Chapter 497: Reimbursement and Transfer Preparation

Power core overheating...

Left arm, third joint—shock damage and joint fracture...

Spirit-circuit short-circuit warning...

Watching the warning messages flash one after another, Wangou Xuan immediately understood that the Earthshaker Deity had taken serious damage in its recent clash with Zhang Yu.

Beneath the diagnostics, an estimated repair cost appeared: 18.23 spirit coins.

Under normal circumstances, Wangou Xuan would’ve already started considering how to surrender in the coolest way possible. After all, any further fighting would just rack up the repair costs, and it really wasn’t worth it.

But this time—everything was fully reimbursable.

With his expenses covered, he was utterly fearless.

In fact, seeing the estimate climb only fueled his fighting spirit. He just wanted to keep going and brawl to his heart’s content!

“Come again!”

Revving the Earthshaker Deity up to full power, Wangou Xuan replayed Zhang Yu’s astonishing strike in his mind.

“If even the Earthshaker Deity’s taken this much damage, there’s no way your body came out unscathed.”

“How many more of those attacks can you even pull off?”

With a furious roar, the Earthshaker Deity’s power core surged once more. Waves of Martial Qi erupted, rapidly regenerating its Tough Meridian Phantasm as it unleashed another earthshaking blow.

I can still use that attack eight more times.

Zhang Yu calculated silently. By using his Martial Qi and body as the conduit, he could channel the domineering might of the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might—compressing the dual-layered power of the technique into a single strike.

With his current strength, he could do this maybe three times before his body would start deteriorating, damage piling up with each repetition.

After six strikes, the power would begin to drop sharply.

By the ninth, he’d hit his absolute limit.

As the thought passed through his mind, the Mountain-Moving Giant gave a long howl.

In the next instant, the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might exploded out, with Earthfiend Gravity flooding toward him as the center.

The air compressed with a thunderous crush. Shockwaves burst outward from his body like a storm.

In the midst of the roaring shockwaves, Zhang Yu’s hands lifted two stars—one black, one white—and hurled them at the Earthshaker Deity.

The fierce battle raged on for six more rounds.

The Mountain-Moving Giant cracked and shrank repeatedly, reduced to less than half its original size in moments.

Then, with a resounding bang, the Earthshaker Deity dropped to its knees. Its entire frame ruptured in multiple places—it could no longer fight.

Zhang Yu looked down at the scene and said calmly, “It’s over.”

In the midst of their repeated clashes, detailed images of the Earthshaker Deity’s systems and structures had flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind.

Several of its key weaknesses—the spirit-circuits, the shock joints—had overlapped exactly with the spots now wrecked before him.

It was all thanks to the Appraisal Technique.

Throughout the fight, aside from pouring his full strength—body, Martial Qi, cultivation—into each blow, his most crucial move was targeting those vulnerabilities identified through the Appraisal Technique, maximizing destruction with every strike.

Wangou Xuan looked up at Zhang Yu, who stood tall in the sky above him.

He watched as Zhang Yu spread his fingers again. That terrifying Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might gathered once more.

“He actually beat my Earthshaker Deity one-on-one.”

Wangou Xuan sighed inwardly. “This guy… has only been practicing the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might for a few months?”

At that moment, Wangou Xuan decided to pause the match and request support.

According to prior strategy, if he ever found himself facing a pincer attack from Mo Shangjin, he’d have to make that call.

But now, even just Zhang Yu alone had pushed him to the edge.

After the request, a student from the Artifact Refinement Department who was supposed to provide backup responded, “Forget it, don’t waste the money.”

“Even if I patch up and boost your Earthshaker Deity, you probably still won’t beat Zhang Yu. And don’t forget, there’s Mo Shangjin too.”

The student shook his head. “I need to prepare for this year’s Top Ten League. No time to waste with you.”

With his support withdrawn, Wangou Xuan knew the outcome was sealed.

Sure enough, as soon as the pause ended, Immortal Soldier University collapsed like dominoes. The Earthshaker Deity was dismantled, and the rest of the team surrendered one by one.

The team from Wanfa University left the field to the sound of thunderous cheers.

Up in the spectator stands, Director Gao nodded with a smile.

The next match would be the final against Demon-Beast University.

And he knew—this final wasn’t just important for Zhang Yu. It mattered for him too.

If they won, it would mark the first major result under his leadership of the Civil Engineering Department.

He turned to the figure beside him and said, “Magneto, thank you. Without your help, Zhang Yu wouldn’t have progressed so quickly.”

Daoist Magneto opened her mouth. “Old Gao, actually…”

Director Gao raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

Daoist Magneto paused. “Never mind.”

She thought to herself, I’ll wait until after the Civil Engineering finals to tell him.

Once it’s done, Zhang Yu’s scores will be complete. We’ll transfer him to the Artifact Refinement Department before anything can go wrong.

Looking at Director Gao, she thought quietly, Don’t blame me, old friend. A student like Zhang Yu belongs to the strong in Kunxu. Blame yourself—for not being strong enough. Or rich enough.

…

Just then, Daoist Thousand Puppets of Immortal Soldier University approached.

