Chapter 774: Nobody Understands the God-Refining Art Better Than Me

Chapter 774: No One Understands the Refining Spirit Scripture Better Than I Do

Not long after Zhang Yu’s name appeared on the display roster, Gu Qingya—the deputy director overseeing artifact refinement—sought him out.

Gu Qingya’s projection materialized before Zhang Yu. After a brief greeting, he cut straight to the point: “Have you made any mistakes at work? Encountered any problems? Or… broken any rules?”

Seeing Zhang Yu shake his head, Gu Qingya added pointedly, “Think carefully—could it be that your mortal-world mindset has blinded you to something wrong?”

“I don’t shield my own,” Gu Qingya continued. “Though I, too, hail from the mortal world, we mortals truly lack decorum—especially when newly admitted into the sect. Our vision and perspective are limited; sometimes we commit errors without even realizing it.”

Zhang Yu shook his head again. “Deputy Director Gu, just tell me plainly—what exactly has happened?”

Gu Qingya replied, “I’ve heard you were reported during your probationary showcase period.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly. Instantly, Lu Hengzhang and the sect’s conservative faction came to mind.

Frowning, he asked, “Are the conservatives targeting me?”

Gu Qingya urged, “First, reflect—did you slip up somewhere, giving them leverage? The investigation hasn’t started yet. Fix it while you still can.”

After Gu Qingya’s projection vanished, Zhang Yu mentally reviewed his recent actions. Though several possibilities surfaced faintly in his thoughts, he still couldn’t pinpoint where things had gone awry.

Soon after, he began sensing that members of Martial Dao Team Three were whispering behind his back.

It wasn’t until Ye Xingli forwarded him several explosive rumors circulating through the Dharma Realm that Zhang Yu finally understood what everyone was discussing:

“Are There Loopholes in the Imperial Dharma Pavilion’s Review Process?”

“Millions in Immortal Coins Wasted Due to a Single Rejection by a Reviewer?”

“Why Did the Immortal Art He Rejected Resurface in the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

Merely glancing at the headlines, Zhang Yu felt waves of incitement crashing over him.

After reading the full content, his frown deepened further.

Meanwhile, in a private chat group, cultivators from Martial Dao Team Three were exchanging messages at lightning speed—thousands already piled up.

Chu Wangji: “Rejected ‘Refining Spirit Scripture,’ then sold its immortal techniques to demon-blooded disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

Wen Zhiwei: “I remember that ‘Refining Spirit Scripture’—wasn’t that rejected last month by True Lord Zhang?”

Chu Wangji: “But this rumor is absurd—you’d never sell secrets to the Heavenly Demon Sect!”

Wen Zhiwei: “I checked the scripture—the grounds for rejection seem weak.”

Another chimed in: “True Lord Zhang handled so many reports last month—it’s easy to make mistakes under pressure.”

The discussion wasn’t confined to their team. As the rumors spread, more and more people across the Imperial Dharma Pavilion joined in, and the falsehoods spiraled wildly out of control in the Dharma Realm:

“He, a mortal-world outsider, sold the sect’s immortal arts to demon-blooded traitors?”

“Black Market Exposed in the Imperial Dharma Pavilion! Reviewers Are the Primary Leak Channel for Immortal Arts!”

“The Tragedy of Copyright: When Gatekeepers Become the Greatest Thieves.”

Reading these, Zhang Yu thought inwardly, “Mortal origins, demon-blooded ties, art copyrights, shadowy deals… Each topic alone is explosive. How could this not draw attention?”

Just imagining it—a mortal-world recruit selling sect secrets to demon-blooded outsiders—Zhang Yu knew instantly how fiercely this rumor would ignite the disciples’ outrage. It would surely become ammunition for countless critics seeking to attack mortals and normalize discrimination against those who entered the sect through examinations.

At the same time, memories of the “Refining Spirit Scripture” resurfaced vividly in his mind.

He remembered it well.

When first skimming the manual, he’d been startled.

