Chapter 823: Dao Monarch Bu, Your Strategy Was Invaluable
Zhang Yu stared at the giant corpse before him, the being Ying Xintian had identified as a former sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, but his mind remained clouded with confusion.
The information Ying Xintian had left behind, including the memories and dreams contained within the ancestors’ corpses, never clearly explained the being’s identity or its purpose.
All Zhang Yu could surmise was that this entity might have been Ying Xintian’s collaborator and possibly the creator of the Berserk Corpse Components now plaguing the labyrinth.
Hearing the giant corpse’s question, Zhang Yu replied calmly, “On this path of the Immortal Dao, who among us hasn’t faced countless crises and overcome perilous obstacles? All we can do is persevere, no matter how many times we fall.”
The giant corpse transmitted its thoughts to Zhang Yu privately, sighing, “Persevere… Well said. But if you could grasp more intelligence and better understand the workings of Kunxu, you could avoid many detours.”
Zhang Yu’s gaze flickered. He also transmitted his thoughts back, “Senior, what guidance do you have for me?”
The giant corpse replied, “Ying Xintian’s legacy is more than just an inheritance; it’s a network of connections. Are you aware of this?”
Seeing Zhang Yu nod, the giant corpse continued, “But an Immortal’s network — an Immortal Network, you might call it — is not something an ordinary person can easily leverage.”
“To truly utilize this Immortal Network and turn it into a force propelling you up the Immortal Path, you must first understand the current mindset of Kunxu’s Immortals. Only then will you know how to use them.”
Zhang Yu eyed the corpse and its True Spirit, which had been dead for who knew how many years, with a hint of skepticism. “Senior, you know all this?”
The giant corpse smiled faintly, unfazed by Zhang Yu’s doubt. “Do you know why Immortals rarely intervene directly?”
Drawing on his understanding of Kunxu, Zhang Yu ventured, “Is it because Immortals… have more important, more profitable matters to attend to?”
“You’re about half right,” the giant corpse replied. “Immortals do chase profit, always directing their power toward the most lucrative endeavors. But that doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned everything else.”
“To grasp this, you must first understand what power and authority truly mean to an Immortal.”
As Zhang Yu listened intently, the giant corpse slowly explained, “Power — whether it’s one’s Dao Lineage, Cultivation Realm, or specific Immortal Dao Technology — is the very foundation of an Immortal. It’s the source of their confidence to reside high in the Nine Heavens and the eternal pursuit of all Immortals.”
“But power is ultimately finite. Every bit used is a bit consumed. Even at the Immortal Realm — though they may have escaped the ‘Three Debts’ and are no longer bound by the ‘Five Insurances,’ free from karma and worldly leaks — they still face competition.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu sighed. “Even at the Immortal Realm, they still have to compete so fiercely?”
“Of course,” the giant corpse said. “In fact, the competition becomes even more intense at the Immortal Realm. If you’re an ordinary person, you can choose not to compete and just live out your days in obscurity until you die. But for an Immortal, to give up competing, to start falling behind, means facing the devouring ambitions of other Immortals. At that point, death would be a mercy.”
“Finite power, coupled with endless competition, means that to stay ahead, Immortals must expend their limited power on… those areas that yield the highest personal profit.”
“Wasting power on low-yield areas means falling behind, which means danger.”
Zhang Yu mused aloud, “What if two Immortals expend their power in the same place, leading to a direct conflict?”
The giant corpse replied, “That’s the last thing an Immortal wants to see. Both sides would deplete each other’s power through combat, reducing their returns. If this happens repeatedly, both combatants could start lagging behind other Immortals.”
Zhang Yu nodded thoughtfully. “Power… it’s like money. Money is finite, and only by investing it in areas with the highest profit margins can you maintain a leading edge while everyone else’s wealth is also growing.”
