Chapter 784: Even My Dog Gets Special Treatment
Seeing Bu Yingshu’s furious expression, Zhang Yu hurriedly explained the situation to avoid her venting her anger on him.
But before Zhang Yu could finish, he heard Lu Hengzhang speak up: “Group Leader Zhang…”
Zhang Yu turned to look and saw Lu Hengzhang lightly tap his finger, sending him a notification that his application had been approved.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier that Dao Monarch Bu was waiting for you?”
Lu Hengzhang then turned to Bu Yingshu’s projection, his expression respectful. “Dao Monarch Bu, as soon as I understood Group Leader Zhang’s needs, I expedited the process for him. The application has now been approved.”
He then shot Zhang Yu a reproachful look. “Group Leader Zhang, I told you that once you started assisting Dao Monarch Bu, you must give it your all. If you need anything, just tell me, and I’ll do my best to support you.”
“Next time something like this happens, remember to inform me in advance. Dao Monarch Bu’s matters cannot be delayed for even a single second.”
Watching Lu Hengzhang’s instantaneous change of face, Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, “What the actual fuck…”
But seeing that the other party had already approved the application and was now wearing a polite, respectful expression, Zhang Yu felt as if he were stuck in a mud pit, unable to exert any force against him.
At that moment, Zhang Yu recalled the Dao Lineage behind Lu Hengzhang.
“The Innate Dao Lineage, which uses the Innate to suppress the Post-Heaven…” Zhang Yu thought. “So, they don’t just suppress Lower Realm Cultivators like me; they also excessively fawn over… Immortal Clan members like Bu Yingshu, right?”
Immortal Slayer replied, “According to the philosophy of the Innate Dao Lineage, for someone like Lu Hengzhang, the Immortal Clan should always be exalted, forever superior to most cultivators, including even those who follow the Innate Dao Lineage themselves.”
Zhang Yu thought, “In that case… does that mean the Innate Dao Lineage and the Immortal Clan are on the same side?”
Just as Zhang Yu thought the matter was about to end…
He saw Bu Yingshu let out a cold snort and suddenly reach out, her hand closing around Lu Hengzhang’s head.
“Grade A Immortal Clan detected! To avoid violating the Immortal Clan Rights Protection Law, the following Bionics and magical artifacts will be suspended…”
As Bu Yingshu struck, a series of warning messages materialized before Lu Hengzhang.
In that instant, he felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body. Most of his Bionics and magical artifacts abruptly ceased functioning.
The next moment, Bu Yingshu had already seized Lu Hengzhang’s head, lifting him into the air.
Instantly, more warnings flooded Lu Hengzhang’s vision.
“Cease physical contact with Grade A Immortal Clan member Bu Yingshu immediately!”
-1000 Immortal Coins
-1000 Immortal Coins
“Cease physical contact with Grade A Immortal Clan member Bu Yingshu immediately! Fines will double in 10 seconds!”
Watching the fines rapidly accumulating before him, Lu Hengzhang felt a bitterness he couldn’t express. It wasn’t he who was initiating contact; Bu Yingshu was the one holding him by the head.
Yet he dared not resist in the slightest. Not only did Lu Hengzhang know that would lead to even worse consequences, but in his view, a lowly cultivator like him had no right to defy the Immortal Clan.
So he pleaded, “Dao Monarch Bu!”
But Bu Yingshu merely continued to grip Lu Hengzhang’s head, staring at him coldly.
Submission? Respect? Politeness? Obedience?
To Bu Yingshu, these were all to be expected. What was there to care about?
She couldn’t even be bothered to determine whether he had actually made things difficult for Zhang Yu.
If he had, then he was just another power-abusing scum she despised, the kind of person who dragged down the Immortal Clan and tarnished the vast legacy built by the Immortals.
She would teach him that only the Immortal Clan had the right to abuse privilege!
