Zhang Yu nodded and said, “I’ve heard a little about it.”

Xiao Qingxuan continued, “After that ancient Golden Core cultivator took over my body, he actually didn’t intend to kill me. He even taught me many things, planning to return my body once he found a new one.”

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Are there such good people in Kunxu?”

Xiao Qingxuan said, “According to that ancient Golden Core cultivator, he claimed to be a righteous cultivator from the Grand Dao Sect, participating in some battle between good and evil. He was severely wounded and then placed in a tomb by his fellow disciples to hibernate, slowly recovering from his injuries while minimizing lifespan consumption. When he woke up, his physical body had already decayed, so he had no choice but to possess my body.”

Zhang Yu thought, “The Grand Dao Sect? I haven’t heard of this sect. Is it an outdated one? If there was no conflict between this ancient Golden Core cultivator and Xiao Qingxuan, then how did he accumulate so much debt? Where did that ancient Golden Core cultivator go? Did he perhaps find a new body already?”

Just as more questions arose in Zhang Yu’s mind, he heard Xiao Qingxuan continue, “At first, I got along quite well with this ancient cultivator. But as he learned more about Kunxu, his mental state deteriorated. Eventually, he committed suicide.”

“Huh?” Zhang Yu asked in surprise, “Committed suicide?”

Xiao Qingxuan nodded, “‘Demons descend upon the nine heavens, the Dao perishes and the sky tilts…’ After he said that, he left my body, saying he was going to commit suicide. What he went to do is none of my business, but the crucial point is that he left behind some things, especially some memories, habits, and thoughts… they affected me, making me sometimes feel out of place in this world. Things I used to take for granted now evoke disgust, even revulsion, within me. I’ve become like an anachronistic ancient person…”

As he spoke, Xiao Qingxuan’s face was filled with distress.

“And like this whole Dual Cultivation Sect uproar, every time I see related news, I feel uncomfortable all over, as if there’s another me in my head…”

Watching the fleeting struggle on Xiao Qingxuan’s face, Zhang Yu somewhat understood his feelings. When he first arrived in Kunxu, he also found it very difficult to adapt. But now, it seemed that the ancient Golden Core cultivator’s inability to adapt to Kunxu was even greater than his own.

Although Zhang Yu still had many questions, such as the Golden Core cultivator’s final destination, and how he committed suicide, or what was the deal with Xiao Qingxuan’s debt of tens of thousands of spirit coins, seeing the distress on Xiao Qingxuan’s face, Zhang Yu didn’t press further. He knew that if the other party wanted to talk, they would, and asking wouldn’t help if they didn’t. So Zhang Yu simply patted his shoulder and comforted him, “It will get better gradually, won’t it?”

Xiao Qingxuan gave a bitter smile, “How can it be that easy? The amount of information from a Golden Core True Immortal is more than ten times what I possess. Even if only a portion remained, its influence on me is enormous. The only way… is to use the memory technology at Demonic Heaven University to erase the Golden Core cultivator’s lingering memories from my mind.”

At this point, Xiao Qingxuan sighed.

***

In the simulation lab of the Spirit Realm, with Zhang Yu’s latest completion of refining the Azure Cloud Pouch, he finally raised this artifact refining skill to level 9. As a magic artifact refining technique for the Qi Refinement stage, the Azure Cloud Pouch’s production skill could only be raised to a maximum of level 10.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Next, I’ll return to the real-world lab and use my level 9 Azure Cloud Pouch technique to improve the artifact’s grade.” He remembered that his real-world Azure Cloud Pouch artifact was only level 1. This would be a perfect opportunity to temper the artifact, raise its grade, and simultaneously hone his refining skills, ultimately pushing the Azure Cloud Pouch refining technique to level 10.

“Once I push the Azure Cloud Pouch refining technique to level 10, I can practice the subsequent advanced techniques, specifically the production technique for the Grand Unity Golden Liquid Pill.” Although the Grand Unity Golden Liquid Pill has “pill” in its name, it’s actually a magic artifact corresponding to the Foundation Establishment stage, and it’s an advanced refining technique that can only be learned after mastering the level 10 Azure Cloud Pouch skill. Moreover, among the first three years of the Artifact Refining Department’s curriculum, Zhang Yu felt this artifact was particularly suitable for him.

However, looking at his spirit coin balance of over thirty, Zhang Yu knew he would have plenty of expenses coming up.

***

Yin Jiurao looked at Wan Sirou, who appeared in her eye-bone, and said indifferently, “Still not successful? My patience has limits. It’s already 3 days past the deadline you promised for successfully obtaining the essence.”

Wan Sirou swallowed with difficulty and said helplessly, “This target’s Dao heart is too firm, and he also has serious mental issues. Initially, I impersonated a massage therapist, using a psychic wonder skill to amplify my charm, but I couldn’t arouse his desires. Later, I again impersonated a massage therapist, and under the guise of ‘mana massage,’ injected aphrodisiacal mana into his body during the massage to trigger his physiological reactions… but he simply switched therapists.”

At this point, a hint of humiliation flashed across Wan Sirou’s face. “To be replaced after applying an aphrodisiac, that’s something I’ve never experienced before. It was only then, when I saw the therapist he switched to, that I realized his aesthetic preferences were different from what I expected.”

Wan Sirou affirmed, “Years of academic and cultivation pressure have probably twisted his mind, completely alienating him, leading him to pursue a more unconventional and retro aesthetic among university students…”

Yin Jiurao said, “I’m not here to listen to your excuses.”

