Faced with Le Mu’s pressing urgency, Zhang Yu nodded in assent. After all, students of the Grand Arcane University, especially those hailing from its esteemed halls, were indeed pressed for time, needing to seize every fleeting moment.

He extended a palm, pressing it against Le Mu’s back, a chilling tide of mana already flowing into her meridians. This mana, also drawn from the Deep Cold Mana Vein, facilitated Le Mu’s absorption of Zhang Yu’s spiritual energy. However, the combined frigidity of their mana quickly intensified, causing a visible layer of purplish-blue frost to creep across Le Mu’s countenance!

Zhang Yu understood that if they continued thus, this cultivation session would not last long before being forced to a halt. To persist would inevitably lead to severe frostbite for the other party, resulting in not only medical expenses but also a period of rest and recuperation, a monumental setback on the path of immortal cultivation! How could Zhang Yu, who himself looked forward to Le Mu unlocking the second layer of the Deep Cold Mana Vein, countenance such an outcome?

Thus, sensing the rapid drop in the other party’s body temperature, Zhang Yu had no choice but to stir his Qi and blood, pressing his other palm, now radiating a surging warmth, against Le Mu’s other side.

“Zhang Yu, don’t just touch my back, the rest of me is cold too!”

Feeling the other party’s trembling form lean closer, Zhang Yu could only adjust his posture to better increase her body temperature. At that moment, he felt as though he held a ball of soft snow, cold, slippery, and strangely yielding!

Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and he spoke, “Don’t wiggle, don’t rub, or I won’t touch you!”

Le Mu immediately stiffened her waist and nodded obediently, her purplish-blue lips shivering as she meekly replied, “Mn!”

Outside the door, Xuan Ge listened silently to the sounds from within the dormitory. In the past, his impression of Le Mu had always been one of cold aloofness, indifferent to her fellow students, a solitary soul. This was especially true after she had ascended to the ranks of Foundation Establishment cultivators; the attitudes of the surrounding students immediately shifted, even the mere Qi Refining juniors harboring thoughts of dual cultivation! Le Mu’s demeanor towards her classmates became even more dismissive. Xuan Ge had often witnessed her treating them as if they were thin air, as though she could neither hear nor see these struggling refiners.

And at this moment, Xuan Ge, eavesdropping outside the door, felt that he had discovered another facet of Le Mu’s being!

“Dual cultivation is truly a crucible for training!” Xuan Ge sighed. “Le Lin Lan has been forged into two distinct personalities!”

Over the next few days, Zhang Yu continued his explorations of the path of spiritual and physical unity.

One day, as he opened his eyes within the spiritual realm, he recalled his identity in this iteration. Zhang Yu was a test subject, cultivated in a laboratory! He had begun cultivating the Residual Bull Sacrifice Body Mind Technique from a young age, solely to enhance his tolerance, so that the laboratory could harvest more data.

But on the very first day his formal work was to begin, he discovered that the laboratory staff were absent. Instead, a group of unfamiliar individuals in uniforms appeared. They opened the cages one by one, releasing all the test subjects!

“Due to the unauthorized cultivation of immortal paths by underage test subjects in this laboratory, the relevant responsible parties have been apprehended!”

“Henceforth, your placement will be determined by your cultivation level!”

Zhang Yu, due to his low cultivation, was protected by the Commoner Protection Law and was released from the laboratory, thus gaining his freedom. Knowing nothing of the world, Zhang Yu wandered through society in a daze. With nothing to his name, the only thing he possessed was the Residual Bull Sacrifice Body Mind Technique etched in his mind! Stealing, robbing for food, taking on illicit work, he ran the mind technique over and over, until finally, one day, he could maintain its operation even while sleeping, able to defy the cold and pain and sleep peacefully!

But in the next moment, the entire world suddenly froze! Zhang Yu looked up in bewilderment and saw two figures radiating surging divine power approaching him!

“This high-intelligence spirit has reached the realm of spiritual and physical unity. It seems the primary objective is no longer an issue. Now, we merely await the formal experiment in the material world!”

“Let’s retrieve him first, lest he escape into the spiritual realm network!”

“As for the formal experiment in the material world, heh…”

“The cost of high-intelligence spirits cannot be reduced. Further discussion is futile!”

“One can only blame those soul cultivators for being too cheap, better than any other spirit!”

Zhang Yu removed the spiritual realm mask once more, muttering to himself, “This time, it felt like the breakthrough of an advanced spirit.”

“Why does it feel like this high-intelligence spirit is so much easier to break through than humans?”

He shook his head, attempting to grasp the lingering sensation in his mind.

Time advanced to that evening, and Zhang Yu, as was his custom, began his communication with Bai Zhenzhen.

“Yu Zi!” Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu with a smile and said, “I have good news for you. I’m coming to Grand Arcane University next semester!”

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in surprise, “Really? You have time to come over?”

