Upon hearing Zhang Yu’s question, Xu Yang Zhenjun quickly replied, “This person contacted me through a secret account. He is a brilliant student from the top ranks of the Finance Department.”

“However, he is just a pawn. The key is that he represents a high-ranking individual in the Finance Department.” Zhang Yu understood that this high-ranking representative was the crucial factor.

At this point, Xu Yang Zhenjun gritted his teeth and said, “These scoundrels want to silence me. They’ve repeatedly sent people to assassinate me, and I almost died at their hands.”

“My purpose in coming to you, young friend, is to abandon the dark and embrace the light, to help Ciji Zhenjun deal with these parasites of Wanfa.”

Listening to Xu Yang Zhenjun, Zhang Yu smiled slightly and then sighed, “Assassinating a Jindan Zhenjun? These scoundrels are truly deranged and audacious.”

“Zhenjun, rest assured, how can we let these treacherous individuals have free rein in Wanfa University? This time, my master will certainly help you obtain justice.”

Then, Zhang Yu informed Ciji Zhenjun and introduced Xu Yang Zhenjun to him.

However, in the following days, everything seemed to return to its original calm state. Neither the Finance Department nor the Shuangxiu Cult experienced any major incidents, which surprised Zhang Yu.

Fu Ji, however, was not surprised at all. She said, “Did you really think both sides would clash head-on, engage in direct conflict, and fight fiercely?”

“Impossible. The Finance Department and the Artifact Refining Department are core departments of Wanfa University. If both sides completely fell out, how would they make money?”

“Ciji Zhenjun has experienced many ups and downs; he couldn’t possibly be unaware of this principle.”

“Even if she gains a slight advantage with Xu Yang Zhenjun, her next move will definitely be a covert struggle. She won’t easily escalate the conflict. This is the best way to control the intensity of the struggle, maintain room for cooperation for mutual benefit, and also allow for flexible strategy changes.”

“This is called ‘struggling without breaking, harmonizing without conforming, contending without harming…'”

In the days that followed, it seemed to confirm Fu Ji’s words, as no major conflicts erupted between the Finance Department and the Artifact Refining Department.

However, from some news reports and rumors, it seemed that the struggles in certain areas never stopped.

But as for the specific processes and actions involved, as long as he wasn’t entangled in them, Zhang Yu didn’t actively pay attention.

After all, the Top Ten League was drawing closer, with only a little over two months left. Zhang Yu dedicated most of his energy to the final improvements of his strength.

Ciji Zhenjun seemed to understand this as well, and contacted Zhang Yu less and less during this period, seemingly supporting him in his preparations.

Time quickly arrived at the beginning of July.

In the laboratory, Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened. He had already absorbed the last trace of Jieqi into his body, transforming it into a restriction within his Dantian.

Heaven and Earth Calamity Formless Mind Weapon Level 11 (0/110)

“This cultivation method has now reached the Foundation Establishment realm.”

Then Zhang Yu looked at the notification in his eye, which stated the location and time of his duel with Bei Wufeng.

Five hundred kilometers northwest of University City.

This area belonged to a mountainous region of a lower-ranked school. Due to a lack of spirit脉 and depleted resources, it gradually became a desolate area for practical combat.

Because the space around Wanfa University was too precious, and the impact of Zhang Yu and Bei Wufeng on the outside world was too astonishing, the duel was set in an external school.

In fact, the top 50 players in Wanfa University, due to their astonishing strength, often came here for various tests, exercises, and experiments…

At this moment, Zhang Yu and Bei Wufeng stood on separate mountain peaks, thousands of meters apart, facing each other from afar.

Bei Wufeng’s voice came through the spirit world, “Junior brother, are you still sure you want to challenge me?”

He lightly tapped the Taihao Shenglv flying sword in front of him and said, “Regardless of the outcome, this battle will probably cost you a lot.”

Zhang Yu said seriously, “Senior brother, I am determined to participate in this year’s Top Ten League.”

Seeming to sense Zhang Yu’s determination, Bei Wufeng smiled slightly and then said, “Good.”

With that, Bei Wufeng looked at the third person present and asked, “Teacher, what kind of competition do you think is most suitable for us?”

The teacher Bei Wufeng was asking was An Zhen Zhenjun, the associate dean of the Daoist Arts Department. An Zhen Zhenjun was also the school team’s advisor, responsible for the overall planning of various training and investments for the school team members.

Today, Zhang Yu challenged Bei Wufeng, and An Zhen Zhenjun personally came to witness this battle for a school team position.

Of course, besides An Zhen Zhenjun, other teachers and leaders would also watch this battle remotely through the spirit world.

Upon hearing Bei Wufeng’s question, An Zhen Zhenjun said, “Formal registration for the Top Ten League has begun, and the next few days are the final time to confirm the school team roster.”

“The reformed schedule and general competition content for this year’s Top Ten League have also been announced. There will first be a team competition, where some players will be eliminated, and the remaining players will then proceed to individual competitions to determine the ten strongest.”

“In this process, the importance of team strength is undeniable, even determining the direction of the entire competition.”

“If you two are competing for a school team spot, you must adhere to the requirements of the Top Ten League and prioritize the team’s collective strength.”

“Bei Wufeng’s task in the school team is responsible for flying sword communication.”

“Zhang Yu, if you want to win a spot, you must defeat Bei Wufeng in sword fighting.”

