https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-526-Ultimate-Alchemy-Genius-10-10-/13687230/
Chapter 525: Hype and the Superior Alchemy Genius (88)
"Hahaha."
Jin Jun laughed, genuinely amused.
At his current level, of course he didn’t actually see Zhang Yu in front of him as a rival. But after the laughter died down, he realized he couldn’t just walk away as if nothing had happened.
After all, Zhang Yu had openly declared his intentions—this was a direct challenge, a formal declaration of competition in the Alchemy project.
If Jin Jun walked away in silence, it could damage his reputation in the Alchemy community. Especially considering Zhang Yu was here with his assistants—Zi Wen Zhen and the others.
He didn’t know their personalities. What if they were all like Feng Tingting—big-mouthed and prone to spreading rumors?
Imagine the gossip: Zhang Yu stood up to Jin Jun, and Jin Jun fled without a word. That would paint him as weak, even cowardly.
So Jin Jun gave a calm, faint smile—and raised one finger.
A flash of light danced at the tip of his fingertip, and a number began to grow before their eyes.
10
50
120
“This is the funding I’ve already secured for the Tian Ri Huang Shen project,” Jin Jun said.
As he spoke, the number kept rising—300 Lingbi, then 600, then soaring even higher.
With every jump, the Ling world trembled. Waves of light flickered across the air, and a faint, whispering chorus seemed to echo through the realm.
In ancient times, when immortals descended, the heavens would ring with divine conch shells, flowers would rain from the sky, radiant light would flood the earth, and auspicious beasts would gallop across the land.
In the modern age, the sudden display of vast Lingbi triggered similar phenomena.
When the number hit 300, shimmering projections of financial ads, Spirit Artifact promotions, and gambling schemes flickered into existence around them—each vying for investment.
At 600 Lingbi, cries erupted from the Deep Ling realm. Countless Soul Cultivators whispered Jin Jun’s name, eager to recommend funds, cave residences, luxury goods.
The air itself pulsed faintly with Divine Power—proof that the massive display of Lingbi had caught the attention of the Divine Power Network, which was now meticulously recording the event.
At the same time, the Bank’s Premium Customer Feature activated, and authenticity verification began.
Radiant light descended in golden streams, forming floating numbers of Lingbi that hovered in every corner of the air—confirming the account balance.
As the funds grew, so did the verification’s sophistication. Layer upon layer of emotionless voices chanted Jin Jun’s name and the balance—reinforcing the truth.
User: Jin Jun — Account Balance: 642 Lingbi!
Zi Wen Zhen stared, feeling as though the entire universe was shouting that number.
Her purple irises, shimmering with Lingbi light, widened slightly. A single thought echoed in her mind: No wonder he’s aiming for Tian Ri Huang Shen… He’s so rich. So powerful!
The other two assistants stood stunned, their minds racing with the same question: With such deep pockets, such abundant Research Funding—how can Zhang Yu possibly compete? How could he even hope to match him?
Jin Jun watched the display with satisfaction. The spectacle was exactly what he’d planned.
To maximize the project’s success rate, he’d left no stone unturned in gathering funds. The 642 Lingbi came from deposits, loans, investments—every possible method had been used.
He withdrew his finger. The Lingbi vanished, and the celestial spectacle faded back into silence.
Then Jin Jun spread his five fingers, slicing through the air.
Instantly, a cascade of Spirit Artifact data materialized before them—like a stack of documents, floating in midair.
Spirit Artifacts were the hallmark of an Alchemist’s work. And their parameters were the clearest proof of an Alchemist’s skill.
As the top student in the Alchemy Department, Jin Jun always kept his data ready—anytime another Alchemist arrived, they could instantly gauge his level and specialization just by reviewing the figures.
But for those unfamiliar with advanced Alchemy—like Zi Wen Zhen and the others—reading the data was overwhelming. They had to consult reference materials just to decipher each number.
After all, these weren’t standard university-level blueprints. Some were from upper-year courses. Others weren’t even in the curriculum—advanced Spirit Artifact designs far beyond their current knowledge.
Zhang Yu could only recognize the names of the artifacts—enough to know they were all related to the Tian Ri Huang Shen prototype.
But soon, Zi Wen Zhen found comments beneath the parameters—verdicts from masters and peers.
【Top Comment】Ciji Zhenjun: Innovative and refined. Builds upon years of stable development, with improvements uniquely tailored for the Refiner’s own needs.
