With Zhang Yu’s control over his Gang Qi and the Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir, the Golden-Armored Divine General before him trembled, then wielded its fists and feet, executing various martial arts moves.

With every punch and kick, the Formless Strongman, now enveloped in the Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir, produced sounds like thunder and wind, unleashing power clearly superior to that of a regular Formless Strongman.

Zhang Yu mused, “The liquid metal formed from the Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir is currently the strongest metal I can create.”

“It’s far more durable than my normal flesh and blood.”

“Perhaps only when I’m critically wounded, and with the enhancement of the Earth and Wood Saint Body, can my pure defensive power surpass that of the Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir!”

Observing the Formless Strongman now clad in golden armor, Zhang Yu decided to name this version, armed with the Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir, the Golden-Armored Strongman.

“If a Golden-Armored Strongman were further augmented with Sky-Azure Sand, one could likely contend with ten previous Formless Strongmen!”

“And if combined with the Nine Heavens Cloud-Soaring Strength…”

Zhang Yu also realized that his martial Saint Body could empower his Gang Qi, which meant it could also empower the Golden-Armored Strongmen.

“I doubt even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could stand a chance against my Golden-Armored Strongmen in close combat!”

However, Zhang Yu quickly suppressed these distracting thoughts.

“What am I thinking? What’s the use of being strong in a fight?”

“Let’s test its effectiveness for actual work!”

With a thought from Zhang Yu, the golden armor on the Golden-Armored Strongman’s body dramatically reduced in coverage, replaced by a large golden hammer in its hand.

As Gang Qi pulsed through it, the golden hammer created whistling sounds, wielded by the Golden-Armored Strongman with such speed that it left behind streaks of afterimages.

“The Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir can be molded into various tools as needed, which indeed greatly improves work efficiency!”

As Zhang Yu pondered, the golden hammer in the Golden-Armored Strongman’s hand transformed again, becoming a variety of other tools.

Days passed, and Zhang Yu remained immersed in his studies and cultivation.

One day in his dormitory, Zhang Yu, who was cultivating in a simulated laboratory in the Spirit Realm, was forcibly pulled out by a barrage of persistent messages.

A tall young woman, barely clothed, appeared before him and asked, “What do you think?”

Zhang Yu replied uncertainly, “You… are you Wen Wuya?”

Wen Wuya, present as a Spirit Realm projection, nodded, rubbed their pectoral muscles, and said, “Zhang Yu, you were really right!”

“Since I transformed into a woman, Bai Zhenzhen and I do talk a lot more!”

“But I think there’s room for optimization. Could you help me adjust my appearance to what Bai Zhenzhen would like best?”

Zhang Yu helplessly responded, “No… how can I help you adjust it?”

Wen Wuya casually replied, “I’ve shared the projection’s appearance adjustment function with you!”

“Just adjust it directly on my projection! I’ll then undergo cosmetic surgery based on the model you create!”

Zhang Yu truly didn’t want to look at Wen Wuya’s current form, so he turned his head away and said, “Isn’t that too much trouble?”

Wen Wuya shrugged, “What’s troublesome about it? Some people who enjoy changing their appearance do it dozens of times a day! A body is just a husk; replacing one isn’t a big deal, let alone just some minor alterations.”

Zhang Yu found it difficult to empathize with such a wealthy person’s mindset and reluctantly said, “I’m not very good at this sort of thing!”

“10 spirit coins!” Wen Wuya stated.

Zhang Yu, now serious, replied, “I’ll do my best!”

Wen Wuya waved a hand, “Alright, hurry up. If you think any dimensions aren’t right, just adjust them directly on my projection!”

“Yes, just like that!”

“Oh, so that’s how it is. Does Bai Zhenzhen like women with these proportions?”

“It’s a standard classical aesthetic. Some Deity Transformation cultivators even like this nowadays!”

“Is Bai Zhenzhen a traditionalist, then?”

Kunxu, Second Layer!

Shuizhou Demonkin Vocational Academy!

Walking down the street, Zhang Yu curiously asked Shi Yunxiang beside him, “This is a pharmaceutical factory project, right?”

“But on my way here, I didn’t seem to see many medicinal fields nearby!”

Shi Yunxiang walked alongside Zhang Yu. As they passed, the surrounding Demonkin respectfully moved aside, their gazes filled with deference toward Zhang Yu and Shi Yunxiang.

What surprised Zhang Yu, however, was that the Demonkin here seemed to be primarily of rat-demon bloodline.

Looking around, the streets were filled with large, bipedal rats walking about.

