Chapter 824: A Blade Thrust at Supreme Truth
Listening to Zhang Yu’s words, Ying Aikun was utterly stunned.
“I’m Ying Xintian’s chosen successor? I’m collaborating with that old bastard?”
At this moment, Ying Aikun felt like laughing out of sheer rage. Who was it that had just seized the Immortal Legacy without anyone noticing? Who had used the Grotto-Heaven’s power and the corpse components within to ambush him?
“Accusing me of colluding with Traitor Ying? Absurd!”
Ying Aikun pointed at Zhang Yu and roared, “This is nothing but slander! I say the one truly colluding with Ying Xintian, secretly transferring assets and evading taxes, is you! Otherwise, how could a mere early Spirit Transformation cultivator like you dare to challenge me? And how could you possibly have seized the Immortal Legacy?”
Regardless of his private thoughts, Ying Aikun would never publicly admit to being Ying Xintian’s chosen successor, especially not in front of so many Righteous Gods. He certainly wouldn’t let himself be associated with asset transfers or tax evasion.
He knew that such matters were trivial if kept quiet but would crush him with the weight of a mountain if brought to light.
Having lived through the great purge triggered by Ying Xintian, Ying Aikun understood perfectly well that condemning Ying Xintian’s ideology and overthrowing his legacy was the absolute political correctness for the vast majority in Kunxu.
As for tax evasion, that was a crime that struck fear into the hearts of countless cultivators.
On the other side, Ling Chiye thought grimly, “What a mad dog. Cornered and lashing out wildly? Daring to bare its fangs at the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan?”
In Ling Chiye’s view, if Zhang Yu were taken away solely for the initial accusations, and if Bu Yingshu were willing to protect him, he might have a chance of getting out after surrendering the Immortal Legacy and being stripped of a layer of skin.
But now, by foolishly trying to drag the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan into this mess, he was acting recklessly and courting death, only plunging himself into even greater peril.
Meanwhile, Su Lengyou glanced over indifferently, seemingly too lazy to respond to Zhang Yu’s accusations.
But a closer look would reveal a glint of cold light flashing in her eyes when Zhang Yu mentioned the “Supreme Truth Immortal Clan.”
Hearing this, Bu Yingshu was also startled. “What is this kid doing? If he drags the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan into this, even I won’t be able to save him.”
To Bu Yingshu, Zhang Yu was less than an ant before the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan. Accusing them… was like a cicada trying to stop a chariot — utterly overestimating his own strength.
In the outer areas, however, many cultivators who heard Zhang Yu’s words felt a sense of understanding dawn upon them.
“So that’s it! I knew it… Ying Xintian’s chosen successor had to be one of his own, like Ying Aikun.”
“Hmph, these rich people are experts at hiding assets, evading taxes, and laundering money.”
“The Ying family is secretly transferring their assets from the Myriad Laws Sect to the Heavenly Demon Sect! Sect traitors! Blatant sect traitors!”
“This Zhang Yu is finished. How dare he report something like this? The Supreme Truth Immortal Clan will probably destroy him.”
Although Ying Xintian had championed various causes and even abandoned vast wealth to reform Kunxu, almost no one in Kunxu believed his slogans or ideals. Within the sects, he was an even more frequent target of criticism.
Regarding the current Immortal Legacy incident, the idea of transferring wealth through descendants resonated far more with the cultivators of Kunxu than the notion of selecting a successor through competition. It was a narrative they found much more believable.
On another side, Minister Qin Chuan of the Ethereal Communications Department thought grimly, “This fits. Just as I suspected, Zhang Yu was sent by Dao Monarch Bu to disrupt all this. But by directly confronting the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, he’s become nothing more than cannon fodder in their struggle… I fear his fate will be grim.”
To Qin Chuan and the others, Zhang Yu clearly lacked any sense of self-preservation. Even if he truly knew this matter involved the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, he shouldn’t have reported it on the spot.
Hearing Zhang Yu’s accusation, the Righteous God before them fell silent, exchanging countless messages through the Spirit Realm in an instant.
