Forced to become a top influencer, I rely on my tu cao to ruin the cultivation world.

The air at Nantianmen seemed to freeze.

Just as Jia Zang's "fully automatic bribery machine" was preparing for its second round of harvesting, a clear and melodious phoenix cry suddenly came from the sky. The clouds, which had been somewhat agitated by the light of the spirit stones, were instantly frozen by a chilling aura.

"Who is this madman who dares to gather a crowd and cause a disturbance at the Southern Heavenly Gate, thus confusing the minds of the immortals!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, clearly penetrating the eardrums of everyone present.

Jia Zang looked up and saw nine blue phoenixes pulling a shimmering chariot slowly descending from the heavens. On the chariot stood a woman dressed in a light blue flowing fairy dress, holding a jade ruyi scepter, her brows exuding an undeniable majesty and aloofness.

She is the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady.

As a high-ranking general in charge of security and conquest in the Heavenly Court, her appearance signified an escalation of the situation. After the appeasement tactics employed by civil officials like Venus failed, the Heavenly Court finally dispatched its true "violent forces."

As the chariot landed, hundreds of "Golden Guards" clad in silver armor instantly formed a line, surrounding Jia Zang's bulldozer and the bribery machine. These Golden Guards all exuded a profound aura, clearly far superior to the lowly security guards at the South Heavenly Gate.

"Jia Zang," the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden said, looking down at him with eyes as sharp as knives, "you have trespassed into the Heavenly Court, disrupted order, and sold evil artifacts. I have been ordered by the Jade Emperor to arrest you!"

Jia Zang did not act as frivolously as he had when facing Venus. He knew very well that Xuan Nu was a pragmatist and would not fall for any empty rhetoric or flattery.

But he wasn't flustered.

Because on his retina, the system's pale blue panel was flashing wildly, directly locking onto Xuan Nu's face.

[Ding! High-energy target detected: Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden]

[Current pain point analysis: The Western Camp's spiritual energy reserves are insufficient (12% remaining), and the arms race has led to resource depletion, urgently requiring improvements in spiritual energy utilization efficiency.]

Strategy: A technologically superior approach. Recommended item: Industrial-grade aura booster pump (modified system version).

"Mysterious Lady, what a magnificent sight!" Jia Zhuang patted the bulldozer's steering wheel and slowly stood up. "But before you arrest me, don't you want to know what kind of trouble the technology behind this machine can solve for you?"

"Spreading heresy and misleading the public!" Xuan Nu sneered, pointing her jade ruyi. "Golden Guards, seize them!"

"Wait!"

Jia Zang shouted, and suddenly a huge scroll appeared in his hand. He shook it violently, and the scroll unfurled with a "whoosh," revealing a huge, metallic-looking... engineering blueprint.

"Goddess Xuan Nu, look! What is this?"

Xuan Nu was about to order a strong attack, but the moment her eyes fell on the blueprint, she involuntarily stopped in her tracks.

Those were neither mortal blueprints nor celestial talismans.

The drawing depicted a complex mechanical structure, its lines intricately precise, with strange symbols (Arabic numerals and physical formulas) marking each component. In the center of the drawing was a turbine-like device, next to which was written a line of large characters in vermilion ink:

"Third-generation industrial-grade spiritual energy purification and recycling system (prototype)"

"Spiritual energy...purification?" Xuan Nu's pupils contracted slightly.

This is the Heavenly Court's biggest secret and its biggest pain point.

As the cultivation world expands, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth becomes increasingly scarce. In order to maintain its majesty, the Heavenly Court has to consume massive amounts of resources to maintain the "Spirit Gathering Array." In particular, the daily cultivation of tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers and generals in the Western Camp, which is under the command of the Mystic Maiden, consumes one-third of the Heavenly Court's spiritual energy reserves every year.

For this matter, Xuan Nu was often reprimanded by the Jade Emperor and also had many headaches about the budget for spirit stones.

"That's right." Jia Zhuang keenly caught the wavering in Xuan Nu's eyes. A sly smile played on his lips. "Your Majesty, your current spirit-gathering array is far too inefficient. It's like using a strainer to scoop water; the more spiritual energy comes in, the faster it dissipates. My system, however, can increase the recovery rate of waste spiritual energy to 99%, and the concentration of purified spiritual energy is three times higher than it is now!"

"Nonsense!" Although the Mystic Maiden was tempted, her professional ethics kept her on her guard. "How could these barbarians of the mortal realm understand the intricacies of my Heavenly Court's formations?"

"Whether it's nonsense or not, Your Majesty, you can see for yourself."

Jia Zang snapped his fingers, and the bulldozer behind him suddenly roared.

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—"

This time, instead of spewing flames, it spat out a small metal box from the side.

