https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-543-Beginning-the-Refinement-of-the-Prototype-Machine/13687255/
Chapter 544: The Spring of Civil Engineering, Company Expansion
"Madness! The Demon Sect raided the burial grounds, triggering a catastrophic collapse of the underground Spirit Vein! Over a thousand casualties! Experts warn that repairing the Spirit Vein will take tens of thousands of Lingbi!"
"The Demon Sect hijacked the Ling Realm—University City’s defense Array turned into a slaughter tool! The entire city’s Array system urgently needs upgrading!"
"Multiple Yuan Ci Channels have suffered severe damage. Once the city’s lifelines, they’ve now become deadly beasts devouring lives! University City has issued a red alert, suspending all Yuan Ci Channel operations citywide—and pledged swift restoration."
As Tu Lishan scanned the headlines, he sighed. "Those Demon Sect bastards are ruthless. Not only do they loot indiscriminately, but they wrecked every major system—Anti-Gravity Channels, Yuan Ci Channels, Martial Energy Circuits, Spirit Energy Networks, all the gravity, temperature, and humidity control equipment across the city."
"And they ruined the entire city Array."
"Even student dorms weren’t spared. These monsters are truly despicable—damn it, why didn’t they just tear down the teachers’ dorms too?"
"Classmates," Tu Lishan declared, "we now face a monumental task. When the city is restored depends entirely on us. We mustn’t let the entire student and faculty body down."
Inside his mind, Tu Lishan mused: Ah, if the Demon Sect would just attack once a year… my Civil Engineering Department would become Wanfa’s number one.
Watching Tu Lishan’s barely suppressed grin, Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang exchanged a glance—both hearts pounding in alarm.
Ying Xin thought: Damn… we only blew up one Martial Energy Circuit in a single Yuan Ci Channel, right?
Shi Yunxiang: Who the hell blew up every single Yuan Ci Channel in the city?
After the economic crisis, unemployment had gradually eased.
In Wanfa University’s University City, the death toll, bankruptcies, and disappearances had created a fierce competition for laborers.
Now, with the Demon Sect’s massive destruction, new infrastructure projects were flooding in.
Civil Engineering students were suddenly in high demand—days of nonstop work, and the sweetest kind of happiness.
Zhang Yu stood on a bustling construction site, feeling the city’s renewed vitality. Seeing workers’ faces glowing with exhaustion and joy after overtime, he had to admit—after the Demon Sect’s attack, University City’s economy had actually boomed.
Fujie said: "Kunxu works like that—sometimes it’s just about who can endure the longest. Survive one great disaster, and you’ll reap the rewards."
Zhang Yu nodded. He resolved to seize this chance to earn big—preparing for his upcoming Refining of the Prototype Machine.
From then on, Zhang Yu began taking on projects under the banner of his Company, directly from the Alchemy Department.
While Civil Engineering handled most of the construction, many projects were managed by the Alchemy Department—especially the city-spanning Yuan Ci Channels and Anti-Gravity Channels, which were jointly invested in and built by Alchemy, responsible for manufacturing and installing the key equipment.
Thanks to his Alchemy Department status and connections with Ciji Zhenjun, Zhang Yu secured numerous small-scale projects with high profit margins.
But as more projects poured in, skilled labor became scarce.
More workers meant higher construction efficiency—more projects could be taken on, completed faster.
Zhang Yu’s current team was simply too small.
With the economic crisis over, Zhang Yu began expanding his Company once again.
First, he recruited the Civil Engineering students who had been struggling alongside him through bankruptcy.
Tu Lishan looked at Ying Xin, frowning. "You’re really leaving?"
"I’m about to get a raise."
"More projects than you can handle—guaranteed overtime until graduation feels like a vacation."
"And you’re already working part-time as an accountant for Zhang Yu. Isn’t that enough?"
Hearing “raise” made Ying Xin pause—just slightly.
But after a moment, she said: "I already promised Zhang Yu. I’m joining his Company—accountant, and also working on construction sites."
Tu Lishan sighed. "Ah… how can a new, fledgling Company compare to our established one?"
"Fine. You can go, but my door’s always open if you change your mind."
At that moment, University City was drowning in projects. Tu Lishan was desperately short of manpower—every extra worker meant an extra Lingbi in profit. His attitude toward students had never been more generous.
Soon after Ying Xin left, Shi Yunxiang approached and made the same request.
When Tu Lishan heard she was going to Zhang Yu’s Company, he raised an eyebrow. Just how much did Zhang Yu pay to steal my talent?
The next day, Xiao Qingxuan announced her departure.
Tu Lishan was stunned. "Are you sure about this?"
"Graduation jobs aren’t easy—especially in a departmental Company that’s already a powerhouse in Civil Engineering."
"If I were you, I’d stay here for ten years, build real experience, and gain solid credentials—instead of jumping into some uncertain new venture."
Xiao Qingxuan stood firm. "Teacher, I’ve made my decision. Please let me go."
For days, Tu Lishan watched Zhang Yu poach his best students.
It was impossible not to feel bitter.
But then he remembered Zhang Yu’s ties to Ciji Zhenjun and Director Gao.
So he swallowed his pride and let it go.
