Chapter 102: The Company Can

Zhang Zhiwei’s expression changed instantly.

Luo Fu’s situation is incomparable to anyone else’s.

If before witnessing Luo Fu’s series of reality-shattering transformations tonight, Zhang Zhiwei had assumed Luo Fu needed Longhu Mountain’s protection.

But now, everything is different.

Not to mention Luo Fu himself, who has already shattered the great terror of life and death, shattered the great terror between reality and illusion, and is merely one step away from breaking the final great terror—transcendence and flight to immortality.

Merely the realm he opened using his eyes as an anchor is enough to make Luo Fu a being the Company must court.

The myriad methods of the yiren are indeed no match for modern technology; just a few conventional Dongfeng missiles could sweep the entire yiren world away.

But Luo Fu is a unique being who has opened his own realm. Although technology, if it continues developing, may eventually reach the domain of space, at this stage, once Luo Fu retreats into his realm, the entire world is powerless against him.

Especially Luo Fu’s innate ability to manipulate the seven primordial sins, after undergoing the transformations of Ni Sheng San Chong and Ni Zhuan San Sheng, has now become seven incarnations embodying humanity’s extreme emotions. Just by observing Longhu Mountain now, one can imagine the hellish scene that would unfold if Luo Fu’s ability erupted in a crowded city.

Even Zhang Zhiwei does not wish Luo Fu to commit such a mad act, but under life-or-death crisis, to survive, even if he did it, Zhang Zhiwei might understand.

After all, Zhang Zhiwei is a Daoist, not a monk. He does not uphold compassion, universal salvation, merit accumulation, or reincarnation.

Daoists care most about achieving immortality in this life; anyone who blocks my path to immortality is a demon.

Seeing Rongshan Daochang’s worried expression, Zhang Zhiwei laughed heartily and said, “Rongshan, Itachi underestimate your brother Luo Fu.”

After a brief pause, Zhang Zhiwei glanced instinctively toward Luo Fu, Lu Jin, and Tian Jinzhong, then said, “Luo Fu is now a being on par with our Founding Master and Lu Zu. The Company can no longer control him. Our Tian Shi Fu doesn’t even need to protect him anymore—soon, we may need him to protect us.”

Rongshan’s eyes widened instantly.

Zhang Zhiwei’s words truly challenged Rongshan’s understanding.

As Daoists of Longhu Mountain’s Tian Shi Fu, the “Founding Master” naturally refers to the First Tian Shi, Zhang Daoling, who established the sect’s thousand-year legacy nearly two millennia ago.

And Lu Zu needs no introduction—while some may not know Zhang Daoling, Lu Zu is the true pivotal figure in Daoism, the one who definitively established internal alchemy.

Both Zhengyi and Quanzhen revere Lu Zu as a deity; Quanzhen even worships him as their ancestral master.

Now, Zhang Zhiwei dares to compare Luo Fu to these two ancestral masters—how could Rongshan not be stunned?

“Master… Itachi… what did Itachi say?”

Ignoring Rongshan’s shock, Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand and said, “In the future, Itachi should interact more with Brother Luo Fu. No need to ask further.”

In modern society, science reigns supreme. Even if Luo Fu truly reached transcendence through cultivation, the state would never permit widespread preaching.

The more openly he proclaims it, the more likely he’ll invite state suppression.

If so, better to leave it to the disciples’ karmic connections.

After all, Tian Shi Fu has endured for over two thousand years—each generation has its own path.

After bidding farewell to Rongshan, Zhang Zhiwei headed straight down the mountain.

Luo Fu’s affairs have grown too large now—he, as the supreme authority, must mediate. He can’t let Luo Fu and the Company openly clash.

With him mediating, the conflict between the Company and Luo Fu can remain hidden. But if it surfaces, it will truly become a nightmare.

As an immortal who has even opened his own realm, even if the entire nation turns against him, he can simply retreat into his realm.

But other yiren would be caught in the crossfire.

Watching Zhang Zhiwei’s figure disappear down the mountain, Rongshan remained frozen, even after the master’s silhouette vanished from view for over a dozen breaths.

Zhang Zhiwei’s words had shattered Rongshan’s worldview.

Comparing Luo Fu to the already transcended Founding Master and Lu Zu—wasn’t that saying Luo Fu had reached the same level?

Earthly immortal? Worldly transcendent?

“Brother.”

Only when a remorseful voice came from behind did Rongshan finally snap back to reality.

“Little brother, what… what’s wrong with Itachi?”

Seeing Zhang Lingyu’s dazed, spiritless state, Rongshan frowned, suddenly forming an unbelievable suspicion: “Itachi didn’t… get affected too, did Itachi?”

