Chapter 536: Kunxu Zero-Dollar Shopping (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 536: Zero-Yuan Shopping in Kunxu (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"Grab the shit! Grab the shit!"

"Get lost! It’s all mine!"

"Hahahaha, I haven't eaten this well in ages!"

Watching the frenzied behavior of the Qi-refining students, Zhang Yu and Mo Shangjin struck casually; a sweep of their formidable Earth-Sha gravity knocked the lot of them unconscious.

This was the third wave of cultists they had encountered on their path. Although these cultists were clearly destitute wretches who had been wandering the streets for days, the sight still left many students from the Civil Engineering Department secretly shaken. It seemed none of them had realized that, unnoticed, so many cult believers had already infiltrated the university city.

As they pressed forward, the group discovered that as time passed—with no oversight from righteous deities, no surveillance, and no suppression from the university’s top brass—more and more people began to engage in outrageous behavior, and the university city descended into increasing chaos.

Passersby, in the midst of fighting cultists, would kill their opponents and strip them of their Dharma remains.

Some joined the cultists in storming shops, looting them of their supplies.

Others, shouting about entering reincarnation or seeking a better rebirth, launched suicide attacks, further escalating the intensity of the fighting in the university city and causing even more casualties.

Burning, explosions, corpses, fierce battles, and the violent tremors emanating from deep underground—the group looked at the university city before them, feeling as though it had become an unrecognizable stranger.

"Teacher Tu Lishan!"

Before the group could find relief at the sight of Tu Lishan, they saw a figure wreathed in black smoke locked in combat with him.

Sensing the clash of Golden Core-level mana between the two, Zhang Yu and Mo Shangjin simultaneously unleashed the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, pulling the group back as they retreated.

But a Golden Core-level battle was far too terrifying for Foundation Establishment students. Under the impact of the shockwaves, the group was scattered, and the team that had been advancing together was quickly torn apart.

Zhang Yu checked his surroundings. Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, Xiao Qingxuan, Shi Huaiyu, Shi Yunxiang, and Ying Xin—the six companions who had left the dormitory with him—remained close by, having avoided being separated.

...

Meanwhile, outside Zhang Yu's dormitory.

A "man" smashed through the front door, staring at the empty room within, and let out a sigh: "Zhang Yu and the others have left?"

Behind him, a robust figure wreathed in thick black mist said faintly: "Is this the place where the Zhang Yu you mentioned lived?"

The "man" nodded: "It is that Zhang Yu. Not only is he a prodigy of the Civil Engineering Department who earned his military certification in his junior year and mastered the Level 20 Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power, but he also transferred to the Artifact Refining Department. His talent is truly astonishing."

"Furthermore, it was he who participated in the God-Transformation Yin Artifact experiment and gained many benefits from it; he must know many secrets regarding the experiment."

The robust figure smiled slightly and said: "Indeed, he is the talent the sect requires. If we can successfully recruit him, the Sect Master will surely be pleased, and there will be heavy rewards."

Having said this, the robust figure looked at the "man" and asked: "Do you think he will be willing to join the sect?"

The "man" said sternly: "Zhang Yu has helped me so much, how can I watch him continue to sink into the quagmire set by the Ten Great Sects? Whether he is willing or not, even if I have to force him, I will make him join the sect."

"It’s just that we don't know where they have gone now..."

The robust figure waved his hand and said: "No matter."

"The so-called collapse of the Spirit Realm does not mean it has disappeared; it is merely that the Sect Master has temporarily hijacked the Spirit Realm inside and outside Wanfa University."

"At this moment, for the teachers and students of Wanfa University, the Spirit Realm here is inaccessible."

"But for us, we can still borrow a portion of the Spirit Realm's power to mobilize nearby resources."

"And since we have found the place where Zhang Yu once stayed, finding him is not difficult."

The robust figure flicked his fingertips, and the surveillance footage near the dormitory appeared before him.

"Oh? Is that Mo Shangjin?"

"Perfect, we shall take him along as well."

...

Not long after.

On a shattered street.

Mo Shangjin knelt on one knee, covered in blood, looking in shock at the "man" before him and the robust figure behind him, his face pale as he said: "You..."

The "man's" appearance had clearly been altered; his original features were unrecognizable.

Yet, even with the transformation, the "man" could not hide the trace of gratified laughter on his face.

The "man" looked at the senior who had always been so high and mighty, now beaten to his knees, and could not help but laugh: "Senior Mo Shangjin, didn't expect this, did you? Didn't expect that there would be a day when you, too, would kneel before me?"

"What does it matter if your grades are good? Now, you too will have to join the cult with me."

With a soft thud, the robust figure dissipated the last of Mo Shangjin's resistance, knocked him unconscious, and held him casually in his hand.

"Let's go, there is still Zhang Yu."

The "man" hurriedly followed the robust figure, his heart trembling with increasing intensity.

"Zhang Yu... I am coming for you."

Thinking of Zhang Yu, a sliver of resentment welled up in his heart.

"Zhang Yu... why do you help Le Mulan, help Yu Xinghan, help Ying Xin... why do you help so many people, but refuse to help me?"

Clearly, his inner thoughts were diametrically opposed to what he had just said; his desire to force Zhang Yu into the sect was not out of gratitude, but out of resentment.

"Over these past few years, how many times have I shown you favor? How many times have I begged you? I have done my utmost to please you, and what about you?"

"These past few days, I have waited outside your door like a dog every day, begging you incessantly, waiting for you incessantly, just to get that tiny bit of mana."