Bai Zhenzhen replied, “Yes, I’m going to participate in the University Flying Sword Competition next semester!”

“This year’s Flying Sword Competition is being held at Grand Arcane University!”

Bai Zhenzhen’s projection walked closer, leaning in front of Zhang Yu, and smiled brightly, “Then our mother and son will finally be reunited!”

After happily ending the communication with Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen eagerly awaited the arrival of the Flying Sword Competition!

The following day, Zhang Yu once again logged into the Hammer Heart Residence! This time, as he opened his eyes, he saw numerous Qi Refining cultivators in long robes and sleeves before him, recognizing that he was leading them in a demand for wages!

Zhang Yu produced a coin from his sleeve, opened a box, and displayed several golden pills! “After the Divine Thunder Sect was fractured by the sect war, the armaments of its army scattered. These are the Taiyi Sky-shaking Thunder Pills!”

“Those Dao officials of the Grand Arcane Sect are extorting us! Only this Sky Thunder can help us stand up for ourselves and blast away all the bitterness in our hearts!”

“Everyone gather! I will help you find the source. As long as you provide enough spirit stones, what magic weapon cannot be bought?”

Under Zhang Yu’s instigation, various magic weapons and flying swords from the army’s disbanded forces were distributed among the crowd! A Taiyi Sky-shaking Thunder Pill exploded within the Dao official’s yamen, and a great battle erupted! Zhang Yu fell to the ground in the first wave of fighting!

After a long while, he shed his feigned death state, suddenly opening his eyes, secretly leaving the battlefield. Zhang Yu found his superior and reported, “Mission complete. Where to next?”

Zhang Yu was an arms dealer. He traveled through the territories of various sects. Where there was war or resistance, he sold weapons directly! Where there was no conflict, he relied on his outstanding ability to foment riots and wars, selling various cultivation methods, magic weapons, and flying swords that had flowed out from the disbanded armies! His motto was, “We support what the enemy opposes, and we take thirty percent of what the enemy supports!”

In this era, before the advent of the network and with the righteous god system still nascent, his business was effortless. There were many like him, and wars and riots were rampant throughout the world! But Zhang Yu understood that all wars and all riots were merely the will of the immortals behind them! And later, when the immortals decided to cease the conflict, the system of managing military-grade power was born, and Zhang Yu felt that earning money was becoming increasingly difficult, and his own peril was mounting!

Finally, in a state of restless anxiety, he unknowingly pushed his mind technique to the realm of spiritual and physical unity in his sleep! Zhang Yu removed the spiritual realm mask and recalled the scenes of attacking the sect officials in his mind, only to feel that the mind technique within him was becoming more and more agitated!

“It seems there’s some progress!” And recalling his experiences in the simulated environments, Zhang Yu had but one feeling: “The immortals care neither about riots nor about resistance!” Indeed, the riots themselves were created by them, and even the data generated by war could be sold!

In the period that followed, Zhang Yu continued his daily sojourn towards spiritual and physical unity! Although each time he finished, he could feel a certain degree of progress – the white bull he visualized in his mind becoming more vivid, as if on the verge of gaining life – and he felt increasingly close to the unity of spirit and body, yet it always seemed to be lacking something! Just a sliver away!

Time turned to August! Less than a month remained until the final exams! And on this day, a righteous god suddenly contacted Zhang Yu, inquiring if he had chosen his mentor, the deadline for the academic year fast approaching! Zhang Yu was naturally prepared for this. As the victor of the high school Foundation Establishment exam in the first tier, he possessed the right to designate a mentor within the university! A mentor in the university represented the faction within the university to which a student would belong in the future, and was related to a student’s developmental path through a series of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs! Zhang Yu was naturally very cautious about this, especially for him, who intended to transfer to the Equipment Refining Department; the choice of this teacher was even more crucial!

He had also consulted Zhang Pianpian on this matter! Zhang Pianpian had told him, “If your goal is to transfer to the Equipment Refining Department in your third year, then the stronger the mentor, the better!”

“Although the relationship between the Equipment Refining Department and the Civil Engineering Department is not bad, if you want to successfully transfer after entering the top 20 of the entire department, a powerful mentor can alleviate a lot of trouble!”

“However, the more powerful the mentor, the higher their requirements for students, and the Equipment Refining Department, being a premier major, has even higher requirements for powerful mentors!”

“Coupled with your situation, transferring from the Civil Engineering Department!”

“Although they must accept you as a student due to the regulations, I’m afraid they won’t give you a favorable reception!”

“The worst outcome when choosing a mentor is to select one who is uncooperative. If the other party is unwilling to teach you, even if they accept you as a student, it is meaningless and instead causes you to lose the opportunity to truly receive guidance from a mentor!”

“I think if you want to transfer departments, you should take it slowly and transfer departments after graduating from civil engineering and taking the postgraduate entrance examination!”

