Chapter 548: Chapter 490: Win-Win
In Zhang Yu’s field of vision, a massive amount of information and matter rushed forward, whether it be the souls and thoughts of the factory employees, or their vitality and mana, all were being frantically drawn in by that dark artifact.
Even Zhang Yu himself felt an urge stirring within him; if it weren’t for the protection of the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Tower, things might have turned bad.
Especially the crystal at the center of his brow, which pulsated as if it was about to fly out the next moment.
In that instant, that dark artifact of unknown origin seemed to transform into a black hole, madly absorbing all memories, emotions, flesh, blood, and mana…
The workers were visibly withering at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if about to turn into skeletons.
At this moment, another figure descended from the Spirit Realm.
The Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch said coldly, “Qiongjiang, you are too impudent.”
The Qiongjiang Divine Monarch laughed heartily, “Impudent, so what? At worst, I’ll pay the price.”
“Pay the price…” The Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch said flatly, “Alright, how much can you pay?”
The next moment, in Zhang Yu’s surprised gaze, a price surge alert popped up.
Then he noticed that everything around started to inflate in price madly.
Whether it was the factory equipment, the value of personnel, the materials covering the ground, or even the compensation for college students… everything was skyrocketing.
Watching this scene, Zhang Yu only felt an endless crisis surrounding him; if he took a single step forward and accidentally bumped into something, he might lose everything.
And in the Spirit Realm, Qiongjiang Divine Monarch’s surprised voice came, “When did you, Ten Thousand Transformations old villain, gain such control over prices?”
The Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch replied, “Qiongjiang, this move is called harming others by hurting oneself. Want to fight? Then keep throwing money at it.”
“But… do you have what it takes to compete with me financially?”
After a cold snort, all sorts of anomalies vanished completely, and that dark artifact that was about to devour everything became invisible and disappeared, whereabouts unknown.
Zhang Yu only felt his body lighten, and everything returned to normal for him.
Only the surrounding factory buildings and equipment damage, along with the workers who looked like they’re turning into skeletons, testified that the events just happened weren’t an illusion.
Recalling the earlier price surge, Zhang Yu quickly searched for information through his eyes, discovering that within a few seconds, the prices in Wanfa University City experienced a violent swing, skyrocketing before plunging back to the original state.
Zhang Yu drew a sharp breath at this sight, feeling it was even more terrifying than watching Qiongjiang Divine Monarch destroy the factory.
“The Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch could disrupt the university city’s prices like this in an instant?”
“That means if he wanted, a single thought could trigger a Level 3? Level 5? Even higher-level financial storm in the university city, leaving countless people penniless…”
“When two Divinity Transformation beings from the universities confront each other, how much economic turmoil would it cause? How many would lose their lives and souls?”
“No wonder the Ten Great Sects don’t take action. If it really happens, how terrifying would the intensity be?”
Just imagining it gave Zhang Yu a chill.
This isn’t even about whether to dodge or not, but considering the impact on the Spirit Realm and economy, even those not in the battlefield might lose everything during the confrontation between Divinity Transformation beings.
Zhang Yu couldn’t help but recall what Fu Ji once told him. She said after he started a company, it wasn’t about him serving the company, but rather the employees and company relying on him, serving him, and taking care of trivial matters so he could focus on more important things. He was the company’s greatest asset.
Zhang Yu thought, “Is the university the same? It’s not Divinity Transformations relying on the university, but the university relying on Divinity Transformations?”
“If the Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Court weren’t pressing above, the university… might be a different picture.”
Just then, Zhang Yu suddenly heard a voice in his mind.
“The things just made in the factory… are all broken.”
Zhang Yu was slightly stunned, then realized the voice came from the crystal on his forehead.
As Zhang Yu pondered what to do, he heard the voice continue, “The things made through overtime, why were they just destroyed like this?”
Zhang Yu thought, “They’ll compensate anyway.”
It was as if the voice heard his thoughts, directly saying, “Compensate? Will she restore this place?”
Zhang Yu was shocked, “You can hear my thoughts?”
The voice continued to ask, “Will it be restored?”
Zhang Yu didn’t want to answer, but his thoughts didn’t stop, “How could the Qiongjiang Divine Monarch personally come to repair? It’s definitely compensation.”
The Qiongjiang woman asked again, “Where does the money come from?”
Zhang Yu really didn’t want to answer, but couldn’t help thinking about the answer as prompted, “The money comes from working.”
The Qiongjiang woman said, “So the Qiongjiang Divine Monarch is also working? She works elsewhere, earns money, and compensates these people’s work results?”
Zhang Yu remained silent, his thoughts swirling, making his inner voice somewhat conflicted and confused: “Qiongjiang Divine Monarch might have to work,
but it’s also unlikely that Qiongjiang Divine Monarch’s work is the same as ours, whatever their work is, it definitely differs from ours.”
Qiongjiang Girl: “If Qiongjiang Divine Monarch doesn’t have to work, where does the compensation money come from? Who is doing the work to repair the losses here?”
Zhang Yu thought helplessly: “Please stop asking, how would I know so much.”
