No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

“These twenty medications cover a really broad range.”

Zhang Yu mused to himself, “Energy boosters, stamina restorers, mana recovery, qi and blood supplements, muscle enhancers, bone-strengtheners, neural stimulants…”

At that moment, another light screen appeared, displaying the full list of drugs available for this exam.

Zhang Yu cross-referenced the twenty medications featured in the influencer’s video with the scores listed on the exam sheet.

The point values varied—at the low end, standard supplements like stimulants and focus enhancers were worth just 10 points each.

Slightly stronger enhancers for muscle and bone clocked in around 25 points.

The more potent ones were ranked at 50, 80, and even 100 points.

“But the video only covered twenty, didn’t it? The examiner clearly said there are twenty-three available for the exam.”

Zhang Yu’s gaze landed on the top three medications, each burdening the body the most and worth a whopping 1,500 points apiece.

“Three were left out? So why use this influencer video as the official briefing?”On the other side, Ye Lingxiao didn’t seem surprised. He thought to himself, “This video only went viral because the companies pushed it to promote these twenty flagship drugs.”

“Seems like the whole idea of using medication in the exam… is no doubt backed by corporate interests.”

“Probably added these drugs into the test just to boost their sales, and then recycled the promo video as an explanation.”

As a scion of the Ye Clan of Xiandu, Ye Lingxiao was no stranger to the tangled web between corporations and the Righteous Gods.

Among the Ten Major Sects, their affiliated companies had both rivalries and partnerships with the Righteous Gods—conflicts, alliances, business dealings… the layers were so deep and so tangled that even Ye Lingxiao couldn’t make sense of them all.

Take those Red Envelope Sigils and Favor Charms he had researched—he suspected they were tied to money laundering operations between companies and Righteous Gods.

“That woman I ran into who could transfer money through a Favor Charm—she was probably laundering funds.”

“Sigh… but running a laundering racket, no matter how favored by the Righteous Gods you might be for a while, probably leads to a bad end.”

The profits were huge, yes, but as he began to feel the true danger, Ye Lingxiao had ultimately decided to drop the whole line of investigation.

Just then, as the video ended, Deng Bingding spoke up: “Three of the medications were not covered in the video, so I’ll explain them now.”

“These three weren’t included because they’re cutting-edge experimental products still in the lab phase—not yet mass-marketed.”

“Their effects are incredibly powerful, but each comes with significant drawbacks.”

“You could say that out of all twenty-three available drugs, these three are the most potent, but also the most physically taxing. Each one is a serious challenge to your body’s limits.” ṙÂƝÓ𝔟Ɛŝ

“First up: the Dao-Stabilizing Slow-Release Capsule…”

As Deng Bingding spoke, Zhang Yu mentally summarized.

Dao-Stabilizing Slow-Release Capsule

Function: Contains tranquilizers and emotion-suppressing agents. Temporarily boosts Dao Heart resilience and absorbs negative emotions. Requires long-term use.

Side Effects: Unknown

Zhang Yu frowned. “Yeah, no thanks. If even the company is saying the side effects are unknown, that thing’s a landmine waiting to blow.”

Next, Deng Bingding introduced the Mana Circuit Injection, also worth 1,500 points.

Zhang Yu took mental notes again:

Mana Circuit Injection

Function: Mimics the natural mana circulation of those born with innate Spirit Roots. Effectively suppresses fatigue in the dantian and meridians, stimulates Spirit Root function, and dramatically improves mana recovery and growth rates.

Side Effects: Anxiety, shortness of breath, convulsions, coma.

Warning: Long-term injection may lead to meridian cancer.

At first, Zhang Yu had been intrigued. He figured a few shots might actually help boost his mana during the test.

But the moment he heard ”meridian cancer,” he scowled.

“Are you serious? This crap is actually allowed in an exam? Are they trying to kill students or what?”

Then Deng Bingding introduced the final medication:

Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent

Function: Contains nano-engineered phoenix cells. Stimulates muscle and bone growth, aids in tissue regeneration with phoenix hormones, and significantly enhances body refining efficiency.

Side Effects: Diarrhea, stomach pain, dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, insomnia, neuritis, fever, fatigue, high fever, anaphylactic shock.

Deng Bingding added, “The side effects are numerous, but generally mild and short-lived. Most won’t interfere with cultivation.”

Zhang Yu, however, found himself uncertain.

