Chapter 719: Heaven-Breaking Countdown, Reversely Absorbing Deity Transformation (7,260 words, bonus chapter)

Chapter 719: Countdown to Shattering the Heavens, Reversing Absorption into Divine Transformation (7260+, Bonus 1200+ Words)

Inside the office, every university representative behind their respective projections listened intently to Zhang Yu’s words—at least outwardly they did.

Simply because Zhang Yu was now obscenely, overwhelmingly rich.

His assets alone, merely projected into view, unleashed a pressure like a mountain torrent bursting its banks. Rows upon rows of numbers were enough to make rivals feel utter despair—as if everyone within the Ten Universities, except him, had ceased to be human at all. They were now mere cattle, horses, sheep. Even the Nascent Soul True Lords and university delegates before him seemed like paupers in comparison.

In a private chat group, someone typed: “Tian Zheng, didn’t you say Elder Zhu Yi had embezzled research funds?”

True Lord Tian Zheng replied: “At Elder Zhu Yi’s Nascent Soul tier, even if he did divert funds, it wouldn’t be a matter of violation or illegality—it’s more likely the original budget allocation itself was flawed.”

Another chimed in: “Zhun Da, weren’t you just saying you wanted to send someone from Demon University to take over the Research Council?”

True Lord Zhun Da responded: “Don’t twist my words. I meant sending someone to assist Elder Zhu Yi in managing the council so he could focus on cultivation with peace of mind.”

No matter how others tried to provoke, no one dared speak up again in the group.

The earlier clamor for bloodshed had instantly fallen silent.

Faced with someone who wielded Divine Transformation-level wealth, True Lords like Zhun Da and Tian Zheng knew they stood no chance of resistance.

Such quasi-Divine Transformation figures—though perhaps unable to fully leverage this financial might against the Righteous Alliance—could easily unleash a financial storm within the Ten Universities’ internal conflicts, swallowing their rivals whole, toppling them utterly, stripping them down to nothing.

The wealth ecosystem of Kunxu was always rigidly hierarchical. When the rich encountered someone richer and stronger, they would regard that person with utmost respect, listening with rapt attention to every word, every syllable spoken.

Just as the university representatives were doing now.

Yet an unspoken question stirred in their hearts: How had Zhang Yu amassed such staggering wealth?

“Did he get it from Magnetic Pole True Lord?”

But Zhun Da knew Magnetic Pole True Lord was famously strict with asset control—even after achieving Divine Transformation, his Spirit Realm projection often remained nothing but four crude characters.

“But if he managed to reverse-absorb wealth directly from Magnetic Pole True Lord… then he’s even more terrifying.”

Zhun Da gazed at Zhang Yu with admiration, thinking inwardly: “Did he deceive? Steal? Or use some other method entirely?”

Having cultivated the Immortal Path for decades, Zhun Da had seen junior cultivators overthrow their seniors before.

He’d witnessed a junior college male cultivator engage in dual cultivation with a female disciple from Harmony Joy University, only to later accuse her of illegal forced cultivation and siphon off her assets.

He’d also seen, back when the civil engineering sector began its decline, a Foundation Establishment cultivator in finance overthrow a Golden Core cultivator in construction, forcing the latter to kneel and beg for spirit coins.

But a Nascent Soul cultivator reverse-absorbing assets from a Divine Transformation powerhouse? That was something he’d never seen—until now.

And the more he failed to discern Zhang Yu’s method, the more unfathomable Zhang Yu seemed to him.

“To reverse-absorb Divine Transformation wealth while still at Nascent Soul… terrifying… truly terrifying. This is far more frightening than those ancient demons who devoured others’ cultivation bases and spiritual power.”

In Zhun Da’s eyes, Zhang Yu now resembled a bottomless black hole—anyone who drew near risked having their wealth, their very potential on the Immortal Path, silently drained away.

Zhang Yu, unaware of how the representatives now perceived him, simply laid out his plan to shatter the heavens. He displayed his schematics, revealed the evidence left by Magnetic Pole True Lord, and gave a live demonstration.

Holding up two Tai Xu Cloud Vaults, he declared: “The Heaven-Piercing Drill I’ve designed can either be purchased as a standalone artifact or obtained by upgrading your Tai Xu Cloud Vault.”

“Once the spatial barrier’s filtering mechanism is cracked, whether it’s the celestial dome or a spatial pouch, the Heaven-Piercing Drill can breach any spatial barrier.”

