https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-143-Assign-Him-Ten-Please-Vote-for-Me-/13686611/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-145-Zhang-Yu-Valuation-Requesting-Monthly-Tickets-/13686613/
Chapter 144: The Price of Giving Up
(Thank you, ‘sfqk’, for your generous support as Patron!)
Within the Illusory Realm.
Ten men stood before Zhang Yu—each uniquely styled, varying in stature, yet all possessing extraordinary presence. Each was a masterpiece among men, each wielding talents far beyond the ordinary.
But with just a single glance, Zhang Yu knew: these were not mere illusions. They were living embodiments of perfection—each a master of their craft.
Yet as they slowly advanced, their gazes heavy with meaning, Zhang Yu felt a terror far worse than facing ten Song Hailongs in the Arena. It was suffocating. Desperate.
“Get away!”
“Don’t come any closer!”
Panic and fury warred within him. He couldn’t believe Kunxu would resort to this—this cruel, humiliating method, designed to force him to abandon the Foundation Establishment Exam.
Damn it, I’d love to give up!
Just retake it next year…
But as that thought flickered, the icy chill returned—like a cold hand gripping his spine. He knew instantly: this Ritual would not allow surrender. Not ever.
---
Inside the office.
Huang Zichou frowned. “No women. No men. So he wants… what? A monk’s life?”
Deng Bingding glanced up, voice calm. “Disinterest in romance is perfectly normal. Some people care more about wealth, power, influence. That’s human.”
He paused, then added: “But even the wisest have a price. Everyone has a weakness. A soft spot.”
He gestured casually. “Huang Zichou—you’re on duty for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. Eliminate them if you can. Save the budget.”
Huang Zichou blinked. “Uh… I mean—”
He didn’t want to take this assignment. These two were clearly underachievers. Assigning him to monitor their Dao Heart Test felt like wasting time on the most useless task imaginable.
But Deng Bingding wasn’t listening. He waved a hand. “We’re all working overtime. Tight schedule. Complaints later.”
His tone sharpened. “Watch the Illusory Realm carefully. No blind bidding. Find their true weakness. Spend wisely. Otherwise, you’ll inflate the valuation needlessly.”
He fixed the others with a warning look. “If anyone gets criticized during the post-review of the Foundation Establishment Exam, don’t blame me.”
Everyone in the room knew the truth: the process would be audited. Misjudging students meant real consequences.
Huang Zichou sighed inwardly. Great. They’ve given me the trash job. Is Deng Bingding punishing me?
He knew better than to believe this was random. A sixth-rank deity wouldn’t casually point like that.
But I already poured 5,000 into her Affinity Charm!
We agreed to split 3,000 among us. I added 2,000 extra…
He glanced at his three fellow officials. All were focused, silent, utterly absorbed in their work.
Fuming, Huang Zichou turned his attention back to the screen. Two poor kids. Why even test them?
Just get it over with. I’ve got better students to assess.
Just as he prepared to end the test early…
On the Light Screens across the room, students began surrendering one by one.
Deng Bingding’s divine sight swept through, cataloging the offers each one accepted—recording their values with precision.
400 million
600 million
320 million
Deng Bingding couldn’t help but murmur: “Even in the Illusory Realm, no one would pay this much in reality just to make someone quit.”
The Realm makes them overlook the absurdity. It’s all about revealing their inner limits.
The values varied wildly—each shaped by background, strength, wealth, and the nature of their temptation. Time spent in the Realm didn’t guarantee a high price; it was about what they truly valued.
Wealth played a major role. And Deng Bingding saw nothing unusual in that. After all, money had always been a core pillar of spiritual potential and resolve.
High school juniors, with two chances at the Foundation Exam, often performed worse than seniors—just as their physical and martial energy levels differed.
Then Deng Bingding’s gaze shifted—locking onto Yu Xinghan’s Illusory Realm.
---
Within the Illusory Realm.
“This is Xianyun High School in Xian Du City. What do you think of the environment?”
“For this school, the group relocated an entire Spirit Vein. To ensure the top-tier high school students have the best possible learning conditions.”
“Here’s your admission application. Sign it, and you’ll be enrolled.”
Yu Xinghan inhaled deeply. The air here—pure, vibrant, alive—was the finest he’d ever breathed.
But he clenched his jaw and refused.
“What about citizenship in Xian Du City? You wouldn’t want to live here?”
“Luzhou Group’s official position? Something countless people have chased their whole lives, never achieving?”
Yu Xinghan rejected each offer—each one tempting, each one real.
He wasn’t blind to desire. He wanted these things. But experience taught him: this wasn’t the final price. He could still ask for more.
Then came the words that struck him to the core.
“We can pay to buy you back from Xinghuo Immortal.”
A beat.
“We’ll buy out your contract—transfer it to Luzhou Group.”
“The new contract? Better terms. More freedom. Real independence.”
“This is our final offer. If you reject this, there’s nothing left to discuss.”
Yu Xinghan didn’t know if this was truly the top bid.
