Chapter 578: Chapter 519: Resolving the Thunder Pole
With a shout from the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, the Thunder Extreme True Monarch truly began to feel afraid.
In his impression, his senior sister was always expressionless, rarely ever so angrily scolding and even acting.
After all, in the current Kunxu, acting impulsively was not dignified.
And in the Thunder Extreme True Monarch’s memory, every rare outburst of his senior sister resulted in many people disappearing.
Some of them left this University City, some left the entire Wanfa University, and some left the university realm altogether.
Each outburst was a release of emotions, and after that, all that was left was the weighing of gains and losses, sacrificing what should be sacrificed, abandoning what should be abandoned, and disappearing what should disappear.
This time, the person disappearing seemed to be his disciple.
Listening to the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, the Thunder Extreme True Monarch weakly answered, “Ghost? Who’s a ghost?”
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch continued, “Isn’t that your disciple in the video? Do you know what he’s been doing? Is the problem with you?”
The Thunder Extreme True Monarch replied with difficulty, “He… he signed a master-apprentice contract with me.”
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch said coldly, “So what if he signed a contract? Which one of the top ten didn’t tear apart countless contracts on their way up?”
“If contracts could control everything, why would we need the Heavenly Court?”
“If it’s neither him nor you, is it me? Is it my problem? Am I the ghost?”
The Thunder Extreme True Monarch lowered his head, remained silent, and even his projection shrank a bit, appearing even more small and helpless.
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch pointed at Zhang Yu and said, “Or is it his problem? Did my disciple betray you?”
The Thunder Extreme True Monarch quietly said, “How could it be your disciple, senior sister? He only works in construction on site and is just in the Foundation Establishment stage, how could it be him.”
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch gave Thunder Extreme True Monarch a cold glare: “So working in construction isn’t a problem? Being at Foundation Establishment is impossible? I was already dealing with Nascent Souls when I was in the Foundation Establishment stage!”
Having said that, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch took a deep breath, and the entire office fell silent, with no one speaking again.
As the air grew increasingly oppressive, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch expressionlessly said, “Besides your disciple, write out five more names of your subordinates and push the blame onto them.”
“How much money have you taken over the years, surrender half of it.”
“Now there are eyes watching this matter everywhere, you have to settle it today, conclude the matter.”
Hearing these words from the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, the Thunder Extreme True Monarch felt another twitch in his heart.
Handing over 5 more people… was okay for him, but thinking about how he’d have to give up half of the savings he’d painstakingly accumulated over the years, the Thunder Extreme True Monarch felt that his mana circuits were about to short-circuit.
The Thunder Extreme True Monarch struggled to say, “Senior sister, that’s my retirement and longevity money.”
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch laughed at hearing this: “Do you know how many people inside and outside the school don’t want your senior sister to achieve Divinity Transformation?”
“You don’t want to pay? No problem, then you come out and shoulder this matter.”
The Thunder Extreme True Monarch bowed his head and remained silent, his figure shrinking even further until he was shorter than Zhang Yu.
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch said coldly, “Alright, I’ll give you an hour to sort this out.”
“From now on, just stay in the lab and don’t interfere with departmental matters.”
Watching the Spirit Realm projection of the Thunder Extreme True Monarch gradually disappear, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch sighed with a complex expression.
While she rubbed Zhang Yu’s head, she said softly, “My junior brother is really getting more and more muddled as he gets older.”
“In his youth, he was also a renowned genius, spending not much more time than me to reach Nascent Soul.”
“But ever since achieving Nascent Soul, he gradually slackened.”
“Although he was invigorated for a while after entering the university, repeated failures in competition caused the resources allocated to him to dwindle, making him gradually disheartened, not learning the latest Artifact Refining techniques, and quitting going to the lab, engaging in petty schemes all day, ending up like this.”
“It’s easy for him, but has he never thought about how difficult this makes it for me?”
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch sighed: “But if I handle him, what will the other older members who have been struggling alongside me think?”
“If I don’t protect him over a minor issue, many people will think that I’ve lost power, that I’m not up to it.”
“Put him in a position where it’s least likely to go wrong, and he still manages to cause trouble…”
Listening to the sighs of the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Zhang Yu said seriously, “Teacher, I’ll never slack; I’ll work hard to climb up, closely following in your footsteps.”
“Good.” The Magnetic Pole True Monarch smiled when she heard this, patted Zhang Yu’s head, and hugged him into her embrace: “Remember what happened today, and don’t follow your junior uncle’s example in the future.”
Meanwhile, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s mind kept replaying the video footage taken.
The angle of that video was so cleverly shot, just like a tailgater, filming closely behind everyone.
But the post-investigation failed to uncover any traces of a photographer left at the scene.
All this indicated the skill of the filmer.
“Whose people are they?”
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s mind swirled with a series of names, both from inside and outside the school.
“Golden Palace Divine Monarch?”
“Or Immortal Soldier University? Vajra University?”
“Or perhaps Nether University?”
