No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Zhang Yu asked, “How long are you staying at Wanfa University this time?”

Bai Zhenzhen replied, “I’ll leave once the tournament ends. If I manage to make it to the finals, that’s about ten days.”

Zhang Yu said, “The Divine Spirit Root—why don’t I return it to you now? You’ll need it for the competition.”

Bai Zhenzhen tilted her head carelessly. “No rush. Just return it before your match.”

“Use this chance to make full use of the Divine Spirit Root.”

“I gave it to you because I wanted it to help raise your strength.”

“But for now, let’s not let the others at university know about our connection. It’d make it harder to pass the Divine Spirit Root between us.”

Zhang Yu nodded along as Bai Zhenzhen spoke. But his gaze inevitably fell to her chest, where the Dao Seed was faintly visible.

Greenlotus Sword Embryo (Spirit Root), Level 2

And then he noticed the same glowing script appearing on his own abdomen.

Greenlotus Sword Embryo (Spirit Root), Level 2

Zhang Yu thought to himself, So Ah-Zhen’s Dao Seed is the true Spirit Root?

Greenlotus Sword Embryo? And it’s already Level 2? Maybe because it already evolved once back on the first floor?

Still, Zhang Yu only briefly focused his senses on it before leaving it alone.

At this point, neither he nor Bai Zhenzhen seemed concerned about the presence of the Divine Spirit Root. They simply held each other, slowly catching up on everything that had happened, breathing in each other’s scent.

Three years of high school. Crisis after crisis. Facing death side-by-side. The bond they’d forged was more than family—stronger than blood.

Suddenly, Bai Zhenzhen wrinkled her nose in disgust. “That virility meat’s still affecting you?”

Zhang Yu scowled. “How is that my fault? If I hadn’t eaten that damn virility meat you gave me, I wouldn’t have been so easily distracted! These past few days have been one trap after another.”

Bai Zhenzhen frowned. “I could’ve sworn I didn’t mix it up… Whatever. I’ll double-check later.”

In a flash of light, Bai Zhenzhen’s figure flickered out of his arms and reappeared several meters away.

She shot him a sideways glance. “That’s enough for today. I’ve got to go.”

“You’d better get some proper cultivation done with the Divine Spirit Root.”

Zhang Yu asked, “The tournament starts tomorrow, right? When should I return it to you?”

Bai Zhenzhen said, “The opening ceremony’s in the first half of the night. First match is in the second half. Bring it to me at midnight.”

And with that, her figure dissolved into streaks of flowing light, vanishing soundlessly from his sight with a flash of exceptional movement technique.

Zhang Yu stared after her for a moment, then shifted his focus inward—to the Divine Spirit Root, or more precisely, the Greenlotus Sword Embryo inside his own body.

As he concentrated, information about the Dao Seed began to surface in his mind.

The Greenlotus Sword Embryo requires nourishment from cultivation techniques.

Zhang Yu murmured to himself, “Specifically, I need to run ten different Level-20 Techniques for thirty hours each, using the Divine Spirit Root the whole time.”

“And Heart Techniques don’t count.”

“So, that’s 300 hours total? Once I hit that, I can duplicate the Dao Seed.”

He remembered how, back in high school, his true Spirit Root had also evolved through the nourishment of various Techniques.

“But this only gives the conditions for duplication—not for upgrading it.”

This was the first Level-2 Dao Seed Zhang Yu had encountered since unlocking the Dao Seed Codex through the Feathered Tome.

He also recalled his experiences using the true Spirit Root back on the first floor.

Adaptability—that was the true Spirit Root’s defining trait.

“I wonder what changed after it evolved into a Divine Spirit Root?”

From that point on, Zhang Yu began cultivating using the Divine Spirit Root, under Fu Ji’s watchful and expectant gaze.

His cultivation plan was simple. He already had more than ten Level-20 Techniques, so picking any ten to circulate was no challenge at all.

“If I want to finish before Ah-Zhen leaves Wanfa University, time’s tight.”

“Good thing I’ve got multi-threaded thinking now—still possible if I push it.”

With that thought, Zhang Yu began circulating his Techniques, channeling their power into the Greenlotus Sword Embryo, and experiencing the wondrous effects of the Divine Spirit Root.

…

The next evening, at the worksite.

Yu Xinghan was massaging Ying Xin as he said, “Why does it feel like there’s way more people on the roads today?”

“Are they all from other universities?”

Ying Xin replied, “Because of the Flying Sword Tournament. This year it’s hosted at our school, so students from all over—even from vocational colleges—have shown up. Of course it’s crowded.”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s EyeNet feed was full of updates—group chats lighting up with Flying Sword Tournament chatter.

But most of it was surface-level talk. None of his close contacts seemed to be participating.

“Well, Flying Sword’s a high-bar event. Most cross-campus contestants are upperclassmen.”

“But Ah-Zhen’s only a sophomore and she’s competing already. She really has been skyrocketing under the Seven Sentiments Lord.”

Just then, a flood of screenshots from the opening ceremony appeared across his group chats.

“It’s started already?”

Zhang Yu clicked into a random livestream. University teams were marching in.

There was Tianyao University’s one-man squad.

Then the all-statue-like team from Vajra University, each member encased in their Law Husk.

