The Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor is composed of thousands of scales, fitting the body like a second skin, emanating a jade-like, turquoise glow that gives a warm, smooth, and flowing sensation.

For Zhang Yu, the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor was intimately linked with his flesh and blood. Not only did it constantly circulate magical power into it, but it also maintained a continuous exchange of vital energy with him, as if it had become another one of his organs.

“To call it an organ isn’t quite accurate; there are no nerve or blood vessel connections, so it’s still different from a Dharma Corpse.”

Zhang Yu felt the armor’s operation and mused, “It’s more like a relationship somewhere between a magical treasure and a Dharma Corpse.”

As someone who mastered the relevant artifact-refining techniques, Zhang Yu had a feeling when he first reviewed the blueprints for the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor.

“According to the history of artifact refining, Dharma Corpse evolved step-by-step from magical treasures. It was through countless people’s research that magical treasures were gradually integrated into the body, and after successive iterations, they eventually became new body organs.”

“And armor like the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor is somewhat like an intermediate state in historical development, where some magical treasures gradually evolved into Dharma Corpse.”

“However, it’s not truly an ancient artifact, but rather draws from that design philosophy.”

As Zhang Yu entered the water, the powerful functions of the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor became increasingly apparent.

Zhang Yu not only felt his physique and strength grow under the armor’s augmentation, but the surrounding water seemed to become an extension of his will.

With a thought from Zhang Yu, a water field swirled around his body, propelling him and the sword box forward at high speed underwater like a series of whirlpools.

With a loud boom, propelled by the Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Power, Zhang Yu’s speed accelerated again, continuously moving at high speed along the race route.

At the same time, Zhang Yu’s vigilance increased, because he knew that in this underwater racing stage, contestants could attack each other.

As a target many wished to exploit for popularity, Zhang Yu remained cautious whenever he saw other contestants along the way.

His eye-sockets displayed his current ranking.

“I was the 4th to start, there are still 3 people ahead of me.”

“The first one to overtake should be Ling Pojun.”

Under the dual augmentation of the Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Power and the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor, Zhang Yu’s speed was indeed very fast, and he quickly caught up to Ling Pojun.

Amidst the violent surging water, Zhang Yu had already left the other person behind before they could even react.

The number in Zhang Yu’s eye-sockets flashed: “Reached 3rd place.”

Ling Pojun, who was advancing at full speed, suddenly felt a violent surge of water beside him, and then a dark shadow quickly bypassed his body, rushing forward.

“Zhang Yu?!” Ling Pojun was startled, and urged his Water-Repelling Pearl to accelerate, but found that no matter how much he sped up, he could only watch Zhang Yu’s figure move further and further away from him, like a large amount of traffic and popularity drifting further and further away.

Ling Pojun sighed inwardly: “Damn it… so fast?”

Zhang Yu quickly shook off Ling Pojun, watching the jungle-like coral reefs flash past his eyes, and large schools of fish swept away by his charge. He mused, “Good.”

“Faster than I expected.”

“This underwater racing stage is indeed very suitable for me.”

Meanwhile, as Zhang Yu continuously accelerated, his vital energy surged, and he could feel himself and the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor operating in greater sync.

Especially with the furious roars of the Four-Headed White Ox in his mind, his entire body seemed to come alive, constantly touching the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor, as if wanting to fully merge with it.

“Sure enough, the ‘Remnant Ox’s Self-Sacrifice Heart Incantation’ and ‘Immeasurable Heart Inner Dharma Body,’ these two cultivation methods of the Great Sage’s successor… have resonated with the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor?”

And from within the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor came a craving, a craving for “blood.”

However, Zhang Yu had felt this sensation even when he first put on the armor, and he had tried his own blood… it was useless.

Zhang Yu guessed this might be related to the hidden dark cultivation method within the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor.

“Does it require blood to activate?”

“But what kind of blood? Whose blood?”

While contemplating, Zhang Yu gradually slowed down in the water and stopped at the registration area.

This underwater racing stage required following the map’s guidance, circling this ocean-like underwater area, passing through 18 regions in order, and completing registration in each region.

The method of registration was to find a registration device within the area and then use one’s relay ball to complete the registration.

Zhang Yu patted his sword box, and 24 flying swords shot out like swimming fish, instantly unfolding a sword domain and probing in all directions.

“This stage tests detection technology, which happens to be my area of expertise.”

As the 24 flying swords detected in different directions, the entire terrain data appeared in Zhang Yu’s eye-sockets.

At the same time, some subtle spiritual realm signals were found by him.

A moment later, a black sphere appeared before Zhang Yu. As the black sphere collided with the relay ball in his hand, he completed the registration, and the black sphere shattered directly, losing its function.

Zhang Yu mused, “Are they all single-use? Do I have to find a new registration device every time?”

Casually discarding the broken black sphere, Zhang Yu accelerated, carrying a water spout and shooting towards the next area.

At the same time, an idea surged in Zhang Yu’s mind.

“Searching region by region like this is too slow.”

So, upon arriving at the next registration area and beginning to control his flying swords to search for the registration sphere.

As the scales of the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor vibrated, another water field spread out.

“Let’s see if this move works.”

With a backward surge of water, a large group of fish was caught in front of Zhang Yu.

Then, currents of demonic energy spread from the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor and flowed into the fish school. The flesh and blood of these fish then transformed into demonic beasts at a visible speed amidst violent throbbing.

