Chapter 280

Next, Zhang Yu first exchanged currency and saw that in addition to Spirit Coins, there were also Qiongjiang Coins, Baiyun Coins, Tianfa Coins, Seven Emotions Coins... all kinds of currencies.

"What are these currencies for?"

Since he had someone as experienced as Li Xuelian by his side, Zhang Yu certainly wouldn't waste the opportunity to ask.

Hearing Zhang Yu's question, Li Xuelian said, "As for the essence of Spirit Coins, my father already explained it to you, right?"

Zhang Yu nodded. He knew that so-called Spirit Coins were a type of currency that combined mana with spiritual opportunity and was injected into the Spirit World Network.

Only cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm and above, with the assistance of True Gods, could use great mana to refine such currency.

Each Spirit Coin corresponded to a unit of mana and spiritual opportunity, effectively pegged to a specific energy source.

And all Spirit Coins essentially existed within the Spirit World Network, corresponding to a piece of information in that network. In daily transactions, they were directly used for transfers, payments, and similar operations through the network.

Zhang Yu mused inwardly, "So-called Spirit Coins are a type of network currency that only high-level cultivators and True Gods can refine together, pegged to the basic energy of Kun Xu."

"In everyday use, it's a bit like the digital currency from Earth in my previous life, but it actually has real value."

"Although ordinary people can't refine Spirit Coins, they can lend out their own mana through the Spirit World Network and eventually earn some Spirit Coin income."

The memory flashed through Zhang Yu's mind, and then Li Xuelian answered, "Spirit Coins are the most widely used currency."

"But some experts above the Nascent Soul realm create their own currencies for special transactions or for investment and financing purposes."

"Look at this Seven Emotions Coin—it was created by Bai Zhenzhen's teacher, the Seven Emotions Divine Lord. Its value has skyrocketed more than ten times since it was first issued."

"As for that Qiongjiang Coin, it was issued by the Qiongjiang Divine Lord of Hehuan University. Its value has fallen to less than 1% of its original."

"Anyway, the waters here are deep. Just understand it for now; you only need to deal with Spirit Coins in daily life."

Zhang Yu exchanged the maximum amount allowed, converting over fifty million First Layer currency in his account into 5 Spirit Coins.

Apart from the more than fifty million he had prepared in advance, all the remaining cash he had in the First Layer was used to buy various supplies and store them in his suitcase.

Staring at his now-empty First Layer account—only a few thousand coins left—Zhang Yu sighed inwardly.

After exchanging the currency, a series of tedious but necessary procedures followed.

In addition to registering personal information, he also had to open a Second Layer bank account, a communication account, a network account... and many of these required money. Fortunately, he had just exchanged 5 Spirit Coins.

Li Xuelian reminded him from the side, "Remember to set the data plan high and opt for postpaid. Getting disconnected on the Second Layer is a real hassle."

The communication account cost 0.003 Spirit Coins per month, the network data plan he chose was 0.005 Spirit Coins per month, the transportation permit cost another 0.001 Spirit Coins, and there was an annual medical insurance fee of 0.05 Spirit Coins.

Although Zhang Yu now had extremely strong self-healing abilities, Real Person Spark Fire had reminded him that this ability only reduced his medical insurance costs each year—it didn't mean he could skip buying insurance altogether.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yu saw his account balance drop from 5 Spirit Coins to 4.941 Spirit Coins.

Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, "Converted to First Layer currency, that's equivalent to several hundred thousand! And it's just gone like that?"

Seeing the pained expression on Zhang Yu's face, Li Xuelian reminded him, "Once you're on the Second Layer, stop converting everything. Earning Spirit Coins and spending Spirit Coins—the purchasing power, average income, and everything else are completely different. Converting back and forth is meaningless."

After all the registration formalities were completed, everyone boarded different flying boats from the Ascension Platform.

Qian Shen waved at Zhang Yu: "We're off. Study hard at Wanfa University."

