Chapter 340: A-Zhen’s Future, Finals Approaching, Mentor Selection
Seeing Le Mulan’s urgency to seize every moment, Zhang Yu nodded in approval.
After all, university students, especially those at Myriad Laws University, were indeed pressed for time and needed to make the most of every moment.
He extended his palm, pressing it against Le Mulan’s back, and channeled a chilling stream of magic power into her body.
The magic power, originating from the same Profound Cold Meridian, made it increasingly easy for Le Mulan to absorb Zhang Yu’s energy.
However, as the icy energies rapidly accumulated, a visible bluish-purple tinge spread across Le Mulan’s face.
Zhang Yu realized that if they continued at this pace, the training session wouldn’t last much longer.
Forcing her to endure further would inevitably lead to severe frostbite, resulting in costly medical bills, prolonged recovery time, and a significant setback in her Immortal Dao progress.
How could Zhang Yu, who was eagerly anticipating Le Mulan unlocking the second tier of her Profound Cold Meridian, allow such a setback?
Sensing the rapid drop in her body temperature, Zhang Yu had no choice but to summon his vital energy, pressing his other palm — radiating intense heat — against the opposite side of Le Mulan’s back.
“Zhang Yu, stop just patting my back! I’m freezing everywhere!”
Feeling her trembling body press against him, Zhang Yu could only adjust his position to better warm her.
In that moment, he felt like he was holding a soft, icy snowball — chilly and slippery.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed. “Stop squirming and rubbing,” he warned. “Or I won’t touch you at all.”
Le Mulan immediately stilled her waist, nodding obediently. Her bluish-purple lips trembled as she whispered, “Mn.”
Outside the door, Xuan Ge silently eavesdropped on the commotion inside the dormitory.
In his usual perception, Le Mulan had always been aloof and indifferent, barely acknowledging her classmates — her personality bordering on reclusive.
Especially after she became a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, her classmates’ attitudes toward her had drastically changed. Even lowly Qi Refining juniors now harbored thoughts of dual cultivation.
In response, Le Mulan distanced herself even further from her classmates, treating them like mere air, as if she couldn’t see or hear the junior Qi Refining cultivators at all.
Yet now, eavesdropping outside the door, Xuan Ge felt he had uncovered another side to Le Mulan.
“Dual cultivation truly shapes a person,” Xuan Ge mused. “Student Le Mulan has even developed two faces.”
Over the next few days, Zhang Yu continued to attempt his Spirit-Flesh Union Journey again and again.
One day, as he opened his eyes in the Spirit Realm, he recalled his identity for this particular journey.
Zhang Yu had grown up in a laboratory as a test subject.
From a young age, he had cultivated the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Heart Art, solely to enhance his endurance, allowing the laboratory to collect more data.
But on his very first day of officially starting his work, he discovered that the laboratory staff hadn’t arrived.
Instead, a group of unfamiliar people in uniforms were there. They opened the cages and released all the test subjects.
“The laboratory director and responsible personnel have been arrested for unauthorized cultivation of the Immortal Dao by underage test subjects.”
“Your destinations will now be determined based on your cultivation level…”
Due to his excessively low cultivation level, Zhang Yu was protected by the Mortal Protection Act and released from the laboratory, finally gaining his freedom.
Completely ignorant of the world, Zhang Yu drifted aimlessly through society, possessing nothing but the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Heart Art in his mind.
Stealing, scavenging for food, working illegal jobs… he practiced the Heart Sutra relentlessly. Eventually, he could maintain its operation even while sleeping, allowing him to endure the bitter cold and pain, and finally enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.
But in the next instant, the entire world froze.
Zhang Yu looked up blankly and saw two figures radiating overwhelming divine power approaching him.
“The high-intelligence Artifact Spirit has achieved Spirit-Flesh Unity. It seems there are no further issues for now. All that remains is the formal experiment in the Material Realm.”
“Retrieve it first. Don’t let it escape into the Spirit Realm Network.”
“As for the Material Realm experiment… Heh… Without lowering the cost of high-intelligence Artifact Spirits, further discussion is pointless.”
“Blame the Soul Cultivators. They’re far too cheap and more effective than any artifact spirit.”
Zhang Yu removed his Spirit Realm Mask once again, thinking to himself, “This time, it feels like I’m experiencing the breakthrough of an Advanced Artifact Spirit.”
“Why does it seem like these high-intelligence Artifact Spirits advance far more easily than humans?”
He shook his head, striving to retain the lingering sensation in his mind.
That evening, Zhang Yu initiated his usual communication with Bai Zhenzhen.
“Yu Zi!” Bai Zhenzhen greeted him with a cheerful smile. “I have some good news! I’ll be coming to Myriad Laws University next semester!”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? You’ll finally have time to come?”
Bai Zhenzhen replied, “Yep! I’m participating in the University Student Flying Sword Competition next semester.”
“And the competition is being held right at Myriad Laws University!”
