Chapter 464: Yin Device Cracking, Dual Degree

At this moment, within the Taiqing realm, Zhang Yu was conducting a simulated upgrade experiment on the Grand Unity Golden Liquid Pill. As the experimental equipment activated, streaks of fire burned, constantly changing the state of the pill. Zhang Yu was using his newly learned Qi-pivot phase transition technique to transform the Grand Unity Golden Liquid Pill between its solid, liquid, and gaseous states. Once successfully refined, the pill would be able to freely switch between these three states and integrate into a cultivator's aura, transforming the aura along with it, thereby granting various wondrous effects.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Once this artifact refinement skill reaches level 20, I can try upgrading my Grand Unity Golden Liquid Pill in the real world, and merge my existing pills into one."

He mused, "While the Heaven Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Power boasts astonishing destructive and control capabilities, it still lacks defensive measures." Recalling the previous battle, Zhang Yu thought, "Especially against attacks like the Myriad Forms of the Great Sun, neither the Heaven Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Power nor the Nine Heavens Cloud-Void Force could effectively block them. I can't rely on brute physical endurance every time. I need defensive capabilities in this area."

Zhang Yu had a clear understanding: as his strength improved and he became capable of competing with military-grade powers, his magical artifacts, when upgraded, needed to fill his various deficiencies. Examples included defensive capabilities against attacks like the Myriad Forms of the Great Sun, as well as mobility, reconnaissance, and concealment abilities on the battlefield, among others.

While Zhang Yu was diligently improving himself, in the depths of the Spirit Realm, Magnetic Pole True Monarch, looking at the project report for this period, felt a hint of surprise. The work of deciphering the Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device progressed rapidly at first. However, as the deciphering deepened, the project's pace slowed considerably, due to the almost exponential increase in the complexity of the talismans, which severely hampered everyone's efficiency.

But in the report Magnetic Pole True Monarch was currently reviewing, it was noted that a student named Zhang Pianpian had made significant breakthroughs recently, even discovering unique talisman patterns related to the Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device.

"This has greatly boosted the deciphering efficiency. If everyone learns Zhang Pianpian's method, the complete decryption might be finished in just a few days."

Thinking this, Magnetic Pole True Monarch grew increasingly curious about Zhang Pianpian. A quick glance through her profile revealed an unusual connection between Zhang Pianpian and Zhang Yu.

"They knew each other since high school.""After coming to university, they even lived together.""It seems they've always supported and helped each other?"

What surprised Magnetic Pole True Monarch even more was the large amount of confidential information contained within Zhang Pianpian's profile.

"Even I can't view it?"

Although she couldn't view it directly, Magnetic Pole True Monarch, being highly experienced and resourceful, quickly drew some conclusions from various clues and the Spirit Realm information gathering capabilities of the Nine Heavens Primal Yang Pagoda.

"Is it related to the Ministry of the Myriad People?" Magnetic Pole True Monarch wondered. "And this Zhang Pianpian seems to be able to access high-level computational resources from a certain Spirit Realm cave-dwelling, which is how she accelerated the deciphering progress. To be able to utilize Heavenly Court resources like this, Zhang Pianpian's connections must be extraordinary. Could Zhang Yu's rapid progress in artifact refinement also be thanks to this? But Zhang Yu isn't in the Talisman Arts department... Could it simply be that Zhang Pianpian is personally looking after him? Perhaps Zhang Pianpian owes him a great debt, which is why she's helping him so much?"

Magnetic Pole True Monarch shook her head; she didn't have enough information to clarify the relationship yet. But after a moment's thought, she smiled again: "Civil Engineering, Artifact Refinement, and now Talisman Arts... My disciple really gets around."

Inside the dormitory, within the Taiqing realm, the Taiqing realm was shrouded in layers of mist, continuously emitting an inscrutable aura as if from the Nine Heavens above. Zhang Pianpian, inside the main hall, slowly opened her eyes and thought to herself, "With the simulation capabilities of the side hall, I can successfully disguise the Taiqing realm as a Heavenly Court resource. Magnetic Pole True Monarch should already be misled. This way, even if Zhang Yu reveals a lot of his tremendous progress in artifact refinement gained through the Taiqing realm, it shouldn't surprise Magnetic Pole True Monarch."

Thinking this, a faint smile appeared on Zhang Pianpian's lips, but in the next moment, she suppressed it and returned her focus to the talisman research before her.

"Time is running out. I also need to hurry."

In the Civil Engineering department office, Director Gao was looking at Zhang Yu's project progress. He nodded with satisfaction, "This kid is getting more proficient and really getting into the swing of things. Next time, I'll introduce him to more people. After all, taking on more projects and earning more money will allow him to go further on the path of immortality."

Director Gao felt that even if Zhang Yu couldn't lead the team to a top-three finish in the inter-university competition this year, he could fully accept it. After all, Zhang Yu was still young, only in his third year.

"If they lose this year, there are still seven more years."

At this moment, Director Gao seemed to envision Zhang Yu leading the competition team to dominate the university civil engineering competition every year, holding the top position for a full seven years, with the company's stock price soaring and project bids succeeding one after another. After graduating, Zhang Yu would pursue master's and doctoral degrees under his guidance, eventually passing the review, advancing to Nascent Soul stage, and becoming his top protégé.

"In the future, perhaps this kid could even join me on the battlefield, participate in future university wars, and completely transform the civil engineering landscape of Myriad Laws University, and even the entire academic world..."

