Chapter 547: Who Is Gettting in the Way Behind the Scenes (Thanks to 'Demon Eye' for Becoming Alliance Leader)

Chapter 547: Who is Obstructing from the Shadows (Thanks to 'Magic Eye' for becoming a Guild Leader)

Not long after Zhang Yu departed, a message from True Monarch String-Tone flickered within the bone-frame of Feng Yuhan’s vision.

True Monarch String-Tone: Has the funding been approved?

Feng Yuhan: Rest assured, it will arrive in your account momentarily.

Feng Yuhan: However, you must pick up the pace.

True Monarch String-Tone: Set your mind at ease. Magnetic Pole has already broken the ground; as long as we follow the path laid out, results will emerge soon enough.

After a brief exchange with the Artificing Department’s True Monarch String-Tone, Feng Yuhan finally let out a sigh of relief.

By leveraging the delicate political climate currently permeating the Myriad Dharma University City, he had successfully maneuvered five Nascent Soul True Monarchs from the Artificing Department to establish their own project teams, all participating in the experimentation of the Deity-Transformation Dharma-Remains.

In name, this was to assist True Monarch Magnetic Pole, but in reality, it would inevitably siphon off a significant portion of her research findings, prestige, seniority, and funding.

Especially now that True Monarch Magnetic Pole had already made breakthroughs in her research, the suspicion of "plucking the peach" was unavoidable.

Feng Yuhan, however, cared little for such things. With the other Nascent Soul True Monarchs acting as a check and balance, he could exert greater control over the Deity-Transformation project.

Simultaneously, he could acquire intelligence and data on the entire experiment more conveniently and thoroughly through multiple channels.

"Hmph, Magnetic Pole... a person like you, who only knows how to bury your head in the laboratory, unable to even manage or consolidate your own subordinates in the Artificing Department—how could the school possibly entrust such an important project as the Deity-Transformation Dharma-Remains entirely to you?"

"Once the others produce their own results, I will make you understand that you are not the only one who knows the art of crafting."

Feng Yuhan had seen many cultivators who, having mastered a specific aspect of Immortal technology, became arrogant, conceited, and dismissive of others. To maintain the order of the school’s research, he had disciplined many of them.

In Feng Yuhan's view, technical personnel lacked an understanding of the school’s difficulties and possessed no grand vision; they saw only the tiny patch of land that was their own laboratory. They needed to be obedient to ensure the laws of the University City remained intact.

As for Zhang Yu? A student having to assist five Nascent Soul True Monarchs with a workload several times larger—such a trivial matter was never even registered in Feng Yuhan’s mind.

Countless minor figures were ruined every year, caught in the crossfire of high-level power struggles.

Adding a bit of extra work to a student was nothing to concern himself with, and the thought vanished from his mind as he turned his attention elsewhere.

...

After leaving Feng Yuhan’s office, Zhang Yu began to contemplate his countermeasures.

First was the most common choice in the Kunxu Realm... endure it?

Zhang Yu shook his head internally: "If I run around assisting these True Monarchs with their experiments, how much time will I have left for my own projects?"

Moreover, although outsiders were skeptical, Zhang Yu knew that the progress of his 'Heavenly Sun Radiant God' prototype was at a critical juncture in his competition with Jin Jun. How could he waste time?

Once he failed that competition, he would have to wait another academic year... for Zhang Yu, who was desperate to participate in the Top Ten Leagues, this was an unacceptable outcome.

"And the new design competition is in May next year; I must submit my entry before then."

"Calculating it this way, I had best complete the prototype by April or earlier, so I can free up at least a month to prepare for the competition..."

"Then I must strive for other military-grade capabilities; otherwise, how can I dominate the Top Ten Leagues?"

The more he thought, the more Zhang Yu felt the urgency of the coming year, making him all the more unwilling to waste time on the experiments of other True Monarchs.

Just then, a message from True Monarch Ziyun appeared in his vision.

True Monarch Ziyun: Boss, when are you coming to the lab?

Zhang Yu: You prepare the groundwork first; I will return once I have handled the matters at hand.

After some thought, Zhang Yu decided to first seek out his master, Magnetic Pole, who should have a better grasp of the current situation.

Regardless of what Zhang Yu intended to do next, gathering intelligence and collecting information was the essential first step.

...

Inside the laboratory.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole held a rhombic crystal. As her Dharma power circulated, she had begun to extract thin, wispy threads of pain from the crystal.

This was her latest achievement. Following the exchange of Dharma power and blood-qi, she had completed her first memory exchange, extracting a sliver of pain-filled memory from the vast, ocean-like memory bank of the Deity-Transformation Dharma-Remains.

After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Zhang Yu, saying, "I am aware of the situation."

"Heh, there are truly many who do not wish to see your master successfully ascend to Deity-Transformation. I have only just produced some results, and one by one, they cannot wait to emerge and take a bite of the meat."

Zhang Yu asked tentatively, "Master, does the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch know of these matters?"

