Chapter 153: Ah Zhen, Why is Your Belly Getting Bigger? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 153 A-Zhen, Why Has Your Belly Gotten Bigger? (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Just as Zhang Yu was contacting the three major high schools.

Inside the office at Songyang High School.

Lan Ling said, filled with unwillingness: “...If we let this matter slide, the Student Council will lose all credibility; how are we supposed to carry out our work in the future?”

Zhou Chichen remained silent, instead pondering the events of today and the behavior displayed by Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

“These two are so fearless; what exactly are they relying on?”

“Is it sheer audacity? Or is there someone else backing them besides Zhang Pianpian?”

Listening to Lan Ling, he thought that perhaps he could revoke some of their privileges, such as their eligibility for the competition, as a way to probe them further.

Just as Zhou Chichen was thinking this, his phone suddenly gave a faint buzz.

Zhou Chichen opened it and saw, to his surprise, that it was a message from Le Jingchen.

Seeing the strange look on Zhou Chichen’s face, Lan Ling asked, “What is it?”

Frowning, Zhou Chichen said, “Regarding the matter Le Jingchen wanted us to handle, he says he has taken care of it himself.”

Lan Ling asked in confusion, “Taken care of it?”

Zhou Chichen continued, “Zhang Yu approached him personally, took Le Jingchen’s money, and agreed not to participate in the upcoming Dao Heart Competition for the tenth grade.”

Lan Ling exclaimed in surprise, “What? He approached Le Jingchen personally?”

“How did he even get in touch with Le Jingchen?”

Just then, Zhou Chichen’s phone buzzed again, and upon seeing the new message, his expression shifted even more dramatically.

He said in disbelief, “My bank account has been frozen?”

“A tax audit is required?”

Zhou Chichen was supremely confident that his taxes were in perfect order, so why was he suddenly being audited?

Connecting the dots—having just targeted Zhang Yu today, followed by the private deal between Le Jingchen and Zhang Yu, and now the temporary freeze on his bank account...

Beside him, Lan Ling said, “President, could there be an issue with one of the company’s procedures? We should just need to pay the back taxes...”

“Pay back taxes? Pay back taxes my foot,” Zhou Chichen said with a dark expression. “This is clearly a warning from someone. I knew Zhang Yu’s background wasn’t simple.”

Lan Ling said, “Could it be the Tax Bureau...”

Zhou Chichen analyzed, “Acting so furtively like this, how could it be the Tax Bureau?”

“Moreover, right after we made our move, they contacted Le Jingchen on one side and froze my bank account on the other... I fear we have been in their sights for a long time.”

Lan Ling’s gaze hardened. “Isn’t this a threat? I’m going to find Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen right now...”

“Have you refined your brain into muscle with your body cultivation? Why the rush again?” Zhou Chichen said in annoyance. “Zhang Yu is merely a dog; what good does it do to pin him down? Besides, the enemy is hidden while we are exposed. The fact that they dare to warn us like this means they don’t fear us at all.”

“The priority is to investigate exactly who is behind Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. Only after we figure that out can we decide whether to endure or counterattack.”

“I will speak to my father about this and have him arrange for the family’s resources to investigate personally.”

“Until then, do not be rash. Just act as if nothing has happened.”

...

Inside Songyang High School.

Zhang Yu looked at the message on his phone and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

It was a message from the captain of the Songyang City Patrol Team, a contact left to him by Zhang Pianpian: The talisman has been sent, and the account has been successfully frozen.

Zhang Yu: Thank you.

The other party replied: It’s a small matter. Come visit by my place sometime if you have time.

Over the next few days, whether it was the Student Council, the eleventh-grade students, or Zhou Chichen and Lan Ling, everyone remained silent, as if the incident at the training ground had never happened.

Zhang Yu also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he need not worry about them for the time being.

“What needs to be done next is simple.”

“Continue cultivating with full power, and refine all this liquid wealth in hand into true strength.”

And so, in the days that followed, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen continued to advance by leaps and bounds on the path of immortal cultivation, spending the balances in their accounts at an unprecedented speed in their lives.

...

The Reserve.

Inside the incubation chamber.

Zhang Yu was in the midst of breathing in and out spiritual energy.

Strands of Great Sun mana circulated endlessly within him.

In the next moment, his mana, like magma, suddenly broke through the tiny meridians throughout his body, and Zhang Yu distinctively broke through another bottleneck in his mana cultivation.

His mana broke through seventy units.

Feeling the surging flow of his mana after the breakthrough, Zhang Yu revealed a satisfied smile.

Before him, Xiong Wenwu was also circulating his breathing technique.

Zhang Yu said, “Thanks for your help the other day.”

Xiong Wenwu replied indifferently, “It was a small matter. You’ve spent so much money here; helping out a bit is nothing.”

“Besides, I’m speaking the truth. If you and Bai Zhenzhen aren’t competing, a few of my brothers will have a better chance of making it into the Ten Greats.”

Zhang Yu asked curiously, “How come I didn’t see An’an today? Where is she?”

Xiong Wenwu shook his head and sighed, “An’an is comforting the others.”

“Because her salary was cut.”

Zhang Yu asked in confusion, “Huh? Her salary was cut, so why is she comforting the others?”

