https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-554-Prototype-Machine-Report-Please-Vote-for-the-Month-/13687342/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-556-Awarding-the-Military-Alchemy-Engineering-Certificate-Class-A-/13687378/
Chapter 555: Ciji Zhenjun's Son?
Facing Su Yun Ni’s question, Zi Wen Zhen waved dismissively. “The Laboratory’s got nothing urgent for me right now. Boss sent me over here to the Construction Site to help out.”
Su Yun Ni chuckled. “The Laboratory’s been swamped lately—how could there be nothing? So, Zhang Yu’s stopped refining the Prototype Machine?”
As she spoke, she kept probing into the Prototype Machine’s progress, particularly its performance metrics. After all, she’d spent a considerable amount of time working alongside Jin Jun, and had a solid grasp of the Tian Ri Huang Shen’s capabilities at various levels.
Of course, what she knew was only the data from the Prototype Machine—still far from the real thing. The genuine Tian Ri Huang Shen was a Military-Grade Puppet, requiring a Military License before it could be properly modified, its restrictions lifted, and its full potential unlocked. Only then would the numbers truly skyrocket.
Now, seeing Su Yun Ni pepper her with questions, Zi Wen Zhen couldn’t help but smirk. She’d already guessed the real reason behind her visit.
“Alright,” Zi Wen Zhen said, “I’ll tell you straight—Zhang Yu’s already submitted the Prototype Machine for review.”
“Submitted… for review?” Su Yun Ni blinked, startled. “Did Zhang Yu really push it to Level 11?”
“Level 11?” Zi Wen Zhen snorted. “Yun Ni, if you’re going to say something like that, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”
This project had been her baby—she’d personally led half the Project Team, handled all the core foundational work, and worked nonstop for weeks. It was the kind of achievement that would be highlighted at the top of any résumé. And to top it off, she’d even taken the job at a mere 2 Lingbi per month, logging free overtime that far exceeded anything she’d done before.
How dare Su Yun Ni downplay it?
“Two months,” Zi Wen Zhen declared proudly, “we pushed the Prototype Machine from Level 1 all the way to Level 15. That’s when we submitted it for review.”
“Level 15? In two months? Impossible.” Su Yun Ni instinctively scoffed.
Seeing the disbelief on Su Yun Ni’s face, Zi Wen Zhen casually snapped a photo of her expression with her Eye Armor.
“Yun Ni,” she said with a smirk, “this is the way of Alchemy—brutal and relentless. There’s always someone out there working faster, better, cheaper than you.”
“Being an assistant means learning to pick the right projects. And the best way to judge a project? Watch the person behind it.”
“You’ve got solid results, sure—but your judgment on people? Still weak.”
“Jin Jun? I saw his flaws last year—ambitious but lacking depth. Just a corpse in a tomb.”
“But Zhang Yu? From the very start of the project, I saw potential. A raw gem buried in Civil Engineering, with an instinct for Alchemy no one else has. That’s why I finally agreed to join his team—after several invitations.”
Su Yun Ni mentally scoffed: You were the one calling him a Civil Engineering scrub just last year.
But seeing Zi Wen Zhen so utterly convinced, Su Yun Ni couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. Maybe… just maybe… it was true.
And the thought that her own team, working under Jin Jun, might end up losing to Zhang Yu made her heart sink.
Just as Zi Wen Zhen and Su Yun Ni were talking, Fu Xinyao quietly approached, hoping to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two Alchemy Department students.
But before she could get close, a thunderous shout erupted from behind her.
“It’s her! Grab her!”
Fu Xinyao spun around—Yu Xinghan pointed directly at her.
“Exactly her! She’s been running an illegal massage clinic! Under the guise of therapy, she’s been secretly practicing Mutual Cultivation!”
“Using cheap sessions to lure clients in, then forcing mutual cultivation the moment they start. Countless people have been tricked—drained of their Qi, their Martial Energy stolen!”
Two members of the Inspection Team stepped forward.
“Again? You’re that Junior College troublemaker,” one said. “This time, it’s not just a few late nights.”
“Take her in. Confiscate her tools.”
Fu Xinyao’s eyes flashed with fury as she glared at Yu Xinghan. Damn it… why is it always this kid showing up to report me?
She quickly turned to her fellow Soul Cultivators—Ping Han and the others—and whispered urgently:
“Remember—our Spirit Armor carries a Seal from the Qiongjiang God. No ordinary cultivator can trace its origin. Whatever they do, don’t give yourselves away.”
Watching Fu Xinyao being dragged away, Yu Xinghan finally nodded in satisfaction. Then his gaze swept across a lazy-looking worker nearby, and his brow furrowed.
Lately, the Construction Site had seen a worrying drop in worker efficiency—some even cutting back on overtime. But what baffled him even more was this: despite the city’s massive infrastructure push and a nationwide labor shortage, the company’s wages had actually increased as workers reduced their hours.
He couldn’t tell how long this anomaly would last, but he feared it might be part of a deeper scheme—perhaps a plot by the Double-Weekend Demon Sect.
