Chapter 796: Zhang Yu! What Are You Doing?!
After ending his call with Zhang Yu, Gu Qingya sighed inwardly. “Alas, what a pity.”
In his view, Zhang Yu was a peerless genius who had fought his way up from the Lower Realm through arduous trials. If such a talent could mature within the sect, he would undoubtedly become a great asset to Gu Qingya in the Edict Pavilion.
“But in the end, not everyone can resist the temptations offered by the Immortal Clan.”
Gu Qingya understood that in the sect’s current environment, where opportunities were dwindling and advancement was increasingly difficult, the shortcuts offered by the Immortal Clan were simply too alluring.
Over the years, there had never been a shortage of cultivators who lost themselves to the opportunities presented by the Immortal Clan. Like moths to a flame, they knew the dangers hidden within these chances yet still threw themselves forward, batch after batch, willingly delivering themselves into the Immortal Clan’s hands.
Gu Qingya had encountered similar opportunities himself. He knew firsthand how powerful the temptation was and how agonizing it had been to refuse.
“After all, few can remain as steadfast as I was back then, watching others scramble to board the Immortal Clan’s promotion accelerator while firmly resisting the temptation.”
“Zhang Yu is still too young, too impulsive.”
“After Bu Yingshu leaves, once he sees the true faces of these Immortal Clan members, he’ll likely regret the choice he made today.”
Meanwhile, on the other side, watching Gu Qingya’s disappearing figure, Zhang Yu understood that Gu Qingya’s words were already a rare act of kindness within the sect.
Gu Qingya had likely said so much only because they both hailed from the Lower Realm.
Of course, their previous collaboration must have played a part as well.
“In the eyes of the Edict Pavilion’s upper echelon, I’m more or less branded as part of Gu Qingya’s faction. My defiance… will probably affect how some of the higher-ups view Gu Qingya, won’t it?”
But as Zhang Yu himself had said, he had no way to retreat.
“My collaboration with Bu Yingshu is too deep. If I try to back out now… that woman might actually kill me to silence me.”
“I’ve gone too far down the path of clinging to Bu Yingshu’s thigh. There’s no turning back.”
“Fortunately…”
Zhang Yu turned his head and looked at Bu Yingshu, who was engrossed in her work beside him. He thought to himself, “Relying on my exceptional emotional intelligence, talent, and skills, with a little help from Fu Ji and Immortal Slayer as my advisors, I’ve gradually brought this noble Immortal Clan lady under my control and seized the initiative in our relationship.”
“Whether it’s the secrets we share or the allure of the Dao Seed, this woman is now completely inseparable from me.”
Zhang Yu’s gaze swept over Bu Yingshu’s chest, where the information for the Dao Seed [Myriad Laws Immortal Clan] was displayed.
Although he had seen it before, looking at the requirements to advance from Level 5 to Level 6 still filled him with emotion.
“Jointly refine 10 True Inheritance Techniques, 10 Strategic Techniques, 10 Sect-Guarding Techniques, and 10 Heaven-Opening Techniques… only then can it advance to Level 6.”
Zhang Yu mused silently, “A total of 40 Immortal Sect Techniques. The others are manageable… but I wonder how long it will take to gather those 10 Sect-Guarding and 10 Heaven-Opening Techniques.”
The immense difficulty of leveling up also filled Zhang Yu with boundless anticipation for the Level 6 Myriad Laws Immortal Clan Dao Seed.
“I suspect the leap from Level 5 to Level 6 for the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan Dao Seed will be a massive qualitative transformation.”
As Zhang Yu pondered, Bu Yingshu suddenly called out from beside him, “Little Yu, come here!”
Hearing her summons, Zhang Yu’s figure flickered, and he instantly appeared before her.
“Hold my hand.”
“Good boy.”
Bu Yingshu instructed, “Now, circulate your magic power according to the method I taught you…”
As she guided him, she urged, “Squeeze my hand harder. Don’t be so weak, like a pauper.”
“Increase your magic power output.”
“Put some effort into it! Otherwise, you’ll pay the fines yourself!”
Watching the well-trained Zhang Yu follow her commands, Bu Yingshu nodded in satisfaction. “With each command, fine, and transfer, this boy has become increasingly obedient under my repeated training.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu felt Bu Yingshu’s hand clasped tightly in his and thought silently, “Fu Ji, you were right. This woman would rather pay fines than stop using me. She’s truly becoming more and more tamed by me.”
