Chapter 550: Five Taxes of Devas and Humans (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 550: The Five Celestial Taxes (Seeking Monthly Votes)

"Once she becomes a true deity, the memory of Zhang Pianpian, which is but a drop in the ocean, will seem to her like a fleeting experience from a dream—too insignificant, too unworthy of mention."

"Whether for you or for Zhang Pianpian, by then... she will merely be a true deity who happens to possess the memories of Zhang Pianpian."

"The real Zhang Pianpian will have already perished."

"Or rather... your sister has long since died, and the person she is now is no longer the sister you knew growing up."

Zhang Yu was slightly startled by these words, offering no reply.

Yet in his heart, he understood that for a soul hailing from Earth, the sister he knew was the one he had met after high school—the Zhang Pianpian of the present. What had become of the Zhang Pianpian of the past... mattered little to him.

And the Zhang Pianpian of the future... was beyond his reach for now.

Only by becoming wealthier and more powerful could he hope to have a seat at that table.

Observing Zhang Yu’s composed demeanor, Fu Ji nodded slightly, thinking to herself that this boy had truly matured.

After hearing Fu Ji’s conjectures, another question surfaced in Zhang Yu’s mind: "Reincarnation... if gods can inherit memories, authority, and resources through reincarnation, what about everyone else?"

He recalled the intelligence passed on by the evil gods: "If humans reincarnate, can they not inherit their cultivation? Is that why they need the help of the Nectar Deity? To secretly transfer cultivation for those reincarnating within the sects?"

Fu Ji chuckled. "Reincarnation is not created equal."

"High-ranking true deities can inherit their past authority, memories, and resources after reincarnation because the Immortals require such deities."

"These deities serve as tools for the Heavenly Court and the Ten Great Sects to govern Kunxu. Each of their reincarnations is like a self-update, a way to re-adapt to the current state of Kunxu."

"Much like a magical artifact, reincarnation is one of the methods these deities use to constantly update and improve their performance, preparing them for the Immortals' rule over Kunxu."

"As for the reincarnation of ordinary people..."

Fu Ji pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "I have never witnessed the true circumstances myself."

"I only once heard an Evil God King recount that, nowadays... the human cycle of reincarnation is an extremely complex system, the result of countless iterations during the Immortals' process of reshaping Kunxu and modifying nature."

"And in this system, wealth is just as vital; the wealthier one is, the better a womb they can be born into."

Zhang Yu drew a sharp breath. "The wealthier you are, the better your reincarnation... does that not mean the poor are destined to remain poor for generation after generation?"

Fu Ji smiled. "Why else do you think neither the Ten Great Sects nor the Heavenly Court ever publicize what true reincarnation is?"

"In fact, information regarding true reincarnation has always been a forbidden topic. If you dared to speak of what I’ve told you today in public, you would have the true deities knocking at your door."

Zhang Yu asked again: "Then what of the Feathering Sect?"

Fu Ji laughed mockingly: "The Feathering Sect preaches a false reincarnation."

"Kunxu does not promote true reincarnation because the truth would only extinguish hope."

"The Demonic Sect can preach a false reincarnation simply because such an afterlife still counts as hope, however illusory. As long as it does not conflict with the interests of certain parties while serving others, it hasn't been completely suppressed."

"Even for those within the sects, when they reincarnate, they must secretly transfer their cultivation."

Zhang Yu asked: "Do the members of the sects not have enough money to afford reincarnation?"

Fu Ji shook her head. "How much money is ever enough? Besides, even if you have enough, you must pay taxes upon reincarnation."

"The higher the cultivation, the steeper the tax. The so-called Five Celestial Taxes—each tax is a layer of heaven."

"Because of this, they naturally calculate."

"They weigh their assets: how much should be used for a proper rebirth? How much should be hidden away beforehand to evade the Five Celestial Taxes?"

"What ratio is most cost-effective? What is the level of risk? To them, this is a profound science."

"If it weren't for the fact that these are strictly prohibited acts cracked down upon by the Heavenly Court, I suspect your universities would have opened specialized departments just to study the art of reincarnation."

Zhang Yu nodded thoughtfully: "To think the Nectar Deity is involved in such a massive undertaking. Now that these evil gods have set their sights on her, it seems their ambitions are vast indeed."

Fu Ji nodded solemnly: "Vast? The Nectar Deity was already the Nectar Deity long before the Joyous University was even founded."

"Heaven knows how many sect disciples she has helped transfer cultivation for? How many have evaded the Five Celestial Taxes through her? The numbers are likely staggering."

"And the protective umbrella over her head must be deeply rooted within the sects."

At this thought, Fu Ji felt a shiver of dread: "These evil gods... to attempt something so dangerous, it cannot possibly be their own idea alone."

