https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-245-Wealthy-Living-Martial-Dao-Holy-Embryo/13686773/
Chapter 246: Struggling to Adapt, Friction Within the Sect (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Inside the luxurious apartment’s training room, the air thrummed with the deep, rhythmic pounding of vital energy. Zhang Yu and Le Mulan’s bodies twisted and pressed against each other, their muscles colliding with sharp, crisp thuds.
“Push harder here…”
“Keep pushing.”
Thud!
“Raise your leg a little higher.”
Under Zhang Yu’s guidance, Le Mulan adjusted her stance again and again, feeling her martial arts cultivation deepen with each repetition. After today’s intensive session, she could already sense her progress—real, tangible growth.
After all, Zhang Yu had risen from Qi Condensation Stage 1 to Peak Qi Refinement in just over a year. Not only did he now possess formidable strength, but his mind was also filled with martial arts techniques from Level 0 to Level 10—memories of every form, every principle, every detail. Combined with the teaching methods he’d refined in the Dark Tutoring Realm, his skill in instruction had reached an almost unparalleled peak.
He was confident—within the entire First Layer high school tutoring scene, he was among the very best.
And over the past few months, Le Mulan had been receiving his guidance almost weekly. She could clearly feel the difference. Her body was stronger, her movements sharper, her inner energy more refined.
As the training ended, Le Mulan’s chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat-drenched and glistening under the lights, outlining her form beneath her damp clothes.
“Thanks… for everything these past few months,” she said, looking at Zhang Yu. She knew how rare it was to have a top-tier expert personally guiding her, correcting the motion of every single muscle, every subtle shift in energy flow. She was getting an enormous advantage.
If the students from Ziyun High School knew that Zhang Yu’s fingertips had brushed over so many parts of her body during these sessions, they’d probably be willing to trade places with her—just to get that kind of one-on-one attention and skyrocket their grades.
Thinking of that, she added: “Your guidance has helped me improve so much.”
“No need to be so formal,” Zhang Yu waved it off. “You’ve helped us more than once. Without your apartment and the tutoring fees, me and A Zhen might still be sleeping under bridges.”
He paused, then added: “But as for Body Fluids, I’ve signed a contract with Luzhou Group. I can’t give them to anyone else.”
He smiled faintly. “But tutoring you? That’s no problem.”
Inside, Zhang Yu thought: I can’t change Kunxu. But at least I can still help the people around me.
They chatted for a few more minutes. When Zhang Yu went to take a shower, Le Mulan quietly walked over to his phone.
Zhang Yu’s bound by contract, so he can’t sell his Body Fluids to anyone, she thought. But… Zhang Yu…
Through repeated close-contact training and later discussions with others, she had slowly come to a conclusion.
He’s really hard.
So he hasn’t been sterilized.
According to her brother, students who haven’t been sterilized are especially vulnerable to hormonal influence.
Maybe I can use that to subtly affect him… and in time, gain access to some of his body’s materials during future sessions…
With that in mind, Le Mulan crouched down and whispered into the phone:
“Stockings! Gorgeous legs! Photography! Curves! Contrast! Long legs! Big thunder!”
She repeated it several times, whispering each keyword like a spell.
The algorithm should have picked it up now, she thought. This will definitely affect Zhang Yu’s phone from now on.
That night, as Zhang Yu scrolled through his phone, his brows furrowed.
A shopping app suddenly popped up—on the Stockings page.
“Damn garbage algorithm,” he muttered.
The next morning, Bai Zhenzhen stared at the overflowing trash can, sighing.
“Yu-zi, this time you only lasted a few days. That’s shorter than usual.”
“Maybe the good life’s made your willpower weaker?” she mused.
…
That afternoon, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen headed to the Inspection Team’s office building.
After months of silence, they finally had a chance to reconnect with Zhang Pianpian.
Earlier attempts to contact her had failed—despite successful applications, Zhang Pianpian had always been too busy to answer.
On the way, Zhang Yu noticed something unsettling.
More homeless people—beggars, beggars with missing limbs, white-haired elders—were appearing on the streets than ever before. More than he’d seen in the entire past year.
He knew what was happening. People couldn’t afford food, so they mortgaged their flesh to survive. Then, with their bodies already compromised, they couldn’t find work. And so they were forced to sell everything—limbs, organs, even their life force—until there was nothing left.
Zhang Yu sighed silently. He knew he couldn’t change this.
My thoughts are still too outdated, he thought. I still haven’t fully adapted to Kunxu. I need to keep trying.
