Chapter 550: Chapter 492: Mountain Shifting Warrior
As the final exams concluded, Zhang Yu, like in previous years, ranked first in the class, and with the increase in his overall score, he moved up to 23rd in the entire Civil Engineering Department.
This allowed him to apply for new scholarship loans, with the first in class plus the 23rd in the department bringing him over 20 spirit coins in low-interest scholarship loans.
However, even though Zhang Yu’s current income is high, his expenses are equally substantial.
For example, the manufacturing costs of magic treasures, maintenance costs, purchasing and practicing artifact refining blueprints, and training in artifact refining cultivation techniques—all of these are enough to hire a good number of students from the Civil Engineering Department.
But now, with the addition of this 20 spirit coins loan, Zhang Yu’s account balance is nearing 60 spirit coins.
Apart from scholarship loans, high rankings naturally come with various other benefits, such as weekly meal distributions, discounts on various school facilities, which Zhang Yu has gradually gotten used to, even finding them a bit stingy, but to other students, these are things they envy greatly.
And now that his account has more spirit coins, Zhang Yu naturally feels he should spend them to continue enhancing his cultivation, since improving cultivation is essentially enhancing his ability to earn money.
"How can you enhance your strength without spending money? How do you make more money?"
Driven by his aspiration for the peaks of the Immortal Path, Zhang Yu delved back into the Artifact Refining Laboratory.
For him right now, his primary goal in improving his strength is naturally the new military-level power, but this path requires him to transfer to the Artifact Refining Department to continue.
However, even though he can’t yet get the new military-level power temporarily, in Kunxu... no matter if all basic data reached the limits, as long as there’s money... he can always continue to improve his strength.
Especially for Zhang Yu, who wants to pursue the path of artifact refining, as long as he has money... he can constantly hone his artifact refining skills while creating more magic treasures to help him make money, continuously enhancing his money-making capabilities and his Immortal Path cultivation.
For instance, at this moment, on the 669th floor of University City, Grandfather Yingxin is currently with Zhao Tianxing, Che Yufei, and other company employees, operating Zhang Yu’s magic treasure for work.
Watching as the Earthly Sha Bottle, under his operation, continuously outputs concrete, Zhao Tianxing contentedly thought, "I didn’t expect that as a diploma holder, I could now work on projects for Wanfa University every day."
Walking daily on the construction site of the 669th floor, especially when sometimes controlling magic treasures and walking alongside other students, Zhao Tianxing feels as though he has become a student of Wanfa University.
Zhang Yu, relying on his current connections in the Civil Engineering Department and the numerous magic treasures he provides, allows his company to secure some simple small engineering projects inside University City, even when he’s not working.
And after deducting the employees’ salaries, taxes, the mana charging costs for the magic treasures, and the maintenance expenses, along with the agency fee to Tu Lishan, Zhang Yu can still make about 0.1 to 0.2 spirit coins a day.
"Although it’s a bit less... but it doesn’t require my effort!"
Every time Zhang Yu thinks that while he’s doing experiments in the lab, his company employees are still making money for him, and his account balance steadily rises, the spirit coins seem more satisfying than money he earns himself.
Fu Ji nodded in agreement: "Cooking is more satisfying when done yourself, but money earned by employees is even more satisfying, this kind of passive income is much more valuable than earning money actively through work."
Zhang Yu nodded repeatedly: "Indeed."
Fu Ji reminded: "Recently, with my efforts, the company has become more profitable again..."
Zhang Yu said: "Keep up the good work, President Fu. Once the company grows bigger, I guarantee you won’t lose anything. I hope you can grow well together with the company."
In his heart, Fu Ji cursed: "You damn... just refuse to give a salary, huh?"
...
While Zhang Yu was busy running between construction sites and the laboratory every day, Jiutian Liu from the Finance Department added him as a friend.
Jiutian Liu: Hello, Zhang Yu
Jiutian Liu added Zhang Yu as a friend through Tian Zhang True Monarch.
Looking at this top-ranked student in the Finance Department, and second in the whole school, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit solemn.
The last time he saw a student with such a high rank was when Yan Qianji was first in the Artifact Refining Department, ranking third in the whole school.
Zhang Yu: What’s up?
Jiutian Liu: I want to rent your body, just a part of it, the exact amount depending on the test results
Zhang Yu: What do you mean?
Jiutian Liu: I know it sounds abrupt, but to prepare for this year’s top ten league, my time is very tight, and I need to increase my cultivation faster
Jiutian Liu: I think Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s Yin Artifact experiment is a good opportunity
Jiutian Liu: I want to rent part of your body to take your place in the experiment.
Zhang Yu directly refused: Sorry, not interested.
Zhang Yu knew he could never agree, as the experiment is used to clear his cultivation status, allowing Jiutian Liu to take his place... wouldn’t that expose the lie at any time?
Seeing Zhang Yu’s refusal, Jiutian Liu’s gaze shifted slightly, with a sense of surprise: "Refused so decisively?"
Jiutian Liu: Aren’t you going to ask about the price?
Zhang Yu: Sorry, really not interested
Jiutian Liu: Zhang Yu, I think you might want to reconsider
Jiutian Liu: The turmoil around the Yin Artifact experiment is getting bigger, and although there are many advantages to being involved at the forefront, the risks are equally large
Jiutian Liu: Last time, the descent of Qiongjiang Divine Monarch was just the beginning
Jiutian Liu: I think instead of continuing to take risks, it’s better to cash out and walk away with the money.
