Chapter 774 No one understands the Refining Spirit Technique better than me
Shortly after Zhang Yu's name appeared on the exhibition list, Gu Qingya, the deputy minister in charge of weapon crafting, approached Zhang Yu.
Gu Qingya, projected in front of Zhang Yu, greeted him and then got straight to the point: "Have you made any mistakes at work? Have you encountered any problems? Or... broken any rules?"
Seeing Zhang Yu shake his head, Gu Qingya reminded him, "Think carefully, is it because the mindset of people from the lower realm is limiting you, making you unaware of any problem?"
"I'm not one to cover up for my own. Although I also come from the lower realm, we people from the lower realm are indeed not respectable, especially when we first enter the sect. Our knowledge and perspective are limited, and sometimes we don't even realize when we make mistakes."
Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Vice Minister Gu, just tell me what happened."
Gu Qingya said, "I heard that you were reported during the exhibition period."
Zhang Yu's gaze sharpened slightly, and the first person that came to mind was Lu Hengzhang, and the conservative faction within the sect.
He frowned and said, "Are the conservatives trying to target me?"
Gu Qingya said, "You should first think about whether you have made any mistakes that gave others leverage against you. Before the investigation starts, you should take the time to make amends."
After Gu Qingya's projection disappeared, Zhang Yu's mind flashed through his actions during this period. Although several possibilities vaguely emerged, he still couldn't determine where the problem lay.
Not long after, Zhang Yu vaguely sensed that the members of the Martial Arts Group 3 seemed to be saying something to him behind his back.
It wasn't until Ye Xingli forwarded him several pieces of gossip circulating in the Dharma Realm that Zhang Yu understood what everyone was talking about.
Are there any loopholes in the Imperial Law Pavilion's review process?
"An investment of tens of millions of coins was wiped out by a single rejection from the examiner?"
"Why did the immortal techniques he rejected revive at the Heavenly Demon Sect?"
Just by glancing at the headline, Zhang Yu could feel a strong sense of inflammatory rhetoric emanating from it.
After reading the contents, Zhang Yu frowned even more.
Meanwhile, in another small group, the cultivators of Martial Arts Group Three were already exchanging thousands of messages rapidly.
Chu Wangji: He rejected the "Refining God Technique" and then sold the immortal techniques within it to the demon descendants of the Heavenly Demon Sect?
Wen Zhiwei: I remember that "Refining God Technique" was rejected by True Lord Zhang last month, right?
Chu Wangji: But this revelation is too outrageous. No matter how much they sell it, they can't sell it to the Heavenly Demon Sect!
Wen Zhiwei: I've looked at the "Refining Spirit Technique," and the reasons for rejection aren't quite sufficient.
Someone else said: "Zhang Zhenjun produced so many reports last month, it's not impossible that he made a mistake in his busy schedule."
It wasn't just the members of Martial Arts Group Three discussing it among themselves; as the revelations continued to spread, more and more people throughout the Imperial Law Pavilion were discussing the related news, and the rumors circulating in the legal world became increasingly outrageous.
"He came from the lower realm and sold the sect's immortal cultivation techniques to demon descendants?"
"The Imperial Law Pavilion has been exposed as a black market industry! Imperial Law Pavilion auditors have become the primary channel for leaking Daoist technology!"
"The tragedy of copyright: when censors become the biggest thieves."
Looking at the contents, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "People from the lower realms, demon descendants, copyright of cultivation techniques, behind-the-scenes deals... these are all sensitive topics. It's hard not to attract attention."
After a person from the lower realm enters the Imperial Law Pavilion, they betray their sect's interests to the demon race... Just thinking about it, Zhang Yu could tell how much attention this revelation would attract from sect disciples, and it would probably become material used by countless people to attack people from the lower realm and the normalization of the lower realm taking the imperial examination.
At the same time, Zhang Yu also recalled the contents of the "Refining God Technique" in his mind.
Zhang Yu had a deep impression of this technique.
Zhang Yu was surprised when he first looked through the technique.
