Chapter 405: Magnetic Incarnation

The moment the Earth Fiend Bottle was completed, Zhang Yu’s face turned slightly pale, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Zhang Yu shook his head helplessly, thinking, “Was I still injured during the processing of the Earth Fiend Qi?”

He understood in his heart that on one hand, his cultivation base and experience in handling Earth Fiend Qi were still lacking; on the other hand, the equipment in this lab was far too crude.

Although Zhang Yu had been careful enough, he still ended up absorbing a few strands of Earth Fiend Qi into his body.

But this was also within Zhang Yu’s expectations.

“Fortunately, I was cautious enough. An infection of this level will pass after a few days of rest.”

“The money saved from not renting an advanced lab can be spent these days on a simulation lab in the Spirit World, allowing me to practice more artifact refining skills.”

So over the next two days, apart from attending classes, Zhang Yu spent most of his time indoors, staying in his dormitory to engage in artifact refining training through the Spirit World simulation.

……

One day, Ye Xingli arrived at the dormitory door and knocked on Zhang Yu’s door.

Zhang Yu looked at Ye Xingli outside the door and said in surprise, “Senior Ye? What’s the matter?”

Ye Xingli gave Zhang Yu a somewhat strange look, stepped into the dormitory, and quickly closed the door.

Previously, Ciji Zhenjun had asked her to guide Zhang Yu in artifact refining and to record his performance in the lab, even take photos—she had already been full of doubts.

And thinking about what she had done today, Ye Xingli became even more puzzled.

She took out a round bead from her bosom. The bead shimmered with seven-colored light, and inside it seemed to have a flowing nebula, sometimes clear and sometimes hazy, full of mystery.

Zhang Yu asked doubtfully, “Senior, what is this?”

The next moment, the voice of Ciji Zhenjun came from the bead: “It’s me.”

Immediately after, the entire dormitory seemed to shake violently.

But soon Zhang Yu realized that it wasn’t the real dormitory trembling, but the Spirit World visible through his spiritual eyes.

As if with a loud rumble, a phantom image of a pagoda appeared as if smashing through space, forcibly manifesting in the dormitory. It was Ciji Zhenjun’s level-40 dharma treasure, the Nine Heavens Prime Yang Pagoda.

And with the arrival of the Nine Heavens Prime Yang Pagoda, all substances in this small dormitory that interweave with the Spirit World—whether spiritual eyes or dharma treasures—had all information transmission and reception temporarily suppressed and taken over by the Nine Heavens Prime Yang Pagoda.

Then a flash of light was seen, and a phantom figure emerged from the round bead in Ye Xingli’s hand, appearing before Zhang Yu.

Looking at the slender figure before him, dressed in palace attire, sensing the noble aura emanating from her, the high-held head, and the arrogance in her gaze… Zhang Yu said somewhat uncertainly, “Are you Ciji Zhenjun?”

“Yes and no.” The phantom figure said calmly, “This is an incarnation I condensed using the Xuanpin Heavenly Pearl. It is not my true self, but it can sufficiently represent my will.”

This was Zhang Yu’s first face-to-face contact with Ciji Zhenjun, so he said somewhat nervously, “What is it that you need?”

Ciji Zhenjun said calmly, “You previously bought a batch of materials contaminated with Earth Fiend Qi, and then you rested for two days. Were you infected by the Earth Fiend Qi?”

Hearing this, Zhang Yu was startled, not expecting Ciji Zhenjun to pay this much attention to him. He nodded slightly, “Mm.”

Ciji Zhenjun said, “You might think your physique is strong enough to tough it out.”

“But Earth Fiend Qi is like a bone-deep ulcer. If not handled properly, it can have long-term effects on the physical body and affect the quality of the entire fleshly body.”

Saying this, Ciji Zhenjun smiled slightly and looked at Ye Xingli behind her, saying, “Xingli, go outside and guard. Don’t let anyone disturb me.”

“I understand.” Ye Xingli, with a complicated expression, glanced at Ciji Zhenjun, then at Zhang Yu, and finally retreated silently.

After Ye Xingli left, Ciji Zhenjun suddenly approached Zhang Yu and began scrutinizing him from head to toe.

Zhang Yu said nervously, “Zhenjun, I feel that the effect of the Earth Fiend Qi on me shouldn’t be that severe.”

Ciji Zhenjun grabbed Zhang Yu’s wrist and said domineeringly, “Wait until I finish examining you before you say that.”

Zhang Yu then felt an extremely powerful surge of magical power flow into his body, sweeping through his four limbs and a hundred bones, and the thirty-six meridians in an instant.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu had already put away all his Dao Seeds and Chain Diagrams, and he felt that Ciji Zhenjun should not have detected anything unusual.

The next moment, Zhang Yu felt a pain in his chest, and a stream of black Qi surged out from his seven orifices, gradually dissipating in the air.

Ciji Zhenjun looked at Zhang Yu with some surprise and said, “I’ve helped you expel the residual Earth Fiend Qi. But your physique is indeed strong; even without my help today, you would have recovered soon enough.”

After saying this, Ciji Zhenjun’s fingertips swept over Zhang Yu’s arm, shoulder, chest… as if examining something, and finally said with appreciation, “Your physical cultivation is excellent. The bodies of many senior students, tempered thousands of times, are far inferior to yours.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, always feeling as if his entire body was being scrutinized by her.

Magnetic Pole True Lord said indifferently, "Relax, are you this nervous in front of Director Gao as well?"

Zhang Yu said helplessly, "No... it's not quite the same."

