Chapter 230: The Third Physical Trial
In the spectator stands—
The Civil Engineering representative from Wanfa Sect University, known as “Huskyhead,” nodded in satisfaction at the result of this round. “Not bad, not bad. Ye Lingxiao’s got a good head on his shoulders and adapts well to changes in the body. If we outfit him with an office-grade Law Husk in the future, he’ll be a solid candidate for Feng Shui and array design. Working forty-eight hours a day shouldn’t be a problem.”
“As for Zhang Yu, his body’s progressing even faster than his Dao Heart. That means his body works better than his brain. He’s a natural for digging foundations on-site—bare hands, minimal Law Husk enhancements, and he could still function as an all-purpose cultivator. More reliable than most artifacts, and way cheaper to feed than artifact rental costs.”
He burst out laughing. “One handles design, the other does construction. These two could become the twin stars of our Civil Engineering department.”
He was already itching to recruit them both.
Privately, he mused, “The market’s cutthroat these days. Bankruptcy, demonic deviation, and sudden death rates among Civil Engineering students are rising every year. But we’re always short on students we can actually put to use. Then there’s those beastfolk freaks from Demon-Beast University undercutting us with dirt-cheap labor. Revenues have been dropping nonstop.”
“If I can raise these two right, they’ll easily outclass those bull-demons, horse-demons, dragon-demons, and elephant-demons. Might even bring in some real money...”
Why prioritize students over graduates? Easy—grads demand actual salaries. Undergrads? Much more cost-effective.
Overhearing all this, the Cathead rep from the Finance Department gave a slow nod. “The two of them aren’t bad.”
“They might be broke and their Immortal Path foundations are weak…” “But Heaven always leaves a sliver of hope. There’s always a thread of fate that lets people climb.”
“Their foundations may be poor, but their borrowing potential is huge.”
“If either of them enrolls in Wanfa, send them my way. I can help them apply for a student cultivation loan.”
Then Cathead offered a word of caution: “But you’re not the only one eyeing them. If you split your budget evenly between both, you might end up losing them both.”
“Better to consolidate resources and focus on one. Improves your chances.”
Huskyhead stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You’re not wrong…”
Cathead asked curiously, “So which one will you prioritize?”
With a sly smile, Huskyhead replied, “Naturally Ye Lingxiao. He’s the stronger of the two right now.”
“Besides, he’s already in his senior year. Just six months till he enrolls—we can use him right away.”
“As for Zhang Yu… he’s not taking the university entrance exams till next year. No rush on that one.”
While the Wanfa representatives discussed future plans, another observer with a perpetual Smiling Emoji on his face turned to his son. “See? Didn’t I say so? Ye Lingxiao’s the better pick.”
“Low synchronization with the Law Husk? Just proves Zhang Yu’s brain doesn’t work as well.”
“Honestly, that was clear in the last trial too. Poverty limits one’s imagination. Lacking the right upbringing…”
Beside him, the one with the Laughing-Crying Emoji expression nodded absentmindedly. Inwardly, though, he was thinking, “So what if Ye Lingxiao’s better? Why not just take both?”
“I’ll only have Ye Lingxiao for half a year anyway. Once he’s gone, Zhang Yu can step in and take over as my star student.”
Meanwhile, Huang Zichou had nearly finished explaining the third exam.
Zhang Yu mulled over the trial's details in his mind. “We’re supposed to use the Dragon-Binding Chain to compare physical performance with Ye Lingxiao… in various hazardous environments?”
High heat, freezing cold, crushing pressure, toxic fumes, corrosive acid, extreme alkalinity, hypergravity…
Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao would be randomly subjected to different environmental hazards during the final phase of the exam.
Even with their reinforced physiques, the conditions were lethal.
Huang Zichou reminded them, “Post-exam medical costs are covered by Wanquan Health Insurance. The moment you feel you can’t continue, press the emergency signal. We’ll extract you and begin treatment.” 𝘳𝓪ŊＯᛒЕ§
“I’ll say it again: the rapid environmental changes in this round could kill you.”
“If you feel like you’re at your limit, forfeit immediately.”
“If you die in the testing chamber, this exam assumes no responsibility. No compensation will be given.”
To make things crystal clear, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao signed a contract in front of five certified Righteous Gods. It stated that no matter what happened—paralysis, critical injury, death—they would not hold anyone accountable, demand reparations, or publicize the outcome.
