Chapter 350: Zhang Yu’s Two Teachers
Director Gao briefly explained the Seven Absolutes of Civil Engineering and the Seven Absolutes Bionic to Zhang Yu, then fell silent.
In his view, these matters were still too distant for Zhang Yu to grasp. He had only mentioned them in passing to plant a seed in the young man’s mind.
Whether Zhang Yu would actually pass the Military Certificate exam or master the Seven Absolutes of Civil Engineering remained uncertain, even to Director Gao.
“Once I impart the Profound Yellow Mountain-Suppressing Seal to you, feel free to ask me any questions.”
“If you continue to secure first place in your second year and third year and master three Absolutes of Civil Engineering, I will elevate you from Registered Disciple to Personal Disciple.”
Tu Lishan, standing nearby, felt a stir in his heart upon hearing this. He realized Director Gao clearly held Zhang Yu in extremely high regard.
Zhang Yu, however, found himself once again thinking about True Monarch Magnetic Pole and felt a growing sense of frustration. “At this rate, by my third year, won’t I have two teachers vying to take me as their disciple?”
“And considering Director Gao’s attitude today…”
Under these circumstances, Zhang Yu sensed that the obstacles to transferring out of the Civil Engineering Department were only growing greater.
After Director Gao finished giving his instructions, he wasted no time. With a flash, his Spirit Realm Projection vanished swiftly.
Tu Lishan turned to Zhang Yu, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Since Master Gao has accepted you as his disciple, we’re fellow disciples now. I’ll call you Junior Brother Zhang.”
Zhang Yu quickly replied, “Senior Brother Tu, thank you for looking after me all this time.”
“Heh, no need to mention it, no need to mention it,” Tu Lishan said. “I don’t have a proper gift prepared today, but I’ll get you something in a few days. I guarantee you’ll be pleased.”
As they walked out together, Tu Lishan deliberately sought to invest in Zhang Yu, while Zhang Yu made a point of cultivating their friendship. Both belonged to the War Faction within the Civil Engineering Department, and their conversation quickly became lively and amicable.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yu asked, “What’s the relationship like between our Civil Engineering Department and the Artifact Refinement Department?”
Tu Lishan explained in simple terms, “Each of the three Elite Majors is comprehensive, spanning multiple industries.”
“But if you had to represent them with single words, Finance would be capital, Artifact Refinement would be technology, and Dao Techniques would be energy.”
“Of course, this doesn’t mean each major is limited to just capital, technology, or energy.”
“For example, the Artifact Refinement Department inevitably requires funding and energy support, while the Finance Department undoubtedly controls significant technology and energy resources.”
“But these three words do capture the essence and aspirations of the three Elite Majors…”
Listening to Tu Lishan’s measured explanation, Zhang Yu gained a deeper understanding of the three Elite Majors.
Tu Lishan continued, “Among the three majors, Finance, Artifact Refinement, and our Civil Engineering Department maintain excellent relations.”
“However, Finance aligns more closely with the Peace Faction, while Artifact Refinement is more aligned with our War Faction.”
Zhang Yu asked, “Does the Artifact Refinement Department also believe the University War will inevitably escalate?”
“Believe? That’s an understatement,” Tu Lishan chuckled bitterly. “If it weren’t for some people holding them back, those warmongering fanatics in the Artifact Refinement Department would have jumped into the fray years ago.”
“They’re practically salivating at the prospect of selling magical artifacts and Bionics to the entire Kunxu.”
Zhang Yu’s gaze flickered, and he asked, “I’ve heard True Monarch Magnetic Pole from the Artifact Refinement Department is incredibly powerful. What’s her relationship with Master?”
“True Monarch Magnetic Pole?” Tu Lishan replied. “She and Master Gao have been close friends for years. They knew each other long before joining Myriad Laws University as instructors.”
On the Spirit Realm Network:
Director Gao messaged True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “I recruited a promising Freshman today.”