Xiong Wenwu said, "Until we meet again."

After bidding farewell to everyone, Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, and the others boarded the flying boat heading to Wanfa University.

About ten minutes later, the flying boat plunged into a patch of clouds, and an announcement came over the speakers that they were about to arrive at the Second Layer branch of Wanfa University.

The next moment, Zhang Yu felt his body pass through a thin barrier. As the clouds around the flying boat dissipated, the scene before him had transformed into an entirely different world.

The Second Layer of Kun Xu.

Endless mountains, rivers, and seas, lush forests—gazing at the beautiful natural scenery before him, Zhang Yu exclaimed, "The ecological environment on the Second Layer is pretty nice!"

Hearing Zhang Yu's remark, Li Xuelian gestured widely at the jungle below and said, "All of this... is private property. It has nothing to do with us, and we can't get in."

"That—"

Li Xuelian pointed to a massive building standing among the mountains in the distance and said, "That building is where we're going."

"The Second Layer campus of Wanfa University occupies 10 square kilometers per level. After hundreds of city renovations, it currently has a total of 666 levels."

"Inside, besides teachers, students, and related service personnel and residents, it houses about ten million people, I think."

Fuji chuckled upon hearing this and said, "Each layer is 10 square kilometers, so 666 layers add up to 6,660 square kilometers. That sounds about the same size as a large city on a single layer."

"But this kind of vertical city is crammed into a three-dimensional space just over three kilometers long and wide. Each layer is over ten meters high at most, and two to three meters at the shortest. Inside, apart from steel and concrete, there are almost no plants or animals. Most areas never see sunlight. Some people born and raised here might go their whole lives without ever seeing a natural environment…"

"Heh, it's all to maximize space savings and protect the private property outside."

"But this is all good for you, Zhang Yu. The university city keeps building upward, year after year of urban renovation, the civil engineering department is thriving. You'll have plenty of work in the future."

Zhang Yu pursed his lips and replied in his mind, "Otherwise, why would Starfire Spirit Lord have told me to enroll in civil engineering? Sure, I'll have to endure some hardship, but it really pays. Before I switch to the artifact refining major, I'll just marry the construction site."

Just then, Li Xuelian gave further instruction, "Oh, and remember to activate your eye Dharma Relic."

"After entering the second layer and connecting to the Spirit Network, you can handle everything with your eye Dharma Relic. It's way more convenient than a phone."

Zhang Yu narrowed his right eye slightly. The Time-Scarred Demon Eye had already begun connecting to the Spirit Network. As he entered his newly applied account and password, in the next instant… the entire world underwent an earth-shattering change.

First, a huge loan advertisement filled his vision—this was a full-screen ad.

Then, as Zhang Yu shook his head and shifted his gaze, the image in front of him jumped to a shopping site: "Guess you like: Black Silk Dharma Relic…" This was a motion-triggered ad.

When Zhang Yu subconsciously closed his eyes, an option to block ads appeared on his retina, costing 0.001 Spirit Coins per month—this was an eye-closing ad.

Spirit Coins -0.001

Seeing his vision restored to a clean state, Zhang Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Damn it, it would've been better not to install this Dharma Relic at all."

But in the next moment, he changed his mind, because he noticed that outside the flying boat, densely packed warning banners declared everything as private property and forbade entry.

The forest that had originally seemed perfectly natural was now divided into sealed areas by countless warning banners and densely packed lines of light.

Li Xuelian explained from the side, "See? The second layer is like this forest—there are many invisible lines. If you cross one, you'll suffer a thunderbolt strike."

"But if you can't even see those lines, you won't even know how you died."

"Fortunately, you don't have to worry about that while riding the flying boat. But the moment you step off, even the poorest students usually mortgage their eyes to install a Dharma Relic first."

Just then, Yu Xinghan asked in confusion, "Do all the warnings here like to use black and white? Is that the second layer's style?"

