Chapter 607: Chapter 548: Five Heavenly Taxes
"Once she becomes a True God completely, Zhang Pianpian’s memory, as insignificant as a drop in the ocean, will be like a fleeting experience from a dream, too small and inconsequential."
"When that time comes, regardless of whether it’s for you or Zhang Pianpian... she will just be a True God with Zhang Pianpian’s memories."
"The real Zhang Pianpian can be considered dead."
"Or rather... perhaps your sister actually died long ago, and the person she is now is not the sister you knew growing up."
Zhang Yu was slightly shocked upon hearing this, but did not respond.
However, he understood in his heart that for a soul from Earth like him, the sister he knew was the one from high school onwards, which is the current Zhang Pianpian, and whatever happened to the past Zhang Pianpian... is of no importance to him.
Regarding the future Zhang Pianpian... is not something he can concern himself with at the moment.
Only by becoming wealthier and more powerful could he possibly be involved.
Watching Zhang Yu’s calm demeanor, Fu Ji nodded slightly in his heart, thinking this kid was indeed mature.
After hearing Fu Ji’s speculation, another question arose in Zhang Yu’s heart: "Reincarnation... gods can inherit memories, authority, and resources to reincarnate, but what about others?"
He recalled the intelligence conveyed by the Evil Gods to them: "When people reincarnate, can’t they inherit cultivation? That’s why Qiongjiang Divine Monarch has to secretly help them transfer cultivation within the sect?"
Fu Ji chuckled: "Of course, there’s a big difference between reincarnation and reincarnation."
"High-ranking True Gods can inherit their past authority, memories, and resources after reincarnation because Immortals need such True Gods."
"These True Gods serve as tools for the Heavenly Court and the Ten Great Sects to govern Kunxu. Every reincarnation is like self-renewal, adapting once again to the current state of Kunxu."
"Like a Magic Treasure, reincarnation is one of the methods these True Gods use to continuously update and enhance their performance, to prepare for the Immortals’ governance over Kunxu."
"As for human reincarnation..."
Fu Ji thought for a moment and then slowly said: "I haven’t seen the true situation directly."
"Just heard an Evil God King talk about it, and now... human reincarnation is an extremely complex system, the result of Immortals remodeling Kunxu and nature, after numerous iterations."
"And in this system, wealth is equally important. The wealthier a person is, the better the rebirth they can receive."
Zhang Yu took a deep breath: "The wealthier one is, the better the reincarnation... doesn’t that mean poor people will be poor for generations?"
Fu Ji smiled: "Why do you think Kunxu, whether it’s the Ten Great Sects or the Heavenly Court, never promotes what true reincarnation is?"
"Even information about true reincarnation... has always been sealed. Like what I’m telling you today, if you dare to say it outside, a True God will come knocking."
Zhang Yu then asked: "What about the Yuhua Sect?"
Fu Ji chuckled: "Yuhua Sect propagates false reincarnation."
"Kunxu doesn’t promote true reincarnation because the truth would extinguish hope."
"The Demon Sect can propagate false reincarnation, simply because such a next life counts as hope, even if it’s false. But if it doesn’t align with certain people’s interests, it serves others’ interests, so it hasn’t been completely suppressed."
"Even during true reincarnation, sect members need to transfer cultivation secretly."
Zhang Yu asked: "Sect members don’t have enough money to reincarnate?"
Fu Ji shook his head and said: "How much money is considered enough? Even if it’s enough, reincarnation requires taxes."
"The higher the cultivation, the higher the tax needed for reincarnation, the so-called Five Heavenly Taxes, one tax is a heavenly tier."
"In this way, naturally, they calculate."
"Calculate how much of their assets to legitimately use for rebirth? How much to secretly hide before reincarnation to avoid the Five Heavenly Taxes."
"What is the optimal proportion? What’s the risk? It’s a subject of extensive study for them."
"If it weren’t for this being an illegal practice harshly suppressed by the Heavenly Court, your university might have had a specialized program dedicated to the study of reincarnation and rebirth."
Zhang Yu nodded in thought: "Qiongjiang Divine Monarch has actually participated in such a major affair, now these Evil Gods have their sights set on her, seems they’re plotting something significant."
Fu Ji also nodded solemnly upon hearing this: "It’s more than significant; Qiongjiang Divine Monarch was already Qiongjiang Divine Monarch before the founding of Hehuan University."
"Who knows how many sect disciples’ cultivation she transferred? How many people she helped evade the Five Heavenly Taxes? The numbers involved would probably be staggering."
"And the umbrella over her, who knows how many are within the sect."
