Chapter 701: Win! (Requesting monthly tickets, short of a little over 100 words to reach 8,000 for two chapters)

Chapter 701: Victory! (Requesting Moon Tickets—Two chapters fall just over 100 characters short of 8,000)

As more cultivators and soul cultivators from Myriad Methods University arrived at the scene, surrounding city blocks were swiftly sealed off. Everyone present—bystanders, True Lord Heaven-Slayer, and others—was issued a strict gag order, forbidden from revealing anything they had witnessed or heard that day.

Afterward, Zhang Yu personally expressed his gratitude to True Lord Heaven-Slayer, True Lord Skillful Hands, and the other Nascent Soul elders who had rushed to his aid.

True Lord Heaven-Slayer waved a dismissive hand. “Protecting the campus is the sacred duty of our Security Department. Everything we did was merely fulfilling our responsibilities. From now on, True Lord Zhu Yi, should you ever need anything, just summon me—I’ll come running.”

Beside him, True Lord Skillful Hands added, “True Lord Zhu Yi, you’ve only recently broken through to Nascent Soul, yet you managed to fight three formidable experts alone. Truly impressive! How about coming to my hospital for a complimentary check-up?”

The other Nascent Soul elders present also regarded Zhang Yu with unmistakable warmth in their eyes.

Although news of the incident had been suppressed by official decree, they had all witnessed Zhang Yu’s battle firsthand. They clearly understood his mastery over Pocket Kunlun and spatial techniques—and the appearance of the Boundary-Piercing Spike had further revealed how highly Magnetic Pole Sovereign valued Zhang Yu.

One hour later, Myriad Methods University released an official statement: the Righteous Alliance had dispatched assassins to kill a student, but the attempt had failed. The three Nascent Soul-level assailants had been slain on the spot.

Earlier still, the Dark Spirit Realm had already announced that Zhang Yu of Myriad Methods University had been gravely wounded in an assassination attempt and was hovering near death, while the three Nascent Soul experts had escaped unscathed.

Reading the Dark Spirit Realm’s report, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “They really know how to spin things, don’t they? So I lost, huh?”

He skimmed further through the Dark Spirit Realm’s newsfeeds and found no shortage of related articles and discussions.

He thought to himself, “As Magnetic Pole Sovereign’s disciple, I’ve apparently gained some minor fame among the many Nascent Souls on both sides.”

At that moment, the image of a Daoist appeared in Zhang Yu’s mind—Liang Yan True Lord, a traitor from the Finance Department of Demonheart University, who constantly commented on current affairs within the Dark Spirit Realm.

In Zhang Yu’s view, Liang Yan existed solely to promote the Righteous Alliance and slander the Ten Great Academies.

Right then, Liang Yan was discussing Zhang Yu’s incident.

He posted a photo of Zhang Yu drenched in blood and wrote: “Zhang Yu has been utterly devastated by this assassination attempt—his life hangs by a thread.”

“Myriad Methods University can’t even protect its own dean’s disciple anymore. This shows just how dire the situation of the Ten Great Academies has become, and how strained their frontlines truly are.”

“If we look at the number of cultivators who’ve defected to the Righteous Alliance over the past week, it’s clear the gap between the two sides continues to widen.”

“You claim Myriad Methods’ spatial technology has advanced? I’ve said it many times: don’t just listen to what they say—watch what they do. Eighty percent of the cutting-edge tech inside Myriad Methods’ Grand Void Cloud Repository was plagiarized from the Righteous Alliance, stolen by cracking spatial barriers. They have zero capacity for independent technological development.”

“How can the Ten Great Academies possibly win when they’re always trailing behind the Righteous Alliance like this?”

Zhang Yu casually scrolled through the comment section and saw that many in the Dark Spirit Realm supported Liang Yan.

Fu Ji remarked: “Whether it’s the Ten Great Academies or the Righteous Alliance, proclaiming their legitimacy and victories is standard procedure—especially for the Righteous Alliance. Without such propaganda, how could they gather fortune-energy? How could they attract more lower-tier cultivators?”

