Chapter 218: Hidden Crisis, Dark Tutoring

Zhang Yu had just been satisfied, when Bai Zhenzhen on the other side spoke up: "I remember the school has a lot of cultivation equipment, even magic artifacts, right? Can we borrow some to use?"

Hearing this, Zhou Chechen sighed again helplessly, a pained expression on his face as he asked, "What do you want?"

Bai Zhenzhen said, "The Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set."

"Hey, this cultivation magic artifact imported from the Second Layer—can I borrow it to play with?"

Bai Zhenzhen had long coveted this cultivation magic artifact at school, but back then she simply couldn't afford to rent it.

Zhou Chechen sighed helplessly upon hearing this and said, "Although the Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set is an old artifact eliminated from the Second Layer, it's still an extremely rare item here in Songyang City."

"Even if I were to propose to the school to lend it to you for free, it would still cost me a considerable price."

He said with a pained expression, "If I weren't truly indebted to you two this time, I would never do such a thing."

"Renting it to you for eighty hours a month—that's the limit of what I can do."

The Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set consists of 999 smart silver needles that can release the electricity stored within them, stimulating flesh, blood, and nerves, providing body refinement down to the body's most subtle places.

For Bai Zhenzhen, who possessed thunder mana and a true spiritual root, having this Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set meant she could not only refine her body with electricity at all times, but also replenish her thunder mana, increasing the efficiency of her cultivation technique.

In particular, this artifact had a built-in basic artifact spirit that could automatically execute different acupuncture techniques, achieving varying levels of body refinement effects.

Fu Ji commented: "This Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set has been eliminated up above, but down here in the First Layer of Kunxu, it's still a decent cultivation artifact. Once you borrow it, Zhang Yu, you can also use it to enhance your neural reflex speed and explosive power."

"Too bad, this basic artifact spirit is connected to the network. If you don't pay, you can't use the company's advanced body refinement acupuncture techniques."

"If there was a skilled artifact refiner, they could disconnect it from the network, erase the artifact spirit, and crack the advanced services."

"But don't even think about that—besides, you're just borrowing it."

"Oh, and the Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set consumes a lot of electricity. Remember to charge it at school."

So Bai Zhenzhen added, "Then I'll keep the Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set charged at school from now on."

Zhou Chechen nodded slightly. Having already paid such a price, he didn't mind a little electricity bill.

Meanwhile, a question arose in Zhang Yu's heart. He typed on his phone: "Speaking of which, this kind of artifact needs to be charged—can't it be charged with lightning?"

Fu Ji looked at the words appearing on the phone and laughed, "Charge with lightning?"

"How many times have you seen rain or lightning in Songyang City?"

"All natural weather is pre-planned by the Eight Departments of True Gods. Changing the weather requires a huge amount of funds."

"Besides, lightning contains a massive amount of immortal elements and energy. You think it would strike you for free? So many good deals?"

Zhang Yu was left speechless, then recalled that in both his own and his original body's memories, they indeed rarely saw thunder and rain. It was just that he had been too weak and too poor before, with too much information asymmetry about Kunxu, knowing nothing about the inside story of these weather phenomena.

Having reached this point in the negotiation, Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Zhou Chechen all felt that they had pushed the price to his limit. No matter how much more they talked... Zhou Chechen could produce no more resources.

Still, both of them were very satisfied with what they had gained this time.

More flexible class schedules, practical combat sparring with martial arts teachers, and all cultivation techniques open at Songyang High School.

Also a Spirit Mirror slot for tempering the Dao heart, a Resentment Spiritual Root that could match the Resentment Demon Technique, and the cultivation artifact Profound Lightning Electroacupuncture Needle Set.

Plus 1.5 million cash each.

Zhang Yu thought to himself: "With this support from Zhou Chechen, my chances of passing the Foundation Establishment Qualification Exam next time have greatly increased."

Zhou Chechen said, looking exhausted, "If there are no issues, you two... shall we sign the contract?"

Fu Ji reminded again: "Wait a moment. Ask Deng Bingding again, consult her if this is okay."

"Remember, this is a skill in dealing with true gods—when it comes to money, you must consult more."

"Also, remember to tell her that you and Bai Zhenzhen received this 3 million and want to give it to her."

Zhang Yu's fingers froze while typing, and his heart suddenly filled with reluctance.

Fu Ji laughed: "Hehe, no need to be reluctant. Deng Bingding won't take it."

Half-doubtful, Zhang Yu sent a message to Deng Bingding, recounting the compensation agreement on his side.

Deng Bingding replied: I understand.

Then Zhang Yu indicated that he wanted to transfer the 3 million to her.

