Chapter 521: Small Fame (Thanks to 'cuivie' for supporting the alliance leader)

The Spirit Realm.

Inside a classroom in the Artifact Forging Department.

Unlike the Civil Engineering Department, many courses in the Artifact Forging Department are completed at an accelerated pace in classrooms within the Spirit Realm.

This allows students in the Artifact Forging Department to achieve higher learning efficiency, but it also requires them to pay significantly higher tuition fees.

However, for students capable of studying in the Artifact Forging Department, the high tuition fees are already the least significant expense among the many costs associated with the department.

On this day, as soon as the Mana Conduction class ended, Zhang Yu stood up in the Spirit Realm classroom and walked towards the instructor.

The instructor for this class was called True Immortal Jiuduan. Having graduated with a Ph.D. from Myriad Laws University's Artifact Forging Department and successfully staying on as faculty, he was just over 50 years old and considered a promising young talent wherever he went.

Like most teachers and students in the Artifact Forging Department, True Immortal Jiuduan also first looked at one's 'fa hai' when assessing people.

After all, the path of artifact forging is driven solely by wealth; in True Immortal Jiuduan's view, financial means were the most crucial criterion for selecting talent in the Artifact Forging Department.

And the easiest way for students of the Artifact Forging Department to discern financial strength was, naturally, by observing the 'fa hai' worn by others.

To make it easier to distinguish students, he would make notes on each student he taught, which would then appear in his 'eye fa hai,' allowing for more effective management whether in reality or the Spirit Realm.

For example, many students in the current class.

Su Yunni, the top student in the class, whose entire body was outfitted with high-end models from the Myriad Dao Craftsman Sect, shimmered with a faint purple glow in True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes. To him, such students were minor elites, capable of working immediately, whether for laboratory chores or outsourced projects for artifact forging companies—excellent "workhorses."

On the other side, Zi Yunzhen, ranking fourth in the class, also used items from the Myriad Dao Craftsman Sect, but they were all basic models, appearing with a faint blue light in True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes.

Students like these seemed much more ordinary to him, often requiring some instruction before they could work. Fortunately, they were diligent and hardworking, suitable for troublesome and dangerous dirty work, making them useful nonetheless.

As for students who secretly used a few second-hand 'fa hai' or mid-range brands, there were typically only a handful of them in an Artifact Forging Department class.

In True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes, they appeared green, considered "consumables" among students. Their greatest contribution to the artifact forging industry was their spending during their studies. Despite clearly lacking the potential for the Artifact Forging Department, a few such students would enroll every year.

As for the remaining individuals, those with low-end 'fa hai' all over their bodies, or even no 'fa hai' at all except for an 'eye fa hai,' True Immortal Jiuduan generally only encountered them outside the Artifact Forging Department.

In True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes, they were a murky grey-black, becoming darker the lower the total value of the 'fa hai' on their entire body.

There were many such people in the university city, and with the annual population growth, they became increasingly worthless.

In True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes, these "black" people were akin to walking wet garbage; the only difference was that discarding them in a landfill incurred a fine.

True Immortal Jiuduan sometimes had to admit that Netherworld University did a better job in this regard. They would regularly clear out the low-end population within the university city to prevent the "wet garbage" from wandering around.

This behavior was like pouring medicine into a river, effectively ensuring a "human price environment," preventing the low-end population from becoming too cheap due to overpopulation, ensuring that human lives weren't deemed too worthless, and allowing the poor to live with more dignity.

At this moment, as Zhang Yu approached, a large mass of grey-black shadow appeared in True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes.

"Zhang Yu," True Immortal Jiuduan's mind immediately recalled the student's name. This student, from the Civil Engineering Department, who possessed only a single eye 'fa hai' that had been used for four years, left a deeper impression on him than any other student, falling into an "unknown" category in his classification.

According to True Immortal Jiuduan's classification standards, Zhang Yu should have been wet garbage.

However, given the common understanding that "wet garbage" did not exist in the Artifact Forging Department, and considering Zhang Yu's academic performance, he ought to be considered a proper person.

