https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-145-Zhang-Yu-Valuation-Requesting-Monthly-Tickets-/13686613/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-147-Gradually-Taking-the-Shape-of-a-Double-Agent/13686615/
Chapter 146: Go, Yu! Unleash Our Immortal Potential!
With the Dao Heart Test concluded, Deng Bingding submitted the results. Zhang Yu’s evaluation remained listed as “unknown,” but in Deng Bingding’s view, this was mainly due to the test’s simplicity—its results were artificially inflated, just like those of many other students.
“If this were real life, under real pressure, they’d never fetch such high valuations.”
“Still, it’s just a test—meant to weed out the weak and identify promising talent. We’ve done enough.”
Among the report’s highlights, besides Zhang Yu, Ye Lingshao, and Yun Jing—whose performances stood out—Bai Zhenzhen was also marked with special attention due to her uniquely unusual results. Meanwhile, students with underwhelming baseline stats and poor test scores were flagged as potential candidates for elimination, awaiting higher-level decisions.
Soon after, the gathered deities received a reply from above.
A single thumbs-up.
That was all it took—approval. The slight tension in the air melted instantly. Then came the specific response: commendations for Zhang Yu, Ye Lingshao, Yun Jing, and Bai Zhenzhen, as encouragement.
Deng Bingding blinked slightly at the message. She had expected praise for the top three, but Bai Zhenzhen’s inclusion surprised her. In her eyes, while Bai Zhenzhen had shown something distinct, her performance still fell far short of the others.
“Could it be… one of the higher-ups has taken a liking to her?”
She read on:
“Hmm, are there any others to eliminate?”
…
When Zhang Yu opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the registration office. The middle-aged woman who had registered him sat behind her desk, watching him.
Deng Bingding said, “You remember the contents of the Dao Heart Test, right?”
After all, under the Eight Great Righteous Gods’ strict policy of “work traceability,” every detail was recorded—Foundation Establishment Exam data, Dao Heart Test results, even every memory from the Illusory Realm was preserved.
Zhang Yu nodded. At last, his suspicion was confirmed:
So it really was all part of an Illusory Realm.
Deng Bingding looked at him with genuine approval. “Your performance in the Dao Heart Test was outstanding. Focused on the Dao path, ambitious, unwavering—both I and the higher-ups are very impressed.”
“Thus, to encourage you, a special bonus has been approved.”
Hearing the word “bonus,” Zhang Yu’s eyes instantly lit up. Money was the one thing he lacked most on his path to immortality.
But when Deng Bingding’s fingertip casually flicked out a Red Envelope Charm, Zhang Yu’s face fell.
Damn it—bonus or high-interest loan? These people born into privilege really know how to exploit students!
Zhang Yu mentally cursed.
Deng Bingding continued, “This is a 300,000 credit interest-free loan. Upon receipt, you’ll repay 5,000 credits monthly for 60 months.”
Seeing the red envelope fly toward him, Zhang Yu realized his earlier thought had been too simplistic. He quickly bowed respectfully and took it.
“Thank you, examiner. May I ask your name?”
“Call me Deng Youshen,” she said coolly. “I’m your cohort’s Foundation Establishment Exam supervisor.”
“You’ve caught the higher-ups’ attention. Work hard over the next year—aim for the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate. Once you make it to the second tier, your future will be bright.”
Clearly, based on Zhang Yu’s Martial Energy, physical condition, and martial cultivation data, Deng Bingding didn’t believe he could pass this year’s qualification exam. Zhang Yu understood—this was true for most first-year students. He didn’t argue.
Instead, he bowed again. “Thank you, Deng Youshen, for your guidance.”
Deng Bingding nodded. “You may go.”
The moment she spoke, a large hole opened beneath Zhang Yu’s feet, and he plunged into it.
…
When Zhang Yu regained consciousness, he was back in the restroom stall at the station.
Carefully opening the door, he stepped out into the corridor, surveying the bustling crowd. He exhaled silently.
This time… it’s really over, right?
Moments later, Bai Zhenzhen emerged from the women’s restroom. After exchanging words, they confirmed the Dao Heart Test was truly finished.
Bai Zhenzhen also received her bonus—150,000 credits in interest-free loan.
She let out a relieved breath. “Never thought there’d be a bonus. This exam reform is actually great.”
The windfall lifted both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s spirits—especially after their savings had been drained. But they didn’t linger in the high-cost Xian Du City. They boarded the return train.
While Bai Zhenzhen was in the restroom, Zhang Yu pressed a finger to the jade pendant at his chest.
Instantly, Fujie’s voice stirred in his mind like a dreamer waking:
“Hmm? It’s over?”
…
Before arriving in Xian Du for the Foundation Establishment Exam, Zhang Yu had hesitated about whether to bring Fujie along.
On one hand, Fujie seemed harmless now, but Zhang Yu remembered her true identity—the Evil God, and the dangerous wish that had bound her to him. He couldn’t risk letting her go free, giving her a chance to escape his control.
