Chapter 248: The Great Change in Layer One Begins

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen quickly signed a contract with Wang Yin.

Just before they left, Wang Yin spoke up: "Oh, since we're all in the same company now, there's something I should say."

"The Netherworld University—if you're interested in attending, I can introduce you to a teacher."

"My whole family graduated from the Netherworld University. If you ever sign up there, just drop my name if anything comes up."

"If you have any requests, you can tell me too. I'll go talk to their admissions office and see if I can get you better terms."

"If you join the Netherworld University, you'll be my juniors from then on."

On the way home, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were secretly thrilled as they looked at the money in their accounts.

Zhang Yu had already had over 4.7 million in his account before; with the 5 million from President Wang today, his balance had swelled to a massive 9.7 million.

"With another 4 million in monthly income from now on, I'll definitely be able to buy the Heavenly Spirit Root and complete Foundation Establishment before I graduate high school!"

"Yeah, even if I factor in the 1.7 million loan plus interest I still owe, and the 3.3 million interest-free loan from the Foundation Establishment exam... even with all that, it's definitely enough."

Thinking about this, Zhang Yu felt a surge of excitement, and his earlier agonizing over universities and majors was temporarily set aside.

"If I complete Foundation Establishment in high school, then I'll see what conditions those universities are willing to offer."

Bai Zhenzhen said, "President Wang is from the Netherworld University. If he's looking out for us, does that give us another option?"

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. "Sigh, now I'm even more torn."

Fuji, watching the excited Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, reminded them, "It's rare for you to get lucky and meet such a generous spender."

"From now on, do your job well. Do whatever he tells you. If you can please him and build a good relationship, maybe you'll even have a chance to make money on the side in the Second Layer in the future."

Bai Zhenzhen said, "People who come down from up there, aren't they usually demoted?"

Fuji said, "This time, Oasis Group is clearly making a big move, targeting the entire market of Kunxu First Layer."

"Based on his demeanor and that semi-automatic talisman technique, Wang Yin is most likely down here to gild his résumé."

"Get along well with him, and it'll be easier for you when you enter university."

In the days that followed, besides training his Dao Heart and constantly pushing for Level 10, Zhang Yu spent his time reviewing his lessons and studying the techniques that Songyang High School offered for free.

After all, free techniques—why not learn them?

Sometimes he also searched for other sets on the Chain Method Chart, like the martial arts required for the Bloodline of Dragons or the War Heart of Heaven.

But he only saved them for now; only if he had extra money after buying the Heavenly Spirit Root would he consider practicing them.

Because he was single-mindedly focused on saving up to buy the Heavenly Spirit Root and complete Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.

So, despite having a huge sum of money, Zhang Yu was reluctant to spend it.

Plus, aside from his Dao Heart, his mana and physical strength had already reached the limits of Qi Refining, so even his cultivation time had decreased a lot.

For a while, aside from constantly maintaining his mental cultivation technique and continuing to refine his Dao Heart, Zhang Yu had almost no other cultivation pressure.

"It's been so long since I've had such an easy day, just training my Dao Heart for 24 hours straight."

Faced with this sudden ease, Zhang Yu even felt a bit uncomfortable. Watching Bai Zhenzhen still diligently training new martial arts and deducing new techniques, and his classmates still studying hard, he felt a sense of guilt.

"I shouldn't be wasting time."

He simply spent more time tutoring in the Dark Tutoring Realm, planning to earn enough money to buy the Heavenly Spirit Root faster.

Time passed swiftly, almost unnoticed.

And while Zhang Yu was taking it easy,

Li Xuelian's phone suddenly rang. She answered with some surprise: "Dad?"

The tired voice of Sparkfire True Immortal came through: "Contact Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen for me. I want to meet with these two disciples next month."

Li Xuelian hesitated: "But you told me before to turn down Zhang Yu..."

Sparkfire True Immortal said, "If I say they are my disciples, then they are. Anyway, find a time and I'll talk with them."

"Sigh, I was supposed to come this month, but the company suddenly assigned a new task, so I have to work overtime until next month."

…

Before they knew it, it was already February.

Zhang Yu's savings had also reached over 15 million.

Over the past month or so, although Zhang Yu had been living a leisurely life, he had also heard about many changes in Songyang City.

Some corporate rivalries had ceased, some had intensified, and more companies had exchanged shares, announcing partnerships with the Oasis Group.

