“Did Kuang Tianqing actually lose?”

“Which eye of yours saw Kuang Tianqing losing? She merely made a strategic retreat.”

“So, she ran away?”

“She severely injured Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu, then withdrew unscathed under a six-person围攻 (wéigōng)! No one could stop her.”

“So she still ran away? Eight Huashen (Huàshén) were helping her catch up, shouldn’t she have instantly killed the opposition? I think it would be better to help me catch up…”

Kuang Tianqing’s first move in the team competition clearly garnered countless people’s attention.

Regarding the outcome of this battle, there was ceaseless discussion in the Lingjie (Língjiè), with numerous people offering both derogatory and laudatory comments.

Especially with Zhang Yu’s final shout, many spectators believed that Kuang Tianqing had indeed lost this battle.

Scanning the comments in the Lingjie, sensing the subtle shifts in public opinion, and the impact on stock and coin prices, as well as advertisements, Tianmo (Tiānmó) University’s principal, Zizai Shenjun (Zìzài Shénjūn), scoffed.

Above the arena, in the Lingjie observation room, his voice came from the divine light representing Zizai Shenjun.

“Wanfa (Wànfǎ) University students may lack strength, but they’ve certainly learned a lot about spouting nonsense and twisting facts.”

Hearing Zizai Shenjun’s words, Wanfa University’s Tianyan Shenjun (Tiānyǎn Shénjūn) chuckled and said, “Old ghost, don’t tell me that with your insight, you couldn’t see Zhang Yu’s importance in this battle.”

“Although his strength is not as great as Kuang Tianqing’s, like Kuang Tianqing, he was also the one dictating the pace of this battle.”

“Whether it was noticing the flaws in Tianmo Huanshen Fa (Tiānmó Huànshēn Fǎ), assisting Bai Zhenzhen’s sword technique breakthrough, contacting support, or the final counter-sneak attack, in this battle, almost only he could contend with Kuang Tianqing for… control over the battlefield rhythm.”

“This is defeating the strong with the weak, making full use of all available resources, the environment, and the rules.”

Just as Tianyan Shenjun finished speaking, Zizai Shenjun retorted dismissively, “Any student with stronger individual ability would only do better than him.”

“Without Wen Wuya’s (Wén Wúyá) remote support, without Bai Zhenzhen’s presence, without Jin Napana (Jīn Nàpán)’s arrival… what right would Zhang Yu have to fight Kuang Tianqing?”

“This Zhang Yu was the weakest link and the biggest flaw in that battle, which is why he became the crucial point of the battle’s rhythm.”

“Fighting the strong with the weak? What’s there to brag about such a foolish thing?”

As the two Huashen Shenjun communicated, a massive number of Hunxiu (Húnxiū) representing their power erupted in the Lingjie, under the control of their will.

“Kuang Tianqing exposed her Dao (Dào) technique intelligence, her sneak attack failed, her military-grade Dharma Bone was damaged, and she may miss this year’s Top Ten League championship because of this battle! Tianmo University! Lost!”

“Kuang Tianqing’s first move in the Top Ten League was astonishing, her Dao techniques complemented each other, forming a self-contained system, moving freely under a multi-school encirclement, and severely injuring two students! Her performance is currently the strongest in the entire arena, and the signs of winning the championship are evident, Tianmo University! Won!”

For a time, both sides left countless comments and pieces of information about Kuang Tianqing in the Lingjie, pouring their two Huashen’s intentions into the Lingjie, influencing the changes in public opinion and guiding the thoughts of countless people.

And because Kuang Tianqing was involved in so much, related advertising prices, traffic value, and even the coin and stock prices of Tianmo University behind her all experienced different fluctuations.

Meanwhile, Tianyan Shenjun had already communicated with An Zhen Zhenjun (Ān Zhèn Zhēnjūn), who coached the school team.

Tianyan Shenjun: This Zhang Yu has a lot of potential.
Tianyan Shenjun: Why is there so little investment in him?

An Zhen Zhenjun quickly replied: He just recently mastered his fourth military-grade power, his qualifications are too shallow, and he has too little experience.
An Zhen Zhenjun: Our main positioning for him is as support.

Then An Zhen Zhenjun vaguely explained that he had already given the other party the highest loan amount possible after evaluation.

After all, there is only one first place in the Top Ten League, and the main competitor for Xianmen (Xiānmén) techniques is Dao Qiankun (Dào Qiánkūn), so the primary investment target must also be Dao Qiankun.

Including Dao Qiankun’s followers, Jiutian Liu (Jiǔtiān Liú) and Yan Qianji (Yǎn Qiānjī), An Zhen Zhenjun believed that the large investments in them were also to more cost-effectively improve the overall winning rate and increase Wanfa University’s chances of winning the championship.

Tianyan Shenjun: An Zhen, sometimes when we cultivate students, we should teach them according to their aptitude and handle special cases specially, not stick to old ways and only know rigid rules.
Tianyan Shenjun: This Zhang Yu has potential and can weaken Kuang Tianqing, thus increasing Dao Qiankun’s winning rate.
Tianyan Shenjun: After this battle, consider whether you can increase his investment.

An Zhen Zhenjun: I understand.
Tianyan Shenjun: I see he doesn’t have any advertisement slots yet?
Tianyan Shenjun: After this battle, there should be companies interested in investing, right?

An Zhen Zhenjun: I will send someone to contact them.

After ending his call with Tianyan Shenjun, An Zhen Zhenjun looked at the advertising quotes from various companies.

These were the advertising quotes companies made to students after contacting the school, representing how much they were willing to pay to place advertisements on students if they participated in the next match.

As the competition progressed and students performed differently, companies’ quotes for subsequent advertising collaborations also continuously changed.

