Chapter 247: Endure

Chapter 247: Endure

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

"Kid, let's talk."

Standing before the figure with a body like glazed crystal and a mane of flaming red hair, Zhang Yu instantly knew—this was the one he’d heard about from countless mouths but never seen in person: Xinghuo Zhenren.

Following him to the rooftop of a tall building, Zhang Yu asked with a hint of confusion, "Senior, is there something you wanted to speak with me about?"

Xinghuo Zhenren laughed heartily, sparks flying from his mouth. "Why be so formal with 'senior'? You and Yu Xinghan are cultivation classmates. Just call me 'Master.'"

Zhang Yu blinked. "Master?"

"Mhm." Xinghuo Zhenren nodded, then smiled. "So, have you decided which university and major you're picking?"

With a playful glint in his eyes, he asked, "Don't tell me you're thinking of Netherworld University?"

Zhang Yu didn’t answer directly. Instead, he replied, "Senior, do you think Netherworld University is a bad choice?"

Xinghuo Zhenren said, "Universities pick students based on their scores. But the students also have to choose universities—see if they suit you."

"Netherworld University belongs to Netherworld Palace. Their techniques revolve around extracting blood essence, skinning people alive, and refining living souls. They treat the lives of common folk as worthless grass. To achieve their ends, no means are off the table. As long as the profit’s big enough, there’s nothing they won’t trade."

"If it weren’t for interference from other sects, they’d have turned Floors 1 through 10 into cultivation livestock farms already—just to keep up with their resource consumption."

"I'm not here to tell you whether that path is good or bad. But tell me: do you really think that’s the right path for you?"

Zhang Yu countered, "Then which university do you think suits me, Senior?"

Xinghuo Zhenren replied, "Wanfa Sect University has always been the orthodox pillar of the Dao. It selects the best of the best and aims to nurture generation after generation of Immortal candidates."

Fu Ji, listening quietly, whispered inside Zhang Yu’s mind: "‘Best of the best’ just means endless competition. You have to grind like mad just to maybe become an Immortal. Before that, you're nothing but cattle."

Xinghuo Zhenren went on, "Students at Wanfa Sect University—regardless of whether they ascend—at least get to put their skills to use. There are plenty of opportunities for hands-on experience."

Fu Ji chuckled. "Hands-on experience? That’s just code for part-time jobs and overtime starting freshman year."

Xinghuo Zhenren continued, "The school also provides strong support. Everything operates according to established rules. As long as you work hard, you can earn money, advance your cultivation, and support yourself."

Fu Ji added, "Support yourself? Meaning the pay’s barely enough to live on."

"Of course," Xinghuo Zhenren said, "the university also sets high expectations for both students and teachers. The goal is to turn every student into an elite who can serve the corporation, the sect, and Kunxu."

Fu Ji murmured knowingly, "High standards just means brutal assessments and hard-to-pass graduation requirements. ‘Serve the corporation and the sect’? That’s code for indentured servitude after you graduate. They don’t raise you out of kindness…"

Listening to the sales pitch and Fu Ji’s commentary, Zhang Yu began to understand something deeper.

"The whole talent selection and training system on Floor 1… and what Fu Ji said before about grinding upward, clawing your way higher no matter what—it all originated from top sects like the Wanfa Sect, didn’t it?"

"The difference between Wanfa Sect University and Netherworld University… maybe it's not morality, just market segmentation. One needs oxen and horses. The other wants pigs and sheep."

"So those who oppose Netherworld Palace aren’t ‘righteous’—they're just the ones who want laborers, not livestock."

"Yeah… what else could it be?" Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. "The conflict between the Ten Major Sects… If it’s not about profit, what else could it possibly be—some grand battle between good and evil?"

Seeing Zhang Yu deep in thought, Xinghuo Zhenren added, "If you choose Wanfa Sect University, I can introduce you to some of my connections there. Should give you a significant leg up."

"And me personally? I can be your master for the rest of your high school journey and give you some guidance."

"Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. Take your time to decide."

"And later, do me a favor and pass this message along to Bai Zhenzhen. I’m short on time and heading out soon."

"Now then…" Xinghuo Zhenren said, "There’s another Righteous God who wants to speak with you."

The next moment, Deng Bingding appeared and said, "Zhang Yu, long time no see."

This time, Deng Bingding had come with one goal: dealing with Wang Yin.

She thought to herself, "The Oasis Group’s other operations on Floor 1 aren’t that difficult to dismantle."

"But Wang Yin… that’s a whole different story."

Neither the Righteous Gods nor the likes of Xinghuo Zhenren—those who’d work for pay—wanted to deal with Wang Yin directly.

Getting a paycheck and a few overtime bonuses to take down Oasis Group’s underlings? No problem.

