NOVEL NEXT Chapter 539: Reckoning
As the eye-sockets reconnect to the Spirit Realm, with familiar messages appearing before his eyes, Zhang Yu lets out a long breath of relief.
Having long been accustomed to the eye-sockets, he really wasn't used to the state of blindness, unable to contact others, or check information anytime, anywhere.
With the restoration of the Spirit Realm, University City once again welcomes order; the first thing Zhang Yu sees is waves of divine light sweeping across the sky.
The True Gods appear in a frenzy, in numbers and efficiency never seen before by Zhang Yu, emerging in every layer of University City.
Every now and then, a figure can be seen dissolving the flesh and extracting the soul under the infusion of Divine Power.
Witnessing this scene, Zhang Yu's heart tightened: "Has the settlement begun?"
Zhang Yu understands that during the collapse of the Spirit Realm, the various damages and crimes within University City will inevitably be settled by the school authorities and the True Gods.
Every video stored in the surveillance cameras will surely be reviewed by the True Gods now that they've reconnected to the Spirit Realm.
Who knows how many people have fallen prey to the magic cult; this will certainly be a key inspection item at Wanfa University.
Zhang Yu thought to himself: "Many people must have secretly recorded videos with their eye-sockets at the time, and they should be reporting them in large numbers now."
As for other issues such as University City repairs, compensation for lost materials, lawsuits, and conflicts during the Spirit Realm collapse - just thinking about it, Zhang Yu knows how busy Wanfa University will be next.
Just then, files started popping up in Zhang Yu's eye-sockets, sent by the True Gods: "Learn Anti-Cult Knowledge!", "Why Do We Resist the Magic Cult?", "A Deep Analysis of the Evil Nature of the Yuhua Sect", "Justice Prevails, Evil Shall Not Last, Reevaluating the Social Scourge of the Unemployed Sect", "On the Harms of Unemployment".
Seeing these files, a feeling surged in Zhang Yu's heart: "So urgent."
At the same time, a divine light fell from mid-air, then moved horizontally like a wall of light, scanning across the bodies of individuals.
As each passerby was scanned by the divine light, some remained unchanged, while others triggered alarms and were suppressed to the ground by golden hands.
Watching this scene, Zhang Yu also grew slightly anxious, but he knew running was impossible; he could only calmly accept the divine light's scan.
As the divine light passed over Zhang Yu's body, a choice appeared in his eye-sockets, asking if he was willing to accept the True Gods' inspection.
Of course, Zhang Yu gladly agreed; his injuries had been treated, and there was nothing incriminating stored in his eye-sockets; any documents from the magic cult had been thoroughly deleted long ago.
Similarly, Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, and other companions were prepared during the site clearing; even Xiao Qingxuan had regurgitated his external core and returned to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Thus, moments later, as the inspection ended, the divine light dissipated from Zhang Yu.
"Phew..." Zhang Yu gently exhaled, thinking to himself: "The basic inspection is over, there might be further inquiry, but we shouldn't be the focus, won't be severely interrogated, likely just a formality."
As the Spirit Realm recovers, numerous messages also start jumping on Zhang Yu's eye-sockets.
Many were intercepted during the Spirit Realm's hijacking and are now sent with a delay.
Mo Enting: Are you in the dormitory?
Zhang Pianpian: Spirit Realm restore, contact me
Zhao Tianxing: Why are you all offline?
Grandfather Yingxin: Can you see? Has Wanfa's Spirit Realm encountered issues?
Many messages come from soul cultivators within the company; after the Spirit Realm connection in Wanfa University was lost, to these soul cultivators, it seemed as though everyone at Wanfa University went offline, Wanfa University's Spirit Realm and numerous messages disappeared, as if a large chunk suddenly vanished from the world.
For those still amidst economic crisis like Zhao Tianxing, Che Yufei, Hu Yuntao, nothing is more terrifying than opening their eyes and seeing the company boss's icon grayed out.
This made them worried that Zhang Yu might be in trouble, or the company might be collapsing.
As the Spirit Realm recovers, naturally more messages flood in as Zhang Yu comes back online.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Come to the lab, let's talk in person
Director Gao: Quickly find your mentor
Zhao Tianxing: President Zhang, are you okay?
Ye Xingli (Poor Simulator): Junior brother, are you alright?
Seeing the continuous stream of messages, Zhang Yu prioritized replying to several significant ones before heading to the lab.
Upon arriving at Magnetic Pole True Monarch's office, Zhang Yu feels the room darken, then the figure of the Unemployed Elder suddenly appears, smiling and saying: "Magnetic Pole, is this your newly accepted disciple?"
Stunned by this sight, Zhang Yu hears Magnetic Pole True Monarch calmly say: "Zhang Yu, this is whom I specially invited to induct you into the sect."
With an incredulous look, Zhang Yu responds: "Master, how can this be? One must not join the magic cult!"
After Magnetic Pole True Monarch presses repeatedly, seeing Zhang Yu terrified and unwilling to join the sect, he finally withdrew the Unemployed Elder's projection and calmly remarked: "Smart choice."
Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a lingering fear: "Master, was that a test? Nearly scared me to death."
In his heart, he thought: "Luckily... judging from previous interactions with the Evil Gods, Master shouldn't have joined the magic cult."
It was because of this confirmation that Zhang Yu, aside from initial surprise, soon realized Magnetic Pole True Monarch was testing him.
