Chapter 555: Son of True Lord Magnetic Pole?

Chapter 555: The Son of True Lord Magnetic Pole?

Facing Su Yunni’s inquiry, Zi Yunzhen replied nonchalantly, "There’s nothing for me to do at the laboratory for the moment, so the boss sent me to the construction site to put in some labor."

Su Yunni chuckled. "The lab is so busy, how could there be nothing to do? What’s the matter? Has Zhang Yu stopped refining his prototype?"

As she spoke, Su Yunni began to probe for progress on the prototype, specifically regarding its various performance metrics.

After all, she had worked under Jin Jun for some time and possessed a solid understanding of the performance and data of the Heavenly Sun Radiant God at different levels.

Of course, the data she knew only pertained to the prototype.

True military-grade puppets required a military certification and a series of modifications to remove internal limiters before they could unleash their full combat potential, which would result in a massive surge in their specifications.

Watching Su Yunni’s inquisitive demeanor, Zi Yunzhen found it amusing, having already guessed the true purpose of her visit.

"Alright, I’ll tell you the truth," Zi Yunzhen said. "Zhang Yu has already submitted the prototype for official review."

"He actually submitted it for review?" Su Yunni asked, caught between doubt and shock. "Has Zhang Yu’s prototype reached Level 11?"

"Level 11?" Zi Yunzhen scoffed. "Yunni, I can’t let that comment slide."

After all, this project was one she had personally participated in, leading half the team and handling all the critical foundational work. She had worked endless overtime to achieve this; it was a project experience she intended to pin to the top of her resume.

To this end, she had even worked as Zhang Yu’s assistant for a meager two spirit coins a month, putting in more unpaid overtime than on any previous project. How could she let Su Yunni belittle their achievements?

Zi Yunzhen said proudly, "In just two months, our team pushed the prototype from Level 1 all the way to Level 15. That is why we submitted it for review."

"Level 15? In two months? How is that possible?" Su Yunni’s instinct was to disbelieve.

Seeing Su Yunni’s stunned expression, Zi Yunzhen smiled and used her ocular artifact to capture the look, then continued, "Yunni, the path of artifact refining is cruel. There will always be someone researching how to be faster, better, and cheaper than you."

"When we are in the assistant stage, the most important thing is to pick the right project, and the most important thing in picking a project is to judge the person behind it."

"As for you, your grades are decent, but your eye for people is lacking."

"Jin Jun? I saw him as a man of great ambition but little talent last year—nothing more than a withered bone in a tomb."

"Zhang Yu, on the other hand, I recognized as a piece of unpolished jade buried in the civil engineering department when the project was first being prepared last year. He possesses an extraordinary sense and inspiration for artifact refining, which is why I agreed to join his team after his repeated invitations."

Listening to this, Su Yunni thought to herself, "You were calling him a 'stinking civil engineer' just last year."

However, seeing Zi Yunzhen speak with such conviction, Su Yunni couldn't help but believe her claim about the Level 15 prototype by at least thirty percent.

And at the thought that her own team under Jin Jun might lose to Zhang Yu, Su Yunni began to feel deeply anxious.

Just as Zi Yunzhen and Su Yunni were talking, Fu Xinyao slowly approached, hoping to get closer to these two artifact-refining students.

But the next moment, a roar erupted from behind her.

"That’s her! Grab her!"

Fu Xinyao turned sharply to see Yu Xinghan pointing at her. "It’s her! She runs an unlicensed massage parlor on the surface, but she’s actually conducting dual cultivation!"

"She uses low-priced massages to lure in customers, then forces them into dual cultivation. Who knows how many people have been deceived and had their vital essence and mana stolen!"

Watching the two patrol officers approaching, Fu Xinyao glared at Yu Xinghan, cursing internally, "Damn it... why is it this brat reporting me again?"

The patrol officer looked at her and said, "It’s you again, you stinking junior college student. This time, it won’t be as simple as a few days of overtime."

The other officer added, "Take her away and confiscate her tools of the trade."

Fu Xinyao felt a pang of tension and quickly whispered to the soul cultivators like Ping Han, "Remember, the legal artifacts have restrictions set by the True Lord of Nectar. Ordinary cultivators cannot discern their origin."

"No matter how they interrogate you, don't let anything slip."

Watching Fu Xinyao being led away, Yu Xinghan nodded with satisfaction. Then, his gaze swept over a lazy worker not far away, and his brow furrowed.

Recently, there had been a decline in work efficiency and a decrease in working hours among the laborers on the site.

What surprised Yu Xinghan even more was that, despite the city-wide infrastructure boom and the constant labor shortages, the company had actually increased wages even as the workers’ overtime hours decreased.

Yu Xinghan wasn't sure how long this anomaly would last, but he worried about whether there was a plot by the Dual Cultivation Demonic Sect behind it.

On the other side, after her exchange with Zi Yunzhen, Su Yunni brought the news back.

As soon as she returned to the lab, she hurried to see Jin Jun.

Jin Jun was currently manipulating his true fire, using artifact-refining equipment to weave mana circuits into the prototype one by one.

