Chapter 562: Is This Really the Life of a Junior College Student?

Chapter 562: Is This Truly the Life of a Vocational Student?

Inside Ye Xingli’s laboratory.

Although Zhang Yu could now afford to rent his own independent laboratory from the Artifact Refining Department, he remained here to save money.

At this moment, Zhang Yu casually unscrewed a medicine bottle and swallowed a dozen pills in one go. They were designed to replenish his mana, physical stamina, mental energy, and the various nutrients his body required, while also serving to suppress the need for sleep.

As for cement, Zhang Yu had stopped eating it back in his freshman year. By then, he had already learned to control his digestive system to mitigate the damage caused by excessive metabolic rates, rendering the filler unnecessary.

Just as Zhang Yu finished his "meal" of pills, the scent of roasting meat wafted through the air.

Glancing over, he saw Zi Yunzhen devouring a large portion of meat.

In the past, meat—much like rice—had been a rare luxury within the university town of Wanfa University.

While pills could provide most of the body’s essential nutrients, they could not replicate the vital energy and foundational strength gained from Heaven-Essence Rice, Earth-Qi Wheat, or the flesh of various demonic beasts.

Zhang Yu still remembered the satisfaction he felt when he used to scrounge for food at Ye Xingli’s buffet banquets.

Watching Zi Yunzhen gorge herself, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Is that imported meat from the Heavenly Demon University?"

The aroma made him feel uneasy, as he couldn't help but wonder what creature that meat had been stripped from. Having visited many demon-kin schools for projects and even competed at Heavenly Demon University, he knew all too well that these demons considered sentient demon-kin a legitimate source of protein.

Turning away, he mused, "Those folks in the Finance Department really know how to stir the pot."

"Imported meat... it’s allowed countless students to finally eat their fill."

"Imported raw materials and components have driven down costs, padding the profits of countless companies."

"For these two reasons alone, there will be no shortage of people supporting the Finance Department’s alliance with the Heavenly Demons."

"Even if the construction workers object, it’s already too late."

Zhang Yu recalled Yu Xinghan mentioning that as the university town’s infrastructure and restoration projects boomed, even lazy construction workers could earn a decent wage, leading companies to hike salaries to compete for labor.

However, with the introduction of Heavenly Demon workers, those inflated wages had been suppressed once again.

Though the workers opposed this, too many people in the university town benefited from the cooperation with the Heavenly Demons. Even the executives of the civil engineering firms were making a fortune from the reduced costs—what did the workers' opposition matter in the face of that?

Zhang Yu’s gaze swept over the messages in the Top 50 group chat.

Jiutian Liu: "The massive amount of spirit coins allocated by the school for the university town’s construction shouldn't be wasted on the wealthy who need it least, nor on researching high-end Immortal Dao tech to boost the university's competitiveness... should it really be given to workers so they can earn more? Just so they can buy more pills, eat more food, and live a few years longer? What a waste of spirit coins."

Although construction wages in the university town had been suppressed, the number of projects outside the campus continued to grow.

Many students and teachers in the Civil Engineering Department could feel it clearly: the University War was still ongoing, and it was expanding.

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, "Only the Top Ten have declared a truce."

"With the conflicts of the Top Ten forcibly suppressed, the situation among the upper-tier, lower-tier, and vocational schools has not eased; instead, the friction has only intensified."

"The construction of the university town is the beginning of spring for civil engineering. Business is only going to get better."

"That is a good thing for my upcoming cultivation plan."

Lost in thought, Zhang Yu turned his attention back to the document floating in his ocular interface.

Defeat Bei Wufeng in five months! Participate in the Top Ten League in seven months! Secure the Immortal Sect cultivation technique!

To achieve these goals, Zhang Yu had much to do, and he had listed every step in his plan.

"Win the design competition in three months to obtain the Military Artifact Refining Engineering Certificate (Class B) and study the military-grade technique, 'Heaven and Earth Ruin-Tribulation Formless Heart-Weapon'."

Zhang Yu chose this technique because, unlike the 'Great Void Divine Artifact Strategy,' it focused on the application of magical treasures, specifically enhancing their destructive power—making it better suited for achieving results in the Top Ten League.

And what did the design competition test?

"Commercial value, of course."

Zhang Yu thought, "Cost, utility, marketability... these are the keys to the design competition."

"With my 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' and the combined knowledge of my master and me, designing a winning product shouldn't be difficult."

"I’ve been collecting information with Senior Sister to design a product suitable for vocational students to fulfill the requirements for replicating a Dao Seed."

"When the time comes, I’ll use that information and 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' to optimize a different product—one better suited for the competition. It should be enough to win. Plus, a product designed entirely by me avoids copyright disputes with Ye Xingli."

