No Money to Cultivate Immortality? - Chapter 838 (Patreon)

Chapter 838: Encirclement

A trace of vigilance flashed through Zhang Yu’s heart. His will had already crossed the Spiritual Realm and arrived directly inside the meeting room.

And with his descent, he could see that the other three vice chairs had already arrived ahead of him.

Zhang Yu could vaguely see vast amounts of information being transmitted back and forth at high speed between the wills of the three vice chairs. They seemed to be discussing something.

But after Zhang Yu arrived, the three vice chairs treated him like some transparent outsourced contractor. They did not even glance at him.

Just then, a wave of pressure came from far away in the depths of the Spiritual Realm. In the next moment... a vast will had already descended into the meeting room.

The newcomer was the chair of the Management Committee, a level-seven sect affairs officer, a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, Xiao Yunhe.

As the person with the highest position, rank, and cultivation realm in the entire Management Committee, the four vice chairs present, Zhang Yu included, all lowered their heads slightly to show their respect.

At the same time, Xiao Yunhe had already activated Spiritual Realm acceleration. The meeting belonging to the five top leaders of the Management Committee officially began.

Xiao Yunhe said calmly, “This meeting is mainly to address some of the problems everyone has discovered during the current reconstruction process in the Development Zone.”

He looked toward Xie Lanyin, another vice chair, and said, “As for the specific situation, Vice Chair Xie Lanyin, why don’t you explain?”

Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted over, and the relevant information about this female cultivator surfaced in his mind.

Xie Lanyin was a Void-Refining cultivator from the Whitebone Cult. As a vice chair of the Management Committee, she was a level-six sect affairs officer. Within the Management Committee, she was in charge of affairs such as investment attraction, industrial planning, project management, and external cooperation.

Zhang Yu had also heard quite a few rumors about Xie Lanyin. It was said that her true body had already transformed into a mountain range of white bones, one that could produce large amounts of high-quality materials every year.

A judgment flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind. This was a high-level cultivator who truly had a mine at home—or rather, had turned herself into a mine. Under the operation of asset power, she continued to expand.

And Zhang Yu also remembered... during the previous first meeting, she had been the first to express doubt toward him and show hostility.

Xie Lanyin said, “Recently, many enterprises that want to move into the Development Zone have complained to me. They feel there are problems with the Development Zone’s management. High-level cultivators who are not Development Zone staff keep entering the area, even causing chaos and slowing down work progress.”

“Several enterprises have begun doubting the safety of the Development Zone because of this. Some have even suspended their investment projects.”

“They’re worried that after their own staff arrive, what if someone gets run over or beaten to death? What if that affects their work progress?”

“And this place will be an important future production site for Soul Cultivators and corpse units. If random deaths occur, it could seriously affect quality control on the production lines...”

Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted slightly. He immediately understood that she was most likely referring to Bu Yingshu driving an immortal shuttle around recklessly.

Zhang Yu lowered his gaze slightly and thought to himself, “Are they coming at me?”

No sooner had Xie Lanyin finished speaking than another vice chair on the other side followed up, “Vice Chair Zhang, the cultivator who’s been rampaging through the Development Zone recently and causing disturbances—is she from your Myriad Laws Sect?”

Zhang Yu’s gaze shifted slightly toward the speaker.

Zhang Yu had already encountered this person back when he was exploring the Labyrinth Realm. He had originally been a Void-Refining cultivator from the Netherworld Palace stationed in the Old Days Graveyard.

Back then, after Zhang Yu obtained the ancestral corpse inside the Labyrinth Realm, he had nearly been surrounded and trapped by this person. It was only thanks to the Immortal Space combined with the Cave Heaven Bridge that he managed to escape.

However, the other party had not seen his true appearance at the time and did not know that the two of them had already crossed paths.

Like Xie Lanyin, this person was also surnamed Xie. His name was Xie Xue, though he had no blood relation to Xie Lanyin.

He was likewise a sixth-rank Void-Refining cultivator. Coupled with the Netherworld Palace’s powerful presence in the Old Days Graveyard, Xie Xue could be said to be a deeply rooted local power.

As a vice chair, the affairs he managed within the Management Committee were law enforcement, safety, environmental protection, and the like. For example, the Safety Supervision Bureau that Bai Zhenzhen belonged to was one of Xie Xue’s subordinate units.

Zhang Yu also knew that Xie Xue’s legal articles were related to intentional injury. They could be said to complement his area of responsibility perfectly.

