Chapter 604: Chapter 545: Who’s Getting in the Way Behind the Scenes
Not long after Zhang Yu left, Feng Yuhai’s eyes revealed a message from True Monarch Xian Yin.
True Monarch Xian Yin: Has the funding been approved?
Feng Yuhai: Don’t worry, it will be transferred soon.
Feng Yuhai: But you have to hurry.
True Monarch Xian Yin: Rest assured, Magnetic Pole has paved the way. If we follow this path, results will soon come.
After a brief conversation with True Monarch Xian Yin from the Artifact Refining Department, Feng Yuhai was slightly relieved.
This time, by taking advantage of some subtle situations at Wanfa University City, he successfully helped set up project teams for five Nascent Soul True Monarchs from the Artifact Refining Department to participate in the Divinity Transformation Remains experiment.
Such a maneuver, nominally to assist Magnetic Pole True Monarch, would in fact divert significant achievements, reputation, qualifications, and funding from Magnetic Pole True Monarch in the Divinity Transformation Remains research.
Especially since Magnetic Pole True Monarch had already made some breakthroughs in the research, it was even more evidently suspected of taking credit.
But Feng Yuhai naturally didn’t care about these. With the balance of other Nascent Soul True Monarchs from the Artifact Refining Department, he could better control the Divinity Transformation Remains project.
Additionally, he could collect information and data from the experiment through multiple channels more conveniently and thoroughly.
"Hmph, Magnetic Pole... someone like you, who only knows how to bury yourself in the lab, can’t even manage your subordinates in the Artifact Refining Department properly. How can the school entrust such an important project as the Divinity Transformation Remains to you completely?"
"Once others also achieve results, you’ll understand that you’re not the only one who understands artifact refining."
For cultivators who specialize in a particular Immortal Path technique, and then become arrogant and conceited, ignoring everything else, Feng Yuhai had seen many. To maintain the research order at school, he had dealt with quite a few of them.
In Feng Yuhai’s view, technical personnel didn’t understand the school’s difficulties, lacked a big-picture perspective, and had eyes only for their own little lab, so they ought to obey to maintain order in University City.
As for Zhang Yu? A student having to cooperate with experiments by five Nascent Soul True Monarchs, increasing workload several times, was a trivial matter that Feng Yuhai didn’t even consider worthy of attention.
Every year, countless minor figures were impacted by power struggles, leading to bankruptcy.
This time, it was just adding more workload to a student, something Feng Yuhai would forget about quickly.
...
After Zhang Yu left Feng Yuhai’s office, he started contemplating his strategy.
First was the most common choice in Kunxu... endure it?
Zhang Yu shook his head in his heart: "With so much time spent assisting the experiments of several Nascent Soul True Monarchs, how much time would I have left for my own projects?"
Besides, although others weren’t optimistic, Zhang Yu knew that the progress of his Heavenly Sun Divine Prototype Machine was at a critical stage of competition with Jin Jun, so how could he waste time?
If the competition failed, he’d have to wait another year... an outcome Zhang Yu, eager to participate in the top ten leagues, absolutely didn’t want to accept.
"And next May is the new design competition; I must submit my entry before then."
"Considering the timelines, it would be ideal to complete the Heavenly Sun Divine Prototype Machine by April or earlier, leaving over a month to prepare for the design competition entry..."
"I also need to strive for other military-level powers, otherwise how can I dominate the top ten leagues?"
The more Zhang Yu thought about it, the more he felt the time crunch for the coming year, and he was even more unwilling to waste time on other Nascent Soul True Monarchs’ experiments.
Just then, a message from Zi Yunzhen appeared in Zhang Yu’s eyes.
Zi Yunzhen: When are you coming to the lab, boss?
Zhang Yu: You start preparing first. I’ll come back after handling current matters.
After some thought, Zhang Yu decided to seek his mentor, Magnetic Pole. The mentor was likely well aware of the current situation.
No matter what Zhang Yu planned to do next, gathering intelligence and information was undoubtedly the first step.
...
In the laboratory.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch held a rhombus crystal in her hand. As mana flowed, she gradually extracted fine strands of pain from the crystal.
This was Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s latest achievement. Following mana exchange and blood exchange, she completed the first memory exchange, extracting traces of pain memory from the vast memory bank of the Divinity Transformation Remains.
After a long time, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Zhang Yu beside her, saying, "I am aware of the situation."
"Heh, there are quite a few people who don’t wish to see me smoothly proceed to Divinity Transformation. I’ve just achieved some results, and already many can’t wait to jump out and want a piece of the pie."
Zhang Yu tentatively asked, "Master, does Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch also know about these matters?"
Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s gaze sharpened as she said faintly, "Just with Feng Yuhai alone, how could he sway True Monarch Xian Yin and the other elders? Even with tenfold courage, they wouldn’t dare to compete with me directly."
