Chapter 825: The Storm Unleashed by Zhang Yu
As waves of power descended upon the Former Days Graveyard, Zhang Yu, Ying Aikun, Su Lengyou, and the others were about to be taken away one after another to various locations to cooperate with the investigation.
Watching this scene unfold, Qin Chuan felt his heart pound in his chest, and he couldn’t help but slightly accelerate the circulation of his magic power.
In that moment, he seemed to recall the bloody purges and fierce battles that followed Ying Xintian’s fall from grace.
He thought grimly, “Are they going to launch another grand inquisition, carve up flesh, and sell Divine Souls? Is another great purge coming?”
Just as unease gripped Qin Chuan’s heart, a wave of Spirit Realm fluctuations descended from the sky, sweeping over all the Righteous Gods and staff present.
In that instant, the same notification materialized before their eyes: a joint investigation into the current events at the Former Days Graveyard would be led by the Heavenly Court, with a Special Investigation Team formed through the collaboration of multiple sects and departments.
Simultaneously, notifications from the Heavenly Court’s Inspection Department and the Myriad Laws Sect’s Myriad Laws Palace Hall appeared before Zhang Yu, ordering him to remain at the Former Days Graveyard and fully cooperate with the Special Investigation Team’s work.
A thought stirred in Zhang Yu’s mind. He turned to a nearby Righteous God and asked, “Does this mean I must stay here until the investigation is concluded?”
After receiving an affirmative reply from the Righteous God, Zhang Yu said, “I need to report that, while temporarily holding the Immortal Legacy, I can restore the labyrinth’s currently chaotic spatial structure. This should aid the Special Investigation Team’s work.”
Adjusting the labyrinth’s spatial structure was a skill Zhang Yu had mastered after taking control of the labyrinth and familiarizing himself with the power Ying Xintian had bestowed upon him.
The Righteous God was slightly startled by this claim and immediately began recording. “Is this true? Can you really restore the labyrinth’s chaotic spatial structure to its original state?”
The Righteous God’s mind flashed with data about the labyrinth, including its area, spatial dimensions, and the various factories, production lines, and laboratories it originally contained.
Just calculating the total production value contained within made the Righteous God realize the immense benefits of “restoring the chaotic spatial structure.”
Zhang Yu nodded. “After reclaiming our Myriad Laws Sect’s Immortal Legacy from Ying Aikun, I gained a sense of and control over the entire labyrinth, allowing me to influence the power left behind by Ying Xintian.”
“Just as I restored the Spirit Realm connection earlier, restoring the labyrinth’s current spatial chaos… should also be no problem.”
The Righteous God’s gaze flickered. “Then why didn’t you restore the space earlier? Were you trying to keep people out?”
Zhang Yu replied matter-of-factly, “The Immortal Legacy left by Ying Xintian is a sect asset of the Myriad Laws Sect. Without approval from the leadership, I have no authority to use it recklessly. Restoring the Grotto-Heaven force for combat and reconnecting the Spirit Realm were expedient measures taken in an emergency to stop Ying Aikun’s illegal and criminal activities.”
The Righteous God glanced at Zhang Yu, then at the frozen one-million-Immortal-Coin fine hovering above his head. This kid, he thought, wasn’t nearly this respectful or sect-minded when dealing with the Supreme Truth Immortal just now.
Fu Ji chuckled. “That’s right, Zhang Yu. If you restore the chaotic space for them now, no one will thank you. As the saying goes, ‘when all the good news is out, it becomes bad news.’ Once the labyrinth is truly restored, the value of restoring its spatial structure will vanish.”
Immortal Slayer added, “Now that the Spirit Realm connection is back, someone will inevitably try to restart production here. Only after they fail will our value truly stand out.”
“Well said,” Fu Ji chimed in. “By then, they’ll be lining up, begging us to take action.”
Zhang Yu understood. All of this was founded on Ying Xintian’s Immortal power.
The labyrinth’s chaotic spatial structure had been established by Ying Xintian using his Immortal power.
And the Immortal Legacy he had infused into Zhang Yu, which granted control over the labyrinth, was also based on that same Immortal power.
