No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Seeing Ye Xingli’s reply, Zhang Yu was a little surprised. “Seriously? Ye Xingli is actually the disciple of True Lord Magneto?”

“Doesn’t that make her… my senior sister?”

Then another question surfaced in Zhang Yu’s mind.

Zhang Yu: True Lord Magneto mentioned me?

Ye Xingli: Mm, Master said he was chatting with True Lord Aoki today, and the latter mentioned one of his students.

Ye Xingli: After learning more, Master thought this student was quite outstanding and asked a few more questions.

Ye Xingli: Then Master told me the student’s name was Zhang Yu.

Ye Xingli: The moment I heard it was you, I was like—hey, I know him! So I started talking to Master about you.

Zhang Yu knew that True Lord Aoki was Director Gao. But as he read Ye Xingli’s replies… his expression turned strange.

Especially at the thought of Director Gao praising him in front of True Lord Magneto, who probably sat there listening, throwing in a few questions of his own.

“This guy, True Lord Magneto… has a bit of a twisted sense of humor, huh? Playing around with our Civil Engineering Department’s Director Gao like that?”

But then, remembering he himself was part of that “play,” Zhang Yu suddenly felt a guilty pang.

“Does this make me a traitor to civil engineering?”

“Forget traitor—what if True Lord Magneto just ghosts me three years down the line?”

Zhang Yu shook his head, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts.

He couldn’t control what big shots like that thought. The only thing he could do was keep improving—higher grades, better rankings, more leverage in his own hands.

So after a few more lines of chat with Ye Xingli, Zhang Yu dove right into picking her brain about Artifact Refinement classes.

After all, True Lord Magneto had laid it out—Zhang Yu had to complete all Artifact Refinement courses for the first three years and pass the assessments… before the end of his junior year.

Ye Xingli: You want to dual-major some Artifact Refinement courses?

Ye Xingli: Actually, yeah, makes sense. You Civil Engineering folks do study materials science, plus stuff like Law Husk maintenance and application. Those courses are useful.

She didn’t find it odd at all. Civil Engineering projects relied heavily on knowledge of various materials, and when it came to design, processing, and optimal usage of materials, no department in the whole of Wanfa University could rival Artifact Refinement.

As for Law Husk maintenance and usage, that was a no-brainer. Civil Engineering students often wore down their bodies on site, and once they had Law Husks installed, those got worn down too.

Knowing how to maintain, select, and use a Law Husk properly could save tons of money and boost work efficiency big time.

It was common for junior and senior students from Civil Engineering to take a few Artifact Refinement courses. Ye Xingli had seen plenty of them.

But…

Ye Xingli: You’re only just heading into your sophomore year, aren’t you? Isn’t this a bit early to dual-major?

Zhang Yu: Just trying to get a head start. Plan ahead.

Ye Xingli: Fair enough. I’ll send you the course list. You can look up the details yourself.

The moment she sent it over, Zhang Yu scanned through it—but the more he read, the more shocked he became.

“Artifact Engineering Drafting,” “Principles of Artifact Design,” “Basic Sigil Engraving,” “Artifact Dynamics,” “Energetic Materials and Shaping Techniques,” “Mana Transmission and Conduction,” “Intro to Automation Spirit-Cores,” “Truefire Processing Techniques”…

Looking at the long, dense list of classes, Zhang Yu felt like an entire library had just dropped in front of him.

“Wait, hold on—Artifact Refinement has this many courses?”

“In the same semester, they have like triple the course load of Civil Engineering!”

“Not to mention all the lab classes… the hands-on Artifact Workshops…”

“And the way they schedule these classes—”

Zhang Yu fired off another question to Ye Xingli: A bunch of these classes are scheduled at the same time? What’s that about?

Ye Xingli: Yeah, Artifact Refinement has way too many courses. Not enough time to space them out, so a lot of them overlap.

Ye Xingli: You either figure out how to attend multiple classes at once, or watch the online replays later.

Ye Xingli: But you don’t need to take all of them. Just pick the ones that are useful—you won’t be able to handle everything.

Zhang Yu let out a wry chuckle. “Yeah… except I do have to learn everything.”

“Of course True Lord Magneto’s requirements weren’t gonna be simple.”

“With this many classes, waiting till junior year to start would be too late.”

“Good thing…”

Zhang Yu activated the Sacrificial Oxheart Technique and Limitless Heart: Inner Incarnate Body in his mind.

Watching the twin-headed white ox roar skyward in his mental field, Zhang Yu murmured to himself, “Good thing I’ve started cultivating the Limitless Heart: Inner Incarnate Body. I can already split my attention between two tasks.”

“I must push it to Level 20.”

“There’s just too much to learn in Artifact Refinement. If I can’t multitask during cultivation, there’s no way I can keep up.”

“Oh, and the time acceleration in the Spiritual Realm…”

“With time acceleration, I can boost my study efficiency.”

“But that costs money.”

“And studying Artifact Refinement costs money too.”

Zhang Yu wasn’t officially part of the Artifact Refinement Department. According to Wanfa University policy, he couldn’t just take those classes freely… unless he paid.

