Chapter 921: The Reformist Faction aren’t Maggots
Former Days Graveyard.
Shi Huaiyu looked at the news reports and slapped her thigh in a burst of regret: “A thousand stocks are rising at once, how come I didn’t bet on a single one!”
And when she saw that Zhang Yu had successfully established the third-generation Law Edict Expiration Date, Shi Huaiyu felt even more invigorated. “Using the Law Edict Expiration Date to dad-bully the world?”
“Hahahaha, then as long as we acknowledge Zhang Yu as our Dad, won’t we all be of the same generation as those Void Refinement Cultivators from now on?”
But the next moment, Shi Huaiyu sighed inwardly again: “Sigh, I said it long ago… Dao Monarch Zhang should start creating his own currency. If there were Yu Coins, they would have definitely skyrocketed like crazy this time.”
“What a huge loss, truly a huge loss.”
Just then, the light screen in front of Shi Huaiyu flashed, and it was none other than Zhao Tianxing arriving across the Spirit Realm.
Zhao Tianxing smiled faintly and said to Shi Huaiyu: “Dao Monarch Zhang still has some matters to attend to and will remain on the 15th Layer for a while longer. We will have to continue troubling you with the affairs here at the Former Days Graveyard.”
Facing this Soul Cultivator before her, Shi Huaiyu didn’t act arrogant in the slightest, and her exchange with him was filled with respect.
After all, she knew that this Zhao Tianxing had been following Zhang Yu all along, climbing up step by step from the First Layer, and their relationship could be described as incredibly close.
“Maybe even when Zhang Yu is practicing dual cultivation, it’s this Zhao Tianxing assisting with the operations on the side.”
After Zhao Tianxing finished relaying Zhang Yu’s task to Shi Huaiyu, he traversed the Spirit Realm, heading to his next destination.
Countless Soul Cultivators and cultivators he encountered along the way all expressed their respect towards him.
“Sigh, who could have thought… that after all the struggling, I, Zhao Tianxing, would also have a day like today?”
Just then, Zhao Tianxing’s eyes flashed as he surprisingly spotted a special message among the countless notifications.
As the Chief Soul Cultivator under Zhang Yu, Zhao Tianxing constantly received a multitude of messages.
Especially after Zhang Yu participated in the Law Establishment Evaluation and entered the testing ground, many people who couldn’t reach Zhang Yu would contact him instead.
And the reason this particular message caught Zhao Tianxing’s attention was that the sender… was named Wang Yin.
“Wang Yin…”
Whenever he thought of this name, Zhao Tianxing’s heart filled with countless sighs of emotion.
It was precisely because of the other party’s various actions back in the First Layer that Zhao Tianxing had lost his physical body, became a Soul Cultivator, and eventually got admitted into a vocational college.
Zhao Tianxing had held resentment, and he had despaired. He once thought he would never have the chance to interact with someone like President Wang ever again, until he followed Zhang Yu all the way into the sect…
With Zhang Yu’s steady rise in power, Wang Yin added Zhao Tianxing as a friend, apologized for past events, and transferred money to him…
Wang Yin: “Brother Zhao, hearing that Dao Monarch Zhang has established a Special Grade Law Edict, I, Little Wang, am overjoyed and couldn’t help but want to come and offer my congratulations.”
“Mm.”
To die early is not as good as to die well, Zhao Tianxing sighed inwardly. And I, Zhao Tianxing, died both early and well.
In a flash of thought, Zhao Tianxing had already projected himself in front of Feng Tingting.
At this moment, Feng Tingting was in her livestream room, fiercely arguing with viewers who opposed the expiration date for Law Edicts.
When she first saw Zhang Yu establish this Law Edict, Feng Tingting felt incredibly excited.
If Dao Monarch Zhang manages the world’s Law Edicts in the future, won’t we also be able to live a life of luxury? With Dao Monarch Zhang’s Immortal path, whatever little he casually leaks to us in the future will be enough for us to strike it rich.
But soon, Feng Tingting saw public opinion opposing the Law Edict Expiration Date emerge, and witnessed this public opinion grow from a slight ripple into a massive tidal wave…
Feng Tingting immediately sensed the danger within it, but she still unhesitatingly chose to support Zhang Yu.
After all, in her eyes, Lower Realm cultivators like them from Myriad Laws University were all single-handedly promoted by Zhang Yu. They were already tied to Zhang Yu, sharing in his glory and his ruin. If Zhang Yu were overthrown, they would definitely not have a good ending either.
Moreover, she firmly believed…
“Dao Monarch Zhang is just nostalgic and favors those close to him. As long as he can take another step forward, he absolutely won’t mistreat us.”
