https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-546-Beginning-to-Take-Human-Form-Please-Vote-for-Me-/13687258/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-548-The-Kneel-Please-Vote-for-Me-/13687260/
Chapter 547: Who's Sabotaging from the Shadows? (Thanks to 'Magic Eye' for Becoming Alliance Leader)
Not long after Zhang Yu left, a message surfaced within Feng Yuhao’s Eye Armor—sent by Xianyin God.
Xianyin God: Has the funding been approved?
Feng Yuhao: Don’t worry. It’s coming through right away.
Feng Yuhao: But you’d better move fast.
Xianyin God: Relax. Ciji Zhenjun has already laid the groundwork. We’re following the path he started—we’ll see results soon.
After a brief exchange with Xianyin God from the Alchemy Department, Feng Yuhao finally exhaled in relief.
This time, he had skillfully leveraged the subtle tensions currently simmering in Wanfa University City, guiding the five Yuan Ying Zhenjuns from the Alchemy Department to each establish their own project teams. All were now officially involved in the Hua Shen Spirit Armor Experiment.
On the surface, it was a gesture of support for Ciji Zhenjun. But in truth, it meant dividing up the credit, prestige, experience, and funding that Ciji Zhenjun had been accumulating in his research. Especially now, when Ciji had already made breakthroughs in the Hua Shen Spirit Armor project, the move carried the unmistakable scent of fruit-picking.
Yet Feng Yuhao didn’t care.
With the five other Yuan Ying Zhenjuns acting as checks and balances, he could now steer the Hua Shen Spirit Armor project with greater control. More importantly, he gained access to multiple channels—making it easier, and far more thorough, to gather intelligence and data from the entire Experiment.
Hmph. Ciji… You’re just the kind of immortal who buries himself in the lab, unable to even manage your own subordinates. How can the school trust you with such a crucial project?
Once others start producing results, you’ll finally learn that you’re not the only one who understands Alchemy.
Feng Yuhao had seen plenty of cultivators like this—masters of a single Dao technique, arrogant and dismissive of others. To preserve order within the University City, he’d disciplined more than a few of them.
To him, technicians lacked vision. They cared only for their own little labs, blind to the bigger picture. They should obey—because only then could the university’s laws be upheld.
As for Zhang Yu?
A student being asked to assist five Yuan Ying Zhenjuns in their experiments, doubling or tripling his workload—this was mere trivia to Feng Yuhao. He didn’t even register it.
Every year, countless small figures were swept up in the storms of high-level power struggles. Some even went bankrupt.
This was nothing more than assigning extra work to a student. It was instantly forgotten.
…
After leaving Feng Yuhao’s office, Zhang Yu retreated into thought.
First, the most common path—endure it?
He shook his head.
If I keep jumping from one experiment to another, how much time will I even have left for my own project?
Besides, while outsiders doubted him, Zhang Yu knew his own progress on the Tian Ri Huang Shen Prototype Machine was at a critical stage—right in the middle of a fierce race against Jin Jun.
If he lost this race, he’d have to wait a full academic year.
And for Zhang Yu, who desperately wanted to enter the Top Ten League, that was an outcome he could not accept.
And next May is the new design competition. I need to submit my entry before then.
So if I’m to make it, I need to complete the prototype by April—or even earlier. That way, I’ll have over a month free to prepare for the competition.
Then I’ll need to secure additional Military-Grade Power sources. Otherwise, how can I dominate the Top Ten League?
The more he thought, the more he felt the crushing weight of time.
He couldn’t afford to waste a single moment on the other Yuan Ying Zhenjuns’ experiments.
At that moment, a message appeared in Zhang Yu’s Eye Armor—sent by Zi Wen Zhen.
Zi Wen Zhen: Boss, when are you coming to the lab?
Zhang Yu: Get your preparations ready. I’ll be back after I finish what I’m doing.
After a pause, Zhang Yu decided to seek out his master, Ciji Zhenjun. The man would surely know more about the current situation.
Regardless of what came next, gathering information was the first step.
…
Inside the lab.
Ciji Zhenjun held a rhombus-shaped crystal, its surface pulsing faintly as she channeled Martial Energy through it. Slowly, she began extracting delicate threads of sensation—pain.
This was her latest breakthrough: the first successful memory transfer. After mastering Martial Energy exchange and Blood exchange, she had now achieved the first-ever retrieval of pain-memory from the Hua Shen Spirit Armor’s vast, oceanic archive.
After a long silence, she finally opened her eyes and looked at Zhang Yu.
“I know what’s happening.”
Ha. So many people want to see me fail. I’ve only just made progress, and already two or three have surfaced—eager to bite off a piece of the flesh.
Zhang Yu hesitantly asked: “Master, does Wan Hua Shen Jun know about this?”