Zhang Yu continued browsing other news in the Dark Spirit Realm.

Like the Spirit Realm, the Dark Spirit Realm rarely disclosed information about its own Divine Transformation cultivators—such topics were often outright banned from discussion.

But news about the Righteous Alliance’s Nascent Soul experts abounded—some promoted by the Alliance itself, others self-publicized by the cultivators.

Particularly notable were certain exceptionally powerful Nascent Souls dubbed “Divine Transformation Seeds”—those considered most likely to ascend to the Divine Transformation realm.

Taihao True Lord, whom Zhang Yu had just fought, was one such seed.

This ambush had made Zhang Yu pay closer attention to the Righteous Alliance’s Nascent Soul cultivators.

Among them, the most talked-about was the Righteous Alliance leader’s personal disciple—a cultivator known as Zhan Xian True Lord.

“Zhan Xian?” Zhang Yu mused. “That Dao title would be illegal in Kunxu—it shouldn’t even be allowed. What was his original Dao name?”

After checking, Zhang Yu found no one knew Zhan Xian True Lord’s former identity within the Ten Great factions. All anyone knew was that since joining the Righteous Alliance alongside Fu Xian Tian, he had never lost a single battle—and in every engagement, he killed without exception.

His “killing” didn’t just mean defeating opponents; it included slaughtering every bystander and spectator present.

Anyone appearing near a battlefield without clear Righteous Alliance insignia became his target.

It was rumored he’d already slain over a million people. Some enthusiasts had even calculated the compensation he’d owe in peacetime—arriving at an astronomical sum large enough to purchase an entire academy.

Moreover, Zhan Xian True Lord had repeatedly executed daring withdrawals right under the noses of several Divine Transformation Sovereigns from the Ten Great Academies—and to this day, his resurrection count remained zero.

Next, Zhang Yu came across news of another Nascent Soul of demonic descent.

“Tun Tian True Lord, who claims to be a descendant of the Great Sage,” Zhang Yu thought. “Another forbidden Dao title—and this ‘Great Sage descendant’ business…”

Curious, he looked up more about Tun Tian True Lord and discovered this Nascent Soul’s identity was equally mysterious. Each time he appeared, he took on a different demonic form, and his practiced techniques varied wildly—so much so that some speculated he wasn’t one individual, but a group of demonic cultivators.

However, Bao Shen later clarified: Tun Tian True Lord was indeed a single entity, yet possessed the greatest variety of mastered techniques among all living Nascent Souls. It was said he had mastered every departmental art from the Ten Great Academies—none unknown to him, none unrefined. Jokingly, people claimed the copyright infringement fines calculated from his skillset alone could buy half of Kunxu.

Tun Tian True Lord’s existence had inspired countless demonic cultivators. In the Dark Spirit Realm, he was hailed as the greatest genius among demonic Nascent Souls—the foremost prodigy of his generation. Some demons declared his very presence proved that, absent systemic human oppression, demonic talent was not only equal to but surpassed that of human cultivators.

Then Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted again—to another Nascent Soul True Lord who piqued his curiosity.

“Dazhuan True Lord? Someone actually uses that Dao title?” Zhang Yu was astonished. He read further and grew even more surprised: “A Nascent Soul who graduated from a junior college?”

Based on Zhang Yu’s prior understanding, even without certification restrictions, a junior college student breaking through to Foundation Establishment within a short time was already pushing limits—reaching Golden Core was nearly impossible.

“And even for someone who graduated years ago… open certification has only existed for less than two years. Reaching Nascent Soul seems implausible unless they’d been secretly preparing long in advance.”

Zhang Yu kept reading the profile and learned this Dazhuan True Lord claimed to be a devotee of Bao Shen, whose guidance had unlocked his latent potential.

In a video clip, a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and utterly ordinary features spoke calmly: “I’m someone ruined by Kunxu’s existing education system.”

