https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-467-Company-Cost-Optimization-and-Participation-in-a-Major-Experimental-Project/13687117/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-469-The-Favor-of-the-Artifact-Spirit/13687119/
Chapter 468: Matching Degree Explodes?
When Zhang Yu arrived at the designated research institute, he spotted a nervous figure already standing there.
“You little rascal!” Zhang Yu pointed at Yu Xinghan, scolding him. “You said you were working overtime today, didn’t you?”
Caught off guard, Yu Xinghan flinched at first—but then quickly recovered. “You said you were at the construction site!”
The two exchanged a grin.
Zhang Yu said, “Did your homeroom teacher contact you? Why aren’t you going in?”
Yu Xinghan smiled. “You’re Class Rank One. You go first.”
Zhang Yu waved his hand. “Old classmates—go ahead.”
They politely pushed each other, and Zhang Yu instantly understood Yu Xinghan’s intention.
“This guy,” Zhang Yu thought with disdain, “still obsessed with the Dual Cultivation Experiment, yet terrified it won’t match his interests. God, he’s got zero mutual cultivation talent—what’s he even doing here?”
Meanwhile, Yu Xinghan mused: “Zhang Yu’s such a picky one—especially when it comes to gender. He clearly wants me to go in first, scout the situation, then decide whether he’ll join or not.”
Eventually, the two entered the research facility together—only to find that several other Civil Engineering Department students had already gathered.
There were classmates like Gong Shuijin and Ying Xin, as well as upperclassmen—Xiao Yunji, Su Yanyang, Ma Xuan—waiting patiently.
Seeing Ying Xin and Xiao Yunji among them, Zhang Yu’s mind sparked: “Both men and women? Just what kind of experiment is this?”
But before the experiment began, Zhang Yu could get no answers.
Yu Xinghan muttered, “So they’ve rounded up all the top talent from our department?”
“What kind of Dual Cultivation Experiment requires Civil Engineering students? This is insane.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu felt a sudden chill.
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Don’t worry—this is good news.”
Zhang Yu turned to see Ye Xingli, from the Alchemy Department, standing there. She gave him a slight nod.
“We from the Alchemy Department, together with the Spellcraft Department, have developed a new product,” she said. “It harnesses the principles of Mutual Cultivation to boost students’ cultivation progress.”
“But the product still has flaws,” she continued. “We need real-world trials to gather data and determine how to improve it.”
Yu Xinghan blinked. “Our school? Developing a Mutual Cultivation product?”
Ye Xingli nodded. “Yes. A 100% original invention, born entirely from our own technological capabilities—zero external influence, completely in-house.”
As she spoke, her thoughts drifted to the project’s struggles.
“Since the experiment began, we’ve pulled top students from every corner of the school. But… not a single one has succeeded.”
“The Qiongjiang God’s Hua Shen Yin Qi clearly holds mysteries we still don’t understand. That’s why it’s never truly activated.”
“If it weren’t for the previous test subjects failing, we wouldn’t have reached out to the Civil Engineering Department at all.”
She sighed inwardly: “If the next attempts—by the Civil Engineering, Security, and other departments—also fail… we may have to resort to brute-force methods.”
As Ye Xingli explained, a staff member stepped forward, outlining the basic procedures and handing out the Confidentiality Agreement.
After all the students signed, they were led one by one into the laboratory.
Watching upperclassmen disappear inside one after another, Zhang Yu’s curiosity grew.
“Mutual Cultivation… and a product?”
“Could it be a solo-use Mutual Cultivation device?”
“That would be the ultimate shortcut to breaking through the Xian Dao path!”
He studied the expressions of the returning students—Xiao Yunji’s shock, Su Yanyang’s disappointment, Li Zhen’s odd look—and his curiosity deepened.
As Zhang Yu stood there, caught between fascination, anticipation, and excitement, he finally stepped into the lab alongside Yu Xinghan, Gong Shuijin, and Ying Xin.
Inside, a crystal-like object—shaped like a diamond—hovered in midair, pulsing with an ethereal glow.
Beside it, a male professor said, “Hello. I’m Tianzhang Zhenjun from the Spellcraft Department. I’ll be overseeing today’s experiment.”
He gestured, and beams of Divine Power traced the glowing crystal.
“This is our new invention—a Dual Cultivation Yin Device.”
Hearing those words, both Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan felt a surge of relief. Their earlier anxiety vanished.
“So it’s just a device,” Zhang Yu thought, arms crossed. “I haven’t used one before, but it feels like my area.”
Yu Xinghan smiled faintly. “After all these years of hard work, all this effort on this extracurricular—finally, my time has come.”