The power of the seven emotions and seven sins sweeping across Longhu Mountain caused massive chaos—everyone knew that.

After this incident, Longhu Mountain’s reputation was utterly ruined.

After all, such disgraceful scenes occurred right on Longhu Mountain.

So Zhang Lingyu’s sudden gloomy, broken demeanor naturally led Rongshan to this suspicion.

Zhang Lingyu’s face turned ashen. He gritted his teeth: “Brother Rongshan, don’t misunderstand—I may be unworthy, but I’m not so easily shaken.”

“Then what’s going on?” Rongshan chuckled awkwardly, puzzled.

From Zhang Lingyu’s explanation, Rongshan quickly understood the reason for his behavior.

After such a massive scandal on Longhu Mountain, Zhang Lingyu didn’t first think of quelling the chaos—he went to the victims and tried to whitewash the Four Zhangs.

Not to mention the Four Zhangs are yiren universally despised as Xing demons.

Just the fact that this happened on Longhu Mountain makes Zhang Lingyu’s actions deeply unpopular.

After all, Zhang Lingyu is a Longhu Mountain disciple, the last disciple of Grandmaster Zhang Zhiwei, and even the high adept who received the Five Thunder Method—the technique reserved only for Tian Shi candidates.

To some extent, Zhang Lingyu is qualified to inherit the Tian Shi position!

Yet such a disciple, with such unique status within Tian Shi Fu, instead of defending the sect during its crisis, defends the Four Zhangs.

Even Rongshan, upon hearing Zhang Lingyu’s explanation, felt a pang of disappointment.

He gazed at Zhang Lingyu with quiet sorrow—the idol he once held for his little brother had shattered completely.

With a weary sigh, Rongshan said, “Little brother, Itachi… do as Itachi see fit. Your transgression must be judged by Master. For now, focus on restoring order on the mountain. But… don’t forget—Itachi are a disciple of Longhu Mountain Tian Shi Fu, Master’s last disciple.”

Rongshan’s words made Zhang Lingyu feel even more guilty.

After instructing the Tian Shi Fu disciples to swiftly resolve the chaos on Longhu Mountain,

Rongshan kept replaying his master’s words in his mind.

Luo Fu, who only recently became a yiren after awakening his innate ability to control the seven primordial sins, had only been under Lu Jin’s tutelage and inherited the San Yi Sect lineage for a few short months.

In such a short time, in his master’s mouth, he was already being compared to the Founding Master and Lu Zu.

Even Rongshan, a man of great composure, couldn’t help but feel intense curiosity.

Seeing the chaos on Longhu Mountain gradually subside as Daoists worked diligently, Rongshan could no longer contain himself. After giving a few instructions to his fellow disciples, he headed straight toward Luo Fu.

Upon arriving at the back mountain,

Seeing the empty surroundings, Rongshan assumed Luo Fu and the others had gone elsewhere.

Three figures suddenly appeared before him, emerging from a spatial vortex.

Rongshan’s eyes widened in shock.

He was certain that just moments ago, Luo Fu, Lu Jin, and Master Tian had not been anywhere nearby—yet now, they appeared from a spatial vortex.

Could it be that Luo Fu had mastered spatial abilities?

Spatial abilities are indeed mysterious, but on Longhu Mountain right now, there is one: Feng Shayan of Tianxia Hui, whose innate ability concerns space.

But Feng Shayan’s ability is limited to projecting her fists through space, playing tricks like the Hundred-Step Divine Fist—she cannot teleport her entire body at will.

And now, Luo Fu, Lu Jin, and Tian Jinzhong appeared together.

Yet Rongshan, stunned by Luo Fu’s ability to teleport even multiple bodies, soon noticed something even more shocking.

Master Tian Jinzhong… he had become young again.

Not only that, but the limbs severed years ago had regrown, fully restored.

Rongshan was an old disciple of Zhang Zhiwei, having lived on Longhu Mountain for many years. Though he never saw Tian Jinzhong in his youth, as the one who cared for him, he knew him intimately.

He recognized the young Tian Jinzhong instantly—and yet, he had unconsciously overlooked the anomaly.

“Master… Tian… Itachi… Itachi…” Rongshan stared, dumbfounded.

“Hahaha…” Tian Jinzhong laughed heartily. “Rongshan, how about it? Seeing me like this, aren’t Itachi astonished?”

Tian Jinzhong was never a rigid old man. When his limbs were severed and he became like a human puppet, his spirit died—he grew quiet. But now, with his youth restored and limbs regrown, his temperament had also regained some of his youthful exuberance.

Rongshan nodded dumbly. “Master Tian… what… how did this happen?”

