As the second round of the military certification exam officially began, blueprints appeared one after another before Zhang Yu, their information entering his eye-bone.

In addition, this round’s competition procedures and specific rules were also displayed.

If Zhang Yu were to summarize, enemies would attack from all directions after 15 minutes.

Zhang Yu’s task was to protect the core of the formation before him from destruction by enemies.

The offensive would last for one hour. During this time, besides fighting with his own strength, he could also use the provided blueprints and construction materials nearby to build defenses capable of withstanding the assault.

These defenses could involve expanding the formation beneath his feet to enhance its effects and range, or constructing fortifications such as Blazing Prairie Platforms, Soul Condensation Towers, and Demon-Locking Towers.

Zhang Yu glanced at the blueprints provided for the exam but didn’t rush into construction. Instead, he first surveyed his surroundings.

A metal cylinder, half a meter thick and over a meter tall, stood on the ground before him.

Its surface was covered with numerous spiritual energy circuits, resembling wires glowing with faint light, extending into the earth.

This was the core of the formation Zhang Yu had to protect. As he looked at it, the words “Formation Core Integrity: 100%” appeared in his eye-bone.

Zhang Yu then surveyed his surroundings again, thinking, “The area is entirely flat. Building defenses here will heavily rely on individual execution and imagination.”

“Before knowing what these ‘enemies’ actually are, I should build a highly adaptable defense system that can handle various situations as much as possible…”

Meanwhile, the countdown floating in the air nearby showed 14 minutes and 52 seconds.

On the flying ship.

The three judges and other guests were observing the candidates’ performances and discussing the crucial aspects of this round of the exam.

With a thought from True Monarch Qiyun, the camera focused on Su Yan-yang’s situation.

Amidst a series of roars and large quantities of mud and sand flying skyward, Su Yan-yang had already descended underground along with the formation core.

However, the live exam cameras were all connected to the eye-bones of the five candidates.

Even though Su Yan-yang had burrowed deep underground, the judges and guests present could still see his status.

As True Monarch Qiyun watched Su Yan-yang begin to expand the formation, construct a tomb, and draw in spiritual veins, he understood what Su Yan-yang intended to do.

“Is he building an underground tomb to strengthen the formation and create defenses, while he himself commands from the center?”

True Monarch Tianxiang, standing nearby, commented, “It’s a conventional approach, similar to building underground tombs paired with commercial structures above ground. While old-fashioned, it’s very effective.”

“But isn’t he preparing live sacrifices to create ‘living stakes’?”

Hearing True Monarch Tianxiang’s comment, Geng Chen-yi, a fifth-rank true god from the other side, smiled and said, “True Monarch Tianxiang, qualified ‘living stakes’ aren’t cheap. I think Su Yan-yang probably intends to use himself for the blood sacrifice.”

True Monarch Tianxiang shook his head and replied, “Your human race’s building material regulations are too strict. As long as the price of these ‘living stakes’ doesn’t come down, how can the civil engineering industry grow stronger?”

“Even if you’re unwilling to loosen your own restrictions, you could certainly lower tariffs and import ‘living stakes’ from our Heavenly Demon University.”

Geng Chen-yi smiled faintly and said, “The civil engineering field at Myriad Laws University has always emphasized self-sacrifice in construction and striving for excellence. The saying ‘one person’s blood sacrifice bears the load, three generations use the ashes’ is indeed the civil engineering custom here.”

Hearing this, True Monarch Tianxiang shook his head, clearly unimpressed by the statement.

Meanwhile, True Monarch Qiyun turned his gaze to Xiao Yun-ji on the other side.

Streams of vital energy swept through the area, clearing away large quantities of debris and vegetation.

Then, with the formation core as the center, Xiao Yun-ji began constructing a series of circular roads.

True Monarch Tianxiang asked curiously, “Is she building roads? Building roads in an exam arena? What is she trying to do?”

True Monarch Qiyun, after reviewing Xiao Yun-ji’s data, had already guessed her intention and smiled faintly, “She’s creating magnetic-element channels. She’s not sticking to convention, nor is she limited to the fortifications provided in the blueprints. Instead, she’s employing the tactic most suitable for herself.”

Concurrently, the actions of Ping Han also caught the attention of more guests.

The level 20 Mysterious Yellow Mountain Suppressing Seal, the level 20 Great Wilderness Mountain Moving Force, and the level 20 Earth Control Divine Transformation—three level 20 cultivation techniques were simultaneously activated, pushing Ping Han’s mastery of the Minor Triad to its limit.

But that wasn’t all; with repeated enhancements to the Dharma bones on his body, the control range of his Minor Triad was further expanded.

As the earth undulated, tall towers rose from the ground within a radius of several hundred meters.

Following that, magical artifacts soared into the sky, beginning construction under the manipulation of soul cultivators.

A guest exclaimed in surprise, “Is that Golden Core blood? He’s using Golden Core blood to draw spiritual energy circuits?”

Another guest checked the data of the soul cultivators under Ping Han, sighing, “They are all elite soul cultivators with profound Yin energy. What an extravagant Foundation Establishment student.”

Director Gao was also reviewing the data of Ping Han’s soul cultivators. He knew that many well-prepared soul cultivators would pay for “death services” before their physical bodies could no longer extend their lifespan and their flesh and blood began to decay.

