Chapter 384: Two Realms Divided, Sky-Patrolling Flying Swords
Che Yufei, having little experience in competitions, couldn’t understand Su Yanyang’s strategy. He asked, “What’s going on? Aren’t they attacking?”
“Shouldn’t the attacking side be rushing us?”
Shi Huaiyu exhaled slowly and explained, “Direct attacks are only used when the power gap between opponents is overwhelming. Most matches between the top ten teams don’t play out like that.”
“Since this is the Civil Engineering Competition, the primary focus is still on civil engineering skills. Combat is merely the environment for the competition.”
“That’s why there’s a rule against killing opponents.”
“Su Yanyang is being overly cautious. He’s denying us any chance for direct combat, aiming to crush us with their specialized abilities.”
“Their next move will likely be to deploy armored layers…”
As Shi Huaiyu spoke, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently.
Simultaneously, the distant terrain undulated, and layers of black barriers rose like successive city walls, rapidly expanding across the horizon.
Shi Huaiyu murmured, “It’s been enhanced by the Earth Fiend God Bionic suit. They’re using the Minor Threefold Combination with Point Earth to Steel, combined with Fingertip Earth to Gold. First, they move the sand and earth, then reshape and reinforce it, and finally refine the metallic elements to further increase its strength. Next should be the formation…”
In the next moment, everyone sensed a change in the spiritual energy in the air, and their expressions shifted slightly.
Immediately afterward, continuous tremors and rumbling sounds began to emanate from beneath the ground, growing in frequency and range, as if the entire arena had transformed into a massive construction site.
Shi Huaiyu explained, “The armored layers are to protect the formation. Once the formation is complete, it will begin to devour the Spirit Vein, destabilize the foundation, and alter the terrain…”
“Once the Spirit Vein is consumed, it will become difficult for us to replenish our Magic Power.”
“Once they control the terrain, they’ll alter the geological structure to make it unsuitable for construction, causing our bunkers to deform and collapse…”
Che Yufei said helplessly, “Their abilities are too powerful. I’m afraid we don’t stand a chance.”
Faced with such a grand spectacle, the group began to lose heart.
Zhang Yu frowned as he watched this scene. He knew he couldn’t let his teammates’ morale continue to plummet.
His gaze shifted, and he spoke up, “Everyone, do you realize how many teachers are watching us right now?”
“Most of the department’s teachers and all three directors are watching our competition.”
“To surrender right in front of all the teachers… Do you think you’ll ever be able to hold your heads high in the Civil Engineering Department again?”
Hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Che Yufei and the others, who had been considering withdrawing, stiffened.
Zhang Yu continued, “And have you considered what a rare opportunity this is to showcase yourselves?”
“How difficult was it before to get a chance to demonstrate your abilities to so many teachers?”
“Whether we win or lose, let’s at least fight our best and show them what we’re capable of.”
Listening to Zhang Yu, Che Yufei had to admit he was right.
Especially when he recalled how things had changed after reaching the top ten in the competition… If they surrendered now, they’d likely leave a terrible impression on the Civil Engineering Department’s leaders.
Conversely, if they demonstrated their skills in this match, even if they lost in the end, it would likely be more valuable than submitting a stack of resumes.
Moreover, Zhang Yu’s status as Director Gao’s Registered Disciple added weight to his words, making Che Yufei, Shi Yunxiang, and the others trust him even more.
“Hahahaha!” Che Yufei laughed heartily. “Zhang Yu, you’re right! This is a perfect opportunity to showcase our abilities. How could we possibly back down now?”
With a ferocious roar, Che Yufei’s muscles trembled violently. Amidst billowing white steam, he aged visibly, his facial wrinkles deepening imperceptibly.
Che Yufei grinned, “Let’s give it one last push.”
As he aged, his aura surged exponentially, leaving afterimages as he instantly materialized beside the building materials.
With each flash of his body, the bunker’s foundation rapidly transformed before their eyes.
Zhang Yu stared, his mouth agape. Gazing at the aging Che Yufei, he couldn’t help but remark, “You don’t have to push yourself this hard…”
Shi Yunxiang chimed in, “Relax, it’s just a bit of lifespan. Old Che knows his limits.”
“Besides, you’re right. We’ve finally made it to the leaders’ doorstep. We can’t let this opportunity go to waste. How else will we showcase the spirit of Civil Engineering if we don’t risk some lifespan?”
With a thunderous shout, Shi Yunxiang activated his own explosive cultivation art, followed by his Hand Bionic. With a series of palm strikes, he carved a deep pit into the ground.
Their combined abilities demonstrated not only mastery of construction techniques like foundation laying and cement production, but also a deep familiarity with formation deployment, as if they had practiced it countless times.
They were so accustomed to setting up formations during construction projects, eager to earn extra installation fees, that they had thoroughly mastered the basic formations taught by the Civil Engineering Department professors.
Seeing this, a squadron of Formless Warriors materialized behind Zhang Yu, while Xiao Qingxuan’s Dragon-Shaped Gang Qi roared around him. The group threw themselves into the work, accelerating the bunker’s construction.
Watching the others work tirelessly, Shi Huaiyu patted her waist and addressed the Suppressing Seal within her Ghost Kidney: “Calculate how much time we have left.”
The Soul Cultivator within replied: “I’m here to suppress the Ghost Kidney, not handle other tasks.”