“And at the Immortal Realm, everyone is likely highly skilled and rarely makes mistakes. They must all be utterly determined to climb the Immortal Path. So… every Immortal wastes very little power, and every Immortal strives to maintain rapid growth.”
“This means… after becoming an Immortal, you can’t afford to waste power. You must invest your limited power into high-growth projects to maintain your lead and avoid being targeted by other Immortals.”
The giant corpse nodded and sent a mental message: “You’ve grasped that point. Now, let’s discuss authority.”
“Unlike power, authority… in a sense, can be infinite.”
Zhang Yu frowned. “Infinite?”
The giant corpse explained, “You are currently a Rank 4 Sect Staff. If you lend your authority to your subordinate, allowing them to issue commands in your stead, haven’t you essentially duplicated your authority?”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly. “Indeed.”
Fu Ji nodded in agreement. “Indeed.”
The giant corpse continued, “Bestowing and duplicating out of thin air, that is the nature of authority.”
“An Immortal’s power is finite, so it is all invested in the highest-growth, most crucial projects.”
“But an Immortal’s authority is nearly infinite. Through the systems they establish, they can command billions of living beings across the world to serve them.”
“And authority is built upon power. Only by possessing immense power and maintaining its high growth can one sustain their authority. If power is excessively depleted in conflict, causing one to fall behind, their authority will gradually weaken as well.”
Listening to the giant corpse’s words, Zhang Yu seemed to have a sudden realization. “So… the Immortals’ power is used for the most crucial matters… to profit themselves. Then they use their authority to influence other areas… to continue profiting themselves.”
“This means that if I recklessly try to use the Immortal Network to summon an Immortal’s power and have them use force to help me, it’s something they would detest — unless the profit margin of the matter is absurdly high, surpassing what they’re currently working on.”
“But if… I use Ying Xintian’s Immortal Network to grant myself authority, and in the process, generate profit for the Immortals, that would be an approved method. It’s what the Immortals of Kunxu have been doing all along.”
Recalling his past experiences, Zhang Yu said, “So… I need to become a pawn of the Immortal Network and let them use me.”
The giant corpse nodded. “To do that, you must understand the Immortal Network Ying Xintian has guided you toward. You need to know what they’re thinking and what they need.”
“These former companions of Ying Xintian are dissatisfied with the current state of Kunxu. It is precisely because of their existence that many reforms have been implemented, such as the College Entrance Exam, the Foundation Establishment Certificate Exam, and the Sect Examination.”
“This is partly due to the lingering ideals of the Righteous Path in their hearts, and partly to maintain Kunxu’s vitality and sustain its overall growth.”
“But they aren’t as extreme as Ying Xintian. They don’t want to sacrifice too much of their own interests in these reforms, lest they fall from their lofty positions.”
Just as Zhang Yu nodded slightly, marveling at how much the giant corpse knew, it continued, “And your identity is very useful to them.”
“From the First Layer of Kunxu, you used the Foundation Establishment Certificate Exam to enter one of the Ten Great Sects. You then advanced with fierce determination, passing the first Lower Realm Sect Examination to join a sect. You are the perfect banner for the success of these reforms.”
Zhang Yu’s heart jolted. “Senior, you even know all this?”
The giant corpse gave a mysterious smile and didn’t answer, simply continuing, “Furthermore, you stood against Immortal Slayer and Fu Xiantian during the University War. This shows you’ve drawn a clear line between yourself and Ying Xintian, rejecting his ideals.”
“These two points already make you usable — qualified to be a banner for reform, a pawn in their game.”
“But merely being a pawn isn’t enough to climb high or go far on the Immortal Path.”
“If you want to climb higher and go farther in today’s Kunxu, you must become a blade in the hands of the Immortals.”
“And if you wish to ascend to the peak of this 36-layered Kunxu, you must first be unleashed as a blade, then successfully break free. That is the most difficult and highest immortal path.”
“Are you willing?”
Zhang Yu nodded firmly. “Of course, I am.”
