Chapter 500: Breeding Tax and Bonds (Thanks to 'Maqi Sen' for Gifting)

Chapter 500: The Breeding Tax and the Bonds (Thanks to 'Wan Si Sen' for the alliance-level tip)

Just as Mo Shangjin warned the others, he and Zhang Yu channeled the divine power of the Heavenly Kunlun to move mountains, lifting their companions into the air to avoid excessive contact with the demon-kin, navigating toward the depths of Sky Demon University according to the guidance flickering in their ocular implants.

Yet, even while flying high, they could not avoid the constant flashes of demon-kin darting through the surroundings.

The skyscrapers of Sky Demon University were packed so densely that they resembled an impenetrable jungle, leaving only narrow gaps between buildings for passage.

Various bizarre insect-demons, rat-demons, and other minor breeds occupied these crevices, rendering the jungle even more congested.

Just then, a mist of blood erupted nearby; Zhang Yu looked up to see a bull-demon torn asunder by dozens of other demons, who snatched away the remains in every direction.

Witnessing this, Zhang Yu asked in astonishment, "Killing in the street?"

"Not people," Mo Shangjin replied. "Just animals."

He explained, "The demon-kin in the outer districts of Sky Demon University aren't considered people; they are merely livestock raised by the university."

"When animals kill each other, do you think anyone cares?"

"The university can't be bothered to manage or register these creatures; they only maintain a general level of control."

"If the population drops, they increase the breeding quotas."

"If the population grows, they reduce the food supply."

"This is their laboratory, their farm, their source of materials, and their reserve of biological assets..."

As they spoke, Zhang Yu’s group crossed from the outer district into the inner sanctum of the university.

Truth be told, Zhang Yu felt that aside from being quieter and more orderly, the environment here was not much different from the outside.

At the boundary between the inner and outer layers, waves of divine power swept back and forth, grinding any stray outer-district demon-kin into dust.

But Zhang Yu soon frowned, noticing that many of the students here were pregnant.

Mo Shangjin explained from the side, "This is the university's breeding tax. Every student at Sky Demon University has an annual breeding quota and must surrender their bloodline descendants to the school."

"I don't know the specific details, but I’ve heard that apart from those who have achieved God-Transformation, the higher the cultivation, the more descendants one must surrender. A Nascent Soul True Monarch might have to give birth to dozens a year."

"However, besides surrendering offspring, one can also pay the tax in cash."

Zhang Yu gasped, asking, "What about the male demon-kin?"

Mo Shangjin said casually, "Sky Demon University has long since solved the technical issues in that regard..."

As they spoke, the group arrived outside a massive arena.

Before they even drew near, Zhang Yu could feel the roar of the crowd, and from the outside, he saw a vast torrent of demon-kin students surging into the venue.

"So many people?" Zhang Yu asked, surprised. "Do the students of Sky Demon University value the finals of this civil engineering competition so highly?"

Mo Shangjin seemed equally taken aback. "Although the Civil Engineering Department is a powerhouse here, the finals shouldn't draw this much attention."

"Perhaps something has happened that we aren't aware of."

...

While Zhang Yu’s group headed toward the arena, deep within an underground space of Sky Demon University, Xiang Shan walked step by step along a tunnel.

Sturdy pillars loomed before him, like towering giants supporting the very foundations of the university.

Xiang Shan knew that the density of the demon-kin and the buildings above was so great that the university had always relied on massive subterranean structures to hold up the earth.

These majestic pillars were among the vital supports of the university’s lower levels.

And these pillars were composed of the countless ancestors of the Elephant-demon clan.

After a lifetime of struggle and crushing debt, they had contributed their tempered flesh, transforming upon death into the foundation, day after day, eternally propping up the entire university.

"The whole of Sky Demon University is held up by us."

Looking at the pillars, feeling the lingering resentment and earth-shaking fighting spirit within each one, Xiang Shan murmured, "Now, it is our turn to break through the soil and stand upon the surface of Sky Demon University."

Xiang Shan turned his head and saw images of elephant-demons, large and small, flickering in his ocular implants.

Among them was his older brother.

As a local demon, his brother had tried to avoid the breeding tax during his three years of high school to focus on his studies, only to be reported in his final year, caught, and fined tenfold.

In that single year, his brother had given birth to thirty offspring to pay the breeding fines, leading to a severe decline in his vitality that cost him his chance at university.

Then Xiang Shan looked at his younger brother in elementary school, his son in middle school, his sister in high school... seeing their swollen bellies, his resolve hardened.

"The breeding tax..."

His elephant trunk curled back, and infinite fighting spirit surged in his eyes.

In his ocular implants, more figures appeared.

They were the countless bloodline descendants of the Elephant-demon clan, flickering before him like stars in the sky.

"Ten thousand?"

"A hundred thousand?"

"Or even more?" Xiang Shan muttered. "Over these years, our clan has constantly surrendered bloodline descendants, constantly burdened by the breeding tax. How many have been handed over to the school?"

