Zhang Yu asked, “How long will you be staying at Myriad Laws University this time?”

Bai Zhenzhen replied, “I’ll leave once the competition is over. If I manage to last until the finals, that would be about ten days.”

“Divine Spirit Root,” Zhang Yu said, “I’ll return it to you before you leave. You’ll need it for the competition.”

Bai Zhenzhen tilted her head dismissively. “It’s fine. Just give it back to me before your match.” She added, “You should make good use of this opportunity to use the Divine Spirit Root more. I want it to help enhance your strength. However, for now, don’t tell your university classmates about our relationship. It would make it inconvenient for us to transfer the Divine Spirit Root.”

Zhang Yu nodded repeatedly as Bai Zhenzhen spoke. As he looked at her, his gaze fell upon her chest, where he inevitably saw her Dao Seed.

Azure Lotus Sword Embryo (Spirit Root) Level 2

Besides the Dao Seed manifesting on her chest, he saw the same words appear on his own abdomen.

Azure Lotus Sword Embryo (Spirit Root) Level 2

*So… A-Zhen’s Dao Seed is the True Spirit Root?* Zhang Yu mused inwardly. *Azure Lotus Sword Embryo? It’s already Level 2. Is that because it underwent a transformation on the first layer before?*

However, Zhang Yu merely sensed it briefly and didn’t pay it further mind. Neither he nor Bai Zhenzhen focused on the Divine Spirit Root’s presence. They simply embraced, slowly exchanging updates on their respective situations and feeling each other’s presence. Three years of high school life, filled with one life-or-death crisis after another that they had overcome together, had long made them more than family, even if not by blood.

Suddenly, Bai Zhenzhen said with a look of distaste, “Is the effect of that yang-boosting meat still lingering?”

Zhang Yu retorted angrily, “Isn’t that your fault? If I hadn’t eaten the yang-boosting meat you gave me, with my temperament, how could I be so easily affected? I’ve been walking on eggshells these past few days.”

Bai Zhenzhen said, “I definitely didn’t put the wrong thing in it back then. This matter… never mind, I’ll confirm it later.”

With a swift movement, Bai Zhenzhen moved like a flash of lightning, slipping out of Zhang Yu’s embrace and appearing several meters away. She shot a sideways glance at Zhang Yu and said, “That’s enough for today. I should go. Now, go and cultivate with the Divine Spirit Root as much as you can.”

Zhang Yu asked, “The competition starts tomorrow, right? When should I return it to you?”

“The opening ceremony is in the first half of the night tomorrow, and the first match is in the latter half. You can return it to me at midnight,” Bai Zhenzhen replied. As she spoke, Bai Zhenzhen’s figure vanished silently like streaks of light before Zhang Yu, showcasing her extraordinary movement technique.

Watching the direction Bai Zhenzhen disappeared in, Zhang Yu then focused his attention on the True Spirit Root within him, or rather, the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo. As he earnestly sensed it, information about the Dao Seed gradually emerged.

*The Azure Lotus Sword Embryo requires nourishment from cultivation techniques,* Zhang Yu murmured inwardly. *Specifically, while using the Divine Spirit Root, I need to circulate Level 20 cultivation techniques for 30 hours each. A total of ten such techniques need to be circulated. However, these techniques do not include mental cultivation techniques.*

*So, that’s a total of 300 hours? By then, I’ll be able to replicate this Dao Seed.*

Zhang Yu recalled that in high school, the True Spirit Root also seemed to have undergone its transformation through the nourishment of various cultivation techniques. *However, for now, I can only sense the conditions for replicating the Dao Seed, not for upgrading it.* This was also the first time Zhang Yu encountered a Level 2 Dao Seed since activating his Yu Book’s Dao Seed Compendium.

