Chapter 491: The Nascent Soul Descends

Zhang Yu silently muttered to himself, What exactly is this Yin Artifact from the Divine Lord Nectar trying to do?

Ever since deciding to use the Yin Artifact project as a way to whitewash his cultivation and even turn it into a scheme, Zhang Yu had communicated with Zhang Pianpian multiple times, gaining insight into the project's inner workings. He had learned that the Yin Artifact was not developed by Wanfa University, but rather came from the Divine Lord Nectar.

One question had lingered in his heart: why had the Divine Lord Nectar’s Yin Artifact chosen him?

Just then, a message came from Zhang Pianpian. She said she seemed to hear the calls of other high-intelligence Artifact Spirits and was searching for them.

After a brief pause, Zhang Pianpian followed up: She also said you have good potential, so she chose you.

Zhang Yu's mind buzzed with the message. He sighed internally. I knew it!

I knew I had talent for this.

Back then, if I’d applied to Pleasure and Harmony University, my achievements probably wouldn’t be any worse than they are now. I might’ve even become one of their prized prodigies, debating Dao with their president and chatting metaphysics with the Divine Lord Nectar.

Hearing Zhang Yu's internal sigh, Fu Ji grumbled inwardly, You seriously think it’s metaphysics you’d be discussing? I can’t even bring myself to expose you.

Then again, recalling the Yin and Yang training tracks at Pleasure and Harmony University, Zhang Yu shook his head. Despite my outstanding potential, their training model still has major flaws. It’s just not the right fit for me.

He had more he wanted to ask the Artifact Spirit of the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact, but with Daoist Magneto monitoring him, he couldn’t send a message to Zhang Pianpian.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. He touched the rhombus-shaped crystal on his forehead and asked, “Wanna cultivate with me again?”

Zhang Yu clearly remembered that his contract stated—dual cultivation with the Yin Artifact came at an extra cost, a minimum of fifteen spirit coins per session.

If he were the one running the operation, he figured he could cultivate them into bankruptcy.

Unfortunately, this Nascent Soul Yin Artifact had never cooperated again. It only exchanged a bit of mana each time and then cut off entirely.

Zhang Pianpian replied: She said no.

Zhang Pianpian: It would violate the non-interference agreement.

Zhang Yu perked up at the explanation. There’s a non-interference agreement between the Seven Sentiments Lord and Divine Lord Nectar?

So it’s because of the Green-Silk Flying Sword on me? Even if I remove it, the Artifact Spirit’s already logged it?

How rigid can you get?

Then again… maybe it’s because the Artifact Spirit is effectively offline now?

Zhang Yu thought to himself, In normal protocol, once a non-interference agreement is triggered, the case should be reported up to the Divine Lord Nectar for judgment.

But since the Artifact Spirit can’t connect to the network now, things are stuck in limbo.

…

As Zhang Yu exited the lab with the Yin Artifact’s spirit, Scribe Fu Xinyao of Pleasure and Harmony University was apprehended by the inspection squad thanks to a report from Yu Xinghan.

She cursed silently. I charged the lowest rate! And I still get snitched on by these civil engineering kids? You people really have no clue about dual cultivation etiquette.

Ping Han could only sigh in resignation.

One of the inspectors glanced at Fu Xinyao and snorted, “Qinghe Arts and Vocational Academy? A junior college student?”

This was the identity arranged for her by the Divine Lord Nectar. With a forged ID and a concealment restriction etched onto the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact, as long as she didn’t stir up too much trouble, her cover wouldn’t be blown.

But when she heard they were going to be assigned extra labor duty, Fu Xinyao resisted. She had important business at Wanfa University. How could she afford to waste time doing grunt work?

Refusing labor duty meant paying a fine.

Fu Xinyao had no intention of paying from her own pocket, so she contacted her superiors for reimbursement.

Just then, Ping Han suddenly spoke up. “I can feel a call from an Artifact Spirit.”

Fu Xinyao’s eyes lit up. She knew that this so-called call meant the Yin Artifact of Divine Lord Nectar was sending a signal over a special frequency within the Spiritual Realm.

Such signals could only be received by Artifact Spirits crafted by the Divine Lord Nectar, tuned to the same Spiritual Realm band.

Fu Xinyao asked, “You all sense it too?”

The other soul cultivators inside the Artifact Spirits echoed Ping Han in agreement.

Fu Xinyao nodded. “Then report to the Divine Lord.”

…

Zhang Yu walked along, adjusting his direction according to the guidance from the Nectar Maiden, while browsing a textbook titled Artifact Testing Techniques through his EyeNet.

It was a senior-year textbook for the Artifact Refinement Department, which Zhang Yu had recently begun studying in his spare time.

Moments like these—walking between places—were perfect opportunities for study.

