinking to himself, “What exactly is Bai Zhenzhen up to? Should I look into this?”
As the Flying Sword Tournament progressed, many competitors began to attract attention, Bai Zhenzhen among them.
Beyond her celebrated Divine Spirit Root, the greatest interest focused on Divine Monarch Seven Emotions, the powerful figure behind her.
Soon, detailed information about Divine Monarch Seven Emotions’ extensive efforts to nurture Bai Zhenzhen was unearthed.
At the start of her freshman year, Bai Zhenzhen was awarded a provisional Military Certificate due to her exceptional performance in talisman studies during high school.
Subsequently, during the first semester of her freshman year, Bai Zhenzhen joined the upperclassman inspection team. By capturing evil gods and dangerous elements from the Dark Seed territories, she accumulated a massive amount of merit points.
By the second semester, leveraging her accumulated Merit Points and modifications to the Sky-Patrolling Flying Sword design, she was granted an unprecedented promotion to a military position at Heavenly Sword University. This allowed her to access approved military-grade cultivation techniques and military-grade Spirit Roots.
Ying Xin thought admiringly, “This is freaking incredible! No wonder she’s a Spirit Transformation Divine Monarch! Her disciple cultivation path is simply beyond our reach.”
Gongshu Jin thought enviously, “This is the power of top-tier wealth — securing a military position as a freshman. As expected, the truly rich can game the university system, taking shortcuts and effortlessly achieving what’s impossible for us.”
Che Yufei sighed, “Bai Zhenzhen’s progress is so rapid, yet her face doesn’t even have a single wrinkle… She truly has a top-tier master.”
Ji Yuanshu gazed at Bai Zhenzhen in the arena, mesmerized by her sword-like hair and the captivating, wealth-laden sword light.
Thinking of the Divine Monarch Seven Emotions behind her, he marveled with deep admiration, “As expected, with enough money, you can shatter all the conventions and norms of the University and crush everyone who’s less wealthy under your heel.”
Ye Xingli of the Artifact Refinement Department also marveled, “Money… The Divine Monarch Seven Emotions is truly overflowing with wealth, wisdom, and skill in nurturing disciples. Using money to forge such a shortcut to the Immortal Dao for her disciple — what profound master-disciple affection! What an intense bond! Even if Bai Zhenzhen were to sacrifice everything for her master in the future, it would be only right.”
Obsession with Bai Zhenzhen — Envy of Bai Zhenzhen — Admiration for the Master-Disciple bond — Reverence for Bai Zhenzhen’s Achievements — Worship of Divine Monarch Seven Emotions’ Wealth — Awe at the Brilliance of the Wealthy
As the many details of Bai Zhenzhen’s growth path in university were exposed, the Spirit-Realm Network was filled with nothing but glowing words for both her and her master.