"It’s nothing more than someone behind the scenes instructing them, wanting both project outcomes and to prevent my credits from being too significant, hindering my smooth transition through Divinity Transformation review."
"This, perhaps, is the tribulation of the Divinity Transformation path."
"This endless Immortal Path... The further you go, the more difficult it becomes to advance in realms, with more variables involved, and external factors becoming more complicated; it’s not just a simple matter of accumulating your own cultivation."
Listening to Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s sigh, Zhang Yu was moved and began to understand vaguely. He said in amazement, "Master, doesn’t Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch also want you to advance to Divinity Transformation?"
In Zhang Yu’s view, as the vice-president, Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch manages the Wanfa University’s work in Immortal Path technology research.
Although he doesn’t directly participate in the specific management of various departments, he is a major support for Magnetic Pole True Monarch and other teachers in the Artifact Refining Department.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch calmly said, "If Qiongjiang Divine Monarch comes to deal with you and me, Ten Thousand Laws Divine Monarch will naturally protect us."
"But if I want to advance to Divinity Transformation, then inevitably, he and I will have competition."
"Especially... from originally being under his command, helping him make money, to becoming an equal rival and sharing profits with him, how would you choose?"
"When I attain Divinity Transformation, how much will Wanfa University’s controlled resources increase? Including the additional share I need, is Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch profiting or losing? This directly determines whether he supports my achievement of Divinity Transformation."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but look at Magnetic Pole True Monarch and thought secretly, "Master, you must strive, and advance to Divinity Transformation soon."
Magnetic Pole True Monarch continued, "In no more than one or two months’ time, I’ll deal with the matters Xian Yin and others have stirred up."
He said this while patting Zhang Yu’s head, "Good disciple, during this period, you should temporarily cooperate with their work, lest they say that we’re not cooperating with the project team’s work and give them an excuse."
"Time wasted will be compensated by me later."
Zhang Yu believed that when Magnetic Pole True Monarch said compensation, he would certainly compensate him later.
But the issue is that missing the military certificate means missing it for a year, and the next session of the top ten competitions would also be missed.
By then, even if Magnetic Pole True Monarch advances to Divinity Transformation, could he compensate with a chance to compete for Immortal Sect Techniques selection?
However, Zhang Yu also understood that he couldn’t express these thoughts. Saying them would only add unnecessary conflict since no one would believe he had the chance to participate in the top ten competitions’ Immortal Sect Techniques competition.
"Behind Feng Yuhai, there’s support from Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch. Everything he’s currently doing aligns with obstructing Master’s achievement of Divinity Transformation."
"To confront Feng Yuhai directly in University City seems unrealistic..."
Dealing with someone supported by a Divinity Transformation Divine Monarch in the University City, who acts within reason and legally, even his master Magnetic Pole True Monarch feels restrained and unable to exert much effort, let alone him, a mere Foundation Establishment stage student.
However, after realizing this, Zhang Yu did not intend to give up.
"My advantage lies in having channels even Master doesn’t have, and being able to tackle Feng Yuhai from a different angle."
"Though Feng Yuhai is strong and even stronger in University City as his home ground."
"But if viewed from another angle, he might be very weak, even weaker in University City."
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "For example... if he truly joined the Demon Sect or became an Evil God believer, dealing with Feng Yuhai would be easier for me than for Master."
"Could he be?"
Fu Ji snorted and said, "A guy managing a research department, his achievements in Immortal Path technology probably aren’t comparable to most Nascent Souls in the University City."
"Such a person, in the context of the Spirit Realm breaking down, how much combat power would he have left?"
"If we’re talking about the Evil God sending troops to deal with him under our guidance, and he alone withstands the battle, how likely do you think that is?"
Fu Ji talked eloquently, "But simply dealing with him, even if he’s killed, it’s useless. This situation is laid out by a Divinity Transformation Divine Monarch; if one Feng Yuhai is missing, someone else will replace him."
"We must find a way to make him help you."
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Yu frowned and asked, "How can he help me?"
Fu Ji laughed upon hearing this, "Dealing with Evil God people, that’s my specialty, just listen to me."
"First, make a move that shakes the mountain to intimidate the tiger to make them afraid."
"But you need to be careful to hide your intentions..."
...
In the dormitory.
Zhang Yu looked at Zhang Pianpian and said, "Sister, can you check this Feng Yuhai for me?"
As he spoke, Zhang Yu glanced at Zhang Pianpian’s rank of 5th in the Talisman Department and couldn’t help but show a trace of envy.
Since returning from the top ten competitions, her department ranking rose from 10th to 5th, and her overall school ranking reached as high as 26th.
Upon hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Zhang Pianpian curiously asked, "What’s wrong with Feng Yuhai?"
Zhang Yu immediately explained the changes in the project and the increase in work volume briefly, causing Zhang Pianpian to shake her head, "Feng Yuhai is indeed dealing with you and your Master, but he’s also following procedures, and there might be high-level school intentions behind it."
"Investigating him... probably won’t be much use."