Chapter 562: Is This Really the Life of a Junior College Student?

Inside Ye Xingli’s Laboratory.

Though Zhang Yu had long since earned the right to lease his own independent laboratory in the Alchemy Department, he still chose to stay here—out of sheer cost-saving instinct.

At this moment, he casually unscrewed a medicine bottle and downed a dozen pills in one go. They replenished his Martial Energy, physical stamina, mental focus, and supplied all the essential nutrients his body needed, while also reducing his need for sleep.

As for Cement—Zhang Yu hadn’t touched it since his first year. Back then, he’d already mastered control over his Digestive System, enough to suppress the damage caused by excessive digestion. There was no longer any need to rely on Cement for satiety.

Just as Zhang Yu was swallowing the last of his pills and finishing his meal, a rich, savory aroma drifted from beside him.

Glancing over, he saw Zi Wen Zhen devouring meat with gusto.

Meat—once a rare luxury in Wanfa University’s University City, as scarce as rice—was now something that had become both a symbol and a privilege.

While pharmaceuticals could supply most of the body’s nutritional needs, the raw vitality and nourishment provided by Tianjing Rice, Diqu Mai, and various Demon Beast meats—those were things no pill could replicate.

Zhang Yu still remembered the sheer satisfaction of pigging out at Ye Xingli’s self-service banquets back in the day.

Now, watching Zi Wen Zhen wolf down meat with abandon, Zhang Yu muttered inwardly: Is this meat imported from Tianyao University?

The scent made his stomach twist. The thought of where exactly this meat came from—what kind of creature it had been torn from—sent a deep unease through him.

After all, Zhang Yu had traveled to numerous Demon Descendant schools through Project assignments, even competed at Tianyao University. He knew full well that some of those creatures treated sentient Demon Descendants as little more than a meat source.

Turning away, he sighed: The Finance Department really knows how to stir up trouble.

Imported meat… so many students can finally eat real food.

Imported Living Stakes and raw materials… slashing costs, boosting company profits.

Just these two things alone—how many people would support the Finance Department’s push to ally with the Heavenly Demons?

Even if the construction workers on site protested, it wouldn’t matter.

He recalled Yu Xinghan mentioning that with the University City’s infrastructure and reconstruction projects booming, even the most laid-back civil engineering workers were earning handsome wages. Construction sites were now scrambling to attract labor—raising salaries left and right.

But with the arrival of Heavenly Demon laborers, those wages had been driven back down.

Workers protested, yes—but with so many people profiting from the partnership with the Heavenly Demons, and even civil engineering firm executives reaping massive gains from lower costs, what power did their complaints hold?

Zhang Yu scanned through the comments in the Top 50 Group.

Jiutian Liu: The Lingbi allocated by the university for building the University City—why not let the truly deserving wealthy use it to research higher-tier Immortal Dao technologies and boost the university’s overall competitiveness? Instead, you’re giving it to workers so they can eat more pills, more meals, live longer? That’s not how you waste Lingbi!

Still, while civil engineering salaries had been suppressed, the number of off-campus construction projects continued to grow.

Many students and faculty in the Civil Engineering Department could feel it firsthand—the University War wasn’t ending. It was expanding.

Zhang Yu exhaled softly. The ceasefire was only among the Top Ten.

With the conflict among the Top Ten forcibly suppressed, the lower ranks—the majors, sub-majors, junior colleges—were not calming down. If anything, the fighting grew fiercer.

The construction of the University City was the dawn of a new era for Civil Engineering. The business would only get better.

And for my cultivation plan? That’s a blessing.

As he mused, Zhang Yu turned his attention back to the document floating within his Eye Armor.

Defeat Bei Wu Feng in five months. Join the Top Ten League in seven. Claim the Xianmen Technique.

So many goals. So much to do. He’d already listed every step in his Plan Document.

Win the Design Competition in three months. Earn the Military Alchemy Engineering Certificate (Class B). Master the Military-Grade Technique “Tian Di Huai Jie Wu Xing Xin Bing” from the Cultivation Alchemy Department.

He’d chosen this technique not just for its power, but because it was Spirit Artifact-focused—meant to enhance the might of spirit artifacts. Perfect for making a splash in the Top Ten League.

But what exactly did the Design Competition judge on?

Commerce. That’s the key.

Cost, practicality, market potential—those are the real criteria.

With Tiangong Kaiwu in my arsenal, and years of accumulated knowledge from my master, designing a winning product shouldn’t be hard.

