Chapter 828: Our Kunxu Dream
Two years had passed since Yu Xinghan joined the sect.
Throughout his two years in the sect, Yu Xinghan had worked diligently, conscientiously completing every task assigned to him. Yet, he remained a mere Rank 1 Sect Staff.
Although Zhang Yu had previously taught him the cultivation art of the Chain Formation Diagram: Formless Martial Art and encouraged him to develop his own martial art…
Yu Xinghan sighed softly as he glanced at the approval results.
The Martial Arts Pavilion’s martial art development process was strict, requiring round after round of testing and approval. It wasn’t enough for Yu Xinghan to simply feel he had succeeded.
After completing the initial development, the first hurdle he faced was the preliminary test.
But for the past several months, every time Yu Xinghan applied for a martial art test, he received only one response: “Application Denied.”
Just then, a message arrived from his direct superior, Group Leader Wang: “Little Yu, have you finished the task I gave you last time?”
Yu Xinghan replied, “Group Leader, why hasn’t my test application been approved yet?”
Group Leader Wang responded, “The department has too many projects waiting to launch. So many seniors are waiting for their tests. Just put your martial art on hold for now.”
Group Leader Wang: “You’re still young, only been here for two years. What’s the rush? Just follow me for now and build up some R&D experience.”
Yu Xinghan stared at the reply, feeling it was no different from the last one.
He understood perfectly: his superior had no intention of letting him achieve anything.
As a cultivator who had ascended from the Lower Realm to join the sect, he had been relegated to the lowest-ranking Sect Staff in his group from the moment he arrived.
Consequently, both the group leader and the senior group members dumped all the tedious, undesirable tasks on him daily.
If that were all, Yu Xinghan could have endured it.
As a cultivator who had climbed up from the First Layer, he had experienced countless struggles from the bottom up and possessed ample experience in patience and comebacks.
But the repeated rejections of his test applications made him realize that without connections, background, or Immortal Coins, he would likely wait ten or even twenty years before his turn came in the queue alongside the many senior members.
As for when he might be promoted to Rank 2 Sect Staff? That was probably a decade, or even two, away.
And a Rank 3 Sect Staff position? That would only become possible when a senior member died, was transferred, or retired.
“Maybe I should borrow some Immortal Coins to grease the wheels?”
Yu Xinghan had considered this idea before, but whenever it crossed his mind, he would remember a Rank 1 Sect Staff from the neighboring group — a cultivator who had graduated from Myriad Laws University many years ago.
The man looked young, but his reactions were always sluggish, often staring blankly for a long time before managing to complete a conversation.
Yu Xinghan later learned this was because the man had once subscribed to the Dharma Realm’s Memory Service. Now unable to afford the membership fee, he had to watch advertisements just to replay memories he had previously authorized.
Although Yu Xinghan himself hadn’t subscribed to the Memory Service, he had grown accustomed to many of the Dharma Realm’s convenient features.
Sometimes, he would selectively watch ads or pay for memberships. For frequently used functions, he’d subscribe during promotional periods. For others, he’d sign up for a continuous monthly plan at the discounted first-time rate, then immediately cancel the auto-renewal for the next month.
For rarely used functions, Yu Xinghan would simply choose to watch the ads.
He worried that if he borrowed a large sum of money to grease the wheels, he would end up buried in debt with nothing to show for it. He’d become a useless wreck, forced to watch countless ads every day just to use basic Dharma Realm functions.
“Sigh.”
“Somewhere along the way, I’ve lost the all-or-nothing determination I once had.”
He remembered when he had first joined the sect and reported to the Martial Arts Pavilion, brimming with ambition.
But as the days passed, Yu Xinghan seemed to see himself as a cog in the sect’s machine, turning day after day, repeating the same motions. His future stretched out before him, predictable and unchanging — silently depleting his lifespan, living out his days, and in the end, perhaps the best he could hope for was to scrape by as a Rank 3 Sect Staff…
“This is the sect.”
