Chapter 325: Wang Yin's Dao Heart Shatters

During the time Zhang Yu was cooperating with Tian Yang, thanks to Wang Yin's daily sponsorship, Zhang Yu had food every day to replenish his vital essence and strengthen his foundation.

Professional technicians massaged him, helping him recover and accelerating his physical recovery after each training session. Any potential side effects from the masseuses were, of course, overcome by his supreme will. Coupled with potent elixirs and the rich spiritual energy of the graveyard environment, his cultivation conditions had never been better, leading to an unprecedented rapid improvement in his cultivation.

Zhang Yu mused that if Wang Yin knew he and Tian Yang were merely putting on an act to trick him out of spiritual coins, and that he never truly left the construction site after work, Wang Yin would likely be even more enraged and hate him to the core.

Hearing Zhang Yu's speculation, Fu Ji, however, stated, "When he learns the truth, he will probably be the first one to suffer."

Zhang Yu asked in surprise, "Himself?"

Fu Ji chuckled and explained, "To deceive someone, the most crucial thing is to let them benefit. Only when people have reaped profits and enjoyed benefits will they deeply entrench themselves in a deception, sinking deeper and deeper, eventually unwilling to face the truth even when they know it's a trick. Wang Yin is a wealthy man. His hatred for you alone isn't enough to make him participate so actively. I think..." Fu Ji speculated, "It's probably as I guessed before: you've become his inner demon. He needs to use you to patch his flaws and strengthen his Dao heart. And if he were to learn the truth—that you weren't manipulated by him, but instead used his invested resources to cultivate more effectively... then his inner demon would likely worsen, the flaws in his cultivation method would intensify, and his Dao heart, far from recovering, might even regress."

Zhang Yu's eyes flickered upon hearing this. "Doesn't that mean... I have an extra card to play against him?"

Fu Ji calmly replied, "But that card isn't only in your hand."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu thought, "Tian Yang... and his friend from Netherworld University? Could people from Netherworld University be setting a trap for Wang Yin?" Lacking sufficient information, Zhang Yu still grasped only fragments of the full picture, like a blind man touching an elephant, finding it difficult to understand the whole truth.

He decided to set these distracting thoughts aside and continue to focus on his cultivation. After all, his academic performance, rankings, and cultivation level were his true foundations at Myriad Laws University.

He took a deep breath and once again activated his breathing technique.

In the following days, Zhang Yu's schedule was packed: cultivating, working, attending online classes, eating, getting massages, occasionally spending spiritual coins on various cultivation services, and even finding time to assist Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan with their training. Every day, he felt that 24 hours simply weren't enough, wishing he could split himself into several clones. Under these circumstances, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

Ten-odd days passed in the blink of an eye. On this particular day, Zhang Yu was cultivating at the construction site as usual. His Dao heart had now reached Level 14 (25.3). Feeling his increasingly resolute will, and observing the white ox in his mind's eye, which was treading through swirling black mud with growing confidence, Zhang Yu thought, "After reaching Level 15 Dao heart, I'll be able to try operating the second cultivation method. Speaking of which, I haven't gone to test for compatibility yet. I wonder what cultivation method would be most suitable for me, and for the 'Crippled Ox Self-Sacrifice Art'?"

At the same time, the flow of spiritual energy within Zhang Yu's body became increasingly turbulent. His spiritual energy had reached 610.9, and its quality was at Level 165. As he moved, streams of aura surged forth, transforming into swirling clouds that twisted steel rebar, dismantled miscellaneous objects, or cleared away debris.

The next moment, Zhang Yu's entire body trembled. He felt his physical form, spiritual energy, and aura blend together seamlessly. "My physical strength has broken through to Level 15." Although Zhang Yu's primary cultivation focus during this period was the breathing technique, he would still make time to train his physical strength whenever possible. Especially with daily meals, massages, and the Nine Hell Suppressing Mountain Belt constantly applying a 30-times gravity tempering effect, his physical strength had finally reached Level 15.