While Zhang Yu was searching for the registration sphere and beginning to breed demonic beasts with the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor.

Many students and teachers were already waiting at the finish line.

Dao Qiankun watched the race on the live broadcast screen and heard someone beside him say: “Xue Jiuyou, due to Kuang Tianqing’s absolute lead in the previous stage, started first and still holds the first position.”

“Then there’s Yu Yunzhan, who took Bai Zhenzhen’s relay ball and started second, combining with his sword to break through the waves. His speed is incredibly fast, already getting closer and closer to Xue Jiuyou. It seems he won’t be long until he becomes first.”

“Oh? Zhang Yu’s underwater speed is also very fast, he has overtaken Ling Pojun and is now in 3rd place.”

An Zhen Zhenjun, watching this scene, nodded slightly and said, “Did you know Zhang Yu was good at underwater racing, so you chose him first?”

Dao Qiankun smiled slightly, shook his head, and said, “I didn’t think that much. Anyway, no matter how much they fall behind in the first few stages, I’ll catch up in the last stage.”

“I chose Zhang Yu simply because I want to bring him into the final round.”

“After all… he’s going to put me on the throne.”

An Zhen Zhenjun naturally didn’t believe this reason, and mused, “Does he not trust others? Like… Jiutian Liu?”

Watching Jiutian Liu and the team formed by students from other schools’ finance departments, An Zhen Zhenjun wasn’t surprised.

After all, the rules of this competition meant that teams couldn’t all be composed of students from the same school.

Aside from the clear division between the four demonic schools and the four Dharma schools, who wouldn’t mix selections to avoid sabotage, many within the four schools themselves chose mixed teams.

Overall, the alliance of the four schools was also the school leaders’ intention, aiming to find ways to advance more teams and more students from the same faction in this stage.

“Hmm?” An Zhen Zhenjun suddenly frowned, “Why isn’t Zhang Yu moving? Is he breeding demonic beasts? At this time?”

Seeing this, not only An Zhen Zhenjun was puzzled, but many people on the scene also felt confused.

Just then, a voice came from nearby: “Jiutian Liu has started.”

“So fast!!”

On the live broadcast screen, a thunderous boom was heard, and Jiutian Liu was seen piloting a shuttle-shaped magical treasure, streaking through the water like lightning.

An Zhen Zhenjun thought, “The finance department’s military-grade magical treasure, the Jiutian Shensuo (Nine Heavens Divine Shuttle).”

“The rich people in the finance department believe in winning without fighting and cherish their lives the most. This Jiutian Shensuo is hailed as the number one military-grade magical treasure for escape.”

“With this treasure, Jiutian Liu should have no problem taking first place in this stage.”

As An Zhen Zhenjun expected, Jiutian Liu arrived at the first registration point in a flash.

As the Jiutian Shensuo transformed into eighty-one illusory figures sweeping back and forth, it quickly found the black registration sphere, completed registration, and then headed for the next area.

Before long, Jiutian Liu had caught up with Zhang Yu, who had just finished breeding demonic beasts, and then continued to sprint towards the first and second positions.

“Now Jiutian Liu is third, Zhang Yu is fourth.”

Meanwhile, another contestant departed from the starting point.

“Mu Qiansi is on the move!”

“Is that her swimsuit? So hot!”

“As expected of a genius from Hehuan University, just looking at her completes a cultivation for me.”

“Zhang Yu, keep up the good work.”

“I’m going ahead.”

“See you at the finish line.”

Zhang Yu only vaguely saw a series of projected texts left in the water, and the Jiutian Shensuo piloted by Jiutian Liu gradually disappeared from his sight.

“So fast.”

Zhang Yu mused, “Indeed, relying solely on the speed of the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor and the Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Power, I’m still not the fastest person in this race. Even if I kept moving without stopping, I would eventually be overtaken, because the specialty of these two military-grade powers is not underwater speed.”

“In this stage, I can’t rely solely on pushing forward to contend for ranking.”

Shaking his head, Zhang Yu cleared his mind and continued to breed the demonic beasts before him.

A moment later, because of Zhang Yu’s stop, Ling Pojun, who he had just overtaken, passed him again, dropping Zhang Yu to 5th place.

At the same time, within his water field, fish-shaped demonic beasts, infused with the demonic energy converted by the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor, gradually grew to over two meters long, and developed a pair of arms on their bellies.

And through the Azurewater Gold-Crystal Armor’s spiritual realm connection, he could remotely control these demonic beasts.

“Finally done.”

“Go.”

With a thought from Zhang Yu, the large group of fish demons suddenly dispersed, gradually disappearing from his sight.

Just then, a voice seemed to cross the water ripples, entering Zhang Yu’s ears.

“Zhang Yu.”

Zhang Yu suddenly turned his head and saw a familiar face appear not far away, approaching him.

“A Zhen?”

The A Zhen before him smiled slightly, exuding an unusual charm, stepping through the water one step at a time, and came before Zhang Yu.

“Zhang Yu…”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s slightly dazed expression, A Zhen smiled and extended her hand towards Zhang Yu, reaching for the relay ball in his arms.

But in the next moment, Zhang Yu’s gaze suddenly sharpened, and he abruptly slammed a palm fiercely forward, striking at A Zhen’s chest.