No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Inside an apartment near Purple Cloud High School.

Zhang Yu was scrolling through news on his phone, his brow gradually furrowing. “Songyang City’s getting messier by the day.”

Though he’d spent the past weeks quietly teaching and cultivating, that didn’t mean he was blind to the world outside.

Between the intelligence Bai Zhenzhen occasionally brought back and the constant stream of news and commentary online, a certain picture had started forming in Zhang Yu’s mind.

Not only was the battle within the dark tutoring world escalating to the point where corporations had begun to intervene directly, but the same phenomenon was spreading to other sectors as well.

There was the black market smuggling scene, the counterfeit medicine industry, even the shady precooked meal scene—each faction locked in vicious turf wars, pulling out every trick in the book to grab market share.

And behind each faction, the companies backing them were engaged in similarly ruthless competition.

Zhang Yu had noticed it too—shopping platforms and delivery apps suddenly flush with discount campaigns and coupons. That was the companies waging price wars.

But at the same time, a bunch of products and even entire websites he’d favorited were being reported and taken down. That was the smear war.

Then there were the waves of fake reviews and flame posts flooding in. Technique ratings swinging wildly. One day a whistleblower post would expose Purple Cloud Pharmaceuticals’ toxic leaks; the next, someone would be accusing Red Tower Breeding Company of skimping on meat quality, claiming they were using zero additives or medicinal enhancements…Zhang Yu knew this was all just corporate propaganda battles—each side flooding the net with paid posters to manipulate public opinion.

Still, the chaos hadn’t affected his daily life too much. In fact, he’d managed to score a few sweet deals thanks to the price slashing.

Some of the discounted Techniques alone had saved him over a hundred thousand yuan.

He couldn’t shake the feeling, though, that all this intensified conflict—both between gangs and companies—had only really ramped up after Oasis Group began promoting their synthetic meat to the mainstream.

Fu Ji, overhearing his speculation, chimed in from nearby. “Don’t overthink it. It’s above your pay grade. Just focus on cultivating for that final Foundation Establishment exam.”

Zhang Yu knew she was right. He sighed. These were the kinds of battles no high schooler had any business worrying about.

He exited the news app and turned his gaze to the Technique he’d just bought on discount—Law-Stabilizing Body.

Thanks to the sale, he’d been able to afford it ahead of schedule. But scraping together the money had wiped his balance clean again—only a little over twenty thousand yuan left.

Every time he thought about it, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. “I’ve made a lot these past couple months, but I’ve spent just as much. Nearly everything I earned has gone straight into Techniques and fused with my body.”

Law-Stabilizing Body was the seventh Technique he needed to complete the Martial Saint Embryo. It was a body-refining Technique that strengthened the flesh’s resistance to external mana.

“The human epidermis has five layers. This Technique tempers each layer with your own mana, step by step, until they can each resist a portion of incoming mana…”

“Once it’s trained to Level 10, all five layers are fully tempered, and the body gains strong mana resistance.”

“If I ever do need to let external mana in, I can just wrap it in my own mana first.”

That part was crucial when using the Indestructible Seal Method to absorb someone else’s mana—he’d have to let their mana enter his body.

He thought back to that assassination attempt. If he’d mastered Law-Stabilizing Body back then, things would’ve gone much smoother.

Just as he pushed the Technique to Level 3, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the apartment.

Bai Zhenzhen walked in, visibly exhausted.

Zhang Yu looked over at her—and was immediately struck by an overwhelming wave of killing intent. It felt almost physical, raising the hairs on his neck and giving him the illusion that a sword blade was resting against his throat.

“This girl… ever since she joined the gang wars, she’s been getting more and more dangerous.”

But as she stepped fully inside, the aura faded, replaced by her usual top-student vibe.

“You’re home early?” Zhang Yu asked, checking the time. “It’s only two o’clock?”

Bai Zhenzhen peeled off her combat jacket and tossed it aside. The thing was covered in phony Technique names and flashy titles.

Zhang Yu knew they were all fake. No penalties for wearing them—but they could intimidate opponents during battle, just like old generals wearing demon-faced helmets in ancient times.

She then stripped off her pants and underclothes, casually walking to the bathroom stark naked—something Zhang Yu barely reacted to anymore.

He noticed a few light scratches on her arms. Even a few faint characters.

Those must’ve come from the Golden Tutoring Gang’s elite fighters—the ones who used stamp-type weapons to imprint Techniques directly onto their opponents. Not lethal on the spot, but financially devastating in the aftermath.

Judging by how shallow the marks were, Bai Zhenzhen had narrowly dodged the brunt of that attack.

