Chapter 418: Artifact Refining Exam (Thanks to 'aghfh' for Gifting Alliance Leader)

Chapter 418: The Artifact Refining Examination (Thanks to ‘aghfh’ for the Alliance Leader tip)

Inside the bedroom.

Le Mulan urged, "Wait, I haven't squeezed it all out yet."

Zhang Yu replied, "That should be enough, right?"

Le Mulan insisted, "No, every drop is money; it must be drained completely."

Zhang Yu asked, "Is it okay now?"

Le Mulan said, "Let me squeeze a bit more."

As Le Mulan exerted a subtle force, several more trickles of blood shot from her fingertips, flowing into Zhang Yu’s mouth.

Only then did Le Mulan nod, "The medicinal essence should be out now. How do you feel?"

Zhang Yu smacked his lips and said, "Not bad. It feels even more mellow than before."

Ever since Le Mulan began studying self-produced pharmaceutical techniques, she had started synthesizing medicine within her own body.

From that point on, her blood, sweat, saliva, and even her mana gradually carried traces of newly generated medicinal power.

Especially after Zhang Yu began practicing alongside her, combining his Blazing Sun lineage with her Profound Cold lineage, the medicinal properties within her body underwent all sorts of wondrous transformations.

During this period, Le Mulan had begun experimenting with the generation of various agents within her system.

And Zhang Yu, relying on his formidable physique and capacity to bear such drugs, became her finest test subject.

Of course, Zhang Yu did not lose out; after all, Le Mulan spent a fortune on raw materials for every batch, and the vast majority of the finished product ended up in his stomach.

Just as Zhang Yu was testing the medicine, a message from Yu Xinghan appeared in his ocular interface.

Yu Xinghan: Someone is offering 3 spirit coins for a joint cultivation session.

Yu Xinghan: Are you taking it?

Zhang Yu had to admit that upon hearing the figure of 3 spirit coins, he felt a momentary flicker of temptation.

But that flicker was quickly replaced by indignation.

"Zhang Yu, oh Zhang Yu, how have you been so alienated by Kunxu?"

"Not everything in this world can be sold for money."

Zhang Yu: Don't ask again. It’s not for sale, no matter how many spirit coins.

Yu Xinghan: Got it, so at least 50 spirit coins or more, right?

Zhang Yu: Damn it, do you even speak human? It’s not for sale at any price!

Yu Xinghan truly could not comprehend this, as he could not imagine anything that wouldn't be sold for a price. Was there really anything that expensive in this world?

Turning his attention to the group chat, Yu Xinghan decided to promote his platform's massage services instead.

...

On the construction site of the 668th floor.

With the completion of the 667th floor, the entire Ten Thousand Dharma University City had reached the 668th level.

Zhang Yu’s Earth-Suppressing Seal floated in mid-air, releasing an invisible aura.

Wherever the aura passed, vast stretches of ground were shaken and leveled.

The billowing dust that had risen into the sky was frozen in place by the invisible field, as if suspended in mid-air.

At the same time, the voice of Mo Tianyi came from the Earth-Suppressing Seal: What a powerful artifact.

Mo Tianyi: Zhang Yu, you are truly wealthy now. Can you even afford to use a Level 20 artifact?

Zhang Yu smiled faintly, "It’s alright."

"How is it? Can you handle the control?"

Mo Tianyi: No problem.

Mo Tianyi: Rest assured, Zhang Yu. Since you gave me the chance to be your artifact spirit, I won't embarrass you, even if I have to exhaust my own spiritual pool.

Zhang Yu said, "No, no, there's no need to risk your life. How can you make money if you're dead?"

Mo Tianyi: You’re right. We soul cultivators have no lives left to risk; the more we struggle, the more we lose.

Meanwhile, the Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch floated nearby, injecting Azure Sand into the Faceless Force-Bearer.

Zhao Tianxing thought to himself, "Did Zhang Yu hand the Level 20 Earth-Suppressing Seal to Old Mo to operate?"

"As expected, in Zhang Yu's heart, I am ultimately a latecomer, inferior to a true soul cultivator."

Zhao Tianxing had been quite excited and proud to become the spirit of the Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch.

But now, seeing the Level 20 Earth-Suppressing Seal operated by Mo Tianyi, he suddenly felt that the Pouch he controlled looked a bit lackluster.

Just then, Zhang Yu flicked his hand, tossing out a Level 20 Earth-Fiend Bottle.

"Old Zhao, try this."

Zhao Tianxing said joyfully: Alright!

The Earth-Fiend Bottle swirled gently, sucking the sky-filling dust into itself, refining it all into concrete, and pouring it into the target location.

Zhang Yu thought, "With Old Zhao and Old Mo as spirits for the Earth-Fiend Bottle and the Earth-Suppressing Seal, I can focus on wielding the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill and the Faceless Force-Bearer, with only minimal control needed for the Azure Cloud-Gathering Pouch."

With the sophomore final exams approaching, Zhang Yu’s mind was elsewhere, for he had absolute confidence in the finals and felt no need for concern.

"If I take first place in the class again, I can practice the third technique of the Earth-Wood Seven Absolutes and master the Small Three-Unity."

"After that, in October, there is the Military Certification Exam."

"With my current accumulation, will I be enough to secure the certification after mastering the Small Three-Unity?"

Zhang Yu looked at his Feather Scroll. Approaching his junior year, his strength was immense. In terms of basic data, aside from his Level 20 physical strength and 1000 units of mana—both reaching the limit of Foundation Establishment—his Dao Heart had also reached Level 19 (55.3%), and would certainly hit Level 20 before the exam.

