The first time Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen attempted to exchange their Divine Spirit Roots after entering university was during the Flying Sword Competition held at Wanfa University. That time, Bai Zhenzhen injected her Divine Spirit Root into Zhang Yu’s body.

The second exchange of Divine Spirit Roots occurred beneath the civil engineering arena at Tianjian University. Zhang Yu injected a replicated Azure Lotus Sword Embryo into Bai Zhenzhen’s body, instantly giving her two Divine Spirit Roots in her Dantian.

It was only this third time that the two truly implanted their Spirit Roots into each other’s Dantian, marking a genuine exchange of Spirit Roots.

Zhang Yu’s Yu Spirit Root began to adapt to Bai Zhenzhen’s body.

Bai Zhenzhen’s Zhen Spirit Root, in turn, began to adapt to Zhang Yu’s body.

The two Divine Spirit Roots each adapted to the other’s Spirit Root and body, and as the other’s Spirit Root adapted, new adaptations emerged.

Intense changes spread from the Divine Spirit Roots, forcing both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to clench their teeth and endure.

But the next moment, Zhang Yu suddenly exclaimed, “A’Zhen, your sword qi…”

Bai Zhenzhen also discovered with surprise that her crimson sword qi was being drawn directly into Zhang Yu’s body, as if attracted by her own Divine Spirit Root.

And the presence of her Divine Spirit Root seemed to make the sword qi recognize Zhang Yu as part of her own body. The sword qi of Extreme Emotion Sword Dao surged into him without causing any harm.

Bai Zhenzhen exclaimed, “Could it be… after our ‘that thing,’ my sword qi won’t be able to hurt you anymore?”

Zhang Yu said, “I don’t know, let’s try again.”

After a series of attempts, they immediately found that this adaptation to sword qi also had its limits; a large quantity would still harm Zhang Yu’s body.

But Zhang Yu felt that this was only because the exchange of Divine Spirit Roots had not been long enough. If it were long enough, he would surely be more adapted to Bai Zhenzhen’s sword qi.

He even wondered if he might eventually adapt to the black sword qi, full of destructive and ominous energy, that would surge forth when she fully unleashed the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao.

A thought suddenly sparked in Zhang Yu’s mind: to maintain this state of Spirit Root exchange.

As soon as he expressed his idea, Bai Zhenzhen agreed. She could feel Zhang Yu’s Divine Spirit Root continuously enhancing her physical body adaptively, and the longer the duration, the stronger this enhancement would be.

“Hmm…” Feeling the stimulation from the Divine Spirit Root, Bai Zhenzhen gritted her teeth and hummed softly, saying, “Then hurry and go, Yuzi, don’t let anyone notice anything.”

Zhang Yu retreated, saying to the small opening, “I’ll go first, A’Zhen, you also be careful not to be discovered.”

As Zhang Yu left, Bai Zhenzhen felt that the changes in the Divine Spirit Root did not cease but became more intense, until they reached a peak, then gradually subsided.

Just then, Wen Wuya arrived at Bai Zhenzhen’s flying boat, curiously asking, “Zhenzhen? Are you there?”

“I just looked for you, why weren’t you online?”

Wen Wuya looked at Bai Zhenzhen in the room and said, “Why do you look strange?”

Feeling the Divine Spirit Root starting to stir again, Bai Zhenzhen endured the growing reaction in her body and gritted her teeth, asking, “Is there something you need?”

Wen Wuya said, “I just wanted to discuss the finals with you.”

In Zhang Yu’s flying boat laboratory.

Ye Xingli was using the laboratory to maintain her magic skeleton.

Seeing Zhang Yu return, Ye Xingli asked curiously, “Junior Brother, you look a bit tired?”

She reminded him, “The final competition will begin in a few days. No matter how much you cultivate, you won’t improve much. It’s better to maintain your condition.”

Zhang Yu nodded and said, “I just want to make more preparations to get a better ranking in the end…”

Ye Xingli sighed, “Besides first place, how much difference is there between second and other rankings this time?”

“As it seems now, we are merely supporting characters for Kuang Tianqing and Dao Qiankun.”

Zhang Yu looked at Ye Xingli in surprise, sensing an emotion from her that he had never felt before.

Ye Xingli seemed to sense her own peculiarity, smiled, and said, “But I have no right to talk to you like that.”

“Even knowing I’m just a supporting character, haven’t I been working hard to prepare these days?”

“Effort, it seems, is ingrained in our bones. Even when we know there’s no hope, we can’t help but fight with all our might. Perhaps this is the charm of immortal cultivation, always inspiring countless people to push forward, disregard life and death…”

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, “This cannot be helped. Kunxu is like this, and so are we.”

“Without such an indomitable character, such choices, we would not have been able to reach this stage in immortal cultivation.”

“On this arena at this moment, which contestant is not like this?”

In Yan Qianji’s laboratory, he was remotely operating a factory production line, producing batches of puppets resembling Zhang Yu, Kuang Tianqing, and Dao Qiankun.

In Jiu Tianliu’s room, countless data from the Spirit World continuously converged, forming a model of destiny for him to reference, helping him occasionally post videos to boost his destiny.

Before Tiansheng Gong of Xianbing University, information on all contestants’ magic treasures and magic skeletons floated in his eye-skeleton, for his reference and consideration.

In the clouds of the sky, a dragon shadow appeared and disappeared, swallowing and exhaling cloud seas. This was Ying Mingchi of Tianyao University. His pair of dragon eyes looked down at the floating continent below, glittering with intense fighting spirit.

Yan Xiang of Youming University was soaking in a boiling blood pool, looking at Kuang Tianqing before him and asking, “Is it not enough?”