“I’d just dragged some of their trainees back to our gang,” she said blankly. “Then the Dark Studies Gang and the Golden Tutoring Gang both declared a ceasefire.”

Zhang Yu spun away, flustered. “How many times have I told you—stop walking around naked in the house! If I lose my, uh, ’production assets’ again, you gonna pay for the damage? That’s money down the drain!”

Bai Zhenzhen rolled her eyes. “Seriously? We’re not strangers. Isn’t it exhausting to keep hiding from each other just to change clothes? You think we’ve got time to waste?”

She gave him a scornful look and sneered. “Tch… and what, you’re pure or something?”

“I came home late last night and missed you, but when I looked in the trash can, it was full of wadded-up tissues…”

Zhang Yu slapped the floor. “How many times do I have to say it—stop digging through the trash!”

“And those tissues were for my runny nose, okay? Not what you think.”

Bai Zhenzhen snorted and turned her back to him, slipping off her last piece of clothing. “Sure, same difference.”

“Face it, Yuzi, even Red Tower doesn’t want your stuff anymore. Your price has tanked. At this point, it’s barely worth more than tap water.”

You little… Zhang Yu stared at her smug expression, sighing internally. Ah-Zhen, Ah-Zhen… Have you already forgotten how I busted my ass to keep you fed just a few months ago? And now that there’s no resale value, you talk to me like I’m a liability?

She added, “Having that thing is just a liability anyway. Once the Foundation Establishment exam’s over, we don’t need to save money anymore. I’ll pay for a full sterilization package at the hospital. My treat.”

With that, she walked into the bathroom. Moments later, the sound of running water filled the apartment.

Fu Ji, reflecting on what Bai Zhenzhen had just said, seemed surprised. “They actually called a ceasefire?”

She turned to Zhang Yu. “Check the news…”

Zhang Yu followed her instructions, scrolling through headlines—soon spotting an announcement: Xianyun Group and Deep Sea Education Group had agreed to a mutual share swap.

Seeing his stunned expression, Fu Ji chuckled. “Surprised? They’re just tying themselves together so they can tighten their monopoly on the market. Totally normal in Kunxu. It’s been getting worse every year.”

“Besides, whether it’s Xianyun Group or Deep Sea Group, they both ultimately answer to the Wanfa Sect—one of the Ten Major Sects.”

“If someone inside the Sect decides to mediate, not only cooperation but even a full merger would be possible.”

She continued, “Still, this one feels sudden. Check the rest of the story.”

Zhang Yu said, “After the partnership, they announced a push into the food industry? A collaboration with Oasis Group?”

“Oasis Group again… Why does it feel like everything leads back to them?”

Fu Ji muttered silently, “Oasis Group… The one backed by the Netherworld Palace, right? Another one of those cases. Better make sure that kid Zhang Yu doesn’t stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Out loud, she said casually, “Whatever it is, it’s got nothing to do with you. Just focus on cultivating. That Foundation Establishment exam is the only thing that matters right now.”

With the gang war paused, Bai Zhenzhen no longer had to fight on the front lines.

So in her spare time, she began inviting martial arts teachers from Songyang High School to spar with her every day, honing her Techniques and tempering both her flesh and mana.

Days passed in this rhythm, and before long—it was January.

…

January 1st.

Only two days remained until the final round of the Foundation Establishment exam.

Inside the apartment, Zhang Yu sat cross-legged. One half of his body was coated in frost; the other half was steaming with intense heat.

He was currently training the eighth Technique of the Martial Saint Embryo—Cold-Flame Dual-Temper Body Technique.

By alternating between Cold-Type Mana and Heating-Type Specialized Mana, he tempered his flesh to develop high resistance to extreme temperatures—and further increased his toughness.

At this moment, he was breaking through to Level 10.

Boom!

With a sudden explosion, his body ceased to be split between ice and fire. Now it alternated between hot and cold throughout his entire form—until finally, the two forces fused, returning his body to a natural state.

Zhang Yu exhaled deeply, feeling the transformation in his flesh and blood.

“At last. The eighth Technique of the Martial Saint Embryo is complete.”

With the Cold-Flame Dual-Temper Body Technique at Level 10, Zhang Yu could now resist temperature extremes even better. When activated, the Technique let him fight in either a high-heat or low-heat state—each with its own advantages.

Glancing at the second-layer effects of the Martial Saint Embryo, he laughed out loud.

“Didn’t reach the final form, but this should be more than enough to crush the Foundation Establishment exam.”

He checked his phone. His leave request had been approved.

Zhang Yu nodded to himself. “Everything’s ready. Time to head out.”