Chapter 458: The Vast Refining Department, Rematch with the Diamond

As layers of light radiated from the Xuanpin Celestial Pearl, Magnet-Pole True Lord's avatar materialized before Zhang Yu.

The elegant figure in lavish palace attire sat on an office chair, looking at Zhang Yu with satisfaction. "I underestimated you," she said. "I never thought you'd actually master the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power in such a short period."

"While timing coincidences and True Lord Qiyun's assistance played a role, your innate talent in martial arts was also indispensable."

With that, Magnet-Pole True Lord patted her thigh. "Come here," she instructed.

"Let me give you a physical examination!"

Considering his future entry into the Artifact Forging Department, Zhang Yu could only grit his teeth and sit on her lap.

He felt Magnet-Pole True Lord's fingers trace his body, as wisps of spiritual power entered his meridians, assessing his physical condition.

Zhang Yu felt as if he were a piece of prime artifact-forging material, constantly receiving Magnet-Pole True Lord's evaluations!

"Excellent, excellent!" Magnet-Pole True Lord exclaimed. "Your physical body now naturally possesses a trace of earth-fiend gravity. This is the body-tempering effect of the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power!"

"With years of cultivating and employing this martial art, practitioners' flesh and blood will unconsciously absorb a primordial power, allowing them to unleash earth-fiend gravity simply by walking, sitting, or even lying down!"

"Should one's cultivation be sufficiently profound and their comprehension of the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power deep enough, even after their flesh and blood separate from their body, they would still retain that trace of earth-fiend gravity, and even possess an adaptability to it. This makes it truly excellent material for crafting flying and protective artifacts!"

Zhang Yu's heart involuntarily trembled at this. He forced a laugh and asked, "True Lord, are you thinking of using some of my flesh and blood... to forge an artifact?"

In that moment, Zhang Yu felt as humble as a community college student.

Magnet-Pole True Lord held Zhang Yu, stroking his hand. She chuckled, "What nonsense are you talking about? I, a dignified Nascent Soul True Lord, would I truly covet your Foundation Establishment-stage material?"

"I was merely contemplating how past cultivators who mastered the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power never ventured into artifact forging. Ten Thousand Methods University has a significant gap in its research on this very subject!"

"In the future, if you can integrate the mysteries of the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power into artifact forging research—for instance, by successfully refining your own flesh and blood into a Dharma Skeleton—that alone would be sufficient for several published papers!"

"Moreover, if you make any discoveries during this process, even a small innovation in the craftsmanship related to earth-fiend gravity, you could secure a place in academic research after advancing to the Golden Core stage, and even assist me in my artifact forging studies!"

Zhang Yu nodded thoughtfully.

Magnet-Pole True Lord then continued, "Now, let's discuss your department transfer!"

"Since you've already mastered the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, have you decided to transfer to the Artifact Forging Department after your third year?"

Zhang Yu's expression turned serious. He nodded earnestly and said with sincerity, "Teacher, the Earth Engineering Department is excellent, and there's a bright future there. Director Gao has also been very kind to me, but... I am too eager to advance!"

"I wish to journey further on the path of immortality, to pursue master's and doctoral degrees, and even to be admitted into a sect!"

"I know that only the Artifact Forging Department offers the possibility of realizing these dreams!"

"Just as people aspire to higher ground and water flows downhill, while the Civil Engineering Department has treated you well, our Artifact Forging Department offers boundless opportunities!"

Magnet-Pole True Lord nodded, a hint of emotion in her gaze. "It's good that you've made up your mind!"

"However, Old Gao is the director of the Civil Engineering Department, after all. While I will assist you with this, it's impossible to assume he'll have no objections whatsoever!"

"You must prepare yourself for the pressure that comes with it!"

Just then, Magnet-Pole True Lord's eyes flickered. She casually approved Yan Qianji's request, and the latter's spirit realm projection descended.

Yan Qianji's voice reported to Magnet-Pole True Lord, "True Lord, we've encountered some issues with the artifact spirit decryption; we require your guidance..."

Magnet-Pole True Lord replied coolly, "First, tell me what the problem is."

As Yan Qianji reported, he looked at Magnet-Pole True Lord, and a thought surfaced in his mind: "It looks like Magnet-Pole True Lord is holding someone..."

Although Magnet-Pole True Lord's arms appeared empty, Yan Qianji knew such things could be cloaked, and her posture was remarkably like someone holding another person!

"But is it possible?" Yan Qianji wondered silently. "Who would someone like Magnet-Pole True Lord be holding? Surely it couldn't be Ye Xingli?"

Filled with curiosity and surprise, Yan Qianji disconnected the communication after concluding his report.

Zhang Yu, however, could not see Yan Qianji's projection communicating privately with Magnet-Pole True Lord. He only sensed that Magnet-Pole True Lord had just been on a remote call with someone.

After her call with Yan Qianji, Magnet-Pole True Lord continued, "The Civil Engineering Department's Seven Absolutes Dharma Skeletons, though not military-grade, can synergize to significantly amplify the power of the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, offering a unique enhancement to earth-fiend gravity!"

"Remember to take all relevant blueprints before transferring departments; they will serve as an excellent reference for your future Dharma Skeleton refinement..."

Fu Ji listened to Magnet-Pole True Lord's guidance and thought to herself, "You two, master and disciple, truly intend to bleed the Civil Engineering Department dry! In the future, the essence of its Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power and Seven Absolutes Dharma Skeletons will all be siphoned off by you for artifact forging. What will be left of the Civil Engineering Department then? It might as well become merely a Civil Engineering class within Ten Thousand Methods University's Artifact Forging Department!"

