“Lad, let’s have a chat.”

Looking at the figure before him, whose body seemed made of glazed glass and whose hair was a flowing mane of fire, Zhang Yu knew this was the Spark Ascetic, the one he had never met but had heard countless others speak of.

Following him to the rooftop of a tall building, Zhang Yu inquired, “Senior, what brings you to me?”

The Spark Ascetic chuckled, spitting out a series of sparks, “Why be so formal with this old one? You and Yu Xinghan are classmates training together; you can call me ‘Shifu’ if you like.”

Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback. “Shifu?”

“Mm,” the Spark Ascetic responded, then smiled, “Have you decided on a university and major yet?”

He looked at Zhang Yu with a knowing smile, asking, “It wouldn’t be Netherworld University, would it?”

Zhang Yu didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “Does Senior find Netherworld University unsuitable?”

The Spark Ascetic stated, “Universities choose students based on merit, and conversely, students naturally choose universities when applying, seeing if the university is suitable for them.”

“Netherworld University belongs to the Netherworld Palace, a sect known for its cultivation techniques involving drawing blood, flaying skin, and refining living souls. They regard all living beings as mere grass, using any means necessary to achieve their goals. As long as there’s sufficient profit, there’s nothing they won’t trade.”

“If not for the obstruction of other sects, they’d eagerly turn levels 1 to 10 into breeding grounds, providing them with cultivation resources.”

“I’m not saying this path of immortality is good or bad, but do you truly believe this path suits you?”

Zhang Yu then asked, “Then which university does Senior think is suitable for me?”

The Spark Ascetic replied, “Myriad Arts University has been the orthodox Xuan Gate since ancient times, selecting the best of the best, aiming to cultivate generations of immortal seeds.”

Fuji, listening to the Spark Ascetic’s words, explained in Zhang Yu’s mind, “Selecting the best of the best means competing to the death, all to produce an immortal. Before becoming an immortal, everyone’s just a beast of burden.”

The Spark Ascetic continued, “Students who enter Myriad Arts University, whether they become immortals or not, can at least fully develop their talents and have ample opportunity for practice.”

Fuji chuckled, “Ample opportunity for practice means you’ll be starting internships and overtime work as early as university.”

The Spark Ascetic went on, “Myriad Arts University also has excellent guarantees for its students, acting according to the rules. As long as you work hard, you can earn money and improve your cultivation, enough to support yourself.”

Fuji said, “Enough to support yourself means the income during university isn’t very high.”

The Spark Ascetic stated, “Of course, the school has high demands on its teachers and students, aiming to cultivate every student into an elite, contributing to the company, the sect, and Kunxu.”

Fuji understood, “The school has high demands means performance evaluations are difficult, and graduating and getting into graduate school aren’t easy.”

“Contributing means you’ll be working for the company and the sect for a long time after graduation; they aren’t cultivating you for nothing…”

Listening to the Spark Ascetic’s promotion and Fuji’s explanation, Zhang Yu gradually gained some understanding.

“Speaking of Kunxu’s first level, all sorts of selection and cultivation mechanisms for immortal talents, and what Fuji once said… the practice of making those below desperately climb and compete, was all created by the Ten Great Sects like the Myriad Arts Sect, right?”

“The difference between Myriad Arts University and Netherworld University… maybe it’s just the difference between needing beasts of burden and needing pigs and sheep?”

“So, those who disapprove of the Netherworld Palace’s methods are the Ten Great Sects like the Myriad Arts Sect? Because they want beasts of burden who can work, not tasty pigs and sheep.”

“Yeah, otherwise what?” Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, “The conflict between the Ten Great Sects… it’s not for profit, could it possibly be for a righteous cause?”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s thoughtful expression, the Spark Ascetic continued, “If you’re willing to enter Myriad Arts University, I can introduce you to my contacts from my university days, which should give you a lot of help.”

“As for me, I can also serve as your Shifu in your remaining high school life and provide you with some guidance.”

“Alright, I’ve said what I needed to say; you can slowly consider your choices.”

“What I said today, tell Bai Zhenzhen about it later too; I’m a little short on time and have to leave in a bit.”

“Next…” The Spark Ascetic said, “There’s a Proper God who wants to speak with you.”

In the next moment, Deng Bingding appeared and said, “Student Zhang, long time no see.”

This time, Deng Bingding’s purpose in coming to Zhang Yu was to deal with Wang.

Deng Bingding thought to herself, “The Oasis Group’s other arrangements on the first level aren’t difficult to handle.”

“But Wang… is a troublesome hot potato.”

Neither they, the Proper Gods, nor the Spark Ascetic, who was willing to do things for money, wanted to deal with Wang as an individual.

After all, taking a salary and overtime pay, cleaning up the various minions under the Oasis Group… that was no problem for them.

But slapping the face of that young master with a deep background and being marked by him was another matter entirely.

However, Wang was like a flag planted by the Oasis Group on the first level, representing the confidence of countless people and attracting the participation of countless talents and powerful families.

Deng Bingding understood that as long as Wang didn’t fall, no matter how many times the Oasis Group’s hands and feet were cut off, they would grow back again and again.

