No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Inside the half-finished building, Zhou Tianyi had been lying in wait for over two hours, thinking he’d finally caught the perfect chance to ambush Zhang Yu.

But in the blink of an eye, he was thrown completely off-guard by the burst of Formless Cloud Qi erupting from Zhang Yu’s back.

Zhou Tianyi had launched a powerful kick, but with only one leg planted for balance.

Now, with his momentum violently rebounded by the sudden force of the Formless Cloud Qi, he staggered and was sent flying.

“What?!”

Zhang Yu had been studying Limitless Cloud Hands for less than a month—how was he already capable of releasing Qi from his back?

As Zhou Tianyi felt the overwhelming force within that surge of Qi, his shock was involuntary.

But before he could recover, another wave came crashing in. Just as he rolled to the ground and lifted his head—

A figure radiating murderous intent was already barreling toward him, right in his face.

Zhou Tianyi had seen Zhang Yu training from afar before and thought the kid looked impressive.But now, face-to-face, he finally felt the true meaning of that presence.

Frenzied killing intent. An indomitable will to fight. Staring at Zhang Yu—who looked like a vengeful ghost under the effect of the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique—Zhou Tianyi felt a powerful urge to turn and run.

But just as he instinctively took a step back, Zhang Yu struck.

The moment he saw the masked attacker (Zhou Tianyi), Zhang Yu, still locked in battle mode under the influence of Martial Intent, launched his full power without hesitation.

Fight! Fight! Fight! Crush every enemy into dust!

His Level 10 Limitless Cloud Hands roared into action.

With a single palm strike, a torrent of mana surged from his dantian, vibrating seven times in rapid succession, transforming into wave after wave of Formless Cloud Qi.

Faced with this overwhelming assault, Zhou Tianyi knew this was a life-or-death moment. With a roar, he summoned every ounce of strength and kicked with all his might.

Boom!

The moment their forces clashed, Zhou Tianyi felt his own mana crumbling layer by layer. The Formless Cloud Qi slammed into him like a speeding truck, launching him backward until he crashed into a nearby concrete wall.

The wall cracked open with a thunderous bang.

Zhou Tianyi landed in a heap of shattered cement and brick.

He tried to get up, but the moment he strained, waves of pain tore through him. Countless bones and tendons were likely broken. He collapsed again.

Zhang Yu walked up slowly, still immersed in the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique, exuding a murderous aura. He coldly stared at the masked Zhou Tianyi.

“Who are you? Why did you attack me?”

Zhou Tianyi didn’t answer. He was too focused on his injuries, his heart sinking into despair.

He was this badly hurt—how much would it cost to heal? This could ruin his entire Immortal Path, maybe even destroy his future entirely.

As he stood dazed, Zhang Yu reached down and tore off the mask.

When he saw Zhou Tianyi’s face, Zhang Yu’s expression flickered with surprise.

“Zhou Tianyi?”

Zhou Tianyi’s mind raced. He looked at Zhang Yu and said, “Zhang Yu, do you know why you got into Songyang High?”

Seeing Zhang Yu pause to listen, he continued, “It’s because your physical body has a high compatibility rate with certain rich folks. So they selected you to ‘train’ in high school.”

“Just like many other broke students in Songyang High. Besides grades, physical compatibility has always been a hidden criterion.”

Zhang Yu frowned. Of course he didn’t immediately believe Zhou Tianyi. “Why not just train us somewhere else? Why Songyang High?”

Zhou Tianyi sneered. “You think Songyang High is just a school? There’s darkness in there far beyond your imagination.”

“The poor here can be dogs for the rich… or spare parts. Naturally, they want us trained together, learning the same techniques.”

Zhang Yu suddenly thought of the Demon-Parasitic Technique. Could someone in Songyang High really be cultivating that?

He stared at Zhou Tianyi. “So you’re with the Student Council?”

“I told you… Songyang is complicated…” Zhou Tianyi shook his head—then coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Zhang Yu had shown no mercy. Under the influence of the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique, he’d struck to kill.

Zhou Tianyi now realized that without immediate treatment, his Immortal Path would be the least of his worries—his life might be on the line.

His expression grew panicked. He spoke faster: “Zhang Yu! You… you were activated by an Evil God, weren’t you? That’s how you got your power?”

Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened. But he gave no response. Of course he wouldn’t reveal anything about the Evil God ritual.

Zhou Tianyi persisted, “Don’t bother denying it, you—”

He suddenly winced, face turning a sickly crimson, the pain from his wounds stealing his words.

“Zhang Yu… we’re… on the same side…”

“Take… take me to a clinic…”

Seeing Zhang Yu still unmoving, and feeling his life slipping away, Zhou Tianyi grew desperate.

“I—I also serve an Evil God. That entity… is very interested in you…”

As he spoke, his body temperature surged. Embers began to spark across his face.

