You dare to cultivate without money?!-Chapter 256 - 221: Divine Spirit Root (Thanks to ’Yu Xianqi Tian’ for gifting Bai Zhenzhen 10 pairs of external Spirit Root socks)

Chapter 256: Chapter 221: Divine Spirit Root (Thanks to ’Yu Xianqi Tian’ for gifting Bai Zhenzhen 10 pairs of external Spirit Root socks)

The previous Foundation Establishment examinations never had an audience; Zhang Yu thought it was to protect student information, so the candidates’ situations wouldn’t be known to the outside world.

"But what does this current situation mean?"

"Are they planning to announce the examination results to the world?"

Zhang Yu frowned as he looked around at the audience seats and suddenly noticed that the people in the audience looked peculiar—some had cartoon appearances, others had gaming avatars, and some even looked like emoji faces, with only a few appearing as real humans.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Is this being watched remotely through the internet?"

Shortly after Zhang Yu arrived at the examination site, Ye Lingxiao also came. He saw the audience and was similarly surprised.

Meanwhile, the voice of the True God, Huang Zichou, directly reached the ears of Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

"You two need not be nervous; these audiences all come from various universities on the Kunxu Second Floor, not from the Kunxu First Floor."

"After observing your competition, they will report back to their respective schools and departments to offer you better treatment when you apply for college in the future."

"This is an opportunity specially arranged for you by the Divine Department, allowing you to stand out in this final examination, so you’ll have more development opportunities when you ascend to the Second Floor in the future."

As for whether being watched like this would affect the candidates’ performance, it was not a concern for Huang Zichou or the other gods.

Which strong person wouldn’t be watched?

Let alone being watched, participating in live broadcasts, shooting commercials, speaking on stage, being targeted by internet trolls...experiencing all sorts of big scenes under numerous gazes and maintaining mental stability while calmly demonstrating one’s power—they are qualities that Immortal Path powerhouses must possess.

If too nervous from being watched, resulting in poor performance and ultimately missing out on the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate, it only indicates that the candidate’s aptitude and talent are still insufficient.

Upon hearing Huang Zichou’s words, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao both were invigorated.

Zhang Yu felt he understood; are the teachers from the admissions office coming down to select outstanding talents?

"If I seize the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate in this exam, will several top universities compete to recruit me, offering more favorable conditions?"

Thinking of this, Zhang Yu became increasingly excited, accompanied by the surge of energy within him, the rise in body temperature, and anticipation for the forthcoming examinations grew stronger.

Huang Zichou observed Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao clearly more enthusiastic and thought to himself, "The benefits are indeed for you."

"But it’s also a chance to collect some entrance fees and set up a betting pool to recoup some costs for us."

"These two guys consumed quite a bit of the examination budget in the previous round."

Then Huang Zichou continued to speak to the two, saying, "Besides this benefit, the winner of this examination can receive an interest-free loan of 3 million, choose a master-level cultivation technique, and upon entering college, receive the opportunity to choose your designated mentor once."

"The loser will also receive a 3 million interest-free loan, a master-level cultivation technique, and bonus points for future Foundation Establishment exams."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Designated mentor?"

Zhang Yu had heard from Fu Ji that choosing the right mentor after entering college was very important.

In Kunxu Second Floor and above, for most people, mentorships are more important than family background.

Zhang Yu gave Ye Lingxiao a glance beside him, noticing his slightly excited appearance, knowing that this reward must indeed be great; otherwise, a wealthy person like him wouldn’t be so thrilled.

Huang Zichou then spoke of the competition rules for the final round of the Foundation Establishment examination.

"This final round of the Foundation Establishment examination consists of three stages."

"The focus is not just on your current strength but also on your potential after future Foundation Establishment; we’re selecting which of you two has the qualification for an early Foundation Establishment..."

...

Just as Huang Zichou was explaining today’s examination rules.

In the audience seats, two emoji were conversing.

A smiling emoji said, "Did you see that? That’s Ye Lingxiao; when you are assigned to the First Floor next month to lead Oasis Group’s work, this Ye Lingxiao will assist you in Oasis Group."

Upon hearing this, beside the smiling emoji was a laughing and crying emoji, who replied, "Oh? So this means Ye Lingxiao will secure the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate today?"

The smiling emoji nodded and said, "The average intelligence and learning ability of students from the First Floor indeed fall short, but there are talents, like this Ye Lingxiao."

"Moreover, the Ye Family behind him has a small influence on the First Floor; he’s not from a poor small household and understands the rules."

"When he represents the Ye Family in assisting you, you should remember..."

The smiling emoji was interrupted halfway by the laughing and crying emoji: "Mom, I know, don’t worry, I’ll respect talents, treat them well, and won’t bully them."

Upon hearing this, the smiling emoji sighed and said, "I’m not afraid you’ll bully them; I’m afraid you’ll be deceived by them."

"Son, you’re too soft-hearted and tend to be too kind to the servants."