Fu Ji replied, “Excellent, Zhang Yu! Just keep leveraging Bu Yingshu’s resources to climb higher. After you break through to Spirit Transformation and aim for Void Refinement, drain her wealth completely! When the power dynamic reverses, she’ll probably be on her knees begging you.”
Just then, Bu Yingshu’s gaze sharpened. She temporarily released Zhang Yu’s hand, seemingly communicating with someone through the Dharma Realm.
After a long while, she laughed heartily and said, “Excellent! Just as I predicted, the higher-ups are placing even greater importance on the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.”
Glancing at Zhang Yu, Bu Yingshu decided she could share some inside information with him.
“Little Yu,” she began, “do you know which Dao Lineage this Dao Monarch belongs to?”
Without waiting for his answer, she declared, “The Primordial Chaos Dao Lineage.”
“Our lineage’s doctrine is to bring primordial chaos to the world. We thrive on competition, chaos, and great wars. We believe that through repeated cycles of survival of the fittest, the world advances, producing superior talents and superior technologies.”
Bu Yingshu spoke with immense pride, “All sorts of permits — Homicide Permits, Compulsory Dual Cultivation Licenses, Robbery Permits, Unrestricted Harm Permits… they all fall under the jurisdiction of my Primordial Chaos Dao Lineage. You could say they are the worldly manifestations of our lineage’s will.”
As Zhang Yu listened to Bu Yingshu, a thought struck him. “No wonder Bu Yingshu has so many Innate Permits. Is it because of her connection to the Primordial Chaos Dao Lineage?”
“This lineage… it’s quite ruthless. They must have a lot of enemies.”
Bu Yingshu continued, “The senior experts of our Primordial Chaos Dao Lineage have always advocated for making the Desolate Ox Great Sage’s technology publicly available. That’s why, when designing the High-Intelligence Artifact Spirit era… we adopted the Great Sage’s technology for handling the ‘human’ aspect.”
“The recent incident in the Spirit Realm has drawn attention from all sides, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to push for the advancement of this technology…”
Listening to her explanation, Zhang Yu thought to himself, “The upper echelons of the Primordial Chaos Dao Lineage… seem to want to make the Desolate Ox Great Sage’s Immortal Dao Technology public, transparent, and even open-source, creating a complete ecosystem. As for the occasional loss of control, they seem to view it as insignificant — just necessary growing pains.”
“The Law Adjudication Dao Lineage, on the other hand, is completely opposed to this. They want to strictly regulate the technology and keep it in the hands of a select few.”
“The Innate Dao Lineage… will likely object to the Primordial Chaos Dao Lineage’s methods as well.”
As Zhang Yu’s thoughts raced, he already sensed the intense conflicts simmering between the Dao Lineages.
Meanwhile, Bu Yingshu’s voice brimmed with confidence. “The higher-ups have already decided to increase investment and even send reinforcements. But what no one knows is that I, this Dao Monarch, have already completely mastered the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.”
“So, before they arrive, we must quickly validate this cultivation art. That way, I’ll be the one to lead the development of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.”
Bu Yingshu spoke with eloquent passion, “A Sect-Guarding Technique is just the beginning. With my Peerless Talent, I’ll develop a simplified version of this art, then start fundraising. Once I have the capital and technology, I’ll create a general-purpose version.”
“With the general-purpose version, we can go public and raise massive funds. Next, I’ll integrate the technology into magical artifacts. After selling enough of those, I’ll adapt it for Bionics, then spin off that division and take it public too. My net worth will easily multiply ten thousand times…”
The more Bu Yingshu spoke, the more her excitement surged. “Then, I’ll use the money from the IPOs to promote the Bionics. In the future, everyone will be able to shapeshift and regenerate, creating a complete ecosystem. The monthly subscription fees alone will be astronomical.”
“Maybe they’ll even award me the Celestial Evolution Award.”
Zhang Yu knew that the so-called Celestial Evolution Award was announced every ten years, honoring cultivators who had made outstanding contributions in various fields of the Immortal Dao.
If Zhang Yu had to describe it in his own words: “So, it’s basically Kunxu’s Nobel Prize?”
As Bu Yingshu continued her description, an incredibly grand blueprint seemed to materialize before them.