“Only Immortal power can counter Immortal power.”
The giant corpse’s words flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind.
“Compared to using Immortal power to restart production, or using Immortal power to replace you as the inheritor, having you directly restore the labyrinth’s chaotic spatial structure is the most cost-effective, lowest-cost, and highest-profit method.”
“This is the profit-driven nature of Kunxu’s inhabitants. To manipulate them, you cannot easily cash in on this value. You must let the relevant interest groups support you in gradually restoring the labyrinth, solidifying your identity as the owner of the Immortal Legacy, and participating in the reconstruction of the Former Days Graveyard, rather than being kicked aside after the labyrinth is restored.”
“This is your retreat path after drawing your blade, and it is the authority granted to you by Ying Xintian’s Immortal power.”
“In Kunxu, any Immortal power can be leveraged into authority. But the ultimate effect and benefits of that authority depend entirely on the user’s methods.”
Just then, more beams of divine light descended across the Spirit Realm as additional Righteous Gods projected their avatars. They immediately commandeered the site, establishing it as the Special Investigation Team’s headquarters.
An office building in the Laboratory District was converted by the Righteous Gods into a temporary Detention Point. Zhang Yu, Ying Aikun, Su Lengyou, and the others were taken into custody one by one, placed under the heavy guard of Righteous God powers, particularly those of the Tax Enforcement Army.
Led by a Righteous God, Zhang Yu entered a room. The one million Immortal Coin fine still hovered above his head, but it never actually deducted the funds. It hung there like a rivet hammer, poised to strike but never falling — a state of suspended uncertainty.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “I’d rather they just strike me with a few bolts of heavenly lightning than deal with this fine.”
He recalled fighting in the Lower Realm by harnessing the power of heavenly lightning. Getting struck a few times by lightning was far more cost-effective than losing money.
Immortal Slayer said, “There was a time when they would just strike people with heavenly lightning. But later, some cultivators started intentionally slandering Immortals to collect the lightning. Besides, slandering Immortals and the Immortal Clan isn’t a violent crime. Fines proved far more practical than lightning, so eventually, they switched entirely to fines.”
Zhang Yu thought, That makes sense. Unleashing heavenly lightning is costly and labor-intensive with little return. If the target is a cultivator who can harness lightning, it’s like handing them free Immortal Dao resources. Issuing a fine with a single notice is far more efficient and even generates revenue.
Fu Ji added, “This isn’t like the old days in the Lower Realm when no Righteous Gods oversaw the Spirit Realm. You think you can get struck by lightning just by saying a few words? Dream on.”
Just then, two Righteous Gods descended before Zhang Yu. “Deputy Minister Zhang,” one said, “we are Rank 4 Righteous Gods from the Inspection Department. We are now conducting a lawful inquiry. You must answer all questions truthfully and refrain from concealing, fabricating, or falsifying facts. Do you understand?”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So… they’re not going straight for a memory search?
The giant corpse’s words echoed in his mind once more: “With the Immortal Network protecting you, they wouldn’t dare investigate your memories so easily.”
“Besides, in a major case like this, it’s a consensus among all parties to use memory searches cautiously. If they can’t control the direction and scope of the investigation, what will they do if they uncover things they shouldn’t?”
Meanwhile, Ying Aikun watched the Tax Enforcement Army’s shuttles filling the sky, feeling an immense pressure bearing down on him.
How did things get to this point?
As Ying Aikun entered the detention point with a grim expression, all his magical artifacts and Bionics were meticulously inspected.
When the Righteous Gods demanded he open his Cosmic Pot, Ying Aikun vehemently refused.
After all, his Cosmic Pot held too many secrets. If they found the Lifespan Flame he had used before, it would spell huge trouble.
Ying Aikun channeled his magic power, clutching the Cosmic Pot tightly to his chest. “The Cosmic Pot is registered as an asset of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s corporate enterprise,” he declared. “It has nothing to do with Ying Xintian. You have no right to inspect it.”
The Righteous God before him projected a series of documents. “Ying Aikun, this case has already drawn the attention of the Great God of Universal Inspection, the Great Gods of Tribute and Heavenly Supervision, and the Great God of Abundant Wealth. I advise you not to gamble on luck.”