At the same time, Zhang Yu remembered his experience with using the True Spirit Root when he was on the first layer. *Adaptation is a characteristic of the True Spirit Root. I wonder what changes have occurred now that it has evolved into a Divine Spirit Root?*

In the time that followed, under Fukki’s expectant gaze, Zhang Yu began to cultivate using the Divine Spirit Root. The cultivation itself was simple; he already mastered more than ten Level 20 cultivation techniques, so picking ten to circulate was easy. *If I want to finish this before A-Zhen leaves Myriad Laws University, time is still very tight. Fortunately, I now possess multiple processing capabilities, so there’s still a chance.* With that thought, Zhang Yu seized the time to circulate his cultivation techniques, nourishing the Azure Lotus Sword Embryo with them, while also sensing the wondrous effects of the Divine Spirit Root.

The next evening, at the construction site.

Yu Xinghan massaged Ying Xin while saying, “Why does it feel like there are so many more people on the road today? And they’re all from other universities?”

Ying Xin replied, “It’s because of the Flying Sword Competition. Our university is hosting it this year, so many students from various universities, even junior colleges, have come. Of course there are a lot of people.”

At the same time, numerous pieces of information constantly flickered across Zhang Yu’s ocular display, all discussions about the Flying Sword Competition from various group chats. However, Zhang Yu glanced through them and found that most were just discussions. None of his acquaintances seemed to be participating in the Flying Sword Competition.

*That’s right, the threshold for flying swords is too high. Most of those who can participate in inter-school competitions are upper-year students. But A-Zhen is only a sophomore and she can already participate in this competition. It seems she’s truly made leaps and bounds under the guidance of the Divine Lord of Seven Emotions.*

Just then, Zhang Yu saw screenshots of the opening ceremony in many group chats. *Has the opening ceremony started?*

Zhang Yu searched for the live stream of the opening ceremony and clicked on a random one. He saw teams of university representatives entering the arena. There was the Celestial Demon University team, with only one contestant. There was the Vajra University team, whose every contestant was adorned with Dharma skeletons, looking like statues. And there was the Joyful Union University team, which made Zhang Yu’s gaze solemn and gave him an immensely powerful feeling. As each representative team entered, the live stream host would occasionally introduce the contestants. However, Zhang Yu didn’t recognize any of these contestants from other schools; their introductions went in one ear and out the other, and he didn’t pay them much attention.

But when the Heavenly Sword University team appeared, Zhang Yu’s gaze immediately fixed on Bai Zhenzhen. Bai Zhenzhen was wearing a platinum-colored competition suit, looking heroic and spirited, exuding an unprecedentedly sharp aura. Her originally black long hair had now turned platinum, radiating layers of sword light.

The host introduced her, “Bai Zhenzhen from Heavenly Sword University. If you’ve been following the Flying Sword Competition over the past six months, you would surely have noticed her. As a direct disciple of the Divine Lord of Seven Emotions, Bai Zhenzhen’s progress has been astonishingly rapid, and she’s a popular contender for the top ten in this competition. Look at her hair; its color is due to the constant manifestation of refined gold energy. It is said that every strand of hair on her head has been refined by the Divine Lord of Seven Emotions, and when needed, each strand can transform into a refined gold flying sword to be commanded.”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu noticed screenshots and discussions about Bai Zhenzhen appearing in several group chats. Someone in the class group posted a screenshot of Bai Zhenzhen, expressing envy and awe towards a Spirit Transformation disciple. Even Ji Yuanxu, watching Bai Zhenzhen’s introduction, couldn’t help but show a look of longing in his eyes: “A Spirit Transformation disciple… just her long hair alone is worth more than ninety percent of Myriad Laws University students combined. When one is this wealthy, their fortune follows them wherever they go. Simply being her friend can boost one’s luck.”

In the Songyang Hometown group, many students tagged Zhang Yu, wanting to ask about Bai Zhenzhen’s situation, but Zhang Yu ignored them all.

Qian Shen from Tianhai University: Zhang Yu, do you know what Bai Zhenzhen’s current total score is?