Inside the Inspection Team’s building, Zhang Pianpian’s face finally appeared on the screen.
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen immediately poured out everything that had happened over the past few months.
Even though they were richer now, living better lives, they still felt uneasy—fearful of the shifting tides in the First Layer.
They needed Zhang Pianpian’s insight, from the Second Layer, to understand what was really going on.
After listening, Zhang Pianpian paused thoughtfully, then said:
“Wang Zong’s money? You can take it.”
“But aside from work pay and endorsement fees, stay away from Luzhou Group’s actual business. Don’t invest. Don’t participate in operations…”
Zhang Yu blinked. “Why?”
Zhang Pianpian chose her words carefully:
“The First Layer’s affairs involve conflict among the Top Ten.”
“In short…”
“Some believe the First Layer is already useless—especially the poor masses have become a useless class.”
“Rather than let it rot, why not repurpose it? Turn the entire First Layer into a farm—just a source of raw materials.”
“And… some immortal cultivators might even agree with that.”
Zhang Yu’s heart sank.
Useless class.
The words struck like a hammer to his chest, shattering the illusion of comfort he’d built for himself.
Zhang Pianpian continued:
“I’m swamped right now. If you run into something you can’t handle, contact Zheng Shen.”
“The Zheng Shen you added as a friend… that one.”
She seemed truly busy. Their call ended shortly after.
On the way back, Zhang Yu stared at the disabled beggars on the roadside. He could already picture the future of Kunxu’s First Layer.
It’s not my problem.
This is the course of history.
What can a high school student do?
He sighed, frustration bubbling up.
Why can’t I adapt?
Zhang Yu, he told himself firmly, you’re going to be rich. You want to take care of the people around you. You want a good life. So you have to adapt to this damn world of Kunxu.
Otherwise, what are you going to do? You’re just a lowly foundation establishment cultivator—what power do you have?
As he wrestled with these thoughts, Fujie suddenly spoke:
“Repeat what Zhang Pianpian said to me.”
Fujie had hidden herself completely before entering the Inspection Team’s building. Only after Zhang Yu returned and woke her did she emerge.
Now, hearing Fujie’s request, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen repeated the entire conversation.
Fujie murmured, “Hmm… she was very careful. Probably because someone’s monitoring your conversation.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes widened.
“Monitoring? Someone’s after us?”
Fujie nodded. “Cross-layer communication being monitored is normal. But her caution… it suggests there’s something hidden in what she said.”
She continued:
“They said some believe the First Layer is useless. Not all.
She told you to take the work pay—but avoid getting involved in Luzhou Group’s business.
That implies… not everyone agrees.”
She paused, then added:
“If some immortals support Luzhou Group’s methods… does that mean others don’t?”
“Then she’s warning you—Luzhou Group might be caught in a larger conflict. That’s why she told you to stay out.”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up.
So Luzhou Group, Youming University, Youming Palace… their actions are like those of a demonic sect. Could Kunxu actually have righteous sects?
He said: “So maybe there are other righteous sects who can’t stand this kind of behavior… and will try to stop them?”
Fujie shook her head.
“Righteous or demonic? If another sect is trying to stop them, it’s not out of morality. It’s about power.
Just like how certain regions ban human farming and set strict regulations on resentment emissions—because other sects can’t match Youming Palace in Immortal Dao techniques. So they use rules to limit Youming Palace’s expansion.”
She looked at him.
“Any sect that opposes Luzhou Group? It’s only for their own benefit.”
Zhang Yu let out a bitter laugh.
Right. That’s Kunxu. I still haven’t fully adapted. I even had that foolish hope for a moment.
Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “But so far, Luzhou Group hasn’t been stopped. Their plan is going smoothly.”
Fujie mused, “Maybe… they haven’t been stopped yet.”
“After all, as Luzhou Group grows, the old aristocracy is being wiped out, resources are being centralized, and the Foundation Establishment Exam is spreading everywhere.”
“Maybe that’s exactly what the other side wants. So they’re letting it happen—playing along.”
Zhang Yu wasn’t sure if Fujie was right. But he memorized every word Zhang Pianpian had said.
…
Time passed quickly. It was now August. In one month, Zhang Yu would become a senior student.
Songyang City was in the grip of summer heat.
Zhang Yu’s bank account had reached 44 million.
But as prices in the First Layer soared, even Celestial Spirit Roots—the key to foundation establishment—had skyrocketed to 58 million.
Still, with his current income, Zhang Yu could afford it. If he saved a few more months, he’d be able to buy one.
That night, his phone rang.