“Magneto, based on that student’s performance, you’ve made great strides in decoding the system. You’re going to profit big from this. If you’re willing to trade your tech for access to Immortal Soldier’s market, we can talk.”

Daoist Magneto replied coolly, “Not interested at the moment.”

Daoist Thousand Puppets smiled. “I hear Lord Nectar is rallying allies to put pressure on Wanfa University and sanction your Artifact Refinement Department. If you’re ever open to cooperating, come find me.”

“See you at the Top Ten League. A lot of folks are expecting your university to put on a show.”

Director Gao frowned slightly at the remark.

This project was gaining fame fast. Wanfa was becoming the eye of the storm—and Magneto its lightning rod.

He knew the escalation of university conflict was inevitable, and the Ten Majors would eventually be drawn in.

But he didn’t want Wanfa to be the first. And he certainly didn’t want Magneto to be the spark.

…

Meanwhile, as Zhang Yu left the field, he noticed something odd.

Wangou Xuan and his teammates didn’t look upset at all. In fact, they looked pleased—even excited.

Like they hadn’t just lost a match and had their giant puppet destroyed.

Zhang Yu’s instincts weren’t wrong. Wangou Xuan, despite his loss, felt no pain like he had last year.

They may have lost, and only collected a bit of Zhang Yu’s sweat samples… but everything was reimbursed. And now he could replace all the puppet’s parts with brand-new ones.

After the match, Wangou Xuan went straight to the Tigerclaw Company, as prearranged.

As he examined the long list of replacement parts, he muttered, “Everything’s being switched to Tigerclaw brand, huh?”

“Looks like prices have gone up tenfold.”

“This whole reimbursement setup… clearly designed to let Tigerclaw cash in.”

Not that he minded. After all, he wasn’t paying. And the Earthshaker Deity would get a complete overhaul. It would be stronger than ever.

He even suspected that for certain people, the high-priced procurement from Tigerclaw mattered more than whatever samples Zhang Yu left behind.

Watching the latest, most advanced Tigerclaw components being fitted in, Wangou Xuan felt like the spirit of Immortal Soldier University was being infused into his machine.

A teacher beside him said, “Next competition, you’ll use this pureblood Tigerclaw Earthshaker Deity to reshape the public image of the brand. Just like Wanfa’s pureblood Myriad Artisans Sect model, or Vajra University’s pureblood Vajra Forge—this is how a treasure company rises from low-tier to high-end.”

Wangou Xuan nodded.

Zhang Yu, next year, I…

But his brow furrowed midway through the thought.

Sure, the Earthshaker Deity was stronger now—but without reimbursement next year, his combat power might drop instead.

He sighed.

Wanfa’s Civil Engineering Department… probably can’t be beaten for the next few years.

…

On his way back, Zhang Yu received messages from both Director Gao and Daoist Magneto.

Director Gao: Next match, Mo Shangjin will join you.

Director Gao: The two of you must work together—try your best to win the championship.

Director Gao: But don’t force it. Demon-Beast University’s always been a powerhouse in this area. Your own potential comes first.

Director Gao’s messages came as they always did: full of encouragement, urging him not to grow complacent, to keep working hard, and to perform well in the finals. He even asked about Zhang Yu’s company and daily life.

Director Gao: I hear your company’s doing well. I’ll have Tu Lishan set you up with more work in a few days.

Director Gao: Next week, come meet some of the other Civil Engineering professors with me. Time to start building your network.

Director Gao: The future of this department depends on young talents like you.

Director Gao: It’s not just about being good on the job site—you’ll need connections too.

Director Gao: Oh, and don’t forget to apply for this year’s Civil Engineering Model Student award. I’ve already put in a good word for you.

Zhang Yu could tell—Director Gao truly saw him as a successor.

Whether or not he won the finals, the Director was already teaching him the ropes of the civil cultivation world.

Daoist Magneto’s messages, on the other hand, were much more direct.

Daoist Magneto: If you win the final, start the transfer process immediately.

Zhang Yu: Transferring right after winning? Isn’t that a bit sudden?

Daoist Magneto: What, getting sentimental about Civil Engineering?

Zhang Yu: Not that. I just worry Director Gao might take it hard.

Daoist Magneto: A good teacher doesn’t hold students back from better opportunities.

Daoist Magneto: Your top priority now is to secure that win.

Daoist Magneto: Even if it’s just Civil Engineering, Demon-Beast University has always been strong in this field.

Daoist Magneto: Don’t overthink the rest. Focus on your strength. Improve as much as possible before the match.

…

Wanfa University.

Inside the dormitory.

“You’re hurt?”

Le Mulan handed Zhang Yu a potion in a simple glass vial—no label.

She looked a bit nervous. “I… made this myself. Want to give it a try?”

She didn’t know exactly how much Zhang Yu earned these days—just that it was a lot.

She only hoped her most precious potion could still help him, like it used to.

Zhang Yu took the vial and smiled. “Thanks.”

With the final against Demon-Beast University just a week away, he didn’t waste time resting. After a quick cleanup and some artifact maintenance, he returned to his usual training and work.

He had one week left to push himself.

Looking back on three years of high school and almost three years of university, he was finally about to transfer into the Artifact Refinement Department—one step closer to joining the Ten Major Sects.

He would not allow anything to go wrong now.