Meanwhile, Su Yun Ni returned to the Laboratory, her mind racing.
She didn’t waste a second. As soon as she arrived, she rushed to Jin Jun’s lab.
There, Jin Jun was already at work, wielding True Flame to weave Martial Energy Circuits through Alchemy Equipment, embedding them one by one into the Prototype Machine.
Seeing Su Yun Ni, Jin Jun didn’t speak. He simply sent a message:
Wait until I finish what I’m doing.
Once the final circuit was etched, Jin Jun paused the equipment, looked up, and calmly asked, “Well? What’s the news?”
“Zhang Yu pushed the Prototype Machine to Level 15,” Su Yun Ni said.
Jin Jun blinked. Then he let out a short laugh. “That’s absurd. You actually believe that?”
“Overblown claims, scare tactics—after a year in the Alchemy Department, you’ve mastered both.”
Jin Jun analyzed coldly: “It’s been barely two months since he first forged the Prototype Machine. How many geniuses in Alchemy Department history have achieved such progress in that time? Zhang Yu’s only been in the department for a year—after coming from Civil Engineering. Do you really think he could?”
“I don’t believe it either,” Su Yun Ni admitted. “But Zi Wen Zhen didn’t seem like she was lying.”
Jin Jun paused, then shook his head. “Let it go.”
He’d already made up his mind. Whether Zhang Yu was bluffing or had actually achieved something, it didn’t matter. Not to him.
His own Prototype Machine had only just reached Level 11. Even if he submitted it for review, the odds of approval were slim.
“Right now, the only thing that matters is focusing on refining our own machine. We stick to our own path.”
With that, he told Su Yun Ni not to mention Zhang Yu’s progress to anyone in the Project Team, then returned to his work.
As for Zhang Yu refining a Level 15 Prototype Machine?
In the back of his mind, belief was thin.
But disbelief? That was the dominant feeling.
Still, he did send a message in the Project Team’s Group Chat, summoning all assistants back from their breaks. It was time to go back to work—long hours, relentless refinement.
...
Days later.
A notification flashed in Ciji Zhenjun’s Eye Armor—a message from Deputy Principal Xi Yun Zhenjun.
Xi Yun Zhenjun: Congratulations. Your disciple has secured another Military License.
Xi Yun Zhenjun: Alchemy Department’s been producing talent in waves lately.
Ciji Zhenjun glanced at the message—Zhang Yu had passed review and received the Military Alchemy Engineering Certificate (Class A).
Ciji Zhenjun: All due to your excellent leadership, Principal.
After a brief exchange, Ciji Zhenjun paused, then forwarded the notice to Dongming Zhenjun, the department’s Deputy Director.
Dongming Zhenjun had once competed with Ciji Zhenjun over research into the Hua Shen Spirit Armor. But after a few firm reminders, he’d become much more compliant.
Now, seeing Zhang Yu’s Military License, Ciji Zhenjun decided to assign him a task.
Ciji Zhenjun: Handle the issuance of the Military License to Zhang Yu.
Ciji Zhenjun: Make it impressive—don’t be flashy, but don’t be dull either.
Ciji Zhenjun: And let it be known that Zhang Yu is my direct disciple.
Dongming Zhenjun read the message, his expression flickering.
So it’s true. Zhang Yu is Ciji’s disciple.
Even though Ciji had never formally announced it, most assumed Zhang Yu was just a promising material she was grooming. But as a Deputy Director, Dongming Zhenjun had picked up on subtle signs.
She didn’t declare it earlier because she was afraid he’d fail—become a liability during her Hua Shen evaluation.
Now that he’s succeeded… it’s another feather in her cap.
Though he inwardly scoffed, he wouldn’t dare disobey. After all, Ciji held damning evidence of his counterfeit products.
“Make it impressive… but not flashy.”
He reread the message. The “but” was the real instruction.
“Don’t be dull.”
...
As dazzling light flares erupted throughout the Alchemy Department’s building, celestial music filled the air.
At the same time, countless teachers’ Eye Armors lit up with the news: Zhang Yu had earned his Military License.
The Office Director received a message from Dongming Zhenjun, instructing him to send someone to present the certificate to Zhang Yu.
Dongming Zhenjun: Make it grand. Make it loud.
The Office Director studied the Ling Realm effect Dongming had activated, then added new requirements before sending it back.
Dongming Zhenjun: Your font is too old-fashioned.
Dongming Zhenjun: And the color—make it reflect our department’s identity.
Dongming Zhenjun: Brightness needs adjustment.
The Office Director tweaked the design, sent it to the Teaching Secretary.
Office Director: Make it bigger.
Teaching Secretary: How about this? [File]
Office Director: Bigger font.
...
When Zhang Yu’s homeroom teacher, Lian Huo Zhenjun, received the notification, he paused, deep in thought.
This much fuss… for Zhang Yu?
Could it be… he’s really Ciji Zhenjun’s son?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