The giant corpse said, “Then do you know that once you step onto this path, it often leads to certain death? You could fall into a danger that bankrupts you for ten, even a hundred lifetimes.”
“But if you’re willing to surrender the Immortal legacy now, you might still have a chance to live this life in peace.”
Zhang Yu took a deep breath. In that moment, countless images flooded his mind.
His predecessor, who died summoning an Evil God in desperation. His high school classmates, sold like cattle. The First Layer of Kunxu, nearly turned into a flesh-and-blood factory.
Countless university and junior college students, forced to eat cement and drink filth.
He thought of the countless cultivators who had once followed him like a sky full of starfire, helping him shatter the firmament.
He thought of the University Layer, now being reshaped by the Ten Great Sects.
And the countless people — Bai Zhenzhen, Zhang Pianpian, Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, Teacher Magnetic Pole, Teacher Gao—doomed to be eternally consumed in endless cycles of reincarnation.
He also remembered Immortal Slayer and Fu Xiantian, who had fought alongside him; Desolate Ox, who charged into the sky to defy the Immortals; and Ying Xintian, who had persevered to this day…
Immortal Slayer said, “Zhang Yu, it’s our turn. This is the chance Grandmaster gave us, the baton he passed to us.”
Desolate Ox declared, “Nine deaths, no surrender. No regrets for sacrificing oneself.”
The Sect Examination Clone whined, “What are you guys doing? I think we should just hand over the Immortal legacy to the Myriad Laws Sect.”
Fu Ji’s heart pounded with excitement. “It’s here, it’s here! I have a feeling… this will be a gamble with ultra-high risk but also ultra-high rewards. The most important all-in of my Evil God career is about to begin!”
Facing the giant corpse, Zhang Yu spoke slowly. “I… want to change Kunxu. I want to climb step by step to the very peak. From the moment I made this decision, I knew this path would be difficult, and its end would likely be failure.”
He smiled faintly. “I originally thought… I could spend a little more time in relative safety.”
“But since the path has appeared before me, I can only give it my all.”
“As for success or failure, that’s beyond my control. All I can do is risk everything.”
“Good,” the giant corpse said. “Then risk everything.”
“Your identity and your deeds are already enough to make you a piece on the board, but you must constantly reinforce this position. Make yourself the unwavering banner of reform.”
“Then, you must display your value and your edge.”
“Your greatest value right now is, first, your own potential. But that still needs time to be realized and isn’t ready to be deployed yet. Second is your current control over the labyrinth. This is crucial. You must familiarize yourself with it as quickly as possible…”
The giant corpse continued, “As for displaying your edge, the best way is to proactively make an enemy of Yun Taizhen.”
Zhang Yu was slightly startled. “Yun Taizhen?”
The Sect Examination Clone cried out anxiously, “That’s an Immortal! We can’t oppose an Immortal!”
The giant corpse explained, “In the Immortal Network Ying Xintian introduced you to, all have conflicts with Yun Taizhen — conflicts of interest and conflicts of Dao Lineage.”
“As long as you are willing to point your blade at Yun Taizhen, the hilt will naturally be held by these Immortals; they will then become your backers.”
The giant corpse sighed. “Displaying loyalty, showing determination — these are all good. But handing them the hilt, letting them control you, will satisfy them far more than any loyalty, determination, or ideology.”
“This doesn’t mean you have to fight Yun Taizhen to the death. Your target can be the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan under her. That, too, is opposing her.”
“Conveniently, you also know Bu Yingshu of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan. That’s excellent… she can also be used against Taizhen…”
“You need to give the Immortals opportunities to exert their power, find angles for them to strike, and make it so they only need to lightly push the hilt to profit…”
While Zhang Yu spoke with the giant corpse, he devoted the vast majority of his remaining energy to sensing the labyrinth, trying to quickly familiarize himself with his control over it.