Through Magnetic Pole Sovereign and Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu understood that the design competition was all about commercial viability. As long as the artifact had strong market potential, its performance or grade were secondary.

This was why Magnetic Pole Sovereign had once suggested he enter the competition first.

Thinking about how 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' allowed him to rapidly modify blueprints, Zhang Yu felt fortunate that he had secured Magnetic Pole Sovereign’s Dao Seed.

The existence of 'Heavenly Craftsmanship' saved him immense time, allowing him to churn out blueprints as soon as he gathered sufficient data.

While collecting information, Zhang Yu didn't want to waste time; he decided to begin refining his second military-grade magical treasure.

As someone who already held a Class A Military Artifact Refining Engineering Certificate, he only needed the department’s approval to study blueprints for other military-grade treasures.

With Magnetic Pole Sovereign as his master and his current track record, getting that approval would be easy.

"Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation..."

Zhang Yu looked at the blueprint. This was the second military-grade treasure he had chosen after careful consideration.

"Refine the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation while collecting information, finalize the design, and then enter the competition."

"Before I challenge Bei Wufeng, I must complete the sword formation and master the 'Heaven and Earth Ruin-Tribulation Formless Heart-Weapon'."

"Once these two military-grade assets are secured, the next target will be the Azure Water Gold Crystal Armor..."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly at his schedule, then checked his bank balance: 150 spirit coins.

Spirit coins had a significant impact on his cultivation speed.

However, thanks to his arrangements, the Tianri Huangshen was successfully integrated into his company team, earning him spirit coins on construction sites.

Even now, as he wrote his plan, he split a portion of his consciousness to remotely control the Tianri Huangshen.

After all, soul cultivation alone wasn't enough to maintain full control over such a military-grade treasure.

Zhang Yu calculated, "40 spirit coins from the lab subsidy, 30 from Director Gao and Master’s reimbursements, plus my sister’s repayment and the earnings from Tianri Huangshen... I can spend about 100 to 110 spirit coins a month on artifact refining."

"That should be enough."

Next, Zhang Yu sensed the Green Lotus Sword Embryo within him.

As his Divine Spirit Root adapted to his artifact-linked set, the embryo’s boost to his University Sacred Body was nearing 20%, his Civil Engineering Sacred Body was at 21%, his Qi Meridian Flow was around 10%, and his Martial Dao Sacred Body was at 23%.

Though he had acquired the Artifact Refining Prodigy trait later, the embryo’s boost to it was already nearing 10% after six months of constant use.

Feeling the vibrant life of the Green Lotus Sword Embryo, Zhang Yu smiled. He knew this silent strengthening of his Divine Spirit Root was a crucial trump card for the Top Ten League.

Just then, Su Yunni and another artifact refining student entered the lab, looking at Zhang Yu with some trepidation. Zhang Yu interviewed them briefly before handing them off to Zi Yunzhen.

"Little Zi," Zhang Yu said, "get them familiar with our lab rules and have them study the knowledge required for the upcoming Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation."

Su Yunni looked shocked, "We're refining the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation next?"

Zi Yunzhen raised an eyebrow, wondering if Zhang Yu was being too hasty.

Zhang Yu waved a hand, offering no explanation. He left the training of the newcomers to the smug-looking Zi Yunzhen, returned to his plan, and then sank into the Taiqing Realm to begin his studies.

He would rely on the accelerated learning of the Taiqing Realm to quickly master the foundational knowledge for the sword formation.

Only then would he begin refining the related artifacts to solidify his mastery, before finally commencing the official construction of the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation.

This time, Zhang Yu was determined to complete the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Array even faster than he had the Tianri Huangshen.

Days bled into one another, and in the blink of an eye, March had arrived.

Having finished his foundational studies within the Taiqing Realm, Zhang Yu began conducting simulated artifact-refining experiments in the Taixu Illusion.

The immortal techniques embedded within the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Array had been meticulously broken down by Zhang Yu into thirteen distinct magical treasures.

Once he could push the blueprint level of each of these thirteen treasures to level twenty, he would have fully mastered the techniques required to forge the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Array.

Unlike the forging of the Tianri Huangshen, which had consumed vast amounts of time in a physical laboratory, Zhang Yu now spent his hours in the Taiqing Realm, refining simulations of the thirteen treasures.

After all, he no longer needed to leave traces everywhere as he had when forging the Tianri Huangshen.

Thus, under the astonished gaze of Zi Yunzhen and Su Yunni, Zhang Yu made rapid progress with every attempt, despite the limited number of refinements he performed each day.

Su Yunni whispered to herself, "Is he using these treasures to verify the immortal techniques needed for the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Array? But this rate of improvement... a level five treasure yesterday, and today he can refine it to level ten?"