The box was only the size of a palm, with red and green indicator lights flashing on it. It was connected to a thick exhaust pipe and was frantically sucking air from the square.

"This is..." Xuan Nu frowned.

"This is a miniature spiritual energy booster pump," Jia Zhuang explained. "It doesn't require complex formations or high-grade spirit stones to drive it. It only needs to be connected to an ordinary spiritual vein node, and it can forcefully draw and compress spiritual energy from the air, just like a heart."

"Talk is cheap, why not give it a try?" Jia Zhuang gestured for them to proceed. "Your Majesty, the spiritual energy in this South Heavenly Gate Square is extremely mixed. If this machine can make the spiritual energy concentration here surpass that of the Lingxiao Palace, shouldn't you consider sitting down and discussing cooperation?"

Xuan Nu stared at the metal box for a long time before finally waving her hand, signaling the Golden Guards to step back.

"Very well. I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you dare to try anything funny, I will execute you without mercy."

Jia Zang chuckled inwardly, but his face remained sincere.

He jumped off the bulldozer, walked to the metal box, and skillfully began operating it.

"Family members, the moment to witness a miracle has arrived!" Jia Zhuang shouted to the still-live-streaming camera. "Just now we used bribery machines to harvest the common people; now, we're going to use an industrial assembly line to harvest the high-ranking generals of Heaven! This is the power of technological barriers!"

The live stream chat exploded instantly:

Holy crap! Are they selling weapons?

Is this the legendary "dimensional reduction attack"? Using modern industrial technology to fool ancient gods!

[The Goddess Xuan Nu's eyes changed! She's fallen for her!]

[Jia Zang is awesome! Turning enemies into customers—that's the ultimate business strategy!]

Jia Zang pressed the switch.

"Buzz—!!!"

A deep hum sounded, followed by the roar of the bulldozer engine.

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—"

Centered on the metal box, the originally thin clouds around it began to spin wildly, forming a small vortex visible to the naked eye.

The concentration of spiritual energy in the air at the originally gray and hazy Nantianmen Square increased at a visible rate.

Those low-ranking heavenly soldiers, who had been listless from standing guard for long periods, suddenly felt their breathing become easier, and a warm current flowed through their previously parched meridians.

"This...this is..." An old celestial soldier stared wide-eyed, taking a deep breath in disbelief. "Such rich spiritual energy! It's even more comfortable than when I was on duty in the Peach Garden!"

"How is that possible?"

Even the usually composed Venus couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden's beautiful eyes widened. She could clearly feel that the small metal box was greedily absorbing the free spiritual energy between heaven and earth, then compressing and purifying it, releasing an extremely pure energy wave.

In just half an incense stick's time, the spiritual energy concentration in the South Heaven Gate area actually reached the level of the Lingxiao Palace!

"stop."

Xuan Nu raised her hand to stop Jia Zhuang.

She took a deep breath, calming the restless true essence within her body caused by the surge of spiritual energy, and her eyes became extremely complex.

There was shock, there was greed, and even more so, a deep...desire.

If every military camp in the Heavenly Court were equipped with this, the Heavenly Court's combat power would increase several times, while the consumption of spirit stones would be halved!

This was a lifeline for Xuan Nu, who had been struggling to pay for military expenses.

"What is this thing called?" Xuan Nu's voice was no longer cold, but rather carried a hint of urgency.

"An industrial-grade spirit energy booster pump, model 'Jia-1'," Jia Zhuang said with a smile. "Your Majesty, this is just a sample. If you need it, my Qingyun Heavy Industry can provide a complete solution, including installation, commissioning, after-sales maintenance, and we can even customize a 'military version' for you, adding explosion-proof and anti-interference functions."

Xuan Nu remained silent for a moment, her gaze shifting back and forth between the enormous engineering blueprint and the small metal box.

She knew that this mortal before her possessed a power she could not comprehend at all, yet it was terrifyingly strong.

This is not magic, this is... the rule.

A set of rules that are more efficient and replicable than magic.

"What do you want?" Xuan Nu finally asked.

Jia Zang put away the blueprint, straightened his collar, and put on a standard businessman's smile.

"I don't want anything."

He pointed to the low-ranking soldiers around him who were staring at him expectantly, and then to the bribery machine that was still flashing the "recharge entrance".

"First, I want the legal operating rights of 'Qingyun Heavy Industry' in Nantianmen. No one can demolish my illegal buildings."

"Secondly, I want the 'labor dispatch rights' for the Heavenly Soldiers of Nantianmen. Simply put, these Heavenly Soldiers can stand guard for you during the day and come work for me at night. I will pay them double wages, and they will be considered outsourced employees of my 'Qingyun Heavy Industry'."

