Chapter 790: Tracking the Great Sage’s Heir
Deep within the Spirit Realm, the discussion about the Great Sage’s Heir continued.
“I don’t think we should wait any longer. We can’t just passively wait for the Great Sage’s Heir to appear, we must actively seek him out.”
“Although we can’t track his exact identity, I’ve reviewed the Spirit Realm records from the Myriad Laws Sect on the Kunxu Eleventh Layer, based on the approximate location where the Great Sage’s Intent vanished. Based on the current clues related to the Desolate Ox Great Sage, I’ve identified four suspicious locations.”
“We shouldn’t wait any longer.”
“Notify the Myriad Laws Sect. Have them cooperate with us to thoroughly investigate all four suspicious locations.”
“What if the Myriad Laws Sect refuses to cooperate? As far as I know, there are factions within the sect that want to revive the Desolate Ox technology. If you let them discover the Great Sage’s Heir, they’ll likely try to secretly cultivate and exploit him.”
“Then it will be a test of these sect cultivators’ loyalty to their sect.”
In the Special Task Force’s laboratory.
Lu Hengzhang read Zheng Meng’s message and sneered inwardly. “Are those two together every single day?”
Zheng Meng: “Last time I was cleaning the room, I saw Dao Monarch Bu transfer 8,000 Immortal Coins to Zhang Yu. It seems she pays him that amount every day she makes him work overtime.”
“What?”
“8,000 Immortal Coins?”
“Every day?!”
Hearing that Zhang Yu was earning 8,000 Immortal Coins daily, Lu Hengzhang felt even worse than when Bu Yingshu had grabbed his head and cost him a month’s salary in one go.
“A slave who clawed his way up from the Lower Realm, and you’re treating him like a precious treasure, showering him with 8,000 Immortal Coins a day? You’re going to bring shame to the entire Myriad Laws Immortal Clan.”
At that moment, Lu Hengzhang felt a deep sense of grief and indignation.
In his view, Bu Yingshu’s closeness to a Lower Realm native like Zhang Yu, while distancing herself from loyal supporters of the Innate Dao Lineage like them, was a complete betrayal of priorities and a moral collapse. It was a classic case of favoring outsiders over one’s own kin.
“We suppress the Lower Realm, enforce order, and maintain the sect’s hierarchy, isn’t it all for the sake of the Myriad Laws Sect? Isn’t it to ensure the Immortal Clans remain forever supreme?”
“Why can’t Dao Monarch Bu understand our painstaking efforts?”
Lu Hengzhang wanted to admonish Bu Yingshu again, but a flashback flickered through his mind. The head she had gripped last time began to throb with a phantom ache.
“Sigh…”
With a sigh, Lu Hengzhang turned his gaze back to the cultivators working under him.
Fortunately, progress had been smooth recently. Lu Hengzhang was confident that the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation had absolutely no chance of passing. In just over a month, when the project ended, the Special Task Force would be disbanded…
“By then, Dao Monarch Bu should realize her mistake.”
But in the next moment, Lu Hengzhang’s expression abruptly shifted to one of deep reverence as he listened intently to Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai’s voice.
“A leader from the regulatory department is coming for a surprise inspection?”
Meanwhile, in Bu Yingshu’s laboratory.
When Zhang Yu regained his senses, he found himself back in the Special Task Force’s lab, with Bu Yingshu’s busy and slightly anxious figure before him.
The earth-shattering battles he had just witnessed felt like a dream, already fading from his mind.
But Zhang Yu could feel that the Great Sage’s Intent, as if drawn by an unseen force, was rapidly pouring a massive amount of information into his Desolate Ox Intent.
As the two intents merged, he sensed that the Desolate Ox Intent had become noticeably more agile and vibrant.
Immediately after, Fu Ji’s voice resounded in Zhang Yu’s mind: “Zhang Yu? How did it go? What did you see this time?”
Zhang Yu then recounted everything he had witnessed through the Great Sage’s Intent.
Upon hearing his account, Fu Ji hurriedly asked, “What happened next?”
Zhang Yu replied, “That’s all.”
“That’s all? It didn’t even say who won or lost?”
Zhang Yu explained, “I’m afraid I’ll have to connect with the Great Sage’s Intent again to learn the outcome.”
Immortal Slayer remarked, “Ultimately, they must have lost. Otherwise, Kunxu wouldn’t be in its current state. I just wonder what kind of defeat the Desolate Ox Great Sage suffered.”
Immortal Slayer sighed with emotion. “To think there were once such rebels in the past, an era when humans and monsterfolk fought side by side against the Immortals.”
Recalling the current relationship between humans and monsterfolk, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but nod slightly. “The monsterfolk of the past served humanity with unwavering devotion. But now, it seems that ironclad rule is no longer ingrained in their bloodline. Their methods of reproduction are also vastly different, no longer produced by the so-called First Monster Saint.”
