Chapter 124: The Pressures of the Cultivation World

"Good heavens, I didn't realize so many points had been circulating!"

Less than a week in, Zhang Kai couldn't help but exclaim as he looked at the points being recovered. These days, one really shouldn't underestimate ordinary people.

Still, they were just commoners after all, so incredibly wasteful with their points. The moment they saw a legendary figure, they couldn't stop themselves from splurging—they would surely regret this later. With this harvest, Zhang Kai was thoroughly satisfied.

Meanwhile, all across the globe, various supernatural phenomena were emerging. Legendary gods, buddhas, demons, and monsters were popping up, each claiming to be the "real" version and dismissing the others as fakes. But Zhang Kai had been prepared for this. Whenever these entities appeared, he would suppress them with dimensional superiority, creating hostile environments in their vicinity that made it impossible for the general public to approach.

When this happened, the gods, buddhas, and demons were stunned.

"This is way too foul play, isn't it?"
"Is this something a human would do?"
"Using our names to rake in points and not even allowing us to defend ourselves? Do you believe we’ll lose our tempers?"

However, Zhang Kai couldn't have cared less.

"This is my turf, and I make the rules. I asked you to cooperate before, and you refused. Now that you want to, you’d better show some sincerity. Otherwise, you won't die in this human world, but don't even think about coming out—just stay home and be shut-ins."

The idol-charging scheme continued for nearly a month before things finally calmed down. It wasn't that people no longer wanted photos with their idols; it was that they had run out of points.

But at this juncture, Zhang Kai launched his second wave. The various idols he had fabricated issued a formal announcement:

Sun Wukong: "The Flower-Fruit Mountain is recruiting disciples. The entrance fee is 100,000 points. Loans are accepted. Those who show exceptional talent will be taught top-tier divine abilities by the Great Sage Sun."

Erlang Shen: "100,000 points to enter. Loans accepted. Feel free to eat dog meat. Accumulate enough merit, and you will receive my true transmission of the Eight-Nine Arcane Art."

Yue Lao: "30,000 points to recruit disciples. A wife is included upon entry."

The Buddha: "100,000 points to recruit Buddhist disciples. Join my sect and receive the Triple Set: the Tathagata Palm, the Tathagata Golden Body, and the Great Sun Tathagata Dharmakaya."

King Qin Guang: "50,000 points to recruit disciples. Join my sect and receive ten years of lifespan. After your relatives pass away, the Underworld will arrange jobs for them."

Earth Home: "We hereby announce that we have concluded a peace and coexistence treaty with the various legendary deities of Earth. We provide interest-free loans with low monthly installments, and lump-sum repayments are supported."

...

Just as everyone was immersed in the mythic descent, this sudden announcement left them bewildered once again.

"Whoa."

It wasn't just about close contact with idols anymore; there was now a chance to become their disciples! The legendary divine abilities, in particular, were incredibly tempting. Many who had wanted to turn back after getting their photos immediately rushed back to the idols without a second thought.

For the sake of these idols, what did it matter if they were in debt for three generations? As long as they successfully learned these divine powers, it would all be worth it.

In an instant, the mythic sites that had been cooling down became overcrowded once more. Sun Wukong’s location had the most, with even more people than during the peak of the photo craze. After all, the power of an idol was infinite; who wouldn't want to be as formidable as the Great Sage, the very one who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace? Others, though fewer in number, were also popular because their entry fees were lower.

And so, to the speechlessness of nations worldwide, the people who had just been harvested of their points were now being harvested of their futures.

Meanwhile, in the forbidden area of Mount Wudang.

The incense-spirit of the True Martial Emperor looked at the sparse number of applicants outside the forbidden zone, silent and wearing an expression of extreme displeasure. The former titans of Wudang surrounding him felt as if their hearts were being pierced.

"The Wudang forbidden area was the first to invent this! We were the pioneers of the photo-op business! Yet these suddenly appearing 'false gods' not only stole our business but went a step further, harvesting everyone’s potential."

Although Wudang had tried to compensate quickly, they were always a step behind. Furthermore, the Emperor’s reputation had always been one of being high and unreachable, making him far less popular than the various "false gods" who had been constantly beautified and promoted by movies and television.

"Emperor, Ancestors, although we don't have many applicants here, we are still doing much better than the other forbidden areas. That mastermind behind the scenes has sealed off all the other locations, forcing them out of business," the Old Fortune Teller of Mount Wudang said, attempting to shift the perspective to comfort his elders.

"We can only think that way. Hmm, how is the situation with the cultivation materials exchanged for points?" an old white-haired Daoist asked, looking at the Old Fortune Teller.

The Old Fortune Teller hurriedly replied, "Ancestor, you can rest assured. I have handled it. All materials are exchanged through Earth Home. To put it bluntly, the resources we have accumulated now could absolutely usher in a golden age for Wudang."

"Take all these cultivation materials and distribute them. Through the various sects of the Daoist path, as long as they are willing to support Wudang as the leader, we will provide them with abundant cultivation resources," the Emperor suddenly declared.

The Old Fortune Teller’s face changed: "Emperor, how can we do that!"

"The times have changed. My original mission is now difficult to complete. For the sake of Wudang, there is little I can do; the future depends on you," the Emperor said, looking at the Old Fortune Teller with deep, piercing eyes.

The Old Fortune Teller argued, "But there is no need to supply other cultivators!"

"What do you know? The Emperor is laying the groundwork for the future," the white-haired old Daoist snapped. "If we let this mastermind pull everyone into his camp, then even if Wudang rises in the future, we will merely be a single faction, insignificant in the grand scheme. Therefore, we must also recruit external aid."

"Indeed. Do not care about these petty gains. If the future truly arrives, what use will ten times the resources we’ve accumulated be? The fact that this mastermind can make 'Earth Home' announce loans clearly means he has the support of the Ultraman clan. Hmph, their so-called 'non-interference in the development of races' is nonsense. They must have some shady backroom deal," another old Daoist added with a look of disdain.

"Besides, these resources aren't given for free. Once they take our support, they must obey us. We will unite, advancing and retreating together. This mastermind is making such a grand display; he must have a motive. Perhaps there will be a major upheaval in the future, and we must accelerate our pace to build up our own strength," yet another old Daoist replied.

The Old Fortune Teller fell silent. He wasn't unaware of the complexity of the situation, but they had struggled so hard to open the forbidden area and reach their current status—to now support the entire cultivation world? It felt like cutting flesh from his own body.

"Everything shall be done as the Emperor commands," the Old Fortune Teller conceded.

Not long after, news spread through the cultivation world, and cultivators everywhere cheered and ran to spread the word. It hadn't been easy. The cultivation world was built on heritage, and while they had been secretly exchanging resources through Earth Home, defecting to another sect was absolutely forbidden. So, they could only look at the disciples of Sun Wukong or Erlang Shen with envy and jealousy, never daring to betray their own masters.

Now, with Wudang’s declaration, they had finally found a path to grow stronger. In an instant, cultivators from all walks of life converged on Wudang, filled with the heroic spirit of a grand assembly.