Ever since he had acquired Ying Xintian’s bloodline power from Ying Yunyao’s corpse and upgraded Immortal Descendant to Level 6, he had felt a profound connection to the labyrinth.
The giant corpse had even explicitly told him that he would be the one to control this labyrinth in the future.
“I’ll be the one to control the labyrinth?”
“Then… to what extent can I control it? This will determine my value…”
The region transformed into the labyrinth by Ying Xintian covered more than half the area of the Former Days Graveyard, occupying its most vital zones, including the Laboratory District and the Factory District.
Immortal Slayer said, “If production can be restored here in the labyrinth, its total output, economic value, and industry influence… will all be immense.”
Zhang Yu said, “So, the extent to which I can interfere with the labyrinth, and whether I can restore production here, will determine my future value.”
The Sect Examination Clone exclaimed excitedly, “Holy shit! If we can completely control this labyrinth, won’t we become the biggest landlords here? I’ll be the Land King of the Former Days Graveyard! We’ll be raking in cash without lifting a finger!”
Fu Ji countered, “How could it be that simple? The property rights to this land don’t belong to us in the first place. At most, we can only help restore production. It’s uncertain how much benefit we’ll ultimately gain. Besides… our degree of control over this place is the key. The stronger our control, the greater our value, and the larger our share of the profits.”
“And without powerful backing, how could we protect those profits?”
Just then, Zhang Yu’s perception of the labyrinth entered a new stage.
In his senses, the entire labyrinth seemed to be enveloped in a hazy mist, growing denser the deeper he probed, repeatedly severing its connection to the Spirit Realm.
“Is this why the Spirit Realm connection was cut off?”
“Then…”
With a thought, Zhang Yu’s consciousness became like a giant hand gently sweeping away the mist shrouding the labyrinth’s outer edges, allowing the Spirit Realm connection to once again extend into its depths.
Kunxu, 15th Layer.
Within a garrison controlled by the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan.
Bu Yingshu was listlessly staring at a dual cultivation list before her.
Recently, after her Immortal Dao Potential had greatly increased, she had attracted a lot of attention, and her profile views on the Immortal Clan’s dual cultivation matching platform had skyrocketed.
Despite the surge in views, not a single Immortal Clan member had sent Bu Yingshu a matching request, making her feel slighted.
“I can refuse, but how dare you not even apply?”
“The fine for dual cultivating with me is only a few hundred million Immortal Coins, right? Am I not even worth that much?”
“You all look down on me. I’ll show you that I, Bu Yingshu, am the most powerful!”
Bu Yingshu glanced at Zhang Yu’s profile picture again and thought to herself, “How many days has it been since that brat last messaged me? Is he asking for a beating?”
In Bu Yingshu’s mind, since she had taken him for a joyride and even lent him her Immortal Shuttle, shouldn’t Zhang Yu be messaging her every day, thinking about her constantly, and placing her at the most important position in his heart every second of every minute?
“Why can’t I even contact the Immortal Shuttle? Where on earth did that brat go?”
“A Lower Cultivator like him… many people in the Ten Great Sects could crush him. It’s not impossible that something happened to him.”
The feeling that arose in Bu Yingshu’s heart at this moment was similar to a pet cat sneaking out of the house and not returning for several days, making one inevitably worry… fearing the cat had been run over by a car, beaten to death by someone, or killed by a dog…
After much deliberation, Bu Yingshu still couldn’t shake her unease. She contacted her elders, wanting to send people to investigate the situation at the Former Days Graveyard.
“You damn Lower Cultivator, if I find out you’re fine but didn’t message me… I’ll stomp you flat next time.”
But shortly after Bu Yingshu dispatched her people, she discovered that the Immortal Shuttle’s communication had been restored. Zhang Yu was sending her a message through the shuttle’s dedicated connection.
Zhang Yu: “Dao Monarch, thanks to your advance planning, I managed to snatch the Immortal legacy from Ying Aikun!”
