Chapter 855 Happily Acquiring the Auspicious God, First Mail Correspondence with the Immortal Emperor
Looking at Kuang Tianqing in front of him, Zhang Yu’s thoughts raced like lightning.
The Sect Examination Clone said: “Zhang Yu! Are you going to be bought out by the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor? This is the act of a Sect Traitor! They invest in you and help you climb higher in the Myriad Laws Sect just to use you! In the future, they will definitely make you pay a greater price!”
Fu Ji refuted: “Starting from the Dharma-Warding Talisman! From the Immortal Slayer memory, we have already received the help of the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor! Utilizing all available resources to constantly climb upward is inherently the Dao of Immortal Cultivation in Kunxu.”
Fu Ji spoke plausibly: “Now, being appreciated by the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor while receiving the secret financial backing of the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor, clinging to the thighs of two Immortal Emperors at the same time, how much immortal fortune is this that countless cultivators couldn’t beg for? And you are still unhappy about it?”
The Sect Examination Clone said angrily: “Could the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor have any good intentions? He just wants to grasp our weaknesses, and after planting us into the higher echelons of Myriad Laws, he will definitely make us do things that are detrimental to the Myriad Laws Sect and the Immortal Emperor!”
Fu Ji said disdainfully: “So what? From top to bottom in this Kunxu, which place isn’t a battlefield for the Immortal Emperors’ struggles? We have long been drawn into it!”
“How can the path of the Immortal Dao be without risks? The greater the profit, the greater the risk. Receiving the assistance of two Immortal Emperors naturally means bearing unprecedented risks. If not, how can one climb to the Apex of the Immortal Dao?”
The Sect Examination Clone shouted, “Being a Sect Traitor is simply unacceptable!”
Along with the argument between the two sides, Zhang Yu’s mind was also rapidly pondering the information about the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor.
At the end of the University War, through interactions with the Evil Gods, the recounting by the Joy God, and the conversation with Fu Xiantian, Zhang Yu already knew that behind the Evil Gods, the biggest backer of the Evil God Kings was none other than the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor.
Even the entire University War and Ying Xintian’s New World Project had the shadow of the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor behind them.
“But since when… did this Reincarnation Immortal Emperor set his sights on me?”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Was it before the Sect Examination? During the University War? After I transferred to the Artifact Refinement Department? During my studies in the Civil Engineering Department? Or even earlier… in high school? Did it start when I was in the First Layer of Kunxu?”
“Does he also know about my terrifying talent? Does he know about the existence of the Feather Book? And if he does… how much does he know?”
Various thoughts swirled in Zhang Yu’s mind, bringing up a surge of past experiences. Every scene seemed perfectly fine on the surface, yet every scene also felt like it could have a hidden problem.
Even the scene back then when he completed the Evil God Ritual and met Fu Ji for the first time now seemed a bit suspicious to Zhang Yu.
Fu Ji said, “Back then I was betrayed and ended up in the First Layer, meeting you by a stroke of luck. Could it be that this wasn’t purely a coincidence, but rather an arrangement by the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor? Did this Immortal Emperor already want to plant us into the Myriad Laws Sect back then?”
Immortal Slayer said, “What is certain for now is… during the time of the Sect Examination, the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor indeed sent Kuang Tianqing to negotiate with us and provided the Dharma-Warding Talisman. As for any time earlier than that, there is no conclusive evidence, so overthinking it is useless. Whether it was intentionally arranged or not, we are already caught in the chess game of the two Immortal Emperors.”
Fu Ji agreed, “Yes, yes. Since things have come to this, the top priority… is still to obtain Evil Gods from Kuang Tianqing to elevate your potential!”
“Zhang Yu! Only when your potential is stronger and the upper limit of your future development is higher, climbing higher in Kunxu, will you have more autonomy!”
Although he knew that Fu Ji said this also to elevate her own Evil God Power and status, Zhang Yu also understood… he indeed needed the Evil Gods very much.