“Master was right. Starlight never betrays those who strive. Time never forgets the dedicated. My efforts won’t be wasted.”
Gong Shuijin and Ying Xin, sensing the sudden confidence radiating from the two, exchanged glances.
Gong Shuijin thought, “I get Zhang Yu’s confidence. But what’s the point of someone ranked fourth in another class being so sure?”
Tianzhang Zhenjun continued: “You’re all familiar with the concept of a Yin Device. I won’t go over it again.”
“Today’s experiment focuses on usage.”
“We’ll activate the device to scan for students whose parameters match it. Then we’ll collect data from the user’s experience—this will guide future improvements.”
“Of course, it’s possible none of you will match. You may all fail to meet the activation threshold.”
“Oh, and please report your current Spirit Armor.”
As students listed their armor, Ying Xin couldn’t help but ask, “Why do we need to report our Spirit Armor? Is there a risk of conflict?”
Tianzhang Zhenjun replied calmly, “The device has basic intelligence. Conflicts are unlikely.”
“Mainly, we’re concerned about whether you can handle the device’s load.”
Gong Shuijin frowned. “What do you mean, ‘can’t handle it’?”
Tianzhang Zhenjun looked at him as if he were missing the obvious. “Don’t you consider the load when wearing Spirit Armor?”
Zhang Yu’s eyes widened. “Wait… wearing the Spirit Armor?”
Tianzhang Zhenjun nodded. “The Yin Device is a Spirit Armor. This is a test of Spirit Armor usage—just put it on and see how it performs.”
He smiled gently. “Don’t worry. If you succeed, I’ll personally conduct the experiment. No injuries will occur.”
“And if you fail? No charge.”
But to Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan, that warm, reassuring smile felt like the roar of a wild beast.
They never expected the experiment to involve wearing the device.
Zhang Yu screamed in his mind: Run! This isn’t home!
As both took a step back, ready to shout out and withdraw—
The Yin Device activated.
A wave of radiant light surged forth, enveloping several students.
…
Meanwhile, in the Observation Room of the Ling Realm.
Numerous staff members watched the lab’s proceedings.
Yan Qianji, the First of the Alchemy Department, stood among them, gazing at the Hua Shen Yin Qi like a master admiring a masterpiece.
“Ha… everyone assumes the Qiongjiang God’s Yin Device only functions through Mutual Cultivation.”
“But they never consider how much more complex the Hua Shen Yin Qi truly is.”
“Especially as a Spirit Armor—its greatest potential lies in being worn.”
Yan Qianji mused: “Once activated, this device could force every cultivator below the Hua Shen level to be equipped against their will.”
“Which means, as long as this device is in hand, every living being in the world becomes a potential female target—sucked in, drained, and consumed.”
“And if paired with the Qiongjiang God’s Yang Device and Technique… one could forcibly devour an opponent’s Martial Energy, cultivation level, even their knowledge.”
He envisioned the Qiongjiang God—holding one Yin Device in each hand—her single thought suffocating the entire realm.
The more he studied the device’s decryption, the more he marveled at her power.
“To harvest all things through the Yin-Yang Great Way—this is the true strength of the Qiongjiang God.”
On the other side of the room, Ciji Zhenjun watched the lab too.
Recalling the experiment’s past failures, she sighed inwardly.
“What kind of parameters did the Qiongjiang God set for her Yin Device? So many top-tier candidates—none could activate it.”
“That doesn’t make sense. According to the decryption, most of the previous test subjects should’ve qualified.”
“If this keeps failing… we may have to resort to brute-force cracking.”
Then, seeing Zhang Yu among the test subjects, she paused.
She turned to Tianzhang Zhenjun. “Tianzhang… I’ll take over after this.”
Tianzhang Zhenjun looked surprised. “You’re going to handle it personally?”
Ciji Zhenjun replied, “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
At that moment, the Hua Shen Yin Qi’s light bathed the lab.
The device’s scanning function activated.
A flood of data began to appear.
In the Observation Room, the Hua Shen Yin Qi’s scan results were captured in real time—piled up before the observers.
Zhang Yu. Yu Xinghan. Gong Shuijin. Ying Xin.
Each name was followed by multiple columns of data—measuring from various angles.
But the project team still hadn’t decoded what the numbers meant.
Then, Yan Qianji froze.
“What’s this final column?!”
“Gong Shuijin and Ying Xin—zero in this category. No, most students are in single digits.”
“But why… why do Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan both exceed 1,000?!”
Staring at the impossible numbers, Yan Qianji felt a new layer of mystery shroud Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan.
“Could it be… an extraordinary Matching Degree between them and the Yin Device?!”
(End of Chapter)
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