Chapter 276: Foundation Establishment Class

Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan had already learned more about the Foundation Establishment class at Myriad Arts University from Zhang Pianpian's introduction during their meal.

A new Foundation Establishment class is started each year for every major at Myriad Arts University. This class includes students who completed Foundation Establishment in high school, as well as university students who obtained their Foundation Establishment certificate at the university and completed Foundation Establishment that year.

Fu Ji explained, "For example, if any Qi Cultivation students in Civil Engineering at Myriad Arts University successfully establish their foundation in the past year, they will join your cohort's Civil Engineering Foundation Establishment class. These students who establish their foundation here at the university usually make up the majority of the Foundation Establishment class. Students like you and Yu Xinghan, who join the Foundation Establishment class immediately upon entering university after completing it in high school, will definitely be a minority in the class. But you don't need to worry about the university-born students... ultimately, they are all individuals who established their foundation within a year. They've been stuck in the Qi Cultivation realm for a few years longer than you, which doesn't make them stronger; it merely indicates their limited talent and immortal cultivation potential."

As Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan arrived at the classroom, three students were already there. One of them was a tall, muscular man, maintaining a height of three meters with bulging muscles, showing no attempt to conceal his build. His eyes were particularly striking: white markings, clearly spelling "Sky Eye," appeared within his jet-black pupils. Additionally, his exposed back revealed a bare spine covered with continuously flowing golden runes.

Zhang Yu wondered internally, "Are those eye relics? And a spine relic? But why does it feel... a bit flashy?"

Fu Ji chuckled and said, "You're right. The white markings in the eyes and the golden runes on the spine are both brand logos. One is 'Sky Eye,' the flagship high-end eye relic from Sky Eye Company, and the other is a top-tier spine relic from the Adamantine Xuanzao brand. Both are high-quality items. But they're still a bit inferior to your Time-Residual Demonic Pupils. Those are excellent items Wang Yin bought for you—top-tier eye relics for the Foundation Establishment stage, combining understated luxury with high quality."

Fu Ji spoke fluently, as if recounting treasures: "As for showing off brands and high-end goods, it's very common in higher universities. If you have the strength, you should flaunt it fiercely. Otherwise, how will others know you're wealthy? How will they respect you? Besides, branded magical relics offer superior performance and greater power. When I used to do business at the university, I tricked quite a few students who wanted to borrow money to buy branded items."

As Fu Ji was speaking, Zhang Yu's thoughts stirred, and the information from the three previously unnoticed Foundation Establishment domains appeared.

"Foundation Establishment Cultivator Gongshu Jin from Kunxu Level 4 has entered within 10 meters of you. Do not add strangers as friends.""Foundation Establishment Cultivator Ying Xin from Level 2 has entered within 10 meters of you. The sixth generation of civil engineers reports!""Foundation Establishment Cultivator Li Xiao has entered within 10 meters of you. Please guide me, everyone."

All three Foundation Establishment domains maintained a range of only 10 meters. Zhang Yu knew this was because of the limited space in the university city, and many people actively reduced their domain size.

"Huh? A Level 4 grandmaster?" Zhang Yu looked at the three-meter-tall man flaunting his relic brand and thought, "It seems he must be Gongshu Jin."

Meanwhile, Gongshu Jin and the other two also noticed Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan. One of the robust-looking women spoke, "You two, please show your college entrance exam scores and basic data. We're creating a class ranking to see where you stand in this class." The robust woman added, "Oh, by the way, my name is Ying Xin. We're all freshmen. You two also look like this year's freshmen, right?"

Yu Xinghan knew this was an unwritten rule of the university and wasn't bothered by it. He immediately said, "Yes, we are this year's freshmen. My name is Yu Xinghan. My college entrance exam score was 692, Dao Heart Level 10, Magic Power 220.21, and Physical Strength Level 10.25."

Seeing the three students looking at them, Zhang Yu knew there was nothing to hide and promptly stated, "Zhang Yu, college entrance exam score 670, Dao Heart Level 11, Magic Power 276.9, Physical Strength Level 10.94." Although he scored near-perfect in other subjects on the college entrance exam, his Daoist Arts score was only 71. After all, Daoist Arts were too expensive. Since he had already obtained his Foundation Establishment certificate, he only needed over 600 points on the exam to apply to the top ten universities, so he didn't pay much attention to Daoist Arts, nor did he think about improving his score.

Upon hearing Zhang Yu's college entrance exam score, Ying Xin frowned slightly, seemingly surprised that Myriad Arts University would admit a candidate with 670 points. Only after hearing Zhang Yu's Dao Heart, Magic Power, and Physical Strength did she nod slightly, acknowledging his level.

Ying Xin then asked, "By the way, which level are you from?" Upon hearing Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan's answer—Kunxu Level 1—a subtle hint of disdain flashed in Ying Xin's eyes, while Gongshu Jin, standing nearby, simply averted his gaze from them.

Ying Xin then stated her own data and introduced Gongshu Jin. Zhang Yu secretly compared their data: Ying Xin, from Level 2, scored 695 on her college entrance exam, and her basic stats were slightly higher than his. Gongshu Jin, from Level 4, not only scored 700 on his college entrance exam with a Dao Heart Level 12, but his Magic Power and Physical Strength were also more than 20 points higher than Zhang Yu's.

