Chapter 540: Zhang Yu's Small Criminal Group

Chapter 540: Zhang Yu’s Little Criminal Cabal

The God of Auspice was wreathed in shimmering, multicolored light; he let out a cold snort, seemingly poised to argue further.

However, the thousand-eyed, thousand-footed God of Jubilee beside him checked him, asking directly, "What does this have to do with the Research Bureau?"

Lady Fortune replied indifferently, "The so-called Research Bureau is the authoritative body managing every immortal cultivation project at Wanfa University."

"Research into the Deified Dharma Remains naturally falls under its purview."

"And since Feng Yuhan serves as the director of the Bureau and the primary lead for the Deified Dharma Remains project, would you not say he is critical?"

"In some respects, he is even more pivotal than Magnetic Pole. He can manipulate the project’s funding, oversee personnel management, and he has even enforced lockdowns on the laboratories in the past."

"Yet, at the same time, he is far easier to handle than Magnetic Pole."

"Whether you intend to simply control him, force him into the Demonic Sect, or convert him into your own devotee, it is far simpler than dealing with Magnetic Pole or Tianzhang."

"Especially now that the Spirit Realm is hijacked by you, as an administrator, he lacks the keen reflexes of True Lord Tianzhang and has lost his former protections. He is at his most vulnerable."

Hearing this, the three evil gods engaged in another round of high-speed, clandestine deliberation.

"Her words hold water. Administrators indeed know more than test subjects, and he is easier to manage than Magnetic Pole or Tianzhang."

"This fellow is giving us so much intelligence for free; she likely wants to use us to deal with this Feng Yuhan."

"And what if we are being used? As long as there is profit to be made, mutual exploitation is only natural."

Just then, Lady Fortune spoke up again: "Are you finished conferring?"

She stood up abruptly, slamming her hands onto the round table. She looked up, glaring at the three towering figures before her, and said coldly, "You may deal with Feng Yuhan as you please. I can hand him over to you as a gesture of goodwill."

"But Wanfa University is my territory. You have played long enough; it is time to leave, is it not?"

The multicolored light around the God of Auspice surged violently. He refused to yield, retorting, "Oh? And what if we are unwilling?"

"Then do not blame me..." Lady Fortune snorted, "for reporting everything here to the True Gods and exposing your ties to the Demonic Sect."

"Hmph, many of your followers carry communication devices, do they not? I imagine the True Gods would be quite interested in the technology within them."

In an instant, Zhang Yu felt the atmosphere thicken with murderous intent; the three massive figures seemed poised to crush them at any moment.

After a long silence, the thousand-eyed, thousand-footed God of Jubilee smiled faintly. "Lady Fortune, we owe you a favor this time. But in truth, we had no idea that you had already planted such a veteran piece on the board at Wanfa University."

Lady Fortune waved a hand, turning to leave. "Get out."

"In the future, consult me directly regarding matters at Wanfa University. Do not act so recklessly again."

"If you ruin my grand design, you will pay the price."

In the eyes of the three gods, Lady Fortune had now become an expert on the problems of Wanfa.

The God of Jubilee asked, "How shall we find you?"

Lady Fortune replied coolly, "Are you incapable of using the summoning function of this conference room?"

Watching the silent trio, Lady Fortune offered a faint smile, her fingertip tapping to send an encrypted address to the three gods.

"If you have business, send the message through the Dark Spirit Realm."

With that, Lady Fortune’s figure dissipated into the shadows of the Dark Spirit Realm.

Watching the direction of her departure, the God of Jubilee’s thousand hands writhed in unison. "Well? Did you uncover her origins?"

Beside him, the God of Auspice’s multicolored light retracted. "I checked; the evil gods on the second level do not recognize her. This fellow... with such strength and such strategic depth... perhaps she descended from a higher level. That makes investigation difficult; it will require more time."

Another evil god added, "She hides herself too well; I could not track her."

The God of Jubilee said calmly, "Then we shall proceed according to our previous agreement."

"Our subsequent plans must now account for this one."

...

Wanfa University, University City.

Zhang Yu snapped back to reality, feeling his consciousness return from the Dark Spirit Realm to the physical world.

Lady Fortune let out a long sigh of relief, thinking to herself, "Damn it, those three were frantically trying to trace my origins through the Dark Spirit Realm. If I had stayed any longer, there was a real risk they would have figured me out."

Zhang Yu asked Lady Fortune internally, "Why leave so soon? Why not take the opportunity to dig for more intelligence?"

Lady Fortune replied calmly, "No rush. Let the wind blow a while longer."

"Once they finish their operations here and confirm the intelligence I provided, our next exchange will naturally be smoother."

"Heh, with this conference room in the Dark Spirit Realm, we have a secure channel to communicate with the evil gods."

"In the future, we can trade intelligence, or even find ways to exchange supplies. Those fellows must have plenty of good things in their possession."

The exchange between Zhang Yu and Lady Fortune concluded in an instant. He then turned to the group before him.

Zhang Yu realized that very little time had passed, despite the lengthy conversation he and Lady Fortune had just held with the evil gods in the Dark Spirit Realm.

Lady Fortune explained, "The Dark Spirit Realm operates at high speed; once inside, information flows rapidly. A long conversation there is but a fleeting moment in the outside world."

At the same time, Zhang Yu sensed a strange atmosphere among the group, and with a moment’s thought, he understood why.

