Chapter 572: Chapter 513: Who Says Switching Departments Is Inferior to a Pureblood
“The Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique order?”
Seeing the message from Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up.
Although Zhang Yu decided to initially pursue developing the prototype of the Heavenly Sun Divine after transferring to the Artifact Refining Department, he didn’t immediately start the process. Instead, he continued gathering experience as an artifact refining prodigy.
After all, honing a skill doesn’t delay the cutting of firewood. Given Zhang Yu’s understanding of the Chain Technique Map set, being an artifact refining prodigy likely has long-term benefits for his artifact refining journey.
Especially since he has now advanced both the Treasure Identification Technique and the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique to Level 20, with the Fire Command Divine Technique reaching Level 10, getting closer to the six techniques needed to achieve the first tier of the artifact refining prodigy’s effect.
According to Zhang Yu’s own estimate, it should be completed within two months.
The only troublesome aspect for him remains the money.
“Everything about the path of artifact refining is good, except it’s too costly.”
“Practicing the magic treasure blueprint is expensive.”
“Training the artifact refining technique is even more expensive.”
To practice the Fire Command Divine Technique, Zhang Yu not only had to purchase fire seeds to condense Fire Command True Qi but also needed a magic treasure to practice on.
After all, this technique uses true fire to refine magic treasures, improving the material strength and resistance to high temperatures of the treasures.
During this process, although Zhang Yu was buying second-hand magic treasures, it still cost him quite a few spirit coins.
Initially, his Fire Command Divine Technique level was too low, and his skills were lacking, so he only bought the worst second-hand magic treasures, all below Level 3 for practice. The advantage was that they were cheap enough, but the treasures, which were not high-level to begin with, became nearly impossible to sell for cost recovery after being refined with his low-level Fire Command Divine Technique.
In truth, Zhang Yu didn’t think the practice treasures plus enhanced garbage could be sold at first; he later learned that college students also demanded magic treasures, just with much weaker purchasing power.
Zhang Yu remembered that as his practice frequency increased, so did the spirit coin consumption, with his account losing nearly 10 spirit coins at its peak in a single day.
As his Fire Command Divine Technique level increased, Zhang Yu tried purchasing higher-level treasures, such as Level 5, Level 9, Level 10, and Level 11 treasures.
After repeated testing, he found that Level 11 treasures sold best after being refined with his Fire Command Divine Technique.
Especially treasures like the Earth Stabilizing Seal and Earth Fiend Bottle, which can be used in civil engineering construction.
“Level 11 treasures reach the Foundation Establishment level, achieving a qualitative leap in performance compared to treasures below Level 10.”
“For construction-use magic treasures, there is often no need to pursue extremes as long as they are solid and durable; many are unwilling to use Level 20 treasures for overtime work.”
“So, for construction sites, Level 11 treasures are a bit more cost-effective and efficient, making them the most practical.”
As a result, practice treasures could be more easily sold, partially alleviating the high spirit coin consumption from training the Fire Command Divine Technique.
“Now that the Fire Command Divine Technique is over Level 10, aside from selling practice half-products second-hand to civil engineering students, I can also offer a customization service, refining other people’s treasures while continuing to train.”
Zhang Yu estimated internally; spending and earning this way, he should need another 15 to 20 spirit coins to push the Fire Command Divine Technique to Level 20.
Every time he thought of this, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh.
Luckily, the magic treasures in Kunxu aren’t like those in cultivation novels from his past life, lasting decades or even centuries without wear; otherwise, he wouldn’t know who to sell so many treasures to.
Magic treasures here in Kunxu undergo wear upon use, with reduced durability and performance, requiring maintenance and repair, eventually becoming obsolete, outdated, and scrapped…
Zhang Yu had once complained about the unusability of Kunxu’s magic treasures, but he gradually understood his past naivety upon embarking on the path of refining.
“Is it reasonable for a magic treasure to be passed down for several generations without repairs or maintenance? Where would the Artifact Refining Department get their food if so?”
“If it weren’t for selling treasures to recoup costs, pushing the Fire Command Divine Technique to Level 20 might require a dry burn of 100 spirit coins, leaving no hope for the path of refining.”
“But once achieving the artifact refining prodigy status, who knows how much the prototype of the Heavenly Sun Divine will cost to refine; it’s time to start earning money soon.”
Looking at his bank account, though he received a bonus of 20 spirit coins, paying for the Seven Extremes Magic Remains of Mo Enting, distributing employee salaries for the company, and investing in practicing the Fire Command Divine Technique rapidly depleted Zhang Yu’s account balance to under 3 spirit coins.
“Alas, the more I earn, the faster I cultivate, and the faster I cultivate, the more I spend per unit of time.”
“Spirit coins are never enough to spend.”
In this tight financial situation, Zhang Yu was naturally thrilled to see the new Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique order from Ye Xingli.
Zhang Yu: Accept
Ye Xingli: [Zi Yunzhen]
Ye Xingli: Since you’ve formally joined the Artifact Refining Department, there’s no need to hide many things anymore
Ye Xingli: You can contact her directly yourself
All along, Ye Xingli, under orders from the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, consigned some magic treasures and artifact refining services for Zhang Yu, primarily to conceal his refining skills before transferring departments.
Since Zhang Yu’s transfer succeeded, she no longer saw the need to cover for him.