At the entrance to the Laboratory District.
Ling Chiye and the others were still observing the changes within the district.
From their perspective, they saw Ying Aikun’s divine light first clash repeatedly with the other Spirit Transformation Divine Lights, illuminating the entire area with his power alone.
Then, Ying Aikun’s Incarnation Divine Light swiftly diminished until it vanished without a trace.
From Ling Chiye’s perspective, this meant that after defeating everyone, Ying Aikun had successfully obtained the Immortal Legacy, mastered the Grotto-Heaven’s power, and even acquired the Grotto-Heaven left behind by Ying Xintian, ultimately entering it…
“Senior Ying has probably entered the Grotto-Heaven now and is familiarizing himself with its power…”
Just as Ling Chiye was thinking this, lines of notifications from the Spirit Realm suddenly appeared before his eyes.
“The average temperature in the Former Days Graveyard today has reached -65 degrees Celsius. It’s a cool, overcast day. Everyone, feel free to take out your corpses to freeze them and prevent decay.”
“Yin Qi Quality Index: Excellent. Suitable for Divine Soul Ejection and Soul Body activities…”
Ling Chiye froze for a moment, his mind suddenly realizing: “The Spirit Realm is restored? The labyrinth has re-covered the Spirit Realm?”
A flash of understanding crossed his eyes as he thought to himself, “Could it be that after mastering the Immortal Legacy, Senior Ying also gained control over the labyrinth, which is why the Spirit Realm’s connection was restored?”
At this thought, a flash of envy crossed Ling Chiye’s heart.
He immediately sent a message to Ying Aikun: “Senior Ying, congratulations. Now that you control the labyrinth, your future on the Immortal Dao is a smooth path.”
But there was no reply from Ying Aikun for a long time.
Meanwhile, the other cultivators around also saw various Spirit Realm messages pop up before their eyes, all realizing that the Spirit Realm had been restored.
Minister Qin Chuan sighed inwardly. “Is it over? Of all the Spirit Transformation Divine Lights, only Ying Aikun’s ultimately vanished… It seems he alone obtained the Immortal Legacy and mastered Ying Xintian’s Grotto-Heaven, allowing him to enter it and even restore the Spirit Realm connection here.”
“Hmph, what did I tell you? How could the Immortal Legacy truly be open for public competition? It must have been decided in advance. You Spirit Transformation cultivators… today you want to openly compete for the Immortal Legacy, tomorrow will you want to openly compete for the Immortal Emperor’s throne?”
As he pondered, Qin Chuan sent a message to Jiang Xuyi: “How did it go? I told you it would be a wasted trip. Ying Aikun still ended up with the Immortal Legacy, right?”
Jiang Xuyi: “No.”
The other party is typing…
Qin Chuan replied in surprise: “Not Ying Aikun? Could it be the cultivators from the Netherworld Palace or the White Bone Cult? Did they win the siege just now?”
Jiang Xuyi: “It’s Zhang Yu!”
Qin Chuan: “???”
Qin Chuan’s heart jolted. “Zhang Yu? How could it be Zhang Yu? What does Zhang Yu have to do with any of this?”
As Qin Chuan reeled in shock, the Laboratory District before him began to transform again.
The heavy darkness that had shrouded their vision abruptly dissipated at Zhang Yu’s will, revealing the true scene within to everyone.
Surrounded by the divine lights of Spirit Transformation Cultivators, Zhang Yu sat cross-legged in the void, one hand extended, pinning Ying Aikun to the ground from a distance.
Beside Zhang Yu, the light and shadows within a thousand-meter radius constantly shifted, flickering between the physical world and the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, demonstrating his mastery over the Grotto-Heaven’s power.
Qin Chuan stared at the scene in utter shock, thinking, “So Zhang Yu really did seize the Immortal Legacy? Could this also have been arranged in advance?”
