Chapter 842: Receiving the Compensation, Inverted Kunlun
After a round of haggling, Xie Lanyin still felt that the medical expenses plus an additional ten million Immortal Coins were too much. She repeatedly emphasized that she didn’t have that much cash on hand.
Xie Lanyin explained again, “I’m just a Rank 6 Sect Staff. In the Development Zone, I’m considered a significant figure, but back in the White Bone Cult, I’m just an ordinary mid-level member. Most of my wealth is tied up in fixed assets; I really don’t have that much cash.”
Zhang Yu looked at her and said, “How about this… you won’t have to cover my future treatment costs. I’ll figure that out myself.”
“But the initial compensation of 6.4 million Immortal Coins must be paid in full today.”
“As for the remaining 3.6 million, I’ll accept it in installments over three years — 100,000 Immortal Coins per month.”
Xie Lanyin’s eyes flickered. She understood that Zhang Yu was trading “waiving future medical expenses” for “a larger total compensation.”
Hearing Zhang Yu’s proposal, the doctor standing nearby was alarmed. He quickly advised, “Vice President Zhang, your health is paramount! Given your current condition, you’ll likely need long-term treatment. I strongly advise against waiving your medical compensation…”
Zhang Yu waved his hand dismissively. “I know my own body best. After discussing the compensation with Vice President Xie, my condition has been steadily improving.”
“Vice President Xie, what do you say?”
Under pressure from Bu Yingshu, Xiao Yunhe, Kurong Child, and the major corporations, Xie Lanyin sighed in resignation and finally agreed to the compensation terms.
As Zhang Yu and Xie Lanyin signed the compensation contract and 6.4 million Immortal Coins were transferred to Zhang Yu’s account, he astonished everyone by swiftly leaping from the hospital bed and ripping off the various healing magical artifacts attached to his body.
His movements were so quick it was as if he feared being charged extra for every additional moment he spent lying down.
Seeing this, the doctor rushed forward to stop him. “Vice President Zhang, you’re not out of danger yet…”
Zhang Yu waved his hand again. “After receiving these 6.4 million Immortal Coins, I feel much better. I don’t think I need any more treatment.”
The doctor’s gaze swept over Zhang Yu, and with a quick scan, he could feel that Zhang Yu’s vital signs were indeed rising. His heart sank. “Oh no! At this rate, the patient is about to leave the critical period!”
Zhang Yu addressed the crowd. “It might be the effect of the Immortal Legacy. I feel I need to return to my Immortal Grotto-Heaven for my body to recover properly.”
“Dao Monarch Bu, President Xiao, Vice President Xie, I’ll be heading back to recuperate now.”
With that, Grotto-Heaven force surged around him. He took a single step, preparing to leave the infirmary and return to his Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
Bu Yingshu immediately followed, her voice cold. “Wait. I’m going back with you.”
Watching this unfold, the doctor panicked. “It’s over! The patient is discharging himself!”
He quickly called out, “Vice President Zhang, the Immortal Spirit Root that fell out of your body…”
It was the basic Immortal Spirit Root Zhang Yu had purchased for 20,000 Immortal Coins in the past. After it was damaged in the battle, he hadn’t even tried to repair it, instead using it as a bargaining chip to demand compensation from Xie Lanyin.
With the Immortal Coins now in his account, Zhang Yu didn’t want to stay in the infirmary a moment longer. He naturally had no interest in the Immortal Spirit Root, which was now nothing more than shattered scrap. As for his own Feather Spirit Root, he had temporarily removed it and hidden it away.
Without even turning his head, Zhang Yu called back, “Donate it to your research. Consider it my contribution to the sect’s medical advancement. No need to thank me.”
President Xiao Yunhe reminded him, “Vice President Zhang, remember to restore the labyrinth’s connection to the Spirit Realm as soon as possible.”
The next moment, the Grotto-Heaven force dissipated, and Zhang Yu and Bu Yingshu vanished from everyone’s sight. All that remained was the doctor, his face etched with sorrow, sighing inwardly. “Alas, a million-coin medical bill… gone just like that.”
With any ordinary cultivator who refused treatment like this, he would have already subdued them. But Zhang Yu’s rank, authority, power, and background were all extraordinary. He was no longer a patient the infirmary could treat at will, leaving the doctors to only gaze helplessly at the vast, unreachable ocean.