The more money spent, the more luxurious the death, and the more advanced the rituals arranged, the stronger the soul cultivator would become after death. It was akin to dying at the starting line, gaining an immediate lead.

And the soul cultivators Ping Han hired this time were all such post-mortem elites.

As for “soul dregs” from common deaths like old age, illness, or accidents, he had disqualified them all.

Such repeated heavy investment led to a dramatic increase in construction efficiency.

Everyone seemed to watch as Ping Han’s celestial coins rapidly increased. With a grand sweep of his hand, he unleashed earth-shattering power, accelerating the construction site beneath his feet: faster, faster, and even faster!

Witnessing this, Director Gao secretly resolved that such an outstanding talent as Ping Han must not be allowed to fall.

He then looked at another student he was concerned about.

In the camera’s view, Zhang Yu brought his palms together, activating his Minor Triad power.

Amidst the tremors of the earth, a giant formed of earth and stone slowly rose from underground.

As more and more earth and stone converged, the giant’s size rapidly swelled after absorbing a large amount of mud and sand, growing from five meters to ten, then fifteen, and twenty meters…

Watching this scene, Director Gao nodded slightly, thinking, “Zhang Yu’s foundation is currently not as profound as the other candidates’.”

“Therefore, relying on his martial arts talent and the power of the Minor Triad to manifest martial arts through this earth-and-stone giant is indeed the best way to exert his own strength and handle various situations.”

In the blink of an eye, the preparation time had passed.

The moment the final countdown ended, the entire examination area remained calm and uneventful, as if nothing had happened.

However, none of the candidates relaxed their guard. Instead, they tensely observed all directions, awaiting the impending assault.

Ten seconds later, violent tremors emanated from the ground.

Standing atop the 30-meter-tall earth giant, Zhang Yu looked towards the horizon and saw vast numbers of Yellow Turban Strongmen surging towards him from all directions like a tide.

“Are those puppets?”

“So many puppets?”

Zhang Yu was astonished, thinking, “How much money would this cost? Is this exam really so extravagant?”

In the sky, Deng Bing-ding, overseeing the examination area, allowed his consciousness to drift between the spiritual and material realms, continuously checking the number of puppets surrounding the five candidates.

Deng Bing-ding mused, “Hmph, the price for this batch of puppets… is several times higher than the market price.”

“And they’re all outdated, slow-moving inventory. Are they treating the examination grounds like a junkyard?”

“To say there’s nothing suspicious going on… who would believe that?”

However, Deng Bing-ding definitely wouldn’t investigate the suspicious activity. What if he actually uncovered something?

Meanwhile, facing the onslaught of Yellow Turban Strongmen, the candidates each deployed their countermeasures.

Su Yan-yang caused large sections of the earth to collapse, burying the approaching Yellow Turban Strongmen one by one.

Xiao Yun-ji’s figure flickered, moving back and forth with the acceleration provided by the magnetic-element channels. With her strength alone, she firmly blocked the Yellow Turban Strongmen attacking from all directions.

Ping Han was the first among the five candidates to construct defensive fortifications.

From the Blazing Prairie Platform he built, streaks of lightning and fire erupted, blasting away large numbers of Yellow Turban Strongmen.

Coupled with the magical artifacts he activated, he effortlessly repelled the assault.

Zhang Yu controlled the 30-meter-tall earth-and-stone giant. With a single step, it shook the earth, sending large numbers of Yellow Turban Strongmen tumbling.

Soon after the candidates easily repelled this wave of attacks, the incoming puppets began to change.

“They’re upgraded Yellow Turban Strongmen.” Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted as he saw the previously bare-handed Yellow Turban Strongmen now wielding various weapons.

Some carried melee weapons like swords, spears, staffs, and clubs, from which layers of vital energy erupted, striking towards the earth giant.

Others had vital energy cannons capable of long-range attacks, which the Yellow Turban Strongmen aimed and fired from a distance towards the earth giant.

Amidst the continuous bombardment, holes immediately appeared one after another on the earth giant’s surface.

True Monarch Qiyun stated, “This one-hour offensive will grow stronger with each wave.”

“If they don’t seize the time to build while fending off the attacks, they will inevitably fail to hold out in the end.”

True Monarch Tianxiang observed Su Yan-yang’s actions and smiled, “Is he actively opening the entrance to the underground tomb? He must have realized that the Yellow Turban Strongmen only possess basic intelligence and aren’t being controlled by soul cultivators.”

Indeed, after Su Yan-yang intentionally opened the tomb passage, large numbers of Yellow Turban Strongmen swarmed in and were quickly engulfed by long-prepared traps.

Geng Chen-yi watched Xiao Yun-ji on the other side. On the screen, Xiao Yun-ji’s body swelled, transforming from her original maiden appearance into a giant over ten meters tall, with three heads and six arms.

A magical artifact appeared on each of the giant’s arms, either unleashing lightning to blast Yellow Turban Strongmen or generating force fields to sweep away enemies.

“In her three-headed, six-armed state, she’s not only fighting but also building simultaneously.”

Geng Chen-yi looked at Xiao Yun-ji’s creations and nodded approvingly, saying, “Besides the magnetic-element channels, she’s also constructing other formations and artifacts to restore her magic power, maintain her Dharma bones, and replenish her vital energy and blood… It’s truly an innovative approach, and her Dao heart is commendable.”