https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-550-Heavenly-Human-Five-Taxes-Please-Support-with-Monthly-Tickets-/13687262/
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Chapter 551: Alchemy Is All About Speed
"How could Zhang Yu possibly refine this fast?"
Staring at the intelligence report sent by Su Yun Ni, Jin Jun’s first reaction was disbelief.
"More than a month to reach this stage? He’s completely shameless."
At that moment, Jin Jun was deeply skeptical of the authenticity behind Zhang Yu’s achievements.
He’d seen this kind of thing too many times in the Alchemy Department’s various laboratories. Some people barely scraped by with average skill, yet hired top-tier assistants to handle most of the work—pushing both quality and speed to extremes—before claiming the results as their own.
"Zhang Yu might have some real talent. At the very least, he can refine a basic Level 1 Prototype Machine. But he absolutely couldn’t have done this with just two people in under a month."
"He must’ve spent a fortune hiring a massive team to assist him."
Jin Jun made his decision: Only with such resources could he have achieved this in less than two months.
"Releasing this kind of news… is he trying to shake our morale?"
Yet Jin Jun had to admit—he was unsettled. Zhang Yu had managed to disrupt his focus.
He took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and let his Martial Energy flow through his body. One by one, the ripples of anxiety calmed as his Dao Heart stabilized.
He realized the root cause: his own investment had been too great.
"Nearly half my fortune is tied up in this project. If it fails, not only will I struggle to recover the funds, but my reputation in the Alchemy world will take a devastating hit."
The thought of being labeled in future communications as "the one defeated by a transfer student from Tu Mu" made Jin Jun’s chest tighten. He could already picture the dwindling loans, shrinking research grants, and shrinking opportunities—his path in the Xian Dao world growing ever more treacherous.
"Never surrender."
No matter who was helping Zhang Yu behind the scenes, Jin Jun refused to admit defeat.
Especially because now, after the Level 1 Prototype Machine was complete, the real test began: iterative refinement, gradually elevating the machine’s level.
"At this stage, it’s all about Zhang Yu’s own skill."
"If his Alchemy Technique hasn’t reached Level 11, no amount of effort or money will let him push the machine past that threshold.
And if he tries to outsource the refinement, the Review Committee will never approve it."
"Meanwhile, I’ve spent years building my technical foundation. Based on the current tuning parameters, once this Prototype Machine is fully assembled, I’ll be able to achieve Level 5 in one go."
"And I’ll keep improving faster than he ever could."
With that, Jin Jun began to settle into his resolve.
Of course, even with calm in his heart, he wasn’t about to do nothing.
"Even when hunting a rabbit, a lion gives it full effort. This project cost me so much Lingbi and time—I won’t accept failure."
That same day, Jin Jun mortgaged his Spirit Armor and organs, maxed out his Loan, then used the funds to lease the latest Alchemy Equipment. He also hired a Jin Dan-level tutor for one-on-one guidance, ensuring constant feedback and error correction throughout his cultivation process.
But beyond accelerating his own progress, Jin Jun also decided to sabotage Zhang Yu’s momentum—slowing him down where possible.
He sent a message:
Jin Jun: Senior Brother, I need your help with something…
---
In Ye Xingli’s laboratory, Zhang Yu stood in the center of swirling Disha Gravity, suspending the Prototype Machine mid-air.
Martial Energy surged from his hands, mixing with Zi Wen Zhen’s pre-prepared material powder, and was injected into the Alchemy Equipment. The mixture formed the first layer of seals, etched directly into the machine’s core.
As more layers accumulated, the Prototype Machine’s heat resistance steadily increased.
Zhang Yu knew the next step: to raise the machine’s level, he’d need to repeatedly stack seals across its internal and external Martial Energy circuits—enhancing performance, optimizing runes, tempering materials, and pushing the limits of the Martial Energy Core.
But beyond basic upgrades, he also needed to add new functionalities.
Right now, to upgrade from Level 1 to Level 2, the machine required a new Technique Module—specifically, a fire-controlling function.
Zhang Yu thought: The Level 1 Prototype Machine already has预留 interfaces for future modules. My job is to refine and expand them.
"But to do that, my blueprint level needs to reach a certain threshold."
He glanced at the Feather Scroll:
Tian Ri Huang Shen Prototype Machine – Level 1 (6/10)
Each time I refine the entire machine, not only do I strengthen its base attributes, but under the boost of Alchemy Genius, the progress on the Feather Scroll advances by 2 points.
"When I push the blueprint to Level 2, I’ll have the technical capability to implement Level 2 functions—like fire control."
With that in mind, Zhang Yu’s movements grew even faster. Martial Energy poured from him like water, and materials were flung toward the machine without restraint.
Zi Wen Zhen, watching in disbelief, couldn’t help but blink rapidly.
