No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

”This Limitless Cloud Hands only has six moves, and I picked them up so fast. At this rate, I could get it to level 10 by tonight!”

But after another five rounds of practice, Zhang Yu felt his mana thinning out—so much so that he could barely keep cultivating the Limitless Cloud Hands.

He realized his earlier thought was overly optimistic.

”Looks like there’s no way I’m hitting level 10 in one night.”

Unlike entry-level techniques like Scattered Hand, Limitless Cloud Hands burned through mana at a much higher rate.

Even with the passive breathing of the Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Technique constantly replenishing his mana, he couldn’t just train for hours straight like he could with Scattered Hand.

So Zhang Yu sat down cross-legged and let the passive breathing keep restoring his mana while switching over to practice the Soul-Stabilizing Oxheart Technique to enhance his Dao Heart.

Through this cycle of stop-and-go training, he made it through the night.

By morning, Zhang Yu had leveled his Limitless Cloud Hands up to level 6 (7/60).

Formless Cloud Qi now extended not just from his hands but all the way through his arms and shoulders, swirling and roiling like storm clouds over a mountain range.That previous phenomenon—where clouds shot skyward like smoke signals—had also vanished.

Now, only faint wisps of vapor drifted upward about a dozen centimeters before dissipating into the air.

This was thanks to Zhang Yu’s growing control, which greatly reduced the energy wasted while activating Formless Cloud Qi.

…

The next day, at Songyang High.

Inside the Student Council office.

Zhou Chechen glanced at the message on his phone and smiled. ”He actually placed fourth in the Mana Tournament? That’s a bit surprising.”

Lan Ling, lifting a dumbbell with one hand, replied, ”Rumor has it the competition coach from White Dragon High tried to poach him.”

Zhou Chechen laughed. ”Well, of course they’d want to poach him. Losing even one spot in the tournament rankings means their students’ resumes lose a major highlight.”

He continued, ”If we sign Zhang Yu and train him specifically for the tournaments, maybe we can snatch a few more trophies. Let the Three Great Academies miss out on a few prizes.”

To the wealthy families in Songyang City, there were only so many spots at the Ten Great Academies. Every trophy missing from someone else’s résumé increased their own child’s odds.

Lan Ling muttered, ”Maybe he stands a chance in the first year, but I doubt he can beat them in the second year and beyond.”

Zhou Chechen chuckled. ”Even so, it’s still worth it.”

”Then it’s settled.”

”No way we’re letting White Dragon High get to him first.”

”Once this month’s unified exam ends...”

He clenched his hand slightly, as if gripping his ambitions tightly.

”Zhang Yu must sign.”

Lan Ling understood exactly what that meant: once the monthly exams were over, Zhang Yu would have no choice.

…

Outside the school gates, Zhao Tianxing spoke into his phone. ”Yeah, I know, Mom, I get it...”

A woman’s voice came through the line: ”Spend more time with that Zhang Yu. Look how quickly he’s improved!”

”Got it, got it.” He hastily ended the call.

As he stepped onto campus, his eyes were drawn to a line scrolling across the electronic board: Warm congratulations to Class 1, Grade 10 student Zhang Yu for winning 4th place in the citywide Mana Tournament.

”It’s real...”

Although the news had already circulated in various school chat groups the night before, seeing it with his own eyes confirmed it for Zhao Tianxing.

He couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled. Just yesterday, Zhang Yu was eating at the same table as him. And now, he’d surpassed the elite students of the Three Great Academies and top high schools to place fourth in the tournament?

Next came the guilt.

Zhao Tianxing, seriously? Your classmate achieved something amazing, and you’re jealous? That’s just ugly! Where’s your moral score?

He sighed. ”I can’t compare myself to Zhang Yu. He’s a Gold Core disciple now—we’re not even the same species.”

”Placing fourth must’ve taken a lot of help from Xinghuo Zhenren.”

”And Mom still wants me to hang out with him...”

Zhao Tianxing smiled bitterly to himself. ”With a gap this big, what would we even talk about?”

The rumors about Zhang Yu being a Gold Core disciple only grew stronger after his tournament performance.

And being someone who constantly overanalyzed others’ opinions, Zhao Tianxing felt his self-esteem dip again. With that dazzling halo around Zhang Yu now, did he even see someone like him anymore? Was he just another nobody to Zhang Yu now?

If he went out of his way to approach him now, would people think he was sucking up? Clout-chasing the Gold Core aura?

Zhao Tianxing couldn’t be blamed for thinking too much. Growing up in the city, he’d seen it too often—how friendships changed once grades started to diverge.

