Chapter 552: Administration Also Has Its Merits (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 552: Administration Has Its Merits (Seeking Monthly Votes)

After Gui Yuanzi dismissed Zhang Yu to attend his online class, he sent a message to Jin Jun.

Gui Yuanzi: It is arranged; he is now obediently attending my online lecture.

Jin Jun: Many thanks, Senior Brother. There will be a generous reward.

Looking at Jin Jun’s reply, Gui Yuanzi nodded slightly and replied: Only spirit coins.

As an aging Golden Core cultivator, Gui Yuanzi’s technical skills had fallen increasingly behind the new generation of Golden Core masters.

He had once thought of struggling, grinding, and working hard, only to discover that the new Golden Core cultivators promoted in the school these years were all smarter, more talented, better qualified, and possessed stronger backgrounds than him.

Falling further and further behind, he was now reduced to teaching courses like the History of Artifact Refining Technology, while the projects and experiments in his hands were barely running.

Gui Yuanzi estimated that being squeezed out of the Artifact Refining Department and transferred to some garbage department like Security or Logistics was only a matter of time.

But he had come to terms with it; no longer competing with other Golden Core cultivators, he poured all his heart into making money. As long as it paid and wasn’t illegal, he was willing to do anything.

To hoard wealth and live a few more years—that was his only remaining ambition.

As for a mere student like Zhang Yu, making him make up his class hours legally and compliantly was, in his view, no big deal.

Glancing at the student still obediently in class, Gui Yuanzi thought to himself: "Is this kid stupid? Is he really attending? Doesn't he know to slip me some money?"

"Or was my hint not subtle enough?"

Just as Gui Yuanzi was wondering if he should give Zhang Yu another nudge, he saw Zhang Yu leave the spirit-realm classroom and exit the online course he had initiated.

"Huh?" Gui Yuanzi was slightly stunned, then flew into a rage: "This brat just skipped my class?"

In Gui Yuanzi's eyes, skipping class right in front of him was a naked slap to his face.

He immediately messaged Zhang Yu: Where are you?

Gui Yuanzi: Get back here and attend class immediately.

Gui Yuanzi: Otherwise, don't even think about passing this course.

Just then, a flicker crossed Gui Yuanzi’s ocular implant, and he saw a message from Feng Yuhan of the Research Office.

As the director of the Research Office, Feng Yuhan naturally oversaw the various project funds and loans Gui Yuanzi applied for; to Gui Yuanzi, he was a vital superior, a leader who must never be offended.

Seeing the message, Gui Yuanzi felt a chill: "I'll deal with Zhang Yu later."

He immediately logged out of the spirit realm and headed to the Research Office.

Upon entering the office, he saw light and shadow flowing through Feng Yuhan’s ocular implants, as if he were busy with something.

An image of a primary intelligent artifact spirit assistant appeared before Gui Yuanzi, saying: "Teacher Gui Yuanzi, Director Feng is currently working; please wait a moment."

Gui Yuanzi nodded and sat to the side to wait.

And that wait lasted a full two hours.

Two hours later, Feng Yuhan finally glanced at him and sent a document his way.

"The funding application material is written incorrectly. Take it back, rewrite it, and bring it to me tonight."

Gui Yuanzi was slightly stunned, then grew anxious.

Although he had few projects or experiments and little funding, at least half of every sum he received went into his own pocket; it was his main source of income.

Hearing that the application needed a rewrite, Gui Yuanzi asked hurriedly: "Director Feng, tell me what the problem is, and I will fix it immediately..."

Feng Yuhan frowned impatiently and said: "The whole thing is a problem. Rewrite it all."

"That's enough, get out. Don't waste my time here."

"If I don't receive your materials by 10:00 PM tonight, consider your next funding request denied."

After returning, Gui Yuanzi thought the material must have been too perfunctory, which was why the Research Office rejected it.

So, he spent a great deal of effort rewriting the entire document, and feeling it was now flawless, he submitted it to Feng Yuhan again.

Feng Yuhan scanned the file without looking up and said: "Still no good."

Gui Yuanzi was stunned: "Ah?"

Feng Yuhan said coldly: "Gui Yuanzi, do you even want this funding or not?"

"Take it back and rewrite it."

"Write it properly. Think carefully about where the problem lies."

With his head full of confusion, Gui Yuanzi returned and spent his wits searching for reference materials and asking others to critique his writing.

The next day, he submitted the materials again with trepidation.

But no sooner had Gui Yuanzi sent the file than Feng Yuhan let out a cold snort, a flash of electricity sparking in his eyes that seemed to explode right in front of Gui Yuanzi.

"Gui Yuanzi, you are an old hand in the Artifact Refining Department. It’s one thing that your skills are lagging, but now you can't even write an application?"

Gui Yuanzi said helplessly: "Director Feng, just tell me where the problem is..." Feng Yuhan said coldly: "You need me to teach you how to write such a trivial thing? Have you lived your years in vain? You’ve lost all the dignity of a Golden Core cultivator."

Gui Yuanzi did not expect Feng Yuhan to berate him so viciously the moment he opened his mouth.

