No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Looking at the poster, Zhang Yu said skeptically, “This is the hottest market?”

On the other end, Black Crow had already sent more messages:

The silver-hair economy. Senior remedial classes are currently the most profitable market in the shadow tutoring sector.

Black Crow: Since the techniques you previously showcased were better suited for students and construction workers, they didn’t quite fit this market—so you probably haven’t had much contact with it.

Black Crow: I’m not sure about your current situation, but since you asked, I’ll explain. This is the most profitable market right now, and also the battleground where our Dark Studies Gang is fiercely competing with the Golden Tutoring Gang.

Black Crow: The theoretical lifespan limit of Qi Refinement practitioners is 150 years, so the tutoring market in Songyang City has a large population of elderly.

Black Crow: These seniors have some savings, and to avoid being weeded out by the job market, they must keep cultivating—constantly learning the newest version updates of techniques just to stay employed.

Black Crow: That’s why the senior tutoring market is perpetually in short supply. It’s extremely lucrative.

Black Crow: But the standards are also high. After all, anyone who’s reached old age and is still working has been at the peak of Qi Refinement for decades. They don’t need basic techniques—they’re after advanced ones.

Black Crow: In addition to new workplace-mandated techniques, there are also longevity techniques, techniques to purge medicinal toxins accumulated over years of pill usage, techniques to heal chronic internal injuries… all extremely popular.Black Crow: Only by ensuring good health and overcoming the damage from years of overwork and pill abuse can they stay competitive in the job market.

Reading through the steady stream of messages, Zhang Yu now had a decent grasp of the current most profitable area in shadow tutoring.

He thought to himself, “Makes sense. Every year, more and more college, vocational, and high school graduates enter society. The number of Qi Refinement seniors must also be rising. These seniors have more savings than the youth, and the techniques they need are more expensive. This really is a massive market.”

Zhang Yu immediately asked:

Is there a market for the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation?

Black Crow: Xianyun Group’s Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation? Ha! Of course there is. Teacher Ma, do you know that top-tier technique?

The Dark Studies Gang was backed by Deep Sea Education Group, a direct rival of Xianyun Group. They were notorious for pirating Xianyun’s techniques.

And as a top-tier expert-grade body-refining technique, the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation also enhanced metabolism and purged pill and drug toxins. The moment Zhang Yu—using his alias Ma Yunteng—mentioned it, Black Crow perked up like a cat catching the scent of fish.

Black Crow: In three days, we’re holding trial classes to evaluate candidates for Premium Teacher status. If you’re interested, I can schedule you in.

Zhang Yu and Black Crow set a time for the trial class three days later. At his side, Bai Zhenzhen frowned and said, “I don’t think I have any techniques suitable for teaching seniors.”

Fu Ji replied, “Ah-Zhen, with your Zhen Spirit Root and Thunder Mana infused into your dantian and Qi Sea, your most suitable path is still combat.”

“And right now, the gang war between the Dark Studies Gang and the Golden Tutoring Gang suits you perfectly. It’ll not only make you money, but also hone your combat skills for the Foundation Establishment exam in three months.”

“In my view, Zhang Yu should focus on teaching as a Premium Teacher, while you participate in the gang battles. You’ll both be growing stronger while earning income. It’s the perfect setup.”

Zhang Yu frowned. “Gang battles… won’t they be dangerous?”

Fu Ji replied, “Of course there’s danger. What real combat isn’t? But compared to military-grade operations, corporate warfare, or the future brawls with those cultists behind the Zhou family, gang battles are considered low-intensity.”

“If you’re afraid of even that, how do you expect to climb higher?”

Bai Zhenzhen nodded, eyes flashing with determination. “Fu Ji’s right.”

“This is definitely the path for me.”

“Yuzi, don’t worry. With the Zhen Spirit Root aiding me and my speed, even if I can’t win, I can still run.”

Zhang Yu looked deeply at Bai Zhenzhen, understanding this was her choice—her resolve to pass the Foundation License exam. As her closest friend, all he could do was respect it.

So Bai Zhenzhen exited the Kunshen World, added Black Crow as a contact, and joined the gang battles under her alias, Le Mulan.

Black Crow: Teacher Le, your timing is perfect. We’re short on experts like you. We’ve got an operation in four days—interested?

With the arrangements in place, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen threw themselves into their respective training, preparing for the upcoming lecture and combat.

…

Three days passed in a flash.

Thanks to the High School Saint Body, Zhang Yu quickly advanced the Resentment Fiend Technique to level 10, forming a layer of corpse-like bronze armor beneath his skin.

