Chapter 711: Dao Seed Upgraded, Specially Approved Foundation Establishment, Decisive Battle Begins (7,100 words)

Chapter 711: Dao Seed Upgrade, Special Approval for Foundation Establishment, The Final Battle Begins (7130+)

Upon the blood-soaked earth lay tens of thousands of corpses.

Severed arms and mangled limbs were strewn about like refuse.

An arriving Nascent Soul True Lord gazed upon this scene and roared in fury, “These demonic cultists and heretical god-worshippers—how dare they slaughter so many Qi Refining disciples without a second thought?”

“What a sin! What a waste!”

As he spoke these words, sudden streaks of sword light erupted from within his own body.

Staring in shock at the blinding radiance bursting forth from his eyes, he cried out, “Who’s there?”

He could not comprehend how such terrifying sword qi had seeped into his meridians, his dantian, even his sea of consciousness—and now tore through him from within.

In the next instant, the sword light shredded his flesh apart, leaving not even his Nascent Soul a chance to escape.

Only after the True Lord’s death did the figure of Zhanxian True Lord of the Righteous Alliance slowly materialize in the air.

Yet as he surveyed the carnage below, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossed his eyes.

“Too slow.”

Though he had already slain millions since the war began, to him it was still far too sluggish.

After all, according to his master Fuxian Tian’s grand design, every living soul across Realms Two through Five must ultimately be eradicated and sent into reincarnation.

At this current pace of slaughter, that vision remained impossibly distant.

Zhanxian True Lord knew this well—but even if each kill eased the burden of their future plan by the slightest margin, or increased the odds of birthing a new world by a hair’s breadth, he would gladly do it. Gladly kill.

Just then, a message from Fuxian Tian reached him through his Eye Bone.

His heart trembled. “Has Master emerged from seclusion?”

Fuxian Tian: I have decided to initiate the plan ahead of schedule—shatter Realm Five, annihilate all ten universities’ Divine Transformation cultivators.

Fuxian Tian: Return and oversee the grand formation.

Reading this, Zhanxian True Lord’s gaze sharpened, his expression turning solemn. “So it finally begins?”

Fierce resolve and murderous intent surged from his eyes; before him, the very heavens and earth of Kunxu seemed to ignite in flame.

“This mad, deranged world—beyond salvation—has at last reached the day it shall burn completely to ash.”

“From now on… we shall utterly reshape it and guide it onto the righteous path.”

With Fuxian Tian’s emergence, the entire Righteous Alliance sprang into frenzied motion—be they former Financial Sect cultivators, demonic sect members, heretical gods, or their devotees. All operated like cogs in a vast machine.

Massive quantities of resources shuttled ceaselessly between Realms Four and Five, like vital blood coursing through arteries, delivering nourishment and essence to every critical node of a colossal body, preparing for the coming cataclysmic eruption.

The lower and mid-tier members of the Righteous Alliance remained oblivious, unaware that an unprecedented, realm-shattering final battle was about to unfold.

...

While the Righteous Alliance sharpened its blades and rumbled forward like a war machine, Zhang Yu was busy chatting with the flood of new friend requests pouring in after his press conference.

Yinquan True Lord: Zhang Yu, stop calling me “auntie”—makes me sound ancient.

Yinquan True Lord: We’re barely five hundred years apart.

Yinquan True Lord: Just call me “older sister” from now on. [Smile]

Zhang Yu: Isn’t that a bit awkward? Wang Yin and I are peers—if I call you sister, wouldn’t that make me his uncle?

Yinquan True Lord: [Laugh-cry emoji] You really know how to make your sister laugh.

Yinquan True Lord: Let’s just go by our own terms—you call me sis, and tell Wang Yin to call you “bro.” You can call him Xiao Wang.

Reading Yinquan True Lord’s messages, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, “How come Yinquan True Lord is so approachable, yet little Wang is such an arrogant brat?”

“Or… is it simply that this ‘Yinquan sister’ only acts this way toward me right now?”

He didn’t need to think hard to know the answer was certainly the latter.