Hearing Xie Xue’s questioning, Zhang Yu said, “Bu Daojun holds a license to drive an immortal-plate flying shuttle. She has special authorization under immortal privilege. Never mind normal driving—even if she ran someone over and killed them, it would be lawful and compliant. Is there a problem?”

Xie Xue said, “Even if she is a member of the Immortal Clan, this has still affected the normal work of the Development Zone and damaged the Development Zone’s safety order.”

“Chair, in order to ensure the safe reconstruction of the Development Zone, I suggest... starting today, without permission, all non-staff members should be prohibited from entering the Development Zone.”

After a round of discussion among the four vice chairs, Chair Xiao Yunhe said calmly, “Vice Chair Xie Lanyin and Vice Chair Xie Xue do indeed have a point.”

“The Development Zone is currently undergoing reconstruction. If outsiders can enter casually, it will be far too easy for them to disrupt order, cause management chaos, and slow down the reconstruction progress of the Development Zone.”

“Everyone, the leaders of every sect are paying great attention to this reconstruction of the Development Zone. I do not want any oversight to slow down the Development Zone’s reconstruction process.”

Zhang Yu did not speak. He merely thought to himself, “Stopping Bu Daojun from entering the Development Zone—is that to prevent her from lending me a hand?”

Just as Zhang Yu was thinking, Xie Lanyin raised a second issue. “Vice Chair Zhang, how much longer will it take for the Development Zone to recover? Many enterprises have already expressed their dissatisfaction to me. The Development Zone’s recovery is proceeding far too slowly.”

“Especially after the office district’s Dimensional Structure was restored, there has been no further progress. Has the Dimensional Structure restoration work stopped?”

Zhang Yu said calmly, “The restoration of the Dimensional Structure has certainly not stopped. Rather, it is being restored slowly, gradually, in an orderly and planned manner.”

Zhang Yu looked at everyone and said with solemn seriousness, “Everyone, the stability of the Dimensional Structure is of great importance. I must take responsibility for the Development Zone’s future safe production. In the work of restoring the Dimensional Structure, quality and safety come first.”

Xie Lanyin said indifferently, “But why have I heard that most of the time has been wasted on clearing out berserk corpse units?”

“The reconstruction work in the Development Zone has been going on for nearly a month already, yet even now, the berserk corpse units in the office district still haven’t been completely cleared out...”

At this point, Xie Lanyin let out a cold snort. “If it weren’t for the fact that you, Zhang Yu, only have a Divine Transformation cultivation realm, I would call this serious dereliction of duty.”

“Any Void-Refining cultivator would be enough to clean out all the berserk corpse units in the entire office district within a few days.”

She said with dissatisfaction, “If you, Zhang Yu, had Void-Refining cultivation, the corpse units in the office district would have been cleared out long ago. Who knows how many office buildings would have been rebuilt by now? We would not have so many enterprises complaining to us.”

As soon as Xie Lanyin of the Whitebone Cult finished speaking, Xie Xue from the Netherworld Palace followed from the other side, “Exactly. In my view, Vice Chair Zhang’s cultivation realm is still a little too low after all. His cultivation is insufficient, which has slowed progress in the work of clearing corpse units.”

“If the berserk corpse units in the factory district and experimental district are also cleared this way, how much time will it take? Several months?”

“If even the clearing work is delayed by several months, how long will this reconstruction project be delayed?”

As he spoke, Xie Lanyin on the other side had already projected a large expanse of text. It was the dissatisfaction and complaints from enterprise after enterprise regarding the Development Zone’s reconstruction progress.

In the end, Xie Lanyin revealed her true aim. “Since Vice Chair Zhang’s cultivation and ability are insufficient, let us help you. We can also count it as giving guidance to a junior.”

“From now on, for work such as clearing the berserk corpse units in the factory district, we will take full responsibility.”

Zhang Yu’s brows furrowed slightly. He knew that Xie Lanyin’s words sounded pleasant, but in truth, she was cutting in by force to divide up his authority.

Although the berserk corpse units captured at present all had to be handed over to Zhang Yu so he could extract Grotto-Heaven Power to suppress them, making the other party’s move seem not particularly threatening on the surface, once they interfered with his work, it would be equivalent to scattering the subordinates and personnel he had just gathered under him. It would also seriously reduce his authority.

Moreover, Zhang Yu understood that this was only the beginning. Once the other side achieved this step... it definitely would not be the end. Next, they would only continue eroding his power step by step until they had completely hollowed him out.

Zhang Yu said calmly, “No need. Restoring the Dimensional Structure is closely related to clearing the corpse units. I’ll be most at ease doing it myself.”

