Chapter 526: Ultimate Artifact Refining Genius (1010) (Thanks to 'Traveler')

Chapter 526: Ultimate - Artifact Forging Prodigy (10/10) (Thanks to ‘_Traveler_’ for the alliance leader donation)

On this day, Zhang Yu arrived at True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s laboratory to participate in the research of the Apotheosis-level artifact remains as usual, when the True Monarch suddenly asked: "Are you planning to compete head-on with Jin Jun for the military certification of the Heavenly Sun Radiant God?"

Evidently, the matter had already reached her ears.

Zhang Yu nodded: "Yes."

True Monarch Magnetic Pole pondered for a moment and said: "There are many people watching your master right now."

"After all, I intend to be evaluated for Apotheosis, but many do not wish for Ten Thousand Laws University to have another Apotheosis-level cultivator."

"Since you are my disciple, you will naturally be under their observation as well."

"When the time comes for you to participate in the prototype evaluation, I fear there will be no shortage of scrutiny, or even deliberate obstruction, and the requirements for you will be far more stringent..."

True Monarch Magnetic Pole weighed her words carefully as she explained the intricacies to Zhang Yu.

To her, if Zhang Yu could successfully secure the Heavenly Sun Radiant God project, it might offer a modicum of assistance to her own Apotheosis evaluation.

However, if Zhang Yu were to commit any errors during the process that implicated her, it would instead become a burden on her path to Apotheosis.

The worst-case scenario would be Zhang Yu resorting to cheating—such as proxy forging or forgery—in order to surpass Jin Jun.

Though she did not believe Zhang Yu to be so foolish, the stakes were high, and she felt it necessary to offer a stern warning.

As Zhang Yu listened obediently, he glanced at the True Monarch’s chest, sensing the increasingly distinct Dao Seed within. Watching the four characters "Heavenly Craft and Earthly Works," he gradually began to perceive the information contained therein.

Zhang Yu thought to himself: "To replicate this Dao Seed of Heavenly Craft and Earthly Works, I must forge a magical artifact of level 30 or higher alongside True Monarch Magnetic Pole?"

He mused that this requirement was far more demanding than any previous Dao Seed.

After all, with his current skill, the highest-level artifact Zhang Yu could forge was merely level 20.

"A level 30 artifact—that is something only a Nascent Soul cultivator could forge."

"Must I wait until I reach the Nascent Soul realm to replicate my teacher’s Dao Seed?"

Zhang Yu shook his head slightly, thinking that would be far too slow.

A thought crossed his mind, and he considered another approach: "I wonder if becoming her assistant and participating in her artifact forging projects... would that count toward the condition, and would I be able to successfully replicate the Dao Seed?"

Zhang Yu felt it should count.

He began to probe the True Monarch indirectly, only to quickly discover... there were simply no projects where he could serve as an assistant.

"The gap between our artifact forging levels is simply too vast."

"Sigh, is there any way to participate in a project without needing high-level forging skills..."

As Zhang Yu pondered, he looked at the Apotheosis remains nearby, and a spark of inspiration suddenly struck him.

"Unless, like now, I become the test subject within the project, becoming the very thing the project requires..."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu opened his mouth and suddenly said: "Teacher, this artifact remain has only Yin components, no Yang components?"

True Monarch Magnetic Pole glanced at him: "What are you trying to say?"

She had felt this boy’s eyes darting around since a moment ago, unsure of what scheme he was hatching.

Zhang Yu said: "I was just thinking, this Yin and Yang, the balance of Yin and Yang, is the Great Dao of Dual Cultivation."

"Might a Yang component be needed to better drive the experiment?"

True Monarch Magnetic Pole: "Do you think I haven't tried that? Ordinary remains are useless."

Zhang Yu stepped forward and said: "That is why we cannot use ordinary remains!"

True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s eyes flashed: "You mean... to forge parts of your own body into remains?"

Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback and quickly said: "That is not what I meant; I meant to use mine as a reference..."

The True Monarch, however, muttered to herself: "Indeed, having only you as a test subject is too few; it has dragged down the progress of the entire project."

"If I could forge certain parts of your body into remains and replicate them, the overall efficiency might be greatly improved."

At this thought, True Monarch Magnetic Pole revealed a faint smile and reached out toward Zhang Yu, intending to take them off for inspection.

Zhang Yu hurriedly said: "Teacher! What if it fails? What if the changes in my body cause the Apotheosis remains to reject me?"

"Let us first use my data, employ biomimetic techniques, and forge a set of remains from other materials to test it out."

True Monarch Magnetic Pole thought for a moment and said: "That makes sense."

Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: "This... should count as forging an artifact with my teacher, right?"

...

Late July.

In Ye Xingli’s laboratory, lightning flickered in Zhang Yu’s palms as he traced mana circuits onto a second-hand artifact using the Five-Thunder Refinement Method.

This Five-Thunder Refinement Method was the tenth technique Zhang Yu had accumulated for his Artifact Forging Prodigy trait.

As the final cycle of the technique completed, successfully pushing it to level 20, Zhang Yu’s Artifact Forging Prodigy reached its final tier.

Ultimate - Artifact Forging Prodigy (10/10): The more artifact production techniques mastered and the higher their level, the higher the forging efficiency, up to a maximum increase of 100%.