“Didn’t Grandmaster tell Itachi?” Lu Jin frowned, his pride unmistakable. “Master Tian’s transformation is thanks entirely to my disciple, the head of San Yi Sect, Luo Fu.”

“What do Itachi mean ‘your disciple’? Luo Fu is my disciple too!!” Tian Jinzhong retorted irritably.

Rongshan’s heart tightened instantly—he recalled the rumor that had shaken the entire yiren world these past months.

Luo Fu’s fate, surpassing ancient emperors and generals, is tied to the mystery of immortality.

Now, it was no rumor—it was fact. Luo Fu had truly… truly become immortal.

Reversing aging, regrowing lost limbs—wasn’t this myth becoming reality?

Rongshan still lacked full understanding of the Eight Marvels, or else he’d know several of them could achieve similar effects.

For instance, Liu Ku Xian Ze grants immortality; Shuang Quan Shou seeks perfect life and soul; Red Hand alters flesh, Blue Hand manipulates spirit. Though they can’t reverse aging, restoring limbs or changing appearance is effortless.

But the Eight Marvels are ultimately techniques, arts—not the Dao.

Though their applications seem miraculous, each carries a corresponding cost.

The seasonal illness of Feng Hou Qi Men, the cannibalistic hunger of Liu Ku Xian Ze at last—these are inevitable consequences of using such marvels without the requisite realm, relying on trickery.

Rongshan didn’t fully grasp what “immortal” meant, but Luo Fu, originally possessing an innate ability to manipulate the seven primordial sins, could naturally evolve to control the seven emotions and sins through cultivation.

But now, he suddenly displayed spatial control—wasn’t that too great a leap?

Unable to hold back, Rongshan finally blurted out: “Brother Luo Fu, forgive my boldness—what… what is your innate ability?”

Luo Fu touched his brow, the faint vertical mark there, and said, “My innate ability? It’s the control of emotions. The seven emotions and seven sins are all manifestations of this power!”

“Then what was just now? I clearly saw Itachi, Master Tian, and Master Lu emerge from something like a spatial vortex.”

Rongshan’s question plunged Luo Fu, Lu Jin, and Tian Jinzhong into silence.

Rongshan’s heart clenched. He whispered cautiously: “Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?”

“Rongshan, don’t be so tense,” Tian Jinzhong said, his tone tinged with nostalgia—he’d been cared for by Rongshan for so long. “Let your brother Luo Fu explain it himself.”

“What’s there to hide?” Lu Jin suddenly seemed to understand, speaking openly. “Luo Fu has transcended the mundane. To him, this world and all its beings are merely a realm he wanders through. With his realm at his side, who can truly challenge him?”

“Cave… Cave Heaven world.” Rong Shan instantly seized the key point.

While Rong Shan’s worldview shattered at the appearance of the Cave Heaven world.

At the foot of Longhu Mountain.

As the Old Heavenly Master Zhang Zhiwei descended the mountain himself, employees from Naidu Tong soon brought him before Ren Fei, the head of this operation.

“Heavenly Master Zhang, it is my duty to welcome Itachi late—please forgive my oversight,” Ren Fei said calmly.

Though in the Yiren world, Zhang Zhiwei held a unique status and was deeply admired.

But don’t forget: when Luo Fu unleashed his Seven Emotions, Seven Sins domain spanning five to eight kilometers, Ren Fei herself had nearly requested a conventional Dongfeng missile to eliminate Luo Fu as a threat.

A man willing to sacrifice even Longhu Mountain itself for the sake of eliminating Luo Fu.

Someone with such a clear stance: Yiren might respect Zhang Zhiwei as an absolute pinnacle, but as a Naidu Tong officer, she regarded him more with wary distance.

“No matter.” Zhang Zhiwei understood the conflict of Lichang between himself and Ren Fei.

To some extent, the existence of the Ten Elders was itself a compromise between the Yiren world and the authorities.

Yiren were a special group with a degree of autonomy, governed by their own codes and rules—beyond the reach of ordinary law.

Unless a Yiren used their abilities to broadly affect ordinary people, the company would merely record conflicts between Yiren, taking no action.

“Heavenly Master, let’s cut to the chase,” Ren Fei had no interest in circling around this old monster; she spoke bluntly: “The individual who caused emotional chaos across a five-to-eight-kilometer radius must be dealt with seriously—there is absolutely no room for negotiation. I believe Itachi understand the consequences if such a person remains unchecked.”

“Understood. Old man understands completely!” Zhang Zhiwei readily agreed with Ren Fei.

Ren Fei frowned. She had reached her position as head of one of the seven regions not merely through background and status. She instantly sensed Zhang Zhiwei’s evasiveness.

“Heavenly Master, are Itachi trying to incite hostility between Yiren and ordinary people?” Ren Fei’s tone turned sharp.

