Chapter 718: Contacting the Ten Schools, Quasi-Deity Transformation?

Chapter 718: Contacting the Ten Schools, Quasi-Deification?

Within the research institute, Ye Xingli was quietly carrying out the tasks assigned to her for the day.

Ever since she had been brought into the institute's experimental team by the Magnetic Pole Deity, Ye Xingli had worked diligently and studied earnest every day, like a sponge soaking up water, frantically absorbing every bit of artifact refining knowledge she could lay her eyes on.

Yet, as the Magnetic Pole Deity and the numerous Deification Deities marched off to battle in the fifth layer of Kunxu, the workload within the research institute gradually dwindled.

If, in the beginning, the Magnetic Pole Deity could still remotely assign tasks and direct the institute and laboratories through the Spiritual Realm network.

Then, as the vaults of the fourth and fifth layers sealed shut once more, cutting off the Spiritual Realm network, both the institute and the laboratories completely lost the direction of the Magnetic Pole Deity, becoming somewhat leaderless.

Particularly with the disappearance of one Deification Deity after another from the fifth-layer battlefield, the major universities fell into chaos, and the atmosphere within the research institute naturally grew increasingly oppressive.

An atmosphere of impending doom, like mountain rains heralded by rising winds, permeated every corner inside and outside the research institute.

Ye Xingli could sense that the colleagues around her were focusing less and less on their work, turning instead to discussions about whether to hold the line or evacuate.

Just then, a chorus of complaints rang out.

True Monarch Jiuduan said in anger, "How has our budget been docked again?"

Ye Xingli knew that this True Monarch Jiuduan was originally an elite from the teaching staff; after the great upheaval of heaven and earth, he had smoothly advanced from a Golden Core Perfected Cultivator to a Nascent Soul True Monarch, earned the appreciation of the Magnetic Pole Deity, and was drawn into the laboratory to engage in cutting-edge research regarding spatial technology.

But at this moment, True Monarch Jiuduan's face was filled with dissatisfaction, and it was not just because the funds and materials allocated to them by the research institute had been skimmed again.

If it were merely a matter of deduction, considering the current wartime situation, the cultivators including True Monarch Jiuduan would not harbor such resentment.

However, when compared to the abundant, even excessively abundant, materials provided to Zhang Yu on the other side, it was hard for them to remain convinced.

But Zhang Yu was, after all, the disciple of the Magnetic Pole Deity; Ye Xingli knew that they naturally dared not voice anything openly, though the criticism in their hearts was bound to be plentiful.

As a doctoral graduate from the Artifact Refining Department of Wanfa, Jiuduan had achieved the Golden Core stage at fifty, successfully stayed on as faculty, and climbed step by step into the laboratory of the research institute, rising smoothly all the way as a verified prodigy of Wanfa.

Yet at this very moment, thinking of Zhang Yu's treatment next door, secret resentment still festered in his heart: "This is now a moment of life and death for the Ten High Schools! The spatial technology our laboratory researches is the most important, the most critical technology, the place most likely to turn the tide of battle."

"Shouldn't resources be poured heavily into a leading laboratory like ours, to let us strive for a breakthrough in spatial technology? At a time like this, they still dock our funds and give priority to catering to the cultivation of a Deification disciple..."

Recalling how the Deification Deities of the ten schools had suffered defeat due to infighting over battlefield benefits, True Monarch Jiuduan could not help but lament in his heart: "The ethos of the Ten High Schools is far too wretched; money and resources cannot flow toward the most useful sectors. It is no wonder they lost."

Right at that moment, everyone present received a message from True Monarch Xianyin.

As the head of the Artifact Refining Department at Wanfa University, True Monarch Xianyin also held a position within the research institute, managing this laboratory on behalf of the Magnetic Pole Deity during his absence.

Seeing the content of the message sent by True Monarch Xianyin now, everyone present felt a wave of strangeness.

Someone muttered in wonder, "Arranging the venue? Is someone coming to inspect the work of the research institute? Coming at a time like this, who could it be?"

True Monarch Jiuduan sighed in his heart, "Wanting us to go to the main entrance of the research institute? Are we supposed to welcome someone? Is this a joke, at a time like this, they still want to engage in such empty formalism."

Ye Xingli could not help but frown slightly as well, "Everyone has to go over? Even putting down the work at hand first?"

Someone was already thoroughly shocked, "Halting work just to go? What on earth is this about?"

Putting down the work at hand... This was an indicator of an absolutely high priority within Wanfa University; ever since Ye Xingli was admitted to Wanfa University, this was the first time she had encountered such a demand to put down her work first. In the past, even during presidential inspections, she had never encountered such a requirement.

