No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Half a month flew by in the blink of an eye, and before Zhang Yu noticed, it was already December.

And in these past two weeks, he’d burned through a fair pile of spirit coins.

Right now, he sat cross-legged in his dorm room, holding a milky-white orb in his hand. A gentle, tranquil current of mana flowed within it.

This was a Vajra Forge Relic, rented for the purpose of storing and withdrawing mana.

According to the marketing blurb, each relic was refined from the cremated remains of a Grandmaster from Vajra University, supposedly yielding only one or two per cremation—every piece a singular, spiritual artifact born from the flames.

But when Zhang Yu asked Zhang Pianpian about it, she flat-out told him these relics were mass-produced in a factory. A single materials technician at Vajra University could churn out hundreds of them a year.

Still, despite not living up to the marketing hype, they served Zhang Yu’s purpose just fine.

Each Vajra Forge Relic could hold 10,000 units of mana.

The one in his hand had been fully charged with 10,000 units of high-purity mana when rented—quality level clocking in at a solid 200%.

Although a portion of that mana would naturally dissipate over time, it was still more than enough to supply a month’s worth of daily absorption for improving his own mana quality.

He had dropped 4.5 spirit coins to rent three of these relics. The goal was to ensure that even while stationed at the remote construction site, he could maintain a steady intake of high-grade mana and keep enhancing his cultivation.

Of course, once he returned, he’d need to return the depleted relics on time—or face higher rental fees.

Worried about forgetting, Zhang Yu told Fu Ji in his heart, “Fu Ji, remind me to return these Vajra Forge Relics when I get back.”

Just to be safe, Zhang Yu also set multiple alarms in his EyeNet interface.

This was a money-saving trick he’d picked up from Yu Xinghan—setting alarms at different times for important returns, last-day service cancellations, or discounted auto-renewals. Miss even one window, and it could cost you spirit coins for nothing.

Once he confirmed the mana levels and quality of all three relics were in order, Zhang Yu picked up another recently arrived package: a jade box.

Opening the box revealed a jade-green parasite-like creature curled inside a crystal.

This was a Bioluminescent Parasite—rented for 2.55 spirit coins for a three-month term.

Though it looked like an insect, it was in fact an artifact.

According to Yun Jing, it was a bionic artifact modeled after the parasitic beasts studied at Demon-Beast University.

The original concept behind them had been to aid in the evolution of spirit roots—transforming, for instance, an Earth-Grade Spirit Root into a Heavenly Spirit Root, or even a Divine Spirit Root.

But that research hadn’t borne fruit yet. It was rumored it would take another hundred years and untold amounts of spirit coin investment before any breakthroughs could be made.

Still, even in its current form, the Bioluminescent Parasite could raise the fusion degree of a spirit root.

Zhang Yu swallowed it in one go. The crystal housing the parasite melted instantly, and the Bioluminescent Parasite burrowed into his dantian without resistance, heading straight for his Qi Sea Spirit Root.

Once it latched on, his spirit root began to siphon traces of spiritual energy into the parasite, which in turn returned small amounts of vitality—forming a symbiotic cycle.

Zhang Yu had pushed the fusion level of his Qi Sea Spirit Root to 90%, after which it had started going dormant. Normal methods barely moved the needle anymore.

He knew that was because the remaining unfused sections were in scattered and minor parts of the body, which naturally made the fusion process much slower.

But now, with the parasite’s help, he soon felt itching sensations across various parts of his body, as though something were sprouting inside his flesh.

That was the Qi Sea Spirit Root showing signs of fresh growth again—fusing deeper into the finer tissues.

“At this rate, in two to three months, my spirit root fusion will hit 100%. The Qi Sea Spirit Root will fully integrate with my body, no longer distinguishable from it.”

“My mana flow and energy concentration efficiency should also rise by another 10% or so…”

Even without access to Dao Techniques services at the remote site, his spirit root fusion should still progress.

Zhang Yu calculated inwardly, “With this setup, heading to the site won’t set me back in either mana quality or spirit root fusion.”

“As for physical strength, the Nine Hells Mountain-Suppressing Belt is more than enough.”

“And my Dao Heart…”

He glanced toward his Spiritual Realm Mask. So long as the construction site had access to the Spiritual Realm Network, he could use it to continue tempering his Dao Heart.

In addition, he packed several boxes of essential medicine and three cases of spirit stones to aid in his breathing practice—total cost: nearly 1.6 spirit coins.

Beyond those construction-related preparations, Zhang Yu had also spent generously over the past two weeks on various Dao Technique and Spiritual Realm services, significantly boosting his overall capabilities.