In the eyes of the school’s high-ranking officials, the final individual competition relied on Dao Qiankun, Jiutian Liu, and Yan Qianji, the three strongest in the entire school. The other members of the school team were mainly used to gain advantages and preserve strength for these three in the team competition.

Thus, in An Zhen Zhenjun’s mind, Bei Wufeng’s position placed more importance on professional ability and auxiliary ability for the team.

Hearing about this competition item, Bei Wufeng was naturally confident. He smiled faintly and said, “Only sword fighting? That’s fine, at least we won’t have to fight all out and waste many resources.”

“I just don’t know if junior brother agrees?”

As he spoke, Bei Wufeng and An Zhen Zhenjun both looked at Zhang Yu.

In their opinion, competing solely in sword fighting against Bei Wufeng, who had accumulated years of experience, Zhang Yu would naturally be at a disadvantage.

An Zhen Zhenjun thought to himself, “If Zhang Yu isn’t willing to only compete in sword fighting…”

“Okay.” Zhang Yu seemed to have been prepared for this, and calmly said, “Then let’s have a sword fight.”

An Zhen Zhenjun, who had always been expressionless, showed a hint of surprise on his face and turned to look at Zhang Yu seriously.

Bei Wufeng also looked at Zhang Yu in surprise and said, “Junior brother, do you still remember our agreement?”

“Of course I do.” Zhang Yu nodded, “The loser must lend their military-grade magical artifact to the winner for free use in the Top Ten League.”

Zhang Yu and the other party had even signed a contract for this matter, so he certainly couldn’t forget.

Bei Wufeng continued, “Since we’ve determined today’s competition item, let’s simply sign a supplementary agreement to confirm the conditions for victory and defeat, as well as some detailed rules…”

Upon hearing the other party’s words, Zhang Yu understood that the other party was afraid he would lose in the sword fight and then refuse to accept it, demanding to switch to another event to determine the winner.

“No problem.” Zhang Yu said, “Senior brother, you can draft the contract.”

Watching the two sign the contract, An Zhen Zhenjun naturally did not stop them. In his opinion, if Bei Wufeng could borrow Zhang Yu’s military-grade magical artifact for free, it would further enhance the school team’s strength, which would be a good thing for their participation in the upcoming Top Ten League.

After signing the contract, Bei Wufeng let out a sigh of relief. With a gentle pat on his sword scabbard, twelve flying swords leaped out one by one, arrayed neatly behind him.

“Junior brother, then let’s begin.”

Zhang Yu nodded, similarly placing a hand lightly on his sword scabbard. Twelve flying swords soared into the sky, bursts of sword intent ready to erupt, aiming at Bei Wufeng’s direction.

“Start.”

The rules for their sword fight this time were very simple.

Firstly, both sides could not use any other magical artifacts besides the Taihao Shenglv Sword Array and their own Dharma Skeleton.

Secondly, the combat range was limited to within a ten-li radius. Both flying swords and human bodies crossing the boundary would result in a loss.

Finally, whichever flying sword could penetrate within ten meters of the opponent would be considered the winner of this sword fight.

In a flash, sword light flickered in the sky, and both sides had set up their respective sword arrays and began to clash.

Bei Wufeng’s right hand clasped, lightly forming a sword incantation. The Taihao Sword Realm had clearly formed within the sword array and rapidly expanded, pressing towards Zhang Yu’s position.

Facing Bei Wufeng’s Taihao Sword Realm, Zhang Yu remained unhurried, also forming a sword incantation and releasing his own Taihao Sword Realm to collide with it.

As the two sword realms fiercely collided, the spirit world was constantly being squeezed out. Cracking sounds seemed to continuously echo in the air, and the spirit world signals within a radius of several li dropped to their lowest point.

Bei Wufeng smiled faintly and said, “Junior brother has refined good flying swords, but sword fighting is not just about the quality of the flying swords.”

While speaking, Bei Wufeng pointed to the sky, then fiercely grasped, as if he had tugged at the spirit world above the entire area.

In an instant, countless streaks of spirit world light converged, surging in clusters into his Taihao Sword Realm.

For a moment, the Taihao Sword Realm seemed to merge with the spirit world that had been squeezed out, forming an enveloping posture around Zhang Yu’s sword realm.

In Bei Wufeng’s view, he was bound to win this sword fight, and knowing that many teachers and leaders were watching this match, he felt a desire to show off.

So, while pulling the spirit world, he said, “Junior brother, this is the technique of Zhou Tian Sulu, which can open up the caves I’ve arranged deep in the spirit world, accelerating the flow of spirit world signals.”

“Now that it’s activated, my Taihao Shenglv Sword Array receives assistance from the spirit world. How can your sword realm withstand it?”

In a flash, Zhang Yu felt the power of the opponent’s sword realm, mixed with the spirit world, like a large hand squeezing, about to completely seal off his own sword realm and sever the information flow between himself and his flying swords.

Zhang Yu knew that purely competing in sword realms and spirit world techniques, he would certainly not be his opponent. He had been prepared for this.

He saw Zhang Yu calmly say, “Senior brother, after all, sword fighting is about swords.”

With a soft bang, as Zhang Yu’s five fingers suddenly clenched, the Kunlun Mountains-Shifting Divine Power was activated, and a surging Earth Fiend gravity erupted.

The twelve Taihao Shenglv flying swords hummed in unison under the propulsion of the Earth Fiend gravity, disregarding the fierce struggle in the spirit world, and slashed towards Bei Wufeng’s flying swords from the perspective of the material world.