Wanfa University.

Inside the laboratory.

Jin Jun looked at Zhang Yu’s award-winning design blueprint, a complex expression flashing in his eye sockets.

As the design competition awards concluded, more and more people learned that Zhang Yu had won the championship.

Although Jin Jun had lost to Zhang Yu in their previous direct competition for the Tianri Huangshen, he had not given up on the idea of catching up.

After receiving Zhang Yu’s award-winning design blueprint this time, he even harbored a thought of finding flaws.

But after studying it several times, Jin Jun had to admit to himself that, at his level, he was not yet capable of identifying any shortcomings or areas for improvement in this design blueprint.

Thinking of this, Jin Jun let out a soft sigh and murmured, “If only I had won first place in the design competition.”

The assistant beside him, hearing this, subtly curled his lips, thinking to himself, “I wish it were me.”

The assistant imagined that if he had won first place in the design competition back then, who knew whose assistant he would be now.

Meanwhile, the assistant glanced at his email, checking if there was a reply to the resume he had sent to Zhang Yu; he also wanted to switch from Jin Jun’s team to Zhang Yu’s project group.

As the news of Zhang Yu’s award continued to spread.

Within the Refinement Department, more and more people, with various intentions such as envy, learning, fault-finding, and analysis, began to download Zhang Yu’s award-winning blueprints.

Zhang Yu, however, paid no attention to the outside news, simply continuing to focus wholeheartedly on the refinement of the Taihao Shenglü Flying Sword.

Just a moment ago, he had also finished a call with Bai Zhenzhen.

What surprised Zhang Yu was that Bai Zhenzhen did not ask too many questions about the Huashen Fahai, rendering his prepared explanations useless.

Just then, accompanied by a surge of True Fire, the sword embryo in front of him gradually took on the form of a sword.

Before participating in the design competition, he had already completed the refinement of the first Level 20 Taihao Shenglü Flying Sword. Now, to complete the sword array, he needed to refine 11 more Level 20 Taihao Shenglü Flying Swords.

Soon after, Zhang Yu, who was refining flying swords in the laboratory, received his Class B military certificate.

However, this time the certificate issuance was not specifically ordered by Ciji Zhenjun, and the entire process was very low-key.

Apart from Zhang Yu seeing the military certificate flashing in his eye sockets, even the laboratory assistants around him were unaware that, amidst this calm, Zhang Yu had achieved another leap forward.

With a thought, three military certificates appeared before Zhang Yu.

Looking at these three military certificates, Zhang Yu felt an inner satisfaction, a sense that his efforts during these university years had not been in vain.

“Time rewards those who strive; truly, the Dao rewards diligence.”

Soon after the military certificates arrived, Zhang Yu’s eye sockets flashed again. It was Ciji Zhenjun sending him the electronic version of the secret manual for “Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing.”

After scanning through the manual, Zhang Yu was pleased to see a new entry on his feather book: Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing Level 0 (0/1).

“With my talent, the speed at which I cultivate this technique will certainly not be slow.”

“But the essence of this refining technique is a Daoist art, and the cost of cultivating it is quite substantial.”

Zhang Yu, having scanned the manual, already knew the general outline of “Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing.”

To cultivate this technique, one needs to collect various *jieqi* (calamity qi) from heaven and earth.

The so-called *jieqi* can be collected during various natural disasters, and also during many human-made calamities.

In ancient times, just collecting these various *jieqi* might have required immense planning, decades of effort, and countless human and material resources.

But in today’s Kunxu, one only needs to buy them with money.

However, precisely because it is in today’s Kunxu, “Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing” has been updated year after year, becoming increasingly powerful. In addition to larger quantities of *jieqi*, its cultivation also requires more and more auxiliary materials.

The more one invests during cultivation, the more wondrous the technique becomes when activated, capable of triggering different powers such as wind disasters, water disasters, fire disasters, and mind disasters.

Looking at the introduction in the electronic manual, Zhang Yu thought, “Wind disasters symbolize flow, capable of imbuing magical artifacts with ultra-high-speed spiritual realm traffic, or interfering with others’ magical artifacts’ spiritual realm traffic.”

“Fire disasters symbolize energy, capable of imbuing magical artifacts with spiritual power, rapidly restoring spiritual power, and even activating an overload mode, causing the magical artifact’s power to multiply.”

“Water disasters symbolize nourishing all things, capable of temporarily transforming ordinary plants, trees, bamboo, and stones into magical artifacts.”

“Mind disasters are the highlight of the technique’s updates in recent years, focusing on the interconnectedness of all things and the integration of heaven, earth, and magical artifacts.”

Zhang Yu flipped back and saw further introductions to “Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing,” describing the direction of this technique after Level 20, claiming it leads directly to the Level 80 realm, achieving interconnectedness of heaven and earth, where atmosphere, spiritual energy, thoughts, memories… all link together to create an intelligent Kunxu and a mentally-manifested world.

How far this technique can ultimately reach is not what Zhang Yu is currently concerned with.

He is more concerned with how many spiritual coins it will cost to cultivate this technique to Level 20.

