Chapter 924: The Price, All Living Beings are Enemies Obstructing the Dao
Listening to Tai Yuebai’s words, Zhang Yu felt that he wasn’t really surprised. Judging purely by the numbers, choosing the First Layer was indeed the most rational choice.
But as Tai Yuebai looked at the silent Zhang Yu before him, a flash of understanding crossed his mind.
He said slowly, “I remember… the First Layer is where you came from, right?
“You don’t want to sacrifice your own home?”
Tai Yuebai sighed, “It has been far too long since I’ve seen such emotions and thoughts in Kunxu, so I subconsciously overlooked that.”
As he spoke, various documents and records regarding Zhang Yu surfaced in Tai Yuebai’s eyes, especially the various data and experiences Zhang Yu had left behind in the First Layer.
Originally, the sect’s upper-tier cultivators naturally wouldn’t care about Zhang Yu’s specific experiences in the First Layer.
But looking at Zhang Yu’s reaction, Tai Yuebai suddenly realized that in the other party’s heart, the First Layer was not a garbage dump, nor just a table full of pots and jars, but a place of special significance.
At the same time, Tai Yuebai also took Zhang Yu’s other experiences into consideration, and an idea sprang up in his mind: So this is what it means to be nostalgic?
The feelings for his place of origin, the feelings for the people around him, the feelings for his companions… Could this also be the reason why Senior Ying chose you?
Possessing strong emotions that the modern people of Kunxu lack might be a trait that sets you, Zhang Yu, apart from others, but it could also be a factor that hinders you from moving forward…
His lightning-fast thoughts concluded, and Tai Yuebai continued, “If you really don’t want the Lower Realm to be drawn into the Upper Realm’s struggles, then place the pilot project in the sect.”
Tai Yuebai said indifferently, “But have you ever thought that even placing it in the sect comes with a price?”
Listening to Tai Yuebai’s words, Zhang Yu’s gaze hardened. “What are you trying to say?”
Tai Yuebai stared at Zhang Yu and said, word by word, “By placing the pilot project in the sect, you will make enemies of all Void Refinement experts who established a law in the sect, as well as the backers behind them.”
“When dealing with you, a Rank 6 Sect Staff, they might still have some misgivings and will have to act according to the rules, starting from debts, sect affairs, procedures, and businesses.”
“But what about those around you?”
After sensing more of Zhang Yu’s traits, Tai Yuebai planned to put himself in the other’s shoes… to persuade Zhang Yu.
“Those Sect Staff lower than you, and those outsourced workers you brought up, they will all become targets of attack.”
“The more you value them, the more you rely on them, the more the enemy will target them.”
A trace of sorrow flashed in Tai Yuebai’s eyes, and he said while recalling, “You know very well what happened to the descendants and disciples under Senior Ying.”
“Their hearts, livers, kidneys, spleens, and lungs — every inch of their flesh and blood was sold. Every thread of their consciousness worked until the moment of self-annihilation and mental meltdown. Even their memories were cut into countless pieces, becoming dregs in the Dharma Realm, squeezed of every ounce of value, and to this day they let out silent wails in every corner of the world…”
“Zhang Yu, if you don’t want the First Layer to become the price, then the people around you will become the price. This is our world now, this is Kunxu; everything comes with a price…”
Tai Yuebai said solemnly, “Even if the Immortal Emperor supports you, he will not protect every single person under your command. To him, that is all just normal wear and tear.
“Everything has a price. Whether it is the Immortal Emperor or us, as long as we continue to move forward, we must pay a price.
“Are you sure… you are ready to bear the price of setting the Law Edict pilot zone within the sect?”
Looking at Zhang Yu, who offered no response, Tai Yuebai sighed and reached out to pat his shoulder. “Think it over carefully. I am not forcing you to sacrifice the First Layer, but this is indeed the most rational choice at present.”
Watching Tai Yuebai’s departing figure, Zhang Yu sighed and remained silent for a long time.
Meanwhile, even in Zhang Yu’s usually bustling mind, there was nothing but complete tranquility and silence at this moment.