“Since childhood, everyone told me I was poor, untalented—that I should just work quietly and earn money.”

“I believed them… until I met Bao Shen.”

“He awakened my potential. I realized I do have talent—greater talent than those aloof academic elites from the Ten Great Academies, stronger than those prodigies competing in the Ten Great Leagues.”

“I… just didn’t have money.”

“But lacking money doesn’t mean lacking talent!”

“If not for the education system holding me back, I would’ve won the Ten Great League championship.”

“In the days ahead, if given the chance, I will defeat every outstanding past competitor from the Ten Great Leagues—one by one—and show them their place on that stage exists only because they had money. Meanwhile, in junior colleges, in lower-tier schools… there are countless geniuses held back solely by poverty, capable of surpassing them all.”

Reading these reports, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but think: “Dazhuan True Lord, huh? This person must be incredibly effective propaganda for the Righteous Alliance’s lower-tier cultivators.”

After scanning through various updates, a message from Xiang Shen arrived.

Xiang Shen: Fu Shen! Your faulty intelligence cost me dearly! Why didn’t you warn me earlier that Zhang Yu was in that room?

Instantly, a conference invitation appeared before Zhang Yu and Fu Ji.

Upon their acceptance, their consciousness flickered—and they found themselves inside a Spirit Realm meeting chamber.

Seeing Bao Shen and Xiang Shen seated within, Fu Ji remarked coolly, “Xiang Shen, are you really blaming me for your own failure?”

Xiang Shen snorted. “If your intelligence hadn’t omitted crucial details about Zhang Yu, how could this mission have failed?”

Fu Ji replied, “Zhang Yu never left the room, nor did he sign the self-study building registry. Naturally, my people had no idea he was staying there.”

“Xiang Shen, your subordinates were simply incompetent—three against one, and they still failed, couldn’t even escape. Who else is to blame?”

Xiang Shen retorted, “Who could’ve predicted Zhang Yu had cultivated Pocket Kunlun to such an extent?”

Fu Ji then projected a photograph—taken by Yu Xinghan—showing the exterior of the building shortly after Zhang Yu’s battle with the three Nascent Souls began.

“While you were sealing off the area, my agents were monitoring the entire time.”

“What I’m saying is—if you’d shared your plans with me sooner, with my support, your mission wouldn’t have failed.”

“Unfortunately, by the time I learned everything, it was already too late.”

Fu Shen shrugged. “I don’t have any subordinates capable of breaking spatial seals either. I could only watch helplessly as you marched toward failure.”

“So let me be clear: had I known Xiang Shen’s plan earlier—or if my cultivators had access to spatial-seal-breaking techniques—this mission would not have failed.”

The assembled dark deities murmured amongst themselves. Xiang Shen and Fu Shen exchanged a few more heated words before Bao Shen intervened.

Bao Shen turned to Fu Ji and said, “Fu Shen, if you want your subordinates to master spatial-sealing techniques, they must undergo comprehensive inspections by us—and fully commit to the Righteous Alliance.”

The God of Fortune said, “My disciples hold respectable positions within the Ten Great Academies and possess considerable assets. I cannot recklessly expose personal secrets, nor can I fully join the Righteous Alliance—otherwise, my intelligence operations across the ten academies would collapse.”

The God of Reports nodded. “Both of you have already done your utmost in this mission. The primary reason for failure was Zhang Yu’s cultivation level, which far exceeded our expectations. There was nothing to be done.”

“I’ve already reported this matter to the Alliance Master. He will personally take over Zhang Yu’s case and deal with it once he emerges from seclusion…”

…

Outside the Dark Spirit Realm, Zhang Yu thought to himself, “The Alliance Master… has the leader of the Righteous Alliance set his sights on me?”

The idea that such a formidable expert was now watching him made Zhang Yu deeply uneasy, as though thorns pricked his back.