Zhang Yu knew that Zhang Pianpian was right. From the perspective of the success rate of transferring departments, the postgraduate entrance examination clearly offered the highest probability! But he knew that under the pressure of the evil god ceremony, he had to enter one of the top ten sects, had to get in before the passages to the top ten sects were completely sealed, and had to go as soon as possible! He wanted to transfer to the Equipment Refining Department as soon as possible, take the postgraduate entrance examination as soon as possible, and find a way to enter the top ten sects as soon as possible, so under Zhang Yu’s insistence, Zhang Pianpian also helped him gather information and finally decided to aim for the Magnetic Pole True Monarch of the Equipment Refining Department!

This was a deputy director in the Nascent Soul realm, and someone very likely to become the head of the department in the future! It could be said that this was one of the most promising teachers in the Equipment Refining Department. With his support, as long as Zhang Yu’s grades were sufficient, there would be no issue in transferring departments! But such a prominent figure in the Equipment Refining Department would naturally not hold Zhang Yu, a student from the Civil Engineering Department, in high regard. If he were directly designated through the righteous god, it was highly probable that Zhang Yu would be accepted but not mentored, leaving him in a situation where he had a mentor but was essentially without one!

But fortunately, Zhang Yu also found assistance from a good friend, and a message appeared in his eye sockets!

Deng Bingding: Classmate Zhang Yu, long time no see.

Through the merits established in the first tier, Deng Bingding successfully ascended to the second tier and obtained a new position within the territory of Grand Arcane University! And after spending some time in the second tier, Deng Bingding had been very grounded for a period, always observing more, listening more, and speaking less, constantly gathering information and confirming the situation. In this process, he became increasingly certain of some of his previous conjectures!

“Zhang Pianpian might be a god-level figure in the Ministry of the People!”

“Zhang Yu should also be from this lineage, which is why he was arranged to disrupt the activities of the Underworld Palace in the first tier!”

“This person is worth assisting!”

Thus, with the help of Deng Bingding, Zhang Yu finally added the Magnetic Pole True Monarch as a friend through the spiritual realm network before designating his mentor!

Zhang Yu: Teacher, I don’t know if God Deng has mentioned my situation to you.

Zhang Yu: I wish to transfer to the Equipment Refining Department in my third year, and I hope to become your disciple.

After waiting for a long time, just as Zhang Yu felt that the other party might not deign to reply, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch finally responded with an “Mn.”

After a prolonged silence, the other party still offered no further message, and Zhang Yu had to follow Fu Qi’s guidance and reluctantly sent a red envelope of 0.1 spirit coins! The red envelope was instantly accepted, and the Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s reply followed: I do not recommend you do this.

Zhang Yu had no choice but to call upon Deng Bingding once more! This righteous god added both of them to a group chat and stated: I have a suggestion. Then Deng Bingding presented a plan they had previously discussed with Zhang Yu!

Deng Bingding: Director, I know that the requirements for transferring to the Equipment Department are very stringent, and I also know that your requirements are even higher!

Deng Bingding: But this young man, Zhang Yu, is indeed very talented!

Deng Bingding: How about this, after he designates you as his mentor, you need not make it public. No one will know that he is your student. You merely need to provide him with a little guidance!

Deng Bingding: If he can barely enter your sights by his third year, then he is your student!

Deng Bingding: If he does not meet your requirements by then, then it will be as if nothing ever happened!

Seeing that the other party remained silent for a long time, Deng Bingding nudged Zhang Yu in the group chat! Zhang Yu had no choice but to send another red envelope of 0.1 spirit coins!

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: A bit interesting.

Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Then, if in your third year, in addition to entering the top 20 of the Civil Engineering Department, you can also complete the courses of the first three years of the Equipment Refining Department and pass the Equipment Refining Department’s final exam in your third year, then I will recognize you as my student!

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up; as long as there were requirements and standards, things would be easier for him!

Thus, with the assistance of Deng Bingding, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch was temporarily designated as Zhang Yu’s mentor. However, Zhang Yu had never met this mentor, and besides the few of them, no one else in the university was aware of this arrangement!

After the matter was settled, Zhang Yu thanked Deng Bingding once more! Deng Bingding refused Zhang Yu’s red envelope and smiled: “For me, it was merely a few words of effort. Classmate Zhang Yu, good fortune to you. I believe you will certainly be able to enter the Equipment Refining Department and join the Magnetic Pole True Monarch!”

Having tentatively settled the matter of his teacher, Zhang Yu continued to dedicate his energy to study, cultivation, and work! And as time passed, the deadline for the final exams drew nearer and nearer, and the final layer of Zhang Yu’s Qi Vein Changliu was finally completed! Yu Xinghan’s Three Eyes Divine Ability also finally ascended to the second level, and the realm of spiritual and physical unity finally appeared before Zhang Yu, revealing more profound mysteries of the Residual Bull Sacrifice Body Mind Technique to him!