Fu Ji thought to herself, “Either the First Layer or the lower-tier cultivators around Zhang Yu, one side is bound to suffer heavily.”
In fact, from Fu Ji’s perspective, as long as Zhang Yu continued to climb higher, it was perfectly normal for his subordinates to suffer losses and attrition. After all, the very purpose of subordinates’ existence was to be consumed.
Even now, the fact that there hadn’t been any major losses was already considered unparalleled luck in Fu Ji’s eyes, and it was also because Zhang Yu had risen too quickly in too short a time.
But Fu Ji knew even better that Zhang Yu held feelings for the companions around him… far exceeding those of a conventional Kunxu cultivator.
“At a time like this… saying anything will just annoy Zhang Yu.”
“Whether it’s the upper realm or the lower realm, it’s better to let Zhang Yu decide for himself.”
However, not long after Tai Yuebai left, Zhang Yu received a message from Yu Xinghan.
Yu Xinghan: “Zhang Yu, Shi Yunxiang was struck and severely injured…”
Zhang Yu’s gaze narrowed slightly, and all kinds of memories regarding Shi Yunxiang instantly flooded his mind.
Shi Yunxiang was a student of the Civil Engineering Department whom Zhang Yu had met while studying at Myriad Laws University. They had worked part-time together and participated in the Civil Engineering Competition together. They had also fought against the Demonic Cult Golden Core together during the financial crisis, committed crimes together, fought in battles together, and ultimately worked as one to stave off the apocalypse during the final battle of the University War.
Today’s Shi Yunxiang, along with Xiao Qingxuan, Mo Shangjin, Gongshu Jin, Su Yanyang, and others… had come up over half a year ago alongside Tu Lishan, Bei Wufeng, and the others who had passed the exam to ascend to the sect.
For the past six months or so, Shi Yunxiang, as an outsourced employee of the Netherworld Assets Department, had been working while familiarizing himself with sect affairs, putting in a great deal of effort to prepare for the future Sect Examination.
However, at this very moment, he was lying on the ground bathed in blood. His shattered limbs twitched slightly as he struggled to crawl away, but he was unable to move forward even an inch.
Despite being gravely injured and hanging by a thread, Shi Yunxiang was like a wild dog making a dying struggle, displaying an astonishing will to survive.
He didn’t want to die.
Even if he was just a low-tier cultivator at the Golden Core Realm, just a lowly outsourced cultivator, he still wanted to live. He wanted to take the Sect Examination, wanted to become Sect Staff…
Just as the majestic Gang Qi was about to crush Shi Yunxiang again and grind him to dust, a figure stood in front of him. It was Zhang Yu, who had rushed over immediately after receiving the news.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s appearance, a glimmer of light flashed in Shi Yunxiang’s eyes. The next moment, as if finally at ease, he passed out directly.
At the same time, a soft boom echoed out.
The man who had struck Shi Yunxiang smiled faintly and stepped back. “Dao Monarch Zhang, what brings you here? Is this little animal an outsourced worker under you?”
“He accidentally bumped into me, so I just taught him a little lesson.”
Zhang Yu looked at the other party, countless pieces of data flashing through his eyes in an instant.
Rank 6 Sect Staff, veteran Void Refinement cultivator, Ban Jinchen. He was the founder of the Paid Overtime Law Edict.
The man smiled faintly, a Homicide Permit flashing at his fingertips, and said, “Dao Monarch Zhang, I can kill legally. Everything is reasonable and compliant. Besides, he is just an outsourced contractor. If you are dissatisfied, I can turn around and lend you 10 to use…”
Zhang Yu did not speak. He first transferred medical expenses to Shi Yunxiang, then swept him into his Immortal Grotto-Heaven, teleporting him to the hospital in the Former Days Graveyard.
At this moment, Tai Yuebai’s words flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind once again.
“Yes, I almost forgot how lowly the low-tier cultivators of Kunxu are.”
“Without my protection, they are nothing more than ants that the upper-tier cultivators can casually erase as long as they are willing to pay the price.”