True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s gaze sharpened. She said coldly, "How could Feng Yuhan alone move old ghosts like True Monarch String-Tone? Even if you gave them ten times the courage, they would not dare to compete with me directly."

"It is nothing more than someone behind the scenes giving the order—wanting the project to yield results, yet not wanting me to claim too much credit and successfully pass the Deity-Transformation review."

"This, then, is the 'Human Tribulation' of Deity-Transformation."

"The long road of the Immortal Dao... the further one goes, the harder it is to advance, the more variables are involved, and the more complex the external factors become. It is no longer a simple matter of accumulating one's own cultivation."

Listening to her lament, Zhang Yu’s heart stirred. He vaguely understood and asked in surprise, "Master, does the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch also not wish for you to ascend to Deity-Transformation?"

In Zhang Yu’s view, as Vice-Principal, the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch oversaw the research of Immortal technology at the university. While he did not manage the departments directly, he was the great patron of Magnetic Pole’s lineage and the other teachers in the Artificing Department.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole replied calmly, "If the Qiongjiang God-Monarch were to deal with you and me, the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch would naturally intervene to protect us."

"But if I wish to ascend to Deity-Transformation, then competition between him and me becomes inevitable."

"Especially... when I go from being his subordinate helping him earn money, to standing on equal footing and splitting the profits with him—if it were you, how would you choose?"

"If I become a Deity-Transformation cultivator, how much will the resources controlled by Myriad Dharma University increase? Whether the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch gains or loses after accounting for the share I would take directly determines whether he supports my achievement or not."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu looked at his master and thought to himself: "Master, you must fight hard and ascend to Deity-Transformation as soon as possible."

True Monarch Magnetic Pole continued, "Within a month or two at most, I will resolve the trouble that String-Tone and the others are causing."

As she spoke, she patted Zhang Yu’s head and said, "Good disciple, for this period, you shall temporarily assist with their work, lest they claim that we are not cooperating with the project team and give them an excuse to speak ill of us."

"The time wasted, your master will compensate you for later."

Zhang Yu believed that if his master promised compensation, she would surely deliver.

But the problem was that if he missed the military qualification, he would miss a year, and the next Top Ten Leagues would be gone.

Even if his master ascended to Deity-Transformation, could she compensate him with a chance to compete for a self-selected Immortal sect technique?

However, Zhang Yu understood that he could not voice these thoughts; no one would believe he had a chance at the Top Ten Leagues, and it would only create unnecessary friction.

"Behind Feng Yuhan lies the support of the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch; everything he does aligns with the grand strategy of obstructing my master’s path to Deity-Transformation."

"To confront Feng Yuhan head-on within the University City seems unrealistic..."

Dealing with someone backed by a Deity-Transformation God-Monarch, especially when the opponent acted within the rules, left even his master constrained and unable to exert her full strength, let alone him, a mere Foundation Establishment student.

Yet, having realized this, Zhang Yu had no intention of giving up.

"My advantage lies in having channels my master does not, and another perspective from which to deal with Feng Yuhan."

"Although Feng Yuhan is strong, and even stronger on his home turf of the University City..."

"If viewed from a different angle, he might be quite weak, and even weaker here in the University City."

Zhang Yu thought to himself: "For example... if he has truly joined the Demonic Sect or even become a follower of an Evil God, it would be much easier for me to deal with him than for my master."

"Could he be?"

Fu Ji snorted and said, "A guy who handles management in the research department—his achievements in Immortal technology are likely inferior to the vast majority of Nascent Soul cultivators in the University City."

"With the Spirit Realm fractured, how much combat power could such a person possibly have left?"

"What are the odds, do you suppose, that the Evil God, under our guidance, would dispatch his main forces to crush him, only for the man to hold his ground and weather the onslaught single-handedly?"

Fuji spoke with fluid ease: "Yet, merely dealing with him is futile; even if we were to kill him, it would change nothing. This game was laid out by a Deity of Transformation, and should Feng Yuhan fall, another would simply take his place."

"You must find a way to make him work for you."

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment, then frowned: "How am I to make him help me?"

Fuji laughed at the question: "When it comes to tormenting the Evil God, I am a master of the craft. Just listen to me."

"We shall begin by startling the snake by beating the grass, and strike fear into their hearts."

"But you must be careful to conceal your true intentions..."

...

Inside the dormitory.

Zhang Yu looked at Zhang Pianpian and said: "Senior, could you help me look into this Feng Yuhan?"

As he spoke, Zhang Yu glanced at the badge marking her as fifth in the Department of Talismans, a flicker of envy crossing his eyes.

Since returning from the Ten Great Leagues, her departmental rank had climbed from tenth to fifth, and her standing in the university had soared to twenty-sixth.

Hearing his request, Zhang Pianpian asked with curiosity: "What about this Feng Yuhan?"

Zhang Yu immediately recounted the shifts in the project and the mounting workload. Zhang Pianpian shook her head as she listened: "Though Feng Yuhan is targeting you and your master, he is merely following protocol. There may well be higher authorities in the university pulling the strings."

"Investigating him... I fear it will be of little use."

(End of this chapter)