Chapter 257: Take Down the Heavenly Spirit Root

Ziyun High School.

Lian Tianji sighed: "While us ordinary high school academic elites are still researching student loans, figuring out which small loan platform has the lowest interest, studying bank loan fee promotions…"

"The strongest high school student has already started raising funds in his own name to cultivate immortality."

"Sigh, compared to us, Zhang Yu’s potential in the Dao of immortality is already on a different level entirely."

"I really envy the top student in the grade for being able to keep learning from him."

Thinking of this, Lian Tianji suddenly paused: "Wait, I recall the interest rate on loan platforms is about…"

Lian Tianji listed the interest rates of various lending platforms one by one.

He thought to himself: "And here, Zhang Yu borrows money from people and repays it at 1.3 times the amount."

After comparing the two interest rates, Lian Tianji’s eyes suddenly lit up: "Doesn’t that mean if I borrow money from the bank and then lend it to Zhang Yu, I can make money without lifting a finger?"

Soon, he also thought of the only risk involved.

"Would Zhang Yu not repay the money?"

Thinking of his status as the current strongest high school student, his fame throughout Kunxu’s first layer, and his imminent Foundation Establishment, along with everything Lian Tianji knew about Zhang Yu from the past…

"I’ll risk it!"

"If I get through this hardship, my immortal potential will undergo a transformative rebirth!"

"My future—what university I go to, whether I can ultimately achieve Foundation Establishment—might all depend on this one move!"

…

Inside White Dragon High School.

Song Hailong looked at the content on his phone but had little interest.

But just then, he saw Yu Xinghan appear beside him out of nowhere: "Hey, Xiao Song, lend me some money. I’ll pay you back at 1.05 times."

Song Hailong was slightly startled, thought of Zhang Yu’s 1.3 times, and muttered inwardly: "Could this guy be…"

Yu Xinghan urged: "Huh? Not listening to your grade’s top student anymore?"

"And it’s not like I won’t pay you back. Don’t be so stingy, alright?"

"Lend however much you can, even just a few tens of thousands is fine."

After receiving Song Hailong’s transfer, Yu Xinghan smiled faintly and went on to the next student.

Yu Xinghan thought to himself: "By borrowing low and lending high like this, I can earn some interest margin."

As for why Yu Xinghan didn’t just take out a loan…

"Loans can’t compare to borrowing from people."

"With a loan, you absolutely have to repay by the deadline!"

"Borrowing from classmates—though the amounts are smaller—is safe."

"Even if I fail on this investment this time, I can drag it out for a long while."

…

Songyang High School.

After completing the transfer, Wang Hai thought to himself: "Kid, hurry up and achieve Foundation Establishment."

"Once you successfully establish your foundation, I, Wang Hai, will be a gold-medal teacher who has taught a Foundation Establishment student."

"Heh, teaching career… no regrets."

On the training ground on the other side.

Lei Jun silently put away his phone and sighed to himself: "Though I haven’t accomplished much in this life, failing to get my Foundation Establishment certificate even after ten years of university, at least… my student has achieved Foundation Establishment."

"Go on, Zhang Yu."

"Accept this share of potential from me."

"Let those above see clearly; even the poor can establish their foundation."

……

Inside Songyang High School, a Student Council member found He Dayou and shouted, "President! Did you see the message in the group?"

"Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen are borrowing money."

"Could it be a scam?"

"Should we kick them out or mute them?"

He Dayou, now a senior, sighed softly and said, "I've already confirmed the situation. It's not a scam—Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen really are borrowing money."

The Student Council member cautiously asked, "So, should we get involved?"

He Dayou was silent for a moment, thinking to himself, "With their relationship with President Wang of the Oasis Group, how could they be short on money?"

"Is something wrong on both sides?"

He Dayou recalled his freshman year, when he believed that a poor guy like Zhang Yu could never catch up to him.

But now, with the decline of the He family and one wealthy clan after another in Songyang City, new thoughts stirred in He Dayou's heart.

"Poor people, rich people… Hah, in front of Wang Yin, what difference is there between me and Zhang Yu or Bai Zhenzhen?"

"We're all just poor wretches on the same floor."

Looking at the junior student before him, He Dayou said calmly, "Don't bother with it. Let them be."

After the junior left, He Dayou glanced at the group messages and ended up taking the lead by transferring ten thousand yuan.

"Since we're all poor wretches, this is all I can help you with."

……

Over the past nine-plus months, thanks to the Oasis Group's promotion and the inherent value of the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had long become the universally known strongest high school students on the first floor, as well as inspirational idols in the eyes of countless students.

This fact was especially evident in their hometown, Songyang City.

Not to mention how proud the students of Songyang High were—even the students at Bailong High would puff out their chests whenever they recalled how often Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen came to spar and exchange pointers.

"Back when Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen came to Bailong to spar, I never missed a single match. I even bought kneeling tickets in the front row—only a few meters away from them!"

And now… as news of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen borrowing money spread far and wide, it immediately caught the attention of a large number of students.

"As expected of the strongest high school students—they even borrow money with such style!"

"No kidding! If you want to pursue the peak of immortal cultivation in Kunxu, you just gotta learn to borrow money! If Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen weren't good at borrowing money, how could they have become the strongest high school students!"

