Chapter 468: Compatibility Off the Charts?

Chapter 468: Off the Charts Compatibility?

When Zhang Yu arrived in front of the designated laboratory, he discovered a cowering figure already waiting there.

"You brat!" Zhang Yu pointed at Yu Xinghan and barked, "Didn't you say you were working overtime today?"

Caught off guard by the sudden accusation, Yu Xinghan jumped, but quickly regained his composure: "Didn't you say you were headed to the construction site?"

The two exchanged a knowing, wry smile.

Zhang Yu asked, "Did the head teacher contact you? Why haven't you gone in yet?"

Yu Xinghan smiled thinly, "You are the top of the class; you go first."

Zhang Yu waved him off, "We're old classmates, you go ahead."

After a brief, polite standoff, Zhang Yu understood exactly what Yu Xinghan was thinking.

"This kid," Zhang Yu scoffed inwardly, "He's curious about the dual-cultivation experiment, but terrified the content won't suit his tastes. He doesn't have a shred of talent for dual cultivation, so why even come?"

Yu Xinghan thought to himself, "Zhang Yu is incredibly picky about gender requirements. He clearly wants me to go in first to scout for information before he decides whether to commit."

Eventually, they entered the laboratory together, only to find that many other students from the Civil Engineering department were already there.

Besides their classmates Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin, there were elite students from higher grades, such as Xiao Yunjie, Su Yanyang, and Ma Xuan, all waiting in the room.

Seeing Ying Xin and Xiao Yunjie, a thought struck Zhang Yu: "Both men and women? What kind of experiment is this, exactly?"

Unfortunately, before the experiment officially began, Zhang Yu could glean no further information.

Yu Xinghan remarked, "Are they rounding up all the elites of our Civil Engineering department?"

"What kind of dual-cultivation experiment could possibly require students from our major?"

Hearing this, a sense of foreboding washed over Zhang Yu.

Just then, a familiar voice drifted from behind them.

"Don't worry, it's a good thing."

Zhang Yu turned to see Ye Xingli from the Artifact Refining department.

Ye Xingli nodded slightly at Zhang Yu and continued, "Our department and the Talisman department have jointly developed a new product that utilizes the path of dual cultivation to accelerate a student's cultivation."

"However, the product is still flawed and requires experimental data to determine the next steps for improvement."

Yu Xinghan asked in surprise, "Our school? Developing a dual-cultivation product?"

Ye Xingli nodded, "Indeed. It is an original product created entirely through our school's own technical prowess—100% school-owned, without a single shred of outside technology."

Meanwhile, Ye Xingli was reflecting on the recent development struggles.

"Ever since the experiments began, we've pulled elite students from all over the school, but unfortunately... almost none have succeeded."

"This Transformation-stage Yin Artifact from the Qiongjiang Divine Lord clearly holds mysteries we have yet to grasp, which is why it has failed to function properly."

"If it weren't for the fact that all previous candidates failed, we wouldn't be resorting to Civil Engineering students."

Ye Xingli sighed internally, "If the Civil Engineering and Security departments fail as well, we may have to resort to brute-force testing."

As Ye Xingli explained this to Zhang Yu, a staff member emerged to outline the basic procedures and distribute confidentiality agreements.

Once everyone signed the contracts, they were led into the laboratory one by one.

Watching the upperclassmen file in, Zhang Yu’s curiosity grew.

He mused, "Dual cultivation? A product?"

"Could it be a dual-cultivation device for individual use?"

"Wouldn't that be a... a fast track to the path of immortality?"

As the upperclassmen emerged, Zhang Yu observed their expressions.

The surprise on Xiao Yunjie’s face, the regret on Su Yanyang’s, the strange look on Li Zhen’s... his curiosity only deepened.

In a state of mixed curiosity, anticipation, and excitement, he finally entered the lab alongside Yu Xinghan, Gongshu Jin, and Ying Xin.

Inside, Zhang Yu saw a diamond-shaped crystal floating in mid-air, emitting a faint, mysterious radiance.

A male professor approached them and said, "Greetings, I am True Monarch Tianzhang of the Talisman department, and I will be presiding over your experiment."

"Let me explain the specific content of the experiment."

With a flick of his finger, divine light illuminated the diamond-shaped object.

"This is our newly developed product, a dual-cultivation Yin Artifact."

Hearing the words "Yin Artifact," both Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan felt a sense of relief; their lingering anxiety evaporated.

"So it's a Yin Artifact," Zhang Yu thought, crossing his arms. "Though I've never used one, I feel this is right up my alley."

Yu Xinghan wore a confident smile: "After years of hard work and accumulation in this extracurricular project, the time has finally come to shine. My master was right—the stars do not fail the traveler, and time does not fail the diligent. My efforts will not let me down."

Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin seemed to sense the surge of confidence from the two.

Gongshu Jin thought, "I understand Zhang Yu’s confidence, but what does the fourth-ranked student have to be so smug about?"

Up front, True Monarch Tianzhang continued, "You should all be familiar with Yin Artifacts, so I won't elaborate."

"Today’s experiment focuses on the usage aspect."

"We will activate the artifact to scan for students whose parameters match it, then collect data during the process to prepare for future improvements..."

"Of course, it is possible that none of you will match, failing to meet the activation standards."

"By the way, remember to report any Dharma Remains you currently possess."

As the students reported their Dharma Remains, Ying Xin couldn't help but ask, "Why report them? Are you worried about a conflict with the artifact?"

"This artifact has basic intelligence; it generally won't conflict," Tianzhang explained calmly. "It's mainly because we worry you won't be able to bear the load of this artifact."

Gongshu Jin asked, "What do you mean, 'unable to bear the load'?"

Tianzhang looked at him with confusion, "When installing Dharma Remains, do you not consider the load?"

"Wait..." Zhang Yu gasped, "Install... Dharma Remains?"

Tianzhang said matter-of-factly, "A Yin Artifact is a Dharma Remnant. The experiment is simply to install it and observe the operational results."

He offered a kind, gentle smile: "Don't worry, once successfully installed, I will conduct the experiment for you; you won't be harmed."

"And if it doesn't succeed, we won't charge you a fee."

Yet, the smile Tianzhang deemed gentle felt like the roar of a beast to Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan.

Neither had imagined that the experiment involved installing the artifact into their own bodies.

Zhang Yu screamed internally: Run! This is not home!

Just as both men took a step back, ready to shout their withdrawal, the artifact activated, bathing the students in a cascade of light.

...

Meanwhile, in the Spirit Realm’s observation room.

Numerous staff members were monitoring the situation.

Yan Qianji, the top of the Artifact Refining department, stood among them, gazing at the Transformation-stage Yin Artifact as if it were a perfect work of art.

"Heh, the world believes the Yin-artifact of the Nectar Sovereign serves only the purpose of dual cultivation."

"Yet they fail to grasp that an artifact of the Spirit Transformation realm could never be so mundane."

"Especially as a Dharma-remnant, its true power lies in being equipped."

Yan Qianji mused inwardly: "Once this Spirit Transformation Yin-artifact is activated, any cultivator below that realm would be rendered defenseless, forcibly fitted with this very device."

"In other words, whoever holds this artifact may view all living beings under heaven as mere vessels; a single shroud of its influence, and they are ripe for forced harvest."

"Coupled with the Nectar Sovereign’s Yang-artifact and her arts, one could forcibly devour an opponent’s mana, cultivation, and even their very knowledge."

A vision bloomed in Yan Qianji’s mind: the Nectar Sovereign, Yin-artifact in one hand and Yang-artifact in the other, harvesting the life force of all creation with a single thought.

The deeper he delved into the decryption of the artifact, the more he stood in awe of the Sovereign’s terrifying prowess.

"To harvest the world through the Great Dao of Yin and Yang—that is the true brilliance of the Nectar Sovereign."

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Magnetic Pole Sovereign observed the laboratory with equal intensity.

Reflecting on the recent experiments, she thought: "What parameters did that Nectar Sovereign set for her artifact? So many excellent candidates, yet none can trigger it?"

"It makes no sense. Based on the decrypted activation criteria, many of the previous test subjects should have qualified."

"Alas, if all else fails, I shall have to resort to a brute-force decryption..."

When the Magnetic Pole Sovereign spotted Zhang Yu among the new batch of test subjects, her heart stirred, and she said to the Heavenly Script Sovereign: "Tianzhang, let me take over for a while."

The Heavenly Script Sovereign was surprised: "You intend to intervene personally?"

The Heavenly Script Sovereign: "I fear they may not be able to afford your price."

The Magnetic Pole Sovereign: "It is of no matter; I have my own measures."

At that moment, as the radiance of the Spirit Transformation Yin-artifact bathed the room, its detection functions engaged, and a deluge of data began to manifest.

In the observation chamber of the Spirit Realm, the data was intercepted and displayed before the assembly in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin... the results for each student appeared, with columns of data trailing their names, evaluating them across a myriad of metrics.

Regrettably, the project team had yet to decipher the true meaning behind these figures.

Yet, as Yan Qianji stared at the columns of data, he was struck by a jolt of shock: "What is the meaning of this final entry?"

"Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin are at zero... no, the vast majority of students are in the single digits."

"But why... why have Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan broken past one thousand?!"

Gazing at this staggering figure, Yan Qianji felt a veil of profound mystery descend upon Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan.

"Could it be that they possess an uncanny compatibility with this artifact?!"