Chapter 89: The Dark Side of Kunxu

Hearing the large number from the doll made Zhang Yu's heart skip a beat. A hint of longing appeared in his eyes; he really wanted to earn more money now. After all, in Kunxu, money represents potential, future, and power. Without money, he couldn't even pay next month's loan interest. A poor person has absolutely no sense of security.

The doll continued to persuade him, saying, "Besides, the risk of this matter isn't as great as you imagine. The reason you feel it's dangerous is just because of the company's propaganda. This propaganda constantly implants the ideas of 'don't be an enemy of the company' and 'those who oppose the company will meet a terrible end' into your mind. The underground tutoring world has been able to exist for a reason..."

After listening to the doll's subsequent explanation, Zhang Yu gained a deeper understanding of the situation. Major companies have deep control over Kunxu's first layer, and they can even respectfully invite the Eight Righteous Gods to help them investigate information from various parties. However, not all places in this world are under their absolute control, nor is there no power capable of concealing things from the Eight Righteous Gods' scrutiny.

"The poorer a place is, the more poor people there are, and the fewer people cultivating immortality, the worse the infrastructure becomes. There are hardly any surveillance cameras, making it easiest to evade company oversight. As for the Eight Righteous Gods and the city government, which major gang doesn't pay taxes according to the law and have devout beliefs? They still have righteous gods protecting them."

Zhang Yu said, speechless, "Paying taxes legally and being devout, and that allows you to break the law?"

The doll replied matter-of-factly, "Paying taxes legally and being devout, and that's not enough to break the law? Furthermore, every major gang is backed by other large corporations. Gangs are one of the tools big companies use to deal with other big companies. After all, the Ten Great Sects monopolize Kunxu, but the companies under those Ten Great Sects... they still have to compete. Gangs are like chamber pots in the hands of companies; they have their own space to exist. Listen to me, if you were an ordinary high school freshman, I would definitely not recommend it. But you have level 10 cultivation techniques, which makes you perfectly suited to hide your identity and engage in illicit tutoring! Besides, we're in the same boat now. If something happens to you, I'll suffer too, so why would I lie to you?"

In the past, Zhang Yu had heard vague rumors about gangs, but this was the first time he'd heard so much insider information. Although all of this sounded plausible, Zhang Yu still couldn't completely trust the evil god in front of him. So he sent a message to Zhang Pianpian, asking about the underground tutoring world.

Zhang Pianpian: What made you think to ask about this?Zhang Yu: A friend told me about it. I'm short on money, aren't I? I was just looking for ways to earn some.Zhang Pianpian: Hmm, since you came first in martial arts, you certainly have some capital now. Go try at this address. If you can do it, great. If not, continue to build up your strength.

Then Zhang Pianpian made a video call. After Zhang Yu answered, he saw her drawing a talisman with her fingertip. An invisibility talisman traveled through the network cable and settled on his head.

Zhang Pianpian: "Alright, this invisibility talisman will prevent others from discerning your background for 12 hours, helping you hide your identity. Additionally, if you want to conceal your face and physique, you can try out your newly practiced Red Marrow Primordial Qi."

Zhang Yu watched Zhang Pianpian's talisman drawing process with curiosity and asked, "How high does one's faith level need to be to draw talismans like this through a network cable?"

Zhang Pianpian: "Don't worry about that now; just focus on the task at hand."

After hanging up, Zhang Yu looked at the address Zhang Pianpian had sent. It was nearly 70 kilometers from the center of Songyang City, practically the furthest reaches of the distant suburbs. Pondering Zhang Pianpian's words, Zhang Yu's heart stirred: "Sister knows about the underground tutoring world too, but she seems to think I might not be able to get clients? Is it because she doesn't know I already have several level 10 cultivation techniques, so she thinks I won't succeed in the underground tutoring world?"

Zhang Yu's trust in Zhang Pianpian certainly surpassed that in the doll. He then glanced outside. The night was deep, neon lights hung high in the sky—it was a good time to go out, especially with the invisibility talisman concealing his identity.

"But if I'm going to the underground tutoring world, I definitely need to hide my identity. Sister said I could try Red Marrow Primordial Qi?" Thinking this, Zhang Yu's eyes suddenly lit up: "Does she mean I should control all my muscles to change my appearance?"

Just as Zhang Yu was considering how to use his Red Marrow Primordial Qi to change his appearance, the doll hanging around his neck exclaimed in surprise, "You're protected by such a powerful woman? She can draw talismans through the internet; her talisman cultivation isn't low."

Zhang Yu ignored the doll and instead tried to alter the muscles in his face. With his level 10 Red Marrow Primordial Qi cultivation, his control over all his muscles had already reached an unprecedented peak. He simply hadn't realized before that he could use this to change his appearance. A brief attempt at that moment showed his reflection in the mirror transform dramatically. From a handsome, elegant figure, he became ordinary. After he controlled all his muscles, even his height decreased slightly, making him look completely like another stranger.

