Chapter 573: Chapter 514: Personal Brand Maintenance
After reading the parameters of the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill several times, Zi Yunzhen felt her breathing grow heavier.
Unable to help herself, she responded: Did you really make this all on your own?
She thought to herself, "Could it be Senior Sister Ye Xingli helped him with it?"
"A civil engineering student... how could he possibly achieve this?"
Facing Zi Yunzhen’s questions, Zhang Yu calmly replied: Didn’t you see the creator’s signature on the Magic Treasure?
Zhang Yu: I completed it independently. Or are you going to accuse me of faking it?
In the artifact refining world, accusing someone of fakery is a grave offense that could lead to bankruptcy and enmity. Naturally, Zi Yunzhen wouldn’t dare casually make such a large grudge against a material favored by the Magnetic Pole True Monarch.
Zi Yunzhen: That’s not what I meant
Zi Yunzhen: I’m just so surprised
Zi Yunzhen: Didn’t expect someone in the Civil Engineering Department could refine Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill so well
Zi Yunzhen: And actually advanced the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique to Level 20
Zhang Yu remarked matter-of-factly: Without exceptional talent, why would the Magnetic Pole True Monarch help me transfer departments?
Looking at Zhang Yu’s somewhat arrogant reply, Zi Yunzhen felt annoyed but had to hold back when she looked at the parameters of his Magic Treasure.
After all, a Magic Treasure is the most valid testament of an artifact refining cultivator’s skill. As long as the result is solid, it can silence anyone.
Zhang Yu asked: Zi, would you still like Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique services?
Zi Yunzhen: Yes
Zhang Yu: What kind of Magic Treasure?
Zhang Yu: Please send me the parameters for me to review
Zi Yunzhen looked at the flag she intended to infuse with Dragon Vein Power, her face suddenly turning red.
After hesitating briefly, she decided to send it over: [Five Elements Flag]
She quickly explained: This Five Elements Flag is not my best work
Zi Yunzhen: I use it for experimental assistance, just temporarily
Zhang Yu: 3 spirit coins
Zi Yunzhen: Okay
Upon seeing the price quoted by the other party, Zi Yunzhen quickly agreed.
This was also the reason Zi Yunzhen ordered through Ye Xingli—the price offered was undeniably affordable.
As a student in the Artifact Refining Department, Zi Yunzhen had sought several senior students for customization services.
After all, while big companies offer artifact refining products with high cost-performance ratios, stable quality, and various Spirit Realm services, many personal customization needs are either difficult to satisfy or highly expensive.
At such times, one needs to find an artifact refining expert for secondary refining to achieve effects such as enhancing Magic Treasure strength, expanding additional functionalities, or improving Artifact Spirit intelligence...
Identical brands and models of Magic Treasures will have substantial differences after different personalized refinements.
After some negotiations, Zhang Yu and Zi Yunzhen successfully signed the deal, just waiting for her to send the Magic Treasure over for him to complete secondary refining, and then send the Magic Treasure back.
After receiving the deposit, Zhang Yu reluctantly gave 0.3 spirit coins as a commission to Ye Xingli.
Ye Xingli: No need to transfer it, with your reputation starting to grow in the Artifact Refining Department, you won’t need my cover anymore
Zhang Yu: Senior Sister, I’ve always relied on you to help me get business. I’m new to the Artifact Refining Department and still need to trouble you to continue referring business to me.
Seeing Ye Xingli accept the commission after his persistence, Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
"Since my reputation isn’t established and I have a background from the Civil Engineering Department, if it weren’t for Ye Xingli’s help, it might be difficult to get orders in the Artifact Refining Department."
"Anyway, I’ll still need Senior Sister’s help to direct some business my way."
In addition to business considerations, Zhang Yu had another thought regarding the Dao Seed with Ye Xingli.
"Given her strong talent for artifact refining, Senior Sister Ye must have a Dao Seed on her."
Apart from his teacher, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Zhang Yu also planned to interact more with this Senior Sister Ye Xingli and attempt to replicate a Dao Seed from her.
...
Several days later, Zi Yunzhen received the Magic Treasure Zhang Yu sent back. After testing, she couldn’t help but think, "Indeed, it’s at Level 20 of the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique."
She wanted to show off and quickly posted the Magic Treasure information in a small group, soon receiving replies from classmates.
"Yunzhen, did your Five Elements Flag get refined?"
"Did you have Dragon Vein Power infused into it?"
"The level is really high; how much did you spend?"
Zi Yunzhen’s lips curled into a slight smile as she replied: I bet you wouldn’t believe it if I told you
Zi Yunzhen: Zhang Yu helped me refine it
Rank 8 Rong Xuan: Zhang Yu? That civil engineering dog helped you refine it? You must be joking
Zi Yunzhen looked at her chat records with Zhang Yu and the screenshots regarding the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill. Although she wanted to send them out to show her insider information, she decided against it without Zhang Yu’s consent.
Immediately, Zi Yunzhen replied: I’ve discussed with Zhang Yu; his refining skills are not low
Zi Yunzhen: Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill Level 20, Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Technique Level 20
Rong Xuan: How’s that possible? Does he still have time to learn artifact refining at the construction site?
Zi Yunzhen: If he didn’t have some skills, why would the Magnetic Pole True Monarch bring him to the Artifact Refining Department?
Someone replied: Maybe it’s the experiment result of the Divinity Transformation Remains
Another replied: Yun Ni, he might be aiming to challenge your first place position now
As the first in the class, Su Yuni looked at the messages in the group and her gaze slightly sharpened.
