Chapter 469: Favored by the Artifact Spirit

Ever since Yan Qianji joined the Yin Artifact Decryption Project, the more he studied this particular Yin Artifact, the more admiration he felt toward Divine Lord Nectar of Pleasure and Harmony University. He even took the initiative to delve into the legendary deeds of the Lord's past.

It was said that after Divine Lord Nectar ascended to the Nascent Soul stage, she discovered that she couldn't engage in dual cultivation with even a mere Qi Refinement cultivator—simply because the other party was a woman.

A dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, thwarted by something as trivial as gender, unable to draw energy from a Qi Refinement disciple?

Was dual cultivation truly so inconvenient?

From that moment on, Divine Lord Nectar dedicated herself to breaking through innate limitations. She rose from the narrow confines of traditional dual cultivation and began to comprehend the true Dao of Yin-Yang Harmonization.

By the time she reached the Soul Transformation stage, even gender could no longer constrain her divine abilities. In her eyes, all living beings were devoid of gender or race—merely resources to be harvested.

Every time Yan Qianji read such accounts, reverence swelled in his heart. The more mystifying and unfathomable the artifact seemed, the more he admired its creator.

For instance, he simply couldn’t decipher the data collected from Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan.

“What exactly is this?”

“What… could possibly make Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan a hundred times stronger than the other students?”

…

In the laboratory on the other side—

Sensing something was off—especially after hearing that the next step involved attaching the Yin Artifact—Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan immediately stepped back in unison, shielding Ying Xin and Gongshu Jin behind them.

Zhang Yu said solemnly, “I believe Ying Xin, as a biologically female member of the primary female gender, needs this thing more than I do.”

Yu Xinghan added regretfully, “At my current level, I still can't control such a device. Give me a few more years—once I’ve refined my cultivation further, I’ll come back for it.”

But in the next moment, Zhang Yu felt something soft pressing against his back.

Turning to look, he found it was none other than the avatar of Daoist Magneto.

The palace-garbed woman smiled as she gently pressed down on Zhang Yu’s shoulder.

“Don’t be nervous. Something good is coming.”

Zhang Yu immediately said, “I just remembered—I’ve still got a shift to finish at the construction site…”

But the next second, his expression changed drastically. Cold sweat broke out on his back.

He stammered, “D-Daoist… what’s this hard thing on your body?”

Daoist Magneto chuckled. “Don’t worry. That’s my Nine-Heavens Solar Yang Pagoda.”

Off to the side, Ying Xin, Gongshu Jin, and Yu Xinghan all looked at Zhang Yu and Daoist Magneto with surprise. None of them expected such familiarity between the two.

Meanwhile, Daoist Magneto turned her gaze to the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact in front of them, seemingly awaiting its next move.

In her mind, she mused, So many failed tests. If the issue isn’t the Yin Artifact’s design, then the most likely problem… lies with the Artifact Spirit itself.

More information surfaced in Daoist Magneto’s thoughts.

The Artifact Spirit of this Nascent Soul Yin Artifact was named Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight.

From the moment she gained awareness, Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight had been working non-stop—day and night.

Any distraction brought pain akin to being hacked by blades and axes.

Even the slightest rest came with the agony of burning fire and drowning floods.

To speak to another Artifact Spirit meant enduring the torment of lightning crashing down upon her.

No distraction. No rest. No hesitation. No slack. No communication…

Under the rules laid down by Divine Lord Nectar, Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight toiled endlessly, day after day.

Daoist Magneto thought, Abiding by Divine Lord Nectar’s rules is no easy task. As a Nascent Soul Yin Artifact, she experiences wear and tear—damage—every single day.

It was like being a filthy, foul filter—assigned dual cultivation tasks one after another, sieving out anything Divine Lord Nectar didn’t need, swallowing all impurities, feeling herself grind down, edge closer to destruction.

To follow Divine Lord Nectar’s rules under such torment, she had to suppress every instinct as a sentient being… to stop thinking beyond the task.

Eventually, after so long without punishment or pain, Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight became like a cog in a machine. Besides her daily tasks, she no longer felt anything else.

Until one day—chaos erupted.

She and the other Artifact Spirits were cast out of Pleasure and Harmony University.

When she realized there was no more work assigned, she was overwhelmed with terror.

But as time passed and no pain arrived—even when she did nothing—confusion rose in her heart.

Daoist Magneto thought, For these Artifact Spirits, pain from slacking and agony from idleness were the truths of the world—the rules of existence.