With each Great God’s name, Ying Aikun’s heart sank a little further. When he heard “Great God of Abundant Wealth” — the highest authority in the Tax and Revenue Department — his magic power surged almost uncontrollably.
Ying Aikun: “[Affection Talisman]”
After sending the Affection Talisman to the Righteous God before him, Ying Aikun said, “I need to contact someone outside.”
“Your [Affection Talisman] has been rejected.”
The Righteous God’s face remained stern. “You may contact someone, it is your right. However, all communications will be recorded.”
With trembling magic power, Ying Aikun opened his contact list.
Amid a pile of unread messages, Ling Chiye’s stood out: “Senior Ying, congratulations. Now that you control the labyrinth, your path to the Immortal Dao is clear.”
Suppressing his rising despair, Ying Aikun thought for a moment and began sending messages. He received replies almost instantly.
“The recipient has enabled friend verification. You are not their friend. Please send a friend request first. You can chat after they accept.”
“Message sent, but rejected by the recipient.”
As he saw contact after contact either blocking or deleting him, Ying Aikun’s expression grew increasingly grim.
In that moment, he seemed to receive no news, yet it felt as if he had received countless warnings.
The next instant, he sent a message to his Cosmic Pot: “🙏 Prepare to open the gate.”
The moment the message was sent, the Righteous Gods monitoring him detected the anomaly.
“Who authorized you to message the Cosmic Pot? What did you send?!”
Ying Aikun explained, “I was telling the Soul Cultivator inside to prepare to open the Cosmic Pot to cooperate with your investigation…”
But before he could finish, beams of divine light converged, suppressing him and pinning him to the ground.
“Seal his magic power!”
“Open his Cosmic Pot!”
“It’s locked! We can’t open it!”
A hand formed of divine power slammed down on Ying Aikun’s head. “Ying Aikun, open the Cosmic Pot immediately!” a voice roared.
Ying Aikun trembled but remained silent, offering no response.
A Righteous God transmitted a message through the Spirit Realm: “Where is the Tax Enforcement Army? Have them bring the Heaven-Piercing Shuttles over!”
“Ram this Cosmic Pot open for me!”
Ying Aikun shouted, “You have no authority to do this…!”
But in the next moment, he saw sleek, black shuttles tearing through space, operated by the Tax Enforcement Army, arriving directly at the scene.
With a shattering crash, spatial cracks tore open before everyone’s eyes. The Tax Enforcement Army’s shuttles had expertly rammed open the Cosmic Pot’s gate, revealing a raging inferno burning within.
But in the next instant, as the shuttles surged into the Cosmic Pot, they skillfully sealed off the areas, suppressed the flames, and froze the Soul Cultivators. Under Ying Aikun’s despairing gaze, the entire interior of the Cosmic Pot was brought back under control.
A cultivator from the Tax Enforcement Army sneered at Ying Aikun. “Heh, burning down your Immortal Abode? I’ve been chasing taxes for years. I’ve even investigated collapsing minor realms. Go ahead, show me what other tricks you have.”
Meanwhile, Su Lengyou also tried to contact her allies, only to find that those who once greeted her with smiles, the Righteous Gods who had shown her exceptional respect, now avoided her like the plague. They treated her with cold professionalism, their smiles gone.
“Su Lengyou, we’ve found evidence in Ying Aikun’s Cosmic Pot that he secretly hid and embezzled assets of the Traitor Immortal. Do you have anything to say?”
Su Lengyou replied expressionlessly, “Then you’d better investigate carefully. Don’t dig too deep and uncover something you shouldn’t.”
“Su Lengyou, if you’re still hoping to get lucky, let me spell it out for you. This time, the Great God of Abundant Wealth has issued a direct order: we are to investigate the past three years and root out all you Kunxu Parasites who embezzled the assets of the Traitor Immortal and evaded taxes!”
Su Lengyou’s expression remained unchanged, but inside, her heart was in turmoil.
The past three years were precisely the period after Ying Xintian’s fall from grace, when countless factions had frantically devoured his assets.
