No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Zhang Yu: "How much do you know about the University Wars?"

Zhang Pianpian: "Each university has its own areas of specialization. Even among the Ten Great Academies, their main fields differ—but overlaps are inevitable."

Zhang Pianpian: "And when competition between universities reaches a certain intensity, it escalates into armed conflict."

Zhang Pianpian: "But with the mediation of the Ten Great Academies, it rarely turns into full-scale war. Most of the time, it's just localized skirmishes."

Zhang Pianpian: "Take Wanfa Sect University, for example. As one of the Ten Great Academies, they’d never personally step onto the battlefield. Most conflicts are settled through negotiation or resolved during the Ten Academy League matches…"

Listening to Zhang Pianpian's explanation, Zhang Yu gradually formed his own understanding of the so-called University Wars.

When he shared his thoughts with Tu Lishan, the man replied, “Not bad. Looks like you've been paying attention.”

Tu Lishan: "Our Wanfa Sect University may not engage directly in combat, but when allied schools face attacks, we do send support."

Tu Lishan: "This latest field project, for instance, is about building a Law Husk production line for a sister university. It's led by the Artifact Refinement Department and jointly handled by our Civil Engineering and Architecture Departments. It’ll take two or three months."

Tu Lishan: "With University Wars becoming more frequent in recent years, there’ll be more of these projects in the future. This is the golden age for our Civil Engineering Department to shine. Stick it out a few more years, and staying on won’t be a problem for you."

Looking at the messages, Fu Ji chuckled. “So basically, they’re outsourcing the brawls to other universities, while selling off artifacts, production lines, and supplies on the side.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. “Looks like the Civil Engineering Department really is raking it in.”

Then another thought struck Zhang Yu. “Wait, teacher—what about classes?”

Tu Lishan: "Don’t worry, the site will have Spiritual Realm Network access. You’ll be taking online classes."

…

Elsewhere, Tu Lishan finished his chat with Zhang Yu and opened up the student files of Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin on his ocular Law Husk.

Zhang Yu was a highly disposable asset—a conclusion Tu Lishan had reached back during the Foundation Establishment Exam on the First Floor.

"In the department’s current plan," Tu Lishan thought, "we’re investing in short-term exploitation of students like Zhang Yu. The goal is to extract as much potential as possible within a few years."

"Given how things are trending, the University Wars might expand. That’s when we’ll need low-realm, high-risk operatives—people who are bold, aggressive, and ready to get their hands dirty."

In Tu Lishan’s eyes, the more of those kinds of people, the better.

"By contrast, Gongshu Jin is a long-term investment with much higher developmental value."

Tu Lishan knew that Director Gao had already decided to groom Gongshu Jin as a future cornerstone of the department.

“Most likely, Gongshu Jin will inherit the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might. After all, Ji Yuanshu is transferring to the Finance Department.”

“And with how things are going, it’s vital we begin training students capable of wielding military-grade force.”

“Once the current upperclassmen graduate, Gongshu Jin will be the poster student of the Civil Engineering Department and a strong contender for the Ten Academy League.”

Having skimmed past Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin's files, Tu Lishan continued reviewing the roster of students from various grades assigned to the project.

Rows upon rows of names scrolled by. Compared to the mere two freshmen, upperclassmen had been selected in much greater numbers.

…

At the construction site on the 666th Floor—

Just before dawn, Zhang Yu finished another late shift and returned to the dorms on the 125th Floor.

The moment he stepped inside, a gust of murderous wind rushed at him. A fist laced with qi roared toward his face.

Zhang Yu smiled faintly, caught the punch effortlessly, and began sparring with the assailant—none other than Yu Xinghan—right there in the street.

Despite his packed schedule over the past few months, Zhang Yu still made time to train with Yu Xinghan. Together, they worked on body-refining techniques and, following the teachings of the Bro Code Technique, enhanced their Spirit Root fusion through coordinated practice.

Thanks to Zhang Yu’s help, Yu Xinghan’s fusion rate had risen steadily.

Especially in recent days—Zhang Yu had consumed numerous pills and prototypes, some of which had the side effect of improving Spirit Root fusion.

As a result, Yu Xinghan, after ingesting Zhang Yu’s blood, had sensed a breakthrough approaching.

Yesterday, after returning from a massage session, Yu Xinghan had felt his Spirit Root stir like never before. It was time.

Yes—those post-work massages weren’t just for muscle relief. Yu Xinghan had discovered that the technicians could also offer Spirit Root stimulation services.

After one such session last night, he spent a long time meditating cross-legged in his dorm, quietly preparing for the breakthrough.

When Zhang Yu walked in, Yu Xinghan leapt up, his body thrumming with resonance, as if some invisible current was rushing through every meridian.

As their fists and palms clashed, every strike ignited waves of qi that made Yu Xinghan’s sense of breakthrough more vivid.

