Chapter 517: Dragging it into a Soul Cultivator (Thanks to ‘Geineer’ for rewarding the alliance leader)

Lei Ji Zhenjun was an entity whose body resembled glazed glass, with not a trace of flesh or blood visible on him. This was because almost ninety-nine percent of his flesh and blood had been replaced by magical artifacts. All around him, countless spiritual energy circuits connected to Lei Ji Zhenjun from the ground and walls, transmitting vast amounts of spiritual energy and information. Layers of array formation light enveloped his body, obscuring the details of his form.

It was said that Lei Ji Zhenjun's true body remained seated in his office year-round, almost never going out, only exploring the Spirit Realm with his consciousness and projecting himself to various locations. In Zhang Yu's eyes, his motionless appearance resembled a statue in a temple, rather than a living person.

Zhang Yu knew that Lei Ji Zhenjun belonged to the Artifact Faction of the Artifact Forging Department, a conservative school of thought that Feng Tingting had mentioned before. This faction regarded flesh and blood as backward, considered Dharma Bones unorthodox, and insisted that the 'artifactization' of humans should be the future direction of advancement in immortal cultivation.

Regarding this doctrine, Zhang Yu offered no comment, as his level in immortal cultivation and artifact forging was not yet sufficient to judge its merits or drawbacks. What Zhang Yu was currently concerned about was: "This Lei Ji Zhenjun isn't prejudiced against natural bodies, is he?"

Zhang Yu recalled several instances of discrimination he had encountered since coming to the Artifact Forging Department, either because of his original background as a civil engineering student or because of his natural body.

"In the Artifact Forging Department, the Dharma Bone faction discriminated against natural bodies, those with more Dharma Bones discriminated against those with fewer, and those with expensive Dharma Bones looked down on those with cheaper ones. Meanwhile, the Artifact Faction discriminated against both Dharma Bones and natural bodies."

"Could this Lei Ji Zhenjun be delaying my project payment because he discriminates against me?"

Just as various thoughts surged through Zhang Yu's mind, Lei Ji Zhenjun spoke. Though no mouth moved on his glass-like face, the vibrations in the air had already formed a voice that echoed in Zhang Yu's ears.

"Zhang Yu, correct? What is your business?"

Zhang Yu politely smiled and said, "It's about the project payment..."

Lei Ji Zhenjun said coldly, "I told you not to press me again, didn't I?"

Zhang Yu explained, "Zhenjun, our company is small and we're having cash flow problems. I'm currently covering the employees' salaries myself..."

Lei Ji Zhenjun said indifferently, "Who in this line of work doesn't have to front some money? Are you the one exception? If you can do the work, do it. If not, then leave."

Zhang Yu paused, stunned. He was just about to reveal his identity as Magnetic Pole Zhenjun's disciple to avoid any misunderstandings, when he heard Lei Ji Zhenjun continue, "I know you are Magnetic Pole Zhenjun's newly accepted disciple. But whoever comes here must follow the rules equally."

Zhang Yu said, "Martial Uncle..."

Lei Ji Zhenjun: "Who told you to call me Martial Uncle? I don't deal with such personal connections here. Universal Law University's downfall is precisely these kinds of things."

After saying that, a cold snort, like a peal of thunder, rumbled in Zhang Yu's ears, making his head feel somewhat dizzy. Lei Ji Zhenjun continued, "Everything here follows procedures. You will naturally receive your due project payment in full. Alright, if there's nothing else, you may leave. Don't stay here and disturb my work."

Zhang Yu walked out of the office with a frustrated expression, thinking to himself, "Is what this Lei Ji Zhenjun says real or fake? Does Kunxu really have such an impartial leader? Should I go to my master for help?"

Zhang Yu shook his head. Before understanding the full picture of the situation, he decided not to act rashly. After all, he didn't know the extent of the relationship between Magnetic Pole Zhenjun and Lei Ji Zhenjun, nor whether Magnetic Pole Zhenjun had any vested interests in this matter.

To gather information, the first person Zhang Yu naturally thought of was Zhang Pianpian, followed by Feng Tingting, a student from the Artifact Forging Department, and finally, his senior sister Ye Xingli.

Shortly after Zhang Yu inquired, responses popped up on his eye-bone device. The first to reply was Feng Tingting.

Feng Tingting: You didn't go in your natural body, did you?Zhang Yu: Yeah, you know I only have this one body. What else would I wear?Feng Tingting: Lei Ji Zhenjun is a notoriously stubborn old-timer in the department, one of the staunchest proponents of the 'Artifact-Only' theory. In his classes, even a passing dog would be expected to undergo artifactization. You went there with a natural body; how could he possibly approve of you?

Reading Feng Tingting's reply, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "This Lei Ji Zhenjun truly is prejudiced against natural bodies."

Just as Zhang Yu thanked Feng Tingting for the information, she replied again, "Zhang Yu, when are we going to share a lab and forge artifacts together? Sigh, ever since I went to study civil engineering, fewer and fewer people in the Artifact Forging Department are willing to bother with me..."

Looking at Feng Tingting's response, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, realizing that Feng Tingting and he were probably the most likely in the Artifact Forging Department to be judged with prejudice.

Just then, Ye Xingli also sent a message.

