Zhiji Zhenjun repeatedly scanned the blueprints Zhang Yu sent, but found that with her profound knowledge, cultivation, and years of experience in artifact refining, she could not immediately offer any suggestions for modification.

At most, she could offer some advice on minor details, but it was also likely due to her unfamiliarity with college students and the design philosophy of this market.

Even more so, looking at the design drawings brought her a sense of satisfaction; she felt that every clever idea in them perfectly aligned with her preferences.

“From a technical standpoint, at least, these boots have achieved the ultimate balance of performance and cost for the Qi Refining stage.”

“It’s almost impossible for anything with better performance to be cheaper.”

“Anything cheaper would struggle to surpass it in performance.”

“If I were to create a similar Dharma artifact, I might design it this way too.”

A question then arose in Zhiji Zhenjun’s mind: “Was this really designed by Zhang Yu?”

“Did he get someone else to do it?”

But after looking at the design again, Zhiji Zhenjun thought to herself that to produce a design of this caliber, it probably couldn’t be done by just anyone.

So Zhiji Zhenjun couldn’t help but inquire about Zhang Yu’s design philosophy and discuss some of the details with him.

When she saw Zhang Yu explaining the design process while also sending other design drawings, Zhiji Zhenjun was startled.

Looking at the various blueprints, Zhiji Zhenjun immediately understood that these designs were most likely all created by Zhang Yu.

After all, even if he hired someone, he wouldn’t hire them to make so many design drawings.

Moreover, although these designs appeared imaginative and unconventional, they shared a consistent style.

Zhiji Zhenjun could even discern the progression, sensing how the designer’s style matured as they gained a deeper understanding of college students and became more adept at grasping the “college content” (han zhuan liang).

“Could Zhang Yu really be a genius in artifact refining?”

“If he continues at this pace, wins a few more awards, and has a few copyrights bought by major companies, he’ll probably be an expert in college-level artifact refining in just a few years.”

Zhiji Zhenjun’s gaze was incredibly complex at this moment, and she thought to herself, “I never imagined that the student I paid to take on would turn out to be the one with the best artifact refining talent I’ve encountered in all these years.”

“Excellent. In two years, I’ll let Zhang Yu graduate early, then recommend him for postgraduate studies. Once he quickly obtains his Jindan certificate, he can come to the laboratory and help me generate revenue.”

And Zhang Yu, after receiving Zhiji Zhenjun’s affirmation, also gained significant confidence.

However, Zhiji Zhenjun also reminded him: Your product design is excellent.

Zhiji Zhenjun: But it’s almost too good. The old judges at the design competition might mistakenly think you had someone else design it for you.

Zhiji Zhenjun: They might even think I helped you design it.

Zhang Yu was startled and quickly asked: Teacher, what should I do then?

Zhiji Zhenjun: It’s not a big problem.

Zhiji Zhenjun: Your work will definitely be selected in the top ten of the hundred schools and you’ll be invited to the awards ceremony.

Zhiji Zhenjun: At that time, they will inevitably test the design level of the contestants to determine the final rankings of the top ten.

Zhiji Zhenjun: Prepare well then and aim for a top three finish.

Seeing Zhiji Zhenjun’s reply, Zhang Yu breathed a slight sigh of relief, feeling that the design competition was now relatively secure.

So, after submitting the design drawings as his entry, Zhang Yu refocused his attention on refining the Taihao Shenglü Feijian.

Time quickly arrived at the beginning of May.

Inside the laboratory, with sword light flashing, the level 20 Taihao Shenglü Feijian slashed towards the secret steel in front of it.

With a crisp sound, the entire block of secret steel was smoothly cut, divided into two.

The cutting ability of a level 20 Taihao Shenglü Feijian was merely its most basic aspect; what was important was that its Taihao Daode Sword Intent finally possessed military-grade power.

However, relying solely on sword intent was not enough for Zhang Yu to choose this military-grade Dharma artifact.

Only when all twelve Taihao Shenglü Feijian were completed, forming a sword array and establishing the Taihao Xiaolingjie, would the true power of this military-grade Dharma artifact be fully revealed.

At this moment, Zhang Yu was merely testing the performance of the level 20 Taihao Shenglü Feijian and the effects of its sword intent.

Through this period of testing, Zhang Yu gradually gained an understanding of the sword intent he had condensed.

“Theoretically, although morality is artificially defined, it is inevitably influenced by the entire society. People living in society will subtly construct their moral standards according to society’s influence.”

“But although I am also influenced by Kunxu, I ultimately come from Earth and have lived there for a longer time.”

“Perhaps the future me will be completely changed?”

Zhang Yu wasn’t sure, but at least at this moment, he had eight billion people from Earth behind him, and a set of moral standards from Earth still resided in his mind.

In Zhang Yu’s heart… there were hardly any good people in all of Kunxu, and the higher up one went, the fewer good people there seemed to be.

Through his tests, he discovered that the Taihao Daode Sword Intent he had condensed had greater power against people than against objects.

Zhang Yu speculated, “Could it be a special attack against Kunxu people? The higher-ranking the Kunxu person, the more power this sword intent can unleash.”

Whenever he thought of this, Zhang Yu felt the Four-headed White Ox in his mind roar, as if calling out something.

Shaking his head, Zhang Yu temporarily concluded the Feijian test and looked at Ziyun Zhen and Suyun Ni beside him: “Are you not finished yet?”