In the live broadcast room, Feng Tingting shouted loudly, “You say Dao Monarch Zhang will restrain the World’s Law Edicts, but who will restrain Dao Monarch Zhang?”
“What do you Lower Cultivators know? Other than Dao Monarch Zhang, who else is there to manage the Law Edicts?”
“He holds the Limitless Salary Increase Authority, yet hasn’t raised his own salary by a single cent. Can any of you do that?”
“During his tenure as the Development Zone Vice President, Dao Monarch Zhang hasn’t embezzled a single cent or accepted a single Immortal Coin in bribes. Who else in the Myriad Laws Sect is more suited to manage the Law Edicts than Dao Monarch Zhang?”
Feng Tingting said firmly, “How many Law Edicts in the sect haven’t been changed for years? Are many of these Law Edicts really still appropriate for the times? Dao Monarch Zhang currently wants to clean up the sect’s chronic ailments. In the process, it’s inevitable that he offends interest groups. Those smearing him right now are all paid trolls…”
In the live broadcast room, a massive wave of supportive voices instantly rang out. Most of this support came from Soul Cultivators.
But there were also supportive messages from Yan Qianji, Bei Wufeng, Jin Jun, Ying Xin, and others.
Ying Xin: “I support Dao Monarch Zhang in promoting the sect’s legal system construction!”
Jin Jun spoke: “With Dao Monarch Zhang managing the Law Edicts, the Myriad Laws Sect will have clear skies from now on!”
Bei Wufeng: “Dao Monarch Zhang controls the Law Edicts and is cleaning up the trash within the sect! From now on, the Myriad Laws Sect’s evil laws of bringing in monsterfolk will be gone!”
Just as Yan Qianji was speaking, he suddenly received a message: “100,000 Immortal Coins? And you think that’s enough to make me sell out intel on Dao Monarch Zhang?”
Yan Qianji sneered, “A mere 100,000 Immortal Coins, which I can save up in 10 years of work at most, and you want to buy me off with that?”
Inside an office at the Former Days Graveyard.
Old Gao scanned the news articles about the Law Edict Expiration Date one after another, clearly sensing the heavy smell of gunpowder within them.
“Law Edict Expiration Date…” Old Gao smiled bitterly. “Can Zhang Yu handle such an overbearing Law Edict?”
Even if he didn’t have a deep understanding of the specific situation, just by reading the contents of the Law Edict Expiration Date, coupled with the various opposing news reports, Old Gao could perceive the complexity of the situation and hear the voices of the various opposition factions.
Old Gao felt that… the Dharma Realm at this moment was like two armies going to war. The supporters and the opposition were already arguing endlessly, and discussions about the Law Edict Expiration Date were everywhere.
“It’s obvious that someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to add fuel to the fire.”
Old Gao’s tone carried a hint of helplessness, yet also a touch of pride as he said, “This kid Zhang Yu… he’s poked the upper-tier cultivators’ nest again.”
Magnetic Pole, standing to the side, gave a cold snort and said, “As soon as this Law Edict Expiration Date was established, anyone with a brain could see that he was declaring war on all Law Edict owners. He’s just short of broadcasting: I am your Dad.”
“This kid has only just gained a firm foothold here in the Former Days Graveyard, and now he’s provoked such a huge mess. What exactly is he trying to do? Can’t he just settle down a bit?”
Hearing this, Old Gao smiled and shook his head. “Wasn’t he just like this when he was in University? Give him an inch and he’ll poke a hole in the sky for you. He’s just like me when I was young — he has courage, ambition, and skill…”
Magnetic Pole shot him a disdainful sideways glance and thought to herself, If he were really like you… he’d probably still be pouring concrete down below right now. He’s actually a bit like the old me, fearing neither heaven nor earth, and his ambition to strive for the Apex of the Immortal Dao is visible to the naked eye.
Magnetic Pole recalled their time in university, when Zhang Yu transferred to the Artifact Refinement Department and signed up for the Ten Greats League. She remembered the determination he had displayed to climb to the Apex of the Immortal Dao.
But she hadn’t expected… after so many years, not only had he joined a sect and become a mid-level member, but he had also become involved in an event capable of influencing the history of Kunxu, becoming one of the wills that would determine Kunxu’s future.
“It’s a pity…” Old Gao said from the side, “We can’t really help him with anything right now.”
Magnetic Pole glanced at Old Gao but didn’t speak. She merely felt her Primordial Spirit, which was making rapid progress with every passing moment, and thought of herself, Ye Xingli, and Yu Xinghan in the Spirit Transformation Pool…
Although Magnetic Pole didn’t fully understand the characteristics of the [Spirit Transformation Dao Body], she still had an estimate of the benefits brought about after her Primordial Spirit broke into the Spirit Transformation Pool.
