Chapter 86: Utilitarian Value

Could it be that the higher one’s cultivation, the more spiritual energy is required, making it increasingly difficult to survive in this world? Upon careful consideration, this actually seems quite plausible. No wonder the cultivators of this end-of-era world have all crossed over into the Dongchen World...

Hmph, every sect that has crossed into the Dongchen World aspires to become a Dao Ancestor and open the path of immortality. Yet, the Five Emperors of Dongchen govern the heavens—overthrowing them is no simple feat.

The Juntian Sect’s observatory remained just as it was last time, only dustier. Opening Zhen Yunzi’s computer, many contact messages were indeed found. Zhen Yunzi used this method to communicate cautiously with external forces.

Wang Zhenling hoped these people’s integrity would manifest, bringing him one or two useful magical artifacts. However, if magical artifacts were so easy to come by, Zhen Yunzi wouldn’t have carried only two treasures of little offensive power when she crossed over.

One was undoubtedly the Two Realms Jade Pivot, which ultimately fell into Wang Zhenling’s hands. The other was a treasure called the Golden Dragon Tablet. After Zhen Yunzi’s death, it had gone missing and presumably now belonged to Cheng Tiandao.

Though regretful, Wang Zhenling understood this was normal. Yet a few messages caught his interest.

One was from a subordinate named Liu Yun, reporting that he had arranged a business deal for Wang Zhenling—to treat a billionaire suffering from a terminal illness. If handled well, the profit could reach hundreds of millions.

This explained the large sums in Zhen Yunzi’s accounts, though her notes already recorded this clearly. Still, Wang Zhenling felt no interest; he neither needed money nor had the ability to cure a terminally ill person.

Looking at other messages, one from Shi Quan mentioned a recent haunting incident that had drawn their attention. Their investigation found something amiss.

At first, Wang Zhenling scoffed—this world lacked spiritual energy; how could ghosts exist here?

But upon viewing the video they sent, his expression grew serious. It showed a luxurious hotel captured by surveillance cameras. A young woman exited the elevator, then suddenly twisted unnaturally. She was struck by an invisible force, flew through the air, and crashed down the corridor like a rag doll.

Wang Zhenling’s earlier disdain shifted to solemnity. Even through the screen, at the moment the woman was thrown, he faintly sensed a thin trace of malevolent energy.

“Could there really be ghosts... and fierce ones at that? But how is that possible? How could ghosts exist in this world?” he murmured. “Perhaps there is something strange about the location of this hotel?”

Shi Quan shared similar thoughts. As an outer disciple of Juntian Sect tasked with searching for treasures on behalf of Zhen Yunzi, he was privy to many secrets. Their judgment aligned; they intended to investigate the hotel for clues to treasures.

Shi Quan often followed such leads to hunt treasures for Zhen Yunzi. No further news had arrived yet, indicating their investigation was ongoing.

Meanwhile, Liu Yun sent another message, again requesting Wang Zhenling’s assistance with medical treatment.

“What a coincidence, it came just as I was here... I might as well take a look,” Wang Zhenling thought and notified Liu Yun.

Liu Yun was thrilled. He hadn’t expected such a quick response and immediately replied, “The patient has already been admitted to a local hospital!”

This fellow acted first and reported later, having already sent the patient to the city. Fortunately, he hadn’t sent them directly to Juntian Sect.

If Liu Yun dared to do that, Wang Zhenling would have to reconsider whether to keep him.

Smiling inwardly, Wang Zhenling set out.

The “local hospital” Liu Yun mentioned was certainly not a public hospital. Since Liu Yun had targeted this case, it naturally involved someone wealthy or influential.

In this world, the gap between rich and poor was widening. Most people had lost their jobs and relied on welfare.

True wealth concentrated in the hands of a tiny elite.

It was foreseeable that society would become increasingly stratified. The middle class, the so-called backbone of society, would vanish entirely, and wealth would accumulate in the hands of very few.

Most small fortunes would disappear, leaving only owners of multinational conglomerates—true oligarchs.

Capital would inevitably overshadow states, forming transnational oligarchic rule.

The reason “Mingzhu” existed was largely due to social specialization, enabling most people to create value and play a role.

But when most lose their jobs and no longer produce value, replaced by automation, they lose their utility and face abandonment.

Wang Zhenling never believed those controlling true resources would be merciful enough to provide for those who had lost their usefulness.

The simplest truth: a person or thing has power only if it has value. Without value, there is no power.

Optimists claim that after AI replaces jobs, humanity will gain unprecedented liberation, pursuing interests without working merely for work’s sake, sparking a creative explosion.

But Wang Zhenling never believed this. The principle of “use it or lose it” is natural.

Human nature is lazy and averse to hardship.

Once replaced by AI, humans will only decline in leisure.

Like so-called quality education abroad—public schools that are essentially free-range, disguised as quality education but really fanning ignorance.

Only a small number with strong will and self-discipline will succeed and become elites. Most will become society’s underclass or scum.

This is a deliberate strategy by rulers to maintain stability and solidify class divisions.