Zhang Yu said: "By leaking this information to us during the trade, are they trying to pull us onto their ship?"

Fu Ji replied: "They likely believe we control enough intelligence channels within the University City and want to recruit us into their plan."

"In any case, keep your distance, continue to probe, and slowly figure out just how far they intend to go."

"Exchanging intelligence with them is fine, but we must never participate in their specific actions."

"The waters here run too deep." While Fu Ji and Zhang Yu were conversing, Zi Yunzhen was busy circling the Level 1 prototype, capturing images from every angle.

This was the task Zhang Yu had entrusted to her, and it was something she enjoyed immensely.

After all, by documenting the data, she could acquire a set of intelligence on the prototype for herself; should she ever launch such a project in the future, these materials would serve as vital references.

Watching the humanoid puppet, shimmering with flowing light and flickering flames, a surge of excitement raced through Zi Yunzhen.

"It’s so fast. The skeleton, the nervous system, the spirit realm module, the mana core, the morphing armor... it was all completed in just over a month. Now, all that’s left is to continue refining it and raise the prototype’s level..."

"An 11th-level prototype is enough to apply for evaluation."

"At 15th level, it would be a guaranteed pass."

Zi Yunzhen thought to herself: "There is a chance, a real chance to outperform Jin Jun and the others."

Just then, Zhang Yu and Fu Ji ended their mental communication in a flash.

Fu Ji glanced at Zi Yunzhen and remarked: "Are you going to keep paying her? I suspect if you started charging her tuition, she’d still be willing to pay you just to work for you."

Zhang Yu thought to himself: "Forget it. The prototype project is too important. I don't want any slip-ups over a bit of money that might affect my participation in the Ten Great Leagues next year."

Zhang Yu turned to Zi Yunzhen and said: "That’s all for today. Go back and prepare well. We’ll start refining the prototype tomorrow; make sure you arrive at the lab early to get everything ready."

Zi Yunzhen was stunned: "Stopping already? How can we pause now?"

She pleaded: "Boss! We are at a critical moment in our competition against Jin Jun and the others. Let’s seize the time and keep going!"

Zhang Yu replied casually: "I have other projects to handle and experiments to attend today; I don't have time to stay here."

At the same time, Zhang Yu had finished photographing the prototype and posted the images to his social feed.

Ever since he began crafting the prototype, Zhang Yu had never ceased the habit of documenting the process step-by-step, leaving traces of his work from time to time.

Previously, he had only shown fragments or specific stages of the crafting process, so those in the dark likely couldn't gauge his progress.

But today’s image of the complete prototype was clear enough for even a layman to see that Zhang Yu’s work had reached a major milestone, sparking discussion among an ever-growing number of people.

...

In Jin Jun’s laboratory.

Su Yunni was performing repetitive, basic tasks while watching the information pop up on her ocular interface.

When she saw Zi Yunzhen’s post about the prototype, she froze.

"Finished?"

"How is that possible?"

Su Yunni looked around the lab. They had been working 24 hours a day under Jin Jun for months, and they had only just reached the final step, about to begin assembly and debugging.

Zhang Yu only began the refinement a month ago, did he not? A mere month of labor...

As this thought took hold, Su Yunni could not help but send a message to Zi Yunzhen.

Su Yunni: Yunzhen, is that recording of yours genuine?

Su Yunni: Is it truly the prototype of the Sun-Scorching God refined by Zhang Yu?

Seeing the inquiry from Su Yunni, Zi Yunzhen could hardly deny it; this was a pivotal chapter in her career, one that would define her future reputation as an artificer.

Zi Yunzhen: It is as true as truth itself.

Zi Yunzhen: I followed Zhang Yu step by step as we refined it together.

Zi Yunzhen: We just finished the calibration today, and every metric has reached the standard of a Level 1 prototype.

Zi Yunzhen: We have also completed two of the Sun-Scorching God’s modular functions, meeting the requirements for a Level 1 prototype.

Reading Zi Yunzhen’s resolute assurances, Su Yunni felt her heart sink into an abyss.

Could it be that they—with their vast numbers, their senior students, and their immense funding—were destined to lose to Zhang Yu and Zi Yunzhen? To lose to a transfer student from the Civil Engineering department who had been here for less than a year?

The mere thought sent a shiver of cold dread through her bones.

Without delay, Su Yunni reported the situation to Jin Jun.

Naturally, she did not do so in the presence of the laboratory staff, but rather sent the message in secret.

Su Yunni: Zhang Yu and the others completed the refinement of their Level 1 prototype today.

When Jin Jun first saw the message, he found it absurd, even laughable.

But as he scrolled through the images and footage that followed, his expression darkened, turning as cold and still as stagnant water.

(End of chapter)