Having been the first in the class from freshman to junior year, Su Yuni originally had her sights set on the department ranking, not paying much attention to the class ranking, simply because she had absolute confidence in being first in the class.
But unexpectedly, a transfer student from the Civil Engineering Department ranked second the moment he transferred, and now it seems there’s a possibility he might threaten her position?
Su Yuni could hardly imagine what kind of ridicule she would face from other Artifact Refining students if this Civil Engineering student surpassed her to take first place in the class. Her personal brand value would greatly decline, and her company’s income would be affected as well.
With this thought, a strong fighting spirit surged in Su Yuni’s heart.
"I absolutely cannot let this Civil Engineering student surpass me."
"This semester’s final exams, I must make no mistakes."
Thinking of this, Su Yuni immediately adjusted her original cultivation plan, slightly reducing the portion for advanced studies and increasing the portion for consolidating her junior year courses.
Zhang Yu was naturally unaware of the thoughts of other students in the class.
As for this semester’s final exams, he didn’t pay them much mind either.
On one hand, he had already completed the first three years of courses in the Artifact Refining Department and passed the exam of the Magnetic Pole True Monarch.
On the other hand, his main focus now is being an Artifact Refining prodigy. Once he’s done with that, he’ll tackle the Heavenly Sun Divine Prototype Machine, so final exams are just a side task.
And that day, when he returned to the dormitory, Zhang Yu finally saw his sister Zhang Pianpian, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time.
Since joining the Divinity Transformation Remains project and advancing his Taiqing Realm to Level 2, Zhang Pianpian had become increasingly busy.
Coupled with Zhang Yu’s increasing busyness, it was rare for them to meet.
At that moment, seeing the 10th ranking in the Talisman Department over Zhang Pianpian’s head, Zhang Yu exclaimed, "Senior Sister, did your ranking rise again?"
Zhang Pianpian nodded: "I recently joined a competition to improve my scores and make it easier to participate in the top ten battles."
As she spoke, Zhang Pianpian smiled: "Did you transfer to the Artifact Refining Department?"
"That’s right, in a couple of years, you might also join the top ten battles, right?"
Seeing his sister’s improvement, Zhang Yu’s slight sense of pride immediately subsided. He gathered his energy to continue earning money and cultivating, aiming to also earn the qualification to participate in the top ten battles as soon as possible.
...
A few days after transferring departments.
Zhang Yu sent a message to Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Teacher, hasn’t the Finance Department’s sanction stopped yet?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: I can’t manage the Finance Department’s sanction.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Alright, don’t bother me anymore, there’s a project at the factory site, let your company take it.
Zhang Yu: Thank you, teacher.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Hmm?
Zhang Yu: [1 spirit coin] Thank you, teacher.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Hmm.
Looking at the chat log, Zhang Yu thought: "It seems that after taking this Civil Engineering project in the Artifact Refining Department, I have to give a kickback to my teacher."
Upon arriving at the factory area mentioned by Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Zhang Yu realized it was an expansion of an off-site factory undertaken by the Artifact Refining Department of Wanfa University.
Unlike the major projects of the Civil Engineering Department, the projects of the Artifact Refining Department, such as this factory construction, were not large in scale. Most of the portion allocated to Zhang Yu could be completed by his company’s employees.
"I can earn a total of 20 spirit coins from this project, although it’s not as much as those big projects in the Civil Engineering Department, it takes less of my time."
Zhang Yu calculated that he only needed to operate the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain Shifting Divine Power for a few days, and the rest could be handled by Grandfather Ying Xin, Zhao Tianxing, and others.
Later, Zhang Yu researched and found that while there aren’t many large projects in the Artifact Refining Department, there are continuous small projects, which suit his current state well. This allows him to focus more on the path of Artifact Refining.
"The only problem is when the project payment will be released."
"As long as the first batch of project payment is received, everything will go smoothly."
Zhang Yu looked at his savings. Although he had taken on some Artifact Refining orders recently, unfortunately, he had expenses for cultivating Cultivation Techniques and advancing funds for Civil Engineering projects daily, which made those spirit coins thin out quickly. His savings still hovered around 10 spirit coins.
...
As time passed day by day, in the blink of an eye, it was mid-March.
Brilliant true fire emitted a white-hot glow, flying back and forth with Zhang Yu’s thoughts.
On this day, Zhang Yu finally pushed the Divine Fire Manual to Level 20.
"Whew, time to practice the fourth cultivation method of an Artifact Refining prodigy."
"And with the Level 20 Divine Fire Manual, I can repair the Magic Treasure by refining materials."
With this thought, Zhang Yu was invigorated.
The repair of a Magic Treasure involves many aspects, such as outer shell repair, component repair, spiritual energy circuit repair, intelligent Artifact Spirit repair... all require different skills.
And the Divine Fire Manual, using high temperatures to reforge materials, is very suitable for repairing the outer shell of a Magic Treasure.
"There should be quite a few people needing Magic Treasures repaired, which should bring me considerable income."
Just then, Zhang Yu received images sent by Wen Wuya.
After skillfully decoding the files, Bai Zhenzhen’s video popped up.
With a smile, Bai Zhenzhen said: "Yu Zi? You succeeded in transferring departments?"
"That’s great, you’re now in the Artifact Refining Department, not the Civil Engineering Department, which not only sounds more prestigious but also makes it more convenient to participate in the top ten leagues."
"Things are going well on my end, with management becoming more and more lax. Who knows, I might come out someday, and then I’ll come to find you..."
As Zhang Yu watched the smiling Bai Zhenzhen in the video, he also slowly smiled.
But then the video before his eyes suddenly underwent a light and shadow transformation, with brilliant seven-colored rays suddenly appearing.