“It’s up! It’s up again!”
Yu Xinghan bead with satisfaction as he stared at the steadily rising price of the Seven Sentints Coin.
While his classmates were busy gushing over Bai Zhenzhen, worshipping the Seven Sentints Lord, and singing endless praises, Yu Xinghan had gone all in on Seven Sentints Coin.
“Sure, Bai Zhenzhen’s impressive, but the Flying Sword Tournant is packed with powerhouses. There are even university students with Divine Spirit Roots, military-grade flying swords, and military-grade Techniques. Why is Bai Zhenzhen getting all the attention?”
“Soone’s obviously hyping her up!”
“Could be the Seven Sentints Lord himself running the promotion.”
Yu Xinghan recalled the teachings of Xinghuo Zhenren.
…
Xinghuo Zhenren had once said, “Xinghan, how does a true expert showcase their strength? How do they let the world know they’re powerful?”
Yu Xinghan had answered, “By defeating powerful opponents?”
“Demonstrating overwhelming destructive force?”
“Passing the most difficult exams?”
Xinghuo Zhenren had shaken his head at each response. “Those all work,” he said, “but for those at the highest level, the most cost-effective way is simple—find people to brag about you.”
“Fighting carries risk. Every use of power drains energy. The stronger you are, the more devastating your Techniques and Dao Techniques beco—and the greater the cost.”
“Compared to that, getting people to hype you up, to run so promotion campaigns? That’s far more efficient.”
“Especially in today’s world, where the power, assets, and reputation of high-realm cultivators directly affect their companies’ stock prices… and the value of the currencies they mint.”
“Hyping your own strength, your assets, your capabilities… that’s just good business.”
…
As the profit numbers floated up on his EyeNet display, Yu Xinghan couldn’t help nodding in satisfaction.
He wouldn’t normally speculate on just any Nascent Soul cultivator’s news—he lacked the insider insight. But Bai Zhenzhen was different. He did know her.
“Bai Zhenzhen’s Divine Spirit Root must be innate.”
“Her rapid rise, smooth military commission—it’s not just thanks to the Seven Sentints Lord. Her natural Divine Spirit Root plays a big role.”
“But no matter how strong she is, I just don’t see her cracking the top ten.”
“If she loses, the Seven Sentints Coin will definitely fluctuate… but when will that loss co?”
“Besides the Divine Spirit Root, what other trump cards does she have? A military-grade flying sword? Military-grade Techniques?”
The thought made Yu Xinghan hesitate.
He wanted to cash out, but he also didn’t want to miss out on potential profits. In the end, he turned to Zhang Yu for intel.
“Even if Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen aren’t as close as before,” Yu Xinghan thought, “they used to talk all the ti. He’s gotta have so insider info.”
He rembered how he’d once encouraged everyone in the dorm to invest in Seven Sentints Coin with him.
Back then, he’d told Zhang Yu: “Speculating on coin is a vital step on the Immortal Path! Every cultivator should try their hand—it’s a cultivation opportunity not to be missed!”
Now Yu Xinghan muttered to himself, “If Zhang Yu made money too, he’s bound to be thinking about when to sell.”
Yu Xinghan: “Zhang Yu, where do you think Bai Zhenzhen will place this ti?”
…
“Hmm…”
Bai Zhenzhen trembled slightly in Zhang Yu’s arms. Zhang Yu glanced at the EyeNet ssage popup and asked, “Ah-Zhen, what’s your goal for this round?”
Panting lightly, Bai Zhenzhen replied, “Top 20. That’s my goal this ti.”
“This tournant is dominated by students who not only have military-grade flying swords and Techniques, but also Divine Spirit Roots.”
“And Divine Spirit Roots are the hardest to obtain. They usually require a Nascent Soul cultivator’s intervention at the ti of first Foundation Establishnt. Those with weaker backing have to establish a foundation first, gain access to a Divine Spirit Root, then destroy their own cultivation and rebuild from scratch.”
“To simultaneously have all three—military-grade flying sword, Technique, and Divine Spirit Root—those students are exceptionally rare, each one with ridiculous background and peerless talent. There are only two of them in this tournant.”
“Next in line are those who have two military-grade powers.”
“And then those with just one.”
“From what I know, there are about twenty or so students in this tournant who et at least one of those military-grade thresholds.”
Zhang Yu reflected on the top talent from various universities. “Military-grade power… I’ve only seen one person use it since coming to university. But now, there are so many in this one tournant.”
Fu Ji scoffed, “Duh. You never rub shoulders with the top-tier students of Wanfa University. Even if you saw one, you wouldn’t know what Techniques they’ve mastered or what Spirit Roots they have.”
“Take Mo Shangjin, for example. You only know he uses the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might. But you’ve got no clue whether he has a military-grade Law Husk or artifact.”
