Chapter 451: The Diamond University of the Top Ten

The competition venue at Jinhe University was a simulated mountainous area.

Looking at the undulating mountain terrain, with its lush vegetation and forests, Zhang Yu commented, "I don't know about other aspects of Jinhe University, but its sheer size is truly impressive."

Mo Shangjin, standing nearby, remarked, "If you only compare area, Vanfa University City is actually larger than Jinhe University when you multiply the area of each floor by the number of floors. It's just that Jinhe University has very few spirit veins, so the land value is far less than ours. When they spread out to build, there were no height restrictions, which resulted in a much larger overall space! There's no helping it. The more expensive the land, the denser the buildings. In places where land is cheaper, urban development often appears more spread out and empty."

As they spoke, Zhang Yu and his team arrived at the entrance of the competition venue.

There were no spectators or cheerleaders, and even the referees were absent, with only the opponents present. After all, it was recruitment day, so Jinhe University students didn't have much free time to physically attend and watch the match. Even if they wanted to watch, the existence of the Spirit Realm Network allowed spectators to project themselves from a distance.

Zhang Yu looked at their opponents, the Jinhe University Civil Engineering team members, and noticed they were also observing his team. However, as soon as they caught Zhang Yu's gaze, they hastily looked away.

"Clearly nervous," Zhang Yu thought to himself.

Just then, Mo Shangjin, standing beside him, said, "Everyone, get ready. The specific combat plan will be executed as previously arranged..."

As both teams warmed up, preparing to enter the arena, a Spirit Realm projection silently descended into the spectator stands above the venue.

A young man, whose entire body appeared to be coated in gold paint, stood with his arms crossed, his gaze coldly fixed on the two competing teams below. His name was Chan Rong, an academic ace from Vajra University, one of the Ten Greats.

Chan Rong's Spirit Realm projection was almost identical to his physical form. On the parts of his flesh where no Dharma Bone was installed, dotted lines outlined the structure of various body parts and marked their prices. Many students at Vajra University enjoyed doing this. After determining the price of various parts of their physical bodies, they would mark the higher-priced ones on themselves. This served as a display of both their strength and assets, as well as a form of advertisement. Once a body part was sold at a high price, they could then consider replacing it with a more powerful Dharma Bone.

Moments later, another Spirit Realm projection appeared beside the golden figure, saying with a smile, "Chan Rong, you really came to watch Vanfa University's match. After all, your next opponent is Vanfa, isn't it?"

After speaking, this person scanned Chan Rong's Spirit Realm projection, noting the prices marked on several of his body parts. "Oh, your physical body's price has increased quite a bit. It looks like you've made significant progress this past year!"

Chan Rong turned his head, his gaze sharpening as he looked at the figure whose Spirit Realm form was a cylinder. "Wan Gouhuan?"

Chan Rong knew that the person before him, Wan Gouhuan, was the top student in the Civil Engineering Department at Immortal Armory University. Their civil engineering competition team ranked third in last year's inter-university competition, behind only Skyfiend University and Vanfa University.

Chan Rong stared at him and said, "Do you also want to know how much your physical body is worth?"

Wan Gouhuan: "Huh?"

Chan Rong: "If you want to know what price your physical body can fetch, you can go to the 'Shedding Chamber,' a second-hand body platform! Thanks to selling my right hand there, I earned an extra thirty spirit coins..."

Wan Gouhuan: "No, I didn't ask!"

Chan Rong: "Old Dharma Bones and physical bodies you don't use can all be recycled at the Shedding Chamber. The Shedding Chamber offers on-the-spot recycling, on-the-spot inspection, and on-the-spot payment..."

Wan Gouhuan: "Are you done?"

Chan Rong: "It's a new daily assignment from the school this semester. I have to promote it to one person outside the university every day. Thank you for your understanding!"

Wan Gouhuan: "Vajra University really likes to make its students do advertising!"

Chan Rong asked, "So you came to watch Vanfa's match?"

Wan Gouhuan, in his cylindrical form, replied, "Last year I was defeated by Mo Shangjin. How could I not come to see their first match this year? Especially given Mo Shangjin's injury, which I presume you've heard about?"

Chan Rong, appearing as if coated in gold paint, turned his head to look at Zhang Yu and the others below. "What a pity... Mo Shangjin isn't here. Perhaps his injury hasn't healed, or maybe he just couldn't be bothered to participate in this match. Aside from Li Zhen, the other five are all new, unfamiliar team members!"

Chan Rong analyzed, "It seems that due to the Immortal Nectar Coin incident and Mo Shangjin's situation, Vanfa University's team strength might have significantly declined!"

Wan Gouhuan, beside him, nodded upon hearing this. "I originally wanted to see Mo Shangjin's condition, but now I won't be able to. I hope he recovers quickly! I've been cultivating diligently this past year specifically to defeat him with my own hands! If he can't represent Vanfa, then the prestige of this year's rankings will be diminished!"