Elsewhere, Ling Chiye of the Heavenly Demon Sect trembled, his gaze fixed on Zhang Yu’s position.
In that moment, countless thoughts flooded Ling Chiye’s mind.
“How could Zhang Yu defeat Ying Aikun?”
“What right does he have to seize the Immortal Legacy?”
“Is the Myriad Laws Sect trying to wipe out the Ying family’s line? Sending someone to forcibly plunder their ancestral inheritance?”
Though Ling Chiye was shocked, confused, and bewildered, he reacted instantly. He roared, “Zhang Yu! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Release Senior Ying immediately! How dare you injure a Heavenly Demon Sect official without authorization! You have some nerve!”
At that moment, Ling Chiye thought, “Legally, we have the upper hand. We must frame this incident first, then reclaim the Immortal Legacy…”
Simultaneously, a doubt arose in Ling Chiye’s mind: “The Spirit Realm has reconnected. Why isn’t Ying Aikun reacting at all?”
From Ling Chiye’s perspective, Ying Aikun should at least be activating his Homicide Permit right now.
A guess surfaced in Ling Chiye’s mind: “Could Zhang Yu have stripped Ying Aikun of everything that connects to the Spirit Realm? Or has he suppressed his consciousness?”
At this thought, his spirits lifted. “If that’s the case, it would at least count as a minor injury, adding another crime to his name.”
Meanwhile, beams of Righteous God brilliance descended from the atmosphere.
As the Spirit Realm re-enveloped the area, the entire labyrinth fell back under the influence of the Righteous Gods’ power.
At that moment, as Righteous Gods descended upon the scene, their vast divine power swept through every corner, forcing all cultivators present to hastily retract their energy, daring not to act rashly.
Ling Chiye immediately activated a talisman, calling out to the Righteous Gods: “Zhang Yu, a disciple of the Myriad Laws Sect, has assaulted a Rank 4 Heavenly Demon Sect official and seized the ancestral inheritance of Ying Aikun’s family! I request his immediate capture!”
Simultaneously, Ling Chiye repeatedly tapped his Spirit Realm talisman, adding more funds to enhance its power.
Then, Ling Chiye glared at Zhang Yu and roared, “Zhang Yu, you’ve injured someone and seized property without authorization! Surrender now, return the items to Ying Aikun, and you might get away with a smaller compensation!”
Zhang Yu remained unmoved, still suppressing Ying Aikun with one hand, seated calmly in the void, as steady as Mount Tai, seemingly too lazy to even bother refuting Ling Chiye’s accusations.
In the next moment, beams of divine light converged on Zhang Yu.
But just then, a cold snort echoed through the air.
“Hold on!”
Suddenly, Bu Yingshu’s Azure Void Rift Shuttle reappeared, and her Spirit Realm Projection stepped out from within.
Upon hearing Bu Yingshu’s voice, the Righteous Gods who were about to take action against Zhang Yu paid it no mind.
“Hold on? What’s there to hold on for?” The leading Righteous God glanced at the enhanced, money-boosted talisman and thought, Since when do we need your permission to make an arrest?
But when Bu Yingshu’s God-Slaying Permit soared into the sky, flashing warnings in the eyes of every Righteous God, they all immediately retreated.
The lead Righteous God announced, “It seems this labyrinth has been disconnected from the Spirit Realm for too long. We need to thoroughly investigate what happened here. How to handle the cultivators present will require careful consideration.”
“Resolutely support the Leader’s decision! ✊”
“Impartial law enforcement is the Righteous Path! 🙏”
“Everyone, remember the Heavenly Court’s new regulations: enforce the law with civility! 🌹🌹🌹”
After dispersing the celestial host of Righteous Gods with a single shout, Bu Yingshu finally turned her attention to Zhang Yu’s position and sent a message: “Did you seize… I mean, did you receive Ancestor Ying’s Immortal Legacy?”