Although they had just defeated a Golden Core cultivator of the Demonic Sect, avoiding death or forced conversion, the battle had exposed everyone’s secrets—infringements, illegal activities, and crimes.

Now that the battle was over and the tension had ebbed, they were beginning to feel the weight of their anxieties. What if they were discovered?

What if they were exposed?

How much would they have to pay in damages?

Worry, nervousness, fear, and dread—these were the instinctive reactions born from years of being crushed under the countless rigid rules of Kunxu.

Zhang Yu understood their reaction well, for even he, a half-Kunxu native, felt a lingering sense of terror.

But he knew someone had to step up; they had to stand together to keep their secrets.

"Everyone," Zhang Yu said, looking at them. "Aside from the seven of us, no one else knows what happened today."

"Before this, we may have come from different places and made our money in different ways, but from this day forward, we sink or swim together. If we go bankrupt, we go bankrupt together."

"As long as I, Zhang Yu, am here, I will never treat you poorly."

Hearing his words, the group nodded almost involuntarily.

Without realizing it, Zhang Yu—who had just charged forward to block the Demonic Sect’s Golden Core cultivator—had earned their natural trust.

Seeing their convinced expressions, Zhang Yu relaxed slightly and turned to Ying Xin. "Ying Xin, you and Shi Yunxiang clean up the battlefield. Leave no trace of our fight here."

"Huaiyu, please double-check the position of the corpses. Ensure no clues are left behind."

"Xinghan, go see if Old Mo has woken up. And while you’re at it, reattach his Dharma Remains hand."

"Qingxuan, Mu Lan, please help me reattach my arm."

Following Zhang Yu’s orders, the group suppressed their unease and began to handle the situation methodically, their moods gradually calming.

As Shi Yunxiang cleaned the battlefield, watching his companions work alongside him, a strange feeling washed over him.

For the first time in his life, he had committed a grave crime with others, fought to the death against a powerful enemy, and now, they were working together in mutual trust to cover their tracks.

This unprecedented sensation filled not only Shi Yunxiang’s heart but the hearts of everyone present.

"Happiness? Relief? Exhilaration? A thrill?"

Ying Xin could not find the precise words to describe it, only feeling a strange sensation rising within her as Zhang Yu entrusted the illicit task to her, and she joined Shi Yunxiang in further dismantling the infrastructure.

Shi Huaiyu meticulously scoured every corner where the corpse had lain, her heart surging with the conviction that she must not betray Zhang Yu’s trust, nor the trust of her companions.

Though they were essentially working overtime for free, she felt not a shred of fatigue; instead, a wave of exhilaration pulsed through her spirit.

Watching these scenes unfold, Fu Ji mused to herself: "These people, having committed crimes together, risked bankruptcy in death-defying battles, and now hold each other’s secrets—with Zhang Yu as their anchor, they are gradually forging into a tight-knit collective."

"And... at least at this nascent stage of their formation, they are savoring the feeling of belonging to such a group."

"This Zhang Yu... perhaps he has a natural talent for building a demonic cult."

...

Just as Zhang Yu led the others in clearing the battlefield and disposing of the evidence, the University City was undergoing a seismic shift.

Inside and outside the data center, the Feathered Boy suppressed the Spirit Realm with one hand while fending off the onslaught of countless spell-casting students, faculty, and righteous deities from the Myriad Dharma University.

On the outskirts of the University City, streaks of light flickered across the horizon, marking the Unemployed Elder’s efforts to obstruct outside reinforcements.

Simultaneously, a multitude of cultists charged toward the 666th floor of the University City and the research offices, igniting fierce conflicts.

Once the skirmishes at these two locations subsided, the Unemployed Elder and the Feathered Boy led their forces in a retreat.

Beyond this, a vast number of cultists from outside the campus naturally withdrew from the University City on their own.

As for those within Myriad Dharma University who had joined the cult, they remained behind, becoming the nails the cult would eventually drive into the heart of the institution.

Some who had viewed the cult’s materials and joined of their own volition were still looting and fighting, while others, sensing the shifting tides, retreated into hiding after a brief frenzy of pillaging.

There were also those who, though sympathetic to the cult, had merely watched the entire spectacle with cold, detached eyes.

The cultivators of Myriad Dharma University began the arduous task of repairing the Spirit Realm.

Yet, as the cultists gradually withdrew, in a place far from any major battlefield and ignored by the high-ranking powers...

A cultist, while retreating, hurled a fist of flaming aura toward the medicinal fields.

"Damn rich bastards, burn your fields to ash..."

Just as sparks began to dance across the herb garden, a sudden downpour extinguished the flames.

Immediately after, a terrifying pressure descended from the heavens.

An invisible hand manifested before the eyes of all.

Whether inside the University City or out, within the Spirit Realm or beyond, everyone witnessed the descent of this colossal palm.

As the hand fell, the Spirit Realm network was instantly restored, and the righteous deities were returned to their posts in unison.

Every retreating cultist from outside was, in a single heartbeat, severed of both body and soul.

The University City returned to normalcy in an instant, order reasserting itself as if the chaos of moments ago had been nothing more than a fever dream.

But looking at the severed limbs upon the ground and the swaths of ruined infrastructure, countless souls knew in their hearts... that some things would never be the same again.

Requesting monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)