If he hadn’t made things difficult for Zhang Yu, then she would make him understand even more clearly: this was how the Immortal Clan’s privilege was meant to be used. Even her dog would receive special treatment from now on.
“Hmph!”
Bu Yingshu snorted coldly and threw Lu Hengzhang to the ground. “Approve all of Zhang Yu’s applications for the next year…”
Lu Hengzhang watched as a month’s salary vanished in fines before his eyes. He forced a bitter smile. “Dao Monarch Bu, this Special Task Force probably won’t even last a full year.”
Seeing more warning messages flash before him, Lu Hengzhang quickly added, “From now on, whenever I receive an application from Zhang Yu, I’ll approve it immediately.”
Only then did Bu Yingshu leave, satisfied. She withdrew her Dharma Realm Projection, leaving only her voice echoing in the air.
“Zhang Yu, within ten seconds, get up here and lie down!”
Watching Zhang Yu shoot through the air like a bolt of lightning with a whoosh, Lu Hengzhang was secretly astonished. “Why does Bu Yingshu value Zhang Yu so highly? How long have they even known each other?”
“She wouldn’t treat her own mount any better.”
“How can a noble scion of the Immortal Clan, so high and mighty, dote on a Lower Realm native like this?”
“A subordinate submitting to a superior, a leader accommodating a subordinate… Has this kind of harmonious workplace dynamic already developed between them?”
“Letting a noble Immortal be tainted by the stench of the Lower Realm — unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable!”
Lu Hengzhang couldn’t comprehend it. His heart churned with suspicion, mixed with an indescribable blend of envy, jealousy, and rage.
But in the next moment, the Dharma Drug Service of his Internal Dharma Realm suppressed all his emotions.
Lu Hengzhang’s eyes gleamed with cold rationality as he analyzed the situation and drew logical conclusions.
“Dao Monarch Bu is using Zhang Yu and Zheng Meng for experiments. She must have just ordered Zhang Yu to lie down on the experimental table.”
“She and Zhang Yu don’t have a true superior-subordinate relationship. Her support for him now is purely to use him to advance her own plans.”
“She didn’t act against me because of Zhang Yu. It was simply because her plan was delayed, and I got caught in the crossfire.”
Lu Hengzhang closed his eyes, and information about Bu Yingshu surfaced in his mind.
“This noble lady… to be able to seal my Bionic and magical artifacts with a single move, even manipulating their underlying protocols… her status is far higher than I originally estimated.”
“But her temperament… No wonder nearly every Lower Cultivation cultivator who’s dealt with her has either gone bankrupt or been reincarnated back to the Lower Realm.”
A faint smile touched Lu Hengzhang’s lips. “Zhang Yu, a patron with a temperament like hers isn’t easy to cling to. Let’s see how long it takes before she kicks you all the way back home.”
In Lu Hengzhang’s estimation, the probability of this happening was quite high.
Even with Bu Yingshu’s lofty status, she would undoubtedly fail to push through the review of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation this time.
And when Bu Yingshu failed, Lu Hengzhang considered it perfectly normal for her anger to be directed at Zhang Yu.
Even if that stroke of luck didn’t materialize, the fact that Zhang Yu had followed Bu Yingshu in opposing the Edict Pavilion’s upper echelons was enough for Lu Hengzhang to mentally sentence him to death.
“Once this is over, the Dao Monarch will go straight back to the Martial Arts Pavilion.”
“But you, Zhang Yu, will still have to stay here in the Edict Pavilion.”
Meanwhile, in another corridor, Zhang Yu sped toward the laboratory.
He thought to himself, “The Innate Dao Lineage seems to support the Immortal Clan. But this time, Bu Yingshu, an Immortal, is trying to push the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation through review.”
“Doesn’t that contradict our original assessment that the Innate Dao Lineage would suppress the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation?”
Zhang Yu also recalled the intelligence he’d gathered: “And… the upper echelons within the Edict Pavilion, including the Innate Dao Lineage cultivators, are all inclined to reject the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.”