Ye Xingli: Did you pay?Zhang Yu: Pay?Ye Xingli: I don't know if the Civil Engineering Department spoiled you too much before, or if you're truly naive. The so-called Artifact Forging Department is just a few floors and a few labs; the money still needs to be earned separately. With so many projects and so much work, who gets priority, who gets more or less, how do you think it's allocated?Zhang Yu: So I should just pay Lei Ji Zhenjun directly?Ye Xingli: Lei Ji Zhenjun is full of integrity and strictly adheres to rules; he won't accept money from you directly. [Bian Hao] This is Lei Ji Zhenjun's student. Go talk to him.

Looking at the contact card Ye Xingli sent, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "After all that, it still comes down to money."

Zhang Yu added Bian Hao, explained his purpose, and after some discussion, saw the other party send him a donation link.

"Public Welfare Lab?" Zhang Yu looked at the content on the link and immediately felt annoyed. "10 spirit coins? Damn it... My pre-tax project payment is only a little over 20 spirit coins in total. After distributing it to my employees and paying taxes, I'll at most make a dozen or so spirit coins. And they're suddenly asking for 10 spirit coins from me?"

Zhang Yu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and replied to Bian Hao, asking if he could pay less.

Bian Hao: Junior, the amount of money isn't up to me. Everyone else donates a lot. Those who donate less won't be prioritized. If you donate too little, I'm afraid your donation might be in vain. After all, if you don't do it, plenty of others will, and if you don't donate, plenty of others will.

Zhang Yu couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Has it become such a cutthroat competition?"

Looking at the 10 spirit coin donation link, Zhang Yu mentally recalculated his finances over and over. Among his current stable monthly income sources, the largest was the 40 spirit coin subsidy from the lab, followed by 30 spirit coins reimbursed by Magnetic Pole Zhenjun and Director Gao's company, then his sister's repayment of over ten spirit coins, and finally Wen Wuya's 10 spirit coin monthly subscription...

Originally, Zhang Yu thought that the civil engineering projects for the Artifact Forging Department could also become a stable monthly income in the future. But now it seemed not only unstable, but after deducting this donation, the money earned was far less than imagined.

Looking at the numbers appearing on his eye-bone device, Zhang Yu cursed silently, "Damn it, in the end, I can earn 40 spirit coins per month from scams, get 30 spirit coins reimbursed through connections, recover over ten spirit coins from family loans, and earn 10 spirit coins from wealthy patrons' tips. Yet after working hard for over three years to build up my civil engineering capabilities, amassing a pile of techniques and artifacts, and hiring a bunch of employees, what I earn is the least?"

Zhang Yu even considered that if this was the case, he might as well not undertake civil engineering projects for the Artifact Forging Department. But he knew that wouldn't do. On one hand, there were so many mouths to feed in his company. On the other hand, although his current income was high, his expenses were also considerable. Every extra bit of money earned from civil engineering projects for artifact forging was important to him.

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, "To achieve the 'Artifact Forging Prodigy' qualification, I need to accumulate practice in artifact forging techniques to raise their levels. Sigh, to cultivate 10 artifact forging techniques to Level 20 within a few months is equivalent to cultivating 10 Daoist arts to Level 20... Not to mention that no regular artifact forging student spends money like I do; I doubt even many students in the Daoist Arts Department spend as much as I do."

Zhang Yu knew that most artifact forging students wouldn't be able to cultivate so many artifact forging techniques like him. They usually chose a specialized direction and then hired others when needed, just like when Zi Yunzhen hired him to perform the Dragon Vein Treasure Forging Art to strengthen the Five Elements Banners.

"If it were just burning money to achieve the 'Artifact Forging Prodigy' qualification, that would be fine. The money I'm earning now can cover it, and I can even save some spirit coins each month. But next, I also need to prepare for the military-grade artifact."

Zhang Yu knew that once he had achieved 'Artifact Forging Prodigy', he would then need to begin preparing for the prototype forging of the Heavenly Sun Blazing God. The prototype forging of this military-grade artifact would be quite expensive, from preliminary technical preparations to material purchases, and the rental of various equipment and laboratories. Zhang Yu and Fu Ji had calculated it together before, and it would cost at least 300 spirit coins. If certain losses and errors were accounted for, it wouldn't be impossible for the final cost to rise to 500 spirit coins. And how many such projects perfectly adhere to the budget without exceeding it?

The more he thought about where he would need to spend money next, the more Zhang Yu yearned to earn more.

"They say 1,000 spirit coins are enough to break through to the Golden Core stage, but if I want to win the Top Ten Leagues and enter a sect, how could an ordinary Golden Core cultivation satisfy that?"

While Zhang Yu was pondering back and forth, his elder sister Zhang Pianpian also replied.

Zhang Pianpian: This Lei Ji Zhenjun has held back quite a few project payments, driving many companies to bankruptcy and turning several hundred people into soul cultivators.Zhang Yu: So, there's no way to resolve it?Zhang Pianpian replied with a sigh, "If this were hundreds of years ago, in ancient times, I would definitely advise you to give up. But in this current era, as long as he is in Kunxu and remains within the university system, whether he is a Golden Core cultivator or a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he must act according to the rules. Within the rules, he can suppress you to the point of silence. But if he oversteps the rules, even if he is a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he will still face a swift and severe blow."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu replied thoughtfully, "Are you implying... he has overstepped the rules?"

Zhang Pianpian: I haven't found out the specifics yet, but from the available information, this person definitely has a big problem brewing under the surface.Zhang Yu: Why?Zhang Pianpian: Haven't you considered that other companies have spent so much money, even more than you? How do they earn it back?