Chapter 935: One Person, One Sword, Intimidating the Entire Scene
“Hmph, these Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, every single one of them… If they were to owe a massive debt of ten billion, they would probably be instantly swallowed by acute Debt Poison and enter bankruptcy liquidation. Who knows how many assets they would have to sell off; they might not even be able to maintain their Tribulation Transcendence Realm in the end.”
“Facing Zhang Yu’s Ten-Billion Flying Sword, they are naturally apprehensive.”
Seeing Zhang Yu about to intimidate the entire scene all by himself with a single sword, Herald God analyzed inwardly, Even if Zhang Yu can only execute a single strike, no one wants to charge at the very front and take the hit. Including…
Herald God looked at the only Ascension Realm cultivator present, Yi Yaosheng, and thought to himself, “Including this Ascension Realm cultivator.”
Herald God understood that cultivators in the Ascension Realm possessed formidable strength, and having tens of billions in assets was very common.
Furthermore, among the top experts in the Ascension Realm — popular figures participating in the Ascension Selection to compete for the qualification to achieve immortality — there was no lack of individuals whose total assets reached the level of hundreds of billions.
The Herald God wasn’t sure where Yi Yaosheng ranked among Ascension Realm cultivators, but he knew one thing: “Total assets do not equate to the amount of Immortal Coins one actually has on hand.”
On Kunxu’s path of the Immortal Dao, every cultivator was desperately climbing upwards.
This was even more true for cultivators who had reached the Ascension Realm. Every ounce of their cultivation and every single Immortal Coin was invested into various avenues, allowing them to elevate their cultivation faster and earn even more Immortal Coins.
The Herald God knew that in Kunxu, there simply didn’t exist… the kind of person who held onto a massive amount of Immortal Coins and just foolishly sat on them.
Having Immortal Coins but not investing them into cultivation, not improving productivity, not harvesting more cultivation, and not extracting more Immortal Coins… such a person could never climb to the Ascension Realm in the first place.
“For wealthy individuals like Ascension Realm cultivators, hoarding massive amounts of Immortal Coins is the most foolish behavior. The annual inflation of Immortal Coins alone would bleed them dry.”
“In fact, keeping too many Immortal Coins on hand and failing to keep up with the inflation of cultivation and Immortal Coins is tantamount to regressing. They would only become weaker and poorer with each passing year.”
“Therefore, the vast majority of their Immortal Coins have long been converted into various high-quality assets — Immortal Abodes, factories, magical artifacts, cultivation arts, stocks, Bionics… all to earn them greater profits and higher growth.”
Besides this, the Herald God also knew that they definitely had many debts and loans, and the assets they held inevitably required high holding costs.
“Factories, companies, production lines, Soul Cultivator subordinates, employees, as well as a body full of Bionics and magical artifacts, various Dharma Realm Services, and Spirit Realm Services — everything costs money. It goes without saying that they also have various loans and debts…”
The Herald God thought to himself, “Once they are suddenly… forced to take on the ten-billion debt brought by the Ten-Billion Flying Sword, their capital chain will immediately rupture, leading to an avalanche of their assets…”
The Herald God knew that once the capital chain broke and their cash reserves dried up, it would be just like a person’s blood circulation being cut off.
Even former allies might rush over to collect payments, demand debts, and short their stock prices… accelerating the asset avalanche of the Ascension Realm cultivator.
Meanwhile, the situation at the scene was just as the Herald God had analyzed in his heart. As the Ten-Billion Flying Sword advanced inch by inch, everyone present — whether it was the several Tribulation Transcendence cultivators or the Ascension Realm Yi Yaosheng — unknowingly retreated again and again.
Zhang Yu, who had previously been suppressed and ignored by them, had now become the focal point of their attention.
Yi Yaosheng also noticed this and frowned slightly, realizing that things couldn’t go on like this.
Thus, Yi Yaosheng shouted, “Don’t be afraid! Today we are protecting the sect’s assets, and the higher-ups absolutely will not sit idly by. Besides, his Ten-Billion Flying Sword can only strike once. If anyone gets hit, the worst that happens is we share the burden of these Ten-Billion Immortal Coins together first. I have already applied for Immortal Coin support from above…”
Accompanied by Yi Yaosheng’s words, Lianzi Zi and the other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators rallied their auras slightly. Whether they believed Yi Yaosheng’s words or not, they at least temporarily halted their retreating footsteps.
