https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-491-Hua-Shen-Descends-Thanks-to-Yingting-Jianyue-for-the-Patronage-/13687159/
Chapter 492: Win-Win
(Thank you, 'A Jia Sha' for the Alliance Lord donation!)
In Zhang Yu’s perception, a torrent of information and matter surged forward—souls, thoughts, blood essence, martial energy—of every Factory worker, all violently drawn in by the mysterious Yin Device. Even Zhang Yu himself felt an intense, almost uncontrollable urge throughout his body. Had it not been for the protection of the Jiutian Yuanyang Tower, he might have already been compromised.
Especially his brow crystal pulsed with alarming intensity, as if it were about to fly off at any moment.
For a single breath, that enigmatic Yin Device—whose origin remained unknown—had transformed into a black hole, devouring everything: memories, emotions, flesh, and martial energy.
The factory workers visibly deteriorated, their bodies shrinking before the eyes of all, as if turning into skeletons.
Then, another figure descended into the Ling Realm.
Wan Hua Shen Jun spoke coldly: “Qiongjiang, you’ve gone too far.”
Qiongjiang God laughed heartily. “Go too far? So what? I’ll just pay for it.”
“Pay?” Wan Hua Shen Jun replied with icy calm. “Fine. How much can you afford?”
In that instant, Zhang Yu’s eyes widened in surprise—another price increase notification flashed into view.
Then he realized: everything around him began to skyrocket in price.
Factory equipment, the value of personnel, raw materials scattered on the ground—even the compensation for a junior college student’s injury—everything inflated wildly, instantly.
Zhang Yu stared in horror. The air around him felt like a minefield of endless crises. One wrong step, one accidental brush against something, and he’d be bankrupt in an instant.
From the Ling Realm came Qiongjiang God’s voice, tinged with surprise:
“Wan Hua old rogue… when did you gain control over prices to this degree?”
Wan Hua Shen Jun replied:
“Qiongjiang, this is called using your own strength against you. You want to fight? Then keep throwing money at it.”
“But… do you even have the means to match me?”
A cold snort echoed—then all the strange phenomena vanished.
The monstrous Yin Device that had devoured everything was gone, vanished without a trace.
Zhang Yu felt his body lighten instantly. His senses returned to normal.
Only the damaged factory buildings, broken equipment, and the emaciated, skeletal forms of the workers remained—silent proof that what had just happened was no illusion.
Recalling the sudden price surge, Zhang Yu quickly activated his Eye Armor to scan the data. He discovered that, within just a few seconds, the entire Wanfa University City had experienced a massive, violent spike in prices—soaring high before collapsing back to baseline.
Zhang Yu inhaled sharply. The sight chilled him more than witnessing Qiongjiang God destroy the factory.
“Wan Hua Shen Jun can manipulate the entire University City’s economy in an instant?”
“That means, if he wanted to, he could trigger a Level 3… Level 5… even higher financial storm with just a thought. Destroying countless people’s lives in the process.”
“And if two Hua Shen clashed… what kind of economic chaos would erupt? How many would lose everything—body and soul?”
No wonder the Top Ten never truly fought.
If they did, the devastation would be unimaginable.
Even the thought made Zhang Yu’s blood run cold.
It wasn’t merely about hiding.
In the Ling Realm and the economy’s influence, even those not on the battlefield could be wiped out financially by a single clash between Hua Shen.
Zhang Yu suddenly remembered something Fujie had once told him:
“After you open your company, it’s not you serving the company. It’s the employees and the company serving you—handling all the trivial tasks so you can focus on what matters. You’re the company’s greatest asset.”
Zhang Yu pondered:
Could a university be the same? Not that the Hua Shen depend on the university… but that the university depends on the Hua Shen?
Without the Top Ten Sects and the Heavenly Court above them, universities might look entirely different.
Just then, a voice echoed in his mind.
“Everything built inside the factory… is now broken.”
Zhang Yu blinked. Then he realized: the voice came from the crystal embedded in his forehead.
As he contemplated what to do, the voice continued:
“You worked overtime to make it. Why destroy it like this?”
Zhang Yu thought: They’ll pay for it anyway.
The voice responded instantly: “Pay? Will she repair this place?”
Zhang Yu froze. “You can hear my thoughts?”
The voice pressed: “Will she fix it?”
Zhang Yu didn’t answer, but his mind continued to wander:
“Qiongjiang God wouldn’t come personally to fix it. She’d just pay money.”
Qiongjiang Maiden asked again: “Where does the money come from?”
Zhang Yu didn’t want to answer—but his mind kept forming the answer anyway.
“It comes from work.”
Qiongjiang Maiden: “So Qiongjiang God is working? She works elsewhere, earns money, then uses it to compensate for the damage?”