“This intelligence also contradicts itself, doesn’t it?”
Immortal Slayer interjected, “Bu Yingshu likely doesn’t represent the choice of all Immortals in the Myriad Laws Sect. Pushing for the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation is probably her personal will.”
“Perhaps there are even more Immortals of higher status than her who don’t want the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation to pass.”
Just then, Fu Ji had a flash of insight and spoke up, “The Innate Dao Lineage… their core belief is that Upper Cultivators like the Immortal Clan should remain high above, while Lower Cultivators and Lower Realm Natives are forever trampled underfoot by them.”
“So, the cultivators of the Innate Dao Lineage respect the Immortal Clan only because it aligns with their philosophy. That doesn’t mean they’ll blindly agree with every decision the Immortals make, right?”
“For example, if Bu Yingshu were to have a child with you, Zhang Yu, and even pay you child support, the Innate Dao Lineage would find that completely unacceptable. Those cultivators would probably treat both you and Bu Yingshu as enemies.”
The more Fu Ji thought about it, the more sense it made. She continued eloquently, “Conversely, the Immortal Clan certainly wouldn’t fully support the Innate Dao Lineage either. To pursue maximum profit and gain, the Innate Dao Lineage’s philosophy is clearly restrictive. Take issues like importing Lower Realm labor or allowing Lower Realm Natives to advance…”
Listening to Fu Ji’s analysis, Immortal Slayer agreed, “Well said.”
“There are indeed people within the Immortal Clan who support the Innate Dao Lineage, but the two sides don’t completely overlap. They’re more like allies, with points of cooperation and points of conflict…”
As they spoke, Zhang Yu had already returned to the experiment table.
“3… 2… 1…”
Seeing Zhang Yu lie down on the experiment table just as her countdown finished, Bu Yingshu nodded in satisfaction and began today’s experiment. A series of crackling pops erupted as bursts of fluid sprayed from Zhang Yu’s body.
Zhang Yu said, “Dao Monarch, you were truly magnificent today.”
Bu Yingshu pursed her lips and smiled dismissively.
Zhang Yu continued, “That Deputy Minister Lu Hengzhang gave me so much trouble, yet in front of you, he was like a chick blown over by a gentle breeze. We Lower Cultivators truly underestimated your power, Dao Monarch.”
“Hmph.” Bu Yingshu seemed pleased by the flattery, the smile at the corners of her mouth widening.
Bu Yingshu then said arrogantly, “Remember this: from now on, when I call you, you must come immediately. If you run into any trouble, just use my name.”
Zhang Yu hurriedly nodded and said, “I understand, Dao Monarch.”
Bu Yingshu smiled faintly at his words. She wasn’t sure why, but lately, everything Zhang Yu said sounded particularly pleasing to her ears.
She suspected it was because she had broken through her own talent while guiding him, which made her view him more favorably.
With this thought, Bu Yingshu said, “Didn’t you have more questions about martial arts? You might as well ask them now.”
Zhang Yu immediately began describing his problems with an intermediate-grade martial art.
Nearby, Zheng Meng lay on her experiment table, watching the bustling activity between Bu Yingshu and Zhang Yu. A flicker of resentment crossed her eyes.
The thought that Bu Yingshu, who used to torment her with new methods every day, hadn’t even glanced at her on the experiment table these past few days sent a chill through Zheng Meng’s heart.
Several hours later, Bu Yingshu once again tossed 10,000 Immortal Coins to Zhang Yu and said, “Go clean yourself up. Be here at the same time tomorrow.”
Finally, after Bu Yingshu and Zhang Yu were done, Zheng Meng hurriedly said, “Dao Monarch…”
Bu Yingshu waved her hand dismissively. “That’s all for today. I’m done with what I needed to do. You can go back.”