“Although the potential contained within me can be described as world-shocking, possessing world-shaking talents, the manifestation of the Feather Book is still a bit too weak. I need to constantly help Fu Ji devour Evil Gods to develop more functions for the Feather Book.”
Just as thoughts flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind like lightning, Kuang Tianqing on the other side was also looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze, various pieces of information about Zhang Yu surfacing in his mind.
“Zhang Yu…” Kuang Tianqing thought to himself, “A pauper who climbed up from the First Layer, a weakling who was almost forced into Compulsory Dual Cultivation by me during university, yet after the University War started, he surpassed me all the way.”
As a senior figure in the sect, to say that Kuang Tianqing had no thoughts at all during the time he was surpassed by Zhang Yu… that was naturally impossible.
And now, looking at the silent Zhang Yu in front of him, Kuang Tianqing finally felt a sense of suppressing and controlling the other party again.
Kuang Tianqing thought to himself, “Zhang Yu… are you now remembering the feeling of being ruthlessly suppressed by me? Remembering the feeling of when I almost invaded you?”
However, in the next moment, Kuang Tianqing immediately extinguished the smugness in his heart. “Damn it… I’m being influenced by modern thinking again.”
“Remember Kuang Tianqing, you are a man! Men don’t cultivate with men! You do not want to screw Zhang Yu.”
After silently repeating this in his heart a few times, Kuang Tianqing put on a serious expression and said, “Minister Zhang, if you agree to cooperate, I can hand an Evil God over to you today.”
“Once the joint venture company is launched, for every 10% market share gained, we can provide you with another Evil God.”
Hearing these words, Zhang Yu understood in his heart that he was already unable to refuse.
So, after thinking for a moment, Zhang Yu said, “Something like a joint venture company isn’t something I can decide on my own. I need to report it and get the approval of the Myriad Laws Sect’s higher-ups before I can push this matter forward.”
Hearing this, Kuang Tianqing laughed. “That is natural. We can fully cooperate with you in this regard.”
“Cooperate?” Zhang Yu’s heart suddenly stirred: “There is someone of yours among the upper echelons of the Myriad Laws Sect?”
At this moment, Zhang Yu thought of the Reincarnation Dao Lineage of the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor, which should be able to awaken a person’s past life memory.
Could the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor arrange for his own people to reincarnate into the Myriad Laws Sect, wait until they climbed up… or perhaps awaken the other party’s undercover identity only when needed?
Like Kuang Tianqing before him, who had changed from Sister Kuang to Brother Kuang, with drastic changes in aesthetic and speaking styles. In Zhang Yu’s view, this was likely because he had awakened the memory of his previous life.
It could be said… under the influence of the Reincarnation Dao Lineage, as long as the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor wished, he could instantly distort a person’s thinking, concepts, and memory.
All self-cognition of a person seemed to lose its meaning in the face of this terrifying Immortal Dao Technology.
“But other Immortal Emperors should also have checks and balances, and wouldn’t allow the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor to mess around like this.”
Just as Zhang Yu was pondering in his heart, Kuang Tianqing said: “Minister Zhang, you can’t speak nonsense. The help I mentioned is that our Heavenly Demon Sect can try our best to cooperate with you regarding the joint venture company.”
“For example… when reporting to your superiors, you can state that the matter of the joint venture company was not proposed by our Heavenly Demon Sect. Instead, you can say that you spotted the Heavenly Demon Sect’s internal conflicts, capitalized on them, and successfully secured the Heavenly Demon Sect’s technology as a capital contribution.”
Next, Su Lengyou was also invited back into the Immortal Grotto-Heaven to jointly discuss some details of the joint venture company.
Su Lengyou glanced curiously at Zhang Yu and Kuang Tianqing, guessing in her heart what exactly the two sides had discussed to make Zhang Yu change his mind so quickly.
“Was he bribed with a lot of money?” Su Lengyou thought to herself. “Or was it some other benefit?”
