No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Boom!

As Zhang Yu’s footsteps grew heavier, his muscles and flesh swelled slightly, emanating intense heat.

With each subsequent step, his entire musculature expanded like inflated rubber.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom...

He took nine steps in a row. The expert-grade Level-10 Technique, Whale Tendon Transformation, surged to full power. Zhang Yu’s body resembled a breaching whale, his vital energy roaring through him as his height shot up to 2.8 meters.

At the same time, the Level-10 Bloodshift Method, the Level-10 Five Qi Organ-Refining Technique, the Level-10 Law-Stabilizing Body, and the Level-10 Cold-Flame Dual-Temper Body Technique—all his Body-Refining Techniques were activated at once, unleashing the full might of his physique.

As he pushed his physical power to the limit, his Spirit Root—currently in test mode—also surged in response.

10.55%!

Once the power output crossed 10%, the spiritual field initiated. Zhang Yu could now faintly sense a connection with the ambient spiritual energy within a few dozen meters. A single punch could, it seemed, strike anywhere in that range.

30.89%!The moment it passed 30%, the Blacksteel Force Shield activated, forming a glowing shield around Zhang Yu’s body.

The power continued to climb.

31.51%!

41.15%!

And this still wasn’t the limit. The God-Grade Spirit Root continued ramping up, sensing the intense activity of Zhang Yu’s body.

But even as the Spirit Root surged, Zhang Yu didn’t stop. He activated the second-tier ability of his Martial Saint Embryo:

Overdrive!

Boom!

His blood surged and detonated like a volcano.

Vital energy crashed through his body like a tsunami, his muscles and organs forced into extreme overdrive.

Every active Technique was pushed beyond its natural limit.

Crackling sounds came from within his body. Zhang Yu, who had already grown to 2.8 meters, swelled again—reaching 3.3 meters in an instant.

Roar!

A bestial cry burst forth. The Level-10 Bloodshift Method further accelerated his blood flow, surging through his veins like a flash flood.

Under the overload, the Level-10 Five Qi Organ-Refining Technique drove his internal organs like gasoline engines, erupting with unprecedented force.

The Level-10 Cold-Flame Dual-Temper Body Technique steadily raised his body temperature, evaporating his sweat into drifting mist.

The overload state sent the God-Grade Spirit Root’s power soaring.

60.1%!

At this level, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. He could now see the spiritual energy in the air, trace their residual motion with each step and movement of his Spirit Root. Ŗ𝒶₦Ồ𝖇Ès̩

Huang Zichou muttered in awe, “Once a God-Grade Spirit Root exceeds 60% power, it activates its spiritual scanning function—tracking fluctuations in the ambient energy, scanning opponents, tracing hidden enemies, analyzing Techniques…”

But before he could finish, Zhang Yu’s power continued climbing—

85.11%!

89.83%!

90.05%!

Hum—

Streams of spiritual energy converged behind Zhang Yu’s head, first forming a crimson halo, then spinning with heat and wind until it solidified into a flaming dragon.

“90%,” Huang Zichou explained quickly. “That’s when the Blacksteel Armor Flame Dragon appears. It condenses high-temperature yang-aligned spiritual energy into a dragon. Its heat is focused but restrained—its movement and force directed entirely by thought.”

At a flicker of Zhang Yu’s will, the flame dragon circled him gracefully.

He could feel it as part of himself—moving as he thought, striking wherever he willed.

But while Zhang Yu’s God-Grade Spirit Root skyrocketed, Ye Lingxiao was not far behind.

“Hah, now this—this is what a Foundation Establishment exam opponent should be. My preparations weren’t in vain.”

He unleashed his own series of Body-Refining Techniques. Though his Spirit Root didn’t spike as quickly as Zhang Yu’s, it rose steadily.

When Zhang Yu activated Overdrive, pushing his Spirit Root’s power even higher, Ye Lingxiao’s expression subtly shifted.

This power…

This presence…

He had never seen it in any high school student in Xiandu—

—except himself.

“This guy wasn’t giving up when he slowed down to take his pills. He was preparing!”

A vicious smile crept across Ye Lingxiao’s lips. “Good. Only by defeating an opponent this strong—here, in front of all these university reps—can I prove my worth.”

