Chapter 412: How Many Junior College Students per Match

Chapter 412: How Many College Students Is That Worth?

Hearing Xiao Qingxuan’s words, Zhang Yu nodded and said, "I have heard a little about it."

Xiao Qingxuan continued, "After that ancient Golden Core cultivator possessed me, he actually didn't intend to kill me. He even taught me quite a few things, promising to return my body once he found a new vessel."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Are there really such kind souls in Kunxu?"

Xiao Qingxuan said, "According to what that ancient Golden Core cultivator claimed..."

"He said he was a righteous cultivator from the Supreme Dao Sect, participating in some great war between righteousness and evil. Later, he was gravely wounded and placed into a tomb by his fellow disciples to slumber, slowing his lifespan consumption while he slowly healed his injuries."

"After he woke up, because his original body had decayed, he had no choice but to possess mine."

Zhang Yu mused, "The Supreme Dao Sect? I’ve never heard of this sect. Has it been phased out?"

"If there was no conflict between that ancient Golden Core and Xiao Qingxuan, how did he end up owing so much money? And where did that ancient Golden Core go? Could he have already found a new body?"

Just as more questions welled up in Zhang Yu’s mind, he heard Xiao Qingxuan continue, "At first, I got along quite well with that ancient cultivator, but as he learned more about Kunxu, his mental state deteriorated."

"In the end, he took his own life."

"Ah?" Zhang Yu asked in surprise, "He committed suicide?"

Xiao Qingxuan nodded, "The demons descend upon the nine heavens, the Dao falls and the sky collapses... After saying those words, he departed from my body, claiming he was going to end his life."

"What he intended to do is none of my business, but the key is that he left behind remnants—especially memories, habits, and thoughts—that have influenced me, making me feel at times as if I am completely out of place in this world."

"Things I once took for granted now stir up resentment or even disgust in my heart, turning me into something like a stubborn, archaic relic..."

By the time he said this, Xiao Qingxuan’s face was filled with distress.

"Like this whole mess with the Dual Cultivation Sect; every time I see the news, I feel physically uncomfortable, as if there is another me inside my head..."

Watching the fleeting struggle on Xiao Qingxuan’s face, Zhang Yu felt a slight understanding of his plight.

When he first arrived in Kunxu, he had also been deeply unaccustomed to the place.

But now it seemed that the ancient Golden Core’s inability to adapt to Kunxu was far greater than his own.

Although Zhang Yu still had many curiosities—such as where that Golden Core cultivator finally went, how exactly he committed suicide, or what was behind Xiao Qingxuan’s debt of tens of thousands of spirit coins—he did not press further. He knew that if the other party wanted to speak, he would, and if not, asking would be useless.

So, Zhang Yu simply patted his shoulder and comforted him, "It will get better eventually, won't it?"

Xiao Qingxuan gave a bitter smile, "Is it really that easy?"

"The amount of information a Golden Core master possesses is more than ten times mine. Even if only a portion remained, the impact on me is far too great."

"The only way... is the memory technology at the Demon University, to find a way to erase the memories the Golden Core left in my mind."

At this, Xiao Qingxuan sighed.

...

In the spirit world’s simulation laboratory.

As Zhang Yu finished crafting another Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch, he finally pushed this artifact-refining skill to level 9.

As a technique for crafting artifacts at the Qi Refining stage, the production skill for the Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch could only be raised to level 10 at most.

Zhang Yu thought, "Next, I will return to the laboratory in the real world and use my level 9 Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch technique to improve the grade of the actual artifact."

He remembered that his real-world Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch was only at level 1. It was the perfect opportunity to temper the artifact, raise its level, and hone his refining skills until he pushed the technique to level 10.

"Once I push the Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch refining technique to level 10, I can study the subsequent advanced techniques and the production technology for the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill."

Although the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill had "pill" in its name, it was actually an artifact corresponding to the Foundation Establishment stage, an advanced refining skill that could only be learned after mastering the level 10 Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch technique.

It was also an artifact that Zhang Yu felt was very suitable for him among the courses in the first three years of the Artifact Refining Department.

However, looking at his savings of just over thirty spirit coins, Zhang Yu knew he had plenty of expenses ahead.

...

Yin Jiurao looked at Wan Siyou, who appeared within the bone mirror, and said coldly, "Have you still not succeeded?"

"My patience has its limits."

"It has already been three days past the deadline you promised for successfully stealing the seed."

Wan Siyou swallowed hard and said helplessly, "The target’s Dao heart is too firm this time, and he has serious mental issues."

"At first, I posed as a massage therapist, using mental techniques to amplify my charm, but it failed to stir his desires."

"Later, I posed as a massage therapist again, using the excuse of 'mana-infused massage' to inject aphrodisiac energy into his body to trigger a physiological response... but he simply requested a different therapist."

At this point, a trace of humiliation flashed across Wan Siyou’s face, "To be replaced after using an aphrodisiac—that is something I have never experienced before."

"It was only then, seeing the therapist he chose, that I realized his aesthetic tastes were different from what I had anticipated."

Wan Siyou affirmed, "The pressure of years of study and cultivation has likely twisted his mind, alienating him completely and leading him to pursue the more eccentric and retro styles among college students..."