“Well, out of the three Divine Medications, this Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agent is probably the least terrifying.”

“But I still don’t know if my High School Saint Body and Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation… can handle it.”

“Still, with each one worth 1,500 points, they’re in a league of their own.”

“If someone else uses one, I’ll have no choice but to go all in too.”

As the drug presentations wrapped up, crates of medications were delivered to the exam site, placed before the five examinees.

Deng Bingding gave one final reminder: “Next, you’ll be fitted with Detection Patches to continuously monitor your physical condition.”

“If you exceed your limits and enter a life-threatening state, you’ll be automatically disqualified.”

“I hope everyone knows their limits—don’t take more than your body can handle.”

Despite the warning, the moment the exam officially began, Zhang Yu saw Yu Xinghan charge forward and sweep an entire crate of injections into his arms, treating the medications like buffet dishes.

Yu Xinghan started with a full row of Dragon Elephant Enhancers, grinning to himself, “These cost a fortune normally. Today, I’m going all out.”

“Sigh, if only I could doggy-bag some of this.”

With over ten consecutive Dragon Elephant Enhancers injected, his body visibly swelled, even his previously sunken cheeks filling out again.

His score instantly shot up to over a hundred points.

Then came round after round of supplements, flooding his system with energy and vitality like he was refilling months of burnout from overtime.

He sighed in satisfaction. “Thought this second round was just procedural, but turns out I can enjoy a full-on injection spree.”

“Back to working overtime at Red Tower tomorrow, fully recharged.”

Smiling slightly, Yu Xinghan felt a tightness from his internal organs and the thunderous beat of his heart.

“520 points.”

“Phew… I’m nearing my limit. I could keep going, but it’d damage my body.”

“And I’m not aiming for a Foundation License this year anyway. No need to overdo it.”

Just as he thought this, a massive shadow loomed over him. A hand larger than his head reached past and grabbed an entire row of injectors.

It was Contestant #18—Meng Tao, a native of Xiandu with a Gluttonous Spirit Root. Last time, during the Gluttony Trial, he’d eaten fast but digested too slowly, dragging down his score.

That failure had taught Meng Tao something vital:

“My physical quality can’t match a genius like Ye Lingxiao.”

“To close the gap, the only option is mass.”

Just like a strong five-year-old still can’t compete with a fifteen-year-old, size and weight alone create a power differential.

So over the past two months, Meng Tao had undergone eight enhancement surgeries, using his Gluttonous Spirit Root to skyrocket to 3.2 meters tall and over a thousand kilograms in weight.

If quality was lacking, he’d make up for it with quantity.

With an oversized physique, he could unleash oversized power.

And in this injection-based exam, Meng Tao knew his sheer size gave him an edge—he could endure more drugs than anyone.

As a top student of Xiandu, he also had the know-how to maximize injections.

Casting a scornful glance at Yu Xinghan, Meng Tao scoffed inwardly, “Clueless outsider, injecting whatever catches his eye.”

“That’s not how you do it.”

“If you want to max out your doses, you start with nutrient drinks to warm up your system.”

“Then take some capsules to line your stomach and kickstart digestion.”

“Only after that do you move on to injectables—and avoid stimulants or sedatives, since the brain metabolizes slowest…”

Yu Xinghan could only watch as Meng Tao expertly tore open box after box, his score skyrocketing past 1,200 points in moments.

“Monster,” Yu Xinghan thought. “Just how many drugs do these Xiandu people use in their daily lives? How many surgeries have they had?”

“This guy’s easily doubled in size since I last saw him. What is this, pig farming?”

“Still, they’re high schoolers too, just like me. If I’m improving, they’re improving even faster…”

Not aiming for a Foundation License this year, Yu Xinghan didn’t panic. He turned instead to glance at Ye Lingxiao.

“Contestant #23—Ye Lingxiao—is the strongest of the Xiandu students, if I recall.”

“…Huh?”

“He’s actually using the 1,500-point Mana Circuit Injection?”

In disbelief, Yu Xinghan watched as Ye Lingxiao, who hadn’t taken a single drug yet, walked straight to the Mana Circuit Injection and stabbed it into himself without hesitation.

In the next instant, bulging veins erupted across his body like tiny snakes writhing beneath the skin.

Then Ye Lingxiao opened his mouth wide and began gasping for air, his entire body trembling violently.