Chapter 513: Ascending to the Artifact Refining Department

Chapter 513: Ascending to the Artificing Department

Although Ying Xin had heard rumors from her ancestor, seeing the rank above Zhang Yu’s head shift from Civil Engineering to Artificing left her utterly stunned.

"An ascension in broad daylight," she murmured, her heart trembling. "The Senior Brother has risen from the construction sites of Civil Engineering to the halls of Artificing!"

Gongshu Jin, nearby, erupted into raucous laughter, his body shaking with excitement. "Excellent! My friend, this is truly excellent!"

Noticing the gazes fixed upon him, he quickly clenched his trembling hands, stammering, "I... I am simply happy for the Senior Brother!"

Suppressing a grin that threatened to split his face, he shouted, "I am overjoyed that the Senior Brother has transferred to Artificing!"

Yu Xinghan curled his lip, watching the display. "Damn it... anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one who transferred."

He thought to himself, "Isn't it just because you think you'll be top of the class now that Zhang Yu is gone? Who doesn't see through that little scheme?"

Shi Yunxiang snapped photos, debating whether to post them to his social feed.

"Zhang Yu was reviled by countless beast-kin for crushing Xiang Shan. If they discover I’m his friend, I’ll be branded a traitor to my kind."

"But things are different now. Before, it was Zhang Yu the human beating up the beast-kin Xiang Shan; now, it’s the Great Artificer beating up a Civil Engineering mutt... who could possibly object?"

Though he didn't attend Sky Demon University, Shi Yunxiang understood the social order: race was major, and major was race.

To the beast-kin, Zhang Yu’s transfer was akin to a low-born rising to the elite. Insulting Xiang Shan now was not just acceptable; it was expected.

Ying Xin looked at Gongshu Jin. "Don't call him Senior Brother anymore. You aren't in the same department. 'Senior' will suffice."

Gongshu Jin nodded frantically. "Right, right, you're right. A change of address is only proper."

Meanwhile, the surrounding workers and security guards watched with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

"Sigh, having 'Artificing Department' hanging over your head really does feel different."

"Look at that—even the font for the 48th rank in Artificing seems bolder, doesn't it?"

"It’s not the font. Look at the names: 'Artificing' implies craft and refinement, while 'Civil Engineering' just sounds like dirt and wood. You can tell just by the name that Artificing is more cultured."

Ji Yuanxu, hearing the workers' chatter, hurried over, staring at Zhang Yu’s retreating back in silence.

He fixed his eyes on the space above Zhang Yu’s head, desperate to confirm the department label.

But the distance was too great, and his Tiger-Grade ocular implants failed him.

"I can't see it."

"Damn it, I just can't see it."

That day, Ji Yuanxu skipped his overtime. He sought out the free services of Fu Xinyao, venting every ounce of his frustration, jealousy, and resentment.

"Zhang Yu! By what right did you transfer to Artificing?"

"You spent three years on a construction site—what could you possibly know about crafting?"

"It’s a conspiracy! The whole thing is a dark, impenetrable scheme by Wanfa University."

Ping Han listened to Ji Yuanxu, his mind and body reeling from the news.

"Zhang Yu... transferred to Artificing? How could he possibly get in?!"

Fu Xinyao frowned upon hearing the news. "Damn it, I’ve wasted time on these Civil Engineering losers. I need to find a way to infiltrate the Artificing Department."

"Artificing... this is going to be a problem."

...

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu discovered that the world truly was a broader place after his transfer.

As his new rank shimmered above him, passersby cast glances of respect, silently stepping aside to clear his path.

His ocular interface was flooded with friend requests, forcing him to disable the feature entirely.

Even the advertisements flickering in his vision had changed.

The cheap, local ads had vanished, replaced by high-end brands like Wan Dao Craftsman and Diamond Profound Works.

The chaotic street signs had transformed into elegant, glowing displays and golden, shimmering projections, clearly tailored to the wealthy students of the Artificing Department.

Even the geography seemed to shift.

"Was there always a shortcut here?"

"Is this... an anti-gravity path reserved for Artificing students?"

"There are artifact shops that only Artificing students can see?"

"Wait, was there a street here before?"

"And why does everything feel so much more expensive?"

Walking through the university town as an Artificing student, Zhang Yu realized how vastly different the world looked through the eyes of the two departments.

"To an Artificing student, the university town is larger, more luxurious, more convenient, and far more... expensive!"

"I suppose I’ll have to ask someone from Civil Engineering to do my shopping from now on."

Zhang Yu received apologies from the construction foremen, though he held no grudges; the suppression had come from the Finance Department, not them.

Though he had joined Artificing, he couldn't reverse the Finance Department's decisions, and the project on the 669th floor remained out of reach.

