Chapter 233: Rewards Credited, Undercurrents Surging

Everyone was present except for Ye Lingxiao, who was still undergoing treatment for severe injuries and couldn't attend. This gathering included Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Yun Jing, and the four contestants from both the Dao Heart and Mana tracks.

Zhang Yu subtly observed the four contestants from the two tracks. It was immediately clear that two of them were exhilarated, practically radiating their success and nearly having "Foundation Establishment Certificate" written on their foreheads.

Zhang Yu understood their excitement perfectly, as he shared the exact same feeling: an overwhelming urge to flaunt his successful acquisition of the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate to everyone he knew.

The other two, in stark contrast, appeared utterly dejected, like defeated dogs, making it clear at a glance who had won and who had lost.

Zhang Yu's gaze lingered briefly on the two victors. He recalled that this man and woman had secured the 3rd and 5th overall rankings during the first round of the Foundation Establishment exam.

Their ability to stand out among numerous Xiantu students was certainly exceptional. However, Ye Lingxiao and Yun Jing's initial brilliant performances had overshadowed everyone else's talents.

Since they were on different tracks, Zhang Yu hadn't paid much attention to other academic elites from Xiantu after that.

Now that he saw them obtain the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate, Zhang Yu estimated that even if their strength didn't quite match Ye Lingxiao's, they were certainly among the top high school students in Kunxu Layer 1.

"Of course, they're still far behind compared to me and Zhen."

After their initial burst of excitement, these two students quickly realized that someone was missing from the gathering.

The male student approached Yun Jing and asked curiously, "Where's Ye Lingxiao? Did he already get his Foundation Establishment certificate and just leave?"

The male student, who had a well-proportioned physique and flowing water-blue hair resembling rippling waves, was clearly a Dharma Corpse of some kind.

His name was Sheng Jie, and he was the recipient of the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate for the Mana track this time.

Yun Jing cast a sullen glance at Sheng Jie and retorted coldly, "How would I know where he went?"

"However, you can ask him."

Yun Jing glanced at Zhang Yu and remarked plainly, "He was probably in Ye Lingxiao's group, wasn't he? It seems he defeated Ye Lingxiao."

"Defeated Ye Lingxiao? How is that even possible?!" Sheng Jie exclaimed, a look of profound shock on his face, as he spun his head to gaze at Zhang Yu.

As a top student from Xiantu's 1.5 layer, Sheng Jie was keenly aware of Ye Lingxiao's terrifying prowess and the immense power of a perfect bloodline.

As classmates from the same high school, Sheng Jie had been overshadowed by Ye Lingxiao since they first enrolled, a dominance that had become a lifelong burden for him.

Moreover, since the day of registration, Sheng Jie had recognized Zhang Yu as an outsider.

This was utterly preposterous! An outsider had actually come and snatched a Xiantu native's Foundation Establishment qualification certificate?

Sheng Jie then looked at Zhang Yu and asked, "Sir... you defeated Ye Lingxiao?"

Sensing the other's astonished gaze, Zhang Yu struggled to keep his lips from curling into a smile, and replied with an air of studied indifference, "Yes."

Bai Zhenzhen, standing nearby, shot him a sideways glance and thought to herself, "Yu-zi, Yu-zi, your desire to show off is practically beaming from your face. You truly can't keep your composure."

After seeing Zhang Yu's slight nod, Sheng Jie gasped in disbelief and then asked, "So, where is he now?"

Zhang Yu recalled Ye Lingxiao's treatment process and stated plainly, "It seems his injuries were too severe for him to recover quickly, so he couldn't attend the awards ceremony."

If Sheng Jie's gaze had been filled with admiration after hearing Zhang Yu admit to defeating Ye Lingxiao, then now his look at Zhang Yu was akin to staring at a monster.

He was utterly astounded, thinking, "Ye Lingxiao... not only did he lose, but he was so severely injured that even a True God couldn't heal him in a short amount of time?!"

Concurrently, the other contestants also turned to look, their faces filled with disbelief upon hearing Zhang Yu's words, as they were all Xiantu natives.

After all, every high school student in Xiantu was well aware of Ye Lingxiao's formidable power.

They simply couldn't fathom what kind of high school student could be powerful enough to defeat Ye Lingxiao, let alone inflict such severe injuries during a match that he couldn't be healed quickly.

At this moment, Zhang Yu was no longer seen as an ordinary outsider in their eyes, but rather a super outsider—an unfathomably wealthy one.

Meanwhile, the other female student, who had secured the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate on the Dao Heart track, noticed Yun Jing's sullen expression and poor demeanor. She then spoke up, asking, "Yun Jing, you... didn't lose as well, did you?"

Yun Jing glanced at the woman who had spoken.