Thus, the group hurried to the location of the park's main entrance, but after waiting for a full half hour, nothing happened.

True Monarch Jiuduan shook his head repeatedly, feeling a deep sorrow in his heart, "I see that whether it is Wanfa or the Ten High Schools, they are truly beyond saving..."

Just at this moment, banners formed by Spiritual Realm projections lit up one after another, bearing the words: A Warm Welcome to True Monarch Zhuyi, Your Guidance is the Driving Force of Our Progress.

Immediately following that, a group of figures drifted down from afar in the sky.

"True Monarch Xianyin, True Monarch Beihai, True Monarch Yuanmo, True Monarch Jinding, True Monarch Leiji..."

Looking at each of these True Monarchs of the Artifact Refining Department, True Monarch Jiuduan's heart was filled with absolute shock.

Only because every single one of these Nascent Soul True Monarchs, who possessed high prestige, wealth, and power in the artifact refining world, was at this moment entirely surrounding a single individual.

That person was like an emperor of the Artifact Refining Department inspecting his own territory, slowly flying down to land at the main entrance of the research institute, accompanied by numerous leaders of the department.

"Zhang! Yu!" True Monarch Jiuduan looked at this scene in astonishment, "The person we halted work to wait for is him?"

Zhang Yu glanced at the crowd standing at the entrance, smiled as he looked at True Monarch Xianyin beside him, and said, "True Monarch, did you arrange this?"

True Monarch Xianyin smiled and said, "True Monarch Zhuyi, your subsequent plan requires the collective wisdom and efforts of the entire school, even all teachers and students of the ten schools. This research institute is just the beginning; I thought to let them be the first wave to listen to your guidance, so they understand what is to be done next."

Zhang Yu nodded, "It just so happens that I originally wanted to pull everyone from the research institute together for a meeting, so let's seize the current opportunity."

Consequently, the group was pulled into a conference room that True Monarch Xianyin had long prepared, listening to Zhang Yu begin to explain the plan to breach the vault of heaven.

"This dharma treasure that I have designed, I name it the Sky-Piercing Cone."

"The design philosophy of the Sky-Piercing Cone is to allow every person in Kunxu, whether from a junior college, a lower-tier school, or the ten schools, whether human or of demon descent, to hold it and pierce the vault of heaven..."

"Moving forward, a massive number of factories will begin producing the Sky-Piercing Cone, and you will be responsible for guiding the factories, helping them establish and adjust their production lines..."

Meanwhile, the crowd below the stage had already been dazed and fascinated by Zhang Yu's string of statements.

"Sky-Piercing Cone? Designed by Zhang Yu?" True Monarch Jiuduan, like many cultivators of the research institute, instinctively felt disbelief.

But as they flipped through the design blueprints, and as they continuously listened to Zhang Yu's explanations, the more they listened, the more they felt a profound shock.

"The gap is too wide..." True Monarch Jiuduan murmured in his heart, "The gap between us and Zhang Yu is too wide, just how on earth did he design this?"

"And this familiar style is clearly inheriting the true mantle of the Magnetic Pole Deity..."

True Monarch Jiuduan stared fixedly at the design blueprints appearing in his optical interface, and the more he looked, the more he felt a despairing disparity.

Originally, he believed that working in the research institute, in the laboratory established by the Magnetic Pole Deity, he had already walked at the absolute forefront of spatial technology research.

But at this very moment, looking at Zhang Yu's design blueprints, he felt as if struck by lightning, as if awakening from a dream.

"The cost compression is too astonishing... The design of the spatial unlocking is also miraculous... Just how did this guy think of it?"

With every additional page he read, True Monarch Jiuduan only felt the despair in his heart grow by a fraction, making him feel as though his many years of learning artifact refining had been entirely in vain.

Ye Xingli likewise looked at Zhang Yu on the stage with surprise; this former junior brother had unconsciously grown to a height that commanded her reverence.

On the other side, True Monarch Xianyin was similarly listening to Zhang Yu's explanation below the stage, sighing inwardly, "Zhang Yu's plan is to produce a vast ocean of Sky-Piercing Cones, and then have a massive number of cultivators activate them together to breach the vaults of the 4th and 5th layers."

True Monarch Xianyin knew that if this plan were smoothly implemented, it would not only support the Deification stage and possess the possibility of turning the tide of battle, but it also contained immense commercial interests.