Over half an hour later, as Zhang Yu got closer to the location, the infrastructure on the roads deteriorated. When he was still over ten kilometers away, there weren't even any bus stops. Zhang Yu had no choice but to run the rest of the way on foot. Fortunately, with his current physical strength, running wasn't slow or too tiring. However, along the way, the houses became shorter, the roads worsened, and the alleys on both sides were pitch black and quiet, with hardly any lights visible. Zhang Yu felt as if he had traveled from a sci-fi metropolis to a dilapidated small county town. Compared to this place, Zhang Yu felt that even his rented room could be considered a good place. Seeing such a quiet night made Zhang Yu feel a little unaccustomed.

"Right, the people living around here are all mortals, so nighttime is naturally their sleeping time." Sleep, a word that had gradually become distant for Zhang Yu, made him sigh with emotion for a moment. "But it's precisely in such poor places that there's a lack of surveillance and management, and companies are unwilling to invest much in development, which leaves room for gangs to exist, doesn't it?"

Continuing his journey, when Zhang Yu felt his body warm slightly and began to sweat, he finally reached the address. A grand gate, vehicles frequently entering and exiting, a guard post at the entrance, and the sign for 'Songyang Beiyue High-Tech Service Industry Park'... Everything was completely different from the dark, damp gang hideout Zhang Yu had imagined.

Zhang Yu said, surprised, "This is a gang's territory for illicit tutoring? It looks too legitimate, doesn't it?"

The doll replied, "They pay taxes according to the law and have devout beliefs; they are legitimate gangs to begin with."

Zhang Yu frowned, never having imagined that gangs could be associated with the word 'legitimate.' Zhang Yu asked, puzzled, "Shouldn't gangs be all about violence and operating in the shadows?"

The doll chuckled softly, "Those you're talking about are just low-level thugs, tools to be discarded after use. Those who make it in this world rely on money and connections. If you only know how to fight and kill, you'll end up dead in the streets sooner or later." The doll seemed to know all about this, explaining, "Look at this service industry park; that's the territory of the Dark Learning Gang. They specialize in various businesses like illicit tutoring, cultivation technique cracking and modification, spreading pirated cultivation techniques, and so on. The company behind them is Deep Sea Education Group."

Zhang Yu was surprised again: "Deep Sea Education Group?" He remembered that the tutoring center his original body had attended was affiliated with Deep Sea Education Group.

Zhang Yu asked, puzzled, "I thought Deep Sea Education Group itself was an educational corporation that developed cultivation techniques and ran tutoring institutions? Why do they support the Dark Learning Gang?"

The doll chuckled again, "How surprising! They're not the only company in the education business. The Dark Learning Gang is their tool for cracking their rival companies' cultivation techniques, assisting with cultivation technique experiments, and attacking rival gangs... In short, they're a tool for all sorts of dirty work."

As they spoke, Zhang Yu had already entered the park and, following the address given by Zhang Pianpian, found the building number for a small building. Along the way, the security guards in the park were polite, and the roadside scenery was pleasant. Zhang Yu truly couldn't tell at all that this was gang territory.

Looking at the small building in front of him, Zhang Yu pushed the door open. After a moment's thought, he decided to use the phrase Zhang Pianpian had taught him and said to the front desk, "I'm here to offer lessons."

The receptionist smiled and said, "Certainly, sir. Please wait a moment in Room 105. Our sales representative will be with you shortly."

Zhang Yu walked in the direction the receptionist indicated. As he passed a few rooms, he faintly heard the sounds of an argument.

"Damn it... to sell this martial art, two of my brothers were fined into bankruptcy, and one was dismembered and sold by the company. And now you're still trying to lower the price for me?"

"You insolent fool, being aggressive with me won't help. These are the gang's rules; this is the price for a level 7 lesson."

"Rules! Rules! I used to single-handedly raid the Golden Lesson Gang's establishments, I personally shut down sixteen of their underground tutoring centers. Why didn't you talk about rules then? Now that I'm old and can't learn anymore, you talk about rules..."

Apparently sensing someone approaching, the room door was closed, and Zhang Yu could no longer hear the commotion inside.

Entering Room 105, Zhang Yu waited for a short while before a well-mannered middle-aged man walked in, closed the door, and politely asked, "How may I help you, sir?"

Just then, the doll's voice echoed in Zhang Yu's mind: "Tell him I have a batch of lessons to offer. Let him inspect the goods first. You don't understand the local gangs. Do as I say. Don't let them take you for a novice. Let me help you negotiate the price; you'll definitely earn more."

Zhang Yu was slightly startled, not expecting the doll could transmit its voice directly into his mind. However, he felt there was nothing wrong with what the doll wanted him to say, and he then planned to use the information the doll provided to converse with the man.

Zhang Yu lowered his voice and said, "I have a batch of lessons to offer. You can inspect the goods first."

Zhang Yu's body trembled, and streams of milky-white True Qi surged from within him, instantly transforming into a cloud of mist that enveloped him. It was precisely the level 10 Boundless Cloud Hand.