The Spirit Realm.

Inside a pitch-black room, a subtitle suddenly appeared: “Old Zhao, did you go to Myriad Dao University this time?”

In the darkness, Zhao Tianxing, whose Spirit Realm projection only displayed his name to save spirit coins, smiled faintly. He typed out a line of text: “Yes, I participated in the top ten competition of the Civil Engineering Department’s internal competition at Myriad Dao University and helped my team get seventh place.”

A series of exclamations of surprise immediately appeared in the darkness.

Zhao Tianxing typed: “You haven’t been to Myriad Dao University. You don’t know how wide the psionic circuits are there, how good the spirit bones they use are, or how complex the work is…”

His classmates responded with another wave of exclamations.

Feeling his classmates’ envy and shock, an unspeakable sense of triumph welled up in Zhao Tianxing’s heart.

Another line of text appeared: “Old Zhao, did you get a good review?”

A college student added: “If you get another good review, won’t you be working overtime every day? Your salary skyrocketing?”

Zhao Tianxing checked his data, thinking to himself, “Should I ask Zhang Yu for a good review? If I rush him like this, will he stop hiring me in the future? Maybe I should wait a few more days?”

Just then, Zhao Tianxing saw that he had received a good review, and his heart immediately filled with joy. A moment later, a pulling sensation came, and Zhao Tianxing knew he had been matched with another job.

Mo Tianyi typed: “Thanks. Find me again if you have more work in the future, I’ll give you a discount.”

Zhang Yu replied: “Okay, I’ll find you if I have work.”

After casually giving good reviews to Zhao Tianxing and Mo Tianyi, Zhang Yu checked his current bank balance. Originally, with the 5 spirit coins his sister repaid him this month, plus Wen Wuya’s new monthly subscription of 10 spirit coins, and Director Gao’s 10 spirit coins for treatment, his spirit coin balance had already exceeded 40.

However, in the last competition, Zhang Yu had incurred significant expenses. He used a photographic memory daoist service, shared the costs of discarded eye-bones with his teammates, hired soul cultivators, and purchased noxious earth qi pollutants. He also paid Zhao Tianxing and Mo Tianyi, as well as his other teammates in the group chat. In the blink of an eye, his bank balance was suddenly reduced to just over 17.

“This competition really burns through money,” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “I hope they give me more money once the rankings are finalized.”

Just then, Xiao Qingxuan walked over and said to Zhang Yu, “We are the winning side. How do you plan to use our challenge right in the next round?”

Zhang Yu asked, “If we challenge anyone higher up, we’ll lose anyway, right? Can this challenge right be sold?”

Xiao Qingxuan smiled faintly: “That depends on how you sell it. Currently, the teams with challenge rights are first, second, third, fifth, and us. The challenge order starts with us, in seventh place, followed by fifth, third, and second, each taking turns to use their challenge rights. The first-place team cannot use challenge rights.”

“According to my information, the third-place team is neutral and has decided to give up their challenge right. Second place is Mo Shangjin’s team; they will definitely challenge Xuan Liangtian, who is in first place. The fifth-place team is also a peace faction. They will likely choose to challenge Mo Shangjin’s team to assist Xuan Liangtian, consuming some of their strength.”

“Director Gao’s intention is for us to challenge the fifth-place team, just to wear them down a bit. If it gets dangerous, we should forfeit directly.”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred: “How much compensation will we get?”

Xiao Qingxuan said calmly: “For official members, 5 spirit coins per person.”

Zhang Yu chuckled awkwardly: “Could we get a bit more?”

Xiao Qingxuan consulted Director Gao and sighed: “5.5 spirit coins is the most. Director Gao can only give us this much at most.”

So, in the next match, Zhang Yu led his teammates to challenge the fifth-ranked team. Soon after entering the arena, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but curse upon seeing Xiao Yunji, who was over ten meters tall, with three heads and six arms, holding six magical artifacts, and rampaging while reciting ad slogans: “Is this a civil engineering competition?”

Xiao Qingxuan explained: “Xiao Yunji is the descendant of a construction company executive. Although he’s in the Civil Engineering Department, he’ll likely never work on a construction site.”

After trying their best to fight for over ten minutes, Zhang Yu and the others could no longer endure Xiao Yunji’s relentless bombardment. They successively chose to withdraw from the match, fearing injury in this unnecessary competition, which would then incur medical expenses.

Xiao Yunji’s team then challenged Mo Shangjin’s. After being suppressed by Mo Shangjin alone, they lasted only five or six minutes before choosing to surrender. Watching this scene, Zhang Yu thought to himself: “This Xiao Yunji is also a cunning one. He fought us so fiercely, but when he met Mo Shangjin, he just put on a show and surrendered.”

The final battle unfolded between Mo Shangjin’s team and Xuan Liangtian’s team. Both sides possessed military-grade cultivation techniques for the Sky Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power. As the battle began, the entire arena seemed to turn upside down, with gravity reversing. Within the arena, everyone had to resist the earthly evil gravity emanating from Mo Shangjin and Xuan Liangtian while also flying at high speed in mid-air to construct and fight.

Zhang Yu thought to himself: “Is this an aerospace three-dimensional formation? They’ve turned ground bunkers into space stations.” A moment later, the simulated spiritual ley lines beneath the ground were forcibly pulled out by the two, torn and pulled apart like a giant dragon, eventually dissolving into countless fragments, which were then repeatedly contended for, repaired, and destroyed by various forces.

Ultimately, Mo Shangjin’s team won by a margin of 8.