Reflecting on the recent Divinity Transformation struggle, Zhang Yu only felt a bit agitated.
“I’ve only just been able to go off-campus recently, will this incident with Qiongjiang Divine Monarch force me to stay on campus again?”
At this moment, Magnetic Pole True Monarch approached Zhang Yu and asked, “Are you alright?”
“No harm on me.”
Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and then pointed to his brow: “But inside here, it seems like a voice suddenly started speaking to me.”
With Zhang Pianpian’s technical support, Zhang Yu could fully communicate with the Qiongjiang Girl in the artifact, without needing this direct mental channel to communicate with the artifact.
If he didn’t reveal the anomaly of the artifact now, and if Magnetic Pole True Monarch discovered it later, Zhang Yu would be suspected.
Hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Magnetic Pole True Monarch’s expression slightly changed. She performed hand seals, and talismans appeared floating in the Spirit Realm, and like chains, wrapped around the diamond-shaped crystal.
In the next instant, Zhang Yu felt the crystal at his brow lose all its mystique, and it directly fell down, caught by Magnetic Pole True Monarch.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch reminded: “It might be the previous actions of Divinity Transformation Divine Monarch that affected this artifact. I’ll first completely seal this artifact. You should come with me to the lab for a check-up afterwards, and inform me immediately if you notice anything unusual.”
After a series of examinations, when Zhang Yu emerged from the research lab, it was already several hours later.
No anomalies were found on his body, but he still needed to keep observing.
What relieved Zhang Yu the most was Magnetic Pole True Monarch telling him he could continue to leave campus for work or participate in competitions.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch calmly stated: “Divine Monarch said, don’t be afraid, leave campus if you wish.”
“If you’re truly afraid and hide on campus, outsiders might think Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch lost to Qiongjiang Divine Monarch? Even believe that Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch is afraid of Qiongjiang Divine Monarch, and that’s why he doesn’t let you go out?”
Soon after, Zhang Yu discovered news from Hehuan University saying Qiongjiang Divine Monarch descended upon Wanfa University, reclaiming her artifact and capturing the thief who stole it.
Regarding this, Fu Ji sighed: “Alas, Divinity Transformation Divine Monarch is the university’s emblem, every action affects the price fluctuations of virtual currency, stocks, and futures.”
“Moreover, the Qiongjiang Coin just recently plummeted, Qiongjiang Divine Monarch would definitely not say she lost, instead she must claim victory.”
Shortly after Hehuan University released their statement, Wanfa University also issued an announcement, stating that under the protection of Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch, the University City suffered no losses.
Fu Ji lamented: “Among students’ struggles, you should concede when necessary, surrender if needed.”
“But in Divinity Transformation struggles, no matter how badly defeated, admitting defeat must never happen, claiming loss would result in both currency and stock prices crashing, causing more loss than the actual defeat.”
“Divinity Transformation must win, there’s no other option.”
Zhang Yu frowned: “Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch allows me to continue leaving campus, but won’t Qiongjiang Divine Monarch seek another opportunity to act?”
Fu Ji contemplated for a moment and replied: “This conflict, after all, was triggered by the artifact, drawing Qiongjiang Divine Monarch. Just you alone probably won’t cause a Divinity Transformation to act personally.”
“Moreover, this time Qiongjiang Divine Monarch’s actions must have stirred waves among the Divinity Transformations; henceforth, she might be unable to act easily, while Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch is likely to upgrade the level of protection for you.”
Zhang Yu said: “After Qiongjiang Divine Monarch’s recent action, no matter how Wanfa University explains, other universities probably believe the technological breakthrough originated from Hehuan University’s artifact?”
Fu Ji remarked: “Heh, now the speculation of false advertising is dispelled, other institutions genuinely think you’ve copied Hehuan University’s technology. Future mass production is just a matter of time.”
Speaking of this, Fu Ji analyzed further: “This conflict slightly disrupted the delicate balance among the top ten universities.”
“Furthermore… you were led by the Artifact Spirit arranged by the Double Cultivation Sect, was Qiongjiang Divine Monarch also led by the same sect? This Double Cultivation Sect is brave indeed, deliberately stirring up conflict among the top ten universities?”
“This university warfare feels like someone constantly pushing the limits.”
The state of affairs among the top universities, the strategies of Divinity Transformation, the direction of university warfare… these were all too distant matters for Zhang Yu at the moment.
In the days to follow, he continued to immerse himself in study and cultivation, preparing for the civil engineering competition, switching to the Artifact Refining Department, and ultimately for future entrance into a sect, doing everything he could to prepare.
…
University City, level 120.
Fu Xinyao walked the streets, recalling: “After my tip-off last time, Divine Monarch descended using another hidden Divinity Transformation artifact, wreaked havoc in Wanfa University City, and retreated unharmed.”
“Now I have to stay in Wanfa University City to continue gathering intelligence…”
At that moment, Ping Han said: “That person, his name is Ji Yuanshu, he’s Zhang Yu’s classmate.”
This time, having learned from past mistakes and to avoid being reported or captured, Fu Xinyao said to Ji Yuanshu: “Hey there classmate, interested in some free services?”