“I thought reaching the shore meant boundless horizons, but instead, I found ten thousand great mountains, each taller than the last. The foothills, slopes, and peaks are all occupied by countless seniors.”
“The sect’s system is too vast and complex. The path of the Immortal Dao is crowded with endless waves of people, one falling as another rises. There’s never a shortage of talent.”
“Yet, only a precious few ever reach the summit. Most are destined to be worn down over a lifetime, eventually eliminated on the climb up the mountain.”
“This isn’t something that can be overcome by individual ability or talent alone.”
Just then, Group Leader Wang sent another message: “Little Yu, is it ready yet?”
Yu Xinghan didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he looked at the message from Zhang Yu and the attached appointment document.
Originally, Yu Xinghan hadn’t wanted to waste all his previous efforts. He had hoped to push the martial art he’d developed through the approval process before leaving.
But in that moment, staring at yet another failed test application, Yu Xinghan suddenly felt a sense of release.
He felt as if he had returned to his university days, when a single word from Zhang Yu was enough to make him charge forward, no matter the opponent.
Group Leader Wang: “Where are you? Reply immediately.”
Yu Xinghan replied: “Group Leader, I’m not doing it anymore.”
A moment later, Group Leader Wang’s projection slammed down, roaring at Yu Xinghan: “Are you out of your mind? Do you want to fail this year’s performance review?”
Nearby, Shi Huaiyu whipped her head around. As an outsourced cultivator brought in by Yu Xinghan, she knew all too well that the once-illustrious Yu Xinghan from the Lower Realm was now nothing more than a lowly ant at the bottom of the sect’s hierarchy.
Because of their Lower Realm origins, both Yu Xinghan and she were often marginalized to some extent.
Watching Group Leader Wang’s projection descend and begin berating Yu Xinghan, Shi Huaiyu sighed inwardly. “If it were any other veteran Sect Staff, Group Leader Wang wouldn’t dare scold them so publicly.”
Seeing that Yu Xinghan wasn’t apologizing and admitting his mistake as he usually did, Shi Huaiyu couldn’t help but worry. “What’s wrong with Yu Xinghan? You can’t lose your temper with a superior. How will he survive in the Martial Arts Pavilion if he does?”
Just then, Yu Xinghan spoke up: “Group Leader, I’ve been transferred to the development zone to assist with the reconstruction of the Former Days Graveyard.”
Group Leader Wang was momentarily stunned and about to start shouting when he saw the appointment document Yu Xinghan projected. He then exclaimed in shock, “Why wasn’t I informed?”
Yu Xinghan replied, “It might be an order from a higher authority. They probably sent me a copy first; you should receive yours shortly.”
Looking at Yu Xinghan, Group Leader Wang suddenly sensed a faint aura of mystery around him.
He thought to himself, “Reconstruction of the Former Days Graveyard Development Zone… That’s a position where one can easily earn merits and get promoted. And to be transferred directly from the Martial Arts Pavilion to the Former Days Graveyard? I never realized this kid had such a powerful backer.”
His thoughts raced, and in an instant, Group Leader Wang’s expression shifted to a broad smile. “This shows the higher-ups value you. Go there and do a good job.”
Yu Xinghan said, “Group Leader, what about the handover of my duties…”
Group Leader Wang waved his hand dismissively. “Eh, it’s just a minor matter. What’s there to hand over? I’ll arrange everything. You can leave without worry.”
Group Leader Wang then began probing into Yu Xinghan’s background. “By the way, that Divine Monarch Zhang… I hear he also came up from the Lower Realm through the exams. Are you two close?”
Yu Xinghan replied, “We’re acquainted. We were classmates.”
Shi Huaiyu stood by, utterly shocked as she watched Group Leader Wang’s attitude do a complete one-eighty.
Then Yu Xinghan said, “Huaiyu, you should pack up too. Prepare to go to the Former Days Graveyard with me.”
“The Former Days Graveyard…” Shi Huaiyu quickly sent a message. “Could it be Zhang Yu?”
