Outside the spiritual arena of the Top Ten Leagues, Zhang looked at the student from Demonic Heaven University before him and slowly said, “Finally… we meet.”

The other party chuckled, “I can sense a unique aura about you. Once I devour you, I’ll be closer to the God-Emperor’s abode.”

Zhang Pianpian calmly replied, “You and I are merely two of countless competitors, not to mention that perhaps no one can reach the very end of this path.”

The opponent shook his head, “So little confidence, yet you dare to seek me out?”

In moments, their spiritual wills clashed back and forth within the spiritual realm, engaging in thousands of rounds of combat in the blink of an eye. Seeing his opponent trembling like sifting sugar, Zhang Pianpian sighed, “It’s not that I lack confidence. I merely foresaw taking another step down this dead end, and I felt a sense of sorrow.”

Soon after, the body of the Demonic Heaven University student was discovered, causing another stir.

Before the Sword Combat Competition, Bai Zhenzhen watched the various messages appearing before her eyes, an uncontrollable anxiety rising in her heart. “Omni-Law University City attacked by the Demonic Cult? Zhang Yu disconnected?”

“Is he alright?”
“Damn the Demonic Cult.”
“What if Zhang Yu joins the Unemployed Sect… and becomes a good-for-nothing slacker?”

The thought sent a shiver down Bai Zhenzhen’s spine, and a wave of intense fear surged within her. “It’s fine, even if Zhang Yu doesn’t work, I can support him later.”

But Bai Zhenzhen knew things weren’t that simple. Not working meant a severe reduction in one’s immortal cultivation potential. They wouldn’t be able to get loans, rent accommodation, and their spiritual realm accounts would be restricted. They would gradually be insulted by classmates, scorned by teachers, abandoned by society, becoming the lowest rung, a wandering rogue cultivator in the immortal world. This was the norm, and it would lead to a severe regression in their Dao heart. Moreover, once unemployed for an extended period, with a resume full of gaps, finding work again would be difficult, like falling into an abyss with no hope of recovery. Insufficient immortal cultivation would also severely impact one’s lifespan and strength, potentially leading to a state where they couldn’t even withstand their own accidentally leaked sword qi, much like a lower-ranked student.

The thought of accidentally killing Zhang Yu in the future made Bai Zhenzhen’s emotions churn even more. She wanted to contact Zhang Yu immediately, but then the voice of the God-Monarch of Seven Emotions echoed in her ear.

The God-Monarch of Seven Emotions said, “Finish the sword combat first.”

Bai Zhenzhen suppressed her anger and said, “At a time like this, you still care about that? What if Zhang Yu gets involved with the Demonic Cult and never works again?”

The God-Monarch of Seven Emotions replied, “He naturally has his teachers protecting him in Omni-Law University City. If he can still be swayed by the Demonic Cult despite that, it simply means he isn’t much to begin with.”

Bai Zhenzhen struggled to suppress her surging emotions, slowly stating, “Do you have any idea how I feel right now? Like a hundred thousand volcanoes about to erupt—furious, nervous, terrified! I’m truly going insane!”

The God-Monarch of Seven Emotions said, “Exactly, maintain that.”

Bai Zhenzhen exclaimed, “Damn it! If this continues, I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist killing my opponent again!”

The God-Monarch of Seven Emotions chuckled, “As if anyone doesn’t want to.”

In the sky, streaks of crimson sword light sliced through the air like lightning. The God-Monarch of Seven Emotions’ voice was heard: “We’ve reached this point in the battle, so kill if you wish. I’ve been itching for a massacre for a while now.”

Hearing this, Bai Zhenzhen’s heart tightened, then a sense of helplessness welled up, making her emotions surge even more. “Damn it, this person usually acts normal, but she’s the craziest of them all!”

Moments later, Bai Zhenzhen, seething with anger, stepped onto the arena to compete for a spot in the top eight of the sword combat competition. Her figure shot into the sky like a crimson comet, heading directly for the student from White Bone University. Amidst crackling explosions, no matter what sword technique her opponent used, it was directly shattered by the surging sword qi emanating from Bai Zhenzhen. What terrified the opponent even more was that Bai Zhenzhen’s sword qi grew increasingly fierce, escalating relentlessly as if without end. At the same time, every sword strike that landed on Bai Zhenzhen grew weaker with each successive blow, as if she were adapting to her opponent’s attacks at an incredible speed.

After a series of fierce battles, fought while moving, a loud boom erupted in the sky, and the White Bone University disciple plummeted downwards. Streaks of crimson sword qi materialized out of thin air, like self-aware swimming dragons, chasing after the falling student. The next moment, accompanied by another earth-shattering roar, the student was shielded by an intervention.

“The victor has been decided, so please don’t…” The person who intervened had barely finished speaking when the God-Monarch of Seven Emotions let out a long laugh: “You were the ones who interfered on the field first.”

Lightning-fast sword lights instantly filled the sky, and amidst screams, white lotuses bloomed in mid-air, blocking the God-Monarch of Seven Emotions’ assault.

“Seven Emotions, how dare you be so brazen?”

At Omni-Law University’s encampment, Dao Qiankun watched the sword lights and white lotuses interweave in the distant sky, thinking to himself: *The intensity of the battle has escalated again.* At the same time, feeling the half-formed Golden Core phantom within him, a hint of helplessness flashed across his face.

