Chapter 410: Evil Cult

Chapter 410: The Cult

Inside the pharmaceutical plant.

With Zhang Yu having successfully completed the construction of the factory building, today marked the official installation of the assembly line.

Zhang Yu arrived early to coordinate the work.

If the assembly line was completed today, he would finish his task five days ahead of schedule, earning him a handsome bonus.

Walking through the site, Zhang Yu observed the installation while activating the Yin-Yang Bracelet to maintain the tempering of his physical body.

Feeling the Yang energy and Yin essence within him shifting under the bracelet’s stimulation, Zhang Yu felt as though his body were being forged between two flames of ice and fire, gradually growing more resilient.

This sensation sometimes made him feel like a magical artifact being repeatedly hammered by the Yin-Yang Bracelet.

Regarding Zhang Yu’s thoughts, Fu Ji remarked, "To be honest... in the eyes of the Magnetic Pole Sovereign, you might just be raw material for artifact refining."

"Once he discovers you lack talent in the craft, he will likely focus on developing your talent for being refined instead."

"The reason the Magnetic Pole Sovereign began to value you after the competition was probably because he saw your potential as a vessel."

Reminded by Fu Ji, Zhang Yu was suddenly struck by a sense of urgency.

"If I am truly being groomed as material for refining, then forget the top ten sects—I won't even have a chance to participate in the top ten leagues."

"Indeed... I must finish the artifact refining curriculum as soon as possible and gradually reveal my actual talent for the craft."

Just then, on the assembly line that had only recently been set up, a junior college student suddenly died of overwork.

A moment later, a factory staff member approached.

He was a graduate of a 72-tier school, responsible for the maintenance of the assembly lines.

With a few practiced movements, he extracted a phantom projection from the deceased student.

The student laughed heartily, "Everyone, I’ve died first. Keep working hard and earn money, and let my corpse continue to work well for you."

The surrounding students looked on with envy.

"Died of overwork on the very first day?"

"Now he can go to the Spirit Realm to enjoy life. As a soul cultivator, he won't be hungry or tired, and his future employment is secured."

"I heard soul cultivators can work overtime to their heart's content. Even on the first day after death, the hourly wage is 0.0006 spirit coins."

"That much?!"

Listening to the clamor of the students, the maintenance worker impatiently pressed the mute button on the assembly line. Instantly, all the students entered silent mode, unable to make a sound.

"Work honestly. No chatting on the clock."

After speaking, the maintenance worker took the corpse to the production manager and said respectfully, "Manager Qu, a student died. I have handled it."

The production manager, Qu Lecheng, was a graduate of the University of Ten Thousand Dharmas. In the eyes of the maintenance worker, he was a prodigy among prodigies, a cultivator among cultivators—a figure from a different world compared to their lower-tier school backgrounds.

Qu Lecheng frowned and asked, "What is going on with the lines you manage? The death rate has been a bit high these past few months, hasn't it?"

The maintenance worker replied helplessly, "It’s all because the quality of these new junior college students is too poor."

Qu Lecheng said coldly, "That is a problem for you to solve. If another student dies this month, I will deduct 0.02 spirit coins from your pay."

The maintenance worker opened his mouth, then lowered his head and said, "Manager Qu, I have some personal business. I would like to request leave to go home."

Qu Lecheng patted his shoulder and said, "It's fine. Just treat the factory as your home."

Seeing Zhang Yu approaching, Qu Lecheng waved the worker away, urging, "Go back to work. Remember, if another student dies this month, 0.02 spirit coins will be deducted."

With that, Qu Lecheng stepped forward to greet Zhang Yu.

Qu Lecheng was from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Ten Thousand Dharmas and was currently one of the production managers, as well as the person responsible for coordinating with Zhang Yu.

Although he was a graduate of Ten Thousand Dharmas, Qu Lecheng had failed to obtain his Foundation Establishment qualification certificate by the time he graduated.

Standing before Zhang Yu, he felt inferior, his posture unconsciously bowing as he spoke.

"Engineer Zhang," Qu Lecheng smiled, "I will have to rely on you for the subsequent engineering. A small token of my appreciation, please do not refuse..."

[0.5 Spirit Coins]

Looking at the transfer, Zhang Yu thought to himself that this was indeed a "small" token.

Zhang Yu accepted the 0.5 spirit coins and said calmly, "Don't worry. Finishing early benefits me as well; I will work as fast as I can."

Several hours later, the assembly line was finally set up and running normally.

Zhang Yu’s task of building this factory area was officially complete, and he would now move on to other expansion projects.

Qu Lecheng smiled, "Engineer Zhang, you’ve worked hard today. I know that senior engineers in the civil engineering department require massage, so I have specially invited a technician for you."

Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted, and he looked at Qu Lecheng, saying, "You are very thoughtful."

Qu Lecheng: "I will take you there now. Don't worry, I am watching the site; if anything happens, I will let you know immediately."