After a moment, the Righteous God finally spoke again. “The Supreme Truth Immortal Clan is a venerable and respected lineage of Immortals. How could they engage in the activities you describe? If you persist in making baseless accusations and slandering an Immortal Clan, you will violate the Immortal Clan Protection Law. Be warned, the fines could bankrupt you.”
At the same time, a number suddenly materialized above Zhang Yu’s head. It started at -100, quickly jumped to -15,000, and finally skyrocketed to over -210,000 before stopping.
The onlookers gasped in shock.
Qin Chuan sighed inwardly. The consequences of slandering an Immortal Clan and violating the Immortal Clan Protection Law were no joke. If Zhang Yu couldn’t prove his claims, he would have to pay the full 210,000 fine.
Zhang Yu, however, stood tall and declared, “Everything I just said is the absolute truth. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. Ying Aikun is Ying Xintian’s designated successor!”
As he finished speaking, the fine above his head surged again, jumping from 210,000 to 350,000.
Ying Aikun watched with a cold smirk, mentally labeling Zhang Yu’s actions: “Courting death.”
But in the next moment, Zhang Yu projected a video.
The footage showed Ying Aikun, facing the Immortal Shuttle, transmitting a message through the Spirit Realm: “Upper Cultivator! Please show mercy! The Supreme Truth Immortal Clan will reward you handsomely!”
This video was precisely what Zhang Yu had retrieved from the Immortal Shuttle’s recorder.
Zhang Yu continued, “Although Ying Aikun is no longer officially part of the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, he maintains countless ties with them. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have invoked their name when threatened.”
Ying Aikun snorted dismissively. “I am indeed on good terms with many cultivators from the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan. We share a bloodline, after all. But which law edict states that this is a crime?”
Zhang Yu didn’t answer Ying Aikun. Instead, he played another video.
It was footage from their battle, showing Ying Aikun shouting as he charged at meteor-like speed.
Ying Aikun’s voice roared from the video: “I carry the bloodlines of two Immortals and am backed by the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan! The Supreme Truth Immortal herself stands behind me! What right do you have to fight me!”
Zhang Yu asked, “Did you or did you not say those words? ‘Carrying the bloodlines of two Immortals, backed by the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan.’ Have you always taken pride in Ying Xintian’s bloodline? Do you maintain close ties with the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan?”
Ying Aikun hastily explained, “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?” Zhang Yu retorted. “Or perhaps you should watch this next clip.”
As he spoke, Zhang Yu played yet another video.
The screen showed Ying Aikun standing respectfully before the Giant Corpse.
The Giant Corpse’s voice boomed: “You must be Ying Xintian’s descendant, aren’t you?”
Ying Aikun replied excitedly, “I… I am!”
Ying Aikun: “Sen… Senior? How should I receive this Immortal Legacy?”
Giant Corpse: “As Ying Xintian’s descendant, you don’t even know how to claim your own clan’s legacy?”
Ying Aikun: “Maybe… maybe the Ancestor made the arrangements in a hurry and forgot to leave me a message.”
The Giant Corpse said: “I am the Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect. You are a member of our sect and also Ying Xintian’s descendant.”
“You are the successor chosen by both of us.”
Ying Aikun: “Senior, please tell me first, what exactly do you need me to do?”
As the video ended, Zhang Yu roared, “Ying Aikun, you still deny being Ying Xintian’s chosen successor?”
“Did you conspire with Ying Xintian all along, planning to secretly transfer his illicit gains and evade taxes?”
“You!” Ying Aikun stared at Zhang Yu, his face a mask of shock and fury. His first thought was: How could Zhang Yu have a video of my private conversation with the Giant Corpse?
But he feared that voicing this question would only confirm Zhang Yu’s accusations.
He wanted to deny everything, but he was afraid Zhang Yu had more evidence that would expose his lies before the Righteous Gods.
Countless thoughts flooded Ying Aikun’s mind, leaving him frozen in place. In that instant… he had no idea how to defend himself.
