Chapter 485: In the Spotlight

In the group chat for the Civil Engineering Department faculty.

Tu Lishan: Congratulations to the competition team for defeating Heavenly Sword Sect University! 🎉🎉🎉

Tu Lishan: Director Gao, I’ve already uploaded the [match video].

In an instant, the chat was flooded with messages of congratulations, fireworks emojis dancing across the screen.

Director Gao nodded slightly as he watched, deeply satisfied with the competition team's latest achievement.

“One more win, and they’ll be champions of the losers' bracket—and off to the finals.”

“Why hasn’t anyone from the Peace Faction come out to congratulate them?”

Looking at the names in the chat, Director Gao frowned. He was sorely tempted to drag Director Lin out himself.

Especially remembering how last time, people from the Peace Faction had criticized Zhang Yu's swift sweep of the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes, calling it 'out of procedure'... the more he thought about it, the more he wanted them to witness the team's results firsthand.

But on second thought, it didn’t seem quite proper for him to act on that impulse.

“Maybe I’ll just have Tu Lishan do it…”

Meanwhile, Mo Shangjin sent him a message:

Mo Shangjin: Sir, I didn’t expect Zhang Yu to clinch the match all on his own this time.

Director Gao: Then it wasn’t a waste having him secure the Seven Absolutes early.

Mo Shangjin: But there’s something I still need to tell you.

As news of Zhang Yu’s breakthrough in the match reached him, Director Gao’s brows slowly knit together. He let out a faint sigh. He couldn’t help but feel that Zhang Yu had, without realizing it, been caught in the middle of a storm.

“That Yin Artifact… might just be the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact of Divine Lord Nectar.”

“For someone at the Foundation Establishment level to get involved in something tied to a Nascent Soul Yin Artifact… I fear he’ll soon lose control over his own fate.”

As the thought crossed his mind, the image of True Lord Magneto came to mind. Director Gao immediately messaged her for confirmation.

Director Gao: Have you heard about Zhang Yu?

True Lord Magneto: Don’t worry. Your disciple is under my protection. I won’t let your investment go to waste.

Director Gao was visibly shaken by her reply and wrote back: Magneto, you need to be careful too.

Director Gao: This whole thing is bigger than it seems.

Director Gao: They gave you the opportunity because they want you on the front lines.

True Lord Magneto: Haha, Old Gao, in the Kunxu Realm, opportunities are rare enough. What’s a little risk?

True Lord Magneto: I’ve been longing for the glory of the Nascent Soul stage for far too long.

True Lord Magneto: Rather than worry about me, you’d do better to keep a closer eye on that disciple of yours.

True Lord Magneto: [Photo]

Director Gao opened the photo and saw Zhang Yu standing with Bai Zhenzhen and Wen Wuya.

Director Gao was briefly stunned. “This is…?”

True Lord Magneto gave him a brief rundown of their identities and added: Wen Wuya’s not too concerning, but Bai Zhenzhen carries massive risks.

True Lord Magneto: You’ve heard at least something about the Seven Sentiments Lineage, haven’t you?

True Lord Magneto: I already tried to talk Zhang Yu out of it on the flying vessel, but judging by his face, he’s still a bit reluctant to let go.

True Lord Magneto: Once he’s back, you’d better drill it into him—cut ties with Bai Zhenzhen for good. Better yet, block her entirely.

…

On the flying vessel, after ending the message exchange, True Lord Magneto patted Zhang Yu’s head and smiled. “Once we land, someone will take you to the lab.”

“I’ll be waiting for you there. We’ll do a thorough check-up.”

Watching her vanish from view, Zhang Yu finally let out a small breath of relief. Judging by her behavior, it didn’t seem like she had discovered anything off about him.

Still worried that she might have left behind some kind of surveillance spell, he stifled his curiosity and didn’t rush to switch back to the Greenlotus Sword Embryo.

When Zhang Yu returned to Wanfa University, he was promptly whisked away to the lab by Daoist Tianzhang.

Watching the pair vanish down the corridor, Su Yanyang, Xiao Yunji, and the others couldn’t help showing a hint of envy on their faces.

After all, taking part in lab experiments not only offered boosts to one’s Techniques but came with generous payouts. Who wouldn’t want that?

Meanwhile, Shi Huaiyu and the others sighed, thinking about how they still needed to work overtime to afford their cultivation expenses and loans, and quickly dispersed.

As Zhang Yu walked alongside Daoist Tianzhang, the latter spoke in an excited tone: “The school leadership is paying close attention to this project. They’re very pleased with the results we’ve achieved.”

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “What results? You haven’t even got any.”

Daoist Tianzhang continued, “I heard about what happened with Heavenly Sword Sect University. Far too dangerous. You must stay away from people associated with the Seven Sentiments Lord. They’re nothing but trouble.”

He warned, “You have to understand, your body is no longer just yours—it’s tied to our entire project team, to countless people’s futures. Security cannot be taken lightly.”