During his competition for first place in spellcasting against Kuang Tianqing from Demonic Heaven University, he ultimately failed to suppress the blossoming of his Golden Core within him, fully entering the Golden Core realm, and was thus eliminated. Fortunately, breaking through to the Golden Core during a competition was considered an occupational injury. After he immediately dissolved the Golden Core and reverted to the Foundation Establishment realm, no one held him accountable for an unauthorized breakthrough.

However, looking at the remaining half-formed Golden Core phantom in his body, Dao Qiankun sensed the gap between himself and Kuang Tianqing. “Even with my full power, I still can’t completely dissolve the Golden Core in one go. Instead, it leaves a residual core. With just a slight stimulus, I might lose control of my inner foundation and break through to the Golden Core again.”

He recalled how, during his confrontations with Kuang Tianqing, he had shattered his Golden Core repeatedly, with each residual core becoming denser than the last. After ten such attempts, he couldn’t hold back and completely broke through to the Golden Core stage. In contrast, Kuang Tianqing could completely shatter his Golden Core every single time, demonstrating a more formidable strength.

Dao Qiankun mused, “Only after a dozen or so times of shattering my Golden Core, I couldn’t suppress the breakthrough… How is my situation any different from those ancient cultivators who couldn’t control their cultivation and were forced to break through during battle? I don’t look like Omni-Law University’s strongest student at all.” Dao Qiankun resolved: “After I return this time, I will perform a Golden Core shattering training session every day, shattering the Golden Core right before breaking through to the Golden Core realm, to further enhance my combat prowess in this regard.”

“Kuang Tianqing, I will definitely not lose to you next year.” However, looking in the direction of the God-Monarch of Seven Emotions and the White Lotus God-Monarch, whose battle was still escalating, Dao Qiankun thought to himself, “The Top Ten Leagues next year will likely be even more intense, won’t it?”

On the other side of Omni-Law University’s encampment, Jiu Tianliu from the Finance Department was observing the operation of the Qi Luck model through his magical abilities. Watching the data changes of countless students on it, Jiu Tianliu sighed to himself, “Indeed, the winds are rising, and dragons and serpents are emerging from the land.”

As the saying goes, “times create heroes.” Changes in the era would lead to the emergence of countless individuals gathering immense Qi Luck, engaging in various contests. Jiu Tianliu’s mind conjured images of the contestants who had died in the Top Ten Leagues over the past few days, as well as the losses and casualties at Omni-Law University City. “Perhaps many will die, but those who remain will gain more nourishment and grow stronger.”

Jiu Tianliu looked towards the direction where the God-Monarch of Seven Emotions and the White Lotus God-Monarch were fighting, thinking, “But ultimately, the higher-ups won’t allow unrestricted slaughter within the universities.” “They must be about to intervene, right?”

Over the next few days, the conflicts among the Deity Transformation stage cultivators gradually subsided. At some point, one Deity Transformation cultivator after another left the scene. Following this, stock and currency prices stabilized, and the financial storm gradually abated. With the truce among the Deity Transformation cultivators, spiritual veins were reopened and reactivated, rents gradually fell, and a regional disaster slowly came to an end. Large quantities of spirit coins appeared in banks, like life-saving water pouring out to various regions. Projects across different areas resumed operation, many struggling companies stabilized with the support of spirit coins, and the wave of unemployment gradually disappeared.

Meanwhile, numerous righteous deities descended from the heavens to assist with governance in various regions, and cultists were ruthlessly suppressed the moment they showed their faces. In Jiu Tianliu’s eyes, it was as if an invisible giant hand had descended from the sky, instantly smoothing everything over, forcefully halting the conflicts among the Top Ten and bringing an end to the economic crisis.

However, Jiu Tianliu could sense that although this economic crisis had been forcibly suppressed, the conflicts among the Top Ten had been fully exposed. The partially detonated powder keg, after being forcefully pressed down, was now accumulating even more terrifying pressure. Nonetheless, as long as the higher-ups wished to maintain control, even if those below were to fight, it would only be at specified times, locations, and in designated ways, limited to inter-university battles. A full-scale war was impossible, and the Top Ten themselves would not truly descend to the field.

Jiu Tianliu trusted the Finance Department’s judgment on this matter.

On the flying ship returning to Omni-Law University, Yan Qianji from the Artifact Forging Department exclaimed in surprise, “Is the next Top Ten Leagues going to be reformed again?”

Beside him, Ye Xingli was also looking at the document in her hand, a slight shock in her heart: *Is this meant to resolve disputes among universities through the Top Ten Leagues? The competition will determine the distribution of more benefits among the universities.*

Yan Qianji couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment: “The immortal sect techniques awarded will no longer be pre-assigned? Instead, the Daoist Canon directory will be opened, allowing the winner to choose an immortal sect technique themselves?”

Upon seeing this, Ye Xingli’s heart also surged with excitement. She thought to herself: *Originally, in this session of the Top Ten Leagues, the universities were already in severe conflict, almost at the point of tearing off their masks. In the next session, they might have contended for immortal sect techniques anyway.*

“Now, with the option to choose an immortal sect technique, this reward is too significant. Even Deity Transformation cultivators will likely be tempted and support their students in vying for it. The competition might even extend beyond the arena.” Ye Xingli seemed to envision countless overt and covert struggles unfolding both inside and outside the arena over the next year. The self-selected immortal sect technique was like bait, drawing countless teachers and students from the Top Ten Universities to swarm towards it.