As the two conversed, the competition below officially began.

Shi Huaiyu and Su Yanyang unleashed a torrent of sand and mud, which surged toward the Jinhe University team like a tsunami. Amidst a thunderous roar, the massive amount of mud and sand completely engulfed the opposing team's construction site.

Wan Gouhuan commented, "These two possess solid mastery of Vanfa's Seven Civil Engineering Techniques. In addition to the Minor Trinity, they integrate other Seven Techniques into their attacks, constantly changing their form. Their Dharma Bones are also good brands and models! Their overall strength is decent, but still far inferior to Mo Shangjin!"

Chan Rong from Vajra University intently watched the match, recording details, and commented, "The Jinhe University team retreated right at the start. It seems they know they can't win a direct confrontation and plan to use guerrilla tactics! They probably intend to secretly complete their construction elsewhere and then move it back before the match ends. The Vanfa University team is searching aimlessly like headless flies. It appears their current team lacks members skilled in observational techniques!"

Just then, members of the Jinhe University team suddenly burst from underground, launching a surprise attack toward Shi Huaiyu and Su Yanyang. Observing the quick engagement and separation, with Jinhe University members immediately retreating after being injured, Chan Rong exclaimed, "Their speed is incredible!"

Wan Gouhuan explained, "The Jinhe University team tends to enhance their speed. After all, sufficient speed increases efficiency, allows them to evade damage and pursuit, and reduces costs. It's the most suitable strategy for those with fewer resources."

In the time that followed, Jinhe University repeatedly launched underground surprise attacks, immediately retreating after each brief clash. Although they were injured by Vanfa University's counterattacks each time, their injuries would often be mostly healed when they launched another surprise attack after a short interval.

Wan Gouhuan stated, "There must be someone in the Jinhe University team who understands Yin-Yang First Aid! Since it's a university specializing in civil engineering and dual cultivation, they're likely using Yin-Yang First Aid techniques during the match to temporarily heal their injuries. Constructing, fighting, and performing first aid simultaneously... This is their strategy!"

Watching Xiao Yunji effortlessly repel an attacking colonel-level student, Wan Gouhuan commented, "Xiao Yunji's strength isn't weak, but there seems to be an issue with the coordination between his Dharma Bones. His synchronization rate is probably low, making his weaknesses very obvious and easy to target!"

Then his gaze swept over Xiao Qingxuan. "He's equipped entirely with Extreme Tiger brand Dharma Bones! How did someone like this get into the competition team... and with tens of thousands of spirit coins in debt?" Wan Gouhuan frowned, making a mental note of Xiao Qingxuan, a bit unsure about his background.

Next, he looked at Zhang Yu, who was working on construction at the site. "It seems this Zhang Yu is specifically in charge of construction for their team this year! His construction efficiency is quite high, but he doesn't even have a pure physical Dharma Bone? In that case, his adaptability is probably limited, and he won't be able to handle high-intensity competitions! He's likely a substitute. If Mo Shangjin plays, he'll probably be replaced."

After analyzing each team member on the field, Wan Gouhuan of Immortal Armory University finally looked at Li Zhen. "Indeed, compared to these newcomers, the most capable person in Vanfa University's team right now is still this elder!"

Li Zhen opened his mouth and unleashed streams of Earth Fiend Qi. He pursued the opponents tainted by the Earth Fiend Qi, quickly locating where the Jinhe University athletes were hiding to perform their dual-cultivation first aid. As Li Zhen continued to exhale fluorescent green Earth Fiend Qi, Jinhe University's team members saw various warnings flashing rapidly in their eye-bones.

"The pollution value of this Earth Fiend Qi is too high.""I can't go on; if we keep fighting, I'll get cancer!""The school only gives this little prize money; if I get cancer, all my efforts will be for nothing!""Let's surrender!"

As the Earth Fiend Qi swept through, the Jinhe University team members quickly chose to surrender one after another.

Watching this scene, Wan Gouhuan said, "It seems that, apart from Mo Shangjin, Li Zhen is the most formidable opponent, followed by this Xiao Qingxuan whose background is unclear!"

With that, he turned to Chan Rong beside him and asked, "So, Chan Rong, it's your turn to face Vanfa next. Do you feel confident?"

Chan Rong calmly replied, "These new faces from Vanfa are not weak, and Li Zhen, the veteran member, has even mastered the power to control Earth Fiend Qi! If I had encountered them a year ago, I probably wouldn't have been absolutely confident of winning! But now... if Mo Shangjin doesn't play, Vanfa can expect to lose!"

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu looked at the match completion notification, gazing somewhat boredly at his construction results. He thought, "The gap between the Ten Greats and the Colonel-level universities is still too wide. Even if I hadn't participated in this match, we would have won easily!"

As they left the venue, Shi Huaiyu asked Mo Shangjin, "Why did you keep Zhang Yu assigned to construction? With such a vast difference in strength between opponents, wouldn't having Zhang Yu participate have ended the match even faster?"