Hearing the large number mentioned by the doll, Zhang Yu's heart skipped a beat, and a glimmer of desire flashed in his eyes.
He was genuinely eager to make more money now.
After all, in Kunxu, money meant potential, future, and power.
Without money, he couldn't even pay next month's loan interest.
Being poor left him with no sense of security.
The doll continued to persuade, "Moreover, the risks of this matter aren't as great as you think."
"The reason you feel it's dangerous is because of the company's propaganda. This propaganda constantly implants ideas like 'don't oppose the company' and 'those who oppose the company will suffer a terrible fate' into your mind."
"The dark tutoring world has existed for a long time, and there's a reason for it..."
After listening to the doll's further explanation, Zhang Yu gained a deeper understanding of the situation.
The major companies had a firm grip on the first layer of Kunxu and could even summon the Eight Great Deities to help them gather information from all sides.
However, not every corner of the world was under their absolute control, and there were forces capable of shielding themselves from the Eight Great Deities' scrutiny.
"The poorer the area, the more impoverished people there are, and the fewer cultivators there are, the worse the infrastructure. With few surveillance systems in place, it's easier to evade the company's oversight."
"As for the Eight Great Deities and the city government, every major gang pays taxes according to the law and is devout in their beliefs. They are still under the protection of the deities."
Zhang Yu was speechless.
"Paying taxes and being devout in belief allows them to break the law?"
The doll replied matter-of-factly, "Paying taxes and being devout in belief—doesn't that mean they can break the law?"
"Moreover, every major gang has the backing of other large companies. Gangs are one of the tools used by big companies to deal with other big companies. After all, while the Ten Great Sects monopolize Kunxu, the companies beneath them still compete with each other."
"Gangs are like chamber pots in the hands of companies—they have their own space to survive."
"Listen to me. If you were just an ordinary high school freshman, I wouldn't recommend this to you. But since you've mastered a Level 10 technique, you're perfectly suited to hide your identity and engage in illegal tutoring!"
"Besides, we're in the same boat now. If something happens to you, I'll be in trouble too. Why would I lie to you?"
In the past, Zhang Yu had heard some vague rumors about gangs, but this was the first time he had heard so many insider details.
Although everything sounded plausible, Zhang Yu still couldn't fully trust the evil spirit before him.
So, he sent a message to Zhang Pianpian, asking about the dark tutoring world.
Zhang Pianpian: Why are you asking about this all of a sudden?
Zhang Yu: A friend mentioned it.
I'm short on money, so I'm looking for ways to earn some.
Zhang Pianpian: Hmm, since you won first place in martial arts, you do have some capital now.
Zhang Pianpian: Try going to this address.
If you can do it, go ahead.
If not, just keep building up your strength.
Then, Zhang Pianpian made a video call.
When Zhang Yu answered, he saw her drawing a talisman with her fingertip.
A concealment talisman traveled through the internet and landed on his head.
Zhang Pianpian: "Alright, this concealment talisman will hide your identity for the next 12 hours, making it impossible for others to see through you."
"Additionally, if you want to conceal your face and body, you can try using the Red Marrow Primordial Qi you've recently practiced."
Zhang Yu watched Zhang Pianpian's talisman-drawing process with curiosity and asked, "How much faith level is needed to draw talismans through the internet like this?"
Zhang Pianpian: "Don't think about that for now. Focus on what's in front of you."
After hanging up, Zhang Yu looked at the address Zhang Pianpian had sent.
It was nearly 70 kilometers from the city center of Songyang, practically the outskirts of the outskirts.
As he pondered Zhang Pianpian's words, Zhang Yu had a thought: "She knows about the dark tutoring world, but she seems to think I might not be able to get any tutoring jobs?"
"Is it because she doesn't know I've mastered several Level 10 techniques, so she thinks I won't fit in the dark tutoring world?"
Zhang Yu trusted Zhang Pianpian far more than he trusted the doll.
Looking outside, the night was deep, and neon lights hung high in the sky.
It was the perfect time to go out, especially with the concealment talisman hiding his identity.
"But if I'm going to the dark tutoring world, I really need to hide my identity. She said I could try using Red Marrow Primordial Qi?"
At this thought, Zhang Yu's eyes lit up: "Does she mean I should control my muscles to change my appearance?"
As Zhang Yu was figuring out how to use Red Marrow Primordial Qi to alter his appearance, the doll hanging around his neck exclaimed in surprise, "You have such a powerful woman backing you? She can draw talismans through the internet? Her talisman skills are quite advanced."
Zhang Yu ignored the doll and began experimenting with changing the muscles on his face.
With his Level 10 Red Marrow Primordial Qi, his control over his muscles had reached an unprecedented level, though he had never thought to use it to change his appearance before.
With a little effort, he saw his reflection in the mirror transform dramatically.
From a handsome young man, he turned into an ordinary-looking person.
After adjusting his muscles, he even shrunk slightly in height, completely becoming a different person.