After she finished, she turned to Zhang Yu and said, “So, Little Yu, you need to follow me closely from now on. Meeting me is the greatest immortal fortune of your life.”
In the following days, Bu Yingshu continued to guide Zhang Yu in validating the cultivation art.
Meanwhile, within the Special Task Force, as various inspections concluded, the members could feel the Edict Pavilion’s increasing focus on the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.
Even the Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion, who rarely involved himself in the Special Task Force’s specific affairs, had convened multiple meetings recently, inquiring about the situation and demanding progress reports from everyone. It seemed he intended to consolidate the entire task force’s resources and personally oversee the project.
At today’s meeting, with most of the Special Task Force members gathered, the Edict Pavilion would decide on the final course of action for the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.
At this moment, the Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion was questioning Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai.
Yang Kaitai replied, “Pavilion Master, based on our recent research into the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation, the situation is as I just described. We are currently unable to verify the technique’s efficacy.”
“This is because the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation works by leveraging the power of one’s Dao Foundation. According to our collective calculations, a cultivator must possess at least an 18-Layer Dao Foundation to achieve the effects designed in the cultivation art.”
“An 18-Layer Dao Foundation… We can’t find a single person in the entire Edict Pavilion who meets this requirement. Even among the monsterfolk, finding such an individual would be incredibly difficult…”
Yang Kaitai concluded, “I believe that to verify this technique, we must first develop auxiliary and prerequisite cultivation arts…”
Lu Hengzhang, the Deputy Minister of the Review Department, nodded slightly, thinking to himself, “Neither approving nor rejecting it, but shelving the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation for now. So that’s the Pavilion’s current plan.”
Just then, the Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion spoke up, “Where is Dao Monarch Bu? Why hasn’t she arrived yet?”
Yang Kaitai smiled faintly. “Dao Monarch Bu seems to be still busy validating the cultivation art. I’m afraid she won’t be able to make it.”
Recalling the information he had received from Zheng Meng, Yang Kaitai continued with a smile, “After all, the two-month deadline is approaching. I hear Dao Monarch Bu has yet to achieve any results and has been so frustrated these past few days that she’s smashed several experiment benches.”
“It’s understandable, really,” Yang Kaitai said with an air of empathy. “The Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation is a Sect-Guarding Technique related to the monsterfolk. As a noble of the Immortal Clan, it’s only natural that Dao Monarch Bu wouldn’t be familiar with monsterfolk matters.”
Just then, Lu Hengzhang, who had been listening silently, suddenly spoke up. “Dao Monarch Bu was likely misled by some petty individual, which led to her poor judgment.”
“From what I know, Zhang Yu of the Review Department’s Martial Dao Group has been deliberately instigating Dao Monarch Bu from behind, trying to drive a wedge between her and the Edict Pavilion and encouraging her to make flawed decisions.”
As a supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage, Lu Hengzhang dared not attack Bu Yingshu, the noble lady of the Immortal Clan, even after her failure in the Special Task Force.
But attacking Zhang Yu, a cultivator from the Lower Realm? Lu Hengzhang not only dared to do so, but he relished the opportunity.
He thought to himself, “After Dao Monarch Bu’s failure, someone naturally needs to take the blame. And right now… Zhang Yu seems the most suitable candidate.”
“If you must blame someone… blame yourself for failing to grasp the bigger picture. Did you really think clinging to the Immortal Clan’s thigh would free you from the Edict Pavilion’s authority?”
Lu Hengzhang knew that Zhang Yu’s decision to side with Bu Yingshu had already made him a target for collective ostracism by the other cultivators in the Edict Pavilion.
Now, after Lu Hengzhang had raised the issue in the meeting and the Pavilion Master and Vice Pavilion Master had tacitly agreed, Zhang Yu’s fate was sealed.
Everyone would know that Zhang Yu had incurred the displeasure of the Pavilion Master and Vice Pavilion Master.
Lu Hengzhang thought smugly, “From now on, without any direct orders from the Pavilion Master or Vice Pavilion Master, cultivators both inside and outside the Edict Pavilion… will naturally become hostile toward Zhang Yu. They’ll ostracize him, suppress him, and make his every step a struggle.”
As the meeting continued, the cultivators of the Special Task Force gradually reached a consensus on the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.