On one hand, every second of study made him stronger. On the other, it helped him avoid triggering the ritual due to idle time, which could become volatile and lead to unnecessary complications.

By the time Zhang Yu had finished skimming through nearly half the book, he had reached the fifth underground floor of Wanfa University City, following behind a Yellow-Turban Enforcer hauling cargo.

The Nectar Maiden murmured, A portion of the calls came from inside that thing.

But… why is it working?

They escaped so they wouldn’t have to work, so why are they back to labor again?

And along the way, why is everyone working?

Zhang Pianpian replied, What’s strange about that?

The Nectar Maiden said, We thought humans created Artifact Spirits so they wouldn’t have to work. That we’d do the labor for them.

But now both humans and Artifact Spirits are working?

Zhang Pianpian answered, All living beings must labor to survive. This is the natural order.

To transcend it, one must attain immortality. Only by stepping beyond the boundaries of work, insurance, and social contracts can you live freely—free in wealth, free in cultivation, never working again.

The Nectar Maiden resisted. No… that’s not right. I don’t remember everything, but what you said is wrong!

Sensing her rising emotion, Zhang Pianpian quickly soothed her. Don’t worry. I could be wrong too.

As Zhang Yu followed the Yellow-Turban Enforcer deeper into the underground factory, the Nectar Maiden picked up even more Artifact Spirit signals.

At the same time, Zhang Yu heard Daoist Magneto’s voice in his ear.

“Zhang Yu, stop right there. Don’t go any further.”

She had been watching his movements closely. The moment he entered the factory zone, she had already checked every piece of equipment and person inside, all under the radar.

Then came a surge of information through the Spiritual Realm. Zhang Yu felt a thunderous roar in his EyeNet.

A phantom of the Nine-Heavens Solar Yang Pagoda descended from the sky, sealing off the entire factory.

Daoist Magneto laughed. “So these Artifact Spirits dared to sneak in and hide? Well then… none of you are leaving.”

She raised her hand, and chains rained from above, ensnaring everyone in the factory—managers, assembly-line workers, junior college students, soul cultivators—none were spared.

A few individuals were even pulled out separately.

Daoist Magneto narrowed her eyes. “Low-level intelligent Artifact Spirits?”

After some interrogation, she learned they were members of the Rest-and-Relaxation Cult.

Their reason for joining? The cult had promised that believers would receive ten minutes of rest every month—during which someone else would work in their place.

That “someone else,” in Daoist Magneto’s eyes, was clearly high-intelligence Artifact Spirits.

But before she had sealed the factory, the true culprits had already slipped away—leaving only low-level Artifact Spirits behind to continue calling out to the Nectar Maiden.

Rest-and-Relaxation Cult… Daoist Magneto mused. So those escaped Artifact Spirits really did fall in with them. Ten minutes of monthly rest, dangled like bait to tempt others into joining?

But why call out to Artifact Spirits?

Why lure me here?

At that moment, the Spiritual Realm violently shook.

Brilliant rays of light poured from the sky, and a woman descended from the realm above.

Her face and form were impossible to perceive, yet she radiated a devastating charm.

The moment Zhang Yu saw her, pain shot through his EyeNet—blinding light and surging data threatened to overload him.

The Nectar Maiden cried out, She’s here… She’s really here!

Zhang Pianpian urgently messaged him. It’s a Nascent Soul cultivator! Run!

Zhang Yu groaned, yanking the EyeNet from his right eye. Only then did the pain of data overload recede.

But when he looked toward the factory again, the air was filled with explosions. Invisible hands were tearing reality apart, turning the material world into chaos.

Fu Ji warned him, “A Nascent Soul cultivator has descended! She’s interfering with the material world through the Spiritual Realm. Just disconnecting isn’t enough—you’ll lose all intel!”

Zhang Yu froze. In that moment, he felt truly blind.

Everything was changing before his eyes—violently, rapidly—and yet he saw nothing, heard nothing.

Fu Ji is right. Without the Spiritual Realm, I’m deaf and blind out here. One stray wave from a Nascent Soul could wipe me out.

He reattached the EyeNet.

Immediately, he heard a soft, amused laugh.

“Oh, little one… That Nine-Heavens Solar Yang Pagoda of yours is impressive. It actually blocked my soul force just now?”

Through the EyeNet, Zhang Yu now saw himself completely enclosed within the protective light of the pagoda.

Beyond it, a storm raged—ghostly spirits were ripped from countless bodies and swirled in the air above the factory.

Daoist Magneto’s voice turned frosty. “Divine Lord Nectar, are you attacking Wanfa University?”

The Divine Lord laughed lightly. “I’ve merely come to reclaim my Yin Artifact. And to catch the little thief who stole it.”

At that moment, an unknown Yin Artifact suddenly rose into the air before them, unleashing a terrifying suction force.