Chapter 562: Is This Really a Vocational Student’s Life?

Inside Ye Xingli’s laboratory.

Although Zhang Yu was now qualified to rent his own private lab from the Artifact Refinement Department, he still chose to stay here—to save money.

At the moment, Zhang Yu casually twisted open a medicine bottle and swallowed more than a dozen pills in one go—supplements for mana, stamina, energy, and the nutrients needed for his physical body. Some of them even had the effect of reducing sleep requirements.

As for cement—he’d stopped eating that back in freshman year. After all, once he’d learned how to control his digestive system to suppress excessive digestion and prevent internal wear, he no longer needed cement to feel full.

Just as Zhang Yu finished his pills and a quick meal, the rich aroma of meat wafted over from the side.

Turning his head, he saw Zi Yunzhen devouring large chunks of meat.

In the University City of Wanfa University, meat—like rice—had always been a rare luxury.

Although modern medicine could provide most of the body’s needed nutrients, things like Heaven-Essence Rice, Earthvein Wheat, and various demon beast meats contained vitality and energy that medicine couldn’t replicate—these foods nourished the foundation of one’s body in ways synthetic nutrition couldn’t.

Zhang Yu still remembered the satisfaction of sneaking into Ye Xingli’s buffet back in the day, freeloading on her food and drinks.

Now, watching Zi Yunzhen eat heartily, he muttered inwardly, “Imported meat from Heavenly Demon University?”

The smell was delicious, but when Zhang Yu thought about where this meat came from, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

After all, he’d visited plenty of demon-kin academies through various projects and had even competed at Heavenly Demon University. He knew all too well that those so-called “demons” saw talking demon-kin as just another meat source.

Turning away, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. “The Finance Department sure knows how to stir things up.”

“Imported demon-kin meat—enough for countless students to finally eat meat.”

“Imported foundation stakes and materials—cutting costs and boosting profits for countless companies.”

“With just those two things, how many people do you think will back the Finance Department’s plan to cozy up to the demons?”

“No matter how much the construction workers protest, it won’t matter.”

He recalled what Yu Xinghan had said before: with the university city’s massive reconstruction projects in full swing, even lazy civil engineers could make a fortune. Construction sites had been raising wages to compete for workers.

But after demon-kin laborers were introduced, those raised wages quickly dropped again.

The workers protested, of course—but too many within the city were benefiting from cooperation with the demons. Even construction company executives were profiting from reduced costs. Against that, what did the workers’ complaints count for?

Zhang Yu’s gaze swept through the messages in the Top 50 Group Chat.

Jiu Tianliu: The university allocated a huge amount of spirit coins for the University City’s construction. You think that money should go to workers—so they can eat better, take more pills, and live a few years longer? What a waste! That money should go to the truly capable—to fund research into higher Immortal Dao technologies and enhance our school’s competitive edge!

Still, while construction pay within the University City had dropped, the number of projects outside the city kept growing.

Students and teachers in the Civil Engineering Department could clearly feel that the university war was still ongoing—and even expanding.

Zhang Yu mused, “Only the Ten Major Sects have stopped fighting.”

“With the top ten forced into a ceasefire, the conflicts among the lesser universities, military academies, and vocational colleges have only intensified.”

“The University City’s construction marks the start of civil engineering’s golden age. From here on, business will only get better.”

“That’s great news for my cultivation plans.”

With that thought, Zhang Yu refocused on the document displayed within his Law Husk’s eye interface.

“Defeat Bei Wufeng in five months.

Join the Top Ten League in seven months.

Obtain an Immortal-class cultivation technique.”

To achieve those goals, Zhang Yu had many tasks ahead, all neatly listed on his schedule.

“Win the design competition three months from now, earn the Military Artifact Engineering License (Class B), and master the military-level cultivation technique ‘Heaven and Earth Cataclysm Formless Mind-Weapon.’”

He had chosen this particular technique because, compared to the Void Artifact Codex, the Heaven and Earth Cataclysm Formless Mind-Weapon focused on artifact application—enhancing the power of one’s artifacts. Perfect for showcasing his strength at the Top Ten League.

And what did the design competition test?

“Commercial value, of course.”

Zhang Yu thought, “Cost, practicality, market appeal—those are what matter most.”

“With Heavenly Craft Opens Creation, plus everything I’ve learned from my master, creating a prize-worthy product shouldn’t be hard.”

“I’ve been gathering information with my senior sister anyway. We planned to design something suitable for vocational students as part of our Dao Seed replication project.”

