Chapter 555 The Son of True Lord Magneto?

Facing Su Yunni’s question, Ziyun Zhen said casually, “The lab doesn’t really need me right now, so the boss sent me to help out on-site.”

Su Yunni chuckled. “How could the lab not need you when it’s so busy? What, has Zhang Yu stopped refining the prototype?”

As she spoke, she subtly began probing for details about the prototype’s progress—especially the data and performance metrics.

After all, she had worked with Jin Jun for quite some time and was quite familiar with the performance parameters of the Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype at various levels.

Of course, what she knew only concerned the prototype version.

The actual Heaven-Sun Radiance Divine Prototype was a military-grade puppet—its true power could only be unlocked after receiving military certification and undergoing modifications to remove its restrictions. Once that happened, its data would skyrocket.

At this moment, seeing Su Yunni asking all these questions, Ziyun Zhen found it rather amusing and quickly guessed her purpose for coming.

“Fine,” Ziyun Zhen said bluntly. “To be honest, Zhang Yu has already submitted the prototype for evaluation.”

“He really submitted it?” Su Yunni’s eyes widened. “Has Zhang Yu’s prototype reached level eleven already?”

“Level eleven?” Ziyun Zhen snorted. “Yunni, I can’t just ignore a comment like that.”

After all, this was the project she herself had led—heading half the team, handling all key foundational work, and working overtime for months. It was an achievement that would sit proudly at the top of her résumé.

She’d even worked as Zhang Yu’s assistant for a mere two spirit coins a month, putting in unpaid hours far beyond any previous project. How could she allow Su Yunni to downplay that?

With a hint of pride, Ziyun Zhen said, “In just two months, our team pushed the prototype from level one all the way to level fifteen before submitting it for review.”

“Level fifteen? In two months? That’s impossible!” Su Yunni blurted out, instinctively doubting it.

Seeing her shocked face, Ziyun Zhen smiled and used her EyeNet to snap a picture of Su Yunni’s expression before saying, “Yunni, the path of artifact refinement is cruel—there’s always someone faster, better, and cheaper than you.”

“As assistants, the most important thing we learn is how to pick the right project—and more importantly, the right person.”

“You’ve got talent, but your judgment’s still off.”

“As for Jin Jun? I saw through him last year—ambitious but hollow, nothing more than a dried-up bone in a tomb.”

“But Zhang Yu… from the start, I saw he was a buried gem—someone with extraordinary intuition and creativity in artifact refinement. That’s why, after his repeated invitations, I agreed to join his project.”

Su Yunni couldn’t help thinking, “Funny, last year you were calling him a ‘mud-for-brains civil engineer.’”

Still, seeing Ziyun Zhen speak so confidently, she couldn’t help believing a little of what she said about the level-fifteen prototype.

But the thought that her team, under Jin Jun, might lose to Zhang Yu filled her with anxiety.

While the two were talking, Fu Xinyao approached, trying to get close to the pair of artifact refinement students.

But before she could say anything, a shout came from behind.

“There she is! Grab her!”

Fu Xinyao turned sharply to see Yu Xinghan pointing at her. “It’s her! Pretending to offer massages without a license—but actually practicing dual cultivation!”

“She lures clients with cheap massages, then forces them into dual cultivation sessions, secretly draining their blood and mana! Who knows how many victims she’s deceived?”

Seeing two patrol officers approaching, Fu Xinyao glared fiercely at Yu Xinghan, cursing inwardly. “Damn it… him again?”

One officer scowled. “You again, you low-grade college girl. This time, it’s not just a few days of overtime.”

“Take her back,” the other said. “Confiscate her tools.”

Fu Xinyao’s heart tightened. She quickly whispered to Ping Han and the other soul cultivators, “Remember—the Law Husk carries a seal from Divine Lord Nectar. Ordinary cultivators won’t be able to trace its origin.”

“No matter how they interrogate you, don’t give anything away.”

As she was escorted away, Yu Xinghan nodded in satisfaction. But then his gaze shifted toward a lazy-looking worker in the distance, and his brow furrowed.

Lately, productivity among the construction workers had dropped. Even their working hours were shrinking.

Yet, strangely enough, in the midst of a citywide labor shortage, as workers volunteered for fewer overtime hours, their wages were actually going up.

Yu Xinghan wasn’t sure how long this odd trend would last—but he suspected there might be some sinister plot by the Rest-and-Relaxation Cult behind it.

