Chapter 313: Let the Prodigies Fight the Prodigies

On the monitor screen, Gongshu Jin and Zhang Yu had successively arrived at the 463rd floor of Ten Thousand Law University City.

They entered the Gravity Simulation Room, preparing to begin the Strength Trial.

Similar to the Speed Trial they just completed, this round also tested the students' physical performance after activating their cultivation techniques.

The test content was straightforward: to endure continuously increasing gravity within the simulation room.

Although the content wasn't complex, Tuli Shan knew that this continuous increase in gravity could comprehensively assess a student's physical functions.

"Because it's a passive endurance test, it can more accurately push and reveal the limits of the body's functions from head to toe."

"Gongshu Jin currently possesses three Dharma Skeletons, which should give him a significant advantage in this round."

Inside the simulation room.

With a disturbance from the Earth Fiend's gravitational pull, Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin both felt that the formation within the simulation room had been activated.

The next moment, as an ethereal mountain silhouette appeared in the air, both of them saw the words "2x Gravity" in their eye-skeletons.

Gazing at the heavy mountain silhouette, Zhang Yu felt as if the mountain itself was pressing down on him, making his entire body feel a faint heaviness.

However, having long grown accustomed to the gravity training from the Nine Hells Mountain-Suppressing Belt, Zhang Yu barely registered this mere 2x gravity after temporarily deactivating his belt for the test.

Every 10 seconds thereafter, Zhang Yu felt the gravity increase by another factor.

As long as a student didn't actively give up or face life-threatening danger, the formation would not cease its gravitational enhancement.

After 100 seconds, the gravity on Zhang Yu had increased to 12 times.

Although he felt his internal organs constantly sinking and his muscles and bones under immense pressure, Zhang Yu wasn't in a hurry to activate his cultivation technique. He simply controlled his breathing, trying to conserve physical strength and magical power.

Beside him, Gongshu Jin also stood calmly, experiencing the crushing force of 12 times gravity on his body.

On the way to the simulation room, he had already adjusted his Dharma Skeleton, switching the stored cultivation technique to the Level 20 body-protection technique: Armored Golden Body.

Another 120 seconds passed, and by this point, the gravity on Zhang Yu had reached 24 times.

As his magical power circulated and his muscles rippled, Zhang Yu activated the 'Battle Demon Life-Devouring Art', temporarily boosting his physical strength by 0.5 levels to continue resisting the increasingly heavy gravity.

With the reduction provided by his Earth-Wood Saint Body and the self-healing from Body Activation, this level of the Battle Demon Life-Devouring Art posed almost no burden to Zhang Yu.

Simultaneously, faint wisps of Martial Dao Vital Qi erupted from within him.

Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, as his physical strength increased, both his magical power and Martial Dao Vital Qi further integrated with his physical body. This allowed for better enhancement of his physical performance, much like the Martial Dao Vital Qi Zhang Yu activated now, which supported his body like a layer of armor.

On the other side, Gongshu Jin first activated his 'Boiling Blood Incineration Art'. As magical power infused his bloodstream, his vital energy surged throughout his body, greatly boosting his physical functions.

Next, he invoked the Level 20 body-protection technique, Armored Golden Body, from his Spine Dharma Skeleton.

Streams of magical power flowed throughout his body, and faint dark-golden markings appeared on Gongshu Jin's skin. He seemed to have donned a layer of golden armor, and his physical strength greatly improved.

Then, similarly, he activated his Martial Dao Vital Qi...

As for the Spine Dharma Skeleton itself, it provided Gongshu Jin with immense support.

Feeling his body remain as steady as Mount Tai under the crushing force of 24 times gravity, Gongshu Jin glanced at Zhang Yu, whose face was flushed crimson, and thought to himself, "At 24 times gravity, is he already resorting to the Battle Demon Life-Devouring Art to push his limits?"

"It looks like he's nearing his limit."

With that fleeting thought, Gongshu Jin continued to resist the increasing gravity.

Meanwhile, as the gravity continued to increase by one factor at a time, Zhang Yu began to let his flesh, internal organs, blood vessels, and nerves be squeezed and dragged by the terrifying force. He allowed various subtle injuries to appear within his body, no longer using Body Activation to heal them.

At the same time, the Battle Demon Life-Devouring Art gradually boosted his physical strength from 0.5 levels to 1.2 levels.

This resulted in more damage to his body, but it also made the effects of his Earth-Wood Saint Body increasingly potent.

Not only did the second layer of his Earth-Wood Saint Body provide resistance against life-span reduction, but the first layer's various resistances also grew, allowing him to better withstand the increasingly terrifying gravity.

Ever since reinforcing himself with No. 20 Spirit Law Secret Steel, Zhang Yu had felt the benefits of strengthened bones.

Stronger bones not only provided greater resistance to impact but also meant his body could withstand more powerful forces.

His bones acted like levers within his body; the stronger and more solid they were, the better they could support and amplify his strength.

This was true for generating his own power, and it applied equally when enduring external pressure applied to him.

Just like at this moment, as dozens of times gravity descended, Zhang Yu's skeleton grew increasingly heavy but remained completely undamaged, like the steel rebar within a building, supporting his body to stand unyielding.

Meanwhile, his flesh, strengthened by the Earth-Wood Saint Body, the Battle Demon Life-Devouring Art, and Martial Dao Vital Qi, was like layers of cement, both adhering to and supporting his skeleton.

Under the crushing force of dozens of times gravity, Zhang Yu's injuries became increasingly severe, yet he felt his body's pressure resistance growing stronger and his limits extending further.