Especially after the press conference ended, more and more people added him—elite students, university leaders, wealthy patrons—all speaking politely and sweetly, making Zhang Yu feel the world’s unexpected kindness.

Yet among all those who’d messaged him afterward, Yinquan was the only Divine Transformation True Lord who contacted him personally.

All other universities sent only subordinates or disciples to communicate with him.

Compared to them, Yinquan True Lord naturally appeared exceptionally amiable.

Zhang Yu mused, “Youming University is clearly sincere about cooperation—they’ll likely be among the first to fully implement Shared Voidspace.”

“Vajra and Heavenly Sword need no mention—their rectors and True Lords lead the support; they’ll be the earliest fully covered.”

“Heavenly Demon and White Bone aren’t giving full backing, but they’re still moving forward with collaboration.”

“But Xianbing and Heavenly Yao… those require caution…”

As Zhang Yu contemplated the shifting dynamics among the Ten Great Universities, he could already envision how each campus was transforming under his influence.

Just then, his Eye Bone flickered—a message arrived from Zhao Tianxing.

Zhao Tianxing: Zhang Yu, I made it! I’ve reached Foundation Establishment!

Feeling the surge of his Dao Heart, now leaping eleven ranks at once, Zhao Tianxing could barely contain his exhilaration.

Back when he’d been whole-bodied and ranked among the top students at Songyang High, he’d never dared dream of achieving Foundation Establishment.

After all, in Songyang City, Foundation Establishment cultivators were towering figures—among generations of Songyang graduates who’d attended university, only a rare few ever broke through to this stage.

And after becoming a Soul Cultivator? He’d abandoned all hope entirely.

Zhao Tianxing knew his lack of ambition wasn’t born of humility—it stemmed from cowardice and deep-seated inferiority.

“Foundation Establishment… was never meant for someone like me, a poor nobody.”

Yet now, he’d first secured a spot in the associate-to-bachelor program, then received special approval for Foundation Establishment certification, and finally achieved breakthrough within Ling Realm’s 100% simulated environment.

In truth, Zhao Tianxing had already accomplished what countless Soul Cultivators dared not even imagine.

He understood one of the greatest perils of Soul Cultivation: the longer one lingered in Ling Realm, the more one’s perception of the real world faded, until consciousness drowned in endless illusion—this was known as Mind-Melting.

The most effective way to slow Mind-Melting was immersion in a 100% simulated environment.

Of course, “100% simulated” was merely marketing speak—it could never be truly perfect.

How many decimal places followed that 99%, how close it truly came to reality—ordinary cultivators couldn’t say.

Even so, within such an environment, Soul Cultivators felt as though they’d regained physical bodies, experiencing the world as if real—and could even achieve breakthroughs and elevate their Dao Hearts.

Naturally, maintaining a 100% simulated environment demanded astronomical amounts of spiritual energy, cutting-edge equipment, constant repairs, and endless resource upkeep.

And the higher one’s cultivation, the greater the cost—and it grew exponentially.

Only high-level Soul Cultivators could earn enough to afford it.

The more they earned, the more they spent; the more they spent, the more they needed to earn. In this endless cycle of earning and spending just to survive, all Soul Cultivators seemed destined to succumb to Mind-Melting in the end.

But none of that mattered now. For Zhao Tianxing, freshly stepped into Foundation Establishment, there was only pure, unadulterated joy and bliss—he refused to dwell on future dangers.

And so, he shared this elation instantly with Zhang Yu.

Reading Old Zhao’s message, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia—he remembered his own first breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, that same soaring happiness, that electric thrill.

“Alas… that joy has long left me.”

“I wouldn’t feel that same joy even if I broke through to the Nascent Soul stage now,” he murmured.

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Yu replied to Zhao Tianxing: “Keep going, Old Zhao. Foundation Establishment is only the beginning—press onward.”

Just then, a voice called out beside him.

“Zhang Yu?” Le Mu Lan turned back toward him, puzzled. She wondered why he’d suddenly stopped walking.