After the discussion ended, Kuang Tianqing waited for Su Lingyou to leave first, and then handed a black pearl into Zhang Yu’s hand.
“This is the agreed-upon first Evil God.” Kuang Tianqing looked at Zhang Yu’s surprised gaze, smiled and said, “I wish you steady promotions and great success, Minister Zhang. We are very much looking forward to the day you successfully ascend in the future and become an Immortal of the Myriad Laws Sect.”
Accompanied by Kuang Tianqing’s dissipating figure, the black pearl in Zhang Yu’s hand let out an exclamation, “No! Don’t throw me to Zhang Yu!”
Meanwhile, Fu Ji had already turned into a ragdoll and jumped into Zhang Yu’s palm, grabbing the black pearl with one hand, ready to refine it in an instant.
But the black pearl hurriedly said, “Don’t! Don’t kill me! I am the Auspicious God! I can provide information!”
The black pearl transformed into a doll that looked like a rainbow slime.
“Auspicious God?” Fu Ji said in surprise. “It’s you? How did you get here?”
“Sigh…” the Auspicious God said. “After the University War ended, I fell into Kuang Tianqing’s hands.”
Thinking of this, the Auspicious God was full of complaints, sighing in his heart, “I said long ago that we needed to deal with Zhang Yu. Then again, I said we need to deal with Zhang Yu, but they just wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t listen. If they had done as I said, we would have won the University War long ago. How would we have ended up in this situation?”
“We should have been taking our time and doing it with ease, but now we’re stumbling and struggling just to protect ourselves.”
“Herald God, Joy God, they’re all a bunch of amateurs.”
Zhang Yu looked at the Auspicious God in his hand. Although he didn’t immediately know what to ask him, he did feel it would be a waste to just kill him.
After all, he was now not only highly skilled, but also in control of the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, so he no longer had to worry about an Evil God in his hands easily causing any trouble.
So Zhang Yu asked in his heart, “Fu Ji, the intelligence in this guy’s head might be useful. Can you devour the Evil God Power and status while keeping him alive?”
Fu Ji replied, “Hmm… With your Immortal Grotto-Heaven as a safe place for me to operate freely, and considering I’m already a Rank 3 Evil God, I can try my best, but he needs to cooperate.”
The Auspicious God hurriedly said, “I’ll cooperate, I’ll definitely cooperate!”
So a moment later, Zhang Yu arrived at the location of the Calculation Pool, cleared out all the Soul Cultivators around it, and placed the Auspicious God on the Calculation Pool according to Fu Ji’s instructions.
“Using the Calculation Pool as an altar, the Magic Power Circuits as chains, and the Dark Spirit Realm of this Immortal Grotto-Heaven as a formation…”
Fu Ji returned to her rag doll appearance, stomping heavily on the doll transformed by the Auspicious God. As she stomped vigorously, she shouted, “How about it? Do you submit?”
The rainbow slime was stomped until it twisted and deformed, and the Auspicious God quickly begged for mercy, “I submit! I submit! I submit!”
With each of Fu Ji’s stomps, strands of Evil God Power flowed out from the Auspicious God and surged into Fu Ji’s body.
Meanwhile, the Auspicious God’s body grew smaller and smaller, and even the seven-colored hues on his body gradually dimmed.
After a long while, Fu Ji let out a satisfied burp. Zhang Yu, who was beside her, quickly asked, “How is it?”
Fu Ji said, “The Auspicious God has been pretty much sucked dry by me, but it’s still not enough to let me advance from a Rank 3 Evil God to Rank 4.”
Fu Ji said with a look of pity, “Like him… I’ll probably need to absorb another one before it’s enough for me to upgrade.”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly, thinking to himself, “Then I’ll need to increase the market share to 10%… before I can get another Evil God from Kuang Tianqing. Is this also within the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor’s calculations?”
Next, Zhang Yu began to ponder how to report the matter of the joint venture company to his superiors.