"To whom will the production of this vast sea of Sky-Piercing Cones be entrusted? And by whom will they be sold? The various components, contract manufacturing, assembly, channels within... all represent profits of massive amounts of spiritual coins."

And the power to allocate such massive profits was held entirely in Zhang Yu's hands.

True Monarch Xianyin thought to himself, "Zhang Yu's current mastery over spatial technology is probably already number one among the ten schools. The design blueprints of the Sky-Piercing Cone were created by him, and only he can modify them; everything is decided by him alone."

"With a mere movement of his fingertips, he can determine the distribution of profits for the Sky-Piercing Cone, deciding the life and death of countless companies and factories."

"This is the absolute power granted to him by the supreme and advanced technology of the Immortal Path."

When the meeting concluded and Zhang Yu returned to the quiet chamber, he saw a complete set of dharma skeletal frameworks already laid out before him.

"From head to toe, including bones, internal organs, meridians, elixir field, nervous system, and other parts, a total of 333 pieces of Level 40 dharma skeletal frameworks."

Zhang Yu knew that with the elevation of realm and the growth of dharma power, the number of dharma skeletal frameworks a cultivator could equip was also increasing drastically.

By the stage of a Nascent Soul cultivator, the dharma skeletal frameworks had undergone miniaturization treatment; every small piece of bone, every segment of meridian, and every single strand of hair within the body could be replaced with a complete dharma skeletal framework.

It was only that the time since Zhang Yu broke through to the Nascent Soul realm was too short, and he was furthermore busy with cultivating and upgrading the Immortal Gate techniques, so he naturally had no time to procure dharma skeletal frameworks.

Particularly... if one were to refine one's own flesh and blood into customized dharma skeletal frameworks, it was equivalent to refining dharma treasures using the physical body as material; to do all this... where would he find the time to cultivate Immortal Gate Daoist arts.

And the 333 pieces of Level 40 dharma skeletal frameworks sent by True Monarch Xianyin before his eyes, though not customized ones, were all universal frameworks of excellent quality. The vast majority were at the top enterprise-grade standard, and a small portion even belonged to the military-grade dharma skeletal frameworks of the Artifact Refining Department.

As for the certificates for military-grade dharma skeletal frameworks and dharma treasures, Zhang Yu naturally possessed them long ago. Such 333 pieces of Level 40 dharma skeletal frameworks possessed a value that could practically rival the total assets of many small companies.

This, too, was an inevitable consequence of cultivators’ soaring wealth as their cultivation and comprehension of the Immortal Dao deepened.

Zhang Yu flipped through the instruction manual for the entire set of 333 Spiritframes.

This complete set, named Platinum Emperor, primarily enhanced two fundamental attributes for Nascent Soul cultivators: physical resilience and maximum spiritual power capacity. Other functions—such as invisibility, flight, martial skill integration, talisman loading, and spirit-realm shielding—were secondary in Zhang Yu’s eyes.

“Improving my base stats would help me immensely right now.”

Especially since Platinum Emperor’s stat boosts were exceptionally potent so long as a cultivator’s physical strength and spiritual power hadn’t yet reached the Nascent Soul limit.

Even after hitting that ceiling, Platinum Emperor could still provide marginal gains, allowing cultivators to slightly surpass the Nascent Soul threshold—though the effect was no longer dramatic.

Zhang Yu mused inwardly, “This is a Spiritframe set usable from early Nascent Soul all the way to peak Nascent Soul.”

Of course, he didn’t intend to wear it constantly—he still needed to temper his own body—and planned to use it only when necessary.

His gaze then shifted to the items delivered by Tian Sha True Lord and others.

“A Tier-40 armor?”

To Zhang Yu, the armor sent by Tian Sha True Lord resembled less traditional armor and more a compact mech—bulkier than Iron Man’s suit but far slimmer than a Gundam.

Its name was Heaven-Shattering War God Armor—a full military-grade combat exosuit, also known as a Personal Combat Platform.

Beyond its astonishing defensive capabilities, it could integrate various magical artifacts, interface with multiple Spiritframes, and even amplify the wearer’s spiritual output. Zhang Yu calculated that if he equipped Platinum Emperor first and then donned the Heaven-Shattering War God Armor, his temporary spiritual reserves might surge past 80,000—far exceeding his current 38,000.

In peacetime, this armor might not even rival the value of Tian Ri Huang Shen.

But in wartime, Zhang Yu judged its worth to be on par with Platinum Emperor—equivalent to the combined assets of several small corporations.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “Such is Kunxu—so long as you have wealth and influence, countless paths to amplify your combat prowess await.”