Just then, he heard the Desolate Ox say, “Humans are our best friends.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s heart stirred. He asked, “You can communicate simply now?”
The Desolate Ox replied, “Yes.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up as he hurriedly asked, “What else do you remember?”
The Desolate Ox responded, “Detailed technical explanations regarding the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation…”
Watching the Desolate Ox rattle off data like a waiter reciting a menu, Zhang Yu thought to himself that he had been too optimistic earlier.
Sure enough, after a series of tests, the Desolate Ox Intent, while stronger than before, was only marginally so.
Immortal Slayer summarized, “It can probably understand vague commands and possesses basic reasoning and associative abilities.”
Zhang Yu said, “At least the detailed technical explanations for the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation are still very useful.”
A moment later, Zhang Yu walked over to Bu Yingshu’s side and began subtly guiding her, using the technical principles he now knew to trigger her self-enlightenment.
Just a few hours later, Bu Yingshu’s eyes shone as she exclaimed, “I understand!”
“So it’s like this… So that’s how it is…”
“This Reorganization Technique places incredibly high demands on a cultivator. If one cultivator can’t replicate it, then two can…”
Bu Yingshu looked at Zhang Yu beside her and said, “Come, do as I say.”
Soon after, following numerous failures, their vital energy and magic power collided in mid-air. This time, however, they gradually merged, transforming into a new form.
Watching this, Bu Yingshu nodded slightly. “That’s it. The Dao of Transformation in the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation is about achieving myriad changes while retaining the ability to separate, combine, and freely control the transformation and fusion of one’s own flesh, blood, and power…”
Zhang Yu mused thoughtfully, “If that’s the case… does it mean that if multiple cultivators practice the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation, they can also combine with each other?”
Bu Yingshu smiled faintly. “You have a keen eye.”
“The Immortal Dao Technology within this was originally designed to create a collective lifeform, fusing billions of individuals into a single crucible, all controlled by one consciousness.”
Zhang Yu’s mind stirred at her words, and he immediately thought of the Desolate Ox Great Sage.
He asked, “It seems this Immortal Dao Technology isn’t widely used at present?”
Bu Yingshu nodded. “Although it’s very effective, cultivators at the time saw significant risks. It’s said that it even caused several large-scale disasters.”
“After that, the related Immortal Dao Technology was sealed away. Only a small portion remained in use or was studied by a few individuals.”
“But times have changed. With the great strides in Immortal Dao Technology, the risks of the past are no longer insurmountable. The seal is no longer necessary.”
Zhang Yu immediately pictured the billions of Desolate Oxen from the Great Sage’s memories. He asked, “Is the seal being lifted now to create these so-called collective lifeforms?”
By now, Bu Yingshu had refined nearly half of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation’s techniques, and her own talent had grown immensely, filling her with satisfaction.
In her eyes, Zhang Yu had become her exclusive tool, a bound subordinate she would never let go.
So this time, when Zhang Yu asked his question, Bu Yingshu didn’t brush him off as before. Instead, she replied with a hint of pride, “Little Yu, do you know about high-intelligence Artifact Spirits?”
Seeing Zhang Yu nod slightly, Bu Yingshu continued, “Then you should know that the development of high-intelligence Artifact Spirit technology within the Myriad Laws Sect is currently booming. It’s even reached a point where people are scrambling to seize spiritual energy everywhere.”
“The ultimate goal of high-intelligence Artifact Spirits is to replace manual labor, allowing them to handle the vast majority of tasks required both inside and outside the sect.”
“Originally, achieving this goal was expected to take a considerable amount of time.”
“But in recent years, with rapid breakthroughs in certain Immortal Dao Technologies related to high-intelligence Artifact Spirits, that timeline is constantly shortening.”
At this point, Bu Yingshu changed the subject. “Although this sounds wonderful…”
“Where’s the wonderful part?” Zhang Yu thought silently.
Bu Yingshu continued, “Not everyone agrees with this approach. high-intelligence Artifact Spirits and humans are, after all, fundamentally different. Humans… hold extraordinary significance in many Dao Lineages.”
“But if we abandon profit for the sake of meaning, leaving highly efficient high-intelligence Artifact Spirits unused and insisting on manual labor, wouldn’t that be defying the Heavenly Dao, going against nature, and falling into the Demonic Path?”
Bu Yingshu said, “So… how to deal with the surplus population has become a problem.”
“And yet, of all things… although the Myriad Laws Sect ranks among the top two of the Ten Great Sects in overall strength, when it comes to ‘handling people,’ we are still somewhat lacking compared to Demonic Sects like the Netherworld Palace and the Heavenly Demon Sect.”
