No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Zhang Yu stepped out of the Training Hall, feeling the stream of Earth-Yellow Vital Qi coursing steadily through his body. His mind swirled with everything he had just experienced cultivating this new technique.

In just the past hour and fifteen minutes, through repeated use of the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal, he had already pushed it to Level 2.

Opening the Feathered Tome, he flipped to the section on Chain Diagrams. His eyes landed on the entry for the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal.

“So the Chain Diagram set this technique belongs to is called Back-Dragon Kunlun Flip?” Zhang Yu mused. “Sounds pretty powerful.”

Since the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal was one of the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes, Zhang Yu strongly suspected that the remaining six Absolutes also belonged to this Back-Dragon Kunlun Flip Chain Diagram set.

“If I could master all seven, merge them into the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might, and then activate the Back-Dragon Kunlun Flip set effect... Who knows how much I could earn per day on construction sites?”

Just thinking about it made Zhang Yu’s heart race.

But those seven Absolutes were only seven techniques total, and a full Chain Diagram set typically required ten to unlock its ultimate bonus. That left three missing techniques unaccounted for, which made Zhang Yu even more curious.

His EyeNet activated with a flash, projecting the massive archives of Wanfa University before him.

He began searching through countless martial techniques, civil engineering techniques, and large-scale construction techniques—yet not a single one seemed to match the Back-Dragon Kunlun Flip set.

“Just like with the Great Sage’s Heir techniques,” Zhang Yu thought to himself, “some things you just can’t find.”

He remembered how the Sacrificial Oxheart Technique and Desolate Ox Soul-Suppressing Heart Method were all he could find at first, and only after obtaining the Limitless Heart: Inner Incarnate Body in the Spiritual Realm did he finally gain a third technique from that legacy.

“In this case, the missing three might be undocumented black-market techniques, restricted military-grade ones, or even Immortal-Class Techniques.”

With that thought, Zhang Yu could only shelve the matter for now, realizing that like the Great Sage’s legacy, the Back-Dragon Kunlun Flip wasn’t something easily completed.

“Looks like once I get the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal to Level 20, I’ll shift my focus to developing the Martial Saint Body.”

He’d chosen that path based on his past experience cultivating the Martial Saint Embryo during the Qi Refinement phase. That Chain Diagram had greatly amplified the power of his techniques.

Besides Artifact Refinement, Zhang Yu’s sophomore-year studies would also focus heavily on large-scale civil engineering techniques.

“Some of those can double as components toward building the Martial Saint Body. And the Martial Saint Body’s power-boosting effect will, in turn, enhance those techniques.”

He made up his mind: reach Level 20 with the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal, then start cultivating large-scale civil engineering techniques and gather pieces for the Martial Saint Body.

“That way, the University Saint Body will support my overall cultivation. The Earth-Wood Saint Body will help me survive extreme worksite environments and handle Tiger-and-Wolf Tonics. Mana Pulse Flowing Stream will keep my mana regenerating. Combine that with the Formless Golem for precision construction.”

“And once I form the Martial Saint Body, it’ll synergize with heavy-duty construction.”

“With all that, my civil engineering toolkit will be complete. There won’t be any project I can’t handle. My work output and earnings will blow the competition out of the water.”

That thought alone made Zhang Yu feel as though his path down the Civil Engineering Dao was growing broader and brighter.

Just as he left the library, he found someone waiting for him—Tu Lishan.

No telling how long he’d been standing there, but upon seeing Zhang Yu, he gave a faint smile. “Junior Brother, looks like the professor’s passed the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal to you.”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Senior Brother, were you looking for me?”

Tu Lishan grinned. “Didn’t I say I had a gift for you?”

“With your potential, you’re bound to start taking upper-level courses early.”

“So I got you a Super Membership for Yunxiu Academy.”

“With this, you’ll get a 20% discount on textbooks and online courses.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up. He had been planning to buy techniques and online courses—and far more than Tu Lishan might guess. After all, the Artifact Refinement Department’s curriculum far exceeded that of Civil Engineering.

Textbooks and online courses at Wanfa University weren’t cheap—especially not for one of the Three Great Academies.

This Super Membership would save him a significant amount of money.

Tu Lishan had already sent him the membership code.

“Thanks, Senior Brother,” Zhang Yu said sincerely.

Seeing Zhang Yu’s joy, Tu Lishan allowed himself a hint of smugness. “He’s still going head-to-head with Ji Yuanshu for top of the class. Once their competition heats up, they’ll start rushing into advanced coursework.”

“This Super Membership isn’t expensive, but it requires special clearance to obtain. For Zhang Yu, it’s a perfect boost.”

“Director Gao seems intent on grooming him for a possible Military License. If he succeeds, he’d be a major asset for our department. Maybe even my future colleague.”