So, moments later, Zhang Yu proactively added Zi Yunzhen as a friend.
When Zi Yunzhen saw Zhang Yu’s request, she was slightly stunned: “What does this civil engineering guy want? Is it possible he wants to consult on the refining course?”
Upon inspecting the friend request content, Zi Yunzhen was again slightly stunned.
Zhang Yu: Do you need the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique service?
Inwardly, Zi Yunzhen thought, “Is this Zhang Yu acting as a middleman or salesperson? Did some big data leak my needs?”
She knew many lower-classmen in Artifact Refining who lacked skills would act as salespeople or brokers using the department’s background.
Thinking he might have been favored as artifact refining material by the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Zi Yunzhen accepted the friend request.
Zhang Yu: Do you need the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique service?
Zi Yunzhen: Sorry, I already hired someone
Zhang Yu: Is this Ye Xingli senior sister’s side? It’s senior sister who asked me to come.
Zhang Yu: What magic treasure are you planning to infuse with dragon vein power?
Zi Yunzhen replied with suspicion: Do you know the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique?
Zi Yunzhen added: I have very high standards, I don’t need someone whose level is too low.
Zi Yunzhen: Junior, you just transferred from the Civil Engineering Department, you should focus on your classes first.
Upon seeing this reply, Zhang Yu knew he couldn’t just ignore it.
After all, in the field of artifact refining, an individual’s reputation is as important as brand value and has always been crucial.
For instance, is the technology of Extreme Tiger really inferior to Ten Thousand Dao Craftsman Sect? Inferior to Vajra Mystical Craftsmanship?
In Zhang Yu’s view, not necessarily.
But in terms of price, Extreme Tiger just can’t outsell Ten Thousand Dao Craftsman Sect, and high-end models are not recognized by anyone except those from Immortal Soldier University.
This is reputation, the difference brought by brand value and brand style.
It’s the same for individual cultivators. A student transferred from the Civil Engineering Department to Artifact Refining; does it inherently mean their level is lower than a pure-bred Artifact Refining student?
In Zhang Yu’s opinion, definitely not.
But Zhang Yu understood that many people harbor such prejudices.
At this moment, he must maintain his artifact refining reputation, maintain his personal brand value, just like maintaining brand value.
After all, in the past, before he transferred departments, he was still hidden behind Ye Xingli. Now, he has to establish his own name.
If he doesn’t maintain his personal brand well, how can he make money? And without money, how can he cultivate?
Especially since the conversation between the two before us has been recorded in the chat history.
If Zhang Yu backs down like this, and Zi Yunzhen before him spreads the chat log everywhere, pointing to the content saying: This Zhang Yu knew nothing when he just transferred to the Artifact Refining Department yet wanted to do custom services, and after being taught a lesson by me, obediently went to class.
Such black history could haunt him for a lifetime; every time he makes the news, regardless of good or bad, someone might bring it up, which would significantly harm the value of his personal brand.
Zhang Yu simply couldn’t gamble that Zi Yunzhen before him wouldn’t do such a thing. After all, he does not understand the other party’s character and disposition.
And although Zhang Yu doesn’t know many people in the Artifact Refining Department, there just happens to be one person who would do similar things… although this person has now been sent to Civil Engineering.
This ratio is already not low.
So Zhang Yu simply replied: My Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique is already Level 20, and I have previously taken several orders from senior Ye Xingli, so there’s no problem with my level in this regard.
Zhang Yu: Zi Yunzhen, if you have any doubts about this, you can take a look at my magic treasure [Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill]
Zi Yunzhen clicked to see and immediately spotted the parameter information after connecting the other party’s magic treasure, her eyes suddenly became serious.
Sending magic treasure information in this manner is similar to cultivators in ancient times appraising each other’s magic treasures, belonging to a form of communication between artifact refining cultivators.
After all, no matter how much you boast, it’s not as convincing as directly showcasing the magic treasure you’ve refined.
And refining magic treasures is time and energy-consuming, you can’t just get into a fight with someone to showcase its power.
At this moment, appraising the other party’s magic treasure is the best way to understand their artifact refining level.
And in modern times, it’s even simpler.
After all, the magic treasure system has been summarized and classified by the Ten Great Sects, and all the levels and parameters are clearly defined. By simply looking, one can roughly understand the refiner’s skill level, which is more useful for artifact refining cultivators than a resume.
What if you encounter a situation where you can’t understand the parameters?
In that case, it can only mean your artifact refining skills are far inferior to the other party’s.
At this moment, Zi Yunzhen carefully read through the information, intending to give it a good critique after viewing.
Temperature 39 degrees
Gang Qi Conductance 99%
Mana Storage 999
Spiritual Energy Circuit 64 layers
Intelligent Artifact Spirit: None
Dragon Vein Infusion 20 units
…
Zi Yunzhen looked through the information line by line. Although she hadn’t spent much effort on the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, and her skill level was only Level 10, she could still understand these parameters.
“A Level 20 Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill.”
“Refined by overlapping more than 5 pieces…”
“And undergone the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique twice…”
The more Zi Yunzhen looked, the more she felt the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill’s refining level was extremely high.
“Was this really refined by Zhang Yu?”
And at the end of each parameter was the information of the refiner.
Refiner: Wanfa University, Zhang Yu
Second Refining: Wanfa University, Zhang Yu