Chapter 473: Grand Immortal Destiny Arrives (Thanks to Alliance Leader 'Zhuo Yao')

Chapter 473: A Grand Celestial Fortune Arrives (With gratitude to Alliance Leader 'Zhuo Yao')

Under the counsel of Perfected Lord Tianzhang, Zhang Yu channeled the spiritual essence within his body, pouring it into the Deified Phantasmic Implement clasped in his hand.

He felt the diamond-shaped crystal quiver slightly; after a brief inhalation and exhalation of his spiritual essence, it swiftly forced the injected energy back, returning it entirely into his body.

When Zhang Yu attempted to infuse it once more, the Phantasmic Implement refused him outright, as though it had sealed itself away, denying any further entry to his power.

Witnessing this, Perfected Lord Tianzhang’s gaze narrowed slightly, and he thought to himself, "The spiritual essence recoils once more. As expected, this Deified Phantasmic Implement belonging to Lord Qiongjiang does not extract from Zhang Yu unilaterally."

"But why refuse the infusion afterward?"

"Is it some manner of restriction?"

After a moment of deliberation, Perfected Lord Tianzhang looked toward Zhang Yu and inquired, "How do you feel? Did you perceive anything unusual? Is there any advancement in your martial arts?"

Upon hearing this question, Zhang Yu immediately fell into a state of hesitation.

Should he seize this opportunity to raise his martial arts rank by a few more levels in the eyes of others?

"But if it continues to advance, this project will draw even greater scrutiny. What shall I do if I am exposed in the future?"

Reflecting on how even the Deified Principal of Wanfa University was paying attention to this Phantasmic Implement project, Zhang Yu grew increasingly hesitant.

Observing his expression, Perfected Lord Tianzhang merely assumed he had yet to perceive any alteration and consoled him, "No matter. The disturbance this time was minute; the effects may not be immediately apparent."

"Undergo a physical examination shortly, and observe yourself after you return. Examine your body closely for any transformations."

"Should any change occur, you may contact me at any time."

On his way out of the laboratory, Zhang Yu’s mind remained occupied with how he should manage his relationship with this experimental endeavor.

Within his mind, he spoke, "Fuji, if I utilize this Phantasmic Implement experiment to continue raising my martial arts rank in the eyes of others, thereby legitimizing my entire martial cultivation, do you think it is feasible?"

Fuji replied, "In the short term, there will certainly be no issue."

"After all, from what I can see, even Perfected Lord Tianzhang and your mentor, Perfected Lord Ciji, lack complete mastery over this Phantasmic Implement."

"It is highly probable that this thing is not a technology of their own creation, but rather something stolen from elsewhere that they are still attempting to decipher."

"Under such circumstances, so long as they have not unraveled its mysteries, your use of this opportunity to legitimize your cultivation will not be exposed."

Fuji chuckled softly, "In fact, because you demonstrate this 'result,' it might inspire more people to invest in this venture. As the project grows in popularity and attracts further funding, even if Perfected Lord Tianzhang and Perfected Lord Ciji discover your results are fabricated, they will likely help you conceal it when the time comes."

"It is even possible that in the end, driven by such a deception, it will attract tens of thousands of spiritual coins, leading to the founding of a corporation and a public listing, yet yielding no delivered products for years to come—becoming a pure scam of a project. That too is within the realm of possibility."

"Of course, though the risks are immense, as the linchpin of this operation, you will inevitably reap bountiful benefits."

Zhang Yu knitted his brows, thinking that while such a path might yield significant advantages, would it not eventually spiral entirely out of control?

Drawing upon her vast experience, Fuji remarked, "The ultimate outcome of such a deception hinges entirely upon whether, at the very end, you possess the means to contain it."

"And whether you can contain it depends on two factors."

"First, how long can this deception be prolonged? Two or three months, two or three years, or upwards of a decade?"

"Second, during this span of time, to what height can you ultimately grow? How far can your strength, your connections, and your background expand?"

Fuji chuckled again, "If handled well, the project simply ends in abandonment. Everyone acts as though nothing occurred, everyone profits, and no one faces punishment."

"If handled poorly, you may well become the scapegoat, burdened with a lifetime of debts you can never repay."

Zhang Yu frowned slightly and said, "What you say is logical, but as for these two factors... the second depends upon the first, and the first..."

"How long can this scheme be prolonged? How am I to estimate that?"

Zhang Yu asked Fuji, "Fuji, you are deeply experienced in these matters. Can you form an estimate?"

Fuji replied, "This is not a question of experience, but of information."

"We currently know far too little regarding this project; any judgment we make now is nothing more than a gamble."

"Thus, your first step must be to gather information."

"And your sister’s side happens to be an excellent channel for that."

"Did she not send you messages during your experiment earlier?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted slightly as he recalled Zhang Pianpian sending him messages from the laboratory, offering various warnings.

Those messages transmitted to his spiritual vessel had also been witnessed by Fuji, prompting her current reminder.

Zhang Yu immediately sent a message to Zhang Pianpian, asking: Senior sister, how much do you know regarding the experiment?

Zhang Pianpian: We shall speak upon returning to the dormitory.

Thus, that very evening, taking advantage of the occasion where Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan were both working overtime, Zhang Yu met with his sister to inquire about the Phantasmic Implement project. Zhang Pianpian first inspected the spiritual realm network within the dormitory before escorting Zhang Yu into the Taiqing Domain.