“When the time comes, I’ll use that data to create a second version optimized with Heavenly Craft Opens Creation—a design good enough to win the competition. Plus, since it’ll be entirely my own work, it’ll avoid any copyright issues with Ye Xingli.”

Through True Lord Magneto and Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu had learned that the key to success in design competitions lay in commercial value. Even if a product’s grade or refinement level wasn’t the best, as long as it had business potential, it could win.

That was why True Lord Magneto had advised him to start there.

Just thinking about how Heavenly Craft Opens Creation could rapidly optimize blueprints made Zhang Yu feel grateful for having obtained True Lord Magneto’s Dao Seed.

That ability had saved him immense time—he only needed to gather enough information, and he could instantly generate optimized schematics.

Meanwhile, he wouldn’t waste time during the data-gathering phase either. He’d also start refining his second military-grade artifact.

For someone already certified with a Military Artifact Engineering License (Class A), as long as the department approved his request, he could study other military-grade artifact blueprints.

With True Lord Magneto as his master and his growing achievements, approval wouldn’t be hard.

“The Grand Solar Saint-Law Sword Array…”

Zhang Yu gazed at the blueprint before him—the result of extensive consideration. It was the second military-grade artifact he had chosen to forge.

“While refining the Grand Solar Saint-Law Sword Array, I’ll also collect data, complete my design blueprints, and then enter the design competition.”

“Before challenging Bei Wufeng, I must complete the Sword Array and master Heaven and Earth Cataclysm Formless Mind-Weapon.”

“Once I have those two military-grade powers under my belt, the next target will be the Biyue Goldcrystal Armor…”

Checking his schedule, Zhang Yu nodded slightly, then glanced at his bank balance: 150 spirit coins.

Spirit coins, of course, heavily influenced his cultivation speed.

Fortunately, his arrangements were paying off—Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype had successfully integrated into the company’s team and was steadily earning spirit coins for him on the construction sites.

As Zhang Yu updated his schedule, he split a portion of his consciousness to remotely control Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype.

After all, pure soul cultivation alone couldn’t handle such a high-level military artifact.

He calculated silently: “Forty spirit coins from the lab stipend, thirty from Director Gao and True Lord Magneto’s reimbursements, plus my sister’s repayments, and Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype’s earnings… I should have about a hundred to a hundred and ten coins per month for artifact refinement.”

“That should be enough.”

Then he attuned his senses inward, feeling the pulse of the Greenlotus Sword Embryo within him.

As his Divine Spirit Root continued adapting to his Chain Diagram Set, its power amplification had reached impressive levels—around 20% for the University Saint Body, 21% for the Earth-Wood Saint Body, about 10% for the Mana Pulse Flowing Stream, and roughly 23% for the Martial Saint Body.

Even the Refining Genius Trait, which he had obtained later, was now strengthened by nearly 10%.

Sensing the vigorous vitality within the Greenlotus Sword Embryo, Zhang Yu smiled faintly. He knew this silent enhancement would become one of his key trump cards in the Top Ten League.

At that moment, Su Yunni and another Artifact Refinement student entered the lab, looking slightly nervous as they approached Zhang Yu.

After a brief interview, Zhang Yu handed them over to Zi Yunzhen.

“Xiao Zi,” Zhang Yu said, “help them get familiar with the lab rules and teach them the basics needed for refining the Grand Solar Saint-Law Sword Array.”

Su Yunni’s eyes widened. “You’re already starting the Grand Solar Saint-Law Sword Array?”

Zi Yunzhen raised an eyebrow as well, wondering if Zhang Yu was being too hasty.

Zhang Yu just waved his hand, offering no explanation. He left the training of newcomers to the proud Zi Yunzhen, then resumed writing his plan and entered the Supreme Purity Realm to study.

There, with accelerated learning, he planned to quickly master the foundational knowledge for the Sword Array—then refine smaller artifacts to consolidate his understanding before beginning the main project.

This time, Zhang Yu was determined to finish the Grand Solar Saint-Law Sword Array even faster than he had completed Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype.

Days passed. Before long, it was already March.

Having finished his basic studies in the Supreme Purity Realm, Zhang Yu began simulated refining experiments within the Void Realm.

He divided the Sword Array’s related Immortal Dao technologies into thirteen separate artifacts.

Once he raised all thirteen blueprints to Level 20, he would have fully mastered the techniques required to forge the Sword Array.

Unlike the long, exhausting process of refining Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype, this time Zhang Yu spent most of his efforts refining within the accelerated environments of the Supreme Purity Realm.

Under Zi Yunzhen and Su Yunni’s astonished gazes, his progress was extraordinary.

