Chapter 221: Divine Spirit Root

Previous Foundation Establishment exams had never allowed spectators. In Zhang Yu's opinion, this was to protect student information and prevent details about the examinees from being leaked to the outside world.

"But what does this situation mean?" he wondered. "Are they going to broadcast the exam results to the entire world?"

Zhang Yu frowned as he surveyed the surrounding spectator stands. He was surprised to see that the audience members were an eclectic mix: some appeared as cartoon characters, others as game avatars, and a few even looked like emojis. Only a small number of them seemed to be real people.

"Are they watching remotely through the internet?" Zhang Yu mused.

Shortly after Zhang Yu arrived at the examination hall, Ye Lingxiao appeared. He, too, was momentarily surprised by the sight of the spectators in the stands.

At the same time, the voice of Righteous God Huang Zichou reached both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

"There's no need to be nervous, both of you," Huang Zichou's voice stated. "These spectators are all from various universities on Kunxu Level 2, not from Kunxu Level 1. After observing your competition, they will report back to their respective schools and departments. This will allow them to offer you better opportunities when you apply to universities in the future. This is a special chance the Divine Department has secured for you, so you can distinguish yourselves in this final examination and have more development opportunities when you eventually ascend to Level 2."

Whether being watched by such a crowd would affect the examinees' performance was not a concern for Huang Zichou or the other gods.

How could a truly powerful individual not be observed? Beyond simply being watched, participating in live broadcasts, filming advertisements, giving speeches, or even enduring cyberbullying — all these situations demand that an Immortal Dao expert experience various grand occasions under countless gazes while maintaining mental stability and calmly exerting their strength. These are essential qualities for them.

If an examinee became too nervous due to the crowd, performed poorly, and ultimately missed out on the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate, it would only indicate insufficient aptitude and talent.

Hearing Huang Zichou's words, both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao felt a surge of energy.

Zhang Yu felt he understood. This was essentially the admissions officers from higher realms descending to select exceptional talents, wasn't it?

"If I manage to secure the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate in this exam," he thought, "will several of the top ten universities vie for me, offering even more advantageous terms?"

The thought fueled Zhang Yu's excitement. As his qi and blood surged and his body temperature rose, his anticipation for the upcoming exam grew stronger.

Observing Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao's visibly heightened enthusiasm, Huang Zichou mused to himself, "This benefit is certainly for you two. But it also lets us collect some entrance fees and run a little gamble to recoup some losses. Those two youngsters were quite a drain in the last round; they ate up a lot of the exam budget."

Huang Zichou then continued, "Besides this benefit, the winner of this exam will receive a 3 million interest-free loan, their choice of one expert-level cultivation method, and the opportunity to select a specific teacher upon entering university. The loser will also receive a 3 million interest-free loan, one expert-level cultivation method, and bonus points for future Foundation Establishment exams."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu thought, "A designated teacher?"

Zhang Yu recalled Fu Ji mentioning how crucial it was to choose the right teacher after entering university. On Kunxu Level 2 and beyond, for the vast majority of people, their sect and master were considered more important than their family background.

Zhang Yu glanced at Ye Lingxiao beside him. Seeing the other's slightly agitated expression, he knew this must be an excellent reward; otherwise, someone of Ye Lingxiao's wealth wouldn't react with such excitement.

Huang Zichou then proceeded to explain the rules for the final round of the Foundation Establishment exam.

"This final round of your Foundation Establishment exam consists of three stages," Huang Zichou explained. "The key focus of this test is not merely your current strength, but also your potential after achieving Foundation Establishment. It aims to determine which of you two is more qualified to achieve Foundation Establishment first..."

As Huang Zichou detailed the rules for today's examination.

In the spectator stands, two emojis were conversing.

A smiling emoji remarked, "See that one? That's Ye Lingxiao. When you're assigned to Level 1 next month to oversee the Oasis Group, he will assist you within the company."

Beside the smiling emoji was a laughing-crying emoji, who replied, "Oh? So, this Ye Lingxiao is expected to secure the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate today, then?"

The 'smiling emoji' nodded. "The average intelligence and learning ability of Level 1 students are indeed a bit deficient, but it's not entirely devoid of talent. This Ye Lingxiao is quite good. Furthermore, the Ye family supporting him has a modest influence on Level 1; they aren't from a humble, impoverished background and understand proper conduct. When he comes to assist you on behalf of the Ye family, remember..."

The 'smiling emoji' was interrupted mid-sentence by the 'laughing-crying emoji': "Mom, I know. Don't worry, I'll be respectful and treat them well; I won't use my position to bully anyone."

The 'smiling emoji' sighed. "I'm not worried you'll bully them; I'm worried they'll deceive you. Son, you're too soft-hearted and tend to be overly kind to subordinates. Remember this: those below you are like the dogs you used to keep. If you're too kind to them, if you let them eat too much, they'll start to believe they're truly your equals, begin harboring inappropriate thoughts, even wanting to join you at the table, perhaps even trying to bite you. You need to learn to keep them hungry, to feed them with your own hands, to discipline them, and to make them fear you. Remember, you are there to control them, not to make friends with them..."

