Chapter 623: Chapter 562: Bribing Before the Competition
“It is said that the Lingxi Divine Monarch of Hehuan University could not take the first step for a long time in his youth, and his Dao Heart kept regressing.”
“But through this repeated regression, he gradually found another path, ultimately realizing that after experiencing emotions, one can be truly emotional, and after being truly emotional, one can reach the Dao of Deep Emotion, and after deep emotion, one can be detached from emotion.”
“Being able to love anyone, embrace anyone, and have an equal deep love for all of creation and sentient beings is the ultimate detachment from emotion, which is the Supreme Deep Emotion Dao.”
“Just this improvement alone immediately caused the output of this cultivation method to soar several times.”
“Similar advancements have been continuous over the years, and it’s this endless, never-stopping-forward spirit that has laid the foundation for the modern rise of the Joyful Union Sect.”
Listening to Zhang Yu passionately talk about the history of dual cultivation techniques, Fu Ji said, “Looks like you’re taking your classes quite seriously in the simulation.”
Zhang Yu said, “Of course, my original purpose was to collect real vocational university student data. Even in the simulation, I take the classes seriously, not missing out on any piece of information.”
“This vocational university simulation environment does have its merits, allowing me to learn a lot of extracurricular knowledge.”
“Hmm… Though there are some peculiar aspects, I feel I can continue to give it a try.”
Having already paid the spirit coins together with Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu then chose several different scenarios to try.
And after finishing, Zhang Yu received a message from Ye Xingli.
Ye Xingli: How was it, junior brother? Did you gain anything?
Zhang Yu: I gained a lot
Zhang Yu: I feel the amount of vocational knowledge I have now is so high that it’s a bit scary
Ye Xingli: Indeed, these scenarios capture some of the essence of vocational schools
Ye Xingli: But I always feel it’s not realistic enough, too bizarre, and it overly commercializes vocational studies
Ye Xingli: There’s no work that truly records real vocational school life
Ye Xingli: The data inside probably can’t be relied upon
Zhang Yu nodded slightly: “Real vocational school life… I’m afraid no one is interested.”
“Or rather, among the users that enjoy the Spirit Realm simulation service, very few would be interested in real vocational school life.”
“Just seeing vocational students as a curious pastime, entertainment, or a way to sharpen their Dao Heart.”
Zhang Yu replied: Senior sister, you’re right, these scenarios help us feel some vocational school student temperament
Zhang Yu: But to design artifact refining products based on these, it’s probably far from enough
Ye Xingli: Seems we’ll have to gather intelligence from real vocational students
Recalling the scenes he just saw in the simulation, Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted slightly as he said, “Why not just buy from vocational schools.”
“Select a batch from various places, distributed across different regions, affiliated with the ten major vocational institutions.”
“Have these vocational students record their daily lives with eye remains, then sell them to us.”
“This way, we can quickly gather a large amount of first-hand information on vocational students by fast-forwarding through their recordings.”
Ye Xingli: Good idea, let’s do that
Ye Xingli: I can contact a group from my fan base
Zhang Yu: I also know quite a few vocational students
Ye Xingli: Then we each collect, and consolidate after a month
Zhang Yu: Okay
Zhang Yu is not in a rush to finish collecting information early, as for someone like him with Tian Gong Kai Wu, changing the design drawings doesn’t take much time.
Instead, information collection is more important. Only with enough information, enough accurate information to provide to Tian Gong Kai Wu, can Zhang Yu better get the design drawings he wants.
So next, Zhang Yu issued a new task in the Songyang hometown group, buying daily life footage recorded by vocational students with eye remains.
This immediately garnered enthusiastic participation from numerous vocational students.
“Soul cultivator’s footage needed?”
“My eye remain capacity is not enough; can I sell just a few hours at a time?”
“Any requirements regarding image quality?”
Faced with inquiries from vocational students, Zhang Yu answered a few before feeling it was too time-consuming and handed it over to Fu Ji to answer.
Zhang Yu: “Fu Ji, you know my requirements, just collect the data as genuinely and efficiently as possible.”
Fu Ji: “What about the cost?”
Zhang Yu: “How much can the daily life of a vocational student cost?”
“The rice benefit I receive weekly for being an outstanding student at the school is enough to feed them for a year.”
Fu Ji: “Save where you can! You’ve only earned a few spirit coins, and you’re already spending extravagantly?”
Zhang Yu said: “After all, they are fellow townsmen, don’t drive them too hard.”
Meanwhile, many university students in the hometown group were also eager to participate after hearing this.
Hehuan University Heavenly Love Princess: Can’t use university students’ daily videos?
Mountain and River University Lanling: Do you accept videos from Colonel students?
Zhang Yu: No need, only vocational students’
Having handed the specifics of the acquisition to Fu Ji to handle, Zhang Yu then immersed himself in the Taiqing Realm, starting today’s simulated artifact refining practice.
With full effort in the Taiqing Realm practice, Zhang Yu made rapid progress all the way, estimating in his heart: “Around the end of March, I should be ready to start refining the Taixiao Holy Law Sword Formation.”
