No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

When it came to swaying hearts and borrowing fortune, Ji Yuanshu’s mind naturally drifted to the classic techniques used by Finance Department students—boasting, peer pressure, media hype, and more.

He opened the class group chat and sent a message.

Ji Yuanshu: @Zhang Yu @Gongshu Jin, apologies to you both. I was overwhelmed during the first semester and couldn’t dedicate myself fully to Civil Engineering. That first-place rank doesn’t feel entirely deserved.

Ji Yuanshu: But this new semester, I’ll be acing every core subject. I hope you’ll both give it your all, too—let’s make sure that top rank is earned through real merit.

Ji Yuanshu believed that anyone who read his message would only be more convinced he was destined to surpass Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin to claim the undisputed top spot in class.

And when the will of the people converges, that’s fortune.

After sending the message, Ji Yuanshu formed a hand seal in silence, as if sensing something unseen.

A moment later, he felt strands of fortune begin trickling toward him from every direction in Wanfa University City, flowing into his Sea of Consciousness.

These were the quiet certainties of classmates who believed he would defeat Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin.

At that moment, he was the people's champion, the rightful number one in everyone's eyes.

Meanwhile, a copper coin artifact in Ji Yuanshu’s Sea of Consciousness gave a soft hum, suppressing the gathered fortune neatly within.

With this fortune bolstering him, Ji Yuanshu found his mana circulating more smoothly, his Dao Heart growing ever more pristine, and even his body’s blood and qi becoming increasingly vigorous.

His cultivation would now progress faster. His thought process and memory would sharpen. And the stronger he grew, the more his classmates’ faith in him would increase, further amplifying the fortune gathered around him.

“The Way of Fortune,” Ji Yuanshu thought, “is about aligning with the greater trend—using cultivation to bolster momentum, and in turn, letting that momentum feed back into one’s cultivation. A reinforcing cycle that grows stronger with each loop.”

This was the true power of the Finance Department. Everything they did was in service of gathering fortune, seizing momentum. Not only would their cultivation rise with it, but their wealth and resources would grow exponentially with each success.

“Unless Zhang Yu and Gongshu Jin somehow beat me, I won’t suffer any backlash from the fortune I’m manipulating…”

That thought flickered briefly through Ji Yuanshu’s mind before he dismissed it.

Even without fortune, just relying on his talent and resources, he was confident in surpassing the other two. With fortune behind him? It was a done deal.

His goal was to outscore second place by a hundred points.

…

Zhang Yu stared at the class group chat and blinked.

“This guy… is flexing?”

“He’s stepping on me?”

While Zhang Yu was still stunned, Gongshu Jin had already replied in the chat: “Looking forward to it.”

Fu Ji chimed in, “He’s not just provoking you. This is a Fortune Technique from the Finance Department.”

Zhang Yu had no idea what a Fortune Technique was and asked, “What’s that mean?”

Fu Ji explained, “Fortune Techniques are about mastering fortune—using it to empower your cultivation and reach specific goals.”

“Fortune is complicated. It’s influenced by all kinds of factors.”

“But the will of the people? That’s a big one.”

“Think of it like the stock market. A company might have solid earnings, but if everyone believes its stock will drop, then it will drop. That’s where people’s collective sentiment directs fortune.”

“Finance students manipulate that sentiment. Once they control it, they can channel fortune into themselves.”

“With that boost, their cultivation improves, their Dao Heart stabilizes, and they can even unleash incredibly powerful Fortune Techniques.”

Fu Ji then urged, “Hurry up and reply.”

“If you don’t say anything, people will assume you’re scared. The more they doubt you, the more Ji Yuanshu benefits.”

“Fortune, huh?” Zhang Yu frowned. To him, going up against someone with a Fortune Technique felt like facing a boss in a game who had an entire separate damage multiplier.

“So what you’re saying,” Zhang Yu asked, “is that he levels up just by acting cool?”

“Flexing’s just the tactic,” Fu Ji said. “The real advantage is that Ji Yuanshu simply has way more resources than you. Even learning and practicing Fortune Techniques costs a ton of spirit coins.”

“The Finance Department is like that. If you’ve got enough money, even a single sentence can gather fortune. Start throwing cash around? It gets ridiculous. You’ve never seen their internal battles—it’s a literal money war.”

After thinking it over, Zhang Yu finally replied in the group: “Looking forward to competing with you.”

He didn’t bother checking the follow-up messages. He knew that no matter what he said, it wouldn’t make much difference. At best, it was better than saying nothing.

No one in class believed he could overtake Ji Yuanshu.

After all, this was Kunxu—real geniuses were the ones with money.

But Zhang Yu wasn’t discouraged. In fact, under Ji Yuanshu’s pressure, his Sacrificial Oxheart Technique began to churn even more fiercely.