“To win the support of the higher-ups, I have to put myself in the perspective of the upper echelons of the Myriad Laws Sect… And who is the highest authority of the Myriad Laws Sect? Naturally, it’s the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor.”
“Will the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor agree to cooperate with the Heavenly Demon Sect… No, it should be cooperation with the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor?”
While pondering the questions in his mind, Zhang Yu searched through the Spirit Realm for various analysis and commentary (flattery) articles about the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor.
“Although the Immortal Emperors possess a large amount of hidden assets and unknown cutting-edge Immortal Dao Technology, there are still many people who make projections based on public data, and according to the estimates of most people… the growth rate of the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor’s total personal cultivation value this year is around 5%.”
Zhang Yu thought to himself: “The growth rate of total personal cultivation value? This thing is actually a bit like Earth’s GDP growth rate.”
“And the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor’s 5% cultivation growth rate is roughly ranked in the bottom five among the Ten Immortal Emperors.”
“On the contrary, the overall assets of the Heavenly Demon Sect are estimated to be ranked in the top 3 of the Ten Great Sects.”
Zhang Yu then looked at the public data and intelligence of the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor and the Myriad Laws Sect. According to most people’s estimates, both the personal cultivation growth rate of the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor and the overall assets of the Myriad Laws Sect could be ranked in the top three.
“Why is there such a difference?”
Zhang Yu’s heart stirred, and he looked at the Auspicious God, who was locked inside his Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
“Auspicious God, you have followed Kuang Tianqing for so long, do you know some of the internal situations of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”
Hearing Zhang Yu’s question, the Auspicious God quickly said: “Ah, actually, many people inside the Heavenly Demon Sect know about this matter.”
“Overall, it’s because the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor, as the second-generation Dao Master of the Reincarnation Dao Lineage, has been in charge of this Immortal Emperor Dao Lineage for too short a time, and his time at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Demon Sect has also been too short. Yet, the Heavenly Demon Sect has numerous internal factions, and several Immortal Venerables only obey orders when they feel like it.”
“From what I see, those Immortal Venerables are glaring like tigers watching their prey, wanting to snatch away the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor’s Immortal Emperor Dao Lineage.”
“Although the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor can temporarily suppress them, if he were to go to all-out war with them, even if he defeats these Immortal Venerables, other Immortal Emperors would take advantage of the situation.”
“It could be said that among the ten Immortal Emperors, the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor probably has the weakest control over his sect.”
“Over these years, the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor has had to resist the pressure from other Immortal Emperors on the outside while suppressing internal factions on the inside, so the growth rate of his personal cultivation has naturally been dragged down.”
Speaking of this, the Auspicious God gave another example, “Do you still remember during the Ten Greats League, when Heavenly Demon University and several other schools joined forces, wanting to compete together for the life-extending cultivation art, the Eternal Spring Sutra?”
“In the end, the Reincarnation Group had to act secretly to obstruct the matter. This is a manifestation of the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor’s lack of control over the Heavenly Demon Sect, and even Heavenly Demon University.”
“On the contrary, Myriad Laws University’s pursuit of the Dharma Realm at that time was a thorough implementation of the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s idea.”
Zhang Yu nodded, thinking that if it weren’t for the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s support, how could the Dharma Realm have spread throughout the entire Myriad Laws Sect?
Hearing this, Immortal Slayer also spoke in Zhang Yu’s mind: “That’s right, behind the Dharma Realm is the Dharma Realm Dao Lineage. I once heard Grandmaster say that this is an Immortal Dao Lineage specifically supported by the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor to uplift his own Immortal Emperor Dao Lineage.”
“The meaning of the Dharma Realm’s existence is to use Immortal Dao Technology to quantify everything in the world, and make everything tradable.”
“The Dharma Realm can be said to be an extreme manifestation of Immortal Dao Technology. Since its appearance, it has gradually become the largest platform within the Myriad Laws Sect, gradually accommodating everything, and ultimately uplifting the Immortal Emperor Dao Lineage.”