Li Xuelian and Zhang Yu gave him a strange look. A moment later, Yu Xinghan fumed, "Screw this, I've been scammed? This secondhand eye Dharma Relic only sees in black and white? The quality is too crappy, right?"

Li Xuelian patted Yu Xinghan and Zhang Yu on the shoulders. "Pack your things. We're almost there. Once I deliver you safely to Myriad Methods University, I can go handle my own affairs."

Just as Zhang Yu returned to his seat to pack his luggage, he saw a message appear on his retina: "Bai Zhenzhen, Divine Spirit Root holder of Heavenly Sword University, disciple of the Seven Emotions Divine Lord, Foundation Establishment cultivator, is adding you as a friend."

"So Ah Zhen can finally communicate once we're on the second layer, huh?"

Zhang Yu smiled and tapped "Accept." The next moment, another request for a projection call came through.

Zhang Yu swiped his finger through the air over the accept button on his retina, and immediately a tall, slender figure appeared before him.

Bai Zhenzhen's figure materialized in front of Zhang Yu: "Yu Zi, you're finally here."

Before Zhang Yu could ask anything, Bai Zhenzhen continued, "They wired me my living expenses. I'll transfer some to you. Accept it quickly. If you need more later, just ask me."

"Ah, the transfer limit is only 5 Spirit Coins. Take it for now."

The other party has transferred 5 Spirit Coins to you.

Zhang Yu was briefly stunned upon seeing this notification, but a thousand words condensed into one sentence: "Ah Zhen, you must listen well to the Divine Lord at Heavenly Sword University."

5 Spirit Coins transfer received.

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes and said, "How could I not listen? She's my real mother now!"

"The so-called Extreme Emotion Sword Dao is to enter the sword through emotion. Only by being extreme in emotion can one be extreme in the sword."

"So I have decided to merge my childlike devotion to the Seven Emotions Divine Lord into the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao—all to repay the Divine Lord's kindness to me!"

She raised her hand and swore, "If needed, I wouldn't hesitate to die for her!"

Watching this, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "So sycophantic... Could the Seven Emotions Divine Lord be watching her right now?"

Bai Zhenzhen continued, "Yu Zi, to make a long story short, I'm about to go to class again and I'll be very busy from now on. If you need anything, just leave me a message."

"As soon as I earn any Spirit Coins here, I'll try to transfer more to you."

"Also, remember to send me your address once you've arrived. I'll mail you some good stuff…"

Hearing Bai Zhenzhen's words, Zhang Yu felt warm inside, thinking that he hadn't raised this daughter in vain.

Bai Zhenzhen patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, son. Your mom is flying high now. I'll take care of you from now on."

As she spoke, she spread her arms and laughed, "Come here, son, let your mom give you a hug."

Zhang Yu opened his arms and hugged Bai Zhenzhen's projection, saying, "Take care of yourself."

Bai Zhenzhen nodded and said, "Don't worry, I can take care of myself. When I get the chance, I'll come find you at the Wanfa University."

"As for the money I gave you, feel free to spend it. I have more opportunities to earn money here than you do. From now on, I'll try to send you some every month."

Zhang Yu felt something was off about what she said, as if he were living off her.

"Ah, how can support from a good buddy be called living off someone?"

At the same time, as they hugged, Zhang Yu felt Bai Zhenzhen's soft body and thought, "This immortal cultivation technology is really scary. Can a projection even transmit touch?"

But the next moment, Zhang Yu saw a confused Le Mulan beneath Bai Zhenzhen's projection and immediately realized that he was actually hugging Le Mulan, who was covered by Bai Zhenzhen's projection.

Le Mulan asked in confusion, "Zhang Yu?"

Zhang Yu suddenly released his hands and stepped back.

Bai Zhenzhen asked in confusion, "Yu Zi, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing." Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned, looking at Bai Zhenzhen, and said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm just a little excited to see you."