It was Zhao Tianxing.
His name was tagged with Zhang Yu’s personal note: Everyone laughs at you, but you’re the funniest.
Seeing it, Zhang Yu smiled faintly, remembering Zhao Tianxing’s “clown theory.”
He answered.
“Old Zhao, what’s up?”
A woman’s voice came through—strange, unfamiliar.
“Is this Zhang Yu?”
Zhang Yu frowned. Then he learned she was Zhao Tianxing’s mother.
Her call was urgent. Zhao Tianxing had gotten into trouble.
“After his father lost his job, he got drawn into gambling—secretly mortgaged his body to Luzhou Group.”
“I finally saved up enough to redeem him… but Oasis Company said his body had already been sold.”
“You know the people at Luzhou Group. Can you help? We’ll pay whatever it takes to get him back…”
…
On the 1111th floor of Luzhou Group, Wang Zong listened calmly.
“Your friend?”
“Small matter. I’ll have someone look into it.”
Zhang Yu, relieved, thought: In Kunxu, you need money and power to protect yourself. To protect the people you care about.
But Wang Zong soon frowned and shook his head.
“Can’t be done. Already sold.”
Zhang Yu froze. “Sold?”
Wang Zong nodded, pointing at the sky.
“An elite customer from the Second Layer bought a batch of flesh as ingredients. Your friend’s body was one of them. It’s already been shipped.”
Zhang Yu’s voice rose. “Can it be returned?”
Wang Zong blinked, then stared at him.
“…What?”
Zhang Yu pressed on. “Can we contact the customer? Can we get his body back?”
Before he could finish, Wang Zong’s aura shifted.
The gentle, kind presence vanished. In its place came an icy chill—like a predator locking eyes with prey.
“Zhang Yu,” Wang Zong said, voice cold. “Business is business. Once something’s sold, you don’t ask for it back. How dare you?”
Zhang Yu felt the weight of that gaze. He thought of Zhao Tianxing’s face. He clenched his jaw.
“I’ll pay. I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
Wang Zong’s voice was flat. “Is this just about a bit of meat? What reason would I give the customer to return it?
I keep my word. Once I’ve sold something, I don’t take it back—unless there’s a defect.”
Zhang Yu stood his ground. “I’ll apologize to the customer. He’s my best friend. I can’t just let him be eaten.”
Wang Zong’s eyes narrowed. “So what if he’s eaten? Zhao Tianxing’s file says he’s worthless. What’s one friend? You should stop hanging out with people like that.”
He leaned forward.
“Zhang Yu. Let me teach you one truth.”
“In this world, you must eat to grow strong.”
“The poor suffer their whole lives—eating only hardship.”
“If you want to be one of the elite, you must learn to eat others.”
Zhang Yu opened his mouth to speak, but Wang Zong cut him off.
“Get out.”
“Know your place.”
“You’re using my money.”
“I’ll give you face when you don’t hurt the company.
But if you interfere with business… get out. Never come back.”
Zhang Yu stared in shock. He hadn’t expected such fury.
Wang Zong sneered.
“Still standing? Get out!”
A flash of golden light. Dozens of divine hands materialized, grabbing Zhang Yu and hurling him out of the office.
Outside, the general manager Chi He watched, unimpressed.
Wang Zong was kind to his subordinates—joking, allowing small gifts, even accepting bribes.
But if someone displeased him—especially if their actions hurt company interests—then punishment, humiliation, or even violence was common.
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had been too favored for such things to happen before.
Chi He walked over and clapped Zhang Yu on the shoulder.
“Don’t argue when Wang Zong’s angry. Just take the scolding.
Wait a few days. When he calms down, come back and apologize. He still likes you.”
Zhang Yu suddenly asked: “My friend… is there really no hope?”
Chi He paused, then sighed.
“Let him become a soul cultivator.”
Outside Luzhou Tower, Zhang Yu stared at his vibrating phone—the call from Zhao Tianxing’s mother still waiting.
But he didn’t know how to answer.
“I’m sorry, old Zhao,” he whispered, fists tightening.
“I… couldn’t save you.”
At that moment, the Jinyu Man Tang Decree in his mind slowed. The cultivation effect seemed to reverse—his inner strength waning.
No matter how he visualized the numbers in his mind, the old confidence, the courage—gone.
Then, as he walked home, his phone buzzed again.
> Jin Dan Immortal Xinghuo has entered within 1,000 meters of you. He has accidentally killed 14 people in the past month and has paid all fines and compensation. Please exercise caution. Do not provoke.
(End of Chapter)
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