Deng Bingding replied: "What nonsense are you talking? Don't drag me into this. Keep this money for yourself. We Orthodox Gods support Kunxu and govern the world for the sake of the billions of living beings above and below. Don't ever say such things in front of me again."

Fuji said: "Heh, these Orthodox Gods—ordinary transfers are all monitored, so aside from Goodwill Talismans, they don't accept ordinary transfers."

"She knows you don't have a Goodwill Talisman, so just express your intentions—it'll still increase goodwill."

Zhang Yu typed on the screen and asked: "So did the Zhou family also offer Goodwill Talismans this time?"

Fuji denied it: "Goodwill Talismans are probably just a small part—just a little gift to the Orthodox Gods."

"The fine that can be handed over to the Divine Ministry—that's probably the main part. This kind of cash-recovery performance is likely more important to Deng Bingding."

After signing the contract in the mediation room, Zhou Chechen finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly sent a message to notify his father of the situation.

Then he turned to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen and said: "You two, I've already had the money transferred. Later, I'll send someone to take you back to school to fulfill the contract."

Watching the departing figures of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, Zhou Chechen slumped back into his chair, clenched his phone, and a bitter, aggrieved expression appeared on his face.

Then he noticed Yue Jincheng and Si Zhouyu still kneeling to the side and said coldly: "What are you still doing here?"

"The company advanced so much money for you this time—why aren't you working immediately to pay it back?"

After driving away Yue Jincheng and Si Zhouyu, Lan Ling called. He said angrily: "President, why did you cancel my Spirit Realm slot? I'm in a critical moment in my senior year of high school..."

"Have you heard about the Wanxing Corporation?" Zhou Chechen snorted and said: "A Sixth-Rank Orthodox God sealed off the entire corporation and even investigated the Zhou family mansion."

"Do you know why?"

Lan Ling was slightly stunned—he had indeed heard this news, which gave him the audacity to question Zhou Chechen.

Zhou Chechen continued: "Because of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen."

"Backing them up is this Sixth-Rank Orthodox God—an Orthodox God who can seal off the entire Wanxing Corporation without giving any reason."

Of course, at this moment Zhou Chechen did not know that Deng Bingding had been able to do this by leveraging the banner of the Foundation Establishment Exam.

Naturally, since those in the know couldn't disclose relevant information, to outsiders like Zhou Chechen and Lan Ling, it appeared that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had astonishing backing.

Zhou Chechen said: "Lan Ling, you don't want Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to target you, do you?"

"I remember you also saying something about hiring someone to cripple them..."

Lan Ling quickly said: "President! I've thought it over—I'll give up the Spirit Realm slot."

Zhou Chechen continued: "I just compensated Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen five million..."

Lan Ling said: "I understand. I'll contribute 800,000, okay?"

"That's all the cash I have on hand."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Chechen sighed inwardly again: "Lan Ling, if everyone in Songyang City were like you, how wonderful the world would be." "Alas, I wonder how much the family lost this time."

"The losses are heavy."

In the hospital room on the 333rd floor of Central Tower.

Zhou Yang looked at the empty wardrobe, thought of his lower body that had been sold off by half, and silently lamented: "The Foundation Establishment Exam—what a useful banner it is."

"Once it's wielded, no one can stop it, no one dares to block it."

"Deng Bingding really bit off a huge chunk of meat."

As the main person responsible for this incident, Zhou Yang bore most of the losses alone—he had truly been bled dry—but he had managed to survive this tribulation in the end.

After all, he had long known the intelligence that the other party was participating in the Foundation Establishment Exam. If he hadn't held this information advantage and yielded from the start, he would have paid an even greater price.

Of course, his status as a Purple-Gold Merit Lord and the mediation of familiar Orthodox Gods also played a considerable role.

Not a single mistake, not a single hair—every detail within view!

Although the loss was enormous, in Zhou Yang's view, this incident was not without gain.

Through inquiries from familiar Orthodox Gods, Zhou Yang was fairly certain that this Deng Bingding was mainly using the Foundation Establishment Exam to make money, and was not some backer for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

"In the end, this Foundation Establishment Exam business turned out to be ten times more troublesome than I expected—you really can't touch it at all."

"But... hmph, if this Orthodox God Deng found out that the Zhang Yu she helped was a believer of an Evil God, what would become of her?"

Zhou Yang muttered to himself: "Let's wait until the Foundation Establishment exam is over before talking about it."

"It would be even better if Zhang Yu actually passes the Foundation Establishment exam. That fish would be fatter and fresher, and far more valuable."

A flicker of vicious coldness appeared in Zhou Yang's eyes: "Heh, as long as I still hold onto the leverage of Zhang Yu being a disciple of the evil god."