Xiong Wenwu said slowly, “Because she is the Reserve’s best employee, she was asked to take the lead in accepting a pay cut, which implies that everyone else will have their salaries cut one after another.” “The manager wants her to do the necessary mental preparation for the other employees, to help them understand the company’s difficulties and share in the company’s hardships.”

Zhang Yu could only offer, “Companies... they’re all like that.”

Xiong Wenwu said in annoyance, “She is clearly the most dedicated employee in the entire Reserve, the one with the most company spirit, so why does she earn the least and eat the worst? And now that the company’s profits have declined, she’s asked to lead the pay cuts?”

“How is this any different from the top student in a class having their benefits cut?”

Hearing this, Zhang Yu fell into a brief silence, unsure of what to say to comfort him.

Xiong Wenwu continued, “All of this goes to show... there is something wrong with the company. It fails to reward truly outstanding employees.”

Xiong Wenwu could sense that the company was definitely in trouble; not only were various bases and factories being acquired, but there was also chaos in the upper management.

“But soon...” Xiong Wenwu thought to himself. “I’m almost close to gathering enough money to help An’an pay off her breeding debt.”

“When that happens, she’ll be able to leave this place.”

...

White Dragon High School.

Song Hailong was currently battling Bai Zhenzhen.

Yet facing Bai Zhenzhen’s ghostly movements, he found it ever harder to land a blow upon her.

Song Hailong could only stand firm like a reef against the storm, weathering Bai Zhenzhen’s tempestuous assault while seeking a flaw in her defense.

But Bai Zhenzhen was like a flash of lightning, always darting into the blind spots of his vision, forcing him to constantly shift his stance in a futile attempt to track her.

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen’s figure flickered as she retreated to a stop more than ten meters away.

Song Hailong frowned and asked, "What is it?"

Bai Zhenzhen glanced at the White Dragon clansmen outside the door and said, "I say, you lot have been watching us train for quite a while now, haven't you?"

Chu Qiuhe and the others hurriedly dropped to their knees, vowing that they would continue to watch from that position.

Bai Zhenzhen said, "That is not what I meant."

"I meant that watching our training... requires a fee."

Song Hailong was just about to say forget it.

But he heard Zhang Yu nearby add, "Exactly, can you really expect to watch experts at our level for free? We really should be charging."

Yu Xinghan nodded and said, "Then let us collect an admission fee."

And so, a moment later, the training hall was packed with people.

A large crowd of White Dragon clansmen stood on the periphery, craning their necks to watch the four combatants.

As for the kneeling spots closer to the front, which offered a clearer view, those cost extra.

And before leaving White Dragon High School that day, Yu Xinghan said to Zhang Yu, "There is news regarding the Spirit Realm; I shall make arrangements for you in a few days."

……

Late July.

Less than half a month remained until the first round of the Foundation Establishment Qualification Examination.

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen charged bravely forward on the path of immortality with money; as funds flew out and vast quantities of resources were consumed, their progress was unprecedented.

Zhang Yu’s mana had broken through to 81.5, and his physical constitution had reached 7.52, both of these foundations now fully surpassing the average level of a White Dragon clansman first entering their senior year.

Only the progress of his Dao Heart remained very gradual, currently having reached Level 5 (85%).

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s bank balance had also fallen to just over two hundred thousand.

It was inside the apartment that evening.

Just as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were continuing their diligent cultivation.

Bai Zhenzhen suddenly said, "Yu-zi, do you feel like my belly has gotten bigger?"

Zhang Yu looked up and said, "It seems a little bigger, yes?"

Bai Zhenzhen patted her lower abdomen. "I feel like it’s sticking out a bit; didn't you notice?"

Zhang Yu looked closely, then suddenly started in shock as he saw streaks of azure patterns appear on Bai Zhenzhen’s lower abdomen.

And Bai Zhenzhen exclaimed in surprise, "Why has my Spirit Root shrunk?"

Within Bai Zhenzhen’s perception, the True Spirit Root that had stood firmly within the sea of Qi in her Dantian had been breathing in spiritual energy and nourishing her flesh and blood just a moment before.

The next moment, however, it began to withdraw, gradually transforming within her perception into a single azure seed.

After Bai Zhenzhen told Zhang Yu of this change, Fu Ji said, "It has evolved."

They heard Fu Ji explain, "I told you long ago that Bai Zhenzhen’s Spirit Root is of the evolutionary type."

"It is just that... in all the years before Bai Zhenzhen set foot upon the path of immortality, this Spirit Root was still in its juvenile stage, changing only slightly with her choices."

"But since truly starting on the immortal path in her first year of high school, her Spirit Root has been frequently stimulated, changing more than the sum of all changes in previous years."

"Especially after exchanging usage with you, every one of your Level 10 techniques has given this Spirit Root a more intense stimulation, leading to its evolution today."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu also shared his speculations regarding Spirit Root evolution with Bai Zhenzhen.

Then Then Zhang Yu said, "Try sensing the evolved True Spirit Root to see what it can do, or if it has gained any new abilities."

Hearing this, Bai Zhenzhen immediately focused all her attention upon the True Spirit Root.

As she poured her mind into it, a sense of ethereal emptiness gradually spread throughout her entire body.

Recommendation: "Starting from a Cursed Blade" — A political intrigue, ensemble cast Xianxia novel.

(End of Chapter)