Then came a long howl—and he felt a twist at the center of his brow.

His Third Eye had finally moved to his forehead.

This Third Eye was his innate Spirit Root, the very one he had used for Foundation Establishment.

A faint scar now appeared on his brow, resembling a closed eye from a distance.

At this moment, with Zhang Yu’s assistance, Yu Xinghan’s Spirit Root fusion rate had reached 90%.

Thanks to the Third Eye, Yu Xinghan had always possessed 360-degree vision, as well as an uncanny ability to recruit his entire muscular system and copy others’ movements instantly.

Now, with the fusion rate at 90%, he sensed even greater possibilities from his Spirit Root.

He grinned confidently at Zhang Yu. “Let’s keep going. But be careful—I might be scary strong now.”

The next moment, they clashed again.

With every punch and palm Zhang Yu unleashed, Yu Xinghan perfectly mirrored them—blow for blow, like facing a reflection in a mirror.

Yu Xinghan realized he could now flawlessly replicate every move Zhang Yu made.

Further attempts revealed he could also see the strength of Zhang Yu’s mana and qi aura, and even identify which of his attacks were real and which were feints.

He could also see the surrounding spiritual flow clearly—sense each cultivator on the street drawing in qi, and trace the circuits of spiritual energy pulsing through nearby buildings.

Yu Xinghan laughed inwardly. “With this ability to copy techniques and see through deception, I’m unbeatable at my level.”

"But... what’s the point of just fighting?”

A second later, another thought surfaced: “This power is meant for learning and cultivating.”

Once he understood the changes to his Spirit Root, Yu Xinghan stopped and called Zhang Yu to head to class.

From Zhang Yu’s perspective, he could see Yu Xinghan’s Dao Seed had evolved—from Three-Eyed Divine Sight (Spirit Root) to Three-Eyed Divine Sight (Spirit Root) Level 1.

On the way to class, Zhang Yu glanced at his Feathered Tome. After flipping past the prologue and first chapter to Chapter Two—the Dao Seed Codex—he saw that the once-empty page now listed:

Three-Eyed Divine Sight (Spirit Root) Level 1

As he activated the Dao Seed, he immediately felt a phantom eye bloom behind his brow.

With the Three-Eyed Divine Sight active, Zhang Yu now had full panoramic vision, able to see in all directions.

“No wonder that punk Yu Xinghan was so good at dodging,” Zhang Yu thought. “He could literally see behind himself.”

As he shifted his gaze to the surrounding students, each of their movements became unnervingly clear—so clear he knew he could mimic any move with a mere thought.

Remembering Yu Xinghan’s mimicry earlier, Zhang Yu murmured to himself: “So that’s how it works. Copying others’ techniques?”

“And if I combine that with the Feathered Tome’s technique specialization… I just need to see a move once to learn it?”

“Too bad I can’t see the mana flow inside their bodies.”

“But I can sense how strong their mana is, and spot the difference between real and feigned attacks.”

“Also, I can track the spiritual energy flow around me.”

Enjoying his new abilities, Zhang Yu smiled. “Not bad at all. And now it’s mine.”

“But since it’s only Level 1… that means it can evolve, right?”

He turned to Yu Xinghan beside him, trying to sense the Dao Seed on his body.

Yu Xinghan noticed Zhang Yu’s intense stare and frowned slightly. “Is this guy filming me with a Law Husk?”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu was thinking, “I can feel it. To reach Level 2, Yu Xinghan’s Spirit Root fusion must hit 100%, and his mana must exceed 500.”

He was already looking forward to what abilities Three-Eyed Divine Sight Level 2 would unlock.

Besides that, his thoughts drifted to Le Mulan, who was currently preparing for her Foundation Establishment Exam.

“Hope Le Mulan passes. Can’t wait to see what that Deepfrost Vein can do.”

…

After school that day, Zhang Yu followed Tu Lishan to the Finance Department’s teaching floors.

The first thing he noticed was the sheer scale.

The Finance Department's teaching complex stood a jaw-dropping 100 meters tall, with each floor boasting at least eight meters of clearance.

For Zhang Yu, who’d gotten used to compressing his body into tight spaces across Wanfa Sect University City, the open space was almost disorienting.

The second thing that struck him… was the silence. The entire building was ad-free—completely devoid of any Spiritual Realm projections or clutter.

Then, as he felt the soft energy rising from the floor beneath his feet, his eyes widened. “Wait a sec… are these floors made of spirit stones?”

Though spirit stones had long been phased out as currency, seeing them used as tiles still felt like watching someone lay out stacks of cash as a carpet.

Zhang Yu fought the urge to crouch down and start pocketing them.

Tu Lishan said beside him, “The Finance Department instructor you’ll meet today is Xu Lingzi. He saw your Foundation Establishment Exam and volunteered to arrange your low-interest loan…”

As he spoke, the two of them stepped into a quiet office.