Chapter 265: Time Crippling Magic Pupil (Thanks to 'Zhang Pianpian Meow' Eve Again)

Chapter 265: The Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye (Thanks to 'Zhang Pianpian Meow' Eve for sending another 10 Oscar trophies to Zhang Pianpian)

Master Spark had resolved to guide Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. Naturally, he had already reviewed the dossiers of their pasts and dossiers, well aware that their relationship ran deep—a bond forged through life and death that would undoubtedly prove mutually beneficial in the years to come.

To tell the truth, Master Spark felt a faint twinge of envy toward their unbreakable camaraderie.

Having lived for over three hundred and fifty years, he had encountered many friends along his long journey of growth.

Yet the vast majority of those companions from his youth had failed to cross the threshold into the Golden Core realm. By the time he reached his current age, those friends had long since withered away and returned to the dust.

As for a bond where one could truly entrust their life to another, such a thing was rarer still in the modern expanse of Kunxu.

Watching Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen encounter a companion with whom they could cultivate and scale the peaks together while still in high school, Master Spark could not help but sigh with emotion.

Thus, when deliberating over Zhang Yu's path of cultivation, he also took into consideration how Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen could elevate each other.

Master Spark continued his telepathic transmission to the pair: "Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, once you enter Wanfa University, one of you will study civil engineering and the other security. In the future, one will build the construction sites and the other will protect them, allowing you to look out for each other on the job."

"Once you have amassed enough cultivation resources, Zhang Yu, you can transfer to the Artifact Refining Department and specialize in military-grade dharma-carcasses."

"Bai Zhenzhen, you excel in actual combat, so you can pursue military operations."

"When the time comes, Zhang Yu can refine dharma-carcasses for Bai Zhenzhen, and Bai Zhenzhen can help him test and promote them..."

Listening to Master Spark's voice echoing in his mind, Zhang Yu thought to himself, 'From civil engineering to artifact refining? That actually sounds quite similar to the advice my sister gave me.'

Regarding the physical body he had trained so bitterly for so long, Zhang Yu truly did not want to abandon it easily. At this moment, he found himself tacitly agreeing with the suggestion offered by Master Spark.

'However, once I return, I should ask Fu Ji as well.'

'The next time I speak with my sister, I'll also ask her to help me look it over.'

Though he approved of Master Spark's advice, Zhang Yu still decided to consult a few more trusted individuals for reference.

After all, when it came to choosing a university major and a future path of development, Zhang Yu felt that no amount of caution was a luxury. This, after all, concerned his path of immortal cultivation for the next several decades or even centuries; he could not afford to be careless.

At this moment, under Master Spark's guidance, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen chose the Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye and the Formless Wind Demon.

Yet just as they finished selecting these two pieces of dharma-carcasses, Master Spark turned to address Deng Bingding: "Roaming Deity Deng, these two dharma-carcasses were left behind by Wang Yin in the first place, so they count as his compensation to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen."

"But does our Divine Department truly have no rewards at all for those who have rendered meritorious service?"

"Particularly when Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen risked their lives multiple times to battle Wang Yin—is there no reward? You cannot bully my two disciples."

"Furthermore, Bai Zhenzhen didn't receive any compensation from you earlier."

"I won't ask you for materials; just grant them a few more cultivation techniques for the Foundation Establishment stage."

Hearing this, Deng Bingding thought to herself that this brat Spark was truly protective of these two, and his request struck right at the vital point—Foundation Establishment stage techniques.

She wondered whether Master Spark's demeanor was an order from above or a deliberate act of his own to curry favor, much like herself.

But upon second thought, Deng Bingding felt it might be a combination of both. After all, Spark was already old; if he did not grasp this opportunity with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen tightly, he would likely spend the rest of his days dying on the first tier.

While Master Spark was speaking to Deng Bingding, he was simultaneously explaining via telepathy to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen: "With your current dharmic power, equipping one piece of dharma-carcass each is about all you can handle. Demanding more dharma-carcass rewards would be useless to you."

"As for the money, medicines, dharma-treasures, or equipment of the first tier, they are all aimed at the Qi Refining market. For you two, who have already established your foundations, their effects are limited."

"It is far more practical to take some Foundation Establishment stage cultivation techniques that you can begin practicing right now."

Master Spark warned them solemnly: "High school is merely the beginning of the immortal path. Although your current achievements are exceptionally outstanding, you must never grow arrogant and conceited."

"You must understand that university is where you truly step onto the path of immortality. For the next nine months, remember not to slacken; seize every single moment to continue cultivating and prepare yourselves for university."

"Moreover, the cultivation technique platforms on the first tier offer very few Foundation Establishment stage techniques. After all, such techniques are sold for spiritual coins up above, and there is barely any market down here."

"It is a rare chance that you have this connection with the True Gods. Asking them for some Foundation Establishment stage techniques is highly cost-effective and will be of immense help to your cultivation over the next nine months."

"And approving a copyright license is hardly a difficult matter for a True God."

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly in response, finding Master Spark's words highly reasonable.

Yet at the same time... a thread of apprehension arose in both of their hearts.

This was solely because they noticed that Old Man Spark was treating them better and better, resembling a benevolent elder, a teacher who genuinely cared for them...

If his previous guidance could be explained as recruiting talent for Wanfa University or countering the Oasis Group, then what was the purpose of this moment?

Looking at Master Spark before him, Zhang Yu thought of Zhou Chechen, who had once shown him similar care, and of Wang Yin, who had spent lavish sums of gold on him.