Immortal Slayer sighed: “The development of Dharma Realm Technology and even the Dharma Realm itself… has no right or wrong, but the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor wanted to use the Dharma Realm Dao Lineage to monopolize everything, manage everything, and wanted to grasp everyone’s assets, lifespan, memory, cultivation art, cultivation, and even cultivation realm… grasp everything with his own hands.”
Now that Zhang Yu had stayed in the sect for so long, he was coming to understand the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s intentions more and more.
“Our Immortal Emperor wants this and he wants that,” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “As long as his eyes can see it and his mind can reach it, he wants to hold it in his hands.”
“Whether it’s artifact spirits or Soul Cultivators, he wants to control them all… Would he be willing to cooperate with the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor?”
Just as Zhang Yu was pondering, Desolate Ox suddenly spoke up, “He will, but it depends on how you do it.”
“As long as Dharma Realm Technology is introduced to the Soul Cultivator Industry in the Former Days Graveyard, there will be an opportunity for the Dharma Realm Dao Lineage to expand into the domain of the Soul Cultivator Dao Lineage.”
“As long as there’s a chance for his Dao Lineage to expand its territory, the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor will absolutely not miss it.”
“Or perhaps… this might be his true purpose in wanting you to develop the Soul Cultivator Industry.”
Hearing Desolate Ox say this, Immortal Slayer disagreed, “The Dharma Realm is expanded enough. Inflating it any further won’t be a good thing for the countless living beings of Kunxu.”
Desolate Ox said, “If we don’t do it, the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor will ultimately just find someone else to do it. The development of a Dao Lineage itself has no right or wrong. A Dao Lineage that brings blessings to the world can also become a source of chaos. A Dao Lineage meant to monopolize everything can also be used to benefit the world.”
“All of this depends entirely on the mind, relying solely on how the cultivator uses it.”
“And only when we establish Law Edicts, ascend and become an Immortal, possess our own Dao Lineage, and grasp the right to interpret the Dao Lineage, will we have the qualifications to discuss whether a Dao Lineage is ultimately good or bad for the common people of this world.”
Accompanied by the exchange in his mind, Zhang Yu pondered while he started to write a proposal, designing the structure of the Myriad Laws Sect’s Soul Cultivator Industry.
Fu Ji looked at its contents, reading silently in her heart: “Regarding the application of Dharma Realm Technology in the Soul Cultivator Industry, and the impact of memory transmission on the work efficiency of Soul Cultivators…”
Fu Ji’s eyes lit up as she read it, thinking to herself: “If the Soul Cultivators of the Former Days Graveyard… can use Dharma Realm Technology to quickly master various kinds of knowledge, then their work efficiency and scope of work will be greatly increased.”
“If memory is transmitted in reverse through Dharma Realm Technology, then the Soul Cultivators here in the Former Days Graveyard… would be able to transfer their work experience to one another. Even before their Mind Melt completely scraps them, they can leave behind a work log formed from their memory, passing it down generation by generation, achieving the effect of forever serving the company even after their soul scattered and spirit extinguished.”
“There are also other functions of the Dharma Realm that will greatly improve the Soul Cultivator Industry.” Fu Ji read it and thought to herself, “Once these functions are promoted, perhaps… the Soul Cultivators of the other major sects will also be completely unable to do without the support of this Dharma Realm function.”
Desolate Ox said, “In the past, Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor couldn’t intervene, but this time, not only does he have the opportunity to intervene, he can also use the Heavenly Demon Sect’s soul cultivation technology to complete a rapid deployment.”
“With this kind of opportunity, even if he knows he has to share the money with Reincarnation Immortal Emperor, and knows this move will help Reincarnation Immortal Emperor clear out the internal factions of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor will absolutely not give it up.”
Fu Ji laughed, “Hahahaha, excellent! This time it is our turn to lay an irresistible bait for the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor.”
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Us? No, I’m afraid it is Reincarnation Immortal Emperor laying the bait. We are merely following the trend, using the schemes of these two great Immortal Emperors to take another step forward on the immortal path.”
