Chapter 527: Blessing Sarira and Lockdown (Thanks to 'Novice Village Chief')

Chapter 527: The Merit Relic and the Lockdown (Thanks to 'Novice Village Chief Taipa' for the alliance-level tip)

Within the Taiqing Realm.

Inside the illusion of the side hall.

Ever since Zhang Pianpian's Dao Seed, the Taiqing Talisman, reached level 2, this illusion had manifested within the Taiqing Realm, allowing Zhang Yu to simulate objects from reality.

Though his Dao heart could only replicate artifacts and Dharma remains up to the Foundation Establishment level, it was more than enough for Zhang Yu.

At this moment, under Zhang Yu’s command, the entire environment gradually transformed into a laboratory—specifically, Ye Xingli’s laboratory.

Zhang Yu had spent nearly every day in Ye Xingli’s lab of late, gaining a thorough understanding of its layout; his simulation within the illusion was remarkably lifelike.

However, many devices were merely hollow shells; since Zhang Yu had never operated them, he could not truly simulate their inner workings.

The next moment, accompanied by the roar of the Four-Headed White Ox in his mind, Zhang Yu split into four avatars within the illusion, each walking toward a different workbench.

Simultaneously, a blueprint for an artifact appeared before him, titled the "Merit Relic."

It was a common artifact used by corporate employees, usually distributed for free by the company.

Once equipped, the Merit Relic would comprehensively monitor the exchange of information between the employee and the Spirit Realm network, while collecting real-time data from the user's body.

Should the employee be detected violating company regulations, the Merit Relic would directly siphon their mana as a fine, which would then be distributed as bonuses to the company at the end of the month.

It was said that after implementing the Merit Relic, many companies saw their net profits soar significantly, even without any notable increase in revenue.

As a product of Vajra University, the Merit Relic had even won the gold medal at the annual Artifact Design Competition.

The blueprint Zhang Yu was studying was, of course, not the latest version, but an obsolete one stored in the Great Library of Wanfa University, which he had purchased for study.

It was rumored that the latest version possessed even more formidable functions, and its design schematics were strictly guarded corporate secrets.

Zhang Yu’s four minds began to study different sections of the Merit Relic’s design.

His purpose in learning this was not to manufacture Merit Relics for his own employees.

Zhang Yu sought to master the underlying technology.

Monitoring information exchange with the Spirit Realm involved Spirit Realm transmission and defense technologies, which could be applied to the Tianri Huangshen’s Spirit Realm defense module to prevent the military-grade puppet from being compromised.

Real-time physiological data collection involved internal sensor technology and specialized mana detection, both crucial for the Tianri Huangshen to monitor its own systems.

The forced siphoning of mana as a fine utilized automated mana refinement technology, a key component of the Tianri Huangshen’s power system.

If Zhang Yu could simulate the Merit Relic’s blueprint through the Taiqing Realm and practice it to level 20 using the Feather Book, he would naturally master these technologies, facilitating the subsequent refinement of the Tianri Huangshen prototype.

"By learning these artifacts one by one, I can gain complete control over all the technologies required for the Tianri Huangshen."

As Zhang Yu studied the blueprints, various textbooks from the Artifact Refinement Department appeared around him.

Since he had yet to complete his coursework, he had to self-study the parts of the design he did not understand.

However, once he grasped the basics and successfully completed a single refinement of the Merit Relic, he could use repetitive practice to push the Feather Book’s proficiency count.

This would force his refinement level to rise, allowing him to master the knowledge and techniques in the process.

The entire Taiqing Realm began to operate at high speed; under a twenty-fold acceleration, Zhang Yu, equipped with the "Artifact Refinement Prodigy" trait, split his consciousness four ways, frantically absorbing everything before him.

Several hours later, feeling he had fully digested the blueprints, Zhang Yu began to simulate bone relics, preparing to practice the refinement of the Merit Relic within the illusion.

In the days that followed, Zhang Yu devoted himself entirely to his studies, spending every spare moment within the Taiqing Realm.

...

When Zhang Yu arrived at the Ciji Zhenjun’s laboratory again that day, he saw a circular, crystal-like object hovering and dancing around the Transformation-God Dharma remain under the Zhenjun’s command.

Zhang Yu asked curiously, "Teacher, what is this?"

Ciji Zhenjun smiled. "It is an experimental prototype I created. Though incomplete, it seems capable of stimulating the blood and qi within the Transformation-God Dharma remain."

Having participated in the experiments for so long, Zhang Yu knew that Ciji Zhenjun had divided the progress of cracking the Transformation-God Dharma remain into four stages: free control, principle decryption, laboratory manufacturing, and final mass production.

Within the free control stage, Ciji Zhenjun had set five goals: mana exchange, blood-qi exchange, memory exchange, knowledge exchange, and cultivation exchange.

Each goal was more difficult than the last, with the final goal—cultivation exchange—requiring the ability to both absorb and bestow cultivation via the Dharma remain.

Ciji Zhenjun had already achieved the goal of mana exchange.

It seemed he was now nearing the goal of blood-qi exchange.

Zhang Yu said, "Congratulations, Teacher."

