Outside the illusion, Song Xu was taken aback by the scene. “Are you saying Zhang Yu is cultivating the Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique?”

Mo Tianyi also found it peculiar. “Zhang Yu registered this technique, and Boss, look at him now—he’s transformed into a severely ill employee, yet he’s still working on the assembly line. Isn’t that precisely the effect of the Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique?”

Song Xu stroked his chin, perplexed. “Isn’t this technique designed for the lowest-class poor? It just makes them work harder, seek less medical treatment, and demand less compensation. It’s a useless technique for useless people.”

“Zhang Yu wants to use this heart technique to enhance his Dao Heart?”

“Isn’t he afraid of becoming so attuned to this technique that he ends up a useless person who can only take beatings, never fight back, and constantly swallows his anger?”

“On the other hand, Bai Zhenzhen…” Song Xu commented, “her Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique is gaining deeper understanding in this scenario. She’s bound to excel in future exams.”

As Song Xu and Mo Tianyi were speaking, the scene within the illusion shifted once more.

On the assembly line.

Fueled by Bai Zhenzhen’s newfound confidence, her subsequent actions pushed all the workers on the assembly line to their absolute limits.

Under such circumstances, Zhang Yu felt his hope slowly vanish. The pain throughout his body burned like fire, making it impossible for him to concentrate on his work.

“It hurts so much…”

Zhang Yu didn’t want to hurt anymore.

He knew that for the Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique to continue its effect and suppress his pain, he needed at least a glimmer of hope.

Even if it was just the small hope of finishing work early.

So he stepped forward, looked at Bai Zhenzhen, and said, “Boss, I’d like to request a day off today.”

Bai Zhenzhen’s gaze swept over him, and as she saw Zhang Yu’s face, a flicker of emotion crossed her expression.

After hearing that Zhang Yu’s reason for the request was due to injury, Bai Zhenzhen nodded slightly and sighed, “You don’t want to work overtime?”

When Zhang Yu nodded, Bai Zhenzhen said, “It seems you’ve indeed toiled hard.”

Then Bai Zhenzhen looked at everyone present and asked, “Who else doesn’t want to work overtime like him?”

Seeing them all look tempted but too afraid to speak, Bai Zhenzhen asked again, “Look at how meek and submissive you all are, doing whatever you’re told, no questions asked? I hired people, not machines.”

“If you have any demands, step forward and tell me. Be a bit bolder.”

Watching the employees, including Zhang Yu, step forward to refuse overtime, Bai Zhenzhen smiled with satisfaction. “Excellent. By refusing the factory’s assigned work, all of you are fired.”

Bai Zhenzhen turned to her secretary and said, “It’s perfect; we have a fresh batch of graduates ready to be hired. Replace all these old and sick workers, and don’t pay them a single cent in severance…”

With the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique in full effect, all the workers before Bai Zhenzhen became mere pawns in her eyes, waiting to be manipulated for greater profit.

As she carried out her actions, her heart technique flowed more smoothly, and her Dao Heart grew as solid and indestructible as rock.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu, upon hearing these words, felt his heart plunge into complete darkness. All hope vanished with the loss of his job, utterly gone.

With all hope stripped away, what was he to do?

How could he find hope?

How could he continue to suppress the piercing pain in his body?

Song Xu observed the scene, sighing, “The Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique is still utterly useless. Why would anyone choose such a technique?”

“What’s the use of allowing one’s mind to understand and align with this technique?”

“It’s entirely counterproductive.”

Mo Tianyi, however, mused, “But enduring all this time, it does seem to temper the Dao Heart, doesn’t it?”

“Zhang Yu, like us, is poor and not qualified for the Top Ten. Many times, he has no choice but to endure.”

He spoke with a touch of empathy, “Compared to fighting, compared to resisting… endurance is the only choice the poor can make, isn’t it?”

Song Xu gazed at Zhang Yu in the illusion, murmuring, “Keep enduring? But when will it ever end?”

“No wonder he eventually caved under pressure and signed with the wealthy.”

“It’s also fortunate that you didn’t invest too heavily in him initially.”

“Such a person is poor to their very core; they even chose a cowardly heart technique. They’re simply not worth investing in.”

But just then, the unfolding changes within the illusion surprised them both.

Zhang Yu, feeling utterly devoid of hope, stood frozen in place.

Beyond the lamentations of the employees and Bai Zhenzhen’s commands, he faintly perceived something else.

“Is that the sound of protesting workers outside?”

“Protest?”

A faint spark appeared in Zhang Yu’s eyes at this thought.

Concurrently, the heart technique, which had been difficult to cultivate in his mind, showed signs of activation once more.

The crippled ox in Zhang Yu’s mental visualization, previously mired in mud and halted by hopelessness, now stirred.

But at this moment, as Zhang Yu’s thoughts shifted, a cold gleam seemed to emanate from the crippled ox’s broken horn.

“The only hope left is to fight.”

“When all hope has perished, when darkness surrounds you, when even prayers yield no hope… then only with these two broken horns can one fight for justice and carve out a sliver of hope for oneself…”

At this moment, a flash of insight suddenly struck Zhang Yu.

“The Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique is not a martial art for suppressing pain to labor.”

“Its original intention was to care for disabled cultivators and alleviate their suffering.”

“But the deeper philosophy within this heart technique is one of desperate resistance even in the face of utter hopelessness! To fight for that last glimmer of hope!”

“Crippled Ox Sacrifice, Crippled Ox Sacrifice… this is the true essence of sacrifice, not about damaging one’s health just to work.”

At this moment, the Level 10 Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique seemed to undergo a subtle transformation, surging with renewed vigor in Zhang Yu’s mind.

Zhang Yu felt his understanding of the Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique deepen once again.