Just as Director Gao was lost in his reverie, Magnetic Pole True Monarch sent a message.

**Magnetic Pole True Monarch:** Did you know that Old Wang's last disciple from the Security Department didn't get his graduation degree?**Director Gao:** Yes, I heard. Was it due to a lopsided academic performance?**Magnetic Pole True Monarch:** He was such a good student; who would have thought this would happen suddenly? But luckily, this student pursued a dual degree. Even though he didn't get the degree from the Security Department, he still has another. Otherwise, ten years of study would have been wasted, and the person ruined.**Director Gao:** Why are you suddenly telling me this?**Magnetic Pole True Monarch:** I've been thinking, dual degrees are becoming more popular at other universities. After all, one major is no longer enough for students' cultivation paths. To put it bluntly, if the job market for one major declines, they have another to fall back on. Studying for dual degrees simultaneously saves time, fosters interdisciplinary thinking, makes students more competitive, and builds cross-disciplinary networks, wouldn't you agree?

Looking at the message from Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Director Gao frowned and, after a moment's consideration, replied: The academic pressure is already high; it would be difficult to persuade students to take on another major.

**Magnetic Pole True Monarch:** Can't the two of us together sway one student? With our centuries of friendship, you'll surely support me. You wouldn't oppose me, would you? Old Gao?

Director Gao looked at Magnetic Pole True Monarch's message, his brow furrowing slightly. "This Magnetic Pole fellow... What does he mean? Could it be..."

Just as Director Gao was feeling hesitant, perplexed, and worried, Magnetic Pole True Monarch sent another message:

**Magnetic Pole True Monarch:** Tomorrow I'll tell Feng Tingting to come and pursue another degree in Civil Engineering. In the future, she'll cultivate both Civil Engineering and Artifact Refinement, becoming a plug-and-play versatile talent, and can also focus on smart construction.

Seeing this message from Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Director Gao's eyes lit up. He was clearly very supportive of talent from the Artifact Refinement department coming to study Civil Engineering. At the same time, he secretly sighed, "Ah, what was I overthinking just now? Magnetic Pole and I have centuries of friendship, and he's the head of the Artifact Refinement department. With so many top students in his own department, why would he covet students from Civil Engineering?"

Thinking this, Director Gao replied: No problem, I'll personally arrange it for you then.

In the Spirit Realm, Magnetic Pole True Monarch smiled slightly upon seeing Director Gao's reply.

In the following period, the efficiency of deciphering the Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device greatly improved, accelerating the entire project team's progress. In the blink of an eye, it was mid-February. Magnetic Pole True Monarch, along with numerous staff members, surrounded the device spirit in the Spirit Realm. At this moment, the device spirit no longer showed any signs of its former thought fluctuations, floating quietly before everyone like a blank sheet of paper.

Leading everyone to this point, with the deciphering work achieving significant success, Magnetic Pole True Monarch had finally managed to temporarily seal away most of the device spirit's intelligence, as if its intellect had been reduced from that of an 18-year-old to a 5-year-old. The reason for choosing this method over a more violent deciphering approach to forcibly seize control of the Yin Device was simply that Magnetic Pole True Monarch wished to observe the Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device's more pristine and complete operational modes, and to understand the highly intelligent device spirit's working process in detail. Using overly violent methods to forcibly control the Yin Device might result in the loss of a large amount of important data.

For Magnetic Pole True Monarch and Myriad Laws University, gaining control of such a Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device was not the most important objective. Deciphering the techniques of Joyful Union University, and specifically the techniques of Divine Monarch Qiongjiang, that was paramount.

The Talisman Arts professor beside her said, "Phase one is complete. Next, we just need to continue experimenting with this Yin Device to acquire a large amount of experimental data and gradually understand Joyful Union University's techniques. In the future, Myriad Laws University might even be able to open another Dual Cultivation Academy."

Magnetic Pole True Monarch chuckled, "Indeed. When that time comes to fill the gap in our university, you will be the founder of Myriad Laws University's dual cultivation field."

However, in subsequent attempts, Magnetic Pole True Monarch discovered that the activation and operation of this Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device had various requirements.

"Those with too high a cultivation base seem unsuitable, and those with too low a cultivation base also seem unsuitable. Divine Monarch Qiongjiang is quite selective. Even though the Yin Device has reverted to its initial settings, many troublesome screening conditions have been imposed."

Magnetic Pole True Monarch considered for a moment and said, "Currently, it seems students are the best experimental subjects. It appears Divine Monarch Qiongjiang might have created this Yin Device specifically for interacting with students."

The Talisman Arts professor beside her nodded and said, "Let's call a group of students to participate in the experiment."

A student from the Talisman Arts department's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Teacher, how much do we get paid for participating in this experiment?"

"Paid?" The professor chuckled, "This is a Nascent Soul-Transforming Yin Device with most of its intelligence suppressed. Interacting with it will certainly bring many benefits. You should be paying me." He thought for a moment and said, "Let's just announce it directly... No, we should still save Divine Monarch Qiongjiang some face. Let's not make it public. Secretly notify students from various departments and have them pay to sign up."

A student nearby asked, "If it's a secret notification, which students should be notified?"

The professor thought about it and said, "The top 10 from each department, anyone interested can sign up to participate." After speaking, he looked at Magnetic Pole True Monarch beside him and asked, "Magnetic Pole, what do you think?"

Magnetic Pole True Monarch nodded. "Let's settle on that for now and see the results first."