"Just as the 'Wolf Friend Art' states..." Zhang Yu lightly flicked his finger, and streams of aura rippled outwards like water, transmitting the power of his flick far away until it softly impacted a wall over ten meters distant. With his physical strength reaching Level 15, Zhang Yu felt his spiritual energy and body merge even more profoundly, as if his aura had become an extension of his body. The power of his every punch and kick could be projected far away through the transmission of his aura. Afterwards, he conducted a test in the teaching area. His aura conductivity rate was 35%, and the maximum transmission distance for his aura was 38 meters. This meant that by using martial aura, he could transmit a maximum of 35% of the force from a punch. This 35% of power could travel along the aura, reaching a maximum distance of 38 meters. Beyond 38 meters, the power transmitted by the aura would rapidly diminish.

"To improve aura conductivity and the maximum transmission distance, it relates to my spiritual energy level, spiritual energy quality, physical strength, and martial arts techniques," Zhang Yu thought, "I need comprehensive improvement; I'll take it step by step." Zhang Yu spread his fingers and subtly activated his power. The Formless Cloud Aura then manifested in the shape of his hand over ten meters away, gently grasping a piece of brick and stone. His aura seemed to have become new limbs, capable of transmitting power with a mere thought. "This makes work much more convenient now."

Aside from improvements in strength, Zhang Yu's greatest gain during this period was spiritual coins. Although he spent a considerable amount, the spiritual coins transferred to him by Tian Yang on several occasions kept his balance steadily increasing. Especially after their last act of a failed overtime application, Tian Yang traded a magical artifact produced by Netherworld University with Wang Yin. Afterwards, Tian Yang transferred a full 22.5 spiritual coins to Zhang Yu, half of the market price. This made Zhang Yu often lament inwardly, "Wang Yin truly is a huge cash cow. How many people and positions does he single-handedly support?" As a result, Zhang Yu's current spiritual coin balance had grown to over 29.1. As for how to spend this spiritual coin, Zhang Yu hadn't yet decided, as there were simply too many places to use it.

Just then, two figures excitedly approached him.

Yu Xinghan: "Brother!"

Li Xiao: "Brother Yu!"

Yu Xinghan eagerly said, "Let's go, it's time for our massage."

Although Li Xiao didn't speak, he looked at Zhang Yu with eager anticipation. During this period, thanks to Wang Yin's extravagance, not only did Zhang Yu hire many technicians for daily massages, but Yu Xinghan and Li Xiao could also occasionally 'borrow' an available technician when Zhang Yu didn't need too many, since Wang Yin was paying for everything anyway.

Zhang Yu brought up Tian Yang's avatar in his eye-scanner and said, "It seems they haven't made arrangements yet." These days, his daily massages were always arranged by Tian Yang, who would then notify him when everything was ready. Yu Xinghan felt a slight disappointment upon hearing this. His third eye in his mind rotated as he thought, "Sigh, I've almost learned all those technicians' methods. I hope they don't cancel today's appointment." Using the imitation function of his Three-Eyed Divine Ability, Yu Xinghan had been secretly learning the technicians' massage techniques.

Just then, Zhang Yu received a message from Tian Yang: "The situation might be exposed."

At Netherworld University, Wang Yin's face grew increasingly grim as he watched the video displayed in his eye-scanner. In the video, Zhang Yu was seen heartily eating, devouring bowls of celestial spirit rice and plates of dragon liver and phoenix gall. After finishing five bowls of rice and three plates of meat, Zhang Yu showed no signs of drowsiness, demonstrating an astonishing digestive capacity. The video Wang Yin was watching was a recording from not long ago, captured when Zhang Yu attended a banquet hosted by Ye Xingli and was eating meat and rice. Observing Zhang Yu's unblushing and unfaltering appearance in the video, Wang Yin thought, "Heh, so... this is this guy's true appetite?"