"Still, the Artificing Department has plenty of factory and building projects. I should spend more time with the professors and find a way to get my company some work."

As he pondered, a blizzard of congratulations flooded his inbox.

Mo Shangjin: Congratulations! I’ll come to you for all my artifact repairs now.

Su Yanyang: Senior, I truly hate to see you go.

Che Yufei: Boss Zhang, I’m sticking with you to the end. Call me whenever there’s overtime.

The class group chat was a frenzy of shock and celebration.

Seeing the messages scroll by, Zhang Yu thought, "I’m not in Civil Engineering anymore. Will they kick me out? Should I leave the group myself?"

He asked his homeroom teacher, True Person Jiao Lei, who replied: No need to rush.

True Person Jiao Lei: The school rules don't mandate leaving the group after a transfer.

True Person Jiao Lei: Civil Engineering will always be your home. Stay in the group; you can always come back and look around whenever you like.

Zhang Yu then checked the Songyang hometown group, where his news was already the talk of the town.

Mo Tianyi: Boss Zhang has successfully transferred to Artificing.

Mo Tianyi: He is the first Wanfa Artificing student from our city—truly unprecedented.

Lan Ling: Brother Mo, is Boss Zhang hiring? I applied for Civil Engineering at Shanhe University.

Mo Tianyi: What do you mean, "you too"?

Mo Tianyi: From now on, when we discuss Boss Zhang in this group, remember not to treat him as a Civil Engineering student.

Mo Tianyi: It’s best not to mention his past work in construction at all.

Zhang Yu shook his head slightly. "Xiao Mo is still too impulsive, though his heart is in the right place."

"Even if I don't care, a background in Civil Engineering is, to many, a stain."

Fu Ji remarked, "If a Civil Engineering background is the color of excrement, then Artificing is pure gold. The color of excrement is fine on its own, but when placed next to gold, it just looks like a pile of dung."

"Once you join the Department of Artifact Refining, people will surely look at you through colored glasses."

"But it is of no great consequence; once you make a name for yourself with your craft in a couple of years, everyone will grow accustomed to your status."

"The only real concern is that it might affect your prospects when you seek to be initiated into a sect."

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred, and he asked, "It could have an impact even there?"

Fu Ji replied, "Of course, it is possible. If you wish to alter it... it would be troublesome. You would need a master at the Soul Formation stage or higher to erase the record of your civil engineering origins from your file, severing the causal ties and concealing your true roots."

Meanwhile, more students in the Songyang hometown group were inquiring about Zhang Yu and his company, many harboring thoughts of part-time work.

Clearly, Zhang Yu’s new identity in the Artifact Refining Department had greatly elevated the company’s image and its potential for growth.

Deep within the Spirit Realm, Zhao Tianxing watched the chat logs refreshing incessantly, observing how upperclassmen and lowerclassmen alike envied the job held by a mere junior college student like himself, causing the pixelated curve of his mouth to tilt even further.

Looking up, one could see that in a space of low resolution, only the photograph of Zhao Tianxing, Zhang Yu, and the others on the awards podium emitted a faint, soft glow, revealing a relatively clear image.

Although his income had improved, Zhao Tianxing had not moved to a new residence in order to save money.

Upon hearing that their classmate and boss had transferred to the Artifact Refining Department, the roommates around him sent a flurry of messages, and a sea of exclamation marks suddenly flashed through the blurred space.

Soul Cultivators: !!!!!

...

At the same time, having completed his transfer formalities, Zhang Yu was pulled into the Artifact Refining Department’s class group by his homeroom teacher, Master Lianhuo.

As he joined, the students sent a few scattered messages of welcome before returning to their own discussions.

Zi Yunzhen: I achieved a score of 56,733 in the Golden Core simulation, surpassing 72 percent of the students.

Another student posted: Wow, your simulation score went up again?

Zi Yunzhen: Made some progress. You should all try running it; see what score you would get if you forged your Golden Core now.

Su Yunni: I achieved a score of 79,251 in the Golden Core simulation, surpassing 85 percent of the students.

Zi Yunzhen: Wow, that must be the highest in our class, right?

Su Yunni: It hasn't reached the excellent level yet.

Su Yunni: I must keep working hard. My goal is to hit at least 250,000 points in the simulation before I actually forge my Golden Core.

Watching the messages in the group, Zhang Yu realized they were discussing Golden Core simulation scores.

"Sigh, the Songyang hometown group discusses part-time jobs, the civil engineering group discusses construction projects, and look at the Artifact Refining Department? Third-years are discussing Golden Core simulations, contemplating the quality of their future cores."

"This is the disparity."

Lost in thought, Zhang Yu curiously clicked on the link shared in the group, wanting to see what score he would achieve if he were to forge his Golden Core now.

(End of chapter)