No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Director Gao: [True Lord Magneto]

Director Gao: This is the teacher from the Artifact Refinement Department.

Director Gao: Didn’t I bring them in to coach you during the last Civil Engineering competition?

Zhang Yu: Oh, it’s them? They’re from the Artifact Refinement Department? I wouldn’t have guessed.

Zhang Yu: They weren’t from our Civil Engineering Department, and we didn’t stay in touch after that event. I honestly forgot their name.

Director Gao: So, what do you think about artifact refinement?

Zhang Yu: I’m actually pretty interested in it.

Feeling Zhang Yu shift slightly in her arms, True Lord Magneto chuckled and said, “Easy now. Don’t squirm.”

“Or… are you uncomfortable being held by me?”

Zhang Yu: “N-no…”

The corners of True Lord Magneto’s lips lifted. “So, you’re very comfortable, then?”

Watching Zhang Yu freeze, she followed up with a teasing tone, “So tell me, do you prefer being in Director Gao’s arms… or mine?”

Zhang Yu: “Huh?”

Seeing him blank out, Fu Ji sighed, “You’re done for, Zhang Yu. I swear this woman’s a perfect counter to your whole Civil Engineering crew. She’s got you and your teacher both wrapped around her finger.”

Zhang Yu replied mentally, “I just froze for a second. Didn’t know what to say.”

Fu Ji warned, “Better be careful. This woman’s definitely ruthless. Even the way she talks to you is laser-targeted. She must’ve studied your personality and habits in detail.”Meanwhile, Director Gao messaged again: You really want to learn artifact refinement?

Zhang Yu: I think law husks and artifacts are indispensable on the Immortal Path.

Zhang Yu: Learning more about artifact refinement is only going to help me. I’ll get swindled less when buying artifacts.

Zhang Yu: As for actually refining artifacts myself? I don’t have the resources for that.

Zhang Yu: Teacher, I just want to focus on mastering our Civil Engineering techniques, especially the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might. Then I can go all out on the job site.

Director Gao: [chuckles] No rush. You’ll get your chance.

Zhang Yu: So, after I pass the military license exam, can I try the Civil Engineering Seven Absolutes?

Director Gao: Look at you, so eager.

Director Gao: As long as Heaven’s Court hasn’t published the results, nothing’s set in stone.

Director Gao: Until then, keep things under wraps. Don’t go blabbing about the military license, understood?

Zhang Yu: Understood, Teacher.

Zhang Yu: I just really want to learn Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might...

Watching the conversation between True Lord Magneto and Director Gao unfold, Zhang Yu mused, “Is she trying to make Director Gao think… I’m completely devoted to staying in Civil Engineering to master Mountain-Moving Might?”

Then, after a few more exchanges, Director Gao asked: Did Director Lin talk to you?

True Lord Magneto looked at Zhang Yu. “Did he?”

Zhang Yu immediately told her everything—how Director Lin and the old department head had approached him, along with their offer.

True Lord Magneto passed it all on to Director Gao.

Moments later, she closed the chat window, looked at Zhang Yu, and said, “Director Gao should be contacting you soon to have you sign the contract and officially take you in as a disciple.”

“When he does, just sign it.”

Sensing Zhang Yu’s uncertainty, she said coolly, “Relax. The contract’s pretty lenient. It won’t restrict you too much.”

“As for your relationship with me…”

She smiled, cradling Zhang Yu with a look of absolute confidence. “I care more about real benefits than about titles.”

“Until you master Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might, just be a good disciple for Director Gao.”

“My star student of the Civil Engineering Department, Zhang Yu.”

Zhang Yu asked, “What if I manage to master Mountain-Moving Might by junior year?”

True Lord Magneto dismissed it with a wave. “We’ll talk when that happens.”

She’d clearly considered the possibility, but didn’t think it was very likely.

…

Meanwhile, Ye Xingli had been following behind True Lord Magneto this whole time. Now that they were nearing Zhang Yu’s dorm, her anxiety was starting to build.

“We’re almost at his room…”

“They’re still chatting?”

“Should I interrupt?”

But seeing the lively banter between True Lord Magneto and Zhang Yu, Ye Xingli hesitated. Was it really her place to butt in?

…

A quiet corner of the street.

With a bang, Zhang Yu hit the ground like a truckload of cargo.

True Lord Magneto smiled. “Kid, you did pretty well on the test.”

Zhang Yu chuckled awkwardly—he had snagged a few snacks during the exam.

Zhang Yu: “True Lord, I’ll head back now.”