Her name was Tan Shishan. She was also a Xiantu native, like him. Although her status and achievements were slightly below his and Ye Lingxiao's, they typically moved in the same social circles. However, she was more aligned with Ye Lingxiao and the Oasis Group.

However, the realization that someone who used to trail behind him had now acquired the Foundation Establishment certificate, while he had not, filled Yun Jing with a renewed sense of resignation.

He understood that from this moment onward, with one possessing the Foundation Establishment certificate and the other not, their social dynamics would resemble the difference between a top 10 student and a top 30 student—they might never again share the same table.

Yun Jing took a deep breath. He saw no point in hiding the truth, as these people would soon find out anyway, so he simply stated, "Yes, I lost."

Unlike Ye Lingxiao, who was utterly overwhelmed by Zhang Yu's power and physical prowess in the end, Yun Jing, despite losing to Bai Zhenzhen, harbored a strong sense of resentment and... regret.

Yun Jing felt that in terms of raw strength, the woman was definitely inferior to him.

"If only I had been a little more careful... if only I had adopted a different strategy at the time..."

Every time he replayed his three battles with Bai Zhenzhen, Yun Jing grew angrier and more regretful. He was convinced that if he could fight her again, he would absolutely emerge victorious.

It was akin to making a careless mistake on the final question of a general knowledge exam. Yun Jing now only regretted his insufficient caution, thoroughness, and respect for his opponent at the time.

Hearing Yun Jing's admission, all the Xiantu natives present were simultaneously shocked. They hadn't imagined that not only Ye Lingxiao but even Yun Jing had lost.

It was well known that during the group assignments, everyone had assumed that the groups containing Ye Lingxiao and Yun Jing would be "death groups," where all other participants would inevitably be eliminated.

Consequently, they had all tried to avoid the tracks where Ye Lingxiao and Yun Jing were competing, instead crowding into the Mana and Dao Heart tracks to vie for the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate, which Sheng Jie and Tan Shishan ultimately secured.

At this moment, the Xiantu students' gazes toward Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen became distinctly different. Their worn-out jackets, rag-like sweatpants, and what barely qualified as shoes, all suddenly seemed to possess an air of profound mystery.

Zhang Yu observed Bai Zhenzhen's slightly flushed face and thought, "This Zhen, her face is practically red from trying to suppress her excitement, yet she's still pretending to be cool? She really can't maintain her composure."

Bai Zhenzhen secretly thought, "Damn it, I really want to post this on my social media!"

Nevertheless, the Xiantu students quickly recovered from their astonishment and began to ponder the implications of this unexpected outcome.

Sheng Jie secretly mused, "Ye Lingxiao's defeat might actually be a good thing. Do I... have a chance to replace him and serve the Oasis Group?"

Sheng Jie's family, like the Ye family, was planning to collaborate with the Oasis Group to instigate a major change, so he was privy to some inside information.

And Ye Lingxiao, owing to his outstanding achievements, had been designated as the primary figure for their public relations campaign.

But now Sheng Jie saw an opportunity; he also yearned to be subservient to the Layer 2 master from the Oasis Group who was soon to arrive.

Being subservient had never been a burden for Sheng Jie.

As long as the compensation was sufficient, he would gladly embrace any role, no matter how demeaning. He believed there were no easy opportunities in the world, only ones that required total commitment.

Unlike the Xiantu elites around him who had grown up in luxury, Sheng Jie was born into a collateral branch of his family and had lived on Xiantu's surface since childhood.

Because the floating city completely obscured the sky, he had never seen daylight until he entered high school.

Outsiders arriving in Xiantu often spoke highly of its natives and the excellent cultivation conditions they enjoyed from a young age.

Sheng Jie would scoff whenever he heard such comments. Who claimed that all Xiantu people were wealthy?

In his opinion, Xiantu had more impoverished residents than any other city, precisely because it was the most fiercely competitive place in Kunxu Layer 1, and where the highest number of people were eliminated annually.

To him, many individuals in Layer 1 were merely subservient to those in Layer 1.5, and similarly, Layer 1.5 was subservient to Layer 2.

In his eyes, Kunxu was like an immense dog kennel: either you treated others as dogs, or you became a dog for someone else.

And only by mastering both subservience and dominance could one ascend in Kunxu, just as he had climbed from Layer 1 to Layer 1.5.

"Wait."

Sheng Jie looked at Zhang Yu, thinking, "Will this guy also be recruited by the Oasis Group? Wouldn't that mean I'd have to compete with him?"

The thought filled Sheng Jie with renewed bitterness. How could he possibly compete with this monster capable of defeating Ye Lingxiao?

"But perhaps?"

Sheng Jie knew Ye Lingxiao's temperament and found him far too arrogant.

"If this guy's strength surpasses Ye Lingxiao's, then his family background and status must be even more formidable."