But he knew one thing: this was a life raft—floating toward him in a vast, endless sea of darkness.
If he let it go… he might never find another.
Without hesitation, he reached out.
Yu Xinghan: “My breach-of-contract fee… is high.”
“There’s always a price. Even for a breach of contract.”
The figure smiled. “You’re still at the Qi Cultivation stage. In Xinghuo Immortal’s eyes, how much could you possibly be worth?”
---
Back in the office.
Deng Bingding watched Yu Xinghan collapse under the pressure.
Hah. Once the true crack in the soul is found, the onslaught breaks them like a wall.
Based on records, Xinghuo Immortal has invested around 80 million in him so far.
Given Xinghuo Immortal’s appetite, we’d expect to pay ten to fifteen times that to acquire the contract. Add in extra terms… final valuation: 1.3 billion. Makes sense. A high-grade Qi cultivator like this? Worth a fortune to turn around and sell again.
She nodded. Of course, this is just estimation based on data. Real-world prices would vary. But for testing purposes—this works.
Deng Bingding mused: Not bad. This boy from Songyang held out longer than expected.
But his flaw is obvious. He’s built on Jin Dan. And that’s also his downfall.
Xinghuo Immortal gave him power. But it also binds him. The more they invest, the tighter the chains grow.
That’s his Dao Heart’s fatal weakness. In the long run, it will become a crushing weight on his path.
She jotted down the results, then turned to the other two students from Songyang.
Still haven’t broken?
She glanced over.
---
Within the Illusory Realm.
Bai Zhenzhen faced trials much like Zhang Yu’s—yet different.
Because of her sterilization, the Realm didn’t tempt her with romance. No lovers. No seduction.
Instead, she was offered a penthouse in the city’s most exclusive district. Top-tier cultivation facilities. Everything a cultivator could dream of.
And slowly, she felt her resistance crumbling.
The Realm, and Huang Zichou controlling it, sensed her wavering. The offers stopped rising. Then, coldly, they declared her demands too high—negotiations terminated.
After a tense back-and-forth, Bai Zhenzhen finally spoke.
“I’ll accept your terms… but only if you offer the same to Zhang Yu.”
Ever since preparing for the Foundation Establishment Exam, a fear had lived in her chest—something she kept buried, avoided, denied.
What if Zhang Yu fails? What if he fails twice? What if he never makes it into the Top Ten?
She remembered Zhang Pianpian once handing him a chance to enter the Wanfa University Prodigy Class. If he’d stayed with her… but then failed?
Would he regret it?
And if that happens… how could I face Yu?
She told herself he wouldn’t. With his talent, and her Zhen Linggen, he’d make it.
But after witnessing Ye Lingshao and Yun Jing’s power in the cultivation test… doubt crept back in.
Now, one sacrifice—her own chance—could give both of them a massive boost in spiritual resources. A far better chance at passing.
It was logical. Rational. Optimal.
“I’ll give up the Foundation Establishment Exam… but only if your offer includes Zhang Yu. And he doesn’t have to withdraw.”
---
Back in the office.
Huang Zichou stared at the screen, brow furrowed. “A… friend?”
This kind of request?
It wasn’t impossible. But rare. In most Illusory Realms, people only thought of themselves.
In real life, Huang Zichou would’ve called such a person a fool.
But watching Bai Zhenzhen in the Realm—calm, determined, selfless—he thought: Stupid people do get lucky.
Deng Bingding glanced at the final result.
“Bai Zhenzhen. Final valuation: 600 million × 2.”
“1.2 billion. Unexpected. She’s outperformed many first-years from Xian Du.”
She nodded. “For someone of her background to last this long? Remarkable.”
If she improves in other areas next year, she could be a top-tier foundation cultivator candidate.
Then, one by one, more students fell.
Soon, only three remained.
Ye Lingshao and Yun Jing—expected. But Zhang Yu?
Deng Bingding couldn’t explain his persistence.
Then Yun Jing’s test ended.
---
Within the Illusory Realm.
Yun Jing stared at the contract.
His family—once great—had been fading for years. The reforms in physical cultivation had left them behind. A bad investment. Internal power struggles. The decline was accelerating.
Their assets were still vast, but cash flow was tight.
This contract? It would save the Yun family. Revive them.
The cost? His high school Foundation Qualification Certificate.
But Yun Jing smiled.
“It doesn’t matter. Even without it, I’ll still make it into the Top Ten.”
And when the Yun family rises again… future generations will have the chance to qualify too.
---
Back in the office.
Deng Bingding’s thoughts echoed her own creed:
Everyone has a price. A weakness. A soft spot.
Yun Jing was raised in loyalty to his family. Deeply devoted. Grateful.
But that’s not enough in the Dao. That’s not how one climbs the peak.
Too compassionate. Too selfless. Too bound by emotion.
How can one reach true greatness without becoming utterly selfish?
She shook her head, recording the result.
“Yun Jing. Valuation: 5 billion.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