Throughout this entire process, purely from Zhang Yu's outward appearance, he seemed to be struggling immensely.

His face grew progressively redder, his skin inch by inch turning a crimson so deep it seemed about to drip blood.

Blood began to seep from the corners of his eyes, clearly indicating internal bleeding due to the gravitational pressure.

Numerous capillaries throughout his body ruptured, causing extensive subcutaneous hemorrhages with varying patterns to appear on his skin...

Watching this scene, Gongshu Jin initially felt a detached sense of amazement at Zhang Yu's desperation.

"He's almost done for, isn't he?"

"Is he really going to have enough for medical expenses?"

When he saw blood flowing from Zhang Yu's seven orifices, he already felt the other man was acting senselessly.

"The path of immortality isn't just about fighting to the death."

"If fighting to the death guaranteed victory, why would we bother making so much money?"

With the support of his Vajra Profound Creation Dharma Skeleton, the enhancement of a Level 20 cultivation technique, the effects of expensive medicines, and a robust physique built with vast amounts of spirit coins... Gongshu Jin watched Zhang Yu's desperate struggle with a condescending air, as if observing a clown.

Yet, as Zhang Yu, covered in blood, endured 30 times, 40 times, and then 50 times gravity... the emotions in Gongshu Jin's heart rode a rollercoaster, from amazement, to mockery, to astonishment... eventually settling into a faint bewilderment.

"What is going on?"

"How can he still be standing?"

"Is he crazy?"

"Why hasn't he collapsed yet?"

Until the smell of blood filled Gongshu Jin's nostrils, until he felt the surging internal bleeding in his organs, and heard the groaning, overwhelmed creaks from his own bones...

Until he collapsed onto the ground, ending his test as the applied gravity vanished from his body.

Until Gongshu Jin lifted his head and looked up at Zhang Yu, who, bathed in blood, resembled a towering crimson giant standing between heaven and earth, continuing to resist the terrifying 55 times gravity...

The disbelief and incomprehension in Gongshu Jin's heart had reached their absolute limit.

He had come to today's test clutching spirit coins, brimming with immense confidence and absolute strength, with the goal of surpassing Ji Yuanxu.

But in this final test, he was inexplicably... senselessly left far behind by a mere poor student from the first floor.

60 times gravity!

"How is that possible?!" Gongshu Jin exclaimed in his mind.

"Unbelievable."

Tuli Shan repeatedly watched the recording of the final test, still finding it incredible: "The final score... 64 times gravity."

"Zhang Yu could actually endure to this extent?"

"This isn't something one can achieve simply by fighting to the death; it indicates that the limits of his physical functions far exceed Gongshu Jin's."

"Could he have achieved such a level of body refinement in such a short time because of the past three months of wilderness training?"

Tuli Shan exclaimed, "It seems he was right; his physique is truly extraordinary, possessing powerful regenerative abilities. This is why he could recover from repeated drug-induced strains and force out his body's latent potential."

Director Gao nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face: "This Zhang Yu is a genius, a desperate genius, well worth cultivating."

"However, as the saying goes, 'teach according to aptitude', and his cultivation method will differ from Gongshu Jin's."

"Gongshu Jin has ample wealth and high potential in the path of immortality. We can cultivate him for a fee; the more we cultivate him, the more profit we'll make, and in the future, he'll be able to stand on his own."

"Although we'll need to invest in Zhang Yu, he relies mainly on his own desperate efforts. The investment is small, growth is fast, and the returns are high."

Tuli Shan, on the other side, nodded slightly upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "Zhang Yu's only drawback is that his lifespan will be shorter, meaning fewer years of work in the future."

Director Gao, however, burst into hearty laughter: "Indeed, in times of great change, there are always dragons and snakes emerging."

"A genius who pushes his limits, and a genius who spends money—both are excellent prodigies of my Civil Engineering Department."

"Let prodigy contend with prodigy, prodigy inspire prodigy, and through mutual competition, they will surely shine brightly in the future."

With that, Director Gao waved his hand and said, "Have the backend quickly calculate the scores. I want to see what the latest rankings are."

"Oh, and go ask... no, never mind. You just go ask Zhang Yu to sell us some of his body samples."

Director Gao intended to ask a professor from the Breeding Department at Heavenly Demon University if there was any possibility of mass-producing individuals like Zhang Yu.

Outside the testing area.

Zhang Yu checked his scores via his Dharma Skeleton, only to find that the results hadn't been released yet.

As for the rankings, it was still before the daily midnight update time.

"Sigh, I guess I'll have to keep holding onto this 28th-place ranking for now."

After casually wiping off the blood on his body, just as Zhang Yu was about to leave, he suddenly heard Gongshu Jin's voice from behind him.

"Zhang Yu..." Gongshu Jin looked at Zhang Yu and said, "In just three months, you've actually surpassed me?"

"What exactly have you been doing these past three months?"

"Did you win the lottery?"

"Or win money gambling?"

Seeing Gongshu Jin's bloodshot eyes, Zhang Yu thought for a moment and replied, "Eating until full every day, persistently taking life-shortening medicine daily, and working overtime no more than 24 hours a day."

"Keep that up for three months, and this is what you get."

Seeing Zhang Yu about to turn and leave after speaking, Gongshu Jin shouted, "I'm not finished talking to you! Where are you going?"

Zhang Yu waved his hand and said, "The test is over. I'm going to work some overtime at the construction site to earn some bonus pay and treat myself."

"Besides," he added, "if we in the Civil Engineering Department don't work overtime at construction sites, what else is there for us to do?"