During that time, the Supreme Truth Immortal, as Ying Xintian’s Dao Companion, and the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan, as his blood relatives, had naturally been in the best position to profit. They had secretly seized a massive portion of Ying Xintian’s wealth.
Su Lengyou’s voice turned cold. “Investigating this… aren’t you afraid of provoking public outrage?”
“So you admit that over the past three years, you embezzled the Myriad Laws Sect’s assets and evaded taxes?”
Su Lengyou said nothing, merely closing her eyes.
In another room, Ling Chiye said, “I’ve always been in charge of the Former Days Graveyard. Before this incident, I barely knew Ying Aikun or Su Lengyou.”
“I have no idea what they did or what their motives were.”
“Yes, yes, Ying Aikun did hint that he was Ying Xintian’s heir and that he was certain to obtain the legacy this time…”
Under the Righteous Gods’ questioning, Ling Chiye spilled everything he knew like beans from a bamboo tube, meticulously distancing himself from Ying Xintian, Su Lengyou, and the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan.
While the investigation unfolded within the labyrinth, the news exploded across the Spirit Realm like a thunderclap, sweeping through the Ten Great Sects like a storm.
“Zhang Yu, a Rank 4 Sect Staff member from the Myriad Laws Sect’s Ethereal Communications Department, has publicly reported the illegal activities of the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan. The news has sparked intense debate. The relevant leads have been accepted, and the incident is under further investigation…”
Inside the Edict Pavilion, Lu Hengzhang read the report, a cold smirk playing on his lips.
As the Deputy Minister of the Review Department and a staunch supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage, he had once suppressed Zhang Yu and had even been beaten several times by Dao Monarch Bu for it.
After Zhang Yu was relegated to the Ethereal Communications Department’s back benches, Lu Hengzhang had thought he wouldn’t hear about him again for a long time. He never expected to see news related to him so soon, and for it to be such a earth-shattering event.
“He’s really courting death.”
As a supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage, Lu Hengzhang naturally sided with the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan.
In his view, Zhang Yu’s act of reporting them was a clear case of insubordination.
“But the boy probably doesn’t have the guts to do this on his own. He must have been used as cannon fodder by someone.”
“Getting involved in the struggles of Immortal Clans, or even Immortals themselves…”
Lu Hengzhang shook his head. “Does he really think that after clinging to Dao Monarch Bu’s leg once, he can just climb up and grab onto even thicker thighs?”
A moment later, he sent a message to Vice Pavilion Master Yang Kaitai: “Leader, Zhang Yu is still one of our Edict Pavilion’s people. With him acting so recklessly, shouldn’t we do something?”
Yang Kaitai: “Do nothing. Just wait and see.”
“Zhang Yu, a top student from the First Layer of Kunxu, excelled in his studies at the university and the sect. During his time there, he repeatedly stood up against the anti-Kunxu faction led by Ying Xintian.”
“He gained widespread attention for questioning the secret dealings and tax issues between the Traitor Immortal Ying Xintian and the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan…”
Inside a training school on the Eleventh Layer of Kunxu, Divine Monarch Magnetic Pole stared at the overwhelming news flooding the Spirit Realm, her heart pounding. “Zhang Yu… has he gone mad? Why is he confronting the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan?”
“Getting caught in the infighting of the upper echelons… can someone of his stature survive that?”
Old Gao, standing beside her, looked at the news photo showing Zhang Yu confronting Su Lingyou. He analyzed, “For now, most of the news coverage on Zhang Yu is still quite positive.”
Old Gao knew that in Kunxu, public opinion was a comprehensive reflection of power, authority, and assets. A favorable public opinion meant that the forces backing Zhang Yu currently held the upper hand in this struggle.
Magnetic Pole sighed. “What good is the upper hand? Throughout history, those who charge to the front in these high-level conflicts always end up as cannon fodder.”
“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. I’m worried Zhang Yu will be used and then discarded.”
Seeing Divine Monarch Magnetic Pole hesitating as she manipulated the Spirit Realm, Old Gao asked, “What’s wrong?”