With a roar, he charged at Bai Zhenzhen, yelling, “I’m going for it!”

Bai Zhenzhen frowned, recognizing Zhang Yu’s face, and stepped back. Meanwhile, Yu Xinghan and the other security guards rushed towards Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu and the security guards, including Yu Xinghan, quickly clashed.

Though Zhang Yu’s strength was inferior to the others, he fought with a reckless disregard for his life, launching suicidal attacks that forced the security guards to constantly fall back.

After all, medical expenses could be reimbursed, but they were useless if someone died.

Zhang Yu especially felt that the more desperate the situation, the more his power surged.

With the Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique in operation, a portion of his latent potential, usually hidden deep within his body, seemed to be unleashed to an extraordinary degree, making him grow stronger with every exchange.

The Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique’s efficacy at this moment far surpassed anything he had experienced before.

Witnessing Zhang Yu’s desperate, life-risking attacks temporarily push back the security guards, the remaining workers also began to stir restlessly.

Bai Zhenzhen, observing Zhang Yu fighting so fiercely, felt her emotions waver once more. Her Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique seemed to encounter an unexpected resistance.

At that moment, she felt a pang of unwillingness in her heart.

A thought emerged: she didn’t want to see Zhang Yu beaten down like this anymore.

As Bai Zhenzhen felt this unsuitability with her heart technique, the True Spiritual Root in her Dantian also altered its analysis of the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique.

Song Xu, watching the scene, marveled, “What’s happening? Under the influence of the Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique, Zhang Yu is actually fighting so desperately!”

Mo Tianyi, perplexed, asked, “Does this Crippled Ox Sacrifice Heart Technique perhaps hold some deeper mysteries?”

But soon, something even more astonishing occurred.

As Zhang Yu led the workers in a fierce confrontation with the security guards, Bai Zhenzhen ultimately intervened, stopping the conflict and announcing increased benefits and higher wages for the employees.

Mo Tianyi grew even more puzzled. “Is this something the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique is capable of?”

Song Xu explained, “Changes in one’s thoughts naturally alter the interpretation and understanding of heart techniques.”

“The deeper the understanding of the heart technique, the stronger its effect.”

“But in reality, for a person’s thoughts to change and their understanding of a heart technique to deepen, it often requires extensive time for reflection and experience.”

“The Spiritual Realm Illusion, however, accelerates this process through diverse scenarios.”

“Judging by their performances, both of them have significantly deepened their understanding of their respective heart techniques.”

“After this illusion experience, both will undoubtedly emerge with a firmer Dao Heart and more potent heart techniques.”

As he spoke, Song Xu observed the illusion beginning to change once more.

With increased wages and improved benefits, the entire factory resumed operation.

Though Bai Zhenzhen continued to calmly manage the factory, she sensed that her current composure differed from her previous detachment.

If her previous calmness was a cold, emotionless calculation, then her current calmness incorporated her own humanity, no longer blindly pursuing success and victory.

“This is… pursuing what you believe is right, even when the odds are against you, doing what you truly desire.”

For instance, at this moment, she had no desire to be at odds with Zhang Yu. So, even if it meant reduced profits or greater risks, she would calmly accept and proceed with her decisions.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen suddenly gained a deeper understanding of the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique.

“Suppressing emotions, calculating purely based on gains, losses, and success—that’s not true calmness; it’s merely a suppression of humanity.”

“Only accepting failure with composure, and being fearless in upholding one’s convictions, is the true essence of the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique…”

In that moment, she felt like an assassin wielding a small dagger. Even if success was improbable, a near-certain death, she would calmly deliver her strike.

Feeling the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique operate with an unprecedented effect, Bai Zhenzhen experienced a rush of clarity in her mind and a growing sense of resolve.

She could feel that as her understanding of the Frigid Soul Ice Heart Technique deepened, the power of this heart technique became stronger.

The greater the risk and the lower the chance of success, the calmer she felt, and the more active her mind, body, and spiritual power became.

Then she, Zhang Yu, and Yu Xinghan watched as the factory, burdened by excessively high wages and benefits, saw its costs soar and ultimately collapsed under the pressure from rival factories…

Observing this scene, Mo Tianyi mused, “Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, their intentions are noble.”

“If Zhang Pianpian hadn’t forced them to sign, and with your guidance, Boss, they might have genuinely had a chance to get into the Top Ten.”

Song Xu said coolly, “But like all poor people, no matter how good their intentions, without the backing of wealth, everything is merely a dream, a reflection in water, and will ultimately be discarded by this world.”

Mo Tianyi said, “But from this illusion, it appears Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s perspectives are quite similar to ours.”

“Perhaps if we ask them directly, they’ll reveal the secret to their rapid growth, helping us poor people carve out our own path…”

The idea of the poor helping each other to break through the elaborate traps set by the wealthy has always been a core tenet taught by Song Xu to Mo Tianyi, and a firm belief among members of the Poor People’s Alliance.

It was based on this belief that they poured all their support into Song Xu, hoping he would be the first to break through the ‘sky’ and lead them all to success in the future.

Upon hearing this, Song Xu shook his head. “An illusion is still just an illusion.”

“Regardless of what they think deep down, in reality, they’ve become pawns of the wealthy. We can’t trust them too much.”

“Let’s stick to my method.”

“They’re likely to restart the illusion and continue tempering their Dao Hearts, aren’t they?”

“Notify me when they come out.”

After waiting for over two hours, Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Yu Xinghan were finally about to emerge.

Meanwhile, in a certain basement in reality.

Song Xu, wearing a mask, was kneeling amid a strange ritual.

He thought to himself, “Zhang Yu is about to exit the illusion. Prepare to activate the ritual and locate his evil god.”