“These off-campus competitions… best not participate unless absolutely necessary. Try to stay within the school grounds from now on.”

Naturally, Zhang Yu couldn’t agree to that. The Civil Engineering competitions directly affected overall scores and rankings, and the external projects were his main source of income. How could he give them up?

Sensing his reluctance, Daoist Tianzhang only chuckled, deciding to let Zhang Yu’s teacher persuade him later.

By now, they had already arrived inside the lab.

As soon as Zhang Yu entered, he was taken through a battery of tests—especially to verify the potency of his 18th-level Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might.

Once confirmed, Daoist Tianzhang let out a hearty laugh.

True Lord Magneto soon joined them and began her own series of tests on Zhang Yu.

She was deeply curious about the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact—its mysterious powers, and how it enhanced Zhang Yu’s Techniques.

“Using Dual Cultivation to enhance cultivation Techniques… this is Pleasure and Harmony University’s proprietary tech. If I can unlock its secrets, my breakthrough to Nascent Soul might finally be within reach.”

With that, True Lord Magneto gripped Zhang Yu and carefully—yet with a hint of glee—began collecting samples.

Hair, blood, mana… she took as much as she could for future experimentation.

Meanwhile, Daoist Tianzhang snapped a few blurry photos of Zhang Yu undergoing examination and posted them on his social feed with the caption: “This could be a world-changing invention, a groundbreaking new technology with epochal significance.”

Watching the likes and comments roll in, he smiled to himself.

Just then, his expression shifted as new alerts popped up in his eye-linked interface. Visitors were coming to tour the lab.

Back in the lab, True Lord Magneto, having finished her procedures, said to Zhang Yu, “That’s all for today. You’re free to go.”

“But if we need you, you must report back immediately.”

“Your contract will be upgraded soon. The details are still being finalized. I’ll try to get you a better salary package—we’ll discuss it later.”

As she was about to send Zhang Yu off, Daoist Tianzhang arrived with a few visitors standing at the lab’s entrance.

One of them asked, “You’re just letting the subject leave? Is that wise?”

True Lord Magneto narrowed her eyes slightly. “Research Division personnel?”

The Research Division oversaw all major Immortal Dao research projects at Wanfa University.

And the man before her—Feng Yuhan—was a division manager specifically in charge of the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact project.

Zhang Yu caught the tension and instinctively paused, glancing between Feng Yuhan and True Lord Magneto.

She waved him off. “I told you to go. Don’t linger.”

This time, Zhang Yu walked away. Feng Yuhan didn’t stop him, only sighed. “You just let him walk off. What if something happens?”

“The results of this experiment… they’re university assets now.”

“Do you have any idea? He might already be targeted by other schools—especially Pleasure and Harmony University.”

True Lord Magneto said coolly, “Don’t you have school assets in your body? Don’t I?”

“If Wanfa University itself isn’t safe, then we might as well all lock ourselves in our caves and never come out.”

“You know that’s not what I meant,” Feng Yuhan replied, frowning. “These experimental subjects need strict supervision. I hear he’s still out doing competitions and side projects? You really ought to keep him in the lab.”

“What if he’s ambushed by rival schools outside?”

“And why did you apply for a 40 spirit coin monthly base salary for him? That’s way too high! He’s just a research subject—not a tech developer. Why pay him that much?”

“Project funding isn’t meant to be squandered like this.”

True Lord Magneto ignored him and walked back into the lab. “I have my own plans. If there’s a problem, I’ll report to Divine Lord Wan. It’s not your place to interfere.”

As the lab doors closed behind her, Daoist Tianzhang offered a helpless smile. “She’s always been like this. Gets too absorbed in research—comes off a little eccentric.”

Feng Yuhan snorted. “This isn’t about her temperament. It’s about misusing university resources and jeopardizing valuable assets.”

“I’ll be submitting a full report on this situation. Not even Magneto will be allowed to act recklessly.”

Watching him storm off, Daoist Tianzhang could only shake his head.

Just then, a voice rang out: “Daoist Tianzhang, shall we continue the tour?”

Turning around, he saw Jiu Tianliu from the Finance Department.

Though she was just a student, Daoist Tianzhang treated her with utmost respect—not only because of her department, but also because of her powerful Nascent Soul mentor: Divine Lord Goldque.

Among the university’s three Nascent Soul cultivators, Daoist Tianzhang held Divine Lord Goldque in the highest regard.

He knew Goldque’s financial background, and her influence over the university’s funding and investment distribution was unmatched.

Even a scrap of support from her was enough to propel any project to new heights.

Part of the funding for the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact project had come from her, after all.

Jiu Tianliu had come this time to evaluate whether additional investment was warranted.

Daoist Tianzhang smiled warmly. “Of course, of course—let’s continue.”

Jiu Tianliu asked, “Would it be possible to see the Yin Artifact itself?”

She smiled faintly. “I’d like to personally test its effects.”