Shi Huaiyu: “I ordered the Ghost Kidney Suppression and Portable Calculation Package. It clearly stated that the Ghost Kidney provides calculation services.”
Shi Huaiyu: “I know you can access the Spirit Realm’s Calculation Pool. Stop pretending you don’t know.”
The Soul Cultivator reluctantly complied, delivering the result moments later: “At your current pace, you’ll complete the bunker and formation in approximately 40 minutes.”
Shi Huaiyu pressed: “What about the opposing team?”
The Soul Cultivator replied: “Based on the data we have, their Spirit Vein occupancy will exceed 50% in about 20 minutes.”
Shi Huaiyu’s gaze sharpened at the news. “So soon?”
The Soul Cultivator replied, “According to my calculations, their final Spirit Vein proportion will be around 74%, leaving you with only 26%.”
“They will completely dominate the terrain. Once they activate their power to alter the geological structure, all your current efforts will be rendered futile.”
Shi Huaiyu frowned slightly and immediately forwarded the calculated data to the group chat.
The others quickly grasped the situation. Continuing to compete solely on construction speed would be a losing battle.
Within the Spirit Realm Space, a teacher watching Zhang Yu and Su Yanyang’s match nodded slightly. “This is what a true Civil Engineering Competition should be. Su Yanyang is playing it safe, building a great formation and fighting a war of attrition. He’s all about overwhelming his opponents with sheer force.”
Wei Huai, a teacher from the Peace Faction, remarked, “This just shows the gap in funding and resources. No matter how hard Zhang Yu’s team tries, what’s the point? Can they possibly compete with that much money?”
Neither Tu Lishan nor Lang Yougong, the teachers from the War Faction, offered any rebuttal. After all, Su Yanyang’s team was completely dominating their opponents.
Tu Lishan ignored Wei Huai’s comment and instead steered the conversation toward Mo Shangjin’s team, who were currently gaining a significant advantage in their match.
But just then, Wei Huai interjected, “Wrong again.” He shook his head repeatedly. “Charging out like that is just reckless bravado. Trying to breach someone else’s great formation? Only the Security Department would resort to such brute force.”
Tu Lishan turned to look and saw Zhang Yu, Xiao Qingxuan, and Tian Yang charging out of their construction site, heading straight for the defensive fortifications built by Su Yanyang’s team.
The towering, winding barriers, gleaming with metallic luster, loomed larger in Zhang Yu, Xiao Qingxuan, and Tian Yang’s eyes.
Simultaneously, Shi Huaiyu’s voice echoed through the contest group, reaching their ears without pause.
“With the Earth Fiend God Bionic Suit and the formation’s support, he can completely suppress my Minor Threefold Combination. I’ll stay at the construction site with Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang to finish the project.”
“But no matter how fast we work, we can’t outpace Su Yanyang and his team.”
“To gain an advantage in this round, the only way is to slow down Su Yanyang’s construction efficiency.”
“Steal materials, sabotage their work… you must find ways to cause them trouble…”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “We’re supposed to be the defenders, yet we have to launch a counterattack. Is this the gap in our construction capabilities?”
As Zhang Yu and his team stepped into the barrier, they discovered that the layered, fortress-like walls overlapped and obscured the sky. The complex, winding structure resembled a twisted, deformed insect hive.
Immediately after they entered, Shi Huaiyu’s voice vanished completely.
Xiao Qingxuan frowned. “The connection’s been cut.”
Tian Yang shook his head. “It’s the Two Realms Separation Great Formation. It blocks communication between the Material Realm and the Spirit Realm Network.”
Zhang Yu said, “Shi Huaiyu has a wealth of intelligence on Su Yanyang’s team and can keep us updated on both sides’ progress. We can’t lose contact with her.”
With this in mind, Zhang Yu looked at the Azure Silk Flying Sword coiled around his finger and asked, “If we connect to the Spirit Realm Network using Heavenly Sword University’s Sky-Patrolling Flying Sword Network, can we break through the Two Realms Separation Great Formation?”
“Sky-Patrolling Flying Sword Network?” Tian Yang’s eyes lit up. “The Two Realms Separation Great Formation here is just a hastily constructed barrier Su Yanyang set up in the arena. With the Sky-Patrolling Flying Sword’s capabilities, we can easily breach it.”
“However, there are three of us. If we all use this method to break through the Two Realms Separation Great Formation, it will likely consume a significant amount of energy.”
Zhang Yu nodded. The data fees for the Sky-Patrolling Flying Sword Network were far higher than ordinary network charges.
Xiao Qingxuan sighed helplessly. “Breaking into someone else’s formation naturally comes at a cost. Those without sufficient Spirit Coins simply lack the qualifications to attempt it.”
“Take me, for example. I’m currently in debt and can’t even use the Sky-Patrolling Flying Swords.”
Tian Yang glanced at the Azure Silk Flying Sword in Zhang Yu’s hand and said, “I have a way to communicate with the Sky-Patrolling Flying Swords and transfer Spirit Realm Sword Intent into your bodies. This should allow us to break through the Two Realms Separation Great Formation.”
The Azure Silk Flying Sword pierced Tian Yang’s head like an antenna. As a pained expression flashed across his face, he placed a palm on Zhang Yu and Xiao Qingxuan respectively.
“Hold on tight. This is my last data allowance for the year…”
“I’m giving it all to you. Use it sparingly.”