Chapter 396: Zhang Yu's Military Certificate Plan

Zhang Yu's expression tightened and his gaze grew serious when he heard Director Gao mention the military certification exam.

Ever since he first saw Mo Shangjin demonstrate the divine power of Kunlun Mountain-Moving at an outdoor construction site, he had yearned for this military-grade cultivation technique from the civil engineering department.

During the recent civil engineering competition, Mo Shangjin's cultivation had advanced further, making his Kunlun Mountain-Moving divine power even more formidable and awe-inspiring. This further solidified Zhang Yu's determination to master this martial art.

Sensing the ambition and desire in Zhang Yu's eyes, Director Gao smiled. He was never afraid of students having ambition or desire, viewing them as essential for progress on the path to immortality. Conversely, losing one's fighting spirit, being easily satisfied, and living a life of asceticism—that is a major hindrance to the immortal path!

"The military certificate attainable within our civil engineering department is called the Military Civil Engineering Certificate!" Director Gao explained. "This certificate has two categories, A and B, which are used for military-grade spiritual constructs and military-grade cultivation techniques, respectively. What I'm discussing with you now is the certificate for military-grade cultivation techniques."

Director Gao explained that the Military Civil Engineering Certificate exam is held every two years, always in October. The standards for the military certificate are exceptionally high; it's not guaranteed that anyone will pass. If no one meets the required criteria, all participants are eliminated.

"The next military certificate exam is scheduled for next year, which is still too soon for you," he continued. "So, I've planned for you to take the military certificate exam the time after next, which will be in October of your fifth year, one month after the academic year begins. By then, you should have mastered the Seven Civil Engineering Techniques. After passing the military certificate exam, you'll be able to combine the seven techniques and cultivate the Kunlun Mountain-Moving divine power."

Passing the military certificate in his fifth year and then cultivating the Kunlun Mountain-Moving divine power was, in Director Gao's opinion, already exceptionally fast. In his estimation, at this pace, Zhang Yu would be able to represent the department in inter-school competitions and contend for a good ranking by his sixth year.

However, Zhang Yu felt only one thing when he heard he would have to wait until his fifth year to take the military certificate exam and then cultivate the Kunlun Mountain-Moving divine power: "This is too slow!"

Zhang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Can't it be sooner? For example, I could participate in next year's military certificate exam directly, and then gather the Seven Civil Engineering Techniques even earlier!"

Director Gao raised an eyebrow, feeling that Zhang Yu, after the competition, had become a little too ambitious and overconfident. He reminded him, "It's December now. If you plan to take next October's military certificate exam, you'll only have ten months! Do you know who will be participating in that exam next year? Su Yanyang and Xue Yunxian, both of whom you met in this competition, will be taking the exam. As for Xue Yunxian, her potential on the immortal path is so immense that she ranks among the top in the entire civil engineering department. It would be incredibly difficult for you to catch up to her in just ten months! Regarding Su Yanyang, although you triumphed over his competition team, you should be aware that there's still a significant gap between your individual strengths."

Director Gao reminded him, "Zhang Yu, your talent and aptitude are indeed very strong, but you mustn't become complacent because of them! Instead of forcing a competition with Xue Yunxian and Su Yanyang in ten months, it would be better to consolidate your skills for another three years. Thoroughly master each of the Seven Civil Engineering Techniques, and also improve your foundational attributes and various other dimensions. Your time to soar will come! The immortal path is a very long journey. You might feel a significant difference between one year and three years now, but looking back after forty or fifty years, you'll realize it amounts to nothing."

Zhang Yu knew he couldn't persuade Director Gao on this point. So, an idea sparked in his mind, and he decided to try a different approach. He said, "Teacher, you're right. I shouldn't be so ambitious; I should indeed consolidate my skills more."

Director Gao nodded in response.

Zhang Yu then continued, "However, there's no harm in just participating, right? I don't necessarily intend to pass the military certificate; I simply want to experience it beforehand and see what the military certificate exam is truly like."

Director Gao considered this, and seeing Zhang Yu's earnest demeanor, he felt it wasn't an unreasonable request. He replied, "It's good to get some experience. However, you must be extra careful. If the situation doesn't seem right, withdraw immediately, and don't spend too much money during the exam!"

Zhang Yu readily agreed, but in his heart, he made a firm resolution: "I must pass the military certificate exam next October."

At the same time, Zhang Yu felt a surge of pressure. He had some confidence in surpassing Su Yanyang, but surpassing Xue Yunxian in just ten months made him feel uncertain. After all, Xue Yunxian's strength and potential on the immortal path seemed unfathomable; he still didn't know her limits.

After discussing the military certificate exam schedule, Director Gao then moved on to the specific study and cultivation arrangements. In Director Gao's view, Zhang Yu possessed immense talent in martial arts cultivation, a robust physique, a passion for civil engineering, and a significant lack of funds. Thus, the most suitable place for Zhang Yu to cultivate was still the construction site.