She thought to herself, In a year at most, we should be about able to reach the peak Spirit Transformation state, the tenth divine light transformation. If we have the chance to break through to Void Refinement and participate in Law Establishment in the future… we will be able to complement Zhang Yu’s Law Edict. By then, we can be considered a small faction of our own within the sect.
As for Old Gao? Magnetic Pole figured that when the time came, she would just have him properly watch the house.
However, Magnetic Pole knew in her heart that the prerequisite for reaching this step was still for Zhang Yu to overcome the current crisis before him.
Magnetic Pole asked, “Old Gao, do you think Zhang Yu will have an easy time passing this hurdle?”
Old Gao thought for a moment and said, “It is impossible for Zhang Yu to establish this Law Edict without someone supporting him from behind. Now that the people behind him have thrown him out to the front, it gives me the feeling that it’s more like… deliberately beating the grass to scare the snake.”
Magnetic Pole sneered, “Beating the grass to scare the snake? If that’s really the case, then it’s not much different from the infighting tactics used in the universities down below.”
Old Gao sighed, “When I first came to the sect, I felt that everything here was vastly different from the Lower Realm, but after staying for a long time, I realized… deep down, it’s not much different from the Lower Realm either.”
“The Immortal Emperors pursue growth in wealth and cultivation; the sects, sect enterprises, and companies… are all pursuing growth. The Sect Staff and outsourced employees down below are also pursuing growth.”
“In the end, this is just human nature. All living beings in the world are pursuing growth, and even Immortals cannot free themselves from it.”
“As long as human nature remains like this, no matter how much Immortal Dao Technology advances, the ultimate struggles will always be similar.”
Saying this, Old Gao pointed to a piece of news and said, “Look at this too… Lower Realm Soul Cultivators are going to be brought in.”
Magnetic Pole’s gaze focused slightly. She had already seen the policy regarding the introduction of Lower Realm Soul Cultivators last year. Over that period, the various arguments and struggles regarding this sect policy had been completely endless.
“To think that after over a year of noise and arguments, this sect policy is also beginning its pilot phase.”
Old Gao continued, “We were paying attention to this news before, but look at the pilot locations for the introduction of Soul Cultivators…”
Magnetic Pole scanned it for a moment, and her heart stirred again. “The introduction of Soul Cultivators from the first to the fifth layers into the sect, the pilot locations…”
Magnetic Pole quickly discovered that the pilot locations in the Sect Layers where the Soul Cultivators were being introduced actually perfectly coincided with the numerous pilot locations for the third-generation Law Edict.
Magnetic Pole’s brow slightly raised as she said, “This Minimum Lifespan is being used on the Lower Realm Soul Cultivators? Could it be that they want to forcefully resurrect the Lower Realm Soul Cultivators? And the Dharma Realm construction in the Lower Realm, does it also need to cooperate with the Dharma Realm Obligation law?”
“Are they going to use Lower Realm Natives to run tests? No… if it was just testing, they wouldn’t need to specifically create this kind of policy. Could it be…”
Right at this moment, the light screen before Magnetic Pole and Old Gao flashed, showing a message sent by Zhao Tianxing regarding Zhang Yu.
“Teachers, I will be staying on the 15th Layer for a while longer. I’ll have to trouble you to continue maintaining things here at the Former Days Graveyard.”
Looking at this message, Magnetic Pole and Old Gao exchanged a glance, a trace of worry flashing through both of their eyes.
“Did Zhang Yu encounter some problem that he temporarily can’t come back?”
Inside the building of the Netherworld Assets Department in the Former Days Graveyard.
Yu Xinghan was reading the contents of the news report. When he saw the section regarding the Law Edict Expiration Date, his heart surged with excitement: “Excellent!”
“Restrain the world’s Law Edicts, this will inevitably be a key position within the sect in the future.”
And the fact that Zhang Yu was able to successfully establish this Law Edict made Yu Xinghan realize that his backers were absolutely no trivial matter.
“So the Reformist Faction is actually this formidable?” Yu Xinghan thought to himself. “Previously, I heard many people in the Dharma Realm say that the Reformist Faction was nothing, and that Zhang Yu’s background wouldn’t be enough for this Law Establishment.”
“Looking at it now, those were all the evaluations of laymen.”
“Not only Zhang Yu’s Law Edict Expiration Date, but also Tai Yuebai’s Dual Rest Every Week, both are earth-shattering new Law Edicts.”