Looking at the lines of cultivation requirements, Zhang Yu thought, “This technique’s version updates are truly frequent, and the cultivation cost gets more expensive year by year.”

He shook his head helplessly, secretly estimating, “Cultivating the latest version of ‘Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing’ to Level 20 is a bit more expensive than I initially estimated, probably around 300 spiritual coins.”

Zhang Yu then looked at the sword embryo beside him, thinking, “These next 11 flying swords will probably cost me over 200 spiritual coins.”

At the same time, his eye sockets displayed a balance of 230 spiritual coins.

“During this period, in order to advance the first Taihao Shenglü Flying Sword to Level 20, as well as various blueprint purchases for the design competition, research on college students, hiring assistants… although I spent quite a few spiritual coins, fortunately, I also earned a lot during these days.”

“Next, I will continue to complete the Taihao Shenglü Sword Array. After completing the sword array, I will then cultivate ‘Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing.’ If I calculate it…”

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “It’s already May. With my monthly income of over a hundred spiritual coins, I will definitely be able to gather the necessary spiritual coins for this technique before the Top Ten League in September.”

“But if I could earn more spiritual coins…”

Zhang Yu knew that a major factor limiting his cultivation speed had always been spiritual coins.

For a technique like “Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing,” even with his exceptional talent, insufficient spiritual coins would mean having to gather money while cultivating, and the cultivation process would be interrupted due to lack of funds.

“Currently, it seems that completing the Taihao Shenglü Sword Array and “Tiandi Huaijie Wuxing Xinbing” before September should not be a problem.”

Zhang Yu thought of the Bishui Jinjing Jia (Jade Water Gold Crystal Armor), “But whether I can complete another military-grade power will depend on whether I can earn more.”

Speaking of earning more spiritual coins, Zhang Yu thought of the design blueprint in his hand. Judging from Moxie Zhenren’s enthusiasm, it seemed this blueprint should sell for a good sum.

He thought to himself, “I just don’t know how much it will sell for.”

Just then, Moxie Zhenren, outside the laboratory, sent a message.

Moxie Zhenren: Student Zhang Yu, how about adding a share of profits in addition to the patent fees?

Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened. He thought, “That’s interesting.”

Zhang Yu replied: Elaborate.

Meanwhile, Moxie Zhenren, outside the laboratory, saw Zhang Yu’s reply and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

Immediately, he replied carefully.

After all, the current Zhang Yu was related to the performance of the Investment Management Department and was a key focus of Taihe Zhenjun, so Moxie Zhenren had to handle the situation cautiously.

If the current Zhang Yu asked him to go on a double date, Moxie certainly wouldn’t dare.

But if he were asked to kill someone, he would actually consider it.

And if he were asked to flatter a college student, he would at least discern the nuance.

Unfortunately, the current Zhang Yu had no demands of him.

“Zhang Yu is not easily fooled.”

Recalling his interactions with Zhang Yu, he thought, “Zhang Yu must have realized that his design blueprint can sell for a good price.”

Moxie Zhenren thought to himself, “In his eyes, the Investment Management Department is probably just one of the buyers; he’s waiting for the highest bidder.”

Moxie Zhenren knew that Yunyang Zhenren of the giant enterprise Wandao Group was eager to discuss the patent rights for the design blueprint with Zhang Yu.

If the two parties were to directly contact each other, it would probably be difficult for the Investment Management Department to be involved, because the Investment Management Department couldn’t offer better terms than a giant enterprise.

“But this is if we treat the giant enterprise as a competitor.”

“What if we change the relationship?”

“Instead of us competing with the giant enterprise, we work with Zhang Yu against the giant enterprise.”

Moxie Zhenren thought, “This way, the buyer-seller relationship with Zhang Yu can be transformed into a shared interest on the same front.”

Moxie Zhenren replied: Student Zhang Yu, according to the latest information I’ve received, Wandao Group wants to buy your design blueprint.

Moxie Zhenren: But if you act as an individual student, Wandao Group has many ways to pressure you on the price.

Moxie Zhenren: Moreover, the negotiation process will consume a lot of your mental and time energy.

Moxie Zhenren: My suggestion is… let the school fully represent you and negotiate with Wandao Group on your behalf.

Moxie Zhenren: We are confident we can help you negotiate the payment method for patent fees and profit sharing.

Moxie Zhenren: This is a win-win situation.

Watching the other party not reply for a long time, but… Moxie Zhenren believed Zhang Yu would eventually agree.

After all, according to the information he had gathered, the current Zhang Yu not only desperately needed money but was also a refiner who spent all his time in the laboratory, too lazy to even attend award ceremonies.

Among Wanfa University, the most suitable department to negotiate with a giant enterprise was their Investment Management Department. Whether it was discussing profit sharing, lawsuits, or various other wrangling matters, they were more suited to handle these things than Zhang Yu.

In this regard, even Zhang Yu’s master, Ciji Zhenjun, couldn’t compare to them.

Zhang Yu would provide the patent, and they would provide protection, manpower, legal aid, negotiation assistance… and other resources, working together to earn spiritual coins from the giant enterprise.