Ciji Zhenjun’s gaze sharpened.
“Just Feng Yuhao? He doesn’t have the power to stir up Xianyin God and the others. Even if he had ten times his courage, he wouldn’t dare challenge me directly.”
“No. Someone is pulling strings behind the scenes. They want the project to succeed… but not too much success for me. They don’t want me to pass the Hua Shen Review smoothly.”
“That’s the Hua Shen trial—the trials of fate.”
“The path of the Dao… the further you go, the harder it becomes. The variables multiply. The external factors grow more complex. It’s no longer just about cultivating your own strength.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu felt a spark in his mind.
He looked up, astonished. “Master… You’re saying Wan Hua Shen Jun doesn’t want you to become Hua Shen?”
To Zhang Yu, Wan Hua Shen Jun—the Deputy Principal—was the head of Immortal Dao Technology research at Wanfa University City. Though he didn’t manage departments directly, he was the true pillar supporting Ciji Zhenjun and the rest of the Alchemy Department faculty.
But Ciji Zhenjun replied calmly:
“If Qiongjiang God were to attack us, Wan Hua Shen Jun would protect us without hesitation.”
“But if I seek to become Hua Shen? Then we become rivals.”
“Especially… when I go from being his subordinate—earning money for him—to standing equal, splitting the profits with him. What would you do in his place?”
“How much more resources would the university gain if I became Hua Shen? Add in the share I’d claim. Whether Wan Hua Shen Jun gains or loses… that’s the real reason he’ll either support or oppose my ascension.”
Zhang Yu stared at his master, silently thinking: Master… please, rise to Hua Shen. Hurry up.
Ciji Zhenjun continued: “In one or two months, I’ll deal with Xianyin God and the others.”
She reached out and gently patted Zhang Yu’s head.
“My good disciple. For now, just cooperate with their work. Don’t give them a reason to say we’re uncooperative. We can’t afford to be accused.”
“Any time lost… I’ll make it up to you.”
Zhang Yu believed his master would keep her promise.
But the problem was this: a missed Military License meant a year’s delay. And the next Top Ten League was gone.
Would even becoming Hua Shen be enough to compensate him with a chance to compete for the Xianmen Technique?
He knew he couldn’t voice these thoughts. Saying them would only bring conflict—no one would believe a Foundation Establishment Stage student could ever reach the Top Ten League.
Feng Yuhao is backed by Wan Hua Shen Jun. Everything he’s doing is aligned with the larger plan to block my master’s ascension.
Trying to confront him directly in University City? That’s unrealistic…
Even his master, Ciji Zhenjun, was restrained—unable to act freely, because Feng Yuhao’s moves were always legal, always within the rules.
How could Zhang Yu, a mere beginner, hope to stand against such a force?
Yet, once he understood this, Zhang Yu didn’t give up.
My advantage? I have access to channels even my master doesn’t. And I have a different angle—someone who can strike at Feng Yuhao.
Sure, he’s strong. In University City, his advantage is absolute.
But if we change the battlefield? He might be weak. And here, in University City, even weaker.
Zhang Yu thought: For instance… if he truly joined the Demon Sect. If he became an Evil God Cultist… then defeating him would be far easier than my master doing it.
Would he?
Fujie snorted.
“A research division administrator? His accomplishments in Immortal Dao Technology are probably worse than most Yuan Ying in the city.”
“In a collapsing Ling Realm, how much combat strength could such a man possibly retain?”
“Tell me—how likely is it that the Evil God sent his elite forces to attack him… and he alone held them off?”
Fujie spoke with confidence: “But even if we kill him, it won’t help. This is a Hua Shen God’s scheme. Replace one Feng Yuhao, and another will rise.”
“The key is to make him help us.”
Zhang Yu frowned. “How do I make him help me?”
Fujie grinned.
“Dealing with the Evil God? That’s my specialty. Just follow my lead.”
“First, a show of force—scare them into submission.”
“But you must hide your true intentions…”
…
Back in the dorm.
Zhang Yu turned to Zhang Pianpian.
“Senior, can you look into this Feng Yuhao for me?”
As he spoke, he glanced at the Spellcraft Department ranking displayed above Zhang Pianpian’s head—Rank 5. A flicker of envy crossed his eyes.
Since returning from the Top Ten League, her department rank had soared from 10th to 5th. Her university-wide rank was now a staggering 26th.
Zhang Pianpian tilted her head. “What’s wrong with Feng Yuhao?”
Zhang Yu briefly explained the sudden project shifts and the massive increase in workload.
Zhang Pianpian shook her head.
“Feng Yuhao may be targeting you and your master—but he’s following procedure. There might be higher-level backing.”
“Digging into him… probably won’t help much.”
(End of Chapter)
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