Sheng Jie observed Zhang Yu, sensing his cool, detached aura, and secretly thought, "His temperament is likely even worse than Ye Lingxiao's. Who knows how aloof and arrogant he might be, perhaps even unwilling to serve the Layer 2 master of the Oasis Group. If that's the case, then I'll have my opportunity."

"In any case, once the Foundation Establishment exam concludes, participant information will no longer be confidential."

"As soon as I return, I'll immediately investigate his origins, see what he's truly about, and determine if I have a chance."

Just then, accompanied by shimmering divine light, the five True God examiners projected their presences.

As the chief examiner, Deng Bingding first offered words of encouragement to the many contestants present. After a series of polite formalities, she began to announce the examination results.

As the four recipients of the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate stepped forward one by one, Deng Bingding's gaze lingered on Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen for an extra moment. She then smiled slightly at all four and stated, "The four of you performed exceptionally well, showcasing the spirit of Kunxu Layer 1 high school students with your tenacious will, exquisite skill, and fearless courage..."

"...Your Foundation Establishment qualification certificates will now be awarded."

After enduring the lengthy speech and finally reaching the award ceremony, Zhang Yu's eyes suddenly widened. Under Huang Zichou's guidance, he accepted a hot-stamped golden certificate with both hands.

Gazing at the five prominent characters "Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate" emblazoned on it, Zhang Yu exhaled a long sigh of relief.

Concurrently, Huang Zichou, standing nearby, reminded him, "Keep the certificate safely at home; it's primarily a commemorative item. For daily use, the electronic version is preferred."

Zhang Yu inquired, "Does it come with special effects? Like the kind that floats above your head?"

Huang Zichou smiled faintly and replied, "That's something you'll have to research yourself."

Beside them, Yun Jing and the two other defeated contestants stared wistfully at the Foundation Establishment qualification certificates held by the four winners, their eyes practically solidifying with yearning, envy, and jealousy.

Next came the three-million interest-free loan, which all students present, regardless of their performance, were eligible to receive.

Deng Bingding made a sweeping gesture, and a colossal red envelope materialized above everyone's heads, displaying the number 3,000,000.

"Accept it; inside is the three-million interest-free loan."

While this was merely pocket change for Yun Jing, Sheng Jie, and the others, it represented a substantial influx for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, significantly easing their financial straits and replenishing their previously empty wallets.

The two happily accepted the red envelope, watched their account balances soar, and immediately began making plans for how to spend it.

As for using it to repay previous loans? That's not the Kunxu people's style.

Next came the reward of an expert-level cultivation technique. Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had spent months evaluating various techniques and had already planned their next steps. They quickly submitted their requested techniques and would soon receive the usage rights and electronic versions.

Finally, there was the matter of a designated university instructor.

Deng Bingding looked at the four and said, "This particular reward will be issued after you enter university."

"When you ascend to Layer 2 and enter the university city, the local True Gods will contact you and assign you an instructor."

"As for which specific instructor will be assigned, you will need to ascertain that yourselves at the appropriate time."

She paused here, then added a reminder: "After entering university, choosing the right instructor is extremely important. If you find it difficult to decide immediately, you can postpone your choice until you have sufficient understanding and certainty."

"Additionally, once this Foundation Establishment exam concludes, the protection of participant information will cease. After you return, it's highly likely you'll encounter early recruitment offers from various universities and companies."

"My advice to you is... do not readily agree to any terms."

As Zhang Yu listened to Deng Bingding, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking directly at him and Bai Zhenzhen the entire time, as if her words were specifically meant for them.

"However..." he mused, reconsidering. The Xiantu natives around them surely already knew about such matters. In comparison, he and Bai Zhenzhen were indeed the least informed about these things.

Recalling her adding him as a friend and her suppression of the Zhou family, Zhang Yu couldn't help but feel that this True God seemed to harbor a subtle benevolence toward him.

Zhang Yu secretly mused, "I didn't even slip her a favor charm..."

With the Foundation Establishment exam officially concluded, the contestants promptly departed the examination hall.

Deng Bingding gazed at the now empty examination hall, realizing that the outcome of this Foundation Establishment exam would likely not be as obscure as those of previous years.

After all, the Oasis Group and several Xiantu families had decided to collaborate in initiating a widespread change, and this Foundation Establishment exam was being utilized as a propaganda tool.

"Even if Ye Lingxiao failed, they would simply switch to a different public relations figure..."

Deng Bingding mused that the exam's impact would quickly spread, but what the ultimate consequences would be remained unknown to her.

"Has the Divine Department not yet reacted to the Oasis Group's large-scale interference in Layer 1, or even its efforts to integrate the various powerful families across Layer 1? Are they perhaps wary of someone from the Underworld Palace, who might be behind the Oasis Group?"

Suddenly, the figures of Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Zhang Pianpian flashed through Deng Bingding's mind.

"Or have the Great Gods already made their move in this very exam?"