At the same time, Yi Yaosheng’s coercion swept across the entire scene. The next moment, he was already pointing at Zhang Yu’s nose and cursing, “Zhang Yu! Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you have the Ten-Billion Flying Sword! The Immortal Emperor gave that to you to build up the sect, not to destroy it!”
“Today you disrupted the Balanced-Life Grotto-Heaven and interrupted the pharmaceutical company’s important experiments, already causing massive losses to the laboratory here. I want to see how you are going to wrap this up!”
But before Yi Yaosheng could finish speaking, Zhang Yu coldly said without yielding in the slightest, “Yi Yaosheng, obstructing my inspection of the pilot site means obstructing the sect’s legal reform, hindering sect policy, and defying the Immortal Emperor.”
“You are the one in charge here? Then you are the number one criminal defying the Immortal Emperor.”
“From now on, if anyone dares to recklessly move a single person or thing in this place, I will behead you, Yi Yaosheng.”
“If anyone dares to take a single step out of the Balanced-Life Grotto-Heaven, I will still behead you.”
“If the list currently locked on by the Ten-Billion Flying Sword is missing even a single person, I will still behead you!”
At this moment, although Zhang Yu was merely at the Void Refinement Realm, the imposing aura he erupted with made even several Tribulation Transcendence cultivators feel alarmed.
Lianzi Zi, who was standing to the side, understood even better. At this moment, the Ten-Billion Flying Sword had probably already compiled everyone in the Balanced-Life Minor Realm into a list and placed it in front of Zhang Yu.
“Zhang Yu’s words are clearly forbidding anyone from hiding Le Mulan or transferring her out.”
Lianzi Zi thought to himself, “By doing this… isn’t he using Heavenly Monarch Yi as a hostage? Pointing the Ten-Billion Flying Sword at the strongest and richest Ascension Realm cultivator present to threaten all of us not to move?”
Hearing such a naked threat, Yi Yaosheng’s gaze narrowed. He looked at Zhang Yu and said coldly, “Good, good, good…”
Yi Yaosheng shouted, “Zhang Yu! Do you know what you are doing?”
“Everyone, listen to my command!”
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly trembled, and countless cultivators from the pharmaceutical companies turned their eyes in unison toward Yi Yaosheng.
Meanwhile, Yi Yaosheng’s gaze and Zhang Yu’s gaze… clashed fiercely, as if both were waiting for the other to back down.
Yi Yaosheng felt that every single one of his accounts was firmly locked. He looked at the gap between his cash flow and the ten-billion Immortal Coins, sensed Zhang Yu’s current state, emotions, and fighting spirit, and looked at the ‘Myriad Laws Divine Sword’ title floating above the other party’s head…
“What is the probability of Zhang Yu striking down with this sword?”
Along with Yi Yaosheng’s estimations, all sorts of past experiences regarding Zhang Yu surfaced in his mind.
Participating in Heaven Mending in the lower realm, reporting the Supreme Truth Immortal Clan within the sect, single-handedly holding up the collapsing sky in the Former Days Graveyard, wielding the Salary Raising Authority, charging into the Soul Cultivator Market…
And in the testing ground, fighting against a group of heavenly chosen, daring to establish a Law Edict Expiration Date, and claiming to regulate all Law Edicts in the world. And recently, clashing head-on with the opposition, enduring the overwhelming pressure from all directions alone.
Ultimately, an evaluation Zhang Yu once received surfaced in Yi Yaosheng’s mind: “Firm and unyielding, his will cannot be swayed.” If it were anyone else, Yi Yaosheng truly wouldn’t believe… that they would dare to strike him with the Ten-Billion Flying Sword.
But as the saying goes, a man is known by his reputation just as a tree is known by its shadow. Every one of Zhang Yu’s deeds that surfaced in Yi Yaosheng’s mind caused his estimations to shift, making the probability of Zhang Yu drawing his sword soar higher and higher.