Thinking of this, Fu Ji was also alarmed: "These Evil Gods... engaging in such risky things, absolutely not just their own idea."
Zhang Yu said: "They disclosed the information to us in this transaction, perhaps wanting to rope us in?"
Fu Ji said: "Probably because they feel we’ve mastered multiple intelligence channels in University City, so they want to involve us in their plan."
"In any case, keep your distance, continue probing, and slowly find out what they ultimately aim for."
"Sharing intelligence with them is okay, but we absolutely cannot participate in their specific actions."
"The water here is too deep."
During the exchange between Fu Ji and Zhang Yu, Zi Yunzhen was circling around the Level 1 prototype machine, capturing images.
This was the task assigned to her by Zhang Yu, and it was something she liked to do.
After all, during the process of recording these materials, she herself could grasp some intelligence about the prototype machine, which would serve as important references if she wanted to start such a project in the future.
Looking at the humanoid puppet before her, shimmering with light and flames, Zi Yunzhen felt a surge of excitement.
"So fast, the framework, nervous system, Spirit Realm module, Magic Core, transforming armor... all completed in just over a month. Next, if we continue to improve and enhance the prototype..."
"A Level 11 prototype machine can be submitted for review."
"At Level 15, it would almost certainly pass."
In her heart, Zi Yunzhen thought: "There’s a chance, there’s really a chance to beat Jin Jun and the others."
At this moment, Zhang Yu and Fu Ji had already finished their exchange in their minds.
Fu Ji glanced at Zi Yunzhen and said, "Are you still going to pay her next time? I think if you start charging her tuition next time, she’d gladly pay you to work."
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Forget it, the prototype machine project is too important, I wouldn’t want minor issues over a small amount of money affecting my participation in next year’s ten league competition."
Then Zhang Yu looked at Zi Yunzhen and said, "That’s it for today. Go home and prepare well. Tomorrow we start improving the prototype machine, remember to arrive early at the lab to get ready."
Upon hearing this, Zi Yunzhen was taken aback: "Stop just like that? How can it be paused?"
She said, "Boss! We’re at the crucial moment against Jin Jun and the others, let’s seize the time and continue working."
Zhang Yu casually replied, "I have other projects to handle today, experiments to attend, no time to stay here."
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu had also taken a full round of photos of the prototype machine and posted them on his social media.
Since beginning the refining of the prototype, witnessing the step-by-step manufacturing process and occasionally leaving work traces, Zhang Yu had never stopped.
But previously, each time only showed a part or process of the prototype refinement, leaving uninformed observers unaware of Zhang Yu’s progress.
Today, this complete prototype machine image, even someone inexperienced could see that Zhang Yu’s work had reached an important milestone, sparking more and more discussion.
...
In Jin Jun’s laboratory.
Su Yuni was doing repetitive basic tasks while reviewing the messages jumping forward in her vision.
Seeing Zi Yunzhen’s image of the prototype machine, she was slightly taken aback.
"Completed?"
"How is this possible?"
Su Yuni looked around the laboratory where they followed Jin Jun working 24/7 for months and had only just reached the final step, about to start assembly and testing work.
"Zhang Yu started refining about a month ago, right? Just one month..."
Thinking of this, Su Yuni couldn’t help but send a message to Zi Yunzhen.
Su Yuni: Yunzhen, is your video real?
Su Yuni: Is it truly the Heavenly Sun Divine prototype machine made by Zhang Yu?
Seeing Su Yuni’s inquiry, Zi Yunzhen certainly couldn’t deny it; this was an important part of her work experience, crucial for her future Artifact Refining reputation.
Zi Yunzhen: As real as it gets
Zi Yunzhen: I refined it step by step alongside Zhang Yu
Zi Yunzhen: Just completed tuning today, all performances have reached Level 1 prototype standards
Zi Yunzhen: The Heavenly Sun Divine’s assembly functions have also completed two fittings, meeting the requirements of a Level 1 prototype
Seeing Zi Yunzhen’s confident response, Su Yuni’s heart sank.
Could it be that so many of them, so many upperclassmen, so much funding... would ultimately lose to Zhang Yu and Zi Yunzhen, two people? Lose to a Civil Engineering Department transfer student who switched less than a year ago?
Just the thought of it sent shivers down Su Yuni’s spine.
Thus, Su Yuni immediately reported the situation to Jin Jun.
Of course, she did not report to Jin Jun in front of the lab crowd but secretly sent him a message.
Su Yuni: Zhang Yu and his team have completed the Level 1 prototype refinement
Jin Jun saw the first message from Su Yuni and found it absurd and amusing.
But after seeing the pictures, videos, and other materials Su Yuni sent next, his expression began to turn solemn.