Wan Sirou replied, “This isn’t an excuse; it’s an objective analysis of the target. Later, I tried pretending to be a long-term user of Lustful Bliss videos, inviting him to ‘experience a product.’ I disguised my Dharma Bone as a product and sent it to him for trial…”

Yin Jiurao’s heart stirred. She knew that the Dharma Bones used by Lustful Bliss cultivators had unique structures; they were all Yin-Yang Dharma Bones produced by the Yin-Yang Heavenly Dao company, serving as crucial cultivation, work, and production tools for them. Such Dharma Bones were not only incredibly powerful in the Way of Yin-Yang Harmony, but they were also considered part of the cultivator’s body. Once Zhang Yu used Wan Sirou’s Dharma Bone, Wan Sirou would be able to remotely collect Zhang Yu’s essence.

But then Wan Sirou said, “Even so, this person never used it even once. Instead, his roommate, Yu Xinghan, used it a few times.” At this point, Wan Sirou shook her head. “Faced with the latest product from Lustful Bliss University, a man of normal desires could actually refrain from using it even once. This indicates that his suppression of inner desires is extremely strong…”

Wan Sirou then recounted her attempts one by one, finally concluding, “This person’s Dao heart is like iron. Ordinary methods won’t work to trick him into giving up his essence. In the Grand Dao of Yin-Yang, the superior method refines emotions, while the inferior method pursues desires. To take him down, I must refine emotions, but that will take time…”

Yin Jiurao frowned, “How much time?”

Wan Sirou replied, “Half a year to a year. If you’re willing to accept that, I’ll start a new plan next week, but it will require more money. Of course, if you can’t accept it, I can refund a portion of the payment.”

Closing the communication with Wan Sirou, Yin Jiurao thought to herself, “This Zhang Yu is so cautious; he probably does have secrets. Should I make a long-term plan?” Yin Jiurao thought of several research projects she had that were making slow progress, and her brows furrowed deeper unconsciously. As a professor at Ten Thousand Law University, she also had performance evaluations, and often the pressure was even greater than that on students. Especially with the tense situation, pharmaceutical companies were constantly expanding production and market reach. If she continued to have no results…

Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in Yin Jiurao’s eyes. “There’s no more time to waste. It seems I’ll have to use more aggressive methods.”

***

In the artifact refining laboratory, Zhang Yu was alone, tempering his Azure Cloud Pouch. He was alone and hadn’t asked Ye Xingli to share the lab rental fees because Zhang Yu didn’t want to reveal his progress speed. At this moment, he was operating the lab equipment, injecting mana into it, and repeatedly tempering his level 1 Azure Cloud Pouch artifact with his True Qi.

“After an artifact is refined, its grade can be further improved through subsequent tempering. However, there are many tempering methods, including those that strengthen or even change materials, those that adjust mana circuits to enhance artifact restrictions, and even methods that utilize dragon veins, the sun and moon, fortune, or even flesh and blood sacrifices.”

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “And if I use the tempering method inherent in the Azure Cloud Pouch’s own technique to improve the quality of this artifact, will it…”

After completing one round of tempering, Zhang Yu looked at the Azure Cloud Pouch entry on his Jade Scroll and found that the number of uses had increased by one. Zhang Yu smiled faintly, thinking, “As expected, besides the initial artifact refinement, subsequent artifact tempering can also be used to raise the level of my refining skill.”

Just as Zhang Yu was diligently practicing his artifact skill, Feng Tingting sent him another message.

Feng Tingting: “Heard the news? An artifact refining student lost a betting agreement with their mentor.”

Zhang Yu asked curiously, “Betting agreement?”

Feng Tingting: “It’s about tempering their own Dharma Bones. If they don’t meet the mentor’s requirements, their entire set of Dharma Bones will be taken by the mentor and transformed into artifacts.”

Feng Tingting: “Sigh, that’s why you shouldn’t just sign betting agreements randomly.”

After chatting casually with Feng Tingting for a bit, Zhang Yu suddenly noticed that someone named Yin Jiurao had added him as a friend. Seeing that the other party claimed to be a professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Ten Thousand Law University, Zhang Yu immediately accepted the friend request. The very first message the other party sent immediately stunned Zhang Yu. In Zhang Yu’s own summary, it was… one session, 5 spirit coins.

Zhang Yu resolutely refused, “I don’t do this kind of business.”

Yin Jiurao: “10 spirit coins.”

Zhang Yu struggled to refuse, “It really won’t do.”

Yin Jiurao: “20 spirit coins, but I need to inspect the goods first. Let me remind you, 20 spirit coins is absolutely enough for me to forcefully take you and then pay the fines and compensation. I want to conduct legitimate business, a long-term transaction, and seeing as you’re from our school, I’m trying to discuss this properly with you.”

Zhang Yu, seeing this message, couldn’t help but curse inwardly, “This wretched place, Kunxu… is there any morality left? For dual cultivation, people are constantly being arrested, but a teacher can just steal a student’s essence by paying a fine and compensation.”

Zhang Yu: “If you dare to force it, Director Gao behind me won’t let you off.”

Yin Jiurao: “So what if it’s Director Gao? If the money’s enough, won’t he sell out? 30 spirit coins, and it must include blood and other materials. This is my final offer. Think carefully. With this one transaction, how many junior college students’ prices can you already crush? This opportunity won’t last forever.”

Zhang Yu: “I need to consider it.”