Chapter 556 Issuance of the Military Artifact Engineering License (Class A)

Inside the experimental floor of the Artifact Refinement Department.

This was the level where many students and rented laboratories were located.

At this moment, Realman Lianhuo arrived but hesitated slightly.

“So many special effects… if we release it all at once, how many people’s ocular implants can even handle it?”

“At that brightness and frame rate, who’s going to see anything?”

Thinking this, the ever-pragmatic Realman Lianhuo, who’d long been in touch with students on the grassroots level, shook his head repeatedly. “Those folks up there—none of them ever touch reality. How could Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement students possibly withstand this kind of spiritual-realm fluctuation?”

Still, he knew he couldn’t just ignore the orders from above.

If the excessive brightness caused massive ocular lag or seizures, not only would the military-license announcement fail to deliver properly, but any resulting injuries or damage would probably still be pinned on him.

“No accidents allowed.”

“But it still has to be high-profile and deliver the message clearly.”

“Guess I’ll have to use the old method.”

After some thought, Realman Lianhuo went to a friend in the Sigil Department and borrowed a Concealment Sigil.

“Sigh… wonder if I can even get reimbursed for this thing.”

Shaking his head, he activated the talisman. An invisible divine power rippled outward from his location, spreading through the spiritual realm.

Then, pressing down with one hand, he muttered:

“Brightness — lower!”

“Resolution — reduce!”

“Ray tracing — off!”

“Visual detail — lowest!”

With the sudden activation of the Concealment Sigil, Realman Lianhuo checked the stability of his ocular system and nodded slightly. “Now it’s safe to issue the military license.”

…

Inside another laboratory.

Jin Jun was working with his assistants, hurriedly refining the prototype of the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Machine.

As for Zhang Yu, he’d already been thrown out of Jin Jun’s mind entirely.

Right now, Jin Jun saw nothing but the prototype before him, investing all his effort and concentration into its completion.

But in the next instant, a line of text flashed across his ocular interface:

“Important announcement incoming! Please stop your current work and await broadcast.”

As he wondered what the announcement might be, his field of vision suddenly darkened — then dimmed even further, like someone had turned down the world’s contrast settings.

The surroundings grew fuzzy and blocky, the world reduced to a mosaic of blurry squares.

In that instant, everyone felt like they’d been dragged into a shadowy, half-real realm.

Seeing panic rising among his team, Jin Jun raised a hand. “Don’t panic. The university’s just pushing an official notice. To spare our ocular systems, they’ve auto-adjusted our visual fidelity.”

A moment later, dazzling celestial light burst into existence.

Like stars blooming in darkness, divine radiance illuminated everyone’s sight.

Clouds and mists rolled forth amid the glory — as if a host of gods had descended to celebrate the heavens and earth.

Then, enormous characters exploded before everyone’s eyes, filling the entire sky.

Each word gleamed with mystical light and layered effects so intense that several students’ ocular systems began stuttering from overload.

“Congratulations to Wanfa University’s Artifact Refinement Department student Zhang Yu! During the refining of the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype, he not only made rapid progress — completing refinement levels 1 through 15 within two months — but also achieved exceptional quality and performance surpassing inter-university standards, all while reducing production costs through innovative design…”

“Hereby granted: Military Artifact Engineering License (Class A). We hope student Zhang Yu will continue to strive for excellence and achieve even greater breakthroughs on the path of artifact refinement.”

Upon reading this, several teachers in neighboring labs cursed under their breath. “Seriously? This much fanfare for a single military license? Anyone walking in would think he just won the National Top Ten!”

Jin Jun, however, stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Level 15…? He really reached Level 15 quality?”

All his energy drained away in an instant. The once-driven Jin Jun now felt hollow, unable to focus on his own project any longer.

Around him, most of the lab members stared blankly — none had expected their entire project team to lose so decisively without even realizing it.

Even Su Yunni, though mentally prepared, looked dazed and murmured bitterly, “So much time, so much effort… and this is how it ends?”

Jin Jun clenched his fists, face pale.

“With this much spectacle, everyone in the university will know that Zhang Yu got his military license.”