This made Zhang Yu appear like a mysterious, unknown species, leaving a profound impression on True Immortal Jiuduan.

Zhang Yu then said, "Teacher, I'd like to request some time off."

"Why?" True Immortal Jiuduan asked.

Zhang Yu explained, "I plan to work on a prototype for the Blazing Sun God. I need more time in the lab to study and build up preparations and technical expertise in that area."

Zhang Yu genuinely did not want to spend more time in class; after all, he had not only learned the relevant content long ago but had also thoroughly mastered it through his artifact forging skills.

Building a prototype for the Blazing Sun God was indeed his next objective, and in Zhang Yu's view, it was the best reason for requesting leave, just like a Civil Engineering student taking time off to work at a construction site.

Upon hearing this, True Immortal Jiuduan frowned slightly and said, "It's good to have aspirations if you want to make a prototype for the Blazing Sun God, but the path of artifact forging requires a down-to-earth approach. Mana Conduction is a fundamental course in artifact forging; you should focus on mastering your current courses first..."

A student who had only transferred from the Civil Engineering Department two months ago claiming to want to build a prototype for the Blazing Sun God—wasn't that utter nonsense in True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes?

If he simply agreed, wouldn't he be seen as a fool?

Zhang Yu had anticipated this, and quickly sent over the data for the magical artifact he had forged, the Two Poles Yin-Yang Shield.

He knew that no amount of verbal explanation could compare to direct evidence of achievement.

The Two Poles Yin-Yang Shield, a magical artifact capable of transforming into two defensive modes—the Fiery Blaze Shield and the Profound Ice Shield—and further enhanced by him, best demonstrated his proficiency in Mana Conduction.

Upon seeing the artifact data sent by Zhang Yu, True Immortal Jiuduan initially paid little attention, but after a moment, his eyebrows twitched, and he grew increasingly surprised with each detail he examined.

True Immortal Jiuduan asked, "Did you really forge this?"

In True Immortal Jiuduan's opinion, the Two Poles Yin-Yang Shield was entirely at the level of a senior student in the Artifact Forging Department, and some of its data indicated Zhang Yu's excellent mastery of Mana Conduction related knowledge.

"Alright then?" True Immortal Jiuduan smiled faintly. "Are you currently involved in any projects? Would you be interested in joining me here?"

At this moment, Zhang Yu was exceptionally marked with a layer of purple light in True Immortal Jiuduan's eyes, making him an excellent "workhorse" who could be immediately put to work and help him earn money.

"I don't have much time recently!" Zhang Yu naturally shook his head. These days, he had learned quite a bit about the Artifact Forging Department from Ye Xingli.

He knew that joining such a teacher's lab meant being continuously exploited by the other party in exchange for guidance and cultivation opportunities.

As for compensation, it might even be less than what one earned transporting garbage at a construction site.

Zhang Yu had his own cultivation plan and earning prospects, so he certainly didn't need to work in that manner.

For him, the teacher's instruction was less valuable than practicing a few more times on his own.

True Immortal Jiuduan nodded and smiled, "Alright, if you're interested, feel free to contact me anytime. You're always welcome here."

On the other side of the classroom, most students had already left after class.

However, Zi Yunzhen, seeing Zhang Yu walk towards True Immortal Jiuduan, deliberately stayed behind to listen to their conversation.

Seeing True Immortal Jiuduan's regard for Zhang Yu, she was secretly astonished, thinking, "This Zhang Yu... he's really getting more and more formidable!"

Ever since Zi Yunzhen became Ye Xingli's assistant, she had occasionally seen Zhang Yu practicing artifact forging techniques in the lab, and had watched him master several artifact forging techniques one after another.

Zhang Yu's explanation for this was the influence of the 'Deity Transformation Fa Hai,' which made Zi Yunzhen's eyes red with envy.

"I can also cultivate dual cultivation; I can change my gender."

Unfortunately, Zi Yunzhen had also participated in the test but had not been favored by the 'Deity Transformation Fa Hai.'

As Zhang Yu's artifact forging abilities steadily improved and his scope of expertise gradually widened, the number of artifact forging orders he received also increased, earning him a little more renown among the students of the Artifact Forging Department.