An Zhen Zhenjun thought to himself, “If a student’s advertising quote is high enough, even if their strength is insufficient, they will probably be sent into the next match. However, it is difficult for a student with insufficient strength to get a very high advertising quote.”

And after synthesizing the highest quotes from all aspects and public opinion evaluations, a ranking of advertising quotes from various companies for all students in the next match appeared before An Zhen Zhenjun.

First place: Wanfa University’s Dao Qiankun, advertising quote 820 Lingbi (Língbì)/match.
Second place: Tianmo University’s Kuang Tianqing, advertising quote 710 Lingbi/match.
Third place: Youming (Yōumíng) University’s Yan Xiang (Yán Xiàng), advertising quote 600 Lingbi/match.

Looking at the names and quotes of the top three students, An Zhen Zhenjun thought, “Due to the impact of this battle, Kuang Tianqing’s highest advertising quote has dropped significantly, directly falling from first to second place.”

Then he looked down and saw Wen Wuya at 4th place with 550 Lingbi per match, and Bai Zhenzhen at 10th place with 380 Lingbi per match.

An Zhen Zhenjun thought, “Bai Zhenzhen’s demonstrated lethality has attracted much attention, and her Jiqing Jiandao (Jíqíng Jiàndào) itself has a high degree of discussion, so her advertising quote immediately rose to 10th place.”

“Wen Wuya’s remote support just now also established an undefeated position. Especially since his attack range spread across the entire arena, meaning he can intervene in any battle, this makes the cost-effectiveness of advertising on him too high.”

He couldn’t help but exclaim, “I can’t believe that in one battle, two students from Tianjian (Tiānjiàn) University made it into the top ten quotes.”

An Zhen Zhenjun’s gaze continued downward, finally seeing Zhang Yu at 38th place.

“38th place, Zhang Yu, advertising quote for the next match is 66 Lingbi.”

An Zhen Zhenjun sighed, “Advertising, such things, clearly show the head effect. The further down the ranking, the more the price plummets.”

He recalled Zhang Yu’s performance and thought to himself, “Without sufficient practical experience, without personally understanding the details of the entire battlefield, the communication between students… ordinary spectators cannot see Zhang Yu’s importance in this battle.”

“And if ordinary spectators can’t see it, then advertisers won’t be interested.”

“Although Zhang Yu contended with Kuang Tianqing for battlefield rhythm, from the perspective of viewing effect and advertising effect, he was not even as good as Jin Napana, who appeared last.”

To be honest, Zhang Yu’s advertising quote ranking rising to 38th place already surprised An Zhen Zhenjun.

“The main reason, I’m afraid, is not Zhang Yu’s performance, but because he leveraged Kuang Tianqing’s traffic.”

An Zhen Zhenjun thought, “Especially that final shout, which at least raised his ranking by dozens of places.”

In An Zhen Zhenjun’s opinion, Zhang Yu’s final shout had a far greater impact on public opinion and quotes than his previous combat performance, even more useful than his desperate fighting.

Wanfa University.

In the laboratory, Ciji Zhenjun (Cíjí Zhēnjūn) unconsciously paused her experiment.

Images of Kuang Tianqing’s battle with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen appeared in her eyes, and she thought to herself, “This kid’s performance is truly unexpected.”

“Although there was a lot of luck involved.”

“However…”

An idea flashed through Ciji Zhenjun’s mind: “After the first team battle, should I increase my investment in him?”

Although the original Zhang Yu was quite strong and showed excellent design talent, achieving a ranking in the Top Ten League… Ciji Zhenjun felt it was too early for such a thing.

“I originally thought investing in him for the Top Ten League would not be a profitable venture.”

“Now it seems to be better than I estimated.”

With a thought, Ciji Zhenjun had already instructed the Artifact Spirits to record all of Zhang Yu’s live broadcast footage and send her the highlighted clips.

Just as Ciji Zhenjun was pondering whether to increase her investment in Zhang Yu after the first team battle.

In another corner deep within the Lingjie.

Xinghuo Zhenren (Xīnghuǒ Zhēnrén), who had watched Zhang Yu’s battle, sighed, “Zhang Yu’s practical combat level is well maintained, and his awareness of practical taunting and countering sneak attacks is as strong as ever.”

“Being able to force back an opponent like Kuang Tianqing, he has almost done his best in this battle.”

“It seems that in these years at university, he has not blindly indulged in making money; he still retains his fighting spirit.”

Xinghuo Zhenren knew that although the rules of the Top Ten League seemed fair enough, the competition itself represented a form of unfairness.

“How many university students usually practice this kind of life-and-death struggle? And retain such fighting spirit?”

Xinghuo Zhenren lamented, “Only the top students from each school can, in addition to making money, research true death battles.”

“And the poor, who are accustomed to making money, accustomed to creating value with Immortal Dao (Xiāndào) earnings… have long been unaccustomed to real combat, and their hearts no longer hold fighting spirit. If they appeared on this arena, it would be difficult for them to adapt to this combat rhythm immediately.”

“Zhang Yu’s heart still holds the fighting spirit for a death battle, which is very good.”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu, on the battlefield, looked at Kuang Tianqing’s disappearing figure and thought to himself, “In the live broadcast just now, the words I shouted should weaken Kuang Tianqing’s Immortal Dao potential quite a bit. And by the way, I might be able to get some of his traffic, right?”

As for Kuang Tianqing’s final threat, Zhang Yu didn’t take it to heart at all.

It wasn’t because he thought Kuang Tianqing’s threat was false, but because Zhang Yu understood that Kuang Tianqing had already targeted him and Bai Zhenzhen.

The two sides were already absolute enemies; whether he shouted or not wouldn’t affect Kuang Tianqing’s dealings with them. In Zhang Yu’s opinion, it was better to shout and get some traffic, and by the way, weaken the opponent.