A moment later, Zhang Yu arrived at an office nearby and began to enjoy the massage technician’s efforts to relieve his muscle fatigue and wear.

Feeling the technician’s technique, Zhang Yu glanced at her robust physique with some surprise; he hadn't expected the technician Qu Lecheng hired to be so skilled. The technician, Wan Sirou, was a graduate of the Qinghe University of the Arts.

Her purpose in posing as a massage technician was to "trick the seed."

While massaging Zhang Yu, Wan Sirou displayed her tall frame and surging muscles, especially her bronze-cast arms, which she waved in front of Zhang Yu.

Seeing Zhang Yu close his eyes, Wan Sirou thought, "Guys from the civil engineering department at ordinary universities would have already started getting handsy by now."

"This man clearly has his roots intact, yet he isn't moved in the slightest? As the employer said, his Dao heart is firm; ordinary means cannot stir his desires."

However, Wan Sirou knew he was a prodigy from Ten Thousand Dharmas; she hadn't intended to rely solely on her physical charm.

She channeled her mana, activating a spiritual technique she had cultivated for years. With every movement, she exuded a fierce, captivating charm.

"Classmate," Wan Sirou said, "Would you like some kidney maintenance?"

Zhang Yu opened his eyes and glanced at her, feeling that her body was flushed, her stature appearing even taller, and the muscles in her arms seeming to swell further.

Zhang Yu closed his eyes and said calmly, "No need. Just massage."

"Give it a try, classmate," Wan Sirou said. "I'll give you a seventy percent discount."

Zhang Yu: "No."

Wan Sirou was shocked, "Not even tempted by a seventy percent discount?"

No matter how she tried to entice him, Zhang Yu remained as calm as still water, showing no reaction. Wan Sirou found no opening and began to seriously doubt her own charm.

Wan Sirou judged, "This kid... does he not like biological women? Or does he have some kind of distorted aesthetic?"

Just as Wan Sirou felt frustrated, a loud explosion suddenly echoed through the factory.

Zhang Yu opened his eyes sharply, his figure flashing as he bolted toward the source of the sound.

...

The explosion had occurred at a pharmaceutical production line.

When Zhang Yu arrived, he saw a large crater blown into the machinery, with raw materials spilling everywhere as the assembly line continued to run.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu thought in surprise, "Someone attacked the assembly line?"

"Who was it?"

He scanned the surroundings, finding not a single trace of the assailant.

Soon after, more factory staff arrived; some began repairing the production line, while others started investigating the cause of the accident.

The truth was simple enough: surveillance footage revealed a soul-cultivator had operated a dharma-automaton to launch a suicide attack, leaving behind a distinct mark.

Watching the screen as the automaton detonated, Qu Lecheng gritted his teeth and hissed, "It's the Two-Day-Rest Cult!"

Zhang Yu asked, puzzled, "Dual-cultivation... is that considered a heretical cult?"

Qu Lecheng explained, "Dual-cultivation is, of course, a grand path of immortality, as orthodox as it gets."

"I am talking about the 'rest' as in taking a break."

Qu Lecheng raged, "This Two-Day-Rest Cult goes around preaching that people should rest two days every month, even soliciting employees from various factories and companies—it is utterly lawless!"

Meanwhile, news of the Two-Day-Rest Cult spread across the assembly lines, leaving the junior college students in a state of panic.

Especially on the lines that had been temporarily halted, those left without work were gripped by an even deeper sense of dread.

"They actually want us to rest two days a month? Are they even human?!"

"Losing two days of wages—do they want to starve us to death?"

"The pharmaceutical industry is so competitive; if the factory shuts down, what happens? Where will we find work?"

In an instant, the entire assembly line was filled with complaints directed at the Two-Day-Rest Cult.

Zhang Yu looked at Qu Lecheng and couldn't help but ask, "Where did this Two-Day-Rest Cult come from?"

Qu Lecheng replied, "No one knows where they sprouted from; they just appeared out of thin air. A bunch of lunatics who refuse to work hard, using who knows what methods to bewitch soul-cultivators and students into committing terrorist attacks."

"Though the orthodox deities and universities hunt them down everywhere, they are impossible to wipe out."

"Damn it... there must be corporate moles using them for commercial sabotage. A two-day rest? Is that even a thought a human being could have?"

Just then, a maintenance worker approached and said, "Manager Qu, the assembly line is severely damaged. I'm afraid it will take two days to repair and resume operations."

Thinking of the losses caused by the shutdown and the impact on his own performance bonuses, the fury in Qu Lecheng's eyes burned even brighter.

"Two days?" Qu Lecheng snapped, "Typical of these Two-Day-Rest cultists; they love using terror to force a two-day work stoppage."

Qu Lecheng commanded the maintenance worker, "We cannot yield to these heretics! Repair the line with everything you've got! At most, we stop for one day—it must be running again in twenty-four hours!"