Later, on the construction site, seeing Zhang Yu directing workers, Tu Lishan waved and smiled.
Watching Zhang Yu hand out Hulang Zhi Yao, Tu Lishan asked: "You’re giving your workers that every day?"
Zhang Yu grinned. "Makes ‘em work harder."
Tu Lishan thought: Change bosses, and the whole game changes. Even the strongest constitution can’t withstand that daily dose.
Yet seeing Shi Yunxiang and the others willingly swallow the pills, he silently gave Zhang Yu a thumbs-up: Impressive.
He sent a message:
You’ve got a real talent for managing employees.
Zhang Yu didn’t tell him—thanks to his own Deep Cold Mana Vein, Le Mulan’s support, and Xiao Qingxuan’s ancient medical knowledge, he was already neutralizing the pills’ side effects.
He replied: Just a small trick.
Tu Lishan: Not a small trick. It takes real effort to get them to willingly take it.
Tu Lishan: When can we talk? I’m genuinely curious—how do you manage to push them so hard?
Just as they exchanged a knowing smile, Shi Huaixu arrived.
"Master," he said, "I’m joining Zhang Yu’s Company."
If Xiao Qingxuan’s departure had been surprising, Shi Huaixu’s decision was a blow.
Especially since Shi Huaixu was one of Tu Lishan’s top protégés—holding the title of Civil Engineering Seven Supreme.
With a high chance of securing a Military License, and the potential to master the Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power, he was a golden investment in Tu Lishan’s eyes.
Now, seeing his favorite student walk away to be exploited by a new, unknown Company, Tu Lishan clenched his fists.
His golden Spirit Armor flared with Martial Energy Circuit light—his inner energy had surged.
He looked at Shi Huaixu, voice low. "You’re really going to Zhang Yu’s Company?"
Seeing Shi Huaixu nod, Tu Lishan glanced around, then sent a private message:
Foolish! You’re turning your back on a respected Civil Engineering giant to join a brand-new, unknown venture?
Don’t think your past friendship means anything. He’ll exploit you—pay you less, work you harder.
Shi Huaixu opened his mouth, but found nothing to say.
After a long silence, he whispered: "Zhang Yu… he’s different."
Tu Lishan’s voice cracked with frustration: Different? How?
Let me tell you—Company owners are all the same. I know exactly what’s in their heads!
They’re all greedy, obsessed with squeezing every last drop of effort from you, paying you less, making you work more!
Listen to your master—stay here. Graduate, become a full-time employee, move into management.
Shi Huaixu sighed. "Teacher, I already made my promise."
Tu Lishan pressed on: "I’ve trained you for years—not so you’d waste your life on construction sites, but so you can step out of them, and help me build a fortune!"
Shi Huaixu insisted: "Teacher, Zhang Yu really is different."
"I believe under him, I’ll earn more."
"I’m going, no matter what."
"And honestly, our contract with the department is temporary. You don’t have to approve."
As Shi Huaixu turned and ran toward Zhang Yu, Tu Lishan sent a final message, furious:
If you go, don’t ever come back for overtime!
Shi Huaixu called back: "Don’t worry, Teacher. Zhang Yu promised me—24-hour overtime, and I’m in!"
Watching Shi Huaixu swallow the Hulang Zhi Yao without hesitation, Tu Lishan felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Is he lying to you? Is he promising you a path into the Alchemy Department?
Listen—bosses lie. Every word they say is empty. He can’t get you into Alchemy Department.
Shi Huaixu: "Zhang Yu didn’t say that."
"I just want to work under him."
"Okay, I’ll talk later. Boss Zhang hates chatting during work hours."
Watching Shi Huaixu work with unwavering dedication, Tu Lishan stared at Zhang Yu and sent another message:
Shi Huaixu is one of the department’s top candidates.
Don’t overdo the medicine—don’t ruin her health.
Zhang Yu replied: Don’t worry, Teacher. I’ll be careful with my people.
Tu Lishan gritted his teeth: First Ciji, now Zhang Yu. Is the Alchemy Department teaching how to steal talent in class now?
Besides Ying Xin, Shi Yunxiang, Xiao Qingxuan, and Shi Huaixu, Zhang Yu also recruited more Soul Cultivators to boost his workforce.
For cost-effectiveness, he brought in bankrupt talents from the Songyang Hometown Group.
With this wave of expansion, his team’s construction efficiency skyrocketed—allowing Zhang Yu to take on even more projects.
His monthly income in construction alone soon approached 30 Lingbi.
Even more crucially, as projects stabilized, Zhang Yu needed to intervene less and less.
With Fujie freely handling all the tedious tasks—managing finances, supervising staff—Zhang Yu only needed to visit construction sites a few days a month, using his Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power to finish major works.
His Company’s income had become true passive income.
Add in the 40 Lingbi monthly Laboratory subsidy, and Zhang Yu now enjoyed nearly 70 Lingbi in income each month—while having abundant free time.
And with the future restoration of Ciji Zhenjun and Director Gao’s Company reimbursements, plus his sister’s continued repayments, his profits were set to grow even further.
With such stability, Zhang Yu finally felt ready to begin refining the Tian Ri Huang Shen Prototype Machine.
Request for Monthly Votes
(End of Chapter)
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