Beyond that, his mana quality had climbed steadily, now reaching 195%, just 5% shy of the Foundation Establishment limit. His Gang-Qi conductivity had reached 99%, with a maximum range of 100 meters, both hitting the Foundation Establishment ceiling.

Beyond the basic data was Zhang Yu’s unique progress: the Green Lotus Sword Embryo.

"The bonus the Green Lotus Sword Embryo provides to the Chain-Dharma Diagram set lies in subtle adjustments, related to the time distribution of my usual usage of various sets."

After repeated testing, Zhang Yu had his own estimate of the data the Green Lotus Sword Embryo could retain under normal conditions.

"I’ve used the University Saint Body and Earth-Wood Saint Body the most this year, so the Green Lotus Sword Embryo can currently retain nearly 9% of their effects."

"Although the Martial Dao Saint Body was the last to be completed, I’ve used it quite a bit these past few months, and the Embryo can retain 5% of its effects."

"The Qi-Pulse Long-Flow is only used during mana recovery, so the duration is the shortest; the Embryo can only retain 4%."

Zhang Yu clenched his fist, watching the Faceless Cloud-Gang gather and shift within his palm, thinking, "I am... very strong now."

Having confirmed his strength once more, Zhang Yu told himself, "I must secure that Military Certification."

His confidence grew more robust and grounded with every increase and confirmation of his power.

However, the first assessment Zhang Yu would face was not the final exam, nor the Military Certification, but the artifact refining examination of the Magnetic Pole True Monarch.

...

Within the artifact-refining laboratory.

Ye Xingli was busy grading Zhang Yu’s examination papers.

These were the final exams for the third-year artifact-refining curriculum, retrieved by the Magnetic Pole Sovereign and handed to Zhang Yu to complete, with Ye Xingli tasked to evaluate them.

The more she graded, the more astonishment stirred within her heart.

"Is Zhang Yu studying the third-year artifact-refining curriculum while simultaneously attending the civil engineering department?"

"Could the Master be planning to have him transfer departments in his third year?"

"This..." Ye Xingli could already foresee a series of ominous future scenarios: "Director Gao is going to lose his mind."

With this thought, she found herself wishing that Zhang Yu’s performance on the exams would be lackluster.

Yet, fate played a cruel trick; the further she progressed, the more she realized that Zhang Yu’s mastery of the first three years of the curriculum surpassed that of the vast majority of third-year students.

"He must have spent a fortune on spiritual realm acceleration, along with Daoist techniques for soul-splitting and memory enhancement..."

Ye Xingli mused, "The rest, then, will depend on his practical craftsmanship."

She understood well that theory and technique were distinct; the artifact-refining department naturally prioritized a student’s tangible ability to forge.

The third-year final exams included the refinement of various materials, the etching of runes, and the crafting of magical treasures.

The Magnetic Pole Sovereign had reserved this laboratory for the entire night, with Ye Xingli assigned to supervise Zhang Yu as he completed each practical examination task.

She watched as Zhang Yu tempered materials with effortless grace, skillfully casting raw components into the furnace of true fire, channeling his mana to command the flames within.

She observed him directing several formless laborers to surround the refined materials, constructing mana circuits from every angle in a display of wave after wave of meticulous precision.

The more she watched, the more her heart surged with wonder.

"Has it only been a little over half a year since I last saw Zhang Yu refine an artifact?"

"How has he managed to progress so much?"

"Is this fellow’s talent for artifact-refining... actually far greater than I had anticipated?"

The final exam required the student to choose one item from a list of magical treasures or artifact remains to forge.

Normally, the materials were to be provided by the student.

However, the Magnetic Pole Sovereign had personally supplied the materials this time, handing them over for Zhang Yu to refine.

The treasure to be crafted had been agreed upon by both parties, and Zhang Yu had mastered the relevant techniques only recently.

As Zhang Yu examined the materials in his hands, he thought to himself, "The Magnetic Pole Sovereign is certainly generous."

Ye Xingli sighed inwardly, "Alas, the Master truly values Zhang Yu."

When she witnessed Zhang Yu successfully forge the materials into a Level 20 magical treasure, the Gilded Jade Wall, she could not help but remark, "The Master’s judgment is truly infallible."

"I failed to see that Zhang Yu was such a prodigy in the art of refining."

"If he transfers to the artifact-refining department, it likely won't be long before he ranks among the top ten in the entire school."

Zhang Yu looked at the Gilded Jade Wall he had just finished and asked, "So, this jade wall is..."

Ye Xingli replied coolly, "The Master will pay you a processing fee of three spirit coins."

Zhang Yu felt a slight pang of disappointment, though he reasoned that receiving a processing fee was decent enough, considering the materials and the facility had been provided by the other party.

...

Magnetic Pole Sovereign: Didn't you say your disciple’s physical strength was Level 20 and the Yin-Yang Bracelets were useless to him?

Magnetic Pole Sovereign: [Gilded Jade Wall.image_file]

Director Gao: Are you selling it to me? My funds have been a bit tight lately.

Magnetic Pole Sovereign: I’m selling it to you at the cost of the materials.

Magnetic Pole Sovereign: After all, we’ve been friends for so many years.

Director Gao: Magnetic Pole, you are truly kind.

...

Inside the dormitory.

Looking at the Gilded Jade Wall delivered by Director Gao, Zhang Yu asked with uncertainty, "Is this... the one I refined?"

"Is this the reward the Magnetic Pole Sovereign promised if I passed my second-year finals?"

Fu Ji remarked, "Zhang Yu, the Magnetic Pole Sovereign is truly worthy of the artifact-refining department; Director Gao from the civil engineering department simply cannot outplay her."