Chapter 8: Transformation!
Yun Yingzhi wasn’t entirely sure.
However, as he looked at the balance in his personal terminal—which was less than five digits—he realized this money wasn’t even enough to manufacture a Level 2 Source Weapon, let alone a Level 7 one.
He closed the banking interface on his personal projection and looked at the list of Source Weapon materials he had compiled.
The materials he had listed were generally Level 7, with a small portion being Level 8. A casual glance suggested the cost for materials alone would be at least seven digits.
He was truly poor.
In fact, ever since he had started consciously controlling his spending, he had always been very broke. This was especially true because he poured a massive amount of money into researching Source Weapons, leaving him in a constant state of spending more than he earned.
The fact that he currently had nearly 10,000 Imperial credits in his account only proved that he was frugal enough.
Yun Yingzhi closed his personal terminal in a dazed blur.
Thinking about it, his life was truly a mess. Half a year ago, he really didn’t know where he got the courage to accept Huai Boshe’s confession.
It interfered with his moneymaking.
It interfered with him earning enough money to shine in the Source Weapon manufacturing industry.
Breaking up now was truly for the best.
He sniffed, realizing that the most important thing for him right now was to make money.
What could he do to earn enough money in a short period of time?
Yun Yingzhi’s first thought was to sell Source Weapons.
In the past, whenever he lacked money, he would take orders at Alvin’s workshop. Alvin would always sell the weapons he manufactured at extremely high prices.
The prices were so far above the market rate that Yun Yingzhi felt guilty even taking the money.
It felt like he was using Teacher Alvin’s reputation to sell his weapons. Because of this, he didn’t like asking Alvin for help with sales.
There was a time when Yun Yingzhi was so desperate for money that he wondered if he should register an online shop on various network platforms.
After researching it for a while, he gave up.
According to his observations, every major online shop and Source Weapon manufacturing forum had a basic requirement for manufacturers.
The manufacturer needed to hold a license issued by the Source Weapon Association.
With his current abilities, Yun Yingzhi felt he could easily pass the exam for a Middle-Level Source Weapon Manufacturer license.
However, he didn’t dare.
Even if he didn’t expect much from General Yun and Madame Yun, he didn’t want to blatantly sprint down a path he knew they didn’t want their child to take.
He was afraid of them. Or more accurately, he didn’t want to make them even more disappointed in him.
Even now, Yun Yingzhi didn’t understand why the General and Madame believed that using Source Weapons in battle was considered a “dishonest side path.”
For Yun Yingzhi, whose Second Form was a little white rabbit and who hadn’t awakened an ability, this was clearly the only way for a warrior to become stronger.
Because of his parents’ attitude, Yun Yingzhi didn’t dare take the license exam, nor did he dare to stand out too much.
Alvin had even suggested several times to include Yun Yingzhi’s name on the weapons he helped assist with, but Yun Yingzhi had refused every time.
He was primarily afraid that his parents would be angry if they found out.
Yun Yingzhi frustratedly ruffled his hair several times, pondering if there was a good way to earn more money quickly.
After some thought, he decided to thicken his skin and open the chat interface with Teacher Alvin, intending to ask if he could help as an assistant.
Generally, whenever he helped out, Alvin would give him a substantial “red envelope” bonus.
Because Alvin’s Mental Power was damaged, he generally manufactured Level 7 to Level 9 Source Weapons. Very occasionally—once a year or even once every few years—he might take an interest in a Level 10 Source Weapon.
Yun Yingzhi’s request to “help as an assistant” was actually a very euphemistic way of saying: “Your disciple is short on cash. Master, please take an order and let me help so I can earn some pocket change.”
On the other end, Alvin replied almost instantly to the message.
Alvin: [Zhizhi baby, Master was just invited by a few old fogies to go on a trip to Planet Grenna. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.]
Yun Yingzhi: “…”
Life was truly too difficult.
Alvin: [I won’t be taking any orders for a while. However, Zhizhi, if you have time to go to the workshop, feel free to use the materials there as you wish. Any Source Weapons you manufacture, Master will help you sell them for a high price.]
With a heavy heart, Yun Yingzhi thanked him politely, thinking it was better not to trouble Alvin.
Yun Yingzhi pondered.
If he were to manufacture weapons for sale now, considering the success rate and cost-cutting, he would likely make Level 6 or lower weapons to earn money. However, given Alvin’s status in the industry, asking him to sell weapons below Level 6—and at a high price, no less—would simply be losing face for Alvin.
In fact, Yun Yingzhi had completely fallen into a misunderstanding regarding this point.
Since the age of eight, Yun Yingzhi had occasionally manufactured weapons at Alvin’s workshop. Alvin would sell these weapons under the identity of his “mysterious disciple.”
Before the age of twelve, the weapons Yun Yingzhi made were very average, but because they rode on the fame of Alvin’s mysterious disciple, they were still easy to sell. Alvin would then transfer all the proceeds to him.
After the age of twelve, the weapons Yun Yingzhi manufactured began to show a distinct personal style. By then, the name of Alvin’s mysterious disciple was already quite famous in the manufacturing world.
Although Yun Yingzhi couldn’t manufacture high-level weapons, the weapons he made could be used by warriors two levels lower than the weapon’s rank. Warriors of the same rank found using his weapons incredibly smooth and fluid. Because of these unique characteristics, many Grandmaster-level manufacturers and even legendary figures had reached out to Alvin to commission weapons made by this disciple.