Xie Lanyin watched this unfold, initially startled by the incredible speed of Zhang Yu’s recovery. She couldn’t help but marvel at the power of his Immortal Legacy.
But then, the thought of the 6.4 million Immortal Coins she had just transferred, and the additional 100,000 she would have to pay monthly, filled her with a wave of sorrow.
“So this is what ‘gravely injured and near death’ looks like?” Xie Lanyin said coldly. “To me, it looks like blatant extortion.”
Xiao Yunhe replied calmly, “Vice President Xie, do you really want to spread the news that you, a Vice President of the Management Committee and a Rank 6 Void Refinement Cultivator, failed to seriously injure Vice President Zhang with a single strike? And that he’s now perfectly fine?”
Hearing this, Xie Lanyin’s heart sank with frustration.
She knew she absolutely could not let such a story get out.
She had already suffered the loss and paid the compensation. If she now spread rumors about Zhang Yu being perfectly fine, it would only undermine her own authority.
In fact, not only could she not spread the news, she had to actively suppress it and quash any similar rumors.
As her thoughts raced, Xie Lanyin grew increasingly furious.
“I absolutely cannot let this go.”
Her gaze fell upon Lu Hengzhang in her contact list, a Rank 4 Sect Staff member from the Edict Pavilion.
Xie Lanyin thought grimly, “Zhang Yu used the White Bone Cult’s Sect Enterprises and leaders against me… Why can’t I use your Myriad Laws Sect against you?”
“The enmity and conflict between the Artifact Spirit Faction and the Soul Cultivator Faction… run very deep indeed.”
Meanwhile, as soon as Bu Yingshu followed Zhang Yu back into his Immortal Grotto-Heaven, she slammed her foot into his side.
“Zhang Yu! Were you ever really that badly injured?!”
Without his Feather Spirit Root or the protection of his Hegemon Body, Zhang Yu was powerless against Bu Yingshu’s Void Refinement-level strength. He collapsed to the ground, pinned helplessly beneath her foot.
Bu Yingshu recalled her earlier panic and fury when she thought the brute was dying. She stomped on him twice more and snarled, “Zhang Yu! Did you think you could defy me just because you’re off Myriad Laws Sect territory?”
“Remember where your roots lie!”
Feeling the terrifying power radiating from Bu Yingshu’s long leg, Zhang Yu hurriedly explained, “Dao Monarch, I truly didn’t deceive you. At that time, I genuinely felt like I was about to die. After all, I’m merely a Spirit Transformation cultivator. How could I possibly block a Void Refinement-level finger strike and not suffer severe injuries?”
Hearing this, Bu Yingshu hesitated. She found herself believing him somewhat, and the pressure from her foot unconsciously eased.
As a Void Refinement cultivator herself, she knew all too well the vast gap between the Spirit Transformation and Void Refinement realms.
It was only natural for Zhang Yu to be critically injured, even near death, after taking such a blow.
Sensing the force from Bu Yingshu’s foot weaken, Zhang Yu breathed a small sigh of relief. “As expected,” he thought, “this woman still trusts me to some extent.”
Fu Ji chimed in, “Zhang Yu! Although it looks like she’s on top and you’re on the bottom, you’re the one with the real control here! You’re the one truly standing tall!”
Zhang Yu thought grimly, “Fu Ji, your judgment of situations is becoming increasingly accurate.”
Fu Ji chuckled inwardly. “Hehe, as expected… Zhang Yu still trusts me quite a bit. Normally, when a subordinate witnesses their leader in such an embarrassing situation, they should make themselves invisible. But I’m doing the opposite, inserting myself into the scene. This way, every time Zhang Yu recalls this profound memory, he’ll think of me.”
Fu Ji urged, “Zhang Yu! Don’t stop! Keep licking her! She’s starting to press down again.”
The mental exchange concluded in an instant. Feeling Bu Yingshu’s skeptical gaze, Zhang Yu continued, “Later, perhaps due to the Immortal Legacy, I felt my injuries gradually healing.
“But when I contacted you, Dao Monarch… I truly believed I was about to die. I checked my savings and realized I probably couldn’t afford to resurrect myself. My only thought was to reach out to you.”
Bu Yingshu snorted. “What? Did you want me to lend you money? Or were you already planning to have me help you demand compensation from Xie Lanyin?”