“The reason they haven’t done so is mostly just that the upper-tier cultivators don’t want to waste their Immortal Dao Potential…”
And Zhang Yu understood that once he became the enemy of countless upper-tier cultivators, the protective effect brought by his rank, position, and cultivation realm would drop to the absolute minimum, and might even backfire, causing his many companions to encounter unnecessary trouble.
If his trait of valuing his companions was confirmed by others… this former advantage would be targeted by enemies as a weakness.
Just as Zhang Yu was pondering, a series of projections instantly descended, already locked onto the man in front of him.
The Immortal Shuttle that Bu Yingshu lent to Zhang Yu crashed down with a thunderous roar.
Seeing this Immortal Shuttle, Ban Jinchen’s gaze narrowed, his tone turning ice-cold: “Zhang Yu, what is the meaning of this? I hit one of your outsourced workers, so you’re going to hit me?”
Zhang Yu said calmly: “If I don’t run you over and kill you, every random cat and dog will come bother me in the future, and that would be too much trouble.”
Hearing this, Ban Jinchen froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting the other party to actually refer to him as a random cat or dog.
As a Rank 6 Sect Staff and a veteran Void Refinement Cultivator, the law he established, Paid Overtime, had created enormous wealth for the sect. When had he ever been spoken to like this?
However, as Dharma Drugs circulated within him, Ban Jinchen didn’t feel angry in the slightest. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face: “Haha, it seems your resume is actually true. You value even an outsourced worker this much? Sigh… Then if a few more people around you get run over in the future, are you going to take revenge for all of them?”
“Taking revenge for an outsourced worker? And doing it for free? I can’t believe you even came up with that…”
The next moment, the shadow of the Immortal Shuttle pierced through Ban Jinchen’s figure, but it merely passed through an afterimage.
Unscathed, Ban Jinchen chuckled and said, “You think you can hurt me with just an Immortal Shuttle?”
As for Zhang Yu himself… he had, after all, only just entered Void Refinement. Although his progress was rapid, his combat power was far from reaching the Void Refinement peak he was capable of attaining.
This was especially true since Zhang Yu’s most legal means of harming someone was the Immortal Shuttle that Bu Yingshu had lent him, which served as another massive restriction.
Furthermore…
Ban Jinchen shook his head and laughed, “As the old saying goes, a single penny can stump a murderous hero. When a man has no money… he doesn’t even have the confidence to kill.”
“You only have a little over ten million Immortal Coins in your pocket, right? Not to mention you’re up to your neck in debt, yet you dare to kill someone?”
“Come, come, come. If you don’t use the Immortal Shuttle, then I’ll just stand right here and let you kill me. Can you afford it?” Ban Jinchen looked at Zhang Yu with a mocking expression, seemingly trying to enrage him and provoke him into striking.
But in the very next moment, a cold snort echoed from within the Immortal Shuttle.
“You said it yourself. Stand there and don’t move.”
The next moment, a monstrous pressure crashed down, firmly pinning Ban Jinchen in place.
Bu Yingshu’s figure slowly walked out of the Immortal Shuttle, instantly materializing into physical form and exuding the terrifying pressure of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm.
Ban Jinchen’s expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to retreat violently, Bu Yingshu stomped down from afar, instantly blowing him up in mid-air and turning him into a mist of blood.
“Hm?” Bu Yingshu had just flashed her Homicide Permit when she felt that something was wrong.
Not a real person? It’s a clone?
Fuck me… Is this destroying another person’s property? I can’t use the Homicide Permit as a deduction?
Bu Yingshu looked at the cloud of blood mist in the sky with a look of bad luck. Glancing at the Righteous God who had come to collect the money, she suddenly said, “Ban Jinchen just tried to perform compulsory dual cultivation with me!”
The descending Righteous God was slightly taken aback. “Huh?”
Bu Yingshu thought to herself, I just beat the opponent’s clone to death in front of Zhang Yu, wouldn’t it be too embarrassing to pay money now?
She spoke again, “I only acted in self-defense.”
The Righteous God said helplessly, “You need evidence for that… Besides, the scene of you two fighting was recorded…”
“Wait!” Bu Yingshu reached behind her head. “I have a permit.”