Zhang Yu stayed silent. His thoughts tumbled, growing conflicted and unclear:
“Maybe Qiongjiang God does work… but it’s impossible. Her work must be nothing like ours.”
Qiongjiang Maiden: “If she doesn’t work, where does her money come from? Who repairs the damage caused here?”
Zhang Yu groaned inwardly: “Can you stop asking? I don’t know everything.”
Recalling the Hua Shen battle just now, Zhang Yu felt a wave of irritation rise.
“I’ve just barely left campus… won’t this incident make me forbidden to leave again?”
At that moment, Ciji Zhenjun appeared before him.
“Are you alright?”
“Nothing’s physically wrong,” Zhang Yu replied. After a pause, he pointed to his forehead. “But… something’s been talking inside my mind.”
With Zhang Pianpian’s technical support, Zhang Yu could directly communicate with the Yin Device—no need for the mental channel. But if he didn’t report the anomaly now, and Ciji Zhenjun later discovered it during a checkup, he’d be under suspicion.
Upon hearing this, Ciji Zhenjun’s expression darkened slightly. She traced a sacred gesture, and a cascade of spells materialized in the Ling Realm—like chains wrapping around the diamond-shaped crystal.
The next moment, Zhang Yu felt the crystal in his brow go utterly still—then fall free, caught midair by Ciji Zhenjun.
Ciji Zhenjun warned:
“Likely, the movement of the Hua Shen gods disrupted this Yin Device. I’ll seal it completely for now. Come with me to the Laboratory later for a full check. If anything feels off, let me know immediately.”
After hours of testing, Zhang Yu finally emerged from the research facility.
No physical abnormalities found. He was told to keep monitoring himself.
But the one thing he was most relieved to hear was this:
Ciji Zhenjun said calmly:
“The God said not to fear. You may leave campus freely—work, compete, go wherever you wish.”
She added:
“If you hide in school out of fear, outsiders will think Wan Hua Shen Jun lost to Qiongjiang God… or worse, that Wan Hua Shen Jun feared her. That would be far worse than any real defeat.”
Not long after, news spread from Hehuan University:
Qiongjiang God had descended upon Wanfa University City, reclaimed her Yin Device, and arrested the thief who stole it.
Fujie sighed:
“Ah… Hua Shen gods are the universities’ ultimate brand. Their every move can shift virtual currency, stocks, and futures.”
“And with Qiongjiang Coin having dropped sharply recently, Qiongjiang God certainly won’t admit defeat. She’ll claim victory.”
Shortly after, Wanfa University released its own statement:
Under the protection of Wan Hua Shen Jun, the University City had suffered no damage.
Fujie remarked:
“Students fighting? Fine—lose, surrender, accept it. But Hua Shen? Even in total defeat, you must not admit it. Say you lost, and your coin price and stock value crash—losses worse than actual battle.”
“Hua Shen must win. They can only win.”
Zhang Yu frowned. “Wan Hua Shen Jun told me to leave. But won’t Qiongjiang God strike again?”
Fujie pondered. “This time, it was the Hua Shen Yin Qi that summoned Qiongjiang God. Just you alone? Not enough to provoke a Hua Shen’s direct action.”
“Besides, her move has already caused ripples among the Hua Shen. She’ll likely hesitate before acting again. Meanwhile, Wan Hua Shen Jun will probably step up his protection of you.”
Zhang Yu said: “After this, no matter how Wanfa University explains, other schools will still believe the technological breakthrough came from Hehuan University’s Yin Device.”
Fujie chuckled:
“Ah, the rumors of fake promotion are now gone—now everyone thinks you truly copied Hehuan’s tech. Mass production is just a matter of time.”
He added:
“Frankly… this clash broke the delicate balance among the Top Ten Elite Universities.”
“And… you were drawn there by an Artifact Spirit from the Double Rest Cult. Was Qiongjiang God also lured in by them? What boldness—deliberately stirring up conflict between the Top Ten?”
“The University War… it seems someone’s always pushing it forward.”
The fate of the Top Ten Elite Universities. The ambitions of the Hua Shen. The direction of the University War…
All of it felt far too distant for Zhang Yu right now.
In the days that followed, he buried himself in study and cultivation—preparing for the Civil Engineering Competition, working toward transferring to the Alchemy Department, and laying the foundation for his future goal: joining a Sect.
…
University City, Level 120
Fu Xinyao walked the street, reflecting:
After my tip last time, the God used another hidden Hua Shen Yin Qi to descend into Wanfa University City, caused chaos, and left unharmed.
Now I’ll stay here to gather more intelligence…
Just then, Ping Han said:
“That man—his name is Ji Yuanchi. He’s also in Zhang Yu’s class.”
This time, Fu Xinyao had learned her lesson. To avoid being reported and caught, she approached Ji Yuanchi and said:
“Hey, classmate—interested in free services?”
(End of Chapter)
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