"Remember this: the people below you are like the dogs you’ve raised before. If you’re too kind to them, feed them too well, they’ll start thinking they’re your equals, plotting things they shouldn’t, maybe even biting the hand that feeds them."

"You need to learn to keep them hungry, feed them yourself, learn to discipline them, and let them fear you."

"Remember, you’re here to control them, not to make friends with them..."

Listening to the long diatribe of the "smiling emoji," the "crying with laughter emoji" was left speechless, thinking, "How did I end up getting tricked?"

The "smiling emoji" said, "Last time, even after using your legal killing permit, you didn’t kill anyone, and you paid those bystanders so much money..."

The "crying with laughter emoji" helplessly replied, "I don’t normally kill people anyway."

"When have I ever killed anyone after getting a killing permit?"

"That time, I was just short of Taoist skill materials and wanted to use a few limbs from passersby for a spell. To avoid any misunderstanding with the True God, I used the killing permit. As for paying them afterward, consider it buying the local’s flesh and blood..."

The "smiling emoji" sighed and said, "But you paid too much for just a few limbs, almost the price of killing someone,"

"If your father were here, he wouldn’t waste money like that. You’re too soft-hearted... Son, you have a killing permit; you’re not killing illegally, you’re killing legally. There can be discounts when you compensate, especially since the ones you killed didn’t even have household registrations, they’re worth even less."

"If you continue being so extravagant, not using discounts or benefits, even if our family is wealthy, it won’t be enough for your extravagant ways."

...

In the examination hall, Huang Zichou had finished explaining the first test’s content and rules.

To assess the physical potential of the two participants, they would temporarily be granted Divine Spirit Root in this test.

The Divine Spirit Root, surpassing the Human Spirit Root, Earth Spirit Root, and Heavenly Spirit Root, is considered military-grade strength, historically used only by the military and some special government departments.

When Zhang Yu heard that he could temporarily use the Divine Spirit Root in this examination, a slight stir arose in his heart.

"Indeed, the standards for this Foundation Establishment exam are very high."

"To actually use Divine Spirit Root in the examination hall..."

The specific assessment was to compare how much Divine Spirit Root Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao could respectively utilize.

Inwardly, Zhang Yu thought, "According to the examiner, to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, one needs to plant the Spirit Root in the Dantian, converting it into a new organ of one’s own during the breakthrough, propelling the mind and body to ascend, ultimately stepping into the Foundation Establishment Realm..."

Zhang Yu had long known that to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, aside from a Level 10 Dao Heart and 60 points of mana, the most crucial element was the Spirit Root.

According to Huang Zichou’s description, during the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and the planting of the Spirit Root, the stronger the body is, the fewer hidden injuries, damages, deficiencies, impurities, and toxins are within—allowing one to better utilize the Spirit Root’s capabilities. Thus, the power after breakthrough is stronger.

Huang Zichou thought to himself, "High school students in the Qi Refinement Realm often resort to all means to enhance their cultivation, hastily employing many tactics to force potential in pursuit of higher scores."

"In this process, it’s easy to leave excessive hidden injuries and toxins in the body, which erodes potential and harms the foundation."

"Often, two seemingly equally robust individuals have vastly different achievements after Foundation Establishment for this reason."

"This Divine Spirit Root section is meant to test that aspect."

Using the Divine Spirit Root was due to the Heavenly Spirit Root’s ceiling being considered too low by the True Gods, fearing it wouldn’t reveal a difference between the two.

Meanwhile, two black long boxes had been delivered in front of Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

Zhang Yu opened the box to find a black combat suit laid out before him.

Huang Zichou introduced, "This is a military-use external Spirit Root, the Divine Spirit Root combat suit, stripped of all additional functions, leaving only the most basic Divine Spirit Root."

"Once you put it on, the Divine Spirit Root will enter your body, endlessly providing you with mana and stamina..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu put on the black combat suit, the black top and pants enveloping his entire body.

In the next moment, he felt the clothing come to life, as if countless tendrils connected to his skin, clinging tightly as if fused with it.

Huang Zichou continued, "Convey mana through this Divine Spirit Root combat suit, and you’ll activate the Divine Spirit Root within."

As Zhang Yu infused mana into the combat suit, it suddenly tightened, further conforming to his body.

At the same time, the spiritual mechanism in the air seemed to produce a thunderous roar, surging towards him like a tsunami.

An endless spiritual mechanism poured into the combat suit and in the next instant transformed into pure mana, merging with the mana Zhang Yu had injected, forming an external cycle of mana that endlessly replenished his power.

Additionally, the spiritual mechanism continuously transformed into energy that was injected into Zhang Yu’s body, supplementing his mana.

In just a breath’s moment, Zhang Yu felt his mana and stamina had already been restored to peak condition.

Meanwhile, a 0.03% number suddenly appeared on the sleeve of his combat suit.

This indicated that he was currently only utilizing 0.03% of the Divine Spirit Root’s power.

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