Watching Xian Yin True Lord and Tian Sha True Lord offer gifts in succession, Zhang Yu naturally grasped their intentions.

“Xian Yin represents Master Ci Ji and the Artificer Faction—talents I’ll inevitably rely on for my upcoming plans, my core foundation. They mustn’t be slighted.”

“Tian Sha True Lord and Miao Shou True Lord represent the former Evacuation Faction, newly subdued under my authority. They, too, require careful appeasement…”

As Zhang Yu pondered, Tu Li Shan approached bearing another gift—a complete set of Tier-40 Seven Extremes Spiritframes.

While conversing with Tu Li Shan, Zhang Yu received messages from Yu Xing Han, Bei Wu Feng, Ying Xin, and others.

Artificers, Security, Medical, Civil Engineering, his own company, his private lab…

In that moment, Zhang Yu felt as though he’d suddenly become the patriarch of a vast household, with every child clamoring for his attention—each plea reasonable, heartfelt, and utterly justified…

He could only repeatedly allocate resources, ensuring the Heaven-Piercing Project proceeded smoothly.

Just then, a message arrived from Xian Yin True Lord.

“They refused the free copyright to the Heaven-Piercing Spike?”

“Tianmo University suspects fraud?”

“Youming University thinks the Research Association is using this as a pretext to demand funding?”

“Xianbing University insists we submit blueprints for their review first?”

“Tian Yao University hasn’t responded at all?”

Reading the replies from the other nine universities, Zhang Yu couldn’t suppress a bitter laugh. “Damn… a bunch of vermin.”

At that moment, Xian Yin True Lord advised gently, “True Lord Zhu Yi, I know your vision spans the grand scheme, but offering something for free is simply beyond ordinary comprehension—it defies common sense and invites suspicion…”

Zhang Yu nodded. “I understand. Tell them the free version is merely a trial. If the trial works, we’ll charge them later.”

But instantly, he shook his head. “Why should it seem like I’m begging them?”

“They should come to us—and the sooner, the better.”

Glancing toward the Nascent Divinity battlefield above, Zhang Yu knew every wasted moment risked unforeseen complications.

An idea struck him. “Xian Yin True Lord, please organize the Research Association’s relocation.”

“Relocation?” Xian Yin asked, startled.

“Yes,” Zhang Yu confirmed. “Leak the news—we’re withdrawing everything back to Wanfa.”

Xian Yin instantly grasped his intent: this false rumor would swiftly draw the ten universities’ attention.

…

Tianmo University.

Zhun Da True Lord was one of Tianmo University’s current powerholders, overseeing external relations and investments.

In his youth, a fortune-teller claimed he bore the visage of a courier king. Zhun Da scoffed.

Later, entering the courier industry, he built a delivery empire spanning Kunxu’s Layers 2 through 5—finally believing the prophecy: he was destined to stir storms in logistics.

When the Grand Void Cloud Repository emerged, he eagerly embraced spatial technology, becoming among the first couriers to adopt it—once again riding the wave of progress.

Unlike Nie Lian Godlord’s faction advocating self-research, Zhun Da consistently championed collaboration over independent development.

But now, as the Nascent Divinity war tilted toward defeat, the skies of Layers 4 and 5 seemed to collapse downward, crushing Zhun Da with anxiety—and crippling his company’s on-time delivery rates as even employees lost focus.

It was in this turmoil that he received the Research Association’s message.

“Zhang Yu? Wants us to help pierce the heavens? And offers artifact copyrights for free?”

Zhang Yu—a cultivator barely stabilized in Nascent Soul—claiming to possess a heaven-piercing solution? Zhun Da dismissed it outright.

And offering free copyrights? That only deepened his suspicion.

“Is this scam targeting me personally?”

Especially since Tianmo University had recently slashed the Research Association’s funding—Zhun Da assumed this was merely a ploy to extort more money.

After all, he’d seen countless schemes where grand projects masked fraudulent fund requests.

But soon, fresh intelligence arrived.

“Zhang Yu is mobilizing personnel—to empty the entire Research Association?”

Zhun Da erupted in fury.

The Association was jointly funded by the ten universities—Tianmo had invested heavily! How dare Zhang Yu seize its assets?

“Failing to swindle funds, now resorting to outright theft?”

“Fine! Ci Ji is gone—no Nascent Divinity shields you anymore. Does Zhang Yu still think the world bows to him?”

Zhun Da immediately contacted Zhang Yu, projecting himself into the latter’s office.

Seeing Zhang Yu seated calmly in his chair, Zhun Da thundered, “Zhang Yu! Such audacity! Who granted you the right to plunder the Association’s assets?”

