Chapter 467: Company Cost Optimization, Participating in Major Experimental Projects

Chapter 467: Corporate Cost Optimization and Participation in Major Experimental Projects

On the wilderness construction site.

Zhang Yu channeled his inner essence, and a surging, vigorous aura erupted from within him.

Immediately following, the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, which he had successfully refined, merged into this energy, and the once-white aura quickly transmuted into a brilliant gold.

After days of practice and final field testing, Zhang Yu had successfully modified all his Taiyi Golden Liquid Pills, integrating them into a singular, unified force.

At this moment, with the modified pills bolstering his aura, the distinction between the two had gradually vanished.

In the next instant, as Zhang Yu shifted his focus, the golden aura underwent a rapid transformation.

The aura, which had resembled golden clouds, instantly coalesced into torrents of gold, roaring around his body like water-borne dragons.

A moment later, the torrents shifted again, layering themselves into intricate golden armor, shielding Zhang Yu like a series of reinforced fortifications.

With the enhancement of the modified pills, Zhang Yu’s aura could shift fluidly between gaseous, liquid, and solid states, granting him a defensive capability far surpassing his original protective aura.

Simultaneously, this evolution was swifter, more agile, and more versatile than the original Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill could ever be.

With a single palm strike, the rolling aura blasted a massive crater into the earth, leaving behind a permanent golden handprint.

Zhang Yu mused, "With the enhancement of the modified Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, even if my aura leaves my direct control, it can now linger in the world for an extended duration."

With these multi-layered transformations, Zhang Yu felt his defensive repertoire had expanded significantly. Even if he were to face Chan Rong’s "Great Sun Manifestations" again, he would have much more room to maneuver, and his injuries would surely be far less severe.

Under further application, he manifested golden, humanoid figures of aura, transforming them into "Formless Warriors" with sturdy, physical bodies.

After testing the modified pills, Zhang Yu produced a magical artifact known as the Yin-Yang Shield.

It appeared to be a simple sphere, but as Zhang Yu channeled his essence into it, fire dragons emerged from within, circling him before coalescing into a massive, searing flame barrier that encased him.

As he manipulated the artifact further, the fire dragons dissipated, replaced by a chilling mist that froze the air, enveloping him once more.

Zhang Yu thought, "This Yin-Yang Shield can deploy both flame and frost barriers for defense."

"These two modes not only deflect physical attacks but, more importantly, mitigate extreme temperature fluctuations."

"If I had possessed this shield during the battle with Chan Rong, countering his Great Sun Manifestations would have been far easier."

Yet, Zhang Yu understood that before the battle with Vajra University, he hadn't even received his project payments; he had no capacity to upgrade his gear.

Even now, with his savings just hitting 110 spirit coins, he had immediately lent 100 to Zhang Pianpian. His finances remained tight, allowing for only these two upgrades.

"I suspect the battle with Sky Sword University is next; I must prepare more useful artifacts."

Thinking of the competition, Zhang Yu felt a flicker of excitement—not because of the university’s strength, but because going there meant he would see Bai Zhenzhen again.

"Without realizing it, it has been over a year since I last saw Ah Zhen."

"Once I reach Sky Sword University, I must have a proper conversation with her."

After testing his upgraded gear, Zhang Yu turned and returned to the site to resume work.

As he unleashed the "Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power," earth and stone erupted into the sky; the ground was cleaved, the mountains dismantled, and the entire site returned to high-efficiency operation.

Zhang Yu felt like the most expensive, core, and productive piece of heavy machinery on the site, with all other artifacts and employees revolving around his labor.

Just then, Fu Ji sent a file, saying, "This is my new corporate financial report. I sent it to you yesterday; have you looked at it?"

Zhang Yu nodded casually. "I saw it. What’s the matter?"

Although he had read it, he understood little of such matters, seeing only that the company was running well and that he should continue working hard.

But Fu Ji insisted, "Costs are rising!"

"Have you noticed the wear and tear on the artifacts and the rate of essence consumption?"

Zhang Yu replied, "Isn't artifact wear normal? And how can you use artifacts without consuming essence?"

Fu Ji countered, "The wear rate increased by 1.2% over last month, and essence consumption has spiked by 5%!"

"We lack control in this area, do you understand?!"

"It’s like the toilet paper in the office building; if left unmonitored, the employees will waste it tenfold or a hundredfold!"

"Essence consumption is the same. I know you recover quickly, but that is no excuse for the employees to squander it."

Zhang Yu’s gaze swept across the site, landing on Zhao Tianxing, Mo Tianyi, Hu Yuntao, Che Yufei, and the ancestors of the Ying family.

He spoke, "Everyone is working quite diligently; I wouldn't call it squandering. At most, Zhao Tianxing and the others lack experience, leading to some waste."