And then there was the Hehuan University team, radiating a crushing presence that made Zhang Yu sit up straight.

As each team entered, the host announced the more notable participants.

Zhang Yu barely registered most of it—he didn’t know anyone from other schools, so the names passed in one ear and out the other.

Until Heavenly Sword University’s team appeared. Then his eyes locked onto Bai Zhenzhen.

She wore a platinum-white competition uniform, exuding sharpness and spirit like never before.

Her long black hair had turned platinum too, glowing with layer upon layer of sword-light.

The host’s voice rang out, “Bai Zhenzhen of Heavenly Sword University. If you’ve followed the Flying Sword Tournament in the past six months, you’ve definitely heard of her.”

“A direct disciple of the Seven Sentiments Lord, her progress has been nothing short of miraculous. She’s a strong contender for the top ten this year.”

“As for her hair—it shines with metallic light because it’s infused with refined metal essence.”

“Every strand has been personally refined by the Seven Sentiments Lord. When needed, each can transform into a fine flying sword, perfectly under her control.”

At the same time, the screenshots and chatter about Bai Zhenzhen exploded in Zhang Yu’s group chats.

In the class group, someone posted her image, marveling at the awe-inspiring beauty of a Nascent Soul disciple.

Even Ji Yuanshu stared at the introduction and murmured with admiration, “A Nascent Soul disciple… just her hair alone is worth more than ninety percent of Wanfa University students.”

“To be that rich… wherever she goes, fortune follows. Just being her friend might raise your luck stat.”

In the Songyang hometown chat, even more students tagged Zhang Yu, hoping for insider info on Bai Zhenzhen. He ignored them all.

Qian Shen from Tianhai University: @Zhang Yu, do you know Bai Zhenzhen’s current composite score?

When Zhang Yu didn’t reply, Zhao Tianxing began to wonder, Maybe they’re not that close anymore? Like me—I’m definitely not as close to Zhang Yu as I was in high school.

Should I ask? Try to comfort him?

Or maybe not. What if he thinks I’m mocking him? Wouldn’t that just make things worse between us?

Sigh. That’s college for you—turning people into strangers. All our old classmates just drifted apart.

Zhao Tianxing remembered how lively the hometown chat used to be—999+ messages every day. Now, days passed without a word. If not for Bai Zhenzhen’s meteoric rise, it wouldn’t have come alive again.

In the civil engineering competition group—

Ying Xin: A sophomore making top ten? Even for a Nascent Soul disciple, that’s insane.

Gongshu Jin: We’re talking about a Nascent Soul! And she’s the issuer of the Seven Sentiments Coin.

Xiao Qingxuan: With wealth like that, she could reshape reality with a thought. There’s almost nothing she can’t do.

Che Yufei: I’d give up everything if it meant becoming a Nascent Soul disciple.

Shi Huaiyu: Should we try becoming Bai Zhenzhen’s disciples? Being her student would make us grand-disciples of a Nascent Soul.

Shi Huaiyu again: Though let’s be real—it’s not like we can get close. She’ll have tons of protection.

Shi Huaiyu: You’d probably get booted by her teachers before you even got near.

Che Yufei: How would you know?

Shi Huaiyu: I tried visiting their dorm yesterday. Didn’t get past the front gate.

Yu Xinghan, reading the chat, suddenly noticed a message from Zhang Yu—asking him to keep their connection to Bai Zhenzhen a secret for now.

Zhang Yu also sent a similar warning to Li Xiao, though he wasn’t sure how much Li Xiao already knew.

Yu Xinghan replied: You can count on me.

Then he sighed inwardly. Sigh… I was hoping to shoot a short interview with Bai Zhenzhen. Guess that’s out.

“But honestly, the gap between her and us is just too wide now.”

“If Zhang Yu’s asking us to keep quiet, maybe it’s at her request.”

“She is a Nascent Soul disciple, after all. Every move carries weight. If she doesn’t want our connection public, we have to respect that.”

Yu Xinghan understood. Back in high school, maybe they were friends. But now, they were worlds apart. Whether she chose to help or not was entirely up to her. Nothing they could demand.

“…Huh?”

He suddenly realized—Zhang Yu had disappeared from the worksite.

“Where’d he go?”

“No overtime today?”

This was the first time he’d seen Zhang Yu abandon extra work halfway.

“Looks like Bai Zhenzhen really has a big impact on him.”

…

After the opening ceremony—

In a hidden corner on the 66th floor—

Zhang Yu embraced Bai Zhenzhen and returned the true Spirit Root to her.

Bai Zhenzhen’s body trembled violently. “Yuzi… slow down…”

She gasped. “Why does it feel… so strange?”

Zhang Yu said, “It’s been too long since we last swapped the true Spirit Root. The difference between our bodies is huge. Just like I struggled with your changes, you’re not used to mine either.”

“That’s why the adaptation is so intense—it’s a violent reaction.”

“Ah-Zhen, bear with it. You’ve got a match coming soon.”

“…Mm.” Bai Zhenzhen frowned but nodded. “Go on.”

A moment later, as she bit down and shook all over, she felt the true Spirit Root return to her dantian.

At the same time, a powerful jolt of sensation radiated outward from the true Spirit Root, surging through her entire body, triggering all kinds of mysterious transformations.