Zhang Yu nodded, recalling the Civil Engineering Competition.
Besides Mo Shangjin from his own eighth-year class, there was also a tenth-year senior who had mastered the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might. Both would surely represent the departnt.
If each of the other nine major schools sent two students who had military-grade Techniques, the intercollegiate Civil Engineering Tournant alone would feature 20 such elite students.
“And that’s just the Civil Engineering Departnt—a poor folks’ departnt.”
Zhang Yu thought, “The Flying Sword Departnt, that’s a rich kids’ departnt. There must be even more powerful figures there. Twenty sounds like a lot, but considering the sheer number of university students, these folks are rare elites.”
“In the end, Kunxu just has too many talented people. Even after layers of screening, year after year, plenty still make it through.”
Zhang Yu also felt a wave of relief—thankfully, back then, Wang Yin didn’t have military-grade powers.
Fu Ji added, “Back then, two factions were testing each other. Both were deliberately keeping the battle intensity in check. If Wang Yin had wielded sothing too strong, they wouldn’t have let him join.”
“Besides, since he didn’t acquire a Divine Spirit Root before his first Foundation Establishnt, he probably planned to get one later, earn his military license, and then learn military-grade Techniques. Step by step…”
Bai Zhenzhen continued, “I only have a Divine Spirit Root, so among those twenty-plus students, I’m on the weaker end. Cracking the top 20 would already be great.”
“If you’ve bought Seven Sentints Coin, sell by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”
…
On the street—
Wen Wuya muttered to himself, “She vanished after dropping below floor 100… Is Zhenzhen deliberately hiding her location?”
Just then, a top student from the Civil Engineering Departnt’s Foundation Establishnt class passed in front of him.
Wen Wuya raised his hand to stop him. “Have you seen this person?”
Zhang Yu looked at the projected photo of Bai Zhenzhen, froze slightly, then shook his head quickly. “Nope. Haven’t seen her.”
Wen Wuya didn’t suspect a thing and let him go.
After all, what could a Civil Engineering student possibly have to do with Bai Zhenzhen?
Monts later, Wen Wuya was standing in front of Bai Zhenzhen. “Zhenzhen, where did you go? The tournant’s starting.”
Bai Zhenzhen yawned. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”
The two of them headed for the exit of University City, ready to sword-fly to the competition grounds.
A crowd of students had already gathered there, waiting for her.
There were demon-kin students hoping to sell their flesh to be eaten.
Students from Vajra University offering to sell her śarīra relics.
So college students even wanted to sell themselves into slavery.
One demon-kin student sneered, “A college student like you? Trying to sell yourself as a slave, food and lodging included? Who would buy a college student as a slave?”
Others chid in mockingly and drove him off.
But a few days later, when Bai Zhenzhen reappeared, many of those once-adoring students were now spewing curses online.
“Eliminated at 18th place?! Who said she’d make top 10?!”
“That’s it?! I just borrowed money to buy Seven Sentints Coin!”
“The Seven Sentints Lord misjudged this. He should’ve invested in , not her.”
Wen Wuya checked the Spiritual Realm Network. Bai Zhenzhen’s public image had clearly taken a hit. Many were now criticizing her after the loss.
“Don’t worry about the online chatter,” Wen Wuya said. “We’ll stir up another hype cycle in a few days. Hire so Soul Cultivation Students to do PR, and the narrative will shift again.”
But Bai Zhenzhen just stretched lazily. “Let’s go to the banquet already. I’m starving.”
At the post-match banquet, many students from different university teams were already there, along with plenty of Wanfa University students.
Wen Wuya and Bai Zhenzhen instantly beca the center of attention.
Wen Wuya was only a few words into a conversation when he noticed Bai Zhenzhen had already dashed over to the buffet, scarfing down food like mad.
Then Wen Wuya’s gaze flickered—he spotted a student who looked vaguely familiar.
A mont later, he rembered—he’d asked that sa Civil Engineering student about Bai Zhenzhen just a few days ago.
But Wen Wuya didn’t dwell on it. He went back to socializing.
A flash in his EyeNet indicated a ssage had arrived—from the Seven Sentints Lord.
In fact, Wen Wuya had ssaged him days ago. But slow replies from a Nascent Soul cultivator were nothing unusual.
He’d asked about Bai Zhenzhen—specifically, whether he could renegotiate their agreent.
He was starting to feel that without serious financial backing, his chances were slipping. Especially at Wanfa University, where Bai Zhenzhen seed more distant than ever.
But the reply left him speechless.
Seven Sentints Lord: There’s soone at Wanfa University who’s close to Bai Zhenzhen. Didn’t spend a cent. Even got five Spirit Coins from her.
Seven Sentints Lord: His na is Zhang Yu. You might want to learn from him.
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