CHAPTER 203: SECOND ROUND OF THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT EXAM ENDS

As the simulated depth dropped lower, one defensive technique after another flared to life around Ye Lingxiao, overlapping in activation. Watching from the side, Zhang Yu’s brow twitched repeatedly—he recognized the Titanium Body Technique. It was the same one he’d seen back during the last Foundation Establishment exam.

Now Ye Lingxiao had reached a depth of -2581 meters. His entire body gleamed with golden light, exuding a metallic sheen. He looked like a divine statue standing motionless at the bottom of the sea.

Clearly, even this depth wasn’t Ye Lingxiao’s limit.

Just as the crowd reeled in shock at Ye Lingxiao’s terrifying strength and braced for him to go even deeper, Huang Zichou spoke up: “Alright, Candidate 23, your total score already ranks first. No need to continue.”

Only then did Ye Lingxiao nod and choose to end the exam.

With that, the top two scorers in the second round’s physical track were determined: Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

The two of them would go on to compete in the final round of this year’s Foundation Establishment exam in January, vying for a Foundation License.

“What a freak,” Yu Xinghan muttered as he watched Ye Lingxiao step out from the Sky Pillar. He thought to himself, “There’s no doubt this guy’s going to take the Foundation License this year.”

“But that also means… I’ll have to take the next Foundation Establishment exam alongside Zhang Yu.”

While Zhang Yu’s strength was still far behind Ye Lingxiao’s, the rate of his progress filled Yu Xinghan with envy—bordering on jealousy.

“Back in the first round, he barely edged ahead of me.”

“But in this second round, he’s already completely outpaced me.”

Yu Xinghan’s expression soured at the thought. “Why the hell is Zhang Yu improving so fast? It makes no damn sense.”

“Especially since the guy’s dirt poor. I can’t just let this slide…”

Yu Xinghan knew a thing or two about Zhang Yu’s financial situation. Every week when they stayed late at the Red Tower, he could smell the poverty on the guy—it was just like his own past.

“If this guy were loaded, I’d be out of options.”

“But he’s clearly broke…”

Yu Xinghan made up his mind. He’d talk to Senior Sister Li Xuelian as soon as he got back.

“I’m going to ask Senior Sister for money.”

“And then take extra classes!”

“I have to shadow Zhang Yu’s training as much as possible. I need to figure out what his damn cultivation secrets are.”

“And… next year, I’ve got to make sure we end up in different exam tracks. That’s the only way I’ll have a shot at grabbing the Foundation License.”

“Come to think of it…” Yu Xinghan mused, “If both Zhang Yu and I pass the exam next year, we could both make it into the Ten Great Academies.”

He remembered what Xinghuo Zhenren had said about the Ten Great Academies. “Once we’re on the second floor, our competition will be those top-dog elites.” 𝙍ΑＮȏBËŜ

“If I have someone like Zhang Yu I know on my side… maybe we could watch each other’s backs.”

Xinghuo Zhenren once told him how, back when he first got into Wanfa Sect University, one of the Ten Great Academies, he got hazed by the upper-floor elites.

He refused to accept it, challenged them again—and got beaten down again.

And again. Over ten full years of university, he kept challenging them—and kept losing.

In the end… Xinghuo Zhenren gave up.

Through that story, Xinghuo Zhenren had wanted to make two points to Yu Xinghan: some people are simply out of reach from birth—and having a friend who can lend you money and help carry the burden is invaluable.

Yu Xinghan took both to heart.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu noticed Yu Xinghan’s lingering gaze and thought to himself, “Why is this guy staring at me like that?”

He remembered how, after the last physical track exam, Yu Xinghan had asked him to spar. Zhang Yu mused, “He’s probably planning to tag along for training again after this.”

“That’d be a nice side hustle, actually.”

But then he recalled Yu Xinghan’s current side job—selling seeds—before asking him for training help. That combo still felt off.

“What’s so weird about that?” Zhang Yu shook off the weird vibe. “Seed money’s still money.”

As the rankings were officially posted, the examinees began to file out under the guidance of the Righteous Gods.

But before leaving, something occurred to Zhang Yu. He thought of Zhou Chechen and the Zhou Family.

He stepped forward. “Proctor, there’s something I’d like to report.”

Curious gazes turned his way as the others exited. Zhang Yu stayed behind alone.

Huang Zichou smiled warmly. “What is it?”

Even though Zhang Yu wasn’t likely to beat Ye Lingxiao for the license this round, Huang Zichou believed Zhang Yu might still be more valuable. He couldn’t find anything on Zhang Yu’s background, while Ye Lingxiao clearly hailed from the prominent Ye Clan.

