Chapter 370: Farewell, Civil Engineering Competition Begins
Wen Wuya glanced at Ji Yuanshu and said flatly, “I’m here to see Zhang Yu. Is he not here?”
Ji Yuanshu was momentarily taken aback, unsure why Wen Wuya was looking for Zhang Yu. He continued speaking, hoping to draw out more information and perhaps even add him as a friend…
But Wen Wuya’s brow furrowed, finding Ji Yuanshu’s chatter grating. Having dealt with countless people trying to ingratiate themselves, he had developed a practiced method for handling such situations.
Immobilization Talisman (Simplified Version) - Activate!
With a mental command, the talisman activated silently and invisibly, taking effect on Ji Yuanshu.
Ji Yuanshu’s body jerked, then froze completely in place.
“Please remain still and silent. You will receive 3 Spirit Coins in 2 minutes and 59 seconds.”
“Please remain still and silent. You will receive 3 Spirit Coins in 2 minutes and 58 seconds.”
Seeing the words appear in his Bionic Eye, Ji Yuanshu’s eyes flickered with struggle before he ultimately chose to stand still and shut his mouth.
A few months ago, he might have tried to break free from the Immobilization Talisman. But now, struggling to withstand the Qi Luck backlash, his finances were already stretched thin.
“Besides, the Immobilization Talisman is just a warning.”
“If I really break free, what awaits me next… probably won’t be Spirit Coins.”
With this thought, Ji Yuanshu silently chose to endure.
Feeling his mental cultivation technique faltering, Ji Yuanshu quickly reasoned to himself, “Let’s reframe this. It’s not that Wen Wuya used three Spirit Coins to restrain me, but rather that I let him pass because he paid three Spirit Coins.”
“Earning three Spirit Coins for standing still for three minutes, isn’t that a victory in its own right?”
As Ji Yuanshu continued to rationalize, his mental cultivation technique gradually stabilized.
A flicker of joy arose in his heart. “Good. Aren’t life’s setbacks opportunities for refinement? This will temper my dao heart, making my thoughts more flawless and adaptable, allowing my mental cultivation technique to adapt to any circumstance.”
“To truly shine in the Finance Department, one needs this unwavering spirit — never giving up, always optimistic.”
Meanwhile, Wen Wuya had already reached Gongshu Jin and the others. “Do you know where Zhang Yu is?” he asked.
Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin, and the others exchanged surprised glances, clearly not expecting this Spirit Transformation Disciple to be looking for Zhang Yu.
Ying Xin spoke first, “Zhang Yu should be at the construction site.”
Wen Wuya’s gaze sharpened. “Lead the way.”
As the group led Wen Wuya away, Li Xiao glanced back at Ji Yuanshu, who remained motionless. “What’s wrong with him?” Li Xiao wondered. “Did Wen Wuya really crush him that badly?”
Watching Ji Yuanshu’s dejected figure, Li Xiao felt a pang of recognition. “If you can’t fit in, you can’t force it,” he sighed inwardly.
“Faster… even faster, Yu Zi!”
“Huff!” Bai Zhenzhen took a deep breath, feeling her True Spirit Root fully restored and stabilized.
She suddenly frowned. “Why does this transformation feel so much more profound than usual?”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “It’s because I’ve been repeatedly switching between all the Chain Method Diagram Sets, constantly observing the changes in the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo.”
But he couldn’t possibly tell Bai Zhenzhen any of this.
Instead, he held her close and said, “Knowing you’re leaving soon, I pushed my True Spirit Root cultivation hard tonight. Maybe I overstimulated it a bit.”
Hearing his explanation, Bai Zhenzhen returned his embrace. “Yu Zi, I’m leaving now.”
“You must cultivate diligently, study hard, and transfer from the Civil Engineering Department to the Artifact Refinement Department as soon as possible.”
Bai Zhenzhen looked intently at Zhang Yu, her voice earnest. “Don’t forget your promise: we’re going to compete in the Ten Greats League together.”
Zhang Yu nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, A-Zhen. I’m not just going to compete in the Ten Greats League; I’m going to stand at the very top and earn the right to use an Immortal Sect-level Technique.”
If anyone else had heard Zhang Yu’s words, they would have laughed out loud, marveling at his audacity.
Bai Zhenzhen listened intently to Zhang Yu’s words.
Having known him for three years in high school, she understood him better than anyone else.
She also knew that Zhang Yu possessed a talent beyond anyone’s imagination.
Beneath his seemingly calm demeanor lay an ambition to reach the Apex of the Immortal Dao, even to infiltrate a sect.
Whether facing a Righteous God, President Wang, or any wealthy person, Bai Zhenzhen could sense that deep within Zhang Yu’s outwardly humble heart, he never truly surrendered.
Hearing his words now, Bai Zhenzhen couldn’t help but smile. “Yu Zi, you’re always like this, daring to set goals that others wouldn’t even dream of, goals that sound utterly impossible.”
“But I believe you have a chance of succeeding.”
Just then, Zhang Yu glanced at the message displayed in his Bionic Eye and raised an eyebrow. “Yu Xinghan sent a message. Wen Wuya came to the construction site looking for me.”
Bai Zhenzhen sighed. “I should be going too.”
“Yu Zi, I’ll be waiting for you at the Ten Greats League.”
Zhang Yu felt her give him a tight hug before she vanished in a flash of lightning.
He brushed his hand through the lingering electric sparks in the air, as if still feeling the warmth of Bai Zhenzhen’s body.