Online lectures, textbooks—all cost a decent chunk. If he wanted a tutor, that’d be even more expensive.

Zhang Yu sighed again, bemoaning the eternal truth: never enough money.

And whenever he thought about how broke he was, he couldn’t help but think of one man—a rich man.

So Zhang Yu sent a message to his senior, Tian Yang.

This former sixth-year, now in his seventh, had once helped Zhang Yu fleece Director Wang in the underground tomb.

Zhang Yu: Any contact with Director Wang?

Zhang Yu: Fresh end-of-year ranking. Attached image.

Zhang Yu: These are my brand-new results. If you do manage to reach Director Wang, show him.

Zhang Yu: Sigh. I miss him so much.

The more Zhang Yu hustled for cash on his own, the more he longed for the good ol’ days of milking Director Wang.

A few moments later, Tian Yang replied.

Tian Yang: No contact yet.

Tian Yang: I miss him too.

Tian Yang: If you get more of these great screenshots, send them to me. If I manage to reach him, I’ll show him everything.

After some casual chatting with Tian Yang, Zhang Yu scanned through a few more messages.

Li Xiao: Senior Brother, you were amazing this time! I shared your rank with the Xiandu hometown group. They didn’t believe it at first.

Li Xiao: Ye Lingxiao even asked if it was fake.

Li Xiao: You didn’t see their faces—total disbelief.

Zhang Yu muttered, “You little Xiandu snake…”

“And knowing I can’t see your group chat, you don’t even send me screenshots?”

Just as he was thinking of ways to hint that Li Xiao should send him those chat records, Fu Ji suddenly chimed in:

Fu Ji: Maybe Ye Lingxiao can get in touch with Director Wang?

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. “Fu Ji, your instincts get sharp the moment it’s scam-related.”

Zhang Yu remembered—Ye Lingxiao was heir to the Xiandu Ye clan. Back on Floor One, he’d been Director Wang’s designated lackey. And he’d graduated high school before Wang’s fall, already in college by now.

“Ye Lingxiao probably got into Netherworld University. There’s a real chance he can still reach Director Wang.”

With that in mind, Zhang Yu immediately replied: Send me Ye Lingxiao’s contact. I want to add him.

When Li Xiao forwarded the info, Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up: “Netherworld University, Department of Biology, Foundation Establishment Class, 3rd place—Ye Lingxiao.”

“Knew it. Netherworld U.”

He added Ye Lingxiao, thinking the guy wouldn’t accept right away—but not only did he accept instantly, he even replied.

Ye Lingxiao: Zhang Yu, don’t contact me again.

Ye Lingxiao: If Director Wang finds out, I’m afraid he’ll get the wrong idea.

And with that, he immediately unfriended Zhang Yu.

…

Netherworld University.

Staring at Zhang Yu’s ranking, Ye Lingxiao suddenly clutched his chest. “What the hell…”

“How is he this good at studying?”

In that moment, all the joy from ranking third at the end of term vanished in a puff.

…

Seeing Ye Lingxiao so cold and unbrotherly, Zhang Yu moved on and checked his other messages.

Shi Yunxiang: Zhang Yu, if you were at Demon-Beast University, you’d already be getting lined up by students from the Breeding Department.

Che Yufei: Brother Yu, did you join the competition team yet?

Zhao Tianxing: [thumbs up emoji]

Seeing that emoji, Zhang Yu guessed Zhao Tianxing was probably still working overtime and didn’t have time to write.

So he sent a thumbs up back—no words needed.

Soon, Zhang Yu saw more messages from the competition team group chat.

…

Ma Xuan: @Ji Yuanshu, grades are out, right?

Ma Xuan: Time to start learning the first of the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes—Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal.

Ma Xuan: That’s a foundational Technique. Not only does it help with the Seven Absolutes, it’s a core part of lots of large-scale Civil Engineering Techniques too.

Ma Xuan: If you can learn it, it’ll really help in competitions.

Ma Xuan: I’ve got decent experience with it—feel free to ask if you have questions.

Halfway through his messages, Ma Xuan suddenly got a private message from Cong Na.

Ma Xuan clicked open the window on his EyeNet to see what it was.

Cong Na: Stop talking.

Cong Na: Seriously, stop.

Cong Na: End-of-year freshman ranking. Image file.

Cong Na: This is their class ranking. See for yourself.

Ma Xuan opened the file—and saw Zhang Yu ranked above Ji Yuanshu.

Ma Xuan: No way! How could Zhang Yu beat Ji Yuanshu?

Ma Xuan: Where’d you get that screenshot?

Cong Na: From Zhang Yu’s social feed.

Ma Xuan remembered Cong Na and Zhang Yu were friends.

Ma Xuan: If he posted it publicly, then it’s probably legit.

Ma Xuan: But I still can’t wrap my head around it. How did Ji Yuanshu lose to Zhang Yu?

Cong Na: Who cares how it happened? A loss is a loss. It just means Zhang Yu’s stronger now.

Cong Na: The real question is—should we bench Ji Yuanshu and bring in Zhang Yu instead?