This is because the technique, which was originally named "Refining God Technique", appeared in the Feather Book as "Breaking the Attachment and Forging God Technique".
"The name is different from the one that appeared on the feather scroll?"
This was the first strange thing Zhang Yu noticed.
Driven by intense curiosity, Zhang Yu searched the inner realm of the Dharma following the name "Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique".
Finally, in the Imperial Law Pavilion's database, he found a cultivation technique called "Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique".
"Could it be that this 'Refining God Technique' is a copy of the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique'? Otherwise, why would Yu Shu identify the 'Refining God Technique' as the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique'?"
With his doubts in mind, Zhang Yu read through the "Breaking the Roots and Forging the God Technique" in the database, but he felt that the two techniques were completely different and did not seem to have any trace of plagiarism.
"Although both of these techniques use fist techniques to cultivate martial will, the immortal techniques they employ are quite different."
Whether reading the manual's contents or simulating it through the Wuxiang Martial Arts, Zhang Yu could sense the uniqueness of the "Refining God Technique" and believed it met the requirements for passing the review.
But the unusual name on the feather scroll made him feel something was off.
Why did Yu Shu identify the "Refining God Technique" as the "Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique"?
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Could it be that our ideas have overlapped?"
Therefore, Zhang Yu ultimately chose the Feather Book specialization model and pushed the "Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique" in the internal Dharma Realm database to level 40.
In this process, he also gained a thorough understanding of the two techniques in a way that transcended reading and simulation.
As countless memories of cultivation flooded into his mind, Zhang Yu made a judgment in his heart.
"This 'Refining God Technique' probably really originated from the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique,' but the form of expression is different."
"In fact, after reversing the application of the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique' and making some further deductions, one can naturally achieve the effect of the 'Refining the God Technique'."
"The two seem unrelated at first glance, but in fact they are from the same root."
Therefore, Zhang Yu ultimately rejected the decision, pointing out that the immortal techniques of "Refining God Technique" overlapped with those of "Breaking the Attachment and Forging God Technique".
In the subsequent review, Zhang Yu rejected the other party's application again, but at the time he didn't think it was a big deal.
But looking at the turmoil that has been stirred up in the Dharma realm, he thought to himself, "Is someone stirring things up, trying to use this incident to attack me?"
Before leaving get off work, Zhang Yu was called to the office by Luo Wuji, the head of the audit department.
Without wasting any time, Luo Wuji said without looking up while working, "I've read the 'Refining God Technique,' and your judgment is wrong."
After making an irrefutable judgment, Luo Wuji continued, "Admit your mistake as soon as possible, apologize, refute the rumors, and quell public opinion."
For Luo Wuji, who was about to break through to the Void Refinement stage and establish laws, what he cared about was getting Zhang Yu to take full responsibility and quell public opinion as quickly as possible.
Zhang Yu's gaze sharpened, and he argued forcefully, "Minister, although these two techniques may look different, their core principles are the same..."
A flash of divine light emanated from Luo Wuji, pressing down on Zhang Yu like towering mountains, preventing him from speaking further.
Luo Wuji coldly said, "Zhang Yu, it doesn't matter if you make a mistake, but you have to admit it."
"With such a significant improvement in performance last month, it's normal to make mistakes when things are busy. I won't blame you."
"But the public opinion within the sect has already affected the normal work of the review department, and even the sect leader is very concerned about this incident..."
While the impact on his work was something Luo Wuji was concerned about, what mattered most to him was... the changes in public opinion, which might affect his ability to establish laws and his breakthrough to the Void Refinement stage.
Luo Wuji had already taken the time to review both "Refining God Technique" and "Breaking the Attachment and Forging God Technique" and concluded that Zhang Yu had indeed made a wrong judgment.
Therefore, he hoped that Zhang Yu would admit his mistake and apologize as soon as possible, and control the situation to Zhang Yu's work error alone, so as not to let the matter escalate further.
Looking up at Zhang Yu, Luo Wuji continued, "The investigation team should be here tomorrow. When they question you, just say that you made a mistake due to momentary negligence."
...
