https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-204-Zhang-Yu-s-Strategy-the-Secrets-of-Zheng-Shen/13686702/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-206-An-An-s-Plea-Zhang-Yu-s-Plan/13686709/
Chapter 205: Finance First, University or Vocational College? (Please Vote for Me)
"In the Eight Departments, the first one established by the Immortals was the Finance Department. The first great deity of this department is the Great Deity Yicai Haiseng."
"All the currencies across Kunxu's various layers were issued by this Great Deity Yicai Haiseng."
"One could say that among the Eight Departments, finance reigns supreme. And this Great Deity Yicai Haiseng is not just a god—He is the god above gods, the supreme among the divine. He is revered as the God of Wealth."
"But later, the Top Ten Sects realized that merely controlling currency issuance wasn't enough."
"To truly dominate Kunxu, one must also regulate the scale and circulation of money across all layers. Only then can Kunxu be effectively governed."
"Otherwise, a single flaw could trigger a cosmic catastrophe—an endless chain of corporate wars, widespread suffering, countless people jumping from buildings, noble families collapsing, and companies vanishing into oblivion..."
"Even the Immortals of the Top Ten Sects are not flawless. Over the centuries of their rule, Kunxu has suffered multiple cosmic disasters, shaking the entire realm to its core, plunging it into chaos."
"Yet those rare, flawless Immortals—those who transcend the Three Loans, exist beyond the Five Insurances, and can even issue currency on their own—always manage to avoid the devastation of these cataclysms. They emerge time and again after each disaster, restoring order to Kunxu."
"Eventually, the Top Ten Sects began tasking the Eight Great Righteous Gods with reclaiming wealth from across the realm."
Fujie sighed with longing, her voice filled with awe. "To control both the issuance and recovery of money—how magnificent! The profits from all thirty-six layers of Kunxu would be entirely in their hands. The fate, fortune, and survival of trillions of sentient beings would rest in their single thought."
Bai Zhenzhen listened to Fujie’s long monologue, then exhaled slowly. Though she was still just a high school student and didn’t grasp everything, one thing was clear: making money—or reclaiming currency—was vital to Zheng Shen.
Fujie continued, "Every Zheng Shen has an annual assessment target: to earn money, or to recover a certain amount of currency."
"So, if we give this sixth-rank deity a chance to profit from the Zhou family, it would be a significant achievement in her eyes."
"But even Zheng Shen cannot act recklessly—especially not a sixth-rank one."
"So our task is simple: give her an opening, create a leverage point. Then she’ll naturally bite down on the Zhou family."
...
Hours passed. While Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were still deep in their planning, their expected enemy struck first.
Zhang Yu’s phone buzzed. A message arrived from Yun Ni, the head of the Songyang City Inspection Department.
Yun Ni: The higher-ups have suddenly ordered a purge of redundant staff. If you and Bai Zhenzhen don’t want to be demoted to Spiritual Assistant roles, you’ll need to start daily attendance next week.
Zhang Yu’s brow twitched. If he had to attend every day, how would he ever find time for cultivation or profit-making?
But he wasn’t ready to abandon his contract as a Spiritual Assistant—not yet. He quickly asked, "Is there any way around it?"
Yun Ni: No way. This time, the scrutiny is too strict. I can’t protect you.
Fujie leaned in, whispering, "Ask her if you know why."
After pressing further, Yun Ni finally replied with a single character: Zhou.
Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed. "So it’s the Zhou family again?"
After the school’s curriculum reforms, the extra tutoring sessions… now this?
They’re systematically squeezing every last second from my study, cultivation, and earning time.
If an ordinary student faced this, their mental state would crumble over time—grades would drop, cultivation would stagnate.
Bai Zhenzhen stared at Yun Ni’s reply and sneered. "What exactly does the Zhou family want? They’re not fighting outright—they’re just tormenting us step by step?"
Fujie mused. "They’re applying pressure."
Zhang Yu said, "Regardless… I won’t go to work every day. If the Zhou family can influence the Inspection Department’s leadership, showing up would just put us in their rhythm—subject to endless, calculated attacks."
"We must move on our terms. Use the information advantage we already have to strike back."
...
When Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen returned to school the next morning after an all-night train ride, Zhang Yu tested the Detection Ritual inside him several times. Soon, he sensed it again—the camera that had been watching him from the shadows.
Of course. We’re back, and they’ve started watching again.
But neither Zhang Yu nor Bai Zhenzhen showed any sign of awareness. They continued their normal routine—classes, cultivation, training, extra tutoring—as if nothing had changed.