Looking at Zhang Yu before him, who showed no signs of backing down and whose eyes were full of fighting spirit, Yi Yaosheng sighed in his heart, “Sigh… what a Myriad Laws Divine Sword.”
Under everyone’s gaze, Yi Yaosheng slowly said, “Everyone… none of you are to make any reckless moves.”
“As the most valuable person on the scene, I absolutely cannot be compromised.”
Yi Yaosheng looked at Zhang Yu calmly, instantly withdrawing all the arrogance and aloofness of an Ascension Realm cultivator and a Rank 10 Sect Staff.
With a gentle expression, he said, “Dao Monarch Zhang, let’s talk this out. It’s not that we aren’t cooperating with your inspection, but we must protect our corporate assets and secrets.”
Lianzi Zi, who was watching from the side, was not surprised by Yi Yaosheng’s choice: “Anyone can talk a big game about protecting the interests of the pharmaceutical company and the Dao Lineage, but when it comes to actually coughing up ten billion… forget it. Moreover, giving up this quickly shows that he hasn’t received any support from the higher-ups yet.”
As for taking on a ten billion debt for the greater good of the faction? If it were Lianzi Zi, he wouldn’t choose that either.
God knows whether the higher-ups would actually pay off the debt for him after he took it on, or if they would just take the opportunity to swallow him whole.
“And the most crucial reason things evolved to this point is this Dao Monarch Zhang. He truly is worthy of being chosen by the higher-ups to push forward legal reform.”
“With just his Void Refinement cultivation, one man and one sword forcefully intimidated everyone present.”
Lianzi Zi’s gaze toward Zhang Yu also carried a hint of emotion: “The magnitude of the Ten-Billion Flying Sword’s deterrent power depends entirely on whether its wielder is resolute enough.”
“The higher the likelihood of the wielder actually striking with that sword, the stronger the deterrent power of the Ten-Billion Flying Sword becomes.”
“In the hands of this Dao Monarch Zhang, the Ten-Billion Flying Sword is the true Ten-Billion Flying Sword.”
Lianzi Zi thought to himself, “His past experiences—defeating the strong as the weak time and time again, snatching chestnuts from the fire time and time again, narrowly escaping death time and time again, and never bowing his head in the face of immense pressure time and time again—are his accumulation, his foundation.”
“This foundation makes people, when facing the Ten-Billion Flying Sword in his hands… involuntarily believe that he truly dares to strike with it.”
“Thank goodness…”
On the other side, Yue Qinglan, who was hiding at the back of the crowd, also watched this scene in shock. She sighed inwardly, “Thank goodness I am not worthy of him using that sword on me, so I don’t have to bear the brunt of it on the front lines like Heavenly Monarch Yi.”
“And… with the Ten-Billion Flying Sword in hand, Zhang Yu’s deterrent power seems to be even greater than I previously estimated.”
“Perhaps only by truly being locked onto by Zhang Yu would one know just how immense the pressure of facing that Ten-Billion Flying Sword in his hand is.”
Just as the many cultivators at the scene were secretly alarmed, Le Mulan, inside one of the buildings, was also watching this scene in astonishment.
“Zhang Yu, he…”
Seeing Zhang Yu, alone with a single sword, actually suppress all the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators and even the Ascension Realm cultivators present, Le Mulan’s heart was practically surging with stormy waves.
Endless curiosity and shock welled up in her heart: Just what kind of earth-shattering things has he done over the past year?
At the same time, facing Yi Yaosheng’s proactive concession, Zhang Yu spoke up, “Heavenly Monarch Yi, there is no need for trouble. Just withdraw your people and let me inspect the entire area.”
Yi Yaosheng smiled faintly and said, “No problem. Dao Monarch Zhang, you can inspect however you wish. It’s just that some things here are personal items, so it shouldn’t be an issue if we take them away, right?”
Seeing that Zhang Yu did not answer, Yi Yaosheng continued to smile and said, “What? Could it be that Dao Monarch Zhang’s inspection and your legal reform involves robbing even personal items?”