Li Xiao's heart surged with violent anger: "Zhang Yu... you were just playing with me, playing with me and Ji Yuanxu."

"Why couldn't you help us a little more?"

"If you had helped us just one more time, perhaps Ji Yuanxu wouldn't have died, and perhaps I wouldn't have joined the cult..." Under the torment of the economic crisis during this period, Li Xiao had developed unprecedented wavering regarding his own path of immortality and his future.

And this wavering, when contrasted with Zhang Yu, filled his heart with endless jealousy, envy, and unwillingness.

We are both of the same rank, so why is the gap so large?

We are both of the same rank, so why help Yu Xinghan and not me?

You clearly have so many resources; you clearly could have helped me through this crisis if you had just shared a little more with me...

This emotion reached a peak after Ji Yuanxu's death.

Thus, he chose to join the Wu Ye Sect and took the initiative to provide information about Zhang Yu.

The Wu Ye Sect, for its part, showed a very positive attitude toward recruiting Zhang Yu.

At this moment, Li Xiao finally saw Zhang Yu and the others not far ahead, and a morbid pleasure surged in his heart.

"Heh, Zhang Yu... no matter how good your grades are, how impressive your transfer is, or what a remarkable scholar of the Artifact Refining Department you've become, in the end, won't you still have to be like me, joining the cult with me? Hahahahaha..."

At the same time, Zhang Yu and the others on the other side suddenly turned their heads, looking at the robust figure chasing them at high speed from behind, and Li Xiao further back.

Seeing Mo Shangjin held in the other's hand, Zhang Yu's heart sank.

Meanwhile, the robust figure tapped his fingertips, seemingly having triggered the power of the Spirit Realm.

Layers of formation power activated, directly sealing the entire area.

Then, with a series of heavy thuds, the surrounding streets and houses deformed, sealing off the entire space like city walls.

Only then did the robust figure say faintly: "You may call me Wuying."

"There is no surveillance from the Spirit Realm here, and the surrounding buildings have been temporarily sealed by me; no outsider can hear our conversation."

"Zhang Yu, I would like to invite you to join the Order of the Unemployed."

He then turned his gaze toward the others present, smiling faintly, "Of course, all of you are welcome to join as well."

Zhang Yu’s mind raced as he calculated his next move, yet he replied with a smile, "My apologies, but unemployment does too much damage to a resume; I’m afraid I’ll have to decline for now."

Wuying said indifferently, "Will you not hear the terms first? Should you choose to join, all the techniques mastered by our Order shall be yours to study."

"Not merely expert-level arts, but military-grade techniques as well, all available for your cultivation."

"And not just those from Wanfa University; our Order has delved into the military-grade archives of many other institutions..."

Zhang Yu’s heart sank at these words: "If he speaks the truth, it implies the Order has moles planted in numerous universities. That is the only way they could have amassed such a collection."

Zhang Yu smiled slightly, "A pity none of them come with official certification, do they?"

Wuying replied calmly, "On the path of the Immortal, why be shackled by such credentials? Cultivating profound arts will inherently grant you greater strength; what difference does a certificate make? It is merely the loss of hollow fame and worldly trifles."

Zhang Yu sneered, knowing that if he were to practice the arts they provided, he would be handing them a leash with which to bind him forever.

Observing the shift in Zhang Yu’s expression, Wuying sighed, "It seems you harbor many misunderstandings about our Order. I suppose I must capture you first, and we shall discuss this at length later..."

Before Wuying could finish, Zhang Yu’s aura surged violently as he entered the state of the Mountain-Moving Warrior.

Immediately, the Mountain-Moving Divine Power of Kunlun combined with the Nine Heavens Void Force erupted in unison; he went all-out from the very first strike.

Moving Mountains and Nine Heavens! Thousand-Handed Saint Martial!

Waves of aura, as if unleashed by a legion of masters, converged upon Wuying in a ferocious assault.

Amidst a thunderous roar and the trembling of the earth, Wuying’s figure was swallowed by the golden, flame-like torrent of energy.

Yet, the next moment, to the shock of all onlookers, Wuying tore through the aura and tapped a single finger against Zhang Yu’s chest.

With a sharp crack, Zhang Yu’s golden armor shattered instantly, and a bloody hole erupted in his chest.

"A Golden Core!"

Feeling the surging mana radiating from Wuying, a wave of terror washed over everyone present.

Wuying said softly, "If you are willing to come with me quietly, you might suffer a little less."

Just as the onlookers assumed the outcome was sealed, Zhang Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, the crimson mist laced with aura lashing out at Wuying.

Wuying casually swatted the blood away and struck out with a palm from a distance, sending Zhang Yu flying once more.

This time, even Wuying’s brow twitched slightly; he found Zhang Yu’s resilience to be absurdly excessive.

Simultaneously, Zhang Yu’s mind spun rapidly: "Should I use the Divine Spirit Root?"

"Foundation Establishment versus Golden Core... my odds of victory are zero."

"By utilizing the hidden power of the Divine Spirit Root, I might find a chance to escape."

"But that would expose my secret."

Zhang Yu knew that if this secret were revealed now, it would not only be exposed to the demonic cult, but to Yu Xinghan and the others as well.

As for joining the cult, that was the worst of all possible strategies; he even suspected that if he joined, the ritual of the mentally impaired would trigger and kill him on the spot.

Recommendation: "Goblin Heavy Dependency":

"Brother, I’ve been thinking lately about the meaning of our profession."

"Tell me, being an adventurer... what is it really for?"

"One goblin, three silver coins."

(End of chapter)