"Later, when there's no Foundation Establishment exam to cover things up, I can not only use this leverage to control this person."

"That 'Righteous God' Deng will also have to pay a price."

"As for now..."

Looking at his phone, at all the accusations and complaints coming from the family and the company, Zhou Yang understood that for the next three months, until Zhang Yu finished taking the Foundation Establishment exam, he could only lie low.

…

After a night of hard work, the sky was already starting to brighten.

Songyang High School.

Zhang Yu had received a Grievance Spirit Root that could be rented for free for 100 hours per month, and was currently sensing the surging resentment in the campus, trying to use the Spirit Root to absorb this grievance energy.

Bai Zhenzhen, meanwhile, was playing with her newly acquired Mystic Thunder Acupuncture Needle Set, which could also be rented for free for 80 hours per month. She smiled slightly as she watched lightning flicker between her fingertips.

Just then, both of their phones vibrated—the electronic versions of all the techniques in Songyang High School had been sent over in one go.

At the same time, under Songyang High School's authorization, the two had also obtained the usage rights to these techniques.

Next came the manual for using the Spirit World in Songyang High School.

Also included were all the contact details of the martial arts teachers, who had already been notified about the one-on-one tutoring sessions for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

Of course, the specific class times still needed to be arranged by Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen after contacting the teachers.

In addition, there was the 1.5 million that had been deposited into each of their accounts.

Taking stock of their gains, Bai Zhenzhen said with satisfaction: "Damn, that feels good."

"Fucking amazing."

"Isn't this way better than us grinding away at odd jobs before?"

"Yu, do you think we could pull this kind of scam on every clan in Songyang?"

But before Zhang Yu could answer, Bai Zhenzhen shook her head: "Sigh, thinking about it, that's probably impossible. If Deng Bingding actually did that, the Divine Ministry definitely wouldn't allow it."

Just then, Fuji reminded them: "Even though the Zhou family has given you a lot of stuff, this matter is far from over."

"From what we discussed before, the other side might have an evil god behind them. And from what that Zhou Tianyi who attacked Zhang Yu said, they might even know about my existence."

Zhang Yu asked in confusion: "Speaking of which, how did they find out about that?"

Fuji sighed: "Heh, probably news leaked by the one who sold me out."

"Now that I think about it, the way the Zhou family has been harassing and oppressing you might have been to force me to show myself."

"But that doesn't matter anymore."

"What matters is that the evil god behind the Zhou family might be holding onto the leverage of you being evil god disciples."

"He's bowing his head now only because of the Foundation Establishment exam."

"Once the Foundation Establishment exam is over, he'll definitely strike back."

"So I'm telling you this matter isn't finished yet. You need to be prepared."

"Because of your identity as evil god disciples, when the time comes to completely eliminate this threat, you can't rely on the righteous gods. You have to solve it with your own strength."

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen nodded. But all these matters would have to wait until after the Foundation Establishment exam.

For now, their most important goal was still to defeat Ye Lingxiao and Yun Jing in the exam three months from now.

Zhang Yu toyed with the newly acquired Grievance Spirit Root, first purchasing the Grievance Art that could work in tandem with this Spirit Root.

500,000.

Seeing the 1.5 million that had come in shrink by a third in the blink of an eye, Zhang Yu once again marveled at how fast money flowed in the path of immortality.

Then Zhang Yu selected a specialized technique from Songyang High School's arsenal, one named the Thunder Marrow Cleansing Scripture.

"The Resentful Killing Art, the Thunderous Marrow Cleansing Sutra, and the Boundless Spring and Autumn Zen—that makes three techniques needed for the Martial Saint Embryo."

"If I gather three more techniques and push all six to level 10, I can unlock the initial effect of the Martial Saint Embryo."

Thinking of this, Zhang Yu felt he was one step closer to the Foundation Establishment Certificate.

"But from now on, if I want to earn money, I'll have to rely on myself."

Zhang Yu asked, "Fuji, according to what you said last time, our strength should be enough to make some good money in the dark tutoring world, right?"

Fuji: "Indeed, it is."

Zhang Yu asked, "So what exactly should we do?"

Fuji said, "First, go to the campus and scope things out. Find out which course is the hottest in the dark tutoring world of Songyang City, and which tutor has the most students..."

So, no longer bound by school discipline, Zhang Yu directly began cultivating the Resentful Killing Art, while Bai Zhenzhen cultivated and tried tempering her body with the Mystic Thunder Electro-acupuncture Needle Array.

The two prepared to cultivate until nightfall, then make a trip to the Dark Study Gang campus, which they hadn't visited in a long time.