https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-154-Zhen-Linggen-s-First-Evolution/13686622/
Chapter 153: A Zhen, Why Is Your Belly Getting Bigger? (Please Vote for Me)
Just as Zhang Yu was contacting the three high schools, inside the office of Songyang High School, Lan Ling spoke with bitter frustration:
"...If we just let this go, the Student Union’s authority will be completely shattered. How can we possibly carry out any more work after this?"
Zhou Chichen said nothing. He was deep in thought, reflecting on the events of the day—their behavior, Zhang Yu’s calm confidence, and Bai Zhenzhen’s unshakable demeanor.
Why are these two so utterly fearless?
Is it just sheer audacity… or is there someone behind them besides Zhang Pianpian?
As he listened to Lan Ling, Zhou Chichen considered a possible countermeasure—maybe canceling some of their privileges, like stripping Zhang Yu of his competition eligibility. That could serve as a test.
But just as he was pondering this, his phone gave a faint vibration.
Zhou Chichen glanced at the screen and saw a message from Le Jingchen.
Lan Ling, noticing his odd expression, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Chichen frowned. “Le Jingchen says he’s already taken care of the matter we asked him to handle.”
Lan Ling blinked. “Already done?”
Zhou Chichen continued. “Zhang Yu personally approached him, paid him, and agreed to drop out of the upcoming Dao Heart Competition for first-year students.”
Lan Ling stared, stunned. “Wait… Zhang Yu went to talk to Le Jingchen himself?”
“How did he even get connected to him?”
At that moment, his phone vibrated again. This time, the message made his face go pale.
He muttered, “My bank account… it’s been frozen?”
“Tax audit?”
Zhou Chichen was utterly confident—his taxes were in perfect order. Why would he be suddenly flagged?
Then it hit him: today, they’d just targeted Zhang Yu. Immediately afterward, Le Jingchen had quietly struck a deal with him. And now, his account was frozen.
Lan Ling said cautiously, “President, could there be some issue with the company’s procedures? Maybe just a tax correction is needed…”
“Correction? Correction my ass,” Zhou Chichen snapped, his voice dark. “This is a clear warning. I knew Zhang Yu wasn’t this simple.”
Lan Ling whispered, “Could it be… the tax bureau?”
Zhou Chichen scoffed. “This kind of shadowy, half-baked move? That’s not the tax bureau. And the timing—right after we made our move, they reach out to Le Jingchen, then freeze my account… We’ve been watched all along.”
Lan Ling’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t a warning—it’s a threat. I’m going to confront Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen right now.”
“Are you seriously trying to use your muscles for brains?” Zhou Chichen snapped. “Zhang Yu’s just a dog. Even if you pin him down, what’s the point? And we’re the ones in the dark—someone dares to send us this message, which means they’re not afraid of us.”
“The priority now is to find out who’s really behind Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. Only then can we decide whether to hold back or strike back.”
“I’ll inform my father. He’ll send our family’s people to investigate.”
“In the meantime, stay calm. Act like nothing happened.”
…
Inside Songyang High School, Zhang Yu glanced at his phone and exhaled softly.
The message from the Songyang City Inspection Department Captain—Zhang Pianpian’s contact—had just arrived:
Spell cast. Account frozen successfully.
Zhang Yu: Thank you.
Reply: No big deal. Drop by sometime if you’re free.
For the next few days, the Student Union, second-year students, and even Zhou Chichen and Lan Ling remained completely silent—like the incident at the training ground had never happened.
Zhang Yu relaxed slightly. For now, it seemed safe.
What’s left to do?
Keep pushing hard with cultivation. Turn every last coin into real power.
So, day after day, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen continued their relentless advance along the immortal path, consuming their remaining funds at a pace unlike anything they’d ever known.
…
Protected Zone – Hatching Room
Zhang Yu was in the middle of cultivating Spirit Energy, his body pulsing with the radiant flow of Martial Energy, like a thousand suns blazing through his veins.
Suddenly, the molten waves of Martial Energy burst through countless tiny meridians within him. With a sharp crack, Zhang Yu shattered another barrier in his cultivation.
Martial Energy: 70 units.
Feeling the surge of power coursing through him, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
Beside him, Xiong Wenwu was also practicing his breathing technique.
Zhang Yu said, “Thanks again for what you did the other day.”
Xiong Wenwu waved it off. “It’s nothing. You’ve spent a lot here—helping out isn’t a big deal.”
“Besides,” he added, “I was being honest. If you and Bai Zhenzhen don’t compete, my brothers have a better shot at making the Top Ten.”
Zhang Yu tilted his head. “Where’s An An today? I haven’t seen her.”
Xiong Wenwu shook his head, sighing. “She’s comforting the others.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
Xiong Wenwu’s voice grew heavy. “She got demoted in pay.”