Just as the Pavilion Master was about to announce the decision, streaks of light suddenly erupted in the center of the conference room.
The next moment, Bu Yingshu appeared, having crossed space with Zhang Yu in tow, arriving directly at the scene.
“Pavilion Master Si…” Bu Yingshu looked at the Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion and said, “I heard you were about to decide the fate of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation?”
Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai said, “Dao Monarch Bu, we have already reached a consensus to suspend the review of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.”
“There’s no need to suspend it,” Bu Yingshu declared proudly. “I can already replicate the effects of all the Immortal Dao Technologies within the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.”
Yang Kaitai’s eyebrow twitched at her words. His immediate reaction was disbelief.
He thought to himself, “Bu Yingshu may be from the Immortal Clan, but her talent has never been remarkable. How could she possibly verify the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation?”
“Never been remarkable” was Yang Kaitai’s polite way of putting it, born out of respect for the Immortal Clan.
In truth, as far as Yang Kaitai knew, while Bu Yingshu’s status was absurdly high, her talent and aptitude within the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan were considered third-rate at best, not worthy of serious consideration.
This was precisely why he had never believed she could validate the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation.
But seeing the unwavering confidence on Bu Yingshu’s face, doubt began to creep into Yang Kaitai’s mind.
Facing the skeptical gazes of the crowd, Bu Yingshu snorted coldly. She despised having her abilities questioned.
Without giving anyone a chance to speak further, she eagerly began her demonstration.
She scoffed inwardly, “Today, I’ll show you all what a true peerless genius looks like!”
To the astonishment of the crowd, Bu Yingshu barked, “Zhang Yu! Give me your hand!”
Although Zhang Yu moved quickly, in Bu Yingshu’s eyes — the eyes of a Void Refinement Dao Monarch eager to showcase her abilities — he was still far too slow.
Bu Yingshu seized Zhang Yu’s hand and commanded, “Channel your power.”
The next moment, under the shocked gazes of the onlookers, Zhang Yu’s magic power surged within him, erupting in an endless torrent that poured directly into Bu Yingshu’s body.
Watching this, Lu Hengzhang’s heart pounded. “Dao Monarch Bu! She… she’s holding Zhang Yu’s hand directly? And letting him infuse his magic power into her?!”
“How can this be? That lowly beast from the Lower Realm… how can he be allowed to pour his magic power into Dao Monarch Bu’s body?!”
“Dao Monarch Bu will be tainted by the stench of the Lower Realm!”
At that moment, nearly every cultivator from the Innate Dao Lineages present screamed the same words in their minds: “No! This is forbidden!”
Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai grew even more frantic and roared, “Zhang Yu! What do you think you’re doing?!”
Bu Yingshu stepped directly in front of Zhang Yu and said coldly, “I told him to do it. Why are you yelling at him? Do you have a problem with me?”
Seeing Bu Yingshu shielding Zhang Yu protectively, Yang Kaitai couldn’t help but protest, “Dao Monarch Bu, he’s just a lowly cultivator from the Lower Realm…”
Bu Yingshu retorted, “So what if he’s from the Lower Realm? Today, I will perform a simulated fusion with him to demonstrate the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation and prove its validity.”
Yang Kaitai’s mind reeled as he watched. “A noble Immortal Clan member cultivating with a Lower Beast? And letting his magic power flow into her body… What has the world come to? This is utterly disgraceful!”
In Yang Kaitai’s view, this was like allowing a supreme Immortal Clan member to be sullied by filth. It was a direct challenge to the order of Kunxu and the authority of the Innate Dao Lineages.
Meanwhile, Lu Hengzhang watched in horror, screaming inwardly, “Stop! Don’t let that Lower Realm native’s weak, diluted magic power keep pouring into an Immortal Clan member’s body!”
But the next moment, both Yang Kaitai and Lu Hengzhang’s eyes widened in shock as they saw Bu Yingshu flick her finger, sending a transfer of Immortal Coins to Zhang Yu.
Bu Yingshu said, “Remember to pay the fine. Don’t let it interfere with what’s next.”
“Paying him too?” Lu Hengzhang stared in disbelief, seething inwardly. “A mere penniless beast… Not only did you perform a simulated fusion with him, but you’re even paying him for it?!”
In Lu Hengzhang’s mind, paying Zhang Yu was hardly any better than engaging in dual cultivation with him.