"Third..." Jia Zang paused, his gaze fixed intently on Xuan Nu, "I want that 'List of Prohibited Items of Heaven' in your hand. I want to know what Heaven is afraid of, so I can create it."

The entire room fell silent.

Venus gasped.

These three clauses, seemingly business terms, are actually traps at every turn!

The first goal is to establish territory; the second is to win over the hearts and minds of the people and turn the Heavenly Court's grassroots armed forces into Jia Zang's private army; the third is to find out the Heavenly Court's true nature!

"You've gone too far!" Venus couldn't help but shout. "Goddess Xuan Nu, this man harbors wolfish ambitions; we cannot allow it!"

Xuan Nu ignored Venus.

She looked at Jia Zhuang, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, but more so a calm composure as if she had met her match.

"Labor dispatch...outsourcing..." Xuan Nu chewed on these novel terms, then suddenly sneered, "Jia Zang, do you think I can't see through your intentions? You want to undermine the Heavenly Court's control over the lower levels?"

"Your Majesty, you flatter me," Jia Zhuang said, spreading his hands. "I simply want everyone to live a better life. Think about it, if the heavenly soldiers have money, they can buy better equipment, their cultivation will improve, and they'll still serve you, won't they? As for the Heavenly Court... as long as I provide enough spirit stones, would His Majesty the Jade Emperor find the money too hot to handle?"

The goddess remained silent.

Jia Zang is right. What the Heavenly Court lacks most right now is money and efficiency.

Traditional cultivation systems are too slow and rely too heavily on talent and resources. Jia Zang's "industrialized cultivation" model, while sounding unorthodox, is incredibly effective.

"it is good."

Suddenly, the Mystic Maiden spoke, uttering a startling statement.

"I agree."

"Your Majesty!" Venus exclaimed in shock.

"However," Xuan Nu interrupted Taibai Jinxing, her gaze fixed on Jia Zhuang, "you only have one month. In one month, I want to see the first batch of 'military-grade booster pumps' equipped at the Western Camp. If the results are unsatisfactory, or if you dare to make any move, I will personally execute you!"

"Deal!" Jia Zhuang extended his hand, wanting to shake hands.

Xuan Nu frowned, glanced disdainfully at Jia Zhuang's hand covered in machine oil, and finally just gently tapped his palm with her jade ruyi.

It's a deal.

At Xuan Nu's command, the Golden Guards surrounding Jia Zang put away their weapons and retreated to the sides.

The tense atmosphere at Nantianmen Gate suddenly turned eerie.

Jia Zang won.

He not only saved his illegal building, but also dragged down the most powerful figure in Heaven.

"Family members, did you see that?" Jia Zhuang turned to the live stream camera, his face beaming with the glory of a victor. "This is the power of 'industrial blueprints'! Faced with absolute technological superiority, even the arrogant Xuan Nu must bow her head!"

"Now, I hereby declare the 'Qingyun Heavy Industry - Heavenly Court Branch' officially established!"

"The first task is to solve another long-standing problem for the Heavenly Court—"

Jia Zang's gaze swept over the emaciated, low-level heavenly soldiers in the square, whose cultivation had stagnated due to long-term malnutrition, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"The soil in the Peach Orchard is compacted, causing a severe loss of spiritual energy and resulting in a continuous decline in peach production. Fellow immortals, would you like to try peaches grown with 'industrial organic fertilizer'?"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Even the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, who was just about to leave, suddenly stopped.

The Peach Garden was the lifeblood of Heaven, the forbidden domain of the Queen Mother of the West.

This Jia Zang, he actually dares to even have designs on that place?

But the strength he just displayed makes it impossible not to believe that he might actually have a way to solve the problem that has plagued the Heavenly Court for thousands of years.

Jia Zang watched Xuan Nu's retreating figure and sneered inwardly.

The peach orchard is just the first step.

As long as he controls the Heavenly Court's food source (peaches) and energy source (spiritual energy), this South Heavenly Gate will sooner or later become Jia Zang's backyard.

"System, make a record of this," Jia Zhuang silently prayed to himself.

"Next objective: Conquer the Peach Garden. Core weapon: Monster dung mixed with psionic fermentation agent (also known as super fertilizer)."

[Ding! The mission has been updated.]

[Current progress: The Nantianmen stronghold has been secured.]

[Next stage: Economic invasion.]

Jia Zhuang sat back in the bulldozer and started the engine.

"Let's go to the Peach Garden! We're going to deliver 'fertilizer' to the Queen Mother of the West!"

The bulldozers roared as they rolled over the pristine white jade ground of the South Heavenly Gate, heading deeper into the Heavenly Court.

Behind it were countless celestial soldiers and generals with fanatical eyes, and an industrial network that was slowly unfolding and covering the entire Heavenly Court.