Lastly, there was Li Xiao, who appeared the most unassuming of the three. A message from Yu Xinghan appeared in Zhang Yu's eye relic: "Do you remember Li Xiao? He's from Immortal Capital, and he passed the Foundation Establishment qualification exam in the same cohort as me." Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback. At the time, he had been focused on his own cultivation and hadn't paid attention to the other recipients of the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate from Yu Xinghan's cohort.

Meanwhile, after Li Xiao stated his college entrance exam score of 693 and basic stats slightly lower than Zhang Yu's, he remained silent. He seemed to have no intention of getting close to his fellow Level 1 provincials, instead warmly lingering around Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin.

After a quick glance at Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan, Gongshu Jin calmly stated, "Among the five of us, Zhang Yu is currently ranked 3rd, and Yu Xinghan is 5th." As for 1st and 2nd, those were naturally Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin, while Li Xiao from Immortal Capital was ranked 4th.

Just then, more people gradually entered the classroom, and at Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin's request, they voluntarily reported their data. Although the newcomers were all university students who had just established their foundation this year, none of their data surpassed Gongshu Jin's. Clearly, just as Fu Ji had said, being stuck in the Qi Cultivation realm for a few extra years did not make one stronger after breaking through to Foundation Establishment; instead, it indicated insufficient talent and immortal cultivation potential.

Zhang Yu watched the Level 4 grandmaster, who scrutinized each classmate like an interviewer, firmly holding onto the top spot in the class. Before he knew it, a circle of students had gathered around Gongshu Jin, standing beside him as if he were the moon surrounded by stars. Gongshu Jin thought to himself, "True prodigies usually go to the three powerhouse departments: Finance, Artifact Refinement, and Daoist Arts. Here in Civil Engineering, I should have a chance to claim the top spot in the class."

As for Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan, they stood quietly in a corner, unnoticed by anyone. As more Foundation Establishment students arrived, their rankings steadily dropped. Zhang Yu was already ranked 12th, while Yu Xinghan had fallen to 18th. However, neither of them cared, as they had extensive experience in gradually climbing from weakness to strength.

Yu Xinghan seized the opportunity, silently circulating his cultivation method and absorbing spiritual energy. Besides cultivating, Zhang Yu was also trying something else. After hearing Zhang Pianpian mention the concrete mixture for medicine, he had an idea. "Given the control over body activation I gain after cultivating the 'Sacrificial Ox Heart Incantation,' can I suppress my gastrointestinal digestion? That way, I wouldn't have to eat concrete, right?" At that moment, Zhang Yu was trying to slow down his intestinal peristalsis and reduce the secretion of digestive fluids. This was his first time attempting something like this after raising the 'Sacrificial Ox Heart Incantation' to Level 20, which significantly increased his body's activation. After all, when he was on Level 1, he only thought about drastically increasing his digestive capabilities, never imagining a day when he would have an excess of them.

As Zhang Yu subtly experimented, he felt his consciousness delve into his digestive system. The peristalsis of his gastrointestinal tract gradually slowed, and the secretion of digestive fluids also began to decrease. "It actually works!" Zhang Yu sensed the changes in his body, a surge of joy filling him. "It seems I won't have to eat concrete after all."

Fu Ji was also somewhat surprised, saying, "Your 'Sacrificial Ox Heart Incantation' is quite powerful; its applications are incredibly broad."

Meanwhile, Li Xiao, from Immortal Capital, glanced at the quietly cultivating Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan and thought, "Hmph, do they really think that hard work and diligent cultivation are enough just because they've reached Level 2? A few months or years of arduous cultivation are not as effective as a little handout from the wealthy people on the upper levels."

Li Xiao remained close to Gongshu Jin. Now, seeing them discuss magical relics, he looked at Gongshu Jin's eyes and asked with a smile, "Gongshu Jin, what brand of eye relic are you using? It looks very unique." Gongshu Jin stated indifferently, "These are Sky Eye relics." Li Xiao's heart stirred, and he quickly said, "From Sky Eye Company? I also use Sky Eye Company's relics." Gongshu Jin scoffed, glancing at Li Xiao, who was clearly eager to fit in, but remained silent, seemingly disinclined to reply.

Ying Xin, however, chuckled beside them, "Gongshu Jin, the 'Sky Eye' you're using must be a high-end model, right? I'd guess the cheapest one costs at least 10 spirit coins." Gongshu Jin calmly replied, "Roughly. Mine is fully configured; it cost about 12 spirit coins." The surrounding students collectively gasped in surprise and admiration. Hearing this, Li Xiao swallowed, looking at Gongshu Jin's eyes with a heart full of envy, and simultaneously feeling that his own eye relic seemed inadequate.

Just then, a flash occurred before everyone's eyes, and a new Foundation Establishment domain enveloped them.

"Foundation Establishment Cultivator Ji Yuanxu from Kunxu Level 6 has entered within one hundred meters of you. Please remain quiet."

The classroom, which had been buzzing with conversation moments before, instantly fell silent. Even Gongshu Jin, whose expression had been indifferent, narrowed his eyes slightly and, like everyone else, looked towards the classroom door.