Shi Huaiyu had been following Zhang Yu’s progress closely. When she saw the news about the Kunxu Hero, she had been surprised, shocked, and thrilled…
But she never imagined Zhang Yu could also arrange for Yu Xinghan’s transfer.
Yu Xinghan nodded and replied via message, “It’s him.”
“Zhang Yu wants us to go help him.”
Hearing this, Shi Huaiyu felt a surge of passion ignite within her.
In that moment, vivid memories flashed through her mind: fighting alongside Zhang Yu against the Demonic Sect’s Golden Core cultivator, participating in the University War together, and breaking through the firmament together… one scene after another.
Shi Huaiyu unconsciously clenched her fists. “Let’s go! This damn Martial Arts Pavilion… how could it ever be as satisfying as working with Zhang Yu?”
Myriad Bones Pavilion.
Feng Tingting approached Ye Xingli and said, “Senior Sister, Senior Wang came looking for you again earlier.”
Ye Xingli frowned. It had been nearly a year since she joined the sect. She had hoped to continuously learn and improve in a place like the Myriad Bones Pavilion, which specialized in Bionic research, but…
Ye Xingli sighed, Senior Wang’s words echoing in her mind.
Feng Tingting spoke up beside her. “Senior Sister, this can’t go on. That guy keeps trying to force you into dual cultivation with him, wanting to drain your cultivation!”
“If that were all, it might be tolerable. After all, ‘deep exchanges’ between superiors and subordinates are common in the sect.”
“But I heard he also wants you to bear his children and pay him child support every month! Even junior college students in the Lower Realm wouldn’t be treated this badly.”
Feng Tingting fumed, “He’s doing this because he thinks we have no backing, so he wants to squeeze us dry!”
Ye Xingli sighed. “Let’s just try to avoid him as much as possible.”
Ye Xingli knew well that in a place like the sect, with its strict hierarchy, it was nearly impossible for a subordinate like her to resist harassment from a superior.
But just then, Ye Xingli saw a message from Senior Wang flashing before her eyes again.
Just as she was about to ignore it as usual, the content of the flashing message made her pause in surprise.
Senior Wang: “Little Ye, why didn’t you tell me you had connections? Look at this misunderstanding!”
Confusion rose in Ye Xingli’s heart; she had no idea what he meant.
At that moment, however, Senior Wang was trembling with fear.
He had just received news of Ye Xingli’s transfer. Her new assignment was in the Development Zone of the Former Days Graveyard.
The thought that Zhang Yu and Ye Xingli were both Lower Realm Cultivators, combined with the fact that Ye Xingli had previously worked as an outsourced cultivator for Zhang Yu, sent a chill down Wang Song’s spine.
“He even transferred Ye Xingli over… Their relationship must be extraordinary.”
Recently, Wang Song had watched the members of the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan explode like fireworks, going bankrupt one after another. At first, he had merely been shocked, sighing and marveling at the spectacle…
But when Wang Song learned that Zhang Yu, who was leading the charge, had a connection with his subordinate, Ye Xingli, he felt a strong sense of unease.
Although he believed Zhang Yu or his backers wouldn’t suddenly target an insignificant person like him, he couldn’t shake the thought: what if?
The images of the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan members appearing in the news filled Wang Song’s heart with dread.
“Even so many from the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan have fallen… What if…”
That’s why he had hastily contacted Ye Xingli.
Wang Song: “[10,000 Immortal Coins]”
Wang Song: “You’ve worked hard lately. Consider this my personal bonus for your overtime.”
Wang Song: “If you need it, I can also guide you in your cultivation.”
In Wang Song’s mind, since he had been trying to exploit Ye Xingli recently, an apology of 10,000 Immortal Coins, plus an offer to boost her cultivation through dual cultivation, should be enough to mend their relationship.
Wang Song thought to himself, “Surely he doesn’t expect me to get her pregnant and pay child support every month.”
On the other end, Ye Xingli remained utterly bewildered.
Just then, she received a message from Zhang Yu: “Senior Sister, I need someone I can trust to help me here. Come to the Former Days Graveyard and help me.”
