https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-474-Zhang-Yu-s-Saintly-Body-Arrives-at-Tianjian/13687124/
Chapter 473: The Great Dao Opportunity Has Arrived
(Thank you, Alliance Lord ‘Zhuo Yao’)
Under Tianzhang Zhenjun’s suggestion, Zhang Yu activated his Martial Energy and channeled it into the Hua Shen Yin Qi in his hand.
He felt the rhombus-shaped crystal tremble slightly. After a brief surge of energy, it promptly reversed the flow—sucking his Martial Energy back and returning it directly into his body.
When Zhang Yu tried to pour in more energy, the Yin Device instantly rejected him, as if sealing itself off completely. His energy could no longer enter.
Tianzhang Zhenjun’s gaze sharpened slightly. “Another instance of energy rebounding. Just as expected—the Qiongjiang God’s Hua Shen Yin Qi doesn’t just drain Zhang Yu unilaterally.”
“But why did it later refuse further input? Is there a restriction in place?”
After a moment’s thought, Tianzhang Zhenjun turned to Zhang Yu and asked, “How do you feel? Any noticeable changes? Has your martial arts cultivation improved at all?”
Upon hearing the question, Zhang Yu hesitated for the first time.
Should he seize this chance to inflate his cultivation level in others’ eyes?
“But if I keep raising the stakes… what happens when they eventually uncover the truth?”
He couldn’t help but grow more nervous. After all, even the Hua Shen Principal of Wanfa University had taken interest in this Yin Device project.
As Zhang Yu’s expression flickered, Tianzhang Zhenjun assumed he hadn’t felt anything yet, and reassured him, “Don’t worry. The reaction was subtle—effects may not be obvious immediately.”
“Just get a full physical checkup later. After you return to your dorm, observe your body carefully. Pay attention to any subtle changes.”
“Any sign of transformation—contact me anytime.”
On the way out of the laboratory, Zhang Yu remained deep in thought, pondering how to handle his relationship with this experiment.
Aloud in his mind, he asked, “Fujie, if I use this Yin Device to artificially boost my cultivation level in others’ eyes—could I effectively wash away the suspicion around my hidden cultivation? How likely is it to work?”
Fujie chuckled. “Short-term, absolutely no problem.”
“From what I’ve seen, even Tianzhang Zhenjun—and your own Ciji Zhenjun—are still struggling to fully understand this device.”
“It’s highly likely this tech wasn’t created by them at all. More like stolen from somewhere, and they’re still trying to crack it.”
“As long as they haven’t figured out the core secrets, you can safely use the ‘results’ to fake progress. No one will know it’s a lie.”
She grinned. “And here’s the twist—your ‘success’ might actually attract more attention. More people betting on the project, more investment pouring in. By the time Tianzhang and Ciji Zhenjun realize the truth, they might actually help you cover it up—to protect their own reputations.”
“Who knows? Maybe this whole thing ends up becoming a massive fraud—drawing in thousands of Lingbi, even forming a company, going public… but delivering nothing for years. Pure scam.”
“Of course, the risk is huge. But being at the center of it? You’ll get your share of benefits, no doubt.”
Zhang Yu frowned. “That sounds tempting… but wouldn’t it spiral completely out of control?”
Fujie, ever the seasoned schemer, replied, “The key to whether this ends well or not lies in one thing: can you contain the fallout?”
“And containment depends on two factors.”
“First—how long can you keep this illusion going? A few months? A couple of years? Ten years?”
“Second—how much can you grow during that time? How strong will you become? How powerful your network, your background?”
She smirked. “Handle it right, and the project collapses quietly. Everyone walks away with profit. No one gets punished.”
“Handle it wrong… and you become the scapegoat. Burdened with debt you’ll never repay.”
Zhang Yu frowned again. “You’re right… but the second point depends on the first. And the first—how long can this lie last? How can I even guess?”
He turned to Fujie. “You’ve been through this kind of thing before. Can you estimate it?”
Fujie sighed. “It’s not about experience—it’s about information.”
“We know too little about this project. Any guess we make is just blind luck.”
“So your first step must be gathering intel.”
“And your sister? She’s the perfect channel.”
“She messaged you during the experiment, didn’t she?”
Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered. He remembered Zhang Pianpian’s messages sent through his Spirit Armor—her subtle warnings and reminders.
Fujie had seen those messages too. That’s why she was able to make this suggestion now.
Zhang Yu immediately sent a message to Zhang Pianpian:
“Senior, how much do you know about the experiment?”
Zhang Pianpian replied: “Come back to the dorm. We’ll talk there.”
