No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Beside the arena for the Civil Engineering Competition.

Unlike the audience stands in the Spiritual Realm, the ones prepared for the real world were almost deserted.

After all, even for those genuinely interested in watching, the majority would do so from the Spiritual Realm. Few would attend in person, using their physical bodies to spectate.

At this moment, Bai Zhenzhen stood alone at the highest point of the stands, quietly watching the match.

She had activated the power of her Divine Spirit Root, making her presence as faint as air, unnoticed by anyone.

This hidden ability granted by the Divine Spirit Root always allowed her to avoid people she didn’t want to meet, situations she didn’t want to face—letting her vanish from this world.

But the Divine Spirit Root could only conceal herself—it couldn’t make Zhang Yu disappear with her. That was why she hadn’t used this method to transfer the Divine Spirit Root earlier.

After all, hiding only herself would raise even more suspicion.

Especially if, after the Spirit Root transfer, Zhang Yu couldn’t control it immediately, it might suddenly reveal itself.

And although Zhang Yu also had a Divine Spirit Root, he wasn’t skilled at concealment. Plus, during the Spirit Root exchange, the intense stimulus from the Divine Spirit Root would make it difficult to maintain control. He had never planned to rely on the concealment ability to recklessly swap Spirit Roots—the risk was far too great.If anyone were spying on them at that time, it would lead to the worst possible outcome.

On the field, thunder boomed continuously.

Streaks of firelight like meteors rained down on Zhang Yu, shattering the atmosphere with every impact, producing deafening, thunderous blasts.

At the same time, Bai Zhenzhen received a message through her EyeNet connection from the Seven Sentiments Lord.

Seven Sentiments Lord: Watching Zhang Yu’s match?

Bai Zhenzhen: Mm.

Seven Sentiments Lord: The gap between you two is growing.

On the field, Zhang Yu suddenly activated his Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might. The rampaging Earthfiend Gravity turned into a black hole-like force, pulling the incoming meteors off course and smashing them into the ground.

Bai Zhenzhen: Zhang Yu has already mastered a military-grade technique. He’s catching up to me step by step.

Seven Sentiments Lord: But he’s in the Civil Engineering Department. If he’s mastered the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might, it means he’s already rooted in civil engineering. He won’t be leaving the construction site anytime soon.

Bai Zhenzhen: A Flood Dragon can rise even from civil engineering.

Seven Sentiments Lord: Perhaps.

Seven Sentiments Lord: But will the Zhang Yu from that time still be the Zhang Yu you know?

Seven Sentiments Lord: Did he tell you about joining the Yin Artifact experiment to upgrade his technique?

Seven Sentiments Lord: I’m not some old-fashioned relic who opposes dual cultivation.

Seven Sentiments Lord: Dual cultivation broadens one’s immortal path and strengthens the foundation of cultivation—it’s a good thing for most cultivators.

Seven Sentiments Lord: But once someone tastes the benefits of dual cultivation and starts indulging their desires and emotions for power, they no longer value those things.

Seven Sentiments Lord: Now that he’s become a lab rat for the Yin Artifact experiment and reaped major benefits, he’ll gradually transform into someone else. Emotions and dual cultivation will become mere chips and cultivation fuel. That’s not suitable for someone on the path of Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship like you.

Bai Zhenzhen: I trust Zhang Yu.

Seven Sentiments Lord: The poor can’t withstand temptation.

Bai Zhenzhen said nothing, but her mind wandered to the scene she saw earlier today—Zhang Yu speaking with Wen Wuya.

If it were the Zhang Yu from before, wouldn’t he have rejected Wen Wuya outright, without a moment of hesitation?

Was it the Yin Artifact experiment and the benefits he gained from it that changed him?

Even earlier, when they were together, didn’t Zhang Yu seem especially eager… to transfer her Divine Spirit Root?

And having her watch this competition—was that all just part of a scheme to take her Spirit Root?

Her expression shifted slightly as she thought: Has Zhang Yu really changed? Is he no longer the boy he was back in high school?

Seven Sentiments Lord: Whether he ends up building bridges or roads, I don’t care. I just don’t want your Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship to suffer backlash and waste all your time in vain.

Bai Zhenzhen said nothing, but her eyes turned back to the arena.

There, meteors blazed skyward, spreading across the majority of the competition zone like a meteor shower cleansing the land.

…

Staring at the vast meteor storm, Zhang Yu took a deep breath. His hand seals changed, and patches of Earthfiend Gravity condensed into clusters—like miniature black holes rising into the sky, devouring the falling meteors.

Ten Planetary Forms—Stardust Bind.

On the other side, mountains floated into the air, forming a layered fortress in the sky that shielded the Heavenly Sword Sect University’s worksite.

At the peak stood Yue Guanqiong. With a tap of his finger, Great Freedom Instant-Prison Sword Aura surged into the mountain rocks, turning them into meteor-like projectiles that rained toward Wanfa University’s site.

“As my offensive escalates…”

“How long can you keep defending?”

Yue Guanqiong smiled faintly as the flying swords floating behind him silently aligned, ready to strike.

…

In the Spiritual Realm stands.

Wangou Xuan of Immortal Soldier University observed the battlefield intently.

