The moment the Earthly Fiend Bottle was forged, Zhang Yu’s face turned slightly pale, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Zhang Yu shook his head helplessly, thinking, “Was I still injured while processing the earthly fiend energy?”

He knew that this was partly due to his lack of cultivation and experience in handling earthly fiend energy, and partly because the laboratory equipment was too basic.

Although Zhang Yu had been careful enough, some earthly fiend energy still entered his body.

However, this was also within Zhang Yu’s expectations.

“Fortunately, I was cautious enough. This level of infection can be overcome with a few days of rest.”

“The money saved from the high-level laboratory rental can be spent on the spiritual realm’s simulated lab these days, allowing me to practice my artifact forging skills more.”

So, for the next two days, Zhang Yu stayed indoors for most of his time, except for classes, practicing artifact forging in the spiritual realm simulation from his dormitory.

One day, Ye Xingli arrived at Zhang Yu’s dormitory door and knocked.

Zhang Yu looked at Ye Xingli outside the door and asked in surprise, “Senior Sister Ye? Is there something you need?”

Ye Xingli looked at Zhang Yu strangely. After stepping into the dormitory, she quickly closed the door.

Previously, when True Monarch Magnetic Pole asked her to guide Zhang Yu in artifact forging, record his performance in the laboratory, and even take photos, she was already full of questions.

Thinking about what she had done today, Ye Xingli felt even more confused.

She took out a spherical bead from her bosom. The bead shimmered with seven-colored light, and inside it, nebulae seemed to flow, sometimes clear, sometimes hazy, full of mystery.

Zhang Yu asked curiously, “Senior Sister, what is this?”

The next moment, True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s voice came from the bead: “It’s me.”

Immediately afterward, the entire dormitory seemed to vibrate violently.

But Zhang Yu quickly realized that it wasn’t the dormitory in the real world that was shaking, but the spiritual realm visible through his Eye Bone.

With a resounding boom, the ethereal image of a pagoda appeared in the dormitory as if shattering space. It was True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s Level 40 magical artifact, the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Pagoda.

With the arrival of the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Pagoda, all substances intertwined with the spiritual realm in this small dormitory, whether Eye Bones or magical artifacts, had their information transmission and reception temporarily suppressed and taken over by the pagoda.

Then, with a flash of light, an ethereal figure emerged from the spherical bead in Ye Xingli’s hand and appeared before Zhang Yu.

Gazing at the slender figure in luxurious palace attire, sensing the noble aura emanating from her, along with her proudly held head and arrogant gaze, Zhang Yu said with some uncertainty, “Are you True Monarch Magnetic Pole?”

“Both yes and no,” the ethereal figure calmly replied. “This is a clone I condensed using the Profound Female Celestial Pearl. It’s not my true self, but it’s sufficient to represent my will.”

It was Zhang Yu’s first face-to-face encounter with True Monarch Magnetic Pole. He said nervously, “Do you need something?”

True Monarch Magnetic Pole calmly stated, “You previously bought a batch of materials contaminated with earthly fiend energy, and then you rested for two days. Were you infected by the earthly fiend energy?”

Zhang Yu was startled, surprised that True Monarch Magnetic Pole was paying so much attention to him. He nodded slightly. “Yes.”

True Monarch Magnetic Pole said, “You might think your physique is strong enough to withstand it.”

“But earthly fiend energy is like a festering bone-deep wound. If not handled properly, it could have long-term effects on your physical body, affecting its overall quality.”

At this point, True Monarch Magnetic Pole smiled slightly and looked at Ye Xingli behind her. “Xingli, go outside and stand guard. Don’t let anyone disturb me.”

“Understood,” Ye Xingli said, casting a complex glance at True Monarch Magnetic Pole, then at Zhang Yu, before quietly retreating.

After Ye Xingli left, True Monarch Magnetic Pole abruptly moved closer to Zhang Yu and began examining him from head to toe.

Zhang Yu nervously said, “True Monarch, I feel the earthly fiend energy shouldn’t have that much of an impact on me.”

True Monarch Magnetic Pole grabbed Zhang Yu’s wrist and asserted domineeringly, “Wait until I’m done with my examination before you say anything.”

Zhang Yu felt an incredibly powerful spiritual energy surge into his body, sweeping through his limbs, bones, and all thirty-six meridians in an instant.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu had already put away all his Dao Seeds and Chain-Law Diagrams, believing that True Monarch Magnetic Pole wouldn’t detect anything unusual.

The next moment, Zhang Yu felt a pain in his chest, and a wisp of black energy emerged from his seven orifices, gradually dissipating into the air.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole looked at Zhang Yu with some surprise and said, “I’ve helped you expel the residual earthly fiend energy. However, your physique is indeed robust; even without my help today, you would have recovered soon.”

With that, True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s fingertips brushed over Zhang Yu’s arm, shoulder, and chest, as if checking something. Finally, she said with appreciation, “Your physical body cultivation is excellent. Many senior students, even after extensive training, are far from matching you.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, feeling as if he was constantly being scrutinized from head to toe.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole said calmly, “Relax a little. Are you this nervous in front of Director Gao as well?”

Zhang Yu replied helplessly, “No… it’s quite different.”

True Monarch Magnetic Pole said, “What’s different? If there’s any difference, it’s that Old Gao only took you as a nominal disciple after you and I established a master-disciple relationship.”