Seeing that Zhang Yu’s reply was slow to appear in the group, Zhao Tianxing thought, *Is Zhang Yu’s relationship with Bai Zhenzhen not as good anymore? Like me now, my relationship with Zhang Yu is definitely not as good as it was in high school. Should I go ask him? Comfort him? No, forget it. If his relationship with Bai Zhenzhen has truly faded, and I go ask him, wouldn’t he think I’m laughing at him? Wouldn’t he be even unhappier? And wouldn’t my relationship with him get even worse? Alas, that’s how university is. It creates a world of difference between students, and old classmates drift further and further apart.*

Zhao Tianxing remembered that at first, the hometown group chat had 999+ messages every day, but as time passed, often several days would go by without anyone posting anything. If it weren’t for Bai Zhenzhen’s sudden emergence this time, it wouldn’t have suddenly become lively again.

In the Civil Engineering Competition group:

Ying Xin: She’s only a sophomore and can make it into the top ten? Even for a Spirit Transformation disciple, that’s too exaggerated!

Gongshu Jin: That’s a Spirit Transformation master, and the issuer of the Seven Emotions Coins!

Xiao Qingxuan: Reaching that level of wealth, they can change heaven and earth with a single thought. There’s not much they can’t achieve.

Che Yufei: Sigh, if only I could become a Spirit Transformation disciple, I’d give up everything!

Shi Yunxiang: Why don’t we go and take Bai Zhenzhen as our master? If we become her disciples, wouldn’t we become Spirit Transformation grand-disciples?

Shi Huaiyu: How could it be that easy? A Spirit Transformation disciple is surely surrounded by layers of protection. How could ordinary people get close?

Shi Huaiyu: I tried yesterday, but I was directly chased away by the team leader before I even got close to their dorms.

Che Yufei: How do you know?

Shi Huaiyu: I tried yesterday at their dorms.

Yu Xinghan looked at the chat history and suddenly noticed that Zhang Yu had sent him a message, asking him to temporarily keep secret the fact that they knew Bai Zhenzhen. Besides Yu Xinghan, Zhang Yu also sent a message to Li Xiao, although he wasn’t sure how much Li Xiao knew about him and Bai Zhenzhen, just to remind him not to say anything unnecessary.

Yu Xinghan replied: You can trust my discretion. At the same time, Yu Xinghan sighed inwardly: *Sigh, I originally wanted to see if I could piggyback on this, maybe film an interview with Bai Zhenzhen, but it seems impossible now. Besides, the gap between Bai Zhenzhen and us is simply too vast now. Zhang Yu asking me to keep our relationship secret might very well be Bai Zhenzhen’s wish. After all, she’s a Spirit Transformation disciple; every action she takes carries significant weight. If she doesn’t want to display our relationship, then we can only go along with her.*

Yu Xinghan understood very well that even though they were friends in high school, there was now a world of difference between them. Whether they received her care depended entirely on her choice; they couldn’t force it.

“Hmm?” Just then, Yu Xinghan suddenly noticed that Zhang Yu was no longer at the construction site. “Where is he? No more overtime?” It was the first time Yu Xinghan had seen Zhang Yu leave halfway through overtime. “It looks like Bai Zhenzhen truly has a profound impact on him.”

After the opening ceremony.

In a hidden corner on the 66th floor.

Zhang Yu embraced Bai Zhenzhen and returned the True Spirit Root to her. In an instant, Bai Zhenzhen trembled violently. “Yuzi… you… slow down…” She exclaimed in surprise, “How could I… be so unaccustomed?”

Zhang Yu explained, “After all, we haven’t exchanged True Spirit Roots in too long, and the differences between us are particularly vast. Not only am I unaccustomed to the changes you brought, but you’re undoubtedly also unaccustomed to the changes I passed on. So the True Spirit Root’s adaptation process is especially intense, and the reactions are particularly strong. A-Zhen, bear with it. We can’t delay any longer; you have a competition soon.”

“Mm,” Bai Zhenzhen said, frowning slightly and nodding. “Continue.”

The next moment, as Bai Zhenzhen gritted her teeth, her whole body trembling, she felt the True Spirit Root return to her Dantian. Simultaneously, an intense stimulation, centered on the True Spirit Root, spread throughout her body, bringing about various incredible changes.