He mused, “The Heavenly Sword Sect’s Great Freedom Instant-Prison Sword Aura can attach to anything—grass, wood, stone, dirt—and launch them like flying swords. Not only can it perform ultra-long-range construction, but its sharp sword aura can also shatter mountains.”

“High construction efficiency, adaptable to most environments, no need for tools, and low cost… this is a top-tier large-scale civil engineering technique.”

He sighed, “Wanfa University’s Zhang Yu is being completely suppressed.”

“To defend against Yue Guanqiong’s flying swords already takes all his effort, let alone that Yue Guanqiong is stronger than him to begin with.”

“If he hadn’t pushed his technique to level 16 through that Yin Artifact experiment, the situation would be even worse.”

At this thought, envy flashed in Wangou Xuan’s eyes. How long had it taken him to raise his military-grade technique from level 10 to 16? And yet Zhang Yu had done it in such a short time?

But what comforted him was that this leap still wasn’t enough for Zhang Yu to surpass Yue Guanqiong.

Wangou Xuan concluded, “If Zhang Yu wants to win, he’ll have to break through. Staying still like a target… it’s only a matter of time before he loses.”

Beside him, Xiangshan from Heavenly Demon University gently curled his elephant trunk and said, “Didn’t you notice? Zhang Yu has blocked every single one of Yue Guanqiong’s attacks.”

“All of them?” Wangou Xuan blinked. “He blocked every single flying sword?”

Xiangshan replied, “He had no choice—he’s covering for his teammates.”

“If Heavenly Sword Sect’s worksite were on the ground, Zhang Yu could tunnel straight through, and his Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might would wreak havoc.”

“But the site is in the air, which neutralizes most of the Mountain-Moving Might’s threat. Meanwhile, Yue Guanqiong can strike Wanfa University’s worksite from any distance.”

“Since the Great Freedom Instant-Prison Sword Aura has a much longer range than the Mountain-Moving Might, Yue Guanqiong can attack from beyond Zhang Yu’s reach.”

Xiangshan continued, “With his technique countered, his cultivation suppressed, and the enemy tactics targeting him so thoroughly, Zhang Yu has only one option—shield his teammates, help them complete the array faster, and try to reverse the tide with its power.”

“So now the real question is: how long can he last under Yue Guanqiong’s assault?”

Watching the meteors crossing the sky fall, only to be caught one by one by Zhang Yu and dragged down, Xiangshan praised, “Zhang Yu’s martial talent is truly astounding.”

“Whether it’s control, activation speed, or area of effect, he’s fully maximizing his Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might—perfectly intercepting every strike from Yue Guanqiong.”

“But Yue Guanqiong isn’t going all out yet.”

At this, Wangou Xuan frowned. “Why is he using ordinary materials for his attacks? Why not use real flying swords?”

Xiangshan said, “Because of Mo Shangjin.”

The elephant demon from Heavenly Demon University explained, “He’s worried that defeating Zhang Yu too early will provoke Mo Shangjin to respawn into the match. So he’s stalling, ramping up the pressure gradually to give his team time to finish their array and build their defenses.”

Moments later, streams of sword aura rose from the floating fortress of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Xiangshan’s eyes lit up. “Yue Guanqiong is escalating his offensive.”

…

Just like artifacts, flying swords came in tiers: teaching-grade, professional-grade, enterprise-grade, and the even higher military-grade and Immortal Sect-grade.

At this moment, rows of teaching-grade flying swords were already primed before Yue Guanqiong.

Had Zhang Yu been closer, he would’ve noticed that these swords were the same temporary rentals used by Su Yanyang and others.

It wasn’t that Yue Guanqiong didn’t want to use better swords—teaching-grade flying swords were simply more cost-effective and reliable.

Looking toward Zhang Yu’s location, Yue Guanqiong said calmly, “Playtime is over.”

With the launch of the Great Freedom Instant-Prison Sword Aura, the temporary flying swords shot into the sky, slicing through the air with thunderous sonic booms as they raced toward Zhang Yu at multiple times the speed of sound.

Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened. “Here it comes… real flying sword attacks.”

In the blink of an eye, the swords that had just left the fortress were already within a hundred meters of him.

Crackling thunder flared. Zhang Yu activated the Ground-Stabilizing Seal and Thunderquell Seal in quick succession, lightning bolts flashing to deflect the piercing swords.

Meanwhile, the Ground-Stabilizing Seal generated a surrounding field, further slowing the flying swords’ charge.

But the flickering lightning only diverted them temporarily. The blades curved in midair like graceful fish, correcting their path and lunging at him again.

The sword bodies erupted with sharp aura, tearing through the protective field of the Ground-Stabilizing Seal and closing in on Zhang Yu.

Although the defensive artifacts couldn’t fully block the attack, they gave Zhang Yu crucial moments to react. He launched the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might and reached for the incoming swords.

A loud crack echoed as one flying sword shattered under the weight of the Mountain-Moving Might, bursting into fragments.

But before the soul cultivators supporting Zhang Yu could celebrate, each fragment suddenly radiated sharp aura—every single shard turned into dozens, hundreds of miniature flying swords, still aiming for Zhang Yu’s life.

Mo Shangjin messaged the Competition Group Chat: You see? That’s exactly how he got shredded last year.