Chapter 582: Intercepting Zhang Yu

Chapter 582: Intercepting Zhang Yu

"How did these things end up here?"

"Who the hell left these out without following protocol?"

"Who was it..."

At this thought, Xiang Shan suddenly felt a pang of guilt. The discipline of the demon descendants had never been strong; merely keeping the various clans from brawling or snacking on their colleagues was a headache in itself.

Laziness on the job was a common occurrence.

It was even routine for workers to delay progress by giving birth on-site just to meet their breeding tax quotas.

But Xiang Shan would never admit to this. He blurted out, "It was all Zhang Yu! He’s the one who tampered with things!"

The demon workers on-site began to clamor as well, pointing fingers at Zhang Yu in the sky.

Zhang Yu said calmly, "Check the surveillance footage and you’ll know."

Naturally, there was no sign of Zhang Yu in the footage. After all, his Divine Root combined with the Evil God’s anti-surveillance ritual allowed him to move as if through an empty land.

Moreover, Zhang Yu had only added a slight push. After he activated his sword formation to slice through the spirit realm and circled the site, he realized the flaws in this demon construction site were far too numerous.

Various building materials, equipment, and pollutants were scattered haphazardly, and safety violations were the order of the day.

Soon, Deng Bingding looked at Xiang Shan and said quietly, "The situation is clear. You’re in big trouble this time."

"Polluting the environment, especially the soil and water near the medicinal fields, is a major taboo here at Wanfa University! Didn't your teachers warn you before you came?"

Xiang Shan still refused to admit it, desperate to the end: "Zhang Yu took action too!"

Deng Bingding said flatly, "He was stabilizing the ley lines, while you were destroying the geological structure."

Seeing Xiang Shan still trying to be stubborn, Deng Bingding chuckled. A series of light screens appeared before Xiang Shan, displaying the interrogation responses of the other demon descendants.

"It was all Xiang Shan’s doing. I told him not to mess around, but he wouldn't listen. He said he wanted to teach these humans a lesson."

"We aren't with Xiang Shan. He’s an elephant demon, we’re ox demons; the gap between us is wider than the one between him and the humans."

"The fines have nothing to do with us, right? We were just watching; we didn't do anything!"

"It has nothing to do with me. I didn't place those pollutants; it was the other clans. We rat demons just dig holes; we don't get involved in their business."

Watching the faces of his classmates and colleagues—who only moments ago had been united in opposing Zhang Yu—now appearing on the screens, Xiang Shan let out a helpless sigh. The strength seemed to drain from his body.

Xiang Shan asked, "How will you deal with me?"

Deng Bingding smiled faintly and said slowly, "Stop work for now. As for the fines, the groundwater purification, and the geological repairs... heh, we’ll calculate those slowly."

Xiang Shan’s lips trembled as he asked, "Roughly how much will I have to pay?"

...

While the demon descendants were being interrogated, Zhang Yu was unaware that he had turned a deep, vibrant red on the demon discrimination list.

Zhang Yu activated the Heavenly Kunlun mountain-moving power, combined with the strength of the Heavenly Sun Radiant God, and restored the construction site to its original state.

After instructing Xiao Qingxuan, Shi Huaiyu, and the others to work diligently, he left the Heavenly Sun Radiant God behind to assist with the project and soared into the sky with his sword case, shooting toward the University City like a bolt of lightning.

Not long after Zhang Yu and his team departed, streaks of divine light descended.

Red banners flickered like chains, encircling the entire site layer by layer.

Amidst a continuous stream of warnings, True Person Xuyang, accompanied by Yun Yuqing and a team of inspectors, had locked down the entire scene.

Seeing the sudden appearance of the inspection team, Shi Huaiyu asked suspiciously, "Is there something wrong, officers?"

True Person Xuyang said coldly, "We received a tip-off suspecting that members of the Dual Cultivation Sect have been active at this site."

Shi Huaiyu quickly replied, "How is that possible? We’ve been working around the clock to meet our deadline; where would any Dual Cultivation Sect members come from?"

At the same time, Shi Huaiyu sent the company’s documentation to them, pointedly hinting at the company’s background.

Seeing the documents, True Person Xuyang said flatly, "I know this is Zhang Yu’s company."

"Zhang Yu, ranked 19th in the school."

Recalling his last interrogation of Zhang Yu, True Person Xuyang said sternly, "But this concerns the safety of the school and the threat of the demonic cult. Even if he were ranked 1st, I would investigate this to the end."

As they spoke, a wave of heat descended from the sky. The Heavenly Sun Radiant God drifted down in a shroud of golden flames, landing before True Person Xuyang.

Zhang Yu’s voice emanated from the Heavenly Sun Radiant God: "We meet again, True Person Xuyang."

True Person Xuyang looked at him unflinchingly and said calmly, "Student Zhang Yu, I am acting in accordance with my duties. This operation is legal and compliant; I hope you will cooperate with the inspection."

With that, he presented the documents for the operation.

Zhang Yu’s gaze swept over the documents through the Heavenly Sun Radiant God, and he smiled slightly: "No problem. I hate those demonic cultists more than anyone. True Person, inspect for as long as you like. If you can help me find anyone in my company infected with the Dual Cultivation virus, that would be for the best."

True Person Xuyang waved his hand and shouted, "Bring everyone out for a unified inspection. Don't miss a single person."

Shi Huaiyu said irritably, "If you don't find anything, will you compensate us for the losses caused by this work stoppage?"

True Person Xuyang remained expressionless. He glanced at the silent Zhang Yu and did not answer Shi Huaiyu.

Soon, the inspection team began checking the physical condition of every worker.