As the representatives watched Zhang Yu transform one Tai Xu Cloud Vault into a drill that pierced straight through into another, their eyes gleamed with sudden realization—they instantly grasped its immense value and commercial potential.

Seeing Zhang Yu’s astonishing mastery of spatial techniques and artifact forging, their gazes toward him shifted once more.

Zhun Da suddenly entertained a chilling possibility: “Could this man be a reincarnated being? Could Magnetic Pole be nothing but his black-gloved puppet?”

While the representatives’ minds raced with speculation, Zhang Yu began his closing remarks: “The Divine Transformation war has reached its most critical juncture.”

“Based on current celestial observations, our Ten Universities still have 38 Divine Transformation cultivators alive—but they’re being relentlessly hunted by 44 enemy Divine Transformations. The gap is vast. We stand at the brink of annihilation.”

“And according to our current resources and manpower, completing the Heaven-Shattering mission—accounting for full-scale production line setup, distribution channels, raw material logistics, personnel organization…”

As he spoke, a countdown appeared before Zhang Yu’s eyes:

15 days, 18 hours, 23 minutes, 39 seconds.

“This is the estimated time required for the Heaven-Shattering mission, calculated by Wanfa University’s concentrated computational power.”

Zhang Yu’s voice turned grave: “Time is short, the task immense. For Kunxu, for our universities, and above all—for our own assets—I implore you to push this plan forward with everything you have.”

“Also, I ask that this operation remain confidential for now. Do not disclose it to the public.”

He knew the Righteous Alliance would eventually uncover the plan—but every extra moment of secrecy mattered.

With Zhang Yu’s actions, the Ten Universities, like dying men suddenly injected with stimulants, began accelerating toward an unknown future with reckless abandon.

…

Demon University.

As the plan rolled forward, Zhang Yu transmitted his will through the Spirit Realm, directly imparting the manufacturing techniques for the Heaven-Piercing Drill and the upgrade process for Tai Xu Cloud Vaults.

In the laboratory, Kuang Tianqing watched Zhang Yu’s projection, inwardly stunned: “So soon after breaking through to Nascent Soul, he’s already reached this level? Zhang Yu must indeed be a reincarnated great being.”

“There’s hope! The Ten Universities are saved!”

Ever since regaining his memories, Kuang Tianqing had considered himself a sect disciple at heart. The current conflict between the Ten Universities and the Righteous Alliance filled him with anguish.

Now, seeing the possibility of counterattack, he glimpsed a path back to his sect—and threw himself into work with desperate fervor.

…

Netherworld University.

Wang Yin stared at Zhang Yu’s projection, first startled, then elated: “Mom! We’re coming to save you!”

Only after losing contact with his Divine Transformation mother did Wang Yin realize that compared to family, lifelong rivalries, grudges with Zhang Yu, or inter-university tech competitions…

“Nothing matters more than my mother’s safety.”

Every time he imagined Yin Spring True Lord locked in mortal combat on the Fifth Layer, teetering on the edge of death—while he himself held none of her assets—his heart ached with pain, fear, and dread.

In that moment, Wang Yin listened intently to Zhang Yu’s teachings, determined to pour every ounce of strength into the Heaven-Shattering mission.

…

Immortal Arms University.

Tian Shenggong watched Zhang Yu’s projection without a trace of jealousy or resentment for the first time.

For weeks, Immortal Arms University had desperately sought ways to support their Divine Transformation elders and turn the tide of battle—only to fail repeatedly.

The atmosphere in Tian Shenggong’s spatial technology lab had grown increasingly oppressive, morale crumbling with each setback.

Now, Zhang Yu arrived bearing advanced techniques like a savior—offering a way to rescue Kunxu, the Ten Universities, and their very lives.

In the days that followed, Tian Shenggong noticed something telling: though university leaders, executives, and the wealthy still publicly used Ji Hu products and Ji Hu spatial pouches, privately, they’d all bought Tai Xu Cloud Vaults.

“Ah, after all,” Tian Shenggong murmured, patting the Tai Xu Cloud Vault in his pocket, “Ji Hu is just work. Defeating the Righteous Alliance concerns the fate of the world.”

…

Top-floor office of the Research Council.

Through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows, Zhang Yu’s gaze seemed to pierce through layer after layer of sky, fixing on the two brightest divine lights at the apex of the Fifth Layer—the lights representing Magnetic Pole True Lord and Greenwood True Lord.

Based on meticulous observation, recording, and calculation of these divine lights’ luminosity, their brightness had already dimmed significantly.