Xie Lanyin said coldly, “Zhang Yu, this is not a question of whether you are willing. The issue is how many enterprises are currently waiting for the Development Zone’s recovery. Do you know how much money is lost for every night a production line is delayed?”

As Xie Lanyin’s words fell, rows upon rows of numbers appeared behind her. They were the losses calculated by enterprise after enterprise, and they were also the silent protests of the sect enterprises.

A surging pressure swept over him. Zhang Yu understood that this was not simply a protest. It was also a warning from the high-level cultivators behind these enterprises, one that belonged to them.

At this moment, it was as if urgent voices were ringing by Zhang Yu’s ears.

“Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Don’t delay us from making money!”

Zhang Yu’s heart suddenly sank, and a flash of realization passed through his mind. “If I keep holding firm and refuse to speed up, then I’ll be making those powerful cultivators behind those enterprises earn less money. I’ll be blocking their path to wealth...”

The thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Zhang Yu understood... in the past, he had used profit to guide Kunxu cultivators forward. However much energy that could unleash, that was also how much risk he would face if he blocked Kunxu cultivators from making money.

Not to mention that the people behind these enterprises came from various sects and factions, and many of their ranks and cultivation realms were above his.

But Zhang Yu still was not willing to let Xie Lanyin interfere. So he exhaled and changed his wording. “I will speed up the clearing work as much as possible and accelerate the restoration of the Dimensional Structure.”

Pressing her advantage, Xie Lanyin said, “How fast is faster? Zhang Yu, it isn’t that we don’t trust you, but you only have Divine Transformation cultivation, and you’ve only just entered Divine Transformation at that.”

“To be honest, just keeping up with our thinking speed in this meeting is already taking everything you have, isn’t it?”

At the same time she said this, Xie Lanyin further increased the acceleration of the Spiritual Realm meeting.

In Zhang Yu’s perception, the entire world seemed to be operating at tremendous speed. The information coming from Xie Lanyin’s mouth flashed past like streaks of light. He strained himself to look, but could only see a portion of it.

“Zhang Yu, in presiding over the clearing work... I believe you have already done everything you can.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Xie Lanyin’s mouth. “But insufficient cultivation is insufficient cultivation. Lacking ability is lacking ability. If you can’t do it, then you can’t do it. This is the limitation of your realm. Don’t tell me you can advance to Void-Refining within a short time?”

“Can you... even hear what I’m saying?”

On the other side, Xie Xue smiled and said, “Vice Chair Lanyin, you’ve accelerated too much. Our Vice Minister Zhang Yu is probably unable to keep up.”

Xie Lanyin smiled helplessly, then looked toward Zhang Yu and said, “Do you understand now? Zhang Yu, this is the gap between us.”

As if coaxing a child, she reached out as though to pat Zhang Yu’s head, saying, “Stop being stubborn. Hand your work over to us, so you don’t hold everyone back.”

But just then, Zhang Yu said, “One month. At most one month. I will complete the remaining clearing work and the restoration of the Dimensional Structure.”

And in reality, as a stick of Awakening Incense worth several hundred immortal coins was lit, it assisted Zhang Yu’s Mental Acceleration and allowed him to barely keep up with the exchange speed of the Void-Refining Daojuns once more.

“One month?” Xie Lanyin sneered inwardly. She knew very well that after this, the factory district and experimental district did not merely contain large numbers of Divine Transformation corpse units, but Void-Refining corpse units as well.

With Zhang Yu’s strength, how could he subdue those Void-Refining corpse units? And now that non-staff were forbidden from entering, he had lost outside support as well.

Xie Lanyin had heard that Bu Yingshu of the Myriad Laws Sect valued Zhang Yu highly. It was precisely because of this that she wanted to prohibit outsiders from entering the Development Zone first, to prevent Bu Yingshu from supporting Zhang Yu.

But Xie Lanyin still did not let up. Instead, she chose to press him harder. She wanted to give him even more pressure. “One month is too long. This answer cannot satisfy the various sect enterprises.”

Zhang Yu stared at Xie Lanyin in front of him without yielding in the slightest and said word by word, “If we go any faster and the Dimensional Structure falls into disorder, causing a safety accident, will you take responsibility?”

Xie Lanyin said, “That is a problem you need to solve. One month... I have no way to explain that to the various sect enterprises.”

Just as the two of them were confronting each other head-on, Chair Xiao Yunhe said calmly, “Zhang Yu, I will give you twenty days. Can you do it?”

Zhang Yu’s brows furrowed slightly. “Twenty days...”