But even so, asking her to step forward and suppress this young master, and then be remembered by this young master of the Oasis Group, was something she was unwilling to do.

In this situation, Deng Bingding thought of Zhang Yu.

“Zhang Yu’s background is unfathomable; he shouldn’t be afraid of being resented by Wang.”

Moreover… Deng Bingding thought of Zhang Yu’s recent months of working for the Oasis Group, acting as a spokesperson, and frequently entering and leaving Wang’s mansion and gatherings.

Combined with Zhang Yu’s Zhang Pianpian and Zhang Pianpian’s certain Great God, she understood that Zhang Yu was definitely not from the Netherworld Palace faction.

“Could this be an arrangement deliberately made by a certain Great God?”

“From the day Zhang Yu participated in the Foundation Establishment Examination, he had already entered the game.”

“Replacing Ye Lingxiao, getting close to Wang, infiltrating the Oasis Group, it’s all to let Zhang Yu clean up Wang in the end?”

“Looking at it this way, Wang came down to manage the Oasis Group for gilding, then Zhang Yu is relying on cleaning up Wang to be gilded…”

Every time she thought of this, Deng Bingding felt a chill in her heart, “The waters of Kunxu are always so unfathomable.”

“Whether it’s us or the Oasis Group, I’m afraid we’re already in the calculations of this mysterious Great God, heading step by step towards the ending he has laid out.”

When Zhang Yu heard Deng Bingding’s request, he was first slightly stunned, then felt like Deng Bingding was joking.

“Me? A high school sophomore going to fight the CEO of the Oasis Group?”

Zhang Yu thought to himself that this would really kill people, and it wasn’t just him who would die, but probably even Bai Zhenzhen as well.

But Zhang Yu was unwilling to offend Deng Bingding, this Great God, and only wanted to politely refuse.

Deng Bingding said, “In order to quickly go down to the next level and to replace his Divine Spiritual Root and re-establish his foundation, Wang has abolished his cultivation and no longer has the strength of peak Foundation Establishment. As for his magical treasures and talismans, there aren’t no ways to deal with them…”

In short, Deng Bingding meant that they could create opportunities for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to deal with Wang.

But after Deng Bingding’s explanation, she found that Zhang Yu was still refusing repeatedly.

At first, Deng Bingding thought Zhang Yu’s refusal was just for show, but soon she realized that no matter how she persuaded him, he was unwilling to accept.

Deng Bingding wasn’t angry, but instead had new thoughts in her mind.

“Zhang Yu had previously communicated with Zhang Pianpian on the second level, so he should have received instructions from above.”

“His refusal now… does it mean that it’s not yet time to act?”

Deng Bingding speculated in her heart, the more she thought about it, the more she felt that was what he meant, and immediately stopped insisting and let Zhang Yu leave.

The Spark Ascetic on the side watched this scene, frowning and saying, “Letting such a high school student fight Wang, what are you Proper Gods thinking? Even if you’re afraid of getting burned, wanting to find a knife, this is a bit too much, isn’t it?”

Deng Bingding said gloomily, “Hmph, Spark Boy, that’s why you fall down even when you climb up.”

“This Zhang Yu is not as simple as you think.”

“To completely resolve the matters of the first level and to drive Wang back up, the final move will probably fall into Zhang Yu’s hands.”

Zhang Yu returned to the apartment, saw Bai Zhenzhen, who was cultivating, stand up, and said happily, “Yu-zi, you’re back? I ordered something delicious; let’s eat together.”

Bai Zhenzhen didn’t know the purpose of Zhang Yu’s outing, and at this moment, looking at Bai Zhenzhen’s happy appearance, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, “It was hard to get this peaceful life; how can I risk it?”

“I don’t want to risk my life again, and I don’t want A-zhen to lose half her life as easily as before.”

“Endure it, Zhang Yu.”

“Silently endure, silently accumulate strength, until the strength is strong enough, until the day of coming out…”

In the following period of time, the people around CEO Wang found that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen didn’t appear at the gatherings as much anymore.

Many people felt that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen seemed to have been neglected by CEO Wang, and immediately felt a burst of joy in their hearts, working even harder to please CEO Wang, thinking about replacing them.

At a gathering, Ye Mantian cursed, “People like Zhang Yu who are poor dogs can’t be fed too much. These guys who climbed up from the bottom will think they have enough confidence and can stand up straight if they’re fed too much and won’t listen to orders.”

Someone echoed, “Poor people can’t be given too much money. Throwing money at them is useful at first, but after throwing too much, they think they have money too and aren’t as obedient.”

CEO Wang looked indifferently at these people around him who were obedient to him and began to insult Zhang Yu in unison because of his actions, like watching a group of wagging dogs, but sneered inwardly.

He had seen too many and raised too many of these wagging, obedient dogs.

The more these dogs were raised, the more they relied on him, and the smaller their courage became. They were so obedient that they didn’t even dare to bare their teeth when something happened, and didn’t dare to make a sound even when their own interests were harmed.

Wang used to like raising such dogs, but soon he realized that these dogs were useless, which was also where he and his mother disagreed.