After repeatedly checking the completed document several times, Zhang Yu sent it to Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s secret mailbox.
This secret mail address was previously given to Zhang Yu by Dugu Ming, the Vice Hall Master of the Heavenly Surveillance Hall, and it was also Zhang Yu’s first time sending something to it.
The first part of the document detailed how Zhang Yu had been working tirelessly recently, doing his utmost to prepare for the operation of the Netherworld Assets Department and the opening of the Nethergate Company, while taking the opportunity to flatter the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor. This section was mainly completed by Zhang Yu and the Sect Examination Clone together.
The second part described the internal conflicts within the Heavenly Demon Sect, as well as how Zhang Yu won over Su Lengyou, taking advantage of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s infighting to successfully gain the opportunity to introduce their technology. This was mainly completed by Zhang Yu along with the Auspicious God and Fu Ji.
The third part detailed the Soul Cultivator Industry architecture of the Myriad Laws Sect in the Former Days Graveyard designed by Zhang Yu, including the business operation model, the application of Dharma Realm Technology in the Soul Cultivator Industry, and so on. This was mainly completed by Zhang Yu along with Desolate Ox and Immortal Slayer.
This document could be said to have gathered the experience and wisdom of everyone within Zhang Yu’s mind, combining their past experiences with the experience accumulated during this period in the Former Days Graveyard.
It could be described as both an in-depth industry study and a high-level strategic overview that suited the development of the Dao Lineage.
“I wonder what the Immortal Emperor thinks of it…”
At this moment, Zhang Yu also couldn’t help but feel tense, just like when he handed in his first exam paper in Kunxu. He waited for the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s reply with some apprehension in his heart.
The Sect Examination Clone nervously said, “The Immortal Emperor wouldn’t scold us to the point of bleeding, would he? Will he blame us for randomly trying to guess his intentions? Will he see that we are colluding with the Heavenly Demon Sect? Will he have already found out that we are Sect Traitors?”
Just as the Sect Examination Clone was whispering, Zhang Yu’s eyes moved, discovering that the Immortal Emperor had already replied.
Zhang Yu’s first impression was that it was fast, but considering the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s cultivation, this was probably considered slow.
“After all, we already have a hundred times Spirit Realm Acceleration here, the Immortal Emperor must at least have one year in the heavens for every day on earth. If it weren’t for other affairs, he probably could have replied instantly.”
Zhang Yu clicked on the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s reply, only to see written on it: “I am very comforted by your report. To work so sincerely is not in vain of my grace in employing you.”
Seeing this, Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Reading on, he found that not only had the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor agreed to the joint venture company, but he had also told him to contact a Rank 7 Sect Staff, who would fully support him with Dharma Realm Technology.
In addition to this, the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor also ordered Zhang Yu to send a copy of the proposal to Fa Liuyuan, using Fa Liuyuan to request funds and policies from the Myriad Laws Palace Hall.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Acting through Lord Fa and the Reformist Faction? It seems the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor still doesn’t want to publicly support me, or rather… he doesn’t want my subsequent actions to attract too much attention.”
Thus, Zhang Yu proceeded to send the document to Fa Liuyuan, though the contents of the document had been somewhat edited. The original flattery directed at the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor was naturally changed to praising Fa Liuyuan and expressing comprehension of the Civil Engineering spirit.
Secondly, he reduced the content regarding Dharma Realm Technology and expanded upon the Development Zone’s upcoming reconstruction plans, particularly introducing various Civil Engineering projects.
Immortal Slayer said, “Fa Liuyuan is a supporter of the Kunlun Dao Lineage. This Dao Lineage aims to construct worlds and reshape heaven and earth. From basic construction sites and architecture to Grotto-Heavens and Minor Realms, everything falls within the sphere of influence of the Kunlun Dao Lineage.”
Just then, Desolate Ox added, “Also, the layering of the entire Kunxu was influenced by the Kunlun Dao Lineage as well.”