As Zhang Yu left Luo Wuji's office, he heard Fu Ji's voice in his mind: "That old guy is really stubborn and self-willed. He won't listen to even the slightest explanation from us."
Zhan Xian said, "He is about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. Naturally, he trusts his own judgment more than ours."
"As for the 'Refining God Technique,' its origin is unknown, and at first glance, it is not clear what its relationship is with the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique.'"
"In his view, you made a mistake because you were too eager to complete the task you promised him."
"For him, the current goal is to make you take all the blame and completely absolve him of any responsibility for demanding improved performance."
Fuki sighed, "The merits of the lower-level cultivator belong to the higher-level cultivator, and the mistakes of the higher-level cultivator are borne by the lower-level cultivator."
Fu Ji asked, "Zhang Yu, what do you have to say? Are you really going to admit your mistake?"
Zhang Yu said, "I'm still in the demonstration period for my promotion. If I admit my mistake now... I'll lose this promotion to Level 2 Clan Affairs Officer, right?"
Fu Ji, however, asked worriedly, "What if... what if... Zhang Yu, are you sure you can handle this?"
She was afraid that Zhang Yu had indeed made the wrong judgment and rejected the "Refining God Technique" incorrectly.
Zhan Xian, however, had complete confidence in Yu Shu, saying, "Our judgment is definitely correct. Even if it is ultimately submitted to the Daoist Canon, the Daoist Canon will definitely not approve this 'Refining God Technique'."
"But during the investigation, it is inevitable to encounter some pressure, and the necessary procedures are always indispensable."
Zhang Yu smiled faintly and said, "Pressure... I'm used to it."
Fuki said, "Sigh, can't we just submit the Daoist canon directly?"
Zhanxian said, "You're saying this because you don't understand the master-servant relationship between the Imperial Law Pavilion and the Daoist Canon."
"The Daoist Canon is an extension of the Daoist lineage of the Immortal Emperor of Ten Thousand Laws. It truly originates from the Daoist lineage and authority of the Immortal Emperor."
"For sects, whether it's the Imperial Law Pavilion or the Review Department, they are sandboxes for sifting out impurities and garbage data. The ultimate goal is to leave the essence for the Daoist Canon."
"The Imperial Law Pavilion is a tool of the Daoist Canon, and one of its greatest purposes in being established is to serve the Daoist Canon."
"Instead of treating the Daoist Canon as a tool of the Imperial Library."
Zhan Xian spoke eloquently: "That's why the Imperial Law Pavilion has a complete process to achieve this goal, so that only cultivation techniques that meet the requirements are qualified to be submitted to the Daoist Canon, instead of just anything being uploaded directly to the Daoist Canon."
"In this case, the review department will probably form a panel to confirm that the 'Refining God Technique' is novel, creative, and practical before it will be submitted to the Daoist Canon."
"Processes are ubiquitous in the Wanfa Sect and form the basis for maintaining its order. What supports all of this is the lineage established by the immortals, the laws established by numerous superior cultivators under the lineage, the rules established according to the laws, and the processes formed according to the rules."
Zhang Yu nodded slightly and sighed, "The lineage...the laws...the rules...the procedures, all of these constitute the foundation of the sect, and also form the rules governing the operation of each mountain, determining the lifestyle and work style of all cultivators."
Listening to Zhang Yu and Zhan Xian's back-and-forth banter, Fu Ji suddenly felt a sense of unease.
“Oh no, I used to be Zhang Yu’s mentor, teaching him all sorts of principles of life and how to climb up in Kunxu.”
"Since arriving at the sect, this Immortal Slayer has been talking more and more, and Zhang Yu is listening to him more and more."
Moreover, Fu Ji had a vague feeling that Zhan Xian and Zhang Yu seemed to share some kind of secret, and were always hiding things from her and saying things she couldn't understand.
Fu Ji naturally had no idea that the secret was Zhang Yu's Feather Book.
But she knew that both of them possessed Zhang Yu's memories and had secrets known only to them, which was perfectly normal and something she could never compare to.
"No, this can't go on any longer."