Reading the long list of potential injuries and waived rights, Zhang Yu felt the looming danger of this final trial even more keenly.
Still, quitting was out of the question. He thought, “This ‘possible death’ angle… is that meant to psych us out?”
“If we misjudge and really hit our limit, would the Righteous Gods just let us die?”
“Knowing Kunxu, designing an exam this deadly isn’t exactly out of character…”
On the other side, Huang Zichou was thinking to himself: “Deng Bingding really lives up to being a Tier Six High God. This test is comprehensive, gives irrefutable results, and also nets us priceless data on Qi Refinement physiques under extreme conditions. A double win.”
But what Zhang Yu saw as a nightmare of shifting hazards… was only half the challenge.
The other half was the duel: both examinees would stand atop a high platform, each gripping one end of the Dragon-Binding Chain.
According to Huang Zichou’s explanation, the Dragon-Binding Chain was a high-durability restraint originally designed to bind actual dragons.
Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao would pull on opposite ends of the chain—whoever dragged the other off the platform would win.
Dropping the chain meant automatic loss.
So did collapsing under environmental pressure.
“This trial tests not only your vitality and physical resilience,” Huang Zichou said, “but also your raw strength—and more importantly, the explosive potential you can unleash under extreme stress.”
“And the key to all this… is pressure.”
“Compared to what lies ahead, high school is probably the last time you’ll ever get to relax.”
“The hell it is…” Zhang Yu cursed silently. “High school’s relaxing?!”
Huang Zichou continued, “Once you enter university, that’s when the real Immortal Path begins. Over the next ten years, you’ll have no breathing room.”
“Sudden death, bankruptcy, academic expulsion, demonic deviation… these threats will come at you nonstop, all designed to squeeze out your latent potential.”
“This final exam is about one thing: how much potential you can draw out when the pressure’s cranked up to the max.”
“You now have thirty minutes to rest and recover from the previous two rounds.”
“Once that time’s up, the final exam begins.”
As soon as Huang Zichou announced the rest period, Zhang Yu asked, “Proctor, during these thirty minutes… are the medications in the cabinet still available?”
That caught Huang Zichou off guard.
Within moments, the internal network buzzed with objections from the Righteous Gods.
Mu Guiyin was first: “The match hasn’t even started! Why let them take meds? That’s just raising costs for no reason!”
As the minor gods grumbled, Huang Zichou kept quiet. Supporting extra expenses would make him a target.
But just then, a message came in from Deng Bingding.
“Huh? Deng Daren wants me to support this?”
After reading the message, Huang Zichou decisively spoke up: “Exam meds should be taken before the test, right? I see no problem.”
As the lesser gods argued and cast furtive glances at Deng Bingding, the Tier Six High God finally rendered his verdict: “Mu Guiyin has a point (thumbs up), but so does Zichou (thumbs up).”
“Let’s open the cabinet for the last 15 minutes before the test.”
Then he added with a smile, “The sponsor also said: it's rare to see someone who enjoys taking meds as much as Zhang Yu. He radiates a kind of pharmaceutical hunger. They love how he devours pills and want to donate another batch, just for him.”
And so, after 15 minutes, the cabinet opened.
Zhang Yu rushed forward and grabbed a full bottle, chugging it down without hesitation.
Meanwhile, his Chain Diagram had already shifted into the High School Saint Body mode, pushing his body’s drug absorption and metabolism to the very limit of the Qi Refining Realm.
He could feel each dose erupt into waves of fiery medicinal energy, gathering as toxic residue at the “Zen” character etched on his chest.
“Perfect,” Zhang Yu thought. “Gotta make the most of this free drug buffet. I’ll use this time to keep stockpiling medicinal toxins…”
On the other side, Ye Lingxiao simply selected a few items to boost explosive strength and restore stamina and focus—just enough to consume right before the match.
He didn’t lack medication in daily life. Overdoing it now would just create a digestive burden.
Instead, he reached into his belongings and gently touched the Dao-Stabilizing Slow-Release Capsules he’d brought.
“I’ll take them before the match. With dual consciousness and bloodline enhancement… I’ll fight in my strongest form. That’ll push the university reps to offer even better terms.”
As for whether his strongest state required one capsule… or two?
Even the lab hadn’t reached a conclusion before today’s Foundation Establishment exam.
“If I take two, I might get stronger,” Ye Lingxiao thought. “But I might also lose control.”