“That means soon everyone will also know I lost — to him. To a guy who transferred from the Civil Engineering Department less than a year ago…”

“Zhang Yu’s famous now — but he used my head as his stepping stone.”

Rage surged through him; his mana flared violently, veins bulging, blood roaring in his ears.

He could already picture his reputation collapsing — his prestige ruined, his funding slashed, his loan cap lowered, even his investors vanishing one by one.

…

Meanwhile, in another lab.

Zhang Yu was calmly sketching designs and jotting down notes across his ocular interface.

Having submitted the prototype and attended evaluation, he’d been confident all along about earning the license. He hadn’t been worried these past few days.

To him, obtaining a military-grade certification for the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Machine was merely the beginning.

“It’s early February. The Top Ten League is in September — roughly six and a half months away.”

“To win the Top Ten, I’ll need at least four military-grade techniques.”

“That means, aside from the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might and the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Machine I’m about to complete, I’ll need to acquire two more military-level powers within the next six months.”

“But even four won’t be enough — that would only put me on par with Dao Qiankun, Jiu Tianliu, and Yan Qianji’s level from last year.”

“To beat them this year…”

He wrote in his ocular log: “Ideally, five military-grade powers.”

“Three more in half a year… is that even possible?”

He didn’t know — but he would try.

“First, I’ll handle the Design Competition and secure another military-grade refinement technique.”

“Then, once the Biyue Goldcrystal Armor is deciphered, I’ll apply to craft it myself — maybe I can glean insights connected to the Great Sage’s Heir set.”

“One step at a time…”

He listed each candidate power carefully. “Three more military-grade techniques… at least five hundred spirit coins in materials. Funds will be tight.”

“Alright. Once the license arrives, I’ll immediately begin refining the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Machine and unlock its full military capabilities.”

As for what he planned to do with a Level 20 military-grade puppet?

Of course — make money with it. What else?

Fight wars? Not a chance. He wouldn’t risk his several-hundred-coin investment like that — if a fight was needed, he’d rather risk himself.

Just as Zhang Yu was deep in thought, his vision darkened.

Moments later, the announcement appeared in his view.

He wasn’t surprised — he had expected it — but he hadn’t imagined the broadcast would be this grand.

Realman Lianhuo’s projection appeared and smiled. “Student Zhang Yu, to earn a military license within a year of transferring departments is remarkable indeed — no wonder True Lord Magneto values you so highly.”

After a few courteous words, Zhang Yu accepted the license.

Immediately, his rankings skyrocketed — first in his class, then climbing within the department to thirteenth place.

Then his departmental ranking shattered like a cocoon, replaced by a new metric — a university-wide ranking.

Wanfa University, undergraduate division: Rank 44.

Simultaneously, his ocular interface offered three display options — toggle between department ranking and school ranking, or show both.

Zhang Yu thought for a moment. If he’d earned this under some lesser department like Security or Transportation, he might have hidden the department name and just shown the school ranking.

But he wasn’t one to forget his roots — so he chose to display both Artifact Refinement and School rankings side by side.

Realman Lianhuo smiled again. “Congratulations, student Zhang Yu. With this military license, you’ve entered the top fifty of the entire university. From now on, you’re considered a public ranking student — even the Inspection Division will need your department head’s approval to detain you.”

Looking at the ranking over his head, Zhang Yu couldn’t help grinning in excitement.

Then his ocular feed exploded with incoming messages.

First was a friend request from a student in the Finance Department:

Huai Zhixia: “Student Zhang Yu, our firm noticed a change in your performance record. Accordingly, your loan policy has been updated — we now offer a new preferred credit plan…”

Zhang Yu smiled lightly. “As expected of Finance majors — the moment they sense I can make money, they come unblocking my credit lines to profit off me.”

Next came a message from the department secretary:

Artifact Refinement Dept Secretary: “Student Zhang Yu, students with military-grade artifact certification can now apply for specialized labs at a discounted rate, as well as receive reduced material costs…”

Then Ye Xingli: “Junior Brother, here’s the Artifact Refinement Department’s military-level student group chat. I’ll pull you in. [Group Link]”

Yan Qianji: “[Group Link] Junior, this is the Top Fifty Students Group. You should join too.”