Looking at the Innate Homicide Permit the other party flashed, the Righteous God said helplessly, “This is a Homicide Permit. What you damaged was the other party’s property…”
Continuing to watch Bu Yingshu pull out an Innate Compulsory Dual Cultivation License, an Innate Assault Permit, an Innate Robbery Permit…
Seeing the increasing number of permits, the Righteous God couldn’t help but gulp down non-existent saliva. When he saw Bu Yingshu pull out even a God-Slaying Permit, he suddenly said, “I understand the situation. We need to thoroughly investigate whether Ban Jinchen subjected you to compulsory dual cultivation or not.”
Watching the departing Righteous God, Bu Yingshu thought to herself, “Hmph, take your time investigating. After the investigation, there’s still the lawsuit. I’m definitely not paying this money unless I can drag it out for a few years.”
These thoughts flashed quickly through her mind, and the next moment, Bu Yingshu turned around, looking at Zhang Yu with a proud expression.
Just now, when Zhang Yu was operating the Immortal Shuttle, Bu Yingshu, who had recently broken through to the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, noticed the anomaly and descended immediately.
Having now dealt with the opponent, Bu Yingshu felt she had shown off brilliantly in front of Zhang Yu, and couldn’t help but secretly rejoice, “It’s a good thing I didn’t take the Immortal Shuttle back from him earlier.”
“Otherwise, how could I have found such a perfect opportunity to display my peerless elegance?”
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu had already approached Bu Yingshu and said with a face full of shock, “Dao Monarch Bu, you… you’ve reached Tribulation Transcendence?”
Fu Ji sighed, “Alas, to think that Zhang Yu finally managed to become a Void Refinement cultivator and establish the number one Law Edict of Myriad Laws, yet he still has to flatter Bu Yingshu when he sees her this time.”
“But flattering her is still better than being hunted down by her.”
At this moment, a question couldn’t help but rise in Fu Ji’s heart: “Speaking of which… what exactly did A-Zhen say to this woman? To think she didn’t just beat Zhang Yu to death the moment they met?”
And looking at Zhang Yu’s shocked face, Bu Yingshu felt as if a pool of icy spring water had surged through her body; a feeling of profound refreshment filled her limbs and bones.
But she still tried hard to hold it in, maintaining a nonchalant appearance on the surface.
Bu Yingshu gave a slight nod and said expressionlessly, “It’s just breaking through to Tribulation Transcendence, what’s there to make such a fuss about?”
“If it weren’t for preparing for the matter of the third-generation Law Edict, I could have broken through when I was promoted in March of this year.”
“Actually, this is nothing much…”
Bu Yingshu put her hands behind her back and looked up at the sky, “Like Lie Jinghong, Di Xuan, and Tai Yuebai and the rest, they should have all broken through to the Tribulation Transcendence Realm as well, not much later than me.”
Zhang Yu sighed, “Sure enough, there is still a huge gap between me and you, Dao Monarch. I still have much to learn from you.”
Bu Yingshu, however, waved her hand and said, “Let’s go. Open your Immortal Grotto-Heaven. We’ll talk about whatever needs to be said after we go inside.”
While welcoming Bu Yingshu inside, Zhang Yu secretly thought to himself, This woman… doesn’t seem very angry? What exactly did A-Zhen say to her?
While thinking, Zhang Yu had already sent a message to Bai Zhenzhen.
But as soon as they entered the Immortal Grotto-Heaven, Bu Yingshu impatiently said, “Zhang Yu, is everything Bai Zhenzhen said true? I don’t believe what she said, I want to hear you say it to me yourself.”
Seeing that Bai Zhenzhen was taking so long to reply to his message, Zhang Yu felt the oppressive aura of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm emanating from Bu Yingshu, and his scalp couldn’t help but go numb.
If I say the wrong thing now and piss her off, will this woman just beat me to death?
A-Zhen! Hurry up and reply to my message!
Zhang Yu frantically sent messages again while simultaneously calling out to Bai Zhenzhen through the Evil God Power, but he still didn’t receive any response.
I can’t even contact her with the Evil God Power. Could it be that A-Zhen isn’t in the Former Days Graveyard right now?