“If this continues, won’t my ranking in Zhang Yu’s heart drop again? And my influence in the startup team will also decline in the future.”
"Rise up, Fortune God! Get your brains working! Find a way to regain my influence over Zhang Yu!"
While Fuki was racking her brains, Zhang Yu threw himself back into his work.
The very next day, just as Luo Wuji had predicted, the investigation team arrived at the Martial Arts Group 3's office area and brought news that Zhang Yu's promotion process had been frozen and suspended.
As Zhang Yu followed the investigation team to a quiet room for a talk, the group chat among the team members immediately erupted in excitement.
"Is there really something wrong with Zhang Yu?"
"He wasn't transferred, was he?"
"A first-level sect affairs officer... if he really sells immortal techniques, he will probably be kicked out of the sect."
"What about our performance results?!"
The thought of Zhang Yu leading Martial Arts Group 3 to improve their performance, as well as the new performance requirements for this month, made many group members groan in despair.
Chu Wangji recalled the gifts he had given before and thought to himself, "What a loss! I should have known better than to give them."
Qu Yizhi watched Zhang Yu's retreating figure and thought to himself, "Is this... one of Lu Hengzhang's methods? If so... I'm afraid Zhang Yu won't be able to get away easily, and as the team leader, I'll inevitably be implicated as well."
Qu Yizhi believed that his sect's sensitivity was not low. He felt that if this matter was really caused by Lu Hengzhang and the big shot behind Lu Hengzhang, then it was definitely not as simple as it seemed.
"Perhaps... Zhang Yu is just a catalyst?"
...
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu, having arrived at the quiet room, sat cross-legged and calmly answered the investigation team's questions.
"Zhang Yu, why did you connect the 'Refining God Technique' and the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique'?"
"Why do you think the immortal techniques of the two cultivation methods overlap?"
What is your basis for this claim?
Zhang Yu was unwilling to reveal that he had pushed the "Breaking the Execution and Forging the God Technique" in the database to level 40, after all, it involved Yu Shu and copyright, and he knew that it would be useless to say it.
Because for someone who hasn't pushed the "Breaking the Roots and Forging the God Technique" to level 40 and hasn't condensed the related fist intent, it's simply incomprehensible, even if they try to explain their understanding to others.
So Zhang Yu said, "If you don't believe me, you can go find other people who have refined the 'Breaking the Roots and Forging the God Technique' to level 40. They, as outsiders, can verify what I said."
The investigators exchanged glances, and one of them looked at Zhang Yu and said, "Do you know that the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique' is outdated? There is no one in the Myriad Laws Sect who has cultivated the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique' to level 40."
Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.
At the same time, the investigator continued, "Why do you think that the person who pushed the 'Breaking the Execution and Forging the God Technique' to level 40 can prove your point?"
"Have you come into contact with a cultivator at level 40 of the 'Breaking the Roots and Forging the God Technique'? Are they from another sect?"
Zhang Yu frowned and said, "No, I just derived this idea based on my understanding of the cultivation technique."
As the conversation ended and the investigators walked away, Zhang Yu could tell that they had not been convinced at all.
At the same time, a strange question arose in his mind: "Is there anyone in the Myriad Laws Sect who cultivates the 'Breaking Attachments and Forging God Technique'?"
"If the 'Refining God Technique' is plagiarized, then it's plagiarizing an outdated cultivation method?"
Over the next two days, the members of Martial Arts Group 3 were also taken in for questioning by the investigation team to further understand Zhang Yu's work situation.
Immediately, the entire group was filled with unease.
Soon after, a panel of experts drawn from the Imperial Law Pavilion began reviewing the "Refining God Technique".
...
Xiao Zhi, the leader of the martial arts group and a senior reviewer, also joined the panel.
His body was radiating with powerful energy, and bursts of fist intent were already surging forth.
After a series of simulations, he exclaimed, "The 'Refining God Technique' and the 'Breaking the Attachment and Forging the God Technique' are completely contradictory techniques. Zhang Yu's judgment is utterly inexplicable."