Even without carefully counting, Zhang Yu could feel, as he walked along the streets, that he was seeing more and more Oasis Group logos.

On this day, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, at Wang Yin's invitation, arrived inside the Red Pagoda's protected zone.

However, today the protected zone had been reserved by the Oasis Group. After all invited guests entered the protected zone, they could breathe freely and absorb spiritual energy casually without worrying about fees.

"What a generous move," Bai Zhenzhen said, taking a deep breath and revealing a delighted smile. "I never thought we'd one day be able to breathe freely in a protected zone."

Zhang Yu said, "President Wang is indeed generous. Let's hurry up. I heard that today they've invited people from all the prominent clans and companies in Songyang. President Wang must be planning something again."

The two soon arrived at the center of the venue, where they saw members of wealthy clans and corporate elites everywhere, all dressed in luxurious attire.

The venue was filled with all kinds of food, and there were even various expensive potions available for anyone to consume freely. From a distance, one could smell a strong scent of Dao Heart Stabilizer.

At the very center of the crowd, Wang Yin was surrounded by a large circle of people like the moon surrounded by stars, occasionally emitting bursts of laughter.

Bai Zhenzhen said, "Damn, a bunch of bootlickers, all sucking up to President Wang!"

"Let's hurry over too; there won't be any spots left soon!"

Not long after Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen squeezed in, they suddenly spotted a familiar face.

"Ye Lingxiao?!" Zhang Yu was slightly startled, then looked at the few people beside Ye Lingxiao. "They're all from Xiandu, right? Did they follow President Wang all the way here?"

Almost at the same moment Zhang Yu saw him, Ye Lingxiao also spotted Zhang Yu, and his heart tightened.

This time, they, the Xiandu people, had come to Songyang precisely to get close to Wang Yin, assist him, and build a good relationship with him.

The moment they saw Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, Ye Lingxiao and the other Xiandu people showed a flicker of hostility in their eyes. And when they saw Wang Yin wave his hand to bring Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to his side, announcing that the two would henceforth be the Oasis Group’s spokespersons, the hostility on Ye Lingxiao and the others’ faces grew even stronger.

Sheng Jie, who had won the Magic Power Circuit championship, looked at Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen standing on either side of President Wang, his eyes full of jealousy. "Damn, are these two that good at licking boots?"

Ye Lingxiao thought to himself, "President Wang really likes these two."

At that moment, they all understood that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were their biggest rivals under Wang Yin’s command.

But seeing how much Wang Yin appreciated the two, Ye Lingxiao and the others naturally wouldn’t go against President Wang’s mood. They simply resolved to find every possible way to flatter him and get closer to him.

Amid the clinking of glasses and socializing, whether it was the Xiandu people or the Songyang clans, each took turns flattering President Wang, currying favor with the young master of the Oasis Group.

And during the gathering, Wang Yin announced the Oasis Group’s upcoming plans: to unite local powerful clans from many cities on the first level to promote the Oasis Group’s synthetic food, new body-forging techniques, and new bloodline technology...

Wang Yin raised his glass and said, "May from now on, every generation of descendants from all families be endowed with extraordinary talent, be able to get into the Top Ten, be selected by the sects, and contribute to Kunxu."

Everyone raised their glasses in response and cheered.

Just then, Zhang Yu spotted a familiar face among the waitstaff nearby: "An An?"

The little panda An An had clearly seen Zhang Yu too, grinning at him and flicking her tail.

!

As the gathering progressed, everyone drank and took potions, the atmosphere growing increasingly lively.

Just then, Wang Yin, his eyes already somewhat hazy from the potions, looked at a lame demon-blooded waiter and shook his head, saying, "How pitiful."

"Open your mouth."

"I bestow upon you a stroke of fortune."

With that, President Wang spat into the waiter's mouth. The next moment, the demon-blooded waiter cried out in surprise as his once-lame leg gradually healed.

The people around them immediately began to flatter him.

Wang Yin laughed heartily and said, "This is our Oasis Group's new technology. The human body is like uncarved jade—once developed, every inch of it becomes a divine treasure."

With that, he looked at the other eager demon-blooded waitstaff and laughed loudly, "Come on, all of you. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll grant this blessing to everyone."

