Chapter 484: Warning and Spiritual Root (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 484: Admonitions and Spiritual Roots (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Wen Wuya mused to herself, "It seems the Seven Emotions Divine Lord’s attitude toward Hehuan University and Wanfa University is far more subtle than I anticipated."

"Combined with what just occurred... the path of Dual Cultivation and the path of Extreme Emotion are indeed inherently in conflict."

"In that light, the Divine Lord forbidding me from squandering wealth on Bai Zhenzhen clearly carries a deeper significance."

Wen Wuya frowned slightly at this thought: "But if that is the case, are Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu not destined for a bitter rupture?"

"That would leave me no chance to cultivate with them both; in fact, between the two... I might only be able to choose one."

"Alas, Zhang Yu is currently restless toward me, and Bai Zhenzhen has finally been opening up more in the Spirit Realm every day. I had hoped for a triple cultivation, but now... sigh, which one should I choose?"

Wen Wuya wondered: "Could I secretly maintain my connection with Zhang Yu while continuing to engage with Bai Zhenzhen?"

Just as a flurry of thoughts raced through her mind like lightning, the voice of the Seven Emotions Divine Lord echoed once more: "Hmm?"

At that soft hum, Wen Wuya felt her soul tremble within her; she hurriedly steadied her mind and replied respectfully: "Divine Lord, I was merely interested in the experiments at Wanfa University, and thus sought to gather firsthand intelligence."

The Seven Emotions Divine Lord said indifferently: "I care nothing for your interest in Wanfa’s experiments."

"But as for the matter of triple cultivation, do not even think of it."

Wen Wuya was struck with terror, feeling as if her body had been pierced by countless rays of sword light.

She thought to herself: "Has the Divine Lord been watching me all along? Did she see my actions during this time and guess my intentions?"

Wen Wuya sighed inwardly at the missed opportunity and replied repeatedly: "I understand, Divine Lord. I shall never harbor such thoughts again."

"Go."

With that single word, Wen Wuya felt a kaleidoscope of colors shift before her eyes, and she vanished from the arena.

The next moment, the iridescent glow in the Spirit Realm faded, and Bai Zhenzhen was nowhere to be seen.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Wen Wuya had all departed, leaving behind only the bewildered and crestfallen students of Heavenly Sword University.

...

On the flying vessel.

Su Yanyang, Shi Huaiyu, Xiao Yunjie, and the others stood on the deck, their gazes drifting toward the cabin from time to time, filled with curiosity.

Inside the cabin, the projection of the Magnetic Pole True Lord hovered around Zhang Yu, casting a series of talismans to conduct a thorough examination.

After a long while, the Magnetic Pole True Lord said calmly: "No issues. The people from Heavenly Sword University do not appear to have left any monitoring devices on you."

"However, once you return to the university, you should still head to the laboratory immediately for a check-up."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, taking the opportunity to express his gratitude for the True Lord’s assistance.

Yet, the Magnetic Pole True Lord shifted the tone of the conversation: "Have you engaged in dual cultivation with anyone from Heavenly Sword University?"

Zhang Yu shook his head repeatedly: "How could I?"

"I have no interest in dual cultivation; my entire focus during this visit to Heavenly Sword has been on the competition."

The Magnetic Pole True Lord remained noncommittal, then said coolly: "It is best that you haven't. Nevertheless, I must warn you in advance: you now carry the fruits of our laboratory’s research. Without permission, it is best not to engage in dual cultivation with anyone. The other party may well be malicious, seeking to exploit the opportunity to steal intelligence from you."

The Magnetic Pole True Lord mused that he hadn't expected this matter to spread so far; upon returning, he would need to add details to Zhang Yu’s contract to codify the rules regarding dual cultivation.

The True Lord then asked: "Also... what exactly is your relationship with Bai Zhenzhen and Wen Wuya?"

Zhang Yu replied: "Bai Zhenzhen is my high school classmate, and I met Wen Wuya through her."

"We communicate from time to time via the Spirit Realm network. This time, when they saw I was coming to Heavenly Sword, they wanted to meet in person."

Such information was not difficult to verify, and Zhang Yu had no intention of lying.

Upon hearing this, the Magnetic Pole True Lord said: "It is not entirely forbidden for you to have appropriate contact with that Wen Wuya, provided you do not fall into her traps or reveal laboratory secrets."

"But as for that Bai Zhenzhen, you would do best to cease all contact with her."

Zhang Yu was taken aback: "Why?"

The Magnetic Pole True Lord explained: "The Seven Emotions Divine Lord is a master of the evil path. Her Seven Emotions Sword Dao is considered a righteous method, but the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao is a vile art of the highest order."

"Unless one can achieve the Transformation Deity stage early in life as she did... those who practice the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao defy the common sense of our society, violate public order and morals, and are intolerable to heaven and earth."

"It is a path that harms both self and others, leaving behind endless disaster."

The Magnetic Pole True Lord looked at Zhang Yu, his expression stern: "That is why the Seven Emotions Divine Lord has not taken on a disciple in a long time, and none of her former disciples have met a good end."

Zhang Yu was stunned, thinking of Bai Zhenzhen... he could not help but ask: "What kind of end?"

The Magnetic Pole True Lord said coldly: "Of the two I witnessed... one was ultimately forged by the Seven Emotions Divine Lord into her own natal flying sword."