Magnetic Pole True Lord now shone at only 78% of his peak brilliance, while Greenwood True Lord had declined even further—to just 65% of his former radiance.

“By measuring the brightness of a Divine Transformation cultivator’s divine light, we can roughly estimate how much of their power remains.”

“Master Ciji still has more than half of his strength left, but Master Qingmu is already nearing the halfway point.”

Zhang Yu turned his gaze once more toward the opposite side of the sky, fixing his eyes upon that blindingly radiant presence—like stars orbiting the moon—constantly emanating dazzling brilliance.

“According to observations from all ten universities, this divine radiance most likely represents the leader of the Righteous Alliance.”

“And since the battle began, the intensity of his divine light has never waned—not even for a moment. It remains at its absolute peak: 100%.”

Staring at that luminous beacon, Zhang Yu could almost visualize the remaining thirty-eight Nascent Soul cultivators from the Ten Schools being utterly overwhelmed, forced into constant retreat.

“Once the Ten Schools’ Nascent Souls are dealt with, victory will be decided.”

“That’s why, after severing their supply lines and logistical support, the Righteous Alliance committed every single one of their Nascent Soul experts solely to the Nascent Soul battlefield—not sparing even one to deal with us.”

“Because in their eyes, we aren’t worth wasting Nascent Soul power on.”

“They intend to end the Nascent Soul war with maximum force and utmost efficiency.”

“We’re racing against time—and so are they.”

At this thought, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, feeling the immense pressure radiating from that brilliant divine light.

“Can we go any faster?”

He glanced at the countdown: 13 days, 6 hours, 45 minutes, 12 seconds.

Every available resource had already been mobilized. Even his own Tianri Huangshen form, his Yaoyi Avatar, and the sixteen strands of consciousness he could split from his Wuliang Xin Nei Fashen—all were working tirelessly: setting up production lines, accelerating the manufacturing of Poking Heaven Spikes, and pushing forward updates to the Grand Void Cloud Repository.

Just then, a message arrived.

Feng Tingting: True Lord! Have you seen what’s happening over at Tianyao University?

Zhang Yu asked, puzzled: What happened?

A moment later, Feng Tingting sent over a video.

In it stood a woman with dragon horns and scales, yet maintaining a human form.

She spoke: “I am Cangshi Immortal Sovereign.”

“I hereby announce my formal joining of the Righteous Alliance.”

These few words alone triggered a tsunami of reactions within Tianyao University.

Although the university’s leadership scrambled to delete the video, without any True Deities present, their efforts were futile.

After all, those currently serving as True Deities were mostly Soul Cultivators—and many of them, upon seeing the video, not only refused to delete it but actively spread it themselves.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu’s heart sank even further. “Those bastards in the Righteous Alliance… They may not want to waste Nascent Soul power on us, but they’re perfectly willing to deploy propaganda tactics—using non-Nascent Soul resources to target Levels Two and Three, siphoning off their manpower and materials to further tilt the Nascent Soul battlefield in their favor and accelerate their victory…”

And what Cangshi Immortal Sovereign said next in the video carried even greater impact.

“The Righteous Alliance welcomes all yaoguai and humans alike.”

She declared in the footage: “The poorer you are, the more we welcome you—because poverty proves how oppressed you’ve been by the Ten Schools.”

“Do you really want to suffer under their heel your whole life?”

“Don’t you want to stomp down hard on the heads of the Ten Greats and make them feel your fury?”

“Borrow money—take out loans! Grab everything you can from the territories of the Ten Great Universities, then join the Righteous Alliance. You won’t have to repay a single coin; all debts and loans will be wiped clean…”

Watching Cangshi Immortal Sovereign personally promote taking out microloans and then defecting to the Righteous Alliance, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

Soon enough, he began witnessing waves of yaoguai borrowing money en masse.

Even in his hometown group chat, he saw numerous yaoguai who’d graduated from Hongta High School frantically borrowing funds—only for their avatars to turn gray shortly afterward, either banned outright or gone permanently offline.

Before long, even yaoguai who hadn’t intended to defect started suffering consequences.

Shi Yunxiang posted a WeChat Moment complaining: Why was my credit card limit lowered this month? I’m not even from Tianyao University—I’m a yaoguai from Wanfa University!

Xiong Wenwu messaged Hu Yuntao: My medicinal-food loan didn’t get approved this month. Yuntao, can you lend me some cash?

