Inside the laboratory.

Liu Xiangqiao was working with her three assistants, Zi Yunzhen and Su Yunni.

Although Zhang Yu had completed the refinement of the Taihao Shenglü Sword Array and was not currently working on any new military-grade projects, his assistants did not rush to leave. Instead, they stayed to continue working for him.

For example, since Zhang Yu’s recent rise to prominence, he had taken on many small businesses related to artifact maintenance and repair, all of which were completed by Tianri Huangshen with his assistants.

The reason they were willing to stay was because Zhang Yu had painted a grand picture for them.

“In a while, I plan to start the refinement of the Bishui Jinjing Armor.”

Hearing Zhang Yu’s plan, Liu Xiangqiao and the others were first surprised, then delighted.

The Bishui Jinjing Armor, as a newly introduced artifact in the Artifact Refining Department, was a military-grade armor that the department had not previously mastered. It was a very rare type, and no Artifact Refining Department student had mastered it yet.

If they could start refining and learning it ahead of others, they would undoubtedly gain a significant lead in this field in the future.

With this lead, they might even have the chance to obtain military-grade certification by refining the Bishui Jinjing Armor.

Zhang Yu himself also had sufficient strength to push this matter forward. After all, the achievements he had accumulated over the past year had fully demonstrated his strength and potential in the Dao of Artifact Refining to his assistants.

Thinking of this, Liu Xiangqiao, Zi Yunzhen, and Su Yunni all decided to stay, solely to participate in Zhang Yu’s next military-grade project.

Seeing his assistants’ diligent work ethic, Zhang Yu was also very satisfied and couldn’t help but sigh, “Fuji was right, being a boss really means being good at painting grand pictures.”

“A well-painted picture can attract subordinates more than a raise in salary.”

After glancing at the status of his employees, Zhang Yu continued to absorb a strand of Jieqi, continuing his cultivation of the Tiandi Huaijie Wuxingxinbing.

This military-grade cultivation method relied on various types of Jieqi to advance cultivation. Fortunately, Zhang Yu now had money to purchase Jieqi and didn’t need to travel the world to painstakingly collect it. Coupled with his peerless talent, his cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds these past few days.

After once again absorbing the Jieqi and circulating it throughout his body, transforming it into layers of restrictions that entered his Dantian, Zhang Yu felt countless flashes of light and shadow in his mind. These were scenes of his diligent practice and dedicated study of the cultivation method.

Tiandi Huaijie Wuxingxinbing Level 5 (0/50)

In the Anling Realm.

Before a huge, ancient round table.

The massive figures of three Xieshen slowly descended.

Fuji casually sat at the round table, looking at the three Xieshen and asking, “Speak, what’s the matter this time?”

Zhang Yu also looked on with curiosity, awaiting the Xieshen’s reply.

Ever since they connected with other Xieshen in the Anling Realm, Zhang Yu and Fuji would communicate here periodically, which served as another channel for them to gather information.

At this moment, the countless eyes on the Qian-shou Qian-zu Xishen all flickered, and he slowly said, “The actions of the Shuangxiu Cult have seriously affected all aspects.”

“We cannot let them continue to act recklessly.”

Fuji’s gaze shifted slightly, and she smiled, “The Shuangxiu Cult is indeed troublesome.”

“They’ve been stirring up trouble recently, provoking a strong reaction from the patrol team, which could easily cause collateral damage to us.”

“But if they truly have the support of the Jinrong Department, then it involves high-level infighting within Wanfa University. Would it be wise for us to interfere?”

On the other side, Xiangshan, composed of clusters of colorful light, said, “Shuangxiu violates everyone’s interests; everyone wants to fight them.”

“Even within the Jinrong Department, not everyone supports the Shuangxiu Cult.”

“It should just be a certain high-ranking individual who, for personal gain, utilized the power of the Shuangxiu Cult.”

“We just need to eliminate that person.”

Fuji asked, “Oh? So it seems you know who this person is?”

Xishen said, “We can’t be sure yet, but they made a mistake some time ago.”

Xishen extended one of his palms, and Zhang Yu’s figure appeared within it.

Fuji’s gaze shifted, but she remained silent, listening quietly as Xishen recounted what had happened to Zhang Yu.

Xishen finally said, “…Currently, it seems the Jinrong Department collaborated with the Shuangxiu Cult to set a trap against this Zhang Yu.”

Fuji asked curiously, “Why would they target Zhang Yu?”

Xishen replied, “This Zhang Yu is the result of Ciji Zhenjun’s research into Huashen Fahai, and just before the trap was set, the project had a new breakthrough.”

“They probably want to control and master this Zhang Yu to obtain more information about Huashen Fahai.”

“After the Qiongzhang Shenjun incident last time, many Fahai were released and went to various different factions. The Jinrong Department of Wanfa University should also have one in their possession.”

Zhang Yu was startled by these words and carefully recorded this piece of intelligence.

Fuji asked, “Oh? So it seems their goal is the same as yours?”

Xishen nodded, “The same, yet not entirely the same.”

“Our goal is to find the ledger through Qiongzhang Shenjun’s Huashen Fahai, to find the reincarnation of mighty beings, and control them.”

“The Jinrong Department’s goal, as far as we currently know, might also be to find the reincarnation of mighty beings, but not to control them. It’s highly likely to eliminate them.”