Magnetic Pole replied, “I should… contact Master. At least ask about Zhang Yu’s current situation.”
Within the Dharma Realm of the Myriad Laws Sect.
The consciousnesses of Divine Monarch Starfire, Yu Xinghan, Ye Xingli, Shi Huaiyu, Yan Qianji, and Feng Tingting gathered in a group chat, discussing the recent events.
Yu Xinghan looked at the various reports with concern. “Master, I heard the entire Former Days Graveyard is under lockdown. Several members of the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan have been taken in for questioning these past few days. This incident has blown up so much… Zhang Yu won’t be in trouble, will he?”
Divine Monarch Starfire replied, “My intelligence network is investigating this. I’ll update you all once I have more information.”
Just then, a noblewoman from the Myriad Laws Sect sent a message to the Special Investigation Team’s office, inquiring about Zhang Yu’s situation.
Shortly after, Divine Monarch Starfire explained to the group, “For now, there’s no major problem.”
“Look at the recent news reports. They’re all emphasizing Zhang Yu’s origins from the First Layer of Kunxu, his admission to Myriad Laws University through the Foundation Establishment Examination, his success in the Sect Examination to join the Myriad Laws Sect, and his heroic act of stopping Ying Xintian from seizing the Lower Realm.”
“From this, it seems the higher-ups intend to promote him as a banner for Kunxu’s reform. They will definitely protect him and won’t let anything happen to him easily.”
Yu Xinghan couldn’t help but interject, “But he’s up against the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan! And behind them is the Supreme Truth Immortal herself!”
In Yu Xinghan’s view, an Immortal could kill Zhang Yu with a single glance. Zhang Yu, now at the center of the storm, was in extreme danger.
Within a Grotto-Heaven in the Myriad Laws Sect.
Bu Yingshu stared at the figure before her and exclaimed, “Dad! Zhang Yu is my person, we have to find a way to protect him!”
Ever since Zhang Yu had been taken away, Bu Yingshu had been pacing like an ant on a hot pan, her mind consumed by a single thought: “What if Zhang Yu reveals my identity as the Great Sage’s Heir? What if he exposes the secret of my awakened talent?”
The more she thought, the more terrified she became, even starting to regret saving Zhang Yu.
“That damn lower cultivator! I should have known better than to save him!”
“You idiot! Why were you so impulsive? Why didn’t you think it through before rushing out?!”
Overwhelmed by fear, Bu Yingshu had hidden herself away in her family’s Grotto-Heaven, yet she still dreaded the day a divine light would suddenly descend and deliver a notice to take her, the Great Sage’s Heir, away.
Standing before her now was a youthful-looking cultivator named Bu Yuangui.
Listening to Bu Yingshu’s incessant rambling, he couldn’t help but ask, “Yingshu, why are you so concerned about this Zhang Yu? Did you lend him a lot of money?”
Bu Yingshu replied, “It’s not about money.”
Bu Yingshu quickly blurted out the excuse she had been holding back for so long: “Didn’t Zhang Yu and I study the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation together before? He knows a lot about our plans, and I’m worried he’ll carelessly leak them and cause trouble.”
Bu Yuangui watched his daughter’s earnest explanation, a faint smile touching his lips. “Is that so… Well, your concern is quite reasonable. It seems you’ve matured quite a bit recently.”
Bu Yingshu said confidently, “Right? So let’s hurry up and get Zhang Yu out. What right do those Heavenly Court lackeys have to arrest a dog of our Myriad Laws Immortal Clan?”
Bu Yuangui, however, replied calmly, “My clever daughter, do you know why High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits have been developing so rapidly over the past two years?”
Bu Yingshu grew anxious. “Dad, is this really the time to talk about that?”
Unperturbed, Bu Yuangui continued, “There are many factors, but one is undeniable: large areas of the Former Days Graveyard have ceased production, causing the supply of Soul Cultivators to dwindle, costs to rise, and prices to soar. This is what gave High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits the opportunity to flourish.”
“If the Former Days Graveyard could resume full operation, the outcome of the competition between Soul Cultivators and High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits would be far from certain.”