As massive defaults among yaoguai borrowers erupted, lending institutions tightened credit approvals drastically, sparking widespread resentment among yaoguai communities.

Especially among lower-class yaoguai—who relied on monthly loans just to survive—the sudden cutoff pushed them instantly to the brink of desperation.

But this was only the beginning.

Cangshi Immortal Sovereign’s defection left Tianyao University’s Nascent Soul certification system in complete disarray, stripping countless great yaoguai—who were on the verge of breakthrough—of any legitimate path to Nascent Soul cultivation.

One day later, a campus of Tianyao University came under attack.

The great yaoguai known as Tun Tian True Lord, allied with five Yuan Ying True Lords from Tianyao University itself, raided and seized vast quantities of supplies.

Beneath the heavens, watching the furious elite cultivators from the universities grind their teeth in rage, Tun Tian True Lord laughed heartily: “All Ten Great Universities, listen well—this is only the beginning!”

“There will be a next time, and a next next time, and a next next next time… Every yaoguai beside you, beneath you, even in your mouths—any of them might turn and bite back at any moment, letting you taste what it feels like to be devoured yourselves!”

Countless students from the Ten Schools cursed furiously upon seeing Tun Tian True Lord’s declaration in the video: “Damn that female dragon! Damn that monkey!”

But Zhang Yu, watching the same footage, understood clearly: Cangshi Immortal Sovereign’s speech, combined with Tun Tian True Lord’s raid and proclamation, would inevitably inflame tensions between humans and yaoguai within the Ten Great Universities.

Raids on supplies, erupting racial conflicts, mass defections of yaoguai—all of this would surely slow down Project Skybreaker.

He glanced at the Skybreaker countdown projected nearby, calculated by Wanfa University’s Spirit Realm computational power—and watched in dismay as it suddenly jumped from 13 days to 15 days, 19 hours, 32 minutes, and 44 seconds.

With time slipping away, Zhang Yu could only grit his teeth and do everything in his power to ease human-yaoguai tensions while desperately pushing Project Skybreaker forward.

…

Inside the office.

Bei Wufeng looked at Zhang Yu and said, “True Lord, I believe we should conduct thorough screenings of all yaoguai within the Research Society—especially security personnel and construction-site workers. It would be best to expel them all and replace them with humans.”

Bei Wufeng chose to raise this issue face-to-face partly because he genuinely feared yaoguai betrayal—and partly because he, like Yan Qianji before him, wanted to demonstrate initiative by offering suggestions to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu frowned. “Wufeng, I understand your concerns about yaoguai rebellion, but right now, we absolutely cannot provoke further human-yaoguai conflict.”

Bei Wufeng pleaded earnestly, “This tension isn’t something we’re creating—it already exists! And it will only worsen. If we don’t act early and simply let things slide, the consequences later could be catastrophic…”

Zhang Yu shook his head. He knew full well Bei Wufeng’s reasoning was sound—but according to his own calculations and those from the Spirit Realm Computation Pool, if he himself initiated open screenings and expulsions of yaoguai, countless others would follow suit, escalating human-yaoguai hostilities uncontrollably.

That alone would delay Project Skybreaker by over ten additional days. Watching the steadily dimming divine lights of Ciji and Qingmu Immortal Sovereigns, Zhang Yu knew he could not afford such a loss of time.

Seeing Bei Wufeng still eager to argue further, Zhang Yu said firmly, “Open screenings and expulsions are out of the question.”

“But I’ll give you a task: secretly monitor all yaoguai inside and outside the Research Society. Report anything suspicious to me immediately.”

…

At the construction site.

Tu Lishan scrolled through message after message.

From Yu Xinghan of the Civil Engineering Department: “Teacher, long time no see! This factory-building collaboration—I hope you’ll look after me this time.”

Tu Lishan replied: “Xinghan, you’re getting more capable by the day. I keep seeing your name on expansion projects everywhere.”

From Mo Shangjin of the Artificer Department: “Teacher, please guide me well this time too.”

Tu Lishan: “Good, good. When you work, Teacher feels at ease.”

There were also messages from former students in the Finance Department—those not taken by the department’s core team—who were now seeking work at the site.

“Teacher, do you remember me? I’m Huai Zhi Xia—the one who helped you process loans before…”

Tu Lishan looked at the finance student before him and shook his head gently. “My memory isn’t what it used to be. I don’t recall.”