Just as Ying Aikun fell silent, Su Lengyou, standing nearby, her gaze hardened as she shouted, “You dare use such shadowy, unverified videos to slander an Immortal Clan?”
Zhang Yu replied, “The videos I’ve shown are all factual recordings, with absolutely no fabrication.”
“Not only does Ying Aikun admit to being the chosen successor of the Traitor Immortal Ying Xintian, but he also has close ties to the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan. He intends to use their power to transfer Ying Xintian’s illicit gains and evade taxes…”
“Insolent!” Su Lengyou barked. “The Supreme Truth Immortal Clan is led by the Supreme Truth Immortal herself. Are you suggesting that the Supreme Truth Immortal is involved in transferring assets? Conspiring with Ying Xintian? Or perhaps that the Supreme Truth Immortal herself is evading taxes?”
Zhang Yu said, “Hard to say.”
As Zhang Yu’s words fell, everyone present was stunned into silence.
Simultaneously, the fine above Zhang Yu’s head skyrocketed again.
-500,000
-700,000
-1,000,000!
With just two words, Zhang Yu had accumulated over a million Immortal Coins in fines.
Even Su Lengyou, who had just invoked the Supreme Truth Immortal’s name, stared at Zhang Yu in disbelief.
She had only brought up the Supreme Truth Immortal to shut Zhang Yu up, never imagining he would dare slander even an Immortal of that stature.
In Su Lengyou’s eyes, Zhang Yu was acting recklessly out of desperation, exposing a massive flaw in his own argument.
“Blasphemy against an Immortal!”
“Slandering an Immortal! How dare you! You deserve death!”
Su Lengyou’s Spirit Realm Projection flickered, and a Homicide Permit materialized, crossing the Spirit Realm to descend from the heavens.
At the same time, Su Lengyou tapped her fingertips, and a cascade of talismans erupted, poised to execute Zhang Yu on the spot — to obliterate both his physical body and soul.
But just then, a streak of light flashed, positioning itself directly in front of Zhang Yu and forcing all the talismans to halt.
Su Lengyou’s gaze hardened. Among all the people and objects present, only one thing could stop her talismans… Bu Yingshu’s Immortal Shuttle.
Looking at Bu Yingshu’s projection, which had somehow unfrozen, Su Lengyou could see a dedicated connection from the depths of the Spirit Realm now linked to her, restoring her ability to move.
A sense of foreboding rose in Su Lengyou’s heart. “The Myriad Laws Immortal Clan’s leadership has made its move?”
Bu Yingshu lifted her chin, her elegant brows arching. “Peak Master Su, whether Zhang Yu is right or wrong will be clear once the investigation concludes. Why are you in such a hurry? Are you trying to silence him by killing him?”
Watching this unfold, Zhang Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “Has the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan entered the fray? Then the others should be close behind, right?”
At that moment, Zhang Yu recalled the giant corpse’s words.
“The Supreme Truth Immortal Clan appears to span across all sects, wielding immense power as if they could blot out the sky. They seem as unstoppable as a raging fire fueled by oil.”
“But the more powerful they appear, the more enemies they have. Nearly every sect contains factions whose interests clash with theirs.”
“Especially after Ying Xintian’s defection… that dealt a massive blow to both the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan and the Supreme Truth Immortal herself.”
“If Yun Taizhen hadn’t possessed such formidable strength and single-handedly turned the tide during that conflict, she might have been purged along with Ying Xintian as his Dao Companion.”
“But because of that, Yun Taizhen was significantly weakened in the struggle. Though she still seems to be at the height of her power, she’s far from her former state, and many factions have long been eyeing her with predatory intent.”
“Given the chance, it won’t just be the Immortal Network Ying Xintian introduced you to. Plenty of others are eager to take a bite out of them.”
Just then, the Spirit Realm interface in the area surged, and several more Spirit Realm Projections descended.