Listening to the 'smiling emoji's' lengthy lecture, the 'laughing-crying emoji' responded with a wry smile, "How exactly have I been deceived?"

The 'smiling emoji' pointed out, "Last time, after you used your legal killing permit, you didn't kill a single person, and you still paid those passersby so much money..."

The 'laughing-crying emoji' sighed helplessly, "I don't kill people, to begin with. When have I ever killed anyone since obtaining my killing permit? That time, I was temporarily short on Taoist cultivation materials and needed a few limbs from passersby for a spell. I used the killing permit specifically to avoid causing any misunderstanding with the Righteous Gods. As for paying afterwards, that was simply buying the locals' flesh and blood..."

The 'smiling emoji' sighed, "You paid far too much. It was just a few limbs, yet you paid the full price of a killing. If your father were here, he would never pay such an exorbitant amount. You're still too soft-hearted. Son, you have a killing permit; you're not committing illegal murder, you're performing a legal killing. When paying compensation, you're entitled to a discount. Furthermore, those you 'killed' were unregistered individuals, which makes them even less valuable. If you continue to squander our family's wealth like this, failing to utilize discounts and promotions, no amount of money will be enough for you to spend."

In the examination hall, Huang Zichou had finished explaining the content and rules for the first stage of the exam.

To assess their physical potential, they would be temporarily granted a Divine Spirit Root for this stage.

The Divine Spirit Root, a power surpassing the Human, Earth, and Heaven Spirit Roots, was classified as military-grade. Historically, only the military and specific government departments were authorized to use it.

Hearing that he would temporarily be able to use a Divine Spirit Root in this exam, Zhang Yu's heart couldn't help but feel a slight stir of excitement.

"As expected, the standards for this Foundation Establishment exam are incredibly high," he thought. "To actually be able to use a Divine Spirit Root in the examination hall..."

The specific assessment would compare how much of the Divine Spirit Root's power Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao could each unleash.

"According to the examiner," Zhang Yu thought, "to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, one must plant the Spirit Root into the Dantian. During the breakthrough, the Spirit Root transforms into a new organ, driving the sublimation of body and mind, ultimately leading to the Foundation Establishment realm..."

Zhang Yu had known for a long time that to reach the Foundation Establishment realm, the Spirit Root was paramount, in addition to a Level 10 Dao Heart and 60 mana points.

According to Huang Zichou's description, during the Foundation Establishment breakthrough and the implantation of the Spirit Root, the stronger the physical body—with fewer hidden injuries, damage, deficiencies, impurities, or toxins—the more effectively one could utilize the Spirit Root's capabilities, and the greater their power would be after achieving Foundation Establishment.

Huang Zichou thought to himself, "High school students in the Qi Refining stage often resort to unscrupulous methods to rapidly improve their cultivation, impulsively using techniques that force out their potential to boost their performance. This process frequently leaves behind excessive hidden injuries and toxins in the body, damaging their potential and foundation. Often, two individuals who appear to have similar physical strength can achieve vastly different results after Foundation Establishment for this very reason. This Divine Spirit Root stage is specifically designed to test this aspect."

The Divine Spirit Root was employed because the Righteous Gods believed the Heaven Spirit Root's upper limit was too low to accurately measure the difference between the two contestants.

Simultaneously, two long black cases were brought before Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

Zhang Yu opened his case to reveal a black combat suit.

Huang Zichou explained, "This is a military-grade external Spirit Root: the Divine Spirit Root combat suit. All additional functions have been removed, leaving only the most fundamental Divine Spirit Root. Once worn, the Divine Spirit Root will integrate with your body, continuously supplying you with mana and physical strength..."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu put on the black combat suit. The black top and pants completely enveloped his body.

The next moment, he felt as if the suit had come alive. Countless tendrils seemed to connect to his skin, adhering tightly to him.

Huang Zichou continued, "By channeling your mana through this Divine Spirit Root combat suit, you can activate the Divine Spirit Root it contains."

As Zhang Yu channeled mana into the combat suit, it suddenly tightened, conforming even more snugly to his body.

Simultaneously, the spiritual energy in the air seemed to roar, surging towards him like a tsunami.

An endless stream of spiritual energy poured into the combat suit. In the next instant, it transformed into pure mana, merging with the mana Zhang Yu had infused, creating an external mana circulation system that continuously replenished his energy.

Additionally, a continuous flow of spiritual energy was converted into vital energy and simultaneously infused into Zhang Yu's body, replenishing his physical stamina.

In just a single breath, Zhang Yu felt his mana and physical stamina return to their peak.

On the cuff of his combat suit, the number 0.03 suddenly appeared.

This indicated that he was currently only utilizing 0.03 of the Divine Spirit Root's full power.