Director Gao: “Civil Engineering Department, Freshman Foundation Establishment Class rankings. [Image File]”
Director Gao: “Zhang Yu, the top student.”
Director Gao: “He won fair and square, using solid Civil Engineering skills to surpass Old Lin’s personal disciple.”
Director Gao: “Old Lin. [Video File]”
Director Gao: “Look at how furious he is! I refuted him into silence, and he fled in disgrace.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “You’re amazing!”
Seeing the reply, Director Gao couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, sensing something off.
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “So, you’ve accepted Zhang Yu?”
Director Gao: “Yes, as a Registered Disciple. If he proves worthy over the next two years, I plan to take him as my Personal Disciple.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Congratulations on recruiting such an exceptional student.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “I envy you. Students of this caliber are hard to find.”
Director Gao’s brow furrowed again. He sensed hidden meanings in the other’s words, but couldn’t pinpoint any specific fault.
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Speaking of which, I recently accepted a disciple as well.”
Director Gao asked curiously: “Oh? Who is it?”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Someone who came through connections. Nothing noteworthy.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “If he ever amounts to anything, I’ll introduce him to you then.”
Primordial Magnetic Channel.
Zhang Yu walked briskly back to his dormitory, simultaneously sending a message in the dorm group chat, notifying his roommates to prepare for moving into the luxurious new dorms.
“Finally achieved this milestone,” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “Next up are the Civil Engineering Department competition, Second-Year Civil Engineering courses, and…”
He remembered the Artifact Refinement Department courses.
After all, according to True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s requirements, he needed to master the Artifact Refinement Department’s curriculum from Freshman to Third-Year and pass the exams.
Now that the Freshman final exams were over, Zhang Yu was theoretically a prospective second year student.
“I should start considering the Artifact Refinement Department courses too.”
“Oh right, and the Spirit Coins…”
Zhang Yu checked his savings. With the 10 Spirit Coin student loan deposited, his balance had grown to a substantial 56 Spirit Coins.
“Now I have enough to activate Elder Sister’s Dao Seed.”
“Fifty Spirit Coins, though…”
The thought of his hard-earned savings dwindling to a mere six Spirit Coins sent a sharp pang through Zhang Yu’s heart.
Civil Engineering Department competitions, Second-Year courses, Artifact Refinement Department courses, and the perpetually empty account…
As he pondered these burdens, the brief euphoria of claiming first place in the Foundation Establishment Class gradually faded, replaced by the daunting realization that Second-Year would bring even more responsibilities.
Just then, a faint flicker appeared in Zhang Yu’s Bionic Eye — a new message had arrived in the competition team group chat.
Ma Xuan: “@Ji Yuanshu, are you done with the exam? How did it go?”
Ji Yuanshu: “Pretty good.”
Ma Xuan: “Then let’s schedule training for tomorrow.”
The other competition team members chimed in, eagerly discussing training plans with Ji Yuanshu.
As for Zhang Yu, the substitute member, he might as well have been invisible — no one acknowledged him in the chat.
Ji Yuanshu stared at the messages in the group chat, his expression darkening. He politely replied to each message while desperately suppressing the Qi Luck surging within him.
After reviewing the results of the final exam, he realized he might lose his top position.
But in Finance, as in Qi Luck, he could never admit defeat until the very last moment.
Because the moment he admitted defeat, the Qi Luck gathered within him would immediately turn against him.
So as long as there remained even the slightest chance, he wouldn’t concede to anyone before tonight’s rankings update.
When others inquired about his performance, he simply said he had done well.
Maintaining the same calm and composed demeanor he always displayed when claiming first place, he remained as steady as a mountain.
But while he could project this facade to the outside world, Ji Yuanshu couldn’t deceive himself internally.
As time ticked by, his anxiety grew unbearable.
He refreshed the leaderboard again and again, both desperately wanting to know the outcome and yet dreading the answer.