Magnetic Pole True Monarch said to Zhang Yu: "This time the two major magic cults have caused chaos in University City; who knows how many people have been bewitched. The authorities have decided to conduct a thorough investigation. Expect someone to question you later."
"If you have anything going on, tell me now, and I'll help you solve it together."
"I don't want to hear about your issues from someone else's mouth later."
Feeling the sharp gaze of the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Zhang Yu immediately said firmly, "Master, rest assured, I have never joined the Demon Sect."
"After the Spirit Realm was severed, I went to the office area with Mo Enting and the others."
"Later, when we encountered a Golden Core level battle, we got separated. After that, I hid with my classmates until the Spirit Realm was restored..."
Seeing Zhang Yu recite his carefully prepared explanation, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch smiled slightly, rubbing Zhang Yu's head and said, "As long as there's no issue, that's good."
"Zhang Yu, it's not that I don't trust you, but the Demon Sect is devious and best at manipulating people. I'm only afraid that you might be tricked by them without realizing it."
"Remember, I'm your master. You can talk to me anytime about anything, and I will definitely help you. But if you wait until the True God finds out about a problem, then even if I want to help you, I can't."
Zhang Yu listened to the words of the Magnetic Pole True Monarch with a touched expression, nodding from time to time to show understanding.
But in his heart, he knew that he could only trust about half of what the Magnetic Pole True Monarch said.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "For ordinary matters, my master might really take the blame for me. But with what's happening to me now... if I really discuss the matters concerning the Evil God, it's hard to say how the teacher would deal with me."
At the same time, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch recalled the various actions of the Demon Sect: "These Demon Sect members not only probed about the laboratory but also attacked me and Tian Zhang, and in the end, besieged the research office."
"It's very likely that the Demon Sect is interested in the experiments with the Divinity Transformation Remains."
For this reason, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch considered whether Zhang Yu, as a test subject, had encountered the Demon Sect.
Besides Zhang Yu, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch planned to speak with other subordinates one by one to confirm whether they had any issues, preventing future exposure that could affect her path to Divinity Transformation.
At this moment, Zhang Yu saw the Magnetic Pole True Monarch frown, seemingly picking up some news from her mind, showing a displeased expression.
Zhang Yu curiously asked, "Master? What's happened?"
The Magnetic Pole True Monarch sneered: "Remember that Feng Yuhai from the research office?"
Seeing Zhang Yu nod, the Magnetic Pole True Monarch continued, "The research office was besieged by the Demon Sect. This guy fought the demon horde alone, protecting a lot of school assets, and achieved great merit."
Hearing this, Zhang Yu's heart stirred again, "Fighting the demon horde alone? It seems the Evil God really believed the information provided by Fu Ji and sent people after Feng Yuhai?"
"But did Feng Yuhai really fight the demon horde alone, or has he been secretly controlled by the Demon Sect, thus staging such a play?"
"When I head to the Dark Spirit Realm next time, I can inquire about the situation."
Shortly after Zhang Yu left, Director Gao sent a message to the Magnetic Pole True Monarch.
Director Gao: Are you alright?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: So far no issues, let's continue to observe
Director Gao: Sigh, after the two major Demon Sect disturbances, everyone in the University City is on edge, no idea how many people might be controlled by the Demon Sect
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: I'm afraid that even before this incident, there were already Nascent Soul level individuals collaborating with the Demon Sect
Director Gao: Nascent Soul level?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: The Divine Path technology the Demon Sect used this time is very powerful, being able to deploy two Divinity Transformation Divine Monarchs surprised everyone, but even so, without inside and outside cooperation, it wouldn't have been so easy to seize the Spirit Realm inside and out of the University City
Director Gao: Who do you think it might be?
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: Hard to say
Magnetic Pole True Monarch: In any case, caution is paramount
Seeing the message from the Magnetic Pole True Monarch, Director Gao secretly sighed, as if envisioning a hidden figure silently plotting in the darkness of University City.
Meanwhile, shortly after Zhang Yu left the laboratory, he faced an inquiry from the True Gods.
With his mind entering the depths of the Spirit Realm, Zhang Yu began to answer the True Gods' questions one by one.
The inquiry ended quickly as he expected, as he was not a key target.
Yu Xinghan, Shi Huaiyu, Le Mulan, Xiao Qingxuan, and others also insisted they were hiding with Zhang Yu until the matter concluded. The seven provided each other with alibis, and they all emerged unscathed, collectively breathing a sigh of relief.
While Zhang Yu and his group successfully cleared scrutiny, Mo Enting, who reportedly was abducted by the Demon Sect's Golden Core but returned safely afterward, became a focus of surveillance.
Su YanYang, who slept alone in a cemetery through the entire incident, was also suspected of being influenced by the Demon Sect and was sent to a detox course, attending anti-Demon Sect training.
After rounds of checks, when the rankings and scores were updated that night, Zhang Yu unexpectedly found his department rank had risen by one place, reaching 38th.
Zhang Yu thought, "Did someone ranked ahead of me in the Artifact Refining Department get into trouble? I wonder if they were killed by the Demon Sect when the Spirit Realm broke off, or if they were found out by the True Gods afterward."
Not only Zhang Yu, but many students who survived in the University City also saw their rankings rise to varying degrees.
It was as if, after going through an ordeal, the students who remained felt that their paths on the Immortal Path seemed to have widened.
Meanwhile, as Wanfa University was cleaning up the aftermath, the other side's Ten Major Competitions also reached their conclusion.