What’s the point of cultivating immortality if you don’t have money?.

Chapter 564 Pre-match Strategy
"Legend has it that the current Lingxi Divine Lord of Hehuan University was unable to take the first step when he was young, and his Dao heart regressed time and time again."

"But it was in these repeated retreats that he gradually found another path, and finally realized that only after gaining affection can one be affectionate, only after being affectionate can one be deeply affectionate, and only after being deeply affectionate can one forget affection."

"To be able to love anyone, to be tolerant of anyone, and to have an equal and profound love for all living beings in the world is the ultimate form of detachment, and this is the Supreme Way of Deep Affection."

"This one improvement immediately caused the output of this cultivation method to increase several times over."

"Similar improvements have been made continuously over the years. It is this spirit of never stopping and never moving forward that has laid the foundation for the rise of the Hehuan Sect in modern times."

Listening to Zhang Yu talk at length about the history of dual cultivation techniques, Fu Ji said, "It seems you took the lessons in the illusion quite seriously."

Zhang Yu said, "Of course. My original purpose was to collect real information about college students. Even in the illusion, I will still attend classes seriously and not miss a single piece of information."

"This college simulation game has its merits; it has allowed me to learn a lot of extracurricular knowledge."

"Hmm... Although there are some odd aspects, I think we can continue to give it a try."

Since he had already paid the spirit coins with Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu then selected several different scripts to try out.

After it was all over, Zhang Yu also received a message from Ye Xingli.

Ye Xingli: How was it, junior? Did you learn anything?

Zhang Yu: A Great Gain

Zhang Yu: I feel that my current level of expertise is so high that it's almost frightening to me.

Ye Xingli: Indeed, these scripts captured some of the essence of college life.
Ye Xingli: But I always feel it's not realistic enough, too bizarre, and it trivializes college life too much.
Ye Xingli: There isn't a single work that truly captures the reality of college life.

Ye Xingli: The data inside is probably unreliable.

Zhang Yu nodded slightly: "The real life of a college student... I'm afraid no one cares."

"Or rather, very few of the users who can enjoy this kind of spiritual simulation service pay attention to real college life."

"They treat college students as a novelty, a pastime, or a way to temper one's moral character."

Zhang Yu replied: "Senior sister, you're right. These scripts help us sense the temperament of college students."

Zhang Yu: But using these as a reference to design weapon crafting products is probably far from sufficient.
Ye Xingli: It seems I still need to gather information from actual college students.
Recalling the scenes he had just witnessed in the illusion, Zhang Yu's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "Let's just buy from college students."

“Select a group of colleges and universities from all over the country, located in different regions on the second floor, and affiliated with the top ten colleges and universities.”

"We have these college students record their daily lives with their eyes and then sell it to us."

"This way, we can quickly gather a lot of first-hand information about college students by watching their videos faster."

Ye Xingli: Good idea, let's do it this way.

Ye Xingli: I can contact a group of people from among the fans.
Zhang Yu: I also know quite a few college students.
Ye Xingli: Then let's each collect them individually, and summarize them in a month.

Zhang Yu: Yes

Zhang Yu wasn't in a hurry to finish gathering information, since modifying the design drawings wouldn't take him much time, given his mastery of the "Ingenious Creations" technique.

On the contrary, information gathering is more important. Only with enough information, and enough accurate information, to provide to Tiangong Kaiwu can Zhang Yu better obtain the design drawings he wants.

So Zhang Yu then posted a new task in the Songyang fellow townsmen group: to purchase daily video recordings of life from college students.

This immediately garnered enthusiastic participation from countless college students.

"Do you want a soul cultivator?"

"My eyelids don't have enough capacity, could I only sell for a few hours at a time?"

Do you have any requirements regarding image quality?

Faced with inquiries from college students, Zhang Yu answered a few questions, but feeling it took too much time, he handed the answers over to Fu Ji.

Zhang Yu: "Fuji, I require you to understand that, in short, you must collect data as truthfully and efficiently as possible."

Fuki: "What about the cost?"

Zhang Yu: "How much money can a college student spend on daily life?"

"The rice allowance that the school gives me as an outstanding student every week could be enough to feed them for a year if I threw it away."

Fu Ji: "Save where you can! You've only earned a few spirit coins and you're already spending so lavishly?"

Zhang Yu said, "After all, we're from the same hometown, so don't be too harsh on us."

Meanwhile, many college students in the hometown group were also eager to try it out.

Hehuan University Loves Tianji: Are videos of college students' daily lives not good enough?
Lanling University of Shanhe: Do you accept videos of colonels?
Zhang Yu: No need, I only need college graduates.

After entrusting the specific acquisition matters to Fu Ji, Zhang Yu buried himself in the Taiqing territory and began today's simulated weapon-refining practice.

With all his efforts in training within the Taiqing territory, Zhang Yu made rapid progress. He secretly estimated that "by the end of March, I will be able to complete the preparations and begin refining the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation."

...Just as Zhang Yu and Ye Xingli were collecting information on college students.

Inside the laboratory of the Magnet Pole True Lord.