'Damn it... it couldn't be another one, could it?' Zhang Yu felt a pang of anxiety as he watched Master Spark still bargaining for benefits on their behalf with Deng Bingding. 'Don't be like this, Old Man Spark. You're making me really scared here.'

Having stayed in Kunxu for so long, Zhang Yu was truly unaccustomed to someone speaking up for him like this and fighting for his interests; he would prefer it if the other party simply charged him a fee.

Because based on his brief two years of experience in Kunxu, the things that were free often turned out to be far more expensive.

Meanwhile, under Master Spark's relentless solicitation, in addition to the two dharma-carcasses—the Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye and the Formless Wind Demon—Deng Bingding approved the rewards of Foundation Establishment stage techniques.

Among them, in addition to the rewards of his three previous Foundation Establishment techniques, Zhang Yu received one more technique, a respiration method named the Green Vortex Qigong.

As for Bai Zhenzhen, who had not been granted any Foundation Establishment techniques prior to this, she was rewarded with two techniques directly: the Foundation Establishment versions of the Thunder Strike True Body and the Cold Soul Ice Mind Mantra.

Once the techniques were awarded, Deng Bingding extended her hand toward Zhang Yu and smiled faintly. "Young friend, it is time to return the Soul-Wounding Brick to me, is it not?"

Zhang Yu handed it back with immense reluctance.

Deng Bingding continued, "As for the removal of the Flood Dragon Spiritual Core and the implantation of the Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye, do you wish to perform it now? Your original spine is still stored here with me."

Though Zhang Yu felt somewhat reluctant to part with the Flood Dragon Spiritual Core inside his body, he still nodded. "Let's do it now. Since it's destined to be replaced anyway, it's better to do it early and adapt to it sooner."

Thus, under Deng Bingding's direction, Zhang Yu and his companion proceeded to the dharma-carcass surgical theater of the Oasis Group.

Along the way, Master Spark evaluated: "Bai Zhenzhen, of your two techniques, one cultivates the physical body and the other cultivates the Dao heart, and both are of decent quality. Once you gather another technique to cultivate dharmic power, it will suffice for the time being."

"As for your Green Vortex Qigong, Zhang Yu... Heheh, Deng Bingding chose quite well. It happens to be the Foundation Establishment respiration method you lack, which can help elevate your dharmic power."

"Among expert-grade techniques, the quality of the Green Vortex Qigong is considered quite good. In particular, its range for gathering spiritual opportunity is very broad, making it exceptionally effective when used for cultivation upon spiritual veins, which aligns perfectly with your Qi Ocean Spiritual Root."

Hearing Master Spark's commentary, Zhang Yu secretly thought to himself, 'Suitable for cultivation on spiritual veins? Isn't that purely a rich person's technique? How can I afford to practice that?'

Suddenly, Zhang Yu recalled the message sent earlier by Director Long of the Red Tower, his gaze shifting as a thought occurred to him: 'It seems... it's not entirely without a chance.'

'Though I don't have much money... I have plenty of seeds.'

'I just didn't expect that back when I was in the Qi Refining stage, I had to rely on selling myself to earn money for cultivation, and now that I've reached Foundation Establishment, I still have to sell myself to earn money for cultivation.'

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly at Kunxu; it truly turned humans into ghosts.

Subsequently, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were brought into the Oasis Group's operating room to prepare for the dharma-carcass transplantation.

Master Spark followed them inside, raising a requirement to the surgeons performing the operation: "For Zhang Yu's ocular dharma-carcass, do not use a semi-permanent installation. Use a detachable type, allowing him to swap his own eyeball and the Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye every day."

Saying this, Master Spark turned to explain to Zhang Yu, who stood nearby: "The eye is also a part of your physical body, and it is a prime material for refining dharma-carcasses in the future."

"As your physical body cultivates further, it will inevitably undergo fierce progression and change."

"If you abandon your original eye permanently after switching to this Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye, it will not be long before that eye becomes unable to adapt to your physical body, making it difficult to match ever again."

"Therefore, after the surgery, unless you are in an important situation, you should use your original eye in one socket and the Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye in the other, rotating them once every twelve hours."

"By constantly nourishing your pair of eyes with blood and qi in this manner, your two original eyes will always be able to adapt to the changes in your physical body."

The technology of the Oasis Group regarding dharma-carcass surgery was evidently highly mature. Approximately one hour later, the Flood Dragon Spiritual Core within Zhang Yu's body was replaced with his original spine.

His eyes had also undergone modification. Though they appeared no different from before, the eyeballs could be detached and replaced simply by gently pressing them inward twice.

Zhang Yu checked the circulation of the dharmic power within his body; roughly one hundred units of dharmic power had been applied to the Chrono-Corrupted Demonic Eye.

"It feels as though the maximum cap of my dharmic power has been deducted by one hundred units."

The total amount of mana is still too low; I can't even equip a few more magic cores.

Zhang Yu glanced at the mirror beside him. His eyes still looked the same as before, but as soon as he willed it, faint traces of crimson light began to shimmer in the pupil of his right eye.

Immediately, Zhang Yu felt the world around him slow down...

"No, it's not the world that's slowing down."

Zhang Yu thought to himself: "The Time-Fragment Demon Eye has enhanced my perception and reception of visual information, allowing me to process more frames per second. Subjectively... it feels as if the world has slowed down."

"This is the power of Time-Fragment."

(End of Chapter)