Lifting the bunker was one of the methods discussed by Zhang Yu and his companions. When faced with an irresistible onslaught, everyone collectively moved the bunker, attempting to evade attacks that couldn’t be directly withstood. Fortunately, thanks to multiple prior enhancements, although several cracks had appeared on the bunker’s exterior wall, its main structure remained intact.

“Go!” Xiao Qingxuan roared, unleashing nine swirling dragon-shaped streams of vital energy. These struck the mudslide, simultaneously guiding everyone towards an uncollapsed area.

However, as his spiritual energy was severely depleted, Tian Yang found himself unable to endure the dual burden of carrying the bunker and fending off the mudslide. He quickly shrank his body and retreated into the bunker. Just seconds later, Shi Yunxiang also gave out, shrinking his form and leaping into the bunker. With both men having withdrawn their support, the entire bunker suddenly sagged, only to be stabilized by the surge of vital energy from the remaining three.

Shi Huaiyu’s face contorted with worry as she surveyed the churning, muddy torrents and the continuously collapsing ground. “We’re losing it,” she muttered. She knew that if the bunker slipped from their grasp, it would instantly be annihilated by the mudslide and the collapsing earth.

“Hold on!” Zhang Yu yelled. “Shi Huaiyu! Forget about supporting from below; get on top and reduce the weight!”

“Xiao Qingxuan!” Zhang Yu turned, focusing intently on Xiao Qingxuan. “You go up and help me too!”

Shi Huaiyu swiftly shrank her body and leaped onto the bunker. There, she exerted her full strength to refine streams of Xuanhuang Qi, channeling them into the structure to continuously lighten its load. Meanwhile, Xiao Qingxuan, having also shrunk his form, leaped onto Zhang Yu’s shoulder. With a palm pressed against Zhang Yu’s shoulder, streams of Five Elements True Qi surged into him, diligently healing his injuries. The moment he examined Zhang Yu’s body, Xiao Qingxuan couldn’t help but wince internally. Under the influence of various explosive techniques, Zhang Yu’s internal organs appeared to him as if riddled with holes. He marveled at how Zhang Yu had managed to endure for so long.

Transformed into a giant, Zhang Yu now held the bunker with one hand while unleashing powerful waves of vital energy with the other, pushing against the churning torrent. Amidst the earth-shattering chaos, he astonishingly managed to shield the bunker. Those witnessing this spectacle felt a surge of exhilaration.

As she watched Zhang Yu, bathed in blood, desperately sheltering the bunker against the raging current, Shi Huaiyu’s gaze flickered to Su Yan Yang in the distance. A fierce resolve hardened her heart: “Damn it! I’ll give it my all!”

Shi Huaiyu patted her Ghost Kidney hard and declared, “Engage overload mode! Refine kidney essence into spiritual power.”

The soul cultivator residing within the kidney remarked, “If you do this… my kidney will age rapidly, and the depreciation rate will be considerable.”

“Just do as you’re told,” Shi Huaiyu replied.

The next moment, feeling her spiritual energy rapidly replenish, Shi Huaiyu frantically refined more Xuanhuang Qi, further reducing the weight of the entire bunker.

On the other side, Shi Yunxiang extended his arm toward Zhang Yu. “Drink some of my blood,” he offered. Seeing the earnest expression on Shi Yunxiang’s lion-like face, Zhang Yu didn’t hesitate. He opened his mouth and bit down, instantly gulping large mouthfuls of demonic blood.

Zhang Yu’s eyes suddenly blazed. It felt as though he had consumed liquid Heavenly Essence Rice; a massive influx of vital energy surged through his body, replenishing his stamina and boosting the effects of his physical activation.

Concurrently, Zhang Yu saw the competition group messages pop up before his eyes.

Ying Xin: [1 Spirit Coin] Go, Senior Brother, this is for your medical expenses.
Gongshu Jin: [1 Spirit Coin] Keep fighting!
Yu Xinghan: [1 Spirit Coin] Take it and give it your all.

Zhang Yu smiled faintly at the sight. With a furious roar, he once again pushed aside the churning torrents surrounding him by several meters. However, moments later, a mud wave over ten meters high, carrying an overwhelming force, surged directly towards them.

Watching the bunker and the six individuals, including Zhang Yu, being completely swallowed by the mudslide, Su Yan Yang remarked dispassionately, “A futile struggle.” He observed as wave after wave of turbid currents crashed down, the continuous tremors persisting until the very end of the competition.

Su Yan Yang silently calculated, “If my defense had been more robust in the early to mid-stages, preventing too many delays in array construction, or if I had been able to accumulate five more minutes of power, I could have dealt with them much sooner.” Su Yan Yang shook his head. “Never mind,” he mused, “there wasn’t that much time in this competition anyway.”

As the ground stabilized, Su Yan Yang descended to the surface below. Observing the referees unearth the now-ruined bunker, Su Yan Yang inwardly estimated, “Perhaps a little over ten percent completion remains, which still counts as meeting the objective.” Suddenly, he frowned slightly. Upon closer inspection, he realized the bunker’s dimensions seemed considerably larger. The next moment, as the bunker’s outer shell was peeled away, Su Yan Yang abruptly discovered that beneath layers of outer walls lay a “small bunker” structure.

“Wait, no, this is the bunker that matches the required size for the exam.” Su Yan Yang furrowed his brow. “Excessive construction? Hiding the real bunker inside a decoy?” “Even so,” he concluded, “it’s still severely damaged.”

Inside the Spirit Realm.

Wei Huai commented, “Zhang Yu’s team performed commendably, but they ultimately succumbed to financial limitations. Had they possessed more substantial funds to acquire top-tier Dharma-skeletons and employ more advanced technologies, their results would undoubtedly have been superior.”