The scripture titled “Refining Spirit Scripture” appeared in the Feather Scroll as “Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture.”

“How could the name differ from what’s shown in the Feather Scroll?”

That was his first suspicion.

Driven by intense curiosity, Zhang Yu searched the internal Dharma Realm using the title “Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture.”

Eventually, he found a manual by that exact name in the Imperial Dharma Pavilion’s archives.

“Could ‘Refining Spirit Scripture’ be plagiarized from ‘Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture’? Otherwise, why would the Feather Scroll label it as such?”

After thoroughly reviewing the archived version, however, Zhang Yu concluded the two manuals diverged completely—no trace of plagiarism.

“Both cultivate martial will through fist techniques, but their underlying immortal arts are entirely different.”

Whether reading the texts or simulating them via Formless Martial Manifestation, Zhang Yu sensed the uniqueness of “Refining Spirit Scripture”—clearly meeting all review criteria.

Yet the discrepancy in the Feather Scroll’s naming still unsettled him.

“Why did the Feather Scroll identify ‘Refining Spirit Scripture’ as ‘Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture’?”

He wondered inwardly, “Could it be a case of coincidental conceptual overlap?”

Thus, Zhang Yu activated the Feather Scroll’s specialized mode and pushed the archived “Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture” to Level 40.

Through this process—transcending mere reading or simulation—he gained profound insight into both manuals.

As countless cultivation memories flooded his mind, he reached a conclusion:

“‘Refining Spirit Scripture’ likely does originate from ‘Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture’—just expressed differently.”

“In fact, reversing the principles of ‘Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture’ and extrapolating naturally yields the effects of ‘Refining Spirit Scripture.’”

“At first glance unrelated—they share the same root.”

Consequently, Zhang Yu decided to reject the submission, noting significant overlap in immortal techniques between the two.

During the subsequent re-review, he upheld his rejection. At the time, he hadn’t considered it a major issue.

Now, witnessing the storm erupting in the Dharma Realm, he thought grimly, “Someone’s fanning the flames—using this to target me?”

Before leaving work, Zhang Yu was summoned to Director Luo Wujie’s office.

Without wasting a moment, Luo Wujie, immersed in paperwork and not even looking up, stated flatly, “I’ve reviewed ‘Refining Spirit Scripture.’ Your judgment was wrong.”

Having declared this beyond dispute, he added, “Apologize quickly, admit fault, debunk the rumors, and quell the uproar.”

For Luo Wujie—who stood on the verge of breaking through to Nascent Soul Ascension and establishing his own Dharma Edicts—the priority was clear: have Zhang Yu shoulder full responsibility and silence the controversy as swiftly as possible.

Zhang Yu’s eyes hardened. He argued firmly, “Director, though the two manuals appear different, their core principles are identical—”

A flash of divine radiance erupted from Luo Wujie, pressing down on Zhang Yu like mountain ranges, cutting off his words.

Coldly, Luo Wujie said, “Zhang Yu, making mistakes is fine—but you must admit them.”

“Your performance last month soared; errors under pressure are understandable. I won’t blame you.”

“But now, the sect-wide uproar is disrupting the Review Department’s operations—even the Pavilion Master is deeply concerned…”

While operational disruption mattered to Luo Wujie, what truly weighed on him was the fear that shifting public opinion might jeopardize his Dharma Edict establishment and breakthrough to Nascent Soul Ascension.

Having personally reviewed both “Refining Spirit Scripture” and “Breaking Attachments, Forging Spirit Scripture,” Luo Wujie was convinced Zhang Yu had erred.

Thus, he wanted Zhang Yu to confess and apologize immediately, framing the incident solely as an individual oversight—preventing further escalation.

Lifting his gaze to Zhang Yu, Luo Wujie commanded, “The investigation team will arrive tomorrow. When they question you, say you were momentarily negligent and misjudged.”

…

As Zhang Yu left Luo Wujie’s office, Fu Ji’s voice echoed in his mind: “That old fool is truly obstinate—won’t even hear our side!”