As she spoke, True Monarch Magnetic Pole patted Zhang Yu’s head and reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’ve used the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Pagoda to suppress the spiritual realm here. No one will know I visited you today.”

Zhang Yu couldn’t help but say, “True Monarch… I think it’s better if we communicate via the spiritual network. Director Gao is a good teacher, and this isn’t very appropriate.”

Compared to Director Gao, True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s methods were clearly much more formidable, and Zhang Yu really didn’t want to be constantly examined by her.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole chuckled indifferently and casually said, “Let’s not talk about Old Gao.”

“There are only three months left until your second year ends.”

“Today, I will test how well you’ve learned the artifact forging curriculum.”

Meanwhile, Ye Xingli, standing guard outside the door, was filled with a myriad of questions: “Why did Master come to see Zhang Yu?”

“And why so secretive, asking me to cover for her?”

“From what was just said, was it about Zhang Yu being infected by earthly fiend energy?”

“Did Master specifically come to treat the earthly fiend energy in Zhang Yu’s body?”

Thinking this, more questions arose in Ye Xingli’s mind: “But… did she need to do it herself? Someone else could have handled it, unless…”

“Did Master come secretly because she didn’t want anyone to know Zhang Yu was contaminated with earthly fiend energy, or that he was practicing artifact forging?”

“Is Director Gao truly cultivating Zhang Yu in artifact forging? Or…”

As these conjectures surfaced in her mind, a conflicted expression gradually appeared on Ye Xingli’s face.

She even recalled incidents where teachers fought over disciples, leading to major disputes and a series of losses.

“No way?”

“Master and Director Gao have a friendship spanning hundreds of years from ancient times. According to the way people thought back then, they shouldn’t do something like this.”

Ye Xingli nodded repeatedly, constantly telling herself, “Master must be doing this for Director Gao.”

“She must have rushed here to look after Director Gao’s disciple.”

Half an hour later, seeing that True Monarch Magnetic Pole still hadn’t emerged, Ye Xingli wanted to send a message to inquire but was also afraid of disturbing her Master.

“How much longer will it take?”

Just then, a voice rang out: “Xingli?”

Ye Xingli sharply lifted her head to see Mo Shangjin approaching from a distance, looking at her curiously. “Why are you here?”

Knowing that Mo Shangjin also resided on this floor, Ye Xingli quickly explained, “I came to see Zhang Yu.”

Mo Shangjin smiled slightly. “Looking for Zhang Yu? Perfect, I also need to discuss the next project with him. Let’s go in together.”

But as Mo Shangjin took a step forward, he saw Ye Xingli still blocking his path.

Mo Shangjin asked, puzzled, “Hmm? Xingli, what are you doing?”

Ye Xingli gave an awkward laugh and said, “I… I just finished talking to him. He’s still busy with something else, so let’s not disturb him for now.”

At the same time, Ye Xingli quickly sent a message to True Monarch Magnetic Pole.

Ye Xingli: Master, Mo Shangjin is outside the door now.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole: Don’t let him bother me.

Ye Xingli smiled bitterly inwardly. Looking at Mo Shangjin, she could only pull him aside to chat.

Initially, Mo Shangjin was quite pleased to be pulled into a chat by Ye Xingli.

He had always wanted to establish a good relationship with Ye Xingli, an excellent student in the artifact forging department. Aside from anything else, he could save a lot of money on the maintenance of his Dharma Bones through her.

But after being held in conversation for over ten minutes, Mo Shangjin gradually felt something was off. He thought to himself, “Ye Xingli… why does it feel like she’s just making small talk? What exactly does she want?”

Five more minutes passed. Just as Mo Shangjin was feeling increasingly strange, the dormitory door behind him finally opened.

Zhang Yu looked at the two of them and said, “Senior Brother Mo, Senior Sister Ye, why are you two here?”

As Mo Shangjin stepped forward, the Profound Female Celestial Pearl transformed into a light undetectable to the naked eye and slipped imperceptibly into Ye Xingli’s embrace.

Ye Xingli greeted them and quickly left, subtly sending a message at the same time: “Master, Zhang Yu is Director Gao’s disciple, after all.”

True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “Xingli, since when have you become so talkative?”

Ye Xingli immediately deleted the message she was typing.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole: “As for what happened today, just pretend you saw nothing.”

Ye Xingli: [Mouth shut emoji]

Ye Xingli sighed inwardly, “Sigh, what charm does this Zhang Yu possess?”

Inside the dormitory, on the other side.

After Mo Shangjin left, Fu Ji sighed, “Zhang Yu, have you thought about what you’ll do when Director Gao finds out?”

Zhang Yu recalled True Monarch Magnetic Pole’s satisfied expression before she left and slowly said, “My mastery of the artifact forging curriculum has essentially been recognized by True Monarch Magnetic Pole.”

“Next, I just need to pass the artifact forging department’s exam at the end of the semester.”

True Monarch Magnetic Pole had already stated she would make special arrangements for Zhang Yu in this regard, so he wasn’t too worried.

Zhang Yu lamented, “True Monarch Magnetic Pole said she would secretly confer upon me the identity of the artifact forging department, keeping it private for now. That way, I can continue to stay in the civil engineering department for a few more years.”

“Sigh, I’ll keep it hidden for as long as I can.”

“Director Gao has been very good to me. I don’t want to conflict with him.”

Fu Ji thought to herself, “Are you doing that for Director Gao? You’re just eyeing the Seven Wonders of Civil Engineering and the Heaven Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power.”