Yin Jiurao replied, "I am not here to listen to your excuses."

Wan Siyou said, "This is not an excuse, but an objective analysis of the target. Later, I tried pretending to be a long-term user of the Joyous Video platform, feigning a request for him to test a product, and disguised my dharma-bone as the product to send to him..."

Yin Jiurao’s heart stirred. She knew that the dharma-bones of Joyous cultivators were specially constructed, produced by the Yin-Yang Heaven Dao company; they were essential tools for their cultivation, work, and production.

Such dharma-bones were not only powerful in the way of Yin-Yang union but were also a part of the cultivator’s own body.

Once Zhang Yu used Wan Siyou’s dharma-bone, she would be able to harvest his seed from afar.

But then she heard Wan Siyou say, "Even so, he never used it once. Instead, it was his roommate, Yu Xinghan, who used it several times."

At this, Wan Siyou shook her head, "Faced with the latest product from the Joyous University, he, a man with a root, was able to resist using it even once. This shows that his suppression of his own desires is extremely profound..."

Wan Siyou went on to recount every attempt she had made, finally concluding, "This man’s Dao heart is like iron; ordinary means cannot trick him out of his seed."

"The Great Dao of Yin and Yang: the superior method cultivates emotion, while the inferior method seeks desire."

"To take him down, one must cultivate emotion, but that requires time..."

Yin Jiurao frowned, "How much time?"

Wan Siyou replied, "Half a year to a year. If you are willing to accept that, I will begin a new plan next week, but it will cost more."

"Of course, if you cannot accept that, I can refund a portion of the payment."

Closing the communication with Wan Siyou, Yin Jiurao thought to herself, "This Zhang Yu is so cautious; perhaps he really does have secrets."

"A long-term plan?"

Yin Jiurao thought of several research projects she had on hand that were stalled, and her brow furrowed deeper without her realizing it.

As a professor at the Ten Thousand Laws University, she also faced performance evaluations, and often the pressure was even greater than that of the students.

Especially with the situation becoming tense and pharmaceutical companies constantly expanding production and markets, if she continued to fail to produce results...

Thinking of this, a sharp light flashed in Yin Jiurao’s eyes.

"There is no time left to waste."

"It seems I must resort to more brutal means."

...

In the artifact-refining laboratory.

Zhang Yu was tempering his Azure Cloud Veil all by himself.

He chose solitude, eschewing the cost-sharing of the laboratory with Ye Xingli, solely to keep his rapid progress hidden from prying eyes.

He stood before the laboratory apparatus, channeling his mana and tempering the Level 1 magical artifact, the Azure Cloud Veil, with the steady flow of his own internal energy.

"Once a magical artifact is forged, its grade can be elevated through subsequent refinement."

"There are countless methods: tempering with reinforcing materials, substituting components, adjusting mana circuits, strengthening internal seals, or even drawing upon dragon veins, the sun and moon, destiny, or blood sacrifices."

Zhang Yu mused, "If I use the tempering techniques inherent to the Veil's own craft to enhance its quality, could I perhaps..."

After completing one cycle, he checked the Azure Cloud Veil entry on his Feather Tome and noted that the refinement count had increased by one.

A faint smile touched his lips as he thought, "Just as I suspected; beyond the initial forging, subsequent tempering also serves to elevate my craftsmanship level."

Just as Zhang Yu was immersed in his practice, a message arrived from Feng Tingting.

Feng Tingting: Have you heard? A student in the Artifact Forging department lost a wager with his mentor.

Zhang Yu asked curiously: A wager?

Feng Tingting: He bet he could temper his own Dharma remains to meet his mentor's standards; failing that, his remains would be confiscated and forged into a magical artifact.

Feng Tingting: Sigh, one really shouldn't sign such reckless agreements.

After exchanging a few casual words with Feng Tingting, Zhang Yu noticed a friend request from someone named Yin Jiurao.

Seeing that she claimed to be a professor of pharmacology at Wanfa University, Zhang Yu accepted.

The first message she sent left him utterly stunned.

To summarize the offer: one session, five spirit coins.

Zhang Yu refused decisively: I do not engage in such business.

Yin Jiurao: Ten spirit coins.

Zhang Yu struggled to refuse: It is truly impossible.

Yin Jiurao: Twenty spirit coins, but I must inspect the goods first.

Yin Jiurao: Let me remind you, twenty spirit coins is more than enough to cover the fines and damages for forcibly taking you.

Yin Jiurao: I prefer legitimate, long-term business, and out of respect for our shared university, I am trying to negotiate with you in good faith.

Reading this, Zhang Yu couldn't help but curse inwardly: "This godforsaken Kunxu... is there no morality left? People are snatched up left and right for their dual-cultivation potential, and a teacher can just pay a fine to harvest a student's essence?"

Zhang Yu: If you dare to force me, Director Gao, who stands behind me, will not let you off.

Yin Jiurao: And what of Director Gao? If the price is right, would he not sell you himself?

Yin Jiurao: Thirty spirit coins, including blood and other biological materials; this is my final offer.

Yin Jiurao: Think carefully. At this price, you could crush the prospects of countless college students. Opportunities like this do not come often.

Zhang Yu: I need to consider this.

(End of chapter)