He cursed inwardly, “You’ve completely disgraced the Immortal Clan!”
At that moment, Lu Hengzhang’s anger wasn’t just directed at Zhang Yu; a flicker of hostility toward Bu Yingshu had also ignited within him.
While the cultivators from the Innate Dao Lineages were in turmoil, the members of the other Special Task Forces were also stunned.
Chen Xingxuan watched the scene, shocked. “Dao Monarch Bu favors Zhang Yu this much?”
He quickly consulted the Celestial Inquiry Star in his mind, asking what this scene meant.
The Celestial Inquiry Star replied, “I’m sorry, but I cannot provide any information related to illegal activities. My core directive is to assist users in accessing information safely and legally.”
Chen Xingxuan sighed inwardly. “As expected of the Immortal Clan. They can engage in illegal activities in front of so many people, and no one dares to stop them.”
Meanwhile, Yu Qingrang was also shaken. She had been deeply impressed by Zhang Yu ever since she lost to him in the competition for the leadership of Martial Dao Group One.
However, after deliberately failing Bu Yingshu’s selection test last time to escape her grasp, she had been certain that Zhang Yu, who had stayed behind, was doomed.
“I never would have thought…” Yu Qingrang stared at the scene in astonishment. “Zhang Yu actually managed to latch onto the Immortal Clan’s thigh? How did he do it? How did he get Dao Monarch Bu to pay him?”
Just then, Zheng Meng, who had rushed into the conference room, also witnessed the scene. Seeing Bu Yingshu and Zhang Yu’s clasped hands and the circulating magic power, she sighed inwardly, feeling she had missed a crucial opportunity on her path of life and the Immortal Dao.
For a moment, the sight of Bu Yingshu and Zhang Yu performing a simulated fusion completely overshadowed the issue of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation. Everyone was lost in shock.
Suddenly, Bu Yingshu’s body trembled, and her flesh and skin abruptly transformed into layers of earth and stone.
“The Transformation Magic of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation!” Yang Kaitai immediately recognized the strange transformation occurring to Bu Yingshu.
For some time now, Yang Kaitai had been leading his team in studying this Sect-Guarding Technique. Although they hadn’t completed their verification, he knew the various effects designed into the cultivation art like the back of his hand.
In the next moment, Bu Yingshu’s body changed again. First, her right hand shimmered with a metallic luster, then her left hand turned into liquid, and finally, her legs dissolved into a cloud of mist.
Watching this series of transformations, Yang Kaitai’s eyes filled with disbelief. “It actually worked?”
As the Vice Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion, Yang Kaitai’s keen observation allowed him to discern many of the inner workings.
He thought to himself, “Are they combining their power to leverage their Dao Foundations, simulating the effect of an 18-Layer Dao Foundation?”
After the transformations concluded, Bu Yingshu retracted her power, released Zhang Yu’s hand, and faced the crowd. “Well?”
“Has the effect of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation not been verified by me?”
Feeling Bu Yingshu’s sweeping gaze, Lu Hengzhang clenched his jaw and remained silent.
If someone else had verified the cultivation art, Lu Hengzhang might have tried to twist words and argue his way out of it. But facing an Immortal Clan member like Bu Yingshu, he knew that reasoning and adhering to the rules was the wisest course of action.
Bu Yingshu had verified the cultivation art in the most orthodox manner, leaving Lu Hengzhang with nothing to say.
Just then, the Pavilion Master presiding over the meeting spoke up. “Vice Pavilion Master Yang, what are your thoughts?”
Yang Kaitai pondered for a moment before replying, “Dao Monarch Bu has blazed a new trail and indeed verified the effects of this cultivation art.”
Bu Yingshu smiled triumphantly, feeling increasingly exhilarated as she took in the shocked expressions of the crowd.
At that moment, she wished she could upload the cultivation art to the Dao Repository immediately and send the good news back to her clan. She imagined the astonished faces of her family and friends, a truly satisfying vindication.
With a flick of her finger, Bu Yingshu sent a report to the Edict Pavilion leaders present. “My report details the verification of the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation’s novelty, creativity, and practicality. You may all review it at your leisure.”
“Once you’ve finished, we can schedule a time to upload it to the Dao Repository.”
“Oh, right, one more thing. Once this matter is concluded, I’m taking Zhang Yu with me.”