Chapter 1618 - 923: Zhang Yu’s Decision

The series of events, like waves of storms, impacted the Old Graveyard, causing panic both inside and outside the Netherworld Property Department, and numerous Soul Cultivators became worried.

Zhang Yu observed all this calmly, thinking to himself, "Is this continuing to put pressure on me?"

"It’s clearly a warning." Fu Ji snorted and said, "It’s as if they are sliding a knife over our vital points again and again, without making a move, just to tell us that if they wanted, they could make us bleed at any time."

While Zhang Yu was contemplating, a familiar projection appeared before him. It was Fa Liuyuan, who chose to descend after receiving Zhang Yu’s message.

"Heavenly Monarch Fa!" Zhang Yu hurriedly stood up.

Fa Liuyuan nodded and said, "I’m already aware of the situation, but... we can’t assist you for now."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered slightly, and he thought to himself, "The Reform Faction... doesn’t want to get involved?"

Fa Liuyuan recalled the words of the two Immortals, sighed helplessly, and said, "The current situation is very complex and dangerous. Within the sect, there is considerable resistance towards the ’Effective Period of Laws’. If we, the Reform Faction, act to counter, it will immediately intensify conflicts, potentially leading to a more uncontrollable situation..."

Listening to Fa Liuyuan’s words, Zhang Yu’s eyes showed a hint of contemplation as he said, "Heavenly Monarch Fa, do you all believe... the Immortal Emperor will compromise?"

Fa Liuyuan was silent for a moment before saying, "As far as I know, the higher-ups of the Joyful Union Sect, Netherworld Palace, White Bone Sect, and Sky Demon Sect have all indicated to the Ascension Hall that they will closely monitor our sect’s planning on the ’Effective Period of Laws’, requiring that our promotion of the laws must not harm the interests of other sects."

Fu Ji snorted and said, "Harming the interests of other sects? I suppose that’s a reason, considering the Wanfa Sect still needs to do business with other sects, and law reforms might indeed affect external trade."

"But ultimately, it’s still the fear of the Wanfa Sect taking the lead in moderating the laws in this regard. Ha, technological lag means the only option is to find a way through policy."

Of course, Fa Liuyuan couldn’t hear what Fu Ji said, but he just spoke, "The Outer Sect is unlikely to support us in moderating the laws first; the Immortal Emperor has to face the pressure from the Outer Sect while managing internal conflicts, so he must balance the interests of all parties."

"Now, as the various factions have already accepted the existence of the ’Effective Period of Laws’, it might be better to take a step back, temporarily develop from the Lower Realm, and eventually we can find an opportunity to return to the sect."

Zhang Yu was slightly stunned, looking at Fa Liuyuan, and said, "Heavenly Monarch Fa, are you also here to persuade me to choose the Lower Realm?"

Fa Liuyuan sighed helplessly and said, "Choosing the first layer is the best option to minimize the sect’s losses. If you choose the first layer, the situation will shift from complete resistance to full support, and the various factions will surely offer you benefits."

Hearing the words "benefits," Zhang Yu recalled the gifts Si Shian had given him previously.

He truly believed that if he were willing to use the first layer as a pilot site for the laws, he could demand a pile of resources from the various factions.

Fa Liuyuan said, "Zhang Yu, there’s no need to rush. You’re still young, currently just at the Refining Void stage. Even if you want to set the pilot laws within the sect, how many laws can you moderate? What about the laws set by those crossing tribulation and ascending cultivators, can you manage those?"

"I know you have great ambitions, but first ensure you pass this stage safely, accumulate resources, and aim for crossing tribulation and ascension in the future; there’s still time to moderate the laws of the world then."

"Moreover, I think the Immortal Emperor might also be waiting for you to make this stance."

After sending off Fa Liuyuan, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "They all want me to choose the first layer?"

Not long after Fa Liuyuan left, Tai Yue Bai also arrived at the Old Graveyard.

Feeling Zhang Yu’s gaze, Tai Yue Bai directly said, "Enter the Immortal Cave Heaven, I have some words to say to you."

After Zhang Yu allowed Tai Yue Bai into the Immortal Cave Heaven, Tai Yue Bai began to speak, "Zhang Yu, have you ever considered that as the Immortal Emperor’s Immortal Dao Technology, assets, and power keep expanding, one day... all living beings in this world will become useless class to him?"

"And on that day, it will be the apocalypse, where everything in the world no longer holds meaning for the Immortal Emperor, thus making existence itself unnecessary."

Tai Yue Bai stared at Zhang Yu before him, finally able to express the thoughts he had kept hidden in his heart for a long time, "By willingly becoming the Immortal Emperor’s Divine Sword, clearing laws for him, you are actively pushing the apocalypse to arrive."

"Do you understand?"

"I know you’re eager to climb up, to change Kunxu, but it must not be this way!"

Tai Yue Bai patted Zhang Yu’s shoulder, "Yu, choose the first layer while the Immortal Emperor is besieged internally and externally, and is temporarily unable to focus elsewhere, he won’t blame you for choosing the first layer."

"Choosing the first layer delays the apocalypse, giving yourself more time, and granting more time to all living beings under the heavens."

If it were any other cultivator, Zhang Yu wouldn’t have asked the following question.

But looking at Tai Yue Bai, recalling his "weekend-long breaks," Zhang Yu couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Tai, what about the first layer?"

"The first layer will become a testing ground for the ’Effective Period of Laws’ for various factions and even major sects, right?"

"How many sect upper cultivators will intervene in the first layer?"

"Can the first layer... endure their torment?"

As he spoke, Zhang Yu had already recalled how Wang Yin had once stirred up the first layer.

A cultivator with a university background had already managed to turn the first layer upside down.

Zhang Yu could hardly imagine what the first layer would become once the attention of sect cultivators turned toward it.

Upon hearing Zhang Yu’s questions, Tai Yue Bai was also slightly taken aback, recalling Zhang Yu’s background, and spoke, "Changing Kunxu inevitably requires a price."

"If choices are limited between layers 1 to 16, then this becomes a simple math problem."

"Layer 1 minimizes losses and prolongs the arrival of the apocalypse, making it the most rational choice at the moment."