As the spread of the Dual Cultivation virus intensified, the Orthodox Gods had developed a method for detection.

Because the bodies of cultivators infected with the virus exhibited abnormalities, one only needed to check the brain, organs, and mana flow to determine if they were infected. Watching worker after worker pass the inspection, Yun Yuqing couldn't help but grow nervous: "Captain, what if no one actually has the virus? Have we offended Zhang Yu for nothing?"

True Person Xuyang did not answer immediately. After a long while, he said, "In times of crisis, only merit matters. We are here for the safety of Wanfa University and the merit of capturing cultists, not to make friends."

"Besides, the Artifact Refining Department has no authority over us. As long as we catch a cultist, what does it matter if we offend him?"

Just then, True Person Xuyang received a report: "Zhang Yu gave everyone a raise today?"

His eyes shifted sharply: "How could he give a raise for no reason? He must have known the virus was spreading on-site, or perhaps he knew we were coming, and he’s trying to preemptively suppress the virus."

Hearing this, Yun Yuqing became even more anxious: "Could it be that after this pay raise, the virus here has already been suppressed?"

"Does that mean we came for nothing?"

True Person Xuyang dared not guarantee anything. He could only wait patiently for the results, watching as report after report appeared before him.

None... none... still none.

As the number of unchecked workers dwindled and the desired result failed to materialize, the hearts of True Person Xuyang and Yun Yuqing gradually sank.

Looking at the final report, which still showed no detection of the Dual Cultivation virus, Yun Yuqing gritted her teeth: "Not a single person... was it prevented by the pay raise?"

"Captain! Someone must have tipped Zhang Yu off!"

True Person Xuyang’s expression was grave as he thought rapidly.

Just then, the Heavenly Sun Radiant God approached the two and asked, "What are the results? It seems you haven't found any Dual Cultivation virus?"

True Person Xuyang looked at the Heavenly Sun Radiant God and asked, "Boss Zhang, I heard you gave everyone in the company a raise today?"

Zhang Yu’s voice came through, casual and indifferent: "That’s right. I heard that raising wages is an effective way to prevent the Dual Cultivation virus, so I did it immediately."

True Person Xuyang said, "This is the first time I’ve seen a boss as willing to spend a fortune to guard against the Dual Cultivation virus as Boss Zhang."

The Heavenly Sun Radiant God flashed with firelight and drifted slowly into the sky: "True Person, since you haven't found any virus, can the construction site resume work?"

True Person Xuyang took a deep breath and was about to lead his team away when Yun Yuqing suddenly said, "Captain, there is still one person who hasn't been checked."

True Person Xuyang asked, "Who?"

Yun Yuqing spoke: "Yu Xinghan, a student of the Earth-Wood faculty; he ought to be at the construction site today!"

Master Xuyang turned his gaze toward the Tianri Huangshen and asked: "Does President Zhang know the whereabouts of this person? If my memory serves me, he is your roommate, is he not?"

"Oh... Yu Xinghan." Zhang Yu’s voice emanated from within the Tianri Huangshen: "He had some matters to attend to and left the site early today to return to University City."

Master Xuyang’s expression turned grave, a voice echoing incessantly in his mind: "This Yu Xinghan is absolutely suspicious!"

Beside him, Yun Yuqing’s face shifted as well, thinking to herself: "I fear this Yu Xinghan has been infected by the Dual-Cultivation Virus, and that is why Zhang Yu sent him away early."

At that same moment, another subordinate arrived, bearing the surveillance footage of Yu Xinghan’s departure.

Seeing this, the two exchanged a look, and Master Xuyang said coldly: "Let us go."

Once Master Xuyang and his patrol squad had departed the site, waves of energy erupted from his body, and he surged toward the direction of Wanfa University.

"Lock onto Yu Xinghan’s position through the Spirit Realm network."

"He must not be allowed to escape."

Soon, the signal of Yu Xinghan’s Spirit Realm presence manifested in Master Xuyang’s eyes.

"He is still thirty kilometers from University City."

Master Xuyang furrowed his brow, thinking: "If he manages to enter the university, and Zhang Yu hides him in some laboratory or research institute, I fear we shall be unable to investigate him for quite some time."

With this thought, Master Xuyang accelerated once more, his Golden Core-level mana exploding forth as he gave chase toward Yu Xinghan’s coordinates.

Simultaneously, his consciousness reached into the Spirit Realm, piercing through layers of physical space to cast a projection upon the target location.

"Yu Xinghan... he is right there!"

As his projection opened its eyes, Master Xuyang beheld a sea of fire illuminating the horizon, as if the very clouds were being set ablaze.

A towering giant of flame, cradling Yu Xinghan and Zhang Yu in its palm, was hurtling toward the grounds of Wanfa University.

Master Xuyang paused, stunned, as Yun Yuqing’s voice reached his ears: "Captain! It is True Monarch Ciji’s Tianri Huangshen, escorting Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan."

Witnessing the earth-shaking aura of the Level 40 Tianri Huangshen, Master Xuyang’s projection seemed to tremble under the weight of its terrifying pressure.

Yun Yuqing asked: "Captain, what shall we do?"

Master Xuyang gritted his teeth, his gaze seemingly locking with Zhang Yu’s in the palm of the flame giant.

Master Xuyang: "Prepare to intercept them."

Yun Yuqing cried out in alarm: "That is True Monarch Ciji’s personal vessel! She is on the verge of ascending to the Spirit Severing stage!"

Master Xuyang drew a deep breath, then repeated: "Intercept them."

In the next instant, a vast array of warning banners manifested in the air, blocking the path of the Level 40 Tianri Huangshen.