With the completion of the level 20 Taihao Shenglü Feijian, Zhang Yu’s mastery of the blueprints had long reached level 20.

Now, he only needed to refine eleven more level 20 Taihao Shenglü Feijian to complete the Taihao Shenglü Sword Array.

However, just as his skills were improving rapidly, the assistants’ progress couldn’t keep up, and it began to slow down the project.

“It seems I still need to poach some more experienced assistants.”

Time was crucial for Zhang Yu this year. As long as it could accelerate the project’s progress, he didn’t mind spending more spirit coins.

As for whom to poach, Zhang Yu had already identified several targets with the help of Feng Tingting and Ye Xingli’s intelligence during this period.

Opening his friends list, Zhang Yu greeted each of his targets, waiting for their replies.

Just then, he saw another video sent by a college student.

Zhang Yu thought, “Seriously, didn’t I say I’d stopped accepting videos?”

However, seeing the urgent title, Zhang Yu looked at the potential recruits who hadn’t replied yet, then opened the video and watched it on fast-forward.

The video was recorded by Shui Haiyu from Shanhai Vocational University. Zhang Yu remembered that the person seemed to have left the dual cultivation club because he felt it was secretly spreading the idea of “double rest” (shuang xiu, literally meaning “double cultivation” but here implies taking two days off a week).

In subsequent videos, Shui Haiyu repeatedly urged his classmates to leave the club. When persuasion failed, he prevented them from taking leave and urged them to go to work and school.

He soon discovered that the dual cultivation club was a cesspool, using various methods of getting people drunk, drugging them, and deceiving them to make members take leave and “double rest.”

In the video, Shui Haiyu angrily rebuked, “What’s the difference between going for ‘double rest’ with them and directly seeking death? You’ll be ruined!”

During the argument, both sides parted unhappily.

In the final shot, Shui Haiyu appeared in front of a mirror.

Shui Haiyu spoke with a grim expression, “I feel like they’ve been following me recently.”

“My reports are useless; they’ve already bribed the school leaders.”

“Next, they might abduct me and force me into ‘double rest’.”

“I will try my best to collect evidence. If anyone receives my evidence later, please report it to the Zheng Shen…”

As Zhang Yu was deep in thought watching the end of Shui Haiyu’s video, another message arrived.

It was from one of his recruitment targets, Liu Xiangqiao, a seventh-year student in the Artifact Refining Department.

Liu Xiangqiao: Is something wrong, junior?

Zhang Yu: I am currently refining the Taihao Shenglü Sword Array. I wonder if you, senior, would be interested in joining?

Liu Xiangqiao: No need. I’m very satisfied with my current work and don’t plan to switch jobs for now.

Zhang Yu: Senior, can Wu Feng senior brother really satisfy you anymore?

The person Zhang Yu was currently trying to poach was an assistant in Bei Wufeng’s laboratory, the second-ranked student in the Artifact Refining Department.

After all, as the student most skilled in refining flying swords in the Artifact Refining Department, Bei Wufeng had long completed the refinement of the Taihao Shenglü Sword Array and had updated the sword array multiple times.

As an assistant involved in this, Liu Xiangqiao was also experienced in this area, possessing the assistant experience Zhang Yu urgently needed.

Zhang Yu: Doing odd jobs in a project every day, don’t you feel empty, senior?

Zhang Yu: Come to my place; I can offer you 1.2 times the salary.

Zhang Yu: All assistants will be under your management.

Zhang Yu: I will definitely give you an experience you can’t get with your senior.

Looking at the messages from Zhang Yu, Liu Xiangqiao felt a flicker of temptation in her heart.

After all, Bei Wufeng’s laboratory had been established for several years and had many talented people. Many assistants had already taken on their own independent projects and moved beyond being mere assistants. Liu Xiangqiao, who was still doing odd jobs, naturally had her own thoughts.

Moving to another laboratory and being promoted to a management position was something she desired.

However, Zhang Yu’s qualifications were too shallow, his grade too low, and he didn’t even have his own independent laboratory, with very limited funding.

Even if Zhang Yu was indeed exceptionally talented and had Zhiji Zhenjun as his master, and could reach the level of Bei Wufeng or even Yan Qianji in the future, Liu Xiangqiao was already in her seventh year and would graduate in a few years; she couldn’t wait any longer.

In Liu Xiangqiao’s view, Zhang Yu was not a good choice for a boss.

On the contrary, after Bei Wufeng participated in the Top Ten League this year and his reputation soared further, the scale of his laboratory would expand again.

As for salary, in Liu Xiangqiao’s eyes, it was not the most important factor. For instance, if Yan Qianji were to poach her today, she would be willing to switch even with a pay cut.

Zhang Yu sighed helplessly after being rejected again.

While Zhang Yu was busy poaching people to further accelerate the project’s progress, the judges of the design competition had already begun to organize the contestants’ design blueprints.

Of course, given the busy schedule of Yuanying Zhenjun, they couldn’t review all the blueprints.

The contestants’ design blueprints would be screened by staff before being sent to the judges.

At this moment, various contestant blueprints appeared before Xuan’yin Zhenjun.

Just as he was quietly observing, a message from another judge popped up in his eye-array.

Tianzhi Zhenjun: Xuan’yin, take a look at Zhang Yu’s blueprints [smirk].

“Zhang Yu?”

Xuan’yin’s gaze shifted, and after opening and scanning it, he couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly: “Zhiji… cherishes this disciple too much, doesn’t she? Did she personally step in and do all the work?”