Bai Zhenzhen’s projection moved closer, leaning forward with a radiant smile. “Finally, our little family will be reunited!”
After happily ending the call with Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen grew even more eager for the Flying Sword Competition to begin.
The next day, Zhang Yu logged back into Hammerheart Pavilion.
This time, when he opened his eyes, he found himself leading a crowd of Qi Refining Cultivators in long robes and flowing sleeves, rallying them to demand their unpaid wages.
Zhang Yu retrieved a small box from his sleeve, opened it, and revealed several golden pills inside.
“Since the Divine Firmament Sect split during the Sect War, weapons from their disbanded armies have scattered across the land. These are Great Yi Heaven-Shaking Thunder pills.”
“The Dao Officials sent by the Myriad Laws Sect are squeezing us dry. Only these thunder pills can help us reclaim our dignity and vent the bitterness festering in our hearts.”
“Everyone pool your Spirit Stones. I’ll find the supply. With enough Spirit Stones, what magical artifact can’t we acquire?”
Fueled by Zhang Yu’s impassioned words, magical artifacts and flying swords from disbanded armies were soon equipped by the crowd.
A single Great Yi Heaven-Shaking Thunder pill detonated, killing the Dao Official in the government yamen and igniting a full-scale battle.
Zhang Yu fell to the ground in the first wave of combat.
After a long while, he released his feigned death state, abruptly opened his eyes, and stealthily withdrew from the battlefield.
Zhang Yu found his superior and reported, “Mission completed. Where’s the next assignment?”
Zhang Yu was a weapons dealer, wandering the territories of various sects. Wherever there was war or rebellion, he sold weapons directly.
If no conflict erupted, he used his exceptional skills to incite riots and wars, freely selling cultivation arts, magical artifacts, and flying swords leaked from various military factions.
His motto was simple: “Whatever the enemy opposes, we support; whatever the enemy supports, we take a thirty percent cut.”
In this era before the advent of the Spirit Realm Network and the establishment of a robust Righteous God system, his business thrived.
Many others like him profited from the chaos. The world was riddled with major wars and incessant rebellions.
Yet Zhang Yu understood that all these conflicts and uprisings were ultimately orchestrated by the wills of the Immortals.
Later, when the Immortals decided to halt the fighting and military-grade power came under regulation, Zhang Yu found it increasingly difficult to profit and felt his own safety increasingly at risk.
Finally, during a period of uneasy rest and fitful sleep, he unconsciously advanced his mental cultivation technique to the Spirit-Flesh Unity Realm.
Zhang Yu removed his Spirit Realm Mask, his mind replaying scenes of his simulated attacks on the sect’s Dao Officials. The mental cultivation technique in his mind grew increasingly agitated.
“It seems I’ve made some progress again,” he murmured.
Reflecting on his experiences in the simulated environment, Zhang Yu had only one thought: “Immortals care neither for uprisings nor resistance.”
“In fact, they might even orchestrate the uprisings themselves, and sell the war data for profit.”
In the days that followed, Zhang Yu continued his daily Spirit-Flesh Union Journey.
After each session, he could feel himself improving. The White Ox he visualized in his mind grew increasingly vivid, as if on the verge of coming to life. He felt himself drawing closer and closer to Spirit-Flesh Unity, yet always falling just short.
Just a little bit short.
Time flew by, and August arrived in the blink of an eye.
Less than a month remained until the final exams.
On this very day, a Righteous God contacted Zhang Yu, inquiring whether he had chosen a mentor yet, as the final deadline of the academic year was fast approaching.
Zhang Yu had long prepared for this.
After winning the Foundation Establishment Examination for First Layer High Schools, he had earned the right to select a mentor at the University.
At the University, a mentor represented the faction a student would belong to, influencing their entire academic path from undergraduate to Master’s and doctoral studies.
Zhang Yu naturally took this decision with utmost seriousness, especially since he planned to transfer to the Artifact Refinement Department. Choosing the right teacher was crucial for his future.
He had even consulted Zhang Pianpian about it.
Zhang Pianpian advised him, “If your goal is to transfer to the Artifact Refinement Department in your third year, then naturally, the stronger the mentor, the better.”
“While the Artifact Refinement Department and Civil Engineering Department have a decent relationship, securing a transfer after breaking into the top 20 of your class will require a powerful mentor to smooth out many potential obstacles.”
“However, the more powerful the mentor, the higher their expectations of students. As the Artifact Refinement Department is the flagship major, its powerful mentors demand even more.”
“Especially given your situation, transferring from the Civil Engineering Department…”
“Though they’ll initially have to accept you as a student due to regulations, they likely won’t treat you well.”
“The worst-case scenario is choosing an uncooperative mentor. If they refuse to teach you, even if they take you on as a student, it’s meaningless. In fact, it would deprive you of the opportunity to truly learn under a mentor’s guidance.”
“If you’re determined to switch departments, I suggest taking it slow. Wait until you graduate from Civil Engineering and transfer during the Graduate Entrance Examination.”