Zhang Yu replied, “It’s all thanks to your foresight, Dao Monarch. You recognized the labyrinth’s abnormality long ago, not only arranging for me to be here but also lending me the Immortal Shuttle. Otherwise, this Immortal Legacy would surely have fallen into the hands of Ying Aikun, that traitor to Myriad Laws.”
As he spoke, Zhang Yu also sent Bu Yingshu an edited account of the events.
While reviewing his report, Bu Yingshu replied, “You did well.”
She thought to herself, Immortal Ying was, after all, an Immortal of our Myriad Laws. Even though he became a criminal, his possessions can’t be taken by someone like Ying Aikun to the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Heh, when the elders back home find out I sent someone to secure this Immortal Legacy, they’ll be utterly shocked again.
The thought made Bu Yingshu eager to contact her family immediately.
Just then, Ling Chiye, who had been standing nearby, spoke up. “Dao Monarch Bu, this Immortal Legacy was left by Immortal Ying for his descendants. Not only did your subordinate injure Ying Aikun, but he also seized his ancestral inheritance. This is a blatant violation of the law! The Heavenly Demon Sect will not stand idly by.”
Bu Yingshu shot him a cold glance. “Zhang Yu acted under my orders to confiscate the illegal gains of the criminal Immortal Ying Xintian. By lending him the Immortal Shuttle, I granted him the necessary authority. It was Ying Aikun who stood in the wrong place, obstructing the Myriad Laws Sect’s official business. Forget injuring him — even if Zhang Yu had killed him, he would have deserved it.”
Ling Chiye’s brow furrowed at her words. He was about to retort, but seeing the Immortal Shuttle turn its prow toward him, he quickly said, “Dao Monarch Bu! Peak Master Su Lengyou is currently in the Former Days Graveyard! Don’t act rashly!”
Bu Yingshu scoffed, “Don’t try to use Su Lengyou to pressure me. The Heavenly Demon Immortal Clan has no authority over our Myriad Laws.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
At that moment, a powerful will descended, causing the surrounding Spirit Realm to churn violently, as if the small regional pocket couldn’t bear the terrifying presence.
Simultaneously, the projection of a cold-faced young woman materialized before Bu Yingshu. “Bu Yingshu,” she said icily, “you’ve repeatedly caused trouble in the Former Days Graveyard. Do you think this is the Myriad Laws Sect?”
Bu Yingshu tried to speak, but Su Lengyou simply pressed a hand forward. The surrounding Spirit Realm trembled slightly, and Bu Yingshu’s projection froze in place, as if flash-frozen, unable to utter another sound.
The assembled Righteous Gods watched the scene in silence. One of them spoke in the Spirit Realm: “Peak Master Su’s actions… isn’t that an illegal disconnection? Should we just stand by and watch?”
Another Righteous God replied, “She’s a Rank 7 Tribulation Transcendence Cultivator, the Peak Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Soul-Devouring Peak. She helped write the Spirit Realm’s Information Laws. Her edicts are the relevant statutes. In the Spirit Realm, she is the law. How could she be breaking it?”
Meanwhile, after freezing Bu Yingshu with one hand, Su Lengyou cast two more talismans at Zhang Yu.
In the Spirit Realm, the lead Righteous God messaged: “Time to work. ✊”
A Righteous God asked, “This Zhang Yu has the title ‘Master of Ten Billion Talismans’…”
Another replied, “What do his ten billion talismans from the Lower Realm have to do with us? Even if he had a hundred billion, we’d still arrest him.”
As Su Lengyou’s Binding Talisman descended, the Righteous Gods transformed into massive golden hands that slammed down on Zhang Yu, completely immobilizing him.
Immediately after, a Demolition Talisman fell. A large contingent of Righteous Gods descended with a roar, and a series of warnings materialized before Zhang Yu.
“Your Immortal Abode has been identified as unlicensed and illegal. The Abode and all illicit gains within will be frozen.”