All the more reason to get in good with him early.

As for Gongshu Jin, the previously favored candidate? Tu Lishan couldn’t even remember what rank she held anymore.

After that, Tu Lishan asked about Zhang Yu’s progress with the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal and offered some cultivation tips of his own. Then he brought up the competition.

“Is Ma Xuan still keeping you as a backup?” he asked.

Zhang Yu confirmed it.

Tu Lishan snorted. “Looks like he’s chosen his side.”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s puzzled look, he explained, “Ma Xuan is a student of True Lord Lingyue.”

“Lingyue’s the official head of our Civil Engineering Department, but in recent years he’s been too busy chasing money to manage much.”

“By choosing to field Ji Yuanshu over you—despite your higher ranking—Ma Xuan’s clearly siding with the Peace Faction.”

“If you want to outscore Ji Yuanshu in overall competition points, you’ll need to switch to a team that’ll actually let you compete.”

Zhang Yu frowned. Staying on Ma Xuan’s team meant no stage time. Even if the team placed, he’d earn fewer points than Ji Yuanshu as a backup.

But if he quit... which team could he even switch to?

As he mulled it over, Tu Lishan offered, “I know a team that’s short on members. See if you’re interested.”

He sent over a contact.

“She’s the team captain. You can add her as a friend.”

Zhang Yu added her after parting ways.

Her name was Shi Huaiyu, a fifth-year in the Civil Engineering Department and currently ranked 38th in the department.

Shi Huaiyu: You must be Zhang Yu, right? Professor Tu mentioned you. Want to join our competition team?

Shi Huaiyu: We’re a strong, experienced squad. Our goal for this round is to secure a top-10 finish—aiming for 6th place.

Zhang Yu was instantly intrigued. Even though he hadn’t trained much with Ma Xuan’s team, he’d been following competition updates closely.

Only the top ten Civil Engineering teams earned points. The higher the rank, the more points awarded.

And only the 1st place team got to represent Wanfa University in the intercollegiate tournament.

Not that he was aiming for first—those slots were almost always monopolized by teams of seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-year students.

Mid and lower-year students mostly competed for a spot in the top 10.

Zhang Yu had lurked in the team chat long enough to know Ma Xuan and Ji Yuanshu’s team only aimed for 10th or 9th place.

Zhang Yu: If I join, will I get to compete? I don’t want to end up as a backup again.

Shi Huaiyu: Of course! With someone as skilled as you, how could I leave you on the bench?

That settled it—Zhang Yu joined Shi Huaiyu’s competition team.

…

In Ma Xuan’s team chat.

Ji Yuanshu noticed Zhang Yu had quietly left the group.

Naturally, he was keeping close tabs on this particular rival.

Ji Yuanshu: Did Zhang Yu quit the team?

Ma Xuan: Yeah, he’s out.

Ji Yuanshu: Know which team he joined?

Ma Xuan: No idea. Any team with a shot at top 10 has already filled their roster.

Ma Xuan: Whatever team he found probably isn’t reliable.

Ma Xuan: Honestly, he should’ve stayed with us—at least he’d earn some points.

Ma Xuan: Now he’s probably on a bottom-tier squad. Might not earn a single point.

Ji Yuanshu gave a small nod. If Zhang Yu missed out on competition points this early in sophomore year, it would give him a significant edge.

Finishing the chat, Ji Yuanshu turned back to the concentric coils of copper wire and the divine idol at the center of the array before him.

He whispered, “Then let it begin… the ritual.”

…

Simulation Worksite.

Zhang Yu looked at the three figures in front of him, astonished. “Wait, it’s just the four of us?”

Shi Huaiyu stood nearly three meters tall. Pale-skinned and muscular, she radiated strength.

Her thick, powerful legs gleamed with icy metallic luster in shades of violet and gold—a sure sign of some high-end Law Husk.

But the giantess looked slightly bashful as she turned to Zhang Yu. “Yeah, we’re only four for now, but still…”

She pointed at herself. “Strong as hell.”

Then at her teammates, Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang. “Experienced.”

Zhang Yu sighed. Maybe he had been a little hasty in quitting his old team.

But taking a closer look, Shi Huaiyu’s rank of 38 showed she was no pushover.

Che Yufei was a seventh-year—white-haired and wrinkled, the hallmarks of a seasoned Civil Engineering cultivator. His physique showed how far he’d pushed his potential. Skill and experience? Undeniable.

Then there was Shi Yunxiang, a fifth-year Demon-Kin student who’d worked all kinds of construction gigs for five years without so much as a scratch. The fact that he’d never lost a chunk of flesh spoke volumes.

“Add me into the mix…” Zhang Yu thought. “We’ve actually got a solid team. We just need two more members.”