Magnetic Pole True Lord: "What's different? If you insist it's different, it's only that after we established our master-disciple relationship, Old Gao took you as his nominal disciple."

Saying this, Magnetic Pole True Lord patted Zhang Yu's head again and comforted him, "Don't worry, I mobilized the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Pagoda to suppress the spirit realm here. No one will know that I came to your place today."

Zhang Yu couldn't help saying, "True Lord... I think we'd better use the spirit realm network to communicate. Director Gao is a good teacher; us doing this isn't good."

Compared to Director Gao, Magnetic Pole True Lord's methods were obviously much more formidable. Zhang Yu really didn't want to be inspected by the other party at every turn.

Magnetic Pole True Lord smiled dismissively and said casually, "Don't talk about Old Gao."

"In three months, the sophomore year will be over."

"Today, I'll test how well you've studied the courses of the Artifact Refining Department."

...At the same time, Ye Xingli, who was guarding outside the door, was filled with myriad doubts: "Why did Master come to find Zhang Yu?"

"And why so secretive, having me cover for him to come here?"

"From what was just said, is it about Zhang Yu being infected by Earthly Fiend Qi?"

"Did Master come specifically to treat the Earthly Fiend Qi on Zhang Yu?"

Thinking this, Ye Xingli had even more doubts: "But this... does he need to do it himself? He could have someone else handle it, unless..."

"Master came secretly because he doesn't want people to know Zhang Yu was contaminated by Earthly Fiend Qi, doesn't want people to know about Zhang Yu doing artifact refining?"

"Is it really Director Gao who wants to train Zhang Yu in artifact refining? Or..."

As guesses emerged in her mind, Ye Xingli's face gradually showed a conflicted expression.

She even thought of some incidents where teachers fought over disciples, eventually coming to blows, causing a series of losses.

"No way?"

"Master and Director Gao have centuries of old friendship. According to the thinking of people from their era, they shouldn't do such things."

Ye Xingli nodded repeatedly, constantly telling herself in her heart, "Master must be doing this for Director Gao."

"He must have rushed over to take care of Director Gao's disciple."

Half an hour later, seeing that Magnetic Pole True Lord still hadn't come out, Ye Xingli wanted to send a message to ask, but also worried about disturbing her master.

"How much longer will it be?"

Just then, a voice sounded: "Xingli?"

Ye Xingli abruptly looked up, seeing Mo Shangjin walking over from a distance, looking at her curiously and saying, "Why are you here?"

Ye Xingli knew that Mo Shangjin was also a resident on this floor, so she quickly explained, "I came to find Zhang Yu."

Mo Shangjin smiled slightly: "Looking for Zhang Yu? Perfect, I also need to discuss the next project with him. Let's go in together."

But as Mo Shangjin took a step forward, he saw that Ye Xingli still blocked his way.

Mo Shangjin asked in confusion, "Huh? Xingli, what are you doing?"

Ye Xingli smiled awkwardly and said, "I... I just finished talking with him. He still has some things to attend to. Let's not disturb him for now."

At the same time, Ye Xingli quickly sent a message to Magnetic Pole True Lord.

Ye Xingli: Master, Mo Shangjin is now outside the door.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: Don't let him bother me.

Ye Xingli gave a wry smile inwardly, and looking at Mo Shangjin in front of her, she had no choice but to pull him into chitchat.

At first, Mo Shangjin was quite pleased to be pulled into chatting by Ye Xingli.

He had always wanted to get on good terms with Ye Xingli, this top student from the Artifact Refining Department. Not to mention other things... just the maintenance of his dharma skeleton through her could save a lot of money.

But after being pulled into talking for more than ten minutes, Mo Shangjin gradually felt something was off. He thought to himself, "Ye Xingli... why does it feel like she's making conversation? What does she really want?"

Another five minutes passed, just as Mo Shangjin was finding it more and more strange, the dormitory door behind him finally opened.

Zhang Yu looked at the two and said, "Senior Mo, Senior Ye, what are you doing here?"

Just as Mo Xuanjin moved forward, the Xuanpo Heavenly Pearl transformed into a barely discernible streak of light, slipping into Ye Xingli's arms without anyone noticing.

Ye Xingli quickly said goodbye and left, while sending a tactful message: "Master, after all, Zhang Yu is Director Gao's disciple."

Magnetic Pole True Lord: "Xingli, since when did you become so talkative?"

Ye Xingli immediately deleted the words she was typing.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: "As for today's matter, just pretend you saw nothing."

Ye Xingli: "[shut up face]"

Ye Xingli sighed inwardly: "Sigh, what exactly is so charming about this Zhang Yu?"

Inside the dormitory on the other side.

After Mo Xuanjin left, Fuji sighed: "Zhang Yu, have you thought about what you'll do when Director Gao finds out?"

Zhang Yu recalled the satisfied expression on Magnetic Pole True Lord's face before he left, and said slowly: "My grasp of the artifact crafting curriculum has basically gained the approval of Magnetic Pole True Lord."

"Next is to pass the Artifact Crafting Department's exam at the end of the term."

Magnetic Pole True Lord had already said he would arrange it separately for Zhang Yu, so he wasn't too worried about this aspect.

Zhang Yu sighed: "Magnetic Pole True Lord said he would secretly grant me an identity in the Artifact Crafting Department, but not make it public for now, so I can stay in the Civil Engineering Department for a few more years."

"Sigh, I'll hide it as long as I can."

"Director Gao is very good to me, I don't want to conflict with him."

Fuji thought to herself: "Are you doing that for Director Gao? You're scheming to target the Seven Wonders of Civil Engineering, the Heaven-Kunlun Moving Mountain Divine Power."