On the other, competing in a contest under the scrutiny of the righteous deities made him fear Fujie might be discovered—especially her Ritual Power.
Yet at that moment of uncertainty, Fujie herself suggested he bring her.
“If I speak or probe the outside world, yes, I might be detected. But if I suppress my awareness, cut off all external perception, I become like a lifeless object—completely undetectable. Even the Foundation Establishment Exam wouldn’t catch me.”
“We’re in this together. If you fail, I fail too. I’d never betray you.”
“While the righteous gods have talismans, we Evil Gods have Rituals.”
“Sure, we may not be as skilled at earning wealth, but when it comes to hiding, evading detection—no righteous god can match us.”
“If not for that, how would so many Evil Gods have survived in Kunxu without being caught?”
Fujie’s reasoning wasn’t purely tactical.
She knew Zhang Yu still didn’t fully trust her. Suggesting she stay behind would only deepen his suspicion and ruin the fragile trust they’d built.
But more importantly, Fujie saw Zhang Yu as a high-potential “blue-chip stock.”
“From my years of investment experience,” she mused, “trying to sabotage Zhang Yu now—before he even starts rising—is like selling a winning stock too early. That’s the cardinal sin of investing.”
“The key is patience. Hold on tight. Now is the time to help him grow, deepen his trust, and expand the pie together.”
“Only when he’s truly strong should we consider harvesting the rewards.”
“And besides, we’ve already completed the Ritual. We hold a decisive advantage. Why fight each other now? The future is ours.”
…
On the train, Fujie stirred awake.
“This time, I wasn’t caught… but for a while, I felt my mind tremble. The outside world… it stirred with divine energy.”
“Your Foundation Establishment Exam was no ordinary affair.”
She sighed. “If you actually pass the qualification, you’ll attract even more attention from the righteous gods.”
“To stay safe, to hide me and the Ritual deeper, you must help me hunt down my colleagues soon. Once I regain even a fraction of my strength, my concealment will be flawless—and your potential will surge.”
“The master behind Mo Tianyi… he’s definitely connected to my kind. Take him down first.”
That was Fujie’s true goal: using this moment to push Zhang Yu to hunt down another Evil God.
Zhang Yu didn’t reply, but his mind was already stirred.
It wasn’t just Fujie’s urging—it was what he’d felt in Xian Du.
This year’s top second-years are already nearing the peak of Qi Cultivation.
In half a year, more students will reach the limit of Dao Heart, Martial Energy, and physical cultivation.
To face such high school-level perfection, Zhang Yu had to push his own stats to the absolute peak.
Unlocking potential, upgrading the Feather Scroll… how could I not want to do that?
But the most likely candidate for the “poor man’s boss” was a second-year from Bailong High—backed by an Evil God, with prior competition achievements. His strength was already on par with third-years.
To confront him, Zhang Yu needed to be at least a third-year level himself.
Power… I need stronger power.
And to get stronger, beyond upgrading the Feather Scroll, there’s only one path: money.
Once again, I’ll have to work…?
Zhang Yu hesitated. He’d already sacrificed too much cultivation time to labor.
Yes, he now had a 300,000 credit interest-free loan, but compared to the costs of cultivation, it wouldn’t last long.
Just then, Bai Zhenzhen returned from the restroom and looked at him.
“Yu,” she asked curiously, “what are you staring at your phone for?”
Zhang Yu said, “A Zhen… the more I work, the clearer one thing becomes.”
“Working won’t make you rich.”
“Especially if you’re trying to pass exams—our wages are far too slow.”
Bai Zhenzhen laughed. “That’s obvious. If work could make you rich, who’d still be working?”
Zhang Yu continued, “To make real money, you need loans.”
“Loans—now that’s the fastest way for Kunxu youth to get rich.”
Once, Zhang Yu had wanted to build strength without debt. But after seeing the level of Xian Du’s elite, he felt the pressure mounting—especially the urgency to hunt Evil Gods.
All of it demanded he grow stronger within the next half year. He needed to accelerate his cultivation.
And the first solution that came to mind—the most common path in Kunxu—was borrowing.
Bai Zhenzhen stared at him seriously. “Yu… you just said exactly what I’ve been thinking.”
“After seeing those Xian Du elites in the exam hall, I realized—we weren’t pushing hard enough.”
“If we keep working and training 24/7, just lying around like this… how can we compete?”
“Let’s do it, Yu!”
“Our credit ratings must have improved recently. The loan limit should be higher now.”
She pulled out her phone, opened the platform, took a deep breath, and said:
“Let’s pull out all our immortal potential at once!”
In that instant, as both of them tapped their screens frantically, the numbers in their bank accounts surged.
For a moment, Zhang Yu felt as if rivers of gold were rushing toward him, pouring into his body—fueled by endless wealth, surging through his veins, accelerating his immortal path.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