Inside the Spirit Realm.

As Mo Shangjin ultimately claimed first place, this internal departmental competition concluded with the War Faction slightly gaining the upper hand. The teachers of the War Faction present were all smiling. Director Gao also smiled faintly and discussed the awarding of prizes with Director Lin and True Lord Ling Yue.

Tu Lishan said: “Old Director, wasn’t there a loan reward for outstanding players in this internal departmental competition? I think Zhang Yu should get one.”

True Lord Ling Yue remembered clearly that Tu Lishan had brought it up once before when Zhang Yu’s team defeated Ma Xuan, but he had rejected it with an excuse. Now, seeing Tu Lishan bring it up again, True Lord Ling Yue smiled faintly, knowing there was no longer a reason to reject the proposal. So, he looked at Director Lin beside him and asked, “Director Lin, what do you think?”

Director Lin said calmly: “Teacher Tu, the department always acts based on results, rankings, and data. Students who are eligible for scholarship loans will naturally receive them. Everything follows the procedure; there’s no need for you to single anyone out.”

Director Gao chuckled: “Teacher Tu is also concerned about the department’s talented individuals, but Old Lin, you’re right; we should follow the procedures. Let’s discuss the first place this time. Mo Shangjin won first place this time. Although he is my disciple, I won’t avoid suspicion, as he will represent the department in the inter-school league.”

“The situation is changing rapidly, and all schools are developing military-grade power. Although Mo Shangjin has mastered the Sky Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, it may not be enough for this league. I think… it’s time to bring out the military-grade spirit bones.”

Director Lin’s gaze hardened, and he thought to himself: ‘What an outrageous demand…’ Meanwhile, Lang Yougong, standing at the edge, felt the increasingly tense atmosphere in the Spirit Realm and thought to himself: ‘Alas, after this competition, the conflict between the two sides has become more public.’

Soon after, Zhang Yu, who was in class, received news about the competition rewards. First, there was a bonus of 8 spirit coins as an official member of the seventh-place competition team. Next, 12 spirit coins arrived as a low-interest loan for outstanding players. Zhang Yu’s balance thus surged to 42.5 spirit coins.

Then came the increase in his overall score: 1800 base points plus 194 performance bonus points, totaling 1994 additional points, which suddenly boosted Zhang Yu’s overall score to nearly 5000. With this increase in score, Zhang Yu also gained a departmental ranking: Civil Engineering Department, Foundation Establishment Stage, Rank 95.

Inside the classroom, the students, who had been quietly attending class, gradually noticed the change above Zhang Yu’s head. Looking at his ranking of 95th in the Civil Engineering Department, some were surprised, some envious, and some incredulous. Overall departmental rankings only appeared for those in the top 100. Although 95th might seem insignificant, it was only three months into the second year of university. Zhang Yu’s ranking above his head was incredibly conspicuous in the classroom, so much so that even Li Mingbo, the mana teacher conducting the class, couldn’t help but glance at it several times.

“This kid from the first-tier, I heard he got seventh in the Civil Engineering Department competition this time,” Li Mingbo mused. “Impressive, far more impressive than I expected.”

Zhang Yu knew that with this 95th-place departmental ranking, he would receive an additional reward loan at the end of each academic year. “However, the reward for 95th place is too small. Before the end of my second year, once I complete all my course exams, I should be able to improve it further.”

Just then, Zhang Yu received a message from his sister.

Zhang Pianpian: “Congratulations, you’ve entered the top 100.”

Zhang Yu couldn’t help but glance a few more times at her ranking: Charm Department, Foundation Establishment Stage, Rank 44. At this moment, Zhang Yu increasingly felt how impressive his sister’s ranking was. However, each time, Zhang Pianpian explained that the Charm Department had a significant gap between fast and slow learners. High-ranking students in lower grades vastly outranked those in other departments, and she told Zhang Yu not to compare himself to her.

Besides the change in his departmental ranking, the final reward was the transmission of the Seven Absolutes. Meanwhile, the competition group chat began discussing the two slots for the Seven Absolutes inheritance.

Shi Huaiyu: “One goes to Zhang Yu, and the remaining one can be auctioned among us.”

Zhang Yu: “How much should I pay then?”

Shi Huaiyu: “You contributed the most, just take it directly.”

Che Yufei: “If you hadn’t spent money during the competition, I wouldn’t even have enough for my medical fees. You don’t need to give anything else.”

Yu Xinghan: “I think it’s still good to give a little something.”

Shi Huaiyu: “I’ll just mute you, the substitute member, first.”

Yu Xinghan: “I spent money too!”

Yu Xinghan: [Transfer record]

Gongshu Jin: “Can substitute members also participate in the auction?”

Shi Huaiyu: “Of course.”

Che Yufei: “Please, go ahead.”

Everyone in the group showed immense respect for Gongshu Jin, who had spent 20 spirit coins at the end of the competition. A moment later, the auction concluded, and Gongshu Jin won the other Seven Absolutes slot for 26 spirit coins.

Zhang Yu quickly received the transfer from Gongshu Jin, and his balance immediately rose to over 46.8. Seeing such a large amount of spirit coins, Zhang Yu, like most Kunxu people, felt an urge to quickly spend them and convert them into his own immortal cultivation strength.

Meanwhile, Director Gao sent a message.

Director Gao: “Tomorrow, same place. I will transmit the Second Absolute to you. And we’ll discuss your future plans for obtaining a military certificate.”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred upon seeing the message, and he grew even more excited for tomorrow.