…
Just as Zhang Yu and Ye Xingli were working together to gather information on undergraduates.
Inside Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s laboratory.
Looking at the brand-new Magic Remains before her, Magnetic Pole True Monarch frowned repeatedly: “Why does it feel… this design has a bit of an undergraduate flavor?”
“Has my sense of aesthetics declined?”
Magnetic Pole True Monarch planned to read more of the latest magic treasure design papers later to properly maintain her sense of magic treasure aesthetics.
At this moment, the lab’s basic intelligent Artifact Spirit reminded her.
“Oh? Did Zhang Yu sign up for the design competition?”
“Hmm, it might be time to introduce someone to him.”
…
Inside Ye Xingli’s laboratory.
Zhang Yu presented a new contract to Ziyun Zhen and the other three assistants.
“There aren’t many changes in the new contract; mainly, some confidentiality clauses have been added. If you all agree, go ahead and sign it.”
Zhang Yu’s upcoming project on the Taixiao Holy Law Sword Formation no longer needed to go through a review, thus there wasn’t a need for constant announcements or leaving traces everywhere.
Furthermore, he considered that his artifact refining skills were becoming more proficient and technically stronger with each refinement.
Especially as the number of magic treasure blueprints he mastered increased, the artifact refining efficiency bonus provided by the artifact refining prodigy kept growing…
Zhang Yu decided to sign a confidentiality agreement with the assistants to prevent them from revealing too many details from the lab, avoiding unnecessary trouble.
Ziyun Zhen and the other two took a look at the confidentiality clauses and found them quite ordinary.
After all, Zhang Yu was not their first lab employer, and having various confidentiality clauses was nothing unusual in their view. With a brief glance, they each signed the new contract in the presence of the True God.
Seeing this, Zhang Yu smiled with satisfaction and said, “Alright, let’s all make the most of our time to study.”
“By the end of this month, I expect to start the official refinement of the Taixiao Holy Law Sword Formation.”
Upon hearing this, Ziyun Zhen was shocked, and Su Yuni beside her exclaimed, “Starting by the end of March? Isn’t that too soon? Can the preliminary technical preparations be completed in time?”
Zhang Yu said calmly, “You don’t need to worry about that; all you need to do is complete the learning required for assistants by the end of March, and make sure not to hold back the project.”
“Once the Taixiao Holy Law Sword Formation refinement is complete, I’ll give everyone a bonus.”
Seeing the mix of anticipation and pressure on the three assistants’ faces, Zhang Yu was indifferent.
Having been in the Artifact Refining Department for over a year, and observing the labs of several True Monarchs in the department, including Senior Sister Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu increasingly understood that high pressure is normal in the lab environment.
Assistants need to be pushed hard to squeeze out their potential and ensure the project’s progress isn’t slowed down.
Meanwhile, Ziyun Zhen and the other two took a deep breath, with no intention of arguing. After all, being squeezed by the boss while learning and experimenting is a basic skill for artifact refining students.
Although assistants do 99% of the miscellaneous jobs, an excellent undergraduate might accomplish these too.
However, for the remaining 1% of the tasks, and to distinguish whether this task belongs to the 1% or 99%, sufficient Immortal Path technology and knowledge reserve are necessary.
Before officially starting the Taixiao Holy Law Sword Formation refinement, extensive learning is indispensable.
For Zhang Yu’s promised bonus, and for the resume of a military-level project, Ziyun Zhen and the other two were fully motivated.
Shortly after Zhang Yu had painted the prospects for his assistants, he received a message from Magnetic Pole True Monarch.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Do you have time?
Receiving a rare active message from his mentor, Zhang Yu immediately stopped what he was doing and replied: Yes
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: I have something to tell you about the design competition
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: The judges for this year’s design competition include one from Wanfa, one from Vajra University, and three from Nether University, Sky Demon University, and Bone University
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: The one from Wanfa is True Monarch Xian Yin, I’ve already spoken to them for you
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: You need to prepare gifts for the other four judges
Zhang Yu: Do I have to give gifts?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Of course, when has a design competition ever not required gift-giving?
Zhang Yu: What should I give?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: What else can you give besides spirit coins?
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “You really are straightforward…”
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: I’ll send you the price list for these four people, let me know after you prepare the spirit coins
Looking at the price list, Zhang Yu winced: “Four Nascent Soul True Monarchs require over 100 spirit coins in total? Sigh, it’s not much for a Nascent Soul True Monarch… but it’s too expensive for a university student.”
Zhang Yu, who thought he had enough money for the time being, never expected to have to part with such a considerable sum.
Zhang Yu: Can I get a discount?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: That’s already the bottom price
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: If you weren’t a Wanfa student and my disciple, you wouldn’t even have a chance to give spirit coins
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Remember, never offer less than the number I gave you; if it’s less, they’ll surely give you trouble
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: And don’t go too high above that number, or you’ll ruin the market
Zhang Yu asked: After giving the spirit coins, can I be guaranteed to get the military certificate?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Giving them will grant you a fair chance to compete for rankings, just like the others who gave gifts