Cracks split open across the sky as torrents of divine power, strong enough to tear space itself, descended from the heavens. They surged directly into Zhang Yu’s Grotto-Heaven, completely locking it down.
Zhang Yu offered no futile resistance, allowing his Immortal Grotto-Heaven to be invaded.
Meanwhile, numerous Righteous Gods had already descended into Zhang Yu’s Grotto-Heaven and begun seizing the corpse components and various resources within.
The Spirit Realm extended into the Grotto-Heaven as well, and sealing talismans flickered into existence throughout the air.
In an instant, Su Lengyou’s two talismans had not only bound Zhang Yu but also locked down his Grotto-Heaven, sealing everything inside.
Ying Aikun, who had been suppressed on the ground, struggled back to his feet.
He glared at Zhang Yu, now pinned down by the Righteous Gods, and instantly felt his confidence return. He sneered, “Lower Beast, that old fool was a Traitor Immortal! Did you really think his legacy would be so easy to claim? With your status, did you honestly believe you could legally and properly acquire this inheritance?”
Su Lengyou didn’t spare Zhang Yu a glance. Instead, she turned to a nearby Righteous God and listened to his report.
The Righteous God said, “Peak Master Su, we have temporarily confiscated the items. As for how to proceed…”
Su Lengyou said indifferently, “Just follow the standard procedure. I originally intended for my grandson, Ying Aikun, to collect these items from the Traitor Immortal and hand them over for joint inspection by the Heavenly Court and the sect before ownership is confirmed.”
Once the Spirit Realm had re-covered the labyrinth, Su Lengyou knew she could no longer conceal the matter. Her only option was to detain Zhang Yu first and then find a way to acquire the Immortal Legacy step-by-step through proper channels.
Relying on Ying Aikun’s status and the support of the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, Su Lengyou was confident she could accomplish this. However, the process would inevitably incur greater costs.
Beside her, Ying Aikun seethed inwardly. “Damn you, Zhang Yu… How much more will this cost us because of you?”
Meanwhile, the numerous cultivators watching from a distance were all silently marveling at this dramatic turn of events.
Minister Qin Chuan of the Ethereal Communications Department thought to himself, “It seems Zhang Yu wasn’t the designated heir to the Immortal Legacy after all. Ying Aikun is the chosen one. The struggle for this Immortal Legacy is truly fraught with endless crises; you never know the outcome until the very end.”
Elsewhere, although Bu Yingshu’s projection was frozen, she could still observe everything happening at the scene through the Spirit Realm.
Watching her subordinate Zhang Yu being suppressed by Su Lengyou, Bu Yingshu was overcome with a mixture of anxiety and fury. She felt like a helpless husband watching his wife being pinned down by a group of thugs.
Just then, a talisman flared to life on Zhang Yu’s body.
“A Reporting Talisman?” Su Lengyou sneered inwardly. “Trying to use a talisman in my presence?”
She waved her hand, intending to strike the talisman from Zhang Yu, but it suddenly detonated, having already taken effect.
“A remote talisman? Someone cast this Reporting Talisman for him across the Spirit Realm?” Su Lengyou’s brow twitched. Her consciousness traced the connection back through the Spirit Realm, catching a glimpse of Zhang Pianpian’s figure disappearing into its depths.
At the same time, a Righteous God descended, summoned by the Reporting Talisman, and looked down at Zhang Yu.
“Are you the named informant, Zhang Yu?”
Everyone’s gaze snapped toward him, curious about what he had reported.
Ying Aikun scoffed. “You pauper, do you really think a single Reporting Talisman can do anything to us?”
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Zhang Yu spoke. “I wish to report that the Traitor Immortal, Ying Xintian, conspired with Ying Aikun and the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan to launder and transfer illicit gains.”
“To prevent them from evading taxes and transferring illegal income, I had no choice but to temporarily seize the Immortal Legacy.”