“A-Zhen…”
At the construction site on the 667th floor, Wen Wuya looked at Zhang Yu and said, “…Zhenzhen hasn’t come looking for you either?”
“Where could she have gone?”
“It’s already past the departure time.”
Just then, Wen Wuya received a message from the team leader teacher: Bai Zhenzhen had returned to the group.
Wen Wuya bid farewell to Zhang Yu and prepared to leave.
Before leaving, he patted Zhang Yu on the shoulder and said, “I’ll still need your help with that matter.”
“Don’t worry. As long as I see results, Spirit Coins won’t be a problem.”
Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin, and the others watched Wen Wuya chatting and laughing with Zhang Yu before leaving, their hearts filled with astonishment.
Ying Xin’s heart jolted. “Senior Brother has already made connections with a Spirit Transformation Disciple?”
She quickly tried to take a photo with her Bionic Eye, thinking she could take a picture of Zhang Yu with a Spirit Transformation Disciple, then take one of herself with Zhang Yu later, effectively getting an indirect photo with a Spirit Transformation Disciple.
But when she checked the photo, she found Wen Wuya’s figure had turned into an unidentifiable pixelated mess.
Ying Xin thought to herself, “An Evil-Warding Talisman? Ah, I can’t take his picture without permission.”
Meanwhile, Gongshu Jin reported the situation to Tu Lishan.
Tu Lishan was startled by the news and immediately reported it to Director Gao.
Since it involved a Spirit Transformation Divine Monarch, Director Gao immediately contacted Zhang Yu.
Director Gao: “How do you know Wen Wuya?”
Zhang Yu: “We met at a banquet. He seemed interested in civil engineering and asked me some questions, which I answered.”
Zhang Yu: “After a few exchanges, he added me as a friend.”
Director Gao paused, slightly surprised. “Wen Wuya was interested in civil engineering?”
Just as Director Gao was about to dismiss this as highly unlikely, Zhang Yu sent him their chat logs.
Wen Wuya: “What factors affect the bearing capacity of foundations?”
Wen Wuya: “What measures can improve a structure’s resistance to stress?”
Wen Wuya: “Any interesting civil engineering stories?”
Wen Wuya: “Tell me more.”
Reading through the exchanges, Director Gao couldn’t help but marvel, “What a promising civil engineering talent!”
“Ah, it’s a pity he was forced into the Flying Sword Department by Heavenly Sword University.”
“Still, it’s probably for the best. If he had joined the Civil Engineering Department, the Civil Engineering Competition would have been a nightmare for the next few years.”
Director Gao now understood that Zhang Yu’s connection with the Spirit Transformation Disciple was tenuous at best, barely more than a nodding acquaintance.
“But regardless, it’s still a direct line to a Spirit Transformation Divine Monarch at Heavenly Sword University. Better to have it than not.”
Director Gao knew that at Heavenly Sword University, the pro-war faction held absolute sway. Their Flying Sword Department would have loved to see all ten levels of the university erupt into chaos, allowing them to flood the market with flying swords.
After a moment’s thought, Director Gao replied, “If anyone asks about today’s events, just say you and Wen Wuya are friends.”
“As for how you met, tell them I forbade you from revealing it,” Director Gao added.
“Understood,” Zhang Yu replied.
“When you have time, try chatting with Wen Wuya more often,” Director Gao suggested.
Just moments after ending the call with Zhang Yu, Director Gao received a message from True Monarch Magnetic Pole.
“Old Gao, have you made contact with a Spirit Transformation cultivator at Heavenly Sword University?” True Monarch Magnetic Pole asked.
Reading the message, Director Gao couldn’t help but smile.
“Heh, seeing Zhang Yu talking to Wen Wuya, those fools will never suspect it was Zhang Yu’s initiative. They’ll assume it’s my influence, believing that two disciples from completely unrelated sects must be representing their masters’ interests.”
Director Gao replied, “You could say that.”
Director Gao knew True Monarch Magnetic Pole had always been deeply interested in Heavenly Sword University’s various flying sword refining techniques. She was even more intrigued by their strategies and plans for the University War.
As expected, after receiving Director Gao’s reply, True Monarch Magnetic Pole immediately sent several more messages in quick succession, making Director Gao chuckle softly.
Meanwhile, Ji Yuanshu also received a message from Director Lin.
Director Lin: “Did Wen Wuya from Heavenly Sword University come looking for Zhang Yu?”
Ji Yuanshu: “Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.”
Director Lin thought to himself, “That Old Gao… could he really have gotten involved with those lunatics from Heavenly Sword University?”
“Does he really want to drag Myriad Laws into this mess?”
“And Zhang Yu… being sent on such a mission… it seems he really has high hopes for him.”
At the same time, Ji Yuanshu sent another message: “Master, what’s the plan for the competition?”
Director Lin: “For the Civil Engineering Competition, I’ll arrange the order for you.”
Director Lin: “Eliminate Zhang Yu’s team in the first round.”
Ji Yuanshu’s gaze sharpened as he read the message, a fierce battle intent blazing in his eyes.
“It’s finally here.”
“My chance to avenge my past humiliation and reclaim my Qi Luck.”
Moments later, loan applications from various platforms appeared in Ji Yuanshu’s Bionic Eye, converting his last remaining Immortal Dao Potential into resources.
He then threw himself entirely into preparing for the competition.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye, bringing them to early December — the start of the Civil Engineering Competition’s departmental rounds.