Before Jiutian Liu could continue sending more information, Zhang Yu had already replied again: I really have no interest, you don’t need to say anything more.
Sensing a hint of impatience in the other’s tone, Jiutian Liu was slightly taken aback, then chuckled a little: "Hehe, this kid... quite greedy."
"Then I’ll see how long you can last holding onto this spot."
"By the time you want to quit, maybe the price won’t be what it is now."
...
As Zhang Yu’s spirit coins were being consumed wave after wave, when the account balance fell below 20 spirit coins.
Zhang Yu’s Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill was upgraded again, and after combining with gang qi, further increased the power of gang qi.
Additionally, the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique was continuously leveled up, reaching Level 20, allowing the Chain Technique Map套装’s artifact refining talent to complete the second cultivation technique.
When he tried releasing gang qi at the simulated construction site, golden flares poured out, covering his body like layers of golden armor.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yu’s body was encased in a golden-armored warrior over five meters tall.
This small giant was somewhat similar to the giant Zhang Yu crafted with the Small Three Harmonies, but more powerful and exquisite, essentially an upgraded version of the Wu Xiang Ling General, which Zhang Yu called the Mountain Shifting Warrior.
The body of the Mountain Shifting Spirit General, made of Protective Gang Qi mixed with Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, appeared like a golden puppet, emanating a metallic sheen.
Under the outer layer of solid armor was liquid armor, and with the Nine Heavens Cloud Sky Force’s gaseous armor, the three-state solid-liquid-gas mode provided an astonishing protective capability.
Moreover, the surface of the outermost golden armor was layered with dragon scales, bestowed with the dragon vein power after Zhang Yu reforged it using the Level 20 Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique.
Under the influence of the dragon vein power, after Zhang Yu released the gang qi, not only could he transfer some of the received attacks back to the earth, but he could also enhance the gains received from the array, accelerating mana recovery in the formation.
Compared to the Wu Xiang Ling General driven by the Small Three Harmonies in the past, the Mountain Shifting Warrior now could move using its gang qi combined with the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain Shifting Divine Power, no longer needing to move external sand and stone, and its strength, speed, and explosiveness had become even more terrifying.
Zhang Yu thought secretly: "According to intelligence, the most formidable thing in the Civil Engineering Department of Immortal Soldier University is that giant military-level puppet."
"It’s the perfect opportunity to use my Mountain Shifting Warrior to rival it directly, preventing this giant puppet from breaking through to our position."
Just then, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch beside Zhang Yu said: "Your Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique really reached Level 20?"
Zhang Yu replied promptly: "Yes."
Zhang Yu: "Ever since that Yin artifact experiment, I felt an indescribable familiarity with the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique."
Zhang Yu: "Then as I practiced, it felt increasingly faster, as if I had already learned it long ago."
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch, observing the faint dragon scale patterns on Zhang Yu’s Mountain Shifting Warrior, then said: "Let’s test it."
The test results showed that Zhang Yu indeed achieved a Level 20 standing in the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique, astonishing the Magnetic Pole True Monarch with a click of his tongue.
"Has it only been half a month? To raise this artifact refining technique to a Level 20 standard so quickly is unbelievable, truly unbelievable."
"No wonder those two Divine Monarchs from Hehuan University advanced so rapidly, but were so secretive about this technology."
"They probably used this technique to transfer who knows how many people’s cultivation to themselves."
"Hmph, maybe much of the cultivation they possess is even infringing."
Moreover, during this period, Zhang Yu’s Heavenly Kunlun Mountain Shifting Divine Power in the laboratory testing also successfully broke through to Level 20, both surprising and delighting Tian Zhang True Monarch.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: "Very well, the stronger you are, the better your grip will be in tomorrow’s competition at Immortal Soldier University."
"Fight well tomorrow, but always be ready to concede; both Old Gao and I will be watching your match through the Spirit Realm."
...
The next day.
The location of Immortal Soldier University is a bottomless pit, and the entire university campus extends downward along the chasm, forming an enormous underground city.
At this moment, Wan Gouxuan of the Civil Engineering Department of Immortal Soldier University and several other team members were gathered, looking at their teacher.
Seeing the teacher deliver a series of Magic Remains to them, he said: "Zhang Yu has confirmed his participation in the competition."
"After the competition begins, find opportunities to use the Magic Remains one by one as the professor instructed to test his physical body and extract all retrievable materials from head to toe."
Wan Gouxuan nodded confidently: "Don’t worry, teacher, the Earth Surge God is in optimal condition, and I won’t give Zhang Yu any chance, only pounding him relentlessly."
Holding the Magic Remains, Wan Gouxuan recalled last year’s humiliation of having his medical insurance blown by Mo Enting, thinking to himself: "Mo Enting, the disgrace you caused me, this time I will return it mercilessly upon your junior brother, marking his body with the humiliating defeat by Immortal Soldier University."
However, remembering Mo Enting, Wan Gouxuan also voiced his worries.
The teacher said: "Rest assured, if Mo Enting buys in to appear, naturally someone will also help you increase combat power."
"What you need to focus on is seizing the opportunity to end everything swiftly, giving Zhang Yu not even the slightest chance to concede."
--
The Heavenly Sword’s Heavenly Patrol Flying Sword is pictured like this, with an alloy and luminous material in a cyber cultivation style, the honorary principal’s gifted silk brocade box is still in production, and when fully crafted, it will reveal Easter egg seals. Further development of various accompanying Chinese cyber cultivation Magic Remains is ongoing; stay tuned for more.