"Besides, the new project is inherently more difficult; a bit more loss is normal."

Fu Ji sighed in frustration, "But we cannot ignore it, especially as the company grows and we hire more people. How can we function without standards?"

"These veteran employees are used to lavish essence usage; they will teach the new hires to do the same. Eventually, the whole company will be wasting essence, ballooning our operating costs. It will be much harder to fix later."

"This wasted essence could have been sold for profit. We could be earning one or two extra spirit coins every month."

"This discrepancy will eventually erode our competitiveness."

Zhang Yu frowned slightly, forced to admit that Fu Ji was right. Just then, she sent another file.

Zhang Yu asked, "What is this?"

Fu Ji replied, "An essence quota table."

"Starting tomorrow, I will provide an assessment of the essence required for each employee’s daily work. Those who stay within the limit will receive a monthly bonus, and those who exceed it will have their pay docked."

Zhang Yu hesitated, instinctively frowning. "Docking pay... won't that cause resentment?"

"Resentment?" Fu Ji retorted. "You pay them quite well, especially those two from that pathetic college—they lower the company's standards. If it were up to me, I would have fired them already."

Thus, when the day’s work concluded, Zhang Yu announced the essence quota policy in the company group chat.

Zhao Tianxing: Received.

Mo Tianyi: Received.

Hu Yuntao: Understood.

Ying Xin’s Grandfather: Should have done this long ago.

Che Yufei: Support!

Seeing the employees accept the new rules with such enthusiasm, Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking of the increased monthly profit, he couldn't help but feel a touch of joy.

However, a thought crossed his mind. "I still feel a bit awkward discussing these things directly with the staff."

Zhang Yu mused internally, "Alas, if only Fu Ji’s identity could be revealed; it would be so much easier to let her handle these matters."

Fu Ji said, "The company is still small; we have to handle everything ourselves for now."

"When the situation improves next year, perhaps I can help you hire someone to handle the miscellaneous tasks."

Just then, Yu Xinghan sent a message.

Yu Xinghan: Zhang Yu, are you still getting many strangers trying to add you as a friend?

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. Since obtaining his military certification and defeating Ping Han, the number of strangers had grown.

And after mastering the "Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power" and defeating Vajra University, the requests had only increased.

The crowd was a mixed bag, and Zhang Yu, unable to tell who was a fraud and who had ulterior motives, simply stopped accepting any of them.

Zhang Yu: There are indeed quite a few.

Yu Xinghan: If you find it troublesome yet fear missing out on the chance to earn, how about I help you contact these people?

A flicker of thought stirred in Zhang Yu’s heart; he knew the other party managed a cohort of students eager for his guidance.

In the past few months, Zhang Yu had encountered several among them who possessed innate, specialized magical powers.

Yet, whether he could harvest Dao seeds from them required further, patient observation.

Hearing Yu Xinghan’s suggestion, Zhang Yu pondered and found it feasible, though the specific terms of cooperation remained to be discussed.

……

While Zhang Yu was occupied with his relentless affairs.

The Civil Engineering competition team of Wanfa University had just defeated another opponent.

Amidst the swirling dust and grit, a surging mudslide swallowed the vast construction site whole.

Su Yanyang walked out of the arena with his teammates, sighing inwardly: "Fighting a Colonel is still effortless."

"If only it could always be this easy."

Just then, sensing Xiao Yunjie’s gaze upon him, Su Yanyang asked curiously: "What is it? Something the matter?"

Xiao Yunjie shook her head and said: "Nothing, it’s just... have you been slacking off lately?"

Su Yanyang laughed heartily: "Slacking? A little relaxation does no harm; it’s just a Colonel, does it really require my full concentration?"

At that moment, the group noticed the checkpoint ahead was rigorously inspecting all passersby.

Li Zhen remarked: "The inspections by the Colonels have become increasingly strict lately; I hear some cults are spreading again, and many followers are even refusing to work overtime."

Beside him, Xiao Yunjie sneered: "Refusing to work overtime for money? Do they need to be watched? A Colonel-level student is just that—destined to never go far on the path of Immortality."

She glanced at Su Yanyang and asked: "Don't you agree?"

Su Yanyang nodded slightly: "Mm... yes, indeed."

……

One day, while Zhang Yu was busy at the construction site, he suddenly received a message from his homeroom teacher, Master Jiao Lei.

Master Jiao Lei: Zhang Yu, there is a promising project at school recently that requires the participation of outstanding students from every class.

Master Jiao Lei: Would you like to join?

Zhang Yu: What kind of project?

Master Jiao Lei: I hear it concerns research in the field of dual cultivation.

Master Jiao Lei: It seems to be an exploration of new technologies.

Master Jiao Lei: Are you interested?

Zhang Yu: For the sake of the school, I am duty-bound.

(End of chapter)