No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Wanfa University City, Level 450.

When Zhang Yu stepped out of the Magnetic Channel, what greeted him was a fifty-meter-tall floor—and on that floor, a scattered jungle of ten-story buildings, crooked low houses, chaotic alleyways, and collapsed ruins.

"Looks just like a battlefield."

The sight struck a chord of familiarity in Zhang Yu. A beat later, he realized why—it reminded him of the ruined factory zone he’d explored in the wild.

At that moment, an overlay appeared in his EyeNet.

"Figures. This place simulates the complex terrain of urban battlefields—for training purposes."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Security-oriented departments probably use this area the most."

"But for us in Civil Engineering to take an exam here... must be because of the university war, huh?"

Guided by the arrows in his EyeNet, Zhang Yu scanned the buildings and wreckage around him as he walked.

With his current engineering experience, he could tell at a glance: the construction quality of these simulated structures was abysmal.

"Bet the construction contractor made a killing off this exam venue."

Just then, a message flashed in his EyeNet.

Yu Xinghan: We’re prepping meds. You want some?

Zhang Yu: Sure. Got anything with some punch?

After three months of gourmet meals on wild construction sites, Zhang Yu found he could no longer stomach the bland, premixed supplements.

He had never realized how tasteless those plain nutrition capsules, stamina boosters, and mana-recovery meds could be.

Yu Xinghan: You want additives? Illusory Mushroom Powder? Neurotransmitters? Mood regulators? Whatever flavor you want—just costs more.

Looking at the Kunxu Pharmacy’s flavor options, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. But he had to admit—charging extra for better flavor actually made sense.

Zhang Yu: Never mind. Just give me the plain one.

By the time he finished ordering his post-exam meds, Zhang Yu had reached a crossroads indicated in his EyeNet.

That’s where he saw Gongshu Jin already standing.

Upon seeing Zhang Yu, Gongshu Jin gave a small nod but didn’t speak. Instead, he fully immersed himself in internal calibration, refining his state to its absolute peak.

“The top of the class for this first semester… will be me,” Gongshu Jin vowed silently.

Meanwhile, through the exam hall’s surveillance, Tu Lishan was also watching the match unfold.

Tu Lishan thought to himself, "Unlike the Qi Refinement stage, where raw physical strength dominates, Foundation Establishment begins to fuse body and mana. At this stage, body-refining is no longer meaningful without mana support."

"Rather than measuring raw muscle strength, the real focus is on how powerful a body can become when empowered by mana and refined through Techniques."

"As long as they’re not using mana to cheat-cast Dao Techniques on themselves, all body-enhancing and power-boosting Techniques are allowed."

"And Law Husks? They’re just part of the body now."

With that thought, Tu Lishan couldn’t help but worry—the gap between Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin might grow even wider in this round.

As both Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin arrived at the exam site, lines of text appeared in their EyeNets, outlining the rules for the test ahead.

As a teacher, Tu Lishan could also see the details.

"The Body-Refining Exam consists of two rounds: the Speed Trial and the Power Trial, assessing candidates’ physical capabilities across two dimensions."

"The first is the Speed Trial. Within this urban-simulation test field, examinees must navigate high-speed displacement across complex terrain while dodging high temperatures, explosions, and specialized mana attacks."

Tu Lishan nodded inwardly. "So it’s testing agility, reaction time, and overall dexterity under environmental stress."

Just then, a message from Director Gao appeared in his EyeNet: “Lishan, you’re watching Gongshu Jin’s exam too?”

Tu Lishan replied at once: Yes, Director. I’m curious if three months of training have made Gongshu Jin surpass Ji Yuanshu.

While Tu Lishan and Director Gao exchanged messages, the first round of the exam began.

…

As the countdown appeared…

Zhang Yu popped a few standard capsules.

Gongshu Jin, on the other hand, pulled out three injection tubes and jammed them into his neck. His organs pounded violently, blood thickening like syrup. His heart swelled to twice its size. His meridians trembled from surging mana.

He smiled.

“Perfect. I’ve reached peak state.”

If this were the naïve Zhang Yu of the past, he might’ve scoffed at the sight, calling it unnatural body-refining.

But now, Zhang Yu just stared at the discarded syringes and wondered if he could reuse one.

Fu Ji reminded him, “Did you forget the university’s exam rules? Borrowing someone else’s items during the test counts as stealing their immortal potential. That’s considered cheating.”

Zhang Yu cursed internally, “Damn Kunxu… Each layer is more messed up than the last.”

3!

2!

1!

With the countdown's end came a sharp whoosh—Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin vanished simultaneously.

The air ripped with explosive force.

Trailing streaks of wind, the two shot down the designated path in their EyeNets, zipping through alleys and streets with breakneck turns and bursts of acceleration.