Zhang Yu said, “My only thought then was that if I couldn’t continue serving you, Dao Monarch, while alive, I would die and become one of your Soul Cultivators, continuing to work for you.”
“What nonsense is this? What would I do with a Soul Cultivator from the Lower Realm like you?”
Bu Yingshu turned her head away. “Zhang Yu, you better remember this: you’re my subordinate. I need a living person who can help me refine cultivation arts. If you die, you’ll be utterly worthless to me. I have no interest in a Soul Cultivator of your level!”
She then recalled Zhang Yu’s role in her recent talent breakthrough and thought to herself, “Useless Zhang Yu, taking on increasingly dangerous tasks. If I weren’t protecting him, he’d have been killed long ago… I need to find a chance to pull him into refining cultivation arts with me and fully awaken my innate talent.”
“Hmph… Once I’ve completely squeezed out your usefulness and achieved my peerless talent, I won’t care whether you live or die.”
With this thought, Bu Yingshu withdrew her long leg, then lightly kicked Zhang Yu a few times. “Alright, why are you still lying around during work hours? Get up and get to work.”
“First, restore the Spirit Realm connection. Then, try to finish the Management Committee’s other tasks a few days early. I have many more tasks to assign you.”
Zhang Yu’s figure flickered, and he was already floating in the air. He said, “I’ll go restore the Spirit Realm connection now.”
As she watched Zhang Yu’s departing figure, Bu Yingshu suddenly spoke again, her voice cold. “The 6.4 million you just got, what do you plan to use it for?”
Zhang Yu paused, slightly stunned. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Bu Yingshu said casually, “Once you’ve decided, send me a list of what you want to buy.”
Seeing Zhang Yu’s confused expression, Bu Yingshu suddenly felt a surge of impatience and inexplicable anger. “I can get discounts when I buy things, understand?”
Zhang Yu thought helplessly, “Why is she angry again?”
He quickly replied, “Understood, Dao Monarch. I’ll send you the list once I’ve decided.”
“Then I’ll get back to work.”
As Zhang Yu’s figure vanished across the Grotto-Heaven Bridge, the trace of annoyance in Bu Yingshu’s heart finally began to subside.
“A Lower Realm Native is a Lower Realm Native… He doesn’t even understand this… Making me explain everything is such a hassle.”
“This Grotto-Heaven is also pathetically crude. A dog kennel is still a dog kennel.”
Bu Yingshu lifted her foot to leave, but before stepping onto the Grotto-Heaven Bridge, she seemed to recall something. She abruptly formed a series of magic seals, and in an instant, she roughly scanned the entire Grotto-Heaven.
Finding no unauthorized individuals or inexplicable traces of sword qi or sword intent, Bu Yingshu felt a slight sense of satisfaction.
Meanwhile, in the labyrinth’s Office District…
In this area, which had lost its Spirit Realm connection and was currently completely shut down, Zhang Yu’s figure quietly materialized.
Bai Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zhang Yu appear unharmed.
Zhang Yu had come to meet Bai Zhenzhen in secret because he had temporarily hidden his Feather Spirit Root in her Dantian.
Through Grotto-Heaven Manifestation, Zhang Yu could exist simultaneously in the Immortal Grotto-Heaven and the Material World. He could also connect to the Dark Spirit Realm within the Immortal Grotto-Heaven at any time, allowing him to monitor the entire Grotto-Heaven.
Only after confirming that Bu Yingshu had left the Grotto-Heaven did Zhang Yu bring Bai Zhenzhen into the Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
After a familiar, trembling exchange, Bai Zhenzhen successfully returned the Feather Spirit Root to Zhang Yu’s body.
Then, the two began to communicate telepathically using the Evil God power.
Bai Zhenzhen asked, “Yu Zi, is it done?”
Zhang Yu smiled faintly, a flicker of pride crossing his face as he briefly recounted what had happened.
When Bai Zhenzhen heard that Zhang Yu had earned 6.4 million in one go, with another 100,000 coming in every month, she wished she had been the one getting beaten.
She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Damn it, Fu Ji was right after all. The most profitable business in Kunxu really is scamming! This is way faster than working.”
Fu Ji’s voice echoed in their minds: “I told you so. I explained how to climb the ladder and get rich quick in Kunxu back on the First Layer.”
Just then, Bai Zhenzhen’s gaze shifted slightly as she noticed the footprint on Zhang Yu’s clothes. She knew it was a mark left by Bu Yingshu.
