https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-211-Zhang-Yu-in-the-Mediation-Room/13686714/
Chapter 212: Zhang Yu's Bountiful Gains
Seeing Zhang Yu’s indifferent expression—like money was mere filth—Zhou Chichen immediately sensed the man’s appetite this time was far from modest.
“The elders on my father’s and uncle’s side will surely pour out a fortune to satisfy that Sixth-Rank Zheng Shen,” he mused. “But as the parties directly involved, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen… they’ll need to be appeased too.”
Though Zhou Chichen had anticipated this, the thought of now having to not only apologize and admit fault to these two—once mere paupers he’d casually forced to sign contracts with a flick of his wrist—but also hand over real wealth made his chest tighten with resentment.
He couldn’t have imagined that just under a year ago, these two insignificant beggars, who had once been beneath his contempt, had now risen to such power.
Was this what it meant to have a Sixth-Rank Zheng Shen backing you?
A sudden memory surfaced—his father’s whispered secrets. It was said that the true elite didn’t just inherit wealth. They meticulously cultivated bloodlines, and from the moment of birth, those heirs were granted shares, becoming shareholders. They were born with a faith level of five.
Zhou Chichen sighed inwardly. This world ultimately rewards lineage. The Zhou Family is simply too weak.
Shaking his head slightly, he pushed aside the bitterness and forced himself to speak calmly to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.
“I know no amount of money can truly make up for the trauma you’ve endured,” he said. “I’m willing to offer each of you 500,000 to show my sincerity…”
Zhang Yu waved a hand dismissively. “I already said, this isn’t about money.”
Bai Zhenzhen added coldly, “Do you really think money gives you the right to do whatever you want? To break the law with impunity?”
Zhou Chichen almost slammed the table and shouted back—What else is there, then?
But then he remembered the company’s halt due to the lockdown, the endless losses piling up second by second. He recalled his father’s stern warnings. He thought of all the resources the family had poured into him since childhood.
His pride, once so high, finally broke.
He bowed deeply again. “I’m sorry. I truly don’t mean to buy your forgiveness with money.”
“This 500,000? No. I’ll give each of you one million—just as a gesture of apology. No conditions. No expectations.”
As he spoke, Zhou Chichen’s heart burned with humiliation. Without warning, he kicked Yue Jincheng hard in the chest, coldly snapping: “Take a good look at the chaos you’ve caused Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.”
“Hand over your phones.”
Yue Jincheng and Si Zhouru flinched, their faces paling. With trembling hands, they passed their phones over.
Zhou Chichen took them. “Today, I’m taking charge. I’ll make sure they each pay 500,000 to you—apology money.”
The two men’s expressions froze. Their hearts felt like they were bleeding.
Si Zhouru glared at Yue Jincheng, his resentment deepening. He regretted not stopping him earlier.
Zhang Yu’s mind raced. One million from Zhou Chichen, plus 500,000 from each of them—1.5 million each. That’s 3 million total.
Though his inner self was already imagining how he’d spend the cash, Zhang Yu kept his face expressionless, staring at Zhou Chichen as if the sum meant nothing to him.
Zhou Chichen continued: “I know you’ve lost valuable cultivation time. Once back at school, I’ll immediately arrange to make it up for you.”
According to his proposal, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen wouldn’t have to follow any school rules. They could freely schedule their own classes—no more math, no more Chinese, no more compulsory lectures.
Even martial arts, physical education, Dao techniques, and Mana classes were optional. Zhang Yu’s after-school Dao tutoring was canceled outright.
Moreover, all school benefits would be prioritized for them.
Sports class potions would be doubled—three servings per day. They could borrow Spirit Roots for 100 hours per month, free of charge. They could request any martial arts instructor to serve as their sparring partner for free. And they’d receive immediate access to the school’s Ling Realm Training Qualification.
Though Bai Zhenzhen knew Zhou Chichen was just leveraging school resources, her heart still skipped a beat when she heard about one-on-one martial arts tutoring.
Before facing Yun Jing, she thought, if I could spar daily with Peak Qi Refinement masters, my combat power would skyrocket.
Zhang Yu, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow at the mention of free Spirit Root access and the Ling Realm Training Qualification.
For someone like him—without any Spirit Root—any enhancement was welcome. And for his lagging Dao Heart, Ling Realm training was exactly what he needed.
And now, all of it was free. In his current state of poverty, it was irresistible.
Zhang Yu said flatly, “You’re certain this is all free? Until I graduate?”
Zhou Chichen nodded firmly. “No problem. To outsiders, these resources are expensive, but to the school, they’re just internal allocations.”