“It’s nothing,” Zhang Yu said. “Let’s keep moving.”

He closed the chat window with Zhao Tianxing. A sliver of his consciousness continued channeling spiritual power, directing it into his palm and weaving delicate threads of energy into Le Mu Lan’s body.

At this very moment, he was enhancing both her spiritual power and its quality.

“He should be able to raise her Dao Seed by one rank today,” Zhang Yu thought silently.

While Zhang Yu aided Le Mu Lan, outside their office door, Yin Jiu Yao waited quietly.

To support the front lines, the pharmacology professor had brought all her students to the campus near the Great Hollow.

She couldn’t help but reflect: back when Zhang Yu was still a senior undergraduate, it had been she and Zhang Yu inside the room, while Le Mu Lan waited outside.

Now, after just a few hurried years, the roles had reversed—she stood outside, while Le Mu Lan and Zhang Yu were within.

“Is this what they mean by ‘the student surpasses the master’? My disciple isn’t simple at all.”

Hearing Le Mu Lan’s occasional soft moans from inside, Yin Jiu Yao’s thoughts began to wander.

“I warned Le Mu Lan long ago—take advantage of your proximity to Zhang Yu and secure those research materials early. She seemed indifferent on the surface, but secretly, she’s clearly succeeded.”

As for her office being temporarily borrowed—Yin Jiu Yao didn’t mind in the slightest. After all, cultivating the Immortal Path demanded flexibility; trivialities like this hardly mattered.

Moments later, watching Zhang Yu emerge from the room, Yin Jiu Yao smiled. “True Lord Zhuyi, leaving already? There’s no need to rush—you may use this office as long as you like.”

Zhang Yu gave an awkward chuckle. “Sorry about this. I’ve been terribly busy lately, and this matter was urgent. Since you weren’t here, I took the liberty of borrowing your office to assist Le Mu Lan’s cultivation.”

Yin Jiu Yao waved her hands dismissively. Zhang Yu was now the rising star of Wanfa University—the center of attention across all ten elite academies, truly a figure of immense influence.

For someone like him, Yin Jiu Yao wouldn’t dream of shooing him away; she’d welcome him with open arms if she could.

Watching Zhang Yu’s retreating back, Yin Jiu Yao turned to Le Mu Lan, who was still clutching her stomach. “Well? Did he give it to you?”

Le Mu Lan felt the surging spiritual power swirling in her dantian, so full it threatened to spill over. Still holding her belly, she nodded. “Mm-hmm… it’s all inside me now.”

“In your stomach?” Yin Jiu Yao exclaimed in alarm. “How could it go into your stomach?”

She scrutinized Le Mu Lan closely. “Can you vomit it back up?”

Le Mu Lan, sensing Zhang Yu’s spiritual power gradually integrating into her system, replied, “It’s mostly digested already.”

Yin Jiu Yao sighed in exasperation. “You glutton! Do you have any idea how valuable that was? You just swallowed it all!”

Le Mu Lan thought for a moment about the excessive amount of spiritual power Zhang Yu had transferred. “I told him so myself—he insisted I digest it. He said it would be beneficial.”

Feeling the subtle transformation unfolding within her Deep Frost Meridian, Le Mu Lan knew Zhang Yu spoke the truth—it wasn’t just beneficial; it was profoundly so.

Yin Jiu Yao mused inwardly: “Zhang Yu says it’s beneficial? Given his current status, he wouldn’t deceive us. Could there be some hidden profundity here I’m unaware of?”

Without another word, Yin Jiu Yao grabbed Le Mu Lan’s wrist. “Come, let me give you a check-up.”

Le Mu Lan waved her hands frantically. “No need, Teacher!”

While Le Mu Lan savored the effects of her upgraded Deep Frost Meridian, Zhang Yu, through the Dao Seed Spectrum of Feathered Letters, precisely perceived the third-tier effect of the meridian.

The first tier could freeze wounds and extend lifespan; the second improved heat dissipation, prolonging peak physical performance.