Zhang Yu looked at the demon-blooded servers with their mouths wide open, scrambling to catch General Manager Wang's spittle, and listened to the laughter of the surrounding guests. He felt a slight jolt in his heart, vaguely uneasy.

But seeing the demon-blooded ones swallow the spittle, their faces full of excitement and gratitude, he felt that this seemed normal.

"After all, to them, a mouthful of General Manager Wang's spittle is also a good medicine they can't afford."

Just then, Zhang Yu saw An'an squeezing in with a cup, clearly hoping to catch a mouthful or two of General Manager Wang's spittle.

"Taking a cup to catch it... is it for Xiong Wenwu?"

Watching her catch the spittle, then sniffing the fragrance from the cup with a satisfied expression, retreating as if guarding a treasure, Zhang Yu's emotions were complicated for a moment, and he suddenly didn't know what to say.

On the way back that night, Zhang Yu asked Bai Zhenzhen: "Zhen, will Oasis Group's alliance with the local powerful families make the company's monopoly even stronger, the local clans scarier, and the poor even more hopeless?"

Bai Zhenzhen said casually: "Probably. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Fuji reminded him: "This is the trend of the times, not something small fries like us can meddle in. Don't overthink it."

…

A few days later, at the Oasis Group press conference venue.

With the strong support of the powerful families, countless elementary, middle, and high schools, even company cafeterias and public transportation—everywhere was livestreaming the conference.

At the conference, the host described the special nature of the high school foundation-building exam, the power of the foundation-building certificate, and the achievements of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

"...As long as you persistently consume Oasis Group's green food, everyone has a chance in the future, just like Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, to go from an ordinary student to a top high school scholar, and even pass the foundation-building exam, soaring up into the Top Ten!"

As the host spoke, he handed the microphone to Zhang Yu, asking him to say a few words.

Zhang Yu looked at the many ordinary high school students in the audience, recalling the lines he had memorized, and a moment of hesitation suddenly surged in his heart.

Bai Zhenzhen nudged him.

Fuji urged: "What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and say your lines."

Zhang Yu swallowed his saliva and said: "I... was originally just an ordinary student. It was Oasis Group's green food that changed me."

"Eat green food, improve your aptitude, strengthen your body. Every one of you has the chance to be like me... like me... to pass the foundation-building exam."

That evening, General Manager Wang invited Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to a gathering again.

A huge blood pool came into view, and General Manager Wang slowly walked out. Smiling at Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, he said, "Zhang Yu, Zhenzhen, our great heroes, you've come just in time."

"This is the Blood God Pool I built using the immortal arts of the Netherworld Palace. Come on in and soak. It can improve your physique, extend your lifespan, enhance your intelligence, and greatly benefit your future foundation-building."

Zhang Yu hesitated and asked: "This blood pool is..."

General Manager Wang laughed heartily: "Don't worry. It's all heart's blood I bought at high prices from some peak Qi Refining powerhouses. Absolutely pure, absolutely essence."

As he spoke, he had already stepped out of the blood pool and warmly pulled Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen into the pool.

General Manager Wang said cordially: "Come, it just so happens that I'll teach you the Blood Qi Sutra in this pool today."

"This is a fundamental skill of Netherworld University—refining the body with the essence in blood. If you learn it now, you'll have an advantage when you enter Netherworld University in the future."

"Don't worry about copyright issues—I have teaching rights. Consider this technique my gift to you."

Ye Lingxiao and Sheng Jie stood guard outside the blood pool, watching with jealousy, wishing they could be the ones receiving instruction.

Under Oasis Group's propaganda, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, from humble origins, advanced rapidly in their grades within a year, passed the foundation-building exam, obtained foundation-building qualifications, and could choose any of the Top Ten. Their story spread far and wide, making them idols pursued by countless students and parents.

Meanwhile, Oasis Group's synthetic food continued to conquer more markets, occupying an even larger share.

…

Li Xuelian glanced at the link jumping on her phone and saw Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen in the video. She thought to herself, "Is it Oasis Group... or the Netherworld Palace that wants something?"

Just then, her phone vibrated, and soon came the voice of Sparkfire True Person.

"Daughter, tell Zhang Yu and the others I'm sorry. I've got another urgent mission..."

Amid crackling explosions, Li Xuelian seemed to catch words like "some god."

Then Sparkfire True Person continued: "Help me schedule it for next month."

"Once I'm done with this overtime, I'll definitely come over and meet them."