"It's so obvious, there's practically nothing to investigate."
Another member of the panel said, "Zhang Yu achieved so much last month, he probably made a mistake in the rush."
Xiao Zhi sneered and said, "I told you long ago that the martial arts groups have been operating smoothly for so many years. Someone like him, who just joined the department, blindly trying to increase performance, was bound to cause problems. Wasn't I right about him?"
"Young people are still too young."
"What's the point of approving so many papers if they're all wrong?"
"Who knows how many other cultivation techniques he missed last month besides the 'Refining God Technique'?"
"People in the lower realms are just that short-sighted."
“Each of these cultivation techniques was developed at the cost of a large amount of immortal coins and sect resources. In order to quickly achieve his own little bit of performance, he just rejected perfectly good cultivation techniques. How many sect resources will be wasted as a result?”
Another cultivator said, "Team Leader Xiao, let's not escalate this..."
“Expanding?” Xiao Zhi: “How am I exaggerating? I’m worried that the sect’s resources are being wasted because of people like this.”
"I suggest we expand the scope of the review further and review all the cultivation techniques that Zhang Yu rejected last month."
The investigation team member immediately said, "Team Leader Xiao, be careful what you say."
Xiao Zhi pursed his lips and said nothing more.
Of course he knew it was impossible to investigate everything. What if this matter was eventually expanded to involve investigating the entire martial arts group, and something was found out?
Xiao Zhi simply wanted to label Zhang Yu as someone who arbitrarily rejected cultivation techniques, to prevent the other party from engaging in any more mischievous actions to boost performance.
Xiao Zhi also believed that defining and controlling the incident as Zhang Yu's personal mistake was something the higher-ups would be happy to see.
Soon, with Xiao Zhi's active promotion, similar rumors began to circulate within the Imperial Law Pavilion.
"The reason Zhang Yu's performance improved so quickly is because he rejected things haphazardly."
"I heard that he rejected all the difficult techniques and only kept the simple ones for review."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyun from the Martial Arts Group had a flash of understanding in her eyes: "So that's how it is? This guy... surpassed me using this kind of method?"
...
Inside the office of Gu Qingya, Deputy Director of the Audit Department.
Looking at Zhang Yu, whom he had summoned, Gu Qingya smiled slightly and said, "One wrong move and the whole game is lost. It must be hard to accept, right? I don't mean to mock you. I've made mistakes before, and I've been taken advantage of like this before."
"That's how it is within the sect. Eyes are watching everywhere. If you make even the slightest mistake, someone will seize the opportunity to crush you. This is even more true for us lower-level people..."
"There's nothing we can do. There are just too many people in the sect who want to climb up, but there are only so many positions available."
Gu Qingya sighed, "It's not uncommon for candidates to assassinate each other over a promotion opportunity."
“As someone who came from the first floor, you’ve only been here for three months and you’re already getting promoted. There’s bound to be some people who can’t stand it.”
Zhang Yu said calmly, "What business does Vice Minister Gu have with me?"
Gu Qingya said, "The laboratory that developed the 'Refining God Technique' has released a lot of videos, which has made things even bigger. Minister Luo is very angry after he learned that you are unwilling to admit your mistakes."
"I'm afraid that after this failed promotion, you won't be able to get promoted for quite some time."
Zhang Yu said, "What if I'm right?"
Gu Qingya laughed and said, "See, this is where your stupidity lies. Do you think the key issue for Minister Luo is whether you are right or wrong?"
"He's about to enact laws, and calming public opinion as soon as possible is the most important thing for him."
"You'll only satisfy him if you immediately admit your mistake as he says it."
"Obedience and obedience are what he requires of you."
"On the contrary, even if you are right and you have been wronged, if you are disobedient and unwilling to obey, then in his eyes you are not worthy of promotion."
"Besides, do you really think you know more than Luo Wuji, Xiao Zhi, the review department, or the laboratory that has invested tens of millions of immortal coins?"
Gu Qingya stared into Zhang Yu's eyes and said calmly, "Who believes you?"
(End of this chapter)
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