Chapter 388: Director Gao’s Assistance
Lifting the bunker was one of the strategies Zhang Yu and the others had discussed.
When faced with an overwhelming assault, they would collectively move the bunker, seeking to evade attacks they couldn’t withstand head-on.
Fortunately, due to previous reinforcements, the bunker’s outer walls now bore only a few cracks, its structural integrity largely intact.
“Move!” Xiao Qingxuan roared, his nine Dragon-Shaped Gang Qi swirling wildly, blasting through the mudslide as he led the group toward more stable ground.
But soon, as their Magic Power dwindled, the strain of carrying the bunker while resisting the mudslide proved too much for Tian Yang. He retreated, shrinking his body and leaping back into the bunker.
A few seconds later, Shi Yunxiang also reached his limit, similarly shrinking and jumping inside.
With the two men’s withdrawal, the entire bunker lurched downward, forcing the remaining three to unleash their Gang Qi to support it.
Shi Huaiyu gazed at the surging, muddy torrents and the collapsing earth around them, her face grim. “We can’t hold out much longer.”
She knew that if the bunker slipped from their grasp, it would likely be crushed instantly by the mudslide and the collapsing ground.
“Hold on!” Zhang Yu shouted. “Shi Huaiyu! Stop worrying about below! Get up there and lighten the load!”
“Xiao Qingxuan!” Zhang Yu turned to Xiao Qingxuan, his voice earnest. “Get up there and help me!”
Shi Huaiyu shrank her body, leaped onto the bunker, and focused all her strength on condensing streams of Profound Yellow Qi. She poured the energy into the bunker, continuously reducing its weight.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qingxuan shrank himself and jumped onto Zhang Yu’s shoulder. He placed a palm against Zhang Yu’s shoulder, channeling streams of Five Elements True Qi into him to heal his injuries.
As soon as he examined Zhang Yu’s body, Xiao Qingxuan couldn’t help but frown. Under the effects of multiple explosive cultivation arts, Zhang Yu’s internal organs were riddled with holes, leaving Xiao Qingxuan to marvel at how he had managed to endure this long.
Zhang Yu, now transformed, braced the bunker with one hand while unleashing shockwaves with the other, battling against the surging torrents. Against the backdrop of the Heaven Collapse, he single-handedly protected the bunker.
The sight of this scene filled the onlookers with renewed hope.
Watching Zhang Yu, drenched in blood, desperately shielding the bunker against the raging currents, Shi Huaiyu glanced at Su Yanyang in the distance, her resolve hardening. “Damn it! I’m going all in!”
She slapped her Ghost Kidney forcefully. “Activate Overload Mode! Convert Kidney Essence Qi into Magic Power!”
The Soul Cultivator in the kidney complained, “If you keep this up… my kidney will age rapidly. The depreciation rate is going to be astronomical.”
Shi Huaiyu retorted, “Just do as I say.”
In the next moment, Shi Huaiyu felt her Magic Power rapidly replenishing. She frantically refined more Profound Yellow Qi, further reducing the bunker’s weight.
Meanwhile, Shi Yunxiang extended his arm toward Zhang Yu. “Drink some of my blood,” he offered.
Seeing the earnest expression on Shi Yunxiang’s lion-like face, Zhang Yu didn’t hesitate. He opened his mouth and bit down, instantly gulping down large mouthfuls of Monster Blood.
Zhang Yu’s eyes flashed with renewed vigor, as if he had consumed liquid Heavenly Essence Rice. A surge of vital energy flooded his body, replenishing his stamina and enhancing his physical activation.
At the same time, Zhang Yu noticed messages appearing in the contest group chat:
Ying Xin: “[1 Spirit Coin] Go, Senior Brother! This is for your medical expenses.”
Gongshu Jin: “[1 Spirit Coin] Go for it!”
Yu Xinghan: “[1 Spirit Coin] Use it to fight!”
Zhang Yu smiled faintly at the messages. With a thunderous roar, he blasted away the surrounding churning mudflow for several meters.
But moments later, a wave of mud over ten meters high, carrying the force of a collapsing mountain, crashed down upon them.
Boom!
Watching the bunker and Zhang Yu’s six teammates being completely swallowed by the mudslide, Su Yanyang murmured, “A pointless struggle.”
He observed wave after wave of turbid currents crashing down, the tremors persisting until the final moment of the competition.
Su Yanyang mentally calculated, “If I had defended more effectively in the early and mid-game, avoiding delays in constructing the formation, or if I had accumulated just five more minutes of power, I could have eliminated them much sooner.”
He shook his head. “No matter. There wasn’t enough time in this match anyway.”
As the earth settled, Su Yanyang descended to the ground.
Watching the referees excavate the earth to reveal the ruined bunker, Su Yanyang estimated, “Roughly fifteen percent completion remains. That should meet the target.”
Suddenly, he frowned slightly. Upon closer inspection, the bunker’s dimensions seemed significantly larger than expected.
In the next moment, as the bunker’s outer shell was torn open, Su Yanyang abruptly realized that within the layers of exterior walls, there was another, smaller bunker.
“No, this is the bunker that meets the exam’s size requirements.”
Su Yanyang’s brow furrowed. “Over-construction? They hid the real bunker inside a fake one?”
“But even so, it’s still severely damaged.”