Myriad Laws University City.
Inside the construction site on the 667th floor.
Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered as he worked, noticing an incoming message.
Ying Xin: “Senior Brother, congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉”
Zhang Yu paused, slightly surprised. “What did you call me?”
Ying Xin: “You’re currently ranked first in Comprehensive Points for the Foundation Establishment Class, and you’re also Director Gao’s Registered Disciple. That definitely makes you our Senior Brother!”
Ying Xin: “Senior Brother, I heard you moved into a deluxe 30-square-meter dorm?”
Ying Xin: “Could you tell me your room number? I have a congratulatory gift for you.”
Zhang Yu’s heart stirred. He immediately realized that the title “Senior Brother” was just a flattering nickname.
He glanced at the persistently ringing alarm, knowing the rankings must have updated.
He immediately checked them.
1st Place: Zhang Yu, Comprehensive Points: 2553
2nd Place: Ji Yuanshu, Comprehensive Points: 2551
3rd Place: Gongshu Jin, Comprehensive Points: 2499
4th Place: Ying Xin, Comprehensive Points: 2488
5th Place: Yu Xinghan, Comprehensive Points: 2475
Though he had already received insider information, seeing his name and score on the rankings still made Zhang Yu grin.
Upon seeing Ying Xin’s message, he replied with his new dormitory address and asked, “What are you planning to send?”
Ying Xin: “My family’s ancestral ashes.”
Ying Xin: “Senior Brother, I noticed during your exam that you didn’t use either a Living Stake or a blood sacrifice. I figured you might be short on materials for those rituals.”
Ying Xin: “My family’s ancestral ashes are exceptionally potent. Just sprinkling a handful during construction can easily increase the building’s structural integrity by several points.”
Staring at Ying Xin’s message, Zhang Yu replied with a strange expression: “Wouldn’t that be too presumptuous?”
Zhang Yu: “Do you even have enough for yourself?”
Zhang Yu: “Maybe we should just forget about it.”
Ying Xin: “What’s presumptuous about it?”
Ying Xin: “If we don’t use the ashes, what are we supposed to do with them? Bury them and waste them? If my ancestors found out, they’d jump out of their graves and scold me for being unfilial!”
Ying Xin: “And don’t worry, you only need a little each time. They last a long time.”
Ying Xin: “As long as the ashes I use up in life are less than what’s left of my body when I die, we’ll be fine. In fact, each generation will have more ashes than the last.”
Ying Xin: “Senior Brother, if you refuse, does it mean you still hold a grudge against me?”
Under Ying Xin’s persistent insistence, Zhang Yu finally agreed to accept her gift.
While Zhang Yu was chatting with Ying Xin, more messages flooded in.
Gongshu Jin: “Congratulations!”
After waiting a long time for Zhang Yu’s reply, Gongshu Jin sent another Red Packet.
Gongshu Jin: “0.01 Spirit Coins”
The moment the 0.01 Spirit Coins were instantly claimed, Zhang Yu replied: “Sorry, I was busy earlier and didn’t see your message.”
Gongshu Jin: “Understandable, understandable. 🙏”
Gongshu Jin: “I just wanted to congratulate you — I think you’re really amazing.”
Gongshu Jin: “Next time we have time, let’s try out some Bionics together.”
Zhang Yu: “Sure, no problem.”
Zhang Yu casually replied to Gongshu Jin before immediately focusing on another chat window.
It was a congratulatory message from Ye Xingli of the Artifact Refinement Department.
Though several months had passed, Zhang Yu still vividly remembered the senior sister’s lavish treat at the all-you-can-eat buffet, her figure shimmering in his mind like a galaxy draped across her shoulders.
Ye Xingli: “Hehe, my master in the Artifact Refinement Department has been telling me all about you.”
Zhang Yu: “Senior sister, who is your master?”
Ye Xingli: “True Monarch Magnetic Pole”