Su You frowned slightly upon seeing the newcomers. “They’re from Myriad Laws…”
The Myriad Laws cultivator who had just descended announced, “We’ve received a report that a collection of assets belonging to the Traitor Immortal Ying Xintian has been discovered. We suspect they are illicit gains he acquired during his time in the Myriad Laws Sect…”
In an instant, the Immortal Grotto-Heaven and all the resources within, which had just been locked down and sealed by the Righteous Gods, were now sealed by another force.
Before the Myriad Laws Sect cultivators could finish, another group of Righteous Gods from the Inspection Department descended to investigate matters related to Ying Xintian.
At the same time, alarms blared across Su Lengyou’s Spirit Realm Interface. Stocks related to the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan were plummeting, weakening her assets and her power in turn.
Su Lengyou’s brow furrowed as Spirit Realm Interfaces flashed before her eyes, revealing that news about Ying Xintian, Ying Aikun, and the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan had flooded every corner of the network.
She immediately ordered her subordinates, “Suppress these trending topics now!”
But moments later, she received a message from her subordinate: “Peak Master, we can’t suppress them. Too many factions are pushing this story’s popularity.”
Just then, the entire Former Days Graveyard trembled as a terrifying pressure swept across the area.
Flying shuttles tore through the void, descending directly from who knows how many layers deep within Kunxu.
All Spirit Realm connections were instantly severed. Bionics and magical artifacts were rendered inert. Even spiritual energy and immortal aura fell silent.
Before this force, all achievements of Immortal Dao Technology seemed like scrap, and all Immortal Dao cultivators became useless.
Even the ever-composed Su You couldn’t help but feel a jolt in her heart at the sight. “The Tax Enforcement Army of the Great Gods of Tribute and Heavenly Supervision…”
This tax enforcement unit, directly controlled by the Heavenly Court, was one of its highest-ranking forces. It was said to have been personally forged by Immortals and even participated in tax investigations against Immortals themselves. They had driven countless sect disciples to ruin and were a force that struck fear into the hearts of cultivators everywhere.
It wasn’t just Su Lengyou; every cultivator present who saw the Tax Enforcement Army couldn’t help but tremble.
At that moment, chains of divine power locked onto Ying Aikun.
The Inspection Department Righteous Gods who had arrived earlier sent a message: “Ying Aikun, Rank 4 Sect Staff of the Heavenly Demon Sect, you are now suspected of colluding with the Traitor Immortal Ying Xintian. Please come with us.”
Ying Aikun’s heart sank. He was instantly thrown back to the memory of the great purge his clan had suffered after Ying Xintian’s betrayal, when countless factions had descended upon them.
He looked at Su Lingyou in panic. “Grandma, save me!”
Su Lingyou sent him a message: “Don’t say anything you shouldn’t. Someone will arrange for your release.”
Just then, several Tax Enforcement Army flying shuttles surrounded Su Lengyou.
“Peak Master Su, we’ll have to ask you to come with us as well.”
Su Lengyou’s gaze darkened. “I am the Peak Master of Soul-Devouring Peak. Even if there’s an issue, you must first apply to the Heavenly Demon Hall before I can cooperate.”
A light screen materialized before Su Lengyou. The officer on the other side said, “Peak Master Su, this is the approval from the Heavenly Demon Hall. Shall I send you a copy?”
Su Lengyou’s heart sank. She knew that rival factions within the Heavenly Demon Sect were taking advantage of the situation to kick her while she was down.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu, watching this unfold, thought to himself, “Lengyou, the tables have turned.”
“Now, surrounded by wolves, you are the weaker party.”
At the same time, an idea surged through Zhang Yu’s mind. This blade, now aimed at the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, at Supreme Truth herself…
He had become the tip of the blade, making the final adjustments to its angle of entry. But the force pushing the blade… had been gathering ever since Ying Xintian fell to the Lower Realm.
“When you devoured his flesh and blood, you stained yourselves with his blood.”
“This is Brother Dao’s… Senior Ying’s final, desperate strike — a sacrifice of himself, his immortal path, all to strike back at his own bloodline, at the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, at Yun Taizhen.”