"Boss… is this really necessary? Isn’t it too fast?"
To her, Alchemy wasn’t about speed. Especially when learning on the fly, every step needed careful thought—reflection, correction, and growth.
Zhang Yu’s blind, reckless sprint felt like wasteful extravagance, burning through materials and money without guaranteed gains.
Alchemy isn’t about how many times you refine—it’s about understanding, not just repetition.
Zhang Yu, however, thought otherwise: More refinements = higher Alchemy Technique level. That’s how it works.
Zi Wen Zhen, seeing no response, pressed on:
"Boss, what’s the real value of this speed? You can’t just chase quantity. Your current pace is too shallow compared to Jin Jun’s team. The Review Committee will care about your reasoning—not just how many times you refined."
"I want you to start documenting your thoughts in daily reports. Build your own unique process. Develop a core competitive edge."
"Push yourself, boss. If you grow, I’ll even lower my own salary so you can fund more work."
Seeing Zi Wen Zhen dangle the carrot of self-sacrifice, Zhang Yu mentally groaned:
Damn it… when I was an employee, my boss painted me empty promises. Now that I’m the boss, my employee’s doing the same?
This place is cursed.
Before she could say more, Zhang Yu raised a hand to stop her.
"Zi Wen Zhen, I’m disappointed in your current attitude. I hired you to be the lead expert in the Tian Ri Huang Shen field—someone who could master it deeply."
"I won’t explain why I’m speeding up. I’m giving you a chance to grow—force yourself to think, to explore, to find answers on your own."
"I know this pressure is intense. But growth always comes with pressure. The hardest moments are often the ones that forge the greatest transformation."
"One day, you’ll look back and be grateful for this period of struggle. It will be the turning point of your life."
Having calmed her, Zhang Yu resumed his relentless pace—so fast that Zi Wen Zhen couldn’t keep up. She was forced to push herself harder, faster, again and again—until thought itself became impossible.
She felt like she was sprinting on a track, chasing Zhang Yu’s fading silhouette, gasping, exhausted, yet still falling further behind.
Just as she was about to collapse, Zhang Yu suddenly stopped.
"I’m going to the Ling Realm. You keep preparing."
Zi Wen Zhen felt a flicker of relief—like a runner finally allowed to pause and catch her breath.
"I’ve held up the entire project…" she muttered, shame flooding her.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu had already stepped into the Taiqing Jing, activating an Alchemy Simulation. Within the illusory realm, he resumed his cultivation.
Unlike Alchemy Technique, which could only be trained in reality, the levels of various Alchemy Production Techniques—mastered through Spirit Artifact and Spirit Armor blueprints—could be advanced endlessly through repeated simulations in the Tai Xu Illusory Realm.
The refining process in the lab isn’t just refining the machine—it’s also leaving traces of my work, building my experience.
Taking a moment here, in the Taiqing Jing, to train in simulation… I can accelerate my blueprint level far faster.
Zhang Yu calculated: If I push both fronts simultaneously, in another 1 or 2 months, I should be able to elevate the Prototype Machine to the Foundation Establishment level of Level 11.
---
While Zhang Yu buried himself in relentless refinement, a message suddenly appeared before him.
…
In the Ling Realm.
Zhang Yu stared at the mechanical figure before him—a Daoist monk assembled like a machine.
"Teacher Gui Yuanzi, what is it?"
The Daoist glanced at him, voice cold.
"You haven’t attended any of the recent Alchemy History lectures."
Zhang Yu blinked. "I did ask for leave…"
"None was granted," Gui Yuanzi replied. "Fine. You’ll make up the missed classes. If you don’t, you won’t pass this semester."
With that, the Daoist left behind a Primary Intelligent Artifact Spirit and began streaming a 1.0x speed online course. Then he vanished.
Zhang Yu stared, stunned. He sent another request for leave—only to be met with a sharp reprimand.
Gui Yuanzi: Leave? Who gave you permission to skip?
Gui Yuanzi: Don’t think you can skip classes just because you’re working on a project.
Gui Yuanzi: If you don’t understand the history of past technologies, how can you innovate?
This guy… Zhang Yu thought, watching the spirit lecture him. Is someone deliberately messing with me?
At that moment, Zi Wen Zhen messaged:
Zi Wen Zhen: Boss, materials are ready. When are you coming back?
Zhang Yu replied:
Zhang Yu: Keep preparing. I’ll return once I’m done here.
He paused, then sent messages to Feng Tingting, Ye Xingli, and Zhang Pianpian—determined to uncover what Gui Yuanzi was really up to.
After some investigation, Zhang Yu began to piece it together.
He scrolled through his contacts, his eyes finally landing on Feng Yuhao.
(End of Chapter)
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