...
More than half an hour later, as Zhang Yu got closer to the destination, the infrastructure along the road deteriorated.
About ten kilometers away, there weren't even any bus stops.
Zhang Yu had to rely on his own two feet to get there.
Fortunately, with his current physical strength, running wasn't too slow or tiring.
However, the further he went, the shorter the buildings became, and the roads worsened.
The alleys on both sides were pitch black and eerily quiet, with hardly any lights.
Zhang Yu felt as though he had traveled from a futuristic metropolis to a dilapidated small town.
Compared to this place, his rented apartment seemed like a decent place.
The quietness of the night made Zhang Yu feel somewhat uneasy.
"Right, the people living around here are all mortals, so naturally, they're all asleep at this hour."
Sleep—a word that had gradually become distant to Zhang Yu—made him sigh for a moment.
"But it's precisely because this place is so poor that there's a lack of surveillance and management. Companies aren't willing to invest much in infrastructure here, leaving room for gangs to thrive."
Continuing on his way, when Zhang Yu felt his body warming up and starting to sweat, he finally arrived at the location marked on the address.
A grand gate, vehicles coming and going, a security booth at the entrance, and a sign that read "Songyang North Moon High-Tech Service Industrial Park"—everything was completely different from the dark, damp gang hideout Zhang Yu had imagined.
Zhang Yu was surprised.
"This is the territory of a gang involved in illegal tutoring? It looks way too legitimate."
The doll said, "They pay taxes according to the law and are devout in their beliefs. They're a legitimate gang."
Zhang Yu frowned, never having imagined that gangs could be associated with legitimacy.
Zhang Yu asked in confusion, "Shouldn't gangs be all about fighting and staying in the shadows?"
The doll chuckled.
"Those you're talking about are the lowest-level thugs, disposable tools. In this world, it's all about money and connections. If all you know is fighting, you'll end up dead in the streets sooner or later."
The doll seemed to know all about this.
She explained, "This service industrial park is the territory of the Dark Study Gang. They specialize in illegal tutoring, technique cracking and modification, spreading pirated techniques, and all sorts of other businesses. The company backing them is Deep Sea Education Group."
Zhang Yu was shocked again.
"Deep Sea Education Group?"
He remembered that the tutoring class he had attended before was under the name of Deep Sea Education Group.
Zhang Yu asked in confusion, "I thought Deep Sea Education Group was an education company that develops techniques and runs tutoring institutions. Why would they support the Dark Study Gang?"
The doll laughed again.
"How naive. They're not the only ones in the education business. The Dark Study Gang is their tool for cracking rival companies' techniques, conducting technique experiments, and taking down rival gangs... In short, they handle all the dirty work."
As they spoke, Zhang Yu entered the industrial park and, following the address Zhang Pianpian had given him, found the number plate of a small building.
Along the way, the security guards in the park were polite, and the scenery was pleasant.
Zhang Yu couldn't see any signs that this was a gang's territory.
Looking at the small building before him, Zhang Yu pushed the door open and, remembering what Zhang Pianpian had told him, said to the receptionist, "I'm here to offer tutoring."
The receptionist smiled and said, "Alright, sir. Please wait in Room 105. Our sales representative will be with you shortly."
Zhang Yu followed the receptionist's directions and walked past a few rooms, hearing faint arguments coming from inside.
"Damn it... To sell this martial art, two of my brothers were fined into bankruptcy, and one was dismembered and sold by the company. And now you're trying to lowball me?"
"Hey, getting mad at me won't help. The gang's rules are clear—this is the price for Level 7 tutoring."
"Rules! Rules! Back in the day, I single-handedly took down Golden Lesson Gang's operations, shutting down sixteen of their underground tutoring centers. Why didn't you talk about rules then? Now that I'm old and can't learn anymore, you're throwing rules at me..."
As if sensing someone approaching, the door to the room was closed, and Zhang Yu could no longer hear what was being said.
Entering Room 105, Zhang Yu waited for a while before a polite middle-aged man walked in, closed the door, and asked courteously, "What can I do for you, sir?"
At that moment, the doll's voice rang in Zhang Yu's mind: "Tell him you have a batch of tutoring sessions to offer. Let him inspect the goods first."
"You don't understand the local gangs. Do as I say, so they don't think you're a rookie. Let me handle the price negotiation. You'll definitely earn more."
Zhang Yu was slightly stunned.
He hadn't expected the doll to be able to communicate directly in his mind.
However, the sentence the doll wanted him to say didn't seem problematic, so he decided to combine the information the doll had given him and proceed with the conversation.
Zhang Yu lowered his voice and said, "I have a batch of tutoring sessions to offer. You can inspect the goods first."
With a slight tremor, milky-white energy surged from Zhang Yu's body, quickly forming a mist that enveloped him.
It was the Level 10 technique—Infinite Cloud Hand.
(End of Chapter)