No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Hearing Fu Ji’s voice in his mind, Zhang Yu was first startled, then delighted. He thought to himself, "You’re finally awake."

But Fu Ji seemed to hear his thoughts directly and replied, "Mhm, I’m awake."

"Though it looks like I slept a bit too long."

Zhang Yu blinked, then thought again, “You can sense what I’m thinking?”

Fu Ji chuckled. "Relax, it’s not mind-reading."

"It’s just that now, I can engage in spiritual communication with my followers."

"It’s not only my voice that can enter your mind—your inner voice can now reach me too."

"From now on, you won’t need to text me on your phone in public anymore."

"After all, I’ve gained quite a lot this time. I’ve restored my rank from a Level 1 Lesser Evil God to a Level 2 Evil God."

"Hehe, the Eight Divine Ministries call Evil Gods of this level ‘Wandering Evil Shades.’"

Zhang Yu mentally asked, “Why did you sleep so long this time?”

Fu Ji replied, "Wasn’t it because I had to grab that coworker soul in a rush?"

"I had to put in a lot of effort to drag him here, then wrestle with him for ages before finally defeating him."

"After that, I needed to digest him and recover, which took forever."

"But I’ve finally restored my rank to Level 2. Hehe… now I don’t need to go dormant every time a Righteous God shows up. I should be fine most of the time."

Zhang Yu gave a slight nod and asked a crucial question: “Can you boost my potential again?”

Fu Ji didn’t respond with words, but Zhang Yu felt a wave of wicked power surge from the Black Pearl, down his arm, across his shoulder and neck, before finally shooting into his Sea of Consciousness.

In the next instant, he felt a sharp sting in his palm.

Opening it, he saw a translucent symbol forming there.

He thought, “Just like when the Feathered Tome first appeared, and again later when the Chain Diagram was unlocked… only this time, it’s even more complex.”

But unlike last time, when the Chain Diagram was filled in instantly upon level-up, this symbol was being slowly filled in—bit by bit—with black.

Zhang Yu estimated, “It’ll probably take three or four days to fully fill up.”

"That’ll likely be when a new page of the Feathered Tome unlocks."

After boosting his potential, Fu Ji asked, “What about Bai Zhenzhen? Should I boost her too? Also, why are you on a flying vessel? Where are you headed?”

So Zhang Yu filled her in on everything that had happened while she was asleep.

Hearing that Bai Zhenzhen had awakened a Divine Spirit Root and been recruited by Heavenly Sword University under the Seven Sentiments Lord, Fu Ji was startled.

She thought, “Huh? Heavenly Sword University? Don’t tell me Ah-Zhen’s being refined into a Divine Spirit Root Flying Sword?”

“Sigh, I told Zhang Yu ages ago to dig out that True Spirit Root and use it himself. Now someone else swooped in—it’s a total bust of an investment.”

“But maybe not a Flying Sword just yet. That root can evolve. If I were the investor, I’d wait until it reaches Celestial Spirit Root level before refining both root and person in one go.”

"And accepting a Divine Spirit Root disciple boosts reputation. Might even lure out more naturally gifted broke cultivators."

“Damn it. The more I think about it, the more of a loss it feels like.”

Fu Ji didn’t know much about the Seven Sentiments Lord, but she didn’t believe any Nascent Soul cultivators in Kunxu were saints. If you had to trust a Nascent Soul cultivator, you might as well swear loyalty to her, Fu Ji.

Still, even though she was silently cursing this huge loss, she didn’t dare voice those suspicions in front of Zhang Yu.

After all, she figured knowing wouldn’t help him—it would just mess with his cultivation.

"Good thing I only told him the part about Wang Yin destroying his Foundation Establishment and breaking the Spirit Root connection. I left out the 'boil the root and the person together' bit."

"And that Xinghuo Zhenren didn’t say anything either—he clearly knew better than to open his mouth."

All those thoughts flashed through her mind in a moment, then Fu Ji smiled and said, “That’s great news—really fantastic!”

“Ah-Zhen struck gold. She caught the eye of a Nascent Soul monster. Her cultivation will soar.”

“Zhang Yu, you better hustle and keep up.”

“Otherwise, you won’t even be in her circle anymore. When the holidays roll around, she won’t even reply to your messages.”

Zhang Yu curled his lip and thought, “Ah-Zhen’s not like that.”

“And we don’t need to exchange holiday greetings.”

“If there’s something to say, we just say it.”

He thought, “Back on the First Floor, Heavenly Sword University wouldn’t let anyone contact Ah-Zhen for safety reasons. But once we reach the Second Floor, I should be able to reach her.”

