Chapter 409: Sophomore Final Exam

Zhang Yu was playing with the Golden Thread Jade Disc in his hands.

This treasure was roughly the size of an ordinary person's chest, looking like a flat circular jade piece with a palm-sized hole in the center.

The surface of the jade disc was covered with dense golden patterns, resembling complex magical circuits that enveloped the entire disc.

As Zhang Yu channeled his magical power into it, the Golden Thread Jade Disc floated into the air.

At the same time, various parameters of the Golden Thread Jade Disc appeared in Zhang Yu's eyes, including magic capacity, power output, operational duration, and so on.

"Activate follow mode."

With Zhang Yu's faint command, streaks of dim light emerged from the Golden Thread Jade Disc, locking onto Zhang Yu in front of it.

Then the jade disc slowly drifted behind him, like a halo behind his head, silently floating there and moving along with his body.

Besides the follow mode, the Golden Thread Jade Disc also had attack, defense, free, and other modes, all equipped with the simplest intelligence, capable of acting according to the rules set by Zhang Yu.

"But in the end, it's still not as precise as operating it myself."

With a thought from Zhang Yu, the Golden Thread Jade Disc behind his head released layers of radiance, like a small sun, illuminating the entire dormitory.

However, Zhang Yu only released a burst of light and did not activate any further functions.

"It would be bad if I accidentally broke something in the dormitory. I'd better wait until I get to the work site to try."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu separately infused the Golden Thread Jade Disc with magical power from the Deep Cold Meridian and the Blazing Sun Meridian.

He knew that by inputting different types of special magic power, the effects of the Golden Thread Jade Disc would also differ greatly.

"With the Golden Thread Jade Disc, my efficiency on the work site can improve again."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu subconsciously glanced at his bank deposit: 36.15 spirit coins remaining.

Over the past few months, receiving 5 spirit coins monthly from Zhang Pianpian as repayment, 10 spirit coins from Wen Wuyā for the monthly subscription, and constantly working his hardest on the work site had steadily increased his income.

But Zhang Yu's savings hadn't grown much, solely because the cost of artifact crafting was too high.

Especially the more advanced crafting techniques, whether it was the spirit coins consumed in the simulation lab or the cost of purchasing materials in reality, were each more expensive than the last.

It was only because Zhang Yu's basic attributes were gradually reaching the limit of Foundation Establishment, so he no longer needed to spend spirit coins on cultivation, saving another monthly expense; otherwise, his savings would be even smaller.

"And if it weren't for the subsidy from working my hardest on the work site, I'm afraid my artifact crafting progress would be much slower."

Just as Zhang Yu was playing with the Golden Thread Jade Disc, Magnetic Pole True Lord sent him a message.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: The Golden Thread Jade Disc is well-crafted.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: Here's a suggestion.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: Let Xingli help you take orders. I've already mentioned it to her.

Zhang Yu's heart stirred slightly, and he asked: "Take orders for artifact crafting?"

Magnetic Pole True Lord: You've mastered Azure Sand, Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, and Golden Thread Jade Disc quite well now, right?

Magnetic Pole True Lord: I know you're short on capital and don't have spirit coins to stock materials.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: So take orders for crafting, earn some labor fees.

Zhang Yu naturally welcomed this, since even just earning a labor fee would surely be more efficient than working on the work site.

However, Zhang Yu understood that the number of orders would definitely be small, because most people still prefer to buy treasures from large companies and platforms.

But even if he could take two or three orders a month, it would be an important subsidy for his cultivation.

Thinking this, Zhang Yu couldn't help feeling grateful to Magnetic Pole True Lord—his teacher truly understood what he lacked most right now.

At that moment, Magnetic Pole True Lord sent Zhang Yu another gift: a technique called "Artifact Appraisal Art."

"Artifact Appraisal Art"—though its name seemed simple—was a technique that Zhang Yu had known about for a long time but had never purchased.

The sole reason was that the usage rights of this technique cost a full 50 spirit coins, plus a monthly renewal fee of 1 spirit coin.

The reason it was so expensive was that Artifact Appraisal Art was a technique used to identify many treasures and techniques, and this involved the copyright of many treasures and techniques.

The reason for the monthly renewal was that Artifact Appraisal Art was constantly being updated, continuously incorporating newly discovered and newly created treasures and techniques from Kunxu.

As one of the co-creators of Artifact Appraisal Art, Magnetic Pole True Lord had a certain number of authorization slots each year.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: Since you’ve chosen the path of artifact refinement, a basic ability to identify magical artifacts and artifact remains is essential.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: This *Artifact Appraisal Art* can be considered a gift from me after you pass the artifact refinement exam in your sophomore year.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: As for the Gold-Thread Jade Bi, consider it Old Gao’s gift congratulating you on passing the artifact refinement exam.

Zhang Yu thought to himself: “Does Director Gao even know he’s celebrating my passing the artifact refinement exam?”

Zhang Yu replied: Thank you, Teacher.

He quickly downloaded the *Artifact Appraisal Art* and stored it in his eye remains.

As he browsed through it, he also saw the Chain Diagram set to which the *Artifact Appraisal Art* belonged: Artifact Refinement Prodigy.

Zhang Yu thought to himself: “Unlike various magical artifact crafting techniques, this *Artifact Appraisal Art*, being a cultivation method, can actually trigger the Chain Diagram.” Zhang Yu understood that on the path of artifact refinement, besides various techniques for crafting magical artifacts and artifact remains, there were many cultivation methods that could enhance one’s abilities in artifact refinement.