Ye Xingli paused for a moment, then a smile spread across her face. She replied, “Alright.”
Meanwhile, in the Edict Pavilion…
Lu Hengzhang, Deputy Minister of the Review Department, who had once clashed with Zhang Yu and been beaten senseless by Bu Yingshu, frowned deeply.
Ever since the news about Zhang Yu being a “Kunxu Hero” broke, Lu Hengzhang had been filled with shock and fury.
As a staunch supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage, he found such news utterly disgusting.
“A Lower Beast who crawled up from the First Layer, and you’re all cradling him like a treasure? You call that thing a Kunxu Hero?”
“The Immortal Legacy is being passed down to this kind of person?!”
“It’s been tainted! The Immortal Legacy is tainted!”
The thought that Zhang Yu now held a position with more authority than his own made Lu Hengzhang’s magic power surge uncontrollably.
When Lu Hengzhang saw the follow-up reports, he felt as if he had eaten a Lower Beast’s feces, utterly nauseated.
The reports featured interviews with Magnetic Pole and Old Gao.
“Even the Civil Engineering Department is getting screen time? They’re using such a filthy, stinking background for propaganda? Have the higher-ups all gone mad?”
Next, Lu Hengzhang saw Zhao Tianxing’s personal testimony.
On the screen, Zhao Tianxing spoke: “I thank Kunxu, I thank my high school, my vocational college, and my university. I thank the Myriad Laws Sect. They made my dream come true.”
“A Soul Cultivator?” Lu Hengzhang was stunned. “A fucking vocational college Soul Cultivator?”
A voiceover began in the video: “As a Soul Cultivator, riding the winds of reform, Zhao Tianxing soared through the heavens, breaking through the Tenth Layer of Kunxu. His life is the perfect embodiment of the Kunxu Dream.”
“According to current statistics, the annual Sect Examinations held in the Lower Realm provide the sect with five to ten talented individuals. As the abilities of Lower Realm students grow, this number is rapidly increasing. More and more Kunxu people are realizing their Kunxu Dream…”
“Kunxu Dream my ass!” Lu Hengzhang slammed the news video shut. The thought of more and more cultivators from the Lower Realm entering the sect each year, their numbers swelling, and them banding together like Zhang Yu, made him increasingly agitated.
Lu Hengzhang immediately contacted Yang Kaitai, the Vice Pavilion Master of the Edict Pavilion.
Yang Kaitai was also a staunch supporter of the Innate Dao Lineage. During the last research project on the Sect-Guarding Technique, he had clashed fiercely with Bu Yingshu and Zhang Yu.
Lu Hengzhang said, “Leader, have you seen those interviews? What in the world are the higher-ups thinking? Broadcasting a vocational college Soul Cultivator on the news? The Myriad Laws Sect has lost all face.”
Yang Kaitai seemed to have anticipated Lu Hengzhang’s words. He replied calmly, “Opening channels between the upper and lower realms, turning back the clock of history… such actions may succeed temporarily, but they are ultimately doomed to fail.”
“The tide of the Immortal Dao is vast and mighty. As resources concentrate and technology advances, the inevitable outcome will be the complete separation of heaven and earth. Immortals will remain Immortals, sects will remain sects, and Lower Realm natives will remain Lower Realm natives.”
“The Innate Dao Lineage we practice is destined to be invincible. It’s just that in the process of achieving this, we will inevitably encounter some setbacks.”
With that, Yang Kaitai projected a light screen and said, “The matter with the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan is over. Ignore the propaganda. The crucial issue now is…”
Staring at the Former Days Graveyard appearing on the screen, Lu Hengzhang’s expression grew grave. “The Development Zone?”
Yang Kaitai said, “Once the Development Zone is rebuilt, the Soul Cultivator industry will severely impact the current artifact spirit industry, hindering the development of the Artifact Spirit Dao Lineage and, consequently, obstructing the Innate Dao Lineage.”