Zhan Xian remarked, “He’s a Core Formation cultivator on the brink of Nascent Soul Ascension. Of course he trusts his own judgment over ours.”

“And as for that ‘Lianshen Scripture,’ no one knows its true origins—it doesn’t immediately reveal any connection to the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture.’”

“In his eyes, you simply made a reckless mistake in your haste to fulfill the task you promised him.”

“To him, the priority now is to make you shoulder all the blame and cleanly absolve himself of any responsibility for demanding higher performance.”

Fu Ji sighed, “The merits of junior cultivators belong to their seniors; the faults of seniors are borne by their juniors.”

She asked, “Zhang Yu, what do you say? Are you really going to admit fault?”

Zhang Yu replied, “I’m still in my probationary promotion period. If I admit fault outright now… this chance to become a Grade-2 Sect Affairs Officer will surely vanish.”

Fu Ji, however, looked deeply troubled. “But what if… what if… Zhang Yu, are you certain?”

She feared he had genuinely misjudged and wrongly rejected the ‘Lianshen Scripture.’

Zhan Xian, however, had absolute confidence in Yu Shu. “Our judgment must be correct. Even if we eventually submit it to the Dao Repository, they’ll surely reject this ‘Lianshen Scripture.’”

“But during the investigation, we’ll inevitably face some pressure—the necessary procedures can’t be skipped.”

Zhang Yu gave a faint smile. “Pressure… I’ve grown used to it long ago.”

Fu Ji sighed, “Ah, why can’t we just submit it directly to the Dao Repository?”

Zhan Xian replied, “You say that because you don’t understand the hierarchical relationship between the Yufa Pavilion and the Dao Repository.”

“The Dao Repository is an extension of the Dao lineage of the Immortal Emperor of Myriad Laws—it stems directly from the Emperor’s authority and orthodoxy.”

“For the sect, both the Yufa Pavilion and the Review Department serve as sandboxes, filtering out impurities and junk data, with the ultimate goal of preserving only the essence for the Dao Repository.”

“The Yufa Pavilion is a tool of the Dao Repository—its very creation was meant to serve the Repository.”

“It is not the other way around, treating the Dao Repository as a mere instrument of the Yufa Pavilion.”

Zhan Xian continued fluently, “That’s why the Yufa Pavilion maintains a complete set of procedures—to ensure only qualified techniques earn the right to be submitted to the Dao Repository. Not just anything can be uploaded directly.”

“In this case, the investigation will likely involve the Re-examination Department forming a review panel. Only after confirming the ‘Lianshen Scripture’ possesses novelty, inventiveness, and practical utility will it proceed to submission.”

“Procedure permeates every corner of the Myriad Laws Sect—it is the foundation of order. Behind it all stands the Dao orthodoxy established by the immortals, the statutes enacted by senior cultivators under that orthodoxy, the rules derived from those statutes, and the procedures shaped by those rules.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, musing, “Orthodoxy… statutes… rules… procedures—they form the bedrock of the sect, dictate how each faction operates, and shape every cultivator’s way of life and work.”

Hearing Zhang Yu and Zhan Xian harmonize so effortlessly, Fu Ji suddenly felt a pang of alarm.

“Oh no—before, I was always Zhang Yu’s mentor, teaching him the ways of the world and how to climb the ranks in Kunxu.”

“But ever since joining the sect, Zhan Xian has been talking more and more, and Zhang Yu listens to him increasingly.”

Moreover, Fu Ji sensed vaguely that Zhan Xian and Zhang Yu shared some secret known only to them—a secret they kept hidden from her, speaking in riddles she couldn’t decipher.

She didn’t know that secret was Zhang Yu’s Yu Shu.

But she did know they both possessed Zhang Yu’s memories—it was only natural they’d have private knowledge she could never access.

“No, this can’t go on.”

“If it continues, my standing in Zhang Yu’s heart will drop even further—and my influence in our future startup team will wane too.”

