Looking at Ye Xingli’s reply, Zhang Yu was slightly surprised. “What a coincidence? Ye Xingli is actually True Monarch Ciji’s disciple?”

“Doesn’t that make her my senior sister?”

Then another question arose in Zhang Yu’s mind.

Zhang Yu: True Monarch Ciji mentioned me?

Ye Xingli: Yes, Master said that when he was chatting with True Monarch Qingmu today, the other party mentioned a disciple to him.

Ye Xingli: After Master learned more, he felt this disciple was excellent, so he asked True Monarch Qingmu a few more questions.

Ye Xingli: Master told me this disciple’s name is Zhang Yu.

Ye Xingli: As soon as I heard it was you, I thought, ‘I know him,’ so I talked to Master about you.

Zhang Yu knew that True Monarch Qingmu was Director Gao, but looking at Ye Xingli’s reply, his face showed a strange expression.

Especially when he imagined Director Gao praising him in front of True Monarch Ciji, and True Monarch Ciji listening and asking questions by his side.

“True Monarch Ciji, that guy has a bit of a mean streak, doesn’t he? Playing with our Civil Engineering Director Gao right to his face?”

But then, realizing he was part of True Monarch Ciji’s game with Director Gao, a sense of moral transgression immediately arose in Zhang Yu’s heart.

“Does this make me a traitor to Civil Engineering?”

“Even if I’m a traitor, if True Monarch Ciji plays like this… what if he doesn’t take responsibility in three years?”

Zhang Yu shook his head, suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind.

He couldn’t control the thoughts of powerful figures; the only thing he could do was continuously improve himself, become more outstanding, achieve higher grades, rank higher, and gain more leverage.

So, after chatting with Ye Xingli for a few moments, Zhang Yu immediately asked her about the artifact refining courses.

After all, as per True Monarch Ciji’s requirements, Zhang Yu needed to complete all courses from the first three years of the Artifact Refining Department and pass their assessments before the end of his junior year.

Ye Xingli: You want to take some additional courses from the Artifact Refining Department?

Ye Xingli: That makes sense. It’s quite beneficial for those in Civil Engineering to study material science, as well as courses on the maintenance and use of Dharma Skeletons.

Ye Xingli wasn’t surprised by this, as civil engineering construction requires knowledge of various materials, and the Artifact Refining Department’s expertise in the design, crafting, and proper use of materials was unmatched in the entire Myriad Arts University.

As for the maintenance and use of Dharma Skeletons, that went without saying. When the Civil Engineering Department participated in various projects, initially it was just about physical wear and tear. But once Dharma Skeletons were installed, then it was the Dharma Skeletons that would experience wear.

Researching how to maintain Dharma Skeletons, how to choose them, and how to use them more effectively could save a lot of money and significantly improve work efficiency.

Many junior and senior civil engineering students took some artifact refining courses, and Ye Xingli had seen this often.

However…

Ye Xingli: You’re only just starting your second year, aren’t you? Isn’t it a bit too early to be taking courses from other departments?

Zhang Yu: Just getting to know them in advance, preparing for the future.

Ye Xingli: That makes sense. I’ll send you the Artifact Refining Department’s course schedule. You can look up the specific details yourself.

Zhang Yu immediately scanned the course schedule she sent, but the more he looked, the more astonished he became.

Artifact Engineering Drawing, Principles of Artifacts, Artifact Design, Basics of Rune Engraving, Artifact Dynamics, Spirit Energy Materials and Forming Technology, Mana Transmission and Conduction, Elementary Automated Artifact Spirits, True Fire Processing Techniques…

Looking at the dense list of courses, Zhang Yu felt as if entire libraries had appeared before him.

“Wait… the Artifact Refining Department has so many more courses than our Civil Engineering Department?”

“In the same semester, their class hours are almost triple those of the Civil Engineering Department, aren’t they?”

“And there are all sorts of lab courses, artifact refining practicals…”

“And the course arrangements…”

Zhang Yu asked Ye Xingli his question: “Many courses seem to be running simultaneously? How does that work?”

Ye Xingli: The Artifact Refining Department has a heavy course load, so many that they can’t be scheduled sequentially. Class times aren’t specifically staggered.

Ye Xingli: You either figure out a way to attend multiple courses simultaneously, or you catch up later by taking online courses.

Ye Xingli: But you don’t need to learn so much; it would be too overwhelming. Just pick a few useful ones to study.

Zhang Yu gave a wry smile, thinking, “But I have to learn all of them.”

“Sure enough, True Monarch Ciji’s requirements aren’t that simple.”

“With so many courses, it might be too late if I wait until my junior year to start learning them.”

“Fortunately…”

Zhang Yu felt the *Remnant Ox Self-Sacrifice Heart Art* and the *Immeasurable Inner Dharma Body* circulating in his mind.

He looked at the twin-headed white ox roaring with its head held high and thought to himself, “Fortunately, I’ve now cultivated the *Immeasurable Inner Dharma Body* and can multitask.”

“Next, I must push the *Immeasurable Inner Dharma Body* to level 20.”

“There’s so much to learn in the Artifact Refining Department. Without the ability to multitask, it would be impossible to study all this while maintaining my cultivation.”

“Oh, and there’s the time acceleration in the Spirit Realm.”

Zhang Yu mused, “Accelerating time in the Spirit Realm can further improve efficiency.”

“But that also costs money.”

“And taking courses in the Artifact Refining Department also costs money.”

Zhang Yu was not an Artifact Refining student, and according to Myriad Arts University regulations, he couldn’t freely attend courses in that department… unless he paid.