Zhang Yu felt a stir: "It is perfect that I will be learning many artifact blueprints for the Heavenly Sun Radiant God project next."

"With every blueprint I master, my forging speed will increase, further accelerating the future construction of the prototype." Looking back at the layers of bonuses from the Prodigy trait, Zhang Yu thought: "Combined with the first tier, my ability to learn blueprints is doubled."

"The second tier increases the quality of the artifacts while effectively reducing costs."

Zhang Yu glanced at the laboratory and thought: "It is time to leave here and begin studying the Heavenly Sun Radiant God."

Meanwhile, nearby, after Ye Xingli finished processing another set of experiments, she swapped out her hands and handed them to Zi Yunzhen, who stood by.

These were the prosthetic remains Ye Xingli used as replacements for safety, specifically for the research into the artifact that purifies malevolent energy.

Zi Yunzhen took the hands, looking at them as if they were a work of art, feeling their supreme beauty.

After all, as a prodigy of the Artifact Forging Department, Ye Xingli’s remains were objects of study and observation for them all, and every viewing revealed a new charm.

After changing her hands, Ye Xingli took advantage of the interval to pull out a piece of cement and took a bite with a look of disdain.

Zhang Yu said: "Senior Sister, are you filming a video?"

Ye Xingli nodded after taking two more bites of cement: "Yes, my fans are mostly lower-school and vocational students; they like watching me eat cement."

Then, Ye Xingli began to film her legs; her legs, shimmering with the brilliance of the starry sky, were put on full display, showcasing the expense and charm of the remains—this was also content her fans loved.

After spending this time together, Zhang Yu learned that Ye Xingli had over 3 million fans on the Spirit World network; she could be called an influencer.

If in the past, cultivators wanted to be sword cultivators, alchemists, or talisman masters...

Then in the modern age, the profession cultivators most wanted to be was an influencer.

Because this line of work was fast-paced and easy to make money in.

According to Ye Xingli, she didn't know why her fans were so stupid, but whenever she posted a random video of the remains on her body, those fools would spontaneously like, promote, and click on ads.

Ye Xingli said: "In reality, it is best not to associate with lower-school or vocational students."

"But if you want to be an influencer, then he who wins the vocational students wins the world."

"After all, vocational students are the largest group in the university, and they are the group most likely to idolize the wealthy, needing some form of spiritual sustenance or anchor for their Dao heart."

After saying this casually, Ye Xingli turned her attention to her ocular remains.

Ye Xingli’s regard for Zhang Yu stemmed entirely from the high esteem held by the Magnetic Pole Sovereign.

Upon hearing the Sovereign describe Zhang Yu as a man who cherished old ties, she began to calibrate her own approach to better suit his temperament.

Gazing at the "Pauper Simulator" flickering within her ocular implants, she found that by inputting their current surroundings and the words they exchanged, the program would generate a plethora of suitable responses.

Pauper Simulator: Offer the cement to him and ask if he would like a taste.

Pauper Simulator: A reminder: this simulator is for entertainment and research into the mindset, speech, and reactions of the impoverished; do not accept its output as gospel, lest you truly become one.

Pauper Simulator: A final warning: once you become a pauper, there is no turning back.

Ye Xingli extended the cement toward him: "Would you like a taste?"

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Senior Sister, I intend to leave the laboratory for a time; I must begin studying the schematics for the Heavenly Sun Radiant God."

To master the necessary technology, Zhang Yu had chosen to study a variety of artifact blueprints, thereby acquiring every skill required for the construction of the Radiant God.

Unlike the cultivation of internal arts, the study of blueprints could be accelerated through simulations within the Spirit Realm.

Thus, he naturally planned to head to the Taiqing Realm to hasten his progress.

As he bade Ye Xingli farewell, his gaze swept over the faint, fleeting glimmer of the spiritual artifact core at her breast.

He mused to himself, "Spending nearly every day with my Senior Sister these past two months has finally paid off."

Yet, Zhang Yu knew that for the coming period, he would be unable to remain by her side.

Refining the prototype of the Heavenly Sun Radiant God involved three primary stages.

First, he had to master the blueprints and acquire all technical knowledge.

Second, he had to forge the Level 1 prototype.

Third, he had to upgrade the prototype level by level.

Zhang Yu thought, "To secure the military certification, I must reach at least Level 11, though Level 15 or higher would offer a far greater chance of passing the review."

"Beyond that, I must account for the timing of the application process."

"If Jin Jun applies for the review before I do, I must be ready to follow suit immediately."

"Should he pass first and claim the military certification quota for the Heavenly Sun Radiant God for the coming year, I would be forced to wait until the year after."

With this thought, he quickened his pace, offered a final nod to Ye Xingli, and departed the laboratory.

Watching from afar, Ziyun Zhen pondered, "Is Zhang Yu truly intent on competing with Jin Jun?"

"It has been two months since he last saw Jin Jun; is he only now beginning to study the blueprints? Can he possibly make up for lost time?"

A few days later, Jin Jun found himself thinking of Zhang Yu once more: "The boy has yet to show his face."

He asked Ziyun Zhen: Is Zhang Yu still in your laboratory?

Ziyun Zhen: He left a few days ago, saying he was going to study the schematics for the Heavenly Sun Radiant God.

Jin Jun chuckled at the reply: "He is only starting now?"