“Don’t be so serious—I can’t carry such a black mark,” Zhang Zhiwei said helplessly. “I understand your intent, and I respect your stance—but this time, I truly cannot hand him over to Itachi.”

“What do Itachi mean, Heavenly Master?” Ren Fei’s tone grew increasingly hostile.

In her mind, the man responsible for such massive emotional disruption must be strictly contained—if control was impossible, he must be eliminated at any cost. Such power, with such a vast range of influence, posed terrifying dangers to modern society.

“Let me explain first,” Zhang Zhiwei paused, then said: “I understand your concerns and agree with your methods—but this time, Longhu Mountain truly cannot intervene.”

Before Ren Fei could explode, Zhang Zhiwei continued: “As a company officer, Itachi surely know what ‘immortals’ are?”

“Itachi’re not telling me the one behind this disturbance is an immortal? No.” A chill ran through Ren Fei; suddenly, she realized something, fixing her gaze on Zhang Zhiwei: “Is it Zhang Luo Fu? Has he… truly unlocked the secret of immortality?”

Zhang Zhiwei nodded slightly. “I don’t know if he’s unlocked the secret of immortality, nor do I know his current realm. But according to the historical records of my Tian Shi Mansion, he… is now indistinguishable from the legendary immortals.”

Ren Fei’s expression shifted, her teeth clenched. After a moment’s hesitation, she said: “Even if he is an immortal, he must still be under company control.”

“Then I can do nothing!” Zhang Zhiwei shrugged. “But I can tell Itachi this: have Itachi heard of the concept of Cave Heaven worlds?”

“Isn’t that just the name for sacred mountains and rivers where Daoists cultivate? Your Longhu Mountain is one of the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands!”

“Don’t say that,” Zhang Zhiwei said with a sigh. “Longhu Mountain’s Blessed Land? That’s just our ancestors slapping glory on the Tian Shi Mansion’s face. True Cave Heaven worlds are self-contained realms—or, in modern terms, independent spaces.”

“Heavenly Master!” Ren Fei stared at him skeptically. “Itachi’re not telling me that Zhang Luo Fu not only became immortal, but also created his own Cave Heaven world?”

“I knew Itachi wouldn’t believe it unless Itachi saw it,” Zhang Zhiwei said. “But the truth is—he has become immortal, and he has truly forged an independent Cave Heaven world. If he retreats into it, the entire world cannot touch him!”

“I don’t believe it,” Ren Fei said firmly. “Do Itachi know what it means to forge a world? Space itself is gravity…”

Before she could finish, Zhang Zhiwei cut her off: “I don’t understand such things. But I know—he has truly forged a Cave Heaven world. That is an undeniable fact.”

Stunned into silence, Ren Fei gave Zhang Zhiwei a long look, then said: “Thank Itachi, Heavenly Master. But even immortals must abide by our rules in this world!”

“When has he ever broken the rules?” Zhang Zhiwei protested on Luo Fu’s behalf. “From start to finish, Luo Fu never intended to disrupt order. The rumors of his immortality secret were spread by sorcerers—originating from the chaotic Quanxing demons. If Itachi’re hunting the true culprit, Itachi shouldn’t target Luo Fu!”

Ren Fei fell silent.

Logically, Zhang Zhiwei was right.

The company’s direct targeting of Luo Fu did feel like persecution of the innocent. But from the company’s standpoint, the matter was not so simple.

Naidu Tong was not a law enforcement body. Its purpose was to maintain balance within the Yiren world and to confront and suppress any Yiren who harmed ordinary people—that was the company’s bottom line.

As for which Yiren suffered injustice, which was innocent, which was wronged—none of that fell within the company’s consideration.

Don’t think the company is heartless.

Rights and obligations are reciprocal.

Outside company members, Yiren bore no corresponding obligations—and thus, no corresponding rights.

From the company’s perspective, the origins of conflict and hatred among Yiren didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered: absolutely no impact on ordinary people. That was the bottom line.

Even if Luo Fu was truly wronged, once he gained power capable of threatening normal society—and could not be controlled—he became a primary target for the company.

From the company’s perspective, logic meant nothing. Only stance mattered.

“Heavenly Master, Itachi know what the company cares about,” Ren Fei rubbed her temples. Learning from Zhang Zhiwei that Luo Fu had become immortal and forged a Cave Heaven world, she now had a pounding headache.

A power of extreme danger, uncontrollable by the company—even impossible to eliminate outright. This was the first time the company had ever faced such a situation.

Even Ren Fei didn’t know what to do now.

“I know. Of course I know!” Zhang Zhiwei smiled. “Itachi’ve investigated this boy, haven’t Itachi?”

(End of Chapter)