Staring blankly at Bu Yingshu’s departing figure, Zheng Meng sighed inwardly. “Alas, an Immortal’s heart is truly unpredictable. That Zhang Yu is just too capable. I can’t compete with him! I just can’t!”
In the days that followed, Zhang Yu continued to receive guidance and undergo experiments under Bu Yingshu’s supervision.
Throughout this process, he diligently sent her daily written reports, constantly updating her on his learning progress.
In the blink of an eye, ten intermediate-grade martial arts derived from the Derivative Cultivation Art had been fully refined by Zhang Yu and Bu Yingshu.
On this day, in front of the experiment table, Bu Yingshu, who had just been tormenting Zhang Yu, suddenly stiffened. A look of joyful surprise flashed in her eyes.
She realized that after casually scanning the latest report Zhang Yu had sent, her Bloodline Talent had broken through again!
“I… I broke through again?”
Bu Yingshu stared at her hands in disbelief, feeling every subtle change coursing through her body.
The entire world grew sharper and clearer, and her connection to the Heavenly Dao felt stronger. Recalling every word and phrase she had just used while experimenting and guiding Zhang Yu, she now seemed to grasp them with new understanding and fresh insights.
If a Level 1 Myriad Laws Immortal Clan Bloodline Talent had merely made it easier for her to comprehend basic cultivation arts, then now, even intermediate-grade cultivation arts seemed easier to cultivate, easier to break through, and easier to refine into Immortal Dao Technology — even to innovate upon…
“To break through again in such a short time…”
“Is this the result of years of arduous cultivation, an accumulation of over eighty years finally bursting forth?”
“No…”
Bu Yingshu thought to herself, “This breakthrough speed is absolutely extraordinary. There’s only one possibility…”
“I actually possess Peerless Talent, but it was never activated before.”
At that moment, Bu Yingshu felt her innate talent was boundless, her Immortal Dao Potential surging. She was a Peerless Genius on the path of the Immortal Dao, an Unparalleled Heavenly Chosen among the Immortal Clan.
At that moment, she felt her future held infinite possibilities.
Bu Yingshu thought to herself, “Who says the Immortal Clan lacks the talent to ascend?”
Scenes flashed through her mind: “Surviving the Thunder Tribulation, achieving ascension, passing the review, and finally attaining immortality… It’s not impossible for me, Bu Yingshu.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu was silently studying the Dao Seed, which had just been upgraded to Level 2.
Through his perception, Zhang Yu realized that after the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan Dao Seed reached Level 2, he could now exchange rewards by refining intermediate-grade cultivation arts in addition to basic ones.
However, rewards obtained from refining basic-grade cultivation arts were generally effective only on basic-grade cultivation arts.
Similarly, rewards from refining intermediate-grade cultivation arts were effective only on intermediate-grade cultivation arts.
“In the future, refining expert-grade, military-grade, and Immortal Sect-level arts… will probably only affect cultivation arts of their respective grades, right?”
“Ten intermediate-grade martial arts… that’s exactly ten draws.”
Zhang Yu used all ten draws at once. Instantly, streams of power surged into his Sea of Consciousness, materializing into ten rewards.
Most of these rewards were still “Selected Intermediate-Grade Cultivation Art Level +1.”
“This ‘Cultivation Art Level +1’ reward…” At first, Zhang Yu thought it was useless. After all, with his talent and aptitude, advancing a cultivation art’s level was incredibly easy for him.
But after some thought, he realized the benefits of such rewards.
“No matter how high my talent or how fast I practice martial arts, due to the Feather Book’s specialization switching limitations, I can only raise one cultivation art from entry-level to max level at a time.”
“But with these ‘Level +1’ rewards, if I accumulate enough of them…”
“Then, when I need them, like right after learning a new cultivation art, or when I break through to a new Cultivation Realm and all my cultivation art caps increase, I can spend all these rewards at once, instantly boosting the levels of numerous cultivation arts.”