Zi Yunzhen thought to herself, "But he's only in his third year, and he's already preparing to build a prototype for the Blazing Sun God. Isn't he biting off more than he can chew?"

Zi Yunzhen was not optimistic about Zhang Yu's decision.

"What cultivation techniques the 'Deity Transformation Fa Hai' transmits depends entirely on luck. How could it just happen to help you complete the Blazing Sun God?"

"He just got lucky, and now he actually thinks he's an artifact forging genius."

As Zhang Yu requested leave from various instructors, the news of his preparations to forge the Blazing Sun God prototype became known to an increasing number of students in the Artifact Forging Department, subtly adding to his reputation.

Inside the laboratory!Ye Xingli flicked her wrist, unfurling the Void Calamity Transformation Chart.

Within the space enveloped by this military-grade artifact, various parameters—airflow, temperature, humidity, spiritual energy, gravity—changed according to Ye Xingli's control, creating the experimental environment she needed. As she performed these actions, an artifact on the experimental bench was gradually dismantled, revealing its internal structure.

On the other side of the laboratory, Zhang Yu, who was practicing an artifact forging technique, suddenly frowned, "What a strong, pungent smell. Is this malevolent qi?"

Ye Xingli nodded and said, "This is an artifact used by a factory to purify terrestrial malevolent qi, but something went wrong, causing a malevolent qi leak."

"A minor malevolent qi leak wouldn't have been an issue, but it happened to leak into the water pipes beneath the university city, causing malevolent qi pollution."

"Fortunately, the factory manager had a flash of inspiration and quickly mixed their own sewage into the pipes, claiming it was a sewage leak. In the end, they not only avoided paying compensation but also charged the poor people who had collected the water a 'meal fee'!"

Zhang Yu reaffirmed one thing in his mind: in Kunxu, one absolutely could not be poor, because being poor meant having to pay even when force-fed excrement.

Ye Xingli then continued, while manipulating the Void Calamity Transformation Chart, she privately messaged Zhang Yu: "I heard you requested leave from your teacher to prepare for the Blazing Sun God. Haven't given up yet?"

Zhang Yu replied, "Nope, I'm quite confident."

Seeing Zhang Yu's persistence, Ye Xingli didn't stop him, only reminded him, "If you're truly going to pursue this, remember to inquire about who in the department will be preparing to challenge the Blazing Sun God in the coming years."

Although it hadn't been officially stated by higher authorities, Ye Xingli knew that the military certificates issued each year were limited in number.

For the same type of military-grade artifact, such as the Blazing Sun God, generally only one certificate would be approved per academic year.

Ye Xingli: "So everyone tries to inform the department in advance to avoid conflicts."

Ye Xingli: "Jin Jun."

Ye Xingli: "This Jin Jun is scheduled to complete the forging of the Blazing Sun God prototype in the next academic year, starting this September. He's not your competition. He's a friend of mine, so you can ask him if you have any questions."

Hearing these words, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "The next academic year, huh?"

"It's almost June now. September is only three months away, and that's when the next academic year starts, and I'll be a senior!"

"Everyone assumes that if I start preparing to forge the Blazing Sun God now, it will take several years to complete."

"But based on my current progress, I can complete the Blazing Sun God prototype by the next academic year. That would put me in direct competition with Jin Jun!"

"If he gets the military certificate with the Blazing Sun God, then I'll have to wait until my fifth year!"

Inside a Spirit Realm cave abode!Jin Jun opened the "Golden Core Guidance" and checked his Golden Core simulation score: 158.

Checking his Golden Core simulation score daily and observing his gradual progress was a long-standing habit for Jin Jun.

Then, his Spirit Realm projection flickered, transforming into a figure over three meters tall, completely covered in golden 'fa hai.'

Projections of various parameters continuously appeared on the outer shell of the 'fa hai,' showcasing the immense power of these artifacts, either personally forged or twice reinforced by him.

As a master of the military-grade cultivation technique "Treatise on Grand Void Divine Artifacts," his artifact forging abilities naturally far surpassed those of most students in the Artifact Forging Department.