Examples like the appraisal art before him, or things like the Five Thunder Refining Art, the Red Dust Weapon Refining Technique, the Dragon Vein Treasure Casting Art…

However, unlike the vast majority of cultivation methods Zhang Yu had practiced in the past, these were all categorized as Daoist techniques.

Expensiveness was the hallmark of these Daoist techniques—not only were the rights to use them costly, but the expenses required to cultivate them far exceeded those of martial arts cultivation methods.

Up until now, the various cultivation methods Zhang Yu had practiced were either pure mental techniques, breathing exercises, or martial arts techniques. A Daoist technique like the *Artifact Appraisal Art* was truly the first he had ever qualified to cultivate.

The primary reason for this was the high cost of Daoist techniques.

“Daoist techniques often require special materials to cultivate, such as various types of thunder and fire, special substances like Red Dust Qi or Heavenly Nether Qi, or special environments like dragon veins or yin caverns.”

“Some Daoist techniques also consume an enormous amount of mystical opportunities, and you have to purchase special types of mana that you don’t possess yourself.”

“If the technique involves artifact refinement, it often requires various magical artifacts to assist in cultivation…”

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly; this was precisely why, after embarking on the path of artifact refinement, he had not chosen to cultivate an artifact refinement technique.

After all, the production techniques for various magical artifacts alone already placed a huge financial burden on Zhang Yu, and he simply had no money left to invest in artifact refinement cultivation methods.

According to Zhang Yu’s original plan, he would at least wait until his artifact refinement skills had improved to a point where he could balance income and expenses before considering an artifact refinement cultivation method.

“This is probably also why the first three years of the Artifact Refinement Department’s curriculum don’t include a mandatory artifact refinement cultivation method.”

“Taking both paths simultaneously would put too much financial pressure on students—I doubt many in the Artifact Refinement Department could handle it.”

So Zhang Yu looked at the *Artifact Appraisal Art* before him with increasing delight. Having the usage rights gifted by Magnetic Pole True Lord really helped him save a considerable sum.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: Are you sure you want to keep hiding our relationship? Not coming to study in the Artifact Refinement Department?

Zhang Yu: I’m sorry, True Lord. Director Gao has been very good to me, and I don’t want to hurt him.

Zhang Yu thought to himself: “After this final exam, I’ll have mastered three of the Seven Ultimate Earthwork Techniques.”

“As for the upcoming Earthwork Competition, I’ve already asked Director Gao; the top seven will also be rewarded with two slots for the Seven Ultimate Earthwork Techniques.”

“If I get one of those slots, that means I’ll have mastered four of the Seven Ultimate Earthwork Techniques.”

“Then once I obtain my military certification and pass three of the department’s Earthwork Seven Trials to get three more ultimate techniques…”

At this thought, Zhang Yu seemed to already see the military-grade martial arts technique, Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, waving at him.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: Although I can continue to guide you in artifact refinement knowledge, and secretly grant you an Artifact Refinement Department degree,

Magnetic Pole True Lord: If you don’t openly join the Artifact Refinement Department, you will never have the chance to master the true esoteric teachings of the Artifact Refinement Department.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: For example, my department’s two military-grade techniques, *The Heaven-Earth Calamity Formless Heart Troops* and *The Grand Void Divine Artifact Strategy*,

Magnetic Pole True Lord: As well as military-grade artifact remains and magical artifacts like the Sun-Sovereign Radiant God, the Vacuum Catastrophe Diagram, the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Matrix, etc.—you will have no opportunity to learn or even handle them.

Magnetic Pole True Lord: For instance, your senior sister, Night Star Li, has already cultivated the *Grand Void Divine Artifact Strategy* and is about to complete the refinement of the Vacuum Catastrophe Diagram.

Fuji commented: “This Artifact Refinement Department is far more impressive than the Earthwork Department; it has so much more military-grade power.”

Zhang Yu’s heart stirred: “This Magnetic Pole True Lord—is he tempting me by saying all this?”

But he had to admit, listening to what Magnetic Pole True Lord said, it was absolutely impossible for him to claim he felt no temptation at all.

Yet even if he wanted to go to the Artifact Refinement Department to learn those military-grade powers, Zhang Yu still wanted to master Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power in the Earthwork Department first.

After all, he had already completed nearly half the journey on that path.

Fuji laughed: “At first, Magnetic Pole True Lord was just offering you an opportunity to become his disciple as a matter of convenience.”

"And since last year's Civil Engineering Competition, she saw your physical talent and is willing to give you the opportunity to become a secret disciple."

"Now that she's seen your artifact-refining talent, I'm afraid Lord Magnetic Pole feels you have a great chance to master the military-grade power of the Artifact Refining Department, so she wants to make the relationship public in the future."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, thinking to himself that over the course of repeated interactions, he had indeed gradually sensed the change in Lord Magnetic Pole's attitude towards him.

Fuki continued, "She’s definitely tempting you now. Even if you really do switch to the Artifact Refining Department, it can't be done in an instant. You can totally use this time to master the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power. There's no need to expose the relationship early and provoke Director Gao's displeasure."

"Lord Magnetic Pole must know this too. I think this person is just giving you a little temptation in advance to strengthen your resolve to make the relationship public in the future."

Zhang Yu: I need to think about it.

Lord Magnetic Pole: No rush, take your time.