“Teacher…”

Once more, Tu Lishan beheld a swirling cluster of digital mosaic drifting toward him, accompanied by a cacophony of garbled, gibberish noises. He knew instantly that another of the demon-bloods he had blacklisted had managed to track him down.

Though Zhang Yu had strained every nerve to diffuse the animosity, the friction between humans and demon-bloods remained a systemic inevitability; no amount of grand propaganda could prevent the cultivators—particularly those entrenched within the upper echelons—from harboring a deep-seated vigilance against all of demon-kind.

The leadership of the Ten Academies was well aware that this institutional paranoia was relentlessly driving countless demon-bloods into the awaiting arms of the Righteous Alliance, yet not a single soul was willing to wager their own margins, their own hard assets, on the elusive trustworthiness of the next demon-blood they encountered.

……

8 days, 7 hours, 55 minutes, 12 seconds.

Staring at the relentless flickering of the countdown, Zhang Yu realized he had never, in his entire life, craved the swift acceleration of time as fiercely as he did now, desperate for it to hurry past.

Yet in the very next heartbeat, the digits violently convulsed, surging upward to read 11 days, 12 hours, 49 minutes, 7 seconds.

"What on earth has happened now?"

Zhang Yu immediately began scouring the incoming dispatches from every faction.

Within the video feeds, fleets of flying skiffs were descending upon a vocational college, sweeping up the entire student body and faculty alike, carting them off toward the vaulted firmament above.

The Vocational Perfected Lord stood proudly at the prow of the lead vessel, a broad grin splitting his face as he boomed, "My friends, do you wish to be true university students? Do you long to break free from the shackles of the vocational label?"

"The Righteous Alliance hereby decrees that from this day forward, there are no vocational students—only university students!"

"Join the Righteous Alliance, and the grand college entrance examinations will no longer divide us. Henceforth, higher education belongs to all, and the phrase 'vocational student' shall vanish from this world."

"Join the Righteous Alliance, and every military-grade cultivation technique is yours to choose and master completely free of charge. Complete a single year of study, and we shall impart the sacred techniques of the Immortal Gates!"

"Join the Righteous Alliance, and..."

Still grinning, the Vocational Perfected Lord hoisted up the lifeless corpse of a Nascent Soul cultivator: "Look here, this fellow was apparently the champion of the Ten Academies Tournament some thirty years ago."

"Join the Righteous Alliance, and you too can be like me, grinding these so-called elite prodigies of the Ten Academies beneath your boots."

Watching the broadcast, Zhang Yu's heart stirred with unease: "These lunatics... military-grade techniques for free? They're even handing out Immortal Gate arts? This propaganda is utterly frantic."

Close on the heels of the Vocational Perfected Lord, a video from True Lord Liangyan of the Righteous Alliance began circulating like wildfire through the spiritual realm.

In the recording, True Lord Liangyan spoke casually of the internal hierarchy of submission within the Righteous Alliance.

Every individual who joined the alliance would be permanently stamped with their time of induction; those with earlier timestamps naturally commanded the utmost respect, regarded as venerated seniors regardless of their actual cultivation realm.

Conversely, those who arrived later were relegated to the bottom of the pecking order; even if their cultivation realm was superior, they were treated as mere juniors, forced to yield their places in queues, yield their rations of medicine, and accept diminished welfare benefits that grew meager with every passing delay...

Observing the manic promotional blitz of both the Vocational Perfected Lord and True Lord Liangyan, Zhang Yu could practically visualize the restless, stirring hearts of countless vocational students.

Clearly, these successive waves of propaganda would deliver yet another heavy blow to the Ten Academies and the ongoing Heaven-Breaking Project.

Fu Ji suddenly remarked, "The way they've been moving lately, it feels as though they haven't given a single thought to long-term sustainability, has it? It gives me an impression of... absolute desperation."

Zhang Yu's mind raced, and he gave a slight nod. "Those fellows are indeed growing more manic by the day."

Yet regardless of the underlying reason for the Righteous Alliance's mounting frenzy, Zhang Yu could feel the crushing weight it imposed upon the Ten Academies.

He had no choice but to align with the other True Lords, lending his full support to the total censorship of the related data to suppress the flow of information as much as possible.

Feng Tingting: True Lord, could you please help me lift my account ban? 【Pleading Face】

Feng Tingting: I clearly wrote True Lord 'Big Bucks', and he is a perfectly legitimate Nascent Soul Lord from the Immortal Soldier University, but the system erroneously banned me for twenty-four hours thinking it was a homophonic slur for the Vocational Lord!

