Chapter 512: I'm Not Pretending Anymore, I Am an Artifact Refining Lord

Chapter 512: I Am Done Pretending, I Am the Grandmaster of Artifact Refinement

Watching Zhang Yu accept the blueprints, True Monarch Magnetic Pole nodded inwardly, thinking, "It is not a bad thing to solidify his foundation, spend a few honest years earning a Class-A military certification, and only then turn his focus to the art of artifact refinement."

"If he finds he cannot persevere, he can always pivot back to the Artifact Design Competition."

True Monarch Magnetic Pole was not surprised by whichever path Zhang Yu ultimately chose, though he was curious whether the boy would change his mind and how far he would truly go on this road.

"That is all," True Monarch Magnetic Pole said, waving his hand. "I have told you everything you need to know."

"As for the transfer procedures, someone will contact you shortly to handle the handover. Just follow their instructions."

"Go now."

Zhang Yu nodded and turned to leave.

But just before he departed, his gaze flickered, his eyes locking intently onto the True Monarch’s chest.

A moment ago, he had felt a flash, as if a few characters had drifted across the True Monarch’s robes.

Sensing Zhang Yu’s movement, True Monarch Magnetic Pole tilted his head and asked, "Is there something else?"

Zhang Yu hurriedly shook his head. "No, nothing at all."

In his heart, he wondered: "Was that a Dao Seed?"

"Was what I just saw a Dao Seed belonging to the True Monarch?"

"Pity it vanished in a blink; I couldn't make out what it was."

"But if it was a Dao Seed, it must be of great help to artifact refinement, right?"

Zhang Yu thought, "I should visit this master more often in the future and strive to replicate his Dao Seed as soon as possible."

He then looked at the blueprints for the prototype of the Sun-Scorching God Machine, a flicker of excitement rising within him.

He commanded, "Fuji, take a good look at these blueprints and summarize all the techniques the True Monarch has outlined."

"Then, based on that data, compile a list of magical treasures that incorporate these techniques."

This would save him considerable time in research, allowing him to simply practice the blueprints on his list.

"Ah?" Fuji asked. "Me?"

Zhang Yu replied, "The company is in a time of crisis; shouldn't you be taking the initiative to ease your boss's burdens?"

As for Zhang Yu himself, he did not rush to study the contents; instead, he ran off toward the construction site on the 669th floor.

Ever since the finals of the Civil Engineering Competition, his account had been empty, leaving him with a profound sense of insecurity.

The rush from the competition back to the university, the celebration banquet, the tour of the Finance Department, the meeting with the True Monarch—it was one thing after another, leaving him no room to catch his breath.

Zhang Yu thought, "With this little money... I’d go bankrupt just bumping into a few people on the street."

"No, I need to earn some quick cash to calm my nerves."

He made his way to the rooftop site, familiar with the routine, and began working as a laborer under his own name.

Although the Finance Department had used their influence to cut off his company’s projects, they could not stop him from taking odd jobs.

Yet, many on the site watched this scene, whispering to one another through the Spirit Network.

"Zhang Yu is actually working as a laborer?"

"Sigh, he offended the Finance Department. Despite having the military-grade strength of the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power, he still has to do the same work as us."

"He’s too arrogant. Did he think winning a cross-school competition gave him the right to challenge the Finance lords? No matter how strong the Civil Engineering Department is, it’s still just civil engineering."

Ji Yuan-shu, not far away, heard the rumors and took a long detour just to see Zhang Yu.

Watching him reach out with a palm, steel bars and concrete seemed to come alive, twisting, breaking, shaping, and pouring at his command...

Ji Yuan-shu’s expression was complex.

The news that Zhang Yu had rejected the Finance Department’s invitation had spread throughout the Civil Engineering Department; Ji Yuan-shu was neither blind nor deaf.

Watching Zhang Yu toil on the site, he thought, "What is this guy thinking? He actually refused the Finance Department? Does he not realize what a massive opportunity that is? A chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step?"

Ji Yuan-shu could not comprehend the boy’s logic at all.

But Zhang Yu, on the site, did not care about the onlookers.

To him, work was work. With the aid of the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Power, his wages were substantial, and the piece-rate pay displayed in his ocular interface ticked upward every second.

Just then, several foremen ran up to him, looking embarrassed. "Student Zhang, I’m sorry. There’s been a mistake; your work here has been reassigned. There’s no longer a suitable position for you on this site..."

Zhang Yu frowned slightly. "Does the Finance Department control the temporary labor on the 669th floor, too?"

A foreman sighed helplessly, "The real estate company funding the university city has always been backed by the Finance Department. Please, don’t make things difficult for us."

Zhang Yu shook his head, too tired to argue with the foremen. He settled his current wages and decided to find a project without Finance Department ties.

"The folks in Finance are quite vengeful," Zhang Yu thought.

Fuji remarked, "Prosper and you live, resist and you die. If they didn't strike hard, how would they establish such authority? For the Finance Department, this kind of momentum and reputation is necessary to save time and effort when investing or manipulating destiny."