Kuang Tianqing laughed heartily and said to all the students present, “Come on, lend me all your power! I will claim first place in the Top Ten Leagues!”

On Dao Qiankun’s flying boat.

The night before the finals.

Before Zhang Yu entered the flying boat, he vaguely saw the divine light of a Huashen True Monarch sweeping across the sky, which aroused a trace of curiosity in his heart.

Upon seeing Dao Qiankun standing at the bow of the boat, hands behind his back, Zhang Yu immediately asked, “Brother Dao, did a Huashen True Monarch just come to see you?”

“Yes,” Dao Qiankun said calmly, “Discussing matters of immortal sect cultivation methods with me.”

Zhang Yu asked, “Brother Dao… have you not yet decided which immortal sect cultivation method you will choose after winning the championship?”

Dao Qiankun said calmly, “I have decided, it’s just that there are some discrepancies with the thoughts of the Huashen.”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred, and he thought, “Brother Dao and the Huashen couldn’t reach a consensus?”

“No, it should be said that Brother Dao disagreed with the Huashen’s choice?”

Looking at Dao Qiankun’s lonely figure gazing up at the moon, Zhang Yu seemed to sense a deep-seated solitude from him, a feeling of being at odds with the entire world.

At the same time, he could imagine how much pressure Dao Qiankun must be under, making a different choice from the Huashen and sticking to it.

At least, if it were Zhang Yu himself, he felt he wouldn’t dare to defy the Huashen.

“As long as it helps me win the championship and join the sect, that’s all that matters,” Zhang Yu thought. “If it were me, I would probably think like that, right?”

Dao Qiankun suddenly said, “Zhang Yu, do you know why I disagree with the Huashen’s idea?”

Zhang Yu was slightly startled and replied, “Brother Dao, you once said you wanted to change the world. Is it that the direction you want to change it in is different from the direction the Huashen want?”

Dao Qiankun looked at Zhang Yu with some surprise and said softly, “I’ve told many people that I want to change the world.”

“But only you truly keep it in your heart.”

With a flash of light, Dao Qiankun appeared before Zhang Yu, looked at him, and said, “Zhang Yu, I can feel… you are different from others.”

“Deep in your heart, you also harbor dissatisfaction with this world.”

“Although it’s just a faint spark, it could turn into a raging fire at any moment, creating an urge to burn this world to ashes.”

Zhang Yu’s body trembled slightly upon hearing this. Feeling Dao Qiankun’s frank gaze, he couldn’t help but unconsciously look away, saying, “Brother Dao, you’re joking. How could I have such thoughts?”

Dao Qiankun said calmly, “Zhang Yu, don’t be afraid, and don’t be ashamed of your thoughts.”

“The idea of changing the world is not just for immortals or Huashen; even Foundation Establishment cultivators, even Qi Refining cultivators, and even mortals can have this idea.”

Dao Qiankun’s hand gently patted Zhang Yu’s shoulder and smiled slightly, “This world, nowadays, considers weakness a shame.”

“But all people grow from being weak.”

“No one is born into this world as a peerless powerhouse capable of overturning heaven and earth.”

“Even immortals become immortals step by step, with the support of predecessors and the guidance of powerful beings.”

“Did their idea of changing the world only come after they became immortals?”

“No, their ideas took root in their hearts when they were still weak.”

“And compared to the current immortals, I admire the very first person in this world who stepped into the Qi Refining realm even more…”

Feeling Dao Qiankun’s calm and sincere gaze, Zhang Yu had a feeling that the other person was not lying.

Zhang Yu opened his mouth, as if to say something, but thinking of the situation in Kunxu, thinking of those high-and-mighty immortal gods, he ultimately said nothing.

Dao Qiankun, however, didn’t mind. After patting Zhang Yu’s shoulder, he walked behind Zhang Yu and continued, “Don’t worry, Zhang Yu.”

“This world is very dangerous. Even I cannot guarantee my absolute safety.”

“The upcoming Top Ten Leagues will become increasingly dangerous.”

“If you encounter danger that you cannot resolve yourself, then run.”

“Preserve your useful body; do not easily sacrifice your life.”

“You can also run behind me; I will do my best to protect you all.”

“This is what I called you here today to tell you.”

Zhang Yu looked up at Dao Qiankun and saw four characters appear on his chest: Immortal Descendant.

Although Zhang Yu had occasionally come to sponge off food and drink from him for his Dao Seed since the Top Ten Leagues began, this was the clearest the Dao Seed had ever appeared.

However, the next moment, the Dao Seed flashed and vanished again, preventing Zhang Yu from further perceiving its information.

Zhang Yu: “Brother Dao…”

Dao Qiankun smiled slightly, “Go, rest well, and participate well tomorrow.”

On his way out of the flying boat, Zhang Yu, deep in thought, suddenly looked up and saw another flying boat docked next to Dao Qiankun’s.

“Is that… Kuang Tianqing’s flying boat?” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “Why is he coming to see Brother Dao the day before the competition?”

With a trace of doubt in his heart, Zhang Yu returned to his flying boat, continuing his cultivation and preparing for the finals.

A night passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Shiwei arrived at Dao Qiankun’s flying boat early in the morning, intending to go to the arena with him.

But upon arriving at the flying boat, a strange sense of calm welled up in Li Shiwei’s heart.

“Why is there no one here?”

With a strange feeling in her heart, Li Shiwei went to Dao Qiankun’s room, only to find that the door was completely unlocked and opened with a push.

Then, to her shock, she saw Dao Qiankun sitting cross-legged, with a smile on his face, utterly devoid of any aura.

The first in Wanfa University, the strongest student in the Daoist Arts Department, a popular contender for the Top Ten Leagues championship, Dao Qiankun—deceased.