Unfazed by the outburst, Zhang Yu replied evenly, “Wait a moment. I’ll address everyone together once the others arrive.”

Zhun Da scanned the room—besides himself and Zhang Yu, Wanfa’s Xian Yin True Lord and representatives from Xianbing and Jingang were already present.

Just then, a ripple of spirit-light flashed, and another projection materialized before Zhang Yu: Tian Zheng True Lord of Youming University.

Renowned as the highest-paid Nascent Soul among the ten universities, Tian Zheng was widely lauded for his administrative acumen, revenue-generating prowess, and cultivation.

Upon appearing, Tian Zheng cut straight to the point: “I’ve audited the Research Association’s finances for the past few months—and uncovered grave irregularities.”

His icy gaze fixed on Zhang Yu. “Zhu Yi, you’ve been diverting experimental funds into personal cultivation, purchasing vast quantities of unrelated Immortal Dao resources. The scale and variety are staggering.”

“Such brazen misuse of the ten universities’ capital—you’re utterly reckless!”

“Everyone,” Lord Tianzheng turned to the representatives from the other academies gathered around him and declared in a clear, resonant voice, “I believe we should expel Zhang Yu immediately, reclaim all the supplies he embezzled, and place the Research Society under the management of a more trustworthy, wealthier, and more powerful cultivator.”

Upon hearing this, the representatives from the various academies nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Meanwhile, Lord Zhunda had already been pulled into a small private group. The moment he entered, he saw that, aside from Wansheng University, representatives from all the other institutions were already inside.

The representative from Xianbing University spoke bluntly: “Fellow colleagues, such a critical position within the Research Society should no longer be left in Wansheng’s reckless hands.”

The representative from Jingang University added, “It’s fine to expel both Zhang Yu and Xianyin—but once they’re gone, who will take charge of the Research Society?”

The representative from Baigu University chimed in, “Let’s just scrap it altogether. In my opinion, we shouldn’t bother with this Research Society anymore—everyone can just split the assets and call it a day…”

Lord Zhunda rapidly scrolled through the group chat history and quickly realized the representatives were far from united: some wanted their own people to seize control of the Research Society, others were ready to withdraw their investments entirely, and still others remained neutral, waiting to see who would offer them the best deal…

Once Lord Zhunda subtly signaled his own interest in managing the Research Society, Lord Tianzheng promptly dragged him into yet another private group—one filled exclusively with those plotting to seize control.

There, Lord Tianzheng declared, “In any case, let’s drive Wansheng out first. We can negotiate how to divide management rights later.”

In an instant, tens of thousands of messages flooded the group, exchanged at breakneck speed.

As Jingang, Tianjian, Tianmo, and Youming each formed their own factions, Lord Zhunda was soon pulled into yet another exclusive group—this one reserved solely for Tianmo and Youming.

Negotiations, arguments, and backroom deals unfolded without cease.

Lord Zhunda threw himself eagerly into the fray. As for Zhang Yu standing nearby? To him, Zhang was nothing more than meat on a chopping block—no longer worth a second thought.

Zhang Yu’s eye sockets twitched faintly as he watched projection after projection flare wildly with signal-light before him. Silently, he mused, “They’re probably scheming over how to seize power and profit…”

“This is Kunxu… Even as the great edifice crumbles, even in the very moment before annihilation, the scramble for power and gain never ceases.”

Seeing that representatives from all ten academies had now assembled, Zhang Yu slowly raised a single finger. In the next instant, layer upon layer of Spirit Realm projections descended around him.

One by one, his vast holdings materialized—assets, shares, funds, copyrights, patents—all laid bare before them.

Among these were not only his personal possessions but also the fruits of transmission bestowed upon him by the two Nascent Soul Sovereigns, Ciji and Qingmu, before their departure.

Staring at this terrifying expanse of wealth, Lord Zhunda’s expression grew increasingly stunned. “How can he possibly be this rich? How?! This isn’t wealth a Core Formation cultivator could ever amass… This is the fortune of a Nascent Soul Sovereign!”

Lord Tianzheng now gazed at Zhang Yu, his eyes utterly devoid of their former condescension—only profound respect remained. “With assets of this magnitude,” he murmured, “this Zhang Yu may already be called… a quasi-Nascent Soul Sovereign!”

Meeting the awed gazes of the academy representatives, Zhang Yu spoke slowly and deliberately: “What I am about to say concerns the very survival or ruin of your academies—whether you end up destitute or remain wealthy men. I urge you to listen carefully.”

(End of Chapter)