In addition, more information about Zhang Yu's recent activities appeared before him.

"Tian Yang... Zhang Yu..." Wang Yin gritted his teeth and said, "Are you messing with me?" The thought that someone as wealthy as himself had been so thoroughly tricked, and that the money he spent, far from manipulating Zhang Yu, had actually significantly aided his cultivation, caused Wang Yin's fury to erupt like a volcanic eruption. As his rage exploded, Wang Yin felt the 'Emperor's Royal Heart' cultivation method in his mind almost cease to function, and his Dao heart, which had just recovered to Level 16, became dangerously unstable. With his face alternating between ashen and pale, Wang Yin felt his spiritual energy and flesh lose control, and a sharp pain twisted in his internal organs. He suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of blood, feeling his Dao heart regress to Level 15, with a tendency to regress further.

"Damn it... That beast Tian Yang, conspiring with Zhang Yu to deceive me? And Mo Xingzi, he was the one who introduced Tian Yang to me. Was he intentional? Did he want to dig a pit to damage my Dao heart?" Wang Yin knew that at times like this, he shouldn't overthink, but he couldn't control the thoughts flashing through his mind. The thought of being manipulated, and of Zhang Yu's secret triumph during these days, made Wang Yin's Dao heart grow even more unstable, and his internal power risked further loss of control.

But just then, a female voice entered his ear: "My son, you need not overthink this. I was the one who asked Mo Xingzi to do this."

"Mom?" Wang Yin was slightly stunned, surprised and angry, yet puzzled. "You asked Mo Xingzi to trick me?"

The woman calmly stated, "I merely instructed him to point out the flaws in your heart. I didn't expect him to actually find Zhang Yu to provoke you." Without giving Wang Yin a chance to speak, the woman quickly continued, "My son, ever since your birth, everything has gone smoothly for you. Later, you even mastered the 'Emperor's Royal Heart' cultivation method... I have always worried about one thing. After all, this cultivation method originates from the practices of ancient emperors: success comes with compliance, failure with defiance. But in life, even immortals face discontent, let alone us. As the saying goes, human strength has its limits. Even if you possess immeasurable wealth, there will inevitably be times of failure. The key is not to avoid failure, but to know how to rise from it. This time, Zhang Yu, who defeated you, is a pauper; you can retaliate with money. But what if next time, the one who defeats you is richer and more powerful than you?"

Wang Yin murmured, "Mom, are you hoping I'll change my mindset and mend the flaws in my heart myself?"

"Precisely," she calmly replied. "Cultivation methods are meant to assist cultivators, not to bind their actions. You must master the cultivation method, not let it shackle your thoughts."

Wang Yin still found it hard to let go and gritted his teeth. "But Zhang Yu..."

The woman calmly said, "Zhang Yu, that ant-like creature, is destined to scrounge for food at the construction site. From beginning to end, he was merely someone else's blade. Think carefully: was it truly the blade that ruined your plans, or the person holding the blade at that time? Zhang Yu means nothing to me. Compared to him, I value the flaws in your heart more. Although your Dao heart regressed this time, it also fully exposed the flaws within you. This is your best opportunity to perfect your mindset and mend those flaws. If you cannot mend them, you will never hope to reach the Golden Core stage, indicating you are merely mediocre, and there will be no need to waste more spiritual coins. If you can mend them, I will arrange a mentor for you, and you should prepare well for the postgraduate entrance exam over the next year. In the future, when you break through to Golden Core and strive for Nascent Soul, looking back, Zhang Yu will already be nothing more than a forgotten skeleton in a tomb."

Since learning that the deception had been exposed, Zhang Yu remained constantly vigilant, guarding against any potential retaliation from Wang Yin. However, several days passed in the blink of an eye, and with May approaching, Zhang Yu felt that everything was calm, as if nothing had happened. Concurrently, his sixth breathing technique was finally mastered, and the 'Qi Meridian Flow' activated its first-level effect.