Chapter 247: Endurance (Thanks to 'Zhang Pianpian Meow' Eve for Sending Zhang Pianpian)

Chapter 247: Endurance (Thanks to 'Zhang Pianpian Meow' for sending Zhang Pianpian 10 Oscar Trophies)

"Kid, let's talk."

Looking at the being before him, whose body was like glass and whose hair was a cascade of flames, Zhang Yu knew this was the Starfire True Man he had never met but had heard so much about from various people.

Following him to the rooftop of a building, Zhang Yu asked in confusion, "Senior, is there something you need from me?"

Starfire True Man laughed heartily, spitting out a series of sparks. "Why be so formal with 'senior'? You and Yu Xinghan are classmates training together—just call me Master."

Zhang Yu was taken aback. "Master?"

"Mm." Starfire True Man acknowledged, then smiled. "Have you decided on a university and major?"

He looked at Zhang Yu with a knowing smirk. "It wouldn't be Netherworld University, would it?"

Zhang Yu didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Senior, do you think Netherworld University is unsuitable?"

Starfire True Man said, "Universities select students based on grades, but when students apply, they naturally choose a university that fits them."

"Netherworld University belongs to the Netherworld Palace. Their sect's techniques are infamous for draining blood and qi, flaying skin, and refining living souls. They treat all living beings like weeds, stopping at nothing to achieve their goals. As long as there's enough profit, nothing is off the table."

"If not for the other sects holding them back, they'd turn layers 1 through 10 into breeding grounds to supply their cultivation resources."

"I'm not saying this path is bad, but do you really think it suits you?"

Zhang Yu asked again, "Then which university does Senior think suits me?"

Starfire True Man replied, "The Myriad Methods University has been the orthodox path since ancient times, aiming to select the best of the best and cultivate generation after generation of immortal seeds."

Fu Ji, listening nearby, explained in Zhang Yu's mind: "Select the best of the best means grinding yourself to death just to squeeze out an immortal. Before becoming an immortal, you're nothing but a beast of burden."

Starfire True Man continued, "Students who enter Myriad Methods University may not all become immortals, but at least they can develop their talents with ample practical opportunities."

Fu Ji chuckled. "Ample practical opportunities means they tell you to start part-time jobs and overtime in university."

Starfire True Man added, "Myriad Methods University also provides solid support for students. Everything follows the rules. As long as you work hard, you can earn money, improve your cultivation, and support yourself."

Fu Ji said, "Support yourself means your income during university isn't very high."

Starfire True Man said, "Of course, the school has high demands on both teachers and students, aiming to turn every student into an elite who contributes to the company, the sect, and Kunxu."

Fu Ji understood. "High demands from the school means daily performance reviews are tough, and graduation or postgraduate exams aren't easy."

"Contributing means after graduation, you'll work for the company or sect for a long time. They're not training you for free..."

Listening to Starfire True Man's pitch and Fu Ji's explanations, a glimmer of understanding dawned in Zhang Yu's heart.

"Come to think of it, all these mechanisms on Layer 1 for selecting and training immortal talent, and what Fu Ji once said about making people scramble to climb up and compete—that's the doing of the Ten Great Sects like Myriad Methods Sect, isn't it?"

"The difference between Myriad Methods University and Netherworld University... maybe it's the difference between needing beasts of burden and needing livestock?"

"So the ones who oppose Netherworld Palace are sects like Myriad Methods Sect, right? Because they want oxen and horses that can work, not tasty pigs and sheep."

"Yeah, what else could it be?" Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. "The conflicts among the Ten Great Sects... if it's not for profit, could it really be about good versus evil?"

Seeing Zhang Yu lost in thought, Starfire True Man continued, "If you're willing to enter Myriad Methods University, I can introduce you to my connections there. It should give you a significant boost."

"As for me, I can serve as your master for the remainder of your high school years, offering you some guidance."

"Alright, I've said my piece. Take your time to consider your choice."

"Also, tell Bai Zhenzhen what I said today. I'm pressed for time and will be leaving soon."

"Next..." Starfire True Man said, "There's a righteous god who wants to speak with you."

The next moment, Deng Bingding materialized and said, "Student Zhang, long time no see."

Deng Bingding's purpose in seeking out Zhang Yu this time was to deal with Wang Yin.

Deng Bingding thought to herself, "The other arrangements of the Oasis Group on Layer 1 aren't hard to handle."

"But Wang Yin... he's a troublesome hot potato."

Neither the righteous gods nor Starfire True Man, who was willing to work for money, wanted to personally go after Wang Yin as an individual.

After all, collecting salaries and overtime pay to clean up the Oasis Group's various underlings was fine for them.

But openly slapping the face of that young master with deep connections and getting marked by him was a different matter entirely.

Yet Wang Yin stood like a banner raised by the Oasis Group on Layer 1, embodying the confidence of countless people and attracting numerous talents and powerful families.

Deng Bingding understood that as long as Wang Yin didn't fall, no matter how many times the Oasis Group's limbs were severed, they would grow back again and again.