Zhang Yu’s heart sank, and his internal mana began to churn uncontrollably.

"The other murdered his wife, slaughtered his children, and executed his grandchildren, simply because they lacked blood ties; he destroyed his own family assets and drove himself into bankruptcy."

Zhang Yu was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

The Magnetic Pole True Lord advised: "Thus, practitioners tainted by the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao rarely find a good conclusion. I do not know what interests or debts bind you to Bai Zhenzhen."

"But I advise you: if you owe her money, pay it back quickly and then cut all ties."

"If she owes you money, let it go if it is a small sum; if it is large... hurry and demand it back, take whatever you can."

"Do not meet with Bai Zhenzhen ever again." Zhang Yu opened his mouth, at a loss for how to respond.

However, the Magnetic Pole True Lord did not seem to expect an immediate answer, merely continuing: "Tell me about the breakthrough in your technique."

"When your Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power broke through to the 17th and 18th levels, what exactly did you feel?"

...

While Zhang Yu and the Magnetic Pole True Lord conversed on the flying vessel.

At Heavenly Sword University.

In a room of pure white, save for a meditation cushion and a long sword, there was nothing else.

This was Bai Zhenzhen’s dormitory.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen sat cross-legged on the cushion, silently sensing something within herself.

In her perception, her Divine Spiritual Root had undergone a mysterious transformation ever since it had merged with Zhang Yu’s.

To better describe this situation to herself, Bai Zhenzhen named her own root the "True Spiritual Root" and Zhang Yu’s the "Feather Spiritual Root."

"After the Feather Spiritual Root entered, my True Spiritual Root began to adapt to it."

"Then the Feather Spiritual Root seemed to begin adapting to the True Spiritual Root, and then the True Spiritual Root began to adapt again..."

Bai Zhenzhen felt these two roots were like the black and white halves of a Taiji diagram, chasing and grinding against each other in constant rotation, eventually dissolving into a state of chaos.

As her mana circulated through her body, she felt the True Spiritual Root adjusting her entire being. As for the direction of this reinforcement... it was impossibly comprehensive, yet so subtle as to be nearly imperceptible.

"What a pity, the time was too short."

Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself: "Just as I began to feel it, the Feather Spiritual Root withdrew."

"If it had lasted longer, would it have brought about even greater changes?"

At this thought, she looked forward to their next meeting with increasing anticipation, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

But in the next moment, the dormitory door swung open, and a corpse was tossed inside.

The moment she beheld the corpse, ribbons of crimson sword energy manifested from the void, coiling around Bai Zhenzhen like living serpents and erupting in a chorus of piercing, metallic shrieks.

The prayer mat beneath her feet was shredded in an instant, while the surrounding walls were etched with a dense, chaotic web of fissures.

Yet, as abruptly as they had emerged, the sword auras vanished, dissolving into the air like a fleeting hallucination.

Bai Zhenzhen gazed at the body—a perfect replica of Zhang Yu—and whispered, "Mother, do you believe me now?"

"My mind faltered for a mere heartbeat; even as my reason screamed that this corpse could not be real, the surge of emotion triggered by the sight compelled my Extreme Emotion Sword Path to lash out beyond my control."

"Emotion precedes intent, and the blade precedes the thought; my Extreme Emotion Sword Path has reached the tenth level."

With a soft hiss, the corpse was pulverized by countless microscopic blades, crumbling into a fine dust that drifted away, carried out of the dormitory by a gentle breeze.

The voice of the Seven Emotions God-Monarch echoed faintly: "Zhang Yu—setting aside his own temperament, consider that he is currently trapped in the eye of the storm between Ten Thousand Laws University and Hehuan University."

"How many opportunities do you think he will truly have to participate in the research and development of dual-cultivation techniques?"

"As a civil engineering student, would he willingly abandon such prospects?"

"Even if he wished to, does he even possess the agency to make that choice?"

"The further you progress now, the more devastating the backlash will be."

"Start your cultivation anew."

"Otherwise, become a flying sword for my collection, another relic to grace the Sword Pavilion."

...

Ten Thousand Laws University, University City.

As Zhang Yu made his way back to campus, True Monarch Magnetic Pole was inundated with messages.

True Monarch Heavenly Script: Has Zhang Yu broken through again?

True Monarch Magnetic Pole: Keep it low-key.

True Monarch Heavenly Script: Magnetic Pole, I don't mean to lecture you, but if you want to keep things quiet, why bother with Immortal Dao research?

True Monarch Heavenly Script: The university leadership is waiting for results.

True Monarch Heavenly Script: Next year’s funding, the number of papers, the performance reviews—everything hinges on this. You cannot just think of yourself.

True Monarch Heavenly Script: I have already reported the matter; the Myriad Transformation God-Monarch is very pleased, and the Finance Department is willing to invest.

True Monarch Magnetic Pole shook his head helplessly as he read the messages: "This man would trade his life for a coin."

Meanwhile, as he scrolled through the barrage of other inquiries—requests for investment, demands to plant their own people, pleas to borrow artifacts, and brazen demands for raw data—he sighed.

"Alas, I knew it would come to this."

He felt the weight of an inevitable storm gathering on the horizon.

"In this vast expanse of Ten Thousand Laws, there is no room left for a single quiet laboratory bench."