Seeing Su Yunni, Jin Jun didn't speak, but sent a message: Wait until I finish what I'm doing.

After etching a complete mana circuit, Jin Jun paused the equipment, looked up at Su Yunni, and asked calmly, "Speak. What’s the situation?"

Su Yunni said, "Zhang Yu has pushed his prototype to Level 15!"

Jin Jun was slightly stunned, then laughed the next moment. "You believe such an absurd thing? Exaggeration and alarmism—I didn't think you'd learn both those skills in just one year in the artifact refining department."

Jin Jun analyzed it seriously. "It’s only been two months since he refined the Level 1 prototype, right? Among the past geniuses of the artifact refining department, how many could achieve such a result? Zhang Yu only transferred from the civil engineering department a year ago. Could he really do it?"

Su Yunni said, "I don't believe it either, but Zi Yunzhen didn't seem like she was lying."

Jin Jun thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Don't worry about him."

Jin Jun had already reasoned that whether Zhang Yu was bluffing or had truly achieved something, it was unnecessary to concern himself with it.

After all, his own prototype had just reached Level 11, and even if he submitted it for review, the pass rate wouldn't be high.

"The most important thing now is to focus our energy on refining the prototype and doing our own job well."

After saying this, Jin Jun instructed Su Yunni not to reveal any news about Zhang Yu to the rest of the project team, and he returned his focus to his work.

As for Zhang Yu refining a Level 15 prototype? Between belief and disbelief, "disbelief" still occupied the majority of his mind.

Even so, he sent a message to the project group chat, recalling all the assistants who were relaxing in class to work overtime on the prototype.

...

A few days later.

A message flashed in True Lord Magnetic Pole’s ocular artifact; it was from Vice Principal True Lord Qiyun.

True Lord Qiyun: Congratulations, one of your disciples has obtained another military certification.

True Lord Qiyun: The artifact refining department has produced many talents in recent years.

Looking at the notification, it was indeed the notice that Zhang Yu had passed the review and obtained the Military Artifact Engineering Certificate (Class A).

True Lord Magnetic Pole: It is all thanks to your leadership, Principal.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with True Lord Qiyun, True Lord Magnetic Pole thought for a moment and forwarded the notice to the deputy director of the artifact refining department, True Lord Dongming.

This True Lord Dongming had previously participated in the research of the Deity Transformation legal artifact and had been in competition with True Lord Magnetic Pole.

However, after being put in her place by True Lord Magnetic Pole, she seemed much more obedient now.

Looking at Zhang Yu’s military certificate notification, True Lord Magnetic Pole decided to have her handle a task.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: Find someone to issue this military certificate to Zhang Yu.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: Make it look impressive. Don't be arrogant, but don't be low-key either.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: By the way, let it slip that Zhang Yu is my personal disciple.

Seeing the message, True Lord Dongming’s heart skipped a beat. She thought, "Hmph, so Zhang Yu really is Magnetic Pole’s disciple?"

Although Magnetic Pole had never officially announced Zhang Yu as his disciple after transferring him to the artifact refining department, and most people who heard rumors only thought Zhang Yu was a piece of refining material favored by the True Lord, deputy directors like Dongming could still sense the truth.

True Lord Dongming thought to herself, "Did you not announce it officially before because you were worried this civil engineering kid wouldn't achieve anything and would become a burden when you were evaluated for the Deity Transformation stage?"

"Yet now that the results are in, it serves as another brilliant highlight on her dossier."

Though he grumbled inwardly, True Monarch Dongming dared not slight the commands of True Monarch Magnetic Pole in the least.

After all, evidence of his company’s various counterfeit dealings remained firmly in the grip of True Monarch Magnetic Pole.

"Make it a grand affair?" He pored over the message repeatedly, knowing that while the sender cautioned against arrogance, the "but" that followed was the true crux of the matter.

"Do not be low-key."

...

As streams of iridescent light erupted within the halls of the Artifact Refining Department, celestial music wove through the air.

Simultaneously, the news of Zhang Yu’s military certification blossomed before the eyes of countless faculty members.

The department head also received word from True Monarch Dongming, instructing him to dispatch someone to present Zhang Yu with her military credentials.

True Monarch Dongming: Make it impressive, make it high-profile.

The department head pondered, recording the spiritual effects just triggered by True Monarch Dongming, adding new requirements before seeking further guidance.

True Monarch Dongming: This font—don't you think it looks a bit dated?

True Monarch Dongming: And this color; I want it to highlight the unique essence of our department.

True Monarch Dongming: Adjust the brightness a bit more, too.

Thus, after a series of revisions, the department head forwarded the plans to the teaching secretary.

Department Head: Make it bigger.

Teaching Secretary: How about this? [File]

Department Head: Make the font even larger.

...

When Zhang Yu’s homeroom teacher, Real Person Lianhuo, received the notification, he fell into a deep, contemplative silence.

"Going to such lengths? This Zhang Yu... could she be the secret daughter of True Monarch Magnetic Pole?"

(End of chapter)