Chapter 548: Heavenly Human Five Taxes (Requesting Monthly Votes)

After Zhang Pianpian completely became a true god, her memories, like a drop in the ocean, would be to her merely a fleeting experience from a dream, too insignificant to be worth mentioning.

By then, for both you and Zhang Pianpian, she would simply be a true god possessing Zhang Pianpian's memories.

The real Zhang Pianpian would effectively be dead.

Or rather... your sister had actually died long ago, and the person she is now ceased to be the sister you knew since childhood.

Zhang Yu was slightly startled by these words but said nothing in response. However, he understood in his heart that for him, a soul from Earth, the sister he knew was the one from high school onwards—the current Zhang Pianpian. What happened to the past Zhang Pianpian was irrelevant to him.

As for the future Zhang Pianpian... that was also beyond his control at this moment.

Only by becoming wealthier and more powerful could he hope to play a part.

Observing Zhang Yu's calm demeanor, Fu Ji nodded slightly, thinking, "This young man has truly matured!"

After hearing Fu Ji's speculation, another question arose in Zhang Yu's mind: "Reincarnation... Gods can inherit memories, authority, and resources when they reincarnate, but what about others?"

He then recalled the information passed on by the evil gods: "If people reincarnate, can they not inherit their cultivation? Is that why they need the help of God-Monarch Qionghuang? To secretly transfer cultivation for those within the sect who reincarnate?"

Fu Ji chuckled, "Of course, reincarnation for some is vastly different from reincarnation for others!"

"High-ranking true gods can inherit their past authority, memories, and resources after reincarnation because Immortals require such true gods!"

"These true gods serve as tools for the Heavenly Court and the Ten Great Sects to govern Kunxu. Each of their reincarnations is like a self-renewal, a way to re-adapt to the current state of Kunxu."

"It's as if they are magical artifacts; reincarnation is one of the methods for these true gods to continuously update and improve their performance, preparing them for the Immortals' governance of Kunxu!"

As for human reincarnation...

Fu Ji pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I haven't personally witnessed the true specifics, but I once heard an Evil God-King describe it. Currently... human reincarnation is an extremely complex system, the result of countless iterations as Immortals transformed Kunxu and reformed nature!"

"And in this system, wealth is equally important; the richer one is, the better their next rebirth."

Zhang Yu took a deep breath. "The wealthier you are, the better your reincarnation... Doesn't that mean the poor will remain poor for generations?"

Fu Ji smiled. "Otherwise, why do you think no one in Kunxu, be it the Ten Great Sects or the Heavenly Court, ever promotes what true reincarnation is?"

"In fact, information about true reincarnation... has always been forbidden. If you dare to speak carelessly about what I've told you today outside, you'll be tracked down by true gods!"

Zhang Yu then asked, "What about the Featherfall Cult?"

Fu Ji chuckled, "The Featherfall Cult promotes false reincarnation!"

Kunxu doesn't promote true reincarnation because the truth would only extinguish hope!

"The Demonic Cult can promote false reincarnation simply because such a 'next life' offers a semblance of hope, even if it's false! And while it may not align with certain people's interests, it benefits others, which is why it hasn't been completely suppressed!"

As for true reincarnation, even sect members need to secretly transfer their cultivation when they reincarnate!

Zhang Yu asked, "Don't sect members have enough wealth for reincarnation?"

Fu Ji shook her head. "How much wealth is truly enough? Besides, even if it's enough, reincarnation requires taxes!"

"The higher the cultivation, the higher the taxes and fees required for reincarnation. This is known as the Five Celestial Taxes, with each tax representing one layer of heaven!"

"As a result, they naturally resort to calculations!"

"Calculating how much of their assets to use for a proper rebirth, and how much to secretly hide before reincarnation to escape the Five Celestial Taxes!"

"What proportion is most cost-effective and what are the risks involved—these are major academic questions for them!"

"If it weren't for these being illegal activities severely cracked down upon by the Heavenly Court, your universities would probably have dedicated majors specifically for studying reincarnation and rebirth!"

Zhang Yu nodded thoughtfully. "God-Monarch Qionghuang is involved in such a major matter. Now that these evil gods are targeting her, it seems their ambitions are vast!"

"Vast ambitions? That's an understatement!" Fu Ji also nodded solemnly upon hearing this. "God-Monarch Qionghuang was already the God-Monarch Qionghuang even before the establishment of the Joyous Union University!"

"Heaven knows how many sect disciples she helped transfer cultivation for, how many people she helped evade the Five Celestial Taxes? The numbers involved are probably staggering!"

And the extent of her protective umbrella within the sects is unknown!

Thinking of this, Fu Ji felt a surge of alarm. "These damn evil gods, to undertake such a dangerous endeavor, it absolutely isn't just their own idea!"