But saying that was one thing—she was unwilling to step forward and suppress that young master, only to be remembered by the Oasis Group's little master.

Under these circumstances, Deng Bingding thought of Zhang Yu.

"Zhang Yu's background is unfathomable. He probably isn't afraid of being resented by Wang Yin."

Moreover... Deng Bingding recalled that over the past few months, Zhang Yu had come to Wang Yin's side, acted as a spokesperson for the Oasis Group, and frequently attended Wang Yin's mansions and parties.

Connecting this to Zhang Yu's backer, Zhang Pianpian, and the great deity behind Zhang Pianpian, she understood that Zhang Yu was definitely not aligned with the Netherworld Palace.

"Could this be a deliberate arrangement by some great deity?"

"From the day Zhang Yu took the foundation-building exam, he was already in the game."

"Replacing Ye Lingxiao, getting close to Wang Yin, infiltrating the Oasis Group—all so that in the end, Zhang Yu would take down Wang Yin?"

"If that's the case, Wang Yin came down to run the Oasis Group to gild his resume, while Zhang Yu is gilding his by taking down Wang Yin..."

Every time she thought of this, a chill ran through Deng Bingding's heart. "The waters of Kunxu are always so unfathomable."

"Whether it's us or the Oasis Group, we've probably long been caught in the calculations of that mysterious great deity, step by step walking toward the ending he has laid out."

When Zhang Yu heard Deng Bingding's request, he was first stunned, then wondered if she was joking.

"Me? A sophomore in high school going after the Oasis Group's President Wang?"

Zhang Yu thought to himself, this would really get people killed—not just him, but Bai Zhenzhen too.

But he didn't want to offend the great deity Deng Bingding either, so he planned to politely decline.

Deng Bingding said, "Wang Yin, in order to quickly descend to the next layer and to replace his spiritual root to rebuild his foundation, has crippled his own cultivation. He no longer has peak foundation-building strength. As for his magical artifacts and talismans, there are ways to deal with them..."

In short, Deng Bingding's point was that they could create opportunities for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to deal with Wang Yin.

But after explaining, she found Zhang Yu still repeatedly refusing.

At first, Deng Bingding thought his refusal was just for show, but soon she realized that no matter how she persuaded him, he wouldn't accept.

Deng Bingding wasn't angry, but a new thought arose in her mind.

"Zhang Yu communicated with Zhang Pianpian on Layer 2 earlier. He must have received instructions from above."

"His refusal now... does it mean it's not yet time to act?"

Deng Bingding pondered this, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt this was his meaning. So she stopped insisting and let Zhang Yu leave.

Starfire True Man, watching from the side, frowned and said, "Having a high school student go after Wang Yin—what were you righteous gods thinking? Even if you're afraid of getting burned and want a knife, this is going too far."

Deng Bingding said softly, "Hmph, Starfire boy, this is why you fall even after climbing up."

"This Zhang Yu is not as simple as you think."

"To completely settle matters on Layer 1 and drive Wang Yin back up, the final move will probably fall to Zhang Yu."

...

Zhang Yu returned to the apartment and saw Bai Zhenzhen, who had been cultivating, stand up and say cheerfully, "Yu, you're back? I ordered some good food. Let's eat together."

Bai Zhenzhen still did not know the purpose of Zhang Yu's departure, and at this moment, Zhang Yu, looking at Bai Zhenzhen's happy expression, sighed inwardly: "After all the trouble to achieve this peaceful life, how could I go and risk it all?"

"I don't want to fight anymore, nor do I want Zhen to lose half her life at the drop of a hat like before."

"Endure, Zhang Yu."

"Endure in silence, quietly build up strength, until the day you are powerful enough, until the day you rise above..."

In the days that followed, those around Boss Wang noticed that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen rarely showed up at gatherings.

Many felt that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had fallen out of Boss Wang's favor, and a surge of joy rose in their hearts; they redoubled their efforts to curry favor with Boss Wang, scheming to take their place.

At a gathering, Ye Mantian cursed: "A poor dog like Zhang Yu should never be fed too well. Once you feed these bottom-feeders too much, they start thinking they have the upper hand, grow bold, and stop listening."

Someone chimed in: "You can't give too much money to the poor. Throwing money at them works at first, but after too much, they start thinking they're rich too, and they're not so obedient anymore."

Boss Wang looked calmly at the people around him, who were utterly subservient to him and had, at his slightest move, begun to heap abuse on Zhang Yu in unison. He watched them as if they were a pack of dogs wagging their tails and begging for mercy, but inwardly he sneered coldly.

He had seen too many of these fawning, obedient dogs, and raised too many of them.

The more you raise such dogs, the more dependent they become, their courage shrinking, their docility growing—they wouldn't even bare their teeth when trouble came, so obedient that they wouldn't utter a peep even when their own interests were harmed.

Wang Yin had once enjoyed raising such dogs, but he soon discovered they were useless for any real task—and that was where he and his mother differed.

(End of this chapter)