And then there was the Heretical God Register—the Righteous Alliance was still compiling and refining it, and they would inevitably investigate his true identity. This thought unsettled him even more, as if waves of pressure pressed upon him, filling him with profound insecurity.

“I must hurry and strengthen myself further.”

“I need to elevate my Immortal Sect techniques and create more products.”

“And Ah Zhen…”

The recent attempt by the Heretical God to target Bai Zhenzhen had sharply heightened Zhang Yu’s wariness.

Not long after, he contacted Lord Ciji and said, “Master, I’d like to arrange for Bai Zhenzhen to join the Research Society—specifically, assign her to my laboratory.”

Lord Ciji blinked in mild surprise, frowning. “Bai Zhenzhen? That sword-wielding girl? What use could she possibly be in the Research Society? What could she possibly research?”

Zhang Yu replied, “I want to cultivate together with her inside the society. It’s inconvenient for her to enter without an official position.”

Lord Ciji sighed. “You need to bring her into the Research Society just to cultivate together? How many of your subordinates have you already given posts and projects to? I hear even your fellow townsman from the first floor is now a manager in your construction company.”

“If you keep this up, are you going to assign all your soul cultivators into the Spirit Realm system and make them proper deities?”

Zhang Yu sighed helplessly. “Master… having Bai Zhenzhen around truly benefits my cultivation.”

He wasn’t lying. Every time they exchanged spiritual roots, Bai Zhenzhen’s True Spiritual Root stimulated aspects of his cultivation that he normally couldn’t reach on his own.

Though the effect was somewhat diminished due to their difference in cultivation levels, it still offered him tangible benefits. Combined with his own practice, it significantly accelerated his progress in both physical fortitude and magical power.

Lord Ciji shook his head, but recalling the image of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen standing side by side on the finals stage of the Ten Great Leagues—one wielding a sword, the other matching him blow for blow against Kuang Tianqing—he let out a sigh and raised one finger toward Zhang Yu. “This once—and only this once.”

…

When Zhang Yu proposed that she temporarily join the Research Society to cultivate alongside him, Bai Zhenzhen immediately agreed.

For one, after prolonged battles, she was now in a phase where quiet cultivation, stabilizing her foundation, and accumulating potential were most crucial.

For another, exchanging spiritual roots with Zhang Yu had genuinely caused her cultivation efficiency to surge.

Thus, in the days that followed, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen diligently cultivated together within the Research Society.

Watching Bai Zhenzhen casually pull out various cultivation resources from time to time, Zhang Yu felt as if he were looking at a little heiress. He couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “You have such abundant immortal cultivation provisions?”

Bai Zhenzhen explained, “Before Master Qi Qing left, she stored in the Sword Vault everything I’d need for Golden Core cultivation—and even prepared an early-stage Nascent Soul for me.”

She sighed wistfully. “She probably hoped I’d advance as quickly as possible, ideally breaking through to Nascent Soul while she’s away. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to protect the Sword Vault.”

Just then, Yan Qianji walked over and handed Zhang Yu a reimbursement form. “True Lord, does this look alright to you?”

His eyes briefly flickered toward Bai Zhenzhen, and he firmly suppressed a flicker of envy deep within his heart.

Zhang Yu glanced at the form—expenses for materials and labor related to the Heavenly Sun Radiant God and Taihao Sacred Law Flying Swords—and gave a slight nod. “It’s fine. Go ahead and submit it.”

After all, he’d been fighting three Nascent Soul experts during work hours; naturally, the damaged Heavenly Sun Radiant God and Taihao Sacred Law Flying Swords needed reimbursement.

He thought to himself, “Might as well ask a few Nascent Soul True Lords to refine these two treasures up to Level 40. Otherwise, they’re practically useless in battle.”

In the days that followed, Zhang Yu spent his time either cultivating daily with Bai Zhenzhen in the Research Society, contemplating spatial techniques, or sketching new product designs. Time slipped swiftly by…

(End of Chapter)