Mana roared through their meridians. Blood Qi howled through their muscles. As both continued to unleash their inner strength, their speed intensified until their figures began to blur.

Within Gongshu Jin’s EyeNet, data about his physical state streamed by:

Temperature: 115°

Mana Activation: 30%

Muscular Power Output: 80%

Active Techniques: Whale Tendon Transformation Lv15, Blood-Burning Bodyfire Technique Lv14, Thousand-Mile Flying Sword Step Lv12

Current Heart Technique: Azure Dragon Sky-Leap Heart Sutra Lv15

He scanned the stats and smiled, feeling the drug’s full effect.

"115 degrees—perfect. That’s the balance point where the Blood-Burning Bodyfire Technique fuses mana and Blood Qi, maximizing output and heat regulation. Also the drug’s optimal activation temperature."

But when he glanced behind him, he saw Zhang Yu hot on his heels.

“He’s really giving it his all.”

“But this isn’t even my full power yet…”

With a thought, Gongshu Jin triggered his Law Husk spine. Each vertebrae rumbled like thunder.

This Vajra-Forged Spinal Ocular Husk could interface with nerves and meridians to aid Technique execution.

Though it could only store one Technique at a time, Gongshu Jin had specifically loaded it with a displacement-enhancing Technique for this Speed Trial—trading out his usual Level 20 refining Technique.

Thousand-Mile Flying Sword Step—boosted to Level 20!

His muscular and mana output surged again.

Then—

Boom!

Gongshu Jin exploded forward and vanished from view.

Anyone listening to the airbursts wouldn’t see him at the origin point—because by the time the shockwaves detonated, he was already ahead of the sound.

He had broken the sound barrier.

Now, like a living thunderbolt, Gongshu Jin flashed through the exam’s simulated cityscape, rapidly widening the gap between him and Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu, running the Sports Car Leg and War Demon Life-Draining Technique, watched grimly.

"Tch. All bought with cash. Not like my cultivation—earned with blood and sweat."

But even as he muttered, he knew: there was little hope of beating Gongshu Jin in this round.

Ever since entering the second level of Kunxu, he’d been training relentlessly—first for the University Saint Body, then the Earth-Wood Saint Body. He hadn’t had a single moment to learn a proper Foundation-stage speed Technique.

Speed Techniques were his blind spot.

If this were a Qi Refinement test, relying on pure muscle alone, it wouldn’t matter.

But in Foundation Establishment, where body and mana integrate, mana’s boost to the body—and its immortal properties—become essential. Speed Techniques matter.

And his other disadvantage? His reinforced skeleton. Heavy as hell.

That extra weight came at a cost—speed.

Thankfully, the exam’s terrain was complex, limiting the advantage of pure speed.

And the random traps—explosions, incoming Sword Aura and Blade Aura attacks, and specialized mana strikes—kept slowing Gongshu Jin down.

Zhang Yu, on the other hand, used his Three-Eyed Divine Sight and the Time-Wrecking Demon Pupil to weave between attacks. What he couldn’t dodge, he tanked through with brute strength.

Boom!

With a final blast, Gongshu Jin reached the finish line.

He exhaled deeply, a wave of heat rolling off his body.

Mana within him shifted to cold-type specialized mana, rapidly cooling him down.

Moments later, with a series of booms, Zhang Yu crossed the line too.

Gongshu Jin turned to look, a bit surprised.

He finally gave Zhang Yu a real look—and saw that though he was still white-haired, his cheeks were healthy, his eyes sharp, and he looked nothing like the worn-out wreck he’d been a week ago.

"This guy’s speed… isn’t bad."

Having made his assessment, Gongshu Jin headed to the final test.

“My Speed Trial went well. As long as I hold my own in the Power Trial, I’ll surpass Ji Yuanshu for sure…”

…

Watching the test play out, Gongshu Jin’s performance didn’t surprise Tu Lishan.

Especially with his spiritual currency advantage—Tu Lishan couldn’t help but sigh. The kid’s talent overflowed like an endless spring.

But Zhang Yu’s recovery caught his attention.

"His bodily functions are back in top form. Looks like he wasn’t bluffing—his physique really is special, with excellent regeneration."

"And the terrain here worked in his favor. It emphasized reaction, agility, insight, and variable speed—while downplaying pure displacement speed."

Tu Lishan couldn’t help but ask, “Director, is placing the Civil Engineering department’s exam here… a preparation for what’s to come? Is it really that bad?”

Director Gao replied coolly, “The scale of the university war keeps growing. Even among us Ten Majors… there will come a day when we’re drawn in. But some fools in the school still think the times will never change, that they can just coast and make money forever.”

“Enough talk. Let’s see what Gongshu Jin does in the Power Trial.”