Fuji asked curiously, “Eliminate?”

Xishen simultaneously pointed upwards with his thousand hands and said, “Someone up there also wants to find the reincarnation of mighty beings, but they want to block this path of smuggling through the Five Taxes of Heaven and Man, to completely suppress the reincarnated individuals here below, preventing them from entering the sect again.”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred, “Doesn’t this again involve struggles within the sects?”

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but lament that Kunxu truly was a place of constant struggle, from top to bottom and bottom to top. As far as the eye could see, there was no place free of competition and conflict.

Xishen seemed unwilling to reveal too much information on this matter. After a brief explanation, he continued, “In short, their plan to trap Zhang Yu failed.”

“And because of that, they left a vulnerability.”

Another of Xishen’s palms gently opened, and the figure of Xuyang Zhenren appeared within it.

Xishen said, “This Jindan cultivator was used to deal with Zhang Yu. He must have clues about the Jinrong Department.”

Xiangshan, beside him, said coldly, “Find him, extract the clues from him, find a way to expose them to Wanfa University, and then just sit back and watch the internal strife within Wanfa University unfold.”

Observing the Xieshen’s discussion, Fuji suddenly said, “If we act too obviously, it’s easy for the Zhengshen to notice, and even easier for us to get implicated.”

Xiangshan said, “Is this the time to be considering such things? If we let the Shuangxiu Cult and the Jinrong Department continue to cause trouble, not only will our lives be difficult, but they might even get their hands on the list of reincarnated mighty beings before us.”

Fuji smiled slightly, “I’m not saying we should give up, but rather that we can try a different approach.”

“If we make Xuyang Zhenren believe that the Jinrong Department wants to silence him, couldn’t that make him actively defect and ignite the conflict within Wanfa University? Inciting the high-ranking officials of Wanfa University to deal with the Jinrong Department?”

“Or it could cause the Jinrong Department’s forces to protect him, or perhaps they’ll also try to silence him? Either way, this makes it easier to expose his connection with the Jinrong Department.”

Hearing Fuji’s words, Xishen nodded slightly, “That is indeed a good idea.”

Zhang Yu, at this moment, was integrated with Fuji within the Anling Realm, listening to Fuji and the three Xieshen’s discussion. He thought to himself, “The struggles above will affect those below, affecting me, affecting Xuyang Zhenren.”

“But conversely, my struggle with Xuyang Zhenren will also affect those above.”

After concluding their discussion with the Xieshen, Zhang Yu and Fuji did not delve deeper into the matter, nor did they personally participate in the true front lines of the struggle.

They were as if they had gently given a push from behind, and then quietly waited for the outcome.

After Zhang Yu exited the Anling Realm, he once again devoted himself to cultivation, as if everything he had just experienced in the Anling Realm was merely a dream.

For Xuyang Zhenren, his recent experiences were like a dream, a nightmare.

Since arriving at the vocational college, his income had plummeted repeatedly. To repay his previous loans, he had to take on various part-time jobs.

If not for the hope he held for the future, his Dao heart might have regressed.

And after arriving at the vocational college, no one contacted him anymore, causing Xuyang Zhenren to gradually feel a sense of loneliness, as if he had been abandoned by the whole world.

Soon, he discovered that someone seemed to be secretly monitoring him.

Just as Xuyang Zhenren attempted to trace them back, he was subjected to his first assassination attempt…

Late June

In the laboratory.

As Zhang Yu cultivated, his eye sockets subtly flickered, and Xuyang Zhenren’s name popped up – it was a friend request.

Xuyang Zhenren: I have something I want to discuss with you.

After waiting for several hours and still not receiving a reply from Zhang Yu, Xuyang Zhenren sent another friend request.

Xuyang Zhenren: Young friend, I have an urgent matter.

Xuyang Zhenren: Extremely urgent, a matter of life and death.

Xuyang Zhenren: Urgent! Urgent! Urgent! Please add me as a friend quickly.

Xuyang Zhenren: Add me as a friend, and I’ll transfer spirit coins.

You have added the other party as a friend.

Xuyang Zhenren: I wish to meet Ciji Zhenjun.

Zhang Yu: Hmm?

Xuyang Zhenren: [1 spirit coin]

Xuyang Zhenren: Please, young friend, introduce me to Ciji Zhenjun.

Half an hour later.

Xuyang Zhenren: Young friend?

Xuyang Zhenren sent a communication request.

Zhang Yu: I’ll talk after I finish what I’m doing.

An hour later.

Xuyang Zhenren: [1 spirit coin]

Xuyang Zhenren sent a communication request.

As Xuyang Zhenren’s projection landed before Zhang Yu, he immediately knelt down and shouted, “Young friend, please save me!”

Zhang Yu quickly said, “Ah, Zhenren, why such a grand gesture?”

Xuyang Zhenren hurriedly said, “Young friend, the reason I investigated you last time was because a scoundrel was stirring up trouble behind the scenes, deliberately slandering you and causing us heroes to investigate a hero.”

Seeing Xuyang Zhenren get straight to the point, Zhang Yu’s lips curled slightly, “Interesting.”

Zhang Yu asked, “Who exactly is behind this? Why are they so malicious?”