Chapter 706: Zhang Yu's Plan (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 706: Zhang Yu’s Plan (Requesting Moon Tickets)

At this moment, Zhang Yu continued his design work while simultaneously diverting a sliver of his consciousness to monitor the situation. Upon hearing Wen Wuya’s words, a faint trace of doubt stirred within Zhang Yu’s heart.

Zhang Yu: If they wanted to seize it by force, why not just break through directly? Why bother with some transfer agreement?

Wen Wuya: After Bai Zhenzhen refused to hand over the key to the Sword Vault, they indeed intended to force their way in.

Wen Wuya: But once they breached the vault, they discovered that all the swords had already awakened.

Wen Wuya: Without authorization granted by the Seven Emotions Sovereign, any attempt to forcibly claim these swords would trigger their self-destruction.

Wen Wuya: Especially one of them—a Nascent Soul-grade flying sword—if it chose to detonate itself, even a Sovereign of Nascent Soul cultivation couldn’t stop it. Every blade inside the vault would be obliterated.

Wen Wuya: That’s why they’re demanding Bai Zhenzhen sign the transfer agreement and relinquish control of the vault.

Zhang Yu asked again: Tell me more about Tianjian University’s current situation.

Through Wen Wuya’s account, Zhang Yu gradually came to understand that since the war began, Tianjian University had suffered immense losses. Its five Nascent Soul Sovereigns had also drained vast resources to advance their cultivation.

Moreover, having gained no advantage in the race for spatial technology, the university was still compelled to pour funds into research associations and imports of spatial products. This relentless outflow had plunged Tianjian into continuous deficits, worsening its financial state by the day.

Now, to alleviate this crisis, Sovereign Yufeng proposed liquidating the sword collection left behind by the Seven Emotions Sovereign to cover the university’s mounting debts.

Although the other four Sovereigns maintained a neutral stance and hadn’t directly intervened, they stood to gain significantly if the vault were ever opened.

...

Inside Tianjian University.

Bai Zhenzhen sat cross-legged in a quiet chamber when a projection materialized before her.

She looked at the figure, recognizing him as Zhan Yun True Lord—a disciple of Sovereign Yufeng and currently one of the most powerful figures within Tianjian University.

Zhan Yun spoke coldly: “Bai Zhenzhen, will you really persist in your resistance?”

He glared at her, thinking inwardly: *Bai Zhenzhen, do you still think you’re the Nascent Soul disciple under the watchful eye of the Seven Emotions Sovereign, free to act as you once did? Times have changed. Now I am the Nascent Soul disciple, and you—mere Golden Core—are nothing.*

Bai Zhenzhen clenched her teeth and replied: “The Sword Vault was entrusted to me by my master. If she returns and finds it gone, how am I supposed to explain myself?”

*Trying to intimidate me with an old Sovereign?* Zhan Yun scoffed inwardly.

But in the eyes of Zhan Yun—and indeed, most cultivators among the Ten Great Academies—the old Sovereigns, having vanished into the Sixth Layer of Kunxu, might never return alive.

Even if they did come back, the assets of every academy had long since been divided and absorbed by the Ten Great Academies and the Righteous Alliance. What power could those aged Sovereigns possibly wield upon their return? They were no longer worth fearing.

As time passed and the new generation of Sovereigns grew stronger, consolidating control over resources, reverence for the old Sovereigns dwindled steadily.

Seeing Zhan Yun’s indifference, Bai Zhenzhen pressed on: “The swords in the vault range from Qi Refining to Nascent Soul grade—their value is incalculable. Are you really going to take them all just because a few of you say so? Isn’t that excessive?”

Though Sovereign Yufeng had initially promised Bai Zhenzhen she could choose three swords, that number shrank to two, then one, and finally only allowed her to select blades below Foundation Establishment level—an insult that made her seethe inwardly.

Zhan Yun’s gaze sharpened, his eyes flickering with phantom sword-light: “The world has undergone great upheaval. The university stands at the brink of survival or ruin. Everyone must contribute. And you dare haggle over trifles?”

“If the Seven Emotions Sovereign were still here, I’m certain she herself would have opened the vault and donated the swords to ease the university’s plight.”

He added coolly: “Bai Zhenzhen, the decision to dispose of the Sword Vault reflects the collective will. Don’t delude yourself into thinking you alone can hoard assets meant for the entire university community.”

Bai Zhenzhen suppressed her fury and said: “I’m willing to cooperate. Let the swords serve the university under assignment or contract—but please, don’t sell them…”

Zhan Yun waved dismissively, cutting her off once more: “They belong to the university. There’s no such thing as ‘assignment’ or ‘contract.’”

“The university has already signed a deal with Youming University. These swords will be sold to them. You’d best comply quickly. If you delay this transaction, no one will protect you—not even enough money to repay the damages.”

Bai Zhenzhen’s heart sank: “Sold to Youming University? They’ll strip each sword down to its core… and any lingering spirits within will be…”

Zhan Yun snorted coldly, silencing her mid-sentence: “That’s none of your concern.”

“Bai Zhenzhen, we’ve given you your chance.”

“If you continue resisting, clinging to the illusion that you alone can monopolize the Sovereign’s legacy, consequences will go far beyond mere house arrest. Your accounts will be frozen, your assets audited—you may end up bankrupt, burdened with debts you’ll never repay in a lifetime.”