Su Yunni thought in awe, “He’s using these smaller artifacts to verify the Immortal Dao techniques behind the Sword Array? But this speed… Yesterday he could only refine Level 5, and today it’s already Level 10?”

Zi Yunzhen’s mind trembled. “This is insane! Is it because competing with Jin Jun pushed him to his limits—or has long-term high-pressure work made him completely in tune with the lab?”

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she’d have thought he was outsourcing his work.

The assistants, unable to comprehend Zhang Yu’s rapid progress, could only grit their teeth and study harder—hoping to at least keep up enough to assist him in the upcoming project. After all, joining another military-grade artifact project would be an invaluable experience.

…

One day, as Zhang Yu was refining, a message arrived from the Seven Sentiments Lord.

Seven Sentiments Lord: How’s your progress on the Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship?

Zhang Yu froze for a moment before replying: Still okay, still okay.

Seven Sentiments Lord: Hmph.

Seven Sentiments Lord: You should give Zhenzhen a gift.

Seven Sentiments Lord: She’s at a critical point in her sword cultivation. The right gift from you would help her a lot.

Zhang Yu paused, deep in thought.

Helping Zhenzhen with her breakthrough—of course he’d do that. He just needed to figure out what kind of gift to give.

Then inspiration struck. He pulled up an old design—the stockings artifact he’d once made for Ye Xingli.

“I remember… back in Xiandu, I promised to make Ah Zhen a pair of stockings.”

Smiling slightly, Zhang Yu activated Heavenly Craft Opens Creation, burning his Dao Heart to modify the blueprint.

“I need a design for… the most perfect pair of stockings for Bai Zhenzhen.”

In an instant, countless streams of knowledge and data surged through his mind like thunder, coalescing into a brand-new artifact blueprint.

…

At Heavenly Sword Sect University.

Bai Zhenzhen, who had been cultivating her swordsmanship, suddenly opened her eyes.

The voice of the Seven Sentiments Lord echoed in her mind: “Stop forcing it. The best way to break through right now… is to go find Zhang Yu.”

Bai Zhenzhen murmured, “Yuzi needs to prepare for the Top Ten League. He has far more on his plate than I do. I can’t bother him…”

Even as she said that, a message appeared before her eyes.

The corners of her lips curved into a faint smile.

Seven Sentiments Lord asked dryly, “What is it now? Smiling again?”

Bai Zhenzhen: “It’s nothing.”

Zhang Yu: Ah Zhen, here’s a design blueprint I made for you—the stockings that suit you best. I’m gifting you the copyright. You can have someone at Heavenly Sword Sect University craft them for you.

Bai Zhenzhen: No rush. I’ll wait until you have time to make them yourself.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s refining progress continued at a breathtaking pace—but his data collection on vocational students was progressing much more slowly.

Ye Xingli sent him a message: The survey responses from vocational students are too scattered. The data’s neither complete nor efficient enough.

Zhang Yu: Then what do you suggest, Senior Sister?

Ye Xingli: I plan to enter the Spiritual Realm and personally simulate a vocational student’s life experience.

Ye Xingli: I heard you’re also studying vocational student product design. Want to come along? There’s a discount for two.

Zhang Yu: I’m in.

Ye Xingli: There are many simulation scenarios. I’ll send them to you—each of us can pick one.

As Zhang Yu scrolled through the project list, he saw dozens of vocational life scenarios.

It felt like watching a documentary—except he’d actually enter the story as the protagonist.

“Xiaoming and Xiaohong grew up together, went to high school together, and both got into the same vocational college…”

Zhang Yu frowned. “Is this… a romantic story?”

“They joined the Dual Cultivation Department, became paired partners, and began their joyful studies in the Dao of Harmonious Cultivation…”

Zhang Yu blinked in disbelief. “Vocational students live like this?”

“At the end of their first year, Xiaoming and Xiaohong take their finals together. Each must face multiple dual-cultivation examiners, witnessing their partner’s breakdown and defeat on the battlefield of love and Dao.”

“Those whose Dao Hearts waver are suited for the Path of Deep Sentiment founded by the Divine Lord of Insight and are transferred to the Deep Sentiment Class for sophomore year. Those whose Dao Hearts remain strong advance to the Path of Many Affections taught by the Divine Lord of Nectar…”

“Though they enter different classes, Xiaoming and Xiaohong remain deeply attached…”

Watching the three-year romance unfold, Zhang Yu took a deep breath.

“Is this really… the life of vocational students?”

Shaking his head, he muttered, “This script is way too advanced for me,” and quickly flipped to the next page to browse other simulation options.

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