And the more mysterious Zhang Yu seemed, the more Huang Zichou felt there was something big behind him.

Since Zhang Yu was voluntarily reporting something now, Huang Zichou decided to seize the chance to build a good relationship.

Unfortunately, reality didn’t give him the chance.

Before Zhang Yu could even speak, Deng Bingding appeared beside them and said mildly, “Zichou, go write up today’s report. I’ll handle this.”

Seeing Deng Bingding’s emotionless face, Huang Zichou grumbled inwardly, “Seriously? You’re snatching this too? Don’t tell me Zhang Yu’s backing is even scarier than I thought.”

He left, muttering under his breath, “All that bribery money down the drain.”

Deng Bingding turned to Zhang Yu. “What did you want to report?”

Zhang Yu explained how he’d been tailed by the Zhou Family back in Songyang City and concluded, “I’m concerned they’re trying to investigate my participation in the Foundation Establishment exam, so I wanted to inform you.”

Deng Bingding listened, a faint, ambiguous smile on her face.

Some family in Songyang dares to investigate the Foundation Establishment exam? That didn’t sound believable to her.

More likely, Zhang Yu wanted to use her authority to bring heat down on the Zhou Family.

Still, Deng Bingding didn’t call him out. She just pondered whether this move came from Zhang Yu himself—or someone pulling the strings behind him.

Unable to tell, she said calmly, “Got it. I’ll have someone look into the Zhou Family, see if they’ve made any moves regarding the exam.”

“Add me as a friend. If anything else comes up, you can tell me directly.”

Zhang Yu was a little stunned. “Add you… as a friend?”

Deng Bingding replied coolly, “It’s our duty as proctors to safeguard the data security of every Foundation Establishment examinee. This is just standard procedure.”

Zhang Yu, a bit dazed, accepted the request. “So Righteous Gods can be added as friends? Why haven’t I seen this feature on my Talisman Book? Is it because my Faith Power level is too low?”

As he walked away, Deng Bingding’s thoughts shifted. “I wonder if the results from the other field are in yet?”

…

Meanwhile, at the Martial Arts arena.

Bai Zhenzhen had finally stepped onto the stage to face Yun Jing.

“At the very least, I need to see the gap between us.”

Of course, another reason was to claim some health insurance.

With that thought, she entered the ring, and the 1-million health insurance limit popped up over her head.

Only, the moment it appeared, the number began to drop rapidly. It shrank by over two hundred thousand before stopping.

As her injuries from the previous round fully healed, Bai Zhenzhen felt a soothing relief spread through her body.

Across the stage, Yun Jing asked calmly, “Healed?”

“Wait, let me warm up first.” Bai Zhenzhen twisted her torso, then suddenly burst forward in a flash of lightning.

Invisible Sword Aura erupted from her fingertips. She unleashed a storm of blades across the battlefield, each cutting line interweaving like a hurricane.

What she’d just activated was the Infinite Sword Meditation—already trained to level 8.

Its sword strikes were seemingly endless. Cast at high speed and enhanced with thunder mana, her attack resembled a rampaging thunderstorm, surging straight toward Yun Jing.

Bai Zhenzhen didn’t expect to defeat him in a single blow. She was counting on her speed and the sheer variety of sword strikes to pressure him, probing his defenses and learning his responses—for future Foundation Establishment exam matchups.

But in Yun Jing’s Law Husk Eyes, he could see every one of her movements with perfect clarity. Not just the sword strikes—he could see the numerical damage values each would cause if they landed.

-3200

-500

-4899

Each number marked how much health insurance would be depleted if the strike connected.

With those values, Yun Jing could spot the weak points, the feints, the real threats in her technique.

But he didn’t bother.

He simply raised a hand and struck.

Both of his Dantians roared to life. Blazing Martial Qi erupted from his core like twin volcanoes, forming an unbroken wall of fire across the ring. The flame wall split the stage in two and surged toward Bai Zhenzhen.

Boom!

The inferno bore down like an avalanche. Bai Zhenzhen’s Sword Aura, crackling with thunder, clashed against the wall.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sword Aura shattered. Martial Qi surged forward, filling the gaps.

Bai Zhenzhen was forced back, retreating step by step, until she was finally shoved right off the stage by the crushing wall of flame.

“He just used Martial Qi to push me off the ring—brute-force tactics with zero finesse…”

“No skill whatsoever. Just pure, money-fueled cultivation.”

Watching Yun Jing on the platform and replaying his tactics in her mind, Bai Zhenzhen could only rub her temples. Her head hurt.