Feng Tingting: I'm dedicated to exposing the darkness of the Righteous Alliance! Now that I'm locked out, who knows how many trolls are taking advantage of this to promote them!

Zhang Yu: I inquired about your case; it should be resolved shortly.

Zhang Yu: Information scrutiny has been exceptionally tight of late. The Righteous Alliance has been using True Lord 'Big Bucks' as a homophonic code for the Vocational Lord, to the point where Big Bucks himself has already applied to change his Daoist title. Keep an eye on your wording moving forward.

……

At the construction site.

Having received Zhang Yu's technical guidance, Yan Qianji had been rushing across various locales to personally oversee the assembly lines.

At this moment, the drifting specter of Zhao Tianxing materialized within his ocular prosthetics, prompting Yan Qianji to snap at the subordinate beside him, "Did I not explicitly state that I want nobody with a vocational degree on my site?"

"Have you not seen how many vocational students are blowing up in scandals every single day now?"

"This project directly concerns the grand strategy of True Lord Zhuyi. If anything goes sideways, can you bear the responsibility?"

The subordinate replied helplessly, "This particular vocational soul-cultivator has already upgraded his credentials to a bachelor's degree, and moreover, he belongs to True Lord Zhuyi's inner circle."

Zhao Tianxing looked at Yan Qianji and could not help but interject, "I, too, broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm within the spiritual computing pool of the Myriad Laws University. I am no ordinary vocational student; I am practically half an alumnus to you, sir."

As he spoke, he produced the credentials proving his authorized access to the research society.

Beholding this proof, Yan Qianji's displeasure only deepened, and he submitted a formal report to Zhang Yu that very day: *True Lord, as the adage goes, 'keep close to the university, steer clear of the vocational'. With the frequent scandals surrounding vocational students of late, how can you permit them unrestricted entry into the research society? The security risks inherent in this are far too grave.*

Zhang Yu's gaze flickered slightly as he turned over another report—this one from Jin Jun, accusing Shi Yunxiang of embezzling raw materials from the construction site, demanding a rigorous purge of the demon-bloods.

Yet Zhang Yu knew that if he actually enforced a harsh punishment, the multitude of demon-bloods currently within the Ten Academies would care nothing for the objective truth; they would see it solely as a targeted crusade against their kind.

In ordinary times, it might have passed, but provoking such internal discord now would delay the Heaven-Breaking Project by at least eighteen hours.

Furthermore, skimming materials from the site was a long-accepted, unspoken custom among the various schools—one that Zhang Yu himself had indulged in plenty of times in the past.

If he punished Shi Yunxiang severely over this, it would likely provoke a fierce backlash from the civil engineering faction. If that happened, would it ignite a cascade of mutual whistleblowing and internal strife? That, too, would derail the Heaven-Breaking Project.

While Zhang Yu was weighing his options, he received further intelligence regarding the embezzlement practices of True Lord Xianyin and True Lord Leiji; the duo had accepted substantial kickbacks from external manufacturers.

If this matter were to be thoroughly investigated, it would similarly postpone the completion date of the project.

Moreover, as financial platforms tightened their credit controls over demon-bloods and vocational students, a severe shortage of food and medicine was beginning to spread through their communities.

Yet with the Ten Academies currently straining every muscle to push the Heaven-Breaking Project forward, launching a humanitarian relief effort to rescue them would not only lack the backing of the high-ranking leadership, but would undeniably stall the grand endeavor.

At this precise juncture, Zhang Yu realized that under the ceaseless, suffocating pressure of the Righteous Alliance, every problem laid out before him and every choice he could possibly make required him either to betray his own conscience or to compromise the greater good.

Even though he now stood at a loftier height, even though he wielded far greater power, it seemed only to usher in an even heavier deluge of pressure and tribulation.

He felt like a taut, overstrained bowstring, single-handedly dragging the lumbering weight of the Ten Academies forward, watching the countdown march onward second by second.

5 days, 12 hours, 3 minutes, 27 seconds.

On this day, an avatar bearing the name Xiong Wenwu began to flash urgently on Zhang Yu's console.

Yet when Zhang Yu accepted the transmission, it was an entirely unfamiliar projection that materialized before his eyes.

The stranger gazed intently at Zhang Yu, his voice calm as he spoke: "Greetings, Zhang Yu."

"I am the Leader of the Righteous Alliance, Fu Xiantian."

"You may call me Senior Brother."

(End of Chapter)