"She even said she’d come find me when the time came."

Just then, Xiong Wenwu’s roar came from ahead: “How long are you going to keep pinning me down?! This is discrimination against Demon-Kin!”

The staff member holding him down sneered, their muscles rippling into a pattern of leopard spots.

Then he said, “Discrimination? I’m Demon-Kin too—why would I discriminate against my own?”

“Let me be clear. I discriminate against all First Floor trash.”

He pointed at his eyes, then at the crowd, warning, “I’ll be watching you. Try anything shady, bring anything you shouldn’t—and I’ll catch you.”

The commotion drew quiet stares from Le Mulan, Qian Shen, Song Hailong, and the others nearby.

Some had gotten into the Ten Major Sects, others into the 36 Upper Academies, or the 72 Lower Academies. Some were just headed to vocational schools. But now, standing before the staff, they all shared one identity—First Floor folk.

Well, except for Soul Cultivation Students like Zhao Tianxing, who were riding in the cargo hold.

Nearby, Yu Xinghan clenched his fists, unwillingness flashing in his eyes.

Zhang Yu patted him on the shoulder and said, “Chill, Hanzi. Didn’t Old Man say it? The people up there look at us like beggars.”

“We just need to hold out. Work hard up there…”

“Until we can pass as locals of the Second Floor—until no one can tell we’re First Floor. That’s when the discrimination stops.”

Yu Xinghan replied, “I know all that.”

“I’m not mad. I’m just… worried.”

He touched his belly. “You think I should take the synthetic food I hid in my rectum out now?”

“You idiot.” Zhang Yu backed several meters away. “Don’t drag me down with you! Didn’t Master tell you there’s a limit on food?”

Yu Xinghan looked helpless. “I just wanted to bring more—to save up, so I could go a bit farther on the Immortal Path.”

“You didn’t hear what Master said? One cup of water up there costs more than days of living expenses down here.”

“And I hid it in my rectum! Even if they catch me, I’ll just say I like eating prepackaged food raw…”

He trailed off and shook his head. “Forget it. I’ll take it out now and eat it.”

Not long after Yu Xinghan left, Le Mulan came over and called Zhang Yu, “Wanna grab some food? I heard the food on this flying vessel follows Second Floor cuisine. Wanna try it together?”

Zhang Yu asked, “Is it expensive? Can I pay with First Floor currency?”

Le Mulan replied, “I checked—while it’s Second Floor style, they use First Floor ingredients and accept First Floor currency.”

Relieved, Zhang Yu followed her to the dining hall, but froze at the menu.

"Dual Capsule Combo… Triple-Strength Medicinal Soup… Needle-Tip Reverie…”

Even after sampling all kinds of Kunxu delicacies, Zhang Yu was stunned: “This is all medicine! Where’s the food!?”

Just then, Li Xuelian sat down beside them and said casually, “The food industry on Floors Two, Three, and Four has been mostly overtaken by the pharmaceutical sector. Most people eat medicine. Only the rich bother with actual vegetables. Even Oasis barely sells real food up here.”

“Most people eat to quickly replenish stamina, focus, mana, and nutrients—just enough to keep working and studying. The poor just wash it all down with concrete to suppress their overactive digestion.”

Le Mulan nodded. “Compared to medicine, regular food has no competitive edge. It was only a matter of time before it got phased out.”

Li Xuelian smiled and looked at her. “I heard you’re applying to Wanfa Sect University for pharmacology? Looks like you’ve done your homework on the Second Floor. Makes sense—your Le clan has seniors up here too.”

Fu Ji asked in surprise, “Li Xuelian’s going to the Second Floor with you?”

Zhang Yu replied in his mind, “I think she already works up there. She only came down to the First Floor to help Xinghuo Zhenren train disciples.”

Fu Ji thought, “Looks like Li Xuelian’s doing quite well. To move up and down like this? Or maybe Xinghuo Zhenren left her some lingering connections she’s still benefiting from.”

Li Xuelian asked Zhang Yu, “Where’s Yu Xinghan? Haven’t seen him.”

Zhang Yu sighed, “Bathroom.”

Just then, the flying vessel’s broadcast came on, announcing arrival at the Ascension Platform and the start of border checks and currency exchange services.

Zhang Yu and Le Mulan quickly finished eating and followed Li Xuelian to the designated checkpoint. They disembarked together and entered the Ascension Platform.

The platform was a vast palace floating in the clouds, and the moment they stepped inside, they had officially entered the Second Floor.

Next, after clearing the procedures, the group would take separate flying vessels to their respective cities on the Second Floor.