Watching Bu Yingshu get closer and closer, Zhang Yu could only bite the bullet and say, “Yeah, it’s just like what A-Zhen said.”
Bu Yingshu’s heart stirred, and she asked again, “Then where do you want to choose for your Dharma Realm Pilot this time?”
Zhang Yu said helplessly, “I haven’t completely decided yet…”
Bu Yingshu, however, was dissatisfied with this answer and pressed further, “Word outside says you want to set the Law Edict pilot zone within the sect, is that true?”
Zhang Yu said, “It’s a possibility.”
Bu Yingshu hurriedly asked again, “Do you know that if you set the Law Edict in the sect, you will become a public enemy to many people?”
Hearing these words, Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback, thinking to himself, Could it be that Bu Yingshu is also here to dissuade me?
Thinking of this, Zhang Yu sighed and said, “But… if it is not established in the sect, how can the Law Edicts within the sect be frozen? How could we even talk about regulating the Law Edicts?”
Bu Yingshu’s heart stirred. Recalling Bai Zhenzhen’s words, a thought crossed her mind, Freezing the Law Edicts within the sect? Could it be that what Zhang Yu wants to freeze is…
Thus, Bu Yingshu asked again, “What Law Edicts do you want to freeze?”
Hearing this, Zhang Yu secretly wondered, What does this person mean? Who sent her to gather information?
Fu Ji, however, had a flash of inspiration and said, “Zhang Yu, try saying it like this…”
Zhang Yu remained silent for a moment before speaking, “I want to take those Law Edicts that bind geniuses, suppress the heavenly chosen, and make it difficult for people to climb to the Apex of the Immortal Dao… and freeze them.”
Hearing these words, Bu Yingshu’s heart trembled again. “Bind geniuses, suppress the heavenly chosen, isn’t this talking about the very things restricting me?”
“The Law Edicts that make it difficult to climb to the Apex of the Immortal Dao, isn’t this talking about me… as a member of the Immortal Clan, not being able to ascend and become an Immortal?”
In Bu Yingshu’s view, Zhang Yu was further expressing his determination to her after communicating through Bai Zhenzhen.
“Do you know how dangerous it is for you to do this?! This is making enemies out of countless cultivators in the world.”
Bu Yingshu said solemnly, “Who knows how many people will treat you as a thorn in their side, spending all day thinking about how to deal with you.”
She gritted her teeth. “On the contrary, if you choose the lower realm, especially if you choose the First Layer, it will be much safer.”
“The First Layer?” Zhang Yu shook his head. “I don’t want to choose it. That kind of safety… I don’t want it either.”
Bu Yingshu’s heart trembled once again. “Then aren’t you afraid?”
Zhang Yu thought back to the heavily injured Shi Yunxiang today and sighed, “I am afraid. Of course I’ll be afraid, but I still don’t want to choose the First Layer.”
Bu Yingshu’s heart shook wildly, This guy Zhang Yu… does he really want to uplift me this much, helping me break free from my restraints to ascend and become an Immortal?
A strange feeling welled up in Bu Yingshu’s heart.
The next moment, seeing Zhang Yu looking over, Bu Yingshu hastily backed away and shouted, “Zhang… Zhang Yu! Don’t think that just because you said that, the matter of you freezing my Law Edict is settled! Or that I’m not mad at you anymore!”
“If you want me to marry you again, it won’t be that simple!”
After saying that, she turned around and shot out like lightning, fleeing out of the Immortal Grotto-Heaven and smashing through over ten puppet strongmen along the way.
Watching this scene, Zhang Yu said helplessly, “What a moody and crazy woman.”
Right at this time, a message from Bu Yingshu popped up before Zhang Yu’s eyes.
Bu Yingshu: “I’ll leave the Immortal Shuttle with you for now, maintain it well for me [Stomp]”
Bu Yingshu: “About the Law Edict Pilot matter, I’ll ask my dad first, don’t make any reckless decisions.”
At the same time, Bai Zhenzhen’s voice, carrying a trace of emptiness, appeared in Zhang Yu’s mind through the Evil God Power.
Bai Zhenzhen: “What’s wrong, Yu Zi? I just completed a new grade of sword arts and didn’t have time to reply to you.”