Having finished her discussion, Magnet-Pole True Lord patted Zhang Yu's shoulder. "You may go back now," she said. "Focus on the upcoming competition. Don't worry about the transfer; I will arrange it for you!"

Late January.

At the construction site.

As Zhang Yu's palm seal shifted, a nearby mountain burst apart. It soared skyward, then, as if stirred by invisible vortices, rapidly disintegrated into a cloud of dust that filled the air!

Then, Zhang Yu pointed his finger, and a wave of earth-fiend gravity shot forth, instantly reining in the dispersed dust cloud.

Through his cultivation at the construction site during this period, his Kunyuan Art had already reached level 20, achieving the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage!

This meant his Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power had also reached the level 20 standard, placing him at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage!

Furthermore, with the added blessing of the first layer of the 'Inverted Kunlun' from the Chain Dharma Map, the Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power wielded by Zhang Yu could inflict immense environmental devastation!

Zhang Yu had once tested it briefly in an uninhabited wilderness, and even without full exertion, the results had left him stunned!

He had but one assessment of his full capabilities!

"Earth-shattering!"

Just then, Zhang Yu saw a message from Feng Tingting.

Feng Tingting: Zhang Yu, have you heard? True Lord Magnet was holding someone in her office late last night.

Zhang Yu: Huh?

Feng Tingting: It must be top-grade artifact forging material for the True Lord to be unable to resist fondling it even late at night!

Zhang Yu: Perhaps.

Feng Tingting: I'm so curious who could be held like that by the True Lord!

Feng Tingting: If only she could spare me some scraps!

Zhang Yu: Where did you hear this news?

Feng Tingting: Why do you ask? I wouldn't casually disclose such information!

Zhang Yu shook his head, thinking that given True Lord Magnet's cultivation, she surely wouldn't have let anyone see that it was him she was holding.

A few hours later, another day concluded. Fu Ji reviewed the workload of each employee, calculated their salaries, and then reported her findings to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu paid out the wages one by one, a quiet ache in his heart as he watched his steadily diminishing account balance.

"Sigh, I just need to hold on a bit longer. It's a Ten Thousand Methods University project, after all, so they won't default on my payments. A batch of funds should arrive next month!"

Upon receiving their wages, the soul cultivators all sent their thanks.

Zhao Tianxing: Thank you, General Manager Zhang.

Hu Yuntao: Thank you, General Manager Zhang.

Grandfather Ying Xin: Thank you, General Manager Zhang. Observing how promptly Zhang Yu paid out the salaries, Fu Ji couldn't help but interject, "You're employing them long-term, for an entire project, not as daily-wage workers with lower pay. You don't need to pay them daily, do you?"

"We're not a large corporation, and the project funds haven't even arrived yet. I think it would be perfectly fine to delay their payment for another month or two after the project concludes!"

"You've got a good amount of money on hand; you could use it for your own cultivation. When you're not at the construction site, you could spend more time in the spirit realm, perhaps simulating artifact forging techniques!"

Zhang Yu, upon hearing this, shook his head. "Zhao Tianxing changed paths midway and wasted a lot of time during his freshman year; he's in dire need of money right now!"

"Mo Tianyi, as a soul cultivator, started early, and his monthly expenses are quite significant!"

"Hu Yuntao and Che Yufei are burdened with immense debt, making their financial situation even more precarious!"

"And the Ying family members, needless to say, at their age of death, require substantial daily maintenance costs. Since they came here to help me, I don't want to withhold their wages..."

Fu Ji was stunned. "What the hell are you doing, being so considerate to your employees?" she exclaimed.

She angrily continued, "How can you just hand out perfectly good spirit coins to your employees every single day? Isn't that just throwing money away?"

Zhang Yu calmly replied, "It's not as if we're out of money!"

Fu Ji retorted in annoyance, "You can't do this; it severely compromises the company's competitiveness. How will it ever grow and expand in the future?"

"Since you appointed me as financial director, you must defer to my judgment on this matter!"

Truthfully, Zhang Yu didn't know how to respond to Fu Ji's point.

Zhang Yu even understood that from certain perspectives, Fu Ji's words weren't wrong; reducing labor costs could indeed boost a company's competitiveness.

But at least at this moment, having the means to avoid suppressing wages, Zhang Yu chose not to.

He also couldn't imagine what tone to use when discussing such matters with Zhao Tianxing, Che Yufei, and the others.

After her persuasive efforts proved fruitless, Fu Ji suddenly had a thought. "You brat," she said, "are you seriously going to exploit only me in this entire company?"

Zhang Yu reassured her, "You're a shareholder, after all. When I develop successfully in the future, you'll benefit immensely!"

In that moment, a sudden realization struck Fu Ji: "Damn it... it seems I'm the only one who can't resign from Zhang Yu's company!"

Several days later.

Zhang Yu, accompanied by Shi Huaiyu, Su Yan-Yang, and others, arrived at Vajra University.

Today was the day they would face Vajra University in the loser's bracket, a decisive moment to determine who would truly be eliminated from this competition.

Gazing at the gleaming golden university below their flying boat, everyone except for a calm-faced Zhang Yu felt a mix of nervousness and apprehension, clearly lacking full confidence in the upcoming competition.