Chapter 797: Bu Yingshu’s Imprint
“She wants to take Zhang Yu with her?”
Hearing Bu Yingshu’s words, the cultivators present were once again shaken to the core.
“Is she serious?”
Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai gazed intently at Bu Yingshu, and at Zhang Yu standing behind her.
He had originally thought that no matter how much Bu Yingshu favored Zhang Yu, she would gradually sever ties with him once the Special Task Force’s mission was over and she left the Edict Pavilion.
He never imagined that simply using Zhang Yu in the Special Task Force wasn’t enough for her and she actually wanted to take him with her when she left.
Yang Kaitai wondered inwardly, Why? What’s so special about this Zhang Yu that Dao Monarch Bu would go so far as to snatch this Lower Realm native away?
As a staunch supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage, Yang Kaitai found this utterly unacceptable.
If Bu Yingshu’s previous actions were like tossing a few scraps to a stray dog on the street, her current move was akin to adopting that stray and raising it as a pet of the Immortal Clan.
In Yang Kaitai’s eyes, such an act was a flagrant violation of public order and decency.
“If all members of the Immortal Clan did this, if everyone started recklessly adopting stray dogs, then every stray dog would start dreaming of latching onto an Immortal Clan member to take a shortcut. Who would still work diligently and earnestly? Who would still follow the proper procedures for promotion? What order would be left in the sect? Wouldn’t it descend into utter chaos?”
“It’s one thing to toy with a lower cultivation cultivator, but to actually bring him home?”
At this thought, Yang Kaitai couldn’t help but try to persuade her again. “Dao Monarch Bu, please reconsider.”
Bu Yingshu glared at Yang Kaitai, her voice unwavering. “My mind is made up. I am taking this person with me.”
“To be honest with you, my official business here at the Edict Pavilion had two purposes. The first was to review the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation…”
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Bu Yingshu continued slowly, “…and the second was to find an outstanding talent from the Edict Pavilion who is proficient in martial dao review and take them under my wing.”
“I’ve been observing Zhang Yu’s performance over the past few months, and I am extremely satisfied.”
As she spoke, ignoring the envious and jealous stares from the crowd, Bu Yingshu firmly patted Zhang Yu’s head and paid the fine.
“Therefore, I have decided to take him to the Martial Arts Pavilion, to give him a broader platform to fully showcase his talent.”
By saying this, Bu Yingshu intended to leave her indelible mark on Zhang Yu, making it clear to everyone that he was now her person.
This would also serve to intimidate any troublemakers, preventing any unfortunate incidents during the transitional period after she left the Edict Pavilion but before Zhang Yu’s transfer was finalized.
Hearing Bu Yingshu’s words, Chen Xingxuan’s heart jolted. “So Dao Monarch Bu came to the Edict Pavilion this time intending to pick up a lower cultivation cultivator to take with her?”
“Dao Monarch Bu, why didn’t you say so earlier?!”
A wave of bitter regret washed over Chen Xingxuan. He felt like a stray dog that had just missed its chance at adoption, staring longingly in Bu Yingshu’s direction as he hastily sent her his resume.
At the same time, he recalled the results of his several inquiries to the Celestial Inquiry Star.
Every time, it was ‘this cannot be disclosed’ or ‘that cannot be revealed.’ Anything involving the Immortal Clan was a violation of relevant laws, and nothing could be said…
He thought grimly, So that’s it! The shortcuts to Immortal Cultivation are all hidden within that forbidden content, and the Celestial Inquiry Star can’t reveal any of it!
Meanwhile, Yu Qingrang was consumed by deep regret. I could be your dog too!
The thought that she had just missed a chance to serve the Immortal Clan like a dog made her regret her earlier decision to withdraw from the test even more fiercely. Watching Zhang Yu, who was even being paid by Bu Yingshu, Yu Qingrang’s envy intensified, and she wished she could take his place.
On what grounds? Lu Hengzhang desperately wanted to stand up and shout. Zhang Yu belongs to our Edict Pavilion! Don’t think you can just take him away because you’re from the Immortal Clan! If you’re so capable, take me with you too!
But Lu Hengzhang knew it would be useless even if he did. Dao Monarch Bu’s prejudice against him was too deep; she would never take him.
Besides…
Lu Hengzhang glanced at Yang Kaitai, whose expression had returned to calm, and then at the Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion, who had remained as still as an ancient well from start to finish, betraying no emotion.
He thought grimly, Will the Pavilion Master and the others… really go along with Dao Monarch Bu’s wishes? I doubt it. This could easily escalate into a conflict between different Dao Lineages, and Zhang Yu would be torn to shreds in the crossfire.