And now, at the third tier…

As Zhang Yu circulated his spiritual power, part of his internal organs in the chest and abdomen temporarily froze.

“A frozen body enters a rapid, highly efficient state of self-healing,” Zhang Yu realized. “This healing goes beyond mere wound recovery—it can even restore some of the physical lifespan lost through exertion.”

He understood that every burst of movement, every strain of flesh and blood, eroded one’s mortal longevity.

But with the third-tier Deep Frost Meridian, each bout of post-exertion freezing allowed partial restoration of that lost vitality.

“With this third tier, my physical lifespan should at least double.”

The thought crossed Zhang Yu’s mind: “If others find out, many will surely covet Le Mu Lan.”

Still, he’d already instructed her to keep it secret—and with his standing at Wanfa University shielding her, exposure wasn’t an immediate concern.

His gaze then shifted to the requirements for upgrading to the fourth tier of the Deep Frost Meridian.

“30,000 units of spiritual power, and 350% spiritual power quality—that’s Nascent Soul-level refinement.”

Over the following week, centered on Wanfa University and powered primarily by Jingang and Tianjian, Tai Xu Cloud Vault’s production lines expanded rapidly, and advertisements flooded every corner of society.

Plans at other universities proceeded smoothly as well. With time, the first second-generation Tai Xu Cloud Vault unit sold, the first shared Tai Xu node established… Zhang Yu felt everything was trending positively.

But that day, shortly after returning to his meditation chamber in the Research Society, Zhang Yu suddenly sensed Fu Ji leap up.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled.

Fu Ji cried out in alarm, “Something’s calling me—this power… it’s the Heretical God Codex!”

Zhang Yu frowned. “The Heretical God Codex? Weren’t you told it could only summon you within the Dark Spirit Realm?”

Fu Ji sighed. “That means their Codex has advanced further—their summons can now reach from the Dark Spirit Realm into the real world.”

“What happens if we keep ignoring it?” Zhang Yu asked.

“As long as they persist, the summons will grow stronger, eventually stirring the heretical power within me. There’s a real risk we’ll be exposed.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. The sensation of being threatened unsettled him deeply.

But regardless, the immediate priority was logging into the Dark Spirit Realm to see what Bao Shen was scheming.

When Fu Ji and Zhang Yu answered the Codex’s call and arrived in a conference room within the Dark Spirit Realm, they found it packed with heretical gods.

Fu Ji stared in astonishment. “What in the world? So many heretical gods? Did they summon every single one from layers two through five? Is this an annual review meeting?”

As Fu Ji appeared, every heretical god turned to look at her—some with displeasure, others with curiosity, suspicion, or intrigue.

Xiang Shen fixed her with a scrutinizing gaze. “Fu Shen, you’re late. Why did you take so long?”

Meeting Xiang Shen’s piercing eyes, Fu Ji retorted, “I was busy with something important. The fact that I came at all should suffice. Just get to the point.”

Bao Shen cut in before their argument could escalate. “To counter Heaven’s descent and the Ten Academies’ technological revolution, the Alliance Leader has decided to proceed with the Five-Layer Detonation Plan.”

A murmur rippled through the assembled heretical gods—many hearing this for the first time. Some were excited, others nervous or anxious.

Only those like Xiang Shen and Xi Shen, who had known beforehand, remained calm.

Zhang Yu’s heart tightened. “They’re going to blow up the Fifth Layer? That’ll delay Heaven’s arrival even further… prolonging the war…”

He immediately weighed the pros and cons, wondering whether to inform the leadership of the Ten Academies.

Bao Shen continued, “The detonation of the Fifth Layer is inevitable. To increase our chances of success, the Alliance will fully disclose the plan and launch saturation-level propaganda—to gather collective fortune and channel it into reinforcing the detonation.”

One heretical god blurted out in shock, “Saturation-level propaganda? You mean make it common knowledge—let everyone know we’re blowing up the Fifth Layer?”