Zhang Yu said, "By revealing this information to me during the trade, are they perhaps trying to get us on board?"

Fu Ji replied, "They probably think we have many intelligence channels in the university city, so they want us to join their plan!"

"In any case, let's keep our distance, continue probing, and gradually figure out the extent of their intentions!"

"Exchanging information with them is fine, but we absolutely cannot participate in their specific actions. The waters are too deep here!"

While Fu Ji and Zhang Yu were conversing, Zi Yunzhen, who was nearby, was busily filming the Level 1 prototype machine from various angles. This was a task Zhang Yu had given her, and also something she genuinely enjoyed doing.

After all, by documenting the data, she herself could acquire valuable information about the prototype machine. If she were to initiate such a project in the future, this data would serve as important reference material.

As she watched the humanoid puppet, shimmering with light and constantly flickering with flames, a thrill flashed through Zi Yunzhen's heart.

"It's too fast! The skeletal frame, nervous system, spiritual realm module, mana core, transformable armor... everything was completed in just over a month! Now, all that's left is to continue refining and upgrading the prototype machine's level, then we can apply for evaluation!"

"If it reaches Level 15, it's pretty much guaranteed to pass!"

Zi Yunzhen thought to herself, "There's a chance, a real chance, to beat Jin Jun and his team!"

Just then, Zhang Yu and Fu Ji, who were nearby, concluded their lightning-fast mental conversation.

Fu Ji glanced at Zi Yunzhen and remarked, "Are you still going to pay her? I think if you asked her for tuition fees, she'd gladly pay you to work for you!"

Zhang Yu thought, "Forget it. The prototype machine project is too important. I don't want any mishaps because of a little money, affecting my participation in the Ten Great Leagues next year!"

Then, Zhang Yu looked at Zi Yunzhen and said, "That's all for today. Go back and prepare well. Tomorrow, we'll start improving the prototype machine, so remember to arrive at the lab early to get everything ready!"

Zi Yunzhen was greatly surprised to hear this. "Stopping already? How can we pause now?"

She quickly said, "Boss, we're at a critical moment in our competition with Jin Jun and his team. We should seize the time and keep working!"

Zhang Yu casually replied, "I have other projects to handle and experiments to attend today. I don't have time to stay here!"

At the same time, Zhang Yu had already taken pictures of the prototype machine in front of him and posted them on his social circle. Zhang Yu had consistently documented his work by taking pictures of the prototype machine's creation process, leaving traces of his progress every step of the way since he began crafting it.

However, previously, each post only showed a specific part or step of the prototype machine's refinement process. Those unfamiliar with the work likely couldn't discern Zhang Yu's true progress.

But today's complete image of the prototype machine made it evident, even to the most untrained eye, that Zhang Yu's work had reached a significant milestone, sparking increasing discussion among people.

Inside Jin Jun's laboratory!

Su Yunni was performing repetitive basic tasks while simultaneously glancing at the information popping up in her visual interface. When she saw Zi Yunzhen's video about the prototype machine, she froze for a moment.

"Completed?"

"How is that possible?"

Su Yunni looked around their lab. They had been working 24 hours a day with Jin Jun for several months and had only just reached the final stage, about to begin assembly and debugging.

"Zhang Yu only started refining it just over a month ago, didn't he? Only a month..."

As Su Yunni thought of this, she couldn't help but send Zi Yunzhen a message.

Su Yunni: Yunzhen, is that video real?Su Yunni: Is it really the prototype machine for the Blazing Sun God of Heaven crafted by Zhang Yu?

Upon seeing Su Yunni's inquiry, Zi Yunzhen naturally couldn't deny it. This was an important part of her work experience, crucial for her future reputation in artifact crafting!

Zi Yunzhen: It couldn't be more real.Zi Yunzhen: I crafted it step by step with Zhang Yu.Zi Yunzhen: We just finished debugging today, and all performance metrics have reached Level 1 prototype machine standards.Zi Yunzhen: Two of the Blazing Sun God of Heaven's installable functions have also been completed, meeting the requirements for a Level 1 prototype machine.

Seeing Zi Yunzhen's confident reply, Su Yunni's heart sank. Could it be that with so many of them, so many senior students, and so much funding, they would ultimately lose to just Zhang Yu and Zi Yunzhen?

Lose to a transfer student who switched from civil engineering less than a year ago?

Just the thought of it sent a shiver down Su Yunni's spine!

So Su Yunni immediately reported the situation to Jin Jun. Of course, she didn't report it to Jin Jun in front of everyone in the lab; instead, she secretly sent him a message.

Su Yunni: Zhang Yu and his team completed the Level 1 prototype machine's refinement today.

When Jin Jun saw Su Yunni's first message, he found it somewhat absurd and amusing. But as he saw the images, videos, and other data that Su Yunni sent next, his expression gradually turned grim.