Though it was only a possibility, Lu Hengzhang deeply wished his malicious speculation would come true.
Meanwhile, Zheng Meng stared blankly at the scene of Dao Monarch Bu forcefully demanding Zhang Yu from the Edict Pavilion, her heart filled with a storm of conflicting emotions.
Bu Yingshu, annoyed by the constant stream of private messages popping up before her, snapped, “Alright, stop spamming me! I’m only taking Zhang Yu. The rest of you can forget it.”
With that, she turned to the Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion and said, “Pavilion Master Si, when can we upload the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation to the Dao Repository? The higher-ups are paying close attention to this. The sooner we complete it, the better.”
After some discussion, Bu Yingshu led her team to the Dao Seeking Hall that very day to connect to the Dao Repository and perform the final confirmation and submission.
As the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation passed the Dao Repository’s final review, the special task force’s work on this Sect-Guarding-Tier Immortal Sect Technique was officially complete.
Having finished everything, Bu Yingshu let out a long sigh of relief. A heavy weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, and she felt that all her efforts over the past few days had finally paid off.
She then turned to Zhang Yu and said, “Little Yu, I’m heading back to the Martial Arts Pavilion first. You stay here at the Edict Pavilion and wait for my news.”
“Don’t worry,” Bu Yingshu said with a proud smile. “With my recent achievements, the clan won’t dare object when I pull you over.”
“Once you officially become the Martial Dao Group Leader and reach the 3rd Rank, I’ll transfer you over and immediately promote you another level to the 4th Rank.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s heart pounded fiercely.
He knew all too well that the difference between the 3rd and 4th Ranks in the Myriad Laws Sect was a qualitative leap.
Without opportunity or a patron’s support, he could remain the leader of Martial Dao Group One for a hundred years without ever getting a chance to advance.
The 4th Rank not only expanded one’s access to the 14th Layer of Kunxu but also granted the Spirit Transformation Certificate, allowing one to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.
At this thought, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The Spirit Transformation Certificate… Teacher Magnetic Pole and the others spent so many years in the Lower Realm, and they only managed to obtain it by taking advantage of the war.
Who knows how many Nascent Soul Cultivators in the Lower Realm have been hopelessly stuck at this stage for years.
To think that I’ve only been in the sect for just over a year, and I’m already on the verge of breaking through to Spirit Transformation.
This realization made Zhang Yu marvel even more at the abundance of opportunities within the sect and the immense privileges of the Immortal Clan.
Just then, Immortal Slayer’s voice echoed in Zhang Yu’s mind: “Once you reach the 4th Rank and break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, you’ll be able to go to the 14th Layer and claim the inheritance Master left behind.”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly. He was, of course, deeply invested in the inheritance Fu Xiantian had left.
After all, according to Immortal Slayer, this inheritance contained not only Fu Xiantian’s legacy but also items left by Ying Xintian, which were said to be of great help to the sect’s cultivators.
Brother Dao, what exactly did you leave behind?
Thinking of Dao Qiankun and Ying Xintian reminded Zhang Yu of the agreement they had made before Ying Xintian departed with the Sixth Layer of Kunxu.
The appointed time Brother Dao mentioned should have arrived by now, right? But from the looks of it, neither Brother Dao himself nor the original Sixth Layer of Kunxu seems to have returned.
Did Brother Dao’s plan fail? Did he learn about Kunxu’s current situation and give up on returning? Or is it something else…?
As Zhang Yu pondered this, he took the opportunity to search the Dharma Realm for news and the latest updates.
Now that the Special Task Force’s work was finished, Zhang Yu, standing outside the Dao Seeking Hall, could smoothly connect to the external Dharma Realm.
But after a thorough search, Zhang Yu found no information related to the Sixth Layer of Kunxu.
Just then, Bu Yingshu suddenly sidled up to him, pressed down on his head, and said, “Come on, let’s take a picture together.”
Looking at the selfie Zhang Yu had taken, Bu Yingshu nodded in satisfaction and continued, “Post this to your Moments right now, and make sure to pin it. That way, everyone will know about our relationship.”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, This is just like a dog marking its territory by peeing. But Bu Yingshu’s ‘marking’ is genuinely intimidating. I guess it’s more like a tiger marking its territory.
Bu Yingshu scrolled through Zhang Yu’s Moments. Seeing the photo pinned to the top, she nodded in satisfaction again. “With this photo of us as a deterrent, you’ll have an extra layer of protection in the Edict Pavilion.”
“I’m leaving now, Little Yu.”
“Remember this: you’re my person. If I find out you’ve betrayed me while I’m gone…”
After kicking Zhang Yu in the butt and delivering a stern warning to prevent him from revealing their secrets, Bu Yingshu’s figure flickered. She tore through space, eager to get home and boast about her performance.