Watching the two sides continue their confrontation, Lianzi Zi thought to himself, Heavenly Monarch Yi’s side has changed their strategy. Clashing head-on with Zhang Yu… is too dangerous. They want to use Softness Around the Finger to entangle his Ten-Billion Flying Sword and look for his flaws.
“Personal belongings make for a good breakthrough point. If this blows out of proportion, no one will stand on Zhang Yu’s side. That would add a massive obstacle to the legal reform before it even begins.”
Just as Lianzi Zi was mentally analyzing what Zhang Yu would do, he saw a series of projections emerge behind Zhang Yu.
One of them was none other than Lie Jinghong, who shouted, “Who dares to hinder the sect’s legal reform? Why are there people in this realm who haven’t connected to the Dharma Realm? Do you not know that obligatory Dharma Realm usage is about to be promoted?”
The other two projections were the “Pay for Overtime” holder Ban Jinchen, and the “4-Hour Workday” holder Si Shian.
Ban Jinchen said, “To cooperate with Minister Zhang’s practical inspection, we will now check the overtime situation within the Balanced-Life Minor Realm.”
Si Shian said, “To cooperate with Minister Zhang’s practical inspection, please open up the working hour data of everyone within the minor realm.”
Seeing the new reinforcements behind Zhang Yu, Yi Yaosheng sighed in his heart, knowing that Zhang Yu was going to search for Le Mulan from another angle again.
“You three, are you sure…” Yi Yaosheng said indifferently, “…you want to wade into these muddy waters?”
In an instant, a massive amount of information had already flowed between Yi Yaosheng, Lie Jinghong, Ban Jinchen, and Si Shian.
Ban Jinchen and Si Shian’s expressions also changed slightly.
Just a moment ago, they had received messages from the higher-ups of numerous pharmaceutical companies, making them feel immense pressure.
Neither Ban Jinchen nor Si Shian expected the other party to attach so much importance to this place.
Ban Jinchen privately messaged Zhang Yu, “Dao Monarch Zhang, what exactly is going on? The pharmaceutical companies have a massive influence, and the Life Origin Daoist Lineage behind them is deeply intertwined within the sect. It is unwise to make enemies of them.”
Si Shian also asked Zhang Yu for the detailed situation.
At the same time, Bu Yingshu was observing the changing situation while continuously sending messages to Bu Yuangui.
“Dad! If you don’t come over right now, your daughter is going to be humiliated!”
In the end, not only did Bu Yuangui fail to arrive, he did not even reply.
Seeing that Zhang Yu had managed to call people over while the dad she had called had yet to arrive made Bu Yingshu feel a great loss of face, prompting her to repeatedly urge Bu Yuangui.
The next moment, a surging pressure descended once again — it was indeed the projection of Bu Yuangui.
Seeing this, Bu Yingshu felt a flicker of joy. Just as she thought she had finally summoned her father, she saw three more waves of pressure crash down in rapid succession.
They were none other than Dugu Ming, Su Xianchen, and Fa Liuyuan. Three Ascension Realm cultivators had arrived all at once, standing together with Bu Yuangui right behind Zhang Yu.
Feeling the waves of pressure rushing at her, pinning her in place so she couldn’t even move, Yue Qinglan felt her heart palpitate. “Four Ascension Realm cultivators from different factions and departments? Does Zhang Yu really have this much face?”
Watching this unfold, Yi Yaosheng’s eyebrows twitched repeatedly, his heart equally unable to conceal his shock. How is this possible? Zhang Yu called them all here at once?
Zhang Yu himself, however, felt a jolt in his heart. Do I… really have this much face?
At this moment, a strange feeling welled up within him.
Because among the Ascension Realm cultivators he had just asked for help, Fa Liuyuan was clearly the only one.
It couldn’t be Heavenly Monarch Fa who called them here, could it? Since when did the Reformist Faction… have this kind of influence?
Zhang Yu’s heart stirred: Then it seems…
Meanwhile, the four Ascension Realm cultivators exchanged glances, seemingly having completed an exchange in a mere instant.
The next moment, Su Xianchen took a step forward. In his capacity as President of the Law Edict Review Committee, he spoke to Yi Yaosheng, “Heavenly Monarch Yi, the Law Edict reform is sect policy. We hope for your side’s full cooperation in the ensuing operations.”