“A single faction with two heavenly chosen. How could this Reformist Faction be considered nothing? They are simply unfathomable.”
After all, the Law Edict Expiration Date was already incredible enough, but Tai Yuebai’s Dual Rest Every Week… in Yu Xinghan’s eyes, it was even more radical than the Dual Rest Cult of the Lower Realm.
“Even taking two days of Dual Rest in a month wasn’t enough, they actually dare to demand two days off in a single week?”
“Such a radical Law Edict can actually pass?”
And the supporters behind Zhang Yu and Tai Yuebai — the Reformist Faction — had now become, in Yu Xinghan’s heart, an entity that had laid dormant for years, endured silently for years, and accumulated strength for years; now that they had finally risen to power, they were going to stir up the winds and clouds of the world.
“This Reformist Faction shouldn’t be called the Reformist Faction; they are clearly a Revolutionary Faction.”
“Truly worthy of being Ying Xintian’s successors,” Yu Xinghan sighed inwardly. “Each one’s spirit is grander than the last.”
“Now that I am studying under Zhang Yu, I suppose I count as part of the Reformist Faction too? I wonder, when I reach Void Refinement and perform law establishment in the future, what kind of Law Edict the Reformist Faction will support me in setting down?”
Thinking of this, Yu Xinghan felt secretly expectant and excited.
However, watching the fierce backlash of public opinion that followed, Yu Xinghan was also secretly alarmed.
“Sure enough, the resistance that reform must face is no trivial matter.”
“But since the Reformist Faction dared to support Zhang Yu and Tai Yuebai in setting down this Law Edict, they must have come prepared.”
Yet, seeing the arguments within the sect growing increasingly fierce, and public opinion not only failing to cool down but showing a trend of constantly heating up, Yu Xinghan also felt a trace of tension.
Coupled with the news brought by Zhao Tianxing, stating that Zhang Yu would continue to stay on the 15th Layer for a while longer, Yu Xinghan couldn’t help but reach out and ask True Monarch Starfire about it.
Yu Xinghan asked, “Teacher, have you seen Zhang Yu’s law establishment this time?”
Divine Monarch Starfire remarked with emotion, “I’ve seen the news. It is truly a grand masterstroke.”
“To restrain the world’s Law Edicts, even if someone dared to think of it, how many would dare to actually do it?”
“Zhang Yu’s move is enough to go down in history as a key turning point, opening a new page for Kunxu.”
Yu Xinghan then asked, “But with the wave of opposition within the sect being so massive right now…”
Divine Monarch Starfire replied, “Opposition is inevitable. Both sides are currently still in a tug-of-war.”
Yu Xinghan asked curiously, “A tug-of-war?”
“Introducing Soul Cultivators, the construction of the Dharma Realms in the Lower Realm, the locations of the various Law Edict pilot zones…” Divine Monarch Starfire listed a string of news items before finally asking, “Have you looked at all of these?”
Seeing Yu Xinghan nod, Divine Monarch Starfire continued, “Reforming the Lower Realm, constructing Dharma Realms, the prior adjustments to the Soul Cultivator Industry, bringing in Soul Cultivators from below, and now the Law Establishment… I am afraid this entire series of measures was planned out long ago.”
Hearing this, it was as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through Yu Xinghan’s mind, and a thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.
Divine Monarch Starfire then continued, “The so-called reform is about the redistribution of interests.”
“This Law Edict Expiration Date makes it obvious that all the lawmakers within the sect are expected to surrender a portion of their power; the resistance will inevitably be enormous.”
“But what if they are given some benefits?”
Yu Xinghan frowned and asked, “Opening up… the Lower Realm?”
Yu Xinghan knew that the Ten Great Sects had always strictly controlled the mobility within the sects, particularly restricting Upper Realm cultivators from controlling and exploiting Lower Realm cultivators.
Otherwise… if sect cultivators were given free rein to operate in the Lower Realm, it would go far beyond the universities and megacorporations down there simply handing over resources.
After all, while Lower Realm currency was of little use in the Upper Realm, many of its resources were highly useful to many cultivators in the Upper Realm.
In fact, the sects had always been harvesting resources from below by exporting technology.
Of course, compared to letting upper-tier cultivators descend to the Lower Realm as they pleased… this method was much gentler.
And now…
Yu Xinghan said, “Are you saying… that bringing in Soul Cultivators, the construction of the Dharma Realm, and the new Law Edicts, are all about opening up Lower Realm resources?”
“Are those at the top using the Lower Realm as a bargaining chip, opening up more Lower Realm resources to the sect cultivators in exchange for them yielding their Law Establishment power?”
