Chapter 598: Daoist Canon

Chapter 598: The Dao Treasury

"Yu-zi..."

Watching Zhang Yu being "rescued" and shielded by his seniors, his figure receding further and further away, a flicker of desolation seemed to pass through Bai Zhenzhen's eyes.

Yet, in the next instant, a smile bloomed on her face once more, and she sent a message to Zhang Yu: I told you, you can't get too close right now.

Zhang Yu looked at Bai Zhenzhen, who had been pushed back by the chaotic currents of energy, and felt that the young girl’s silhouette appeared profoundly lonely in that moment.

He replied: I am not afraid.

Bai Zhenzhen: You aren't, but I am. What if I end up cutting you, wounding you, or killing you?

Bai Zhenzhen: Wouldn't that be a senseless waste of money? Letting someone else profit from all those spirit coins.

Bai Zhenzhen: Do you have no sense of economics at all? Why are you acting as impulsive as a vocational student?

Zhang Yu: Just you wait, Ah Zhen. One day I will be wealthy enough that I can hold you all day without a single worry.

Bai Zhenzhen: Who wants you to hold them all day? Don't you have work to do?

Just as the two finished their lightning-fast exchange via the Spirit Realm network, a voice from reality pulled Zhang Yu’s attention back.

"Junior brother, are you alright?"

"Did that woman hurt you? Do you want her to pay for your medical expenses?"

As Ye Xingli spoke, she had already skillfully activated her camera, preparing to collect evidence from Zhang Yu’s person.

Zhang Yu explained helplessly: "It’s fine, Senior Sister. Bai Zhenzhen and I are good friends; she didn't intend to hurt me just now."

Seeing the students from Heavenly Sword and Myriad Laws still locked in a standoff, he quickly fired a message into the school team group: Many thanks to everyone for your help.

Zhang Yu: However, Bai Zhenzhen was not fighting me...

Zhang Yu: She is my dearest friend, but she practices the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao and sometimes struggles to control her emotions and sword energy...

Zhang Yu used the fastest speed and most concise language to explain the general situation between himself and Bai Zhenzhen.

As the misunderstanding dissolved, the opposing factions of Myriad Laws and Heavenly Sword relaxed, exchanged brief greetings, and retreated to their respective encampments.

On the way back, Yan Qianji looked at Zhang Yu with a flash of shock, thinking to himself: "I only heard that this kid Zhang Yu was entangled with Wen Wuyah of Heavenly Sword."

"And that he was chosen by the Dharma Remains of the Transformation God..."

"Under such circumstances, he actually dares to get involved with Bai Zhenzhen, who practices the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao."

"He truly isn't afraid of bringing ruin upon his entire house."

Nearby, Jiutian Liujin, though he had not made a move from start to finish, had been observing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen the entire time.

In his eyes, the risk index surrounding Bai Zhenzhen was skyrocketing; she was a black hole of spirit coins that offered no benefits, and no amount of wealth would be enough to burn through on her.

Zhang Yu, who had actively approached her, saw his potential rating in Jiutian’s eyes plummet.

"Getting close to this Bai Zhenzhen—the annual insurance premiums, medical bills, maintenance for artifacts and Dharma remains, plus various compensations... I fear he will spend hundreds of extra spirit coins a year."

"He must have too much money to know what to do with it."

Jiutian Liujin shook his head and sent a message directly to the group: Zhang Yu, during the Ten Great Leagues, you are forbidden from approaching Bai Zhenzhen again.

Jiutian Liujin: The League is not a matter for you alone.

Jiutian Liujin: Any injury you sustain, any extra consumption of spirit coins, will affect the strength of our entire team.

Jiutian Liujin: Do you understand?

Though he disliked Jiutian Liujin’s attitude, Zhang Yu knew there was logic in his words and replied directly: I will maintain a certain distance from Bai Zhenzhen.

Zhang Yu: Everyone, rest assured. Today I only wanted to experience the influence of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao firsthand.

Zhang Yu: In the upcoming matches, there will be no unnecessary losses.

Seeing Zhang Yu’s reply, Dao Qiankun sensed the hidden meaning behind it and thought: "This kid Zhang Yu doesn't intend to cut ties with Bai Zhenzhen, does he?"

"Does he mean that after the League ends, he will continue to see her?"

Clearly, many in the alumni group understood Zhang Yu’s implication.

Jiutian Liujin didn't care; he had no interest in what Zhang Yu did once the League concluded.

Ye Xingli’s brows, however, furrowed unconsciously, unsure of how to advise her junior brother.

In Dao Qiankun’s eyes, a trace of contemplation emerged: "In the current Kunxu, do such people still exist?"

But soon, this interlude was temporarily forgotten as the group messages continued to refresh.

Anzhen True Monarch: The Ten Great Leagues officially begin tomorrow.

Anzhen True Monarch: The first event is a team competition, involving 100 students from the ten schools.

Anzhen True Monarch: The specific content has not been announced, but it will inevitably require coordination between the contestants.

Zhang Yu knew that the competition items for this year’s Ten Great Leagues were like college entrance exam questions; to prevent schools from making targeted preparations, specific details were withheld, with only rough requirements released.

Then, Anzhen True Monarch began to discuss the arrangements for each team member in the group.

When he reached Zhang Yu, he reminded him again: "You are responsible for the team’s flying sword communication support; the most important thing is to maintain communication for the entire team..."

Privately, Anzhen True Monarch sent a message to Zhang Yu: If you face a situation where multiple contestants need support, remember... prioritize supporting Dao Qiankun, Jiutian Liujin, and Yan Qianji.

Zhang Yu asked: What if all three of them need support?

