Chapter 382: True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s Secret Guidance
Outside the arena, Shi Huaiyu, Che Yufei, and the others emerged, their faces beaming with smiles.
Che Yufei thought to himself, “We made it into the top ten! Now even paying extra for repairs feels worth it.”
He couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Yu, his eyes filled with awe.
“He actually held off Ma Xuan and the others for so long all by himself,” Che Yufei marveled inwardly. “This guy can already go toe-to-toe with upperclassmen? And he’s only a second-year student!”
Che Yufei felt like he was witnessing the rise of another Civil Engineering Rising Star, just like when he first saw Mo Shangjin years ago.
Beside him, Shi Yunxiang, Shi Huaiyu, and the others looked at Zhang Yu with equal shock and admiration.
“Are you alright?” Shi Huaiyu asked with concern. “How are your injuries?”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly. “I’m fine. I’m okay.”
After briefly acknowledging his teammates, Zhang Yu stepped away from the group and checked the message from True Monarch Magnetic Pole. He thought to himself, “Fu Ji, what do you think True Monarch Magnetic Pole means by this?”
Fu Ji said, “It’s obvious. After watching your performance in the competition with Director Gao, she’s become interested in you.”
“Her current demands clearly indicate a deeper intention to take you as her disciple.”
“After all, based on my years of experience navigating Kunxu…”
Fu Ji paused, then added, “Even if you lack the innate talent for artifact refinement, the potential you’ve shown suggests you could at least become a master, someone who guides those with the true gift.”
The first thought that flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind was how much he could sell his own flesh and bones for.
Then his heart sank. He realized he was becoming too influenced by Kunxu’s ways, how could he even entertain such a thought?
Zhang Yu firmly rejected the idea. “No. If I’m going to pursue artifact refinement, why settle for exporting raw materials? I want to focus on high-end manufacturing. That’s the real path forward.”
Fu Ji replied, “Then you need to excel. Take more Artifact Refinement Courses and secure True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s reward as soon as possible.”
“No, you should aim to complete it even earlier than the deadline she set.”
“They want you to complete three years of Artifact Refinement Department coursework by the end of your second year. You should finish it three months, even half a year early. Show off your talents like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, paving the way for your transfer to the Artifact Refinement Department.”
Director Gao: “I’ll have someone bring you more medicine later.”
Director Gao: “If your injuries aren’t healed before the next competition, don’t participate.”
Reading Director Gao’s messages, Zhang Yu hesitated. “If I keep secretly contacting True Monarch Magnetic Pole and eventually defect to the Artifact Refinement Department, wouldn’t that be betraying Director Gao?”
Fu Ji: “You mean taking Director Gao’s benefits, being nurtured by the Civil Engineering Department, and then becoming a Civil Engineering Traitor by defecting to the Elite Department?”
“Isn’t that the path every Civil Engineering student should strive for?”
“You’re progressing, moving toward the Artifact Refinement Department. What about Director Gao? Do you really want to stay with him in the Civil Engineering Department forever?”
Zhang Yu said, “It’s not that I shouldn’t do it, but… if I perform too well and consume too many of the Civil Engineering Department’s resources, won’t they refuse to let me leave? And if I do leave, might they retaliate?”
The thought of being targeted by a Nascent Soul True Monarch made Zhang Yu feel a surge of anxiety.
Fu Ji: “Once you transfer to the Artifact Refinement Department, True Monarch Magnetic Pole will protect you. Theoretically, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“If you’re still worried, you could ask True Monarch Magnetic Pole directly and test the waters.”
After a moment’s consideration, Zhang Yu sent a message to True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “True Monarch, are you close to Director Gao?”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “We’ve been friends for many years.”
Seeing the instant reply, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but marvel, “Ever since I won the competition, my teacher’s response time has gotten so much faster.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “I know what you’re worried about.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Old Gao can be rather petty when it comes to personnel matters.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “But I’m not like him. I don’t hold grudges.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “As long as you’re talented enough to meet my standards, I don’t need the title of ‘master and disciple’.”
True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “I can continue to guide you secretly and help you earn a second degree in Artifact Refinement.”
Reading True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s reply, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. “True Monarch Magnetic Pole seems surprisingly approachable.”
Fu Ji thought to herself, “I have a feeling they are trying to use the Civil Engineering Department’s resources to cultivate her own students.”
“After all, Zhang Yu will definitely take the Graduate Entrance Examination for the Artifact Refinement Department. In the end, he’ll still fall into True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s hands.”
Director Gao: “Where are you? Why aren’t you responding?”
Zhang Yu quickly replied: “I wasn’t feeling well just now and didn’t have time to respond.”
Director Gao: “Then get some rest.”
After ending his conversation with True Monarch Magnetic Pole and Director Gao, Zhang Yu let out a small sigh of relief, thinking to himself, “Making it into the top ten in the competition wasn’t for nothing.”
Although the actual rewards for the top ten hadn’t been announced yet, Zhang Yu could already sense the benefits.
“Now I’ve taken another step closer to the Artifact Refinement Department, haven’t I?”
Just then, Zhang Yu heard a commotion nearby. Turning his head, he saw a conflict erupting on Ma Xuan’s side.
Ji Yuanshu: “You have four people! Four whole people!”
Thinking about the Qi Luck that was about to backfire on him, Ji Yuanshu couldn’t help but shout, “One Fourth-Year, one Fifth-Year, and two Sixth-Years!”
“In a confined space, the four of you couldn’t subdue a second-year student for that long?”
Bu Ziran snorted coldly. “What’s your All-Attribute Department Ranking? What’s your competition disruption rate? What’s your combat duration ranking? You don’t know a damn thing.”