Looking at this director who was younger than himself, Gui Yuanzi felt his mana churn in his chest, and with that agitation, the light and shadow in his ocular implants flickered and jumped.

But thinking of his funding held in the other’s hands, Gui Yuanzi could only suppress his resentment and continue listening to the reprimand.

"You old Golden Cores, you coasted to a Golden Core on the back of better times, yet you don't know how to be grateful to the school or the sect. You just drift through the days year after year; I think you're just getting old and senile."

After another round of criticism, Feng Yuhan pointed to a desk nearby: "Write it right there. Show it to me the moment you finish. Ask me directly if you have questions."

Gui Yuanzi gritted his teeth and, like a student, sat in the corner of the office, silently writing the material.

A moment later, another person entered the office—it was Zhang Yu.

"Zhang Yu is here?" Feng Yuhan smiled and said: "I have received your experimental loan application; I’ve already had it approved. You didn't need to make the trip yourself."

Zhang Yu said: "Many thanks, Teacher Feng."

Feng Yuhan nodded and said: "Don't forget to participate in the projects of True Monarch Magnetic Pole and True Monarch String Tone in a timely manner. If you have any problems, tell me, and I will do my best to help you solve them."

Zhang Yu smiled slightly; he hadn't expected that after mentioning yesterday that Gui Yuanzi’s make-up class might interfere with his participation in the Divinity-Transformation Law-Implant experiment, Feng Yuhan would act so quickly.

In Feng Yuhan’s view, he had already compressed Zhang Yu’s experimental schedule to the limit; if there were any more delays, the several Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Artifact Refining Department would come to make trouble for him.

As for the History of Artifact Refining Technology... was that even a course?

He glanced at Gui Yuanzi, thinking he should propose next year to turn that course into self-study and kick Gui Yuanzi off to the Logistics Department to deliver packages, rather than letting him sponge off the Artifact Refining Department's funding.

As for taking the opportunity to befriend Zhang Yu, Feng Yuhan thought it was a good move. As a follower of an Evil God, he had gradually realized that befriending those on the side of the Righteous Gods was the true path for an Evil God follower—it was what a believer should do.

"Zhang Yu has connections to the Righteous Gods; having a good relationship with him will help my future work as an Evil God follower."

Watching the two exchange pleasantries, a thunderbolt seemed to flash through Gui Yuanzi’s mind: "Zhang Yu and Director Feng are this close?"

"Jin Jun! You’ve ruined me!"

Cursing Jin Jun in his heart, Gui Yuanzi looked at Zhang Yu and said: "Zhang Yu..."

"What are you saying?" Feng Yuhan swept a cold glance at him: "Write your material properly."

Watching Gui Yuanzi obediently follow orders, Zhang Yu had to admit: "Teachers in administration do have their merits. Some projects and some teachers in this University City really need a firm hand; they deserve a heavy blow."

Not long after Zhang Yu left Feng Yuhan’s office, he received a message from Gui Yuanzi.

Gui Yuanzi: Zhang Yu, I acted impulsively the other day.

Gui Yuanzi: From now on, attend my lectures as you please, or take leave whenever you wish; I shall grant you full marks regardless.

Zhang Yu: Please just process my leave requests through the standard procedure.

Zhang Yu: As for my grades, mark them exactly as I earn them; I beg you, offer me no special treatment.

Having resolved Gui Yuanzi’s predicament, Zhang Yu once again poured his heart and soul into the construction of his prototype.

...

Inside Jin Jun’s laboratory.

Under the tutelage of a master hired at a premium, Jin Jun felt his refining efficiency soar; every oversight or error was corrected instantly, and he could feel himself improving with every passing second.

As the final adjustments were completed, the prototype before him was successfully forged, achieving a potency of level 5 right from its inception.

Jin Jun nodded in satisfaction as he reviewed the test data, then opened his friend list via his ocular interface, noting that the transfer he had sent to Gui Yuanzi had been accepted.

He proceeded to send a message, only to receive a notification: You are no longer friends with this user.

Jin Jun paused, bewildered: "He deleted me?"

He frowned, puzzled by the turn of events, but as his gaze drifted back to the level 5 prototype, a smile returned to his face.

Based on what he had gathered from Su Yunni over the past few days, Zhang Yu had been blindly chasing speed and piling on materials after completing his level 1 prototype, leaving the entire project in a state of chaotic disarray.

To Jin Jun, this was proof that Zhang Yu’s true limitations had been exposed; his composure had fractured, and the rhythm of his laboratory was unraveling.

"A civil engineering student remains a civil engineering student; when it comes to the true craft of refining, they simply lack the mettle."

Over the following month, guided by his expensive mentor, Jin Jun’s progress accelerated rapidly. His prototype improvements flowed with increasing ease, his state of mind remained impeccable, and his laboratory operated with orderly precision, fueling his growing confidence in securing the military certification.

...

Mid-January.

Inside Ye Xingli’s laboratory.

As the final seal was cast, Zhang Yu watched the prototype before him erupt in a brilliant radiance, a flicker of joy igniting in his heart.

He had finally elevated this prototype of the Heaven-Sun Radiance God to level 11.

(End of chapter)