"How much are they worth... in spirit coins combined!"

"We have lost so much wealth!"

Fangs erupted from Xiang Shan’s mouth, his blood and energy surged, and his stature grew by a fraction. "It is time to change all of this."

"I will lead you to break through the construction site and walk out of the Civil Engineering Department!"

"I will ensure that neither race nor major can ever restrict us again!"

The phantoms around him surged into Xiang Shan’s body; these demon-soul cultivators merged into his Dharma-remains, becoming a part of him.

At the same time, Xiang Shan felt the power of his Dharma-remains grow, drawing upon vast resources from the Spirit Realm’s computing pools.

The next moment, he took a heavy step forward and marched out.

...

Thump.

As Xiang Shan stepped into the arena, a mountain-shaking roar erupted from the stands.

Rat-demons, insect-demons, cat-demons, plant-spirits—all the low-status demon-kin of Sky Demon University were shouting in the stands, cheering excitedly for Xiang Shan.

The entire arena, the very earth itself, seemed to tremble with the cries of the demon horde.

A thick, foul stench rose into the air, as if infusing the entire sky with demonic aura.

Zhang Yu even saw demon-kin in the stands defecating, urinating, and even engaging in dual cultivation in their excitement.

Shi Huaiyu asked, puzzled, "What is wrong with these demons? Why are they so worked up over a competition?"

Mo Shangjin, flipping through data in his ocular implants, said, "Hmm... we may have been drawn into the internal strife of Sky Demon University."

"It is likely that someone here is using this civil engineering competition to stage a reform, hoping to send Xiang Shan into the school team for the upcoming Top Ten Leagues, thereby changing the rigid issues of race and major within the university."

"Many of the demons in the stands were probably paid to stir up the crowd."

Zhang Yu’s gaze flickered: “In that case, could Xiang Shan be even more formidable than we anticipated?”

Mo Shangjin nodded, his expression grave: “It is fortunate you bought me the time to reach this match. Had I resurrected earlier, the cost would have been too great; missing even a single piece of my Dharma remains, and I fear we would have been doomed today.”

After a moment’s thought, Mo Shangjin instructed: “I shall confront him head-on; you provide support from the flank, targeting his teammates to divide Xiang Shan’s focus.”

Observing the Seven-Absolute Dharma remains adorning Mo Shangjin, Zhang Yu nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the figure of the Celestial Phenomenon Sovereign emerged within the ocular remains of Xiang Shan.

This Sovereign was the very judge who had supported Zhang Yu in securing his military certification during the civil engineering exams at Ten-Thousand Dharma University, a renowned expert and professor in the field.

The Celestial Phenomenon Sovereign remarked: “A pity. I never imagined that allowing Zhang Yu to obtain that certification would result in such a formidable rival for you today.”

Xiang Shan replied indifferently: “It is of no consequence, Teacher.”

“Without defeating a true adversary, without displaying one’s true power and wealth, how can one command respect? How can one change the state of Sky Demon University?”

“Defeating Zhang Yu and Mo Shangjin shall be the ultimate achievement and fuel for me to transcend civil engineering and ascend to the varsity team.”

As he spoke, Xiang Shan led his numerous teammates toward the party from Ten-Thousand Dharma University.

Gazing at Zhang Yu and Mo Shangjin, Xiang Shan’s long trunk drooped slightly, his small eyes appearing as still as an ancient well, filled with profound calm.

“Zhang Yu, Mo Shangjin,” Xiang Shan said, looking at them: “To reach this stage, you must have poured in countless efforts and spiritual coins.”

“Were it not for my presence, the championship of this year’s civil engineering competition would have been yours by right.”

“But I am sorry; I am determined to seize the victory in this final.”

Xiang Shan exhaled, a thick, white mist carrying his body heat surging forth, seemingly raising the temperature of the surroundings.

He continued: “Once the battle commences, I shall strike with all my might.”

“If you wish to avoid heavy losses, bring forth your full strength, and after a desperate resistance, surrender while there is still time.”

Having spoken, Xiang Shan closed his eyes, seemingly indifferent to the world, waiting patiently for the match to begin.

As both teams entered the arena, the contest officially commenced.

Mo Shangjin soared into the sky, his Seven-Absolute Dharma remains erupting with power; the Heaven-Kunlun mountain-moving force swept across the field, and with a thunderous roar, the entire arena was upturned.

Competitors, sand, construction materials, and the very earth itself seemed to fall into an abyss, hurtling rapidly toward the heavens.

Yet, amidst this dizzying upheaval, a figure tore through the atmosphere, suddenly appearing before Mo Shangjin to deliver a crushing blow.

The entire arena seemed to freeze for a single heartbeat.

“Get down.”

The next instant, as Xiang Shan’s roar echoed, the force of his punch caused the overturned arena to flip back once more, and with a deafening crash, the sky-filling sand, materials, and earth plummeted back to the ground.