Chapter 527: The Merit Relic and the Lockdown

Within the Supreme Purity Realm.

Inside the illusionary realm of the side hall.

Ever since Zhang Pianpian’s Dao Seed Supreme Purity Sigil had been upgraded to Level 2, a new illusionary realm had appeared within the Supreme Purity Realm—one where Zhang Yu could freely simulate things from reality.

Though his Dao Heart limited him to simulating only Foundation Establishment–grade artifacts or Law Husks, that was already more than enough for Zhang Yu.

At this moment, the entire environment was taking shape under his control, gradually transforming into a laboratory—more precisely, Ye Xingli’s laboratory.

Having spent nearly every day there recently, Zhang Yu had become quite familiar with the layout. His simulation now was nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

Of course, many of the devices were only hollow shells. He had never used them himself, and without understanding their functions, he couldn’t reproduce them authentically within the illusion.

A moment later, accompanied by a thunderous bellow from the four-headed White Ox within his mind, Zhang Yu’s figure split into four, each walking toward a different lab bench.

Before him floated a blueprint for an artifact labeled Merit Relic.

This was a standard corporate artifact—commonly issued to employees free of charge.

Once equipped, the Merit Relic allowed full monitoring of the wearer’s communications with the Spiritual Realm Network while collecting real-time data from every aspect of their body.

If it detected any behavior violating corporate policy, the Merit Relic would automatically extract mana from the wearer as a fine, redistributing it to the company as an end-of-month bonus.

It was said that after adopting this artifact, many companies saw a significant increase in net profits despite little change in revenue.

As a product of Vajra University, the Merit Relic had even won the gold prize at the Artifact Design Competition that year.

The version Zhang Yu was studying, however, was not the latest one. It was an old edition archived in the Grand Library of Wanfa University—something he had purchased to learn from.

Rumor had it that the newest models were far more advanced, and their blueprints were tightly guarded corporate secrets.

Now, Zhang Yu’s four streams of thought studied different sections of the design diagram simultaneously.

He wasn’t learning this because he planned to manufacture Merit Relics for his own company.

What he sought was the underlying technology.

The monitoring of employee–network data exchanges involved Spiritual Realm Transmission Technology and Spiritual Information Defense Systems—both crucial for reinforcing the Spiritual Realm Defense Module of the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype, preventing military-grade puppets from being hacked via the Spiritual Realm.

The real-time collection of internal bodily data involved Internal Sensor Arrays and Specialized Mana Detection Techniques—key technologies for monitoring the puppet’s condition.

And the forced mana extraction used for fining involved Automated Mana Refinement Systems—a vital component of the puppet’s power source.

If Zhang Yu could simulate the Merit Relic blueprint within the Supreme Purity Realm and, aided by the Feathered Tome, practice it to Level 20, he would naturally master these technologies in depth, paving the way for crafting the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype.

“One artifact at a time—once I master them all, I’ll have every piece of technology I need to complete the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype.”

As Zhang Yu studied, various textbooks from the Artifact Refinement Department popped up around him.

After all, he hadn’t finished that curriculum yet, and whenever he encountered something unfamiliar in the design, he had to teach himself the theory.

Still, even a surface-level understanding was enough to complete one Merit Relic refinement. Once he succeeded, he could repeatedly practice it to accumulate Feathered Tome proficiency, rapidly advancing his refinement level and absorbing the underlying knowledge through repetition.

The entire Supreme Purity Realm began operating at high speed. With a twenty-fold acceleration, Zhang Yu—equipped with the Artifact-Refining Genius trait—split his mind into four, diving into the simulation with manic focus.

After several hours, Zhang Yu felt he had fully digested the blueprint. He began simulating white-bone relics, practicing Merit Relic refinement within the illusion.

From then on, Zhang Yu devoted himself wholly to study, spending nearly every spare moment immersed in the Supreme Purity Realm.

…

One day, Zhang Yu entered True Lord Magneto’s laboratory once again and saw a round, crystal-like object orbiting a Nascent Soul Law Husk under the True Lord’s control.

“Teacher, what’s that?” Zhang Yu asked curiously.

True Lord Magneto smiled. “A prototype of my own making. It’s still incomplete, but it seems it can already stir the blood and qi within the Nascent Soul Law Husk.”

Having participated in the experiments for some time, Zhang Yu knew that True Lord Magneto divided the Law Husk research into four phases: Free Control, Principle Decoding, Laboratory Manufacture, and Mass Production.

The first phase—Free Control—contained five milestones: Mana Exchange, Blood-Qi Exchange, Memory Exchange, Knowledge Exchange, and Cultivation Exchange.

Each step was harder than the last, with Cultivation Exchange being the ultimate goal—allowing the Law Husk to absorb and even enhance another’s cultivation.