Hearing Zhang Yu’s question, Shi Yunxiang smiled slightly, looked at the nearby rat-demonkin, and casually asked, “Who can tell me what the specialty product here is?”

Seeing a rat-demon raise its hand, Shi Yunxiang nodded and turned to Zhang Yu, saying, “You see? This is the specialty!”

“Huh?” Zhang Yu responded.

Shi Yunxiang continued, “It’s not just plants that can be used as raw materials for medicine; some animals are also used.”

Zhang Yu couldn’t help but look at the surrounding rat-demons and asked, “Will these rat-demons be used for processing?”

Shi Yunxiang waved his hand and said, “Rat-demonkin are far too expensive compared to rat demonic beasts…”

Zhang Yu nodded, thinking that while the reason was quite “Kunxu-like,” it was at least more acceptable than using actual rat-demons for processing.

At least demonic beasts are more akin to animals and don’t possess true intelligence.

Shi Yunxiang continued, “The rat-demon component in the medicine is only about one percent; the majority still comes from demonic beasts. This way, we can claim to have used Shuizhou rat-demons!”

Seeing Shi Yunxiang’s frank expression, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you find it difficult to accept using Demonkin like this for medicine?”

Shi Yunxiang directly interrupted Zhang Yu, stating sternly, “Lion-demons are lion-demons, and rat-demons are rat-demons. Although both fall under the Demonkin category, they are completely different species!”

Through Shi Yunxiang’s repeated explanations, Zhang Yu gradually understood that while Demonkin appeared united externally, within their ranks, there was a deep-seated hierarchy and disdain among different demon tribes.

Weaker groups, like the rat-demons, were at the bottom of this hierarchy when facing superior demon tribes such as lion-demons or tiger-demons.

Shi Yunxiang warned, “There are many demon merchants here, and you absolutely cannot confuse their bloodlines. That’s a huge taboo among Demonkin!”

Fuji chuckled, “Ultimately, classifying all monsters—whether wolf-demons, bird-demons, insect-demons, or fish-demons—as ‘Demonkin’ is inherently human arrogance, an instinctive discrimination against all non-human races!”

The various factions within the Demonkin merely banded together out of necessity to survive in Kunxu.

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, thinking, “The internal situation of the Demonkin seems far more complex than I previously imagined!”

Upon arriving at the outdoor construction site and completing the handover with the local Demonkin workers, Zhang Yu and Shi Yunxiang began their work.

Shi Yunxiang moved swiftly, transporting large quantities of building materials back and forth.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu unleashed his Gang Qi, forming 20 Formless Strongmen who began working like a small engineering team.

Watching this scene, Shi Yunxiang marveled, “Zhang Yu’s progress is so fast!”

“Perhaps he can lead us into the top five in the next civil engineering competition!”

Just then, the ground trembled as a colossal beast, over ten meters tall, charged into the construction site. Shi Yunxiang’s gaze swept over it, thinking, “It’s a Foundation Establishment demonic beast from the ranch, and it’s escaped!”

“Such power… with a physical strength of 20, it would be difficult to confront head-on!”

Shi Yunxiang knew that even with the same physical strength, demonic beasts naturally possessed greater mass and would inherently have an advantage in raw physical power.

“It cannot be allowed to get near the site!”

Shi Yunxiang was about to rush out to intercept the demonic beast when a golden figure flashed past, landing like a bolt of lightning before the creature.

With a thunderous crash, the golden figure collided fiercely with the demonic beast. Yet, it didn’t budge an inch, instead sending the charging beast rebounding backward.

The one that intervened was precisely the Golden-Armored Strongman summoned by Zhang Yu.

Its claws and fangs tore at the golden armor, producing piercing grinding sounds, but to no effect.

Under the combined enhancement of a Level 20 Taiyi Golden Liquid Elixir and the Martial Saint Body, all of the demonic beast’s attacks were completely ignored by the Golden-Armored Strongman. Its surging power was instead directly absorbed by the Nine Heavens Cloud-Soaring Strength and then rebounded.

The Golden-Armored Strongman was like an indestructible puppet, allowing the demonic beast to wildly charge and tear at it. Then, with punch after punch, it drove the Foundation Establishment demonic beast back dozens of meters until the creature finally lay prostrate on the ground, its eyes clear, no longer daring to rise.

Not far away, several Demonkin workers rushed over. Upon seeing the prostrate demonic beast and the Golden-Armored Strongman standing before it, their eyes filled with admiration.

“I heard the ones working on this site are students from Ten Thousand Arts University!”