“Rise up, Fu Shen! Use your brain! Find a way to regain Zhang Yu’s trust!”

While Fu Ji frantically schemed, Zhang Yu quietly returned to his work.

The next day, just as Luo Wuji had forewarned, the investigation team arrived at the Martial Dao Third Group’s office, announcing the suspension of Zhang Yu’s promotion process.

As Zhang Yu followed them into a nearby quiet chamber for questioning, the group’s private chat exploded.

“Does Zhang Yu really have a problem?”

“Will he get transferred out?”

“A Grade-1 Sect Affairs Officer… if he really leaked immortal techniques, he’ll probably be expelled.”

“What about our performance metrics?!”

Thinking of Zhang Yu’s contributions to their recent results—and this month’s new targets—the members groaned inwardly.

Chu Wangji recalled the gifts he’d sent and thought bitterly, “What a waste—I shouldn’t have given them at all.”

Qu Yizhi watched Zhang Yu’s retreating figure and wondered, “Is this… Lu Hengzhang’s doing? If so… Zhang Yu won’t easily escape unscathed. And as group leader, I’ll inevitably be implicated.”

Qu Yizhi prided himself on his political sensitivity within the sect. He sensed that if Lu Hengzhang—and the powerful figures behind him—were truly involved, this affair was far more complex than it appeared.

“Could it be… that Zhang Yu is merely bait?”

…

Meanwhile, seated cross-legged in the quiet chamber, Zhang Yu calmly answered the investigators’ questions.

“Zhang Yu, why did you link the ‘Lianshen Scripture’ with the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’?”

“Why do you believe their immortal techniques overlap?”

“What evidence do you have?”

Zhang Yu refused to reveal that he’d pushed the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ in the database to Level 40—it involved Yu Shu and copyright issues, and he knew explaining it would be futile anyway.

Those who hadn’t cultivated the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ to Level 40 and condensed its corresponding fist intent simply couldn’t understand, no matter how clearly he tried to articulate his insight.

So he said, “If you don’t believe me, find others who’ve cultivated the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ to Level 40. As outsiders, they can verify my claim.”

The investigators exchanged glances. One said to Zhang Yu, “Do you even know? The ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ has been obsolete for ages—there’s no one left in the Myriad Laws Sect who’s cultivated it to Level 40.”

Zhang Yu blinked, surprise flickering in his eyes.

The investigator pressed on, “Why do you think someone who’s pushed the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ to Level 40 could validate your view?”

“Have you met such a cultivator? From another sect, perhaps?”

Zhang Yu frowned. “No. I deduced this purely from my understanding of the techniques.”

As the interview ended and the investigators departed, Zhang Yu sensed they remained utterly unconvinced.

A strange doubt also stirred within him: “No one in the Myriad Laws Sect cultivates the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ anymore?”

“If the ‘Lianshen Scripture’ is plagiarized… then it copied an outdated technique?”

Over the next two days, every member of the Martial Dao Third Group was summoned for questioning, deepening the scrutiny of Zhang Yu’s work.

Panic spread through the group like wildfire.

Soon after, a review panel—staffed by personnel drawn from the Yufa Pavilion—began its formal evaluation of the ‘Lianshen Scripture.’

…

Xiao Zhi, leader of the Martial Dao First Group and a veteran reviewer, joined the panel.

His body radiated surging aura, fist intent already brimming forth.

After simulating the techniques, he sighed, “The ‘Lianshen Scripture’ and the ‘Po Zhi Zhu Shen Scripture’ are diametrically opposed. Zhang Yu’s reasoning is utterly baffling.”

“This is so obvious—it hardly warrants review.”

Another panel member added, “Zhang Yu achieved so much last month—he probably made a careless error in his rush.”

Xiao Zhi sneered, “I’ve always said it: the Martial Dao groups have operated smoothly for years. Someone like him, fresh in the department, blindly chasing performance was bound to cause trouble. See? I was right.”

“Youngsters are just too naive.”