In his mind, the white ox stamped its hooves and roared, and Zhang Yu’s eyes blazed with determination.

“You’ve got fortune. I’ve got the Feathered Tome. Just watch—I’m going to crush you this semester.”

From that day forward, Zhang Yu threw himself deeper into study and cultivation. With his new dorm, the anti-gravity transit system, and a better source for medicine, his progress became noticeably smoother.

…

Inside the dorms on the 318th floor of Wanfa University City—

“Fifth-Refinement Vitality Booster, enhances qi, repairs internal injuries…”

“Yellow Sprout Injection, stabilizes cultivation, nourishes flesh and blood…”

“Creation Vitality Serum, high-energy nutrient solution packed with heat and calories…”

Zhang Yu read the labels while injecting each booster directly into his veins, flooding his body with nutrients in the fastest, most brutal way possible.

Thanks to his new supplier, not only could he get discounted meds for himself, but he could also pick up extras for Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, and Zhang Pianpian.

Helping his three roommates with small orders was fine, but Zhang Yu didn’t dare offer large-scale proxy buying services. If he got caught, the punishment would be severe.

Still, the constant barrage of injections left Zhang Yu feeling like his blood had turned to syrup, and his muscles had been force-fed into sudden growth. The weight loss from his previous hardships was visibly reversing.

His whole body was ravenous, greedily absorbing every drop of medicinal power. And yet—even with that—Zhang Yu still felt it was too slow.

Le Mulan, watching from the side, offered an explanation: “Your body’s been depleted over years. Even with daily high-dosage treatments, it’s not something you can fix in a few days.”

Zhang Yu rubbed his empty stomach and asked, “Would it help if I could eat food along with the meds?”

He understood that recovering his body’s foundation was step one. Only then could he survive on a new construction site, freeloading meals and pushing his cultivation further.

If he went in like this, he’d burn out fast no matter how hard he worked.

Le Mulan sighed, “Meds, supplements, neurotransmitters—those are easy. Any supermarket carries them.”

“But food? Real food is either insanely expensive or straight-up illegal. Best not to think about it.”

“Unless you want to try a medicinal bath?”

Zhang Yu made a mental note and placed another bulk order for boosters. Instantly, another 0.5 spirit coins vanished from his balance.

After tallying up internet fees, belt rental, Spirit Realm services, and spirit stone purchases… the numbers didn’t lie: his balance was now just 18.03.

…

A massive tank.

Zhang Yu lay submerged in dark purple medicinal liquid.

Every inch of his skin was absorbing the essence within like parched earth soaking up rain.

This was the Hundred-Herb Restoration Bath, a special formula brewed from concentrated herb extracts tailored for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

For a Qi Refinement-stage cultivator, this bath was lethal—pure poison that would rupture their body instantly.

But for Zhang Yu, it was perfect.

Every part of his flesh absorbed the medicine greedily. As he drew in the power, the surrounding liquid slowly faded from deep purple to light, then to clear.

Le Mulan stood nearby and said to the woman next to her, “Senior, can’t we get a better price? He’s going to be a regular.”

The other woman pouted. “Civil Engineering already negotiated an 80% discount. Any lower and I’ll be losing money.”

“Especially this guy—his body’s so depleted, he soaks up every drop of the bath. I can’t recover any of it.”

The bath was effective, no doubt, but not cheap. A single session cost 0.37 spirit coins.

To get the best results, Zhang Yu would have to soak daily—a massive expense.

Still, to restore his body and stay on track with his rapid-cultivation plan, he clenched his teeth and committed to both the meds and the baths.

Balance: 10.26

…

In Body Refinement class—

Lang Yougong squeezed Zhang Yu’s muscles and nodded approvingly. “Good, good. Your physical strength is improving rapidly.”

“At this rate, you’ll hit level 15 in about a month.”

“At Foundation Establishment, reaching level 15 means your body and mana begin to fully integrate. That’s when Martial Qi can properly transmit your physical force.”

“When you get there, transmission efficiency will matter. Don’t slack off.”

Watching Zhang Yu get so much personal instruction, Yu Xinghan and Li Xiao couldn’t help but show a little envy.

Zhang Yu turned to Lang Yougong and said, “Teacher, could you help them out too?”

Lang Yougong looked over at the two boys—who shared a single pair of working EyeNet implants between them—and chuckled, “You two have been making good progress as well.”

“Li Xiao, you’re not wearing your body out as much.”

“Yu Xinghan, your technique’s getting sharper.”

“Good job, both of you.”

“Come on. Let me guide you through some drills today.”

…

Just like that, another month flew by.

It was now early April.

And then, one day, Zhang Yu’s EyeNet suddenly received an invitation.