"Is the news real? It's not a scam, is it? @Group Owner"…

Oasis Tower.

Wang Yin soon received word that Zhang Yu was borrowing money everywhere.

"This poor bastard."

Wang Yin's gaze sharpened. "He wants to borrow money to establish his foundation because I froze his accounts?"

"Doesn't he realize… without the company's promotion, how could they have become so famous? And where would all these people willing to lend them money come from?"

Thinking about how Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were using the fame and reputation the company had helped build to borrow money filled Wang Yin with intense discomfort.

In his view, this was nothing less than stealing from the company.

"Ingrate dog…"

"Freeze his new accounts immediately! Ban their social accounts… Do you hear me!"

!

The voice of the righteous god rang in his ear: "We've already tried, but the authority on the other party's accounts is not low. There's a righteous god shielding him."

Wang Yin frowned. "You can't handle it either?"

The other party replied, "Seems to be the same group of righteous gods who've been quietly investigating and obstructing us recently."

Upon hearing this, a flash of killing intent darted through Wang Yin's eyes. "Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen… I treated them so well, spent so much money on them, and now they collude with outsiders to betray the company?"

"Untamable dogs."

He dialed Chi He's number and urged, "I've already put in a good word for you with the patrols. From now on, no one will stop you."

"Find them as quickly as possible. And also…"

"They might order a Heavenly Spirit Root. Make sure to keep an eye on the courier companies."

…

In just over three hours, as wave after wave of transfers came in, the amount in Zhang Yu's account kept growing.

49.58 million!

52.7 million!

56.1 million!

As Zhang Yu watched the numbers in his account rise, it was as if he could see countless hands reaching out from afar, passing their immortal path potential to him, pouring it directly into his body.

Zhang Yu could feel it… driven by everyone's support, he was taking step after step toward Foundation Establishment.

Just then, Fu Ji looked at the still-growing amount and reminded him, "We're almost able to buy the Heavenly Spirit Root."

"But Wang Yin definitely knows about the money you've borrowed."

"He'll guess you want to use the loan for Foundation Establishment, and will probably try to intercept the courier delivery of the Heavenly Spirit Root."

"Also… when you attempt Foundation Establishment, Zhang Yu, you won't be able to move for at least 30 to 60 minutes."

"So someone needs to cover the Heavenly Spirit Root and cover you during Foundation Establishment."

Bai Zhenzhen said from the side, "I'll do it."

"Ah Zhen!" Zhang Yu said, "They're here to capture you!"

Bai Zhenzhen smiled and said, "That's exactly our advantage."

She pointed at her head and explained, "I'm not acting on impulse or making a rash decision."

"I've thought it through carefully. Wang Yin can't tolerate the agreed company transaction failing."

"So their main goal is to capture me."

"Once I show up, I'm sure to draw most of their forces."

"Second, to complete the deal, they won't easily dare to kill me, but I will dare to fight them to the death—that's another advantage."

"Also, they know we're going to buy the Heavenly Spirit Root, and we can turn that into an advantage too."

"In short, right now… my going to cover you is the best strategy."

Bai Zhenzhen smiled and said, "Yu, what you need to do next is just focus on Foundation Establishment."

"Only if you successfully establish your foundation can we possibly win this round—only then will these two years of high school effort not be wasted."

"Promise me, Yu."

The next moment, Bai Zhenzhen suddenly hugged Zhang Yu tightly: "You must succeed in Foundation Establishment!"

Feeling Bai Zhenzhen's resolve and the pounding of her heart against his chest, Zhang Yu hugged her back just as tightly and said word by word, "Ah Zhen, you have to hold on until I establish my foundation!"

…

Whoosh.

Northern suburbs of Songyang City.

A courier left a trail of afterimages as he sped toward the delivery location.

Following the agreed-upon delivery spot, he arrived at an abandoned factory and went to the deepest part of it.

At the same time, Chi He's commanding voice came through the courier's earpiece.

"Keep going straight."

"Turn right."

"This is the room. The tracking signal is coming from inside. First, knock on the door…"

"Don't worry, we've surrounded the factory. We can rush in to support you anytime."

The deliveryman took a deep breath, knocked on the door, and said, "Your Celestial Root has arrived. Is anyone in there?"

After knocking several times, there was still no response.

On the contrary, with each knock from the deliveryman, the door creaked open slowly.

The deliveryman was slightly startled, his gaze sweeping across the room. It was empty—only a human skin lay discarded on the floor.

The deliveryman quickly reported through his earpiece: "Zhang Yu took off the skin! They're not here!"

The human skin that Wang Yin had given Zhang Yu was equipped with a tracking function.

Ever since the tracking of the two began that day, Oasis Group had activated this function.

However, because of the interference of the True God, they had never been able to track them perfectly.

Outside the factory building, Red River heard the deliveryman's response and thought to himself, "Could it be that he deliberately led us here? He guessed we would intercept the delivery…"

At that moment, a startling surge of killing intent enveloped him. Along with a crisp crackling sound, the electric charge in the air multiplied wildly, causing a stinging sensation on Red River's skin.