Stuff like, ”You’ve changed since your scores went up,” or ”Your grades are so low, I feel embarrassed to be seen with you,” or ”If I help you get 10 points, don’t ask me again.”

”If Zhang Yu doesn’t ask me to eat lunch today, I’ll just leave it. Better to avoid getting rejected.”

As the bell rang for the final class before lunch, Zhao Tianxing found himself sneaking glances in Zhang Yu’s direction.

Zhang Yu was chatting with Bai Zhenzhen. Zhao felt a twinge of envy. If only he had grades like hers, he’d be able to talk and laugh with Zhang Yu too.

Then he saw Zhang Yu talking with Zhou Tianyi. More envy. Zhou’s grades were even worse than his, and he could still banter casually with Zhang Yu. Why didn’t he have that kind of chill mindset?

Just then, Zhang Yu and the other two stood up and started walking his way.

Zhao Tianxing immediately lowered his head, pretending to rearrange his desk, shuffling books around like he couldn’t find the right order—completely ignoring the trio’s approach.

But inwardly, he was focused entirely on them, thinking just one thing: Would Zhang Yu invite him?

”Hey, Old Zhao! Lunch?”

Zhao Tianxing jumped up with a smile. ”Sure, let’s go.”

On the way to the cafeteria…

Zhou Tianyi grinned. ”Zhang Yu, don’t you feel like the school’s vibe is kinda different today?”

”Really?” Zhang Yu thought about it. ”The teachers are just as gentle. The students are just as friendly. The air still smells like pure study. Everything’s great.”

Zhou Tianyi laughed. ”You placed fourth in the tournament. Now most people think you’re a Gold Core disciple. Didn’t you notice they all treat you with more respect now?”

Zhang Yu thought back. Come to think of it… some classmates did seem just a bit more distant, like there was a faint wall between them.

Bai Zhenzhen chimed in coolly. ”I heard girls talking in the bathroom. They said you must’ve been promoted by a Gold Core cultivator. That you got in because of connections and luck.”

Zhou Tianyi added, ”I heard the guys in the bathroom too. Said you must’ve cracked some sugar mama code. Most people don’t even know where that art exhibit for choosing Gold Core disciples took place, let alone get invited and picked...”

Zhang Yu sighed. ”So I bring honor to the school, and all I get in return is alienation and jealousy.”

Zhou Tianyi said with a wry smile, ”Zhang Yu, the higher your score, the more envy you’ll attract.”

”They’ll never see your hard work or talent. They’ll just assume you had better resources, and chalk all your success up to luck.”

Looking at Zhou’s sincere expression, Zhang Yu raised a brow. ”Not bad for someone ranked 25th in the grade... you sure know a lot.”

Zhou Tianyi stumbled. ”Hey—our grade has over five hundred students! I’m still ahead of a ton of them!”

Zhao Tianxing, watching Zhang Yu laugh and joke with the others, slowly relaxed. ”Guess even after winning fourth place, he’s still down to earth.”

But a moment later, his impression shifted—Zhang Yu had changed a little after all.

At the lunch counter, Zhang Yu looked at the lunch lady and said, ”Auntie, I got fourth place in the citywide Mana Tournament. Can I get a bit more meat?”

The lunch lady beamed. ”Of course! The biggest pork rib goes to our city’s fourth-place champ!”

At Songyang High, where academic pressure reigned supreme, even the lunch ladies judged you by your scores.

…

That night.

Songyang City suburbs.

With a sharp rush of wind, a shadow streaked through the night sky, closing in fast on Zhang Yu’s rented apartment.

Thud!

It paused briefly in front of the building’s entrance. As the door swung open, the shadow darted in like a wisp of smoke, shooting up the stairwell and appearing like a ghost before Zhang Yu’s door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Zhang Yu quickly got up to answer.

Standing at the door was a middle-aged man, exuding a calm yet powerful presence.

”Zhang Yu?”

Zhang Yu nodded. ”Song Express? Barely twenty minutes. That’s fast.”

The man smiled and pulled the delivery from a large backpack. ”Mr. Zhang, here’s your order. Please confirm receipt.”

Moments later, Zhang Yu shut the door again and pulled out the item he’d bought.

Thanks to the Mana Tournament, he’d seen firsthand the gap between him and those top-tier academy prodigies. That only made him more desperate to improve.

Right now, he had mana coming in steadily thanks to the Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Technique, and his Dao Heart was a daily training focus. But his physical body? That had hit a plateau—he hadn’t had time to train it.

With next month’s Martial Arts Tournament looming, and knowing he’d be up against rich kids from elite schools, Zhang Yu knew he had to strengthen his body.

So after crunching the numbers, he made a few strategic purchases online.