As a subsidiary of Wanxing Group, Songyang High School was under Zhou Chichen’s family’s influence. He could easily redirect resources.
Better to let the idle Spirit Roots rot, he thought, than waste them. Let them use them all.
As for the Ling Realm slots—I’ll have to give up my and Lan Ling’s spots.
And the teachers? Simple. Just schedule extra lessons for them.
Zhang Yu said, “Words aren’t enough. Sign a contract.”
Zhou Chichen blinked in surprise. The tables had turned—once, he’d forced Zhang Yu to sign a contract. Now, it was the other way around.
He forced a smile. “Fine.”
At that moment, Fujie chimed in: “You’ve always wanted to learn more Techniques, haven’t you? Have him hand over all the Techniques taught at Songyang High School.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. He immediately added that demand.
He knew the school held several Expert-Level Cultivation Techniques, only unlocked in the second half of sophomore year—and even more in senior year—for top students.
Besides boosting his power directly, he recalled that during his earlier studies, he’d glanced at the school’s licensed Techniques. Some could be used to unlock Chain Law Diagrams, creating set effects.
One of them could form a Martial Dao Holy Embryo, he remembered. Another could unlock Various Dragon Bloodline.
Zhou Chichen nodded. “No problem. You can learn any Technique—freshman, sophomore, or senior year. All of them.”
Fujie added: “Be specific about the Spirit Root. You and Bai Zhenzhen won’t be using them for long. Once your Martial Energy and physical bodies hit Peak Qi Refinement, most Spirit Roots will be useless.”
“Especially if he tries to hand you lower-tier Spirit Roots—then they’d be worthless.”
Hearing Zhang Yu’s request, Zhou Chichen sighed and listed all the Heavenly Rank Spirit Roots the school possessed, allowing Zhang Yu to choose and include them in the contract.
Zhou Chichen explained: “Our school’s most famous, valuable, and powerful Spirit Root is the Yuan Yang Root.”
“It converts the essence of a virgin’s primordial energy into Martial Energy—extremely effective.”
Zhang Yu wasn’t interested. His Martial Energy was already nearing 100.
And he remembered—this Yuan Yang Root had been circulating at Songyang High School for nearly two decades. Over generations, it had absorbed the essence of thousands of students.
The other Celestial Spirit Roots focused only on boosting Martial Energy or Physical Strength. Zhang Yu browsed through them, unimpressed.
That’s it?
Zhou Chichen bit his lip. “My family has some Celestial Spirit Roots we usually rent to younger relatives. Take a look. And yes, they’re free—100 hours per month.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes widened as he saw the list. These were rare, obscure Spirit Roots.
Zhang Yu asked, “What’s the Dead Spirit Root used for?”
Zhou Chichen replied, “It absorbs the death qi from corpses. It’s specifically for cultivating our family’s ancestral Technique. To activate it fully, you need a large number of corpses—older the better.”
Zhang Yu asked, “And this Winter Spirit Root?”
“Absorbs freezing energy, alters your Martial Energy’s elemental nature. Requires a low-temperature cryo-chamber.”
Zhang Yu examined each one. Then he pointed.
“This Grief Spirit Root looks interesting.”
There was a reason. He remembered that among the Techniques needed to form the Martial Dao Holy Embryo, there was a relatively affordable Expert-Level Grief Annihilation Technique—only 500,000.
It was cheap because it required extracting grief energy—using resentment to forge one’s body.
With such a high cultivation threshold, few people practiced it. Demand dropped, prices fell.
Zhou Chichen said, “This Grief Spirit Root extracts the resentment of the dead. Ordinary cultivators can’t use it.”
Fujie chuckled. “He’s nervous now. This Root doesn’t just extract dead people’s resentment. He’s lying to you.”
Zhang Yu glanced at Zhou Chichen, calm and cool. “I recall this Grief Spirit Root can also draw from the living.”
“After all, who has more resentment than the living?”
“Especially in high schools… and companies. They’re among the most resentful places in the world.”
Zhou Chichen was stunned. He hadn’t expected Zhang Yu to know this.
He sighed. “You’re right. I’d forgotten.”
“But if you want to harvest resentment here at school… there’ll be a fee.”
“Huh?” Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow. “Even that?”
Zhou Chichen reminded him: “You may have forgotten, but every student signs a contract upon enrollment. One clause states that any resentment, death qi, or waste products generated by cultivation within the school grounds are the school’s first claim.”
“Of course, I can waive the fee—on behalf of my apology.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