There were too many people who would obstruct his path to achieving Divinity Transformation, and the Magnetic Pole True Monarch could not determine which faction was connected to the current matter, only feeling increasingly vigilant and sensing more danger and obstacles on the path to Divinity Transformation.
In the next few days, Thunder Extreme True Monarch voluntarily resigned from his original management position, and his disciple Bian Hao along with five others under him all disappeared.
The Artifact Refining Department remained tranquil, and the students were completely unaware of all this.
If Zhang Yu hadn’t been observing all this, he would have probably thought nothing had happened.
That day, just as he stepped out of the laboratory, he received a message from Thunder Extreme True Monarch.
Thunder Extreme True Monarch: Nephew, how have you been lately?
Zhang Yu: True Monarch, it’s better if we don’t address each other by our sect identities at school. I’m afraid Shifu will think it has a bad influence.
Looking at Zhang Yu’s reply, the mana circuits within Thunder Extreme True Monarch’s body shook violently.
“A petty person gaining power.”
Thunder Extreme True Monarch ultimately suppressed the anger in his heart, given that his current situation was already extremely dire.
The money he spent had significantly affected his life-extension plan, drastically shortening his originally planned lifespan.
The lost position, the lost disciples, all indicated that he couldn’t see any possibility of income growth for the coming years, and his expected lifespan was dwindling day by day.
Yet from the previous lab experience, Thunder Extreme True Monarch realized that Zhang Yu was currently favored by Magnetic Pole True Monarch.
“My senior sister buries herself in the lab all day. She’s more familiar with it than her own cave mansion, constantly researching her experimental disciples, which naturally brings a closer bond.”
“If this Zhang Yu is willing to say a few good words for me at the lab, it might earn some favor from my senior sister.”
Thinking of this, Thunder Extreme True Monarch held back his anger and continued to communicate with Zhang Yu.
Thunder Extreme True Monarch: Zhang Yu, you were saying…
And after a few words with him, Zhang Yu understood his intention.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Expect me to speak well of you without paying?”
“The old thing is truly getting muddled with age.”
He casually set the contact to message received but not alert, then went on with his own tasks.
Not long after, Zhang Yu received a message from Master Juxing.
Master Juxing: Zhang Yu, hello. For now, I’ll be temporarily taking over Thunder Extreme True Monarch’s work.
Master Juxing: If there are any project issues, just coordinate with me.
After greeting with him, Zhang Yu was pulled into the work group by Master Juxing.
In the group, he stated: Everyone, I’m different from Thunder Extreme True Monarch. I’m a person who only focuses on work and absolutely hates nonsense.
Master Juxing: As long as everyone works diligently on the project, there will be no malfeasance on my end.
Master Juxing: Also, don’t even think about sending me money.
Master Juxing: I despise such tactics. If anyone tries this on me, don’t blame me for being harsh.
Someone immediately replied: With Master Juxing here, it’s a clear sky.
After observing the group chat for a while, just as Zhang Yu was secretly doubting if he was truly as upright as he claimed, he was added by Master Juxing’s disciple.
Only then did he realize that if he was willing to spend 1 spirit coin at a designated online store, his project funds would soon be credited.
“1 spirit coin? Just 1 spirit coin?”
Zhang Yu exclaimed, “As expected of an honest official.”
Fu Ji said, “That’s how it always starts, especially since Thunder Extreme True Monarch just stepped down. He wouldn’t dare ask for more.”
“But not receiving isn’t an option either. If he doesn’t take, how can his superior collect? If the leader doesn’t take, how can Magnetic Pole True Monarch collect?”
“However, as time passes and after a few years, he’ll probably start taking more and more.”
Zhang Yu said, “We’ll deal with future matters in the future. After a few years, who knows what it will look like when he starts collecting more.”
Zhang Yu knew his aim was to compete in the Top Ten Leagues, focusing on the upcoming years; he had no time for long-term outlooks.
With the first project funds credited, Zhang Yu’s account balance suddenly jumped to 30 spirit coins.
Although the upcoming payroll, taxes, and such would deduct a lot, this represented positive financial growth.
As days passed and the project ran smoothly, Zhang Yu himself only went to the site a few days each month, while his company employees brought passive income every day.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu continued to invest money in improving his Artifact Refining Technique, gradually being able to take on more types of refining orders.
With that, artifact refining and construction moved forward in tandem, allowing Zhang Yu to save 20 to 30 spirit coins a month, preparing for the construction of military-level magic treasure prototypes.
…
Mid-May
In the dorm that day, Zhang Yu unusually infused mana into Yu Xinghan, enhancing her mana level and quality.
Accompanying the breakthrough of the final barrier, Yu Xinghan’s mana finally reached the threshold of 1000, the limit of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Feeling the abundant mana within her, Yu Xinghan suddenly felt a movement in her heart and discovered her third eye was trembling in her mind, seemingly starting another phase of development.
Zhang Yu also noticed that Yu Xinghan’s Tao Seed’s Three-Eyed Divine Power had upgraded from level 2 to level 3.