“Think carefully.”

Watching Bai Zhenzhen—once a proud Nascent Soul disciple—now biting her lip in silence, unable to retort, Zhan Yun felt a quiet satisfaction.

*Over the coming days, I’ll tighten the pressure further. Perhaps the Seven Emotions Sovereign left something else with her—something she’ll finally cough up.*

In the next instant, Zhan Yun’s spirit-projection dissolved before Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes.

Not long after, back in his office, Zhan Yun’s eyes flickered as he received a message from Wen Wuya. Reading its contents, he thought: *True Lord Chuyi wishes to visit Bai Zhenzhen?*

*Chuyi True Lord—that’s Zhang Yu, isn’t it? The privileged heir of Wanfa University, shoved into the Research Association by Ci Ji himself, gorging on funding like a bottomless pit…*

A pang of envy and resentment stirred in Zhan Yun. He couldn’t help but lament that his own master wasn’t as skilled as Ci Ji at nurturing disciples.

Still, overseeing Bai Zhenzhen’s case, Zhan Yun knew well that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen shared a close bond.

Yet he coldly rejected Wen Wuya’s request nonetheless.

Zhan Yun: Bai Zhenzhen is currently assisting with an investigation. She cannot receive visitors.

He understood clearly: severing Bai Zhenzhen’s ties to the outside world was precisely meant to isolate her—the practitioner of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao—until pressure broke her resolve.

And in his view, that breaking point was near. How could he possibly allow Zhang Yu to contact her at this critical juncture?

He also sent a warning to Wen Wuya:

Zhan Yun: Wen Wuya, remember whose side you’re on—Tianjian or Wanfa? The university didn’t raise you to leak secrets to outsiders.

Wen Wuya hastily replied: True Lord, Zhang Yu reached out to me first! I had no choice!

Seeing this former Nascent Soul disciple now so timid and deferential, Zhan Yun couldn’t suppress a faint, satisfied smile.

For the past year and more, eradicating the influence of the old Sovereigns and suppressing their disciples and followers had been his unwavering mission.

After reprimanding Wen Wuya, Zhan Yun returned to his duties.

But soon, a flash appeared in his ocular implant—a friend request from True Lord Chuyi of Wanfa University.

*Hmph? Coming straight to the door, are you?*

Zhan Yun nearly ignored it—but after a moment’s thought about Sovereign Ci Ji of Wanfa, he reluctantly accepted Zhang Yu’s request.

Zhang Yu: Greetings, True Lord Zhan Yun. I’ve long admired your reputation.

Zhan Yun: True Lord Chuyi, no need for pleasantries. State your business plainly—I’m busy with university affairs.

Zhang Yu: I’d like to see Bai Zhenzhen.

Zhan Yun replied with icy impartiality: Bai Zhenzhen is implicated in a case concerning university asset misappropriation. No one may see her until she fully cooperates.

Zhang Yu: True Lord Zhan Yun, could you do me a favor? [100 Spirit Coins]

Zhan Yun: True Lord Chuyi, this is internal business of Tianjian University. Is Wanfa University attempting to interfere?

Zhan Yun: If not, then please show proper decorum and refrain from meddling in another institution’s affairs.

Zhan Yun: Otherwise, I shall have to ask Sovereign Ci Ji exactly how he instructs his disciples.

After rejecting Zhang Yu, Zhan Yun sneered inwardly: *Hmph. A pampered heir of Wanfa dares extend his hand into Tianjian?*

In Zhan Yun’s eyes, Zhang Yu—backed by Sovereign Ci Ji—might run rampant within Wanfa University and even the Research Association.

But to meddle in Tianjian’s affairs? That was gross overestimation of his own influence.

Zhan Yun shook his head: “Tianjian’s internal matters are not yours to meddle with.”

“Not even your master Ci Ji would be permitted.”

Especially now, in the realm of spatial products, Wanfa University no longer held undisputed dominance. In Zhan Yun True Lord’s eyes, Tianjian University had even less reason to fear or defer to Wanfa.

Of course, if Zhang Yu were willing to keep pouring money and continue pleading with him, Zhan Yun True Lord wouldn’t mind granting him a measure of face.

Yet over the next few days, Zhang Yu never contacted Zhan Yun True Lord again—an omission that made the latter frown slightly, a flicker of displeasure passing through his heart.

…

On the other side, after ending his conversation with Zhan Yun True Lord, Zhang Yu made no further attempts to reach out to anyone else at Tianjian University.

He knew full well that, given his current strength, wealth, and influence, it would be exceedingly difficult for him to sway matters within Tianjian University.

“To pit myself against the True Lords and Divine Lords inside Tianjian University, all just to help Bai Zhenzhen… that’s far too difficult, and not at all my forte,” Zhang Yu thought inwardly. “But I do have my own strengths—namely, using Immortal Dao technologies to influence the Ten Great Academies.”

The product he was currently developing, built upon advanced spatial techniques, would touch countless industries across all ten academies. And in certain key decisions embedded within its design lay the power to shift tens of thousands of spirit coins into or out of a single academy’s coffers.

Coincidentally, one such decision in his current design struck him as deeply relevant to Tianjian University.

(End of chapter)