He drew a box of capsules from his coat.

These were the Dao-Stabilizing Slow-Release Capsules he’d helped develop over the past three months.

Now, they had a new name: Divided Spirit Elixir.

As soon as he swallowed one, the potent medicinal force slammed into his brain.

He began channeling a Heart Technique tailored to the Divided Spirit Elixir.

Ever since experiencing its bizarre side effects during the last Foundation Establishment exam, Ye Lingxiao had been obsessed. He joined its development project, determined to harness the drug’s oddities to unlock his potential.

Bad news: its side effects were incredibly difficult to exploit and couldn’t be commercialized yet.

Good news: with the right combination of Level-10 Techniques, Ye Lingxiao could push his body into an ultra-limit state using the drug.

Boom!

The moment the medicinal force hit his brain, his consciousness seemed to split. It was like a second Ye Lingxiao had appeared in his mind.

But both were still him—and with the special Heart Technique, they worked in tandem to control his body.

“I know more Techniques than anyone in Kunxu First Floor.”

“But no matter how many I’ve mastered, my single mind could only run so many at once.”

His arsenal of Techniques—vast as an ocean—was always underutilized.

“But now that I have a second consciousness...”

Every part of Ye Lingxiao’s body ran a different Technique. Muscle, fascia, bones, organs—each was optimized, precisely tuned.

To others, the Divided Spirit Elixir might be poison.

But to Ye Lingxiao, it was a god-tier unlock key.

Boom!

His command of physical power triggered rapid growth in his God-Grade Spirit Root’s output. In moments, he too broke the 90% threshold.

Blinding fire flared. A flame dragon coalesced behind his head, hovering like a fiery halo.

But Huang Zichou frowned as he looked at Ye Lingxiao’s slightly dazed face.

“Ye Lingxiao... you good?”

Ye Lingxiao laughed. “What could possibly be wrong? Just took a pill, that’s all. No problems here! Just a little... mental static. Happens when you take pills. What problem could there be?”

Though the Divided Spirit Elixir unleashed Ye Lingxiao’s full potential, the added consciousness meant less cognitive power for... well, anything else.

Huang Zichou grimaced. He couldn’t follow what Ye Lingxiao was saying, but as long as the fight continued, he let it slide.

Now both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao had passed 90%.

Their growth slowed—but their eyes met, sparking with anticipation.

Excitement. Tension. A burning desire to win.

Zhang Yu: “He’s… improved a lot since three months ago!”

Ye Lingxiao: “This guy—who even is he?! Whatever—no one overtakes me!”

Their war intent surged.

Zhang Yu let out a roar and activated the Dragon Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm with every last unused muscle fiber.

93.3%

Ye Lingxiao inhaled sharply. His cheeks flushed, and he unleashed an explosively powerful fist Technique.

95.61%

In Overdrive mode, Zhang Yu’s body began to fracture—microcracks in bones, tears in organs, inflammation in muscle fibers… But with the Martial Saint Embryo’s regenerative power, the injuries began to heal mid-battle.

Like an overclocked engine under continuous repair, he roared forward.

In his heart, he howled:

“I want more power! I want more money! I want… freedom!”

“I want to ascend with Ah-Zhen… and with my sister!”

“I will get my Foundation License!”

98.17%

Ye Lingxiao’s perfect bloodline was pushed to its limits. Under a flood of hormones, his body suppressed all pain, all injury—unleashing his full might.

He could no longer form words, only one burning thought remained:

I will not rot away on the first floor of Kunxu!

“You university reps!”

“Watch carefully!”

“As geniuses of Kunxu First Floor, our talent, our will—will never lose to those above!”

100%!

Boom!

As both Spirit Roots hit 100% power, twin gales erupted from their bodies, forming tornadoes at their feet.

Huang Zichou said calmly, “Blacksteel Armor Divine Wind—an ability unlocked at 100%. Enables low-altitude gliding, rapid movement, and synergy with the Flame Dragon for wind-fire attacks...”

But no one was listening to Huang Zichou anymore.

Every university rep’s eyes were locked on the two figures on the battlefield.