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

The night at Nantianmen should have been quiet and desolate. But at this moment, under the neon lights of Jia Zang's few blue-roofed prefabricated houses, it was more lively than any urban village in the mortal world.

"Self-heating hot pot! Authentic Sichuan flavor! Last 100 servings, we're closing down when they're gone!"

"Iced cola! Refreshing and invigorating! No spirit stones? Trade your magic treasures! Fair and honest dealings!"

Jia Zhuang stood at the entrance of "Qingyun Heavy Industry·Tianting Branch" holding a large megaphone, his voice louder than the excavator engine next to him.

Ever since yesterday's hotpot "corroded" Laozi's taste buds, the winds at the South Heavenly Gate have completely changed. The once high and mighty gods are now like off-duty workers, circling around Jia Zang's stall. Even the previously righteous Giant Spirit God is now hiding behind a pillar, secretly exchanging a bag of low-grade spirit stones for two bottles of cola.

However, this scene of universal celebration did not last long.

A beam of golden light descended from the sky and struck Jia Zang's neon sign directly.

With a "sizzle," the sign that had been flashing "Welcome" went out instantly, and a plume of black smoke rose from it.

Immediately afterwards, a celestial official dressed in purple robes with a stern face descended from the clouds. He was the Heavenly Finance Commissioner, in charge of the Heavenly Court's finances and resource allocation.

"Jia Zang!" The Revenue Commissioner coldly looked down. "You've illegally set up stalls, disrupting the Heavenly Court's order and misleading the people. I, by order of the Jade Emperor, hereby cut off all spirit stone supplies to 'Qingyun Heavy Industries'! Without spirit stones, let's see how your piece of junk manages to operate!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of the immortals who were eating hot pot and drinking cola all changed.

In Heaven, spirit stones are everything. They are currency, energy, and the foundation of cultivation. Without spirit stones, Jia Zang's high-tech gadgets—those electric mixers and energy-intensive drones—would instantly become piles of scrap metal.

"Cut off supplies?" Jia Zang raised an eyebrow, showing no panic as the Director of Finance had expected. Instead, he laughed. "Brother, isn't your tactic a bit too old-fashioned? In today's business world, who still resorts to cutting off supplies?"

"Stubborn fool!" The Revenue Commissioner sneered, flicking his sleeve. "Let's see how long you can hold out! Men, seal off all supply routes through the South Heavenly Gate! Not a single fly is allowed in!"

At the order of the Director of Finance, the heavenly soldiers who had been turned by Jia Zang looked at each other in bewilderment. Although they were loyal to Jia Zang, military orders were absolute, and they had no choice but to grit their teeth and re-establish the cordon, cutting off all communication between the South Heavenly Gate and the outside world.

The air around him seemed to freeze.

Without electricity, the neon lights went out; without energy, the drones couldn't fly. Those who had just tasted the sweetness of success held their unfinished hotpots, their faces filled with disappointment.

"It's over, it's really over now."

"Boss Jia has really messed up this time. Competing with the Heavenly Court for resources? Isn't that just courting death?"

The finance commissioner looked at Jia Zang, his eyes filled with the arrogance of a victor: "Now, what do you have to say? Just kneel down and admit your mistakes, and demolish these illegal buildings, and I might be able to plead with the Jade Emperor to spare your life."

Jia Zang sighed and patted the dust off his hands.

"Sigh, you gods, your thinking is so rigid. Do you think controlling the ground transportation channels means you can control logistics?"

Jia Zang lowered his head, looking at the hard granite ground beneath his feet, a sly smile curving his lips.

"System, activate 'Crust Penetrator' mode. Since we can't go on the surface, we'll go 'underground'."

"Underground?" The finance official was taken aback. "This is the foundation of the Southern Heavenly Gate, incredibly solid. How could you...?"

Before the words were even finished, the earth suddenly began to shake.

It wasn't a violent earthquake, but a low, rhythmic mechanical rumble.

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—"

That voice was so familiar it sent shivers down my spine.

To the astonishment of the Ministry of Finance official, the hard granite pavement of Nantianmen Square was "cut" open as if it were tofu. Immediately afterward, a giant ship with a unique shape, entirely black in color, and emitting a ghostly blue light slowly "emerged" from the ground.

This ship isn't actually digging; it's an "underground logistics mothership" made up of 10,000 "underground tractors" that have been modified by the system!

Each tractor was equipped with a "high-frequency vibration drill bit" and "phase-shifting armor". They were connected end to end, like a giant steel python, ignoring all the physical blockades and barriers of the Heavenly Court, and directly traversing the gaps in the subspace.

"What is that?!" The finance official was so frightened that he backed away repeatedly.

"That's my supply line." Jia Zhuang pointed to the ship. "Oh, by the way, you just said you were cutting off the spirit stone supply? Sorry, I don't care."

Jia Zang snapped his fingers, and a huge metal rod suddenly popped out from the top of the "underground logistics mothership," pointing straight to the sky.

This metal rod is the "Franklin Modified High Voltage Rectifier Lightning Rod" awarded by the system.

At this very moment, the Heavenly Court's protective array is in operation, with countless bolts of heavenly lightning rolling through the clouds. This is part of the Heavenly Court's defense system and also a huge source of energy.

"System, connect to 'Franklin Modified'. Target: Lightning energy dissipating from the Heavenly Court's protective array. Conversion rate: 100%."

Click!

A thick bolt of blue lightning struck down from the clouds, hitting the metal rod precisely.

But the lightning didn't destroy anything; instead, it flowed continuously into Jia Zang's base along the conductor. The machines in the base that had been shut down instantly lit up again, even brighter than before!

The blender's motor roared back to life, the neon signs flashed even more blindingly, and even the holographic live stream projector came back online.

"This...how is this possible?!" The Revenue Commissioner stared in disbelief. "You actually dared to steal the power of heavenly lightning? This is a capital offense!"

"What stealing? This is called clean energy recycling!" Jia Zhuang retorted righteously. "Your heavenly lightning is wasted every day, while I'm helping the Heavenly Court conserve energy and reduce emissions! Don't you even know what carbon neutrality is?"

In the live stream, netizens from the mortal realm erupted in excitement once again:

Holy crap! Hardcore! Stealing electricity directly from the atmosphere!

Is this the legendary "Tesla-style" cultivation method?

[This is what you call the "Industrial Party's" romance! Violent aesthetics!]

The Heavenly Court has been thoroughly humiliated; all that lockdown has been for naught.

Jia Zang turned around, looked at the dumbfounded immortals around him, and loudly announced:

"Fellow immortals! Due to the instability of the Heavenly Court's power supply system, we have just switched to 'Direct Thunder Supply' mode! To celebrate this historic moment, all hot pot meals tonight are half price! In addition, our 'underground logistics' are now fully operational, so any earthly treasures that are unavailable in the Heavenly Court can now be delivered to your doorstep by me, Jia Zang!"

He looked at the ashen-faced finance commissioner and flashed a bright smile:

"Sir, should we continue the lockdown? Or would you like some hot pot? This time, we'll make it extra spicy."

As the finance commissioner looked at the neon lights that had been lit up again, and at the people eager to get involved in the "underground economy," he knew that he had lost this round again.

Jia Zang not only broke through the physical blockade, but also established an independent, underground, yet ubiquitous economic cycle system in the Heavenly Court.

Nantianmen had completely become his territory.