Zhang Yu asked, “What exactly did you say to Bu Yingshu?”
After listening to Bai Zhenzhen’s account, Zhang Yu’s heart sank: “Fuck! Could Bu Yingshu be thinking that I want to help her freeze the relevant Law Edicts and assist her ascension?”
“I have no fucking intention of doing that!”
Zhang Yu could already imagine the various revenges Bu Yingshu would exact on him in the future once she found out he had deceived her.
But recalling the imposing Tribulation Transcendence aura she had just displayed, Zhang Yu knew that if he tried to explain it to her now, he would probably be beaten to death on the spot.
“Sigh…”
“What a sin!”
“Fuck… I definitely have to quickly improve my strength, advance my cultivation realm, and surpass this woman!”
After Bu Yingshu left, Zhang Yu sent down a projection to visit Shi Yunxiang. After confirming that he was fine, he received a message from Kuang Tianqing.
Inside a secret stronghold of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Former Days Graveyard.
Kuang Tianqing was currently watching a video recording together with Su Lingyou and the giant corpse from the former labyrinth in the Former Days Graveyard.
In the video was exactly the performance of the trainees who participated in the law establishment training, such as Lie Jinghong, Di Xuan, Tai Yuebai, and others, during their final Law Establishment Evaluation.
When watching this video for the first time previously, Kuang Tianqing, who did not yet know the results of the Law Establishment, had the following thought process while watching: “Lie Jinghong’s performance is definitely the best out of everyone.”
Di Xuan and Bu Yingshu joining forces also gave them a considerable chance of winning.
Tai Yuebai’s Two-Day Weekend was earth-shattering; it wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up taking first place…
Holy shit… what do you mean by Zhang Yu’s Expiration Date for Law Edicts?
The final battle was actually a civil war within the Reformist Faction? Is the Myriad Laws Sect about to be turned upside down? Can the Reformist Faction actually produce a dragon?
And now, watching the recording again alongside the giant corpse, Kuang Tianqing sighed with even more emotion, “Dao Monarch Zhang… thinking back to the Ten Greats League, you defied the orders of the Ten Universities and forcibly chose Kunlun in the Palm.”
“To think that after entering the sect, you would astound everyone even more. This battle of the third-generation Law Establishment is enough to be recorded in the annals of history for countless future generations to revere.”
Zhang Yu’s figure emerged from waves of Grotto-Heaven force. He nodded at Kuang Tianqing and Su Lingyou, then said to the giant corpse, “Senior, it’s been a long time.”
The giant corpse was still watching the recording and said, “The Myriad Laws Sect… is about to be turned upside down. Those two juniors from the Reformist Faction don’t have this kind of courage. It must be the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor pulling the strings behind the scenes, right?”
Zhang Yu did not answer, but instead asked, “Senior, how do you view the current situation of Myriad Laws?”
The giant corpse sighed, “It is difficult.”
“The Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor must prevent the disorderly development of the Dao Lineages, promote the innovation of Law Edict technology, avoid the loss of his own and the sect’s interests, resist the threats of other sects, and ultimately ensure a soft landing for the Law Edict reform.”
Listening to the giant corpse’s words, the Sect Examination Clone sighed, “Grandpa Immortal Emperor has it hard.”
Zhang Yu asked, “With the situation being so difficult, will the Immortal Emperor back down?”
The giant corpse replied, “Situations are shaped by people. Before discussing the situation… let’s first talk about the person that is the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor.”
“You feel that the Immortal Emperor is currently surrounded by enemies on all sides and is in a difficult situation.”
“But I must tell you, as long as one sits in the position of the Immortal Emperor, all living beings will always be their enemies, and the entire world will bear malice towards them.”
“To the Immortal Emperor, everyone merely wants to gain benefits through him, and no one wants to see him progress any further.”
“It can be said that all living beings are enemies obstructing the Dao, and the entire world is a cage imprisoning the Immortal Emperor.”
The giant corpse sighed with emotion, “These are the Ten Immortal Emperors. Every single one of them is truly a solitary sovereign — the masters of the world, and even more so, the enemies of the common people.”