But openly slapping the face of a privileged heir with deep connections and getting blacklisted? That’s another matter.

Wang Yin was a banner for Oasis Group’s presence on Floor 1—symbolizing their confidence, attracting talent and powerful allies.

Deng Bingding understood that as long as Wang Yin stood, Oasis Group would regenerate, no matter how many of its limbs got hacked off.

Still, while that was true, she wasn’t eager to step forward herself and risk getting marked by the young master.

So she thought of Zhang Yu.

"Zhang Yu’s background runs deep. He won’t be scared of Wang Yin’s grudge."

And lately, he’d been acting as Wang Yin’s ambassador, popping in and out of his mansion, showing up at events.

Factoring in Zhang Pianpian… and the great being behind her… it was clear Zhang Yu had nothing to do with the Netherworld Palace faction.

"Could this all be part of a grander plan by that higher being?"

"Ever since Zhang Yu took the Foundation Establishment exam, he’s been a piece on the board."

"Replacing Ye Lingxiao, getting close to Wang Yin, infiltrating Oasis Group… was it all to make him the one who’d finish Wang Yin off in the end?"

"If that’s the case… Wang Yin came down here to polish his resume. And Zhang Yu’s going to polish his resume by taking Wang Yin down."

Every time she thought of it, Deng Bingding felt a chill. "Kunxu’s waters are always this deep."

"Whether it’s us or Oasis Group… we’re all just moving toward a conclusion laid out by that mysterious puppetmaster."

When she finally voiced her request to Zhang Yu, he froze—then wondered if she was joking.

"Me? A high school junior? Go fight the CEO of Oasis Group?"

Zhang Yu thought to himself, this isn’t just risky—it’s a death sentence. Not just for me, maybe even Bai Zhenzhen too.

Still, he didn’t want to offend a deity like Deng Bingding, so he planned to turn her down politely.

Deng Bingding added, "Wang Yin has already crippled himself to quickly descend to the lower floors and rebuild his Foundation with a Divine Spirit Root. He’s lost his peak Foundation Establishment strength. As for his artifacts and talismans—there are ways to handle those..."

The message was clear: they’d create an opening for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to strike.

But even after all that, Zhang Yu still refused—again and again.

At first, Deng Bingding thought he was just being cautious. But soon, she realized he really didn’t want to do it, no matter what she said.

Yet Deng Bingding wasn’t angry. She simply formed a new theory.

"Zhang Yu recently communicated with Zhang Pianpian on Floor 2. He must have received new instructions."

"His refusal now… probably means it’s not time yet."

The more she considered it, the more it made sense. So she stopped pushing and let him go.

Xinghuo Zhenren, watching from the side, frowned. "You’re seriously asking a high schooler to take on Wang Yin? You Righteous Gods—what are you even thinking? Scared of dirtying your hands, so you want to turn him into a knife? That’s going too far."

Deng Bingding replied coolly, "Hmph. Xinghuo, that’s exactly why you rose—and then fell."

"This Zhang Yu… he’s not as simple as you think."

"If we want to end things on Floor 1 and drive Wang Yin back to the upper floors… that final blow might have to come from Zhang Yu himself."

…

Back at the apartment, Zhang Yu found Bai Zhenzhen finishing her cultivation. She stood up and greeted him with a smile. "Yuzi, you’re back? I ordered something good—let’s eat together!"

She had no idea what he’d just turned down.

Watching her smile, Zhang Yu felt a bitter warmth rise in his chest. "We finally earned this little bit of peace. How can I throw it away?"

"I don’t want to keep risking my life… and I don’t want Ah-Zhen risking hers either."

"Endure it, Zhang Yu."

"Endure in silence. Accumulate strength in silence. Until the day comes… when you don’t need to endure anymore."

In the days that followed, people around Wang Yin started to notice that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen rarely showed up at gatherings anymore.

Many assumed the two had fallen out of favor and began gleefully cozying up to Wang Yin, dreaming of replacing them.

At one such gathering, Ye Mantian sneered, "Zhang Yu's just a poor dog. You feed that kind of mutt too much, they start thinking they’ve grown a spine."

Someone chimed in, "Exactly. Poor folks can’t be given too much money. At first, it works—but too much, and they start thinking they’re rich, and then they stop being obedient."

Wang Yin quietly observed these sycophants, smiling at their flattery, his eyes cold.

He'd seen too many dogs like this—tail-wagging, groveling, submissive.

The more you feed them, the more dependent they get. And the more dependent they get, the more timid they become—until they’re so docile they won’t even bark when they’re kicked.

Wang Yin used to enjoy raising dogs like this.

But he’d long since realized—they were useless.