Zhang Yu frowned. “Wait… she was demoted? Why is she comforting others?”
Xiong Wenwu replied slowly, “Because she’s the best employee in the Protected Zone. So they’re making her lead the pay cuts—meaning everyone else will follow soon.”
“The manager told her to rally the team, to help them understand the company’s struggles, to stand together through hard times.”
Zhang Yu could only mutter, “Companies… they’re all like that.”
Xiong Wenwu snapped. “She’s the most dedicated, the most loyal—yet she earns the least, eats the worst. After the company’s performance dropped, she’s the one being asked to sacrifice first?”
“Isn’t that like punishing the top student in class?”
Zhang Yu fell silent, unsure what to say.
Xiong Wenwu continued, “This proves something’s deeply wrong. The company isn’t rewarding its best—it’s collapsing. The bases, the factories… they’re being bought up. The leadership’s in chaos.”
“But soon,” he thought, “I’ll have enough money to pay off An An’s Breeding Debt. Then she can finally leave.”
…
Bailong High School
Song Hailong was sparring with Bai Zhenzhen.
But her movements were like a phantom—elusive, swift, impossible to catch.
Song Hailong had no choice but to hold his ground, like a rock enduring a storm, blocking every blow while searching for a flaw in her defense.
Yet Bai Zhenzhen moved like lightning—always slipping into blind spots, forcing him to constantly shift his stance, to chase after an image that vanished the moment he locked on.
Then, suddenly, she blurred and retreated to the far end of the room, more than ten meters away.
Song Hailong frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Bai Zhenzhen glanced at the White Dragon people standing outside the door. “You guys’ve been watching us train for a while now, haven’t you?”
Chu Qiuhé and the others immediately dropped to their knees. “We’ll kneel and watch from now on!”
Bai Zhenzhen shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I mean… watching our training? It should cost money.”
Song Hailong was about to say it was fine, but then Zhang Yu’s voice rang out from nearby:
“Exactly. People like us don’t train for free. It’s time to charge.”
Yu Xinghan nodded. “Then let’s collect tickets.”
A few moments later, the training room was packed.
A crowd of White Dragon people stood at the back, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the fight.
In front of them, the better seats—those with clear views—were reserved for those willing to pay extra.
Before leaving Bailong High School that day, Yu Xinghan turned to Zhang Yu and said:
“The Ling Realm situation is looking promising. I’ll arrange everything for you in a few days.”
…
Late July
With less than half a month left until the first round of the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate exam, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen continued their meteoric rise along the immortal path.
As their funds vanished and supplies burned through at a staggering rate, their progress was faster than ever before.
Zhang Yu’s Martial Energy had surged to 81.5, and his Physical Strength Level reached 7.52—both now far surpassing the average of first-year students at White Dragon High.
Only his Dao Heart progress remained slow—still at Level 5 (85%).
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s bank balance had dropped to just over 200,000.
That night, in their apartment, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were deep in cultivation when Bai Zhenzhen suddenly said, “Yu, have you noticed… my belly seems a little bigger?”
Zhang Yu looked up. “Hmm… maybe a bit?”
Bai Zhenzhen patted her stomach. “I feel like it’s sticking out. Can’t you see it?”
Zhang Yu stared closely—and then his eyes widened.
On her abdomen, a network of faint blue veins had appeared.
Bai Zhenzhen gasped. “My Spirit Root… it’s shrinking!”
In her inner perception, the Zhen Linggen—once steady and glowing in her dantian—had just moments ago been absorbing Spirit Energy, nourishing her flesh.
Now, it was retreating, shrinking, and in her mind’s eye, it had transformed into a small, blue seed.
When she told Zhang Yu what she felt, Fujie spoke up:
“It’s evolved.”
Fujie explained:
“I told you before—Bai Zhenzhen’s Spirit Root is an Evolutionary Spirit Root.”
“Until now, it was still in its juvenile stage. It only changed slightly, adapting to her choices, but never dramatically.”
“But since she truly stepped onto the immortal path in first year, her Spirit Root has been constantly stimulated. The changes since then have been greater than all her previous growth combined.”
“And especially after exchanging cultivation with you—every single 10th-level technique you’ve used has sent intense shockwaves through it. Today… it finally evolved.”
Zhang Yu nodded, then shared his own theory about the evolution with Bai Zhenzhen.
Then he said, “Try focusing on your new Zhen Linggen. See if it grants you any new abilities.”
Bai Zhenzhen closed her eyes, pouring all her awareness into the seed within her.
As her mind settled, a light, ethereal sensation spread through her entire body.
Recommended Reading: "Starting with a Demon Blade" – A political intrigue, character-driven xianxia novel.
(End of Chapter)
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