Chapter 519: Dragged into Becoming a Soul Cultivator (Thanks to 'Geineer' for Gifting Alliance Leader)

Chapter 519: Dragged into a Soul Cultivator (Thanks to ‘Geineer’ for the alliance leader donation)

True Monarch Leiji was a being whose form resembled glass, devoid of even the slightest trace of flesh and blood.

This was because ninety-nine percent of his body had been replaced with magical treasures.

Countless spiritual energy circuits connected from the floors and walls to his body, transmitting vast amounts of spiritual intelligence and data.

Layers of array radiance shrouded him, obscuring the intricate details of his form.

It was said that True Monarch Leiji’s true body sat in this office year-round, rarely venturing out, preferring to let his consciousness roam the Spirit Realm and project itself elsewhere.

To Zhang Yu, the motionless figure looked more like a temple idol than a living person.

Zhang Yu knew that True Monarch Leiji followed the Artifact Refinement School’s "Magical Treasure" faction—an old-fashioned sect Feng Tingting had once mentioned. They viewed flesh as obsolete and considered "Dharma Corpses" to be heretical, insisting that the transformation of humanity into magical treasures was the only path for the future of the Immortal Dao.

Zhang Yu had no comment on such theories; after all, his own level in the Immortal Dao and artifact refinement was insufficient to judge their merit.

What worried Zhang Yu now was: "Does this True Monarch Leiji discriminate against biological bodies?"

He recalled the instances of discrimination he had faced since arriving at the Artifact Refinement Department, whether due to his background in Civil Engineering or his original, unaugmented flesh.

"In the Artifact Refinement Department, the Dharma Corpse faction discriminates against natural bodies; those with many Dharma Corpses look down on those with few, those with expensive ones despise those with cheap ones, and the Magical Treasure faction discriminates against both flesh and Dharma Corpses alike."

"Could this True Monarch Leiji be stalling my project payment just because he discriminates against me?"

Just as these thoughts swirled in Zhang Yu’s mind, True Monarch Leiji spoke.

His glass-like face showed no movement of a mouth, yet the vibrations in the air formed a voice that echoed in Zhang Yu’s ears.

"Zhang Yu, is it? What is it you want?"

Zhang Yu offered a polite smile and said, "It is about the project payment..."

True Monarch Leiji replied coldly, "I told you, do not come to urge me again, did I not?"

Zhang Yu explained, "True Monarch, our company is small and our turnover is tight. I am currently covering the employees' salaries out of my own pocket..."

True Monarch Leiji said indifferently, "Who in the construction business doesn't cover some costs? Why is it a problem for you? If you can do the work, do it; if not, leave."

Zhang Yu paused, wondering whether he should reveal his status as a disciple of True Monarch Ciji to avoid an awkward misunderstanding, when True Monarch Leiji continued: "I know you are the new disciple of True Monarch Ciji."

"But whoever comes here must follow the rules."

Zhang Yu said, "Uncle-Master..."

True Monarch Leiji: "Who told you to call me Uncle-Master? I do not deal in such personal relationships here; that is exactly what is wrong with Wanfa University."

With that, a cold snort rang out like a thunderclap in Zhang Yu’s ears, leaving him dizzy.

True Monarch Leiji added, "Everything here follows procedure. You will get your project payment when it is due."

"That is all. If there is nothing else, leave. Do not stay here and interfere with my work."

Zhang Yu walked out of the office feeling disgruntled, thinking to himself: "Is what this True Monarch Leiji said true? Does Kunxu really have such an incorruptible leader?"

"Should I ask Master for help?"

Zhang Yu shook his head. Before understanding the full picture, he decided not to act rashly.

After all, he did not know the extent of the relationship between True Monarch Ciji and True Monarch Leiji, nor whether the latter’s interests were tied to the former.

To gather information, the first person who came to mind was Zhang Pianpian, followed by his fellow student Feng Tingting, and finally his Senior Sister, Ye Xingli.

Shortly after Zhang Yu sent his inquiries, responses popped up on his eye-implant.

The first to reply was Feng Tingting.

Feng Tingting: You didn't go there in your original flesh, did you?

Zhang Yu: Yes, you know this is the only body I have. What else would I wear?

Feng Tingting: True Monarch Leiji is the department’s most notorious old stubborn, one of the staunchest believers in the 'Magical Treasure Only' theory.

Feng Tingting: In his classes, even a dog passing by would be forced to wear a magical treasure collar.

Feng Tingting: You show up in nothing but flesh—do you really think he’d look upon you favorably?

Seeing Feng Tingting’s reply, Zhang Yu realized that True Monarch Leiji was indeed a discriminator against biological bodies.

After thanking Feng Tingting for the information, she added: Zhang Yu, when are we going to share a laboratory and refine artifacts together?

Feng Tingting: Sigh, ever since I started studying Civil Engineering, fewer and fewer people in the Artifact Refinement Department want to talk to me...

Looking at her reply, Zhang Yu sighed, realizing that he and Feng Tingting were likely the most stigmatized people in the department.

Just then, Ye Xingli also sent a message.

Ye Xingli: Did you pay?

Zhang Yu: Pay?

Ye Xingli: I don't know if the Civil Engineering Department spoiled you too much, or if you are truly naive.

Ye Xingli: The so-called Artifact Refinement Department is just a few floors and a few labs; money still has to be earned separately.