“Precisely,” Bao Shen affirmed. “The core belief sustaining the Ten Academies’ war effort is Heaven’s imminent arrival. If their students and faculty learn that the Fifth Layer’s explosion can indefinitely postpone that arrival, many will reconsider their stance. The Righteous Alliance’s morale will surge…”

Another heretical god countered, “But far more cultivators from the Ten Academies—especially those at the Divine Transformation stage—won’t sit idle. They’ll attack us. This will become a decisive battle.”

Xiang Shen scoffed, “Then let them fight. It’s high time. Do you really think that bunch of finance-department incompetents can out-research the Ten Academies’ current talent? We’ve already fought for over a year and a half, and our technological edge has turned into a disadvantage. If we drag this out any longer, we’re finished.”

Xi Shen, with a thousand hands, a thousand feet, and a thousand eyes, flickered with insight. “We must lure them into a decisive battle on our turf—before their technological innovations fully materialize, before they mass-produce enough gear to re-equip their forces. That’s our best chance.”

The Herald God continued, “The Alliance Lord has emerged from seclusion. His cultivation in the Immortal Sect’s arts has reached perfection, and he now intends to annihilate all Nascent Soul cultivators from the Ten Academies, preparing for the unification of all layers.”

Upon hearing that Fu Xiantian had emerged from seclusion, many of the demon gods present trembled slightly—then their confidence surged.

“Has the Alliance Lord truly succeeded?”

“If it’s Fu Xiantian’s decision, I have no objections.”

“He is Ming Xintian’s personal disciple—how could those Nascent Souls from the Ten Academies possibly stand against him?”

Clearly, every demon god present placed absolute faith in this immortal’s disciple; none could conceive of any reason they might lose.

Thus, the Herald God proceeded to assign tasks, ordering all demon gods to vigorously promote the Five-Layer Detonation Plan.

…

As the demon council concluded, the entire Dark Spirit Realm erupted like a lit powder keg. News of the Five-Layer Detonation exploded violently, scattering everywhere, crashing before every user of the Dark Spirit Realm.

Daily check-in quests, pinned announcements—all relentlessly promoted the plan.

Tasks to earn Righteous Qi points now invariably included spreading the Five-Layer Detonation Plan throughout the Spirit Realm and campuses of the Ten Academies.

The news swept through Layers Two to Five like a tempest, leaving no corner untouched.

Beyond mere dissemination of information, the Righteous Alliance flung open its gates to its elite cultivators, releasing vast stores of resources freely to its finest warriors, striving to maximize their strength before the final battle.

…

In the research institute of Youming University, Kunxu Layer Five.

Grand Sovereign Taihao advanced step by step, bowing deeply with each pace. The Profound Scripture of Shifting Lineages and Changing Ancestors blazed forth in full force. One after another, ancestral burial grounds of Youming University detonated violently, ancient corpses—some centuries old, others millennia—shuddering wildly beneath his prostrations.

“I beseech all ancestors to manifest your spirits and protect your descendant, Grand Sovereign Taihao…”

With the Righteous Alliance’s resources now flowing freely, Grand Sovereign Taihao seized the moment. Not only had he restored his cultivation, but within this Layer Five research institute of Youming University, he feasted ravenously, devouring the essence of ancestral legacies.

Having finished his obeisances to this burial ground, he turned toward a nearby camera and declared, “To all of Youming University: the resources of Kunxu Layer Five are now being released en masse. Anyone willing to join the Righteous Alliance shall receive their share.”

“Layer Five is about to be obliterated—you can forget about the Celestial Court descending as you’ve hoped.”

“If you remain obstinate, then suffer my next bow.”

…

On the battlefield of Kunxu Layer Three.

Swallowing Heaven Sovereign—the self-proclaimed heir of the Great Sage—let out a thunderous roar. His furry claws swelled massively, pinning down hundreds of demonic descendants.

He bellowed at them, “Listen well, you wretched beasts! The Righteous Alliance has decided to shatter Layer Five!”

“It will splinter into countless micro-realms. The Celestial Court will never find them—never descend again! Hahahahaha!”