Zhang Yu knew Zhang Pianpian was right; the Graduate Entrance Examination route clearly offered the highest success rate for changing departments.
But he also knew that under the pressure of the Evil God Ritual, he had to enter the Ten Great Sects before they closed their gates completely — the sooner, the better.
He needed to transfer to the Artifact Refinement Department as soon as possible, take the Graduate Entrance Examination promptly, and find a path to enter the Ten Great Sects without delay.
Driven by his urgency, Zhang Yu persisted. Eventually, Zhang Pianpian helped him gather information, and they decided to approach True Monarch Magnetic Pole of the Artifact Refinement Department.
This was a Vice Director at the Nascent Soul Realm, someone highly likely to become the head director of the Artifact Refinement Department in the future.
One could say he was one of the most promising teachers in the Artifact Refinement Department. With his support, Zhang Yu would have no trouble transferring departments, provided his grades were good enough.
However, such a prominent figure in the Artifact Refinement Department naturally wouldn’t pay much attention to a mere Civil Engineering student like Zhang Yu. If Zhang Yu were directly assigned by a Righteous God, the director might accept him on paper but ignore him in practice, leaving Zhang Yu in a situation where having a mentor was the same as having none at all.
Fortunately, Zhang Yu had a good friend who could help.
A message flashed in his Bionic Eye.
Deng Bingding: “Student Zhang Yu, long time no see.”
Thanks to her contributions on the First Layer, Deng Bingding had successfully reached the Second Layer and secured a new position within Myriad Laws University.
After arriving on the Second Layer, Deng Bingding remained in seclusion for some time, observing and listening more than speaking. She diligently gathered information, assessed the situation, and, through this process, grew increasingly certain of some of her past speculations.
“Zhang Pianpian’s backing likely comes from a Great God-level figure within the Ministry of All People.”
“Zhang Yu must also be from this lineage. That’s why he was assigned to disrupt the Netherworld Palace’s activities on the First Layer.”
“These two are worth helping.”
With Deng Bingding’s assistance, Zhang Yu finally managed to add True Monarch Magnetic Pole as a friend on the Spirit Realm Network before the official mentor selection.
Zhang Yu: “Teacher, I don’t know if Deng Youshen has informed you about my situation.”
Zhang Yu: “I want to transfer to the Artifact Refinement Department after my third year and would like to request to become your disciple.”
After waiting a long time, just as Zhang Yu was starting to think she might be ignoring him, True Monarch Magnetic Pole finally replied with a simple “Hmm.”
Another half-day passed with no further communication. Following Fu Ji’s advice, Zhang Yu reluctantly sent a Red Packet containing 0.1 Spirit Coin.
The Red Packet was instantly claimed, and True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s reply arrived immediately: “I do not recommend you do this.”
Feeling helpless, Zhang Yu once again sought Deng Bingding’s help.
The Righteous God pulled both of them into a group chat and declared: “I have a proposal.”
Deng Bingding then outlined the plan she had previously discussed with Zhang Yu.
Deng Bingding: “Director, I understand the requirements for transferring to the Artifact Refinement Department are exceptionally high, and I know your standards are even higher.”
Deng Bingding: “That Zhang Yu kid does have some real talent, though.”
Deng Bingding: “How about this? After you designate him as your mentor, we won’t announce it publicly. No one will know he’s your student. You only need to give him a little guidance.”
Deng Bingding: “If he manages to catch your eye by his third year, then he’ll truly be your student.”
Deng Bingding: “If he doesn’t meet your standards by then, we’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”
Seeing that True Monarch Magnetic Pole still hadn’t responded, Deng Bingding nudged Zhang Yu in the group chat.
Zhang Yu, resigned, sent another Red Packet worth 0.1 Spirit Coins.
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Intriguing…”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Very well. If by the time you’re a third-year student, you not only rank among the top 20 in the Civil Engineering Department but also complete the first three years of the Artifact Refinement Department’s curriculum and pass the department’s third-year final exams, then I’ll acknowledge you as my student.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. With clear requirements and standards, things would be much easier for him to handle.
With Deng Bingding’s assistance, Zhang Yu provisionally designated True Monarch Magnetic Pole as his mentor. However, Zhang Yu had never met this mentor in person, and apart from their small group, no one else at Myriad Laws University knew about this arrangement.
After the matter was settled, Zhang Yu thanked Deng Bingding profusely.
Deng Bingding refused Zhang Yu’s Red Packets, smiling and saying, “For me, it was just a few words — a simple favor.”
“Student Zhang Yu, keep up the good work!”
“I’m sure you’ll get into the Artifact Refinement Department and become True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s disciple.”
With a temporary teacher secured, Zhang Yu continued to focus his energy on his studies, cultivation, and part-time job.
As time passed and the end-of-term exams drew nearer, Zhang Yu finally mastered the final tier of the Qi Meridian Everflow technique.
The realm of Spirit-Flesh Unity finally loomed before Zhang Yu, revealing even more profound secrets of the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Heart Art.