At the same time, seeing the four Ascension Realm cultivators step onto the field, Ban Jinchen and Si Shian immediately felt a surge of drive and confidence.
Si Shian thought to himself, “Sure enough… I really just need to cling tightly to Dao Monarch Zhang’s thick thigh.”
Ban Jinchen thought inwardly, “Truly worthy of Dao Monarch Zhang. A single inspection operation actually invited four Ascension Realm cultivators to intervene.”
Thinking about how he had actually wanted to persuade Zhang Yu just a moment ago, Ban Jinchen secretly felt regret: Dao Monarch Zhang is the Myriad Laws Divine Sword, representing the frontline of the sect’s legal reform. How could he fight a battle without absolute certainty? This inspection trip to the Balanced-Life Grotto-Heaven is clearly a deliberate mission. How could I have tried to hinder him?
Thinking of this, Ban Jinchen had made up his mind; next, he must perform well and turn this Balanced-Life Grotto-Heaven upside down in his investigation.
Thus, under the suppression of the four Ascension Realm cultivators, Ban Jinchen and Si Shian immediately began their inspection, and under Zhang Yu’s instruction, they soon locked onto their target.
“This Le Mulan’s working hours are abnormal. Please ask her to come out and cooperate with the investigation.”
Sensing the projections of the four Ascension Realm cultivators before him, Yi Yaosheng thought to himself, What exactly are the higher-ups doing? Are they just going to watch helplessly? Or could it be…
After a moment of thought, Yi Yaosheng still presented a contract and said, “Le Mulan has already signed a contract with us. Since she belongs to our investment project, apart from her normal working hours each day, the rest of the work she does is for herself…”
But the next moment, streams of divine light descended from the sky, and a Fourth-Rank Righteous God spoke up, “The right to interpret the contract rests in our hands. This contract of yours is a serious violation and clearly has no legal validity…”
With that said, this Righteous God tore with both hands, instantly crushing the contract hovering in front of Yi Yaosheng to dust.
Watching this scene, not the slightest change in expression could be seen on Yi Yaosheng’s face. Instead, as if having confirmed something, he silently retreated backward.
Yi Yaosheng thought inwardly, “Small cases look at assets, medium cases look at Rank, and large cases look at Dao Lineages… This matter has already become the crux of a Dao Lineage Struggle.”
He knew well that only the lower realm would truly regard the law, whereas to the upper-tier cultivators of the sect, the power to interpret and execute the Law Edicts rested entirely in their own hands.
Meanwhile, Yi Yaosheng made no move, and the other cultivators dared not show the slightest resistance. Soon, led by a cultivator, Le Mulan was brought before Zhang Yu.
Le Mulan walked step by step toward Zhang Yu. Looking at the Fourth-Rank Righteous God in the sky, looking at the four Ascension Realm cultivators behind Zhang Yu, and looking at Zhang Yu himself — wielding the Ten-Billion Flying Sword, with titles like Myriad Laws Divine Sword, Former Days Salary King, Kunxu Hero, and Minister of the Effectiveness Review Department hovering above his head — her eyes were filled with shock.
By comparison, Ban Jinchen and Si Shian of the Void Refinement Realm to the side, and even Bu Yingshu and Lie Jinghong of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, seemed to have faded into obscurity.
Even the lofty Ascension Realm cultivator Yi Yaosheng had now silently retreated to the side, as if bowing his noble head before Zhang Yu.
Yue Qinglan and Lianzi Zi, who had previously strutted arrogantly in front of Le Mulan, were now silently hiding in the distance.
Such an unprecedented scene left Le Mulan’s mind completely blank, entirely unsure of what had just happened.
Le Mulan opened her mouth, not even knowing what she should say.
Zhang Yu, however, took the initiative to hold Le Mulan’s hand and sent a message: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be nervous. We’ll go back and talk about it slowly.”
Shortly after the conflict in the Balanced-Life Grotto-Heaven erupted, various related pieces of news began spreading throughout the Dharma Realm and Spirit Realm.