“But does this fit the style of the upper-tier cultivators? Wanting this! Wanting that! Wanting everything… hasn’t that always been their way of doing things?”
Hearing this, Starfire remained silent for a moment before saying, “This is just my current guess. If it is truly confirmed, then it proves one thing… the resources of the Lower Realm no longer have any meaning to the true Upper Cultivators.”
Yu Xinghan understood Starfire’s meaning.
“The beings at the higher levels no longer need the Lower Realm’s resources? So they might as well distribute the Lower Realm’s resources to the middle layers to make the middle layers surrender more rights?”
Yu Xinghan suddenly felt a chill over his body. “Could it be that the 18 underground layers were abandoned like this as well? Were they fed to others?”
“If this is truly the case, then as the higher layers grow, when the lower layers becomes increasingly useless, it will be fed to the middle layers, thereby giving birth to a new lowest layer.”
“Like this… as the higher layers continuously grow, the lowest layer is fed and renewed time and time again, while the number of those in the middle layers continuously decreases…”
Yu Xinghan thought to himself, “And in this process, even if the middle layers have the heart to resist, faced with the acquisition of profits, they will hardly be able to stop.”
At this moment, Yu Xinghan felt as if he had seen the future, seeing the remaining 36 layers of Kunxu being fed and abandoned layer by layer. Ultimately, as the number of layers continuously decreased, the world would also usher in its endgame.
Thinking of this, a shadow was cast over Yu Xinghan’s heart. He felt that if his guess was correct, the entire development process of Kunxu… seemed to be continuously accelerating, embarking on an increasingly cruel path.
Yu Xinghan pondered inwardly, “Then what role does our Reformist Faction play in this?”
“Fa Liuyuan! Why did Zhang Yu and Tai Yuebai enact this kind of Law Edict?!”
In the unknown upper echelons of Kunxu, facing the interrogation of the two Immortals, Fa Liuyuan couldn’t help but lower his head, remaining silent for a long time.
From above, Immortal Roujia angrily rebuked, “Do you know how much Tai Yuebai’s Dual Rest Every Week has made the stock prices plummet?”
Hearing this, Fa Liuyuan lowered his head even further.
He knew that the assets of the Immortals were incomparably colossal, and the losses brought about by each round of decline were astronomical figures beyond ordinary imagination.
And to the Immortals, any loss of assets represented a decline in power, a decrease in their say within the Immortal community, and a reduction in future benefit distribution rights, which would subsequently lead to a further slowdown in growth.
This was a taboo for all Immortals.
Immortal Roujia continued, “Let’s put aside the matter of Tai Yuebai for now. The whole world now thinks we are the ones who want to restrain the Law Edicts. Do you know how much trouble this is?”
On the other side, Immortal Yi Xuan said, “Fortunately, Immortal Roujia and I have a good enough reputation among the Immortals. Many believe we won’t act recklessly, which prevented even greater losses.”
Fa Liuyuan said, “Master, weren’t you worried that Zhang Yu lacked the courage to become the vanguard of the reform? Now it seems Zhang Yu does have a sense of responsibility…”
Immortal Roujia coldly snorted and said, “Is that reform? He’s becoming… becoming a knife in the hands of the one above, wanting to bleed the entire sect.”
Fa Liuyuan said, “Master, since things have come to this, we might as well assist Zhang Yu, seize this opportunity, and clean up the sect together…”
“Audacious!” Immortal Roujia rebuked. “The matter of Senior Brother Ying is still fresh in our minds! Have you forgotten that lesson? Reform must never be too radical! That fool Zhang Yu has now been lured by profit, fallen for a massive trap, and become cannon fodder pushed to the front lines. He has even severed his own immortal path for this, forever losing the possibility of ascension.”
Fa Liuyuan sighed inwardly, knowing that severing his path to ascension would undoubtedly cause Zhang Yu’s value to plummet in his master’s eyes.
On the other side, Immortal Yi Xuan chimed in, “Fortunately, the Reformist Faction is now controlled by Immortal Roujia and me, and we will absolutely not fall for this trap again.”
Immortal Roujia said, “Whoever sticks their neck out first suffers the greatest loss. At this time, we must remain steady. Only by securing the maximum benefits amidst these changing circumstances and preserving our strength can we plan for the future.”
Fa Liuyuan frowned, saying with a trace of reluctance, “Then, are we just giving up on Zhang Yu? I’m afraid those above will not be satisfied.”
Fa Liuyuan knew that if they did not support Zhang Yu, it would inevitably provoke the Immortal Emperor’s displeasure.
Immortal Roujia replied, “Who said we are giving up? Of course we can still support Zhang Yu. We can provide him with all the support in the world — except actual help.”