Watching Bu Yingshu disappear, Zhang Yu let out a soft breath. Finally gone, he thought. I can finally relax without that woman around.
Inside the office of Martial Dao Group One.
True Monarch Martial Village was diligently working.
Although he had failed to enter the sect last year, losing to Zhang Yu in the competition, he had seized the opportunity presented by the regularization of the Sect Examination. Combined with his own deep foundation, True Monarch Martial Village had successfully passed the Sect Examination this year and joined the sect.
His choice remained the same as before: the Edict Pavilion!
“Edict Pavilion! Here I come!”
“Zhang Yu, even though I’m a year behind you, the sect is my territory. We’ll compete again within the Edict Pavilion, and I’ll show you how I’ll completely suppress you.”
Before even officially entering the Edict Pavilion, True Monarch Martial Village could already envision himself staging a comeback against Zhang Yu, surpassing him despite the late start, getting promoted faster, and even becoming his superior.
“What should I say to him when the time comes?”
But this glimmer of fantasy was utterly shattered the moment True Monarch Martial Village officially entered the Edict Pavilion.
“What? Zhang Yu is already a Rank 2 Sect Staff?”
“What? He’s now the Acting Group Leader of Martial Dao Group One—my superior? And he’s set to officially become a 3rd-tier Sect Staff this March?”
After learning all this, True Monarch Martial Village was stunned into a daze for nearly half a day. His mind reeled. From a Rank 1 Sect Staff to a Rank 3 Sect Staff in just over a year?
Has promotion in the sect become this easy?
He soon discovered that promotion in the sect was anything but easy. In fact, even the basic workload had become drastically more difficult.
The monthly performance quotas for the Martial Dao Group, in particular, had soared far beyond previous levels. True Monarch Martial Village was forced to pay for overtime, leaving him with almost no savings each month.
When True Monarch Martial Village learned that all of this stemmed from last year, when Zhang Yu single-handedly drove the entire Martial Dao Group to raise its monthly workload, he was filled with even deeper regret.
Why on earth did I apply to the Edict Pavilion?
Fortunately, news soon arrived that Zhang Yu had offended a high-ranking official in the Special Task Force and would likely find his career in the Edict Pavilion stalled.
This news jolted True Monarch Martial Village, and he found himself writing his daily reports with renewed vigor.
One day, while True Monarch Martial Village was diligently working, he noticed the work group chat buzzing with constant notifications.
He glanced at it casually and saw that everyone was discussing Zhang Yu.
True Monarch Martial Village initially assumed Zhang Yu had gotten into trouble again — perhaps he’d been reprimanded by a superior, demoted, or even sidelined.
But as he eagerly read through the messages, he realized they were all discussing a pinned photo on Zhang Yu’s social media profile.
“Who’s this woman?”
“Why would Group Leader Zhang pin this photo?”
Some were puzzled, but Shen Qingyun, a veteran Rank 2 Sect Staff and formerly the top reviewer in Group One immediately explained, having heard some gossip, “You don’t know?”
“This is the Vice Pavilion Master of the Martial Arts Pavilion, a true member of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan — Bu Yingshu, Dao Monarch Bu.”
Hearing this, everyone in Martial Dao Group One was stunned and listened intently as Shen Qingyun continued her explanation.
In the sect, news about powerful figures, high-ranking officials, and influential backgrounds always spread the fastest.
After all, everyone wanted to know who among their peers could be crossed and who couldn’t, whose connections mattered and whose didn’t…
“You haven’t heard? The rumors are already flying everywhere outside!”
Shen Qingyun spoke with a look of pure admiration. “When Group Leader Zhang was working in the Special Task Force, he encountered Dao Monarch Bu and won her favor and affection.”
“I heard that to stand up for Group Leader Zhang, Dao Monarch Bu not only beat up Deputy Minister Lu Hengzhang several times but also confronted Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai face-to-face, declaring she would bring Group Leader Zhang to the Martial Arts Pavilion to develop his career.”
“I bet once Group Leader Zhang becomes a Rank 3 Sect Staff in March, he’ll be promoted again.”
Someone exclaimed in shock, “Promoted again? To Rank 4? Isn’t that way too fast…?”
Shen Qingyun retorted, “What’s so surprising? She’s a true member of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan! People like us could be fined into bankruptcy just for getting too close to someone like her.”
“And I heard that just to touch Zhang Yu, Dao Monarch Bu personally paid his fines out of her own pocket.”
Hearing this, the group members gasped in astonishment once more, marveling at how Zhang Yu had landed in the lap of luxury, becoming the favored pet of an immortal.
