Chapter 533: Zhang Yu's Refugee Camp

Chapter 533: Zhang Yu’s Refugee Camp

Observing the state of Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang, Zhang Yu realized that the two had likely been faring poorly of late.

Simultaneously, Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang both sensed Zhang Yu’s gaze fixed upon them.

Ying Xin waved gently at Zhang Yu and sent a message: President Zhang!

Zhang Yu: What happened to your Dharma remains?

Ying Xin: I haven't had time to repair them.

Ying Xin: The cost of repairing Dharma remains is too high now; I plan to wait until this economic crisis passes before fixing them.

Zhang Yu: In the company group, several avatars from your family seem to have gone dark.

Ying Xin: Due to the recent economic crisis, jobs are too hard to find, so they have frozen themselves for now.

Ying Xin: Don't worry, President Zhang. If the company needs anything, the remaining four generations of us will work hard.

Ying Xin: If we are short-handed, I will wake them up immediately.

At the same time, Shi Yunxiang was also sending messages to Zhang Yu.

Shi Yunxiang: Senior, are you looking to buy meat?

Shi Yunxiang: Many people are truly driven mad by poverty now; they keep trying to snatch my flesh to sell.

Shi Yunxiang: I figured rather than living in fear, I might as well sell it to you. If I have little flesh left on my bones, people won't covet me anymore.

Zhang Yu’s Earthly Fiend gravity surged, and his floating form flickered, instantly appearing before the two.

Seeing the exhaustion in Shi Yunxiang’s eyes, Zhang Yu patted his shoulder and said, "It’s fine. Once people see that I’m backing you today, there won’t be many left who dare to target you."

"Keep your meat. Train well; it will appreciate in value later."

The next moment, before they could react, Zhang Yu reached out and grasped them both, channeling a stream of mana into their bodies.

Feeling Zhang Yu’s incomparably pure mana flowing through them, both Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang wore expressions of profound relief.

Over the next few days, whenever Zhang Yu spent an hour overseeing the construction site, he would feed them some mana.

Each time, Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang would wait patiently on the sidelines, letting Zhang Yu finish his work before approaching.

Zhang Yu originally thought they were just punctual, but one night, when he arrived at the site due to a change in schedule, he found them already there, waiting quietly in the shadows.

He later learned that they had been waiting at the site every single day, hoping for work.

During these days, Zhang Yu also encountered Su Yanyang, who, thanks to his superior strength, was able to secure work.

However, based on Zhang Yu’s observations, the man would work for a day and then vanish for several, whether due to an inability to find daily work or other hidden tasks, he could not say.

At this moment, seeing them again, their condition had deteriorated further.

Shi Yunxiang’s fur was severely matted, and he had grown even thinner.

Both he and Ying Xin were missing a leg, an arm, and an eye; clearly, they had dismantled every removable piece of their Dharma remains just to reduce their body’s consumption.

Recalling the days when they fought alongside him in the arena to claim their rankings, and remembering the ashes Ying Xin had once gifted him, Zhang Yu made a decision.

After work, Zhang Yu approached them and asked, "Do you two have nowhere to stay?"

Seeing them nod, Fu Ji couldn't help but interject, "You aren't planning on bringing more people home, are you? The dormitory is already full of paupers! Doesn't the stench of poverty bother you every time you walk in?"

"Yes, they helped you before, but they can't help you now."

"There are countless college students like them; you can hire them if you have money."

Ignoring Fu Ji, Zhang Yu looked at them and said, "Come squeeze into my dorm for now."

Ying Xin was stunned, then quickly replied, "No need, President Zhang, I don't want to rent."

Shi Yunxiang nodded repeatedly: "Rent is too expensive now. We’d rather stay here at the site until the economic crisis passes."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Let’s go. I won't charge you rent; just stay until the crisis is over."

The two stared at Zhang Yu in shock, unable to believe their ears. Only after Zhang Yu explained further did they realize he truly meant to let them stay for free.

Thump.

They both knelt, looking at Zhang Yu with gratitude.

"President Zhang!"

"Senior!"

Simultaneously, the gratitude of the Ying family elders flickered within Zhang Yu’s eye remains.

Fu Ji sighed, "Ugh! A loss, another damn loss! Zhang Yu, you just love to meddle!"

And so, to the surprise of his other roommates, Zhang Yu brought them back to the dorm, making the once-spacious room feel a bit cramped.

Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang were equally surprised to see the others inside.

After brief pleasantries, they settled into different corners. Ying Xin and Shi Yunxiang sat closest to the door, immediately seizing the time to circulate their spiritual energy. Xiao Qingxuan and Shi Huaiyu leaned against the training area, searching for part-time work through the Spirit Realm.

Yu Xinghan’s eyes flickered with light as he watched martial arts technique videos while processing work.

With the economic crisis triggered by the Divine Transformation conflict, the health company where Yu Xinghan worked had seen business plummet.

Fortunately, the company was run by his mentor, so he hadn't been laid off yet.