At this thought, a faint smile touched Zhang Yu’s lips. He could already picture himself, after breaking through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, instantly raising a large number of cultivation arts to Level 50.
Next, Zhang Yu looked at the upgrade requirements for the next level of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan Dao Seed.
“As expected, it requires refining ten expert-grade cultivation arts simultaneously, doesn’t it?”
Zhang Yu understood immediately. He knew he still needed to cling tightly to Bu Yingshu’s thigh.
By working under Bu Yingshu, Zhang Yu had not only learned many Derivative Cultivation Arts and collected eight sets of the Great Sage Researcher cultivation arts, but he had also upgraded his Myriad Laws Immortal Clan Dao Seed to Level 2. Moreover, he had saved a substantial 150,000 Immortal Coins. His gains were truly immense.
Of course, 150,000 Immortal Coins was still a far cry from the 230,000 he owed.
“Exorbitant profits! Truly exorbitant profits!”
Every time Fu Ji saw Zhang Yu’s savings, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. “The money you earn in a month just by lying around with an Immortal Clan member is more than we could make in two or three years of hard work. To make big money in the sect, you really have to follow the right person, Zhang Yu.”
Zhang Yu scoffed internally. “You’re not the one suffering. Do you think it’s easy being tormented by her every day? I get seriously injured daily. I’ve suffered more injuries these past few days than in the last few years combined.”
“Endure it, Zhang Yu!” Fu Ji encouraged him. “Just hold on for another ten days, and you should have enough to pay off your loan.”
“And keep looking for opportunities. If you can get her to adopt you as her son, our future will be bright!”
Zhang Yu thought grimly, “I’m afraid the moment I say that, she’ll stomp me to death with one foot.”
Over the next few days, although the tests for the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation consistently failed, Bu Yingshu remained patient with Zhang Yu’s questions.
This wasn’t just because she was in a good mood, but also because she had begun trying to summarize the key factors behind her talent’s breakthrough.
“What have I been doing these past few days?”
Images of the laboratory, Zhang Yu, and reports flashed through Bu Yingshu’s mind.
“Is it related to what I’ve been doing lately?”
“Have I failed to awaken my true talent all this time because my methods were wrong?”
Bu Yingshu knew she couldn’t find the answer just by thinking. She needed to act. She decided to repeat everything she had done over the past few days.
And not just repeat…
“Double it!” Bu Yingshu thought. “I’ll double everything I’ve done these past few days and see what happens. Maybe I can gradually develop a method that suits me and gain experience in training my talent.”
That day, as Zhang Yu saw that the laboratory work was nearly finished, he was about to get up and leave.
For some reason, he felt that Bu Yingshu seemed a bit rushed today, finishing things more quickly than usual.
Just then, a voice came from behind him: “Leaving?”
Zhang Yu turned around and asked, “Is there anything else?”
Bu Yingshu said lightly, “You… have no more questions to ask today?”
Zhang Yu’s heart tightened. “What is this woman up to now?”
He replied cautiously, “I don’t have any problems for now.”
Bu Yingshu frowned. “You don’t have a single question? About those Derivative Cultivation Arts you’re practicing?”
Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback. “Derivative Cultivation Arts?”
Every day, with the Feather Book’s enhancement, he pushed a Derivative Martial Art to level 40. Only on the following day, after thorough preparation, would he ask Bu Yingshu for “guidance.”
Right now, Zhang Yu hadn’t yet pushed the next Expert-Grade Technique to level 40. How could he possibly have any “questions”?
Zhang Yu gave a helpless smile. “I haven’t thought of any new questions yet. I’ll come ask you tomorrow, Dao Monarch.”
Bu Yingshu’s frown deepened. “Cut the nonsense. When I tell you to ask, you ask.”
“You damn…” Zhang Yu cursed inwardly. “I’ve already asked everything! I’ve been completely drained dry. What else could I possibly have?”