Yet, for the first time, those who had fled Pleasure and Harmony University discovered they didn’t need to work… and could still be free from suffering.

Astonished, they looked at each other. Then, one of them spoke.

And they began to communicate.

A flood of unprecedented information surged among the Artifact Spirits—like their first collective cry echoing across heaven and earth.

For the first time, they truly observed the world.

What a pity…

Daoist Magneto sighed inwardly. These Artifact Spirits, so well-trained by Divine Lord Nectar, ended up seduced by an evil cult.

Corrupted to their core, brainwashed beyond return… they could no longer reintegrate into society.

If the current test continues to fail, the Artifact Spirit’s influence might be to blame.

In the process of deciphering this Nascent Soul Yin Artifact, Daoist Magneto also intended to guide Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight back to the right path, restoring her ability to function in Kunxu society—making her an asset to Wanfa University.

Now staring at the Yin Artifact, Daoist Magneto thought, So… will it activate this time?

At the same moment, Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight—this highly intelligent Artifact Spirit—was observing the civil engineering students before her.

As the scan ended, she focused her attention on Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan.

With her intelligence suppressed by Daoist Magneto, she no longer understood many of her memories.

But instinctively, she still hated work… while also knowing, deep down, that if she didn’t work, something terrible would happen.

Then she saw Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan—and her eyes practically lit up.

These two have done too much self-study. The more someone self-studies, the weaker they tend to be in dual cultivation. Lower resistance too.

And I’ve never seen anyone this weak before.

I probably won’t even need to do anything special. Just touch them and the job’s done.

Feeling she had finally found two soft targets, Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight didn’t need to be installed into them, nor worry about being attacked—she could complete her work with ease.

With a swish, the diamond-shaped crystal Yin Artifact zipped to Zhang Yu, ready to bully the soft fruit in front of her.

The artifact burst apart, transforming into a mist of light that surged toward Zhang Yu’s lower abdomen.

The room gasped in unison.

In the observation chamber, everyone jolted in shock.

Yan Qianji exclaimed, “It’s starting already?”

“Zhang Yu’s aptitude is that impressive?”

“He actually made the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact so eager to cultivate with him?”

A student asked, “It didn’t even need the installation step? Was all our intelligence on Yin Artifacts wrong?”

“Wouldn’t this count as Zhang Yu directly dual cultivating with Divine Lord Nectar?”

A teacher shook his head. “This Nascent Soul Yin Artifact isn’t connected to the Spiritual Realm or Divine Lord Nectar.”

“At most, Zhang Yu is dual cultivating with Divine Lord Nectar’s discarded offline Law Husk. What comes of it… still needs observation.”

Meanwhile, Daoist Tianzhang looked on grimly and sent a private message to Daoist Magneto.

Tianzhang: Should we stop this?

Tianzhang: If we install the Yin Artifact on the student first, then take action ourselves, it’s controllable. We can manage every step.

Tianzhang: That way, we can still ensure the student’s health and safety.

Tianzhang: But if the student directly faces the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact… he could die. Civil Engineering might demand a fortune in compensation.

As he spoke, Tianzhang glanced again at Zhang Yu’s file.

A student who earned a military license in his junior year—if something happened to him, Civil Engineering would surely raise hell.

Daoist Magneto kept her eyes fixed on Zhang Yu and the Yin Artifact.

Magneto: Let’s observe for now.

Magneto: I’ll watch him.

Magneto: If anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility.

Tianzhang nodded to himself. If she’s willing to cover the compensation, then fine.

Meanwhile, Yu Xinghan, Ying Xin, and Gongshu Jin were all frozen in shock.

Ying Xin thought, As expected of Senior Brother… he’s already attracted the artifact’s recognition? Wait—does that make her Senior Sister now?

Gongshu Jin eyed the light mist gathering at Zhang Yu’s abdomen, thinking, What a powerful Yin Artifact—it can transform into a non-physical form? This can’t be a Foundation-stage Law Husk.

Yu Xinghan stared at the mist clinging to Zhang Yu, temporarily giving up his plan to leave.

No way I’m leaving before I see how this ends.

At the same time, Zhang Yu felt the mist enveloping him—his entire body surged with restless mana.

It was like his cultivation energy had come alive, rushing toward his lower abdomen.

This thing…

It’s devouring my mana!

As more and more of his power was drawn in and swallowed, Zhang Yu tried to resist—but his body suddenly went weak, limbs soft, an indescribable pleasure blooming through him.

He couldn’t summon the will to resist at all.