Closer to Zhang Yu, Le Mulan leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Waves of cold and heat alternated within her body as she practiced the pharmaceutical arts of the Pharmacology Department, synthesizing medicine internally.

Sitting at the very back was Zhang Yu, next to the spot belonging to Zhang Pianpian.

However, because Zhang Pianpian was participating in the Top Ten League, she hadn't been staying in the dorm lately.

Just then, Zhang Yu beckoned to Ying Xin and said, "Let me take a look at your damaged Dharma remains."

A moment later, Zhang Yu unleashed the Fire-Controlling Divine Mirror, casting streams of true fire to perform minor repairs on the remains, leaving Ying Xin bewildered.

On the other side, Xiao Qingxuan watched this and turned to Shi Yunxiang, his former competition rival, saying, "You have injuries; let me take a look."

"But I use ancient medical techniques. If you don't believe in it, forget it."

With prices skyrocketing and medical costs rising, Shi Yunxiang, like many others, had been enduring his injuries, waiting for them to heal on their own.

Hearing this, Shi Yunxiang first asked about the price.

Xiao Qingxuan simply replied, "Don't worry, I don't have a medical license, so I can't charge you."

Relieved, Shi Yunxiang said, "Fine, treat me as you like."

Hours later, as a projection emerged in the air, Yu Xinghan remarked, "The match started today?"

Zhang Yu, who had projected the image, nodded: "Our school is competing in today's Dharma duel."

During this period, while Zhang Yu cultivated within the Taiqing Realm, he would also play the Top Ten League matches in the dorm.

Most of the time, everyone, including him, only glanced at it as background noise.

Only when the Divine Transformation conflict appeared on screen did it capture their full attention.

Only then, affected by the economic crisis, could they catch a glimpse of the shifting tides.

On screen, a prodigy from the Daoist Department of Wanfa University named Dao Qiankun was weaving hand seals, conjuring various meteorological disasters that turned the entire floating battlefield into chaos.

Zhang Yu sent another message to Bai Zhenzhen, but alas, he still received no response.

He mused to himself, "Only a few days ago, I saw A-Zhen take tenth place in the sword duels; surely, he must be safe and sound."

The next moment, Xiao Qingxuan let out a low, sharp cry: "They are fighting again."

Zhang Yu looked over instantly, witnessing ten thousand rays of iridescent light erupting across the horizon; it was impossible to tell which two Deities of Transformation were clashing, and the live stream comments were flooded with wild speculation.

Yu Xinghan remarked, "I cannot discern which Deities these are; it seems we must wait for someone in the Spirit Realm to post a ten-thousand-word analytical video later."

Before long, the group was watching an analysis of the divine conflict.

"The one whose strikes summon ten thousand fathoms of radiance must be the Heavenly Evolution Sovereign from the University of Myriad Arts. Truly the paragon of Daoist techniques, it is said he holds patents for over ten thousand spells, and the royalties he collects annually are an astronomical figure. His specialty lies in observing a technique, refashioning it into his own, and rapidly iterating; after a few version updates, he invariably surpasses the original."

"As for the other, though they appear silent and unobtrusive, we checked the market fluctuations during the time of the clash, and aside from the University of Myriad Arts, the most volatile currency shifts occurred around the University of Joyous Union. It is highly probable that this is the Spirit-Rhino Sovereign of that institution."

"Though the Spirit-Rhino Sovereign’s strikes seem soundless, that is the very tyranny of the Great Joyous Hymn of Heaven and Earth—hearing thunder in the silence, compelling others to fall in love with her unknowingly. She is, after all, the internet-famous supreme being with over ten billion followers. I suspect that even without patents or assets, she could fund an entire university on the offerings of her fans alone."

"While making this analysis video, I found myself donating five spirit coins to the Spirit-Rhino Sovereign without even realizing it; do you understand the power of such charm? Everyone, go and follow her with all your might!"

Even with just a daily glance at the progress of the Top Ten Leagues and the intermittent clashes of the Deities, the occupants of the dormitory could sense the situation growing increasingly volatile.

As the Sovereigns of the top ten universities entered the fray one after another, Zhang Yu could faintly perceive them dividing into two distinct camps.

On one side stood the University of Myriad Arts, the University of Heavenly Swords, the University of Immortal Arms, and the University of Vajra.

On the other were the University of Netherworld, the University of White Bones, the University of Heavenly Demons, and the University of Joyous Union.

As the Sovereigns escalated their maneuvers, the economic crisis deepened in tandem.

The financial storm warning had climbed from level 1.8 to 2.3; stocks and currency values continued to plumb new depths, prices soared, and employment became ever more elusive.

Those without work found themselves with increasing amounts of idle time, while the Spirit Realm echoed everywhere with the voices of orthodox deities broadcasting anti-cult propaganda.

Even Zhang Yu’s luxurious dormitory had, without notice, begun to ration the supply of spiritual energy, providing just enough for the group’s daily consumption.

Zhang Yu simply remained immersed in the Taiqing Realm, silently studying one blueprint for a magical artifact after another.

(End of chapter)