And now that I’m also collecting data with Senior Sister, working on a product tailored for Junior College students—fulfilling the Replication Dao Seed requirement—it’s the perfect chance.

Once I’ve gathered all the insights, I’ll use Tiangong Kaiwu to refine a second design—optimized for the competition. That should be enough to win.

And since it’s entirely my own creation, it’ll avoid any copyright disputes with Ye Xingli.

Through Ciji Zhenjun and Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu had learned the truth: In the Design Competition, commercial value ruled supreme. The actual performance or level of the alchemical product? Secondary.

That was why Ciji Zhenjun had once advised him to enter the competition first.

And now, with Tiangong Kaiwu at his disposal, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel grateful he’d secured Ciji Zhenjun’s Dao Seed.

The tool had saved him countless hours. All he needed was solid information, and the design would emerge instantly.

But while gathering data, Zhang Yu wasn’t wasting time. He decided to begin refining a second Military-Grade Spirit Artifact.

Having already earned his Class A Military Alchemy Engineering Certificate, all he needed was departmental approval to access other advanced artifact blueprints.

With Ciji Zhenjun as his master and his current reputation, approval was guaranteed.

He stared at the design diagram before him.

Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen…

After weighing all factors, this was his next target.

Refine Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen while collecting data, finalize the design, then enter the competition.

Before facing Bei Wu Feng, I must complete this artifact—and master the “Tian Di Huai Jie Wu Xing Xin Bing” technique.

After that, my next goal will be the Bishui Jinjing Armor…

Zhang Yu nodded at his plan. Then he checked his bank balance: 150 Lingbi.

That amount would significantly impact his cultivation speed.

But lately, thanks to his meticulous planning, Tian Ri Huang Shen had seamlessly integrated into the company team and was now steadily generating Lingbi on construction sites.

Even as Zhang Yu wrote his plan, a fragment of his consciousness was remotely controlling Tian Ri Huang Shen.

After all, a mere Soul Cultivator couldn’t fully command such a high-tier Military-Grade Spirit Artifact.

He calculated in his mind: Laboratory subsidy: 40 Lingbi. Director Gao and Ciji Zhenjun’s reimbursement: 30 Lingbi. Sister’s repayment. Plus income from Tian Ri Huang Shen… I can comfortably spend 100–110 Lingbi per month on alchemy.

Should be enough.

Then he briefly sensed the state of his Qinglian Jiantai.

Thanks to the Divine Spirit Root’s gradual adaptation to his Chain Law Diagram Set, the artifact now provided:

- 19.8% enhancement to the University Holy Body

- 20.7% to the Tu Mu Holy Body

- ~10% to Qi Mai Chang Liu

- ~23% to the Martial Dao Holy Body

Even the Alchemy Genius, though acquired late, now received nearly 10% enhancement—thanks to Zhang Yu’s consistent use over the past half-year.

Feeling the vibrant energy radiating from Qinglian Jiantai, Zhang Yu smiled faintly.

He knew this silent strengthening of the Divine Spirit Root was another crucial card in his hand—essential for his bid at the Top Ten League.

Just then, Su Yun Ni and another Alchemy Department student entered the lab, hesitant and nervous.

Zhang Yu glanced at them, then dismissed them to Zi Wen Zhen.

“Xiao Zi,” he said, “have her show them the lab rules, and teach them the fundamentals they’ll need for refining the Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen.”

Su Yun Ni’s eyes widened. “We’re starting on the Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen already?”

Zi Wen Zhen raised an eyebrow, surprised. Is he rushing too fast?

Zhang Yu waved it off, handing over the task to the smug Zi Wen Zhen, then returned to his plan document. Moments later, he submerged himself into the Taiqing Jing, diving into textbooks.

He needed to accelerate his learning through the Jing’s time dilation, quickly master the foundational knowledge required for the Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen—before moving on to actual refining.

This time, he was determined to complete the artifact faster than he had with Tian Ri Huang Shen.

Days passed. It was now March.

Having completed his foundational studies in the Taiqing Jing, Zhang Yu began simulating alchemical experiments within the Tai Xu Illusory Realm.

The Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen’s underlying Immortal Dao Technology had been broken down into 13 distinct Spirit Artifacts.

Once Zhang Yu pushed all 13 blueprints to 20th Level, he would have fully mastered the technique.

Unlike refining Tian Ri Huang Shen—where he’d spent countless hours in the real lab—this time, he focused most of his efforts in the Taiqing Jing, running simulations on the 13 artifacts.

Now, he no longer had to leave traces behind. The simulation was flawless.