Ciji Zhenjun replied indifferently, "I owe it to your reminder. This prototype is a Yang-type Dharma remain modeled after your physical characteristics; it successfully deceives the Transformation-God Dharma remain into believing it is you."

Zhang Yu’s gaze flickered as he looked at the circular crystal in mid-air, thinking to himself, "The teacher has succeeded in refining it, so why couldn't I replicate the Dao Seed? Could it be..."

Zhang Yu asked, "Is this Dharma remain of a low grade?"

Ciji Zhenjun glanced at Zhang Yu with surprise. "You have a keen eye. It seems you have improved quite a bit since changing departments."

"This Dharma remain is currently only level 11," Zhang Yu noted. "Does that mean we must continue to raise its level to successfully complete the blood-qi exchange goal?"

Ciji Zhenjun shook his head. "There is still room for design optimization; there is no need to push the first prototype to such a high level."

With that, Ciji Zhenjun grabbed Zhang Yu with a smile. "Let me see what else can be optimized."

Feeling himself held in Ciji Zhenjun’s grip, treated like a mere lab animal to be disposed of at will, Zhang Yu had to force a smile and cooperate with his teacher.

Whenever he recalled his lack of agency, Zhang Yu reminded himself that one must have wealth and one must become strong.

Ciji Zhenjun said, "Good, keep it up. Don't move."

Zhang Yu replied, "As long as you are satisfied, Teacher."

Ciji Zhenjun: "You have started studying the Tianri Huangshen, haven't you? Given your academic ranking, you should try applying for a project loan from the school. Don't forget."

...

In the wilderness.

For once, Zhang Yu headed to the construction site to use the Tiankunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power for work.

Just as he finished and was about to return, a familiar figure blocked his path.

"Feng Yuhan?"

Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed; he recognized this man as Feng Yuhan from the school’s Research Office.

It was this very Feng Yuhan who had previously proposed regulatory and lockdown measures against him, hoping to keep him confined to the school or even locked in a lab. In the end, Ciji Zhenjun, accompanied by Director Gao and Zhang Yu, had successfully argued against it before the Wan-Hua Divine Lord.

Zhang Yu knew this administrator was not on good terms with Ciji Zhenjun, and his heart immediately grew wary upon seeing him.

Feng Yuhan said calmly, "Student Zhang Yu."

The next moment, spiritual light flickered across the heavens, and chains manifested out of thin air, completely sealing off a radius of one thousand meters.

Within this area, not only did the spiritual energy stagnate, making it impossible for Zhang Yu to draw upon even a fraction, but communication with the Spirit Realm was also severed, leaving him completely isolated.

Feeling that even the Earthly Sha gravity was beyond his reach, Zhang Yu was forced to land on the ground.

Zhang Yu frowned and asked, "Teacher Feng, is there something you need?"

Simultaneously, Zhang Yu activated the Sun-Moon Heaven-Connecting Bracelet lent to him by the school, intending to send a message to Ciji Zhenjun, only to find the transmission failed instantly.

He tried sending messages to others, but they all failed.

"The Sun-Moon Heaven-Connecting Bracelet has malfunctioned?"

Zhang Yu knew the Sun-Moon Heavenly Bracelet could bridge the celestial bodies above, connecting directly to the Spirit Realm through the entities known as the Sun-Patrolling Crow and the Eternal Night Jade Palace.

"Is this Feng Yuhan's doing?"

Seeming to read Zhang Yu’s intentions, Feng Yuhan spoke with icy detachment: "Do not be nervous; I have come today to offer you a boon."

"I hear the Magnetic Pole Monarch has successfully linked the bionic Dharma-remains modeled after you with the Deity-Transformation-level remains."

"I intend to purchase the vital organs from your body to facilitate the laboratory's management."

Offering no room for choice, Feng Yuhan issued the demand as if it were a final decree.

Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself: "This man... has he caught wind of my mentor's progress and come to intercept the spoils?"

Zhang Yu replied: "I have no intention of selling any part of my body."

Feng Yuhan appeared indifferent to the refusal, merely stating: "As a third-year student, it is only natural that you fail to grasp the finer clauses of the laboratory."

"As a technical achievement of Wanfa University, you are, in theory, under my jurisdiction."

"I know you are busy with your own affairs, so I shall not force you to remain at the university, but I expect you to surrender those vital organs voluntarily, if only to protect the laboratory's assets."

"It is my duty, and I trust you will support the work of the Research Department."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu realized at once: "He intends to seize control of the laboratory by claiming my very organs?"

Zhang Yu countered immediately: "The Magnetic Pole Monarch still requires my presence to refine the experimental Dharma-remains."

Simultaneously, he attempted to signal the outside world with his Heaven-Patrolling Flying Sword, only to find it utterly unresponsive.

Observing the chains flickering in and out of existence within the atmosphere, Zhang Yu thought: "Feng Yuhan possesses the cultivation of a Nascent Soul; with his Dharma treasure suppressing this space, I cannot break the blockade."

"What if I were to reach the Taiqing Realm?"

Zhang Yu attempted to retrieve his Spirit Realm mask and don it.

Watching this, Feng Yuhan said coolly: "Do not waste your effort. Our conversation today is classified; I do not wish for anyone to know of it, and you shall reach no one."