At the construction site, Zhang Yu could cultivate his techniques, hone his physique, benefit from medical subsidies, earn money from projects, and contribute to the department – truly killing multiple birds with one stone! Whenever Director Gao recalled Zhang Yu at the competition, diligently focusing on construction amidst the chaos and frantically completing the winning engineering requirements just before the deadline, he couldn't help but exclaim that Zhang Yu truly possessed the spirit of a born civil engineer.

Director Gao then said, "Starting next month, I will arrange for you to work on some high-value projects where you can earn more money while cultivating. Beyond that, what you need most now is to improve your foundational attributes. These are the bedrock of the immortal path; the sooner you elevate them to the Foundation Establishment limit, the better! This is the Platinum Membership Card for Chuixin Residence, which offers 50% off. Use it to cultivate your Dao Heart."

Zhang Yu looked at the electronic membership card Director Gao sent and felt a surge of joy. With this, he could utilize Chuixin Residence's spirit world services to accelerate the leveling of his Dao Heart.

Director Gao continued, "I've already adjusted the spirit energy supply in your dormitory to the highest level. You should seize this opportunity to increase your magical power. As for magical power quality, I have several burial plots in Huilong Garden and control a supply of high-quality corpse materials. From now on, I will provide you with magical power of quality 200 each month!"

Zhang Yu naturally remembered Huilong Garden Magical Power Production Co., Ltd.; he had previously participated in a renovation project at their burial grounds. Hearing about the provision of quality 200 magical power made Zhang Yu's heart leap with even greater joy. Previously, he had purchased quality 175 magical power through the Dark Magical Power Realm. While the initial improvement in magical power quality was swift, as his magical power quality neared 175, the rate of improvement slowed considerably. In fact, after his magical power quality surpassed 175, he needed to purchase even higher-quality magical power to continue improving. The higher the magical power quality, the more expensive each incremental unit became, making it increasingly difficult for the financially strapped Zhang Yu to improve his magical power quality.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "As expected of Director Gao; he even has assets in Huilong Garden!"

Director Gao continued, "As for physical strength, while you can hone it by working at the construction site, we can still accelerate your progress." At this point, Director Gao looked at Zhang Yu and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, why haven't you used any spiritual constructs other than your eye construct?"

In Director Gao's opinion, although Zhang Yu wasn't wealthy, he wasn't so poor that he couldn't afford any spiritual constructs. Yet, by his second year, he still only used a single eye construct.

Zhang Yu explained, "I heard that the highest-grade spiritual constructs are custom-made from one's own physical body. So I want to continue honing my physical body, and when I have enough money in the future, I'll create custom spiritual constructs."

"Oh?" Director Gao nodded slightly. "I didn't realize you had that plan! Indeed, honing the physical body to create custom spiritual constructs is a choice with greater long-term potential! However, this path is both expensive and challenging. Many wealthy individuals opt to directly acquire powerful spiritual constructs rather than slowly honing their physical bodies. Since you've chosen this path, I won't assist you with spiritual constructs. However, I'll find a way to get you a cultivation-oriented magical treasure; I'll give it to you in a few days."

After bidding farewell to Director Gao, Zhang Yu felt that this encounter had been incredibly fruitful. With this wave of support from Director Gao, his cultivation progress was bound to accelerate once more.

Holding his rank of 95th in the Civil Engineering Department's Foundation Establishment realm and sensing the respectful gazes of those around him, Zhang Yu reflected on Director Gao's actions that day. He couldn't help but feel that the learning environment at Myriad Laws University was excellent, and the teachers were truly considerate.

Meanwhile, Director Gao contacted True Monarch Magnetic Pole.

Director Gao: Magnetic Pole, I want to acquire a magical artifact to assist Zhang Yu's physical cultivation.True Monarch Magnetic Pole: You're truly generous to your disciple.Director Gao: Where do you suggest I buy it?True Monarch Magnetic Pole: The Lingxiao Smart Manufacturing official shopping website.Director Gao: What's the point if the platform takes all the profit? I'd like to buy directly from you, avoiding the middleman's markup.True Monarch Magnetic Pole: Fine, alright. It's because of our centuries-long friendship!Director Gao immediately chuckled and replied: Maximum body refining efficiency for the Foundation Establishment stage, portable, no side effects, no extra costs, no damage to potential, budget 5 spirit coins. Can you arrange that?True Monarch Magnetic Pole: Perhaps I should become your disciple?Director Gao: Don't rush, the price is negotiable.

***

Myriad Laws University City, 88th floor.

Zhang Yu began cultivating the seventh martial art of the Martial Dao Saint Body. In this civil engineering competition, the Martial Dao Saint Body, despite only having one layer of effect, proved remarkably effective during the final showdown with Su Yanyang's team. This made Zhang Yu even more eager for this set of chained cultivation techniques, especially since he would soon return to the construction site to cultivate. He planned to quickly advance the Martial Dao Saint Body so he could work with greater efficiency at the site and earn more compensation.

In addition to cultivating the Martial Dao Saint Body, he also needed to improve his Dao Heart, magical power, magical power quality, and physical strength. Furthermore, he couldn't neglect his artifact refining and civil engineering courses. In the days that followed, Zhang Yu felt so busy his feet barely touched the ground, wishing he had 48 hours a day for work, cultivation, and study.