“Zhang Yu…” Thinking of Zhang Yu’s current situation, Lu Hengzhang couldn’t help but say, “Now that he’s gone to the Development Zone and left the Edict Pavilion, we have no authority over him.”
Yang Kaitai replied calmly, “Don’t focus on a single individual. Zhang Yu is just a blade. If it weren’t him, it would be Wang Yu or Bai Yu. The key is the factions pushing for this reconstruction and the resumption of production.”
“The rebuilding of the Former Days Graveyard will inevitably involve the conflict between Soul Cultivators and artifact spirits. Zhang Yu is merely a pawn caught in the middle.”
“And the Edict Pavilion’s Ethereal Communications Department happens to be an excellent entry point.”
Lu Hengzhang’s gaze sharpened as he understood Yang Kaitai’s meaning.
The Innate Dao Lineage spanned multiple departments within the Myriad Laws Sect, far beyond just their faction in the Edict Pavilion.
This time, the Innate Dao Lineage would mobilize even more forces to influence the reconstruction of the Former Days Graveyard.
Former Days Graveyard.
In the office of the Ethereal Communications Department.
Since the Development Zone Management Committee’s office area hadn’t been set up yet, Zhang Yu was temporarily using an office in the Ethereal Communications Department.
At this moment, his vital energy surged and his magic power circulated as he seized every second to cultivate.
Whether exploring the labyrinth or cooperating with the Special Investigation Team afterward, Zhang Yu never neglected to temper his own cultivation.
He understood perfectly well… Kunxu appeared to operate stably under layers upon layers of orderly structures, but at the very core of this countless order, violence remained the ultimate driving force.
To climb to the pinnacle of Kunxu, one’s own cultivation and strength were indispensable.
No matter how high his rank rose, he could never relax in advancing his cultivation.
Fortunately, the conditions at the detention point set up by the Special Investigation Team had been quite good, allowing Zhang Yu’s cultivation to progress steadily over the past few days.
His dao heart had reached level 43 (62.55%), his physical strength had reached 43.81 points, and through repeated spiritual energy refinement, his magic power had reached 210,000 units.
Zhang Yu knew that although his current combat power was concentrated in his cultivation arts and Immortal Descendant abilities — the 32 Clones, the Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation, and the Immortal Grotto-Heaven—which combined to grant him immense fighting strength.
But the foundation was called the foundation because it was the bedrock of the Immortal Dao. Every bit of improvement to his foundation enhanced all his abilities across the board, laying a solid groundwork for his future breakthroughs to higher realms.
Besides improving his basic stats, Zhang Yu used the specialization effect of the Feather Book daily to max out Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation arts.
This greatly advanced his Spirit Transformation Dao Body. By repeatedly maxing out cultivation arts and then burning them out completely, his Spirit Transformation Dao Body successively activated the 14/14, 16/16, 18/18, and 20/20 Infinite Chain Formation Diagram effects.
Combined with the previously activated 12/12 effect, Zhang Yu’s Spirit Transformation Dao Body was now 100% stronger.
“A comprehensive 100% enhancement means the Spirit Transformation Dao Body’s original bonuses to reorganization speed, consumption rate, cultivation efficiency, and cultivation effectiveness… have all doubled.”
Zhang Yu silently calculated, “But the most important thing… is still the first layer effect of the Spirit Transformation Dao Body.”
Beginner - Spirit Transformation Dao Body (6/6): Once the Dao Body is formed, the Primordial Spirit naturally sheds its old form, returning to the Divine Pool to transform once every year. This layer’s effect remains active even after switching Chain Method Diagram Sets.
“The Primordial Spirit’s Divine Light Ten Transformations originally required a full year for each transformation, even with the Spirit Transformation Dao Body’s enhancement. But now…”
Zhang Yu could feel the change under the influence of the Infinite Chain Formation Diagram. “At most, it will only take half a year to complete one transformation.”
“And considering the time I’ve already spent soaking my Primordial Spirit in the Spirit Transformation Pool, my first transformation will be complete in just another month or two.”