She also saw praise from Lei Jizhenjun, Jiu Duan Immortal, Yan Qianji, and others.
But when Jin Jun saw Lei Jizhenjun’s comment, his brow twitched. He waved a hand—erasing it instantly.
Zi Wen Zhen and the others, however, saw the praise as endorsements—proof of Jin Jun’s elite standing in the Alchemy world.
Jin Jun spoke again, his tone calm, assured.
“To complete Tian Ri Huang Shen, I haven’t just secured sufficient Research Funding. I’ve also accumulated years of technical mastery.”
“These Spirit Artifacts represent my journey. They contain all the technologies I’ll need to refine the prototype.”
“And to validate my abilities, I invited numerous teachers and top students to review my work and offer feedback—only to identify blind spots and push further.”
He said no more.
But the confidence in his words was unmistakable.
Zi Wen Zhen thought: Money, technology, network—Jin Jun’s truly ready. Zhang Yu? What’s he even fighting for?
Ye Xingli murmured: Jin Jun’s preparation exceeds even my expectations. Next year, the Alchemy Department will gain another Tian Ri Huang Shen prototype.
Jin Jun finished speaking, satisfied with his display.
He had no intention of staying longer.
He knew Zhang Yu must already regret his decision. It wouldn’t take long before the young man came crawling to him—begging to join the project.
But by then, Jin Jun thought with quiet amusement, the terms won’t be nearly as favorable.
With a nod to Ye Xingli, he turned and walked away.
But before leaving the laboratory, he paused and said, “About what I just said—feel free to share it. No need to keep it secret.”
“My project remains open to anyone interested. Submit your resume anytime.”
As Jin Jun vanished into the corridor, the lab fell silent once more.
Zhang Yu, as if nothing had happened, returned to his workstation and resumed cultivating his Alchemy Technique.
Zi Wen Zhen, meanwhile, quietly cleaned her materials, glancing at Zhang Yu from time to time.
He’s probably not as calm as he looks, she thought. He’ll be seeking Jin Jun’s approval within days.
And indeed, the events of that day soon spread through the Alchemy Department.
Su Yun Ni, ranked #1 in class, saw the news and immediately dismissed it as a publicity stunt.
In a private group chat, she wrote:
No way someone would be this reckless—just transferred, and already challenging Jin Jun, who’s been preparing for years and already mastered The Tai Xu Shen Qi Ce?
All that funding display, all those technical specs… I’m pretty sure Jin Jun’s just staging a PR campaign. He dragged Zhang Yu in as a prop.
Mark my words—Zhang Yu won’t last long. He’ll surrender and join Jin Jun’s team soon. Then they’ll spin it again for another round of hype.
Zi Wen Zhen read the message and suddenly understood.
That’s it. It’s a staged performance. After this, more people will apply. Some might even invest or lend him money.
…
No matter how the world buzzed with speculation, Zhang Yu remained undisturbed.
After declaring his intent to refine the prototype, he stuck to his own pace—unhurried, unwavering.
For the next few days, he continued his daily cultivation, quietly accumulating Alchemy Genius experience.
Jin Jun’s display had certainly raised the pressure.
But instead of fear, it only fueled Zhang Yu’s determination.
A month passed in silence.
It was now the end of June.
On this day, Zhang Yu finally completed the cultivation of his eighth Alchemy Technique.
Upper-Level Alchemy Genius (8/8): Alchemy Quality and Success Rate drastically increased.
Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed as he studied the Second Layer effect.
After a few moments of analysis, he understood the mechanics.
Alchemy Quality referred to the excellence of the refined Spirit Artifacts, Spirit Armors, and other creations.
Even when the same Alchemist refined the same artifact multiple times, the results varied—differences in Strength, Power, and other attributes were inevitable.
Now, with Alchemy Quality massively boosted, each refinement would push toward the absolute limit of the Alchemist’s skill and design—maximizing Strength, Power, Martial Energy Storage, Response Speed, and Impact Range.
Alchemy Success Rate referred to the reduction of mistakes during the refinement process.
Each error meant wasted materials.
A skyrocketing success rate meant higher material efficiency—directly slashing Alchemy costs.
Together, the Second Layer effect dramatically improved Zhang Yu’s cost-effectiveness in Alchemy.
A small smile curled at the corner of his lips.
All that effort was worth it.
With this new power, his edge in the upcoming Tian Ri Huang Shen competition would be decisive.
(End of Chapter)
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