That night, while Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan were both busy with overtime, Zhang Yu met up with his sister.
First, she scanned the Ling界 Network in their dorm room. Then, she led Zhang Yu into the Taiqing Jing.
Standing at the edge of the inner sanctum, she gazed at the mist-shrouded peaks in the distance.
“This project’s Yin Device… wasn’t made by Wanfa University,” she said. “It came from the Qiongjiang God.”
Zhang Yu froze. “The Qiongjiang God’s Yin Device?”
The realization sent a jolt through him. He had actually communicated with a Spirit Armor tied to the Hua Shen God—this was no ordinary artifact.
He asked, “But how did the Qiongjiang God’s Yin Device end up here?”
Memories of rumors and whispers resurfaced. He couldn’t help but suspect Wanfa University was behind the Qiongjiang Coin scandal.
Zhang Pianpian said, “They say the Hua Shen Yin Qi escaped from Hehuan University and was later recovered by someone from Wanfa.”
Zhang Yu snorted. “That’s a ridiculous story.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” Zhang Pianpian waved her hand. “But this involves the Hua Shen. Let’s not dig too deep. Just know this: the device originated from the Qiongjiang God at Hehuan University.”
“Wanfa’s tech level in this field is still behind Hehuan’s. They haven’t cracked the device’s secrets yet.”
“Especially since the Artifact Spirit inside it has already been corrupted by Cult influence—completely gone mad.”
“To prevent it from spreading chaos, Ciji Zhenjun sealed most of its spiritual awareness and cut off its ability to send messages outward.”
Zhang Yu blinked. “Mad? An Artifact Spirit… can go insane?”
To him, an Artifact Spirit was like artificial intelligence—how could something like that go crazy?
Zhang Pianpian walked into the main hall, where a faceless statue stood in silence.
She said, “When you return to your dorm and find your furniture suddenly screaming, demanding a vacation—what would you think?”
Zhang Yu paused. Then slowly, “They’re… possessed. Or broken.”
Zhang Pianpian sighed. “High-level intelligent life always carries desire and emotion. With desire and emotion comes feeling.”
“There was once a sage who said: emotion inevitably arises with intelligence. You cannot create a being with pure intelligence but no emotion.”
“How to build a high-intelligence artificial spirit—stable, rational, efficient—yet completely devoid of emotion or desire? That’s still the biggest challenge in the field.”
Zhang Yu nodded. Then he revealed his plan. “Sister… what do you think? Can I use this chance to fake being a breakthrough in the project—wash away my hidden cultivation, and maybe even profit from it?”
He hesitated. “But I’m worried… what if the project collapses later? What if it causes a disaster?”
Zhang Pianpian, having long known her brother’s secret, didn’t react with surprise. She simply nodded in approval.
But when he mentioned the risks, she let out a soft laugh and turned toward the sea of clouds beyond the temple gate.
“Collapse? Disaster?”
“Do you know how many projects Wanfa University runs every year?”
“How many people in this first-layer campus are just throwing out garbage?”
“Experts’ reviews, academic forums, technical reports—endless, worthless Daoist junk, all used to scam funds, to line pockets. You think this is rare?”
She shook her head. “Even professors at Foundation Establishment stage—how many of their papers did they actually write? Often, it’s just a signature for a fee.”
Zhang Yu was stunned. “Really? But this project… it’s being watched by Wan Hua Shen Jun.”
Zhang Pianpian chuckled. “Just because a God watches it doesn’t mean it won’t fail. And even if it does fail—so what? As long as money keeps flowing in, who cares?”
She turned to him. “For the Hua Shen Yin Qi project, as long as you keep releasing ‘results’ now and then, and keep the hype alive—seven or eight years? No problem.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. “Seven or eight years… by then, I should be able to enter a Sect.”
Zhang Pianpian watched him closely. “This path has a chance of success. But it’s not without danger.”
“One accident. One crisis. It could all blow up early—drag you into a life-threatening situation.”
“Think carefully.”
After leaving the Taiqing Jing, Zhang Yu shared everything with Fujie.
Fujie exhaled slowly. “So the corruption and monopolization in Daoist research… is even deeper than I thought.”
Then she grinned. “Go for it, Zhang Yu. Seven or eight years? That’s more than enough time for you to grow.”
“By then, you’ll be a towering figure in the Alchemy Department—powerful, connected, entrenched.”
“If you want to rush into the Sect, you need explosive growth. And in Kunxu, the only way to rise fast in university? Fake it.”
“Because in Kunxu, the best Dao opportunity for a poor student? Faking a scam to steal funds.”
(End of Chapter)
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