Upon circulating his strength, a bronze sheen would ripple under his flesh like armor.

He tested it by cutting the back of his hand with a small blade—only after using 30% of his force did a faint cut appear.

Though it was his own skin, it felt like slicing through a thick, hardened callus.

Clearly, the Resentment Fiend Technique had greatly enhanced his skin’s durability and toughness.

Even after reaching level 10, he felt a lingering sense of untapped potential.

Fu Ji, watching from the side, said, “This technique likely has a continuation.”

“But what you bought was only the Qi Refinement version.”

“If you want to keep progressing with it post-Foundation Establishment and take it to level 20, you’ll have to purchase the Foundation version.”

Zhang Yu wasn’t that interested. After all, Fu Ji didn’t know he was cultivating various techniques to form the Martial Saint Embryo. He hadn’t yet decided what to practice after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Over the past three days, aside from toughening his skin with the Resentment Fiend Technique, Zhang Yu also used Bai Zhenzhen’s Thunder Acupuncture Needle Set to assist in training the expert-grade technique he got from Songyang High—Thunderburst Bone-Cleansing Sutra.

This scripture used electric shocks to stimulate marrow growth and accelerate bone reconstruction—an elite body-refining technique for strengthening bone density.

The Thunder Acupuncture Needle Set from Songyang High was practically made to pair with it.

Zhang Yu’s body was covered in 999 silver needles, each pulsing with lightning, sculpting his bones via the Thunderburst Bone-Cleansing Sutra.

By the time he pushed the technique from level 1 to level 9, every bone except his skull had been reforged, glowing with a frosty silver hue under his skin.

When he finally reached level 10, his skull underwent an instant metamorphosis, transforming into that same silver frost.

His skeletal density and strength skyrocketed, raising his body weight to over 300 kilograms—even though his size didn’t visibly change.

At level 10, the technique even allowed slow self-repair of bone injuries through continued operation.

Patting his chest, Zhang Yu could feel the dual armor effect of skin refined by the Resentment Fiend Technique and bones reinforced by the Thunderburst Bone-Cleansing Sutra—safeguarding his vital organs.

His physical body had now finally reached the Qi Refinement limit of level 10 strength.

“Even if the strength only rose by 0.06,”

“these two defensive techniques have pushed my combat ability far beyond its previous level.”

“Once your Dao Heart, Mana, and body strength all hit their peak at Qi Refinement, training more techniques really does become the best way to grow stronger.”

Glancing at Bai Zhenzhen, still immersed in cultivation, Zhang Yu turned to the Thunder Acupuncture Needle Set and said, “Artifact Spirit, end training mode.”

A voice echoed from the needle case: “Ending training mode. Entering standby. Awaiting user commands.”

The 999 needles, crackling with electricity, shot back into the case.

Cracking his neck, Zhang Yu grinned as his newly forged bones snapped with satisfying pops. “Ah-Zhen, keep training. I’m off to the trial class.”

Bai Zhenzhen waved a hand. “Good luck. Earn big.”

…

The trial class location Zhang Yu agreed on with Black Crow was inside an abandoned underground transit station.

With his appearance altered, Zhang Yu arrived to find a girl arguing with Black Crow.

He had no interest in eavesdropping and turned to wait elsewhere—

Until he heard the girl angrily shout, “Teacher! My grandpa watches porn during class! Every class he’s sneaking porn! His phone is full of porn—there’s no space left for textbooks!”

That brought Zhang Yu to a screeching halt.

The girl went on, “He doesn’t pay attention in class, so his technique progress is falling behind. His job performance has dropped for months!”

“My grandpa’s never been self-disciplined. My dad said he never even got promoted by the time he was 50—couldn’t even afford my tutoring fees.”

“So I’m begging you, please, help watch over him. Make sure he keeps up with the techniques so he can earn a bit more.”

“We won’t waste the money. We’re saving it all so we can keep studying with you guys.”

Black Crow sighed. “Our teachers are usually too busy to handle classroom discipline.”

After more back-and-forth, the classroom door finally opened. The girl had to go pick up her grandpa.

Black Crow let out a breath of relief and turned to Zhang Yu with a smile. “Teacher Ma, you’ve arrived.”

Zhang Yu asked curiously, “That girl just now…”

Black Crow replied offhandedly, “Oh, a student with long-term pill usage and age-related cognitive decline. His family’s uneducated and low-income. They hope this mentally impaired student can still bring in some income, so they enrolled him here.”

Black Crow continued, “Just so you know, today’s trial class will be in a real classroom, with real elderly clients.”

“What do you plan to teach?”

Zhang Yu replied calmly, “Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation.”