Ye Xingli: With so many projects and so much construction, who comes first, who gets more, and who gets less—how do you think that is decided?

Zhang Yu: So I should just pay True Monarch Leiji directly?

Ye Xingli: True Monarch Leiji is a man of integrity and follows the rules strictly; he will not take your money directly.

Ye Xingli: [Bian Hao] This is one of True Monarch Leiji’s students. Go find him.

Looking at the business card Ye Xingli sent, Zhang Yu thought: "After all this, it still comes down to money."

Zhang Yu added Bian Hao and explained his purpose. After some negotiation, the other party sent a link for a donation.

"Public Welfare Laboratory?" Zhang Yu looked at the content of the link, his anger flaring up: "10 Spirit Coins?"

"Damn it... my pre-tax project payment is only 20-something Spirit Coins. After paying the staff and taxes, I’d only make ten or so. They want 10 Spirit Coins just like that?"

Zhang Yu took a deep breath, suppressing his rage, and asked Bian Hao if he could pay less.

Bian Hao: Junior Brother, it’s not up to me how much is paid.

Bian Hao: Everyone donates a lot; those who donate less don't get a spot.

Bian Hao: If you donate too little, I’m afraid your donation will be for nothing.

Bian Hao: At the end of the day, if you don't do it, there are plenty of others who will. If you don't donate, there are plenty who will.

Zhang Yu couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Is it this competitive already?"

Looking at the 10-Spirit-Coin donation link, Zhang Yu calculated his accounts back and forth.

His largest stable monthly income was the 40-Spirit-Coin subsidy from the laboratory, followed by 30 Spirit Coins in reimbursements from True Monarch Ciji and Director Gao’s company, then the ten-plus Spirit Coins from his sister’s repayments, and Wen Wuyai’s 10-Spirit-Coin monthly subscription...

He had hoped the Civil Engineering projects in the Artifact Refinement Department would become another stable monthly income.

But now it seemed not only unstable, but after deducting the donation, the profit would be far less than he had imagined.

Looking at the numbers appearing on his eye-implant, Zhang Yu cursed silently: "Damn it, in the end, I make 40 Spirit Coins a month from scams, 30 from networking reimbursements, ten-plus from family loans, and 10 from tips from the wealthy."

"And yet, the Civil Engineering expertise I’ve painstakingly accumulated for over three years, the pile of technology and artifacts I’ve gathered, and the staff I’ve hired—they end up earning the least?"

Zhang Yu had considered giving up on the Artifact Refinement Department’s civil projects altogether.

But he knew that wasn't an option.

On one hand, there were so many mouths to feed in his company; on the other, while his income was high, his expenses were equally significant. Every extra Spirit Coin earned from these projects was vital to him.

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, "To assemble the prodigy of craftsmanship, I must pile up levels in forging techniques through sheer repetition."

"Alas, to master ten forging techniques to level twenty in just a few months is akin to cultivating ten Daoist arts to the same level..."

"Forget ordinary forging students; I doubt even those in the Daoist department can afford to burn through wealth the way I do."

Zhang Yu knew that most forging students could never afford to cultivate so many techniques; they typically chose a specialty and hired others when the need arose.

Much like how Zi Yunzhen had previously hired him to cast the Dragon Vein Treasure Forging Art to reinforce her Five Elements Flags.

"If it were merely burning money to become a forging prodigy, I could manage; I can even save a few spirit coins each month, but I must now prepare for the military-grade artifact project."

Zhang Yu knew that once the requirements for the forging prodigy were met, he would have to begin the preliminary forging of the Sun-Scorching God.

The cost of forging such a military-grade prototype was immense, ranging from initial technical preparations and material procurement to the leasing of specialized equipment and laboratories.

He and Fuji had calculated the expenses together, and it would require at least three hundred spirit coins.

If one accounted for inevitable waste and errors, it was not impossible for the final tally to reach five hundred.

And how many such projects ever stayed perfectly within their initial budget?

The more Zhang Yu contemplated his future expenditures, the more desperate he became to earn money.

"They say one thousand spirit coins are enough to attempt the Golden Core stage, but if I want to conquer the Top Ten Leagues and enter the sect, how could a mere ordinary Golden Core ever suffice?"

Just as Zhang Yu was lost in these thoughts, his sister, Zhang Pianpian, sent a message back.

Zhang Pianpian: This True Monarch Thunder-Pole has withheld so many project payments that he has bankrupted countless companies and driven hundreds of soul-cultivators to ruin.

Zhang Yu: Is there truly no way to resolve this?

Zhang Pianpian sighed in her reply: If this were several centuries ago in the ancient times, I would certainly advise you to let it go.

Zhang Pianpian: But in this current era, as long as he remains in Kunxu and within the university system, whether he is a Golden Core or a Nascent Soul, he must abide by the rules.

Zhang Pianpian: Within the bounds of the rules, he can suppress you until you have no room to speak.

Zhang Pianpian: But if he oversteps those bounds, even a Nascent Soul True Monarch will be struck down by thunderous retribution.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu replied thoughtfully: You mean to say... he has overstepped the rules?

Zhang Pianpian: I have yet to uncover the specifics, but based on the available intelligence, there is definitely a massive scandal buried beneath him.

Zhang Yu: Why?

Zhang Pianpian: Have you never wondered how other companies, having spent so much money—often even more than you—managed to recoup their losses?

(End of chapter)