To Su Yun Ni and Zi Wen Zhen’s astonishment, Zhang Yu didn’t refine daily—but each session brought staggering progress.

Su Yun Ni thought: Is he using these artifacts to test the core techniques of the Tai Hao Sheng Lu Jian Zhen? But this speed… yesterday’s artifact was only level 5, today it’s already 10?

Zi Wen Zhen was stunned. This is impossible! Is it because the competition with Jin Jun unlocked his full potential? Or has long-term pressure made him flawless at lab operations?

If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they’d have accused Zhang Yu of hiring someone to do it for him.

The assistants, clueless about his rapid progress, gritted their teeth and pushed themselves to keep up—hoping to assist Zhang Yu on the next major project.

After all, another Military-Grade project was a golden opportunity for their careers.

…

That day, as Zhang Yu was practicing blueprint refinement, he received a message from Qingqing God.

Qingqing God: How’s your Jiqing Sword Dao cultivation going?

Zhang Yu’s face twitched. Still okay. Still okay.

Qingqing God: Hmph.

Qingqing God: You should send Zhenzhen a gift.

Qingqing God: She’s at a critical breakthrough stage. A thoughtful gift could give her a major boost.

Zhang Yu paused, deep in thought.

He wanted to help Zhenzhen break through. The question was—what gift?

Then, like a spark in the dark, an idea struck.

He pulled up the original design for the Stockings Spirit Artifact he’d created for Ye Xingli.

Remembered back in Xian Du—I promised her I’d make her a pair of stockings.

A smile tugged at his lips.

He activated Tiangong Kaiwu, burned his Dao Heart, and began rewriting the blueprint.

One design… the perfect stockings for Bai Zhenzhen.

Instantly, a storm of knowledge and data flashed through his mind—like a thousand thunderclaps—before coalescing into a brand-new Spirit Artifact Design Diagram.

…

Tianjian University.

Bai Zhenzhen, deep in cultivation, suddenly snapped her eyes open.

Qingqing God’s voice echoed: Stop wasting time. The best way to break through is to go find Zhang Yu.

Bai Zhenzhen shook her head. Yu-zi has a lot more to do to succeed in the Top Ten League. I shouldn’t waste his time…

Just then, a message appeared in her Eye Armor.

She glanced at it. A soft smile curled her lips.

Qingqing God: What’s so funny?

Bai Zhenzhen: Nothing.

Zhang Yu: A Zhen, I’ve designed this pair of stockings—perfectly suited for you. I’m giving you the copyright. Go find someone at Tianjian University to refine it.

Bai Zhenzhen: No rush. I’ll wait until you’re free to make a pair for me.

…

Meanwhile, as Zhang Yu’s alchemy progress soared, the data collection on Junior College students moved at a painfully slow pace.

Ye Xingli messaged: The scattered questionnaire responses from Junior College students are too fragmented. Data integrity and efficiency are terrible.

Zhang Yu: Senior Sister, what’s your plan?

Ye Xingli: I’m going to simulate the experience in the Ling Realm. I’ll live a Junior College student’s life firsthand.

Ye Xingli: I heard you’re researching products for them too. Want to join? We get a discount together.

Zhang Yu: Sure.

Ye Xingli: There are many simulation projects. I’ll send you the list—each of us picks one.

Zhang Yu opened the message.

One by one, life scripts for Junior College students appeared.

It felt like watching a documentary—except he was in the story, the protagonist.

“Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong grew up together. Same high school. Same Junior College. Childhood sweethearts…”

Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed. A Junior College romance?

“After enrollment, they both joined the Love Cultivation Department and were paired as cultivation partners. They practiced the Mutual Cultivation Great Way, living a blissful, carefree life…”

Zhang Yu blinked. Is Junior College really this happy?

“Finally, on the last day of their first year, they walked into the Examination Hall. There, each faced multiple cultivation examiners, watching their partner collapse under attacks—armor shattered, limbs trembling, utterly defeated.”

“If the Dao Heart weakened—ideal for Lingxi God’s Deep Love Dao. Second year, they’d transfer to the Deep Love Class.”

“If the Dao Heart strengthened or remained unshaken? Perfect for Qiongjiang God’s Many Love Dao. They’d join the Multi-Love Class.”

“Though Xiao Ming and Xiao Hong were split into different classes, they never stopped thinking of each other…”

Zhang Yu stared at the story, heart sinking.

This… is this really what Junior College life is like?

He shook his head, feeling the script was too surreal.

He flipped to the next page, scanning other Junior College simulation experiences.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end