“Tell those scum of the Ten Academies to wait obediently for Great Sage to come and take what’s ours! No one will save you!”

“I’ll reclaim everything Kunxu, the Ten Sects, the Ten Academies, and billions of lives owe the Great Sage!”

…

On the social platforms of the Dark Spirit Realm.

Junior College Sovereign posted yet another video of himself subduing a champion from the Ten-League Tournament.

His foot pressed firmly on Ying Zhoufan’s draconic head from Heavenly Demon University as he coldly declared, “Another of the Ten’s so-called prodigies subdued by me.”

“Hmph. Judging by what I’ve seen, the Ten’s teaching quality is… utterly pathetic.”

“Millions upon millions of high schoolers, vocational students, junior college kids, lower-tier academy pupils—we pour our youth, sweat, blood, and hard-earned wages into building Kunxu, only to feed creatures like you?”

“You live off our sacrifices, trample us underfoot, steal our opportunities—and still dare look down on us!”

“But your good days are over.”

“We won’t let you plunder us anymore.”

Gazing down at Ying Zhoufan beneath his boot, Junior College Sovereign said calmly, “Perhaps you still cling to dreams of the Celestial Court’s arrival, hoping everything returns to how it was—back to an age when you rich could freely humiliate us.”

“But I tell you: that time is gone forever.”

“Layer Five will soon be utterly destroyed. The Celestial Court you’re waiting for will never come!”

…

In a junior college dormitory, students watched a video streaming from the Dark Spirit Realm.

In it, Sovereign Liangyan spoke: “Don’t be fooled by the Ten Academies’ ‘Shared Grand Void’ scheme—it’s just a scam to raise funds, a Ponzi game. Anyone who deposits spirit coins as ‘deposits’ should forget about ever getting them back.”

“Moreover, the Righteous Alliance has already initiated the Five-Layer Detonation Plan.”

“When it happens, Layer Five will fracture into thousands of micro-realms. Not only will the Celestial Court struggle to locate them, but reconnection to Kunxu Layer Four will become nearly impossible.”

“But Immortal Ming Xintian will find us first—and lead us into a new world.”

“Everyone, the tide has turned. Now it’s the Ten Academies who should be panicking.”

“Hold onto those spirit coins you were about to dump into Shared Grand Void. Next year, when the Ten collapse completely and the Righteous Alliance rules all layers—with Immortal Ming Xintian returning to guide us in building a new world—those coins might just be enough to break through to Foundation Establishment… or even Golden Core!”

…

Naturally, the upper echelons of the Ten Academies soon received word of the Righteous Alliance’s moves.

Across campuses, the atmosphere grew heavy—a storm gathering on the horizon.

Inside the Research Society,

Zhang Yu looked at Magnetic Pole Sovereign before him and murmured, “Master…”

Magnetic Pole Sovereign sighed. “The tree wishes stillness, yet the wind will not cease.”

“I and the rectors of all academies have decided: we must launch an expedition into Kunxu Layer Five.”

“We must stop them before they detonate it.”

She turned to Zhang Yu and smiled gently. “Good disciple, once again, I must trouble you to pierce the heavens for us.”

Zhang Yu replied solemnly, “Master, I’ll fight alongside you to the very end.”

Seeing Zhang Yu brimming with resolve, Magnetic Pole Sovereign shook her head. “What nonsense? This is a Nascent Soul war—what business does a mere Core Formation cultivator have charging in? Go dig your tunnel and return.”

Before Zhang Yu could protest further, Verdant Wood Sovereign interjected, “Rest easy, Zhang Yu. We are Nascent Souls. If the sky falls today, we’ll be the first to hold it up.”

“Besides, after so many clashes with the Righteous Alliance, our spatial artifacts have been greatly upgraded. We’re no longer afraid of their Immortal Sect techniques.”

“Just stay here and await our triumphant return.”

Magnetic Pole Sovereign patted Zhang Yu’s shoulder. “Focus on your cultivation. Use the Research Society’s resources to strengthen yourself—that’s what you should be doing right now.”

(End of Chapter)