No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Wen Wuya whipped his head around as soon as he saw the photo sent by the Seven Sentiments Lord, eyes locking onto Zhang Yu, who was currently stuffing his face at the banquet table.

“He and Bai Zhenzhen… are close?”

His first reaction was disbelief. From what he could tell, the two didn’t even know each other.

But the longer he observed, the more something felt off.

“They’re not talking. Not interacting. Just eating their own food…”

“But… Bai Zhenzhen keeps glancing at Zhang Yu. And he keeps looking at her too.”

“There’s clearly some kind of eye contact going on.”

Still, Wen Wuya’s heart brimmed with doubt.

“A Civil Engineering major? How could he possibly be close to Bai Zhenzhen?”

It wasn’t that Wen Wuya looked down on Civil Engineering students. He didn’t discriminate, nor did he believe they should be treated unfairly.But from scientific, Immortal Dao, social, and practical perspectives, he firmly believed Heavenly Sword Sect University should shut down the Civil Engineering Department and transfer it to one of the thirty-six affiliated lower universities.

Still, he recalled the last time he’d seen Zhang Yu… Could it be they met outside of school?

Just as he was getting back into conversation with a newly arrived guest, Wen Wuya suddenly noticed something—

Zhang Yu was gone.

And so was Bai Zhenzhen.

“The two of them… disappeared together?”

He messaged Bai Zhenzhen: “Zhenzhen, where are you?”

No response.

He initiated a call. It was declined.

…

Zhang Yu asked, “Someone trying to reach you?”

Bai Zhenzhen replied, “That guy who came looking for me last time. Ignore him.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow anyway. We need to make the most of tonight—let you use the Divine Spirit Root one more time.”

…

Some time later, when Bai Zhenzhen reappeared at the banquet, Wen Wuya noticed that Zhang Yu showed up not long after too—slightly sweaty.

A thought struck him like lightning: “Did they… just go out together?”

“Seven Sentiments Lord might be right. Zhenzhen really does have feelings for Zhang Yu?”

So when Zhang Yu tried to leave the banquet, Wen Wuya followed.

He intercepted him in a deserted alley and asked, “Do you know Bai Zhenzhen?”

Zhang Yu froze. Seeing Wen Wuya up close, alarm bells rang in his mind.

He immediately messaged Bai Zhenzhen: What do I say?

Bai Zhenzhen replied: How did he find you? Did he notice something?

Bai Zhenzhen: Maybe say I forcibly cultivated with you? Then he’ll hush it up with hush money—win-win.

Bai Zhenzhen: No, wait. In his eyes, you probably have no cultivation value. That’ll only make him more suspicious. Maybe say I ran into you by chance? But you’re not even injured…

At that moment, Fu Ji chimed in: “Zhang Yu, your connection to Bai Zhenzhen won’t hold up under scrutiny.”

“You’re both from the First Floor. Both from Songyang City. Both from Songyang High.”

“Anyone who digs even slightly will realize you’ve known each other.”

“Your disguise only works because most people instinctively assume you’re unconnected and don’t bother looking deeper.”

“But once someone starts digging, they’ll find confirmation easily.”

“So don’t lie. If you get caught lying, it’ll only fuel further suspicion and curiosity.”

“In moments like this, the key is to stay calm, act natural, and look unbothered.”

Fu Ji concluded, “Just say you and Bai Zhenzhen were high school classmates. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Zhang Yu relaxed a bit after hearing that.

“Right. Even if he finds out we knew each other, it’s fine—so long as he doesn’t realize we’ve been switching out the Divine Spirit Root.”

So Zhang Yu nodded and said, “Bai Zhenzhen and I were high school classmates.”

Wen Wuya mentally filed that away with a subtle nod: “So they were both poor kids from the First Floor. Naturally, they bonded through primitive and outdated means.”

Recalling what the Seven Sentiments Lord had said, Wen Wuya narrowed his eyes at Zhang Yu and asked, “As her classmate, are you two close?”

Zhang Yu gave an awkward chuckle. “We get along okay.”

“Zhang Yu, right?” Wen Wuya said coolly. “I can offer you some money…”

Zhang Yu’s heart jumped. “Here it comes—he wants me to stay away from Bai Zhenzhen. Doesn’t want a nobody like me leeching off her success.”

But Wen Wuya continued: “…in exchange for you teaching me how to build a relationship with Bai Zhenzhen.”

Zhang Yu: “Huh?”

Wen Wuya followed up, “By the way, have you ever dual cultivated with her?”

“Ah?!” Zhang Yu frantically waved his hands. “No, no, nothing like that…”

Wen Wuya sighed. “Pity. Otherwise I’d pay even more for your experience.”

“You can probably tell—I, Wen Wuya, am not a stingy person. Anything money can buy, I’m willing to pay for.”

In Zhang Yu’s mind, Fu Ji was shouting excitedly: “This is it, Zhang Yu! A money-making opportunity!”