“Online courses and textbooks will cost a fair bit, and hiring a tutor would cost even more.”

Zhang Yu sighed, lamenting once again that he didn’t have enough money.

Whenever he complained about not having enough money, he couldn’t help but think of a man, a wealthy man.

So, Zhang Yu sent a message to his senior, Tian Yang.

This senior, who was formerly a sixth-year student and had now advanced to his seventh year, was the one who had worked with Zhang Yu to fleece CEO Wang back in the underground catacombs.

Zhang Yu: Have you reached CEO Wang?

Zhang Yu: Freshman_Year_End_Ranking.image_file

Zhang Yu: These are my freshly released results. If you can reach CEO Wang, send them to him.

Zhang Yu: Ah, I miss him so much.

In recent months, the more he earned money on his own, and the more he regretted not having enough when he needed it, the more Zhang Yu missed the times when he could ask CEO Wang for money.

A moment later, Tian Yang replied: Can’t reach him.

Tian Yang: I miss him too.

Tian Yang: Send me all such good images you get in the future. If I can reach him, I’ll send them all to CEO Wang.

After a casual chat with Tian Yang, Zhang Yu scanned the various messages sent by others.

Li Xiao: Senior Brother, you’re amazing this time! I posted your ranking in the Xiandu hometown group, and they didn’t believe it at first.

Li Xiao: Ye Lingxiao even asked if it was a fake image.

Li Xiao: You didn’t even see their disbelieving expressions.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “You brat, you’re a Xiandu spy too.”

“And knowing I can’t see your Xiandu group chat, couldn’t you send me a screenshot?”

Just as Zhang Yu was wondering how to hint to Li Xiao to send him the chat history from the Xiandu group, Fuki suddenly said, “Perhaps Ye Lingxiao can reach CEO Wang?”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred upon hearing this. “Fuki, you sly one, your mind becomes sharp when it comes to scams.”

Zhang Yu knew that Ye Lingxiao, as the descendant of the Xiandu Ye clan on the first floor and CEO Wang’s designated lackey during his time on the first floor, had also graduated high school and entered university before CEO Wang’s downfall.

“Ye Lingxiao likely enrolled in Underworld University and indeed might be able to contact CEO Wang.”

Thinking this, Zhang Yu immediately replied: “Push Ye Lingxiao’s contact to me; I want to add him as a friend.”

Seeing the contact information Li Xiao sent, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. “Underworld University, Biology Department, Foundation Establishment Class, 3rd place, Ye Lingxiao.”

“It really is Underworld University.”

After Zhang Yu added him as a friend, he initially thought the request wouldn’t be accepted immediately. To his surprise, it was not only accepted instantly, but the other party also sent a message.

Ye Lingxiao: Zhang Yu, don’t contact me anymore.

Ye Lingxiao: If CEO Wang finds out, I’m afraid he’ll misunderstand.

After sending these two messages, Ye Lingxiao decisively deleted Zhang Yu from his friends list.

Underworld University.

Recalling Zhang Yu’s results this time, Ye Lingxiao suddenly clutched his chest. “That son of a b*tch!”

“How can he be so good at studying?”

At that moment, Ye Lingxiao felt his good mood, which came from securing third place in the final exams, instantly vanish.

Seeing Ye Lingxiao disregard their hometown connection so completely, Zhang Yu could only set it aside for now and looked at the messages from others.

Shi Yunxiang: Zhang Yu, if you were at Heavenly Demon University, you’d probably be queued up by students from the Reproduction Department.

Che Yufei: Young Master Yu, have you joined the competition team yet?

Zhao Tianxing: [Thumbs up emoji]

Seeing Zhao Tianxing’s emoji, Zhang Yu knew that he was likely still working overtime and couldn’t send much text.

So he sent a thumbs up back, conveying everything without words.

Soon, Zhang Yu saw messages from the competition team again.

Ma Xuan: Ji Yuanxu, have the results been released?

Ma Xuan: Next, you should be learning the first of the Seven Civil Engineering Arts, the Profound Yellow Mountain-Suppressing Seal.

Ma Xuan: This cultivation method is foundational; it not only significantly promotes the Seven Civil Engineering Arts but also other large-scale construction-type civil engineering methods.

Ma Xuan: If you can master it, it will be very helpful for the competition.

Ma Xuan: I’m quite experienced in this area, so feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

Just as Ma Xuan was halfway through typing his message, Cong Na sent him a private message.

Ma Xuan tapped on the pop-up window in his eye-skeleton, intending to see what Cong Na had sent him.

Cong Na: Stop talking.

Cong Na: Seriously, stop talking.

Cong Na: Freshman_Year_End_Ranking.image_file

Cong Na: This is their class ranking; open it yourself and take a look.

Ma Xuan opened it and found that Zhang Yu was ranked above Ji Yuanxu.

Ma Xuan: Impossible! How could Zhang Yu possibly surpass Ji Yuanxu?

Ma Xuan: Where did you get this screenshot?

Cong Na: Zhang Yu posted it on his Moments.

Ma Xuan recalled that Cong Na and Zhang Yu were friends.

Ma Xuan: Since it was posted on Moments, it’s most likely true.

Ma Xuan: But I still can’t understand how Ji Yuanxu lost to Zhang Yu.

Cong Na: What does it matter how he lost? A loss is a loss, and it only means that Zhang Yu’s strength is now superior to Ji Yuanxu’s.

Cong Na: The question now is whether to replace Ji Yuanxu with Zhang Yu.