Meanwhile, atop a distant rooftop, a young man watched through a camera lens, monitoring Zhang Yu’s daily life.
He was handsome, barely 1.9 meters tall—short even by cultivation standards—but radiated a fierce, unyielding aura.
His name was Yue Jincheng, a new recruit to the Wanxing Group’s security team, barely a year on the job.
When first assigned to watch Zhang Yu, he had been diligent, meticulous, scanning every second of Zhang Yu’s movements, hoping to earn a promotion and a raise.
After all, Kunxu’s Second Layer was flooded with college graduates. For someone like Yue Jincheng, a First Layer native, staying in the Second Layer was nearly impossible.
More and more college grads returned home after graduation, making jobs scarcer every year.
Yue Jincheng cherished this job. Since joining, he’d lived at the company, paid for his own meals and overnight fees, followed his superiors everywhere, and seized every overtime opportunity.
At first, he’d been eager, full of ambition. But the longer he watched Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, the more he felt hollowed out.
Watching their routine day after day, he realized his own time was slipping away—his life draining into nothing.
He’d begun checking his phone more and more, his work hours dragging like molasses.
Now, staring at Zhang Yu training in the gym, Yue Jincheng sighed inwardly. "At least he’s still cultivating. What am I doing—just watching him do it?"
After hours of idle surveillance, he finally couldn’t take it anymore. He spoke into his radio.
"Senior Shi, this is no good. We can’t just wait here."
"We should take initiative."
On the other side of the rooftop, a woman listened to a novel while monitoring Bai Zhenzhen—Si Zhouru, the very one who once followed Bai Zhenzhen delivering food.
She frowned. "What do you have in mind?"
Yue Jincheng said, "Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen—no matter how strong they are, they’re just high schoolers."
"With our skills, stealing their phones or breaking into their apartment? Child’s play."
"Once we do, we’ll know everything about them."
Si Zhouru shared the same thought—she knew two high schoolers were no match for them. But as a veteran with over twenty years on the job, still stuck at the same rank, she knew better than to act without orders.
"Leadership has a reason for this. Don’t go making reckless moves."
Yue Jincheng frowned, glancing at Si Zhouru as she listened to her novel. Disdain flashed in his eyes.
He’d always looked down on her—this woman who’d never been promoted in two decades. And when he learned she’d only graduated from a junior college, his contempt deepened.
He, Yue Jincheng, was a graduate of the prestigious 72 Lower Schools—true university material.
And that Jinzhou College she came from? Hardly a real university.
"I won’t waste my time like her. I won’t let my prime years slip by."
"One day, my rank will be above hers."
Time passed, dragging on in monotony.
That evening, watching Zhang Yu head toward the subway after school, Yue Jincheng paused.
This kid usually saves money by running home. Why’s he taking the subway today?
He followed Zhang Yu onto the train, switching lines as the subway wound through the city.
As a Peak Qi Refinement-level employee assigned to surveillance, Yue Jincheng had his own tricks.
He twisted his body, shifting his muscles, adjusting his clothes with his backpack—each time getting close, he changed his appearance.
After looping through the lines, he followed Zhang Yu to a remote suburban station.
Seeing Zhang Yu dash toward the outskirts, Yue Jincheng snapped to attention.
Could this be it? Finally, the kid’s making a move?
My chance to shine?
Just as he considered calling Si Zhouru to join him, he got a message.
Bai Zhenzhen had taken the same subway—heading to the same remote area.
Moments later, the two watchers met, their eyes locked on Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, now moving swiftly ahead.
Half an hour later, as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen bought tickets to enter the Protected Zone, both watchers frowned.
Yue Jincheng muttered, "Should we go in?"
Si Zhouru snapped, "Of course we should. We need to see who they’re meeting."
Yue Jincheng winced at the price list for the Protected Zone. "Will the company reimburse us?"
Si Zhouru said, "Of course."
But how long will it take? she thought. I just hope these two bring something worth it.
Yet as soon as they stepped into the Protected Zone, they found Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen already wearing oxygen masks.
What… is this? Si Zhouru gasped. They must’ve prepared for this all along.
Yue Jincheng stared at Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen breathing from oxygen tanks, then at himself and Si Zhouru, gasping for air in the Protected Zone.
A cold unease crept into his chest.
Hope they don’t stay long.
But clearly, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen weren’t leaving anytime soon.
Yue Jincheng and Si Zhouru followed them, watching helplessly as their own consumption records climbed with every breath—each gasp burning a hole in their pockets.
(End of Chapter)
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