Xiao Yunhe raised a hand and directly cut Zhang Yu off. He said calmly, “I have just communicated with the heads of the various sect enterprises, especially several enterprises related to the Soul Cultivator industry. They are all currently facing pressure from High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits.”

“Every day they are delayed, they fall a little further behind in their confrontation with High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits.”

“Twenty days. That is the upper limit I can give you. If you cannot resolve it within twenty days, then let the other vice chairs help you.”

“Do you understand?”

Fu Ji said, “The Soul Cultivator industry is an important industry of the Old Days Graveyard, and it is also a major key to opposing High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits. And High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits, as well as the innate Dao lineage behind them, are clearly at odds with the reform faction within Kunxu.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly in his heart. This was something they had long since analyzed and confirmed.

In his mind, he also once again recalled what the giant corpse had said.

“The immortal network introduced by Ying Xintian represents the reformists in Kunxu.”

“They support you coming here. They want you to rebuild the Development Zone properly. Among the industries they want you to support... the most important is the Soul Cultivator industry.”

“High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits, as well as the innate Dao lineage behind them, will only worsen the terrible situation inside Kunxu.”

“So once you establish a firm foothold in the Development Zone, you must work hard to promote the development of Soul Cultivators.”

“Soul Cultivators are the cornerstone of Kunxu. They are also an industry that will absolutely affect the entire overall situation if Kunxu undergoes another reform...”

Zhang Yu understood in his heart. “Promoting the development of the Soul Cultivator industry and helping the Soul Cultivator industry oppose High-Intelligence Artifact Spirits—that is what those immortal networks above want me to push forward.”

“If I continue delaying for the sake of my personal authority, then I won’t just be offending the various enterprises. I will also be slowing the recovery momentum of the Soul Cultivator industry.”

“And this is not merely something I need to do. It is also something the other vice chairs present need to do. In this regard... we can be considered a community of shared interests.”

“Xiao Yunhe is using this shared interest to make us reach a consensus.”

Zhang Yu was extremely familiar with this method, because not long ago, he had done exactly the same thing: taking advantage of the situation and guiding it along, consolidating his subordinates and the many clearing teams.

And so Zhang Yu nodded and said, “Within twenty days, I will complete the clearing work and restore the Dimensional Structure of the entire Development Zone.”

The three people beside him, including Xie Lanyin, expressed no objections.

“Twenty days?” Xie Lanyin thought to herself. “Even one month is hardly possible, let alone twenty days.”

Xie Lanyin did not voice any opposition, because in her view, Zhang Yu could not possibly achieve this. After twenty days, she would inevitably take over part of Zhang Yu’s work, begin eroding his power, and hollow him out step by step.

…

After withdrawing from the Spiritual Realm meeting room, Zhang Yu drew in a deep breath. His mind was already rapidly planning out the work arrangements for the next twenty days.

“First... I still need to strengthen myself.”

“After all, my current strength has reached another eruption point...”

Although the struggles inside and outside the Management Committee were extremely complex, Zhang Yu understood that in Kunxu... in the final analysis, his own strength was everything. And this strength included cultivation, authority, and wealth.

If his strength was insufficient, if he could not even complete the most basic work, then no amount of thinking up methods would be useful.

But if he possessed powerful strength, monstrous authority, or even breathtaking wealth, many problems would naturally be resolved.

Under absolute productivity, as long as he could enlarge the cake and create profit, he could resolve the overwhelming majority of conflicts.

And at this very moment, after repeated rounds of accumulation, Zhang Yu’s strength was about to welcome another explosive increase.

On one hand, after taking control of a vice chair’s authority, the Divine Transformation corpse units he had collected and mastered were still continuously increasing.

On the other hand, after transferring Yu Xinghan, Ye Xingli, and Teacher Magneto over, not only was the corpse unit production line about to start up, their Dao Seeds were also about to undergo upgrades.

Especially with the harvest of immortal crystals, Yu Xinghan’s mana was rapidly completing a breakthrough with Zhang Yu’s help. The Three-Eyed Divine Sight was about to receive an upgrade.

And over at Bai Zhenzhen’s side, after the Celestial Spirit Root’s repeated exchanges and nourishment, it would probably upgrade within a few days as well.

This was also the confidence Zhang Yu had in daring to accept the twenty-day agreement. After his strength underwent explosive growth, he was confident that he could clear out the corpse units in the factory district and experimental district as quickly as possible.

Zhang Yu understood that only after subduing every Void-Refining corpse unit in the secret realm, as well as the Grotto-Heaven Power, would he have the ability to confront Void-Refining cultivators head-on to some extent, further consolidate his position in the Management Committee, and complete the exam paper that the immortal network had given him.

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