Time flew by, and soon it was the second day of the team competition.

Under Zhang Yu’s full construction efforts, the fortress originally built by Yan Qianji had been expanded several times over. The central prison structure was wrapped in dozens of layers of armored plates, with double-layered arrays inside and out to shield communication with the spirit realm, along with numerous defensive fortifications concentrated there. Yet, Zhang Yu still didn’t stop; he continued to produce and build.

On the other side, as the cooperation between the four academies unfolded, many powerful cultivators, led by Dao Qiankun, launched attacks in various directions. Relying on Dao Qiankun’s peak strength and Wen Wuya’s powerful detection abilities, several strong cultivators from opposing academies were defeated and captured. Consequently, during this period, the prison built by Zhang Yu had already welcomed six captives.

Through the four-academy group chat and Bai Zhenzhen’s recordings, Zhang Yu witnessed many battle processes and gathered a lot of intelligence. He saw Dao Qiankun lock down the world with a single finger, trapping three cultivators from Baigu Daxue (White Bone University); Jiu Tianliu controlling destiny, remotely stripping several cultivation techniques from his opponents; Cang Shenyu, the number one from Jingang Daxue (Diamond University), fighting against multiple enemies, single-handedly fending off a combined attack from four strong cultivators; and Tian Shenggong, the number one from Xianbing Daxue (Immortal Weapon University), maneuvering an aerial fortress that transformed into a gigantic towering figure over three hundred meters tall, capturing two prisoners in one battle.

Of course, the four-academy alliance on Wanfa’s side was not without losses during this process. Jingang, Tianjian, and Xianbing each had one student defeated and captured. Two of them were due to the elusive Kuang Tianqing’s successful sneak attacks. This number one from Tianmo Daxue (Heavenly Demon University) was like a sharp sword hanging over everyone’s heads. No one knew where she would appear or when she would launch an attack, and after each strike, she would immediately retreat, only defeating and capturing one person at a time, giving her opponents no chance to encircle her.

Watching these battle reports, Zhang Yu felt that as the four academies on Wanfa’s side cooperated, the strong cultivators from the four academies on Tianmo’s side also gradually converged. The scale and intensity of their battles were increasing with each encounter.

During this time, Wen Wuya continuously searched for the enemy’s prisoner holding location. However, the Xuntian Feijian (Sky-Patrolling Flying Sword) was not omnipotent. Obscuration by clouds, mist, vegetation, and soil, along with various escape techniques to shake off pursuit, meant that Wen Wuya could never find where the prisoners were being taken by the enemy.

“Most likely underground,” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “If it’s underground, it will be hard to find.”

“Unlike my approach of open, undisguised construction, expanding the scale as much as possible, and increasing strength, their goal is to hide their tracks and avoid detection.”

“But to achieve that, they must control the construction scale, so their stronghold’s defensive capabilities are definitely not strong.”

Unconsciously, the construction styles of the two sides’ prisons diverged into different directions.

Outside the prison, in addition to other defensive fortifications, there were also many rest areas built by Zhang Yu. After the four-academy cooperation, at least one number one student from an academy was stationed there at any given time. Many members of the four school teams also came to the outside of the prison to rest and maintain their equipment. Unbeknownst to them, this place, besides being a prison for captives, had also become a place for students to rest and gather.

One day, as Zhang Yu was laying out a spiritual energy circuit, a student wearing a set of Jihu Pai Fahei (Extremely Fierce Tiger brand battle armor) found him. It was Ling Pojun, the number four from Xianbing Daxue (Immortal Weapon University), from the Artifact Refining Department.

“You’re Zhang Yu, right?” Ling Pojun asked, looking at Zhang Yu. “You’re currently responsible for the infrastructure here?”

After Zhang Yu nodded, the other person continued, “I need an artifact refining laboratory to repair equipment. How long will it take you to complete it?”

Zhang Yu was slightly startled, looking at the other person as if they were an idiot. He said, “Figure it out yourself; what you’re asking for is not my responsibility.”

Ling Pojun looked at him coldly and said, “You’re responsible for infrastructure. If you don’t do it, do you expect me to build it myself?”

“Zhang Yu, you stay cooped up here all day and don’t go out to fight. You should serve us properly and save us time…”

Zhang Yu frowned slightly, sensing the hostility from the other person. He thought, “What’s wrong with this guy…?”

Ling Pojun looked at Zhang Yu in front of him and thought to himself, “The battles outside are getting more and more dangerous. Even with my strength, I can’t guarantee 100% safety.”

“The upcoming battles will be the battlefield for the number ones of each academy, and a few number twos and threes from strong academies. It’s their domain to showcase their strength and garner attention.”

“If I want to continue increasing my popularity and attention, I need to find other ways.”

Ling Pojun had never expected to win first place in the Top Ten League. In his view, using this extremely popular Top Ten League to increase his own popularity, gain more attention, more investment, and boost his immortal cultivation potential was his primary goal.

“Devouring the weak is a way to increase popularity.” Ling Pojun looked at Zhang Yu in front of him and thought to himself, “This Zhang Yu gained popularity yesterday by being associated with Kuang Tianqing. He should have a lot of attention on him, and his strength isn’t particularly high…”

He chuckled internally, “Plus, ever since he buried himself in this construction site, he hasn’t come out. He smells of dirt, and many viewers must already look down on him.”

“If I pressure him and cause a conflict with him, I should be able to gain a lot and attract a large wave of attention.”