“What good is approving so many if they’re all wrong?”

“Who knows how many other techniques he missed besides the ‘Lianshen Scripture’ last month?”

“Mortals from the lower realms are so shortsighted.”

“Each of these cultivation manuals cost vast sums of spirit coins and consumed precious sect resources to develop. Yet he rejects perfectly sound techniques just to quickly pad his own performance metrics—how much more of the sect’s resources will be wasted because of him?”

Another cultivator interjected, “Section Head Xiao, perhaps we shouldn’t blow this out of proportion…”

“Blow it out of proportion?” Xiao Zhi retorted. “How am I exaggerating? I’m genuinely worried that the sect’s resources are being squandered by people like him.”

“I propose we expand our review scope and re-examine every single manual Zhang Yu rejected last month.”

A member of the investigation team immediately cautioned, “Section Head Xiao, choose your words carefully.”

Xiao Zhi pursed his lips but said no more.

Of course he knew they couldn’t possibly audit everything. What if this matter spiraled out of control and ended up dragging the entire Martial Cultivation Division into a full-scale investigation? What if something truly damning surfaced then?

All Xiao Zhi really wanted was to brand Zhang Yu as someone who recklessly rejected cultivation manuals—just enough to deter him from pulling any more stunts to inflate his performance numbers.

And Xiao Zhi was certain that framing this incident strictly as Zhang Yu’s personal error was precisely what their superiors preferred.

Soon enough, thanks to Xiao Zhi’s active dissemination, similar rumors began circulating within the Yufa Pavilion.

“Zhang Yu’s performance metrics shot up only because he’s been rejecting manuals at random.”

“I heard he rejects all the difficult ones and only approves the easy ones for review.”

Shen Qingyun of Martial Cultivation Team One heard these whispers and her eyes flickered with sudden understanding. “So that’s how it is… That guy surpassed me using such underhanded tactics?”

…

Inside Deputy Section Chief Gu Qingya’s office—

Watching Zhang Yu, whom he’d summoned, Gu Qingya smiled faintly. “One wrong move, and the whole game is lost. Feels bitter, doesn’t it? Don’t take it personally—I’m not mocking you. I’ve made mistakes too, and I’ve been trampled on just like this before.”

“That’s how things work in the sect. Everyone’s watching, waiting. The moment you slip up even slightly, someone seizes the chance to crush you—and it’s even worse for us mortals from the lower realms…”

“There’s simply no help for it. Too many people in the sect are scrambling to climb higher, yet there are only so many positions available.”

Gu Qingya sighed. “There have even been cases where candidates assassinated each other over a single promotion opportunity.”

“You, coming from the First Layer, arrived only three months ago and were already up for promotion—it’s no wonder some people can’t stomach it.”

Zhang Yu replied coolly, “Deputy Section Chief Gu, what did you call me here for?”

Gu Qingya said, “The lab that developed the ‘Spirit Refining Scripture’ has released quite a few videos, and now the situation’s blown wide open. Minister Luo was furious when he learned you refuse to admit fault.”

“It seems likely that after failing this promotion, you won’t see another chance for a very long time.”

Zhang Yu asked, “What if I’m right?”

Gu Qingya laughed aloud. “Ah, there you go—that’s exactly where your foolishness lies. Do you really think Minister Luo cares whether you’re right or wrong?”

“He’s about to enact new regulations. To him, quelling the uproar swiftly is what truly matters.”

“If you obey him now and admit fault immediately, that’s what will please him.”

“What he demands from you is obedience—not righteousness.”

“On the contrary, even if you’re in the right and suffer injustice, if you refuse to submit and disobey him, then in his eyes, you’re unworthy of promotion.”

“Besides,” Gu Qingya fixed Zhang Yu with a steady gaze, his voice low, “do you honestly believe you understand better than Luo Wujie, better than Xiao Zhi, better than the Re-examination Department, better than the laboratory that invested millions of spirit coins?”

“Who would believe you?”

(End of chapter)