“Zhang Yu can’t continue like this. Pushing himself so hard every day, even nine lives wouldn’t suffice. He needs to find a way to borrow more money first.”

Tu Lishan retorted, “How much did Su Yan Yang spend on this single match? Can he continue spending at this rate and still manage to repay it? What will be the outcome if he can’t?”

As the debate between the teachers of the Peace and War Factions flared up again, their discussion swiftly shifted from Zhang Yu and Su Yan Yang’s match to several other ongoing competitions. Amidst the escalating debate, Director Gao remained as placid as an old well, silently observing the final score screen before him.

Magnetism True Monarch (private message): Is the final completion 36?
Magnetism True Monarch: So, in the second half, if Su Yan Yang achieves a completion rate above 36, he wins, right?
Magnetism True Monarch: Given the strength comparison between the two, it shouldn’t be difficult.
Magnetism True Monarch: It appears you were correct; this Su Yan Yang will indeed surpass your student.

Director Gao: Perhaps… but the outcome of the first round differed from my initial expectations.
Director Gao: I had anticipated Su Yan Yang would be more devastating.

Reflecting on the fierce struggle of Zhang Yu and his five teammates in the final minute, Director Gao’s eyes held a thoughtful expression.

Magnetism True Monarch: What? Do you intend to assist him in the second half?
Director Gao: Wouldn’t that be too hasty? He’s only a sophomore. Give him two more years to develop, and he’ll certainly surpass Su Yan Yang.
Magnetism True Monarch: You make a good point. However, the situation grows more intense each year. Gaining mastery of one of the Seven Uniques a year earlier can significantly alter future potential.

Director Gao: So, you also believe I should lend a hand?
Magnetism True Monarch: What business are your disciples of mine?
Magnetism True Monarch: I’m merely offering an objective opinion. If you assist him now and he seizes this opportunity, it will be a qualitative transformation, equivalent to ten times your usual help, and clearly more cost-effective.

Director Gao: You have a point.
Magnetism True Monarch: Why are you looking at me? You’re not implying you want me to intervene, are you?
Director Gao: My methods are too well-known here; any direct assistance would easily be exposed.
Director Gao: Furthermore, it’s an internal Civil Engineering department competition, and as the director, it’s inappropriate for me to secretly aid students during the event.
Magnetism True Monarch: He’s your student, not mine. Why should I care?
Director Gao: For old times’ sake, please do me a favor. During the break, go and give him some guidance.
Magnetism True Monarch: No, I can’t. I don’t know him at all; how can I possibly guide him?
Director Gao: I have complete faith in your abilities. If you’re willing, you can certainly succeed.
Magnetism True Monarch: Fine, fine. Transfer the funds first.
Magnetism True Monarch: If it weren’t for our centuries-long friendship, even a transfer wouldn’t suffice.
Magnetism True Monarch: You’re aware of how many people line up, money in hand, begging for my guidance.

Director Gao: [30 Spirit Coins] I know. Thank you, thank you very much.
Magnetism True Monarch: Oh, and I don’t have him as a friend yet. Tell him to add me.
Magnetism True Monarch: Also, I don’t guarantee victory.
Director Gao: I understand. After your guidance, the rest will be up to his own skill.

Observing the referees confirm a final completion rate of 36, Su Yan Yang turned his head to watch Zhang Yu and the others emerge from the debris nearby. He tilted his head back, looking down at the group. Observing Zhang Yu and his companions covered in mud, he leisurely remarked, “Well done. For your skill level, this is already the best possible outcome. Get some good rest. Keep up the effort in the second half.”

Watching Su Yan Yang turn and walk away, Shi Huaiyu touched her aching waist, feeling a profound sense of soreness and weakness. Her face was etched with unwillingness. “A loss, a major loss,” she muttered to herself. “This is truly a massive setback.” Clearly, in Shi Huaiyu’s view, there was no chance they could force Su Yan Yang’s team’s completion rate below 36 in the second half, when his team would be playing defense. “We’re certainly going to lose to Su Yan Yang. And it’s highly probable we won’t even rank in the top seven.”

Nearby, Che Yufei awoke from his state of suspended animation. Upon learning of the 36% completion rate for the first half, he let out a slight sigh, then consoled himself, “To have contended so closely with Su Yan Yang’s team is not bad at all. If not for Zhang Yu, Shi Huaiyu, and Xiao Qingxuan, I wouldn’t have even dared to imagine competing against Su Yan Yang’s team.”

Xiao Qingxuan calmly observed the scene from the side. In his opinion, this team’s absolute limit was the top ten, and attempting to contend for a spot within the top seven would be a somewhat thankless and arduous endeavor. Zhang Yu still harbored the desire to push harder in the second half; in a one-on-one scenario, he would undoubtedly make that choice. After all, possessing both Body Activation and the Civil Engineering Holy Body, the one thing he least feared was fighting with all his might. Yet, he still had five teammates beside him. Observing the exhaustion and physical discomfort etched on everyone’s faces, Zhang Yu found himself at a loss for how to ask them to push harder. He simply couldn’t bring himself to say anything. However, if he remained silent, Zhang Yu knew that in their current condition, his teammates would be even less capable of matching Su Yan Yang and the others in the second half.

As Zhang Yu’s mind raced with countless thoughts, Director Gao sent him a message.

Director Gao: You performed exceptionally well in the first half.
Director Gao: You couldn’t secure a win, but that’s simply because Su Yan Yang has been cultivating for several years longer than you.
Director Gao: During the upcoming break, I’ve arranged for a teacher to provide you with some guidance.
Director Gao: I went to great lengths to persuade them, so please learn diligently and strive for a strong performance in the second half.
Director Gao: [Magnetism True Monarch]