As for those who dislike it? Ling Pojun didn’t care. He understood that controversy brings traffic, and being “black-red” (infamously popular) is still popular. Especially as an outstanding student from Xianbing Daxue and a user of the Jihu Pai Fahei, he was already accustomed to harvesting traffic from controversy and conflict.

Compared to risking injury or capture by continuing to fight, arguing and creating conflict with Zhang Yu seemed more cost-effective to Ling Pojun. It was just that Kuang Tianqing and he were on the same floating continent, in the same arena, and there was a real chance that she could kill him. If it were normal times… he would definitely have an argument with her.

“Zhang Yu, I have no personal opinion of you.” Ling Pojun thought calmly, “But the competition on the path of immortality is like this: either you devour me, or I devour you. If you have popularity but no strength, then don’t blame me…”

While his thoughts raced, Ling Pojun snorted coldly, took a step forward, and a surging aura rushed out. The Jihu Pai Fahei on his body also burst forth with an even more brilliant light.

He looked at Zhang Yu and said coldly, “While you’re safely tucked away here doing this mundane work, we’re out there fighting for our lives, spending spirit coins every minute and every second.”

“Now, when we ask you to do some logistical work, you’re unwilling?”

“Do you still have the appearance of an excellent student from Wanfa Daxue? Do you have any spirit for participating in the team competition?”

Looking at the other person’s righteous expression, Zhang Yu thought, “This guy… why does it feel like he’s not even talking to me?”

As he watched the increasingly conspicuous Jihu Fahei on the other person, Zhang Yu’s eyes suddenly moved, and he thoughtfully wondered, “This is a live broadcast right now. Could this guy be trying to boost his popularity by creating a conflict with me?”

Zhang Yu frowned. He didn’t have time for internal strife with others. To hunt Kuang Tianqing, Zhang Yu knew that every single second he had left was incredibly precious.

Seeing Zhang Yu’s lack of reaction, Ling Pojun was about to continue criticizing him: “What’s the use of you digging around here all day, messing with these two broken walls? Do you expect these things to resist when the enemy attacks?”

As he spoke, Ling Pojun thought to himself, “Of course, they have some use, but most viewers will think they’re useless.”

“The audience’s attention isn’t on things like logistics, civil engineering, or fortifications.”

“Only offense, suppressing opponents, and capturing prisoners are the most brilliant things in the eyes of the audience.”

Just as Ling Pojun was about to continue speaking, Zhang Yu, too lazy to bother with him, simply said, “I’m going to cultivate.”

“If you have nothing else, just leave.”

Ling Pojun was slightly startled. The next moment, he saw the other person directly project a cultivation technique, looking as if he was about to begin his practice.

“This guy…” Ling Pojun thought. In a live broadcast like this, once a contestant begins cultivating a technique, especially in Zhang Yu’s manner of projecting the technique’s content, it inevitably triggers extensive blurring and muting due to copyright issues. If he were to remain there at this moment, it would mean giving up all his screen time.

With a cold snort, and without the live camera on him, Ling Pojun didn’t bother to say another word and simply left.

After Ling Pojun left, Zhang Yu continued to immerse himself in his work.

In the time that followed, besides continuous construction and production, Zhang Yu was also constantly contemplating another matter.

“Besides luring Kuang Tianqing into a battlefield I excel at, I also need to improve my own strength to better execute my upcoming plan.”

Zhang Yu understood that in the remaining two days of the team competition, trying to improve his strength in such a short time would certainly not be about raw power enhancement.

“I need to apply the power I have more effectively.”

Zhang Yu recalled Kuang Tianqing’s battle scenes, sensing the mutual cooperation and compensation of various military-grade powers, which created a complete combat system. And besides Kuang Tianqing, Zhang Yu, through gathering intelligence and Bai Zhenzhen’s recordings, also felt that many top students from other prestigious academies were likewise skilled. Dao Qiankun, Jiu Tianliu, Yan Qianji, Wen Wuya… their military-grade powers formed interconnected systems, capable of perfect coordination, maximizing their combat effectiveness.

“My military-grade powers can also work together, but not as closely.”

Zhang Yu knew that ultimately, the time he had spent cultivating level 20 military-grade powers was too short, lacking the continuous practical application, refinement, and integration process.

“Their military-grade powers, more or less, have personalized modifications. This is accumulated little by little through continuous attempts and experiments during the process of refining their own systems.”

“I also need to make such changes now.”

“How should my military-grade powers cooperate? How should they change to better counter Kuang Tianqing?”

With a thought, Zhang Yu saw stone swords being extracted from the earth by the Tian Kunlun Yishan Shenli (Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power). Then, under the infusion of the Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing (Heaven and Earth Calamity Formless Mind Weapon), these stone swords transformed into temporary flying swords, emitting traces of sharp aura. Next, as the Disha Yinli (Earthly Fiend Gravity) surged, the flying swords shot up into the sky, seemingly forming a sword array.

“This counts as a form of cooperation.”

“And there’s Tianri Huangshen (Heavenly Sun Emperor God) and Taihao Shenglü Feijian (Great Hao Saint Rule Flying Sword).”

Zhang Yu then looked at his Dao Heart. During the battle with Kuang Tianqing yesterday, to break the opponent’s Dao technique, he had used Tiangong Kaiwu (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature) to burn his Dao Heart. Now, his Dao Heart level was 19 (86).

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “As long as the Dao Heart stays at level 19, it won’t significantly affect my combat power.”

“This means I can still use Tiangong Kaiwu a few more times.”

“But how should I use it?”

Time flew by with Zhang Yu’s preparations and the fierce fighting in the team competition.

In the blink of an eye, it was the last day of the team competition.