No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Inside the simulation worksite.

Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang’s bodies flickered rapidly, surging Martial Qi blanketing the site as a towering structure began to rise from the ground under their expert crafting.

Xiao Qingxuan strode toward the tower step by step, Martial Qi roiling around him and condensing into nine colossal dragons that coiled around his form.

The nine dragons surged through the air, vivid and lifelike, their scales and claws gleaming as they let out sky-shaking roars—indistinguishable from real, living beasts.

In the next instant, as the dragons lunged forward, Zhang Yu’s Frost Golem charged up to meet them.

After several bouts of training, Zhang Yu had developed a much deeper understanding of Xiao Qingxuan’s Nine-Dragon Heavenforce Palm Technique.

This palm Technique condensed Martial Qi into dragon forms. As the cultivator’s strength increased, the dragons became extensions of the body—immensely powerful and capable of coordinating with other dragon-based martial arts.

In battle, it was as if nine dragons protected him—offense and defense in one seamless whole.

Even though Zhang Yu could now summon over ten Formless Golems to fight, they were instantly obliterated before these nine dragons.

Which was why, for now, he relied solely on his Frost Golem to engage Xiao Qingxuan. Meanwhile, Xiao Qingxuan directed the dragons to tear through the Frost Golems one by one. Yet despite his dominance, he couldn’t help feeling a headache watching Zhang Yu close in.

“Those humanoid Martial Qi constructs are annoying, but manageable. Just avoid the rebound attacks and wear them down.”

“But this Zhang Yu… he’s too damn tough.”

“Fighting him for too long wears out all my third-rate Law Husk components.”

He recalled their first training session—he’d gone all out trying to crush Zhang Yu, only to nearly grind the artificial meridians in his arm-mounted Law Husk to uselessness.

“Is this guy really from the Civil Engineering Department?”

Since then, he’d given up on defeating Zhang Yu outright during training. Now, he just circled around or restrained him first before going after the construction targets.

After training ended, Shi Huaiyu clapped his hands and said, “Haha, Zhang Yu, in the real match, you’ll be our frontline tank. I got a bunch of insults and provocations from the Security Department students—golden-grade trash talk. I’ll send them to you. Memorize them.”

“You can start the damage output before the match even begins.”

Zhang Yu glanced at the file full of insults and frowned. “You people really don’t care if I get beaten to death, huh?”

Shi Huaiyu laughed. “You’re built like a tank. You won’t die that easily.”

“Besides, killing a classmate means instant disqualification—and full compensation. As long as you’re not up against some obscenely rich heir, no one will go that far.”

Zhang Yu asked, “And if I do run into a rich heir?”

Shi Huaiyu shrugged. “Then just do the honorable thing and surrender.”

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes and walked out with the others, laughing and chatting.

After several training sessions, Zhang Yu had grown to appreciate the vibe of his new team. Hanging out with these broke brothers felt comfortable—they constantly shared deals, discounts, and penny-pinching strategies. It was a far cry from the silent, elite atmosphere of Ma Xuan’s old team, where he barely got a word in.

Before leaving the venue, Zhang Yu and his teammates split the cost of renting the simulation worksite.

There was also the cost of building materials during training.

Unlike regular construction, competition materials were all custom-made. Teams had to purchase them not just for the match but also for practice runs.

Zhang Yu muttered internally, “The old geezers in Civil Engineering must be raking it in.”

Spirit coin balance: 7.8

…

Back at the dorm.

Zhang Yu opened a package from Bai Zhenzhen, his mouth already watering uncontrollably.

“Meat! Real meat!”

He hadn’t had meat in ages and devoured the jerky like a starving wolf.

But something felt very wrong.

A fire ignited in his gut, spreading heat throughout his limbs. His lower abdomen burned like an open furnace.

Moments later, clutching his stomach, Zhang Yu frantically contacted Bai Zhenzhen.

Bai Zhenzhen frowned, “Wait, did I send the wrong one? Your symptoms… sound like you ate the tonic kind. The kind that boosts yang energy.”

Zhang Yu blinked. “Wait, what?”

She explained, “Back in ancient times, this meat was used as a virility booster. Royal families loved it.”

“But nowadays, because so many people are sterilized, labs found a new use: if you can suppress your yang energy and not… you know… let it out, it reinforces your body, strengthens your physique, and tempers your Dao Heart.”

Zhang Yu cursed inwardly. “They’re really using aphrodisiac meat as cultivation supplements?!”

Bai Zhenzhen warned, “But the key is endurance. If you fail to hold it in, it’ll hurt your cultivation base.”

“You must hold back! If you do, you’ll get stronger. If you don’t, you might regress!”

She added, “Don’t forget, we promised to compete in the Ten Academies Tournament together.”

Zhang Yu growled, “Who the hell even uses this kind of risky stuff?”