After his usual review of his cultivation progress, Zhang Yu’s gaze returned to the Spirit Realm’s light screen before him.
He smiled slightly as he read the replies from Yu Xinghan and Ye Xingli.
With the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan incident temporarily resolved, Zhang Yu’s greatest gains — besides being hailed as a Kunxu Hero — were becoming the official temporary owner of the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, the formal inheritor of the Ying Xintian Bloodline, gaining control over the labyrinth, and being exceptionally promoted to Vice President of the Development Zone Management Committee.
“Immortal Grotto-Heaven…”
With a mere thought, Zhang Yu opened a Grotto-Heaven Bridge.
After successfully legitimizing the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, he could finally use this ability openly. Not only could he freely use it for storage, but he could also open Grotto-Heaven Gates at will for transportation.
“But I can’t use it for profit just yet.”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “To monetize it, I’ll need various permits and have to bring the entire Grotto-Heaven under the Spirit Realm’s coverage.”
Only after obtaining the relevant business licenses and remaining under constant Spirit Realm surveillance could Zhang Yu’s Immortal Grotto-Heaven be used for profit.
At that point, the entire Immortal Grotto-Heaven could serve as a transit station, even becoming a transportation hub for cultivators to transport goods and travel, using the Grotto-Heaven Bridges to reach various locations.
Once that happened, Zhang Yu could simply set up a toll booth and earn money effortlessly.
Immortal Slayer said, “Obtaining the business licenses to support the Immortal Grotto-Heaven for transporting goods and people won’t be easy.”
“And the constant daily surveillance by the Spirit Realm isn’t suitable for our current situation.”
Zhang Yu nodded, realizing his dream of effortlessly earning money from the Immortal Grotto-Heaven was still a long way off.
Just then, he received another message from Le Mulan.
Le Mulan: “Sorry, Zhang Yu, I can’t come. They won’t let me go.”
Zhang Yu’s heart sank as he read the message.
After officially taking control of the labyrinth and becoming the Vice President of the Development Zone Management Committee, he had been granted quotas to transfer personnel.
Zhang Yu’s first thought was naturally to bring over a group of trusted companions to help him.
Fu Ji had advised him, “Too many people are watching your position now, the Development Zone’s interests are immense, and your cultivation is still insufficient.”
“Remember, Zhang Yu, at this stage, you must appoint based on loyalty! The most important quality in the subordinates you transfer is obedience. Otherwise, bringing in a group of disobedient, independent-minded people, no matter how skilled, will be useless. In fact, the more capable they are, the more they’ll hinder your work.”
“As for appointing based on merit, we’re far from being at that level yet.”
Zhang Yu completely agreed with Fu Ji’s advice, so he had first targeted Yu Xinghan, Ye Xingli, and Le Mulan — the companions who had passed the exams alongside him.
“What a pity…”
Immortal Slayer said, “Le Mulan is a major investment project for them, one they’ve poured considerable resources into. They won’t let her go easily.”
Zhang Yu nodded, knowing he wouldn’t be able to contact Le Mulan anytime soon.
“My authority is still too weak.”
“If I were a Rank 9 or Rank 10 Sect Staff, an Ascension Realm cultivator, would I still have trouble transferring Le Mulan?”
Zhang Yu let out a breath, suppressing the restlessness in his heart.
“Although Yu Xinghan and Senior Sister are still Rank 1 Sect Staff, they haven’t wasted their time. They’ve already broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm.”
Rank 1 Sect Staff were eligible for a Nascent Soul Certificate. Combined with the excellent cultivation environment of the Kunxu Eleventh Layer, Yu Xinghan and Ye Xingli had been able to break through smoothly. This was one of the greatest benefits of joining the sect.
“But the Nascent Soul Realm is still insufficient for what’s to come…”
Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted slightly, landing on the contact avatars of Magnetic Pole, Greenwood, Nether Spring… the Lower Realm Spirit Transformation cultivators in his list.
“Since I’m allowed to transfer personnel, I should be able to mobilize outsourced cultivators too, right?”