Some said Zhang Yu was standing up for his fellow townsman Le Mulan, snatching her away from the pharmaceutical company.
But very few people believed this claim.
“How could he make an enemy of a pharmaceutical company just for a lower realm cultivator? This is clearly making an example out of the Balanced-Life Minor Realm! He is establishing his authority for next year’s legal reform!”
“Exactly! Now that this is done, the prestige of the Myriad Laws Divine Sword will soar. Even Heavenly Monarch Yi Yaosheng of the pharmaceutical company had to bow his head. Who will dare stand in his way in the future?”
“Zhang Yu’s momentum is unstoppable!”
Looking at the various news and comments in the Spirit Realm, Kuang Tianqing snorted coldly. He looked at the giant corpse beside him and asked, “Senior, what do you think is really going on? Did Zhang Yu deliberately blow things out of proportion to leverage the situation and take Le Mulan away?”
The giant corpse said indifferently, “It was the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor who made a move. He beat us to it and protected Le Mulan.”
Kuang Tianqing’s heart skipped a beat. “The Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor?”
The giant corpse said, “According to the latest news, the secret Le Mulan holds is likely related to a longevity extension of Soul Cultivators. For the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor, what do you think… is the best way to handle such a person?”
Kuang Tianqing raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “Jointly develop it with a pharmaceutical company? Get a piece of the pie?”
The giant corpse shook his head, sighing, “That is merely the vision of an Immortal, not the caliber of an Immortal Emperor.”
“As an Immortal Emperor, one must consider the bigger picture of the Ten Sects. If pharmaceutical companies were truly allowed to roll this out on a large scale, it would likely immediately trigger a fierce Dao Lineage Struggle between the Life Origin Daoist Lineage and the Reincarnation Dao Lineage. It would spark fierce battles between the two factions, perhaps even an all-out war.”
“For the Myriad Laws Sect, which currently enjoys an excellent situation, this is certainly something the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor does not wish to see.”
“Conversely, keeping Le Mulan in his grasp, elevating this woman but holding back from revealing it, is enough to make the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor wary of collateral damage. It provides an extra bargaining chip when negotiating interests with the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor. To the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor, this is the optimal solution.”
Hearing this, the magic power within Kuang Tianqing shuddered as he sighed, “It’s a pity that the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor got a step ahead this time and took Le Mulan…”
The giant corpse said, “The Myriad Laws Sect is, after all, the Myriad Laws Sect of the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor. As long as this Immortal Emperor sets his mind on something, no one can beat him.”
“However, don’t think that your Reincarnation Immortal Emperor has truly lost either.”
Meeting Kuang Tianqing’s doubtful gaze, the giant corpse said, “The relationship of generating and overcoming between Dao Lineages is a heavenly principle for lower-tier cultivators, but not for Immortal Emperors.”
“Just like how water overcoming fire is a heavenly principle, but as long as an Immortal Emperor wishes it, he can also make water generate fire.”
“Shifting to the Dao Lineage Struggle between the Life Origin Daoist Lineage and the Reincarnation Dao Lineage, if Reincarnation Gold can continue to expand, the longer Soul Cultivators live, the more Reincarnation Gold they will hand over. At that time, it will no longer be Life Origin overcoming Reincarnation, but Life Origin generating Reincarnation.”
The giant corpse sighed, “With a single thought from an Immortal Emperor, his policies sweep across the world with overwhelming momentum. He can naturally use his will to reverse the principles of generation and overcoming between the various Dao Lineages in this world, alter the relations of production, and subsequently shape a new era.”
“Just like the Law Edict Expiration Date promoted by the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor, or the Reincarnation Gold promoted by the Reincarnation Immortal Emperor.”
Kuang Tianqing said, “Then next… where will Le Mulan go? Will she stay here with Zhang Yu?”
The giant corpse shook his head and said, “I’m afraid the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s transfer order for Le Mulan is already on its way.”
Kuang Tianqing nodded slightly, another thought rising in his mind.
“In this matter… what is Zhang Yu’s stance? Did he actually guess the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor’s intentions? Is he actively pushing this matter forward to hand Le Mulan over to the Myriad Laws Immortal Emperor?”