Bai Zhenzhen asked, “Did that Bu Yingshu step on you again?”
Zhang Yu waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. It might look like she was stepping on me, but I was actually the one in control. She just agreed to buy things for me. You know the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan gets discounts on a lot of stuff, right?”
Seeing her good brother’s confident expression, Bai Zhenzhen only saw it as Zhang Yu trying to save face. After all… how could someone being stepped on be the one in control?
Besides, the footprint was only what Bai Zhenzhen could see. Heaven knew what other shocking humiliations Zhang Yu had endured while being stepped on.
After all, back on the First and Second Layers, the ways the rich humiliated the poor had already seemed endlessly varied to Bai Zhenzhen.
And Bu Yingshu, a member of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan within the sect, a superior existence in Kunxu’s sect layers, how much more insane would she be? Just thinking about it made Bai Zhenzhen instinctively pat Zhang Yu’s shoulder.
“…I kind of want to see it, but I can’t ask Yu Zi to record it for me, can I? That would be like rubbing salt in his wounds. He’s not like me, willing to kneel for money. He must have been in so much pain when Bu Yingshu was oppressing him.”
“The Yu Zi from the First and Second Layers probably couldn’t have tolerated something like this.”
Thinking this, Bai Zhenzhen sighed inwardly. “Alas, the sect… it has unknowingly changed both me and Zhang Yu.”
Faced with Zhang Yu’s forced smile, Bai Zhenzhen couldn’t bring herself to expose his pretense. She simply said, “Getting an Immortal Clan member to get you discounts… Yu Zi, you’re getting more and more impressive.”
As companions who had spent years together day and night, climbing up from the First Layer, how could the emotional shift in Bai Zhenzhen’s gaze escape Zhang Yu’s eyes?
“Is it because of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao and the Sorrowful Sword Dao? We’re the closest of companions, yet because of Bu Yingshu, we can only meet in secret. A-Zhen must be feeling terrible, right?”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Just endure a little longer, A-Zhen. Once I reach Rank 7, break through to the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, and surpass Bu Yingshu, she’ll no longer be able to stop us from meeting openly.”
Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu and thought, “Just endure a little longer, Yu Zi. Once I advance the old version of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao to the Sect-Guarding or even Heaven-Opening Realm and win the Celestial Evolution Award, I’ll definitely be able to protect you.”
After seeing Bai Zhenzhen off, Zhang Yu first restored one-third of the Spirit Realm connection to the labyrinth’s Office District.
Of course, he had no intention of restoring the labyrinth’s entire Spirit Realm connection in one go. Instead, he planned to restore it gradually over ten days.
On one hand, this would demonstrate the difficulty of restoring the Spirit Realm connection. On the other hand, it would allow him to more safely organize manpower during this period to subdue the Void Refinement Corpse Components without the Spirit Realm’s coverage.
This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else interfering recklessly.
At the same time, Zhang Yu began to consider how to spend the 6.4 million Immortal Coins he had on hand.
He knew that in Kunxu, especially within a sect, there were far too many ways to spend money.
6.4 million might seem like a lot, but if invested in the path of the Immortal Dao, it could be spent in minutes.
So, Zhang Yu began to carefully plan how to use this sum of Immortal Coins.
“What do I need right now?”
Zhang Yu recalled his solo exploration of the labyrinth, his battle against Ying Aikun, and the process of leading the team to suppress the Void Refinement Corpse Components.
He could feel that while his abilities in self-preservation and support were already highly developed, even surpassing most cultivators at his realm, he still lacked raw power in direct confrontation.
“Power… Whether in work or combat, this has become a significant weakness for me.”
“I need a method that can unleash pure, overwhelming power.”
“If I had greater power, not only would it increase my efficiency in subduing the Void Refinement Corpse Components, but it would also ensure the components suffer less damage during the suppression process.”
Zhang Yu also considered that once the Development Zone was cleared, various construction projects would begin.
As the leader in charge of this area, he needed greater power to increase his work efficiency and maintain his authority.
“Compared to magical artifacts, Bionics, or talismans, what I really need is an Immortal Sect technique, right?”
“After all, with the Feather Book and my mastery of the current Dao Seeds and Chain Formation Diagrams… a technique would be exceptionally effective in my hands. I wouldn’t need to spend as much time and effort mastering it as others would.”