Gazing at the distant mists swirling within the Taiqing Domain, she spoke, "The Phantasmic Implement of this project was not manufactured by Wanfa University, but originates from Lord Qiongjiang."

Hearing these words, Zhang Yu shook inwardly, astonished, "This is Lord Qiongjiang’s Phantasmic Implement?"

At the thought that he had actually communed with the spiritual vessel of a Deified Lord, excitement stirred within Zhang Yu’s chest.

Zhang Yu inquired further, "But how did Lord Qiongjiang’s Phantasmic Implement find its way here?"

Recalling various past rumors, numerous conjectures surfaced in Zhang Yu’s mind, sensing that the collapse of the Qiongjiang Currency seemed inextricably linked to the shadow of Wanfa University.

Zhang Pianpian remarked, "It is rumored that this Deified Phantasmic Implement escaped from Hehuan University and was retrieved by the people of our Wanfa University."

The corner of Zhang Yu’s mouth twitched, finding such an explanation utterly preposterous.

"I know what you are thinking." Zhang Pianpian waved her hand. "But this matter involves a Deified entity; do not delve too deeply into the specifics. You need only know that this Deified Phantasmic Implement comes from the hands of Lord Qiongjiang of Hehuan University."

"Wanfa University’s technology in this field is undoubtedly inferior to that of Hehuan University, and for the time being, they have failed to decipher the mysteries of this Deified Phantasmic Implement."

"Particularly, the artifact spirit within has already fallen under the delusion of a heretical cult, descending into complete madness."

"Therefore, to prevent the artifact spirit from affecting the outside world, Perfected Lord Ciji has not only sealed away the greater part of her intellect but has also severed her ability to transmit information outward."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Mad? Can an artifact spirit truly lose its sanity?"

In Zhang Yu’s view, an artifact spirit was akin to something like artificial intelligence; could such a thing truly go mad?

Walking into the main hall of the Taiqing Domain, Zhang Pianpian looked upon the blurred visage of the divine statue enshrined within, saying indifferently, "If you returned to your quarters and suddenly found the furniture screaming, clamoring for a holiday, what would you think?"

Zhang Yu startled slightly, then slowly replied, "The furniture has lost its mind."

Zhang Pianpian sighed with emotion, "The contemplation of higher intelligent life is inevitably driven by desire and emotion, and where desire and emotion exist, sentiment is bound to be born."

"It is said that an immortal once remarked that sentiment inevitably arises alongside intelligence; it is impossible to create a life in this world possessing intelligence yet devoid of sentiment."

"How to create a highly intelligent artifact spirit that remains devoid of sentiment and desire over long periods, yet sustains high-intensity thought and labor, has always been a conundrum in our field."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, voicing his intentions before asking, "Sister, do you think I can utilize this opportunity, fabricating 'results' for the project team to legitimize my hidden cultivation and perhaps secure some benefits along the way?"

He spoke with a touch of anxiety, "But I also fear that if the project falls through in the future, it will invite grand disaster."

Regarding the fact that her brother, like herself, had been concealing his true strength, Zhang Pianpian had long been aware.

Hearing his desire to use this opportunity to legitimize his cultivation, Zhang Pianpian also nodded slightly in approval.

Yet, upon hearing Zhang Yu’s subsequent concerns, Zhang Pianpian let out a soft laugh, turning her head toward the sea of clouds outside the Daoist temple. "A project falling through? A grand disaster?"

"Do you know how many research topics and how many projects Wanfa University possesses each year?"

"Across these tiers of university campuses—two, three, four, five, six—how many people are publishing absolute garbage every year?"

"Expert panels, academic forums, technical reports... all manner of worthless celestial refuse is utilized to secure funding and embezzle grants. Do you truly believe such occurrences are rare?"

Zhang Pianpian sighed, "Even those professors at the Nascent Soul stage, with so many papers to their names, how many did they actually write themselves? Sometimes, they simply sign their names and collect the fee."

Zhang Yu, hearing of such matters for the first time, asked in astonishment, "Is that so? But this project... it is under the gaze of the Divine Lord Wanhua."

Zhang Pianpian shook her head with a faint smile, "Does a project monitored by a Divine Lord guarantee it won't fall apart? Besides, as long as the funds are secured, what does it matter if it fails?"

She turned to look at Zhang Yu and continued, "Take this project on the Spirit-Refining Artifact; as long as you produce some so-called 'results' now and then, and stir up enough hype, you could easily drag it out for seven or eight years."

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred at these words, and he began to calculate silently, "Seven or eight years? By then, I should have the opportunity to enter the sect."

Zhang Pianpian, watching him intently, asked, "While this path offers a chance at success, it is not without its risks."

"A single accident, a sudden crisis, and the hidden troubles within could detonate prematurely, placing you in grave danger."

"Think it over carefully."

After exiting the Taiqing Realm, Zhang Yu discussed the situation with Fuji.

Fuji first lamented, "It seems the corruption and monopoly within the field of immortal research are even more severe than I had imagined."

Then she added, "Go for it, Zhang Yu. Seven or eight years is enough time for you to grow; by then, you will surely have become a towering pillar of the Artifact Refining Department, with a formidable background."

"If you want to hasten your entry into the sect, you must accelerate your progress explosively. For the poor in Kunxu, the only way to rise quickly in university is through deception!"

"Swindling research funds is the greatest stroke of immortal fate a Kunxu student can hope for!"