Ji Yuanshu retorted angrily, “This competition isn’t just about the data! It’s your fault for using that tactic that kept me outside! I was constantly helping Cong Na evade Shi Huaiyu and the others’ pursuit…”
Just then, the team’s substitutes arrived, demanding refunds from Ma Xuan and the others.
Yang Yan and Ji Susu, their faces grim, were scrutinizing the billing statement from the Bionic Rental Company.
Ma Xuan, distracted, kept glancing toward the arena.
After a heated argument, the team members dispersed.
Ma Xuan returned to the arena to retrieve the Silver Sand.
Ji Yuanshu glared resentfully at Zhang Yu before storming out of the arena without looking back.
His heart burned with resentment. “War Faction, you’ve won.”
Simultaneously, sensing the turbulent Qi Luck within his mind, Ji Yuanshu knew that failing to reach the top ten in the Departmental Competition meant an even more terrifying backlash was imminent.
This was the consequence of triggering another Qi Luck backlash before fully neutralizing the previous one.
He had no choice but to message Director Lin.
Ji Yuanshu: “Master, I urgently need money.”
After waiting in vain for a response, Ji Yuanshu sent messages to many of his Senior Brothers, but none replied.
Finally, he messaged the Evil God who had helped him complete the ritual.
Evil God: “Get another credit card.”
Ji Yuanshu: “Two cards?”
Evil God: “Cycle between two cards, using Qi Luck to suppress Qi Luck. This will delay the backlash again.”
Ji Yuanshu: “But I have no money left.”
Evil God: “What about the newly purchased Bionic you have?”
Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted from Ji Yuanshu’s retreating figure to find Yu Xinghan, Ying Xin, and Gongshu Jin rushing over from the substitute bench.
Ying Xin called out “Senior Brother” and waited obediently to the side, looking at Zhang Yu as if he were an upperclassman.
She thought to herself, “If I can make the substitute bench every year, I’ll get extra credit every year!”
“But next year’s competition will definitely be fiercer.”
“No, I need to go back and burn more of Grandpa’s ashes to give to Senior Brother.”
Gongshu Jin’s heart was a tangled mess. He thought, “Now I’ll never be the top student in the class.”
The thought of spending his entire university life living in Zhang Yu’s shadow filled Gongshu Jin with despair.
Yu Xinghan, seeing Zhang Yu covered in blood, couldn’t help but ask, despite knowing his extraordinary constitution, “What’s your condition? Will the medical expenses be covered?”
Everyone turned to look. Xiao Qingxuan, standing nearby, said calmly, “I’ll take him to the medical room for a checkup first. We’ll see what the situation is.”
Zhang Yu said, “Okay, I’ll go with Xiao Qingxuan.”
“Director Gao might send someone with some medicine later. Can you two grab it for me?”
Zhang Yu followed behind Xiao Qingxuan, asking curiously, “Are you going to treat my injuries?”
Xiao Qingxuan snorted coldly. “What? Worried Ancient Medical Techniques might mess you up?”
Zhang Yu chuckled awkwardly. Though his injuries looked severe, thanks to Xiao Qingxuan’s treatment on the field and his own body’s enhanced vitality, his internal injuries had already healed by nearly half, and many of his external wounds were closing. His condition had stabilized.
Xiao Qingxuan said calmly, “The injuries were treated promptly, and your constitution is strong. It doesn’t seem too serious. Just rest well, take your medicine, and avoid strenuous activity. You should fully recover in a day or two.”
Zhang Yu asked, “Can’t you just heal me completely? I need to fight in the next match.”
Xiao Qingxuan glanced at him. “Next match? Isn’t making it into the top ten enough? You still want to win?”
Zhang Yu countered, “Why not?”
Xiao Qingxuan paused before replying slowly, “I don’t have a medical license. I can’t provide paid treatment.”
Zhang Yu suggested, “Then treat me for free.”
Xiao Qingxuan chuckled in exasperation. “From what I know, anyone who openly offers free treatment gets eliminated by the pharmaceutical companies.”
But after glancing at Director Gao’s message, Xiao Qingxuan relented, “Fine, I’ll treat you again.”
“But remember, my healing abilities are also recorded in the pharmaceutical companies’ databases. Treating you secretly like this once is fine, but attempting more would be suicide. So after the competition ends, don’t come looking for me again, and definitely don’t refer anyone else to me.”
“Also, understand that there are no weak teams among the top ten. If we face a team far stronger than us in the next round, you need to learn to concede. Don’t get yourself killed.”
Director Gao: “Treat him. I’ll handle the rest.”
On the other side, Ma Xuan was cleaning up the Silver Sand when he received a message from Su Yanyang.
Su Yanyang: “I watched your match. This isn’t how the Civil Engineering Competition is supposed to be played.”
Su Yanyang: “Civil Engineering is about construction, not constant fighting. You might as well join the War Faction.”
Ma Xuan: “I thought I could overwhelm them in one wave.”
Su Yanyang: “You rely too much on brute force. You’ve lost sight of the true meaning of the Civil Engineering Competition.”
Su Yanyang: “Take another year to reflect. Focus on learning construction techniques instead of always trying to solve problems with violence.”
Ma Xuan: “Okay, I understand.”
Just when Ma Xuan thought the conversation was over, Su Yanyang sent another message: “Tournament Schedule.” [Image file.]
Ma Xuan examined the team assignments in the image and realized that Su Yanyang’s next opponent was Zhang Yu’s team.
Su Yanyang: “Watch closely and learn how I play the Civil Engineering Competition.”