Looking at the brand-new Dharma Body before him, Magnetism True Monarch frowned repeatedly: "Why does this look... have a college student vibe to it?"

Has my aesthetic sense declined?

Magnet True Lord plans to read more of the latest magical artifact design papers later to properly cultivate his aesthetic sense regarding magical artifacts.

Just then, a rudimentary intelligent spirit in the laboratory sent her a reminder.

"Oh? Did Zhang Yu sign up for the design competition?"

"Well, it's about time we introduced him to someone."

……

Inside Ye Xingli's laboratory.

Zhang Yu sent a new contract to his three assistants, including Zi Yunzhen.

"The new contract is not much different; it mainly adds some confidentiality clauses. If everyone feels there are no problems, then sign it."

Since Zhang Yu's next project, the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation, no longer needs to go through review, there's no need for constant announcements or leaving traces everywhere.

He also considered that his weapon-forging skills were becoming more and more proficient and his techniques were becoming stronger with each forging attempt.

Especially as he acquired more and more blueprints for magical artifacts, the crafting efficiency bonus provided by the crafting prodigy also increased...

Zhang Yu decided to sign confidentiality agreements with his assistants to prevent them from revealing too many details about the laboratory and causing unnecessary trouble.

Zi Yunzhen and the other two glanced at the confidentiality clause, but were used to it.

After all, Zhang Yu wasn't the first lab they had ever worked in, and the various confidentiality clauses in the lab were perfectly normal to them. After a quick glance, they all signed the new contracts under the witness of the righteous god.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu smiled with satisfaction and said, "Alright, everyone, let's get back to studying."

"I estimate that the formal forging of the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation will begin at the end of this month."

Upon hearing this, Zi Yunzhen was shocked, and Su Yunni exclaimed in surprise, "It's starting at the end of March? Isn't that too fast? Can the preliminary technical preparations be completed?"

Zhang Yu said calmly, "You don't need to worry about that. What you need to do is complete the learning of the necessary knowledge for the assistants before the end of March, so as not to hold the project back."

"Once the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation is completed, I will give everyone a bonus."

Seeing his three assistants looking both expectant and under immense pressure, Zhang Yu remained unperturbed.

Having been in the Weapon Forging Department for over a year, and having seen several True Monarchs in the department, as well as Senior Sister Ye Xingli's laboratory, Zhang Yu has come to understand more and more that high pressure is the norm in the laboratory.

Assistants always need to be pushed and squeezed to bring out their potential and not slow down the project's progress.

On the other side, Zi Yunzhen and the other two took a deep breath, also without any intention of refuting. After all, learning and experimenting under the boss's pressure was a basic skill for weapon-refining students.

Although 99% of the miscellaneous work done by lab assistants could probably be done by an excellent college student.

But the remaining 1% of miscellaneous tasks, and how to distinguish whether those tasks belong to the 1% or the 99%, require sufficient cultivation techniques and knowledge.

Before officially starting the forging of the Taihao Sacred Law Sword Formation, extensive learning is essential.

Driven by the prize money Zhang Yu mentioned, and even more so by the experience of working on a military-grade project, Zi Yunzhen and the other two put in their best efforts.

Shortly after Zhang Yu finished painting a rosy picture for his assistants, he received another message from Magnetism True Lord.

Magnet Lord: Do you have time?
Rarely receiving a message from his master, Zhang Yu immediately stopped what he was doing and replied: Yes.

Magnet Lord: Let me tell you about the design competition.
Magnet Master: This year's design competition judges include one from our Wanfa school, one from Vajra University, and three from Netherworld University, Heavenly Demon University, and White Bone University.

Magnetism True Lord: The one on the Wanfa side is String Sound True Lord, I've already made arrangements for you.
Magnet Lord: The remaining four judges, you need to prepare some gifts.

Zhang Yu: You still need to give gifts?

Magnet Lord: Nonsense, what design competition doesn't involve giving gifts?
Zhang Yu: What should I give you?
Magnet Lord: What else can you give besides spirit coins?
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "That's really direct..."

Magnet Lord: I'll send you the price list for these four people. Let me know when you've prepared your spirit coins.

Looking at the price list, Zhang Yu's heart skipped a beat: "Four Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and they want more than 100 spirit coins in total? Sigh, that's not much for a Nascent Soul True Monarch... but it's too expensive for a college student."

Zhang Yu, who thought he had enough money for the rest of the trip, never expected that he would have to spend such a large sum of money.

Zhang Yu: Can you make it cheaper?

Magnet Lord: This is already the bottom price.
Magnet Lord: If you weren't a student of all laws, my disciple, you wouldn't even have the chance to send spirit coins.
Magnet Lord: Remember, never go below the number I gave you. If you go below that, they'll definitely come after you.
Magnet Master: Don't go too high above this number, or it will disrupt the market trend.
Zhang Yu asked: After sending the spirit coins, is there any guarantee that I can get the military certificate?

Magnet Lord: After I give you the gift, it gives you a chance to compete fairly with other gift-givers for ranking.
(End of this chapter)