…

After finishing her talk with Ziyun Zhen, Su Yunni hurried back to the lab to report to Jin Jun.

He was in the middle of channeling True Fire, etching mana circuits into the prototype through the refining apparatus.

When he saw Su Yunni, he didn’t speak—just sent her a message: Wait till I finish this.

Only after carving the mana circuit perfectly did he pause the device, look up, and ask calmly, “Alright. What’s the matter?”

“Zhang Yu pushed his prototype to level fifteen!” Su Yunni said quickly.

Jin Jun blinked, then laughed. “And you believe that nonsense?”

“Exaggeration and alarmism—after a year in the artifact department, it seems they’ve mastered those two skills.”

“Think about it. It’s been what, two months since his level-one prototype? Even among the greatest geniuses in the department’s history, how many have achieved that kind of progress? Zhang Yu’s only been here a year since transferring from civil engineering. You think he’s capable of that?”

“I didn’t believe it either,” Su Yunni admitted, “but Ziyun Zhen didn’t seem like she was lying.”

Jin Jun thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Forget it. Doesn’t matter.”

Whether Zhang Yu was bluffing or genuinely that talented, it made no difference to him.

His own prototype had just reached level eleven—and even if he submitted it for review now, approval was uncertain.

“The most important thing now,” he said firmly, “is focusing on our own refinement work.”

After instructing Su Yunni not to spread the rumor, Jin Jun returned to his task, concentrating on his prototype once again.

As for Zhang Yu’s alleged level-fifteen breakthrough? He didn’t buy it—at least, not more than half.

Still, he quietly sent a message to his team group chat, calling everyone back from their break to resume overtime work.

…

A few days later.

In True Lord Magneto’s EyeNet interface, a notification appeared—it was from Vice Principal True Lord Qiyun.

True Lord Qiyun: Congratulations. Another of your disciples just earned a Military Certification.

True Lord Qiyun: The Artifact Refinement Department really is thriving these years.

True Lord Magneto opened the attachment—it was the official notice confirming Zhang Yu’s successful evaluation and approval for the Military Artifact Engineer Certificate (Class A).

True Lord Magneto: All thanks to your leadership, Principal.

After a few polite exchanges, she forwarded the notice to the department’s deputy director, True Lord Dongming.

Dongming had once competed with her in the Nascent Soul Law Husk research. After being thoroughly suppressed by her, he had since become much more obedient.

Now, seeing Zhang Yu’s certification, True Lord Magneto decided to assign him a task.

True Lord Magneto: Handle the presentation ceremony for Zhang Yu’s Military Certificate.

True Lord Magneto: Make it look impressive—don’t be arrogant, but don’t be too modest either.

True Lord Magneto: And make sure word gets around that Zhang Yu is my personal disciple.

Dongming’s eyes gleamed. “Ah, so he is Magneto’s disciple after all.”

Though Magneto had never formally announced the relationship, most people just assumed Zhang Yu was a promising recruit she favored—not her personal disciple. But someone like Dongming could read between the lines.

“So,” he mused, “she held back before because she didn’t want this civil-engineering boy’s failure to tarnish her record during her Nascent Soul evaluation?”

“Now that he’s succeeded, of course she’ll flaunt it.”

Though inwardly bitter, he dared not disobey. After all, Magneto still held incriminating evidence of his company’s counterfeit certifications.

“‘Make it look impressive,’ huh?” Dongming muttered. “She says ‘don’t be arrogant’—but that ‘however’ afterward? That’s the real command.”

“Can’t be too low-key.”

…

Soon, radiant streams of light exploded across the Artifact Refinement Department’s office building, with celestial music echoing through the halls.

At the same time, countless teachers’ EyeNets lit up with the news—Zhang Yu had earned his Military Certification.

The office director also received a message from Dongming.

True Lord Dongming: Make it grand. High-profile.

The director pondered this, replayed Dongming’s special-effect display, added some enhancements of his own, and then double-checked with Dongming.

True Lord Dongming: That font looks outdated.

True Lord Dongming: The color should highlight the Artifact Department’s signature style.

True Lord Dongming: And brighten it up a little more.

After multiple revisions, the office director forwarded it to the teaching secretary.

Office Director: Make it bigger.

Teaching Secretary: Like this? [File]

Office Director: Font’s still too small.

…

When Realman Lianhuo, Zhang Yu’s homeroom instructor, finally received the notice, he fell into thoughtful silence.

“Such a grand announcement? Hmph… could Zhang Yu have become True Lord Magneto’s son?”