In the Spirit Realm Space, Wei Huai commented, “Zhang Yu’s team performed admirably, but ultimately lost due to funding. With more resources to equip top-tier Bionics and utilize advanced technologies, their results would have been far better.”
“Zhang Yu can’t keep pushing himself like this. Even nine lives wouldn’t be enough. He needs to find a way to borrow more money first.”
Tu Lishan retorted sharply, “How much did Su Yanyang spend on this match? Can he afford to keep spending like that? What will happen when he can’t repay his debts?”
As the Peace Faction and War Faction teachers resumed their bickering, they quickly shifted from discussing Zhang Yu and Su Yanyang’s match to analyzing the other competitions.
Amidst the escalating debate, Director Gao remained impassive, silently studying the settlement screen before him.
True Monarch Magnetic Pole messaged privately: “The final completion rate was 36%?”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “So in the second half, Su Yanyang only needs to achieve a completion rate above 36% to win, right?”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Given the disparity in their capabilities, that shouldn’t be too difficult.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “It seems you were right. Su Yanyang is indeed surpassing your student.”
Director Gao: “Perhaps… but the outcome of the first round differed from my expectations.”
Director Gao: “I had anticipated Su Yanyang would crush them more decisively.”
Recalling Zhang Yu and his team’s desperate fight in the final minute, Director Gao’s eyes flickered with contemplation.
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “What’s this? Are you thinking of helping him in the second half?”
Director Gao: “Wouldn’t that be too hasty? He’s only a second-year student. Give him two more years to mature, and he’ll definitely surpass Su Yanyang.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “You make a valid point. However, the competition grows fiercer each year. Securing a Seven Absolutes technique a year earlier could drastically alter his future potential.”
Director Gao: “So you think I should intervene?”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “What concern is your disciple to me?”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “I’m merely stating the obvious. If you help him now and he seizes this opportunity, it could trigger a qualitative leap, equivalent to ten ordinary favors. The cost-effectiveness is undeniable.”
Director Gao: “You have a point.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Why are you staring at me? You’re not expecting me to intervene, are you?”
Director Gao: “My methods are too well-known here. Any assistance from me would be immediately obvious.”
Director Gao: “After all, it’s the Civil Engineering Departmental Competition. As the director, it’s inappropriate for me to secretly help students during the competition.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “He’s your student, not mine. Why should I care?”
Director Gao: “For old friendship’s sake, please help me out. During the break, give him some guidance.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “That won’t work. I know nothing about him. How can I guide him?”
Director Gao: “I trust your expertise. If you’re willing, you’ll definitely succeed.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Fine, fine. Transfer the Spirit Coins first.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “If it weren’t for our centuries-long friendship, even money wouldn’t work.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “You know how many people line up with cash, begging for my guidance?”
Director Gao: “[30 Spirit Coins] I know, I know. Thank you so much!”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Oh, I’m not friends with him yet. Tell him to add me.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Also, I can’t guarantee he’ll win.”
Director Gao: “I understand. After your guidance, the rest depends on his own abilities.”
As the referee announced the final completion rate of 36%, Su Yanyang turned to look at Zhang Yu and the others who were crawling out of the mud.
He tilted his head back, looking down at them, and said calmly, “Not bad. For your level, this is the best you could have hoped for.”
“Get some rest and keep up the good work in the second half.”
Watching Su Yanyang’s retreating figure, Shi Huaiyu touched her aching waist, feeling weak and sore.
Her face filled with resentment as she thought, “We’ve lost out. We’ve really lost out big this time.”
Clearly, Shi Huaiyu believed it was impossible to push Su Yanyang’s team’s completion rate below 36% in the second half, when they would be defending.
“We’re definitely going to lose to Su Yanyang.”
“And we probably won’t make the top seven.”
Nearby, Che Yufei woke from his feigned death. Upon learning the 36% completion rate from the first half, he sighed softly before consoling himself, “To have fought Su Yanyang’s team this well is still pretty good.”
“If it weren’t for Zhang Yu, Shi Huaiyu, and Xiao Qingxuan, I wouldn’t have dared to even dream of going up against Su Yanyang’s team.”
Xiao Qingxuan calmly observed the scene from the sidelines. In his view, this team’s limit was the top ten, and striving for the top seven would be a futile effort.
Zhang Yu still wanted to give it his all in the second half. If it were a one-on-one match, he would have undoubtedly chosen to fight to the death.
After all, with his Physical Activation and Civil Engineering Sacred Body, he feared nothing more than holding back.
But now he had five teammates to consider.
Seeing the exhaustion and pain etched on their faces, Zhang Yu didn’t know how to ask them to push themselves further. He found himself unable to even open his mouth.
Yet he knew that if he said nothing, his teammates, in their current state, would stand no chance against Su Yanyang and the others in the second half.
As Zhang Yu’s mind raced with conflicting thoughts, Director Gao sent him a message.
Director Gao: “You fought well in the first half.”
Director Gao: “You didn’t win, but that’s only because Su Yanyang started cultivating a few years earlier than you.”
Director Gao: “During the break, I’ve arranged for a teacher to give you some guidance.”
Director Gao: “I had to pull some strings to get her here, so make sure you learn from her and strive for a better performance in the second half.”
Director Gao: “True Monarch Magnetic Pole”