Zi Yunzhen was equally shaken: "This speed is simply too fast! Is it because the competition with Jin Jun has completely ignited his potential? Or has the long-term high-pressure environment made him increasingly adept at laboratory operations?"

Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes, they would have certainly suspected Zhang Yu of outsourcing the work.

The assistants, unaware of the reason for his meteoric progress, could only grit their teeth and study harder, striving to keep pace with Zhang Yu in hopes of successfully assisting him with the menial tasks in upcoming projects.

After all, another military-grade project was a significant credential for them.

...

On this day, while Zhang Yu was practicing his blueprints, he received a message from the Seven Emotions God-Monarch.

Seven Emotions God-Monarch: How is your practice of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao coming along?

Zhang Yu’s expression stiffened as he replied: It’s alright, it’s alright.

Seven Emotions God-Monarch: Hmph.

Seven Emotions God-Monarch: You should give Zhenzhen a gift.

Seven Emotions God-Monarch: She is currently at a critical juncture in her sword dao breakthrough; if you give her a gift she fancies, it will be of great help to her.

Staring at the message, Zhang Yu fell into deep contemplation.

Helping Zhenzhen complete her breakthrough was something Zhang Yu would naturally do; he was merely pondering what kind of gift would be best.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he pulled up the hosiery artifact blueprints he had originally designed for Ye Xingli.

"I remember promising to give Ah Zhen a pair of stockings back when we were in the Immortal Capital."

At this thought, Zhang Yu smiled slightly. He invoked the power of the Heavenly Craftsmanship, burning his Dao heart as he began to modify the blueprint before him.

"I want a design... the one most perfectly suited for Bai Zhenzhen."

In an instant, countless fragments of knowledge and information surged through his mind like a thousand peals of thunder, ultimately coalescing into a brand-new artifact design.

...

Heavenly Sword University.

Bai Zhenzhen, who was in the midst of arduous practice, suddenly opened her eyes as the voice of the Seven Emotions God-Monarch echoed: "Stop practicing blindly. The best way to break through this bottleneck is to go find Zhang Yu."

Bai Zhenzhen replied: "Yuzi has to achieve good results in the Top Ten Leagues; he has more to do than I do. It’s better not to waste his time..."

Just as she spoke, a message appeared in her vision.

Seeing the smile that tugged at the corners of Bai Zhenzhen’s mouth, the Seven Emotions God-Monarch said coolly: "What is it? Smiling like a fool again?"

Bai Zhenzhen: "It’s nothing."

Zhang Yu: Ah Zhen, this is a hosiery blueprint I designed specifically for you. I’ve gifted you the copyright; find someone at Heavenly Sword University to forge it for you.

Bai Zhenzhen: No rush. I’ll wait for you to have time to forge a pair for me yourself.

...

While Zhang Yu’s artifact-refining progress was advancing by leaps and bounds, the collection of information regarding junior college students was not moving nearly as quickly.

Ye Xingli sent a message: Relying solely on the scattered questionnaires from junior college students, the completeness and efficiency of the data collection are far too poor.

Zhang Yu asked: Senior Sister, what do you intend to do?

Ye Xingli: I plan to conduct a simulated experience in the Spirit Realm to personally feel the life of a junior college student.

Ye Xingli: I heard you also intend to research products for junior college students. Want to join? There’s a discount for two.

Zhang Yu: I’m in.

Ye Xingli: There are many experience programs; I’ll send them to you. We can each choose our own.

Looking at the list of experience programs Ye Xingli sent, various life scripts for junior college students emerged.

Zhang Yu felt as if these were documentaries, only he was the one stepping inside to become the protagonist.

"Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong are childhood sweethearts who grew up together, attended high school together, and were admitted to the same junior college..."

Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened: "Is this a junior college romance story?"

"After being admitted, they both studied in the Emotion Cultivation Department, were assigned as a pair, learned the Great Dao of Dual Cultivation together, and lived a life of boundless joy..."

Zhang Yu exclaimed in surprise: "Junior college students are this happy?"

"Finally, on the day of the first-year final exams, Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong walked into the examination hall together. They had to face multiple dual-cultivation examiners, witnessing each other retreat step by step under the examiners' attacks, losing their armor and weapons, their limbs turning limp."

"Those whose Dao hearts regress are suited for the Deep Emotion Dao created by the Spirit Rhinoceros God-Monarch and transfer to the Deep Emotion class in their second year. Those whose Dao hearts remain resilient, or even gain insight, are suited for the Many-Emotions Dao of the Nectar God-Monarch and transfer to the Many-Emotions class..."

"Although Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong transferred to different classes, they never forgot each other..."

Watching the three years of love and affection between the two, Zhang Yu took a deep breath: "Is this... really the life of a junior college student?"

He shook his head, feeling that this script was far too advanced for him, and quickly flipped to the next page to look at other experience programs.

(End of this chapter)