True Lord Magneto said flatly, “Mm. Go handle your business.”

As Zhang Yu walked away, she disappeared in a flash.

Then she said to Ye Xingli, “Feel free to help that kid out with his artifact refinement techniques in the future.”

Hearing that, Ye Xingli couldn’t help but ask, “Master, you treat him… kind of differently from the others, don’t you?”

True Lord Magneto replied calmly, “Different students require different teaching strategies. It’s called individualized instruction.”

“Do you know anything about Zhang Yu’s roommates?”

Zhang Yu’s roommates?

Ye Xingli honestly didn’t. She’d never thought to look into them. Why would she?

True Lord Magneto continued, “They’re all folks from the first floor—his old neighbors.”

Ye Xingli blinked. “Seriously? All of them?”

She didn’t think she was prejudiced, but in her mind, first-floor residents were mostly poor, clueless, and hopelessly untalented when it came to cultivation.

Zhang Yu clawing his way up from the first floor was already a miracle.

That he still lived with his old neighbors? How did he stand it?

True Lord Magneto said, “From all the data we’ve gathered, Zhang Yu’s the kind of person who values old ties.”

As if reminiscing, she muttered, “Old ties… how long has it been since I last said that?”

…

Back in his dorm, Zhang Yu collapsed onto his bed with a thud.

His battered body had finally reached its limit. With everything momentarily settled, he couldn’t help but relax.

Tu Lishan: How’d the test go?

Looking at the message, Zhang Yu thought of all the concern he’d gotten after the military license exam.

“Who says Kunxu is cold and heartless? The better I do, the warmer Wanfa University feels.”

Not long after lying down, the ritual’s icy aura returned. With a sigh, Zhang Yu dove into the Supreme Purity Realm to continue his artifact refinement lessons.

A few hours later, a message from Director Gao arrived—he was ready to make Zhang Yu his official disciple and have him sign a supplemental contract.

One glance at the contract, and Zhang Yu knew True Lord Magneto had been telling the truth. The terms were loose, with very few restrictions.

“Wait… it’s a company contract?”

“This company… is it Director Gao’s?”

Reading further, the gist was this: the company would cover 30 spirit coins in monthly cultivation expenses, up until he earned his Gold Core License.

Once he reached the Gold Core stage, he’d be expected to take on a certain workload, with profits split 55-45 between him and the company.

Most other clauses revolved around this core structure.

Zhang Yu marveled, “Thirty spirit coins a month—that’s 360 a year. Can’t believe I’m now a student with that kind of budget.”

Fu Ji commented, “A rare decent contract in Kunxu. With this, Director Gao only makes a small profit if you reach Gold Core.”

“But if you hit the Nascent Soul stage? He’ll be making a killing.”

“Clearly, he’s betting on you reaching Nascent Soul.”

“And once you hit Soul Transformation, they’ll have to renegotiate the whole deal.”

The next day, under the witness of a Righteous God, Zhang Yu signed the contract with Director Gao and officially became his disciple.

Looking him over, Director Gao nodded in satisfaction. Then he asked, “I told you to rest properly. Why’d you sneak out of the hospital?”

Zhang Yu replied, “Teacher, you know my constitution. No point wasting money in a hospital.”

“You brat,” Director Gao scolded with a grin. “You trying to save money for me now?”

With that, he reached out and pulled Zhang Yu over, letting his mana flow through the boy’s body.

Immediately, he could sense that Zhang Yu’s injuries had improved significantly.

The vibrant life force in his flesh made Director Gao even more pleased, though he kept a straight face.

“You need to get your body fully healed soon. The Civil Engineering Competition’s right around the corner, you hear?”

Zhang Yu blinked. “Wait—wasn’t it in December? It’s only October.”

Director Gao said, “The competition format’s changing this year.”

“Students’ combat abilities have improved a lot. One or two days just aren’t enough—it leads to more injuries, higher costs, and doesn’t show off their true strength.”

“There’ve been protests from other schools. So this year, the intercollegiate tournament will be held in phases over several months.”

“Our internal competition is following suit.”

“We start in late October and go through December.”

Zhang Yu found this new schedule surprisingly beneficial—more time to recover and grow stronger.

Director Gao then added, “One more thing—I’ll give you a heads-up.”

“In the department competition, just make sure your current team makes it into the top seven. Secure a Seven Absolutes slot.”

“Once the intercollegiate tournament starts, I’ll move you to Mo Shangjin’s team. You’ll learn a lot from him.”