“You and Bai Zhenzhen can totally scam this guy together. There’s plenty of spirit coins to squeeze out of him.”

“Don’t panic. Don’t hesitate. I’ll tell you exactly what to say!”

Zhang Yu messaged Bai Zhenzhen to get her opinion.

Bai Zhenzhen: You even need to ask? Of course we take his money.

Bai Zhenzhen: But wait. First ask him why he wants to learn from you.

Bai Zhenzhen: Logically, a guy like him would just throw money at me, not try to build emotional bonds.

Zhang Yu looked at Wen Wuya and asked, “Why not just give Bai Zhenzhen money if you want to build rapport?”

Wen Wuya was silent for a moment, then said, “I have my reasons. I must develop feelings with her without throwing money at the problem. Can you help me with that?”

When Bai Zhenzhen heard that through Zhang Yu’s forwarded message, her expression soured.

“This kind of condition… could it have come from Master?”

“Is he using Wen Wuya to help me cultivate Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship?”

She wasn’t sure—but one thing she was sure of was that she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“Wen Wuya, better you help Yuzi advance on the Immortal Path instead.”

Meanwhile, Wen Wuya looked at Zhang Yu and said, “Name your price. How many spirit coins for all your experiences with Bai Zhenzhen?”

Zhang Yu replied, “We’ve known each other for so long. Where do I even begin?”

Wen Wuya said, “Then sell me your entire chat log.”

Zhang Yu countered, “Different time, different place. Context matters. Chat logs won’t help much.”

“How about I coach you directly on how to talk to her?”

Wen Wuya’s eyes lit up. “Coach me?”

Zhang Yu nodded. “For instance, try messaging her right now. Ask if she knows the standard concrete mix ratio for Wanfa University City.”

Wen Wuya frowned. “What kind of question is that?”

Zhang Yu replied, “You didn’t know she’s into civil engineering? Building rapport starts with shared interests.”

Wen Wuya was skeptical. “Zhenzhen into civil engineering? That’s absurd.”

Zhang Yu gave a sly smile. “Why do you think I still get to talk to her? Because I’m a Civil Engineering major.”

“Back in high school, her dream was to work on a construction site. A proud Civil Engineering worker.”

Wen Wuya was visibly shaken, still doubtful but intrigued enough to try. He sent the message.

Zhang Yu logged into Bai Zhenzhen’s account and replied from it: 😊 “Funny you ask—I just looked into it! Wanfa University uses the classic mix ratio…”

Wen Wuya stared at the long, detailed response—complete with an emoji—and was stunned.

It was the first time he’d ever gotten an emoji from Bai Zhenzhen. Or such a long message.

Looking up at Zhang Yu, he asked, “How much?”

Zhang Yu: “Huh?”

Wen Wuya repeated, “Your coaching. How much?”

Zhang Yu pondered. “Fifty spirit coins? A hundred? What do you think, Fu Ji?”

Fu Ji replied, “Don’t rush. This guy’s a long-term cash cow. Open too high and he’ll get suspicious.”

“Let me think…”

After watching Wen Wuya for a moment, Fu Ji said, “Start with 10 spirit coins per month.”

Zhang Yu said, “Ten spirit coins a month.”

Wen Wuya found the price surprisingly affordable. His final reservations vanished, and he added Zhang Yu as a friend, transferring the 10 spirit coins immediately.

Seeing the funds arrive, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh internally.

“Damn… all that risky crypto trading the past few days barely earned me three coins.”

“These few sentences just made me ten. And that’s monthly.”

Fu Ji said smugly, “Of course. Crypto trading needs capital. How much do you have to invest anyway?”

“How many times do I have to tell you—fraud is the best way for poor folks in Kunxu to get ahead.”

Zhang Yu tried to transfer five coins to Bai Zhenzhen, but she rejected it.

Bai Zhenzhen: Let’s not mix money into this.

Bai Zhenzhen: And I’m not hurting for cash.

Bai Zhenzhen: I’ll log back into my account and hand off Wen Wuya’s contact to you. From now on, you reply to him.

Bai Zhenzhen: Just don’t say anything too out of character.

Zhang Yu knew exactly what “contact handoff” meant—he’d be pretending to be Bai Zhenzhen in future chats with Wen Wuya.

The guy would think he was talking to her, but it’d really be Zhang Yu behind the screen.

Right then, Wen Wuya asked again, “What do I say next?”

Zhang Yu replied, “Ignore her for 12 hours.”

Wen Wuya balked. “Twelve?! Isn’t that too long?”

Zhang Yu: “Trust me.”

“She’ll message you. Just don’t respond.”

Having bought himself some time, Zhang Yu made his way to a quiet corner of the 88th floor of Wanfa University.

With qi roaring and mana surging, he began his next session of cultivation.

“The final night.”

Zhang Yu muttered to himself, “I’m going to completely replicate the Greenlotus Sword Embryo!”