Bai Zhenzhen replied, “Sterilized cultivators, like me. It works great on me.”

Zhang Yu felt once again that he was dragging himself through someone else’s insane standards.

He’d been in Kunxu for years now. Maybe it was time to start adapting?

But then he shook his head. “Yu Xinghan is local too, and he’s not sterilized.”

“And there’s even a place called Pleasure and Harmony University. Who says cultivators have to be eunuchs?”

Still, as the heat surged inside him, Zhang Yu asked, “How long before it kicks in fully?”

Bai Zhenzhen: “How much did you eat?”

Zhang Yu looked at the empty jerky bag. Bai Zhenzhen gasped, “That much?!”

“You’ll have to endure it for one to two months.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes widened. “One to two months?! Am I going to be okay?”

She replied, “If you can’t take it, do some training or sparring to let off steam.”

“As long as you endure, the effects will be powerful—especially with that dosage. But if you slip even once, you might never stop.”

“Yuzi! You must hold on! Every day you endure, you get one step closer to the Ten Academies!”

“…Wait,” her voice sharpened, “your hands—hold them up right now!”

Zhang Yu raised both hands. “What are you even accusing me of?! Like I can’t even hold it in for a few hours?”

Bai Zhenzhen sighed, “Okay, okay. But if you really can’t take it, maybe let it out.”

“At Heavenly Sword Sect University, I’ve seen students dual cultivate with each other, or even with their Artifact Spirits, achieving true man-sword unity…”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s faltering expression, Bai Zhenzhen pointed at him and shouted, “I knew it! You’re not resolute! Your body’s too strong, your blood Qi too abundant, and now you’re like oil on fire!”

“No. I’m going to spot-check you at any time.”

“You must answer my calls immediately, got it?”

She added earnestly, “I’m not scolding you—I just don’t want you ruining your future over a moment of weakness.”

After ending the call, Zhang Yu felt the rising heat inside. He took a deep breath and began to practice Sky-Flipping Seal Technique one form at a time.

With Martial Qi trembling and palms flickering through the air, he felt that burning heat slowly melt into his body, nurturing his muscles and bones.

“This stuff is legit.”

“The more I move, the more powerful I feel.”

“But… damn, this is torture.”

“No—I’ll power through this with unmatched willpower!”

Urged on by Bai Zhenzhen, his inner fire, and his own resolve, Zhang Yu came to a decision.

“I’m abstinent starting today!”

In the days that followed, the fire flared unpredictably within him—like he was wound up like a clockwork spring. To endure, Zhang Yu threw himself even harder into training and work.

By the end of September, he had pushed both Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal Technique and Sky-Flipping Seal Technique to Level 20. Together with Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation Technique, he had now fully cultivated two Techniques for his Foundation-Stage Martial Saint Body.

Meanwhile, he had thoroughly completed and absorbed coursework in the Artifact Refinement Department: Artifact Engineering Drafting, Artifact Principles, Artifact Design, and Basic Sigil Engraving.

His Spirit coins continued to burn away over the month, but thanks to stipends from construction work and mana sales, Zhang Yu barely managed to stay afloat.

Spirit coin balance: 7.5

…

At the 667th-floor worksite.

Yu Xinghan was massaging Ying Xin while glancing toward a cloud of rising dust in the distance.

Ying Xin sucked in a breath. “Easy! Who knew someone so skinny had such strong hands?”

Yu Xinghan chuckled. “I’m just precise. The force goes straight to your damaged muscle fibers.”

“If you like it, consider leaving a good review.”

Ever since getting a mentor, Yu Xinghan had joined the mentor’s massage company, finally becoming a certified male technician—massaging classmates openly and legally.

Ying Xin looked toward the dust cloud and said, “That’s Purple Heaven Sky-Net Style Technique, right? A transport Technique from the major construction skillsets.”

Through the haze, Zhang Yu could be seen launching his hand outward. Streams of violet Qi spread like a vast net, capturing mounds of construction debris in one fell swoop.

Yu Xinghan nodded. “Transport starts small with regular Martial Qi, but once you master a high-level Purple Heaven Sky-Net Style Technique, your efficiency skyrockets tenfold. It turns a minor path into a major one.”

Ying Xin nodded. A tenfold boost in transport fees? That was a major path.

She watched Zhang Yu work nonstop, his hands waving, Xuanhuang Qi flowing to lighten the heavy debris and make it float.

She couldn’t hide a glint of admiration in her eyes.

“Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal Technique—lightening the load to boost transport. Combine that with Sky-Flipping Seal Technique to increase pressure on the ground for compaction.”

“Truly foundational Techniques of the Civil Engineering Department.”

Seeing Zhang Yu moving tirelessly, not taking even a second’s rest, Ying Xin was quietly impressed.

“Even after becoming class leader, he hasn’t slacked at all. If anything, he’s working even harder than before.”