“So, someone revived this once-abandoned Immortal Dao Technology route: forging humans into a collective lifeform. By sharing consciousness, thoughts, memories, and even physical bodies, they aim to create a flesh-and-blood version of a high-intelligence Artifact Spirit — one that aggregates the wisdom and knowledge of all beings.”
Zhang Yu’s heart sank upon hearing this. He could almost see the countless beings of Kunxu being stirred together by invisible, giant hands, merging into a single mass of flesh and blood…
Bu Yingshu continued, “However… not everyone will be merged. Those who can compete with high-intelligence Artifact Spirits won’t be included. And you, as my follower, won’t be merged either.”
“Besides, this is just a final vision. In practice, it will still take a considerable amount of time. The original technology is now somewhat outdated and can’t keep up with the new era.”
“So, after unsealing it, it will need to undergo numerous updates to fix its original flaws and adapt to the current Dharma Realm environment. Then, we’ll use monsterfolk for experiments.”
“This will require introducing a large number of monsterfolk into the sect and placing them in various positions. After all, the more comprehensive and abundant the data, the faster the related technology can be developed…”
Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. He had originally thought that activating the Desolate Ox Great Sage series of technology was to pave the way for introducing monsterfolk into the sect, creating a “catfish effect” to further enhance the Myriad Laws Sect’s competitiveness.
He never expected these people to be even more ruthless than he had imagined.
“Are they planning to turn everyone… into something like the Desolate Ox Great Sage?”
“No,” Immortal Slayer replied. “They’ll turn them into something far worse.”
Zhang Yu was certain in his heart that if they truly went through with this, the Immortals would make thorough preparations, leaving no possibility for resistance.
Immortal Slayer added, “But if they don’t, most people will be replaced by high-intelligence Artifact Spirits and lose their jobs. Their fate won’t be any better.”
Zhang Yu lamented inwardly. In Kunxu, he always seemed to face these no-win situations.
“For a cultivator, whether it’s being rendered obsolete by a high-intelligence Artifact Spirit or becoming part of a so-called ‘collective lifeform,’ neither outcome is a good thing…”
At that moment, a surge of fighting spirit welled up within him.
“I must climb higher. Only by reaching the very top can I hope to change any of this.”
At the same time, Bu Yingshu, who was beside him, continued, “Alright, now you should understand… just what a heaven-shakingly momentous event you and this Dao Monarch are undertaking, right?”
Zhang Yu smiled. “A heaven-shakingly momentous event is something only a Dao Monarch like you could accomplish. Ordinary people like us are merely serving the Dao Monarch. To have the opportunity to participate in such a historic event is already an immense honor.”
Bu Yingshu chuckled. “You certainly know your place. Stay by my side from now on. As long as I protect you, I can guarantee your safety for ten thousand generations.”
“Come, watch as this Dao Monarch summarizes the fourth Immortal Dao Technology I just refined.”
Watching Bu Yingshu’s figure, a trace of doubt arose in Zhang Yu’s mind. “If this is truly the heaven-shakingly momentous event she claims, sending only Bu Yingshu seems insufficient, doesn’t it?”
Immortal Slayer replied, “Their original plan was likely just to test the waters, a probing attack. They never expected Bu Yingshu’s progress to be so smooth.”
“And according to Bu Yingshu, the development of high-intelligence Artifact Spirits has probably already caught the attention of many high-ranking figures.”
“But after high-intelligence Artifact Spirits replace human labor, how to deal with the redundant population… I doubt even the higher-ups have settled on a specific solution for that problem.”
Immortal Slayer sighed. “Based on my understanding of the Myriad Laws Sect, the different Dao Lineages will likely propose different solutions, each tailored to benefit themselves.”
“For example, the solution Bu Yingshu mentioned is probably different from, and even conflicts with, the one proposed by the Innate Dao Lineage.”
“Ultimately, which solution the Immortals choose will depend on the competition and compromises between them.”
As Zhang Yu pondered this, Bu Yingshu spoke up from beside him. “Little Yu, come and perform a joint strike with me again. We need to replicate the fourth Immortal Dao Technology so I can record it for the report.”
“Just follow my movements…”
“Never mind, you’re too weak. Don’t move. I’ll do it.”
While Zhang Yu and Bu Yingshu were engrossed in their work, a notification suddenly appeared before everyone in the Special Task Force.
“Urgent notice? A surprise inspection?”
Seeing the notification, Zhang Yu quickly warned, “Dao Monarch, the higher-ups are coming for an inspection.”
Bu Yingshu didn’t even look up. “We’ll deal with it later.”
Zheng Meng also sent a message: “Dao Monarch, the higher-ups are demanding everyone assemble within three minutes.”
Bu Yingshu, still busy, clicked her tongue and looked up impatiently. “Inspection, inspection… what’s there to inspect?”