At present, his stats were:

Dao Heart: Level 12 (90.6%)

Mana: 425.5

Mana Quality: 136%

Body Strength: Level 12.63

He’d also purchased and practiced new techniques for his Earth-Wood Saint Body, raising his mastery to seven techniques—just one more to unlock the next synergy bonus.

Feeling the steady, measurable improvement in his abilities, Zhang Yu sighed, “Spirit coins really are magic. With my unparalleled talent, if I keep up this pace, I might reach peak Foundation Establishment in just a year or two.”

But when he glanced at the remaining balance of 10.3 spirit coins in his account, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Spirit coins also vanish way too fast…”

…

The day before departure, the flying sword sent by Bai Zhenzhen finally arrived.

…

Early December.

After requesting leave, enrolling in online classes, packing up, and bidding farewell to Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, and Zhang Pianpian—

Zhang Yu boarded the flying vessel alongside students and teachers from the Civil Engineering Department, beginning a three-month assignment at a remote construction site.

Upon boarding, the students were split into two groups and directed to separate conference rooms on the vessel.

Tu Lishan entered the room Zhang Yu was assigned to. Looking at the group of clearly broke students seated before him, he figured that Director Gao was probably hosting the meeting with Gongshu Jin and the others in the other room.

“When will I ever get to manage a class full of rich kids? Always stuck with these broke losers…”

Shaking off the thought, Tu Lishan smiled and addressed the group.

“Everyone here was handpicked by Director Gao as elite talents from across all year levels. I’m looking forward to seeing what you accomplish over the next three months.”

“I’ll be setting up a group chat. All notices will go out through there.”

“And you’ve been sent a document—please confirm receipt. It contains your individual project assignments and your three-month cultivation and training plans…”

As Zhang Yu scanned through the training plan, his brow lifted slightly.

Tu Lishan continued, “Every department knows the saying: Civil Engineering is hard work, Civil Engineering is grueling—but no one ever says Civil Engineering is poor.”

“As long as you’re willing to grind and suffer, our department will always offer you a path to earn spirit coins.”

Then his tone sharpened.

“This time, let’s not sugarcoat it. The project has authorized death slots.”

Tu Lishan scanned the room with his EyeNet interface, watching each student's debts and savings flash across his vision.

To him, those numbers weren’t just liabilities—they were proof of immense untapped Immortal Dao potential.

A senior student called out, “Teacher Tu, you can skip the scare tactics.”

“Setting aside the suicide rate, possession rate, homicide rate, and bankruptcy rate, our Civil Engineering Department still leads the pack in sudden-death stats. You think anyone doing this job is afraid of dying?”

“What the—” Zhang Yu blinked. “Are we building something, or heading into a warzone?”

He turned to look at the speaker—a white-haired, deeply wrinkled man who looked well over a hundred.

Except… his entire body aside from his face was already made of Law Husk components, so it was hard to tell if he was actually old or just looked that way.

Tu Lishan chuckled. “Well said, Che Yufei. If you’re scared of death, why take Civil Engineering? Why pursue the Immortal Path?”

“With enough money, you can die and come back, grow old and regain youth, even cheat death itself.”

“Spirit coins are everything! And all of you know your own situations. If you want spirit coins, you have to fight.”

“The department is giving you that chance.”

“To stay competitive in the changing times and future markets, the next three months will be your most efficient, most intense, most Immortal-Dao-focused, and most exploitative crash course in earning power and cultivation.”

As he spoke, the first meal onboard was served.

Zhang Yu eyed the white pills on the tray. Through the translucent shells, he could faintly see something squirming inside.

Tu Lishan said, “Over the next three months, your six daily meals will be fully covered by the department.”

“For this first meal, we’re starting with the Muscle-Altering Three-Insects Pill.”

“Once consumed, it accelerates the depletion of your mana and blood energy. But if you can endure it, it’s like training with weights—constantly forcing you to push your limits and strengthen your physique…”

Before he could finish, students around Zhang Yu had already popped the pills.

Zhang Yu followed suit and swallowed one.

The moment it hit his stomach, a sharp cramp seized him—like something gnawing away at his organs from the inside out.

He could feel his stamina and mana begin to drain at a slow but steady rate.

To counter the effects, he’d have to breathe deeper, draw harder on his reserves, dig deeper into his potential.

“And…” Zhang Yu grimaced, feeling the churn inside. “Won’t this make people sick eventually?”

Sure enough, Tu Lishan added, “Long-term use of the Muscle-Altering Three-Insects Pill can impact your endocrine system, cardiovascular health, and spirit root performance. Arrhythmia and root overload are common. Be sure to stop if symptoms occur.”

Zhang Yu did his best to activate his enhanced physique, continuously repairing the internal micro-damage caused by the pill. For now, he could still bear the toll.