"But the Artifact Refinement Department will be backing you soon enough anyway. Why are you in such a rush to earn money?"

"If you’re really that uneasy about an empty pocket, just take some from the company."

Zhang Yu asked, "Take from the company?"

Fuji said, "Have Zhao Tianxing and Mo Tianyi defer their salaries. Use their pay to tide yourself over, and pay them back later."

Zhang Yu shook his head. "The junior college students and soul-cultivators live paycheck to paycheck; they need the money every day... better not."

"Besides, with company projects stalled, their income has already plummeted."

Just then, Zhang Yu received a message from Ying Xin’s grandfather.

Ying Xin’s Grandfather: Boss Zhang, I’ve discussed it with the employees.

Ying Xin’s Grandfather: Everyone knows the company is in trouble. We’ll all find some odd jobs to do for now.

Ying Xin’s Grandfather: As for the unpaid wages, there is no rush. We can wait until the company stabilizes.

Fuji curled her lip. "Tch, paying them on time is a favor in itself, and he wants credit for delaying it? He just knows you’re joining the Artifact Refinement Department and wants to cling to your coattails."

At that moment, a familiar figure approached.

Li Xiao, his face covered in dust, asked, "Senior Brother, are you alright?"

Zhang Yu smiled faintly. "What could possibly be wrong with me?"

Nearby, Ying Xin, Gongshu Jin, Yu Xinghan, and Shi Yunxiang appeared, all expressing concern over the Finance Department’s suppression of Zhang Yu.

Simultaneously, information flooded Zhang Yu’s ocular interface.

Feng Tingting: Are you okay? The Civil Engineering Department can’t stop the Finance Department. Why not ask Senior Sister Ye Xingli for help? She could talk to True Monarch Magnetic Pole.

As Zhang Yu passed through the construction gate, another message pinged in his vision.

His cross-school competition victory had been officially registered with Wanfa University, and his comprehensive score spiked instantly.

In the eyes of the surrounding guards, workers, and students, Zhang Yu’s aura surged. His ranking on the leaderboard climbed rapidly—20th... 15th... 10th...

Finally, it jumped all the way to 8th place.

The crowd watched in shock; some began taking photos, while others gasped in disbelief.

Beyond the score increase, the school’s reward of 20 Spirit Coins arrived, slightly easing the immediate crisis in Zhang Yu’s account.

Meanwhile, as the competition results were finalized and his aggregate score and ranking surged, a new message arrived for Zhang Yu.

It was from True Person Lianhuo of the Artifact Refining Department.

True Person Lianhuo: Hello, student Zhang Yu. I am your future homeroom teacher in the Artifact Refining Department.

True Person Lianhuo: The director has asked me to assist you with your transfer formalities; there are some materials you need to provide.

It was only during this process that Zhang Yu learned that transferring from the Civil Engineering Department to the Artifact Refining Department resulted in a penalty to one's aggregate score.

In particular, the points earned from various competition rankings were subject to a series of arbitrary calculations. While they claimed it was due to industry-specific factors, to Zhang Yu, it was nothing short of blatant professional discrimination, ultimately slashing his total score by more than half.

True Person Lianhuo: Do you intend to change dormitories? I can arrange that for you.

Zhang Yu: Not for the time being.

Although Zhang Yu did not want to move, he realized that since his current dormitory was provided by Director Gao of the Civil Engineering Department, he would have to consult him about the matter first.

Meanwhile, as Zhang Yu communicated with True Person Lianhuo, he appeared to the onlookers to have suddenly frozen in place.

Li Xiao asked, "What has come over our senior brother?"

Ying Xin remarked from the side, "The competition scores must have been finalized, causing his ranking to skyrocket; he is likely speaking with the department leadership now."

Gongshu Jin sighed, "Alas, it is surely related to the Finance Department."

"The reach of the Finance Department is too deep, and its influence is felt in every aspect of our lives."

Thinking that Zhang Yu was the top student in the Civil Engineering Department, yet the faculty could not protect him from the Finance Department, the students present felt a shared sense of sorrow.

But just then, the ranking hovering above Zhang Yu’s head shifted once more.

Li Xiao thought to himself, "It can still go higher?"

But this time, it did not rise; it fell.

Yet, despite the drop, the gazes of those around him grew even more shocked and horrified, for they felt Zhang Yu’s aura surging, swelling, and erupting with intensity!

It was because the ranking above his head had changed from the Civil Engineering Department to the Artifact Refining Department.

From the dim eighth place in Civil Engineering, he had transformed into the dazzling forty-eighth place in the Artifact Refining Department.

He was an Artifact Refining prodigy!

Li Xiao gasped, "Senior brother! You! You! You transferred to the Artifact Refining Department?"

Zhang Yu smiled faintly and said, "I originally intended to settle down and focus in Civil Engineering, but all I received in return was the humiliation and oppression of the Finance Department."

"So, I have decided to stop pretending."

"I am laying my cards on the table."

"I am a student of the Artifact Refining Department."

Requesting monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)