Fear flashed through Zhou Tianyi’s eyes. He shouted, “I didn’t mean to reveal it! I didn’t really say anything! Wait—I was just using him!”

But the flames didn’t stop.

In the next instant, scarlet fire exploded across his body.

In a blink, Zhou Tianyi was reduced to ashes.

Zhang Yu stared, his brow furrowed tightly.

“Zhou Tianyi was with the Evil God too?”

But thinking of how the Eight Divine Officials only cared about money, while the Evil Gods only cared about life, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but think… maybe the Evil Gods weren’t without their merits.

After all, Kunxu had plenty of people with lives but no money.

“Maybe… Evil God followers aren’t so rare around here.”

He looked at the fading ashes and muttered, “So that was backlash from a ritual-like force?”

“Definitely had that moronic ritual vibe.”

And recalling today’s events, Zhang Yu wondered, “Did I stir up too much noise and attract the Evil God’s attention? No… Zhou Tianyi knew Zhang Yu for a while. Was I marked long ago?”

His heart sank. And worse, this wasn’t something he could tell anyone.

Three Great Academies, the Student Council, Evil Gods…

Thinking of the enemies ahead, Zhang Yu could only sigh: “I still need more strength.”

Especially reflecting on how narrowly he’d beaten Zhou Tianyi, he knew—if not for his current strength, he’d already be dead.

Looking back on the day—fighting and retreating in the Illusory Trial, receiving Zhang Pianpian’s protection, defeating Zhou Tianyi with his own power—

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him. He started laughing.

Before, when switching between the Desolate Ox Soul-Suppressing Heart Method and the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique, he’d felt mentally conflicted.

But now, he thought: “Strike when it’s time to strike. Retreat when it’s time to retreat. Adapt to your environment with the right mindset. Why was I ever conflicted?”

In that instant, his Martial Intent flowed more harmoniously than ever, seamlessly switching between techniques without the slightest obstruction.

“Time to keep training.”

Whether it was the lurking enemies or the elites of Songyang High and the Three Great Academies, Zhang Yu needed to become even stronger.

By morning, his Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique had reached Level 6 (41/60).

…

Meanwhile.

Inside the office at Songyang High.

Su Haifeng listened to the voice on the other end of the call, shocked.

“He self-destructed? He betrayed us?”

He nodded quickly. “I’ll handle Zhou Tianyi’s expulsion on your behalf.”

“Don’t worry—no one in the school will notice anything strange.”

“But what about Zhang Yu?”

“Honestly, with the school board, Student Council, and the Inspectorate all watching him now… Since Zhou was our hidden piece and he’s gone, it might be too risky for anyone else to act. Maybe we should hold off on Zhang Yu for now and focus on other candidates.”

“After all, that Zhang Pianpian can only shield him for another six months…”

…

Songyang High.

Campus life remained peaceful, steeped in study and cultivation.

Zhang Yu looked around at the students buried in their textbooks and training routines. Yesterday’s fierce clash on the training grounds felt like it never happened.

Even Zhou Tianyi’s sudden disappearance barely caused a stir. Word was he’d withdrawn—just like Liang Qin. Nothing unusual. Withdrawals happened all the time at Songyang High.

Unless someone jumped off a building, no one would even mention it during lunch.

Still, Zhang Yu noticed subtle changes.

Like… no one wanted to be near him.

The classmates who used to greet him, ask questions, or seek cultivation tips… vanished.

It was like an invisible wall had gone up around him, pushing everyone away.

Of course, he knew why.

“They’re all scared the Student Council will come after them… So scared they won’t even talk to me?”

Clack!

Bai Zhenzhen casually dropped a lunch tray across from him and sat down.

Looking at Ah-Zhen, Zhang Yu felt glad to have a true brother.

Bai Zhenzhen devoured his food while saying, “Yo, Yuzi, lend me your Talisman Book for a few days.”

Zhang Yu immediately took back what he’d just thought.

No real brother would ask to borrow a 100,000-credit artifact like that.

Clack!

Qian Shen set his tray down and sat next to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu smiled. Old Qian might have lower scores, a bit of a bias against low scorers, and some serious classism… but maybe he was reliable after all.

Qian Shen wolfed down a few bites, then asked, “So… that Zhang Pianpian chick, the one with the 699 score—are you two close?”

“Think you could introduce me? I want to add her as a friend…”

Zhang Yu’s glare could have killed.

He instantly took back that thought too.

You bastard!

I treated you like a brother—and you’ve got designs on my sister?

Don’t you see there’s no room for you on this thigh?

But then Zhang Yu paused. Qian Shen was also rootless. Looking at that starry-eyed worship, he understood.

Just a fanatic fanboy wanting to get on her friend list, huh?

Zhang Yu said, “Sure, I can introduce you.”

“But her friend list slot costs 3,000. Just transfer it to me.”