Previously, True Lord Magneto had achieved Mana Exchange.

Now it seemed he was close to completing Blood-Qi Exchange.

“Congratulations, Teacher,” Zhang Yu said.

True Lord Magneto replied mildly, “I have you to thank for the inspiration. This prototype imitates your physical properties—it’s a Yang Artifact Husk designed to trick the Nascent Soul Husk into believing it’s you.”

Zhang Yu’s gaze flickered as he studied the floating crystal. “Teacher has succeeded in crafting it… so why couldn’t I duplicate my Dao Seed? Could it be…”

He asked, “Teacher, this Law Husk’s grade is rather low, isn’t it?”

True Lord Magneto gave him a surprised glance. “You’ve developed a good eye. Seems your transfer to the new department has paid off.”

“This Law Husk is only at Level 11.”

“Then it must still need to be upgraded further before it can achieve full blood-qi exchange?”

True Lord Magneto shook his head. “Its design can still be optimized—there’s no need to push the first prototype that high.”

Then he smiled and grabbed Zhang Yu by the shoulder. “Come. Let’s see what else can be improved.”

Being handled like a lab specimen, Zhang Yu could only force a smile and cooperate.

Moments like this reminded him of his own powerlessness—and reinforced his resolve: A man must have money and strength.

“Good. Hold still,” said True Lord Magneto.

“As long as you’re satisfied, Teacher,” Zhang Yu replied stiffly.

“You’ve started learning the Heaven-Sun Radiance Prototype, haven’t you? With your ranking, you can apply for a project loan through the school. Don’t forget that.”

…

Outdoors.

That day, Zhang Yu rarely went to the construction site, using his Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might for the job.

Just as he finished, a familiar figure blocked his way.

“Feng Yuhan?”

Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes. It was the same Feng Yuhan from the university’s Research Division.

This was the man who had once proposed locking Zhang Yu down for supervision—keeping him confined to a lab—only for the motion to be overruled by True Lord Magneto, Director Gao, and Zhang Yu himself before Divine Lord Wanhuan.

Knowing Feng Yuhan’s history with True Lord Magneto, Zhang Yu immediately grew wary.

“Student Zhang Yu,” Feng Yuhan said evenly.

The next instant, spiritual light flashed through the air. Chains materialized out of nothing, sealing off the surrounding kilometer.

Within that barrier, spiritual energy stagnated—Zhang Yu could hardly move a wisp of mana. Even his connection to the Spiritual Realm Network was severed completely.

Realizing he could no longer channel Earthfiend Gravity, Zhang Yu descended to the ground.

“Teacher Feng, is there something you need?” he asked with a frown.

He discreetly activated the Sun-Moon Bracelet the school had issued him, trying to send a message to True Lord Magneto—but it failed.

He tried others. All failed.

“The Sun-Moon Bracelet isn’t working?”

The artifact was supposed to link directly to the celestial bodies—the Sun’s Sun-Chasing Vermilion Bird and the Moon’s Eternal Night Jade Palace—and through them, the Spiritual Realm itself.

“Is this Feng Yuhan’s doing?”

As if reading his thoughts, Feng Yuhan said calmly, “Don’t be nervous. I came today with good news.”

“I hear True Lord Magneto’s bionic experiment successfully linked a Law Husk modeled after your body with a Nascent Soul Husk.”

“I’m here to purchase your key organs—for proper laboratory management.”

He didn’t even pretend to give Zhang Yu a choice. His tone was one of pure command.

Zhang Yu froze. “So this guy’s here to steal credit from my teacher?”

He answered coldly, “I have no intention of selling any organs.”

Feng Yuhan spoke as though Zhang Yu hadn’t even replied. “You’re only a third-year student. It’s natural that you don’t understand laboratory procedures.”

“As a research asset of Wanfa University, you technically fall under my jurisdiction.”

“But I know you have things to do, so I won’t keep you confined on campus. Just surrender the key organs in question voluntarily—it’s for the protection of university property.”

“This is my duty. I hope you’ll cooperate with the Research Division.”

Hearing that, Zhang Yu immediately understood: He wants control of the lab through my body.

“My teacher still needs me to refine the experimental Law Husk,” Zhang Yu countered.

At the same time, he tested the Sky-Piercing Flying Sword—no response.

His eyes flicked to the faintly shimmering chains in the air. He’s a Nascent Soul cultivator too. With his artifact suppressing the area, I can’t break through.

Then what about the Supreme Purity Realm?

He slipped on the Spiritual Realm Mask.

Seeing this, Feng Yuhan said coolly, “Don’t bother. This conversation is classified. No one will know—and you won’t be contacting anyone.”

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