Someone said sourly, “I bet Dao Monarch Bu is just toying with him.”
Another person sneered, “Wouldn’t you love to be toyed with like that?”
Someone else said with envy, “With Dao Monarch Bu doting on Group Leader Zhang so much, maybe he’ll even have a chance to conceive an Immortal Seed someday? That would truly be a meteoric rise to the heavens.”
Another person refuted, “How could that be possible? The Immortal Clan’s bloodline is strictly controlled. Even if Group Leader Zhang managed to conceive secretly, they’d definitely force him to terminate it.”
In the blink of an eye, the group chat’s conversation veered further and further off-topic, becoming increasingly wild and imaginative.
Meanwhile, True Monarch Martial Village’s heart pounded as he read these messages. The already towering image of Zhang Yu in his mind grew even more immense, making him want to prostrate himself in worship.
If Zhang Yu had merely excelled in martial dao studies and simulations, as he did during the exams, True Monarch Martial Village wouldn’t have been this impressed.
But witnessing Zhang Yu’s masterful skill at latching onto a powerful backer, True Monarch Martial Village was utterly convinced.
Just then, someone shouted, “The Group Leader is back!”
The crowd immediately swarmed out, heading toward the main gate.
There, they saw Zhang Yu draped in a sect robe, the emblems for “Rank 2 Sect Staff” and “Acting Group Leader” shimmering above his head. He was flanked by the group leader and members of Martial Dao Group Three.
Although the Group Three leader was a Rank 3 Sect Staff, he now stood beside Zhang Yu like a subordinate.
At that moment, the Zhang Yu whom True Monarch Martial Village had once looked down upon appeared so spirited and imposing that he couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration.
True Monarch Martial Village hurried forward, intending to greet Zhang Yu, only to find that Shen Qingyun and the others had already rushed ahead, pushing him aside.
“Group Leader!”
Before Shen Qingyun and the others could say more, a Dharma Realm Projection descended from the sky, visible only to Zhang Yu.
The projection was cast by Gu Qingya, the Minister of the Review Department, who, like Zhang Yu, hailed from the Lower Realm.
Gu Qingya looked at Zhang Yu with a complex expression and slowly asked, “Is the Special Task Force matter concluded?”
Zhang Yu nodded and sent a message: “Minister, I will catch Group One up on its backlog as soon as possible. I won’t let this year’s assessment be affected.”
Seeing that Zhang Yu hadn’t grown arrogant and overbearing after securing Bu Shuying’s backing, Gu Qingya nodded slightly.
“No rush,” he said. “It’s good that you have things under control.”
“I truly didn’t expect Dao Monarch Bu to value you so highly.”
“When I advised you back then, did you already have this planned? Were you laughing at me?”
Zhang Yu explained, “Dao Monarch Bu is from the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan, after all. Her thoughts are beyond my comprehension. To be honest… I had no confidence back then either.”
“Minister, your willingness to warn me at that time showed you cared. I’ve always been grateful for that.”
Gu Qingya sighed. “Just focus on your work. And remember to keep a low profile for a while. With Dao Monarch Bu protecting you, the Pavilion shouldn’t trouble you anymore. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. The Spirit Realm turmoil has just subsided, and the various Dao Lineages within the sect are all making moves. The situation is chaotic right now…”
Zhang Yu nodded in understanding. He knew the importance of staying low-key. He had no intention of drawing any more attention to himself until he officially became a Rank 4 Sect Staff.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s other friends within the sect began to see the photo he had pinned to the top of his social feed. One by one, they started messaging him to ask what was going on.
After hearing about Bu Yingshu’s identity, True Monarch Starfire couldn’t help but sigh. Zhang Yu and I truly share a master-disciple bond. Even though I didn’t take him as my disciple back on the First Layer, choosing Yu Xinghan instead, it’s Zhang Yu who has truly inherited my spirit — fearless, diligent, and always charging forward against the current.
True Monarch Starfire sent a message: “You’re busy now, but when you have time, let us — master and disciple — have a good chat and exchange experiences.”
On the other side, after hearing Zhang Yu’s story, Yu Xinghan couldn’t help but think, Wait… the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan? Bro, I wanted you to eat well, but I didn’t expect you to feast this extravagantly!
Yu Xinghan sent a message: “Bro, you should teach a class. Share your secrets!”
As Zhang Yu read Yu Xinghan’s message, he noticed he had also been added to an unfamiliar group chat called the “Lower Realm Mutual Aid Association.”
Seeing the familiar names in the group, Zhang Yu’s heart stirred. He realized this was a group for all the new Sect Staff who had ascended from the Lower Realm this year.