Unbeknownst to Yun Yingzhi, he was extremely mysterious and famous in the eyes of the industry’s big shots.
Many warriors now dreamed of owning a similar Source Weapon.
In particular, after Yun Yingzhi had successfully manufactured a Level 7 weapon, it had sparked a craze in the manufacturing world. Imitators were endless, but the difficulty was extremely high. Even those sensitive to Source Energy had to spend a massive amount of time to create a low-end version. The most frustrating part was that the failure rate was too high.
Completely unaware of these facts, Yun Yingzhi was still worrying about how to earn money effectively and quickly.
He plucked out a few more hairs in frustration, looking longingly at the dazzling array of Source materials in the glass cabinets, then at his account balance…
Poverty.JPG.
He left the workshop with a heavy, lingering gaze.
On the way back to the dorm, Yun Yingzhi was constantly approached by other students, and even received several love letters.
Today, he wasn’t in a good mood and didn’t want to deal with his classmates’ enthusiasm. After a thought, he took a detour through a path where there were fewer people.
However, even on this rarely traveled path, he still encountered enthusiastic classmates.
A female student with a flushed face stopped him and confessed her feelings.
Yun Yingzhi’s eyelid jumped. He didn’t accept the love letter she handed over and politely rejected her.
The girl, face still red, said, “Then I’ll come ask again next time,” and ran away crying.
Yun Yingzhi felt this couldn’t go on. After a moment of thought, he shifted from his human form into a white little rabbit about 30cm long, moving along the corners toward the dormitory building.
The white rabbit’s ears drooped down. Unlike other rabbits that moved in hops, it walked with a front-and-back foot gait.
Suddenly…
A figure blocked Yun Yingzhi’s path.
Yun Yingzhi froze. His long ears twitched as he looked up at the person in front of him.
With one look, Yun Yingzhi was stunned.
Not long ago, he had heard news about this person from other students: the current senior valedictorian of Fense Academy, the Imperial Crown Prince with 4S-rank Mental Power—His Highness Elvis.
From Yun Yingzhi’s perspective, he saw Elvis’s violet eyes.
White hair and violet eyes were the hallmark of the Imperial Family.
Yun Yingzhi blinked, instinctively wanting to retreat and put some distance between himself and Elvis.
However, Elvis was faster.
Elvis directly grabbed the little white rabbit by the back of its neck—the scruff of destiny—and lifted it up.
Yun Yingzhi felt his rabbit ears getting particularly hot. He instinctively kicked his feet, trying to get Elvis to let go.
Elvis’s voice, which sounded like a cold spring, rang out: “You look fragile, but your struggle isn’t exactly weak.”
Yun Yingzhi thought: not only do I look fragile, as a little white rabbit, I actually am fragile. But hearing Elvis’s words, he decided to stop struggling for the time being.
In the entire Fense Academy, he was the only student whose Second Form was a little white rabbit.
Just as Yun Yingzhi was about to speak and tell Elvis to let go, he saw the man pick him up and hold him against his chest. Elvis said softly, “I wonder who brought a little rabbit in from outside.” Although his voice was soft, it sounded as if it were tempered with cold ice.
Yun Yingzhi: “…”
Yun Yingzhi: “…………”
In other words, despite such an obvious indicator, Elvis had actually mistaken him for a household pet from outside?
Thinking about it, it seemed… actually quite plausible.
While many people at Fense Academy knew his Second Form was a rabbit, Elvis was always extremely busy. There was a high chance he really didn’t know. Especially since some students in the academy secretly kept pet rabbits.
Yun Yingzhi thought about it very seriously.
He thought about how Elvis had scruffed him and then held him against his chest. Even now, Yun Yingzhi could smell the pleasant scent radiating from Elvis.
Despite being in his Second Form, Yun Yingzhi still felt his face turning red and his ears burning. Waves of heat washed over him; he felt like he was about to be cooked.
But…
To avoid an even more embarrassing situation, Yun Yingzhi thought it was better to be honest with Elvis and tell him he was a human, not a real rabbit.
Just as Yun Yingzhi was about to open his mouth to explain, Elvis’s large hands began to inspect the little rabbit’s body.
The first place he checked was…
Yun Yingzhi was in a daze, feeling like his entire rabbit self was about to start smoking.
Elvis said, “It should be a little buck.”
Yun Yingzhi’s fur bristled. His rabbit face looked in horror at the hooligan Prince.
With an expressionless face and lowered eyelashes, Elvis brought the little rabbit to his lips and gave its soft belly a kiss.
Translator’s Note:
- Poverty.JPG: This is a classic Chinese internet meme. Adding “.JPG” to an emotion or state implies a frozen, still image of that feeling. Here, it describes MC’s complete state of financial despair.
- Planet Grenna: A fictional resort planet.
- Scruff of Destiny: A common term used by Chinese readers to describe the back of a small animal’s neck, which, when grabbed, makes them “submit” to fate.
- Buck: A male rabbit.
- MC’s Noises: In the next chapter, you’ll see Zhizhi trying to make “rabbit noises.” Rabbits are actually very quiet animals, so his improvisation is hilarious!
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