Thinking of immense power and construction capabilities, Zhang Yu immediately thought of the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power and its associated Chain Formation Diagram, [Inverted Kunlun].
“If I buy a technique from the Inverted Kunlun series… I could also work on completing this Chain Formation Diagram.”
On his Chain Formation Diagram, Inverted Kunlun had already reached a level of (8/8) thanks to the Seven Absolutes of Civil Engineering and Kunlun in the Palm. He only needed two more techniques to complete the set of ten and unlock its third-tier effect.
With this in mind, Zhang Yu opened the list of techniques he had previously recorded.
Back when Zhang Yu was in the Edict Pavilion, he had frequently searched for various cultivation arts, examining their associated Chain Formation Diagrams and recording the details of those he deemed valuable as future goals.
Now, he was reviewing the only two techniques he had found that belonged to the Inverted Kunlun Chain Formation Diagram.
One was called Kunlun-Uprooting Heaven-Overturning Mystic Power, an Immortal Sect-level True Inheritance Technique. Unlike the relatively cheap techniques of the Formless Martial Art series, this Kunlun-Uprooting Heaven-Overturning Mystic Power cost a staggering 3 million Immortal Coins and 5,000 Dao Merit.
Zhang Yu understood that the Formless Martial Art series was cheaper because its techniques were fragmented and required multiple sets to be effective.
In contrast, it was normal for most Immortal Sect-level True Inheritance Techniques to cost over a million Immortal Coins.
The other technique was named Great Freedom Inconceivable Power, a Sect-Guarding Technique. Its price was even more terrifying: a whopping 1.5 billion Immortal Coins and 5 million Dao Merit.
Of course, this price was standard for Sect-Guarding Techniques. When Zhang Yu had browsed the Edict Pavilion before, Sect-Guarding-Tier techniques started at a billion Immortal Coins.
Whenever he thought about the prices of these Sect-Guarding Techniques, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh. On one hand, he marveled at how expensive they were; on the other, he felt fortunate to have secretly learned the Sect-Guarding Technique Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation by exploiting his position reviewing techniques in the Edict Pavilion.
“Sect-Guarding Techniques… they’re simply not meant for low- to mid-level Sect Staff.”
“Great Freedom Inconceivable Power… I can’t even consider it for the foreseeable future.”
“But I can afford Kunlun-Uprooting Heaven-Overturning Mystic Power right now.”
In terms of Immortal Coins, Zhang Yu’s current 6.4 million was more than enough.
As for Dao Merit, its sources were less widespread than Immortal Coins, typically only obtainable through sect rewards.
Fortunately, after being honored as a Kunxu Hero, Zhang Yu had been awarded 5,000 Dao Merit. Combined with what he had already accumulated, he now had a total of 5,500 Dao Merit.
The only downside was that Immortal Sect-level True Inheritance Techniques belonging to the Myriad Laws Sect could not be gifted to others. This meant Zhang Yu couldn’t benefit from Bu Yingshu’s discount.
Yet, a flicker of hesitation arose in Zhang Yu’s mind.
“Spending 3 million Immortal Coins on a True Inheritance Technique… is it really worth it for me at this stage?”
This thought arose because Zhang Yu already possessed a Strategic-Tier technique like Kunlun in the Palm and had mastered the Sect-Guarding Technique Blood Tide Essence Qi Sacred Contemplation. Now, True Inheritance Techniques seemed somewhat beneath him.
If not for the fact that Kunlun-Uprooting Heaven-Overturning Mystic Power belonged to the Inverted Kunlun series, he wouldn’t have even bothered to look at it.
Just as Zhang Yu hesitated, the Desolate Ox suddenly spoke: “Get this one.”
Zhang Yu’s heart stirred, and he asked curiously, “Is there something special about this technique?”
The Desolate Ox replied in a low voice, “The techniques in the Inverted Kunlun series were likely all created by the same person. If my memory serves me correctly, when this Kunlun-Uprooting Heaven-Overturning Mystic Power is combined with the other techniques you possess — all nine operating in unison — it will produce a truly wondrous effect…”
After hearing the Desolate Ox’s explanation, Zhang Yu finally decided to buy the technique.
In the next moment… as 3 million Immortal Coins and 5,000 Dao Merit vanished, the rights to Kunlun-Uprooting Heaven-Overturning Mystic Power were granted to Zhang Yu, and the full text of the technique appeared before him.