Anzhen True Monarch replied without hesitation: Dao Qiankun.

Anzhen True Monarch sent to Zhang Yu: Zhang Yu, remember this: supporting Dao Qiankun to seize first place is your highest priority task in this Ten Great Leagues.

Zhang Yu understood that Anzhen True Monarch had likely told the other members the same thing.

After all, Dao Qiankun was the champion candidate pushed by Myriad Laws University, the student into whom the most resources had been poured.

After reminding each member of their duties, Anzhen True Monarch continued: Everyone saw the situation with Heavenly Demon, Netherworld, White Bone, and Joyous Union today, right?

Anzhen True Monarch: Those four schools have launched a deeper cooperation.

Anzhen True Monarch: To deal with this change, the school leadership has contacted the leaders of other schools and decided to deepen our cooperative relationships, launching multi-dimensional mutual aid.

As he spoke, Anzhen True Monarch sent out a group invitation.

Anzhen True Monarch: This is the joint group for the four schools: Myriad Laws, Heavenly Sword, Vajra, and Immortal Armament. All members from these four schools will join to share information.

At the same time, in the Heavenly Sword University group, Instructor Jin Que Mingxiao said: We have reached an agreement with the leaders of the other three schools to cooperate in the coming Ten Great Leagues, acting together to oppose the alliance of Heavenly Demon, Netherworld, White Bone, and Joyous Union.

Jin Que Mingxiao: We must not let those monsters and demons seize the Immortal Gate-level cultivation techniques.

...

In the flying ship’s laboratory.

Zhang Yu watched the messages appearing in the four-school group and thought to himself: "Four schools against four schools, what about the remaining two?"

"Has Heavenly Demon University truly become the key?"

Zhang Yu shook his head; he could only accept such grand strategies. All he could do was continue to focus his attention on the Azure Water Gold Crystal Armor, racing against time to raise the grade of this military-grade armor.

The night passed in Zhang Yu’s focused refinement.

As the next day dawned, the solar artifact known as the Sun-Patrolling Cunwu blazed with light, illuminating the second layer of Kunxu once more.

One hundred contestants from ten universities gathered above the mountain peak, awaiting the formal commencement of the Ten-University League.

Divine rays descended from the heavens in cascading layers, and as projections from the Spirit Realm materialized, a barrage of advertisements seized the moment to broadcast first.

"This year's Ten-University League is jointly sponsored by Wandao Group, Tiansha Group, Youquan Group, Xianjian Group..."

Watching the names of these corporate titans emerge, Zhang Yu understood that the opening ceremony had begun; he knew not how many people across the second level of Kunxu were currently watching the live stream.

Perhaps even those in the third through sixth levels, or even higher, had sent their consciousness drifting through the Spirit Realm to watch the broadcast across the boundaries.

...

Within the university city of Wanfa University.

Director Gao was working while watching the live feed projected within his ocular implants.

Director Gao: Ciji, are you watching the stream?

True Monarch Ciji: Who knows how long these opening ads will last? Who has the time for that?

...

On the 666th level of the university city.

Divine Monarch Wanhua smiled faintly and said, "Gentlemen, the situation this year is complex; we must work in unison to weather the coming storm."

Two flickers of divine light vibrated before them, responding in unison: "It shall be so."

...

On the 3rd level of Kunxu.

Inside a graduate dormitory at Youming University, Wang Yin drifted through the Spirit Realm, crossing layers to watch the broadcast from the second level.

"It has begun."

A ripple of excitement stirred in Wang Yin’s heart: "The future transformation of Kunxu will unfold through the strongest Foundation Establishment students in the coming days."

"Not merely the strongest of this year, but perhaps... the strongest Foundation Establishment students in the history of the Immortal Path."

...

On the 1st level of Kunxu.

The consciousness of True Person Xinghuo traversed the layers, drifting through the Spirit Realm to gaze upon the broadcast from the second level.

Li Xuelian spoke to him through the Spirit Realm: "They are still playing advertisements."

"Save your bandwidth and come up later."

True Person Xinghuo asked: "Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen are both competing?"

Li Xuelian chuckled softly: "Indeed, unexpected, isn't it?"

"In a few more years, they will likely reach the Golden Core stage."

True Person Xinghuo sighed: "So soon... I fear that may not be a good thing."

...

Within the Dark Spirit Realm.

The thousand-handed, thousand-footed God Xi looked at the dozen evil gods before him and said indifferently: "Everyone, proceed according to the plan."

"Prepare to wreak havoc on the second level."

...

At the Ten-University League venue.

As the layers of Spirit Realm projections shifted, amidst the radiance of true immortal light and the convergence of myriad advertisements, the shadow of a book gradually manifested before the crowd.

Simultaneously, ten divine rays of varying forms descended—some overbearing, some blood-drenched, some sanctified, others filled with murderous intent—each representing the will of the ten Divine Transformation-level principals, encircling the book.

They spanned heaven and earth, occupying the entire horizon and filling everyone’s field of vision; their vast presence seemed to bring the very flow of the Spirit Realm to a standstill.

The voice of Divine Monarch Tianyan of Wanfa University echoed from the divine light: "By the decree of the Heavenly Court and the will of the Immortals, to encourage all students under heaven to strive upon the Immortal Path..."

As Divine Monarch Tianyan spoke, the book shadow, encircled by the ten rays, erupted in brilliance, and a pitch-black tome manifested before them, appearing to transform from a mere phantom into a solid entity.

Divine Monarch Tianyan declared: "The student who secures first place in this Ten-University League may select and master any one Immortal Sect technique from this Catalog of Hidden Treasures."